rh86 Reviews

Licence to Kill (1989)

The Misunderstood Bond?

[8/10 · 3 February 2012]

This isn't really a Bond film at all, this a film about a man seeking revenge for his best friend. Just that man happens to be James Bond in one of his finest outings and probably the closest you'll see him to the man Ian Fleming created in the books. Timothy Dalton apparently used to read them between takes on set and it clear they influenced his portrayal of Bond, brooding and hurting and now out for revenge. Bond is pitted against drug dealer Sanchez, played by Robert Davi, a more real world villain that you'd normally expect, no plans for world domination, but a thoroughly nasty character who crosses paths with Bond almost by attacking Felix Leiter and his new wife.

Add to this mix the two more unconventional Bond girls of the series, Sanchez's abused girlfriend Lupe (Talisa Soto) and former army pilot Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) and you get more interesting characters and stories developing in the film rather than the usual Bond meets girl, girl removes clothes! John Glen directs his best action sequences in this film, particularly the truck chase towards the end and the crash on the 8 Mile Bridge, scenes that stand the test of time. Even the henchmen are well above the usual standard, helped with then 22 year old Benicio Del Toro as the sadistic Dario. There's still a few familiar Bond elements, great songs by soul divas (Gladys Knight sang the title theme, Patti Labelle did the closing song) and Q gets his best film here, assisting Bond in his vendetta and helping to bring a bit of light relief in what is probably the darkest Bond.

This isn't a perfect film, the story could have done with trimming a bit to focus more on Bond and Sanchez and it's clear that producers weren't sure what to do with a strong Bond girl, which unfortunately means that Carey Lowell comes off as having a chip on her shoulder for too much of the film. But despite these flaws it stands alone as a great film and as the Bond that dared to be different.

Sex and the City (2008)

Bit of a shame really

[5/10 · 9 August 2008]

OK, I did have some idea of what to expect before seeing this. Yes there was going to be a lot of shoes, dresses and Sarah J-P narrating the blindingly obvious. But the SATC TV series rose above this and certainly in the last season bought about some very intelligent, touching and emotional story lines.

And then they came up with this. Two and a half hours of will Carrie and Big get married or not? This would be OK if it wasn't for the fact that pretty much everyone else got stuck on the sidelines except for Miranda. Samantha is now a nymphomaniac, Charlotte is basically there for comedy value and between them, Big, Smith, Harry and Stanford get about 8 seconds of speaking time. Miranda and Steve's storyline was the only one actually worth watching and credit is due to Cynthia Nixon and David Eigenberg for pulling something decent out this.

Overall it just doesn't live up to the standard of the series and at times you just want to slap Carrie Bradshaw with her Manolo and tell her to get over herself (that quote came from a female friend of mine who used to idolise all the SATC girls)

The Witches (1990)

Will appeal to kids and adults

[9/10 · 30 April 2007]

There aren't that many films really that appeal to both kids and adults but The Witches is definitely one of them. Based on Roald Dahl's 1983 book (but with a few changes) it follows the story of an orphaned boy, Luke (Jasen Fisher) and his grandmother (Mai Zetterling in one of her final film roles) as they discover a coven of witches whilst on holiday in an English hotel. Nicholas Roeg brings both humour and horror to the film, at times filmed like a classic horror film but still accessible to children.

Adding to this mix is the very good support cast (Rowan Atkinson, Bill Paterson, Brenda Blethyn, Jane Horracks) although all are overshadowed by Anjelica Huston's Grand High Witch, at times comic but still a fantastic film villain. Jim Henson provides the effects which despite being a lot of smoke, mirrors and puppets work extremely well.

Back in 1990 this film wasn't greatly received by audiences but its a gem, definitely one for the DVD collection.

Threads (1984 TV Movie)

Raw

[10/10 · 26 April 2007]

When warmongering leaders talk of bombing their enemies back '50 years' it doesn't hold a candle to what is depicted in Threads. A docu-drama following a young couple, Jimmy and Ruth starting a life and a family together in Sheffield as the UK goes onto a war footing. Initially the build up to war barely interrupts their daily lives as the USSR invades Iran but gradually it becomes more prominent in the film until the inevitable. 210 megatons worth of nuclear weapons are dropped on the UK and Sheffield takes a direct hit. The actual scenes of the bomb are chilling in what they don't show. The crowd panics, there's a blinding light then buildings begin to collapse. The only thing that really tells us what's going on is a monotone narration and subtitles every so often.

