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Nosferatu (1922)
Scary, atmospheric, excellent
4 October 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This is a film which really deserves the reputation it has achieved over the years.

The earliest adaptation of the Dracula story to still survive, this movie has such power that lots of the conventions and characteristics of vampires accepted today were actually set up this film and not from the novel which spawned it, the aversion to sunlight being one.

Aside from the character name changes this is a fairly faithful adaption of the novel. The most memorable character is of course Count Orlok, played to perfection by Max Schreck. He really personifies the pestilence he carries in his wake and makes the viewers skin crawl with his staring eyes, long clawlike hands and ratlike appearance. Also particularly striking is Knock the estate agent who, even before he became Orlok's servant, looked completely deranged. Hutter's wife is memorable for her terrible acting but then at this point in history, film was still a fairly new medium, so this can be forgiven.

The filming locations are stunning and fit the mood perfectly and it is extraordinary to think that today ninety years later most of these locations remain unchanged.

The version I watched had sepia tinting throughout and I'm not sure who wrote or performed the soundtrack, although it sounded like it was played on synthesisers with cellos as well. The DVDS was released by Eureka videos, so maybe for some readers this will clarify which soundtrack it was. Although it was a little out of place in some of the sequences especially towards the end, for the most part it fitted in well. Having said that, I, like most viewers, would have liked to have heard the original, but since this is now lost, it wasn't to be.

This is a major piece of motion picture history and simply must be viewed.
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Casino Royale (2006)
8/10
Much tougher than before
29 March 2010
No doubt about it, you really don't want to annoy the new James Bond. Daniel Craig's Bond will kill you if you get in his way.

This reboot to the series was a risk that really paid off, bringing James Bond up to date and ditching about 40 years of continuity on the way. The one remaining Ian Fleming book finally gets made by Eon after many years waiting.

Daniel Craig portrays a much tougher, more impulsive Bond who in many ways is less sure of himself than before. Judi Dench's M seems much more ruthless than in the previous films, especially when she looks Bond right in the eye with an almost motherly expression on her face and threatens to kill him.

The film itself has a brilliant story with goodies, baddies and everything you would want from a Bond movie. Martin Campbell is one of the best Bond directors and he doesn't disappoint here.

You should watch this now!!!
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Death Wish 3 (1985)
7/10
Is it meant to be a parody or not?
26 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The second sequel to Death Wish sees Paul Kersey return once again to New York to visit his friend, who is killed shortly before Kersey arrives. Once Kersey gets there and sees what happens he swings into action once again.

Is this meant to be a parody of what had gone before, or did Michael Winner just get carried away? There are so many OTT things here, including Kersey's ability to beat everyone he meets in a fight, no matter what their size. Another is the face paint the baddies wear, as if to say ,"Yep, in case you didn't realise, I'm a criminal". You also have Fraker looking weirder than a Martian, his ability to summon gangsters from anywhere and of course his eventual demise with a rocket launcher.

Despite, or perhaps because of this, it is hugely enjoyable, very entertaining and zips by very quickly. For once, Kersey is not on his own, and I particularly enjoyed when it showed the locals getting tooled up ready to fight back.

Recommended.
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Death Wish II (1982)
7/10
Not quite up to the original but still pretty good
26 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
A few years after the original and Paul Kersey is happily living in LA. His daughter and housekeeper are murdered and he takes up arms once again.

There are a number of differences here, chief among them is Kersey going after specific people and not criminals in general like last time. This took away that unusual element present in the first film, but then this is a sequel not a remake.

Because the feel and tone are quite different to the first, it was a good idea to have Ochea back to provide a more tangible link.

Kersey has become much more brutal this time, taunting his victims first although he still makes sure they are dead and not just wounded.

Perhaps some of the nudity was a little OTT, but it's not on screen for very long.

Not as good as the first, but still very entertaining.
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8/10
A worthy successor
25 March 2010
The Two Towers continues the Lord of the Rings epic where the first film finishes and does a brilliant job.

This movie plays a much bigger role in helping the viewers to get to know the characters better. Much more background is provided for Aragorn and Legolas and Gimli are explored in much greater detail. Merry and Pippin have some of the best scenes and Tom Bombadil is indirectly referred to. The realisation of the ents on screen is stunning.

