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Certificate: 
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: Pedro Almodóvar
Release Date: 1 July 1994
Main Cast:
Verónica Forqué … Kika (as Veronica Forque)
Peter Coyote … Nicholas
Victoria Abril … Andrea Caracortada
Àlex Casanovas … Ramón
Whilst not one of his finest, Kika is still very enjoyable. Almodóvar films are quirky and fast paced, and Kika is no exception. He has a unique way of making you laugh in situations that should not be in the least bit funny. You are never sure what’s coming next in an Almodóvar film!
I can imagine that Kika would not be to everyone’s taste, as there are a couple of scenes that are somewhat controversial, and many will not see the humour in it. If this is your first taste of one of his films and you don’t care much for it, it’s worth checking out one or two others before deciding if his style is to your taste or not (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is one of my favourites).
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Director: Garth Jennings
Release Date: 4 April 2008
Tagline: Make believe. Not war.
Main Cast:
Bill Milner … Will Proudfoot
Will Poulter … Lee Carter
What a breath of fresh air Son of Rambow is! A truly original and engaging film that everyone should enjoy – especially those of us who grew up in the 80s! The two boys carry the film with ease and are a delight to watch. There are plenty of real laugh out loud moments – not just in the script, but also in the dreadful fashions. Check out the ’sixth form common room’ for an 80s overdose.
The story is fantastic and very believable. I never had access to a camcorder back then, but if I had, then this is exactly the type of thing I’d have got up to 
I’ve heard this film described as a parody, but that is not the case at all. If you think that, then you’re missing the point entirely. In my youth (I was born in 1971) the Rambo films were essential viewing and it is entirely plausible that they would have been emulated by any budding director! It’s an affectionate look back at what we kids did during the long summer months (when we actually had summers!), and what we entertained ourselves with. It’s a coming of age film (it reminded me of Stand By Me, only with more humour) that is so well done it takes you back to the heady days of when videos were new and exciting and when Sylvester Stallone was cool. But most of all it takes you back to the days when your imagination was uninhibited and you just enjoyed being a kid.
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Director: Robert Luketic
Release Date: 13 May 2005
Tagline: She met the perfect man. Then she met his mother.
Main Cast:
Jennifer Lopez … Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Cantilini
Jane Fonda … Viola Fields
Monster-In-Law is a very undemanding but reasonably entertaing film. It’s all very predictable, but there are enough laughs to raise it above the average Hollywood comedy. Jane Fonda came out of retirement to play Viola Fields, and I don’t think she would have any reason to regret that decision.
Even though the central storyline is of an engaged couple it is no way a RomCom which, in my book, is a good thing!
If you’re looking for a simple uncomplicated comedy, then this is worth a look.
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Director: David Silverman
Release Date: 25 July 2007
Tagline: See our family. And feel better about yours.
Main Cast: (voice)
Dan Castellaneta … Homer
Julie Kavner … Marge
Nancy Cartwright … Bart
Yeardly Smith … Lisa
I’m a big fan of The Simpsons (who isn’t?!) and doubted somewhat whether a film would work. It was obviously going to require some sort of plot to sustain the probable length of approximately 90 minutes (the film is actually 87 minutes), and I was unsure what they were going to come up with. Although I enjoyed the film (there are some very funny moments), I just couldn’t really get fully into it. The regular episodes all have believable plots (give or take a crazy moment or two), but the film strays from this somewhat! It also borrows heavily from overused storylines e.g. Lisa falls for another gentle soul who is just like her (his appearance in Springfield is rather Deus Ex Machina, which, oddly enough, they admit to doing in a different part of the film), and she’s on the environmental campaign trail once again. Ok, so this is The Simpsons, and a complex plot was neither expected or required. I just wish it had been a little more like real life.
So, did it work? Yes and no. It was an interesting experiment, but one that I don’t think needs to be repeated.
One last thing – if you watch through until the end of the credits, Maggie says her first word. Personally, I think this is a mistake. She should always remain the enigma that she is – has she not learned to speak yet, or does she just elect to be a wry observer who thinks that actions speak louder than words?
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Director: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava (co-director)
Release Date: 12 October 2007
Tagline: He’s dying to become a chef.
Main Cast: (voice)
Patton Oswalt … Remy
Ian Holm … Skinner
Lou Romano … Linguini
Brian Dennehy … Django
More genius from Pixar!
Ratatouille is a delight from start to finish. It looks fantastic, the characters are great, the story is very engaging, and it’s very, very funny.
I’m sure I’ve said somewhere else on this site that “there’s something wrong with you if you don’t enjoy this film”, and it applies again here.
Nothing else to say other than keep ‘em coming, Pixar!
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Director: Dominic Polcino
Release Date: 21 January 2008 (original TV air date 23 September 2007)
Main Cast: (Voice)
Seth MacFarlane … Peter Griffin, Brian Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Glen Quagmire, Tom Tucker
Alex Borstein … Lois Griffin
Seth Green … Chris Griffin
Ok, ok, I know. Technically this shouldn’t be here because it’s not a film. But I love Star Wars, so it’s going in!
This is Family Guy’s take on Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. And a very funny one it is too! It’s ANH at breakneck speed, and the various little parodies work well. The events run very well with the score – it’s all timed to perfection! The attention to detail is exceptional, and it’s as if you are watching the real ANH.
My favourite moment? Easy! Peter (Han) singing along with the music in the TIE Fighter battle after the escape of the Millennium Falcon from the Death Star. We’ve all sat there and done that too!
Sure, one or two of the jokes fall a little flat, but on the whole it’s very enjoyable. Of course, you have to have seen Family Guy to understand much of the humour. So, if you’re a Star Wars fan and have never seen FG, then watch a few episodes first to familiarise yourself with it.
Oh, and if you’re wondering where ‘Blue Harvest’ fits in, it was the fake production name that was used by Lucasfilm when shooting Return of the Jedi.
It’s hard to rate this. It’s not perfect, but looking at it from the objective of a Star Wars devotee, it’s exceptional in many ways. So, I’m going to do a first for this site, and give it two ratings
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Attention to detail & animation quality Rating:
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Director: Stephan Elliott
Release Date: 10 August 1994
Tagline: Finally, a comedy that will change the way you think, the way you feel, and most importantly… the way you dress.
Main Cast:
Terence Stamp … Ralph / Bernadette Bassenger
Hugo Weaving … Anthony ‘Tick’ Belrose / Mitzi Del Bra
Guy Pearce … Adam Whitely / Felicia Jollygoodfellow
On the surface, this film may give the impression that it is little more than a feel good comedy with great music and flamboyant costumes. It may also lead you to think that it is a film for the gay community only. Neither is anywhere near the truth.
It is, in fact, utterly hilarious and very poignant.
The performances are really what makes this film unmissable. Terence Stamp is superb as the dignified Bernadette. Hugo Weaving brings warmth to his role as a homosexual father who worries what his son will think about him, and Guy Pearce is perfect as the seemingly tough skinned and outrageous Adam. Together, all three actors are the perfect blend.
Terence Stamp won/was nominated for numerous awards for his portrayal as Bernadette, and Lizzy Gardiner and Tim Chappel won the 1995 Academy Award for best costume design. And rightly so!
There is a lesson for all of us that, underneath it all, we are all the same, no matter how different we may appear to be. I hope that people will watch this film and think twice before judging others and treating those whose lifestyle differs from theirs with courtesy and respect.
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