Threads opens on the premise of the threads that hold society together and how easily they can be broken. Following the attack the survivors go back to their basic instincts, scavenging for food avoiding martial law. The film follows a pregnant Ruth as she attempts to work and find enough food for her new baby, the beginning of the nuclear generation. There's nothing quite as raw as this film. Some of the sights are very hard going, burnt babies, amputations with no anaesthetic as the health service collapses and a general feeling of doom. The film concludes ten years after the attack when society has almost broke down. The language is barely recognisable while the UK population has fallen to at best 12 million, (from about 55 million pre attack).

I know I've said a lot about the plot but this is just the tip of the iceberg. While the Cold War may be over, as long as there are nuclear weapons you need to watch this film.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Not just a good '80s movie, but a good movie period

[9/10 · 23 April 2007]

The Breakfast Club is always seen as the quintessential 80s teen film but actually its good enough that it would work at any time, the only thing that would change would be the outfits, the music and a few of the sayings. Basically it's a film about people coming out of their stereotypes, in this case five typical high school examples, the jock, the criminal, the nerd, the princess and the basketcase. All the actors do extremely well in their roles while John Hughes' direction adds brilliantly to the changing mood of the film.

The film is more like a stage play, for the most part it takes place in one room and allows the actors to explore their roles and expand on them. Unlike most teenage films where everyone is clearly labelled, here you realise that no one is one thing.

Life of Brian (1979)

The only film I know that made someone pee with laughter

[10/10 · 29 March 2007]

They showed this at my university and the girl I was sitting next to had to walk out after the 'Biggus Dickus' scene because she thought she was about to wet herself from laughing so hard. It's that funny, voted no.1 comedy film on numerous occasions and has so many jokes that they just stay in your mind. The Python boys were never better, effortless moving between roles and somehow keeping a straight face. Graham Chapman is superb in the title role, staying very genuine and meaning and he gives you the biggest shocks.

I can see why religious could have been offended, I mean, would Jesus have told a bunch of followers to F Off, hmm. But they miss point, it's incredibly funny and pretty much anything is fair game for humour in my view.

When the Wind Blows (1986)

One of the best anti war films

[10/10 · 27 March 2007]

Along with 'Threads' this is probably one of the best anti war films. Adapted from Raymond Brigg's 1982 Graphic Novel, legendary Japanese animator Jimmy Murakami does an amazing job of bringing the story to screen. Originally Murakami wanted a live action film but he didn't have the budget so instead used a combination of 3D backgrounds and 2D characters and it works extremely well.

The story follows retired couple Jim and Hilda Bloggs as they reminisce on their experiences of the Second World War through rose tinted glasses, as WWIII begins. John Mills and Peggy Ashcroft bring Jim and Hilda to life making you forget that you're watching two animated drawings. They try and 'do the correct thing' in making a fall out shelter despite conflicting government advice (the famous 'protect and survive' leaflets) but don't grasp the situation. Amazingly they survive a superbly animated nuclear attack but then it just gut wrenching to watch them succumb to radiation sickness but not knowing what is happening.

Finally the soundtrack is also one of the best, with specially written songs from David Bowie, Roger Waters and Genesis perfectly complementing the film.

Captain Conan (1996)

Very good war film

[9/10 · 3 March 2007]

This is in many ways a very good war film but not in the typical way. The film opens in the closing days of WW1 on the Eastern Front where Capitaine Conan (Philippe Torreton in a Cesar winning performance) leads a band of ruthless hand to hand fighters, equivalent to a modern special forces unit. They prove themselves far more effective than the regular army in the final defeat and are envied by many including a friend of Conan, Lt Norbet (Samuel Le Bihan, IIRC was nominated for a Cesar in this). But when the armistice is signed Conan and his men find themselves in limbo while Norbert, working for the Court Martials finds himself accusing the very men he admired for robbery and murder. This film does take a while to get going but it is worth it, giving time for the characters to develop and also establishing the monotony the soldiers find, going from combat to walking the streets of Bucharest. The film also deals with the beginnings of the Russian Civil War and the problem of soldiers fighting with no motivation. Tavernier's direction is superb and visually the film equals a number of classic war films while the performances help to give it an edge as it goes into territory that Hollywood war film's in particular have tended not to go into.

