Bambi [G]

Join Bambi, the wide-eyed faun and new Prince of the forest, as he discovers the wonders of the world around him. Joined by his friends Thumper the rabbit and Flower the skunk, Bambi discovers life, danger, seasons, and love. 

It’s another Disney classic that’s incredibly heart-warming and adorable, but (and I’m just being honest) Bambi would have to be one of the cutest but pointless Disney films to date. I still love it though! 

Join Bambi, the wide-eyed faun and new Prince of the forest, as he discovers the wonders of the world around him. Joined by his friends: the playful rabbit Thumper, the grumpy old Friend Owl, and the bashful skunk Flower, Bambi discovers life, danger, loss, and love. 

The appeal of Bambi is the crystal clear animation and the cute forest critters. There really is no story to speak of, it’s just the circle of life with the obvious heartbreaking drama thrown in. 

I’ll admit the film is sad, but the sadness is suggestive and really, would go right over the heads of the younger audience if their parents weren’t there to explain what just happened. As sad as it was, Bambi was not enough to reduce me to tears like The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast has done. 

Featuring the voice talents of Hardie Albright, Stan Alexander, Peter Behn, Tim Davis, Thelma Boardman Donnie Dunagan, Ann Gillis, and Sam Edwards, Bambi is one of the cutest Disney films ever filled with adorable forest critters, enchanting music, smatterings of comedy, and the occasional bout of drama. It may be a pointless Disney film, but it’s a classic nonetheless!

Boy [M]

Meet Boy: an 11-year old who lives on a farm with his Nan, his goat Leaf, his cousins, and his little brother Rocky who believes he has magic powers. When Boy’s Nan goes away for a week, Boy is left in charge of looking after everyone. Taking to this task with great purpose and maturity, Boy’s good intentions are lost when his father turns up out of the blue. Having imagined a heroic version of his father during his absence, Boy comes face to face with the real version: an angry drunk and dope fiend that has come back to dig up a bag of stolen money that he had hidden years before. 


What a moving film! With it’s simple story, powerful performances, and interesting blend of Maori and Michael Jackson, it makes for a wonderful film that treads the fine line between comedy and drama. 


Meet Boy: an 11-year-old who lives on a farm with his Nan, his goat Leaf, his cousins, and his little brother Rocky who thinks he’s got magic powers. When Boy’s Nan goes away for a week, Boy is left in charge of looking after everyone. Taking to this task with purpose and maturity, Boy’s good intentions and potential get lost when his father turns up out of the blue. Having imagined a heroic version of his dad during his absence, Boy comes face to face with the real version: an angry drunk and dope fiend who has come back solely to dig up a bag of stolen money that he had buried some years before. For a while, Boy is happy to have his father back and even happier when they start spending “quality time” together, but as he is exposed to the vices of adults, Boy realises that he’s not as close to becoming a man as he initially thought. 


Like The Kids Are All Right, the power of this film came solely from the spellbinding and heartbreaking performances. The story itself is very simple and is not encumbered by facts or important details. It’s simple and it’s wonderful. 
As the story provides much of the drama, the blend of Maori dances and Michael Jackson dances provide the movie with some comedy and flare. Combining the two was a really clever idea and it worked beautifully. 
James Rolleston stars as Boy and he was absolutely amazing. He delivered a stunning performance that was brave, frustrated, funny, charming, and confused. He was absolutely breathtaking. 
Starring Taika Waititi, and Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu, Boy was a moving and beautifully crafted film that tread the fine line between comedy and drama. Filled with fights, vices, romance, and realisation, it was a really gorgeous film that brought tears to my eyes.

Bran Nue Dae [PG]

Willie is an Aboriginal boy on the verge of becoming a man. Spending the holidays home in Broome with his mum and Rosie, a girl he has a crush on, Willie’s happiness is short-lived when he has to return to the city and study to be a priest, as his mother wants. But Willie doesn’t want to be a priest; he just wants to be an Aborigine and stay in Broome. So he runs away from school, hitches a ride with the drunken Uncle Tadpole and two hippies, and embarks on a road trip that will change his life. For Willie, going home never felt so good. 

I decided that I needed to see this film a second time before I decided whether or not it was a keeper. Ultimately I have decided that it was a good film, filled with wonderful music, great characters, and plenty of comedy and romance, but I think it’s a film that I could only watch once every couple of months. There’s no real need to have it in the collection. 

Willie is an Aboriginal boy on the verge of becoming a man. Spending the holidays home in Broome with his mother and Rosie, a girl he has a crush on, Willie’s happiness is short-lived when he has to go back to the city and study to be a priest: as his mother wants. But Willie doesn’t want to be a priest, he just wants to be an Aborigine and stay in Broome: his own Heaven on Earth. So he runs away from school, hitches a ride with the drunken Uncle Tadpole and two hippies, and goes on a cross-country road trip that will change his life. For Willie, going home never felt so good. 

I think the best way to describe this film, in a word, is interesting. It was a sort of smattering of everything and the mixture of native Aboriginal rituals and dances mixed with the occasional Broadway-style musical numbers was a really interesting blend and made for good entertainment. 

The main appeal of the film lies in the collection of recognisable names that make up the cast, and each person delivered a brilliant performance, particularly Ernie Dingo, Missy Higgins, and Geoffrey Rush. 

There were a handful of things that stood out for me: a) the cast b) the catchy songs c) the cheesiness and abruptness of the ending, and d) the condom tree. Need I say more? 

Starring Rocky McKenzie, Dan Sultan, Jessica Mauboy, Ernie Dingo, Missy Higgins, Deborah Mailman, Tom Budge, and Magda Szubanski, Bran Nue Dae was a good film filled with comedy, romance, catchy songs, memorable characters, and condoms. It’s a good film, but I don’t think I could watch it over and over again.

There's nothing I would rather be than to be an Aborigine and watch you take my precious land away.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader [PG]

When Lucy and Edmund return to Narnia, this time brining their cousin Eustace along, they find themselves on a voyage aboard the Dawn Treader, the pride of the Narnian Seas. With King Caspian maintaining peace throughout the land, the children wonder why they have been brought back, but their questions are soon answered when they witness a mysterious mist devouring innocent victims. With Caspian at the helm of the Dawn Treader, Lucy and Edmund embark upon a quest to rid Narnia of this evil foe once and for all. 

Filled with action, lessons, and friendships, The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a fun family movie, equally on par with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief or The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. 

