Reviews

Only Yesterday is a 1991 drama/romance film and is the fifth full length feature under the legendary Studio Ghibli and Isao Takahata's second movie under the studio's name. The story follows a 27 year old office lady named Taeko Okajima who takes her first solo trip into the countryside to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo's city life. As she travels she begins reminiscing on her past, particularly from her time in fifth grade- remembering the struggles and frustrations of being an outsider both in her school life and her family life. As she arrives in the country to begin her agricultural work she becomes increasingly more nostalgic of her childhood self and still fights with the same issues that have plagued her all her life, those being work and love. The film is a surprising change of pace when compared to Ghibli's previous works, the shift from fast-paced fantasy adventures to a more slower, realistic coming of age drama, Only Yesterday is definitely Ghibli's most mature work. The themes of nostalgia, love and work mean that this is an animation mainly aimed for adults. Which is mainly why I have a few problems with the film, the first being in it's flashback scenes and pacing. The film mainly spends the first hour telling the story through flashbacks which at times can drag on far too long, it also feels that the balance between the present and the past is off as either too much time or not enough is spent in one or the other. Even by the final scenes that story didn't really go very far and while Taeko may have grown up and come to many realisations, her character didn't evolve and show these changes on screen. Only Yesterday also manages to do something that no Ghibli film had done to this point- it became boring. While Takahata manages to use some very inventive techniques such as the water- colour effect in the flashback scenes and brilliantly portrays the struggles and hardships of Taeko's childhood. The film unfortunately trudges along at a snail's pace. Overall, Only Yesterday presents a unique, mature and realistic look at a young woman's life, through family, friendship, childhood, adulthood, the good times, the bad times and uses some very inventive and unique techniques to display this through it's beautiful animation, but the pacing is unbearably slow and the story doesn't feel like it's in any different place by the end than where it was at the start. 6/10

Released in 1986 under the direction of the now legendary Hayao Miyazaki and known for being the first full length feature of again the now legendary Studio Ghibli. Too many the film is seen as nostalgic, enchanting and rank highly in the greatest animation films list. However, with this I disagree this isn't just the one of the greatest animation or greatest animation film ever made...It is the greatest FILM ever made. Castle In The Sky completely blew me away to the point of being stunned and left in complete silence by the final scene. Words simply cannot describe how beautiful this masterpiece of a film really is. The soundtrack is possibly the best featured in any film ever, with beautiful orchestral and piano centred compositions capturing the aw and beauty magnificently of the on-screen visuals. The film flows perfectly with each scene progressing the plot and developing the story. Our two protagonists are simply amazing, with the duo having some of the best chemistry ever put to screen and of course while the whole film is simply stunning, the final act is one of the most enchanting, beautiful and magical experiences in film history. I can safely say that this may be one of the only films without a single minor flaw, even nit- picking is near-impossible. The plot follows the story of a young girl who is saved by a mysterious power concealed in her necklace after falling from an airship. She is cared for by a young miner boy who instantly bonds with her and reveals to her his burning passion to find the ancient sky city of Laputa. All while a rowdy group of pirates and a relentless agent ruthlessly hunt the two with the intention of finding and raiding the city. Castle In The Sky also completely surprised me with it's huge, spectacular action scenes and fat-paced adventure theme especially towards the end of the first act. Miyazaki and the Ghibli team completely blew my mind in what they achieved with this anime classic. Castle In The Sky will have you in near tears on how beautifully animated and powerful it is, without a doubt Studio Ghibli's first and best and Miyazaki's magnum opus. Castle In The Sky 100% deserves a 10/10!

In his very first 'talkie' film. Charlie Chaplin proves as he did with his silent work to be impressive and inspirational in this now classic comedy/drama parodying the events leading up to and during the Second World War. The film opens with a Jewish soldier fighting on a fictionalised version of the Western Front for the nation of Tomania. After a near-fatal plane crash, the barber loses his memory and spends twenty years recovering in a hospital, during the same time his country and people are undergoing a radical revolution in the name of a new dictator named Adenoid Hynkel. Considered taboo and even downright dangerous at the time, The Great Dictator shows Chaplin to be more than just an outstanding actor and comedian, but a remorseful and courageous human being standing up to the real world troubles at the time and using his voice as a weapon. This is not just apparent in the beautiful and unifying speech that Chaplin delivers in the third act, but in his depiction of dictators and corrupt rulers. The film will have you laughing, cheering and even crying by the soul-touching finale, which challenges the very concept of human nature and the slow demise of mankind. While Chaplin may have come to pass, his legacy has well and truly lived on in what some consider his finest work. The only minor flaws are a lack of a real soundtrack that could have boosted the emotion, especially in the more serious scenes and some recurring gags that loose their comedic value by the end. 9/10

