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Reviews
The Medusa Touch (1978)
Richard Burton at his creepiest.
An amazingly underrated movie of a man who finds he has the ability to cause disaster. It's starts where it ends. With the death of the main character. I'm not a fan of Lee Remick but she does well against a fine performance from Burton. The story is good and well written. With an ending worthy of a good disaster movie. A dark and haunting film even though some of it is a little predictable with an edgy ending. All the characters are interesting in their own way. From a french policeman trying to work under British police rules and the story is laid out in a way that every moment comes together to an amazing crashing end . If you can manage the 70's look it's a worthwhile film.
Porridge (1974)
Ronnie Baker at his best
The best thing of British. So good even America didn't try to copy it.
Never to be repeated or revived.
No one could mimic the late great Ronnie Bakers super comedy acting.
The entire cast couldn't have been better. Not one person out of place. From Mackay to Horrible Harris.
Ronnie Barker was pure perfection making what could have been an uncomfortable subject for comedy a inciteful look into an often ignored area of life and introducing a marvelous young actor called Richard Beckinsale. It gave him a roll that brought him to the forefront of comedy before his sad and untimely death. It wil in my opinion. Outweigh every other comedy show ever.
The Good Life (1975)
"I just want IT"
I have been a fan of many sit coms from please sir to the early carry ons and from Blackadder to bottom, the IT crowd to father Ted and I've hate many such as Fawlty Towers and hi de hi.
But few have stuck with me through my life like the Good life did. It sits in my top list equal to only to Porridge.
The cast of the Good life were the best and they made it what it was. Like porridge it can't ever be revived for that reason. So thank you Brit Box for putting it on your channel.
It holds so much in the way of charm and looking at the idea of survival without modern amenities.
The fabulous down to earth Tom and Barbara Good are brilliantly off set but but the Surbiton socialites Gerry and Margo Leadbetter . Both sets of characters were once on the same level of suburban middle class until Tom Good decides he is missing something in his life as he turns 40. Not happy with a lovely home goodjob and beautiful wife Barbara, Tom decides he's missing It. Being making the most of everything he's got. And so begins the incredible chaos of going self sufficient literally over night. Gerry and Margo at first are horrified but being long time friends with the Goods, they weather it even helping along the way.
Tom Good has a rather sarcastic and mean sense of humour match by Jerry's office wit, Barbara's good natured happiness and Margo's upper crust conservative lack of humour. All make one of the funniest sit coms ever.
The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961)
excellent for its time
I first saw this movie when I was a child. I loved it then and now I have it on DVD I watch it when I want a good story rather than wall to wall cgi. It is one of the best for its time. It is well thought out, well written, well acted and well directed. Even the Express editor was good as he isn't an actor at all. He added authentication to the story. There is not to much in the way of personal love story and what there is does not interfere with the main story to much. No sad "I love you" lines. No hysterical kids or women. It is a wonderful look at the sudden and total collapse of society and how people deal with the high possibility of the end of the world. The end of movie was made with two endings of the possible outcome of the solution to the problem. only one was used. I leave to those wanting to see to find out which end it is.
World War Z (2013)
hmmm world war zzzzzzz
I gave the movie the chance that it just might work but sadly I was disappointed. I went in hoping the surrounding bad reviews were wrong but they weren't. It was bad. It doesn't even reach average. Sad really as, in the right hands, it could have been awesome. But it was left as nothing more than just another "Brad saves the world" gig. I have read the book and there was no way it could be confined to two hours. Although it has some references to the book they are few. I will not put spoilers in and as a massive fan of the book I would suggest if you too have read it don't waste your cash on the movie. You will be painfully disappointed. It doesn't even work s a stand alone movie disconnected from the book. All we can hope is that a TV production company will pick it up and do what should have been done. Turn it into a proper series with each weekly hour spent on each story or at least the best of them. It won't happen. Not with the Walking Dead out there.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Awesome
I am now entering my 50th year. I have been a fan since I was 7 years old and watching it from behind a chair because I was usually sent to bed before Star trek started. I have enjoyed the other parts of the franchise but it will always be Kirk and company who have my heart, so when they announced the remake I was mortified. My fear was laid to rest with the first film. I left with a renewed interest in my old friend which had been worn down over time with DS9 and Voyger, both of which just about destroyed my love of all things Trek. But here we are with Into Darkness and I have once again been blown away with not just the effects but the acting, writing and the amazing way the story I had come to expect had been turned on it's head. I welcome seeing Chris Pine taking Kirk to a place he belonged. Zachery Quinto has brought a wonderful innocence to Spock, Karl Urban has made McCoy attractive in so many ways. And thank you Simon Pegg for adding a little extra to Scotty. The rest of the crew are just as stunning. I have no doubt Gene would have been proud of this one.