walsh-22 Reviews

The Lone Ranger (2013)

Not as bad as I had heard

[7/10 · 4 May 2014]

The Lone Ranger is about an idealistic lawyer John Reid played by Armie Hammer who with his brother, a ranger and posse of men are ambushed while trying to bring in notorious Butch Cavendish.

John is left for dead but Tonto, a renegade Comanche played by Johnny Depp saves him and offers to help him get justice for his dead brother.

I had heard reviews from the film critics who really slagged this film off so with trepidation I watched the film but to be honest, I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would.

I will admit that I found the film too long that is why I didn't score it 10 out of 10. The John Reid character is very annoying at the beginning but when it comes to the end of the film and he's riding his horse on top of a train while shooting and the Lone Ranger theme song playing you can't help cheering him on.

There are some amazing action sequences and very funny scenes particularly concerning the spirit horse. I enjoyed the interaction between Reid and Tonto and liked that there was the side story to what makes Tonto the man he is.

On the whole, not a bad film at all.

Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005)

The most dysfunctional family on TV after the Simpsons

[10/10 · 30 August 2009]

I didn't see it the first time it was on so only got into it when it was doing the reruns of the show. I loved it as soon as I saw it.

The reason I like it so much are the characters, they are brilliantly written and have such wonderful lines. My favourite characters have to be Frank and Marie, they are just so hilarious particularly when they are having arguments with each other.The writers give them a nice balance where you think they hate each other but then you see a different side to their relationship which shows how much they care about one another.

What was also good about the series was that throughout the run of the show, it was consistently good and there was no episodes that were weak, they just worked so well and kept you entertained for half an hour.

I liked the chemistry of the cast. They were perfect for the roles played in the series and I really couldn't imagine anyone else pulling off the roles the way these actors did.

North and South, Book I (1985)

A hell of an epic

[10/10 · 26 July 2009]

I really enjoyed North and South very much. I think it is one of the best and most lavish television series I have ever seen. The calibre of the cast is amazing, you have actors from "the golden age of cinema", people like James Stewart, Gene Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons with other actors who were the new faces of the 80's like Patrick Swayze, James Read, Jonathan Frakes, Genie Francis, Philip Casnoff and Lesley-Anne Down.

At the heart of the story is the friendship of two completely different men,there is Orry Main (Patrick Swayze) who is from the south and George Hazard (James Read) who is from the North. Throughout the series, their friendship is continually threatened with the differences in their backgrounds, particularly about the treatment of slaves in the South (especially at Orry's plantation) but when each needs the other, they will forget the arguments and go and help their friend. I really liked the chemistry between the two men and was really interested to see if their friendship could survive the war.

I liked how the series showed what life was like before the war so the audience could see what were the factors that lead up to the war, what was going on at the time, then the devastation of a nation that was being torn apart and then the nation having to rebuild the country again. The war scenes were very well choreographed and very realistic to me.

I think what is great about it, is it has so many elements running through it, romance, history, battles that would interest most of the audience, there is something for everyone. I particularly enjoyed the romance between Brett (Genie Francis) and Billy (Parker Stevenson/John Stockwell) especially when she stood up to her sister Ashton for the first time. The other romances were interesting as there were not all the same, each had something different to the others which kept me watching particularly the Madeline and Orry story strand to see if they would be together in the end.

It is one of the best American mini series that I have watched, the story had the right balance of romance and the more serious history side that was happening in the country at the time but it is paced just right. The characters are very watchable and the locations are beautiful and the music particularly at the start and end of the episode is so toe-tapping good and works with the mood of the story.

Get Smart (2008)

Laughs and action all the way

[10/10 · 15 July 2009]

This is the first film that if I had the time I would have gone to the cinema again, it was that good.

It was the first spy film from the U.S. where I wasn't sneering at it thinking it was another rip-off of Bond. When I went to see the film, I had no idea it had been based on a TV show in the 60's.

Maxwell Smart in this movie is not your typical spy/hero, he is a lot older, not classically handsome and he is very bumbling but that's why I like him. He is so different from the other heroes that he is a long needed breath of fresh air, he is brilliantly played by the very funny and talented Steve Carrell.

