What I've Just Watched: Part 2

This Happy Breed (1944), David Lean's second film as director, his first one solo after co-directing In Which We Serve (1942) with Noël Coward, who produced this film, based upon his own play. It's a very good character drama with some fine acting and this was a sign of things to come from director Lean, who went from small dramas to big epics. Set over a 20 year period in one house in Clapham, South London, it begins in 1919 when the Gibbons family move in, they include father Frank (Robert Newton), his wife Ethel (Celia Johnson), and their children Reg (John Blythe), Vi (Eileen Erskine) and Queenie (Kay Walsh) along with Frank's widowed sister Sylvia (Alison Leggatt) and Ethel's mother (Amy Veness). From 1919 onwards, they see many big changes in British culture, from the General Strike of 1926 to the rise of Facism across Europe, but how Britain stayed out of it. But the family stay very close, and Frank's neighbour Bob Mitchell (Stanley Holloway ) happens to be an acquaintance from his time in the trenches. Bob's son Billy (John Mills) falls in love with Queenie, but she turns him down for another man, only to return years later and marry Billy. Sylvia even takes up a spot of spiritualism. It's an engaging soap opera, and Coward has a good ear for dialogue, but some of it does come across as being a little over the top, (some sequences wouldn't look out of place in a Carry On film), but it has a good cast and it put Lean on the map as a good British director, and it is well worth a watch. 4/5



Arthur Christmas (2011), Aardman's first feature film since Flushed Away (2006) ended their deal with DreamWorks. That didn't stop them, they got a new deal at Columbia Pictures, and just got on with it. This is a good animated adventure, a Christmas film, but an entertaining one nontheless, with some good imagination on display too, and it's very English too. What if Santa getting all his presents delivered in one night wasn't a one man operation as many suspect, but it was a family operation done by an entire army of elves?? That's what this claims, Santa Claus is a family man called Malcolm (Jim Broadbent), who has two sons, Steve (Hugh Laurie) and Arthur (James McAvoy), the former is the brains co-ordinating getting all the presents delivered in one night, whereas the latter is the clumsy, younger son who works in the mail office, receiving all the kids letters. Just when it seems like they've had another good Christmas night, it turns out one child has been overlooked, Gwen (Ramona Marquez) from Cornwall. Arthur feels that the present, a bike, has to be delivered before she wakes up. But when Steve and Malcolm are indifferent to going back out, it's up to Grandsanta (Bill Nighy) who uses the old fashioned way of doing things to get the present delivered to Gwen, by sleigh. Which takes them all over the world in a race against time before Christmas morning. It's a good film, sentimental in places, but it has some good laughs too, and Aardman's sense of humour. It would have looked better if it was claymation, but it's still fun, also featuring the voices of Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen, Robbie Coltrane, Andy Serkis, Dominic West, Joan Cusack and Michael Palin!! 4/5

National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), written by John Hughes, whose credits until then included National Lampoon's Class Reunion (1982) and Mr. Mom (1983)) and directed by Harold Ramis, this is a very funny road movie, showcasing America's Dumbest Family, the Griswolds. It has so many memorable moments, and it remains one of the funniest films of the 1980's. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), a family man from Chicago, is going to take his wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) and kids Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall) and Audrey (Dana Barron) on a road trip across America to Walley World in Los Angeles. They travel in a Wagon Queen Family Truckster, which isn't the best car to use in a cross-country drive, it ends up vandalised in St. Louis, and they end up with Ellen's catankerous Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca) and her violent dog Dinky, after they stop off at Ellen's cousin's place in Kansas. The drive across country goes from bad to worse, they end up lost somewhere in the middle of Arizona, and they lose their money too. But, it makes Clark all the more determined to get there, and he was the one who didn't want to go by plane. It's a very funny film, and Hughes revisited concepts like this later in his career with stuff like The Great Outdoors (1988) and Home Alone (1990). It remains to be Ramis' best film as a director, and it has guest appearances from John Candy, Eugene Levy, Henry Gibson and Randy Quaid. 4.5/5



