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markjellis
Reviews
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Slow and Dull. Richard Curtis Lite
This film was so slow it almost stopped. The plot took an age to get going and was OK thereafter, but not until near the end.
The good points: Visually impressive with gravitas added by the British elder ensemble.
Otherwise as well as above the 'romantic' element seemed to come out of a bad Richard Curtis film (and that's bad). Cheesy clichés performed by New Labour Luvvies, except they are teenagers of the type that has not existed since before Rock and Roll. I was even expecting to see Hugh Grant making a cameo.
And what time period is this film set in? We see the Millennium Bridge destroyed yet the rest appears to be from somewhere between a Dickens novel and an early 20th Century public school. Trust the Brits to come up with something popular that is also so 'out of time'.
Apparently this film takes a lot of liberties compared with the book. Really? Certainly took liberties with me, by calling it entertainment.
Jack the Giant Killer (1962)
How 'Legends' Should be Told
This is a fun movie with pretty much perfect casting Torin Thatcher is an excellent baddie and Judi Meredith shows wonderful subtlety moving from innocence to evil to womanhood without overplaying any of them. It's a shame the monsters were not less plastic looking. This detracts little though, especially with the animated effects, which really add magic to the picture.
That clever little leprechaun always has a rhyming saying that sums up everything, and you'll be cheering them all on at the end. Remember it is a piece of its time and you will love this movie as much as I still do.
Carry on Jack (1964)
Warming Up
Carry on Jack is not the most memorable Carry On, in fact its all a bit silly really and lacks much of the sauciness of latter films. I think Talbot Rothwell was still finding his feet as it has more of a Norman Hudis feel to it. There are incompetent silly people somehow triumphing in the end, squeaky clean but quite lovely heroines (despite coming from Dirty Dicks) and the bad guys getting their comeuppance in the end. Personally I don't blame the Venus crew for getting rid of their captain. I would have even tied a weight to his (gammy) leg to make sure. Still better was to come and there is at least a nod to that here. Give it a watch if you are a Carry on fan (like me), but its no 'Camping' or 'Up the Khyber'
Champions Forever (1989)
A Great Insight into Five Great Fighters
Champions Forever pitches Foreman, Frazier, Holmes, Norton and of course Ali together one more time. We see each boxer making their boxing accendancy and giving insight into their fights against each other. Ali is the focus, and rightly so, and shows despite his condition that mentally he is a sharp as ever. Foreman as you expect is articulate and humble but it is Ken Norton's thought's that really stand out for me. Having never heard him speak before I found him insightful, with an earthly honesty about him, both in his respect for others and in his belief (that I share) that he beat Ali in their third encounter. If you love boxing there is nothing like this documentary, shame about the soppy music Americans seem compelled to put in the background to point people to the sincerity of the fighters when interviewed singularly. It's there for all to see producers so let them get on with it !!!!
The Jungle Book 2 (2003)
Shameless cash in
A project designed simply to milk little kids parents of their money. The plot? Nothing happens !!! This is especially bad because of the quality of the first film. Straight to video instead? No, straight in the bin, where people who dream up these sort of vacuous non-entity efforts should also find themselves.
Sign 'o' the Times (1987)
Better than the Album
The versions of many of the tracks on this are better than the album. Particular praise must go to 'The Cross', 'If I was Your Girlfriend', and best of all 'Forever in my Life', which is just about the best thing that he has ever done and is simply spellbinding. Shelia E shows what a great drummer she is on 'Now is the Time' and the dream sequence to bring in 'You've Gor the Look' is a nice touch, topped off by the little smile at the end from Prince. He has good reason to smile with this video. When is it coming out on DVD ????? Totally essentual.