theojhyman's Reviews

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

5/10

Probably the worst film I've seen in years

20 September 2023

Matrix gets a 9/10 from me.

Matrix Reloaded a 7.5.

Matrix Revolutions a 6.

And this gets just a 5.

There is no emotion, no original action, no special visual effects like they had in 1999 (and technology has moved on in 20 years, or has it?), the script is terrible, it keeps harking back to the original film in order to give us a sense of nostalgia and depth and emotion but it fails to give us any of these things. And Keanu Reeves really looks bored and tired in this. It only makes me realise more and more what I already knew. Wachowski was a one hit wonder with one great movie for the ages. Everything else they have made has been either average or poor. Maybe one day, they will recapture some of the magic they found in the original Matrix and give future cinema audiences something to marvel at but I wouldn't hold your breath!

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Neighbours (I) (2021)

9/10

Deserves major awards recognition

18 November 2021

A heartbreaking and beautiful film anchored by an amazing performance from its young child star. The director, cinematographer, and young actor all deserve major awards recognition and I hope this film is widely seen across the world in cinemas and gets picked up by a major streaming service.

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Dune (2021)

9/10

An extra star for IMAX

25 October 2021

This is just not worth seeing at home on a small screen. But in IMAX, it is a beautiful, visually breathtaking and exciting piece of motion picture art, whose epic scope, cinematography and scenery can only be rivalled by classics such as Lawrence of Arabia or Fellowship of the Ring.

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Palmer (2021)

9/10

Excellent, deserves lots of recognition

30 January 2021

Superbly understated performance from Timberlake, Oscar worthy. Well directed, a great script, and an amazing performance from the young newcomer.

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Radio Flyer (1992)

9/10

Unique, under-rated and magical film

2 May 2020

I only discovered this aged 25ish. It is so powerful, has heart, has emotion, has great themes of courage, love and bravery, and is absolutely unique in its themes of abuse, bullying, brotherly love and childhood fantasy. It pulls no punches and some of it is quite graphic and shocking for today's 12 year old audiences but it demands to be seen by every generation (especially ages 11-17). It really has a magical quality to it, and the ultimate goal of being able to fly is what connects this to Donner's Superman. A film that is rarely seen and hardly known but must be seen by all.

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The Call of the Wild (2020)

7/10

Sweet, innocent, old school movie

20 February 2020

I was actually very impressed with the CGI dog, who became more and more real as the film went on, probably because of how emotionally involved you become with his character. Harrison Ford is great (though in the film for probably 50% of the time). Anyway, it's all about the story of Buck the dog and it's a sweet, lovely, story with an old school feel. The CGI expressions on Buck's face are just slightly hyper-real, as in a bit overly emotive compared to a dog in reality, but it works, and if you like dogs, then you'll love Buck and his adventures in this movie. He gets treated quite harshly and violently at times, but that makes his story all the more emotional at the end. Great for kids aged 7 and up and great for parents who like an old school movie or fans of Harrison Ford too!

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God of the Piano (2019)

8/10

Great performances and compelling story

11 November 2019

If you can get past the disturbing first few minutes, then you're in for a compelling story of a mother obsessed with turning her son into a piano protege and will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. You're left wanting more, but I guess that's what makes the film even more memorable. Great direction and full of promise!

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Green Book (2018)

9/10

Fantastic film, another music themed Oscar nominee

12 October 2018

Just caught this as the surprise film of the London Film Festival. Such a well written drama with heart, soul and comedic touches, brilliantly performed by the two main actors, and given such an authentic 1962 shiny look to the film by the production designer and cinematographer. A truly great true story with themes that all audiences can connect with - namely, music, family, race, sexuality, friendship and love - and Viggo Mortensen probably gives the performance of a lifetime. Will surely rival A Star is Born at the Oscars in many of the same categories.

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Aida's Secrets (2016)

10/10

Emotional, gripping and heart-warming documentary

12 November 2016

At the very least, this is a major awards contender, and at best, and hopefully for its director Alon Schwarz, this is the start of a long and successful career in film-making. A story that reunites two long lost brothers after 60 years apart is utterly heart-breaking from the start, gripping throughout, and heart warming at the end. With a story so personal to its director (as its his own Uncle that this film revolves around), and with such emotional, historic and universal themes (of brotherly love, and discovering the truth about your parents), this will connect with all who see it and is sure to move you, to bring a tear to your eye and to make you think about it and discuss it long after the film finishes. A documentary that seems like a feature film because the story is so gripping, the research so impeccable and the film making so skillful that this only deserves to find a major theatrical release amongst independent cinemas across the world. Look out for it at many upcoming awards festivals. I saw this in London last week and look forward to seeing it again!

