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.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

P.S.  Han shoots first.

Certificate:

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!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

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

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

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.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Directors: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan (co-director: India)

Release Date: 9 January 2009

Tagline: Love and money… You have mixed them both.

Main Cast:

Dev Patel … Jamal K. Malik

Saurabh Shukla … Sergeant Srinivas

Anil Kapoor  …  Prem

Freida Pinto … Latika

I’d like to start by mentioning the cast. The above list is really not fair – the children who play the main characters through much of the film are superb and really make the film.

Slumdog Millionaire has been referred to as ‘The feel-good film of the year’. In many ways this is just not true. Yes, the ending is uplifting and leaves you very happy, but the scenes of abject poverty and cruelty are anything but. Yes, Jamal lifts himself out of his awful childhood but most don’t,  and it’s very hard to watch knowing that countless children (and adults) live in such conditions. I spent much of the film feeling extreme sadness.

An absolutely unmissable film.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Director: Thomas Alfredson

Release Date: 10 April 2009

Tagline: Eli is 12 years old. She’s been 12 for over 200 years and she just moved in next door.

Main Cast:

Kåre Hedebrant … Oskar

Lina Leandersson … Eli

Per Ragnar … Håkan

Patrik Rydmark … Conny

Let the Right One In, is, in a word, stunning. It’s going to be hard for me to tell you quite why it is, so bear with me. It is a story about love, loneliness and finding your place in the world. It’s a very tender and innocent film despite the fact that it is a film about a vampire. Indeed, to describe it as such is doing it a great disservice. It is so much more than your average vampire film. In fact, it’s not really about that at all. It’s about Oskar and Eli. Two children who are outcasts and share so much in common despite their obvious difference. You could even describe it as a love story.

It’s not like watching a film. Both Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson are so utterly perfect that it feels like you are watching real events. I can’t remember the last time I saw two young actors that are so talented and natural. And their on-screen chemistry is a joy.

It’s beautiful, touching and sad, and it deserved to be shown in more cinemas than it was. I live in a city, but neither of our cinemas (Vue and Odeon) showed it. Doubtless, there is not much money in showing ‘foreign’ films when most cinema goers lap up the Hollywood crap that is churned out at a frightening rate. I shake my head at those who say that they don’t watch a film to read. I bet the same people don’t read books as ‘if it’s any good they’ll turn it into a film’.

Rubbish like Marley and Me plays for weeks, but LTROI wasn’t even given so much as a single screening. I was fortunate enough to be in London during its release and was able to (after some searching) watch it there.

Wonderful.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

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?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Release Date: 18 May 2001

Tagline: Love. Betrayal. Death.

Main Cast:

Emilio Echevarría … El Chivo

Gael García Bernal … Octavio (as Gael Garcia)

Goya Toledo … Valeria

A horrific car accident connects three stories, each involving characters dealing with loss, regret, and life’s harsh realities, all in the name of love. And bloody marvellous it is too!

Although there are three stories, it never gets confusing as they overlap beautifully.

It’s not really possible to go into it any any great detail because it would take far too long. The above is really all you need to know!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

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.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

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!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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!