The cast are just as wonderful and I really couldn't imagine any other actors playing the roles other than the ones cast in the movie. Anne Hathaway (Agent 99) plays a really kick ass agent who starts off very hard and we see a more tender side to her when she spends time with Max. Dwayne Johnson (Agent 23), I really loved his scenes particularly the one where he stapled a sheet of paper to another agent's head and the other showing him destroying an agent's cell phone in a conference. Did not see it coming that he would turn out to be the villain. Alan Arkin as the Chief was just as hilarious especially when he tackled the Vice-president to the floor and then hitting another agent in the face when he called him Grandpa. Terrance Stamp (Siegfried) was very dry and witty as a villain for KAOS and I have to mention the other actors that had smaller parts but still managed to be unforgettable in the film like Bruce (Masi Oka) and Lloyd (Nate Torrence), the Q's of Get Smart and Larabee (David Koechner) and Agent 91 (Terry Crews).

There was so many funny scenes that had me in fits of laughter throughout the film and I really enjoyed the action sequences. The plot wasn't too long or hard to follow and I never lost interest in the movie at all.

I can't wait for Get Smart 2, I just hope the main people are in it again.

Ashes to Ashes (2008–2010)

A cop show with a difference

[10/10 · 15 July 2009]

I have only seen clips of Life on Mars and have never watched the whole series, the reason I decided to watch Ashes to Ashes is that I kept hearing about how brilliant Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) was in Life on Mars and the clips I had seen had made me interested so I decided to watch the new series Ashes to Ashes and I loved it from the start.

The top reason being, I was brought up in the 80's and I have such fond memories of that decade because of the toys I played with, the TV shows I watched and the pop stars I would listen to so this really got my attention when I heard Ashes to Ashes would be set in the 8o's. I like how the show plays music from the 80's, they pick really good tracks that match the action on the screen.

I have to say I didn't like Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes)to start off. She was a bit of a know-it-all which got on my nerves but as the series went on, she grew on me and I really love the character now. She is my favourite in the series, she is very ballsy and isn't afraid to fight her corner. I really enjoyed watching her interacting with Gene as she, like Sam has very modern approaches and Gene compared to her is stuck in the dark ages. The chemistry between them works so well together, they have their differences of opinions but they do learn to respect one another. Philip Glenister is brilliant as Hunt, I think what I like about him is what everyone else likes about him, he is a real tough nut who gets the job done which is to get the scum off the streets and he does it his way and isn't afraid to tell it like it is. There is also a soft side that we see, only so often which shows a different side to him. It keeps the audience interested to see he is not just one thing, he has other qualities that you don't necessary think he has.

His sidekicks are just as wonderful, Ray (Dean Andrews) acts very tough and judgemental but again you see that there is a soft side that he doesn't like to show but it does come out when women are hurt in particularly but his character is not one thing, he is a mix of good and bad qualities. Chris (Marshall Lancaster) is so sweet and dumb at times, the things he comes out with are so funny and it is so nice to see the romance between him and Shaz.

I can't comment on if it is better or worse than Life on Mars, I can only say that as soon as I watched the opening minutes of the series, I was hooked and the look of the show with the actors, music, writing and direction has kept me interested and entertained throughout the two series and I'm sure the third series to come.

Law & Order: UK (2009–2014)

About time

[8/10 · 14 July 2009]

I have been a keen viewer of Law and Order for a while and have watched all the spin-offs as well so I was really excited that they were going to do a UK version.

I happened to be one of the people who was not disappointed and really enjoyed it. They had the key elements of the Law and Order show- the two sides of the law shown, the police who find the killers and the CPS who prosecute them, there was the customary noise at the end of each scene and titles on the screen to tell the audience where the scene was set but it was very British.

I thought they picked the right cast for this, they were all amazing and the reason I mention Bradley Walsh is he surprised me at how good he was and I was really annoyed at the critics for not seeing that. If I have a criticism about his character, it is that he reminds me too much of the Lenny Briscoe character in the original Law and order.

The only other complaint I have is the music at the start and end of the show, it is just ghastly and I really hate it.

The stories are very much related to what is happening in Britain at the moment or what could happen in the future.

