Reviews

Werewolf movies (excepet An American Werewolf In Paris) never disappoint me and this is my ultimate film in two ways. It's my favourite werewolf movie and it's my favourite Stephen King movie.

Marty is a young teenage boy who is disabled and is in a wheelchair. The fact that a lot of their parents attention is directed towards Marty caused resentment in his older sister, Jane. Marty himself is frustrated with being treated as a child and relies on his Uncle Red to make him laugh. Red, who spends most of his time getting married, then divorced and then drunk loves his nephew and the two are close. Red makes petrol powered wheelchairs so that his nephew can go anywhere he likes. Then one day a young pregnant woman is mauled to death in her bedroom. As more and more of the townsfolk are killed by an unknown assassin Marty works out that it could be, according to the date of the murders, a werewolf. He confides in his Uncle Red that that's what he thinks it is. But is laughed off. Then, as a firework display is cancelled due to the murders, Red gives Marty some fireworks and the boy creeps out of the house in the middle of the night to set them off, and finally Marty see's the werewolf. Setting off a firework it hits the werewolf in the eye. His sister Jane notices that Marty is unnaturally quiet and asks him what is wrong. Marty tells her and Jane and Marty convince Uncle Red what is going on in their little town. He doesn't believe them but soon has no choice but to! And the biggest surprise is who the werewolf is! I love this movie as I love the relationship between Marty and Uncle Red. YOu get a sense that both of them pretty much live for one another and give each other a sense of meaning. Red pretty much has nothing but drink and Marty loves Red for the sense of confidence he gives him. It's great to see their relationship.

This film is a must see Stephen King movie. It took me a while to track down the DVD. It's not that readily available on DVD in the UK and you have to find it online but it's well worth the wait. I'd highly recommend it. I gave it 10/10.

For UK Readers: This film is most regularly aired on Sci-Fi though it hasn't been aired for some time.

I enjoyed Rose Red hugely. Although it was one of the longer Stephen King adaptions, you don't really notice. The story revolves around a group of physic's (all having different abiliites) who are joined together by a female professor who becomes obsessed with Rose Red. By gathering all of these people together she hopes to discover the mysterious secret behind some disappearances in Rose Red. In the past ten years we have seen several haunted house movies such as 'The Haunting' and although they are good they depend on special effects and there isn't always the forming of decent and likable characters which you always get in Stephen King's movies and TV adaptions. In Rose Red there are characters you will definitely like and others you will hate. But that is what good films are about. Making you think about things and care, or not, for the characters you are watching. Rose Red is an enjoyable story that although not the scariest thing you'll see, has something really creepy about it that you just can't put your finger on.

Stephen King movies are a funny thing with me. I either really love them or I loathe them. Some of the fancier productions (such as Desperation and Storm of the Century) I didn't enjoy. Some of the smaller ones, I really loved. Sleepwalkers is one that I really do enjoy and watch it regularly.

The story revolves around Charles Brady and his mother Mary. They are Sleepwalkers, shape shifting creatures who although human like in appearance shift into a feline like creature. They are immune to the scratch of cats and whenever they move to a new town, lay out traps to catch and kill the animals. When they move to their latest town, they need to seek out a virgin and when Charles finds one, he actually falls for her,but his mother needs to feed from her to keep up her strength. The story revolves around what will happen with the girl. Will Charles spare her or use her to save his mother.

Although this story has overtones of incest which some may find unappealing it does actually play a part in the story and is therefore not just plonked in the movie for scandal's sake. Like most Stephen King stories it's based in a small town with lots of interesting characters. The acting isn't the best, nor are the special effects, however, somehow, the whole thing tends to 'gel' and is very watchable and enjoyable adaption.

For UK readers: This production has most recently been shown on BBC1, Sci-Fi and Sky Thriller/Horror channels.

Having watched 'An American Werewolf in London' last night I was stuck thinking when the last really decent werewolf film was made. At the time I thought that there were none since John Landis's film of perfection. The only film that initially sprung to mind was Wes Craven's 'Cursed', which is a heap of rubbish.

Then while scanning through my DVD collection I remembered Ginger Snaps and what a great film it was. This time the film has females as the main characters. Usually in these types of films the lead is a male (just like An American Werewolf in London'.

I loved how the girls were outcasts in their social groups long before Ginger was bitten by a werewolf on the night of her first period. THe two sisters are close and when Ginger starts to grow excessive body hair and is having mood swings Bridgette has to try and figure out a way to save her sister from the beast that is growing inside her.

It's a really cool, dark and at times darkly funny film. THe acting and special effects are cool. It's just a shame here in the UK that it's only ever played on the Sci-Fi channel. I think it deserves at least a occasional airing on SKY MOVIES or something.

I have to say, though, I was hugely disappointed in the films sequels. The first sequel, Ginger Snaps: Unleashed is so so but the third film, Ginger Snaps: The Beginning is dull and the series had lost it's lustre.

