movie_tyrant > Reviews------------------------------------

Now that its 2010 and we've already had some truly epic sci-fi flix shown to us in our time, when you see trailers like Skyline's you have to think that this can't be a flop...they must know that we are expecting nothing but a seriously new, original, futuristic bombardment on the senses that leaves us with a very sweet taste in our mouths when the event is over. The clause brothers are on their first outing here with Skyline using a very meagre budget of $10m for a sci-fi flick. Lets make a comparison here, Independence days budget was $75m, The Wachowksi's clan's Matrix took up $63m, Spielberg's War Of The Worlds had a budget of over $130m, Cloverfield had a budget of $25m and District 9 came good with a budget of $30m. The point im trying to make is that if you going to try and compete let alone get one over on the above said quality movies you have to go some and one way NOT to do it is to claw together a pityful and useless $10m. It will show in the finished product. Cloverfield went the Blair Witch way and gave us a mind-blowing thrill ride that worked 100% and can easily sit next to the other big hitters in the sci-fi world as did District 9 and it gave us a different slant on all things alien and proved to be an original, well crafted affair through out which was worthy of repeat viewings. Skyline however from start to finish left your brain cells screaming in pain asking for a sedative. One of the problems with Skyline is that there is no beginning, a trailer for Skyline explicitly shows a news reader talking about Steven Hawkings views on contacting other life forms and how it could be a big mistake to do so. There is no such footage in the movie whatsoever...WHAT??? so your left wondering how all this started. Even if you add that trailer footage in the movie it's still lacking pretty much everywhere. The movie starts at a birthday party for one of Jared's (Balfour) friends called Terry who seems to have gotten minted through the entertainment business and is all "Ferrari-ed up" and has the swanky penthouse suite to match. Out of nowhere the aliens seem to attack and what is lacking at the start seems a bit exciting in comparison. The acting is very much cardboard cut out stuff with even the leading roles over acting with lack-lustre performances and trying to "over-emote" at times making things very cringe-worthy to the avid movie goer who knows their stuff and wants quality on screen from the cast....Taxi for Balfour and Co. I actually found some of this movie very funny...it was that bad. The script came over very predictable and lazy with very standard dialogue and some of the cast because of this came across as a bit stupid. Ok, to the CGI. There is nothing new here, in fact at times its pretty p*ss poor. If they decide to do an after thought 3-D version it wont make it any better. When 3-D tech is applied to movies it has to be done through out the whole process and not an after thought, it just doesn't work as well at all. One film that had that failing was Clash Of The Titans 2010 amongst others. So to summarize: Because Skyline has been hyped up so much and the trailers look great AND the fact that we have some brilliant sci-fi epics already, your mind set is geared towards expecting nothing but something truly amazing and it is totally the opposite. Ideas have been rudely and with insult been taken/nicked from The Matrix, War Of The Worlds and Independence Day. Shame on you....the low budget really showed in this display of directorial laziness. Oh and by the way, its clear they have set it up for whats bound to be a mind numbing sequel so they can make more money out of movie-lovers. I WANT MY MONEY BACK. overall: 3.8/10

Set around six years on from Kidulthood, we have a well crafted sequel which is just as engaging as the first film. This time the main character through out the film is Sam, released from prison looking to have a quiet life, he visits the grave of Trife, the guy he murdered in Kidulthood and gets attacked by someone who tells him a lot of people want him dead. This launches Sam into a quest to stop the people who want him dead and make sure his family & people he cares about dont get caught up in the madness thats about to come his way. One of Trife's friends Jay has become a low-level gangster and has no time for Sam as well as Trife's uncle who's a front line yardie style bad man in west London and is higher up the tree compared to Jay by some way and isnt to be played with. Everywhere Sam turns he's got it coming to him and is wondering if it's better to be inside than out right now. The one exception is Lexi, who he spends quite a bit of time with and forms an unlikely alliance. Within a mere 24 hours of being out from the clink Sam has to duck n dive from a number of attempted hits on his life. Adulthood in no way disappoints as a sequel and at times you feel Noel Clarke hasn't just made a good sequel he has created one that possibly outshines the first outing at times. Directing, writing and acting in Adulthood, Noel Clarke has pretty much got everything right here and deserves a pat on the back for sure. When comparing this film with the likes of Bullet Boy and 1 Day there's a huge gap in terms of quality direction, script writing and acting. This is a worthy follow-up to Kidulthood that doesn't make the mistake of repeating the original, Adulthood is also a considerable step-up for Noel Clarke, who not only carries the film on screen but behind the camera as well. Overall 8.6/10

In Kidulthood, teenagers are totally reckless living for their moment under a whirl of as much sex, coke, blowjobs, weed, booze & partying as they can cram into their lives. What they consider to be having a laugh at times is serious stuff with deadly consequences. However, look behind the blurred sheen of peer-pressure narcotics and I-fell-asleep-during-sex relationships and you'll find guns, baseball bats, muggings, & teen pregnancy. For these adolescents, you need to have a tragic experience to learn about the very notion of consequence. This film is one hell of a ride and true to how it is, i enjoyed every minute. Kidulthood is an excellent piece of film-making with a cracking script, fine performances and imaginative direction. A real eye opener that deserves a wide audience. Based in West London, where rich and poor rub shoulder to shoulder, the film tells the stories of a number of kids given the day off school because a girl kills herself after being bullied. Speaking a language alien to anyone born before 1990 and featuring a rare celluloid happy slapping, the 16 year olds of Kidulthood are their own, irreverent culture. Smashed on cocaine and booze, Alisa says of the unwanted baby growing inside her, "I'd get so fat if I kept this," while her buddy Becky (Ray Winstone's daughter, Jamie) gives wealthy city boys head for drugs. Shot in guerrilla style, with cast and crew weaving through actual Oxford Street crowds, the film's immediacy is striking. The actors, too - many of whom are making their cinematic bow - bring uncomfortable authenticity. Kidulthood gives us a smidgen of Grange Hill (a UK TV series from the 70's), a large portion of Larry Clarke's Kids and a sprinkle of Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing. This i an ultra-realistic snapshot of Britain today, you'll never get on your local bus and look at kids the same again after seeing Kidulthood.....Overall 8.8/10

Famed for Mimic, Hellboy and also playing his part in the recent movie Splice, Guillermo Del Toro stated that Pans Labyrinth was the most personal film he has made and classed it as a companion to The Devils Backbone and that after that film, the 9/11 attacks altered his opinions regarding children and their reaction to war and oppression. Very Dark, dangerous and dreamlike, Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth is a fairytale every bit as scary and moving as they were always meant to be. The basics: Following a bloody civil war, a young girl named Ofelia enters a world of unimaginable cruelty when she moves in with her new stepfather, a tyrannical and utterly brutal military officer. Armed with only her imagination, Ofelia discovers a mysterious labyrinth and meets a faun who sets her on a path to saving herself and her ailing mother. But soon, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur, and before Ofelia can turn back, she finds herself at the center of a ferocious battle between good and evil. When i first saw this film on its release i did think i had seen something pretty special, it was only on its 2nd viewing i decided it became more magical and extraordinary. This is a very sad, dark fantasy film with quite some realism. From the beginning on, you will somehow suspect that things will not go uphill and bad things will happen. But when they do, they won't leave you untouched. The tragedy unfolds more and more, with slight glimpses of hope here and there, until the climax will leave you in tears. I can't remember the last time a film moved me like that. The best film for 2006 in my eyes. Overall: A breathtaking magical journey... 9.3/10

Based on a series of crime novels by author Joel Houssin, Dobermann is ruthless, cunning, and sexy. I remember Dobermann when it first got a release and enjoyed it then, after a 2nd recent viewing its still a great watch. The Dobermann (Vincent Cassel) is a class-A criminal for the 21st century. Along with his stunning partner Nat the Gypsy, The Dobermann leads a crazy gang of bank robbers into one of the most daring heists of all time. Fearless, insane, and packing some of the most awesomely high-tech weaponry ever seen, Dobermann and his gang are thirsty for action. Hot on their trail is the sadistic renegade cop Christini, who will break every rule, legal and moral, to personally dispense with The Dobermann. Dobermann has been criticised for its violence and even banned in its uncut form in some countries. The violence is frequent and sometimes brutal but always has a great comic book feel to it. For example, the police gunfire in one shootout is shown as long white lines, which gives the impression that the images have been lifted directly from the pages of a comic book. The film is filled with neat touches. Monica Bellucci’s character is deaf, which could so easily have been turned into a cliché on a par with having a pregnant woman in a hostage situation, but instead it is used as clever plot and stylistic devices. The performances are generally adequate, with the exception of Tcheky Karyo (Kiss Of The Dragon, La Femme Nikita) who steals the show. He revels in creating a completely obnoxious character and it’s clear he’s having a great time playing the bad guy, whether he’s throwing babies around or torturing witnesses. The structure in Dobermann is very similar to the typical Hollywood action movie and it’s surprising an English language remake wasn't attempted. It's targeted at a French audience with a knowing nod to Brits and Americans, with some English lines thrown in and references to Trainspotting and the 1998 remake of Godzilla. It’s a good solid action movie with plenty of original touches. It certainly has at least if not more to offer than Hollywood movies with a budget ten or twenty times the size. Dobermann is a visually stunning cocktail of gun play, adrenalin-fuelled action, nice dazzling special effects, and a pumping soundtrack featuring The Prodigy. Dobermann is a frenetic assault on your senses. You have been warned. Overall 7.9/10