Jean de Florette (1986)

Beautiful

[10/10 · 14 February 2007]

I bought this (along with its sequel) for my mum's birthday as she's an avid lover of French films and this was filmed where they go on holiday and at first it didn't really appeal to me (To be quite frank the only historical French film that appealed to me before was Pacte de Loups). But when I actually saw this I was amazed at how beautiful and amazing it is. First class casting, particularly the late, great Yves Montand and the always excellent Daniel Auteil and Gerard Depardieu, a tight knit but tragic story and wonderful, classic cinematography combined with the picturesque Provencal backdrop make for a wonderful film. One of the best of all time, along with the sequel Manon de Sources

Manon of the Spring (1986)

So amazing

[10/10 · 14 February 2007]

I've already reviewed Jean de Florette so there's not much more to say really about Manon de Sources. Storywise it pretty much carries on from the first film, with Florette's daughter Manon now blossoming into a beautiful young woman, (Emmanuelle Beart at her finest)and determined to take revenge on the men who caused her father's death, and the villagers who simply watched. The themes explored are different with much more focus on the effects of revenge and regret but, thanks largely to being filmed back to back with Jean de Florette keeps up the same feel as the first film. You do need to see both films together but you can be sured of a wonderful cinematic experience, ending on a note that will leave open mouthed and possibly with tears in your eyes.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)

The Best Star Trek series

[8/10 · 12 February 2007]

Following the success of the Star Trek movies in the mid 1980s, the producers decided to put ST back on the small screen with a shiny new Enterprise a new crew and a whole host of new species worlds and enemies. The first season and the majority of the second season are a bit shaky but from the third season it picks up massively. Patrick Stewart is now the captain, a more cerebral, diplomatic captain and played wonderfully. This series introduced far more relationships between the crew (Troi and Riker, Worf and his son, Crusher and Picard) which play out beautifully over the course of the series. The Special effects considering their now nearly 15-20 years old still look good and the Enterprise D is a true flagship vessel.

There's so many good episodes it's kind of hard to pick out anymore than the main standouts most people have mentioned already, Yesterday's Enterprise, The Best of Both Worlds, The Inner Light are probably the most popular but everything, certainly post seasons one and two provides good solid sci fi.

GoldenEye (1995)

The Best Brosnan Bond

[10/10 · 2 February 2007]

In the early 1990s there was a great deal of concern about the Bond series. Licence to Kill didn't do as well as expected while the changing world events made people ask whether Bond was relevant. But in 1995 Bond proved himself in this excellent film. Directed by Martin Campbell (who also directed Casino Royale) Goldeneye puts Bond firmly back on the map. It addresses the criticms levelled at Bond in several ways. His sexism is now countered by Judi Dench's M while the writers bought Bond back to Russia, once his enemy now a not always trustworthy ally.

Pierce Brosnon never did better, not quite of the standard of Connery but comes pretty close and just manages to combine the qualities of Connery and Moore. The Bond girls also stand out in this movie. At one end of the spectrum there is the ultra realistic Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupco), a computer technician who is thrust into Bond's world after being betrayed by a Russian General. Unlike other Bond girls it takes her a while before she actually falls for Bond. At the other end of the spectrum there is Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp and her killer thighs, probably the most over the top Bond girl ever. As for the villains, Sean Bean does well as Alec Trevelyan, a former MI6 agent turned arms dealer.