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The Artist (I) (2011)

9/10

Best Picture Oscar & Bafta 2012

14 November 2011

Like all the previous positive reviews, mine is exactly the same. Keeping it short and sweet, this film is pure genius and conveys the magic of cinema that so rarely comes across on the screen today. This truly deserves to make the transition from art-house cinema to every multiplex around the world for its ingenuity, nostalgia, comedy, romance, drama, a wonderful score and the huge feel-good factor (i.e. the dog steals the show and could become one of those famous iconic dogs of cinema, up there with Lassie, Lady, Tramp and the Dalmatians!). There are so many magical and memorable moments from this film and you must see it for yourself to enjoy the full treat. It is certain to be nominated in the top Oscar categories and I hope it wins Best Picture. Could be the film of the century, which is funny, as it is set in the cinema of a century ago!

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Knowing (2009)

8/10

A seriously under-rated, shocking and scary movie

25 March 2009

The less said about the plot the better, but I will say that Nicolas Cage puts in his best performance in years and in what starts off looking like it's going to be another typical Nic Cage adventure movie quickly turns into a dark and scary sci-fi disaster movie with essences of The X-Files, Armageddon and the best M. Night Shyamalan thrillers.

The score is also worthy of mention, as it borrows much from John Williams' Jaws, but also reminds you of E.T. and Close Encounters, i.e. a powerful score that becomes part of the movie, rather than just playing softly in the background.

This film will surprise you and it will scare you, if not in its intense and graphic disaster sequences, then in its many spine-chilling scenes of terror when our lead characters are in the woods, in a car or in their own bedroom! This is not a family-friendly disaster movie that has any comic moments like Armageddon or Independence Day, but a more modern disaster movie for our time that you will either love or hate. Some of the audience will laugh at its ridiculousness, but others will find its impact stay with them long after they've left the cinema. To entertain, this film relies on your suspension of disbelief. For a deeper impact, it depends on what you really believe in. At its core, this film is a debate on coincidence versus fate.

The movie plays well on a big screen with big sound, but will not have such an impact on the small screen. This movie may go on to become a highly under-rated, under-watched cult classic or it may spawn a new wave of far more family-friendly disaster movies but with the same theme... it will probably do both! Go and see it... twice.

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Superman Returns (2006)

8/10

Gets a whole lot better on the 2nd viewing

17 July 2006

Warning: Spoilers

A funny thing just happened...

I didn't like SR much, seeing it for the first time on Saturday at the IMAX Waterloo, especially the gimmicky 3-D scenes which made things look very model-like. And did not admire one singles flying scene or believe in it the way I had believed in Reeve's location wire-work which is just so much more realistic to me than the best CGI work.

Then I saw it for the 2nd time tonight at the local multiplex - I sat at the back and watched the reaction from the crowd - 2/3 full - and there was clapping throughout, especially at the end. Perhaps the first time I was just too overwhelmed to take it in as the build up had been so great and taken so many years.

The first time I saw it I gave it a 7/10, but now it's easily 8/10 after the 2nd viewing. This is because I didn't have to watch it, constantly comparing it to STM and being reminded of STM with the over-used STM lines and references. The 2nd time I could watch it as a movie in its own right and enjoyed as its own movie - a great movie - in fact, the best Summer movie since Spiderman 2.

I still don't like the CGI flying Superman and sometimes the CGI close-up of his face is just WRONG. I tried to look out for a good flying shot and the only one I liked was when Superman carries Kitty off to hospital (location wire-work and not computer animated stuff).

Brandon Routh is great (he's no Reeve) and sometimes his Superman is a little forced, with lines that come out sounding too predictable, too rehearsed and unnatural, with far too many posey close-up shots of Superman grinning or almost crying or getting mad or basking in glory. I wanted Superman to say more - he had very little to say - in fact everyone had little to say and perhaps the script was in fact one of the weakest parts of the film. There was great action, sound and fx but too few dialogue scenes which is what made STM (Superman: The Movie) so memorable and helped its efforts in verisimilitude. As for Routh's Clark, he was excellent - but barely in the film at all!!! I want to see loads more of Clark in the next film. He was almost completely ignored, just like his character - especially by Lois. I wasn't put off or distracted by the new suit at all but I still did not like the hairstyle or the funny blue contact lenses and the excessive make-up in some close-up shots of Superman and Clark too.