Once again Peter Jackson's eye for selecting a great cast is demonstrated here brilliantly. Casting Orlando Bloom in particular was a huge gamble but it paid off magnificently. Brad Dourif is perfect for the role of Grima as is Bernard Hill.

The scenes at Helm's Deep are probably the hugest scenes in any film ever made but what you see on screen is nothing short of spectacular.

The only gripe I have is Legolas sliding down the steps on the shield. This looked a bit silly to me but it is only in the film for a few seconds so it doesn't really spoil anything.

Simply amazing.
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Death Wish (1974)
10/10
Bronson's Finest Hour
17 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Gripping tale of Paul Kersey, a liberal architect,who takes revenge on the criminals of New York after his wife is murdered and his daughter left catatonic from an attack in their apartment by a bunch of random thugs.

Bronson is particularly good at portraying the generous liberal Paul at the beginning of the movie and how he changes into the steely ruthless Paul at the end. This is one of several things which make this film stand out and make it just a little different from other similar movies. For example, the original attackers are never seen again, elevating Paul's subsequent actions from simple revenge to all out war against the criminal underworld of New York, which has the knock on effect of scaring off the other criminals and making the general populace tougher. I especially enjoyed the part where the building foreman says about the mugger he and his crew caught, "Well we roughed him up a little," and the news reporter then says, "the mugger had two broken arms, a broken leg and cracked ribs" or something like that.

Also good is how it shows the evolution of Kersey's various reactions to his circumstances from being afraid to hold a sock of coins, to being sick after he shoots his first victim, to actively going out and flashing his money around, attracting potential muggers so he can kill them.

Bronson's facial expressions are exceptional, looking genuinely surprised and shocked by his potential muggers while at the same time shooting them, sometimes twice to make sure they are dead.

Another point that makes it stand out from the norm is that Paul's getting away with it is not a result of a sympathetic detective telling him he has a five minute head-start or something like that, but is officially sanctioned for reasons that make perfect sense.

OK so the rape scene is brutal, but I would say necessary and in the context of this film justified. The son in law Jack Toby is so annoying that in real life any self respecting father in law would beat the living crap out of him. Something I can't understand is why Jack keeps calling Paul Dad. Is this an American tradition? In Ireland, where I'm from, men generally call their fathers in law by their first names and call their own fathers Dad.

Although now that I write this, I'm just wondering if the character was made deliberately annoying to throw Paul's toughness into sharp relief and also if his passivity and willingness to do nothing is there to provide a counterpoint to Paul's decision to stand up for himself and therefore a stimulus for his actions. In this context, the character is exactly what is needed.

I loved this film far better than I thought I would, I could watch it over and over again and I, provided you're not too easily offended, would recommend it to anyone.
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9/10
One of the best war films ever made
13 March 2010
This depicts the second world war as no other film had before. The first twenty five minutes really drives home the futility and brutality of war as well as the incompetence of the bomber commanders in not clearing the beach a little more.

For me the sign of a good movie is that it seems shorter than it's running time. This movie is nearly tree hours but seems nowhere near that long.

The performances are all very good with fine memorable characters and the only jarring note for me was at the end when the captain tells Ryan to Earn this. Maybe I just didn't get it, but I felt that it put an awful burden on Ryan who would have been haunted by the fact that all these soldiers had died to save him, especially when he didn't want to be saved.

Other than that it is an excellent way to spend a few hours.
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10/10
One of the best films ever made
10 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is without doubt one of the greatest films ever made. Transferring the gargantuan story of the Lord of the Rings was a task many thought impossible, and it is strange to think that Peter Jackson, until then not known for producing particularly big films, manages so well.

Jackson has an exceptional eye for knowing who would suit a particular role. Based on his appearance, Viggo Mortensen would not be the obvious choice for Aragorn but in the event he is perfect for the part. Elijah Wood is spot on as Frodo as is Sean Astin for Sam. Special mention must go to Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Christopher Lee finally achieved his ambition to be the Lord of the Rings films. Cate Blanchett and Liv Tyler are both suitably ethereal as the elven women.

