kat-holmes Reviews

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Childhood fantasy come to life

[9/10 · 22 December 2005]

Who amongst us had not dreamed of being a King or Queen of Narnia as we breathlessly plowed through its mystical world? As a child I could not imagine that one day I would see it come to life on the big screen, told with remarkable accuracy. What a stupendous moment.

And yet, like the old world that the children leave in The Last Battle, the film, despite its remarkable special effects, is not quite as vibrant and deep as the Narnia I had created in my head. Is it because, as Movie Guy Blogs Com suggests in his review, some of the actors didn't show their character's true mettle (I agree Tilda Swinton could have done better - maybe she should have read the book first)? Or is it because, no matter how clever the special effects are, they cannot replicate the verdant fertility of the imagination?

Either way it was a trifling disappointment to bear in the face of what is a wonderful representation of the mastery of C.S Lewis. Bring on Prince Caspian!

A Girl Thing (2001 TV Movie)

Script is terrible but....

[7/10 · 21 August 2005]

All the dialogue and the story is too expository by half. They might as well have had a sledgehammer. But this DVD is always always out at my local video shop. Why? Because lesbians are crying out for films that render us visible. No matter that it only takes up one of the four stories or no matter how bad it is. And this one is not the worst by far. How could Elle Macpherson making love to a woman ever be wrong? At any rate, film lovers, if you want a good lesbian film then get onto Showtime and New Line and Dreamworks and Paramount and tell them to invest in the dozens of awesome scripts featuring same sex themes that ARE out there.

Pourquoi pas moi? (1999)

One of the best queer films ever

[10/10 · 14 May 2005]

What more could you want? Hot chicks, a strong storyline and plenty of laughs. The English subtitles are very faithful to the French dialogue and display the subtle, but keen, witticism of French cinema. We bought the video several years ago and have since lent it to dozens of people, all of whom have loved it. And with some absolute classic one liners, who wouldn't?! Seldom does queer film successfully mix humour with poignant truths about the reality of being gay, but Pourqoui pas moi is a rare exception. This film is for all those poofs and dykes out there struggling for acceptance, and anyone else who knows what it's like not to fit in to the love/live mould. It well deserves a 10/10 rating.