SPOILER ALERT... You know what, the greatest tension and the best plot point of the film actually came from the boy (who acted well) and whose scenes were far more compelling and exciting than any of the Luthor scenes. I think this new 'son of Superman' storyline actually brings something new and original to the legacy and I'm far more excited about how this will develop in the sequel than any other main plot involving super-villains or Lex's return.

Bosworth was OK as Lois - a good actress - just not quite believable enough as a Lois who has been reporting for years and has a kid. It's true what others have said - Parker Posey would have made a better Lois (maybe cos she looked a little more like Margot) but also because I think Parker Posey was in fact the stand-out performance in the film - she was great - she had some of the best lines - and showed off her acting range with a dry sense of humour and comic timing in the lighter scenes whilst playing it so well when being distressed at watching Superman being beaten up.

Spacey was the obvious choice for Luthor but his performance did feel rushed and his lines never came out with the passion we know he can emit in performances like Seven and American Beauty. He wasn't as insane as Hackman was as Luthor because Hackman balanced those crazy, camp scenes with moments of pure calculated villainy - a good balance for a true evil genius.

Singer has done an amazing job - although I wouldn't mind if someone else did take the reigns on a future sequel but I think, once Singer has gotten over his supposed breakdown and taken a long vacation, he will find the inspiration to create an even greater Superman movie that can come closer to rivalling STM.

I loved this movie so much more the 2nd time and look forward so much to seeing Routh return in 2009, looking more mature and hopefully even more muscular. Anyway, SR was still greater than most summer blockbusters - far far better than ROTS and perhaps only marginally better than Batman Begins. I think Spiderman 2 is probably better than SR and resign myself to waiting for next year's Spidey 3 and 2008's Batman 2 before going crazy once again for Superman in 2009.

On first viewing, I missed Reeve and wanted him back. After my 2nd viewing, I am starting to believe once again that 'a man can fly'.

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Saw (2004)

7/10

Intense, scary & gruesome but goes a little OTT !

18 October 2004

Funny to see an American film come out in the UK well ahead of its US release - SAW is doing pretty well here in the UK. Starting off as a claustrophobic little horror film promises intensity and intrigue, it starts off well as a mystery, as both the viewer and the characters figure out where they are and what is going on. But when the film steps outside of its primary location - a dirty basement cellar - it tries to become a 'Se7en' style murder-mystery, going off at random tangents, introducing many new characters and spreading out its story over several locations, with images of ever-more gruesome murders, dead bodies and extreme trap situations. Some of them are clever, some scary, but others become silly and way over-the-top, both in the scenario and in the script. Anyway, it's still worth waiting around to find out what the hell is going to happen. Definitely more interesting than most horror films have been for a long time, and if you forgive the cheesy script, it's definitely worth watching although the detective part of the story lets it down (is it a horror film or a detective thriller ? - please choose one category - don't try to be both). This is also very gruesome, quite disturbing, and perhaps unique as it introduces the viewer to some disgusting images that have never been seen before in cinema. Go and see it. You may even want to see it a second time as it is crammed with a bit too much for its own liking. Would have worked better if it stayed as a tight, little claustrophobic horror film but it tries to be far more than it really is. Anyway, very ambitious and promises many more things for the director.

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To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

9/10

Nostalgic look back at a time of innocence and corruption

30 September 2004

Always heard many things about this film, but never saw it until this year - 2004. So, almost 20 years on from when it was made, it was great to see a gritty, hard-hitting thriller from a year when most Hollywood films were innocent, fantasy-comedies, sci-fi blockbusters, teen slasher pics and adventure movies.

It kicks off with a very typical 80's beat, but that really got me in the mood for the film - love the music - yes, everything about the film is dated, but to me - that's great - it's very nostalgic to look back at a dark film from the 80's - a thriller that is ultra-violent, talking about crooked cops, corruption and drugs. And at the same time, the clothing and music in the film is so EIGHTIES - but that's what has given the film its place in history.

Petersen is amazing in this movie. A great actor and a great performance. I love the editing, the cinematography, the lighting and use of music. Quite a shocker and disturbing, especially if you view it from an 80's perspective, where this type of movie was still quite rare and ambitious thing to do.

Get the DVD - finally out! Loved the film the first time - get your friends round and surprise them with a film they may never have seen - you'll all end up enjoying this one - especially, since it has that essence of the Miami VICE look about it.

