square-eyed Reviews

Thank You for Smoking (2005)

One Major Flaw

[4/10 · 26 August 2007]

this film was perfectly good but had one major flaw which ruined it for me.

That is one of the characters comes up wit 'brilliant' idea to lobby cigarettes - put them back into film. So that they become popular and fashionable again. OK? No because ummmmmm.... aren't cigarettes already in films?

Fight Club, History Boys, Bridget Jones, Kiis Kiss Bang Bang...need I go on? With trend setting actors like Brad Pitt and Helen Bohman Carter smoking and making it seem cool, fun and sexy??

They even mention Brad Pitt in the film saying they should make him smoke and asking whetherhe can blow smoke rings well he can...in Fight Club and does in a lot of his films smoke!

Eithier this is the wort research in the world or they hoped that the audience would have been watching Shrek or Batman or Harry Potter but that's a stupid assumption as the audience that would go and watch a black humured comedy would have seen the films I mentioned before or others where they smoke.

Skins (2007–2013)

Pretentious rubbish

[2/10 · 21 August 2007]

I hated the trailers, avoided the series then when it went on channel 4 gave it a go.

I've never seen such pretentious, stereotypical, unrealistic rubbish ever. YES there are teenagers who act like that but inbetween long bouts of being very boring and doing nothing. Very few people have groups of friends you can just call on whenever and whatever.

Some of it was funny but then it comes in with some predujuiced junk that makes you realise that the middle aged executives were wetting themselves as they watched this 'daring comedy' but (speaking as a teenager) the rest of us..weren't all that shocked by swearing, peer pressure, drinking, anorexia and (gasp) drugs.

Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (2001–2010)

Really Very Good

[8/10 · 9 April 2007]

this is a really good talk show, pity it's on so late though as it misses quite a lot of viewers that way. Though i suppose it does need to be over the watershed i wish it was 9 o'clock usually rather than 11 something every night

he usually gets at least one really famous guest every show and interviews them well and gets good responses from them. You also feel that perhaps the guests actually like Johnathon Ross which is nice compared to the usual harsher interviewers. Nicelly put together Johnathon Ross is really quite funny when he tries.

the green room is also i nice idea where they show the celebs waiting to go on and it makes them seem much more human

And though the 4 Poofs and a Piano do get on my nerves sometimes they're quite fun and it's all worth staying up for interviews

The Prestige (2006)

Weird but somehow very cool

[8/10 · 23 December 2006]

this is without a doubt a very clever and ...well..cool film but for once I agree with most the critics and it doesn't need to keep you guessing all the time, it didn't need to answer all the questions it raised. I did understand it though and thats says a lot about the editing and script. It is really one weird story but there is superb acting in it. YES michael caine is doing the same role as he always does and to an extent so is hugh jackman but they do it so well you really can't begrudge them it. But Christian Bale who I had never seen before was amazing, I completely loved him and I found him so believable I believed the loony story. He is going to be the next johnny depp (not that we really need another) but he is really really good. recently though, in all films there seems to be a fascination with fingers, or more to the point fingers getting cut or mashed or shot and this film is no exception. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang a guy gets his fingers cut off and in this a woman breaks hers and poor poor Christian Bale gets his shot off. It really isn't safe in showbiz now is it?

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

From the creators of Lethal Weapon comes something...good!

[10/10 · 13 December 2006]

Absolutely no one can shut me up about this film because I absolutely love it and the more I talk about it the more I realise that not enough people have seen this film. It is definitely one of the best ever films and unusually absolutely original and funny and action packed.

It isn't disgustingly crude or violent or gory or funny or trying to be cool it is all in perfect balance. It is more than a spoof, it's incredibly funny and well acted.

Val Kilmer for me was just a Tim Burton Batman and Robert Downey Jnr. just some bloke with a drug addiction and a stupid name...no longer. They are now the most talented actors with flawless timing and just....just everything!

If you haven't already guessed I love this film and recommend it to everyone. And if you have or are or will ever do drama GCSE you will be horrified to realise that it has a style of Berlot Brecht to it but it's not boring or weird or strange it is FANTASTIC.

Anyways one word of advice don't panic if you miss a line or don't get one joke watch it without the preconception that you are going to understand everything as it is beautifully fast paced and Shane Black is a genius. As my title says from the creators of Lethal Weapon comes something......good!

EastEnders (1985– )

The big questions....

[8/10 · 21 October 2006]

This is definitely the best soap on TV and IN GENERAL is well acted, un-clichéd and nicely scripted...however there are some very big questions.....

1) Who decided to kill Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman)...were they absolutely mad!?