I really hope it gets commissioned for another series.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

The gem of the franchise

[10/10 · 14 July 2009]

I can't believe they based the film on the Pirate ride at Disney (I have to confess, it is my favourite ride at the Magic Kingdom). I thought it was genius they could do a 143 minute film and have a plot that wasn't light and had plenty of weight to it.

Out of the three movies, this is my favourite.

It was the first film in a while to tackle pirates and cover all the key elements of pirate movies in the past- lovely locations, a love story that had the right amount of attention but wasn't the main focus of the plot, great action sequences. Then this film updated it in such a way that modern audiences wouldn't be put off watching this type of film which probably happened in the past as they just didn't know how to make a successful pirate film to appeal to their audience at the time. I thought it was an interesting idea to have the pirates cursed and that they couldn't be killed.

The cast was brilliant, I loved the romance between Elizabeth and Will but who I enjoyed watching the most was obviously Johnny Depp. He had a really fantastic idea about making Jack Sparrow very rock n' roll and basing him on Keith Richards. He played him just right and probably made him the first anti-hero in a while that the audience was interested in watching and rooting for.

The film really does have it all- stunning locations, really breathtaking. A very unique plot with many twists and turns. Unforgettible characters, incredible and scary special effects and exciting sword fights.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Hooray, Jack is back

[9/10 · 14 July 2009]

For me, what stands out most is the amazing stunts performed in the film, this includes when the crew are held prisoner in wooden, round cages, Sparrow trying to escape while being tied to a pole and the sword fight on the moving wheel.

The locations are even more spectacular than the first film.

Jack is back to his old tricks, this time having to deal with two dangerous enemies Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) and Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), the perfect pantomime villains that you can boo and hiss at.

Keira Knightley is given more depth to her character and even engages in a sword fight. I liked that they had developed her character from the first one where she started off sheltered and helpless in a way and in this one, she's not afraid to defend herself from attack and even going on her own to find Will.

What a brilliant ending to have Barbossa come back into it as I really enjoyed the competing that went on with Jack and Barbossa in the first film so it was good news to see him back in it.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

On the fence with this one

[7/10 · 14 July 2009]

By this film, I had enough of the up and down relationship between Elizabeth and Will, I was fed up with them as a couple and individually.

Why I kept watching was because of Captain Jack Sparrow as he was still the only one that kept me entertained. I did enjoy the rivalry between Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and Jack (Johnny Depp). It was so funny to watch them have a battle of wits against one another and compete for ownership of the Black Pearl.

It was brilliant to finally have Keith Richards in this third film, he was well worth the wait and really looked good as a pirate.

All the loose ends in Pirates 2 were tied up. Finally Will and Elizabeth married but I didn't care by this point. Davy Jones was killed and the crew released from their bonds and Cutler Beckett got his come-uppance.

As usual Johnny Depp is on top form and for me, again steals the show, really loved the scene where he escapes from Beckett's ship and the scene where he is in the locker going a bit mad with a crew made up entirely of Jack Sparrows.

The special effects really pushed the envelope particularly the storm scene which was so convincing and action packed.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

For me, a lot darker

[8/10 · 11 July 2009]

This film is a lot darker because Kirk loses his son and we get to see a different side to Kirk. Just because it is danger and doesn't have humour throughout it doesn't make it a bad film.

I thought it was brilliant in the plot that because Spock was nearest to McCoy in Wrath of Khan, he had given his essence to McCoy which is very funny considering the difference of opinions the two men had in the series and films, it is very ironic for McCoy as he is battling his own thoughts and experiences while having to deal with Spock's thoughts and experiences.

There are some very good scenes in this, I like when they damage the faster ship to escape the spaceport, when Kirk gives the command to blow up the ship, the fight between Kirk and Kruge (Christopher Lloyd). The special effects were amazing as ever, the ones that really impressed me was when the ship was blown up and when the planet was breaking up around Kirk and Kruge while they were fighting.

The only downsides is you don't see much of Uhura in this film and Leonard Nimoy as Spock doesn't appear till the end but I find it really interesting that they have Spock born again and having to go through the difficulties of growing up with his Vulcan and Human side fighting more ferociously and uncontrolled without his peace of mind that McCoy has in his head. It was a brilliant way of getting around the fact that Spock had died in the Wrath of Khan.

