Reviews

The film was very entertaining, with Hugh Jackman particularly good. Patrick Stewart was very well cast as Prof. X, etc. etc.

But I did feel at the end of the film that the whole adventure didn't amount to much, because the most of the film was taken up introducing the characters and then the whole scene with the Mutant school. This was inevitable, I suppose, because it was necessary to make all the right introduction as a movie separate from the comic books. But I did feel slightly unsatisfied when it finished.

Maybe this was intended, because it seems certain that there will be sequels, but I would have liked to see a slightly longer story.

Watching this film was a delight, but I could not watch it in the cinema without being slightly irritated by the other people laughing. It was supposed to be a drama, but some people laughed so much I was starting to think that they were misinformed about it's thematic content. The scenes with the martial art, with the characters flying through the air (gracefully, I might add) during duals, seem to provoke the most laughter. I just hope those people didn't think this was some kind of spoof on the Hong Kong martial art films.

Crouching Tiger was a film that many lovers of Martial art films have been thinking about. However, until now, there has not really been a director capable enough, with sensitive enough control of acting and story, to truly capture the myth and magic of martial art. But Ang Lee is a director who understands both the western and eastern culture, and he knew exactly how to allow the westerners appreciate what he must have loved as a child.

But I just wish it had been a more general release so I could have watched in a quite empty cinema, on my on, on a Tuesday afternoon, instead of in a packed cinema on a Friday night with people who thought it was 'kickass martial art film'. Groan.

I've been recently seeing so many good adaptations of classical novels into mini-series, that I am becoming convinced they should never be made into feature length at all. I saw this on video all at once, which was almost six hours long. But, I could not stop watching. The character and plot developed so well, it was like reading a novel in one go. I don't often have the endurance to read a novel in one go. I must be honest I have not read 'Our Mutual Friend'. Often, when I see an adaptation of a novel, I want to read the novel. But this adaptation was so satisfying that I didn't really feel that need.

The performances were slightly varied in style, which seemed to suggest that it was the actors who had the control, not the director. David Morrissey's Bradley Headstone was very realistic, portraying him as a kind of ready to burst, angry and passionate man, as his face often changed color with anger, despair, passion and fear. So Keeley Hawes as Lizzie Hexam, being intimidated by and scared of Headstone was believable. I'd seen Keeley Hawes in the 'Begger Bride' before this, and I was fairly impressed by her portrayal of a completely virtuous character. She easily portrayed the mild, beautiful, and so very modest girl.

This adaptation also had the biggest TV role for Anna Friel at the time. And she was surprisingly good, and I always will expect her to play the feisty role, which is not a bad thing.

So, nice one.

This is an underrated, decent little thriller. It probably cost peanuts compared to 'Speed', and the Elevator bit in this film was just as exciting as any I've ever seen.

Paul McGann isn't exactly an action hero type. He's just a bit too nice to be an action hero. But how many British actors match up to someone like Bruce Willis, so I guess he was as good a choice as any. I think it was a good thing that he was a sensitive, slightly wimpy with the asthma, and afraid of heights, because this made him a much better Romantic Hero. He, boyishly attempting to ask Susan Lynch out, and she swearing at him, was funny and sweet.

The film ending without solving any of the problems of the residents of the building (I mean that mean kid was never punished), but ending with Chrissy agreeing to go out with Rob, seems to imply that this was just a Romantic comedy all along.

I'd switched on the TV because I couldn't sleep, and a film had just started. It was around 1am, and they don't usually show this kind of feel good movie around that time, so the film was very welcome.

I'd never seen James Edward Olmos in a film before this one, or I didn't remember him because I must have seen him in Bladerunner. So I didn't realise that he was such a decent actor. He's got such a common face, like a farmer, so this charismatic performance was surprising.

Anyway, it was a cute little film, and it is worth watching if you've got nothing better to do.

I am in no way criticizing the film by saying this, but what kind of accent is that by Audrey Hepburn. It's not that her performance is bad, no, it's great. But Audrey Hepburn could never sound like she should be in a western. She does seem to try hard at it, but she can't shake away the French/Posh English/Cockney accent. But who really cares in the end. It must be really difficult for an actress to look really good on the set of a western, with all that dust and everything, but she looks real good.

Another reason why I like this movie is because of Audie Murphy. Sure, ol' Burt is a pro at this kind of thing, but he'll never be as cool as Audie Murphy. He's the one with the most conflicts, "My sister, an injian!?!?!", then he goes off drunk to his girlfriend Georgia. When she begs him to marry her, "I'm Drunk, but I not THAT drunk." Ha! Ha!