When Lucy and Edmund return to Narnia, this time unintentionally bringing the hateful and obnoxious cousin Eustace along, they find themselves on a voyage aboard the Dawn Treader, the pride of the Narnian Seas. With King Caspian maintaining peace throughout the land, the children wonder why they have been brought back, but their questions are answered when they witness a sinister mist engulf innocent victims, causing them to disappear into thin air. With Caspian at the helm of the Dawn Treader, Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace embark upon a quest to rid Narnia of this wicked foe once and for all. 

All in all, this was a fine film but, like Prince Caspian, I don’t think it’s one that I could always come back to. Maybe once every few months. 

That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it. The movie is just as dazzling, if not, more so that its predecessors as, this time it is set on the seas and we get to see all new and magical creatures including mermaids, sea serpents, and dragons. The special effects were a success again and the design of the Dawn Treader itself was something amazing. 

Unlike Prince Caspian, The Dawn Treader focused again on the magic qualities of Narnia and not so much the war and political side of the story, which I think is good because that was initially what the world was about. 

Starring Georgie Henley, Skander Keynes, Liam Neeson, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, Bruce Spence, and Simon Pegg, The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader was a fun family film filled with action, magic, lessons, changes of heart, changes of mind, sea-tales, and companionship. I couldn’t watch it over and over, but it was a good film nonetheless. 

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian [M]

A hundred years ago, when King Peter, King Edmund, Queen Susan, and Queen Lucy left Narnia, a race of people called the Telmarines invaded and conquered Narnia. Now the two lands are finally about to find peace as Prince Caspian, the Telmarine prince who has been betrayed by his uncle, discovers that the Narnians are not extinct as legend tells. Bringing Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy back to Narnia, Caspian leads the Narnians in a rebellion to restore peace and freedom to the land. 

As dazzling as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and filled with more action and new friends, Prince Caspian is a great visual treat. Not as ideal as the first one as a family movie, as there are more battles and such, but still a great ride.

A hundred years ago, when King Peter, King Edmund, Queen Susan, and Queen Lucy left Narnia, a race of people called the Telmarines invaded and conquered Narnia, forcing its inhabitants to either face extinction or flee into the woods and live in fear and hiding. Now, a century later, the two lands are about to finally find peace as Prince Caspian, Telmarine prince and rightful King recently betrayed by his uncle, discovers that the Narnians are not extinct as legend tells. Bringing Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy back to Narnia, Prince Caspian leads the Narnians in a rebellion to restore peace and freedom to the magical land once and for all.

As a Lord of the Rings fan, I must first say that the final climactic battle in this movie was the biggest knock-off that I have ever seen. Pretty much, the entire battle is a re-enactment of the battles in The Fellowship of the Ring. There is even a reference to The Two Towers! Any fan of Lord of the Rings, watch this movie and then get back to me!
Where the first film was more about Narnia and the magic and wonder and everything, the second film was more about war and politics and that sort of thing. There was no real magic to speak of, until Aslan returns, and it seemed that the film was trying to fit in as many battles at it possibly could.
Ben Barnes stars as Prince Caspian and he has to be one the most beautiful faces on screen today. Delivering a wonderful and chivalrous performance to boot, I couldn’t take my eyes off him from start to finish.
Starring Georgie Henley, Skander Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Peter Dinklage, Sergio Castellitto, Warwick Davies, Pierfrancesco Favino, Eddie Izzard, and Liam Neeson, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was a rollicking film filled with action, romance, battles, wonderful characters, and comedy. No one that I can watch over and over, but one that I can always come back to every couple of months. A good film.

Modern Times [G]

When a factory worker suffers a nervous breakdown from his monotonous job on a conveyor belt, he is sent to a clinic. After being cured of his breakdown, he re-enters society to find it filled with men and women who cannot afford to eat because they are suffering from unemployment. As he attempts to find his way in the new world, he encounters riots, jail, drugs, and true love. 

Still wearing my hat, I have developed a love for the immortal genius that is Charlie Chaplin. After watching The Gold Rush, how could I not continue on a theme? Modern Times was a reflective film filled with comedy, action, drama, and romance. A winner from start to finish. 

When a factory worker suffers a nervous breakdown caused by his monotonous job on a conveyor belt, he is sent to a clinic. After being cured of his breakdown, he re-enters society to find it filled with men and women who cannot afford to eat because they are suffering from unemployment. As he attempts to make his way in this new world, he encounters riots, brawls, jail drugs, a series of failed job trials, and true love. 

The film caught me immediately in the first scene. First, you see a flock of sheep being herded, moving along together and without question or feeling. Then, you see a flock of humans emerging from a train station, moving along together and without question or feeling. This alone, is a powerful scene that sends out a strong message and raises awareness about what the “superiority” of humanity. I was hooked from then on. 

The film also makes a sharp point about technology and society’s dependence on it. Whilst the worker is experiencing the breakdown, he destroys the machine that produces whatever trade the factory provides. After that happens, the unemployment rate escalates dramatically. Go figure! I have always said that we should not be so dependent on technology and this film was made 54 years before I was born! Why have we not taken the hint?! 

Charlie Chaplin wrote, produced, directed, composed the music, and starred as the factory worker. He delivered a performance that was just as fluid, charming, and funny as the Lone Prospector in The Gold Rush, the only real difference is that, here, we get to hear him sing. A little trivia now, this film was made almost a decade after talking pictures had been established, but Chaplin felt that his character was more dependant on silent pantomime and slapstick comedy. He delivers a performance that is completely silent until he is hired as a singing waiter and sings a song in mock-Italian gibberish. 

Starring Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman, Tiny Sandford, Chester Conklin, Hank Mann, Stanley Blystone, Al Earnest Garcia, Richard Alexander, Cecil Reynolds, Mira McKinney, Murdock MacQuarrie, Wilfred Lucas, Edward LeSaint, and Fred Malatesta, Modern Times was a classic Chaplin film filled with drama, important messages, romance, crime, music, and comedy. I loved it from start to finish!

The Gold Rush [G]

A Lone Prospector battling through the icy regions in the search for gold encounters grizzly bears, wanted villains, almost-cannibalism, and true love on his road to becoming a millionaire. 

So here I am in my Chaplin hat, paying homage to a genius! Charles Chaplin said that this was the film he wanted to be most remembered for, and it seems that this wish has come true. The Gold Rush gave to birth to classic comedy scenes that have been sampled and imitated time and time again and it also showed us that tragedy and comedy are never that far apart. 

A Lone Prospector battling through the icy regions in the search for gold encounters grizzly bears, wanted villains, certain death, cold, starvation, almost-cannibalism, dance-hall brawls, and true love on his road to becoming a millionaire. 

