Reviews

Unfortunately the target of manifold undeserved ill plaudits, Solo is definitely worth a viewing. Yes, the character of Solo is not the Solo we meet in Star Wars: A New Hope. Nor does Alden Ehrenreich even closely resemble Harrison Ford. Fortunately, he is a good actor and plays the character with empathy. The acting throughout is of a pretty decent quality, something not always seen in Star Wars movies, sad to say. Solo has arguably the best script of all the Star Wars movies and quite possibly the best direction. It works as a stand alone movie away from the franchise: indeed, it is probably the best example of a movie that does this since A New Hope. Summing up, this movie is worth checking out even if you do not like Star Wars particularly. For those of us that do this movie would be even better if a sequel were made that followed the evolution of Han Solo further into the loveable rogue we see in A New Hope. The poor reception this movie received may prevent this happening, but I for one really wish for another instalment of the Solo story.

Not that bad really. Or at least the plus points outnumber the bad points. The major factor in favour of the movie was the inspired casting of Paul McGann as the Doctor. Paul McGann is probably the best actor to play Doctor Who (apologies to fans of William Hartnell and Peter Cushing), and his Doctor has more depth of character than the others. If only he would agree to do reprise the role (or the BBC if it comes to that). The dialogue was not to great, but better than the series frequently had. The same could be said of the plot, however the series also turned out some of the best stories and ideas to grace science fiction in any form, so the film loses out on that point. A popular criticism is the Americanisation and emphasis on high-speed action. Such thins are out of place in Doctor Who, but I believe they are misplaced in this case. The best two examples are the kiss and the car chases. I thought the kiss really added to this Doctor's character, but only because he then left her behind on Earth. Anyone who thought there was too much action obviously cannot remember the Jon Pertwee era when Doctor Who could hardly go an episode without high speed antics of some sort. Who thinks Jon Pertwee was a bad Doctor? No one, and quite rightly too.

The only real disappointment was the way Sylvester McCoy was killed. Doctor Who has got out of more unwinable situations than expendable extras on Star Trek, and needs a special end to each of his lives. This one just didn't pass mustard, although I wish whoever wrote it in does.

All in all the film is not bad, but hardly classic Doctor Who.

6/10

P.S. The new Tardis interior design is stunning.

When it comes to Beavis and Butt-Head probably only those familiar with the show are going to look it up on the IMDb. So to those of you who have...

What is this Beavis and Butt-Head versus South Park thing? And Beavis and Butt-Head being dumb and smart? Making social comments? Trey Parker and, more or less, Matt Stone do that. Very well too. Beavis and Butt-Head was pure gross-out comedy. Both programs are great and guaranteed to crease me up, and along with The Simpsons and American Gothic the only decent fictional TV programs to travel east across the Atlantic.

But my real quibble is: why are the music critiques excluded from the videos? The show just isn't the same without lines like 'if you played this track backwards it would say "this sucks!"'

Oh yeah, great as I think South Park is, and if I had to choose or loose my manhood, then Beavis and Butt-Head would get my vote as the best American show.

"It used to be simple: good on one hand, evil on the other. There was a strugle. And then you people came along - the scientists."

Excellent film about about perceived good and evil from the viewpoint of humanity, and how science is has to be neither. Impartial, and yet with greater power and potential to be used for either. Or is it? Which will win out reason or emotion, or will they corrupt each other?

Or maybe Mister Frost simply a deranged man after all?

The previous lines were to give an overall feeling about the general atmosphere of Mister Frost for those who have not seen it. It is difficult to describe the plot in more depth than in the summary on the main page without spoiling the film, but imagine the confrontations between the possessed Regan and Karras or the doctors in William Peter Blatty's novel 'The Exorcist' that were cut out of the film. There you have Mister Frost.

Basically, if you like your thrillers to be charged with atmosphere and intelligence then this film is definitely worth viewing. Oh yeah, and also if you thought Jeff Goldblum could put in a good performance with a good script, but haven't yet seen it happen. This film is it.

What a load of bollocks.

Everyone seems to die in this film except the ones that deserve it, i.e. the band. Why o why does the band get so much screen time. I can definitely understand how they would drive someone round the bend, but why not just bump them off instead of a few harmless loonies down on their luck.

In fact it is only these loonies that make the film worth watching. Especially the nut at the bus stop, who is one of the funniest characters invented for the big screen. Oh, and the classic quote "what's that in your hand? Oh a drill!"

But those are the only moments worth watching. You would be much better off having a friend who has recorded it (hope you don't know anyone who would buy it) and get him to fast forward it to the two amusing scenes for you.

Excellent all-round from the script through screenplay, casting, and performances of all involved. A film for all those who thought that James Mason only had one voice, whilst Robert Newton out-rogues his own Long John Silver and Bill Sykes.