National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), after National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) was a huge success, a sequel was inevitable, and work began immediately, with Amy Heckerling (Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)) taking over in the directors chair. It's not as good as the first film, with alot of the humour about misunderstanding foreign customs, but there's still fun to be had. After winning popular game show Pig In A Poke, the Griswold family, Clark (Chevy Chase), Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) and children Rusty (Jason Lively) and Audrey (Dana Hill) win a holiday to Europe. The parents go with high hopes, but the kids are bored from day 1, in London, the hotel is rundown and sleazy and in the hirecar, Clark drives on the wrong side of the road and can't negotiate a roundabout. In Paris, their camcorder gets nicked and Clark's French translator insults the natives. On a drive into Germany to meet Clark's relatives, they end up at the wrong house and they start a riot in a small Bavarian town. By Rome, the family hate each other, made worse when Ellen discovers a sex tape of her in cinemas there. It's a very silly film set in lots of different locations, writer John Hughes disowned the film after it was rewritten, (he was busy with The Breakfast Club at the same time), so he took charge for the next film. But, like the first one, this has lots of guest appearances from Eric Idle, John Astin, Robbie Coltrane, Mel Smith, Paul Bartel, Moon Unit Zappa, Maureen Lipman and the Major from Fawlty Towers. 3.5/5

Curly Sue (1991), John Hughes was at the peak of his powers in the 1980's and into the early 90's. He'd moved from teen comedy-dramas to family comedies with Uncle Buck (1989) and Home Alone (1990). With this, it was part of a deal with Warner Bros. who tried to sell it as the next Home Alone, but it would prove to be Hughes' final film as a director, and it was the beginning of his downfall before he vanished. Pity really. Homeless drifter Bill Dancer (James Belushi) and his young companion Curly Sue (Alisan Porter) go around doing con tricks to get by in life, they've come from Detroit to Chicago in hope of a better life, and they try a con on rich divorce lawyer Grey Ellison (Kelly Lynch), who thinks she's ran over Bill in her car, but after getting a free meal out of it, she ends up accidentally running over Bill for real. So, Grey puts Bill and Curly Sue up in her apartment, and they enjoy their new quality of life. But, soon Grey learns the truth about the homeless duo, but see's that Curly Sue would be torn apart if she leaves Grey's apartment, but Grey's devious ex Walker McCormick (John Getz) looks set to split Bill and Curly Sue apart by spreading rumours. It's a disgustingly sweet film, the sort that would give you diabetes. It does have it's moments of violent slapstick but it's all too much with it's sentimentality, with smothers you too much. However, it's got the screen debut of Steve Carell, not all bad then. 2/5



Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974), the first American feature of English director John Hough (Twins of Evil (1971) and The Legend of Hell House (1973)), this is a car chase film with suspense and excitement. This is the Grindhouse version of The Sugarland Express (1974), and a great double bill with Vanishing Point (1971) it would make too, it's a product of it's time and proud of it. It begins with NASCAR racing driver Larry (Peter Fonda) and his mechanic Deke (Adam Roarke) who pull off a heist in a supermarket ran by George Stanton (Roddy McDowall, in an uncredited cameo), and they make off with $150,000 in cash by holding Stanton's wife and daughter hostage. They make a getaway, but Larry is confronted by Mary (Susan George), with whom he'd had a one night stand with, and she convinces them to take her along for the ride, which they reluctantly do. But soon, they have Capt. Everett Franklin (Vic Morrow) on their tail by cop car and helicopter, trying to stop Larry, Mary and Deke from making an escape, but with Larry at the wheel, he's very determined, and they switch cars, from a Dodge Charger to a Chevrolet Impala and then onto another Dodge Charger, but the law are closing in fast on our criminal trio, but they won't give in. It's a very suspenseful film, which ends in a big finale with them and cops zig-zagging through a large walnut grove with trees and roads everywhere. Peter Fonda is an underrated actor, and he has a coolness to rival Steve McQueen (who was considered for this) and Susan George is wild too. Quentin Tarantino loves this film, if only Death Proof had been more like this... 4/5

I HATE CURLY SUE

Sorry, I wanted to see how bad it was.

