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Reviews
Early Doors (2003)
Just like to mirror what's been said...
I watched both series on the BBC and now own the DVD's. A well crafted comedy with what I would consider instantly likable characters. To pick out one character, would be a dis-service, as all shine. I believe the key to good comedy is the relationship on and off camera between the actors and it's a delight to watch the out-takes on the DVD, must have been a joy to go to work everyday.
Shame it's not too well known, people either shake their head or shrug their shoulders when I ask them if they've seen it. I prefer this to the Royle Family, probably cause I know what it's like to walk into a pub where the regulars are regular. Hoping for more.
Not Only But Always (2004)
Impressive
Fine performances all round, especially Rhys Ifans, who actually seemed to get more like Peter Cook the older the character became. The writing was superb and highlighted Cook's and Moore's extremely volatile relationship both on and off the stage. Having the duo's best character creation 'Pete and Dud' narrate the action was a stroke of genius, one scene in particular moved me, and that was when Moore told Cook he no longer wanted to work with him..it then cut straight to 'narrator Pete' alone in the room calling for Dud and looking around dejected.
One of those films that you wish wasn't on Channel 4 with commercial breaks, it seems to disrupt the flow.
The Last Broadcast (1998)
9/10
Contains Spoilers
Thought this was an excellent documentary/movie. Though I dont believe it is scary enough that you should'nt "watch it alone". Like any good 'whodunnit' there are several clues along the way as to who the killer is. The pace at the beginning is a little slow, but does speed up when around half way we get the first clue as to who the killer is..I dont think many people have mentioned the scene where the guys are discussing where the idea for the Jersey Devil came from..it was the IRC and a letter from a guy with just an initial..that was important.
Thinking about it I wish the makers had not written "these people are'nt actors" at the beginning because as soon as I'd read it I thought everybody would be..but I guess I'm just suspicious like that.
Yes, some of the scenes are repeated over and over, but I thought this was because the film was building up to the climax of showing the re-cconstructed footage..
Manhunter (1986)
My thoughts on 'Manhunter'
Contains Spoiler
I've read most of the reviews and comments left by other users and for those that throw around terms like 'greatest 80's movie' or 'psychological masterpiece', I've concluded that we must have been watching totally different movies.
I have read the book 'Red Dragon' a few times, and I consider it to be a piece of literary genius, unfortunately, in the case of 'Manhunter', it was not brought to the screen particularly well. I was pleasantly surprised, to the film's credit, to see that a great deal of the book was incorporated, however, that's all I can offer as a plus point.
Most of the scenes seemed to be grabbed from the book and just thrown into a screenplay, many details were left out e.g. Dolarhyde's history, planning and execution of killings, it's supposed to be a psychological horror and we don't even know why he's in this frame of mind. (This could easily have been created as short flashbacks of his childhood). The pace of the investigation, subsequent killings, realisations, moves far to quickly to really get into the story, and before you know it Dolarhyde is dead.
To be fair, because the film was comparatively close to the book I stayed with it, but what the hell happened to the ending? It was just ridiculously nothing like the book, can't recall anywhere in the text that said Graham dives through a window and fights Dolarhyde to the death...
Last point, a number of people have said that Brian Cox's Lector (lekter) was excellent and better than Hopkins'. No offence but were you all on something. Lector was written to be a psychological genius, an animal to be feared...Cox played it like a used car salesman and wouldn't look out of place in a 'Carry On' movie..
House on Haunted Hill (1999)
I can think of worse....
After watching the terrible, modern, attempt at re-making "The Haunting", I was surprised to find I enjoyed this film. The pace is quite fast and you don't have to wait too long for the inevitable killings. One thing that struck me (not really a spoiler) is that the characters quickly learn something is very wrong inside the house, as opposed to other "stranded in a haunted house" movies where the last person alive still insists there's nothing wrong.
SO yeah, I can think of worse movies to waste my life watching.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Just read the book..
I saw the film years ago and recently bought it, and the book, so I watched and read at the same time. (not literally). The film is a lot slower than the pace of the book, even though the film leaves out several storylines, but I think it was always meant to gain momentum towards the end as Clarice puts Lecters clues together. Nonetheless a complete classic.
Best scene for me, when Clarice hands Lecter the useless questionnaire, Hopkins leans against the glass of his cell, flicks open the page, licks his finger,winks at her, and gives a little smile.. Who says psychos can't do comedy?
10/10.