Without a doubt one of the best films to be released by Netflix. Beasts of No Nation presents the realistic and brutal portrayal of poverty, war and vengeance all through the eyes of a young boy. During a fierce civil war in an unspecified West African nation. Agu's family is brutally murdered after their village, initially in a buffer zone comes under a ferocious attack from both rebel and government forces, this forces him into the jungles to fend and survive for himself until being being captured by rebel soldiers and forced into their ranks, as a child soldier. As the film progresses Agu becomes more and more psychologically and physically scarred by the horrors of conflict. Beasts of No Nation stars Abraham Attah as the young, trouble Agu and Idris Elba as the power-hungry, merciless Commandant who leads the battalion. The story of Agu while tragic presents a thoughtful and powerful evolution from boy to soldier and back to boy. The gritty realistic portrayal of war is a definite praise for the film and it's smart use of cinematography (to point out a particular scene) magnificently shows us the depths and context of war. It's intense and gripping action again captures the feeling of a real life battle and the mix of contemporary and tribal music both motivates and pays homage to ancient elements of conflict. My flaws with the film are a few pacing issues, generally in the first act and a few audio issues, especially in understanding Agu's narration. Beasts of No Nation runs through all the themes and emotions and presents us with a masterpiece of a film, that while uses common elements and themes of war, overall gives us a whole new perspective and point of view of war- through the eyes of an child. 9/10

Released at a time when many of DreamWorks Animation films were either receiving negative or mixed responses from critics and audiences alike. How To Train Your Dragon finally brought the studio back into the spotlight and returned them back to form, with their greatest hit in years and to the opinions of some as their greatest film ever (this is disputed with Shrek 2.) How To Train Your Dragon, is set during an fictional Viking setting, in a land plagued by dragons and the Viking's desire to finally wipe them out once and for all. Here we are introduced to Hiccup, a shy, awkward and weak son of a great viking warrior, struggling to find his place in this world with men fighting for survival. After an attack on the village, Hiccup injures a dragon and begins to track it only to find himself bonding and connecting with the dragon on an emotional level, completely outside the realms and depths any Viking had gone before. How To Train Your Dragon is beautifully animated, with the animation being smooth and crisp and having a unique style for itself. The characters are likable, relatable and their motivations and actions clear (while some may seem a little stereotypical.) The emotional scenes between Hiccup and Toothless the dragon are charming and sweet and the two serve as the story's unlikely companionship, especially the flying sequences which may be some of the greatest looking and heartfelt moments in an animation film ever. The film flows well with the distinct first, second and third act and never looses steam, neither containing unnecessary scenes or wasted screen time. Despite a few exposition and an unfortunate flaw in the accents of the characters, the film is close to perfect- while it may be nit-picking, the mix of Scottish and American accents just don't seem to fit the setting very well and can come off as a bit annoying. As a summary, How To Train Your Dragon is gorgeously animated, charming and sweet to the core and has a very well developed plot as well as being a great return to form for DreamWorks Animation. 8/10

At a time during the late 80's and early 90's when anime was mainly finding it's fan base worldwide, a spree of now classic traditional Japanese cel animation films were released beginning with Akira in 1988, followed by Ninja Scroll in 1993 and two years later, Ghost in the Shell. Set in the year 2029, when technology now has made major advancements and is essential to everyday life, the most prolific forms of crime come in the form of hacking and cyber attacks. Major Motoko Kusanagi and her assault team are assigned to capture an elusive hacker known only as The Puppetmaster with the aid of a rival agency, Section 6. What is most impressive about Ghost in the Shell's story are the philosophical, subliminal messages that are questioned, with queries and themes based around the meaning of life, understanding existence and the perceptions of being human. These deep layers give us insights into our ever changing world as we become more and more demanding and dependant on our technological advancements. Our introduction to the world in the opening credits with the beautifully haunting and hypnotic scores of Kenji Kawai, a mix of an ancient and contemporary sound working with the gorgeous visuals of the cyborg creation of Motoko, help enforce these themes right from the start almost playing out like an illusion or dream. The gritty, dirty and realistic cel animation as always looks magnificent, even by today's standards, the animation is smooth and crisp and the plot flows well with a distinct first, second and third act. While the film is visually and audibly near-perfect, The plot can seem a little bit confusing and unfortunately left me scratching my head and having a hard time comprehending what is actually happening away from the main story. The movie also seems to rely on some exposition, which may have been better explained through scenes therefore leading us as an audience to have a better understanding of the rivalry between Section 6 and Section 9 and the world issues as a whole. As a summary, Ghost in the Shell is visually stunning, audibly enchanting as well as both eye-opening and thought provoking and definitely one of the better anime films, however it's complex plot and heavy exposition just slightly hold it back from being one of the masterpieces of animation. 9/10