Shane Meadows became known after releasing A Room For Romeo Brass then followed by Once Upon A Time In The Midlands. He was then catapulted forward with the release of the award winning and brilliant Dead Mans Shoes. You will notice that a lot of the same faces star in Shane Meadows films because he has been long standing friends with some of the actors. Including Paddy Considine and Andrew Shim. He also adds himself to the mix with cameo's. The story: This Is England is a semi-autobiographical tale of a young boy adopted by a gang of skinheads in a grey seaside town. (make note how Shaun deliberately echoes Shane Meadows). Sean is a put-upon 12-year old who finds unexpected friendship with a group of local skinheads led by the sweet natured Woody. These skins are a far cry from the image of racist thuggery that the movement became known for in the 80's. It's all about the music, and of course the clothes - although Sean is too small for Doc Marten boots, he still gets the haircut, the plaid shirt and the braces. For a while, everything is sweet in Sean's world. He even shares his first kiss with a female Boy George lookalike with the charming name of Smell. Soon, conflict arrives in the form of Combo, played by the British bulldog-like Stephen Graham, an old mate of the gang whose time in prison has left him with a strong sympathy for the National Front. The one and only criticism from me was that Combo's time inside could have been shown more maybe. Combo's racist agenda splits the gang and Sean, tragically, finds himself turning to Combo as a substitute for the father he lost in the Falklands. You will also notice an appearance from the brilliant Frank Harper who sides with Combo. Meadows is an exhilarating filmmaker and This Is England is his best film to date - an honest, emotional, funny and deeply moving portrait of growing up. This Is England may sound, in short, like typical grimesville British filmmaking - concrete, rain and misery. This couldn't be further from the truth. I have massive respect for films that show exactly how it is and this is one of them has it down to the brilliant soundtrack. The film is fizzing with energy and humour, powered by brilliantly engaging performances. This Is England packs a lot into its 100 minutes, but never feels hectoring. Therein lies its power. And to mention again a terrific, danceable soundtrack, laid down with love. Here in the UK at the time of this review being written we are lucky enough to have the follow-up to This Is England in the form of a short TV series called This Is England 86' set three years on from the film. At the time Tom Cruises Cocktail was filling cinema's, the World Cup is in full swing in Mexico and over 3 million Brits are unemployed. Split into 4 parts each running for over 50 minutes Its another one to look out for which is another piece of brilliance from Mr Meadows. Overall: A spot on portrayal of England in the 80's 9.8/10

At the end of this review there are a few interesting facts about straw dogs that most dont know. Sometimes films are not only meant to be entertainment but also to leave you the viewer wounded for days or even years after...Peckinpah's Straw Dogs is one of those films. It's always nice to see a timeless classic like Straw Dogs when we live in an age of blockbusters and sequels that most are made with one intention, to make as much money as they can and milk things dry. Im all for quality busters like Jolie's Salt, The Dark Knight and Watchmen to name but a few. When ever i see Straw Dogs i dont see an oldie that has a lack-lustre storyline and huge plot holes considering that it lasts nearly two hours. Instead i found that the slow progression is meant to be that way and works for the film 100%. With Straw Dogs what you get is something different from what you expect, my first thought was that this movie was way ahead of its time when it came out and even a decade after. Dustin Hoffman stars in his darkest role ever as David Sumner (its Sumner not Summer), an American who moves to rural England with his wife Amy who was born there and she is remembered by the towns folk when she returns. The couple had plans to stay there for a year or so when awkward things start appearing and local people from Amy's past start harassing them. This movie is a masterpiece of film-making and should be considered an example on how to make a movie for all new directors and actors since this movie is also brilliantly and very convincingly acted. You see Dustin Hoffman give one of his best and surely helped to make that happen. The rape scene in the film was the talking point but was grossly mis-understood as to why she was seen to enjoy it. Some people just didnt get it. Any emotions that may have been lying dormant within your subconscious could quite easily come to the surface while watching Straw Dogs. Straw Dogs is sharp, spiky, raw, powerful and deleterious. A true classic. Overall 9.6/10 Interesting Facts about Straw Dogs: 1) The film was originally seen in workprint (unfinished) form by the BBFC who suggested minor edits to one of the killings and to the second rape scene, which implied that Amy was sodomized. The edits were carried out and the completed film was passed uncut for cinema by the BBFC. Subsequent attempts to release the filmworks on video were rejected outright, as chief censor James Ferman suggested cuts to the rape scene (over 3 minutes) but found them difficult to carry out. Another attempt to release the film was prevented by concerns over the 1987 Hungerford massacre. After 5 attempts proved unsuccessful an edited version of the film (removing most of the second rape) was officially submitted in March 1999 but was rejected by the BBFC as it was felt that too much emphasis had been placed on the initial 'pleasure rape' of Amy. The film was again rejected 3 months later (in its complete form) when submitted by a different distributor, as it was considered inappropriate to pass the uncut version after recently rejecting an edited one. In 2002 Anchor Bay were told that cuts were needed to the rape scene before the works were passed, Anchor Bay refused these cuts. Eventually, It was finally passed fully uncut for DVD in September 2002 making it 31 years since its initial release. 2) Dustin Hoffman - not usually a fan of violent films - admitted that he only took the role in this movie for the money. 3) Before shooting, Sam Peckinpah instructed Dustin Hoffman and Susan George to live together for two weeks, with screenwriter David Zelag Goodman in tow. Some of their interactions during this period were worked into the film's script. 4) When Sam Peckinpah was planning the scene in which Amy is raped twice, he would not tell Susan George how he was going to shoot the scene. Under pressure from her, he eventually told her bluntly that Amy would first be raped and then buggered. She refused to take part in Peckinpah's plans for explicit portrayal of this and threatened to resign. He eventually relented, allowing George to depict Amy's trauma by concentrating on her eyes and face, rather than her body. 5) In order to express a sick enjoyment in the scene where Dustin Hoffman beats the man on the floor to death, he requested that there would be coconuts there for him to smash. In one shot you can actually see a bit of coconut flying off, which Sam Peckinpah passed off as brain matter. 6) In the scene where Dustin Hoffman's character first enters the local pub, Sam Peckinpah was unhappy with the other actors reaction to this stranger entering their world. Eventually, he decided to do one take where Hoffman entered the scene without his trousers on. He got his reaction, and these are the shots shown in the final film. 7) In order to express a sick enjoyment in the scene where Dustin Hoffman beats the man on the floor to death, he requested that there would be coconuts there for him to smash. In one shot you can actually see a bit of coconut flying off, which Sam Peckinpah passed off as brain matter. 8) Among the actors initially considered for the role of David Sumner were Donald Sutherland, Jack Nicholson and Sidney Poitier. Actresses originally considered and/or auditioned for the role of Amy were Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rampling and Helen Mirren. 9) The title comes from the Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu, who wrote, "Heaven and earth are not humane, and regard the people as straw dogs."

Ssang hwa jeom aka A Frozen Flower, One of Korea's most talked about films of 2008 goes behind the royal curtain to unveil an emotionally charged story of love, sex, politics, and betrayal during the final days of the Goryeo Dynasty. Under the thumb of the Yuan Dynasty, the Goryeo King is pressured to either produce an heir or name his cousin the Crown Prince. The King's true love, however, is his chief male bodyguard Hong Lim, and he has never so much as touched the Queen. The King instead asks Hong Lim to sleep with the Queen, believing his problems to be solved as long as a son can be produced. But Hong Lim and the Queen's sexual encounter marks the beginning of a dangerous and passionate triangle of forbidden love, jealous rage, and heartbreaking betrayal. Make note that the directors cut runs for 143 mins and that's the version to be seen if possible. The Korean ltd edition DVD is now out of print which contains the full dir cut but can be found if you know where to look. A Frozen Flower tore down taboos to blockbuster reception with the depiction of homosexual love between a king and his bodyguard. But A Frozen Flower takes it many steps further on an erotic level, with its nudity and explicit sex scenes and setting a new box office record for adult-rated films. The cast is top-notch. Jo In-seong starts Hong-lim off as charming but slightly feeble, gradually building him until his passion is what drives the movie. He's able to work well with both his other leading male and female, enough that the audience can't reduce the film's conflicts to just his sexual direction. Ju Jin-mo's charisma as the King shows and a strong and forceful personality comes out able to make the audience aware of his position without coming off as likely to be underestimated. Song Ji-hyo is quite good as the Queen, both regal and able to convince the audience of her loneliness. It's a good movie, sexy and suspenseful & well realised. I'd like to comment on how great the action in this movie is. There are only two or three big action moments, but they are pretty explosive - the first from how unexpected it is, and the one at the end for the fury demonstrated, and how each swing of the sword and bit of destruction seems to have meaning. This is not just a person angry looking for revenge, but an attempt to tear down everything that had once meant something, as much a bitter attack as a big finale. It's an exclamation point on the story, and one that fits well. A Frozen Flower could have been just a costume drama where the costumes are pretty much always off, but instead plays as both an intriguing thriller and a surprisingly strong romance. Overall this movie sits between good & great....7.2/10

