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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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Director: Tim Burton
Release Date: 5 March 2010
Tagline: You’re invited to a very important date.
Main Cast:
Johnny Depp … Mad Hatter
Mia Wasikowska … Alice
Helena Bonham Carter … Red Queen
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are a marriage made in heaven. With Tim Burton you are sure to get a visual delight and a cinematic experience that is unique to him. It would also be rather remiss of me to neglect to mention Danny Elfman, whose talent makes up a fantastic trio.
It’s magical, fantastical, and utterly delightful! I also really enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter’s performance, although it’s rather disconcerting to see her head on a small body!
I never really liked AIW as a child (I didn’t like the Chronicles of Narnia either), so, for me, this was not as enjoyable as Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (I love Roald Dahl). In that respect, I can’t really do a total review as I do not know the books. Perhaps an AIW devotee may not like this.
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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: James Cameron
Release Date: 17 October 2009
Tagline: Enter the world.
Main Cast:
Sam Worthington … Jake Sully
Zoe Saldana … Neytiri
Sigourney Weaver … Dr. Grace Augustine
Stephen Lang … Colonel Miles Quaritch
3D cinema – fancy gimmick or pleasurable enhancement? Both, actually. In the fantasy sections of the film it works very well, but in the run-of-the-mill scenes it’s pointless and somewhat distracting. So, all in all, 3D is something that, with the right film, could be fantastic.
So, on to the film itself. Cheesy, clichéd and over long, Avatar would not have been the massive success that it was if it was merely a 2D film. The plot and the dialogue are dreadful, and it’s obvious that Cameron was not in the least bit concerned about making a good film, which is a shame as it is certainly visually stunning. I believe that special effects should help tell the story and not be the only attraction and, sadly, Avatar is a film without a soul. Take Titanic – love it or hate it, Cameron had the sets built to perfection. To see that wonderful ship come to life was an absolute joy, and you were completely immersed (no pun intended) in the experience. With Avatar, I found myself constantly aware of the 3D visuals and just couldn’t engage fully with the film.
Having said all that, I appreciate that Avatar is the first genuine 3D film (as opposed to the ones that have 3D versions with a few things that poke out of the screen at you) and, as such, I applaud it. Was it worth paying good money to see? Yes, it was. Do I think 3D is the future? No, I don’t.
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(film only)
Rating: (overall experience)
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Directors: John Lasseter and Joe Ranft (co-director)
Release Date: 28 July 2006
Tagline: Ahhh… It’s got that new movie smell.
Main Cast: (voice)
Owen Wilson … Lightning McQueen
Paul Newman … Doc Hudson
Bonnie Hunt … Sally Carrera
Larry The Cable Guy … Mater
I have no clue why this received lukewarm reviews on release as it’s a very charming, funny and engaging film. How the animators managed to get so much character into cars I’ll never know. Humans and animals are easy to inject with emotion, but Pixar are proving to be exceptional at showing emotions on just about anything that they can put eyes on!
The film opens with a thundering race scene and the high octane thrills are fantastic, but its real joy is in the gentle and close knit town in which Lightning McQueen finds himself.
My favourite character has to be Mater, and my favourite scene is when he takes Lightning ‘cow’ tipping. Pure genius!
Cars is a visually stunning gem of a film. What more could you ask for?
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Director: Tim Burton
Release Date: 29 July 2005
Tagline: Oompa-Loompas are crazy for cocoa beans.
Main Cast:
Johnny Depp … Willy Wonka
Freddie Highmore … Charlie Bucket
David Kelly … Grandpa Joe
Another visually wonderful treat from Tim Burton. He’s the perfect director for this quirky and slightly twisted work of art by Roald Dahl. All the usual Burton elements are there; great visuals, Johhny Depp and Danny Elfman (score) and as usual, they all work perfectly together.
The casting is fantastic. Charlie is humble and dignified and the other four kids are crass and ghastly and all play their roles perfectly. Not one of them is over the top and annoying. And, of course, Depp is simply perfect.
Totally engaging from the start, CatCF is a superb journey that remains loyal to Dahl’s book. Mind you, it’s no surprise as you can’t improve on perfection!
A joy from start to finish.
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Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Release Date: 10 July 2008
Tagline: Take a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget.
Main Cast:
Meryl Streep … Donna Sheridan
Pierce Brosnan … Sam Carmichael
Plus many others including Colin Firth, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski
OK, all you’ve heard about Mamma Mia! is true. It’s a delight for ABBA fans, a chick flick and a gay man’s dream. However, if you are none of the above then please don’t rule it out, because it’s an absolute riot!
I loved the West End production, and, I have to say, had my reservations about a film version. I should never have doubted them. Yes the singing is at times somewhat ropey, but it’s the very fact that it is totally honest is what makes it so right.
Mamma Mia! is an unadulterated feel good film. Probably the best ever. Carling don’t do feel good movies, but if they did… ;-p
Heterosexual males – abandon your machismo for 108 minutes and just enjoy yourselves (only with your wives or girlfriends, of course… Just to preserve your image). After all, neither you or your mates are ever going to admit it to each other!
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P.S. Look out for a fleeting cameo from Benny Andersson. I didn’t know he was in it so I had to do a double take!
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Director: Mark Herman
Release Date: 12 September 2008
Tagline: A timeless story of innocence lost and humanity found.
Main Cast:
Asa Butterfield … Bruno
Jack Scanlon … Shmuel
David Thewlis … Father
Vera Farmiger … Mother
Set in wartime Germany, the story is seen through the eyes of a young boy whose father is a high ranking Nazi who has been promoted to a commander of a concentration camp. Forced to leave his grand home in Berlin and his friends, Bruno finds himself in a modest house in the middle of nowhere with no peers. From his bedroom window he can see what he thinks is a farm. It is, of course, the camp but he has no idea of the nature of his father’s work and his assumption is not corrected.
Forbidden to leave the front yard of the house, he becomes fascinated with what lies beyond, and curiosity soon gets the better of him. He stumbles upon the outskirts of the camp and meets Shmuel, a boy his own age sitting behind the fence.
I shall end the review here as this is a film that should be allowed to unravel at its own pace.
Simple yet so incredibly powerful, TBITSP will leave you silent as the credits roll.
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