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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!
Rating: 
Certificate: 
Director: Rob Bowman
Release Date: 21 January 2005
Tagline: She’s the last thing that stands between good and evil.
Main Cast:
Jennifer Garner … Elektra
Goran Visnjic … Mark Miller
Kirsten Prout … Abby Miller
Ok. Everything about this film is terrible. I can’t think of one redeeming feature. It’s so incredibly boring it defies belief. The plot is rubbish, the ‘action’ is so bad it puts you to sleep and the acting is bordering on atrocious. Jennifer Garner is more wooden than a plank, and Goran Visnjic (the rather dreamy doctor from ER) is so miscast it’s untrue. And then there’s that hideous child – but don’t get me started on that.
I can’t believe that even Elektra fans would find this entertaining. In fact, if I was an Elektra fan I’m sure I’d have boiled over with rage. Unless, that is, that the Elektra comic is awful too. I would have turned this off half way through, but I love films so much that I wanted to stick with it in case it got better. It didn’t. I truly believe that this is the worst film I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot.
If you’re a masochist, then go for it and watch this. Otherwise, leave well alone.
Rating: 
P.S. No, that is not a mistake – even 0 stars is being too generous.
Certificate: 
Directors: Yoshiaki Kawajiri & Jack Fletcher
Release Date: 28 September 2001
Tagline: When the sun sets… The hunt begins.
Main Cast: (Voice, English)
Andrew Philpot … D
John Rafter Lee … Meier Link
Pamela Adlon … Leila (voice) (as Pamela Segall)
Wendee Lee … Charlotte
I’m a fan of Japanese animation, and I haven’t seen a bad one yet. Vampire Hunter D is beautifully crafted. The animation is superb and very atmospheric and the story is also very good. However, it is not a traditional vampire movie. It’s a dark film that has depth. The characters struggle with their own personal demons, and Meijer Link is depicted as a vampire with a heart – he loves and is loved in return.
However, I find myself somewhat ambivalent about it.
Personally, I don’t want to see vampires that are capable of love. I want to see them as evil and predatory creatures. I also found it a bit dull and slow at times. I also disliked the talking hand. Yes, it provided a bit of comic relief, but I don’t think the film needed it. However, all of that is just my opinion and it doesn’t mean that the film is bad. Indeed, it is a very interesting take on the subject.
Overall, even if you are not a fan of anime you should find this film entertaining.
Rating: 
Certificate: 
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.
Rating:
Certificate:
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
Release Date: 29 June 2001
Tagline: The greatest fairy tale never told.
Main Cast: (Voice)
Mike Myers … Shrek
Eddie Murphy … Donkey
Princess Fiona … Cameron Diaz
Where to start? What a film! Absolutely brilliant on every level. Perfectly cast, excellent animation, fantastic story and wonderful characters.
Not only is Shrek all of the above, it is also one of those classics that that is irresistable to adults. There are so many instances of ‘nods’ to films that it’s hard to keep track of them.
Shrek himself is a great character. All he wants is to be left alone in his swamp, but his grumpy exterior is soon broken down when he rescues Princess Fiona, and begins to fall for her. Underneath it all, he’s a gentle sole who tries very hard to be a scary ogre, but never really fools anyone.
And then there’s Donkey. Surely Eddie Murphy’s finest hour! He steals practically every scene he’s in. He’s annoying, loveable, and very, very funny. One of my all time favourite characters, it’s hard to see anyone creating anything better.
Basically, Shrek is as near as you can get to a perfect film. It’s only flaw is that it isn’t long enough!
Rating:
Certificate:
Directors: Peter Docter & David Silverman (co-director)
Release Date: 8 February 2002
Main Cast: (Voice)
John Goodman … James P. “Sulley” Sullivan
Billy Crystal … Mike Wazowski
Another masterpiece from Pixar! Excellent story, perfect casting, and fantastic animation. Sulley is a great character; he’s quite possibly the most loveable monster ever (who wouldn’t want their very own Sulley cuddly toy?!) and Mike is the perfect sidekick for him. It’s a classic comedy partnership – the funny guy and the straight man.
As is usual for Pixar films, Monsters Inc can be enjoyed by all ages. I haven’t come across a single person who doesn’t love it, and in my opinion, it’s an absolute must see.
