the boy friend (1971)

"I suppose I'm not really his type."
Polly (Twiggy) is put upon assistant stage manager at a provincial theatre. She has to stand-in for the leading lady during a matinée performance with a Hollywood director in the audience who is scouting for his latest extravaganza. To complicate things Polly then falls for Tony (Christopher Gable) the leading man, but may have to make do with some kind words from fellow performer Tommy (Tommy Tune).
Set in the 20's, this is a homage to the romantic musicals of the era. Charming and endearing entertainment, with Russell delivering an understated film, especially for him!

hellzapoppin' (1941)

"Its a great script. Feel how much it weighs."
Ole and Chick (Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson) are trying to make a movie, but the director argues that to make a film they need a story. To this end he brings them to a young writer Harry Selby (Elisha Cook Jr.). He outlines a story to them where they have to help Jeff (Robert Paige) and Kitty (Jane Frazee) to set up a musical revue in her garden and make them realise they are in love with each other.
A screwball comedy, with the added element of a romance, that throws the whole works at the screen. Insert some musical numbers and you have the wackiest thing to come off Broadway in many a year. Though dated now, this is still and entertaining romp. If one joke falls flat, don't worry another one will be along in a second.

l'age d'or (1930)

AKA The age of gold. The golden age.
"To hell with your brats."
A couple in love, try to consummate their passion, but are kept apart due to the intervention of their families, the Church and bourgeois society itself.
Luis Buñuel with the aid of Salvador Dalí bring surrealism to the screen, to satire all that they saw was wrong with society and laced it with dark comedy. A masterpiece of art, that manages to also entertain and still holds up today.

dracula (1992)

AKA Bram Stoker's Dracula.
"The blood is the life... and it shall be mine."
Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) is tasked with findind one of their clients a home in England, but he disappears once he visits the Count (Gary Oldman) in Transylvania. His fiance Mina (Winona Ryder) is worried, but her friend Lucy (Sadie Frost) takes her mind off things. Then Lucy starts acting funny and wierd things start happening. Enter Prof. Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins), who thinks he knows what the problem is...
The classic story is re-visited by Coppola, giving it all the lushness and sensuality he can to bring. Visually stunning, some atrocious miscasting make this an entertaining mix, but lacking the horror of older versions.

thunder road (1958)

"I'm sick and tired of hearing about Luke. He's not the only driver in these hills."
Luke (Robert Mitchum) returns from a stint in the army and re-joins the family moonshine business. He soon learns that some gangsters are intent on taking over, but cannot expect any help from the other bootleggers. They are annoyed at the heat Luke has brought with him, with every revenue man and sheriff after him. So he's on his own...but in the meantime he finds solace in the arms of local nightclub singer Francie (Keely Smith).
Mitchum plays it tough as a moonshiner trying to protect his patch from all comers. The film provides good solid entertainment due to the characterisation of all the cast, no one is a cardboard cutout, but are shown as true to life. It comes across as honest and understated, but with enough chase scenes to please those after a bit of action.

god of gamblers (1989)

AKA Du shen.
"Do you play the gamble?"
A legendary gambler Ko Chun (Chow Yun-Fat) decides to help a friend pay a debt by using his skill at gambling. Unfortunately Ko has an accident and suffers memory loss, reverting to a child-like state. The friends who are responsible for the accident take on the responsibility of caring for the retarded Ko and soon get into mischief when they discover that Ko has not lost his gambling skills...
Intense drama, lively comedy and violent action, this has it all. All done in that idiosyncratic Hong Kong style. What's not to like. But be warned, don't go into it expecting it to be wall to wall action.

the killer (1989)

AKA Dip huet seung hung. Bloodshed of Two Heroes.
"I thought those I killed deserved to die. Now I believe everybody has the right to live."
Ah Jong (Chow Yun-Fat) is a principled hitman who decides it is his duty to look after Jennie (Sally Yeh) a nightclub singer after he accidentally blinds her during a gunfight. To add to his problems he has a detective and also a ruthless mob after him.
A stone cold classic. This has everything, pathos and action, and plenty of it.

the big boss (1971)

AKA Tang shan da xiong. Big Brother of Tongshan. Fists of Fury. Fists of Glory.
"Listen buddy you're not going anywhere. So you know. So what? You're heading for the freezer."
Chein (Bruce Lee) moves from the city to work in an ice factory with some cousins in Thailand. Before he leaves he promises his family he wont get into trouble. However, he doesn't realise what villainy is going on at the factory and is forced to act when some family members disappear...
Though it looks primitive now, Lee shows a presence on screen that reaches out to the audience. A basic story enlivened by Lee's skills, giving an indication of what was to come.

chelsea girls (1966)

"Why are you a lesbian?"
This is like inadvertently listening into the most boring of conversations as we dip into the lives of various residents living in NYC's Chelsea Hotel. Being an Andy Warhol product, this means many of the factory people appear, including Nico, and Ondine.
One for the Factory curious, this is 60's art house personified. Whilst it gives an insight into these people's lives, (such as Brigit Berlin doling out shots of liquid speed), it is a chore to sit through more than once.

fulltime killer (2001)

AKA Chuen jik sat sau.
"...killing is easy, but it's harder to put the memory behind you."
O (Takashi Sorimachi) is a professional assassin who keeps himself to himself. He finds consolation in watching the shy Chin (Kelly Lin). But O's cover is threatened when Tok (Andy Lau) enters the frame. He is determined to reveal O's identity and replace him as the top assassin. And starts by dating Chin...
Full on action fest, with well directed and distinctly cold blooded scenes, intertwining the oil and water theme of the disciplined O meeting the flamboyant Tok.

the whisperers (1967)