The sets and propwork are outstanding and if I ever get enough money I am going to build a hobbit hole just like Bilbo's. also particularly striking were the Black Riders.

One small gripe I had, and it's only very minor, was the way some of the names of places were pronounced. Whereas most characters referred to Mordor, pronouncing it as it is spelt, both Gandalf and Elrond seemed to pronounce it Mokodor. Also, Galadriel referred to herself as Galadthriel for some reason. Still, these are only minor matters.

Absolutely brilliant from beginning to end.
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5/10
Harmless
6 February 2010
Just finished watching this on TV an the first word that springs to mind is harmless. It's not normally the sort of thing I would watch but my wife wanted to see it so I thought I'd watch too.

The two leads play the roles they tend to play most often, with Grant being the English posh bloke who stutters a lot, and Barrymore the klutzy innocent. Extremely lightweight, the film avoids crossing the line from whimsical to pointless by having a number of very funny scenes, mostly involving Alex's early career.

The parallels between the fictional characters and their real life counterparts could not be clearer, short of stating that Cora is Britney Spears and Alex and Colin are Wham.

Not for everyone, and very light, it's entertaining enough if you like that sort of thing.
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6/10
Long wait but overall was worth it
3 February 2010
It's been a long time coming but finally the fourth Indy film is here. If I'm honest I think that possibly if this had been released only a few years after Last Crusade, it would not have been as successful as previous entries in the series because, let's face it, the story's not as good as the first three. And I blame George Lucas, who although he has some great ideas, interferes too much in other parts of film-making at which he is not as good as he thinks he is.

Another thing going against this film, something that no one could do anything about, is that the expectations were so high that no film could live up to them. Perhaps when Indy 5 comes, expectations will be more realistic.

Harrison Ford looks amazing for a man who is 65, even though he is a Hollywood actor whose livelihood depends on his keeping in good condition. In fact, although the producers and Ford made a conscious decision not to gloss over the fact that Indy is getting on in years, there was no need, due to Ford's physical condition, to ladle it on quite as much as they did.

With regard to the other characters, Ray Winstone's Mac doesn't really add anything to it. OK, he was necessary to make the scene where they nuked the fridge work, but a supporting player, similar to Alfred Molina's character at the beginning of Raiders would have done the job equally well, and then the character could have been gotten rid of. Is he a double agent? Is he a triple agent? Does anyone really care? He just wasn't needed.

Mutt makes an interesting son for Indy, continuing, as Spielberg et al point out in the DVD special features, the trend of the Jones men having sons who are to say the least somewhat rebellious. Shia LaBoeff gets the right balance between having a son who is too meek and having the character being too rebellious.

Irina Spalko doesn't seem to be the type of part that Cate Blanchett would normally go far, but since she is one of the best actresses ever to have worked in Hollywood, she plays the part perfectly. Karen Allen plays Marion Ravenwood exactly them same as in Raiders, so she can't be faulted either.

Despite it's faults, Indy 4 is highly recommended.
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The Haunting (1999)
7/10
Better than it's score would suggest although not without faults
1 February 2010
This remake of the sixties classic of the same name has unfortunately been somewhat slated by critics, although I feel it's better than most people seem to think it is.

The location work is stunning and the set design has clearly had a lot of work put into it.

Liam Neeson, Owen Wilson and Catherine Zeta Jones all perform their parts quite well, but Lili Taylor is not as good as she should be. On paper she should be perfect for the role of Nell and for much of the film she provokes the necessary sympathy. She seems unable, however, to scream properly, instead letting what sounds like an animal cry. Also, she seems to say "Oh No" in exactly the same tone of voice every time she sees something frightening, although to be fair this is as much the fault of the script as it is hers.

Towards the end the atmosphere is slightly diluted by such things as having the beds and statues spring to life which makes these scenes much less frightening than they could be.

In spite of all this, this movie has a certain something that regardless of it's faults, makes me want to watch it again and again, and ultimately you can't ask much more from a film than that.
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Collateral (2004)
9/10
Tense, tight and hardly a word wasted
1 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the most enthralling movies I have seen in recent years and despite it's running time of over two hours this modern day film noir seems to fly by.