Rating:
Certificate:
Directors: Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich (co-director)
Release Date: 10 October 2003
Tagline: 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. That’s a lot of space to find one fish.
Main Cast: (Voice)
Albert Brooks … Marlin
Ellen DeGeneres … Dory
Alexander Gould … Nemo
Finding Nemo is another masterpiece from Pixar. The animation is truly stunning, and the script is up to the usual high standard. There are plenty of real laugh out loud jokes that make this film enjoyable for all ages.
The casting is wonderful; Albert Brooks is brilliant as the constantly fretting and over protective parent, and it’s impossible to imagine anyone other than Ellen DeGeneres as Dory.
There’s not much more to be said really, other than watch it!
Rating:
Certificate: 
Director: Brad Silberling
Release Date: 17 December 2004
Main Cast:
Jim Carrey … Count Olaf
Liam Aiken … Klaus Bordelaire
Emily Browning … Violet Bordelaire
Jude Law … Lemony Snicket (voice)
First of all, I know I said that I’d rather gouge out my own eyeballs than watch a Jim Carrey film, but I chose to watch this as it not a typical Jim Carrey vehicle (in fact, I’d go so far as to say that he should have third billing behind the two child leads), and also because Meryl Streep is in it.
I found this a disappointing film on several levels. Firstly, Count Olaf is an evil, murderous character, but Carrey hams it up so much that he comes across as more silly than sinister. At the start of the film, much is also made of how Violet is a brilliant inventor, and Klaus a voracious reader who can remember everything he’s ever read. These elements of the characters are sorely underused (although I have to confess that I have never read the books, so it may be that this is, in fact, as it should be).
Sadly, my attention was lost about a third of the way through, and I kept checking how much longer it had left to go, so that I could move on to something better.
A plus point though, are the children. Both Liam Aiken and Emily Browning are very good, and carry the film well.
As an adult who enjoys many chidren’s films, I found this strangely dull and tedious when it should have held my attention. I’m not even sure that the target audience will be enthralled by it.
Rating:
Certificate: 
Director: Brian Henson
Release Date: 18 December 1992
Main Cast:
Michael Caine … Ebenezer Scrooge
And, of course, The Muppeteers!
This is my all time favourite Muppet film, and also my favourite version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. The combination of the mean and bitter Scrooge and the madcap antics of the Muppets works perfectly. Gonzo and Rizzo are a perfect double act and provide some real laugh out loud humour. Michael Caine’s Scrooge is well balanced; a slightly lighter character than in the book but tinged with just enough meanness to make him dislikeable.
The Muppet characters fit Dickens’ characters so well, and it’s almost as if Mr Fezziwig was written with Fozzie Bear in mind; of course, he becomes Mr Fozziwig!
And then there’s the Cratchit family. Kermit plays Bob, and Miss Piggy plays Mrs Cratchit. The children are either pigs (the girls) or frogs (the boys). I love what they’ve done here; I’m not a fan of the sickly sweet Cratchits, but the Muppet Cratchits are perfect!
You can hardly describe A Christmas Carol as humorous, but Brian Henson has created a re-telling of the story that is both true to the book and incredibly funny.
Rating:
Certificate:
Director: David Hugh Jones
Release Date: 5 December 1999
Main Cast:
Patrick Stewart … Mr Ebenezer Scrooge
Richard E. Grant … Bob Cratchit
Tagline:
In just one night, he has seen his past, his present and his future… And they’ve all come back to haunt him.
I love this story, and no Christmas Eve is complete without watching at least one of the two best versions out there; the other being The Muppet Christmas Carol (also reviewed on this site).
Patrick Stewart is perfectly cast as Scrooge and his performance of a mean and bitter yet lonely man evokes feelings of contempt and pity for him.
My only gripe about it is the overly nauseating Cratchit family. Richard E. Grant somehow feels miscast as Bob Cratchit (although my dislike of the actor might be clouding my judgement here!), and Tiny Tim is just way too annoying for me. But then again, I also don’t like cloyingly sweet children, so perhaps it’s just me. I’ve read the book, and the Cratchit family are sickly sweet, but it just feels like everyone is hamming it up just a little too much.
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