The film also has genuinely tense and frightening moments, and we owe most of these moments to Joseph Wiseman, playing Abe, the guy with the sword. He didn't even blink, and that eye just stares right at you, but seems to be out of focus at the same time like it's looking right through you. It wouldn't be that surprising to see something like that in recent films, because they've done psychos and demon-possessed aplenty since the seventies. But in 1960, it probably was real scary.

Saying it like the 'injians': FILM GOOD, YOU GO, SEE FILM.

I am a very rare hard core fan of South Korean films. I speak the language because I was born there and lived there for a few years. It's such a pity that the British or the Americans will never understand the humour that is used in South Korean films. If you can understand them, you will know that this film is nothing short of explode-yer-belly funny. Suk-Kyu Han is right now the biggest film star in South Korea, and he's recently starred in a film called 'Swiri' which has broken all records in Korea. Han is marvellous in this film, and he proves his versatility by playing the comical character.

If there are any other Brits out there who can get the Korean humour, I recommend he/she watches this film.

It's the classic Romantic Comedy formula. A man and a woman stuck together without choice, they hate each other, they bicker, they curse etc. Then they fight, realize they're in love, and go all mushy. It's done particularly well here, especially considering the fact that there were no real big names in the film.

Moira Kelly and D.B.Sweeney make an adorable couple, and they have a genuine chemistry between them. D.B.Sweeney looks and acts like a cross between Ben Affleck and John Cusack, playing the cocky, self-assured but desperate ex-hockey player. Kelly is delectably bitchy, playing the Daddy's girl figure-skating talent. Roy Dotrice playing the Russian Coach Anton is also quite hilarious.

Considering how well the two leads performed in this film, it's a shame they having really made it big. They are both good looking, and good actors by todays standards, but they have not made another film since that really stands out. With these sad thoughts aside, I would recommend anyone to catch this gem on TV whenever it comes on, because this film is currently unavailable on Video.

Cute little teenage romantic comedy that is supposed to be based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. There's little resemblance except the plot, but seen as a film, it is both funny, and heck of a lot more romantic that the anti-romantic play that Bernard Shaw wrote. My favourite thing about this film is the quirky characters. The leads are charming enough, but the siblings of the two lead characters, played by Kieran Culkin and Anna Paquin, is used to much better and funnier effect. Kieran Culkin seems to have much more acting ability than his more successful bro. He impressed me a lot in 'the Mighty'. And Paquin is surprisingly cute and funny, which is something I would have expected from her dramatic turn in 'the Piano'. As an adaptation, it's unsurprisingly cruddy. But it's the kind of film I was in the mood for, and it's the kind of film I would have expected from Hollywood. So nice one.

I have to say I did enjoy this film for what it was. I saw the Burton/Zeffirelli production of 'Taming of the Shrew' again quite recently, and I knew that Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles weren't exactly going to replace Taylor and Burton as the leads in my memory. Yet all the kids in the film are appealing, and I can see that boy from 'third rock' is showing some talent for comedy. Also the two familiar faces playing the quirky grown-ups, Larry Miller as the father of the daughters, and Allison Janney as the Guidance Councillor, are very funny. Furthermore, Zeffirelli would never have added those outtakes in his film, which are always welcome in a comedy.

Now, I'm not a big sci-fi film fanatic(I don't even like Star Wars that much!), but this film is probably the best sci-fi film I've seen for a long, LONG, time. The things that I've been most impressed about this film is not the bullet speed camera trickery, or the martial arts imitations or any kind of technical merit it deserved the oscars for. I mean they were great, but as technology advances, they are bound to get better, and we'll soon find more things to go 'whoa' at. The things that I was most impressed with was the quasi-biblical quasi-starwars storyline, the ensemble acting.

Keanu Reeves looked COOL, and fortunately left the bigger dialogues to Larry Fishbreath (with his turn as the Obi-Wanesque Morpheus) and Hugo Weaving (with his cool authoritarian accent). The other actors giving great support are Gloria Forster as the Oracle (Yoda?), Carrie-Anne Moss as the love interest and Joe Pantoliano as the Judas.

The trouble with these kinds of films is that you come out of the picture not horrified by the machine-dominated world idea, but become rather fond of such a situation, and the escapism that it provides. The apocalyptic world is somewhat romanticied by the film.

But who cares when it's so much fun? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Pure escapism!