Ddongpari, better known in Western countries as Breathless, has been doing the rounds with big & great success, picking up awards left right & centre. One of those awards was The Tiger Award in Rotterdam. And won with ease...add to that another 16 wins and its hard to pass this one by. Seems like its time for a Brief review. The Story: A loudmouthed and almost insane, aggressive low-tier gangster strikes up an unlikely friendship with an equally abrasive schoolgirl. Unknowing of each others situation, they both have to come to grips with a past and present of unrelenting domestic violence. Now doesn't this sound like the premise for another great film from Korea? I can assure you it is and doesn't disappoint. this isn't the easiest film to watch courtesy of its depiction of violence, focusing on the emotional scars that are left on all involved. Yang Ik-June based the story on the inner rage he felt while remembering events from his childhood, so it's not exactly played for laughs. His film is also a bit too long, but what will keep you watching are the incredible performances of lead actors Yang Ik-June and Kim Kkobbi. Most of the supporting acts are equally strong, which is very impressive as most of the bit-parts were played by non-professionals and technical crew members. Yang Ik-Yune's first full feature is still one hell of a debut and rest assured it didn't pick up those 17 awards for nothing: there are several nuggets of brilliance to be found between all the violence and melodrama. A Definite Recommendation. Overall: 8.3/10

Robert Rodriguez' machete has one of the best & engrossing opening 5 minutes or so in a film i have seen in a long time. With Rodriguez at the controls i knew it was going to be a rough high octane ride but the beginning came with a massacre involving a naked woman and many severed heads, and it keeps on slamming and banging with a gleeful, nose-thumbing insouciance. Brilliant. Most of the time the pace is swift but there was a hole, a big hole and the pace lost itself and the hole was only filled with more blood and guts, that for me wasnt the best way to fill a hole it was an obvious way, the tone was playful and comedic at times, the screenplay was also peppered with one-liners. Whether mowed down by gunfire or dispatched by sheaves of blades, the bodies pile up in split-second blasts of carnage. With his buffalo head, craggy Rhino-type skin, unsmiling face, stringy hair and superhuman facilities as a knife thrower, Danny Trejo offers an amusing inside-out caricature of the Hollywood stereotype of a Latin American drug cartel’s sinister enforcer who speaks in growled sound bites. As an ex-Federale, Machete has escaped to Texas after clashing with Torrez (Seagal), a Mexican drug kingpin who owns every politician on both sides of the border. In Torrez’ pocket is McLaughlin (De Niro), a Texas senator who campaigns on an anti-immigration platform and who Mr. De Niro plays as a crinkly-eyed, hate-spewing hybrid of Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush; one campaign commercial compares illegal immigrants to cockroaches. From his smirking lips issue rhetorical bombshells that even the most fervent supporter of Arizona’s new immigration law wouldn’t dare spew in public. Hired to assassinate McLaughlin, Machete is unknowingly set up as the fall guy. During the attempt to dispatch of him, Machete is wounded, and in the movie’s funniest gag, he escapes from the hospital.......what happens next im not going to share with you. i dont do spoilers. Slicing, stabbing and shooting his way to glory, he ascends from day laborer to leader of an army of United States-bound Mexicans wielding garden tools. All women seem to go weak at the knee and melt like a chocky bar left on the pavement in the Dubai sun when they spend time with our Machete. He's an expressionless killing machine who discharges it with cool, deadpan indifference. Machete is a thrill ride with a bath load of gore, nudity and violence that is very enjoyable. At times you have the feeling that the film may evoke a race war. Theres plenty of political button pushing but its to over the top to qualify as satire. This is good Grindhouse fare for sure, not a fantastic film but very enjoyable. Overall: 8.2/10

This epic Shaw Bros classic is also more commonly known as Come Drink With Me. When released in 1966 it changed the face of martial arts films for ever. This is the one. Nothing like it had been seen before and at the time was massively groundbreaking. It is still spoke about today as one of the best Hong Kong movies ever made. Without it you couldnt watch some of the martial arts films you have seen over the past 44 years. At the young age of 16 the beautiful Cheng Pei Pei was cast as the female lead role here. Modern day audiences would know here best for being Jade Fox in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Come Drink with me cemented her as the queen of swordplay and that continued for many years to come. Here she plays Golden Swallow, in the film her name is feared by those who live outside the law, and for this breakthrough movie those who dare to cross her path are a group of bandits who have kidnapped the Kings son and are holding him ransom in return for their own leader. Although the plot is quite straightforward there is plenty here to enjoy as unlike most of the other swordplay movies from this era King Hu (Director) has taken the wise decision to inject some subtle humour into the action, mostly through the exaggerated villains and the more obvious humour in the form of Drunken Cat and his antics (including a few songs with a band of merry children). Martial arts film making with some added comedy, where have we seen that before? That is the real beauty about watching these old classics, while they may not offer the breathtaking action seen in the work of 1980s Hong Kong cinema or the 90's, they do reveal where the inspiration seen in said films came from, and Come Drink With Me is no exception as it includes many great characters and scenes, including a fine example of how to do a Tea House stand off. Cheng Pei Pei deserves special mention as she gives a good, if slightly flawed performance, but you can easily overlook her misgivings at this early stage in her career thanks to the sheer presence she has onscreen. From the beautifully framed opening shot of Pei Pei as Golden Swallow I guarantee you will be enamoured with her radiant beauty and strong confident persona from start to finish as she carries the movie with ease. As an onscreen fighter for the very first time Pei Pei is certainly able to wield the sword well, though in general the choreography and performances tend to have a graceful, almost balletic approach to them which although still a pleasure to watch, results in some moves lacking in conviction, though the generous levels of blood always ensure you know who has been affected by the brawls. Kill Bill anyone?? King Hu's status is well deserved as he directs with great confidence and keeps the film moving at a brisk pace with only a few moments of inconsistency, while the choice of superlative camera angles and the depth of the picturesque frames he creates ensure the detailed sets are always done the justice they deserve. Combine all of the above with a competent set of supporting actors and an energetic score and you have a fantastic swordplay movie from the sixties that serves as a fine example of film making at its best from that era of Hong Kong cinema. Remember...this is 44 years old and holds the accolade for that reason and being the groundbreaker in its genre. Quentin Tarantino has picked this one up and has decided to do a re-make due for release in 2011 so needs to be viewed even for that reason alone. The current status of this re-make is unknown but the Weinstein bros have agreed investment. Lets hope it happens. Brilliant 8.9/10

Here we have Gary Oldman's directorial debut and what an outing it is. After being released in 97' Nil By Mouth received a BAFTA Award and 8 others awards plus 8 nominations. Nil By Mouth is a story about a dis-functional family in South London and the rancid misery they deal with. Ray Winstone plays Ray who's not just an abusive drunk; he is a horrible b*stard, always prone to violent outbursts. Winstone delivers a powerhouse performance in the role of Ray, a working-class man who loves his family, especially his daughter. But this man has demons that are so numerous and deep, they cannot be repressed. We see that without serious provocation, he instantly becomes raving and homicidal. A side that most movies (and people) tend to shy away from. He will make your blood run cold and near the end, make some cry. Kathy Burke, best known for her role on "Absolutely Fabulous" takes an enthralling dramatic turn as Valerie, Ray's wife who's sole purpose seems to be to keep the family strung together while putting up with her husband's monstrous outbursts. This is an unforgettable performance. You might need a shower after this one...This is hardcore & its not a feel-good movie....It's anything but. The performances are fantastic, The direction, dialogue, performances and story are fierce. Oldman did the right thing in keeping his own face out of this tale and using some actors that are largely unknown outside their home country, which allows us to get fully sunk into the documentary style of this film. The characters come across as real people, not Hollywood cardboard cutouts, and their problems (drugs, drink, violence, crime, unemployment and family) are closer to reality than you want your family to be. Ultimately, it's a violent film, though hardly any of the violence is actually brought to the screen....You know it's there. This helps the film shock, but doesn't make it cross the line. Nil By Mouth is a movie you have to see, not to take anything home from it, but to show you just how good your home is in comparison. There's so much authenticity and raw emotion here. Oldman paints one of the most honest portraits ever painted of domestic ugliness. The film takes place in, and was inspired by, the environment Oldman witnessed growing up on a council estate in South East London. Oldman cast his sister Laila Morse(Mo Harris in EastEnders) as Janet. If your not from the UK and are struggling with the cockney dialogue...stick with it, its worth it. Overall: Nil By mouth drops the nut on you and breaks your nose and doesnt care if your bleeding. 9.5/10

First of all its worth mentioning that the Richard Ramirez case was one of the most difficult and longest in American history. And the most fascinating. I was really looking forward to this one years ago when i first viewed it having seen all of the other major serial killer documentaries and their movie offerings that have been made. The book The Night Stalker is a great read but the film falls short. The attempt here is more admirable than the execution, with Chris Fisher's overstylized direction never letting up long enough to involve the audience. It's a flashy calling-card film that, after 20 minutes or so, becomes very irritating. Many things are missing from this film what happened to him in his early years. His sister-in-laws murder, his parents, Ramirez getting in and out of trouble in his early life, his early experiences with girls and his basic progression to becoming a serial killer. There were also a lot of inaccuracies with the cast when it came to their appearance. The "demon scenes" became tiresome and hallucinogenic and were very over the top. What should have been one of the best serial killer movies around turned out to be more like trying to commit murder with a sponge machete. overall: 2.9/10