"You can put your broom down now, its not full moon."
Elderly and eccentric Margaret Ross (Edith Evans) lives alone in a run down flat, alone but for the voices in her head. She does have a son, but Charlie (Ronald Fraser) only visits the house to stash stolen money. Unfortunately she finds some of it and tries to pay back the National Assistance for their help. Unfortunately an unscrupulous woman hears of the money and takes advantage. This results in Margaret being hospitalised. Not able to take care of herself, the National Assistance find her estranged and shiftless husband (Eric Portman), who left her 20 years previously, and persuade him to return...
Grime and loneliness ooze from the screen, in this tale about the vulnerability of age. Beautifully shot and with an understated score by John Barry.

django vs sartana (1971)

AKA Django Defies Sartana. Django sfida Sartana.
"Quick Philip shoot him down."
After being framed for bank robbery, Django's brother Steve is lynched. On finding this out Django (Tony Kendall) decides to hunt down Sartana (George Ardisson), Steve's supposed accomplice. When he tracks him down, Django finds out that Sartana is innocent, and they both set out to find the real robbers.
An average spaghetti, which adds nothing new to the genre.

the magnificent two (1967)

AKA What Happened at Campo Grande?
"We were doing quite all right until you opened your big mouth."
Eric and Ernie are two British salesman who go to South America to sell their products. While there they inadvertently become involved in a revolution to oust a brutal dictator, as Eric looks like Torez the rebel leader.
The duo's last attempt at a film career sees the same problems arise as their previous attempts. Where their tv comedy was based on a loose and spontanious flow. Here we have a rigid and constraining script, with none of the charisma charactised in their tv work. Mildly diverting, but nothing earth shattering.

the intelligence men (1965)

AKA The Spylarks.
"There's some funny people about."
Eric is happy as a barista in a coffee bar, when he is caught up in a spy ring, and involves Ernie in it as well. Ernie realises that it may have something to do with the forthcoming visit of a Russian trade mission.
Comedy duo Morecambe and Wise try their hand at a film, with mixed results. Entertaining and mildly funny, without ever really sparking to life. Though it proved popular enough for them to have another two attempts at getting it right.

the red shoes (1948)

"Well, one might call it the poetry of motion perhaps..."
Successful impresario Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook) finds and encourages the young ballerina Victoria Page (Moira Shearer) and the composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring). Then on the brink of superstardom, she marries Julian and earns Lermontov's scorn so leaves. A year later Lermontov meets Vicky again and asks her to come back. His request creates turmoil in her, being torn between his demands and her desire and need to dance.
An ode to the beauty that is ballet, this is a sumptuous film, set around the love lives of people in love with, and driven by music and dance, as much as with each other.

carry on cabby (1963)

"Genuine mammoth, that is...Straight up, it said so on the shop window: "Mammoth fur sale."
Speedee Taxis is owned and run by workaholic Charlie Hawkins (Sid James). When he misses his wedding anniversary, his wife Peggy (Hattie Jacques) decides enough is enough. Fed up with him neglecting her she sets out to teach him a lesson and sets up Glam Cabs. Her company is an immediate hit due to her using brand new cars and employing very attractive girls to drive them. Charlie not knowing who is behind Glam Cabs decides to put them out of business any way he can...
The seventh Carry On, sees the team on a roll producing a solid and entertaining battle of the sexes, with Amanda Barrie and Liz Fraser as the eye pleasers.

carry on nurse (1959)

"It's Matron's round...Mine's a pint!"
Haven Hospital men's ward is in chaos due to a new and formidable Matron (Hattie Jacques). They finally snap and devise a plan to take revenge on Matron. They also hit on a plan to help one patient jump the operation waiting list, by operating on him themselves.
The second Carry on see's the ensemble slowly starting to come together, and the formula of risqué slapstick humour can be glimpsed for the first time, though in a very mild form.

loving you (1957)

"You're going to the top Deke, and you're going alone."
Delivery man Deke Rivers (Elvis Presley) is discovered by Glenda (Lizabeth Scott), the manager of a Country and Western band, and with her devious publicity drive he's soon the taste of Texas. But with fame comes fans, can Deke survive their intrusion into his private life and his wooing of Susan (Dolores Hart), another singer in the band.
A psuedo biographical account of Elvis's rise to fame, and it sets the pattern for all his subsequent films, nice country-boy seeks girl and sings a few tunes on the way.

carry on sergeant (1958)

"Raise your back sight."
The first in the long running series, sees a motley collection of raw recruits called up for national service. They mostly rebel against their tough sergeant (William Hartnell), until they find out they are his last platoon before retiring, and his last wish is to win the Star Squad prize.
A retinue of carry on regulars including Charles Hawtrey, and Kenneth Williams, set the franchise off to a mild start. None of the risqué slapstick that characterised the later films, but with Shirley Eaton as the eye candy.

carry on regardless (1961)

"You shut your cake hole."
Helping Hands is a casual employment agency for people who need a short term employee to help out. They claim to be able to supply someone for any occasion, from taking animals for walks, translators, cleaners or product demonstrators. Unfortunately they only seem to employ incompetents, or the terminal clumsy.
The usual gang from Sid James to Kenneth Williams lead us through a variety of slapstick and risqué comedy routines. Also appearing are Freddie Mills, Fenella Fielding, Nicholas Parsons and Stanley Unwin. Not one of their best, due to its episodic nature, but passable.

colin (2008)

"We're quite safe here."
The everyday story of Colin (Alastair Kirton). Unfortunately this day involves him being bitten by a zombie, with the inevitable happening; he dies and returns from the dead. Colin then wanders the streets of suburban London.
Famous for being made on a budget of £40, this rather episodic film follows various people's reactions to the apocalypse. Unfortunately its rather too languid pace makes the film drag. There are some nice scenes dotted throughout to liven things up, but even these are often over long.