Tom Cruise is outstanding as the psychopathic Vincent and is particularly good at making the viewer guess what he is really thinking. Has he made a connection with Max,or does he just want to prevent attention being drawn to their activities? One wonders what would have happened had Ramone not fallen out the window at the beginning.

Jamie Foxx gives a breakout performance as Max, the man in the wrong place at the wrong time, and with this role he graduates from lightweight comedies to more serious substantial productions.

Jada Pinkett Smith is as beautiful and sexy as always and I'm sure there are many men very envious of Will Smith.

This is a brilliant film, not to be missed.
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6/10
Can't really see what all the fuss is about
23 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Maybe it's because I first saw this film six years after it was made, but I can't really see why such a big thing was made of it.

I got an overwhelming feeling of "is this it?" when I saw it. That's not to say that this is a bad movie by any means, but there is nothing outstanding about it either. Of course, this could be said about a lot of films but is particular pertinent here when one considers the huge hype surrounding it when it first came out.

It is quite an enjoyable tale about superheroes being forced to hide their identities, bring up families and fitting in until one day Mr Incredible gets the chance to relive the glory days...

There are some very funny characters (Edna and Huph in particular) and most of the cast do their job well although Holly Hunter's lisp does get a little distracting after a while. Having the fifties titles and appearance is a nice touch which makes the whole film appear a little different from the norm.

Like I said before, this is a good film, although if you haven't seen it before, try to forget all the hype surrounding it when it first came out.
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Fun
15 November 2009
One word summed up this story of chivalry, jousting and knighthood and that word is fun.

The whole cast look as if they're having lots of fun making this film. The soundtrack certainly adds to this impression, with generally very happy songs. Some people have complained about the historical accuracy but it's not meant to be a history, it's a piece of fiction.

The cast are all good at portraying their characters. I had no idea that Alan Tudyk, for instance, was American and Paul Bettany seems to be having the time of his life. Mark Addy also appears very enthusiastic playing the down to earth kind of role that really suits him.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to enjoy a fun entertaining medieval adventure.
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Manhunter (1986)
6/10
Good But Dated
13 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
First and foremost, this is movie that has dated very quickly (although not that quickly I suppose......it is 20 years old.) The synthesiser music, pastel walls and general Miami Vice/Magnum PI feel are by 2007 starting to look less dated and more period which is fine.

William L Petersen gives a fine, understated performance as Will Graham, and Brian Cox is merely OK as Hannibal Lektor. I think the problem is he's just not scary enough. It's as if Cox is pretending to be a psychopath rather than acting one for a movie. In real life I'm sure serial killers behave the way he does in prison, i.e. mostly they appear to be normal ordinary people. However, a movie is meant to entertain and sometimes caricatures are necessary, which is why Anthony Hopkins is so effective is Silence of the Lambs. The upshot of this is that when Will Graham runs from the facility after speaking to Lektor, the audience can't really appreciate why, especially since Lektor is locked up very securely.

Tom Noonan is extremely effective as the Tooth Fairy, producing just the right level of menace, looking suitably weird.

One particularly striking part of the movie for me was when Graham is on the plane and falls asleep and the photos of the murder scenes spill. A little girl sees them and is frightened half to death.Soemething similar happened to me when I was young, looking through a book on murders that I wasn't old enough to be looking through.

This is a good film which you should watch if you get the chance.
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Hannibal (2001)
6/10
Mixed Feelings about this
13 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
It took ten years but Anthony Hopkins finally came back to the role he said he would never play again. But was it worth it? Well, yes and no.

I confess that the only Lecter book I have read is The Silence of the Lambs and that was many years ago. Having not read Hannibal, I cannot really say how the film compares to the book, but the story in the film at least has a kind of "So what?" feel to it. With the exceptions of Verger and Krendler, all characters are pretty much back where they started by the end and no one's really achieved very much.

In addition, although Julianne Moore is a capable actress, for me anyway Jodie Foster is Clarice Starling. Since Ms Foster didn't do it, they had to replace her with someone else but it just wasn't the same.