Bond purists complained about the lack of gadgets and Eric Serra's avantgarde score (which is actually pretty good aside from it being mostly taken from Leon), but ignore them and enjoy.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

So bad the Trekkies disown it

[1/10 · 28 January 2007]

ST:V actually manages to be so bad that some of the Star Establishment refuse to include it as canon. Shatner's direction is pretty hit and miss and while he does some good work with the Kirk/Spock/McCoy relationship little else really shines. The plot is pretty shoddy (they are taken by Spocks psychotic brother Sybok to find God) as are the effects. They look a whole generation away from what was being done on the Next Generation at the same time, screaming 'done on the cheap'. If your a dedicated trekkie then you might just be able to stand it but everyone else steer clear.

Finally, note to William Shatner. Uhuru doing a dance with nothing but feathers would have probably looked very sexy. In 1969. She wasn't quite so attractive by 1989.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

The most underrated Trek movie

[9/10 · 27 January 2007]

While most fans and non trekkies regard ST:II as the best Star Trek film, Nicholas Meyer's second Trek outing definitely challenges his debut. Essentially, it's a political thriller set in space, mirroring the events in Russia and Eastern Europe in the late '80s.

Following an explosion on of their moons (hello Chernobyl), the Klingons decide to begin peace negotiations with the Federation in an effort to save themselves. The Enterprise is sent out to meet with the Klingon chancellor but the crew, including Scotty and especially Kirk find it hard to accept the Klingons as their new friends. Things go from bad to worse when the chancellor is assassinated and the Enterprise is blamed and faces a race against time to find the truth.

Meyer's direction is a welcome change after William Shatner's attempts in ST:V. He returns to the militaristic style established in ST:II and works in the ageing of the crew, rather than have it become embarrassing. Some fans dislike this film because the plot seems to complicated and it's not as action or humour filled as previous instalments but its a great send off for the TOS cast. The only regret I think is that Meyer was not allowed some of his original ideas, notably a return of Saavik and references to Kirk's old flame Carol Marcus. But these fail to spoil a great movie.

The Adventures of Tintin (1991–1992)

Adventure

[8/10 · 26 January 2007]

Probably the best screen adaption of Belgium's most famous reporter, Adventures of Tintin stays faithful to the spirit and stories of original comics. The stories themselves make for brilliant adventures whether it's finding buried treasure, going to the Moon or venturing to a far off land.

The animation is also of very good quality and considering that it was made on a TV budget back in 1991 is actually quite ahead of it's time, for example 'Explorers on the Moon' has one of the earliest of 3D cartoon animation. These shows will appeal to all ages and everyone is bound to have a favourite out of the various crazy characters, whether it's old sea dog Captain Haddock, the brilliant but hard of hearing Professor Calculus or even Tintin himself (not forgetting Snowy).

The Day of the Jackal (1973)

The original and always the best

[10/10 · 18 January 2007]

Back in August 1962, France faced a major crisis as army members, opposed to the decision by De Gaulle to grant Independence to Algeria banded together into the OAS and sought to kill De Gaulle. Following their failed attempt in the Paris Suburb of Petit Clamart (very faithfully recreated in the film) this film asks the question, what if the OAS tried again with a professional assassin? Casting Edward Fox as the assassin, codenamed Jackal is probably one of the best decision in film history. He doesn't look dangerous and even for someone like me who abhors guns and violence, it's hard not to admire his coolness and professionalism. The film turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse when the French authorities learn of the plot but not wanting to create a panic, only one man, Comissioner Lebel (Michael Lonsdale) is given permission to find him. Lebel in many ways is similar to the Jackal, he doesn't look like your average cop but he is incredibly professional and diligent.

The film sticks faithfully to the early 1960s and is shot very stylishly, going to the real locations from Genoa, the French Rivieria and Paris. Zinneman's direction is also very precise, everything you see on screen has a meaning, nothing is superfluous and although it's fairly long, the film builds gradually to a climax rather than jumping in.