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The Snowman (1982 TV Short)

10/10

A true piece of Christmas magic

24 December 2003

This is timeless animation, in the classic style of traditional animation. The focus is not on the quality of the animation but on the warmth and magic in the relationship between the boy and the snowman. This must not be misunderstood as some might say - a poor quality hand-drawn short animated film that hasn't even got any dialogue - just a young operatic boy singing. This is truly pure magic - a Christmas delight for all children to watch. I have been watching this since I was 4 - it first introduced me to the feelings of sadness and loss on seeing the melted snowman at the end - it was almost a child's first lesson in coping with death. But at the same time, the short cartoon served the purpose of enlivening a little boy's imagination and belief in everything magical. The moment when the boy and the snowman take off into the air is still so uplifting and inspiring. This simple film is one of the best, if not, THE best cartoon ever made. When I look back on childhood, my fondest memories of watching cartoons will be Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs as well as this timeless magical piece, The Snowman.

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Explorers (1985)

9/10

Classic kids' adventure, hugely underrated

6 November 2003

All kids should watch this - between the ages of 6 and 13. I saw this when it came out on video - I was 8 - don't know how I missed it at the cinema - it couldn't have had a big release in the UK. I loved the detail and imagination within this movie - like the one dream that the three boys all share, the sphere they create from their computer, the guard dog they give bubble gum to, the amusement ride seat they turn into their spaceship, with windows made from the fronts of washing-machines and TVs. And our three heroes make a great team. They are all very different in character, yet share that same dream of escape and adventure. Ethan Hawke is the main hero - the one that most viewers will relate to - the average 80's kid hooked on television, daydreaming during school lessons and a huge crush on the girl next door. River Phoenix is his nerdy computer-whiz friend with an Einstein-like crazy father (played by James Cromwell) and Jason Presson is the mature, yet weird kid with a troubled home-life. The magic of this movie is in its innocence and the dreams that the kids are able to turn into reality. The first half is pure 80's kids' adventure movie. The second half becomes pure "Dante", as it dives into 50's-style B-movie sci-fi - exactly what Dante is referencing and sending up, yet paying homage to at the same time. What our heroes find out in space is certainly not what they expect or what we expect. They feel let down by their discovery and in some way, we do too. But there are so many great scenes in this film - the chemistry between the 3 main actors is great - they really bond well together and we get drawn into the film because of Dante's attention to detail in these characters. It's a funny combination of child adventure and B-movie sci-fi but kids will love it, and as you grow up, you learn to see (like many great kids' films) many new details that pass you by as a kid but keep you entertained all over again from a different perspective. A highly overlooked 80's adventure movie, almost as good as The Goonies, but far less commercial, due to Dante's unique approach. Go and see it now, or see it again or watch it with your kids - you will all love it.

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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

8/10

Much better than expected

15 July 2003

Actually very exciting and Arnie was great in it (with the little he had

to do), but the money was well spent and the action scenes were

excellent. Very surprised by the dark twist and cold ending, but

admire that for not being so sentimental and predictable -

although it sets up the premise for a sequel well. Still, unfortunate

not to see Edward Furlong, although Nick Stahl was good and

Linda Hamilton was sorely missed. However, the action was just

great and the film was so much more exciting that any action flick

I'd seen in years - because it was pure popcorn and escapism, no

hidden agendas or deep subtleties - just straight, solid well-made

entertainment and that has been lacking for a while (not the

entertainment, just the well-made part!). I'll definitely go and see it

again and hope everyone else considers it to be a worthy sequel,

although not in the league of 1 or 2, but still one of the top action

films so far in this decade.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

9/10

WOW!...Need to see it again now!