The final part of the original Wallace & Gromit trilogy. A Close Shave packs the charm, humour and love that we had for the previous two in an all new adventure. This third part gives us a shift in tone and change of theme, briefly delving into horror and thriller elements (intended as a parody) while retaining its comedic and childish subject matter. The story follows Wallace's latest line of business, window-cleaning and his collection of quirky new inventions. While on a job he meets Wendoline, a local shop- keeper in which the two become very attached, and also her mysterious and silent pet dog, Preston. Gromit, instantly becoming suspicious of Preston begins to investigate him after a sheep, escaped the previous night from the truck he was driving and broke into their home. Gromit is then later framed by Preston for being a sheep killer and is imprisoned for life. Separating him from Wallace in a similarly emotional scene to The Wrong Trousers. After Wallace with the help of the escaped sheep (Shaun) bust out Gromit and later come across Preston and Wendoline in a field, sheep- rustling they chase them down before Wallace and Wendoline become trapped and leaving Shaun and Gromit to save the day. After a final showdown, the film closes with Wendoline and Wallace parting ways (after humorously she dislikes cheese. Also noting she isn't a good fit due to her criminal behaviour.) While A Close Shave is generally a family-friendly and fun film to all to enjoy. Unlike it's predecessor it does have a few flaws. The first being too many sub- plots which seem to overcrowd the story, leaving to scenes such as Wendoline and Wallace's relationship and Gromit's imprisonment feeling rushed and under developed. Furthermore, the final showdown between Preston and Gromit felt underwhelming, making Preston's intimidating and dominating presence feel diminished. However, A Close Shave definitely deserves praise for its shift into darker themes while keeping it's childish humour and wit, as well as the introduction of more beloved characters such as Shaun the Sheep. 8/10

Following up from the 1989 short A Grand Day Out, Nick Park and Aardman Studios revive the legendary duo Wallace and Gromit in their second adventure, The Wrong Trousers in what is possibly the greatest short film of all time. In this instalment, Wallace is struggling financially and decides to rent out a room to the public as a source of income, here we are introduced to one of Aardman's most ambitious characters, Feathers McGraw, a sinister and silent penguin criminal mastermind and the main antagonist. Meanwhile, It is also Gromit's birthday and he receives a gift from Wallace, a pair of 'techno trousers.' AKA 'The Wrong Trousers' After being forced out of his room and Wallace bonding with the penguin, Gromit feels sidelined and decides to move out. In a distressingly sad, overwhelmingly heartbreaking and gut- wrenching scene signifying the brief end to a deep bonding friendship. This then leads on to the penguin being able to commit to his evil deeds and use the naive Wallace as a way to steal a priceless diamond. This then later leads us too the brilliantly created train-chase sequence (arguably one of the best third acts ever), adding bursts of tension and humour at the same time, before ending with a cheerful and crowd-pleasing finally. As an analysis for the short what sticks out the most is how so many of the crucial moments and impactful scenes are told through visual expression and gestures between the two silent characters, Gromit and Feathers. The tense stand-offs and battle of wits between the two to gain the upper-hand on one another lead to some of the best visual storytelling to date in any film. Overall, The Wrong Trousers packs humour, tension, visual storytelling, drama, action, adventure, and emotion (both love and rivalry) all into one 30 minute masterpiece. Each scene is relevant to the developing plot and the story with very little exposition used. The Wrong Trousers truly is Aardman's magnum opus and greatest achievement to date, being a milestone in both stop-motion and animation. 10/10

Based on the real life 1962 breakout, Escape From Alcatraz tells the story of Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood), mastermind and leader of the escape, who arrives at the infamous prison in January 1960. Once there (after being abruptly informed 'No one has ever escaped Alcatraz, and no-one ever will!' he meets and befriends a few inmates, as well as making a few enemies which gives us a glimpse into prison life and the daily routine of those locked away on The Rock. As time passes, Morris is later introduced to John and Clarence Anglin as well as Charlie Butts (based on the real life Allen West.) At which point the men begin to discuss and later construct a plan to escape. Escape from Alcatraz is filled with suspense and thrill, especially from the second act on wards, once Morris begins digging and crafting various items to aid in the escape. The tension is built up even more over the course of the third act as the men get closer and closer to freedom, before gripping us in the closing scenes and final act. What is also interesting is the lack of music, the long silences help build up the suspense with each creek and crack keeping our hearts racing. My only slight flaws with Escape From Alcatraz are some of the filler fictionalised characters and some errors in the real life time-line. For instance the character of Litmus (later revealed to be Al Capone) never met Morris having died 12 years previous to his arrival. Also whether changed for legal reasons or not, Charlie Butts name change from Allen West seemed quite strange as the other characters retain their original names, there also seems to be a some filler scenes during the first act that don't do a whole lot to advance the plot also when we are introduced to some of the fictionalised inmates, they seem to lack substance and are seemingly only used to boost the run time. 8/10

