stardust

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0486655/ Not my normal cup of tea, but thoroughly enjoyed this film. It had a fabulous story line, and a great English cast. It was nice to see such a successful collaboration between Brits and Americans. The highlight of this film is Robert De Niros cross dressing can can dance and Ricky Gevais getting stabbed.

Syrinana

http://http//http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365737/ I had this DVD on my shelf for months, I avoided it like the plague. I decided to give it a go a oh god was i shocked..it blew my socks off it was so good. the acting was faultless, George Clooney deserved his Oscar for his role he acted his socks off. Matt Damon and Jeffery Wright(a favourite of mine) were also very good. But if the truth be told there was not one single bad actor in the film. I loved how the film had Parallel story lines, which i felt gave the story a balanced approach. The film left me wondering how true to life this story is? my guess would be it is very true to life.

Tru Calling seasons 1 and 2

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0364817/ I watched both seasons over a couple of weeks and was completely hooked! I really love anything to do with the supernatural and thought this was an interesting take on the genre. The morgue worker who is spoken to by the dead asking for help to solve there murders (I wonder if it ever happens!) I loved all of the actors and actresses. I thought they all geld really well and it was great to see my childhood crush Jason Priestly again, looking better then ever! The cases she solved was not predictable, as many American shows are, they always had me guessing. Tru also lived in an eclectic and stunning apartment, which had me glued as I have a bad case of apartment envy.

It is such a shame that this has been cancelled after 2 seasons, there was plenty of life left in the show, no pun intended!

Look At Me

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0374583/ The story had so much potential i.e. big daughter, successful dad, struggling artists etc. But as a story it did very little for me, it failed to move me or make me laugh. As a story i found it so bland. But on a positive note it was set in Paris an the French countryside. So I was glued to the sights, the food, the clothes, the apartments and the wine. There is something bout French films and the French culture that when it is bad it is till very good.

Maybe it means I am destined for a apartment in Paris to spend my days people watching

An Officer And A Gentleman

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0084434/ This is one of those films I have never gotten around to watching. It hooked me from the very first poignant scene in the brothels and bars of the Philippines. I could take my eyes off the screen for a second!I can not review this film with out mentioning how good Richard Gere looked as a younger man, i was certainly pleasantly surprised. He also acted really well, he made me cry with his reactions to his friend Sids suicide and his steely determination towards succeeding in his career. My only fault in this film is that I did not like the female characters in the film. Mainly because I cant relate to women who marry or seek out men for status. Overall a fantastic way to spend 122 minutes of my life.

First Do No Harm

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0118526/ over the years I have worked with many people who have epilepsy so I was eager to watch this film.I wasn't disappointed as always Meryl Streep was fantastic, as a mother lioness figure and the family were a very believable slice of American pie. All the acting was very good. I found the film really informative and left me wanting to know more about the special diet. As always in these kind of films, the portrayal of the medical profession was not flattering, but the sad thing is it is like that in real life.

Tell No One

http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_No_One I found this film a little hard going mainly as dumb as it sounds because i read Harlen Coben novels and they are in English and I couldn't seem to get my head around the fact that it was in French! which ruined the film for me and enhanced all of its faults i.e mainly it was very dreary. But on the plus side, no matter how bad the film is I always love watching French films. They always either look very glamorous or mean and moody. There clothes are fantastic, there homes are amazing, they eat fabulous food and have great sex!

The Madness of King George

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0110428/ I am really sad to say that I did not like this film at all. Which really upsets me because I am Alan Bennets biggest fan. It was mildly amusing, but it swayed from amusing to annoying, particularly Georges repetition of words. Which I know were caused by his illness, but I found it irritating possibly due to the fact that his illness wasn't portrayed sympathetically enough. I didn't think anyone acted particularly well. On a plus side the locations were stunning in the film.

The Lakes

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0122579/ I borrowed this DVD from a friend after seeing it on her shelf and vaguely remembering from my youth. As soon as I put it the DVD player it instantly brought back memories of how fantastic this series is. First of all it was written by Jimmy McGovern, who I would argue has written some of the best shows i recent times. He didn't fail with The Lakes, it really reminds me a Shakespearean tragedy with themes of love, sex, death, murder, adultery, religion etc. The language and dialogue was very poignant and poetic, one of the most haunting scenes ( and there was many) the drowned girls funeral an the uncle sings I know a millionaire. All the characters were very flawed, I liked them all my two particular favourites were Danny and The Chef. Danny was played by one of Britain's finest actors John Simms. Loved him because even though he was a chronic gambler he had the biggest heart and the most morals in the Lakes. The Chef was fantastic character i liked him mainly because he was so brazen about sleeping his way through the village. Again another show with a fantastic 90's soundtrack. This show will stay with me for many years to come.

Maria Full Of Grace

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0390221/ I was attracted to this film by its title and its religious connotations. You don't normally associate drug mules with the virgin Mary, but I can see some loose links between Mary and Maria! Maria full of grace has too be the most powerful film I have seen in a long time. Its power was in its simplicity of story, of a young girl searching for a better life, which I closely relate to. I also think this story must play out every day of the year across the world. Catalino Sandino Moreno deserved her Oscar nomination for her role was a phenomenal Maria, her acting will stay with me for a very long time.

