sue-74122

Loved this. I don't understand reviews that criticise it for being dark and bleak. Dickens was dark and bleak, and very angry at the state of England. It is a mistake to see his stuff as romantic and cosy Christmas fare. From the very opening scene of a boy pissing on Marley's grave, we are alerted that this adaptation is close to the bone. It is visceral acting that shines a light on the human condition, and brings this story into the 21st century. I don't have a problem with the swearing, and do not find the language out of place, as some have argued. Dickens wrote for the common man, the man on the street - literally, as his stories were read out in instalments to groups that gathered round to hear. They were often working class, whose language was vernacular, earthy and very like we hear here. This is A Christmas Carol revivified, made fresh for today's audience. Lenny Rush as Tiny Tim is a revelation, gorgeously acted. There is a tragic beauty to his scenes that takes one's breath away, contrasting with the schmaltz of earlier productions. Guy Pearce gives a rather sexy (dare I say it?) edge to Scrooge, who I always thought of a musty old codger. Here, he is lean and austerely elegant and has a whole philosophy of life that has the ring of truth to it. The age-old problems of profit at any cost is brought home in a series of apocalyptic images, to the haunting Welsh lullaby 'Suo Gân'. It isn't only Scrooge who is brought to his knees. Go on, dim the lights and settle down to be horrified, intrigued, mesmerised. And, yes, moved. Everything a good ghost tale should be.

A cross between Borat and Fading Gigolo. A superhero movie where the superheroes are an Israeli and a Palestinian. Go figure. Many moments of laugh-out-loud rollicking good fun. Ludicrous, insane, outrageous, ridiculous and just very funny. No, it certainly doesn't pass the Bechdel test. Worse, the women, and there are many, all seem to have scripts that require them to swoon at the sight/touch of Adam Sandler's gyrating crotch and buttocks that can catch a flying fish. But who cares? Time to put all sensibility to one side and have a good belly laugh.

Well, I finished it. But really. How hysterical and insanely weird can one girl get? It was just unbelievable that anyone would behave that way. It became rather laughable. One thing: if you are hiding in the woods from a homicidal man with a gun who is very keen to find you, you do not shout at the top of your voice during an extended and entirely unnecessary argument with yourself. In an echo chamber. And on the subject of characters being believable, what WAS John Cusack? A reluctant killer? Homicidal maniac? White collar worker turned to the dark side? Sweet chap really, who is just a bit clumsy when around guns? Therapist/ psychologist? Make your mind up. I don't know what is going on with Sky movies. It seems they show any old crap in order to fulfil their mission statement to put on a new premiere every day. A Channel 5 afternoon movie at best.