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Certificate: 
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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Certificate: 
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Release Date: 19 October 2007
Tagline: This summer a star falls. The chase begins.
Main Cast:
Michelle Pfeiffer … Lamia
Claire Danes … Yvaine
Charlie Cox … Tristan
Robert De Niro … Captain Shakespeare
I really liked Stardust. It’s very enjoyable and a near perfect example of a family film. There’s plenty of humour in it (I especially liked Billy), the casting is very good (except for the abysmal Ricky Gervais) and there are lots of familiar faces for us Brits to look out for! It has a dark edge to it which raises it above the treacly sweet film it could have been.
Don’t be put off because it’s a family film. It’s well worth a look even if you don’t normally watch this type of film.
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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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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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Certificate: 
Director: Roland Emmerich
Release Date: 14 March 2008
Tagline: It takes a hero to change the world.
Main Cast:
Steven Strait … D’Leh
Camilla Belle … Evolet
Cliff Curtis … Tic’Tic
Some films leave you speechless. 10,000 BC is one of those. It’s astonishing. Astonishingly bad, that is.
The acting is terrible and the story is atrocious. There are so many clichés in it that I don’t know where to start. And it’s historically and geographically inaccurate in the most appalling of ways. And then there’s the terrible case of deuce ex machina on at least two occasions. Inexplicably, there are also two attempts at humour. Both are terrible.
Ok… I’ll try and calm my mind enough to write down everything that is wrong with this film.
I’ve already mentioned the acting. And I have a casting issue. This may be nitpicking, but why couldn’t they cast an actress for Evolet that actually had blue eyes? The role isn’t exactly demanding. In fact, I’m sure that a plank of wood could have played this part equally as well. Perhaps all the blue eyed girls had more sense than to get involved in this pile of rubbish.
Basically, the plot is this. A tribe of people in Arctic like conditions are starving because of the lack of woolly mammoths to hunt. That’s how remote they are. They have nothing else to hunt (this is an important point for a geographical farce).
There’s a prophecy that says that a hero and a blue eyed girl will deliver them from starvation or whatever, and will save the tribe. And that’s where Evolet comes in. Some tribesmen find a girl in alone in the Arctic condition mountains wandering around. They take her back to their home, and she has blue eyes. The audience is supposed to thing ‘ooh’ in a knowing sort of way at this. There is a boy in the tribe (D’Leh) that fancies her. He points out a star in the sky and says something sappy like ‘you’ll always be in my heart’ blah, blah, blah.
First cliché… Head tribesman leaves the clan for the greater good and gives the ‘white spear’ to Tic’Tic. Everyone thinks that it was an act of cowardice (he asked Tic’Tic to keep the real reason secret). His son is mocked by his peers, especially one boy. We come to the conclusion of this cliché later in the film.
Second cliché… The mammoths return, and whoever shows the most bravery and brings one down will get the white spear. Needless to say, D’Leh succeeds at this though there was more accident than bravery about it. So he gets the white spear, but can’t take the guilt and gives it back to Tic’Tic.
Whilst this is going on, raiders attack the camp and capture most of the tribe (including Evolet), and one boy’s mother is killed. So, off they go on a trip to save the tribe. The boy wants to go with them but is told to stay behind. So he follows them secretly (yawn).
Now we get the the geographical farce and the first deuce ex machina. After they have trekked over the mountains they come to lush forestation. And then they suddenly appear in Africa, and not northern Africa either. Strangely enough, head tribesman of the Africans speaks the same language. Aparrantly, there was a man who came over the mountains and taught them. How fortunate that D’Leh and his cronies run into the same tribe as his father did.
D’Leh manages to amass a bit of a fighting force helped by the…
…Third cliché. D’Leh saves a sabre toothed tiger from certain death. The tiger turns up at a tribe that D’Leh is with, and all is spared because the tiger recognises D’Leh. And what would you know – this tribe has a prophecy that a tamer of a ‘spear tooth’ will deliver them from whatever. By now I couldn’t have cared less.
So, on they trek after the captives. D’Leh gets a bit downhearted as they have lost the trail, but on of these stupid prophecies mentions something about a light or whatever, and D’Leh suddenly remembers his star, and that leads them to Evolet and the other captives (very vomit inducing). Somehow, they have been forced into slavery building the pyramids! Not only is Egypt in north Africa, but the pyramids were not built in 10,000 B.C. And they are shown as being built all together. They weren’t. And I guess this is where they ran out of money, because it isn’t the Pharaoh Kufu (his tomb was the ‘Great Pyramid) in charge, it’s some made up person called the Pyramid God.