Death Bell is a mix of various movies, with Saw being the more prominent one. The film is set at Chang Ahn High School, where a special class of the top students has been put together for the coming exams. A disembodied voice announces a student will die for every test question the class gets wrong. Anyone trying to leave the premises will also die a horrible death. Yes, the movie takes a Saw-ish turn as we witness one student after the other somehow get kidnapped and put in front of a camera with some new death-device. Aside from the identity crises, the movie was decent. After a conventional half-hour setup, the pic keeps the tension high with tight cutting and a script that ups the student body count in some inventive ways. Thankfully, the film is packed with shocks, and while most of them are kind of familiar, there are a few genuine surprises and some imaginative scenes with some good use of special effects. The film starts off as a ghost flick, then turns into a semi-torture feature and ends up as a standard who-done-it slasher. But it’s a horror film. Build some decent atmosphere, give me some good acting, and I’ll go home happy. One death in particular had me yearning for the keyboard right away. The identity of the killer and his reasons might be fairly predictable, but then again, this is a film that primarily relies on inventive shocks, outrageous gore and slick cinematography. None of the students are equipped to handle the life-or-death tension created by this exam. The characters themselves are sometimes typical and they make some of the same decisions that everyone does in horror flicks. As bloody bodies start dropping through ceilings, banging around in clothes dryers, and showing up with cryptic messages carved into them, the group members behave badly, suspecting each other and narrowing their perspectives. If watching someone die drowning in melted candle wax amongst other inventive deaths is your thing, this is a good Korean horror movie to put on your radar. 7.2/10

In Taking Care of Business, Spencer Barnes (Charles Grodin) and Jimmy (James Belushi) are two completely different people: Spencer is a compulsive workaholic whose wife is ready to leave him for spending so much time at work and so little with her. When he has to cancel their holiday to take a business trip, it's the last straw. Jimmy is a convict who escaped from jail. He just so happens to find Spencer's very important misplaced Filofax, which includes the security code to his boss Walter's swanky holiday home. Before you know it, Jimmy decides to kick back and relax at the mansion, and then gets stuck posing as Spencer, which he doesn't seem to mind. In fact, he even goes to a big meeting with Spencer's potential clients - and makes a fool of himself. His clients, however, like him for some reason. While 'Taking Care of Business' is unrealistic at times, the acting is definitely credible. The plot may not be very original - but its still an entertaining movie from the 90's thats worth a watch. Overall 6.9/10

I always watch movies twice before i review but this one was 100% needed for a second viewing anyway. First time round i was thinking that i had a feeling this was going to happen as in "more cliched Hollywood trash cinema"...but i was made to change my mind. The premise does have the usual elements for an interesting watch and the marketing campaign does draw you in like it should. My own feeling is that The Hangover, is a real surprise because it's short, sharp, funny and clever. Most recent Hollywood comedies are overlong and sentimental and while Todd Phillips' film eventually comes to a conventional ending, most of it is black, heartless and filthy. Although it's got plenty of silliness and slapstick, it's primarily a verbal comedy with a distinguished screenplay that delivers quite a few laughs. Even better, it offers two performances from relative unknowns which should, if there's any justice, make stars of Ed Helms - anger-challenged Andy from The Office - and the shambling, Belushi-like Zack Galifianakis who plays Alan. Costing just 35 mill, this is one of those lower budget films featuring relative unknowns just waiting to tear one of the bigger boys down off their perch and it looks like it did that. Films involving road trips and bachelor parties have been done to death yet this is a highly entertaining film and in places original. Now thats hard to achieve these days. It centres on four guys who head off to Vegas for a final boys' night out before one of them gets married. Phil is a married father of one who teaches English to high school kids, Stu is a tightly wound dentist thinking of proposing to his utter slut bitch of a girlfriend (sorry but she is), Doug is the groom-to-be and Alan is his social misfit future brother-in-law. What is meant to be one last night of binge-drinking, male bonding, strippers and a few card games, goes tits up when the men get so f*cked & twisted they can't remember a single thing the next morning. The thing is with this film is that quite a few of us can relate to the "I cant remember nothing about last night...WTF happened??". I am one of those people. I myself have been on holiday in my younger days, taken 2 suitcases and came home with nothing but a small carrier bag filled with my belongings. To this day i dont know WTF happened to my suitcases. There are plot holes in the film for sure and things done in a stupid way which shouldnt have been done, Mike Tyson also is as bad an actor as it gets. One of the good highlights though is the hairy man-child Alan, he is comedy gold for sure and has a bright future. If you want to see the un-rated cut of the film which runs for around 9 mins 30 seconds longer than the theatrical cut, take a look at versions 4, 9, 13 & 15 here. Make note these version numbers may change if they are taken down off the site. Just look at the running time when viewing or buffering up before you play. In all fairness the cuts dont make much difference to the film as much as you might think but lovers of the film will want to see the film in its entirety the way the director intended. There are a total of 11 scenes which are different. 2 of them being extended with alternate footage. The Hangover is a good comedy which should be remembered by most that watch it. Overall 8.1/10

Its a subject matter that will always raise brows when converted into a movie even if this was after the brilliant American History X. Danny Balint played by Gosling has become one of the most articulate representatives of the New York neo-nazi movement so much so that the political branch of the movement, led by Lina Moebius and Curtis Zampf (Billy Zane), are trying to recruit him to work for them. He's perfect material for a party struggling for prominence - he's young, intelligent, charismatic but also Jewish. As time goes on Danny finds it more and more difficult to mask this from his new found friends and more importantly from himself. The hate of his Jewish ancestry is strong yet despite his hateful and violent exterior, Danny is still unable to delete it from his life. Is it all as stupid as it seemed to him when he was a young teenager? Although on paper this may seem too similar to American History X, there is little in common between the two films bar some of the subject matter. Based on the true story from the 60s of a Jewish man who was a member of the KKK, this film transposes the story into a modern setting and uses documentary-like cinematography to blur the line between fiction and reality. The film's subject matter could easily have caused it to fall into caricature but the director does well to avoid that pitfall and gives us a very good debut, despite the potentially sensationalist nature of the subject, the film works very well within it's low budget and is easily well worth investigating. overall 8.3/10

I dont often get surprises in cinema now when i know im going to be watching an action movie like Salt because you expect predictability, I always watch films twice before reviewing them as well but Salt still left some unanswered questions in my mind and i felt that was a good thing. This film was originally intended for Tom Cruise and im not sure i would have enjoyed it so much if he took on the part compared to Jolie instead he opted for the limper "Knight & Day". Jolie was enigmatic, compelling and effortlessly confident playing the lead role for sure. Jolies task in Salt was to make us question what emotions she's showing and if they're honest or simply an act. The marketing campaign cements this by asking, "Who is Salt?"...thats a question you might be asking yourself for some time after viewing. The action scenes in the movie are crafted with serious skill and precision increasing the level of tension and excitement as the film continues. The scenes are largely staged without the aid of CGI or silly special effects and it’s a nice change of pace to witness an action movie in which the presence of computers is almost entirely unfelt. Real stuntwork, real sets and practical effects are the name of the game in Salt, and these elements are being employed by a director who knows what he’s doing. Jolie was obviously the show stealer here with Peabody (Chiwetel) & Winter (Schreiber) both crisp in their roles as the chasing government agents. There was always the question of who's side is she on...whats she upto now and who is Salt? Oscar-winning Cinematographer Robert Elswitt also brings a level of visual flair and atmosphere that doesn’t usually get seen in films like this. With Salt i was pleased to witness a film that managed to blend such fine technical merits with an unconventional plot and pyrotechnics. Most viewers will be chuckle happy at the film’s conclusion, which I believe is precisely the reaction the film was aiming for. Grab a bucket of popcorn and add some Salt. Overall 8.9/10

Quiet Days In Clichy is a strange but interesting drama which made itself on the list for real un-simulated sex in a mainstream cinema film. This list consists of 59 films and among them are Vincent Gallo's The Brown Bunny, Pola X, Shortbus and In The Realm Of The Senses to name but a few. The story: To Joey & his pal Carl, working, contributing to society and starting families, life isnt about these things, its more about love, and as much sex as possible. Joey is a writer by trade, but his work isn't selling and in truth, his mind hasn't been given much to work with lately, leaving him with little cash. Carl isn't interested in much except women and the pleasures they can offer him and in his case, his tastes fall in with the younger ladies. Both men have dreams that extend well beyond their basic, limited lives, but that's about all they have. They focus on the elements which make them happy & they indulge in the pleasures with different girls as much as luck allows. Joey tries to explore his interest in writing. As time passes, the two find themselves in all kinds of sex fueled situations and you begin to wonder if the carnival of carnal indulgence will sustain them forever, or will something or someone cause them to crave something more? Although Quiet Days in Clichy is by no means an erotic cinema masterpiece, it is an important film and this release is welcome. The government took control of all the English language prints of the film, citing it as a violation of obscenity laws, rendering it a rare picture. Even after the charges were cleared, the movie seemed to have almost vanished and in most instances, it was shown in a truncated, censored edition. The link here which was viewed for this review is the uncut version and we can see Quiet Days in Clichy in its intended form, without any cuts, trims, or censorship of any kind. What i found interesting was the amount of times to word C*nt was used as if it was ultra fashionable back then to use the word. The movie has some good moments of writing, but the cast isn't always up to much so the performances dull the film at times. If nothing else, the erotic sequences carry the poorer parts. The sex scenes dont exactly pack a punch nowadays but the cameras never shy from the explicit for a film which is 40 years old, so if you're offended by graphic sexual imagery, then you'll want to cover your eyes here. If you're interested in erotic cinema and a part of cinema history, Quiet Days in Clichy is more than worth a look, especially in this uncut version. overall 6.7/10