2) Why is Pat Butcher allowed to wander into every plot line regardless of whether it is to do with her...also will someone tell her to stop doing the whole jutting jaw thing!

3) Er.... explain that whole Dirty Den back from the dead thing again?

4) Why do the best loved people in the square seem to drive me mad...Zoe Slater, Alfie Moon, Little Mo, Nana Moon....need I go on?

5) Why do people get over things so quickly!!??? I mean you've killed someone or your best mate has died and they show a week long of incredibly boring sitting in the dark episode and they have a chat with Pat Butcher and they are on top of the world again

6) Who decided that when people hug you HAVE to see a frame of one person looking happy and the other biting their lip in fear/sadness/regret....WHY CAN'T THEY JUST HUG NORMALLY?

If you are able to ignore thee 6 glaringly wrong and blatantly awful flaws in EE and you really will enjoy it as it is (like I said at the beginning) really not that bad...

The Outsiders (2006 TV Movie)

Nigel Harman Festival...AT LAST

[7/10 · 3 October 2006]

If you absolutely adore Nigel Harman this is so for you, I am one of those people and from the moment he came jogging onto the screen in tracksuits, a nuclear war couldn't make me turn the TV off. The whole programme is well acted though and has some skill shots incidenlty whoever decided to dress Harman in black and leather and hoodies and suits all the way through deserves a medal!

The plot however has so many holes it is ridiculous, seriously nothing is explained to you and the script is hardly skillful and the fact that it was made for drama shows in it's feeble attempts at CGI.

Whoever wrote the script though had obviously been up all night watching pirated copies of James Bond and the Da Vinci Code though, it is a truellly shockingly bad script. I also have no idea why they got Brian Cox in for perhaps a day's filming?! Cut some of the ridiculous close ups of the 'baddie's knowing smiles' and give us some more of him!!

However I am glad I watched it and will try to again, it's a lot of fun if you can somehow block out the plot and just enjoy

The Full Monty (1997)

Fan-bliddy-fookin-tastic

[10/10 · 18 August 2006]

GOD I ADORE THIS FILM!

I can't understand anyone not loving this masterpiece a true classic. Forget Churchill or tea or bulldogs what makes me proud to be British???

The Full Monty the saddest, funniest, best acted and everything film ever made! It doesn't fail to make me laugh even now when I have seen it a million times and sorry but that Sheffield accent is to die for!!!

You have to see this film, you actually have to watch it because it is just amazing I have never met anyone who doesn't like it, I make everyone who comes round to my house watch it! I LOVE IT

Of Mice and Men (1992)

One of the best films ever....EVER

[10/10 · 18 August 2006]

My God I can't even explain how much I loved this film it was absolutely amazing. Gary Sinise was a fantastic actor and fair handed with his co star John Malkovich considering he was the director as well. I read the book to and this film is one of the best adaptations ever done, I can't explain how powerful this film was. It's incredibly sad but handled delicately not like Hollywood which usually swamps you in soppy pictures and "emotional music" not the story with this film. It was exceptional and I will never be able to forget this film I'm surprised it isn't more famous so if you read this review please please watch the film you will never ever regret it.

Superman Returns (2006)

Superman returns...why???

[6/10 · 29 July 2006]

The film starts out with cheesy music, transitions that the editors probably found on powerpoint, shots of space and whole paragraphs being scrolled for you to read explaining the last film. Not a brilliant beginning.

Seeing the film only confirmed what I felt when seeing the trailers that the new superman, is a copy of Christopher Reeves down to the last curl. When in disguise as Clark Kent he is acceptable but perhaps plays it to subtly for you to pick up on any hint of an interpretation but as soon as he puts on the tights...WOW! He is as full of emotion as a Ken doll, I'm sure that poor Louis Lane only keeps touching him to check if it really is plastic that covers him for that is how expressionless he is.

Though despite my criticisms so far it is not an awful film Louis Lane is nicely believable, her boyfriend (James Marsden) delivers a good performance for what should of been a very difficult character...to play the good guy, steady and dependable superman love rival is not an easy task but he rises to it magnificently. Louis Lane's son whom this was his first ever film delivers a brilliant and charming character.

My real appreciation though came entirely from Kevin Spacey as Lex Luther and his gang of oh so bad baddies. They were funny but scary and just a little bit sexy 9which is surprising especially considering that Lex Luther is completely bald). There lies the comedy and drama and just everything great about film.

Other characters flit in and out without any exceptional or dismal performances in particular the Daily Planet cast are non descript that make the film a nice adequate film perfect for every superman fan, pity about superman