alan_ashcroft Reviews

Jaws: The Revenge (1987)

Not the best but by no means the worst!!!

[29 March 2001]

Well where do I start off, JAWS one of the best "when animals attack" horror flicks. The story of a mans quest to kill a great white which has been terrorising his town. JAWS 2, the same mans quest to kill another great white. JAWS 3, the story of a couple of loons trying to get rid of a shark from an amusement attraction and finally JAWS 4, the story of a shark thats trying to kill the first mans family.

Yes I know, the fourth instalment sounds really long winded but hell I thought Id give it a chance. After being a keen fan of all the Jaws films (well I like watching the first 2) I have to admit I did not find this film that terribly bad. If you want to see bad watch the third installment with its visually sickening special effects and gruesome acting. Jaws 4 has seemed to be cast as the worst sequal because people think that the story line is so unbelievable. Come on which one of the films is completely believable. It showed potential at the beginning however did go down hill then after.

On overall this film is not a good one but it is watchable and in fact if take lightly fairly enjoyable. Lets all forget about the rest of the films for a second and think if this was the first it would have been rated alot higher but since its predicessors were so incredibly good (with Jaws 3 the exception of course) which movie could live up to them. So look lets all give it a break and hope that one day a tremendous JAWS 5 comes out.

Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Opening the gates of my mind

[9/10 · 28 March 2001]

At first glance I must admit I thought "Oh no!" not another war movie trying to cash in on the success that Saving Private Ryan had. However when I viewed this film it turned out to be a great surprise in my mind. Its the story of a man brought to fame in a form of propaganda to help the disintegrating Russian forces keep faith. The boy (Law) was obviously talented however nearly lost his own faith when poised against his greatest challenge, the prized German sniper. The story line throughout kept me glued to the screen leading up to a wonderful climax.

The wonder of friendship and love also have a great deal in the plot and realistically portrays both in those times of chaos and death. I urge any reader who is doubting this films credentials to swallow their pride and sit down to watch this film. You will not be disapointed in the least.

In saying this I would like to just add that I feel there could have been improvement in the accents as sometimes I was finding it hard to grasp that the Germans were fighting the Russians and not the English, but otherwise 10 out of 10.