On the whole, this is not a bad film and shouldn't be classed as one.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

Saved the best till last

[10/10 · 11 July 2009]

This is a very bittersweet film to watch, for one thing it is the last film to star all the original Star Trek crew and for another, it was the final appearance for Deforest Kelley (Bones).

Still out of them all, this is the best one for the action and drama. What is brilliant about the story is at the heart of it is a conspiracy plot that has everyone involved, even people on the Enterprise and it was so interesting to have a "Who else was in on the plot" and "With the evidence, what really happened" slate to the story. It was a brilliant, nail-biting plot where you really didn't know what was going to happen to the crew, if they would survive their last adventure and what else was going to happen to the way of life for the Federation.

It was a bit sad that Sulu wasn't in the film as much but at least his character developed more by becoming Captain of a star ship.

I also liked that Spock and Kirk's relationship was threatened again when Spock wanted peace with the Klingons and Kirk didn't because of them killing his son. It was another good arc to the story as you see the two at loggerheads over something so serious to finish their friendship. It was good at the end to see them make up.

It was just so fitting and just had all the elements that Star Trek is famous for, the drama, special effects, character and fun and this film more than any other has this in shades and it is wonderful that the franchise with the original cast ends on such a high note.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

Great to see Crew reunited

[10/10 · 11 July 2009]

I think out of all the Star Trek films I find this the funniest, it is so hilarious to see the crew so out of their depth and not in their usual environment with technology that has not been developed in the past and is kind of like the stone age for them. There are such wonderful scenes that had me in stitches, Kirk and Spock's conversation in the presence of Gillian (Catherine Hicks), where Spock doesn't know how to lie and contradicts what Kirk is saying. The other scenes where Scotty is talking to the computer and thinks the mouse is for talking. My favourite scene of all is when Kirk, Gillian and Bones go to rescue Chekov. For this reason, it is my second favourite Star Trek film.

At the same time it has a serious message about the extinction of animals and what devastation man causes animal kind. I think Leonard Nimoy does it just right, I like that in the story it is by man's actions, the world is in danger and it is the animals that man hurts that will safe mankind in the end.

You can't help getting emotional when you see the whales safe from poachers and having fun, even though they are probably machines. Just a very touching scene and great to see Kirk where he belongs, on the bridge of the Enterprise.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

Unjustly panned

[7/10 · 10 July 2009]

Is it the best Star Trek movie ever done, no but neither is it as bad as people say it is, I happen to like this film very much. Just because it is not as strong as the other movies doesn't mean it should be slated, there are still some very good scenes and character elements.

The reason I like this film is part of the film is about the friendship between Spock, Kirk and Bones. It starts off with them camping, Kirk nearly falling to his death and Bones worrying like a mother hen at the bottom.

The funniest scenes are when they are around the campsite trying to teach Spock camp songs and him not understanding the purpose of them and as a result getting it wrong. Then their friendship is threatened when Spock's brother enters the picture and manages to convince Bones and Spock God is out there in space and he know's a way to meet him. We see things we never knew about Bones and Spock, Bone's father being ill in a hospital bed and Spock's father's reaction when his new son is born, disappointed his son looks more human than Vulcan. We see Kirk is still in pain over the death of his son who he lost in the third movie and doesn't accept what Spock's brother Sybok is saying and for the first time, he is on his own as his crew believe in what Sybok says and he has no control and has to go along with Sybok's plan.

There are some very funny scenes in the film, I've mentioned the camping scenes but another hilarious scene is Scotty hitting his head on the beam after saying he knew the place like the back of his hand. The film still has the essence of Star Trek, exploring the unknown, conflict and resolution between the characters and fun, not taking itself too seriously. On the whole, it could have been a lot worst and not be funny at all which can't be said about this film.

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)

Sequel carries on the magic

[9/10 · 10 July 2009]

They really don't have much luck with their clients, I think they should go into another business as their clients are always double-crossing and trying to kill them.

I didn't think it was possible but I love this film better than the first. I really enjoyed all the undercover scenes where they play at being Criminalists (classic, reference to CSI), nuns or dockworkers. One of the best soundtracks for a film I have ever heard, really well chosen, they fitted so well with the sequences. It was good to see the Girls back in action especially with those amazing stunts and Martial arts moves.

