the eye (2008)

"Something is happening to me."
Sydney Wells (Jessica Alba) is a blind musician, who is given the chance to see with a eye transplant. But as soon as she can see, she starts to see ghosts, and whilst others do not believe her, she is driven deeper and deeper into madness. So where did the eyes come from, and can finding out bring an end to Sydney's visions.
A remake, and re-vision of the South Korean original, produces a viable, though lesser vision of the original.

the eye (2002)

aka Gin gwa.
"The shadows...they come to bring the dead."
Wong Kar Mun (Angelica Lee) is a blind young woman who is given a corneal implant enabling her to see. Unfortunately she stars seeing mysterious figures, that no one else can see. Dr Wah (Lawrence Chou) figures out that the visions may be due to the anonymous benefactor and resolve to find the woman's family and resolve what the visions mean.
Classic Hong Kong horror, that unveils with an unease that becomes pervasive.

the night of a thousand cats (1972)

aka La noche de los mil gatos. Blood Feast. Cats. Night of a 1000 Cats.
"some idiot with a helicopter!"
Millionaire playboy Hugo (Hugo Stiglitz) uses his charm to pick up young women. Taking them back to his secluded castle, where after having his wicked way with them, he lops of their heads to keep as as trophy, before using the rest as kitty chow to feed his large collection of cats.
Disjointed and messy.

the falcon in san francisco (1945)

"I like Annie, she's a nice kid, but why look for trouble!"
Tom Lawrence (Tom Conway), aka private detective The Falcon, is on holiday with his sidekick 'Goldie' Locke (Edward Brophy), when the nurse of a young girl (Sharyn Moffett) is murdered, and leads him into a convoluted plot revolving around a smuggling racket.
The eleventh outing for The Falcon sees him inhabit a fair to middling detective yarn. Not one of his best, but entertaining none the less.

47 ronin (2013)

"I would rather have been killed by that beast than be saved by a half-breed."
18th century Japan, and Kai (Keanu Reeves) is a 'half-breed', shunned due to his parentage, but afforded shelter by a feudal Lord. Then their world is shattered, when his master is compelled to commit seppuku and his samurai become ronin, and forced off their lands by the trickery of a scheming rival. The ronin are determined to avenge their Lord, and admit Kai into their circle to do so, when they realise the may need his help.
A reveared true tale of bravery and adherance to the bushido code of honour, is mucked about with by Hollywood, who then wonder why people took umbrage, and the film subsequently tanked with humongous losses! Looked at in isolation, this is still not a great film, with too much emphasis placed on the special effects, and not enough on the charisma of the main characters, who have none!

the shout (1978)

"Put your fingers to your ears when you want me to stop."
Musician Anthony Fielding (John Hurt) meets a mysterious traveler (Alan Bates), who invites himself into Anthony's home, and proceeds to seduce his wife Rachel (Susannah York) using some aboriginal magic.
A film that slowly unveils its haunting story, and remains in the imagination long after its end.

the hot potato (2011)

"You can never trust a man from Munchen."
It's the East End of London in 1969 and Danny (Jack Huston) comes across a sealed metal box, that looks expensive, so obviously he nicks it. He takes it to Kenny (Ray Winstone) to discover what it is. Kenny doesn't know what it is, so sends some for analysis, and is shocked to find out it's uranium. So what's a couple of Eastend wideboys to do? Obvious really; try and flog it, but how do you go about selling some hot radioactive material? Enter Harry (Colm Meaney). Based on a true story, this caper twists and turns nicely, but never really lights up.

stag night of the dead (2010)

"Lets put the dead back where they belong."
Dean (Sebastian Street) is getting married in the morning, and is off on a stag do that involves five mates, and a stripper (Sophie Lovell Anderson) playing 'Zomball' at a secret military base.
A by the numbers zomcom, which manages to include all the stereotypes and none of the humour/horror needed.

beach ball (1965)

"My board!"
The Wigglers are a bunch of surfer dudes, who have to dig up some bread to pay for their musically instruments before they get repossessed by Mr Wolf (James Wellman). Songwritter and leader of the gang, Dick (Edd Byrnes), comes up with the idea of conning the money out of the college, but the four girls running the loans system instead decide to make the boys their pet project and get them back to school.
A breezy, if slow witted, beach comedy, that forutunately has a nice sideline in bands such as The Righteous Brothers, The Walker Brothers, The Hondells and The Supreme's.