Based on historical events, stereoscope slides of the privations of the prospectors in the Klondyke Gold Rush of 1896-1898, and a book about the Donner Party Disaster of 1846, The Gold Rush is the film that Chaplin is most remembered for. A silent work of cinematic genius, the beauty lies in the Chaplin’s belief that comedy and tragedy are never that far apart. Taking some very dramatic and sometimes sinister themes such as death by starvation and cannibalism, Chaplin turns these on their ear and produces side-splitting classic comedy. 

For its day, the film was most extravagant with scenes being shot on location and 600 extras having to be brought by train to trudge through the snow, portraying the pull of the Gold Rush. From watching this film for the first time during an afternoon in the year 2011, all I can say is that I particularly love the simplicity of the entire thing. It really makes you think about how much efforts and expenses and whatever else goes into making movies, not to mention how far the film industry has advanced. The Gold Rush was a silent movie, aside from the narration, black and white, had limited special effects, and much of the emphasis was on the soundtrack. 

That is what I loved most about this film: the music. I have always said that music plays a crucial role in establishing a mood and creating the atmosphere for a scene, and this was entirely the case in The Gold Rush. The film used a mixture of classical and well-known tunes to set the mood for each scene, for example, The Flight of the Bumblebee is used in any scene where there anxiety, suspense, or a chase. The love theme from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is also featured when love blooms for the leading man (and yes, I do know that this film was made ages before Sleeping Beauty, but that’s where I know the tune from. Any plagiarism charges should be directed to George Bruns.) 

Chaplin stars as the Lone Prospector and his performance is nothing short of immortal genius. He’s fast-moving, fluid, exuberant, charming, adorable, and just all-around brilliant! I particularly loved his scene where he did the dance with the bread rolls, a scene that has been imitated in heaps of things including an episode of The Simpsons and, later by Johnny Depp in Benny and Joon. 

Starring Mack Swain, Tom Murray, Henry Bergman, Malcolm Waite, and Georgia Hale, The Gold Rush is a timeless classic and memorable piece in cinematic history. Filled with music, romance, suspense, action, and comedy, I loved it from start to finish!

Sister Act [PG]

When sassy, lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is forced to go into hiding in the last place the Mob would think to look for her – a small, religious convent. Posing as a nun, Deloris’ irreverent behaviour attracts a flock of followers and before long, she turns the convent’s tone-deaf choir into a group of swingin’ sisters. However, when the choir begins to earn rave reviews, her sudden celebrity station jeopardizes her identity, and it’s only a matter of time before the Mob catches up with her. 

Backed by an original story, a winning soundtrack, and plenty of laughs, Sister Act is a classic film of realising one’s talent and sharing it with the world. I love it! 

When sassy, lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier witness a murder, she is forced to go into hiding in the last place the Mob would think to look for her – a small, religious convent. Posing as a nun, Deloris’ irreverent behaviour attracts a flock of followers and soon, she transforms the convent’s tone-deaf choir into a group of swingin’ soul sisters. However, when the choir starts earning rave reviews and media attention, Deloris’ cover becomes threatened and it’s only a matter of time before the Mob catch on to where she’s hiding. 

This movie had an original story, a clever script, and a killer soundtrack, but I think what made the film really memorable was the strange mixture that was the cast. 

Whoopee Goldberg stars as Deloris Van Cartier and she was such a diva. I have a real soft spot for Whoopee I have to admit. I just think in anything she does she brings a certain something to the screen. I can’t think of what it is, but I’m sure there’s a word for it. She just has presence and that’s really important for films. In Sister Act, she delivered a performance that was charming, funny, witty, and just all around diva. I loved her to bits. 

Playing against Whoopee is Maggie Smith, who stars as Mother Superior, the only person who knows of Deloris’ true identity. She delivered a performance that was stern, stoic, but at the same time quite funny, and it was just wonderful to see the contrast between her and Whoopee actually work! Brilliant. 

Starring Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkenna, Mary Wickes, Bill Nunn, and Harvey Keitel, Sister Act was an original and delightful film filled with music, comedy, action, suspense, and “fabulous coats”. A classic film that I am glad to have in my collection. 

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe [PG]

When Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are sent away from home, for their own safety, they are sent to live in the mansion of a mysterious professor. Whilst playing a game of hide-and-seek, the children stumble upon a magic wardrobe that takes them into the magical world of Narnia: a once peaceful land inhabited by fauns, centaurs, giants, dwarfs, giants, and talking animals, that has been turned into a world of eternal winter by the evil White Witch. With the help of the wise Lion, Aslan, the children lead the Narnians in a rebellion that will free the land of the Witch’s glacial powers forever. 

Based on the classic novel by C.S Lewis, this movie is a wonderful fantasy adventure, one that the whole family can enjoy. Filled with magic, wonderful costumes, brilliant special effects, memorable characters, and amazing scenery, it’s a film that I’m glad in have in my collection because it’s one that can always come back to once in a while and discover something new. It’s quite dazzling. 

With their father fighting in the war and their home under attack from the enemy, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are sent away to live in the country mansion of a mysterious professor. Whilst playing a game of hide-and-seek, Lucy happens upon a magical wardrobe that is the gateway to the magical world of Narnia. Letting curiosity get the better of her, she ventures into this new world and she meets a faun whom she befriends and she learns from him that Narnia was once a beautiful land, but it has been turned into a land of eternal winter by the White Witch who calls herself the Queen of Narnia. At first, Lucy’s siblings don’t believe her, but when they are forced to take refuge in the wardrobe, they discover that she was right. With help from the wise lion, Aslan, the children lead the Narnians in a huge rebellion to rid Narnia of the Witch’s glacial powers once and for all! 

Admittedly, this is not a movie that I can watch all that often. I can come back to it once every few months, and each time I do, I am reminded that it is such a classic story and a really dazzling film. What really stands out, for me, in this movie is the marriage of the costumes, makeup, and special effects. There is a realism to the creatures we know and then there are these amazing creatures that we’ve never seen that bring more wonder to the movie. The costumes are simply amazing, especially those worn by the White Witch, and the aerial shots that are used to show all of Narnia are simply breathtaking. As far as this movie goes, it really is a feast, a feast for the eyes. 

Starring Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, Skander Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, James McAvoy, Kiren Shah, Ray Winstone, Dawn French, Jim Broadbent, and Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is a fantastic family adventure that’s filled with action, fantasy, magic, wonderful creatures, amazing scenery, and comedy. Although it’s not ideal to watch more often than not, it really is a classic!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas [PG]

The Grinch hated Christmas, the whole Christmas season. Now Please don’t ask why, no one quite knows the reason. It could be that his head wasn’t screwed on just right. Or it could be in fact that his shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small. 


A cold and bitter outcast who hates the Whos, the Grinch decides to punish them for all their Christmas cheer and selfishness. So he hatches a plan to stop another Christmas from coming to Whoville.