Along came a spider- dvd review

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0164334/ I am a massive James Patterson fan and eagerly looked forward to watching this film, and wasn't disappointed. I did think Morgan Freeman was a strange choice for Alex Cross, but he did really well. My only criticism was that there was no kids and Nana in the film. I didn't think that the film was true to the book, but hey I was not too fussed. I loved that the film moved as fast as the books and the baddie was a typical Patterson baddie. Overall a nice candyfloss thriller.

The Wire Season 1

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0306414/ I watched this series over two days, and I was literally left speechless in awe of its greatness. The Wires gritty brutality and realism really struck a cord with me, in comparison with the other more gentler American crime shows. I loved that every character on the show was flawed ranging from the drunkard detective Mcnulty to the retribution seeking drug dealer Omar. The poverty and deprivation is (what imagine) very true to life. The cutting short of too many young men's due to drugs was rally shameful. The highlight of the show for me was Dominic West's accent, it is the best American accent I have ever heard, better than most Americans. The theme tune was really fitting, whats with HBO and theme tuns, thy pick the best ones.

Sleepers

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0117665/As strange as it sounds, it has taken me 8 years to build up the courage to watch this DVD. You may be wondering why. Well as an 18 year old I read the book on holiday and it traumatised me with its brutal child abuse themes, as a 26 year old I am inspired by the characters courage in the end and the love that they have, which was forged through the brutality they faced. I found the film equally moving and disturbing. The child actors were superb and so brave as young kids to portray such harrowing children. Even though the character that Kevin Bacon played was a despicable human being, Bacon was fantastic in his role. Robert De Niro also surprised me how compassionate and loving his character was. In the film there is a continuous reference to the Count of Monte Cristo, which I see Sleepers as a modern day Count of Monte Cristo

Charmed season 1

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0158552/ I found this show an easy to watch a entertaining, if not a tad predictable.The on screen chemistry between the sister was realistic, there bickering was completely believable and the family dynamics was interesting. I spent most of my time in awe of the fabulous house that the sisters live in and the San Fransisco scenery. The 'monsters and demons were predictable but at times there were scary! Another series with a soundtrack from my youth, which always pleases me. I will definatly be buying season 2.

The Other Boleyn Girl

This DVD was a massive disappointment to me. The casting was shockingly miscast, Natshcha Elhone was too old and pretty for the role of Mary and Jodhi May was too young for the role of Anne. It was filmed too modernly with shaky cameras and the camcorder confessionals were down right bizarre. Philipa Lowthorpe left all the good bits from the book out. The only good thing about the DVD was that it had Philip Glenister in it.

The Namesake

//http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433416/ It saddns me to say this is the biggest film disappointment I have seen this year. I was really looking forward to watching this but within 10 minutes I could tell this was a pants film. The main reason I strongly disliked it was due to the wooden acting of Kal Penn, he clearly graduated from the Keanu Reeves school of acting. The low point of the movie was when Kal was playing the teenage Gogol, it was cringe worthy and reminiscent of Harry Enfields Kevin character. The plot was really slow and tedious, it didn't grip me and was constantly waiting for something to happen. The only highlight was how pretty the actress Tabu is, she was wasted on this stinker.

Queer as Folk

http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_as_Folk_(UK_TV_series) I spent a wonderful morning watching this DVD and ironing. There is not a single point I can think to criticize the show on, so please do excuse the exalted tone to this review! I was impressed with how fun the show is, lots of funky music, clubbing and generally living the high life! It was a perfect juxtaposition to the sadness that oozed from every character. No matter if your gay or straight, there can not be a single person on earth who doesn't recognise/or remember that point in your life were you loose your innocence. Loss of innocence ad growing up is a Major theme to Queer as folk. The rather easy on the eye cast are truly magnificent, most notably Aiden Gill. The soundtrack also brought memories back from my misspent teenage years!

Malice

http://http//www.imdb.com/title/tt107497/ I enjoyed this DVD. It had me gripped, from start to finish. The plot was brimming with twists and turns. The film is set in beautiful Boston, the autumn scenery was breath taking. I couldn't take my eyes from Nicole Kidmans face. I am not used to seeing her face moving, I had convinced myself that she was a real life stepford wife. Alec Baldwin was a complete bastard in the film, and it suited him to the core! Never has one man been suited a role. The murder of Gwyneth Paltrow was also a high point, any film that shows Gwyneth getting murdered gets 5 stars from me!

Street Kings

Acting and plot wise this was a terrible film! Cliched to hell, band of brothers with a rotten apple in the team, bad cops turning good,you get the picture! a complete rip off,of all the 7 series of The Shield in to a 90 minute film! Forest Whiticker saved the film, with his full of expression eyes. I find Hugh Lauries accent bizarre, which turns me off watching him and ruins any programme he is in. Keanu reeves was as wooden as my coffee table, the man can not act at all, his only redeeming feature is he is absolutely gorgeous! Sad thing is I'll never get back the time I wasted on this film!

The Black Candle

It is not a very fashionable thing to say that i have a soft spot for Catherine Cookson, but I don't care, i do! The reason I am so bold in my admiration of Catherine is she introduced me to adult literature so I owe her an enormous debt. The story was a typical Cookson, a maid with a bastard child, a nasty posh man, a loving working class man who meets a tragic end and a bunch of strong women! I will be the first to admit that the acting in this DVD wasn't Oscar standard but still enjoyable for a Sunday afternoon. Nathanial Parker was a stereotypical baddie, all he needed was a twirling dark mustache and Samantha Bond was a very believably Bernadette. The settings were poor, I could tell the rain was fake! Overall a pleasant way to spend 2 hours of my life!