Here we have Charlie Sheen in an old independant drama from the 80's which i remember very well and enjoyed first time round and indeed the 2nd time as well. Also known as Blind Rage and Big Shots, the story revolves around Bo richards played by Sheen who has trouble talking to girls and his pal Roy played by Max Caulfield (Grease 2) who is a complete hothead. With their futures looking bleak they embark on a grim and violent adventure, before resigning themselves to the mundane reality of working in a dead-end factory. Angry, bitter and with no hope for their future, they embark on an orgy of sex, drink, violence and murder. You may expect Charlie Sheen to take the credit for this one but Max Cauldwell steals it for me. This movie explores sociopathic behavior and the base side of humanity that seems all too ready to surface in times of peer pressure and alienation. Director Penelope Spheeris (Waynes World) is obviously after gritty realism here and she passes with flying colors. Remember this movie is over 25 years old now and seriously left a mark for me. Spheeris tackles the subject of serial killers well, also tackling themes such as greed and envy, racism and homophobia - and ultimately jealousy. The film is similar in parts to 'Badlands', which starred Charlie's father, Martin Sheen. The scenes of violence are raw and some viewers may find this - and the subject matter - off-putting. Spheeris has also tuned into the early eighties punk movement, incorporating a blistering soundtrack to accompany her dark and equally raw direction. The film is well made and very well acted considering all factors. The Boys Next Door is funny, shocking and sad at times. No one in their right mind will not feel a sense of pity. I definitely recommend it. 8.8/10

Here we have the 4th instalment of the Terminator films and after the 3rd we needed a serious pick-me up, i wasnt left disappointed. One important fact is that fans will want to see the directors cut here and not all links are the full dir cut. the time frame difference is around 2mins 55secs between the theatrical cut and the dir cut. The difference visually between the 2 isnt a great deal and doesnt affect the story really. There are 16 cut scenes and 3 alternate shots equating to the 2 mins 55 secs. The dir cut runs for around 1 hour 57 mind and the theatrical cut runs for around 1 hour 54 mins. At the time of viewing here, versions 3, 12, 14 & 17 are the dir cuts. Just look out for the running time when viewing or buffering up. Seeing as this is a prequel, the absence of Schwarzenegger had to be backed up by someone who can pull off being a big hit on screen and who better than Christian Bale as John Connor. With brilliant performances in The Machinist & The Dark Knight it was going to be hard work and being over shadowed slightly by the character Marcus made it even harder. I felt that both characters seemed to give off this annoying back throat grunt whenever they spoke but over all gave good performances. I found the Moto-terminators, Harvester and Aerostats brilliant & are certainly the highlights giving a great feeling to the audience that every Terminator movie rightly deserves. There are scenes with some of the most powerful and volatile explosions that Hollywood has seen, especially when the humanoid harvest fires. I can safely say that Terminator Salvation isn't the worst Terminator movie, that honour goes to Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. It was going to be pretty impossible to beat Terminator 2: Judgement Day and the first Terminator film was the original outing and brilliant, without it there would be no further movies so has to sit behind Judgement Day i felt leaving Salvation having to sit in 3rd place. Overall, definitely recommended for sure. 8.5/10

I am usually averse now to most explosive/action movies like this because now they dont seem to give off enough creativity and originality, there's lots of explosions, corny one-liners here and, there's a pretty girl to be rescued. Well, 'The Expendables' ticks all those boxes. However with the all star cast and cameos from both Willis and Schwarzenegger this was one I wanted to see. The Expendables are a group of mercenaries led by Barney Ross who are hired by Mr Church to assassinate the dictator of the small island state of Vilena. Whilst staking out the job, Ross and his associate, Lee Christmas, meet a rebel leader called Sandra, who just happens to be the daughter of the island's dictator, General Garza. Just to add a bit more to the mix, the General is being helped by a rogue CIA agent, James Munroe, ably assisted by his henchman, Paine. The two men leave the island in a hail of bullets leaving Sandra behind. She is captured by Munroe but The Expendables are on their way to the rescue. There is a lot more to the plot, but I don't want to give it away. The action sequences were done well but way to over the top with the gore and blood. Its as if they added this to make it different and give it an edge which i didnt appreciate because it looked out of place here. And this is coming from someone who has watched plenty of violent movies with blood and gore and enjoyed them a lot. Saying that, there were plenty of explosions and stunts that were all very nicely pulled off. I guess one of the things that let this film down the most was the dialogue. It seemed to get a bit bogged down at times and there was this element of light hearted-ness to some of it when it should have been more serious in places. There was decent performances though from all of the major cast, so honourable mentions go to Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross, Jason Statham as Lee Christmas, Jet Li as Ying Yang, Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen, Eric Roberts as James Munroe, Randy Couture as Toll Road & Steve Austin as Paine. I really wanted to like this movie, but was disappointed. Even a decent soundtrack, ending with 'The Boys are Back in Town' by Thin Lizzy couldn't make up for its lack of depth. Stallone has produced some great films in the past but unfortunately this one just falls short of the mark. I feel I'm being a little generous with my score, but the action sequences were very good and I can't forget that. So, if you like a lot of explosions, a damsel in distress and a crack mercenary team coming to the rescue & want to see your favourite action heros then this one is most definitely recommended. Otherwise… maybe not. 6.2/10

The real problem with The Big I Am comes when the resulting film starts to look like it was pieced together to try and ensure it got sold to distributors than to make it entertaining in its own right. It seems to have been made by a committee looking more at what’s made other Brit flicks successful than trying to create something worthwhile on its own. Apparently there was a lot of trouble on set including with Michael Madsen. If your gonna make a film about the underworld in the UK its got to be outstanding nowadays and needs the real fella's in the background helping with direction and giving first hand advise on how it is. The guy who put this project together was a city trader and massively inexperienced and it showed pretty much through out the whole film. The script seemed to think it could mask over any problems and veneer it with blinding violence and profanity...it just doesnt work. I was thinking that the best thing about the film was going to be Michael Madsen but i was so wrong, he was such a pain in the ass to work with that he had his role re-written so he could leave the set early. Having done seriously excellent films like Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and Donnie Brasco in the past i'm unsure what he was thinking with this one. I like Leo Gregory (Football Factory, Cass) who plays Mickey and is having problems with owing money to Robbo played by MC Harvey of all people and to escape trouble steals a nearby car. It turns out that a big-time gangster named Barber is locked up in the boot and that Mickey’s inadvertently saved him from execution. Unsure who to trust, Barber decides to hire Mickey to look out for his interests. While this catapults the young hood into the crime big leagues, Mickey soon realises he’s out of his depth in a world of human-trafficking, and must make a choice between descending into the depravity of major-league organised crime or trying to do something about it. Like i say, i like Leo Gregory for some of his previous roles but here he isnt cut out for being the guvnor and the main boy. It feels so much like The Big I Am has been designed to tick the boxes that it’s lost any spark of its own. The result is a film that limps from silliness to unpleasantness, and to be honest comes across as very amateur in places. The way some of the characters are dispatched towards the end is so so bad and lack-lustre. As Brit gangster flicks go, this one is weak and trying to beat Lock Stock or any of the other recognised UK gangster flix hasnt worked at all. Overall rating 2.5/10

Fast cars, fast women, sex, drugs, and rock and roll, with guns and ammo thrown in for good measure--that was the world of porn star John Holmes in Los Angeles in the 1970s. This is his life story. The basis of James Cox's dizzying Wonderland. Val Kilmer, who previously embodied rock lead singer Jim Morrison in The Doors, transforms himself into the famous porn celebrity in this exciting sordid tale of excess. Under the stage name Johnny Wadd, Holmes was rumoured to have had sex with more than 14,000 women in some 1,000 X-rated films; his dangerous life caught up with him when he died of Aids in 1988. Cox has assembled an unlikely cast for this lurid story, including such well-known television stars as Lisa Kudrow (Friends), Dylan McDermott (The Practice), and Christina Applegate (Married With Chilren), in addition to Carrie Fisher, Janeane Garofalo, and Eric Bogosian, among others. In order to ensure accuracy, Cox hired Holmes's girlfriend, Dawn Schiller (played by Kate Bosworth), and former wife, Sharon Holmes (Kudrow), as consultants on the project. The handheld camera shots echo the wildness of the world of the man known as Long John Holmes. Lisa Kudrow deserved an academy award nomination for best-supporting actress for this role if you ask me. Val Kilmer as John Holmes though, ultimately carries the film. His ability to show such a depth of feeling often without words once again shows what a fine actor he is. Im not sure why critics put Wonderland down, i personally added it to my list of films from 2003. With Boogie night-esque feelings running through here that cant be a bad thing. recommended. 7.7/10