All that's not to say I didn't enjoy the film because I did. Any movie by Ridley Scott's going to be well directed and there are a lot of positives also. Gary Oldman makes a very effective bad guy and the idea of breeding man eating pigs was extremely twisted and macabre. Anthony Hopkins was perfect as Hannibal, this time around giving a good insight into what kind of man Hannibal would have been, if those events in his youth had't turned him into a killer. Having said all that, He also delivers the goods as it were, with the killing of Pazzi and the live lobotomy of Paul Krendler.

Overall I enjoyed it, although I feel the story needs to be told more and we need another chapter in the Hannibal saga (other than the prequel Hannibal Rising).
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8/10
really creepy and Scary
7 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The second Lecter movie but the first to feature Anthony Hopkins as Dr Hannibal Lecter, this is the movie that made him a household name.

When I first watched this, I remember having nightmares for days afterwards. This is a movie with no light moments in it at all, although a film all about serial killers is not going to be a laugh a minute in any case.

The performances are all excellent. Hard to say which is better , Jodie Foster or Anthony Hopkins. Hannibal is played with chilling air of menace by Hopkins, giving the feeling that if the glass between you and him ever came down, you'd survive about thirty seconds. And yet, as a previous reviewer stated, he makes Lecter seem somehow human at the same time. Foster makes the role of Clarice totally her own, and what her so much more convincing for some reason, was giving her dark hair. A special mention must also go to Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill, a complete fruitcake for most of the movie but when Clarice calls to his house appears almost completely normal. Wouldn't think he was that bloke from "Monk" would you? Although I have not yet seen Red Dragon, of the Lecter films I have seen, this is definitely the best.
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The Dame Edna Experience (1987–1989)
7/10
Great way to spend Sunday evenings
4 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Extreely funny interview show hosted Australian megastar Dame Edna Everage aka Barry Humphries (who for years I thought really was a woman and not a man dressed in drag.) There was no point in being a guest on this show if you didn't have a sense of humour as Edna was quick to burst any pomposity with her ejector seats, staircases that turned into slides and printing's that ate people. There were other staples on the show such as her bridesmaid Madge, her obsession with gynaecologists, feeling songs coming on and the need to stick a badge on every guest in the show.

Another feature of the show was having people who wanted to be on the show but whom she wouldn't let be on it until the final episode of the series. It gives some indication of the popularity of Barry Humphries and/or Dame Edna in Australia when you see that one of these guests was Mel Gibson!!! How they got him to agree to appear week after week I'll never know.

A really funny way to spent Sunday evenings which is sadly missed.
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The Celts (1987)
8/10
Excellent History of the Celtic People
3 July 2006
Probably the most comprehensive story of the Celtic people ever undertaken, this series examines their history from their earliest archaeological finds, throughout the iron ages and Roman eras, up to modern times. The researchers seem to have left no stones unturned in their search to examine Celtic history.

Sumptuously filmed, probably the best feature of this program is the music from Enya. The title music is really stirring and most of the other music throughout the series is really haunting and beautiful. This program has not been repeated recently and is highly deserving to be enjoyed by a new generation of 13 year olds (the age I was when it first came on.) Watch and enjoy!
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King Kong (1933)
7/10
The one that started it all
29 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This is the movie that started the King Kong phenomenon, spawning sequels, remakes and imitators. The first time I saw this I was a small kid and at the time BBC2 was running a series of monster movies on Thursday evenings. This was the movie that got myself and I'm sure so many others into monster movies.

For it's time the special effects were groundbreaking and the gorilla itself is very well realised. The story is a classic and the ending on top of the Empire State building still brings a tear to the eye even after all these years.

One thing I've often thought rather odd is when the beast is chained up in the theatre and starts getting mad, the audience is told not to worry the chains are made of chrome steel. That's all well and good but what about the wooden framework he is chained to? What with Kong having the strength he has, surely he could snap those planks like matchsticks? Still this is a small point and not a criticism.

Anyone who hasn't seen this yet should see it now.
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3/10
A big disappointment
29 June 2006
Having seen the wonderful Whisky Galore shortly before I watched this, I turned the TV on expecting more of the same. Unfortunately this is not the case. I suppose taken on it's own merits it's not too bad, but for me it just had too many things wrong with it.