Although I missed Bill Murray, Bernie Mac was just as hilarious as Murray was in the first one so was the perfect replacement. It was great to see one of the original angels Jaclyn Smith who happened to be my favourite angel in the series and it wasn't just because I shared her character's first name. She still looks so amazing so did Demi Moore who made the perfect villain and actually looked like she was relishing the role.

Also, Bruce Willis does a small cameo in the film and the audience get to find out more about the thin man (Crispin Glover). John Cleese also made an appearance as Lucy Liu's confused and worried dad.

Charlie's Angels (2000)

All hail, the new Charlie's Angels

[8/10 · 10 July 2009]

I'm surprised it took them till the year 2000 to make a Charlie's Angels film given how popular the series was.

It still has the essence of the TV show- 3 independent and feisty woman who can look after themselves and don't need guns to do it but they have made the angels more up to date to fit the modern world.

I loved the cast, I can't imagine any other actresses playing the roles other than Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore, they just suit those roles brilliantly, they had great chemistry which wasn't forced, they actually looked like they were having a good time.

It was fabulous to have the original Charlie (John Forsythe)playing the Charlie in this, he has such a wonderful and rich voice. It was also fantastic to have the very funny Bill Murray in it, what a bonus. I really loved him in Ghostbusters, it was a shame he wasn't in the second Charlie's Angels film.

Bones (2005–2017)

The Funniest double act on television

[10/10 · 8 July 2009]

This is another show I didn't know about till I was flicking through the TV one day and saw it, I have been hooked ever since.

I really enjoy the partnership between Brennan(Emily Deschanel) and Booth (David Boreanaz), it is the funniest part of the show. Brennan has the academic smarts and Booth has the street smarts and there is always a debate in the show about which of their approaches work the best, in fact they both work and that is why the partnership is so brilliant. Another bone of contention is Booth's faith which Brennan doesn't understand as isn't visible and she, being a scientist needs to see it before she can believe.

I love the character of Temperance Brennan. The reason is she's not a perfect character, despite being very clever, she is always putting her foot in her mouth quite a lot, she comes across as a know-it-all that feels superior to people who are not academic, never in a nasty way but more matter of fact. She is also a very feisty heroine who doesn't need a man to take care of her, she has shown on more than one occasion she isn't scare to take on bullies, even taking on a gang leader in one of the episodes. She also isn't afraid to use a gun if the occasion calls for it.

Another partnership that has been hilarious to see is Dr. Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) and Zack Addy (Eric Millegan) who always likes to carry out experiments that always go wrong. They are like little kids when they get to test their theories. It is sad that Zack has left the show because I miss the interaction between them especially when they are competing with one another.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

My favourite of all the Star Trek films

[10/10 · 3 July 2009]

Back where it belongs with this film, it has the right mix of science, character and action. I love the plot of the film and really enjoyed any scenes where it showed the cat and mouse game Kirk (William Shatner) and Khan (Ricardo Montalban) were playing with one another. It was really good to see the Khan's character reintroduced, as in the series, he was marooned on a planet and in the film, we get to see what life was like for him and his family and why he is out for revenge against Kirk.

I like the dark and light elements to the story. I enjoy Spock's character in this as it is good that the audience get to see a new dimension to Spock's character, he is less stern and even cracks a joke. There is a really moving scene at the end of the movie when Spock is dying and says to Kirk that he will always be his friend. It is a real emotional scene that has me in tears every time I watch it. It is also good that it can switch between the light and dark shades of the story effortlessly and the special effects are amazing to watch.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

My least favourite of the Star Trek films franchise

[7/10 · 3 July 2009]

With this film, I am on the fence. On the one hand, it was good to have the cast back but on the other, I found it hard to watch as I couldn't understand what V'ger was, plus it was too much science and not enough character based so for that reason, it was my least favourite of all the Star Trek films.

For me, this is a hard film to watch all the way through without losing interest in the story and zooming out, the film goes in the wrong direction and doesn't have the right blend of character development and science that features in the later films and in the original series, it focuses too much on the science and for me, there isn't enough action in it either.

