staceym

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Reviews

Battlestar Galactica
(2004)

Fast -paced, Excellent Show
I really enjoyed this show. I am not usually keen on things which have been remade, but was convinced that this was the right decision after a few scenes of the mini-series.

The changes made to the original fit very well, including the changes in Boomer and Starbuck and the new cyclons are a clever ploy. I think the series is much more 'realistic' (if you can say that about a sci-fi show) than the original, which was campy to say the least. The characters show real heart and feeling and are just as flawed as the rest of us.

All in all the show is gritty, fast-paced and a welcome change to some other current sci-fi efforts.

Well done!

Lost
(2004)

The Bigger Picture Please...
***Possible Spoiler***

I like Lost, don't get me wrong. The cast? Good. The premise? Good. But what frustrates me most is the lack of concentration on the bigger picture of what is going on on the island. I know that this is a season so they don't want to peak too soon and they hope to have more seasons to fill in the future, but it seems to me that concentrating on each character in turn over 22 weeks is a sure way to get cancelled. Surely it would be better to throw in a 'what's with the island' episode once in while, and I hope that is what's going to happen now that Sayid has gone exploring.

I am still hanging in there with Lost because I think it shows a lot of promise, so we'll wait and see!

The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella
(1976)

A wonderful fairytale romance
I am a long-term fan of this movie. I love musicals anyway, but was totally blown away by 'The Slipper and the Rose'.

The score by the Sherman brothers is wonderful, particularly the Oscar-nominated 'He/She Danced with Me' and all of the cast cope well with the singing, despite most not being singers primarily. Gemma Craven's debut is an excellent one, as she manages to play the very well known character of Cinderella uniquely and with skill.

The movie is well directed by Bryan Forbes and excellently choreographed (Position and Positioning being a prime example), and this rounds out an overall wonderful cinematic experience.

Margaret Lockwood is a joy to watch as the venomous stepmother, but all of the British greats present (Edith Evans, Kenneth More, Michael Hordern, Annette Crosbie et al) add class and gravitas to the proceedings.

Well worth the effort!

Wimbledon
(2004)

Sparkling, Witty Sports Rom/Com
I've been waiting to see this movie since I first heard about the shoot. I love Wimbledon the place, but was also suitably impressed by Wimbledon the movie.

It's been compared to my other favourite sports rom/com 'The Cutting Edge' and I definitely agree. The basic story has been done - washed up pro finds romance with upcoming new star and gets his second wind - but that doesn't mean that it can't be done again, and done well.

Paul Bettany was excellent and I was much happier to see him than Hugh Grant, and Kirsten Dunst played the competitive brat well.

The script had some genuinely funny moments, with Jon Favreau stealing some of the best lines.

We all know how the movie will turn out at the end, but this does nothing to detract from it on the whole. Brain power is not required to watch this film, but that makes it all the more enjoyable.

I eagerly await the DVD release and give Wimbledon 9/10.

Swept Away
(2002)

Not THAT Bad...
Possible Spoiler ***

I was surprised by this movie, as it has been trashed from here to high heaven.

It didn't have much going for it until right at the very end. I found myself quite glad that the ending was not a Hollywood fixer-upper and it did not all work out neatly and in the happiest way possible.

Madonna was OK, but she seemed to be completely colourless throughout. Did her husband not want to light the woman properly? The acting was OK, and it was worth seeing just to see what the fuss was about.

Definitely not a keeper though!

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
(2004)

How Unfortunate.
I was hoping to like this movie, and visually it was stunning, but an excess of style is no excuse for not including a story. The script (whilst having a couple of funny one-liners) was not impressive and in their attempt to make the movie a spectacle any actor direction/motivation was seemingly lost.

I appreciate what the filmmakers were trying to do and the visuals were spectacular, I particularly liked the floating airstrips, but the actors didn't really engage with the scenery. What should have been gasps of awe at the grandeur were merely 'Oh, jolly good'.

The highlight I think was Angelina Jolie and the amphibious squadron, but the rest of the action was really not up to par.

An unfortunate 4/10 (sorry Jude Law, love ya, but...)

She'll Be Wearing Pink Pyjamas
(1985)

'Life Isn't a Rehearsal You Know!'
A group of ordinary British women embark upon the first all-female outward-bound course in the UK. While trying to survive in the outdoors, they also face up to what's lacking in their own lives.

Sounds boring huh?

Well, you'd think that this is a slow-moving dirge, with a group of middle-aged frumps railing against the state of their lives, but for some reason it doesn't turn out like that.

I found the whole group to be engaging. With a complete cross-section of ages and temperaments, they seem to represent the complete dynamic of female society, right through from your granny to your best friend.