But I'd highly recommend the original. You'll love it.

It is very rarely that I rate something 10/10. However, after watching the DVD for the zillionith time today I can't describe how much I enjoy this production. Putting aside who you think Jack the Ripper was, 'Jack The Ripper' is lavish, colourful and lively, and easily beats some of the cinema's Jack The Ripper Films.

Michael Caine is great as lead Detective, Abberline. Being from London himself he slipped easily into the role of the main Detetctive. I also like that it's hinted that he is a alcoholic. It's good to see in some scenes that he beats the temptation to dive into the bottle, even when the case gets really rough. Lewis Collins, as his sidekick, Godley was marvellous also and I don't know if the men got on in real life, but they certainly gelled together extremely well on the screen and their characters were close too. Lysette Anthony was a gem as Mary Kelly, and Susan George played Kathy Eddows with consideration and sensitivity.

The Whitechapel set is brilliant and I love how they don't go OTT on the famous misty appearance as on none of the nights of the real murders was London covered in fog. It's very convincing and in fact, is superior to the set used for 'From Hell'. The costumes were accurate a joy to watch.

I liked how the murders were treated with sensitivity, and the murder scenes were not over the top in gore.

One aspect of the film that did not work well and which slowed the production down was the affair between Abberline and Emma Prentice (Jane Seymour) the official artists for the newspaper that was in the film, 'The Star'. I found the scenes not always unnecessary but it slowed the film down to a plod and it's hard to believe that a woman from the upper class such as Emma would even mix with someone like Abberline, let alone bed him which she did in the film, although thankfully it was only shown briefly.

The whole drama was full of suspense and the ending, where a fake murder was set up was high in tension and on first viewing was excellent. You get a choice of four or five men who, just before this fake murder is due to happen, all leave their places of work dressed in dark clothes carrying parcels which could be the famous Gladstone bag that the Ripper supposedly kept his knives in. Each man is a potential Ripper, but when you see who the Ripper is, it's cleverly filmed so that you realise it was none of the men put forward as suspects.

I would highly recommend this drama. It's four hours long or thereabouts but is very enjoyable. You can get two versions in the UK on DVD. A normal straight forward version, and one with extra's on. I'd go for the latter as it has a great lot of footage showing the production before Micheal Caine was hired when Barry Foster was Abberline.

Over all a good, historical piece of drama. In my mind it far outweighs 'From Hell' which follows the same story line. If I had the choice of the two, (dispite Johnny Depp being in 'From Hell'), I'd choose Jack the Ripper every time.

If this movie had been made as a new film in 2006 I would of enjoyed it much more. However, as a remake it was dull. It certainly isn't the worse in the current trend of remaking movies (The Amityville Horror can take that title!) you do have to wonder why these classic films are being remade when the end result is a poor shadow of the original films. (I'm hoping The Exorcist is not remade!).

The story is pretty much the same as the original. The small Damien does not like entering a church, his mother is depressed at becoming pregnant again and his father is still a Ambassador to Britain. However, the lead characters are uninspiring. Liev Schriber, although a wonderful actor, does not do the character of Robert Thorn any justice at all. But then Gregory Peck's boots were hard to fill and I just don't think any actor could of done as good a job as him. Julia Stiles also is a let down as his wife. In fairness, Mia Farrow doesn't do a bad job as Mrs Baylock, however, she laced the menacing personality that Billie Whitelaw brought to the original film. Mia Farrow plays sweetness and light and somehow it does not work. The biggest disappointed was the young boy picked to play Damien. He seemed, (I'm sure no fault of his own) to be menacing all the way through, yet the young boy in the original movie did not do this only bringing on the scary stares and cruel face when he needed to. There is a fair distance from looking sulky and menacing and this boy failed to bridge it.

The film did, however have it's good points. I liked how they included apes in the zoo scene. So distressed where they by Damien they tried to break through the glass and that was frightening in itself. And the famous scene, where Damien's previous nanny hangs herself at his birthday party is just as distressing as in the original.

What I can't get over is the locations used for the England scenes. As a Brit it was annoying. The Thorns lived in a grand house. Fair enough, we have those here. But, in one scene you can see the London Eye in the distance (the huge ferris wheel on the Southbank) but if you look at the size of the house and grounds, no way would you get that much greenery on a estate that is in theory that close to central London. It's hard to get past things such as these and it does tend to get annoyed at these basic inaccuracies.

I'd say that if Omen had been made in 2006 as it's own film it would of worked but when compared to the original (and you can't help but compare) this fades into oblivion. To today's gore loving audience it will be a great film, but to me, it lacks the feeling, emotion and menace of the original. It has none of the darkness of it. And I am being rude here, but Robert and Kate Thorn come across as rather smug and you don't' really care if Damien is the devil child or indeed, what happens to them as a family.

If your weighing up which Omen to watch, I'd say watch the original. Or indeed, if your watching both watch the old one first and then the new one.