Like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a timeless holiday story and this movie made it all the better. Filled with wonderful costumes, amazing makeup, and memorable characters, How The Grinch Stole Christmas is one of my favourite holiday films.


Inside a snowflake, like the one on your sleeve, there happened a story you must see to believe. Way up in the mountains, in the high range of Pontoos, lay the small town of Whoville: the home of the Whos. Ask any Who, and they’ll have this to say: “there is now place like Whoville around Christmas Day. Yes, every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville… did not. 

When young Cindy Lou Who has an encounter with the Grinch, he saves her from a prank that went a little awry. This sets Cindy Lou to wondering if the Grinch is really as evil as everyone claims, and she sets out to discover why the Grinch is the way that he is. Meanwhile, to punish the Whos for their Christmas cheer and noise, the Grinch hatches a plan to stop another Christmas coming to Whoville.

 It first must be said that the Rick Baker, who was the chief makeup designer on this film, is an absolute genius! The achievement in makeup was an immense one on this movie and that, teamed with the amazing costumes and the even more amazing sets, make the film a whole different experience. Although the script is very Dr. Seuss-like and really clever, it really is a visual movie. It’s an absolute feast for the eyes. Amazing!!!
Jim Carrey stars as the Grinch and, honestly, no one could have done it better. Jim just has such perfect timing and he’s a very exuberant and elastic actor, which makes this movie an ideal family film because Jim’s performance sends the kids into fits of hysterics as well as the adults. Jim delivered a performance that was ecstatic, loud, aggressive, punctual, hugely hysterical, and warm-hearted. I haven’t laughed so much since The Mask. I salute you Jim!
Starring Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranksi, Clint Howard, Verne Troyer, Mindy Sterling, Bill Iriwn, Molly Shannon, Taylor Momsen, and Anthony Hopkins as the Narrator, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a timeless classic filled with music, amazing makeup, incredible costumes, knockout sets, plenty of laughs, and heaps of heart. It’s simply “FABULOUS!!”

27 Dresses [PG]

Jane is the girl that everyone can count on. She is always there to help and never says no. Not only that, she has also been the happy, and extravagantly helpful bridesmaid no less than 27 times! For Jane, her own fairy tale wedding seems nowhere in sight, but that changes when her younger sister Tess captures the heart of Jane’s Boss, who she’s secretly in love with. Finding herself lumbered with the burden of organising everything for Tess’s wedding, Jane decides that enough is enough and becomes determined to change her “always the bridesmaid” destiny. 

This has to be one of the greatest romantic comedies ever! It’s not as clever as Bridget Jones’s Diary or Love Actually, but it’s charming, refreshing, original, and an absolute delight from start to finish. 

Jane is the girl that everyone can count on. She is always there to help and never says no. Not only that, but she has been a happy and extravagantly helpful bridesmaid no less that 27 times! For Jane, her own fairy tale wedding seems nowhere in sight, but that changes when her younger sister Tess captures the heart of George, Jane’s boss who she is secretly in love with. Finding herself caught in a rather bizarre love triangle, Jane soon begins to struggle with keeping her emotions in check, especially when a newspaper columnist takes an interest in her and tries to get her to stand up for herself. Finding herself lumbered with the burden of organising everything for Tess’ wedding, the tension becomes too much for Jane and she decides to take control and change the course of her “always the bridesmaid” destiny. 

This movie had everything going for it! It had a wonderfully refreshing and original story, a charming and witty script, and wonderful characters that you can relate to. There were no caricatures or anything like that, these were people that we see in everyday life, some are our own friends, and that’s what made me fall in love with this film straight away. 

Katherine Heigl stars as Jane and she was absolutely brilliant! She turned in a performance that was charming, responsible, motherly, caring, and really eager to please. Then, to see her have these scenes where her emotions finally break through, they’re just amazing! She’s an absolute delight from start to finish. 

James Marsden plays Kevin, the newspaper journalist. I EFFING LOVE JAMES MARSDEN!!! He provided the film with much of the comic relief and he was cynical, witty, charming, handsome, arrogant, and wonderfully and contrarily romantic. And when he sings along drunkenly to Bennie and the Jets! OH MY GOD!! That’s my favourite scene in the entire film! Watch out for that one! 

Starring Malin Akerman, Judy Greer, Melora Hardin, Brian Kerwin, Maulik Pancholy, David Castro, Krysten Ritter, and Edward Burns, 27 Dresses is a wonderful romantic comedy filled with fantastic dresses, charming cynics, bizarre love triangles, and a fantastic story. It’s one of my favourite romantic comedies!

Saturday Night Fever [MA]

Meet Tony Manero: paint store clerk by day and King of the disco by night. Regarded as a god amidst the strobe lights and music, behind the gold medallions, flared pants, and wide-collard shirts, is a boy on the verge of becoming a man. Tony’s attitude of “fuck the future” is shaken when he sparks up a relationship with Stephanie, a woman a year older and a potential dancing partner. As the two practice for an upcoming dance competition, numerous dramas take place and Tony is forced to come to grips with where he is and where he wants to be. 

Sparking the disco craze in the late 70s, Saturday Night Fever saw John Travolta catapulted into public awareness with his sensual dance moves, knockout style, and brilliant performance. I defy any woman who watches this film and does not fall in love with him. 

Meet Tony Manero: paint store clerk by day and King of the disco by night. Regarded as a god amidst the strobe lights and music, behind the gold medallions, flared pants, and wide-collared shirts, is a boy on the verge of becoming a man. Living life one day and night at a time, Tony has a strong attitude of “fuck the future”, but this attitude is given a shake when he sparks a relationship with Stephanie, a woman a year older and a potential dancing partner. As the two practice for an upcoming dance competition, a series of dramas take place amongst Tony and his friends and, suddenly, Tony finds himself forced to come to grips with choosing between where he is and where he wants to be. 

Whenever you think of “disco” the first thing that comes into your head is John Travolta in a white suit, busting out some classic moves. Saturday Night Fever sparked the disco phenomenon in the late 70s, so that alone deserves an accolade, but it also (and I feel more impressively) made the music of Bee Gees romantic. No matter which way you slice it, it’s next to impossible to make disco romantic. It’s fun, flamboyant, and full of life and it never slows down, but in Saturday Night Fever one of the most romantic scenes was a dance scene set to More Than a Woman by the Bee Gees. Now that’s achievement! 

John Travolta stars as Tony Manero and he delivered a performance that was charming, supportive, protective, defensive, and occasionally aggressive. What sells the film straight away is the opening scene. Set to the song Staying Alive, again by the Bee Gees, we see John strutting down the street, looking fine and without a care in the world. This strut has since been imitated the world over. 