Singin' in the Rain (1952), renowned as of the greatest screen musicals of all time, this is a very amusing and visually sumptuous musical comedy, with some very catchy songs, some brilliant choreography and some beautiful camerawork with a very rich, high contrast Technicolor look. It's true when they say "They don't make 'em like they used to", as they don't look like this. It starts in 1927, and silent movie star Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) is at the height of his fame, he and his best friend Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor) have been with each other, through thick and thin, since they were kids, and enjoy the fame. When The Jazz Singer (1927) is released, it's decided that their next film for studio head R.F. Simpson (Millard Mitchell) will be a talkie, but it's leading lady, the untalented primadonna Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) can't seem to get the hang of talkies, and the early previews are a disaster. But, Cosmo gets an idea to make the film into a musical, and inspiration comes from Don's new friend Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). Kathy will dub Lina's voice, as Lina can't sing for toffee, so they get to work, hoping it'll save the studio, but Lina soon finds out. It's a very good film, and it does have some good moments of comedy and some jaw-dropping musical moments, from Donald O'Connor belting out Make 'Em Laugh, to Gene Kelly's title song that still stands to this day. Kelly and co-director Stanley Donen bring the best out in everyone involved. 4/5



My Week with Marilyn (2011), based upon two books by documentary filmmaker Colin Clark, who happened to be in the right place at the right time. This is a good biopic of a Hollywood legend who fell for a lowly assistant on the film directed by one Britain's great thespians. It's a good drama with great performances and a gentle wit about the proceedings too. It is the summer of 1956, and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) has come to England to make a film with Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) titled The Sleeping Prince (though it later became The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)). Through a bit of serendipity, 23 year old Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) son of Lord Clark of Saltwood (Pip Torrens), is able to get work with Olivier's production company as his family are friends with Oliver's wife Vivien Leigh (Julia Ormond). Colin is made Third Assistant Director of the film, and production gets off to a shaky start at Pinewood Studios, with Monroe fluffing her lines and it goes slowly, testing Olivier's patience to the absolute limit. But strangely, Monroe finds solace in Colin, and begins flirting with him, despite warnings from those nearest to Colin, he goes along with her. It's a very good drama, Williams makes good, tragic Monroe, getting her characteristics nailed down, while Branagh has fun as Olivier, with top support from Toby Jones, Dominic Cooper, Dougray Scott, Zoë Wanamaker, Emma Watson and Judi Dench. 4/5

Tommy (1975), Ken Russell's career was in the toilet after Savage Messiah (1972) was a huge flop, but producer Robert Stigwood gave him a chance with a film adaptation of The Who's 1969 concept album/rock opera. As everyone knows, Uncle Ken likes opera, and saw potential in this. Despite misgiving of working with rock stars, it became his biggest financial hit and it still stands to this day. It begins at the end of World War 2, when Captain Walker (Robert Powell) is missing and believed dead, but his wife Nora (Ann-Margret) gives birth to a boy, Tommy. She finds a new husband with holiday camp worker Frank (Oliver Reed), but Captain Walker returns and is killed in an altercation with Frank. Tommy's witnessed it, his parents beg him not to say a thing, and Tommy goes deaf, dumb, and blind. Years later, and Tommy is an adult (Roger Daltrey), and even attempts to rid him off his block by The Preacher (Eric Clapton), The Acid Queen (Tina Turner) and a Specialist (Jack Nicholson) don't work, but Tommy does have one major talent, Pinball. It makes money for his family and even goes to beat the current Pinball Wizard (Elton John) and it becomes a way of life for him. It's a very odd musical, with the usual flairs of Ken Russell, from Ann-Margret swimming in soap suds, baked beans and chocolate to Keith Moon appearing as a very un-PC Uncle Ernie, but it all works and it still stands up as one of the best musicals today. Ken went one better with the film that followed though. :: 5/5



