Review5 Comments

Alien 3 (1992) Review

Ben

As much as people dislike Alien 3, there are actually some very good ideas in there! The film tries a lot to be like the original and in some ways, achieves that much more than Aliens does. The main problem Alien 3 seems to have is that it doesn’t seem to commit to one great, key idea and instead tries to do too much with poor results. It’s a shame because the setting seems perfect. To set the film in a futuristic, completely male space prison is a great idea. It is a lot closer to the dark, enclosed and potentially … Continue reading Alien 3 (1992) Review

Review5 Comments

Aliens (1986) Review

Ben

It’s a brave move making a sequel to a film that changes the tone, overall pace and direction, compared to the original. It’s an even braver move when you consider how good the original film actually is. James Cameron does just that though. The original film was the perfect mix of science-fiction and horror. It was dark, slow and took its time to build the tension. John Hurt going through the alien nest, slowly and carefully, then the reaction as the egg finally opened, was just one example of how Ridley Scott managed to invoke the terror in the audience … Continue reading Aliens (1986) Review

Review1 Comment

Kinsey (2004) Review

Ben

It’s easy to forget that Liam Neeson is a really good, Oscar nominated actor who has starred in some really heavyweight films, the pinnacle of which is probably Schindler’s List. He is doing a fantastic job of developing into an action star, Taken, Unknown, A-Team and The Grey are all films that I really enjoyed. Kinsey is one of the movies that bridged that quiet gap between his heavyweight, acting roles to something slightly more “mainstream.” It’s the perfect type of film for any actor to show off their acting skills. Neeson plays the real life professor, Alfred Kinsey, who pioneered the investigation … Continue reading Kinsey (2004) Review

TV, Views2 Comments

Should the UK have a TV Pilot’s season?

Ben

Channel Four’s recent “Funny Fortnight” was pretty hit and miss to say the least. For people who may have missed it or may not be familiar with Channel Four, it is a UK channel which celebrated 25 years by revisiting their “greatest hits of comedy.” As well as showing the best of their past series, they also aired pilots for new comedy series, in an attempt to gain interest or an audience, hopeful for a new series. I really enjoyed the fortnight for this reason. I liked the idea of getting a small taste of a show and then voting with … Continue reading Should the UK have a TV Pilot’s season?

Review1 Comment

Best in Show (2000) Review

Ben

Improvisation can be very hit and miss. The problem with Best in Show and anything by Christopher Guest is that it is all, largely, improvised, so his movies become hit and miss as well. The other problem that Guest has is that he has a reputation built on one of the coolest and funniest, mostly improvised films ever, This is Spinal Tap. People now expect Guest, who was largely responsible for Spinal Tap, to then produce something as good, especially if he manages to bring along the actors who helped make that film a success. Unfortunately, the spark and magic that helped … Continue reading Best in Show (2000) Review

Review2 Comments

Good Night and Good Luck (2005) Review

Ben

I’m a history geek. As well as studying it for A-Levels, a Degree and now teaching it, I will always watch a film that is trying to re-tell a historic event, mostly for enjoyment but sometimes just to see how accurate the film is actually being. As most probably realise, films usually take a huge amount of “artistic-license” with their history and this is fine, most of the time. Good Night and Good Luck strikes me as a film that doesn’t need to take that “artistic-license” or bend the truth, mostly because the truth is as interesting as any fiction … Continue reading Good Night and Good Luck (2005) Review

Re-View9 Comments

Star Trek (2009) Re-View

Ben

When it comes to Star Trek, I’m a Next Generation guy. I never really liked The Original Series, it never had enough action or cool monsters for the eight or nine-year old boy who would watch on BBC 2 after CBBC and Neighbours had finished. I’ll always choose Jean-Luc Picard over James T. Kirk because of familiarity but I would never actually be able to fight my corner, I’m far from a Trekkie. My Star Trek movie experience also mirrored my television habits. I enjoyed Generations, loved First Contact and don’t really remember ever seeing Nemesis or Insurrection but I haven’t heard great things about them. I … Continue reading Star Trek (2009) Re-View

Music, Sounds from the SofaLeave a comment

A Night of Dancing: 42nd Street, Manchester

manchestercaroline

I have been feeling old recently when it comes to going out in Manchester. The problem is that I still have a strong desire to attend the exact same clubs that I have been going to my whole clubbing life. I have found no new exciting clubs to go to that play the music that consumed my clubbing life way back when. When I first started on the clubbing scene, my club of choice on a Thursday night was at the club 5th Avenue (aka 5th Ave to the true Mancunians) and the night was called ‘Back by Demand’. It felt … Continue reading A Night of Dancing: 42nd Street, Manchester

Review1 Comment

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) Review

Ben

I made an inevitable comparison between The Bourne Identity and Bond when I reviewed the first of the Bourne franchise last week. I also praised Bourne because it was without cliché, silly, unrealistic action or the need to “tick-the-boxes,” being forced to include key scenes, lines or character types. Two movies later and I’m beginning to realise that I spoke too soon. People praise the Bourne franchise and credit it with being the main reason for the positive reboot of the Bond franchise, and while I agree with that, the similarities between the Bourne series and the Bond series before … Continue reading The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) Review

Review2 Comments

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) Review

Ben

This is really a film of two halves. The first half is brilliant and could easily have been the whole film. I actually wanted it to be the whole film and was slightly irritated when that part stopped and the story developed into something else. The second half, though not as good, is actually helped by how good the first half is. The first half that I’m so enthusiastic about is helped forward by the brilliant performance and chemistry between Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling. The premise for this part of the film is really simple and has been done to … Continue reading Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) Review