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Reviews
Gavin & Stacey (2007)
Absolutely brilliant (I'm not going to lie to you!)
This came on the telly when we were having a more stressful time than usual at home, when the need for light relief on the box is essential. It does not have a deep complex plot or a constant supply of gags, the humour is in watching the characters do their stuff. I guess it wont appeat to some people but we love it and have watched it over and over. All the acting is brilliant, all the characters are well drawn and quirky in their own way, and the joy is in watching how these characters will behave in this week's episode. The humour is very subtle, never laboured and we have noticed things we missed even after watching several times. This wont appeal to everyone and I think if after giving a couple of episodes a go you haven't enjoyed it you probably wont. But if you like stuff thats not quite mainstream and a bit different, and want something you can watch again and again to lift your spirits, then I cant recommend this enough. We reckon that the character of Ness could be a category of her own in the British TV quiz, 'mastermind'. If you see it you'll get what I mean.....
Hairspray (2007)
Just Wonderful
Just been to see this with my hubby. We didn't really know what to expect but from the first gloriously cheerful burst of song we loved it. Our film got twisted half way through and we spent a couple of minutes watching everybody upside down and walking backwards, and had to wait a good 20 minutes for the staff to unravel it all and find the place where it went wrong, but I'm so so glad we waited. The cast were faultless. John Travolta was very enjoyable as Edna, and it looked like he enjoyed is role! Christopher Walken, what can I say; fab and weird as always. Queen Latifa, beautiful as ever, Michele Pfeifer deliciously nasty! As for Nikky Blonsky, she was amazing, well able to carry the lead which she did with gusto from the opening to the closing credits. It's a fun, feel-good, optimistic film, with wonderful songs and it leaves you feeling hopeful for the chances of all those of us who are 'different' from the norms appointed by society
If you like musicals and need a bit of cheering up, go and see it on the big screen while you can. It got our feet tapping anyway!!
Prelude to a Kiss (1992)
A lovely gentle romance
This wonderful little film suffered, I think, from grossly inaccurate marketing. I bought it on DVD a little while back (having seen it ages ago and loved it) and in the spiel on the back describes how Peter "discovers with hilarious consequences that when you can't believe your eyes, you can always trust the laughter in your heart." So now we're expecting to fall about laughing and because Meg Ryan's in it we think of 'When Harry met Sally' or something similar. 'There's something about Mary' has a storyline based on one man's love for Mary but it's the comedy which carries the movie, not the love story. But this film is not like this at all. First and last this is a love story. Yes it makes you smile at times but Mike Baldwin's wonderful portrayal of Peter is very moving. SPOILER ALERT!!!When he knows he's lost the love of his life when to all intents and purposes she's still standing in front of him, it is so poignant. So, if you love a really good romance, watch this unusual and lovely film. All the acting is excellent, but Mike Baldwin gets my vote for, as has been said elsewhere, the performance of his life. Wonderful!
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
this has true passion
I did not know the story and it took me a while to get into it I must admit, but as the story unfolded and the characters developed, I became hooked. There has been criticism of the leading roles, but I thought they were excellent. Emmy Rossum was perfect as the young girl with the blossoming voice, so innocent yet being awakened to passion. (Yes, the passion is there if you have eyes to see it!) Gerard Butler was the phantom, mysterious, malevolent, tortured and (of course)passionate. I thought his singing, quite raw at times, conveyed some of these emotions very very well and I can imagine that just hearing the soundtrack, you might be disappointed. It is best appreciated in the context of what is happening at the time of the songs. Minnie Driver was wonderfully over the top in her role. It brought some welcome lightness to the story. All in all, it has left me wanting to see it again, to see what I think of it second time around.