A Grand Day Out originally aired in 1989 at the Bristol Animation Festival and later broadcast on Christmas Eve in 1990. After 8 years of production Nick Park introduces us in this short, but sweet film to the now legendary characters of Wallace and Gromit. What Park accomplished within a 23 minute run time and using nothing more than a camera a pile of Plasticine is nothing short of astounding. In the short, Wallace and Gromit decide to take a trip to the moon after they run out of cheese to bring back to Earth, after they become bored during a Bank Holiday (this is based on an old folklore tale that the moon is made of cheese.) While there they meet an old rusted gas cooker that initially attempts to see them off before having a rather humorous dream of becoming a skier. Despite the character models and sets not being as refined as the follow-up shorts 'The Wrong Trousers' and 'A Close Shave' also not particularly having a complex or well developed plot. A Grand Day Out is still to this day is a brilliant work of art. With a simplistic, but stylish design and plot, some humorous and witty moments for both kids and adults to enjoy and more importantly packed with plenty of charm as well as a pleasing and satisfying finale. A Grand Day Out is a bold statement to how much of an impact a simple stop-motion clay animation short has on the world of film. 8/10

Set during the Prohibition era, Once Upon A Time In America follows the story of David 'Noodles' Aaronson (Robert De Niro) firstly growing up on Lower East Side of Manhatten, committing petty crimes such as minor thefts and robberies to later becoming a prominent mobster in adult life. The film explores themes such as lust, betrayal, greed, love and friendship all while portraying the rise of syndicate gangs and the Mafia in American society. Once Upon A Time In America undoubtedly tells an magnificent and realistic story of epic proportions, but this in a way is the films undoing, at a run time of 229 minutes the film seems to drag on far too long and develops at a slower pace than it needed to. Being Sergio Leone's final film, it originally came under a mixed response with two different versions of the film released in theatres the Original European Version and the American Cut. However, has since gone on to be labelled as one of the greatest gangster films of all time. Despite being a different genre of film from Leone's normal work, many of his signature traits such as long shots, visual expression and the iconic Ennio Morricone Spaghetti western soundtrack are noticeable and definitely positive points for the film. I also found mainly the second act and latter part of the first act to be more faster paced and interesting moments in the film as Noodles transitions from childhood to adult hood. Also the final scenes complete the motion picture brilliantly with a conclusive and pleasing ending. However, going back to my previous point that the film is far longer than it needed to be, this is evident mainly in the films first act with some scenes feeling far too slow and some even slightly irrelevant to the films progressive plot. The film is told through flashbacks from 1968 and starts being told from a in media res prospective, filling us in with important details and exposition as the film progresses, this works well and is mainly the only reason I remained fully focused and engaged. The Film also features a disappointing lack of action for a gangster flick and even at a 229 minutes, an important robbery scene was unfortunately cut out that a lot of the film focused on and seemingly built too, therefore it all seeming a waste. Another point to note is it attempts to hit you hard with emotions at times but these fall flat (with the exception of a few during the first act) because of the characters being violent, dangerous and brutal, meaning we don't connect with them very well on this level. Once Upon A Time In America features a beautiful soundtrack, signature Leone traits and tells an epic story which for the most part is engaging. However it's lack of action and drawn out scenes of exposition and dialogue mean it seems to trudge at a snails pace and doesn't always keep you gripped. 7/10

Considered a landmark in Japanese animation and seen as the film that launched anime in the US and later worldwide. Akira is without a doubt one of the greatest animation films ever made. Known for it's extreme, brutal violence and intense action, Akira is set in the aftermath of World War III in which a psychic explosion destroys Tokyo, (All shown in a brief, but memorable opening scene). Years later, Neo-Tokyo, a dystopian metropolis gripped by terrorism and gang violence rises from the ruins of old Japan, among these ruins lies the buried secret of Akira, a mysterious and unimaginable power. We are then introduced to the characters of Kaneda and Tetsuo, who while fighting a rival gang get caught up in a military experiment. Due to it's release in 1988, the animation was produced using the older, darker and grittier style of Japanese anime which works well for the tone and atmosphere of Neo-Tokyo. The soundtrack also fits the mood perfectly with a mix of ancient and contemporary music, also notably at times very sombre and depressing, again working well with it's visuals. However, what makes Akira stand out the most is its complex story-telling, mind- blowing imagery and artistically created and iconic blend of cel and computer animation. The only single minuscule flaw with Akira is that watching from a 2016 point-of-view where animation has evolved massively since '88, the film can look slightly dated. However, this did not in the slightest deter me from this masterpiece of a film and with a highly emotional and powerful final act, Akira ranks as one of my favourite movies ever. Mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, and features some of the most adrenaline-pumping scenes in history. Every scene feels relevant, interesting and keeps driving the plot, the characters are well-developed, relatable, hence as an audience we connect well with them, their motivations and their actions, therefore Akira rightfully earns it's place in film history as one of Japan's animation masterpieces and 100% fully deserves a 10/10.