Lisztomania (1975), A prime example of a film so bad, it's brilliant. Ken Russell does another film of a classical composer, but giving it the same bonkers, modern attitude he'd used in Tommy (1975), which had become one of his biggest financial successes, if The Music Lovers (1970) and Mahler (1974) were for the connoisseurs, then this was made for the lowest common denominator, and proud of it!! Franz Liszt (Roger Daltrey) is a Hungarian/Cockney composer, the rock star of the classical world, the film focuses on a supposed rivalry between him and Vampire Nazi Richard Wagner (Paul Nicholas) who marries Franzie's daughter Cosima (Veronica Quilligan), how he tried to win the affections of Princess Carolyn of Russia (Sara Kestelman) and tries to marry her too, and even encounters The Pope, (Ringo Starr). That's it as far as plot is concerned, and it's probabily the most bonkers film ever made, it's also the biggest load of incoherent twaddle ever made, BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! It's visually beautiful, but it shows Russell at his very best with the mad imagery and over the top performances, including a 19th Century swordfighting duel done to a Texas hoedown, a Chaplin influenced flashback, an example of Liszt's 'Genius' and a grand piano that shoots flames, a Frankenstein Nazi, a church organ space ship and lots of sex & nudity. But, it has some moments in it which beggar belief. Plus, it has a score by Rick Wakeman of Yes, and this is what we've come to love from Ken Russell. 5/5

Brief Encounter (1945), David Lean continued collaborating with Noël Coward after making In Which We Serve (1942), This Happy Breed (1944) and Blithe Spirit (1945) with this adaptation of Coward's one-act 1936 play Still Life, it proved to be one of Lean's most successful films, and it's an emotional and engaging romantic drama that still stands to this day. The film is told in flashback by bored housewife Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson), unhappy in her marriage to husband Fred (Cyril Raymond), who every week, goes into Milford by train to do the shopping and going to the cinema as well, she begins a fling with Dr. Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard), who visits Milford Hospital every week. They're both in their 30's, and Alec, like Laura, is also in a marriage. They meet every Thursday in Milford and spend a few hours together before Laura and Alec have to catch their respective trains home. However, it seems to be going too well for them, and Laura thinks the relationship is going too far, and it might blossom into love and hurt one another's families, so they each have to make a decision about what they need to do. It's a tragic love story about innocent love and the thrill of a clandestine fling. It's beautifully filmed in a noirish-black and white, with great lead performances from Johnson and Howard, and Lean's star was on the rise. 4/5



I Am Number Four (2011), based upon a teen sci-fi novel by James Frey and Jobie Hughes (using the pseudonym Pittacus Lore, directed by D.J. Caruso, (Disturbia (2007) and Eagle Eye (2008)), this is a likeable sci-fi film which mixes teen growing pains with alien encounters, it doesn't outstay it's welcome. John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) was a baby when he was sent to Earth from the planet Lorien with 8 other alien children to escape an alien race known as the Mogadorians who destroyed Lorien. Throughout his life on earth, he has been protected and supported by Henri (Timothy Olyphant), a warrior and guardian. But, then the Mogadorian Commander (Kevin Durand) has tracked down 3 of the alien children, and killed them. So, John and Henri move from their home in Florida to Paradise, Ohio, where John enrols at the local high school, and soon falls for photographer Sarah Hart (Dianna Agron). However, the Mogadorian's are on his tail, but one of the alien children, known as Number 6 (Teresa Palmer) has powers to fight back against the Mogadorians, something needed when they arrive at Paradise, Ohio. It's a good sci-fi film, it has some good moments, but it's the sort of thing you'd expect for teenagers, it's set to be the first in a series of films, like the books will be. It has it's moments, and it's not as bad as some critics said it was. 3/5

Hugo (1st view) - Getting one decent child performance a year is usually a hard task for Hollywood, having two great ones in a single film is unheard of. Ben Kingsley is at his best in years. The 3D was by far the best I've ever seen and the design and look of the film was superb. Then we have Howard Shore's music, always a bonus. I could have done without the little subplots involving Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour and Emily Mortimer, but these were minor blips. A heartwarming and magical tale, a love letter to the early years of cinema combined with a fantastical adventure and Scorcese's obvious love for the material make this one of the very best films in recent years - 5/5