Though this is primarily an ensemble piece, Julie Walters as the wise-cracking Fran provides the focus, as she becomes friend to some members of the group yet is an object of disdain for others. All of the women reveal something about themselves during the course, whether it's the feminist who is disgusted that she needs a man in her life, or the young housewife who can't decide whether divorce is the answer, but Fran undergoes a complete transformation from not really caring about the course or the group, to admitting her vulnerability and loneliness and giving the final exercise her all.

The film is not a spectacle, but rather shows women being women, talking about sensitive issues and supporting each other, which I think turns some people off. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would heartily recommend it.

An Officer and a Gentleman
(1982)

A Classic 20 years on...
This movie has certainly survived the test of time, in that it can still provoke a happy yet poignant tear when everything turns out for the best in the end. And that really is the source of its appeal.

College graduate Zack Mayo (Gere) enlists in the Naval Officer Candidate programme to realize his ambition of flying fighter jets, and also to escape a haunted past of his mother's suicide and his alcoholic sailor father.

While training, not only does he have to survive the Drill Instructor (Gossett Jr) but he also recognises the solitude that has been holding him back his whole life. Throw Debra Winger into the mix as the girl looking for a husband amongst the class and David Keith as Mayo's best friend with his own problems, then you have this classic movie.

I have seen this movie many times and it never gets boring. Richard Gere is at his most powerful here and I don't think he's ever had a better role. The supporting cast is also solid, with Gossett Jr. firmly deserving his Academy Award and Winger proving once again that she is thoroughly underrated by Hollywood.

A firm 10/10 from me.

A Hazard of Hearts
(1987)

Good rollicking nonsense!
I love this movie and have done since I first saw it many years ago.

The script is firmly buried in cliché and is in places laughable (She's about to have the vapours - I'll lay odds on it!) but that only adds to its charm.

An impressive early performance from Helena Bonham-Carter as the spunky country-mouse, and a first look at Marcus Gilbert (phoaar) as the brooding-yet-misunderstood-and-hunky Lord Vulcan provides the energy of the movie, but the old guard (Diana Rigg, Stewart Granger, Anna Massey et al) provide the seasoning which makes this a most palatable effort.

I have now seen this about a hundred times and can practically talk along with it, but it never gets old, never gets tired and the DVD will be my next purchase (I *shall* have it!).

Dancin' Thru the Dark
(1990)

Stunning, yet unappreciated...
I love Dancin' Thru The Dark and have done since I saw it on the BBC several years ago.

It's hard to pinpoint what I like best about it, but I think a lot of it comes from the brilliant and funny script, the excellent choice of unknowns to play the leads and the atmosphere of the whole thing - I think we all know local dives like Bransky's!

The soundtrack also stands out for me, with three excellent songs written by Willy Russell and sung by Con O'Neill (So Many People, Shoe Shine, Dancin' Thru The Dark) who shows a considerable musical talent.

All in all, I'd watch this movie all day and wish it was more widely available on DVD - if only to let more people see Bernie stick her foot in the men's toilet!

A Classic - 5 out of 5!!

The Cutting Edge
(1992)

A Nod to the Rom/Coms of YesterYear
The Cutting Edge is a classic movie and one which I never get tired of watching.

The chemistry between Moira Kelly and D.B. Sweeney really sells this picture, even before you see the impressive scenery and fantastic skating sequences.

The script is filled with quotable gems, (It's not like his nose was perfect) and what could be a fairly thin story (that, OK, has been done before) is lifted firmly out of the cliche zone by first class direction, a thumping early 90's pop soundtrack and breathtaking choreography.

I can't fault this movie - it's one of my top five - and would recommend it as a family favourite.

This movie gets a very enthusiastic 10/10 from me.

Lost in Translation
(2003)

Insomnia? They should have watched this movie...
I was extremely disappointed by this movie. I stuck with it to the end to give it a chance but, unfortunately, it never got any better (or any less pretentious).

The only good point was, I think, the cinematography which beautifully captured both the flashy excitement of Tokyo and the serenity of rural Japan, but while the scenery caught my attention the characters, sadly, did not.

I felt that there was not enough of a story to engage my interest, and for those who think it's because I 'didn't get it', I'll say maybe not, but I'm happy with that.

Lost in Translation was, overall, a bad experience for me and when the main characters had trouble sleeping, they should have rented this movie.

I'll Be There
(2003)

Charlotte Church = Nice Surprise
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and unexpectedly so. I am not Charlotte Church's number one fan, but all the same she was not as bad as people seem to think, and it's criminal that this movie was in and out of theatres almost straight away.

The plot is, I agree, similar to 'What a Girl Wants', but I think that they are different enough that you could see both and be quite happy.

Craig Ferguson was excellent, all the more so as he wrote and directed, and Joss Ackland and Jemma Redgrave contributed to a solid supporting cast.