Fargo is a 1996 black comedy/crime drama film directed by Ethan and Joel Coen (The Coen Brothers) and stars William H. Macy, Frances McDormand and Steve Buscemi. Often seen as the film that launched the Coen Brothers successful career, Fargo without a doubt deserves all the credit it receives. The story focuses around a spineless, nervous car salesman who arranges for his wife to be kidnapped and held for a ransom of $80,000 to extort from his wealthy father-in-law and boss, in his desperation for money to repay an outstanding loan. Which ends up going horrifically wrong resulting in a series of grizzly murders. Fargo fantastically blends its sharp wit of dry humour and black comedy with its gruesome, thrilling and intriguing narrative, the two seem to go hand-in-hand perfectly with Fargo having scenes that will have you bursting out laughing and others on the edge of your seat. Fargo also features beautiful cinematography with wide, expansive shots of snow covered landscapes as well as a fitting dark and unsettling soundtrack. Each actor/actress completely owns their character making their motivations and actions clear, as well as relatable. Fargo has but a few nit-picking flaws, such as a particular scene which seems unnecessary to the advancement of the plot and feels out of place, in which Frances McDormand's character meets an old friend. Another is a plot-line which focused around Peter Stormare's character Gaear Grimsrud- not enough of the story was focused around his role as it should or could have been, also another flaw being the slight overuse of the word 'ya'. Overall, Fargo is a phenomenal film, both winning 2 well deserved Oscar's and launching the Coen Brothers career onto a new level, proving they are two of the greatest filmmakers of the modern film era. Not forgetting notifying the world of the traditional (and comedic) Minnesotan accent. Fargo is hilarious, violent, tense and intriguing. 9/10

The Maltese Falcon is a 1941 detective/crime noir film, directed by John Huston and stars Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor and Lee Patrick. Often considered a classic by many, a masterpiece by some and overrated by others one thing is certainly for sure...I have never been so disappointed and my expectations of a classic movie completely crushed like I was with The Maltese Falcon. While it does have a few saving grace moments overall The Maltese Falcon is a rushed, terribly written and at times a unnecessarily confusing film with unlikable characters and uninteresting plot. Lets however start with the few 'saving grace' moments in the film, first of all the initial murder of Miles Archer fantastically introduces us to this gritty world filled with lies, deceit and corruption. The scene itself was very well shot and gives the story a strong start ( which unfortunately later falls apart), the next is the very ending scene in which Sam Spade (our protagonist) utters that famous line 'The stuff that dreams are made of' which ends the film brilliantly and completes both the character of Spade and the movie's narrative in a conclusive and well rounded manner. The rest however is a huge mess, the dialogue is rushed, many scenes often feel either completely unnecessary or cut off too short, failing therefore to buildup tension or suspense. The characters communicate in a very unrealistic manner, one minute arguing the next siding with each other and then back to arguing without any real reason, all while completely hurrying through their lines and lacking any emotion. However, the script writing is by far the worst part, more than to often Sam Spade often seems to stumble over his lines, ramble on and moan and whine his way through, completely butchering any care or likability we feel for his character. The same can be said about Mary Astor's character, one minute playing the damsel in distress and love interest- the next being a traitorous coward. Overall, The Maltese Falcon is a huge disappointment with awful script writing, bland uninteresting characters, an over complex plot, subplots that seem to go nowhere or are abandoned entirely, a simple plot device that seems to drive all motivations to the characters (yet has a very little part to play in the overall story), horrendously forced and rushed dialogue and badly crafted scenes either consisting of nonsensical rambling, long drawn out conversations that progress nowhere or cut short destroying any emotion, tension, drama, suspense or interest. 3/10