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009), based upon the first book in Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy, which had become a worldwide phenomenon before Hollywood wanted a piece of the action. This is a dark, stark crime thriller with two brilliant lead performances and a good solid script and very good characters too, it'll be interesting to see how the next two films go. Set in Sweden, disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), writer for political magazine Millennium, has lost a libel case against financier Hans-Erik Wennerström (Stefan Sauk). But, he gets a request for help from retired industrialist Henrik Vanger (Sven-Bertil Taube). Vanger wants Blomkvist to help solve the disappearance of his neice Harriet, who vanished in 1966. He begins his work, and he requests for help from the mysterious goth hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), who had done a report on Blomkvist for Vanger. So, they continue to investigate, and nothing in the Vanger family is what is seems, especially as a lot of them were nasty piece's of work, Henrik Vanger's 3 brothers were all members off the Swedish Nazi Party too. It's a gripping and engaging story, with moments that'll make you squirm away from the screen in horror. However, it's easy to see why it's been a world success, it's a good story with memorable characters and a good, taut plot. Even though Salander is a mysterious, cold character, you feel sympathy for her. Fincher's got his work cut out for him on the Hollywood version. 4.5/5



The Thing (2011), a prequel of the 1982 original, yet weirdly uses the same title as well. So, it's not a remake of the original, but it manages to mimic the original right down to the set designs. But, it's not a bad film though, not at all, there's some good scares to be had in this version, but it does feel like it doesn't know what it wants to be in parts. In the winter of 1982, paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is assigned by a group of Norwegian scientists living in a research facility down in Antarctica, led by Dr. Sander Halvorson (Ulrich Thomsen) and his assistant Adam Finch (Eric Christian Olsen) to come and investigate the frozen remains of an extra-terrestrial that's been frozen in the ice for around 100,000 years. The creature is kept in a preserved state, but after a tissue sample is taken, the Thing manages to escape and kills off the members of the outpost. But, it not only kills them, but it's able to transform into the human's it kills. Nothing in this site is what it seems, and they have to be able to trust one another and use a process of elimination to know who is human and who is alien. It has some good blood and gore moments, and some good scares too. But, it's not as good as the 1982 John Carpenter version, but director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. manages to capture the mood well as panic and chaos sets in. This might end up becoming a cult hit in years to come, like the 1982 version. 3/5

I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove Dragon Tattoo.

Harold and Kumar Get The Munchies (1st view) - Silly but fun - 3/5*

Hugo (2011), Martin Scorsese makes his first family-friendly film, and also his first film in 3D, with this charming and enchanting adaptation of Brian Selznick's 2007 children's book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It's a magical and uplifting film that shows a new side to Scorsese, and it's a perfect film for him, as it also references one of his true loves, the history of cinema. Set in the early 1930's, it has orphan Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) living within the walls of the Montparnasse railway station in Paris, maintaining to the clocks and surviving off stolen food and supplies for a mechanical man, all the while staying one step ahead of the suspicious Station Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen). But he is caught stealing by toy store owner Papa Georges (Ben Kingsley), whose secretiveness intrigues Hugo, who in turn becomes friends with Papa Georges' god-daughter Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz), who has a key on her necklace which makes the mechanical man work, and what the mechanical man creates is the key to the past of Papa Georges, and how he was one of the first pioneers of cinema. It's a very moving and enjoyable film, Scorsese gets the best out of 3D, and the train station set is jaw-dropping. It's a brilliant story as well, and the bits with the old silent films are amazing, and the supporting cast, rounded out by Ray Winstone, Jude Law, Frances De La Tour, Richard Griffiths, Helen McCrory, Emily Mortimer and Christopher Lee are welcome additions. 5/5



The Departed (2006), Martin Scorsese had had enough of gangster films after Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995), but this one was based on the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs (2002), and it had a complex yet intriguing script by William Monahan (Kingdom of Heaven (2005)), he had to accept. Best decision he made, it finally won Scorsese an Oscar. Set in Boston, and rookie cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned to go undercover by Captain Queenan (Martin Sheen) and Sergeant Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) to infiltrate the criminal empire of Irish mobster Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Meanwhile, Costello has been training Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) since he was a boy to get into the Massachusetts State Police, where he's accepted into the Special Investigations Unit, who are investigating Costello, hence Sullivan is able to keep Costello informed of developments. Meanwhile, Costigan is able to join Costello's ranks, and is able to keep his identity a secret, but after Costello escapes a sting operation, Costigan and Sullivan become aware of each other's existance, but they've never seen each other before. It's an intriguing thriller with some good performances and nasty violence, Nicholson has the time of his life as Costello, showing off some mad moments, while Damon makes a good baddy with DiCaprio getting better with each film. Scorsese gets the best out of everyone involved. 4.5/5

