films.html

---
title: Film reviews
description: Micro-reviews of the occasional film
keywords: film movie cinema review reviews
layout: hh
---

<blockquote><p>From the <a href="http://twitter.com/PeterHilton">micro-blog</a>.</p></blockquote>

<h3>2009</h3>

<p id="basterds"><strong>Inglourious Basterds</strong>
<br/>Tarantino silliness made uncomfortable by historical setting and dark humour, but saved by excellent execution.</p>

<p id="shrink"><strong>Shrink</strong>
<br/>Good collage, with genuine human feeling: Hollywood sucking its own cock in this case. 'We knew that going in' - so true.</p>

<h3>2008</h3>

<p id="elegy"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974554/">Elegy</a>
<br/>Unnecessarily depressing and characterless, a clear demonstration that good actors cannot save a tedious screenplay.</p>

<p id="happy"><strong>Happy-Go-Lucky</strong>
<br/>An antidote to Hollywood, &amp; life in general; a delightful portrait of the risks and rewards of choosing to be happy</p>

<p id="boleyn"><strong>The Other Boleyn Girl</strong>
<br/>Pretty and spirited, but fundamentally shallow and without substance or emotion.</p>

<p id="lars"><strong>Lars &amp; The Real Girl</strong>
<br/>Mr delusional and nice folks in N Canada. The odd situation creates real emotion; touching and worth seeing.</p>


<h3>2001-2002</h3>

<p id="existenz"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120907">Existenz</a> <small>(P) January 2002</small>
<br/>Excellent teenage variant of The Matrix where the geeks aren't serious
professionals and everything's a game. Ultimately lack's the depth of The
Matrix or the humour of Better Than Life, but you've got to play.

<p id="reservoirdogs"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0105236">Reservoir Dogs</a> <small>(P) January 2002</small></p>

<p id="waterboys"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0299213">Waterboys</a> <small>(C) January 2002</small></p>

<p id="fromhell"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120681">From Hell</a> <small>(C) January 2002</small></p>

<p id="mummyreturns"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0209163">The Mummy Returns</a> <small>(P) January 2002</small>
<br/>Another bad film back from the dead - like Indie with more fighting and action but less plot and acting. Dead rubbish.</p>

<p id="knightstale"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0183790">A Knight's Tale</a> <small>(P) January 2002</small>
<br/>Jolly jousting jape follows the fairy tale formula with cute modern touches. Passes the time prettily if frivolously.</p>

<p id="italiensk"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0243862">Italiensk for begyndere</a> (Italian For Beginners) <small>(C) January 2002</small>
<br/>Typically unconventional Dogma 95 film features a group of lonely hearts with great humour and humility. </p>

<p id="lefabuleuxdestin"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0211915">Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain</a> <small>(C) December 2001</small>
<br/>Stylishly sentimental and touchingly witty comedy whose heroine searches for her destiny in crypto-modern Paris. This film is your destiny.</p>

<p id="lordoftherings"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120737">Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring</a> <small>(C) December 2001</small>
<br/>Beautifully visualised fantasy fairy tale goes all out to be the Star Wars of our time but forgets to innovate. Worth getting round to.</p>

<p id="discovery"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0251052">The Discovery of Heaven</a> <small>(C) December 2001</small>
<br/>Star performances in this erudite and classy but slow adventure; Indie gets intellectual. Not heaven but worth discovering.</p>

<p id="u571"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0141926">U571</a> <small>(P) December 2001</small>
<br/>Sub-standard Hollywood-style sub-maritime action adventure with macho pseudo-actors and a thin crypto-plot. Certain to sink without a trace.</p>

<p id="tombraider"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0146316">Tomb Raider</a> <small>(P) December 2001</small>
<br/>Fun but shallow raid on Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible territory that's good if you like this sort of thing but lacks broad appeal. The next film to come along will bury this one.</p>


<p id="animal"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0255798">The Animal</a> <small>(P) November 2001</small>
<br/>Cute but tame comedy whose mad scientist crosses the main character with various animal parts: good but uninspired use of the obvious gags. Leave it in the shop.</p>


<p id="kissofthedragon"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0271027">Kiss Of The Dragon</a> <small>(C) 4 November 2001</small>
<br/>Jet Li scores new credibility as Jackie Chan's successor as a Chinese cop beating up bad-guys in Paris, with appropriate panache and finesse. Hits the spot.</p>


<p id="jurassicpark3"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0163025">Jurassic Park 3</a> <small>(P) October 2001</small>
<br/>Lively clone of Jurassic Park lacks any real substance, but avoids the horror of the dire previous sequel's irritating kids. Go to the park instead.</p>


<p id="jallajalla"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0269389">Jalla! Jalla!</a> <small>(C) October 2001</small>
<br>Off-beat and intelligent Swedish comedy about two guys with women problems; will the women get their men? Have a go with this one.</p>

<p><a href='picture/photo/england/camden_bridge.jpeg'><img src='picture/photo/england/camden_bridge_s.jpeg' width='198' height='125' alt='Camden: the bright colours' title='Camden: the bright colours' style='float:right'></a>
<a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0173840" name="finalfantasy">Final Fantasy</a> <small>(P) October 2001</small>
<br>Biotech heroine plays alongside macho solder against evil alient spirits in this fantastic computer-generated sci-fi. See it, or at least fantasise.</p>