Shane is a 1953 western film, directed by George Stevens and stars Alan Ladd as the titular hero, Shane as well as Jean Arthur, Van Heflin and Brandon DeWilde. Shane is often regarded by many as a classic western and labelled as 'culturally, historically or aesthetically significant' by the Library of Congress in 1993. Shane no doubt has beautiful cinematography with jaw- dropping, eye popping shots of the Wyoming landscape during its opening scenes. However, the film suffers from one of the worst offences possible, especially for a western- it is too drawn out, too slow and has dreadful dialogue. most notably from the interactions between Shane and Joey. In these much of the dialogue doesn't hold up today showing it's awful ageing by today's standards- some of it unfortunately sounding down right disturbing. Continuing with this is the atrocious acting by Brandon DeWilde- his character Joey is extremely irritating throughout with an ear-piercing pitched voice and either under acting or over acting depending on the scene, this as an audience turns us away from the character leading to us not care for some of the more 'emotional' scenes. Shane also seems to have a surprising lack of action scenes, this resulting in the film seemingly trudge along at snails pace. Another flaw with Shane is well, Shane himself. Alan Ladd is extremely dull and emotionless for most of the film, Shane neither grows on us or seems to develop with the story- it isn't until the end when we really finally appreciate Shane as a character with a crowd-pleasing finale and generally pleasing closing scene. Overall, Shane while many to be considered a classic western masterpiece, certainly in it's beautiful cinematography and authentic western scores it shines through- but with a snail-pace story, some terrible acting and dialogue and some poor characterisation holds it back significantly as a personal opinion. 6/10

Apocalypse Now is a 1979 Vietnam war film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and stars Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando and Robert Duvall. Coppola having previously made a name for himself with The Godfather and The Godfather Part II takes us into war torn Vietnam and follows the story Captain Willard (Sheen) after he is assigned a mission to hunt down a former war hero now insane madman Colonel Walter Kurtz (Brando). Apocalypse Now in reality is a story of two halves and with many different themes throughout, the first being an insight into the horrors and brutality of Vietnam, the second a psychological journey of wits and strength to find and terminate the erratic colonel. Throughout the film we are introduced to a cast of interesting and realistic characters all affected by war in their own ways. Coppola presents his film on a grand scale with masterful visuals, stunning presentation and phenomenal special affects, with possibly one of the greatest soundtracks in film history. The Doors- The End fits the opening and closing scenes perfectly with both having similarly themed lyrics and music, as well as its beautifully haunting, primitive and climactic start, middle and end. Apocalypse Now also extends beyond a regular action-filled war movie with a huge change of pace during the middle and end of the second act, with even more interesting back stories, characters and themes. Apocalypse Now has a thrilling ending perfectly completing the picture and bringing a satisfying and conclusive end to an already spectacular film. The only flaws with the film are some relatively slow moments that do little to advance the plot and some minute comedy moments that take a way slightly from the scene and distract from the atmosphere. Apocalypse Now is one of the greatest movies of all time. 9/10

Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 Vietnam war film, directed by Stanley Kubrick and stars Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio and R.Lee Ermey. What instantly stands out from an initial viewing is the fantastic mix of dark and black comedy with the much more poignant tone and effects of war, mainly the toll it takes on the soldiers both psychologically and physically. Kubrick stunningly captures the look, feel and atmosphere of Vietnam as well as an accurate representation of the mindset of those involved, with a colourful cast of quirky, naive and near- psychotic characters each one showing their moulding for war and the devastating damage it has on them. Accompanied with light-hearted and at times horror-esque soundtrack, Full Metal Jacket shows the contrasts not just in it's story and visuals but with its impressive scores. Despite it's praises, there are some notable flaws with the film these being in the films pacing. At times (generally through its middle act) little is done to advance the plot, with random interviews that feel a little out of place and slightly exposition heavy. However, the film's beginning and end are the definitive moments of not just presenting a story but showing a progressive journey of one soldiers descent into near insanity. The action is grand, the comedy is hilarious and the war is brutal. Full Metal Jacket is one of the greatest war films ever made. 9/10

Watership Down is a 1978 animated adventure-thriller, directed by Martin Rosen and stars John Hurt as the heroic Hazel, the films main protagonist. Watership Down has always been widely known for its dark reputation and sometimes graphic imagery covered and hidden amongst an innocent children's story. After a prophecy is foretold by Fiver (Hazel's brother) about the destruction of their home (the warren). A small group of rabbits begin a journey to find a new home for their families, friends and allies. Along the way is where Watership Down starts to show its darker side, various rabbit deaths start to spiral the story into a much more grittier tale, with this some quite disturbing scenes, especially after the introduction of the ruthlessly, brutal General Woundwort. Watership Down features one of the greatest scores in cinematic history accompanied with an extremely emotionally hard-hitting, religiously depicted and ambiguously realistic scene, Art Garfunkel's hit single 'Bright Eyes' beautifully lifts and lowers the tone with the famous 'near-death' scene, this is where Watership Down shines at its peak. The film does however have some significant flaws these unfortunately being a lack of character development and variety within the main group, also a rushed final act and quick cuts between scenes almost feel half of the story was left out, as was the impact and emotion, also some seemingly developing story arcs that weren't fully explored to their max due to the short run-time. The ending as a result was not as hard-hitting and teary-eyed as it should have been because of this, but still a great concept. 7/10