The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968), the fourth of a five film series based on Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu stories. This one was made by Spanish director Jess Franco. Even though the Fu Manchu films were crime stories, this one dips into the horror genre with disasterous results, while it's star is hardly anywhere to be seen for most of the time. This has Oriental criminal mastermind Fu Manchu (Christopher Lee) plotting to take over the world once again. He's hiding out in the Amazonian jungles of South America, and has found snakes that carry a deadly poison in a lost underground city. Fu Manchu's plan involves using the snakes to bite into women, and they will carry the poison. When they kiss a man, it causes the man to go blind, followed 6 weeks later by death. Fu Manchu manipulates kidnapped women to be the carries of the poison, and go out into the world and carry out these killings, One of the women (Shirley Eaton) ends up in London and passes on the poison to Scotland Yard detective Nayland Smith (Richard Greene), Fu Manchu's arch-nemesis. Despite Smith going blind, he decides to venture out into the jungle to find an antidote and put a stop to Fu Manchu's evil scheme. It's not very well made, and despite the exotic locations, is made on the cheap, and director Franco has done better films than this. It's badly edited, badly dubbed and Christopher Lee only appears to plot and scheme for a few minutes of screentime. 1/5



Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010), after making it big with Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007). Edgar Wright heads off to Hollywood for this adaptation of Bryan Lee O'Malley's Canadian Manga series. It's a faithful comic book adaptation, and it's also a video game film, but not in the normal sense. It proves that Wright is one of the best directors working today. Set in Toronto, it has slacker Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) who is bass player in a band called Sex Bob-Omb, and he's dating high-school girl Knives Chau (Ellen Wong), but then Scott meets the girl of his dreams, quite literally. Ramona V. Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and eventually talks Ramona into dating him. However, there's one big problem, and it's not having to dump Knives for Ramona. Nope, Scott has to defeat Ramona's 7 Evil Ex Boyfriends, who include action star Lucas Lee (Chris Evans), vegan rocker Todd Ingram (Brandon Routh) and the mysterious Gideon Gordon Graves (Jason Schwartzman). It's a very well made film with an original look. It's true to the source material, and it's a love letter to punch-'em-up video games of old. The cast are brilliant, and this should help Wright make it big, this is a great, exciting and very funny romance. 5/5

The Girl Who Played With Fire (2009), the second film to be adapted from the second book in Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy, and it's another murder mystery, but it's also part 1 of a two part story, although some of it does have pointers that come from the first film, and although it's a good story, it does groan under the weight of difficult-second-film-in-a-trilogy syndrome. Goth computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) has just bought a new apartment in Stockholm, but is ignoring requests by journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), who wants to stay in touch. Blomkvist has been working with fellow writer Dag Svensson (Hans Christian Thulin) and his girlfriend Mia Bergman (Jennie Silfverhjelm) who have been writing a report on prostitution and sex trafficking in Sweden. However, Blomkvist finds Svensson and Bergman shot dead with a gun belonging to Nils Bjurman (Peter Andersson), also dead. Bjurman was Salander's legal guardian, and Salander's fingerprints are on the gun. She finds herself on the run, while Blomkvist, still in shock from the deaths, has to get to the bottom of what's really happened. It's a good film, it has some dark moments and some brilliant performances, but it's not as good as the first film, the story does drag in places, despite good performances, but it's setting itself up for a grand finale to come in the third film. 3.5/



Puss in Boots (2011), the spin-off of the famous swashbuckling feline who made his debut in Shrek 2 (2004). A sequel has been in and out of development ever since then, but it's finally here and it's a good film too, with some good moments of imagination. It's a western at heart, but it does justice to Puss, and for those who wanted more after Shrek. All this is set before Puss in Boots met Shrek and Donkey, back when he was an outlaw on the run. He comes into town where he learns that outlaws Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris) have magic beans that, in the wrong hands, could mean the destruction of the world. While attempting to recover the beans, he discovers a rival is also after it. Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) who is in league with talking egg Humpty Alexander Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis), who was once friends with Puss, before Humpty betrayed Puss and made him an outlaw. So, they join up and go after Jack and Jill, and harness the power of the beans which takes them up to a castle in the sky where they get the goose that lays golden eggs, but in doing that, an evil creature is unleashed upon the land, one only Puss can tame. It's an enjoyable, exciting adventure with enough laughs for grown ups and kids. It has some brilliant moments of fairy tale magic and old western adventure too, with some added dance sequences too. Oh, and Guillermo Del Toro also produced it. 4/5

Don, are you watching the extended Millenium films?