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)

Cancelled too soon

[10/10 · 3 July 2009]

I was very annoyed when they cancelled Enterprise as I thought it was a really good series and deserved to be on a lot longer than it was.

I loved it from the first time it came on the TV till when it finished. If I have a criticism, I felt the last season particularly towards the end was rushed a bit so all the loose ends were tied up but on the whole, I really enjoyed watching the series.

It continued in the essence of the other Star Trek Series and was a very entertaining and unbeatable series. It was definitely not a weak series and I thought the writing and direction was brilliant but most of all it was the cast that kept me watching every week, they really did a good job and should be congratulated on continuing the spirit of what Star Trek stood for, so thank you Scott Bakula (Captain Archer), Jolene Blalock (T'Pol), Connor Trinneer (Trip), Dominic Keating (Malcolm), Linda Park (Hoshi), Anthony Montgomery (Travis) and John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox).

It (1990)

My favourite of all Stephen King adaptations

[10/10 · 3 July 2009]

I can never watch this at night as it is a very scary film, made the more sinister and creepy by the performance of Tim Curry as Pennywise the Clown.

I read the book after the film but just couldn't get into it as much as the TV Mini series.

It is a very long Mini series but I think the Director (Tommy Lee Wallace) and Writers (Lawrence Cohen/Tommy Lee Wallace) did a very good job of putting all the relevant parts that are in the book in the series. I think how they divided the story into two parts was the best way.

The first part of the series is introducing the characters to the audience and we see what lives they have and then the audience see flashbacks to their pasts when they were children living in Derry. The town was being terrorised by what looks like a clown that only the children can see. They decide to stop the clown and enter its home where they confront it and think they have killed it but they haven't.

The second part of the series is the adult characters coming back to the town and realising that they didn't kill it and that they need to do it once and for all or it will plague their lives forever and keep on killing innocent children.

As I have said, it is long and you really need to stick with it because it is a very compelling and engaging story made the more watchable with the cast of actors in the production. The adult characters and the children characters are brilliantly cast and make it the success it is which I don't think would have happened if the wrong people had been cast. The adult cast include Richard Thomas (Bill), John Ritter (Ben), Annette O'Toole (Bev), Harry Anderson (Ritchie), Dennis Christopher (Eddie), Richard Masur (Stan), Tim Reid (Mike) and the children cast headed and much missed Jonathan Brandis (Young Bill), Brandon Crane (Young Ben), Emily Perkins (Young Bev), Seth Green (Young Ritchie), Adam Faraizl (Young Eddie), Ben Heller (Young Stan), Marlon Taylor (Young Mike).

I hear there will be a remake of it and it will really have to surpass this which is going to be a hard act to follow.

Kingdom (2007–2009)

Light and entertaining

[8/10 · 2 July 2009]

I am still a new viewer to Kingdom, my Dad was the fan of the show and I happened to watch an episode of it and have been hooked ever since.

One of the highlights of the show is the brilliant cast headed by the wonderful and hugely talented Stephen Fry (Peter Kingdom). He is the heart of the show with an amazing cast Karl Davies (Lyle, Peter's partner in the law practice), Celia Imrie (Gloria, Peter's secretary), Hermione Norris (Beatrice, Peter's sister), Tony Slattery (Sidney Snell, a client of Peter's), and Phyllida Law (Auriel, Peter's aunt).

Another highlight is the beautiful setting of the series, Norfolk is so lovely and it is nice to see a lot more of our lovely countryside that is not always shown in modern series.

Although there are some dark elements to it, being that at the start of the series, Peter thought his brother Simon was dead and then later in the second series he was killed off, it is still lighter than other programmes on TV and it is nice to get away from the grittiness of the world and watch a series that is cosy and entertaining. It is not so fluffy that it doesn't cover relevant issues but has the right blend of light and shade to the stories so people are not bogged down by the issues too much. I hope there will be more series of the show as it is a very enjoyable and warm programme to watch.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

I can't imagine any other actors playing these roles

[10/10 · 2 July 2009]

Out of the two films Redford and Newman did, this is my favourite out of the two. Redford and Newman just fit the roles of Cassidy and the Sundance Kid like a glove and they gel so well together on the film. I really can't imagine anyone else playing the roles as well as they did. I really enjoyed the interaction between the two, Cassidy (Newman) has the best lines and in character is the lighter of the two and Sundance Kid (Redford) is darker and hard and you really see the contrasts of the characters, how they deal with situations differently.