Released in 1980, Airplane! is often seen as the original and by some the best spoof comedy film of all time. Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty and Leslie Nielsen. Airplane! sees a group of colourful characters take a routine flight from Los Angeles to Chicago which goes horribly wrong after a unknown sickness spreads, forcing a PTSD stricken war hero into the cockpit to land the plane and save the lives of all on board. Airplane! is known for its use of fast-paced slapstick humour, both visual and verbal gags and puns as well as its over the top, surreal humour. Airplane! never attempts to take itself seriously and thats why it succeeds so well, this film will have your eyes-watering and sides-splitting from laughing so hard. Airplane! is a hugely funny movie and has a surprising amount of character depth and back story (this often being the highlight of much of the humour). A few flaws with the film could really depend on the viewers style of comedy, the slap-stick humour can at times go a bit too far and come off as more stupid than funny. There are also a few times (although not many) where some jokes fail and leave you cringing more than laughing. Overall, Airplane! is a fantastic comedy movie, that has managed to stand the test of time with both audiences and critics alike. 9/10

Nanook of the North is a 1922 silent documentary film, directed and produced by Robert J. Flaherty. Nanook of the North depicts the life of an Inuit family living near Hudson Bay in Quebec, Canada. The documentary takes us through various events that Inuits deal with in everyday life, such as hunting, dwelling and scaling the cold, barren Arctic wasteland. Nanook of the North shows us the hardships and constant fight for survival in the wilderness and shows us a very unique society these types of people live in. Flaherty's camera-work is magnificent, even in the cold plains of the Arctic, the documentary runs smoothly and feels crisp and perfected with a beautiful composition of classic melodies to break the silence and add tension when necessary. While the film runs smooth and does its purpose from a filmmaking point of view perfectly, Nanook of the North has at times been panned for being staged and forced in its production. Many claim is portrays a false image of Inuit life during its time, as many advancements had taken place in Inuit culture at the time of filming. Even names and events were faked to seemingly add drama and suspense. This realisation has often deterred many from the film, despite Flaherty claiming his intention was to portray traditional life of the Inuit people before Western influence. Overall, Nanook of the North is a hugely influential docudrama film with an intriguing look into traditional Inuit life, with beautiful harmonious melodies and crisp, clear camera-work, a hugely interesting and enjoyable film, with a slight sense of unfortunate doubt due to the controversies surrounding its production. 9/10

The Martian is a 2015 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain and Jeff Daniels. Set in 2036, The Martian centres on the story of Mark Watney, an astronaut presumed dead and abandoned on Mars after a violent storm separates him from his crew, forcing him to survive for up to four years on the surface of Mars with limited food rations and contact to Earth. The Martian certainly shines throughout and delivers a fun, intriguing and at times extremely tense sci-fi adventure, with many thought provoking ideas and scenarios presented throughout. It is also visually stunning and features perfect accompanying scores. However, my flaws with the film are mainly with the 'attempted comedy' dialogue. Far too often many characters were cracking jokes in life or death situations, destroying the tension and ruining the experience slightly. On more than one occasion the script came off as silly, childish and cringeworthy. I also felt there wasn't enough varying personality within the characters, with the exception of Sean Bean's performance, again this may hinder on the script as some of them come off as 'failed comedians' rather than top scientific astronomers. The Martian is still however superbly acted and following Damon's journey and the obstacles to he had to overcome was exciting and engaging. Overall, The Martian is a great sci-fi film with gorgeous visuals and special effects, brilliant, well-fitting scores and an engaging interesting plot with unique and revolutionary ideas. 8/10

Grave of the Fireflies is a 1988 Japanese anime drama/war film directed by Isao Takahata and tells the story of Japan during WWII, focusing on the devastating effects that war leaves on the civilian populations. The story focuses on a brother and sister and the hardships they face throughout the war and their struggle to survive. Studio Ghibli is often known for there more mature and adult approach to animation movies-but nothing could prepare me for the heart-wrenching, emotional and truly tragic story of Seita and Setsuko. Grave of the Fireflies touched my heart in a way no other film has, with its gorgeous animation, astounding soundtrack and powerful narrative. Each scene is crafted to perfection and the characters (although many of them unlikable) really push the theme of tragedy, abandonment and ignorance towards the desperate and innocent people. We really feel and begin to connect with Seita and Setsuko right from the start and saddened for their state and the consequences war leaves on the innocents. The scenes featuring Seita and Setsuko are so beautiful, the moments they share together feel so real and loving, they almost feel like members of your own family. and while the film is extremely heart-breaking, the moments of joy feel so magic. Grave of the Fireflies is gripping, emotional, heart-breaking, tragic, beautiful,magical, astonishing and is the best anti-war film ever made. Grave of the Fireflies really is Ghibli's crowning gem and quite possibly the greatest film you wont want to watch twice. Never the less Grave of the Firelies absolutely deserves a 10/10- Quite possibly my favourite film of all time.