Yes

Not seen them yet. The second and third films do suffer when compared to the first and the books, but I hope the extended versions help to balance them out.

Anti-Clock (1st view) - Very odd British film from 1979 that takles place within the mind of the lead character - 3/5*

United 93 (3rd view) - Works best, I think in portraying the panic and confusion on the ground rather than in the air. But the final few minutes are incredibly powerful - 4/5




Purple Rain (1st view) - Title song aside, before I saw this film I couldn't name you one single song by Prince. And I still can't. Nor do I have the desire, wish or inclination to listen to him ever again. Or see him act - 2/5*

Jack Frost (1st view) - Did anybody involved in this honestly think that this film was going to be good? - 2/5*

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), after John Hughes was left unimpressed by European Vacation (1985), where his script was rewritten before and during production, he took charge for the next film, writing and producing it. Though it has echoes of things to come from Hughes with Home Alone (1990), it's a very enjoyable film, more focused with some good gags as well. In Chicago, Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) always gets into the festive spirit every year, his wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), son Rusty (Johnny Galecki), and daughter Audrey (Juliette Lewis) all try to get into it too, but when Clark's idea for a "good, old-fashioned family Christmas", even if that involves inviting nearly all the family round as well. Ellen's parents Art Smith (E. G. Marshall) and Francis Smith (Doris Roberts), Clark's parents Clark Wilhelm Griswold Sr (John Randolph) and Nora Griswold (Diane Ladd), and his Aunt Bethany (Mae Questel) and Uncle Lewis (William Hickey), oh and Ellen's slobbish cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his family. What could possibly go wrong?? Well... It's a very funny film where plans for a Christmas with all the family round end up in tons of pratfalls and accidents, it's the opposite of Home Alone, where ALL the family is here. But, after this it was all downhill for John Hughes sadly. 4/5



Vegas Vacation (1997), 8 years after Christmas Vacation, the Griswold's return for another film, but by this point, John Hughes had all but retired from filmmaking, and National Lampoon wanted nothing to do with it either. That's a kiss of death, something's indeed missing from this one, the dynamic quality that made the first 3 films such a joy to watch in the first place. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) has made a bit of money from inventing a long life food preservative. So, he has a treat for his family, wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), daughter Audrey (Marisol Nichols) and son Rusty (Ethan Embry), he's taking them all to Las Vegas on holiday. It seems like the perfect idea for a family holiday, not so. Ellen and Audrey have had their doubts about it, but Rusty wants to see what the girls are like. The family run into cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), who has moved his family onto a piece of land north of Las Vegas. A trip to the Hoover Dam ends up with a leak caused by Clark, Ellen ends up romancing Wayne Newton (as himself), Audrey ends up hanging out with Eddie's wild stripper daughter Vickie (Shae D'Lyn) while Rusty with fake ID wins a fortune in the casinos, Clark is oblivious that his family are splitting apart on this holiday until it's nearly too late. That's the thing that's missing from this film, the sense of family and camaraderie that made the first 3 films work, here they all seem to bugger off and do their own things. Plus, there's non of the naughtiness or bad taste that the previous 3 films had, that's all been watered down. It had potential to be good, and they wasted it. 2/5

To The Devil A Daughter (1976), and so it came to this. To The Devil A Daughter would prove to be Hammer's final horror film, (until their recent resurrection), it showed a tantalising glimpse of a new direction for the company. But, it came too late, with the likes of The Exorcist and The Omen at the cinema, the game was up for Hammer. But, it's a good, dark film. Nothing cheesy about it, it's very bleak indeed. Based upon Dennis Wheatley's novel, it has excommunicated priest Father Michael Rayner (Christopher Lee) running a satanic cult, and there's one 18 year old girl Catherine (Nastassja Kinski), who is the Devil's representative on Earth, although she doesn't know that, but Father Michael can control her. But, Catherine's father Henry Beddows (Denholm Elliot) seeks the help of respected occult novelist John Verney (Richard Widmark), to save her soul and defeat Father Michael and his fellow Satanists. That's it as far as plots concerned, it's an underrated Hammer Horror, but it's story does feel a bit disjoined, (the ending is rushed and unfinished), but it has a good cast to it's name, look out for Honor Blackman, Brian Wilde and Frances de la Tour. It's suspenseful and well photographed by the late, great David Watkin. If only Hammer had survived after this apart from the TV that they did. 3/5



Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), after the reinvention of Sherlock Holmes in 2009 had held it's own against Avatar, grossing $500 million worldwide, a sequel was inevitable, and here it is. Directed by Guy Ritchie and re-uniting it's stars once again for another action packed mystery with suspense, excitement and good humour along the way. 1891, and Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) has been investigating a series of crimes, that are seemingly unconnected, but he's found out, after much detection, they have one man in common, Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris). Dr. Watson (Jude Law) intends to move on from working with Holmes, as he is about to marry fiance Mary (Kelly Reilly). But, he is soon back with Holmes after an attack on his stag do, where Holmes saves gypsy fortune teller Sim (Noomi Rapace), another target intended by Moriarty. But, it turns out Moriarty has a higher target in mind, targeting a summit of world leaders in Switzerland, and is hoping to start a massive war between nations with a political assassination, it's up to our heroes to stop the dastardly professor's plans, but Moriarty is a match for Holmes. It's a better, faster film than the first one, with non of it's epic scope lost, from a battle on a speeding London to Brighton train to a shootout in a forest. It's a great piece of entertainment, oh and Stephen Fry turns up naked as well. 4/5

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (2009), the third and final film adaptation based upon Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy of books. And it's part 2 of the story that started with The Girl Who Played With Fire, and it brings it to a powerful and compelling conclusion to this trilogy of films, it's been an adventure following these characters, and it makes up for the slow second film. Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) is in intensive care in hospital from bullets to the head, shoulder, hip, in the room next to her is her father, evil Russian gangster Alexander Zalachenko (Georgi Staykov) who Salander beat up. Lawyer Annika Giannini (Annika Hallin), sister of Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), is assigned to her case. As Giannini gathers together evidence for the case, Blomkvist investigates deeper and discovers a web of lies that goes all the way to the top of the Swedish government. Salander is able to communicate with the outside world with a mobile phone smuggled into the hospital, and the plot deepens when Zalachenko is assassinated by Evert Gullberg (Hans Alfredson). It's a thrilling finale to the trilogy, even if it does take it's time to get to it's conclusion where people who wronged Salander get served justice. It's a slow burner, but it pays off, although it leaves a lot out of the original book, but it works as a film. 4/5



Bad Santa (2003), a different kind of Christmas film. This one is NOT for the family to watch. In fact, it's one for the grown-ups. Who said Christmas films have to be for the family?? Directed by Ghost World's Terry Zwigoff and based on an idea by the Coen Brothers. This is a contender for one of the best Christmas films ever made, and it's also one of the funniest too. It follows drunken, boorish criminal Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton), who posed as a shopping mall Santa with his partner in crime elf Marcus (Tony Cox). While posing as Santa and his elf, they plan to rob the mall, which they do on Christmas Eve. Until one year, when Stokes becomes involved with (Brett Kelly), an overweight boy who believes Stokes really is Santa. Plus, there's trouble when Stokes' foul-mouth gets him into trouble with Mall manager Bob Chipeska (John Ritter) and Mall inspector Gin (Bernie Mac), but can Stokes change his ways?? It's a dirty, rude film but with a heart of gold, it has some brilliant gags, dialogue and scenes along the way. It's different from all the rest which is what makes it stand out. Thornton makes a brilliant down and dirty, but likeable crook, but it's the scenes with Cox and Kelly that stand out. Throw away all the other Christmas films, Bad Santa tops them all!! 4.5/5

Can't to see the new Holmes film. From your review it sounds good!


Marketa Lazarová (1st view) - A the hour epic about the feed between two rival clans, one Pagan, one Christian, in the 13th century. It looks great and the score is astonishing, but it's a slog to watch - 3/5