<p id="upinsmoke"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0078446">Up In Smoke</a> <small>(P) October 2001</small>
<br>Wacky 70s cops, drugs and rock 'n' roll farce: plenty of atmosphere but the plot's a bit of a hash. You've got to be in the mood for this one.</p>

<p id="frequency"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0186151">Frequency</a> <small>(P) October 2001</small>
<br>Back To The Future meets Seven in this average cops and killers thriller. Interesting plot, but it's not on my wavelength.</p>

<p id="payback"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120784">Payback</a> <small>(P) October 2001</small>
<br>A very droll Mel Gibson cashes in on a token bad guy role in this traditionalist gangster flick. You get your money's worth.</p>

<p id="artofwar"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0160009">The Art Of War</a> <small>(P) October 2001</small>
<br>Undercover superhero does battle with multiple enemies and gets the cute Chinese girl, with now conventional ideas from many allied films. It's worth following the action.</p>

<p><a href='picture/photo/england/camden_lock.jpeg'><img src='picture/photo/england/camden_lock_s.jpeg' width='125' height='198' alt='Camden: Camden Lock is an oasis of calm in North London' title='Camden: Camden Lock is an oasis of calm in North London' style='float:right'></a>
<a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0244196" name="secondskin">Second Skin</a> <small>(P) 3 October 2001</small>
<br>Rather souless gangsters-after-the-money scenario, with second-rate plot. Don't give this a second look.</p>

<p id="2010"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0086837">2010</a> <small>(P) 3 October 2001</small>
<br>Moody sci-fi sends another dated spaceship to Jupiter, for more restrained astronautical action. It ain't Kubrick but it's a worthy sequel.</p>

<p id="game"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0119174">The Game</a> <small>(P) September 2001</small>
<br>Masterful action film with a sufficiently clever plot to keep you thinking about the next move. Get this and play it.</p>

<p id="eraser"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0116213">Eraser</a> <small>(P) September 2001</small>
<br>Standard Arnie shoot-em-up with damsel in distress saved from gun toting bad guys: just want you wanted but no lasting impression. Fire and forget.</p>

<p id="loveandsex"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0234137">Love And Sex</a> <small>(P) September 2001</small>
<br>Thoughtful update on the thirty-somethings' relationship that doesn't push you, or either of them, very far. Worth the effort, you have to work on it.</p>

<p><a href='picture/photo/england/camden_street.jpeg'><img src='picture/photo/england/camden_street_s.jpeg' width='198' height='125' alt='Camden: the busy main street' title='Camden: the busy main street' style='float:right'></a>
<a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120903" name="xmen">X-Men</a> <small>(P) September 2001</small>
<br>Cheesy superheroes versus evil bad guy jape; Men In Black without the humour or class. Cross off your list.</p>

<p id="urbanlegends"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0192731">Urban Legends 2 Final Cut</a> <small>(P) September 2001</small>
<br>Passable college slasher flick with all the standard gruesome (victims) and charming (heroine) elements. Pass on this one.</p>

<p id="almostfamous"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0181875">Almost Famous</a> <small>(P) September 2001</small>
<br>Sensitive 70s tale of aspiring rock journalist touring with aspiring rock band and accomplished groupies. Worth getting into.</p>

<p id="watcher"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0204626">The Watcher</a> <small>(P) September 2001</small>
<br>Yet another serial killer taunts traumatised cop repeat, with a tediously repetitive and wooden Keanu Reaves. Wait for it to come around again on TV.</p>

<p id="moulinrouge"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0203009">Moulin Rouge</a> <small>(C) September 2001</small>
<br>Delightfully wacky, stunningly produced and skillfully deliverered musical comedy speculacular. Enjoy.</p>

<p><a href='picture/photo/england/london_whitehall.jpeg'><img src='picture/photo/england/london_whitehall_s.jpeg' width='125' height='198'   style='float:right'></a>
<a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0137523" name="fightclub">Fight Club</a> <small>(P) September 2001</small>
<br>Bewilderingly dark urban yuppie distopia, with a disturbingly real and poignantly unexpected plot development. Must watch.</p>

<p id="cube"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0123755">The Cube</a> <small>(P) September 2001</small>
<br>Five lost in a bizarre maze of nasty traps are true to type, with just enough style to keep you puzzling over where it ends. Worth a try.</p>

<p id="captaincorelli"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0238112">Captain Corelli's Mandolin</a> <small>(C) September 2001</small>
Splendid love story on a beautiful Greek island with plenty to look at; an excellent, and relievingly less tragic, rendition of the book. Be swept away.</p>

<p id="onenightatmccools"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0203755">One Night At McCools</a> <small>(C) September 2001</small>
<br>Liv Tyler stars in a slightly tacky There's Something About Mary meets Snatch: eye candy for the boys. Have a look.</p>

<p id="rentafriend"><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0201888">Rent-A-Friend</a> <small>(D) August 2001</small>
<br>Hilarious Dutch urban comedy, filmed as the opposite of film noir, with a manically twisted plot. Rent, buy or steal!</p>