Reviews

A strange film. I really wanted to like it more than I did. I think a better delivery would have been to use flash backs, to develop more of a sense of how the childhood influenced the dictator. As it stood, the two time frames were isolated and it left me confused as to how one became the other. The score by Scott Walker is exemplary, though.

The novella focussed heavily on the psychology of running as a personal liberation from the lead character's isolation and social condition, thus explaining the ending thoroughly, and I would've wanted this to be given more of an exposition here. The scene with the Jerusalem choir contrasting with the brutality of the borstal staff is a standout but the music in other parts is a bit of a cliché. Nevertheless, a fine enough watch and a working-class retort to Chariots of Fire.

Another example of where I must have watched a completely different film from everyone else. The character development isn't just lacking, it's practically non-existent; the "great cinematography" is undoubtedly impressive but only comprises of comedy drummers' faces. The message of the film is dishonest and trite. Nothing good I can say about this.

A monsterously twee Sunday afternoon exposition on some tired peripheral British clichés.

A touching story about how everybody falls in love and ends up happy apart from the ugly one who got crushed by a cow.

Don't let its annoying new reputation as a 'video nasty for kids' fool you. This is a beautiful allegory on freedom, rebirth and the use of intelligence in the face of brutality, and captures the book's otherworldly atmosphere as well as an animation of its type could be expected to.