Starring Karen Lynn Gorney, Barry Miller. Joseph Cali, Paul Pape, Donna Pescow, Bruce Ornstein, Julie Bovasso, Martin Shakar, Sam Coppola, Nina Hansen, Lisa Peluso, Denny Dillon, Bert Michaels, and Robert Costanzo, Saturday Night Fever was a fantastic drama filled with music, lights, fashion, sex, violence, romance, and shocks. I absolutely love it!

He Ran All The Way [M]

When a robbery goes wrong, Nick Robey panics and shoots a cop. Desperate to get off the streets, Nick seeks refuge at a public pool and meets Peggy, a lonely and trusting girl. After establishing a romance with Nick, Peggy brings him home to meet her parents and, in a panic, Nick reveals his true identity. Now the whole family is under Nick’s control and poor Peggy must now choose between her beloved parents or her beloved criminal. 

This is a really interesting film. A customer has told me repeatedly that I had to watch this movie, so I rented it yesterday and it made for thrilling entertainment tonight. 

When a robbery goes wrong, Nick Robey panics and shoots a cop. Desperate to get off the streets, Nick takes refuge in a public pool and there, he meets Peggy, a lonely and trusting girl whose teaching herself to swim. After sparking a romance with Nick, Peggy brings him home to meet her parents and Nick, in a panic, reveals his true identity. Both Peggy and her family are horrified, but they are now all under Nick’s control and, with her home being used as a criminal’s refuge and her family under constant threat, Peggy must choose between her beloved family and her beloved criminal. 

Filmed in black and white, this movie is a chilling drama that is a great conveyance of the human under pressure. What’s brilliant about this film is the fact that everyone is under pressure. It’s not just Nick, but the entire family that he’s threatening in his panicked state. It’s a classic example of flight or fight and with its brilliant performances and original story; it makes for great night-in entertainment. 

John Garfield stars as Nick Robey and he was brilliant. He delivered a chilling performance that was panicked, threatened, under pressure, clever, aggressive, and occasionally charming. He was just great. 

Shelley Winters stars as Peggy and she was gorgeous. You have to admire Shelley Winters; she just does something to the screen. I don’t know what it is, but she just keeps you enthralled. She played a character not so dissimilar to that in Lolita, only much more conservative and shyer, and she does invoke that feeling of sympathy: “oh you’re not very lucky in love are you, you poor thing”. Well, I loved her from start to finish. 

Starring Wallace Ford, Selena Royle Robert Hyatt, Gladys George, and Norman Lloyd, He Ran All the Way was a thrilling drama that was filled with threats, romance, swimming, shootings, and an ending you never expected. It’s really is a great film. 

Aladdin [G]

Aladdin is a charming and handsome commoner of the streets of Agrabah. A thief to survive, Aladdin is more than what he seems; a diamond in the rough. But when he falls in love with the vivacious and headstrong Princess Jasmine, he realises just how poor and hopeless his life is. However, all that changes with just one rub of a magic lamp that lets loose a genie that grants Aladdin three wishes and takes him on a journey of discovery. 

This is my second favourite Disney film after Beauty and the Beast. It’s filled with magic, romance, action, comedy, great songs, memorable characters, and the best love duet ever! 

On the streets of Agrabah lives a charming and handsome commoner named Aladdin. A thief to survive, Aladdin is more than what he seems; a diamond in the rough. Living parallel to Aladdin is the vivacious and headstrong Prince Jasmine who is tired of having her life lived for her in the glittering palace. The two cross paths when Jasmine runs away and instantly gets into trouble, unaware of how harsh the streets can be. Aladdin saves her and instantly falls in love with her, but when he discovers that she’s the Princess, he realises how poor and hopeless his life really is. Everything changes for Aladdin with just one rub of a magic lamp that releases a fun-loving, shape-shifting genie that grants Aladdin three wishes and takes him on a journey of wonder and discovery. 

With this movie, what I realised I liked about Disney films is how diverse and inclusive they can be. Beauty and the Beast is set in France, The Princess and the Frog is set in New Orleans, Mulan is in China, Aladdin is in Arabia, the list goes on and on. I think it’s great (although no Disney characters are ever Jewish). 

I think this was the first Disney film in which we found proper comic-relief characters. Up until Aladdin there were never really any characters that were solely there to make us laugh, aside from Dopey in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but even with Dopey, the comedy is really only slapstick and can grow a little stale. In Aladdin we have Genie and Iago the parrot to provide all the laughs and the fun. I like characters like that in a kids’ film. Not everyone can be serious! 

Featuring the voice talents of Robin Williams, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, and Douglas Seale, Aladdin is a timeless classic that’s filled with action, magic, romance, comedy, brilliant characters, and memorable songs. It’s one of my all-time favourite Disney films!

La Vie En Rose [M]

At the age of 9, she discovered she had a voice. At the age of 20 she was picked from the slums of Paris and put on a journey that would end on the top of the world. But, she was always destined to be the little sparrow that flew too close to the sun. This woman was Edith Piaf. 

What a wonderful film. A true story that is naturally drenched in drama, tragedy, comedy, and romance, and, armed with stunning performances and amazing achievements in makeup, La Vie En Rose is one of the most dazzling and breathtaking biographical films that I’ve ever seen. 

From the slums of Paris to the glamorous limelight of New York, Edith Piaf’s life was a battle to sing, love, and live. Raised in poverty, Edith’s powerful and enchanting voice, her passionate romances, and her friendships with the most popular names of the period: Charles Aznavour, Jean Cocteau, Yves Montand, Marcel Cerdan, and Marlene Dietrich, made her a star all around the world. But, in her daring attempt to control her tragic destiny, the Little Sparrow flew too close to the sun. 

What first must be said is that the makeup design team on this movie were geniuses. Making over Marion Cotillard into an older, arthritic woman… you would never have recognised her! The craftwork and detail was just amazing! 

What makes the film such a powerful drama is the fact that it’s based on the true-life events of Edith Piaf. She lived a rough life that was strewn with tragedy, but she was ever determined and resilient, and it’s characters like that that people look up to, idolise, and admire. Armed with its magnificent soundtrack that’s littered with wonderful French songs as well as a few by Edith sung in English, the entire film is a brilliant stage performance and an absolute treasure. 

Marion Cotillard stars as the Little Sparrow and I have to say that I haven’t been so moved by a performance since Colin Firth in The King’s Speech. Marion is one of the most beautiful actresses on the screen today and watching her as Edit Piaf made me admire her all the more. She delivered a stunning performance that was comedic, adorable, aggressive, charming, and wonderfully drunk on power. I’m literally lost for words. AMAZING!!! 