20 December 2002

Hardly a moment's rest in this film!...very little space to sit back and breathe. It goes straight back into the story and the action, introducing the character, Gollum, almost immediately and putting him at the heart of this middle part of the trilogy. So many great points to commend, especially the battle sequences and even more breathtaking I think - the Ents. Aragorn is the great hero of the movie and Frodo, this time, becomes the sad soul or the victim of the film, because of the pain and burden of bearing the ring. The 2nd book was the best of the trilogy, but I'm expecting the third film to be the best of the movies. This lived up to all expectations and was far from disappointing. However, it seemed to be just a little dumbed down for today's audience for two reasons - the complexity of the 2nd book was extremely difficult to put onto film and that the story was so dark, cold, violent and horrific that Peter Jackson felt he had to lighten it up a little with Gimli's frequent comic lines and Gollum's overplayed cute, childlike innocence, which, while ever apparent in the book, wasn't as oveerplayed as in the film. Sad to see that Merry and Pippin have very little screen time in this film. I'm sure the audience would love to have seen more of them, after having become so attached in the first film. Good to see an emotional depth to the character, Eowyn - excellent, although it did overshadow the love story between Aragorn and Arwen. I'd agree with most other reviewers that this film is not as emotionally involving as the first, as it does concentrate more on the action and story development, compared to the first whose main focus was on characterisation and served to make the first film the more moving and compelling of the two. BUT I don't consider any of these criticisms to be faults of the moviemakers. I think they have tackled the most challenging of stories with a standard that is as close to perfection as you can get in cinema. Out of the 2 films, this is the more watchable - I think people will keep going back to the cinema over the next few months to watch this one again and again. Its pacing is much faster and tighter and I suppose it was quite a clever move to end this film much sooner than the incredible cliffhanger ending in the book. Can't wait to see the next one in a year, and I'll add that all other films over the next 12 months will seem disappointing compared to what we are expecting next December! This movie will soon be in the IMDB Top 10, and perhaps Top 5 ?

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Die Another Day (2002)

6/10

This isn't the Bond we know and love

20 November 2002

Something's wrong with this Bond film. It's not a film anymore. It's been turned into a CGI-filled popcorn movie, claiming it is above and beyond the likes of Vin Diesel's "XXX", but disappointingly well below Bond fans' expectations. Starting out with a new twist, the first hour adds a darker touch than normal, delivering on all levels and doesn't disappoint. But something happens half way through and turns the movie into mush! CGI steps in and takes over, the cinematography tries to copy The Matrix, and the action scenes which used to be breathtaking and admirable for their real stuntwork is enhanced by, and even at times, completely replaced by computer-generated effects (the ice-surfing sequence in the middle should never have been allowed in the movie by the producers - the effects are terrible - we're not watching Bond. We're not even watching a stuntman. We're watching a computer-animated character surfing on a wave that's not there at all!) The style and class of the old Bond films and even the smooth flow of more recent Bond films is lost. This movie goes from A to Z delivering everything it thinks the fans want, ending up churning out your big action set-pieces, great sets, girls, gadgets and one-liners by the dozen, but in the end, after everything it's delivered, it remains a let-down, lacking any real magic. The magic's there on screen - unfortunately it's artificially created this time round by hi-tech computers! I say halve the budget for the next Bond movie, work on your script long and hard, DO NOT rely on CGI for your action sequences and put some heart and soul back into Bond. This is not what the Bond fans want. Look back to Goldeneye for some inspiration if you can't look back as far as Goldfinger. Even Licence to Kill will be remembered long after this Bond movie is forgotten. Sorry!

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When the Wind Blows (1986)

9/10

A classic little cartoon of hugely disturbing proportions

26 September 2002

I remember when this was released in the cinemas in 1986 in the UK. It had a fairly small release, yet attracted a lot of publicity. I didn't see it till it was on TV one Christmas - not the right time to show such a film. I was still only eleven or twelve and found it far more disturbing than any Nightmare On Elm Street, Poltergeist or American Werewolf that I'd seen. The fact that the couple are so naive and innocent along with the sweet, old-fashioned comic-book style animation really manipulates the viewer so cleverly, that when the bomb hits and the true tone of the film reveals itself, the viewer is caught off guard just like the innocent couple are. You are plunged into the dark, deathly tone of the storyline and compelled to watch in the hope that this sweet couple will survive, whilst at the back of your mind, always knowing that they have little time left. It still has the same effect now on a third or fourth watching. It's so disturbing to see, yet something so compelling that you cannot turn away or turn off. As an historical piece of eighties cold war/anti-nuclear protest filmmaking, this is a timeless film that should be studied as part of history education when it comes to the 2080's and the world looks back a hundred years on a part of the 1980's that weren't so optimistic. This is a unique film that stands alone in terms of animation and stands out from all the typically optimistic, big and bright blockbusters of the eighties.

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Superman (1978)

10/10

Why isn't this way up in IMDB's top 250 ?