When a young gangster starts working for gang land boss Freddie Mays, known as the Butcher of Mayfair, he dreams of being everything that Freddie is: smooth, sophisticated, impeccably dressed, always with the right women, and driving the fanciest cars. Freddie takes the young gangster under his wing as a potential war with a rival gang starts to heat up. After Freddie falls for Karen, whom 55 had his eye on, the young gangster lies in wait for an opportunity to change things, and when that moment comes, he leaves a bloodbath of betrayal in his wake. Paul McGuigan's Gangster No.1 is framed by scenes set in the present, where the aging 55, played with wicked villainy by Malcolm McDowell, narrates the tale of his younger self's rise to power in Soho in the late 1960s. The narration has been compared to his in Clockwork Orange. Its hard to say which ones better. At the time Clockwork was ground breaking stuff so for me the narration there takes it. Bettany is a revelation as the younger 55, who seems to enjoy a bit of the old ultraviolence now and again; when he tells a potential victim to look into his eyes, it is hard for the audience as well not to be mesmerised. McGuigan's fast-paced direction includes creative split screens, extreme close-ups and a sweeping handheld camera all set to a swinging 1960s soundtrack. The film is cool with non sedated violence, is full of cool performances, especially McDowell, David Thewlis, and Saffron Burrows. Ms. Burrows shows increasingly sexy and brainy acting abilities. The violence and gore here may be a little too strong for the mainstream public but you should know what your getting yourself into in the first place with this one. This film was a surprise to me. Im really critical of gangster movies and they have to be done right. Especially British ones. As you can see nothing has been highlighted here but its not absolutely perfect. The fact that it really doesn't contain a sum it up, finish the film type ending is one of the wonderful components of the film. Malcolm McDowell and David Thewlis are superb in their portrayal of the underworld of crime in 60's London and the rest do a grand job as well. The cast really helps the film - in particular the ever-rising Paul Bettany. Bettany gives a good scheming performance but also handles the sudden violence very well. His "judder screen" sequences twist your mind. McDowell has less to do but the man has such cockney swagger and screen presence that its difficult to fault him. The confrontation when compared to Once Upon A Time In America comes out on top here for me. overall a great watch and is up there as one of the best....whats that i hear you say?? you havent seen it yet....well make the effort you fackin' cant!! 9.2/10

here we have another undiscovered under-rated British gem starring Tom Hardy, Ewan McGregor & Sophie Okonedo (Aeon Flux). Set over the course of a day on Hampstead Heath, North London, Scenes of a Sexual Nature looks at the relationships of seven couples. There's a gay couple discussing what would happen if they decided to adopt a child; a couple in the process of divorce, talking about how they became an item; a wife who finds her husband staring at the underwear of a teenage girl; two people in their forties, experiencing an awkward blind date picnic; an elderly couple looking back on their love lives and a young man attempting to bed a recently dumped woman. Finally, there's a man who has decided that relationships are far too difficult and prefers to use the services of prostitutes. Ed Blum’'s insightful film looks at the complexity of relationships, what they have in common, and the rules that govern them. I thought this movie was brilliant - great script and absolutely superb acting. It was a great film to watch from start to finish. This is what acting is all about, this is what movies should be about - not just blue screens, endless explosions and CGI characters. Sure CGI and explosions are great when its done right but its nice to see a great British comedy. Even the dogs act well in this one. This is no ordinary potato-stamp romantic movie, Its deeper & more true to life. 8.6/10

Based on the popular Playstation 2 game, Hitman chronicles the retribution-packed odyssey of Agent 47, a bald assassin raised from birth to be a killer and tattooed with a barcode on the back of his head. There's lots of Bourne Supremacy-style flash-edits and superhuman stunt work as 47 seeks to find out why moderate Russian presidential nominee Belicoff was the client for his own assassination, a hit that 47 pulled off perfectly, except for one hitch: the target's still alive. For romantic interest we have Olga Kurylenko as a foxy Russian prostitute sold into slavery by the evil Belicoff. She and 47 wind up on the run together but they'll never be safe as long as Belicoff is still alive. Meanwhile, Interpol agent Mike Whittier has been tracking 47 for years. He's on the scent and about to close in. Luc Besson was the producer on this, and fans of The Transporter, the brilliant Leon and La Femme Nikita will appreciate this film, as it has a similar arc, vividly saturated colours, swooping camerawork, tightly choreographed fights, and lots of blood flying from the copious bullet wounds. This isnt a groundbreaking super movie by any means but lovers of this genre will see it as an enjoyable romp. 7.1/10

This will be the shortest review ive done for this site purely because i did an extensive dissection of the original from 1997 which was pure brilliance. Haneke obviously decided that a subtitle-less version for the American market with known actors was a good idea 10 years after the original was released. I didnt agree. Should have been left well alone. This new version is close to being an exact scene for scene movie of the original. Michael Pitt did a good job for representation of the original character he played. His accomplice was lack-lustre. Tim Roth is one of my favourite actors and does his usual brilliance here. Naomi Watts didnt deliver compared to Susanne Lothar who blew us away in the original and Naomi Watts was never going to top that performance and the reason for that is in my review of the original. Not much else to say except the original was a masterpiece. 3.9/10

I had no problem believing this original version of Funny Games won awards. When the film was screened at Cannes in 97' it shocked the audience badly enough that many viewers, including some film critics, walked out of the screening. Sometimes its not about actually seeing gratuitous violence and blood and gore right before you eyes, if you can get an audience to react badly enough without seeing anything and provoking their mind that in itself is a seriously high accolade to the director. Take the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre for instance. So, to the story...Georg, Anna & their son George set off for a short family break together and travel to their lakeside summer home. Upon arrival, Georg and Georgie head off to the lake for sailing while Anna prepares dinner in the kitchen. Unfortunately for them their vacation spot happens to be the next stop for a pair of young, articulate, white-gloved serial killers on an excursion through the neighborhood. The opening first few minutes sees the family driving to their holiday home laughing and joking, peaceful classical music playing in the background and the scene is set at a very calm and relaxed manner....the same way as any family movie would start, totally out of the blue the classical music stops & you are greeted with a hard cutting black metal music track but the visual scene on screen remains the same, a shocking and hard hitting contrast. On the surface of this movie, the plot about two psychopaths terrorising a family doesn't seem to be particularly interesting, or original. But couldnt be further from the truth. The fact that the entire story takes place in pretty much one place would suggest it might struggle to capture the viewer's attention, certainly for its duration. However, the simple combination of the performances, the script and the huge amount of tension at times make this story work outstandingly well, the fact that its isolated simply adds to the overall claustrophobia. The script is simply incredible; the overtone of terror slowly creeps up on the viewer, and on Anna and Georg, with more than a dose of psychological manipulation. One of the psychopaths steps out of character and addresses the camera and joins the viewer on occasion. Absolute brilliance. The performances all round are simply outstanding. Each actor plays their part to perfection, and hats off to all - the victims were especially convincingly terrified, and the perpetrators frighteningly cool. Director Michael Haneke said that star Susanne Lothar would often have to force herself to cry for nearly 20 minutes before her takes. He said that in one scene she required 28 takes and she was tremendously drained by the ordeal. It was the weakened drained reaction that Haneke wanted from her for the scene. The movie is about media-violence, why it exists and why we should think deeper about it. The two sociopaths in this movie are representing the viewer, as are the victims. "Why are you doing this to yourselves?", the torturers constantly ask. Why are they entertaining themselves by killing and torturing people? Why we are watching it, is the real question. This doesn't just go for this movie, as a matter of fact it goes for almost everything, the movie shows that you can find vicious violence everywhere, and people constantly watch it, maybe not even noticing it. Not only does the movie show the sickness and perversity of this, but also it has the impact on the viewer that violence should have. Now this is also coming from me, a guy who has seen a stack of horror and voilent movies himself and likes to watch them...why? The director has achieved something brilliant here. It's masterfully directed throughout, the actors are good, I think most would be sobbing and blubbering if they were in the same situation as the family here. As for the torturers, they're cold as ice, representing the modern TV-consumer, numbed by the senseless amount of violence they are presented with. Some claim that the scenario is implausible, its simply irrelevant, this movie works mainly on a deeper level, everything is just symbolic, and the plot isn't the essence here, it's the message. As for the unrealistically feelingless sociopaths, I don't think anyone watches James Bond or Lethal Weapon with a pack of handkerchiefs because so many people get killed. No, we sit and enjoy it just like the sociopaths in the movie. That realisation is the most scary thing in the movie. I don't understand how people can say this movie is sick, it's actually very humanistic, it's just a bit more difficult than your standard GOOD vs. EVIL-crap. I also found some negative comments over the years that have been going around about this film fascinating -- "not violent enough!" "the victims deserve to die..." "all the violence is off-screen..." "no gore at all, 'Last House On The Left' did it first, with more blood...." etc. I especially love the one comment i saw, -- Haneke's film has "no point," and goes on to say "...I just hope those people break into MY house, so I can break their f*ckin necks!" Looks like the director Michael Haneke made his point...dont you? Haneke, the director, delivered a masterpiece with this. It's not conventional, doesn't end traditionally, and makes superb use of direction to construct an honestly masterful affair and above all, the message he is trying to get across is right in there...if you look deep enough. 9.7/10