Now to deuce ex machina number two and yet another prophecy (I had a prophecy too – that this film would be utter shit). In the slave camp which has ben infiltrated by D’Leh, there is some weird blind man whom they keep in a hole underground. He makes an appearance to look at Evolet’s hand, sees some scars and rambles on about another prophecy. I’m not sure what this one is about, as I had lost the will to live by then.
Needless to say, they slaves revolt, D’Leh gets the white spear, and all turns out just peachy in the end, although we do have a pretence at an unhappy ending, but good old shameness ‘old mother’ from D’Leh’s tribe saves us from bawling our eyes out. I still felt like crying though (with pain).
If you like cliché ridden piles of rubbish then you’ll love 10,000 B.C. If not, then you are better off driving nails into your arms.
Rating: 
(for the woolly mammoths)
Certificate: 
Director: Don Chaffey
Release Date: 15 August 1963
Tagline: Greatest odyssey of the ages – for the first time on the screen.
Main Cast:
Todd Armstrong … Jason
Nancy Kovack … Medea
Gary Raymond … Acastus
Honor Blackman … Hera
One of my favourite films of all times, and a fantastic example of stop motion animation at its most thrilling. Ray Harryhausen created some of the most memorable scenes in cinematic history with his genius. Everybody knows and loves the sword fight scene with the skeleton soldiers.
The plot needs no explanation because it is the story of the Greek legend of Jason’s journey to find the Golden Fleece (many historians now think that Jason’s voyage was based on truth).
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this film and I enjoy it just as much now as I did when I was a child. I never tire of it.
Truly unmissable!
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Director: Jon Favreau
Release Date: 03 February 2006
Tagline: A new adventure from the world of Jumanji.
Main Cast:
Jonah Bobo … Danny
Josh Hutcherson … Walter
Dax Shepard … Astronaut
Zathura is a fantastic film that deserves a tagline far greater than that above. Jumanji was released in 1995 – a whole eleven years before this – so how on Earth do they expect kids to get excited about the mention of an old film that they’ve probably never heard of before, let alone seen?
Anyway, let the review begin!
The film is very original, and presses all my buttons! It’s sci-fi, it’s about an old board game that has been discovered at the back of a wardrobe (so to speak), and it’s a great adventure.
I loved every minute of of Zathura, and I can’t imagine a child out there who wouldn’t. Unless, that is, they are devoid of imagination. Oh, and if they are very ‘girly’ girls who think that space and rockets and aliens are ‘boring’ and would rather play with their plastic pink princess castles & such tripe. Needless to say, I have nothing in common with these girls, and as such, it is very unlikely that I will ever be reviewing a crappy girlie or ‘teen’ movie.
But I digress (and not for the first time on this site!).
If you possess an imagination, and have the same buttons as I do, then watch Zathura – I don’t care how old you are!
It’s a film that I would happily watch again.
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Director: Kerry Conran
Release Date: 01 October 2004
Tagline: Join the Resistance.
Main Cast:
Gwyneth Paltrow … Polly Perkins
Jude Law … Sky Captain
I’m not sure how to rate this film. Visually, it’s very stunning, and I found myself enjoying it up until about half way through, when I lost interest.
It’s an odd mix between the 1940s and the future. I’m not sure that the children of today will understand the blend of the past and the future, however, that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be done. On the contrary, I hope that it will make today’s kids want to learn more about the past.
The film starts with a Zeppelin called Hindenburg III docking at New York City. Now, I don’t wish to be pedantic, but there never was a Hindenburg III, and no Zeppelin ever docked in this area. I only mention this really as it, along with a cinema screening of The Wizard of Oz (released in 1939) dates the film in the late 1930s / early 1940s. The original Hindenburg crashed in 1937, so one would assume that the film is indeed set around 1939. Of course, no children will care about this in the slightest, and it does at least open their eyes to the fact that Zeppelins existed, and how far removed they are from today’s technology.
Anyway, like I said, it’s not really a criticism as such, more of a quibble. I like things to be factually correct in films.
Overall, I think that this is a good all round family film and should keep most older children entertained. It’s not one for younger children as there will be nothing here that they would be interested in.
Oh, and the end of the film is very good!
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Director: George Lucas
Release Date: 16 July 1999
Tagline: Every generation has a legend. Every journey has a first step. Every saga has a beginning.