I have always been fascinated about the wild west legends and this film kept me engaged in the story from start to finish. I particularly thought the scene where George Roy Hill superimpose Redford, Newman and Ross's image on old film was amazing and he and the editor did such a good job of making the actors part of the scene that you couldn't tell it was fake.

There are a lot of brilliant and iconic scenes in the movie which are my favourites, some include Cassidy and Sundance jumping off a cliff, robbing the train, the fight between Cassidy and Harvey, Cassidy and Sundance fleeing their pursuers and the gun fight at the end. It just works on so many levels, the casting, direction, editing and story.

The Sting (1973)

Another chance to see the magical pair Newman/Redford on screen again

[8/10 · 2 July 2009]

I really enjoy this film because of the interaction between Redford and Newman, they had great chemistry and they work so well together. What is different about their relationship in this compared to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is that Hooker has no experience and is therefore low on knowledge about how to do a long con compared to Newman's Character Gondorff who has more experience at them. Gondorff is Hooker's mentor who shows him the ropes. Hooker starts off cocky, not believing there is anything Gondorff can show him but gains respect for him the more he is around him. Robert Shaw brilliantly plays Lonnegan and the rest of the cast make the film a success- Robert Earl Jones (Luther), Eileen Brennan (Billie), Charles Durning (Snyder), Dana Elcar (FBI Agent Polk), Ray Walston (J.J. Singleton) and Harold Gould (Kid Twist).

I think all the elements come together so well- the music, the costumes, the story and look of the movie. There has been a lot of complaints that the music is wrong to use because it wasn't around at the time of the film and yes, it wasn't around at that time but you can't deny it works so well with the action and compliments it so well. It is very interesting to see the type of cons played in those days to how they are played today which are showed in TV series like Hustle.

The film is another hit for Newman and Redford which worked so well because as I have said all the strands came together so well thanks not only to the cast but the people behind the camera such as George Roy Hill (Director), David S. Ward (Writer), Edith Head (Costumes), Scott Joplin's music and Robert Surtees (Cinematography).

Robin Hood (2006–2009)

Robin Hood has gone downhill

[4/10 · 2 July 2009]

It is a shame about the TV series, it started off really well. They had casted the right people for the main roles and it was an entertaining 45 minutes but now it has lost its appeal for me.

What really annoys me is Lucy Griffiths character of Maid Marion who was killed off, for whatever reason whether Lucy wanted to further her career or the production decided to go in a different direction, it messed it up for me. Maid Marion is part of the legend and when she went, I was very annoyed. Now, Jonas Armstrong who plays Robin Hood has left. I don't think there is much point in watching it again particularly as it looks like he has been killed off. So what's going to happen now with the main character leaving, what's the point in it returning if Robin Hood isn't in it. I can understand the production wanting to go in a new direction but it has gone in the wrong direction with Keith Allen as the Sheriff and Richard Armitage as Gisborne being killed also. I won't be watching it again. It is a real shame as well because it did start off with such promise but with the stupid ending to series 3, I won't be watching the next series.

The Karate Kid (1984)

Love Mr. Miyagi

[8/10 · 1 July 2009]

Every time this is on TV, I have to watch it. It is as relatable now as it was when it was made- a new kid moving to a new place, starting at a new school and getting bullied by tougher kids.

The reason I enjoy the film so much is the interaction between Ralph Macchio (Daniel) and Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). They just work so well together in this film. I love Mr. Miyagi, he is such a lovely character who looks very stern at times but other times, he comes across as very warm and funny who has some of the best scenes in the movie and had me in stitches.

It doesn't matter that I know what happens at the end, I still get gripped by the ending, it is a very feel good movie where the bullies get their come-uppance and even respect Daniel at the end. Love the song that plays during the Karate Tournament "You're the best", just works well with the action.

A childhood film I continue to have a lot of warmth for even today.