Since a road accident left him with serious facial and bodily scarring, a former TV scientist has become obsessed by the marriage of motor-car technology with what he sees as the raw sexuality of car-crash victims. The scientist, along with a crash victim he has recently befriended, sets about performing a series of sexual acts in a variety of motor vehicles, either with other crash victims or with prostitutes whom they contort into the shape of trapped corpses. Ultimately, the scientist craves a suicidal union of blood, semen, and engine coolant, a union with which he becomes dangerously obsessed. David Cronenberg's Crash is a bizarre film for most to enjoy. This is undoubtably a great fetish film for those who are turned on by disfigurement, car crashes, and/or self destruction. I accept these people's expression of their sexuality and I am quite glad to leave this film to them. It is well cast, nicely shot, and well acted, but if it was made in an attempt to communicate this fascination to a larger audience it doesn't succeed. From the start, none of the 6 main characters show any characteristic that might make the audience connect with them. So instead of being drawn in to the understanding of their fetish, we watch a group of odd people doing odd things beautifully. Cronenberg has done some great films but this isnt one of them. 6.4/10

Most known for his vengeance trilogy, Korean director Park Chan-wook gives us I'm A Cyborg But Thats Ok and proves he's no one trick pony. Here he demonstrates a mix of surrealism, comedy, drama in one brilliant experience. Cinematography is flawless. Camera shots are inventive and the best close ups I've seen for a long time. I'm A Cyborg is a madcap fantasy, screwball romance and different from what Chan-Wook has done before. The story revolves around Young-goon who is admitted to a mental institution, believing herself to be a cyborg, she charges herself with a transistor radio. Il-soon a fellow inmate steals the other inmates' personality traits and believes he is fading and will one day turn into a dot. When Young-goon refuses to eat, Il-soon decides it's his job to get her on her feet again. This charming, tender and visually arresting film cements Park Chan-wook's reputation as one of the most gifted and playful filmmakers working today. An offbeat romantic comedy, I'm A Cyborg is a highly inventive film and at times charming, tender and visually arresting. It won the Alfred Bauer Prize for a work of particular innovation at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival. A true gem from Korean cinema. 8.8/10

Here we have Matthew Broderick star in this very original 80's comedy classic. Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) is a tricky but harmless fast-talker & he knows how to have fun, which is exactly what he sets out to do when he feigns illness and talks his parents into letting him stay home from school. The perpetually lucky Ferris enlists his hypochondriac best friend, Cameron, into springing his girlfriend, Sloane from class. The three embark on a raucous downtown Chicago adventure. But Ferris, Sloane, and Cameron might not get away with taking the day off. Ferris's sister, Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) is determined to prove that Ferris is faking sick and make him pay for it, and the bumbling school head Ed Rooney is sure that Ferris is pulling a fast one. Theres no need to class the acting here its all seriously good. Its another classic from director John Hughes (The Breakfast Club), this film features a star turn from Broderick as the charismatic Ferris. Also watch for Charlie Sheen as the juvenile delinquent in the police station. The ruse seems perfect, right down to Cameron's dad's borrowed Ferrari and Ferris' unbelievable homeward journey. Its a classic romp that wont be forgotten in a hurry. 9.2/10

Charlize Theron stars giving a magnetic, Oscar-winning performance as convicted killer Aileen Wuornos. Nominated 13 times and winning no less than 16 awards plus the oscar winning performance, here we have one hell of a film. This is a very dark tale based on the true story of Aileen Wuornos, one of America's first female serial killers. Wuornos had a difficult and cruel childhood plagued by abuse and drug use. She became a prostitute by the age of thirteen, the same year she became pregnant. She eventually moved to Florida where she began earning a living as a highway prostitute - servicing the desires of semi-truck drivers. The tale focuses on the nine month period between 1989 and 1990, during which Wuornos had a lesbian relationship with a woman named Selby. And during that very same time, she also began murdering any of her clientele who attempted to rape her. This turned the tables on a rather common phenomena of female highway prostitutes being the victims of serial killers - instead Wuornos, herself, carried out the deeds of a cold-blooded killer. The movie itself is one of the most gripping and emotional stories you will see in a film, and its right up there with the other great indies depicting the sorry lives of Middle-Americans, such as Boys Don't Cry and, ironically, Monster's Ball. Charlize Theron's transformation from on screen sex kitten to serial killer isnt just about the brilliant acting, its more than that. The mannerisms, the make-up, the voice, putting on over 30 pounds in weight and the foul mouth of Aileen Wuornos were all 100% present. Christina Ricci was really good as Theron's girlfriend and has grown on me a lot over time especially her performance in Black Snake Moan. Patty Jenkins, the director, staged the murder scenes in such a way that the sympathy was felt for the poor men (especially Scott Wilson's john character) and very little to no sympathy was felt for Wuornos, ironically enough. By the end of the movie, some might be relieved that law enforcement was on to Lee and Selby, and relieved when Selby finally turned herself in and turned the tables on her homicidal lover. Bottom line here is that Monster should really be seen for Charlize Theron. I find that this film does a good job of portraying both sides of the story. You feel empathy for her at times, but you also don't forget the things she did. It gives you something to think about, or at least it did for me. I personally felt more for her and remembered how she was treated more than what she did to her victims. Its a must-see film and recommended for sure. 9.3/10

I wasnt expecting much here because football movies never do it right and this is no exception. For a start here are some huge errors in the movie. 1)When Newcastle play Man Utd in a reserve team game, "THE BEES" can be seen spelled out in white seats in one of the stands. The Bees is the nickname of Brentford Football Club and they are located west of London??? Neither Newcastle or Man Utd would play reserve games there. 2)At the end of the movie when Liverpool and Newcastle United are playing their final game of the season, both teams are wearing their home kits when Liverpool should be wearing their away kit because they are at Newcastle United's home, St. James Park. 3)When Santi's friend needs help lifting the weights off his chest he is using a smith machine which is designed to prevent such an occurrence. Twisting your wrist will make the bar catch, thus unable to crush anyone. 4)When Santiago and Glen are traveling over the Tyne Bridge on their way for what is Santiago's first sight of the stadium, they clearly leave the bridge and Glen says 'There it is'. Then it immediately cuts to a shot of St.James' park which in actual fact is a fair few miles away from the Bridge itself. It is a noticeable error as we can see from outside Santiago's window an office block which is evidently built at the entrance to the Tyne Bridge. 5)In the Newcastle vs. Chelsea match the color of the ball changes from white to yellow several times. Im sure there are more mistakes that are so evident its not true but im sure you get my drift. Im not saying its not entertaining because at times it is but its not how its done in the world of football and it came across really cheesy. The guest appearances from the likes of Beckham must have cost a packet and add nothing to the story as he's about for just a short while and cant act anyway. When you start to watch this film its easy to see how its going to predictably pan-out. However, its cheesy but likeable cheese in parts. Santiago Munez is a poor Mexican-American immigrant who seems destined to follow his father into menial jobs to support the family. But with his exceptional talent for soccer, Santiago is given the chance of a lifetime to live his dream and make it as a professional footballer. This means leaving his family, his life and everything he knows in Los Angeles to travel halfway around the world to England for a trial with english club, Newcastle United. Alone in the exciting, glamorous and completely foreign world of professional football, Santiago must choose between his father's fate and his own destiny to prove he has the talent and determination to play amongst the best. You could call this the ideal gift for anyone in love with the beautiful game, maybe buy it for your dad for his b'day. If you share Bill Shankley's view that football is more important than life or death, then you might not want to miss out on Goal. Verdict....He shoots....and misses from the penalty spot and holds his head in shame.....4.2/10

With every viewing, I come to appreciate Brian DePalma's Scarface more and more. Although not perfect, but then again what is perfection anyway?? It helps to compare it with its countless imitations: where most subsequent crime films rush headlong from one bloody gunfight to the next, Scarface takes its time. Its languid, gliding camera has a certain elegance in the way it reveals story points without relying on clunky Dick-and-Jane dialog or overwrought MTV pyrotechnics. A prime example is the infamous scene where Tony Montana attempts to buy two kilos of coke from some Columbians for his boss, Frank Lopez. Watch the way the camera drifts from the Miami Beach hotel room, across a peaceful sun-drenched street, over to the car where Tony's associates are waiting for him, then slowly back up to the bathroom window, where the sound of the idling chainsaw grows louder. Creepy. Insinuating and pure brilliance in cinema. It's comparable to the best work of Hitchcock - a day-lit nightmare where the ordinary becomes sinister. Watch closely as the Columbian dismembers Tony's friend limb by limb. In spite of the scene's reputation, we never actually see what's happening......Like the shower murder in Psycho, all the violence is implied - so strongly, in fact, that DePalma had to fight the MPAA in a well-publicised battle to keep Scarface from receiving an X rating. I remember seeing this on laserdisc for the first time and it's interesting the way that the improved picture and sound seem to contribute to every aspect of the film. Subtleties in Pacino's largely unsubtle performance become clear. We can better see what he does with his face in those famously shadowy close-ups; the way he registers what he's thinking privately, even as he swaggers with exaggerated bravado. Where once it seemed he was over-acting at times, it is now apparent that he was carefully playing his character's machismo against a darker undercurrent of great hunger - so intense that it defies articulation. Tony Montana's great tragedy is his utter lack of self-knowlege. Beneath the clouds of cordite and testosterone, he is so painfully needy that he will draw everyone around him into a decaying orbit of destruction. He is a criminal, but he is not immoral. He is a black hole of a man, a vacuous human being whose desires eclipse whatever soul that a life of deprivation and decay may have left him. He acts without apology, or even much thought. He's an animal in both the best and worst senses of the word. it is a tragedy that he is killed at the end - but hey, he brings that on himself - after all...he was warned many times....not to go to far....i think the famous words were, "i tell you this one time...dont you f*ck me Tony, dont you ever try to f*ck me"...he clearly overstepped the mark and got his not so nice reward. A masterpiece of cinema. 9.85/10