Starring Gerard Depardieu, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory, Emmanuelle Seigner, Jean-Paul Rouve, Clotilde Courau, Jean-Pierre Martins, Catherine Allegret, Marc Barbe, Caroline Sihol, Manon Chevallier, Pauline Burlet. Elisabeth Commelin, and Marc Gannot, La Vie En Rose was a beautifully crafted biographical film that was filled with drama, romance, comedy, and tragedy. It was absolutely spellbinding!

Weird Science [M]

Sick of being wimpy and single, Gary and Wyatt decide that, instead of finding a date, they can make one. With a little computer science, the pair creates Lisa, the perfect woman. Like a computer-generated fairy godmother, Lisa guides the boys through the pleasures and pitfalls of adolescence, both wowing and shocking them in the process. 

Completing my John Hughes binge, I don’t really know what to make of this movie. It’s an interesting story, taking the story of Frankenstein to a whole new level, and I did enjoy it to some extent. Ultimately, though, I don’t think I’d add it to my collection. 

Sick of being wimpy and single, Gary and Wyatt decide that if they can’t get a date, they should make on instead. With a little computer science, the two creates Lisa, the perfect woman. Like a computer-generated fairy godmother, Lisa guides the boys through the pleasures and pitfalls of adolescence, teaching them that they are genuinely great guys, and both wooing and shocking them in the process. 

I think the one thing that most annoyed me with this film was the mixture of science and fantasy. Lisa is a creation of computer science, but she can magically make things materialise and that just didn’t add up and is never really explained. It gave the film the feeling that all these little bits were careless thrown in just to make it look cool. 

Anthony Michael Hall is back playing a combination of the characters he played in both The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles. Seriously, he and Molly Ringwald must be John Hughes’ two most favourite people, he used them in practically every film he did. 

Starring Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Kelly LeBrock, Bill Paxton, Suzanne Snyder, Judie Aronson, Robert Rusler, and a young Robert Downey Jr., Weird Science is a strange film filled with romance, impulses, parties, hot chicks, and self-realisation. It’s an alright film, but not one that I would add to the collection. 

Due Date [MA]

Peter is an expectant first-time father whose wife’s due date is a mere two days away. As Peter hurries to get home in time for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with Ethan, an aspiring actor, lands him on the “No-Fly” list and he is forced to hitch a ride a with Ethan on what turns out to be the longest and most irritating cross-country ride of Peter’s life. 

Starring Robert Downey Jr., who is a great actor, and Zach Galifianakis from The Hangover, I expected this film to be more than what it was. The story had potential, but somehow it just didn’t achieve its potential. It just DID NOT work! I think I laughed twice throughout the entire 2 hours. 

Peter is an expectant first-time father whose wife’s due date it a mere two days away. As Peter hurries to get home in time for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with Ethan, an aspiring actor, lands him on the “No-Fly” list and he is forced to drive across the country, For Peter, this would not be so bad if it had not turned out that his luggage, wallet, ID, and money had managed to stay on the plane and is currently going home without him. This forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan, a ride that rapidly turns into a cross-country nightmare that destroys several cars, numerous friendships, and Peter’s last nerve. 

As I mentioned before, the story was stable and had potential, however the film decided no to use it. The only thing that would cause anyone to watch this movie is its cast. With Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis as the central characters, you’d expect some good acting and some humour, mainly because the two actors contrast quite strongly. But, no! Even Robert’s aggressive and brilliantly timed performance was not enough to save this film. 

Starring Juliette Lewis, Michelle Monaghan, Danny McBride, and Jamie Foxx, Due Date was a pointless and feeble comedy that was filled with car vandalism, airport security, terrorism, masturbation, and injuries. I’ve seen it and have no desires to see it again and I say to you, that if you go your entire life without watching it, you’re life will still die happy.

The Breakfast Club [M]

When these five students turned up for Saturday detention, they were simply the Brain, the Jock, the Princess, the Criminal, and the Basket Case. But, as the day drags on and they learn more about one another, they become The Breakfast Club; five complete strangers with nothing in common, except each other. 

This is one of my top ten favourite films of all time. Each time I watch this movie, I discover some new little message or layer of drama or comedy and it’s just fantastic. Without a doubt, the best film that John Hughes ever did! 

And these children that you spit on as they try to change their world, are immune to your consultations. They’re quite aware what they’re going through. – David Bowie. 

When these five students turned up for Saturday detention, they were simply the Brain, the Jock, the Princess, the Criminal, and the Basket Case. But as the day drags on and they learn more about one another and become the oddest assortment of friends, they become The Breakfast Club: five strangers with noting in common, except each other. 

What is most gorgeous about this movie is its simplicity. The entire film takes place within a day and, for the most part, within the four walls of a high school library. The central drama comes in the form of the characters’ intimate stories about their dysfunctional home life and what they did to land themselves in detention. The film really explores the sinister and dramatic themes of high school, in particular, peer pressure and parental pressure. 

The other thing that makes this movie so memorable is the odd assortment of characters that make up the Breakfast Club. The Princess is the rich and spoilt Prom Queen who cut school to go shopping. The Jock is the motivated wrestler who punished another boy for being weak. The Brain is the straight A student who almost did something drastic when he got an F. The Criminal is the loud and disruptive guy who practically lives in detention. And the Basket Case is the ignored girl who had nothing better to do. It’s a wonderful collection and the chemistry between them all is absolutely amazing. 

With stunning performances from Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, and Ally Sheedy The Breakfast Club is one of the greatest teen dramas to ever grace our screens. Filled with drama, vandalism, comedy, drugs, intimate stories, defiance, and wonderful friendships, it’s earned its place in The Book as well as a place in my collection and my top ten favourite films of all time! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!

Blades of Glory [M]

When bitter figure skating rivals, Jimmy MacElroy and Chazz Michael Michaels, start a brawl after tying for the gold medal, they are both stripped of their medals and banned for life from men’s competition. However, the two manage to beat the system thanks to a loophole that will allow them to skate again: pairs’ competition. 

From producer, Ben Stiller, comes this hilarious comedy classic filled with romance, brilliant costumes, skating, vengeance, and ice. 

When bitter figure skating rivals, Jimmy MacElroy and Chazz Michael Michaels, start a brawl after tying for the gold medal, they are both stripped of their medals and banned for life from men’s competition. However, after three years, Jimmy discovers a loophole that will allow him to skate again: pairs’ competition. When his attempts to convince his former coach fail, Jimmy goes off in search of a partner, bumps into Chazz and the two pick up where they left off. When Jimmy’s coach sees the brawl on the news, he becomes convinced that the two would make a gold-winning pair and he bails them out of jail and teams them up for, what everyone dubs, “the sideshow of the century”. Can the guys forget their bitterness and work together to win the gold and keep it this time? 