Lets just keep our fingers crossed that they are not going to remake Omen 2 or Omen 3. That would be terrible. But I'd glady watch a remake of Omen 4. Any remake of that would be a vast improvement on the original.......

On the surface the idea of Omen 4 was good. It's nice to see that the devil child could be a girl. In fact, sometimes, as in the Exorcist, when girls are possessed or are devilry it's very effective. But in Omen 4, it stunk.

Delia does not make me think that she could be a devil child, rather she is a child with issues. Issues that maybe only a therapist, rather then a priest could help. She does not look scary or devilish. Rather, she looks sulky and moody.

This film had potential and if it was made by the same people who had made the previous three films it could of worked. But it's rather insulting really to make a sequel to one of the most favoured horror trilogies, as a made for TV movie special.

On so many levels it lets down. It's cheap looking, the acting is hammish and the effects are typical of a TV drama. The characters do not bring any sympathy, and you do not route for them. I recently re-watched it after someone brought it for me for Christmas, and it has dated appalling.

If your thinking of watching this, then I would suggest that you don't. Watch one of the others, or watch the Exorcist, or watch The Good Son. Just don't waste your time on this drivel!

I am sure this drama has disappeared under the shadow of James Cameron's Titanic but I acutaly preferred this to the huge blockbuster. Having only recently seen this movie this week I was impressed. Although the effects are not great, it had, what Cameron's lacked, which was good characters, the main ones had their own stories, but it was done in a moving way, but without being over syrupy like Cameron's characters were.

I love George C Scott as the Captain of the Titanic. He was always a classy actor and this is the same as anything else he is in. I was pleased to see TIm Curry in the production as well, and having only seen him in comedies (except IT) it was nice to see him play a rather shady and less then virtuous character. Catherine Zeta-Jones was marvelous in this show too. Pretty as always she really did manage to tug at the heart strings playing a young woman in mourning, not only for her late aunt but for a love that was cruely denied her. Although I was surprised that UK Channel Four, at just after two in the afternoon showed a love scene, but hey ho, the world is changing! Although a event such as the sinking of the Titanic would upset most people I found this REALLY upsetting. With Cameron's Titanic it was all about effects. This Titanic concentrated more on characters and you felt for every single one of them. Whether it be hatred (for Tim Curry's character) or sadness for the hundred of third class passengers trapped and locked behind gates. That is what a movie is about. Less of the effects, more of a story where you genuinely feel sorry for the characters and you care if they make it or not.

The costumes and sets were really classy and this version of Titanic was a pleasure to watch. I'd highly recommend it. It was aired in two parts here in the UK and at the end of each one I was in tears. So if you have a few hours to spare and this is on, I'd say put your feet up with some ice cream and watch it. You wont regret it.

Sleeping With The Enemy is a powerful movie about one man's obsession and violence towards his wife and her desperate bid to escape from them. Julia Roberts is very powerful as the abused wife, Laura and Patrick Bergin is cold and malicious as her husband, Martin.

The film has a very strong introduction, in which the scene is set. On the surface Laura Burney has everything. A nice, huge ocean front house and a husband that appears to dote on her. But, as we see all is not perfect. We first see Martin's control over his wife when she is dressing for a party and she is wearing a lovely dress, but her husband requests she wears a slinky, backless number and Laura refers to how cold it is outside. The next scene cuts to them at the mentioned party and she is indeed, wearing the dress he orders her to. Throughout the next few scenes you see Martin and all his control freak ways. She has to line up the bathroom towels as he likes them, puts the kitchen larder in order just as he likes it. There are also a couple of sex scenes too, in which you see Laura barely able to put a face on the fact she is not liking her husband being anywhere near her.

Finally, after a beating Laura realised enough is enough and when her husband tells her they are going sailing, she plans her escape.

The rest of the film shows how Laura changes her name and goes to live in Iowa where her mother, who had suffered a stroke, is in a nursing home. She moves into a huge family sized house and meets a charming and friendly man from next door, Ben who helps her to adapt to a more normal life. Although I like the film, it's in this part that I feel the film starts to drag a slight bit but the performances are still strong.

In the end, her husband who, upon finding Laura's discarded wedding ring, tracks her down using private detectives. I wont tell you the ending but it's a powerful climatic ending to a film that has strength of both character and plot all the way through.

I would highly recommend this film. I feel it's one of Julia Roberts best films and Patrick Bergin is marvellous as the controlling, menacing husband. Although this has Julia Roberts in it, don't' be put off by it if your male, it certainly isn't 'just another chick flick'. It's quite suspenseful and you really do feel sorry for Julia Roberts and feel quite a strong hatred for Martin.

Another film was made a few years ago, Enough, starring Jennifer Lopez. Although it's a good film in a similar vane, I'd recommend watching this one, or at least watch this first if you plan to watch Enough. Sleeping with the Enemy could be copied but I don't think it would be equalled.