trebor-12 Reviews

War of the Worlds (2005)

A great disappointment

[5/10 · 7 July 2005]

What has happened to Spielberg? Having made some of the most imaginative films of the last 20 years, War of the Worlds was a great disappointment.

The opening 20 minutes, as with the special effects are fantastic, but the story line lacks any imagination and is full of holes. Maybe due to the nature of my work, the notion of an intelligence that is capable of space travel etc is reduced to 'looking' for humans with an optical eye on a long snake is ludicrous. The film makes no reference to why the aliens are here, for what reason they are here and leaves so many unanswered questions - what did they want the humans for, what was the red stuff etc etc.

I cannot see any reason for the long scene in the cellar with Tom Robbins, it added little to the plot, but maybe saved money on the special effects.

The film makes no connection between the family escaping the aliens and the aliens themselves. I found the film slow and lacking in soul, it did not contain one emotional moment and I didn't really care if Tom Cruise and his family died or not. The incessant screaming of Dakota Fanning was annoying as was the continual part-time parent (Cruise) lying to his daughter about every event that happened, not a good parent role model, or is that what Spielberg is saying? A great disappointment, as the only plus points are the special effects, where has the emotional and empathy from ET and Close Encounters gone, 5/10.

The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)

Clever, funny and original film

[8/10 · 14 June 2005]

Very clever and funny, you will need to be a fan of the TV show to get all the gags, but you can still watch the film stand alone, however you will miss some of the best bits i.e. the interaction of the characters, which in a lot of case needs background knowledge.

The use and movement of the characters is very original and works well. The change over from reality to fiction works well and keeps the film going at a steady pace.

The film does not have the as much of the really dark side, as in a lot of the TV shows.

All the best characters are back including the mad butcher Hillary Bliss whose pork pies - were not made of pork!

Like the TV show it is not to all tastes, but like Little Britain its a gem. 8 out of 10

Layer Cake (2004)

Very, Very Clever

[9/10 · 4 October 2004]

A film that stands up to Lock Stock and Snatch. I preferred it to Snatch but not sure if it is as good as Lock Stock. It is a more powerful film dealing with bigger issues with bigger and very nasty villains, most are very clever but with some real stupid 'eastenders. From Dragon to the Duke.

A very clever and fast moving plot which some may find hard to follow. The layers of the film just keep on coming with more twists in the last 15 mins than any film I have seen. It has a very strong ending, which cannot be said for so many films, which go for a 'nice happy' one eg the only flaw in Micheal Man's Collateral, not to give the ending away -the killing should have been reversed?

Faultless acting, directing and photography, with the film starting off with a portrayal of drug dealing as just another business, but by the end of the film its a business that just deals in money and death. It has a very strong message concerning organised crime with a portrayal nearly as strong as goodfellas.

A fine film - 9/10

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Very, very funny

[9/10 · 27 April 2004]

Very, very funny, one of the best comedy films for a long while, maybe a bit too British in some parts for the US i.e. the corner shop, the drinking / pub culture, but well worth the trip to see it.

Army of Darkness is a direct comparison, which was very clever, but Shaun of the Dead made me cry with laughter, 9 out of 10. The zombie acting class scene is priceless, another British film with a large number of actors from 'the office'.

To all those in the UK who knock new British comedy films, this a gem and it will make money, therefore no problem with the lottery funding as per the sex lives of the potato men!!!

Sex Lives of the Potato Men (2004)

Entertaining, silly, crude, rude but very funny.

[7/10 · 27 February 2004]

Entertaining, silly, crude, rude but very funny.

Films have to be made for entertainment, this is one, the 80 odd minutes flew by.

Not a film for the prudish, it will offend a lot of people, but it is a very good British comedy, with some very clever running jokes and some mind numbing conversations on "how honey is made" and "how radio and mobile phones work"

Make your own mind up - do not rely on the UK press, as most of them make comments on films they have not seen. Maybe a bit rude for the middle America.

7 out of 10.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Perfect film adaptation of a perfect book

[10/10 · 20 December 2001]

I thought is was impossible to bring Lord of the Rings to the screen, but Peter Jackson the cast and crew have produced a screen version that is equal to the book. No film will ever be 'as per' the book, so all the critics of the film should stay to a single media with their anoraks on. A awesome film, outstanding acting and second to none, special effects - its a shame we have to wait for the two towers. 10/10

Forrest Gump (1994)

Absolutely awful sentimentality

[1/10 · 9 October 2000]

I waited until I had seen this film for the second time, before making a judgement. My initial reaction was correct it is one of the worst films I have ever seen, only Bean was worst. The film fails everywhere apart from the acting. The script, locations some appalling dialogue and dreadful sentimentality, that must be lost on a non-US audience. Absolutely awful 1/10

East Is East (1999)

Best comedy of 1999

[9/10 · 2 May 2000]

The funniest film of 1999, much better than American Pie. It blends comedy, the racial problems of the time (i.e. Enoch Powell's repatriation speeches) with the life and times 'up north. It is exceptionally well written , acted and directed. The comedy and the violence are very poignant and at one point leave you with an uneasy feeling for a film that has been so funny. Whether it will translate to the US remains to be seen, as the average Brit has a lot more knowledge of US culture than the average American has of the British. 9/10.

Any Given Sunday (1999)

American Football movie which stays in the US

[3/10 · 10 April 2000]

Very well acted, edited and directed, but the plot is very predicable and it really does drag on, I kept looking at my watch to see how much longer I had to suffer. A film that does not translate outside the US. I am a big time sports fan - but US football is like the plot slow and predictable, one of the very few films I could have left before the end and still missed nothing.