Reviews
Return to Never Land (2002)
Excellent. My 2 1/2 year old and I have been entranced 4 times so far.
We have a local cinema (6 months old, excellent sound system, screen and seating) that runs a weekend showing for 1 UKP ($1.50). Every week it is "Return To Neverland". Every week I take my 2 1/2 year old. Every week he watches in rapt amazement. And every week I cry at some point. Just soft I guess. This is an excellent sequel, way better than you would expect. Those of you who are less than blown away are probably watching a VHS copy, because in a cinema in widescreen it is fantastic (I'm about to buy the DVD). The animation is beautiful, the CGI sequences may be obvious to those who are looking out for them (hey, I've been programming since 1983!) but they segue well into those gorgeous hand-drawn sequences. Jane is brilliantly realised and Tinkerbell, well I never thought I'd fall in love with a fairy! Ignore the technical triumphs (if you can) and just enjoy the film. The basic premise about a girl who is forced to grow up too soon is something I can identify with. As an only child, I feel also that my childhood was just a blip. This film brings everything that should be there flooding in. I'm just a big sap for this film. To cap it all, the great sixties-style art on the closing credits makes my heart leap (and I'm only 32).
"Do you believe in magic?" as The Lovin' Spoonful sang and BBMak cover in this movie?
Yes, I do now.
Thanks Disney, I appreciate the care you took. I wish I could say that about more films...
5 out of 5
Sweeney 2 (1978)
Hilarious.
Extremely funny movie. Dialog is peppered with f**s, quite modern really! Fashions raise a smile, nice to see the old cars on the roads. John Thaw and Dennis Waterman are excellent. There are also loads of new characters in the Flying Squad who are equally as good as the two leads. The plot is preposterous of course, but who cares?
By the way, it appears that the $100,000 from each raid was to repay a loan. That much was mentioned in the film. Very silly though.
Recommended (particularly for the larfs).
Live and Let Die (1973)
My favourite Bond film
You see, I never found Austin Powers films very funny. This is because for me, Bond films were exactly like that. The Roger Moore ones generally are total cartoons (Moonraker, From A View To A Kill) best appreciated by the under 10's and the Sean Connery ones were hardly Harry Palmer or George Smiley.
But if you want fun, great big grainy early 70's images, a fab song by Macca (one of his few solo songs that actually COULD have been by the Beatles thanks to George Martin's production), some genuinely disturbing images (the funeral scene at the start) and some real laughs then this is the one to beat. Oh, and no stupid gadgets. It's quite dry and dark at points but also quite cool too. I don't find it racist because I'm not American. As far as I know, Harlem was just like that - it just looks like someone else's culture to me.
As a Bond film, 5/5. As a movie, 3/5.
Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Had read the bad press for years, risked it - loved it!
Having read the story of the "disastrous" and "shambolic" Magical Mystery Tour in various publications for years I wondered what I was doing purchasing the DVD. After all I hadn't really enjoyed "Hard Days Night" or "Help" (though I liked Yellow Submarine). From the second the title burst on the screen though, a grin spread over my face and stayed there even after the end. I loved it! Ringo was excellent, his scenes arguing with his aunt were priceless. The music was fab and the "Flying" sequence was brilliant. The "white album" is my favourite and this film is the visual equivalent. 10/10.