Scum is a compelling story set in a contemporary Borstal in 1980's England. This film came out around the time of McVicar and Quadrophenia. Two other brilliant pieces of British cinema. The film is Raw, violent and shocking but truthful to how the system was back then. It tells of life in an institution run by violence and brutality rather than reason, where the boy who can fight his way to the top of the heap and reign as "Daddy" will gain the respect of the inmates and sadistic screws alike. This is one of the most controversial films ever made in the UK, and one which caused a furore when it was first screened on TV. Scum stars Ray Winstone as Carling, the one man prepared to struggle against all odds to be top dog in a system that is intent on breaking him. If your familiar with British cinema and TV shows then you will recognise an array of faces including the brilliant Phil Daniels (Quadrophenia). Where do we start with Scum? Well the title itself is a bit of a puzzle, does it refer to the prisoners or the screws? After all none of the inmates have volunteered to be inside but all of the screws have, and what a bunch of sadistic, bullying bastards they are. That's not to mention the casual racism, idleness and indifference. These are men who have chosen a profession where they are free to abuse, assault and intimidate young boys without fear of reprisals says all you need to know about them. Humans are no different to a pack animals in that there will always be an Alpha personality seeking to dominate a group. This is particularly true of an enclosed all - male society. The Alpha Male will demand obedience and tribute and act ruthlessly to obtain it. When Carling is transferred to a tough new Borstal he knows he must become the Alpha Male or go under. The screws are happy to let the clique of hard men police the institution, dishing out frontier justice. When Carlin arrives and starts to upset the status quo, trouble soon follows. This is no place for the shy and fearful. Unless you can align yourself with one of the factions you become game for anybody. With the screws madder and badder than the convicts in Scum, the lunatics truly are running the asylum. This is only because as in society so many times we see it today, they are using their authority as a weapon and know they can get away with it. If you put the screws up against the inmates for a proper tear up the screws wouldnt stand a chance. This is not a film criticising Thatcherism. She had only just come into power when it was made and in fact it was her government that instigated the reforms that broke the sadistic regimes that ran some young persons' prisons. It is an immensely powerful film, almost overpowering in parts, one of those rare works of art that actually influence governments. Everybody involved in it should be immensely proud. 9.6/10

Faster, Pussycat Kill Kill is a fun, psychotic, low-budget classic with an alarming lack of staying power. This wasnt really the film which made Russ Meyer a household name so to speak. The film Vixen was the one that did it for him in 1968. Russ Myers work is outrageously fast-paced and I seriously think you could study his body of work from the standpoint of human sexuality because that is such the focus in every one of his films on so many different levels. Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill is the story of a new breed of superwomen emerging out of the ruthlessness of our times. We are introduced to three buxom Go-Go girls: Varla, Rosie and Billie, wildly dancing the Watusi before the leers, jeers and lecherous come-ons of their drooling all-male audience. The violence, implicit in the girls' tease, is quickly moved out of the microcosmic bar into the outside world as they literally let go of themselves, embarking on a wild, violent, deadly journey of vengeance on all men. Varla, the outrageously abundant karate master leader of the pack, wreaks pure havoc on a stack of males before deliberately going down the path of her own self-destruction, dragging her two buxotic cohorts along with her. Tura Satana brilliantly portray's the films lead villain, Varla and her lover/accomplice also do a really good job. Lori Williams is terrific as the third "Pussycat" Billie. Dennis Busch also commands the screen as a seriously beefy vegetable. This film will amazes you, make you laugh, cheer, and yell back at the screen probably just as animated as they were when this film was first released many years ago. This is one cult flick that will never die...if you haven't seen it then you should. If you have seen it, no matter how many times, maybe you should watch it again...it just gets better and better each time you see it. overall, this black and white classic has an unbelievably gifted cast of virtual unknowns as well as a hysterical storyline and is definitely ahead of its time. Its one of the most sought after "cult" movies there is and will remain a classic. 8.7/10

in case some are wondering what "It's All Gone Pete Tong " means, its cockney rhyming slang for its all gone wrong and Pete Tong is a well known dance music radio/club DJ here in the UK as well as worldwide and makes an appearance himself here in the film plus the fact he runs as executive producer for the film. If Pete Tong is the exec producer here then it has to be a good recreation. The title fitted perfect here of course and was a no-brainer to use the slang term in the title. Having been a house music DJ myself who has played with Pete Tong in the past back between the years of 1989-1994 and knowing the Ibiza scene inside out, i knew what to expect here and was pleased with what the film delivered. It was never going to be spot on because its a film recreation but the translation was definitely good enough. Its a bit like the reading a book thats been translated to film, things are always missing. Its All Gone Pete Tong is a dark comedy/mockumentary about a big name DJ called Frankie Wilde, a touching tale of a DJ who loses his hearing. Frankie Wilde is the fictitious hearing-impaired DJ who delights the clubbers on the island of Ibiza by coupling his larger-than-life drug and alcohol-fuelled persona with undeniable skills behind the decks. But as Frankie's hearing rapidly disintegrates, and his former manager, wife, friends, and record label slowly fade away, the distraught DJ plunges into the depths of despair. There are many real-life DJs who appear in the film such as Carl Cox, Tiesto & Paul Van Dyke. Paul Kaye's performance really gives the film its heart and soul. Infusing his character with a passionate likeability that shines through even when Frankie's behaviour plummets to new lows, Kaye conjures up just the right amount of pathos to stop the film from teetering over into corniness, making his portrayal a supremely convincing depiction of a star caught in the terrifying throes of a career-ending condition. Just to clarify again if you missed it....Frankie Wilde is a fictitious character, he was made up by Paul Kaye himself who is a long standing friend since childhood of Pete Tong's. Frankie Wilde doesnt exist as a famous Ibizan DJ who according to some people, in his early days as a DJ trying to rise to fame used to wank off pensioners in dark alleys just to get enough money together to by his next set from the infamous Black Market records in London which id like to add does exist. Franke Wilde exists just like santa clause does. Santa Claus you cvnt, where's me fuckin' bike, I've opened all this other junk, and there's nothing that I like. I wrote you a fuckin' letter, and i came to see you twice, I'll give you bloody ho,ho,ho you forgot me fuckin' bike. For any hardcore Ibiza regulars this is a must-see film and even if your not into the house/dance scene still give it a go because its a good story that is entertaining throughout. 8.6/10

William H Macy has always had a very unique form of acting and its very dry without much emotion but works really well. Basically, william H. Macy stars as the cooler...a guy who has constant bad luck in everything he does, i mean everything. So much so that its contagious to everyone who comes in contact with him. He is asked by a casino boss (Alec Baldwin) to rub some of his bad luck off on the high rollers in his establishment to of course, stop them from winning and employs him full time. He finds a love interest in the hugely attractive and sexy Maria Bello (A history Of Violence) who plays waitress Natalie Belisario. Theres a whole lot more to the story but thats the premise without spoiling things. Like i said before H. Macy's presence on screen is very unique and he fits the part well. We have some good actors here apart from the above, Dinner For Schmucks Ron Livingston & The somewhat sedated Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas). The script was good and this movie definitely deserves recognition, theres no award winning acting here but easily sits high up enough for you to stay occupied. 7.3/10

Surviving the Game is a film that has an excellent cast including Ice-T, Rutger Hauer, Charles S. Dutton, Gary Busey and F. Murray Abraham. The acting by the majority of these guys is top draw. Since 1932, there have been over 15 adaptations of the original short story called The Most Dangerous Game from 1924. If you dont know the story, Six sportsmen ranging from an ex-CIA agent to a Wall Street tycoon, ask a homeless and penniless man called Mason to go on a hunting expedition through the woods of the Pacific Northwest. However, the moment the men are isolated in the wild country, and their high-powered guns are loaded, Mason immediately becomes their prey in a vicious and twisted game of man versus man. Its an action film that will keep you engaged through out the hole 96 minutes or so that it runs for. The credit for making this particular version of the 1924 original so intensely watchable has to be given to Ice-T's realistic portrayal of Mason, a guy who had everything and has lost everything and now lives on the streets. The pace of the film has been set out deliberately by Ernest Dickerson and it allows you to really get to grips with who the main character is and his level of intelligence. Which is far from apparent early on in the film. The editing in places is far from sharp and the only acting i can say was a bit lacklustre was F. Murray Abraham when compared to the insane Rutger Hauer or Gary Busey's stone coldness you can see the difference. Overall this is a definite must-see film which has indeed been done before but this is done well. 7.4/10