This film used everything at its disposal: the music, the script, the costumes, the choreography, the cast, everything worked so well together. The idea of two men skating together already gets a laugh, but this movie took figure skating to a whole new level and it’s just brilliant. 

I have to say, at this point, that the real reason I decided that this film had to be in my collection was because of the music. In particular, two songs that the boys skate to: I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith and Flash by Queen. Aerosmith and Queen on the same soundtrack! I doesn’t get much better than that! 

Will Ferrell stars as Chazz Michael Michaels and he was absolutely hysterical. Will’s a brave guy, he doesn’t mind going over the line and making people squirm and in Blades of Glory he was arrogant, childish, egocentric, aggressive, and just downright genius! This has to be one of my favourite Will Ferrell films. 

Jon Heder stars as Jimmy MacElroy and he was the complete opposite from Chazz. He was hygienic, elegant, graceful, innocent, flamboyant, sincere, and his bitter relationship with Chazz was absolutely hysterical. 

Starring Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, William Fitchner, Jenna Fischer, and Craig T. Nelson, Blades of Glory is a fantastic film filled with romance, comedy, great skating routines, brilliant costumes, and heaps of comedy. I can watch it again and again and it has actually become our default film whenever we are in doubt about what to watch on a Saturday night. Love it!

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory [G]

When Willy Wonka, the most famous candy maker in the world, hides five golden tickets in five chocolate bars, the entire world is plunged into a craze of chocolate and sweets. Poor Charlie Bucket watches as other kids who can afford to by chocolate bars everyday find the golden tickets one by one until there is only one left in the entire world. But as luck would have it, Charlie finds some money in the street and buys the bar with the last remaining ticket. So begins the happiest day of Charlie’s life. 

Based on the book by Roald Dahl, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a timeless family film filled with memorable songs, lessons in manners, and brilliant sets. It’s a world of pure imagination. 

When Willy Wonka, the world’s most famous candy maker, hides five golden tickets inside the wrappings of five chocolate bars, the world is plunged into a craze of chocolate and sweets. As Wonkamania sweeps the globe, poor Charlie Bucket watches as the kids who can afford to buy chocolate bars everyday find the golden tickets one by one until there is only one left in the entire world. But, as luck would have it, Charlie finds some money in the street and buys the chocolate bar with the last remaining ticket. With the prize being a tour of Wonka’s factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate, so begins the happiest day of Charlie’s life. 

Not dissimilar to the sets of The Wizard of Oz, what was striking about this movie was the dazzling and extravagant sets that were made within a budget. They all look fake and plastic, but you cannot help but stare. 

What I find most intriguing about this movie (I can’t remember if I was told this or read it somewhere) is the fact that Roald Dahl who wrote the original story, also wrote the screenplay, obviously deliberately making some changes to the demise of the children, in particular Veruca Salt’s demise. He then hated the movie when it was completed. You have to stop and wonder why write something and then change it and then hate what you’ve created? Funny old world isn’t it? 

Gene Wilder stars as Willy Wonka and he was great. Gene tends to scream in anything that he’s in, but if you overlook that, you can appreciate his exuberant comedic stylings. As Willy Wonka, he was loud, sincere, silly, contrary, ecstatic and a whole bunch of other emotions. He’s just brilliant from the word “go”. 

Starring Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson, Dodo Denney, Roy Kinnear, Julie Dawn Cole, Leonard Stone, Denise Nickerson, Paris Themmen, Ursula Reit, Michael Bollner, Diana Sowle, David Battley, and Aubrey Woods, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a timeless classic filled with songs, memorable characters, lessons in manners, nifty special effects, and a great story. 

There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you’ll be free if you truly wish to be. 

Rango [PG]

When a household pet chameleon becomes lost in the desert, he absent-mindedly begins walking in search of water. Having been kept in a glass case alone all his life, he suffers from an identity crisis and is unsure who his really is. But when he happens upon the small, drying-up town of Dirt, he becomes Rango, the brave new sheriff that is going to bring water back to this parched Wild West community.  

This was a cute and funny animated Western, although some of the Clint Eastwood Western jokes tend to go over the heads of the younger audience. I think, for a family movie, the writers were trying to be a bit too clever. Having said that, the film wasn’t all samples from Westerns, it had drama, conflict, comedy, and heart and I did enjoy it thoroughly. 

When a household pet chameleon becomes lost in the desert, he absent-mindedly begins a fruitless search for water. Having been kept in a glass case alone all his life, he suffers from loneliness and confusion about who he really is. But when he happens upon the small drying-up town of Dirt, he becomes Rango, the brave new sheriff who fears nothing and will save the parched town from dehydration and death.  

As I mentioned before, the humour of the movie comes in the form of samples from Westerns and there is even a Pirates of the Caribbean 3 scene thrown in. The script was very clever and the characters were very memorable, especially Rango who just wants to be accepted and make friends. 

What was most impressive about this film was the animation. It was so amazingly real. Every tiny detail was perfect; Rango’s skin texture, the movement of his eyes and nose, the scales and movement of the snake, and the feathers of the hawk. Everything was so detailed, you could not help but marvel. 

Featuring the voice talents of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Ray Winstone, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Abigail Breslin, and Bill Nighy, Rango was a wonderful little film about being a hero and it was filled with action, adventure, water, memorable characters, interesting creatures, and great music. I thoroughly enjoyed it amigos. 

Cry-Baby [M]

Allison Vernon-Williams has everything. She’s rich, she’s pretty, and she has a jazz-singing “square” heartthrob for a boyfriend. However, Allison is tired of being good and she soon discovers that she has an uncontrollable pull towards Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, the dreamy juvenile delinquent that all the girls want. 

I was introduced to this film by a lovely high school friend of mine who had a more powerful Johnny Depp crush than I had, so when I came across this movie at a bargain price, from her rave reviews about it, I simply had to buy myself a copy even though I’d never seen it before. I would like to proudly say that I have never regretted that decision. This movie is the John Waters alternative to Grease. It’s filled with music, greasers, squares, motorcycles, romance, action, and fun. It’s an absolutely fantastic film! 

Allison Vernon-Williams has everything. She’s rich, she’s pretty, and she has a jazz-singing heartthrob for a boyfriend. However, Allison is tired of being good and she soon discovers that she has an uncontrollable pull towards Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, the juvenile delinquent that all the girls want. Cry-Baby feels a natural pull towards Allison too, and the two go on a date. However, the date turns bad when the police show up to break up a brawl that was started by a bunch of Squares and Cry-Baby is falsely accused and sentenced to imprisonment until he’s 21. Conflicted by her emotions for both her boyfriend and Cry-Baby, will Allison stand up and fight for Cry-Baby’s freedom? 