Please don't even consider the terrible 1997 remake, stick with the original and enjoy

Casino Royale (2006)

Bond is back

[10/10 · 15 January 2007]

After the CGI led, bloated Die Another Day, the Bond Producers realised that they needed to give the series a fairly big kick up the backside. Luckily by now they had the rights to the book that started it all off, Casino Royale. The movie sticks pretty closely to the book while updating it for the twenty first century. The centrepiece is still the tense card game, which even if you know nothing about the game (or like me are just rubbish at it), still keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Daniel Craig got a fair amount of crap when he was cast as Bond but not only proves his detractors wrongs, he blows them out of the water and gives them a broken nose in the process. He is arguably one of the best Bond's since Brosnan's debut and Sean Connery, matching charm and raw power perfectly. Bond's girl is also another breath of fresh air. Eva Green's (The Dreamers, Kingdom of Heaven) Vesper Lynd is the first Bond girl in a long time to actually have a proper relationship with him and she is more than a match for him in charm and wit.

No Bond is complete without its diabolical villains and for this we go back to the book with arms dealer Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) who unlike Blofeld or Dr No, actually has real world plans by funding terrorists. He's also probably he first villain to actually give Bond a real scare in a very brutal torture sequence taken straight from the book.

Martin Campbell previous directed Brosnan's debut, Goldeneye, which at the time was promised as the return of Bond. Hopefully the huge process made with Casino Royale won't go to waste over the next films.

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Beautiful fantasy, brutal reality

[10/10 · 14 January 2007]

I saw this on a preview disk with not great quality and this film looked fantastic on that. Eleven year old Ofelia (the amazingly talented 12 year old Ivana Baquero) discovers a fantasy world in her new home, a world that is filled with amazing creatures that look more real and amazing than any recent Hollywood creation and filmed beautifully. However this against the background of her stepfather's (a Spanish Army Captain) fight against leftwing forces in the Spanish Civil War. His brutal sadism against Ofelia, her mother and their servants contrasts amazingly with the fantasy world and is played amazingly by Sergi Lopez.

An amazing film, certainly the best of 2006, possibly the best of 2007.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

The Best Trek film

[10/10 · 13 January 2007]

STII quite simply is the best Trek film out there. Going back to the original series episode 'Space Seed' it gives a whole new dimension to the franchise. Gone are the campy uniforms replaced with military style jackets while the characters undergo profound changes.

The film was made on a fairly low budget (compared to the rest of the Trek films) and was clearly influenced by a Ridley Scott film made three years earlier (I'll give you three guesses...)which means that you get a darker film that concentrates on the characters, including the familiar and newcomers such as Merritt Butrick and Kirstie Alley as the galaxy's best looking Vulcan.

Kirk is in the midst of mid life crisis when he is reunited with old flame Carol Marcus and his estranged son David (Buttrick), a storyline that would carry through the rest of the TOS films. Meanwhile Enterprise is now under the command of Spock as a training ship crewed mainly be cadets which means when the inevitable happens we actually feel for the red shirted guys and for once Kirk feels guilty about their deaths.

However this is overshadowed by Ricardo Montalban's brilliantly over the top performance as Khan, prepared to sacrifice anything for his revenge. Definitely one of the most underrated film villains, Khan manages to destroy everything around him in his search for vengeance.

STII works as well because it's a story that translates well out of the trek world. The problems that the characters face could still be faced in today's world while the final battle between Kirks USS Enterprise and Khan's USS Reliant is more akin to Master and Commander or Das Boot, the only difference being the use of starships and phasers. And if you can make it to the end credits without your lip quivering then you have the heart of a Borg

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

One of the best thrillers ever made

[10/10 · 7 January 2007]

Despite the end of the Cold War and the new international situation, The Manchurian Candidate still stands out as an incredibly good film and one that will still make you question everything around you.

Although billed primarily as a Sinatra film its Lawrence Harvey as the pawn in the grand scheme and Angela Lansbury as his controlling mother steal the show as they show you the face of true evil. Their story alone will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you've only ever seen the 2004 version then I might make it illegal not to watch the original as well, while the remake is good, it just isn't as clever or as shocking as the original.

A Night to Remember (1958)

The Best Titanic film

[10/10 · 5 January 2007]

Out of all films about the Titanic A Night To Remember still remains the best of the lot. Based on Walter Lord's meticulously researched book A Night to Remember recalls the events of that terrible April night with both heavy drama and a huge amount of respect for the people affected. The characters made so one dimensional by James Cameron come to life thanks to the brilliant actors, particularly Kenneth More as the Second Officer. J. Bruce Ismay the head of White Star Line comes off as man whose dream was destroyed (rather than the coward Cameron portrayed him as) while the story benefits from having a number of Titanic survivors on set to add their personal stories to the film.