12 September 2002

This is one of the greatest movies ever made - not in terms of Hollywood blockbusters and box-office grosses, but technically, creatively and artistically, this movie surpasses all the blockbusters of today. It is an amazing special effects movie without the technological facility provided by today's CGI. The cinematography is shot with an epic scope, reminiscent of the cinematic styles of Gone With The Wind and 2001: A Space Odyssey. The cast is magnificent and the amazing thing is the lead role of Superman was an unknown actor - this is unheard of now in blockbusters, yet Chris Reeve proved to be the heart and soul of the movie, and his performance, along with Richard Donner's direction, makes this film stand the test of time - an all-time classic for all age groups. We wanna see a 25th Anniversary re-release in 2003 ! Now people - get voting and put this movie up in the IMDB Top 250 list where it belongs.

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Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

6/10

So bad, yet so watchable !

3 April 2002

Superman 1 was such a classic movie, and 2 was almost as great - Superman 3 is not a great Superman movie, but as a piece of '80s American comedy / spoof it succeeds and has some very memorable scenes (notably Chris Reeve as the evil Superman). But Part 4 is just an awful film overall with few redeeming qualities. Reeve's admirable storyline works well, and the double date scene with Superman & Clark is very entertaining (similar to the style of Superman III). But it's when Superman IV tries to get serious and exciting in its action sequences that it fails miserably and becomes a cheesey, ridiculous farce that only succeeds in showing how pointless it was to make the film on such a small budget. The story's not bad and if Donner was directing and you had 100 million dollars you could do it now and create a great adventure movie with some classic comedy scenes and some exciting action sequences. But anyway, it's too late. For all its failings, every time you see it, it's still fairly watchable, mainly because you're always expecting it to magically be better this time around. It's not as bad as everyone makes out and far more creative and original on a 16 million budget than what Batman and Robin did with 100 million! If Batman and Robin's a 3 out of 10, then Superman IV's a 6 out of 10.

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A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

9/10

This deserves a re-release at Christmas

23 July 2001

The fact that Spielberg's AI has not surpassed $100 million is probably because the majority of moviegoing people have become so used to mindless entertainment which doesn't require an ounce of brainwork to put things together or move things along in a film. AI is so much more intelligent that anything else around and the attention to detail, characters and cinematography could not be bettered. Nothing this year comes close to AI. It stands high up in a different league, and it's probably for that reason why it has flopped and certainly deserves a re-release later this year. Look at the blockbusters of the past couple months: Pearl Harbor, The Mummy Returns, The Fast and the Furious, Tomb Raider, Jurassic Park 3 - they just don't make 'em like they used to. These films destroy the name "summer blockbuster" as they don't even come close to blockbusters like "Jaws", "Star Wars" or "ET". The only thing that comes close to a classic blockbuster like those is Spielberg's AI. It bears many reminiscences to Close Encounters, and while it's not as compelling or groundbreaking, I hope it stands the test of time and becomes a landmark film in the history of Spielberg films. Go see it once and if you're disappointed, then go see it again - you'll appreciate it more the second time round. If you loved it the first time, you'll love it just as much the second time. Oscars must be awarded to Spielberg for directing and writing, to Osment for acting, and for cinematography. Well done Steven!

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A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

9/10

Fascinating and compelling - must see it again!

5 July 2001

Saw this on the opening weekend at the Mann's Chinese Theatre - great audience and a great atmosphere made this very exciting - certainly not your usual Spielberg movie - but his magical style shines through frequently, combining with a homage to the work of Kubrick. The movie's fairly gripping, scary and funny and Haley Joel Osment is unbelievable - simply amazing - an Oscar nomination must be guaranteed, and I hope Spielberg's humorous and compelling script is also nominated. John Williams creates the perfect score for this film and the ending is certainly no let down, although inevitably sentimental. There was so much in this movie and I know I'll enjoy it just as much a second or even third time. Within a summer of absolute crap, this stands out so high above everything else this year and even last year. It reminds me very much of the magic of Close Encounters, but it certainly isn't the landmark movie that Close Encounters was. What it does is guarantee that Spielberg's masterful and magical touch will appear again and again throughout the next two decades and that his films will live on in history longer than David does.

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The Goonies (1985)

10/10

Classic for anyone who grew up in the 80's!

27 February 2001

This is a true kids' classic - you just don't get films like this anymore - what's the best this new millenium can come up with? Pokemon! Digimon! Or Dungeons and Dragons, which kids nowadays won't even have heard of. This is a must see for all Richard Donner fans, Spielberg fans and Chris Columbus fans. You could say it's a childlike replica of "Temple of Doom", but much funnier and with a faster pace. Great to watch time and time again - reminiscent of the time when kids actually did things like this and didn't just play on their PlayStation! To all parents - get your kids to watch this - you'll love it as much as they do - in fact, probably a lot more!

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