Boyhood is a 2014 coming-of-age drama film directed by Richard Linklater and star Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke. Boyhood is often seen as not only one of the greatest films of all time, but also one of the most ingenious and best produced films from a filmmaking point of view. Boyhood tells the story of Mason Evans Jr, a regular boy growing up during the early 21st Century and showing his growth and change throughout the years. While the plot may seem simplistic and common, its the way the film was made is why it has huge critical acclaim. Boyhood took twelve years to create with filming beginning in 2002 and finally finishing in 2014, over these twelve years the same actors are used to show the ageing and journey of these people. This method of filmmaking is revolutionary, unique and masterfully handled with the film having an extremely realistic feel, especially from Ellar Coltrane-we feel like we literally watch him grow up and live his life. We follow the ups and downs, good times and bad times, the relationships flourish and crumble and watch how Mason develops and grows not only as a character but also as a human being. Boyhood does have but one or two flaws in that some scenes seem to be roughly joined together rather than freely flowing, this unfortunately resulting in moments of wandering about characters and events that were skipped over or cut short, we also feel slightly detached from Mason himself by the end in which he seems to become more monotone and dull, compared to the exciting youthful years we got to experience in the first half of the film. Overall, Boyhood really is a one of a kind film, with a beautiful realistic approach to presenting a life, interesting relationships and scenarios and the magnificent and groundbreaking filmmaking techniques. 9/10

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a 2013 Japanese anime fantasy/drama film directed by Isao Takahata and part of the infamous collection of Studio Ghibli films, other known ones being Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro. To my delight, Studio Ghibli has done it once again and produced another fantastic movie. One that delivers a beautiful, emotional narrative about a bamboo cutter who discovers a tiny princess growing from one of the shoots, who then grows up to become royalty only to feel misplaced, without an sense of identity and at times feels isolated. One that delivers blissful, traditional sounding Japanese folk scores and a very unique, water-coloured based animation style, hand crafted to perfection. The film focuses primarily on the princess and her short but memorable life on Earth. The tale features many different themes that keep the story diverse and engaging, and the ending provides a prefect sense of closure while being hugely powerful and heart- wrenching. The film is also very mature and provides all round entertainment for people of all ages-not just young children. The film does have a few flaws however that just slightly hold it back from being a 'perfect 10', the first being its length at 2hrs 17mins certain parts certainly felt dragged out, especially when arriving in the capital during the second act and some extremely slow paced scenes that aren't hugely interesting or gripping. These however barely take from the experience of this beautiful film and proving once again Studio Ghibli are the masters of anime and a huge influence on animation films in general. 8/10

Return of the Jedi is a 1983 epic space opera/space fantasy film directed by George Lucas and is the third and final film of the original Star Wars trilogy. Return of the Jedi once again takes us back into the amazing world of Star Wars and continues the journey of the franchise's beloved characters. However, unlike the previous two which are considered two of the greatest films of all time, Return of the Jedi has a few flaws which unfortunately hold it back from continuing this impressive trend. While it does have arguably some of the most powerful and emotional moments of the original trilogy it also has both the weakest and at times even silliest, the main target for this are the infamous Ewoks which has divided fans, as a personal preference I find they add little depth too the story and at times are the cause for scenes to feel unimportant, unnecessary and often stall the movie, as well as the far fetched third act battle which adds my disdain for them. Another of Return of the Jedi's flaws is the inclusion of a second Death Star, which never seems to have the same weight, intensity and fear that the first injected in the Rebels and viewers alike, and primarily serves as the Empire's base rather than an actual powered battle station. However, many aspects in Return of the Jedi do succeed for instance the film once again expands the beautiful and fascinating galaxy of Star Wars also the hugely powerful final confrontation between father and son and finally the jaw-dropping battle sequences in the third act. The first act also shines through with a brilliant conclusion to the cliffhanger at the end of Empire. Many of the same brilliant and iconic shots and scores are continued in Return of the Jedi. However, again unlike the original and Empire a few shots and special affects do nowadays seem dated. Overall, Return of the Jedi is a brilliant and emotional end to the original trilogy-but not hugely satisfying due to the more immature nature of the Ewoks and the stalled pacing of the second act as a whole. Certain aspects and exposition of the disappointing future prequels did seem to seep into Return of the Jedi at times, but generally they do not hold back the movie and is still a thrilling adventure to be viewed by all. 7/10