This is a brilliant film! It must first be said that it’s a musical, but not a musical like Grease or The Producers or anything like that. It’s not set up like a Broadway show or anything, there are just occasional songs thrown into the piece that keep the movie moving forward. 

It must also be said at this point, sad though it is, that it is not Johnny Depp singing these Elvis-like, rockabilly songs. I’m sorry to rain on anyone’s parade, but the actors are lip-syncing the songs that make up the “musical” numbers in this film. BUT, and this is a big but, when you think about it, that’s what makes the performances really great. It really does look like they’re singing. It’s not just moving the mouth and everything, you can actually see the muscles in their throats working. It’s brilliant. 

Johnny Depp stars as Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker and he was too gorgeous. Every time I watch this movie Johnny just sends me into a heaving swoon and it is really, really hard to recover. In Cry-Baby, he delivered a performance that was intimidating, charming, defiant, protective, and incredibly romantic. Any woman, or man for that matter, who does not fall in love with Johnny in this movie should be shot. He is just TOO GORGEOUS!!! 

Another thing that made this movie so brilliant was the interesting cast. The film stars Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake, Amy Locane, Susan Tyrell, Polly Bergen, Iggy Pop, Traci Lords, Kim McGuire, Darren E. Burrows, Stephen Mailer, Mink Stole, Troy Donahue, Patricia Hearst, David Nelson, and Willem DaFoe. Cry-Baby was a fantastic film filled with romance, Greasers, Squares, action, brawls, music, and fun. I absolutely LOVE it and am proud to have it in my collection!!!

Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb [PG]

Convinced that the Communists are polluting America’s “precious bodily fluids”, a crazed General orders a surprise nuclear air strike on the USSR. His aide, British Captain Mandrake, desperately tries to work out the code to recall the planes. Meanwhile, in the War Room, the President is trying to explain to the drunken Premier of this silly mistake, while his adviser, Dr. Strangelove, confirms the existence of the Doomsday Machine: a secret Soviet device that is guaranteed to obliterate human existence once and for all. 

From producer/director Stanley Kubrick who brought us other masterpieces such as Lolita, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining, comes this wonderful black and white political satire that’s filled with comedy, action, misunderstanding, and blunders. 

Convinced that the Communists are polluting America’s “precious bodily fluids”, a crazed General orders a surprise nuclear air strike on the USSR. His aide, British Captain Mandrake, desperately tries to get him to come to his senses and, when that fails, tries to work out the three-letter code that will recall the planes. Meanwhile, in the War Room, the President is trying to explain this silly mistake to a drunken Russian Premier whilst his adviser, Dr. Strangelove, confirms the existence of the Doomsday Machine: a secret Soviet retaliatory device that will obliterate human existence once and for all. 

Aside from the fact that this film is in black and white, which is always ever so classy, it also boasts memorable moments and performances. Two of the most recognised and sampled scenes in cinema history made their beginning in Dr. Strangelove. These scenes are when Slim Pickens is riding the falling bomb and yee-hawing all the way down and when Dr. Strangelove’s mechanical arm takes on a life of its own and he cannot stop it from doing the Nazi salute or throttling him. 

The humour of the film comes in the form of misinterpreted signals and simple mistakes. The whole thing is set into motion on a whim and then standard procedures prevent the attacking planes from being contacted and recalled. From there, things go from bad to worse when the Commies retaliate and one plane, badly damaged, changes its target. It’s all a delightful mess of sharp twists and turns, which leads to a somewhat unforeseeable outcome. 

Peter Sellers stars as President Merkin Muffley, R.A.F officer Lionel Mandrake, and Dr. Strangelove. Each performance that he delivers is armed with perfect comedic timing and wonderful physical moments. Peter Sellers is a genius without any doubt and this film isn’t the first time he and Kubrick have teamed up; two years earlier Sellers starred alongside James Mason in Lolita. 

Starring Slim Pickens, George C. Scott, Peter Bull, and James Earl Jones, Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, is a wonderfully satiric comedy that was filled with action, suspense, misunderstandings, negotiations, nuclear warfare, and epic blunders. Although you do have to persevere to see the brilliance of it, it’s all worth it in the end. Fantastic! 

Jezebel [PG]

Julie Marsden is the beautiful sought-after debutante of 1850s New Orleans. Engaged to Preston Diller and living in a society ruled by conservative customs and traditions, Julie finds herself confined and her attempts to defy tradition and goad her fiancé to jealousy backfire. When Preston comes back from New York married to another woman, Julie’s vengeance explodes destroying more than one life. 

According to the back of the cover, Bette Davis was unhappy when Warner Bros. refused to loan her out to star in Gone With the Wind. So, Jack Warner gave her this breakthrough southern belle role that won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1938. And rightly so! Bette delivers a dazzling performance in Jezebel, making this film a genuine dramatic treasure equally on par with Gone With the Wind, only not quite as long. 

Julie Marsden is the beautiful sought-after debutante of 1850s New Orleans. Engaged to Preston Diller and living in a society that is dictated by conservative customs and traditions, Julie finds herself confined, and her attempts to defy tradition and goad Preston to jealousy drastically backfire. After a year, Preston returns home from New York married to another woman. The shock sends Julie into a jealous frenzy and while everyone is staying at her house in the highland plantations to escape the infectious yellow fever that is engulfing the city, Julie’s vengeance escalates into a drama that destroys more than one life. 

Well, it first must be said that the costumes in this film were absolutely incredible. I completely fell in love with Julie’s red dress that turns so many heads at a highbrow ball. The sumptuous sets and costumes have an excellent marriage with the melodramatic instrumental soundtrack and the occasional traditional songs that are thrown in help to lighten the mood when things get a little too tense. All these elements worked really well together and produced a beautifully crafted and romantic drama. 

Bette Davis stars as Julie and she was absolutely flawless. She truly is a screen diva of the Golden Age of cinema. Her performance was arrogant, jealous, vivacious, fiery, manipulative, and whole-heartedly sincere, and I particularly loved her honourable act towards the end of the film. I absolutely love Bette Davis. 

Starring Harry Fonda, George Brent, Margaret Lindsay, Donald Crisp, Fay Bainter, Richard Cromwell, Henry O’Neil, and Spring Byington, Jezebel was a beautifully crafted drama that was filled with defiance, vengeance, betrayal, amazing outfits, marvellous music, and upstanding tradition. I absolutely LOVED this film!