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Certificate: 
Directors: George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand
Release Date: 1977, 1980, 1983
Main Cast:
Mark Hamill … Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford … Han Solo
Carrie Fisher … Princess Leia Organa
David Prowse and James Earl Jones (voice) … Darth Vader
There’s no point in reviewing these separately. Star Wars is my religion, and George Lucas is my God! If you haven’t already seen these (and if not – why not?) then there’s something wrong with you.
I will say, though, that please, please watch the original versions and not the special editions. George Lucas may think that he made changes for the better, but he didn’t. If only he realised that you can’t improve on perfection.
Star Wars changed cinema. It also changed lives.
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P.S. Han shoots first.
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Directors: Pete Docter & Bob Peterson (co-director)
Release Date: 9 October 2009
Main Cast: (Voice)
Ed Asner … Carl Fredricksen
Jordan Nagai … Russell
Christopher Plummer … Charles Muntz
I don’t know how Pixar do it, but they have raised the bar again with this glorious film.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried. Three times, in fact (and twice during the first twenty minutes or so!) Watching Carl’s life unfold is both joyous and heartbreaking. And then, along comes Russell to cheer us all up!
I could write for hours about what makes Up such a work of pure genius, but I won’t. You need to discover it for yourself.
Please, please do not miss this film!
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Director: Victor Fleming
Release Date: 25 August 1939
Main Cast:
Judy Garland … Dorothy Gale
Ray Bolger … Hunk / The Scarecrow
Bert Lahr … Zeke / The Cowardly Lion
Jack Haley … Hickory / The Tin Man
Margaret Hamilton … Almira Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West / The Wicked Witch of the East
Terry … Toto ¦¬D (every dog has his day!)
First of all, why are you reading a review? Surely you’ve seen this by now! And if not, then go and get a copy and sit back with a tasty box of chocolates and enjoy. 
Here in the UK, this was always shown at Christmas – that’s where the chocolates come in (specifically Black Magic) – and watching it was a tradition in my house! It triggers all kinds of memories and senses for me, and I never grow tired of it. Even my old-film-and-musicals hating husband has a soft spot for it (he’s never watched The Sound of Music, so that should tell you that this is good!)
A genuine timeless classic. A masterpiece. An absolute joy! The flying monkeys still creep me out a bit though – they’re just plain scary looking 
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Director: Leslie H. Martinson
Release Date: 16 December 1966
Tagline: He’s here, big as life, in a real Bat-Epic.
Main Cast:
Adam West … Bruce Wayne / Batman
Burt Ward … Dick Grayson / Robin
Lee Meriwether … Miss Kitka / Catwoman
Burgess Meredith … The Penguin
Cesar Romero … The Joker
Frank Gorshin … The Riddler
I love the dark and moody Batman. I also love the comic and camp Batman of the 1960s tv show, and this is chock full of camp ‘kerpows’ and Holy whatsits!
All the actors have a wonderful sense of comic timing, and I defy anyone to say that they don’t have a big grin when watching this (apart from the anal retentive soap dodgers who still live at home when they’re 40).
There are so many fantastic lines for all the characters, and they just keep on going the whole way through. Here are some of my favourites:-
[Batman and Robin are running to the United World Building]
Robin: Holy marathon! I’m getting a stitch, Batman!
Batman: Let’s hope that it’s a stitch in time, Robin, that saves nine – The nine members of the United World Security Council. Come on.
———-
Batman: [reading a riddle] What has yellow skin and writes?
Robin: A ball-point banana!
Batman: [reads the second riddle] What people are always in a hurry?
Robin: Rushing people… Russians!
Batman: So this means…
Robin: Someone Russian is going to slip on a banana and break their neck!
Batman: Precisely, Robin!
———-
Vice Admiral Fangschliester: – to some chap named “P. N. Guin”.
Batman: P. N. Guin…
Robin: Penguin!
———-
Holy review, Batman! It’s fabulous!
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Director: Stanley Kubrick
Release Date: 6 April 1968
Tagline: Let the awe and mystery of a journey unlike any other begin.
Main Cast:
Keir Dullea … Dr. Dave Bowman
Gary Lockwood … Dr. Frank Poole
William Sylvester … Dr. Heywood R. Floyd
If ever there was a film to divide people, then this is surely it! For some it’s confusing and dull, but for others it’s a beautiful masterpiece that depicts the journey of the human race coming full circle. I’ve seen it about three times now during various phases of my life. As a child I was firmly in the ‘confusing and dull’ camp. In my twenties I had one foot in each camp. But now I’m in my thirties and have come to rest in the ‘masterpiece’ camp.