I'd definitely give 4.5 out of 5 for this, only knocking off .5 as Imelda Staunton and Phyllida Law were somewhat wasted.

To Be the Best
(1991)

What a disappointment...
After watching A Woman of Substance and Hold the Dream, this final installment was a bitter let down. I don't know why Jenny Seagrove was not in this, but the usually excellent Lindsay Wagner was on auto-pilot as Paula O'Neill and Anthony Hopkins was wasted in a pointless role. Can you tell I didn't like it yet?!?

A wafer-thin plot, totally ignoring the best parts of BTB's book and a decidedly dicky script did not redeem this - well, I don't know what to call it really.

The whole thing also looks very dated, even though it was only filmed in 1992 - it looks more like '82 to me!

I would advise people who have read the books to stick to the books and the first two mini-series and avoid this one like the plague!

Hope & Glory
(1999)

Knowing when to stop is a good thing...
Despite the title of my comment, I would like to point out that the first series of this drama was an excellent piece of television. The writing talents combined with a stellar cast including Lenny Henry, Amanda Redman and Phyllis Logan seemed really committed to this modern tale of a failing comprehensive.

It was provoking and thoughtful and brought some difficult subjects to the fore, such as the culture of failing schools in Britain, mix-race relationships (shouldn't be controversial, but for some reason still are in TV-land) and the difficulties faced by families coping with poverty.

The second series was a complete about face, however. Where the first series was concise, the second was muddled. Where some of the lead actors had not returned, there was no clear explanation as to where the characters had gone. The difficult subjects tackled seemed to become trite and end of the series was just baffling, it seemed that where it tried to shock it merely left the audience looking at each other and saying "Oh, is that it then?".

I would recommend the first series as an example of what TV drama should be, but unless you want to be disappointed, leave the second series alone.

Shining Through
(1992)

What did they do to this wonderful book?
OK, so this movie is not a total turkey, but compared to the source material it isn't in the same ballpark - not even the same sport!

The book 'Shining Through' is a wonderfully nuanced and thoughtfully written novel, in which the author really cares for her characters. None of this came through in the movie and some very important plot points were left out - ones which could have lifted the movie immeasurably.

My advice - See the movie, or read the book. If you do both the movie will come out lacking.

Message from Nam
(1993)

The best of all the Danielle Steel Adaptations...
Message from Nam is my favourite of all of the Danielle Steel adaptations - and I do have them all! I could watch this movie back to back two or three times at least and not get bored.

I can't really express how much I love this film and how much of my day I spend thinking about it! The whole premise and setting seem so... appropriate. The acting is TV movie, but with standout performances from the two leads, who not only seem to fit the parts perfectly, but seem to fit one another too. Not to mention that Ted Marcoux is gorgeous looking... but anyway!

If you get a chance to see it, I would highly recommend a look.

High Heels and Low Lifes
(2001)

On the whole, well worth the effort.
I approached this film with much trepidation, as I had heard no comments - good or bad - about it, and I have to say I was suitably impressed. The performances, particularly by Minnie Driver and Mary McCormack, were spot on, and the script was both witty and original in equal measure. Mark Williams as the acidly sarcastic Detective and Hugh Bonneville as the irate farmer are particular delights. On the whole (though a little slow to start) this film is funny, original and well worth the effort.

The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
(2000)

One of the best TV movies I've seen.
It's rare that I sit down in front of the TV specifically to watch a particular programme. It's even rarer when I actually enjoy the programme in the end, but Last of the Blonde Bombshells was one of the best movies I think I've seen.

A remarkable cast, led by Dame Judi Dench and Ian Holm, and an excellent, witty and poignant script combined to make it a truly rewarding experience. I can't really express how good I thought it was, so I won't try, I'll just say, if you get the opportunity, PLEASE SEE IT!!!! I only hope it comes out on video.

Till We Meet Again
(1989)

Remarkable!
Well, I thought this was quite good. As a rule, TV mini-series can be pretty hit-and-miss, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

A good pre-Friends performance from Courteney Cox, who proves that she can act and a brilliant cast on the whole. Isn't Barry Bostwick just dreamy??

Anyway, if you want to see one book adaptation, then see this one! Go on! See it!

The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous
(1997)

Surprisingly Good!
I saw this before I read the Jilly Cooper book, so had no comparison, and I liked it very much. The plot is amusing, and sometimes highly superficial, but Stephen Billington makes a perfect Lysander, and Hugh Bonneville is delightfully cuddly as Ferdie - bless!

All in all, despite the characters being too sexy to be true this is a pleasant enough romp through the Rutshire countryside and a few hours of pure escapism.

Get the girls round, have a bottle of bubbly and a great big gateau, sit back and enjoy

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