Main Cast:
Liam Neeson … Qui-Gon Jinn
Ewan McGregor … Obi-Wan Kenobi
Natalie Portman … Queen Padme Amidala
Jake Lloyd … Anakin Skywalker
Frank Oz … Yoda (voice)
Ian McDiarmid … Senator Palpatine
WARNING – THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE ENTIRE SAGA
First of all, I should mention that I am a Star Wars fan. Actually, that’s an understatement. I am a First Generation fan, and I’m obsessed by it!
I can’t let this review pass without mentioning a few things and finally being able to get it off my chest, so to speak.
There are many fans out there who did nothing but moan about TPM from the very beginning. First they hated the title, then they hated the film because “there is not enough action”, and it was “made for children”.
The title is perfect. Anakin is the phantom menace. In this chapter, they are unaware of the terrible fate of that awaits both him and the galaxy. Only Yoda has a foreboding about it.
How much action did they expect at the beginning of the saga? Palpatine’s rise to power was a cleverly crafted one that took years to come to fruition. At this point in the timeline, the Jedi are still the peacekeepers of the galaxy, and though everything appears to be right, they recognise that the Republic is beginning to show signs of disorder. TPM is a perfect scene setter for what is to come. It also brings the characters together very credibly. Nothing seems forced (no pun intended!) at all.
Yes, it is a family film with a U certificate. What those fans appeared to miss was the fact that all three films in the original trilogy were also U certificates. The original fans were children themselves when watching the films for the first time. This point seemed to pass them by completely.
And then there’s Jar Jar. In the original trilogy, the humour was provided by the great double act that was C-3PO and R2-D2. In this chapter they have not yet teamed up. Granted, Jar Jar was annoying at times, and perhaps George Lucas could have toned him down a little. But the not very bright Jar Jar will provide a very important moment in the next episode (Attack of the Clones).
As a stand alone film, TPM is not going to make much sense, and if this is your first ever Star Wars film, you will probably wonder what all the fuss is about. But they are not meant to be stand alone films. They are part of a saga and, as such, they must be seen as a whole. That was Lucas’s plan from the very beginning, and that is why they are episodes. In fact, to get the most out of them, you really should see them in the original order i.e. IV, V and VI and then I, II and III. If seen in chronological order, your opinion of Anakin is already formed, and you will view Darth Vader in a very different light.
Ok. That’s much better. Now on to the review!
The acting, in general, was very good. I thought that Ewan McGregor was well cast as Obi-Wan, but he seemed to be so concerned with being like Alec Guinness that he forgot to be Obi-Wan. That’s only a small thing though, because he does nail the speech pattern, and we can recognise the old Obi-Wan in the young.
Anakin is protrayed perfectly. He is a precocious child who has an unnatural and powerful ability. He has a kind of untamed energy about him, and we, the viewer, know that ultimately the Jedi will fail with him, and he’ll become the most ruthless and feared man in the galaxy. The Jedi think that Anakin is the one spoken of in the prophecy; the one who will restore peace and balance to the galaxy. And though it seems that they are badly mistaken, in the end the prophecy is right, as it is Darth Vader/Anakin who destroys the Emperor.
The pod racing scene is stunning and the rivalry between Anakin and Sebulba shows how competitive Anakin is, and the final fight between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Darth Maul is absolutely fantastic.
Darth Maul’s double ended lightsabre is a real ‘wow’ moment, and overall he’s a very good villain. He’s a very striking character, and is one of the enduring images of the film.
We can see how Palpatine is very slyly manipulative, and it’s great to watch him ingratiate himself, knowing what we know.
The scene where Anakin’s mother encourages him to leave with Qui-Gon is very touching. She knows that Anakin has a special gift, and even though it breaks her heart to lose him, she wants him to realise the potential he so obviously has.
George Lucas with his ILM crew have been at the forefront of ground breaking technical advancements in film making, and we have much to thank them for. My only (slight) disappointment with the film was the fact that the special effects looked like special effects. However, this was because the technology was brand new, and they had yet to get it down to a fine art. I enjoyed the battle of Naboo (it had elements of the Ewok battle on Endor), and provided a nice touch that we obsessed fans appreciated (I hope). In the original trilogy, the Empire mistrusts droids, and there are very few in service. Palpatine discards the use of them because they are fundamentally flawed – as demonstrated in this battle. The entire army of STAP droids were rendered useless when the command ship was taken out.
But I digress (slightly).
Finally, I loved the slight smirk on Palpatine’s face when the Jedi realise that with a Sith apprentice, there is always a master. And he is out there, unknown…
I loved TPM because it sets the scene perfectly. To me, that was the single most important thing.
It may not have been a perfect film, but it was perfect to me.
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