In a nutshell, it’s a film about the dawn of man and his evolution.
You can take from it what you will. Some believe that the journey is the work of aliens, and for others it’s the work of God. Either way is fine. It’s not about who is responsible.
Visually stunning with an absolutely perfect soundtrack, 2001 is a seminal film that deserves watching until the end (many people get frustrated at their lack of initial comprehension and give up).
I would advise watching it twice. After the first viewing, read up on what others believe the film symbolises and then watch it again. An excellent website can be found at The High Weirdness Project: 2001 and Beyond the Infinite.
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Directors: Chris Miller & Raman Hui (co-director)
Release Date: 29 June 2007
Tagline: Who’s ready for Thirds?
Main Cast: (voice)
Mike Myers … Shrek
Eddie Murphy … Donkey
Cameron Diaz … Princess Fiona
Antonio Banders … Puss in Boots
After reading reviews of this I wasn’t expecting too much. However, I thought it was much better than reported. I would have liked to have seen more of Donkey though, as I think he’s by far the best character. I do like the fact that Puss has now joined as a second sidekick to Shrek. As usual, there are plenty of little jokes in the background to amuse us adults.
Shrek the Third is not in the same league as the original, but I’d put it on a par with the second one.
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Directors: Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath
Release Date: 15 July 2005
Tagline: Ton on the run.
Main Cast: (voice)
Ben Stiller … Alex
Chris Rock … Marty
David Schwimmer … Melman
Jada Pinkett Smith … Gloria
Sacha Baron Cohen … Julien
Madagascar follows a group of four friends from New York’s Central Park Zoo. One of them has a mural of a lush, green landscape opposite him, and this inspires him to leave New York for the ‘wild’. It’s not done in a schmaltzy and sentimental way (thankfully), and when he leaves the unexciting but safe zoo, the other characters go off to find him and bring him back. Which they do. However, they find themselves being taken from the zoo and put on a ship bound for Africa. And so the adventure begins.
This is another good animation that will be enjoyed by both children and adults. It’s very charming and engaging with several laugh out loud moments. The actors fit their characters very well; I especially liked Sacha Baron Cohen as Julien.
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Directors: Chris Wedge & Carlos Saldanha (co-director)
Release Date: 22 March 2002
Tagline: The coolest event in 16,000 years.
Main Cast: (voice)
Ray Romano … Manfred
John Leguizamo … Sid
Denis Leary … Diego
Whilst not in the same league as Pixar’s finest, Ice Age is still very enjoyable for all ages. I would imagine that this is something that would pass most adults by, but if you are like me and enjoy great animation with a good script and talented voice artists then you should find this entertaining.
The basic plot is pretty standard stuff; there is a loner who somehow manages to find himself in the company of an annoying sidekick, but by the end of the film they are great friends. The straight man and the funny one – a classic combination. They are eventually joined by a third character which is a nice added element.
Simple yet very funny, Ice Age is one of those little gems that adults will probably miss, but should really give a chance.
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Director: Andrew Stanton
Release Date: 18 July 2008
Tagline: An adventure beyond the ordinar-E.
Main Cast: (voice)
Ben Burtt … WALL·E / M-O
Elissa Knight … EVE
Jeff Garlin … Captain
Sigourney Weaver … Ship’s Computer
Guess what? Pixar have come up with yet another masterpiece! WALL·E is utterly charming and totally brilliant from start to finish. The first part of the film has practically no dialogue, and the animators at Pixar have managed to create such a wonderful character that we need no words to follow the story.
WALL·E is the last of his kind – a clean-up robot on a barren and completely deserted Earth of the future. Whilst doing his job, he collects items that take his fancy, and he furnishes his home with them. In amongst his collection are a tv & VCR on which he plays a video of Hello Dolly! and is entranced by the love songs and the companionship he sees on screen. His loneliness is plain for all to see, and within a matter of minutes you get a real feeling of sympathy for this little robot.
Whilst going about his daily business, he has an encounter with a space ship which deposits a robot who has a rather destructive streak and clearly has a mission, although we don’t find out what the mission is until later on. WALL·E befriends EVE and the adventure begins.
Everything about WALL·E is exceptional. Watch it – and make it soon!
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Director: Nathan Juran
Release Date: 23 December 1958
Tagline: 8th Wonder of the Screen!
Main Cast:
Kerwin Mathews … Sinbad
Kathryn Grant … Princess Parisa
Torin Thatcher … Sokurah the Magician
Richard Eyer … The Genie
Another classic from Ray Harryhausen. There really is nothing to say about his films other than watch them. They’re all such great fun, and I never cease to marvel at his stop motion animation genius.
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