For a film made in the late 1950s the effects still look good and actually since they don't dominate the film as they do in Cameron's it means you concentrate on the people. Will still be remembered in 100 year's time (I hope)

Stander (2003)

Sometimes fact really is stranger than fiction

[9/10 · 28 December 2006]

OK so imagine pitching this story to a Hollywood exec. A young police officer flips and becomes his country's most notorious bank robber. Seems rather far fetched but it happened in South Africa in the late 1970s/early 1980s when Police Captain Andre Stander became his country's most famous bank robber and is pretty faithfully retold in this film, although a few details are left out.

Thomas Jane excels in the leading role and it's kind of hard to think that this is the same guy who played cardboard cut out Carter in Deep Blue Sea and unlike most Americans playing South Africans (particularly Afrikaners) hits the accent perfectly as does the extremely beautiful and talented Canadian Deborah Kara Unger as Stander's estranged wife Bekkie.

South Africa itself makes a fantastic backdrop to the film, from the rich Johannesburg suburbs, the black shanty towns and the wide sweeping landscapes. Against this though however is the grittiness of Stander's crimes and imprisonment filmed brilliantly and the film's standout scene a reconstruction of the 1976 riots which will make your stomach turn. It also stays faithful to the period and the ways of life under Apartheid and if anything shows how a corrupt system can turn it's most loyal subjects.

Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Fun Caper, won't put you off swimming

[6/10 · 28 November 2006]

OK the acting, Tom Jane and LL Cool J in particular is pretty wooden, the scientific basis as loose as Paris Hilton's morals and the story doesn't exactly grip you. But that's not the point with a movie that is basically about Genetically Modified Sharks. Researchers (led by Saffron Burrows and the awesome Stellan Skarsgard) on a base off the coast of Mexico have found a way to cure Alzheimer's through shark brains. Slight side effect, it means you get clever sharks that have worked out how to escape their cages.

What follows is basically your standard horror/action piece where there are some gory deaths and acts of brazen stupidness and of course obligatory stripping on the part of Burrows. But there are also moments that will make you jump out of your seat and the list of who lives and dies isn't as clear cut as you might expect. Despite the word deep in the title don't expect anything deeper than the set. But it's still a good fun movie.

Jaws: The Revenge (1987)

Great Parody- oh wait it's actually a proper movie

[2/10 · 28 November 2006]

OK where to start. The special effects are pretty damn terrible, actually they look worse than the first film made 12 years earlier, scientific accuracy was thrown out of the window (oh so a Shark can roar now) and the actors seem to have given up before the cameras started rolling.

If any movie defines flogging a dead horse then this is it. Most franchises do go down by films 3 or 4 but this just takes the biscuit. It's hardly surprising that no one's attempted a Jaws Film since, because this basically ripped the franchise apart, as though it had been attacked by a Great White

La haine (1995)

One of the most amazing films ever made

[10/10 · 19 November 2006]

It's hard to think of a film made over ten years ago that's still incredibly relevant today, but La Haine is definitely one of them and not just because of the 2005 French Riots. Because this film isn't just looking at the situation in Paris or in France it's asking what happens when a country ignores a whole mass of people. The answer is presented through our three lead characters, Vinz, Said and Hubert each from a different background but all living on the same estate in Paris. Neither of them are bad people, but with no one to guide them, the only things they are know are drugs and violence. The situation is exacerbated by the brutal actions of the police which further alienates the three from society. In fact it's kind of worrying when you think how many cities this film could be set in, London, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Berlin, Sydney, the list goes on.

All of this is presented in just one day in the lives of these three, following a riot on their estate. Vinz is out for revenge while Hubert is trying to work his way out of the neighbourhood. The story is told more like a documentary but with some comic elements in a few places. But all of this builds up to an ending that will leave you on the edge of your seat long after the credits have rolled.