The casting for example. Apart from Gordon Jackson and maybe one or two others none of the cast from Whisky Galore makes a return appearance even though many of the characters are the same. One almost suspects the producers of just not trying hard enough to get the old cast back together.

However, the actor Duncan Macrae did come back but the producers committed the cardinal sin by casting him in a different role to the one he played in Whisky Galore. If you're going to have the same actor at least have him play the same part, otherwise just get someone else. This holds especially true for this film, which to be honest was made solely on the back of it's predecessor being so successful.

A major disappointment all round.
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10/10
Excellent Film from Ealing
28 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Another brilliant movie from Ealing studios, this one based in the islands of Scotland.

Due to the studios at Ealing all being used for other productions at the time, filming took place on location in Scotland and the film looks immeasurably better for it. Having the action take place on the actual beaches, countryside and buildings of the islands makes the whole thing look so much better.

Based on a true story, Whisky Galore tells the tale of when whisky is rationed during WW2 and a ship is wrecked off the island coast with 50000 cases of whisky. Naturally the inhabitants want to get it before the ship completely sinks, but have to contend with the local pest Captain Wagget and the local revenue.

Captain Wagget is really really nasty and wants to cause misery to everyone on the island and yet he is not actually a bad person, he just doing what he thinks is right. But as history shows untold misery has been inflicted on the world by those who do things because they think they are right. At the end, his attitude annoys everyone, even his own wife who, having stood by him throughout the entire movie, bursts in uncontrollable laughter when Wagget finds out he has inadvertently sent some whisky to the revenue.

The rest of the island inhabitants are all a bunch of crooks. Particularly funny is Duncan Macrae who appears stupid, but who one suspects is a lot cleverer than most people think.

It also extols the virtues of whisky, such as how it allows Mummy's boys to stand up to their domineering mothers and other such acts of bravery.

Ealing Studios does it again.
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8/10
Enjoyable way to spend a rainy afternoon
28 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Pleasant story of the community of Pimlico in London who, after an unexploded WW2 bomb explodes, find a Royal Charter stating that the area they live in forms part of Burgundy.

This movie works because it appeals to the fantasy a lot of us have about making up our own rules and not having to listen to THEM. A solid cast of British stalwarts, especially Stanley Holloway, makes this more believable.

There are some very nice moments in the film, such as when the people have ran out of supplies and other Londoners on the other side of the barricade start throwing food and other things over to them.

Even though you always knew Pimlico would become part of the UK again, the people of PImlico and as a consequence the viewer doesn't mind when this happens, leaving a nice happy feeling.

It's amazing to think that these low budget movies from a small studio in London still remain so popular over fifty years later. The producers must have got something right.
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Little Women (1949)
5/10
Good movie, if you like this sort of story
28 June 2006
Very shiny and colourful adaptation of the classic Louisa May Alcott story of four sisters and their lives during the American Civil War.

I'm not a huge fan of this sort of tale, so the story in my view was just alright but nothing wonderful. I would imagine that during the Civil war, things wouldn't have been as sugar coated as this in real life.

The casting seemed to hit the spot, with Elizabeth being very funny as Amy and Janet Leigh bringing the right level of gravitas for the eldest sister Meg. Magaret O'Brien is lovely as Beth and June Allyson steals the show as Jo.

I would say that for a fan of this sort of fable this movie would be hailed as a classic.
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9/10
Probably the best of the Ealing Comedies
28 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Classic production from the famous London based comedy studios. Whoever came up with having Alec Guiness play the part of all the family remembers is nothing short of a genius. British films back then were produced comparatively quickly and it must have been quite exhausting learning all those different lines and coming up with the various mannerisms, not to mention all the costume and make up changes.

Of course you're routing for Mazzini to win, despite his being rather callous, although I wasn't overly keen on the romantic element of the script.

Alas, this movie is saddled with that mantra of forties and fifties films, especially those made in Britain, which is to show that crime doesn't pay, hence the leaving behind of the memoirs detailing the murders. However, in this movie it was done in such a way that Mazzini could easily get his memoirs back without them being read by anyone else.

I would recommend this film to anyone and suggest you watch it at the next available opportunity.
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