Balls of balls

Balls of Fury (2007)

Directed by Ben Garant this film stars Dan Fogler, George Lopez, Maggie Q, Christopher Walken and James Hong. A washed up table tennis start that failed at the 1988 Olympics is recruited by the FBI to infiltrate a secret table tennis tournament set up by a crime boss.

There are a ton of sports film parodies out there and this one does very little to stand out from the crowd. At times it seems like the plot is just going through the motions and does not really hold together that well. Jokes are a little too sparse for this to be a full comedy and only Walken doing one of his bizarre performances holds your attention at all.

2/5

Machete don't tweet

Machete Kills (2013)

Directed by Robert Rodriguez this sequel stars Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Amber Herd and Sofia Vergara. Our hero is sent South of the US-Mexico border to deal with a revolutionary holding the USA hostage to a missile attack.

There is not much subtle about this homage to exploitation cinema but it is a pretty fun ride even if it occasionally bogs down in exposition. Occasionally the film hints at some fairly relevant issues to do with immigration and US-Mexican relations but these are mostly just as a back drop. Some of the special effects are intentionally clunky and the direction does capture that cheap grindhouse feel.

3/5

Better than expected

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Directed by Chris Columbus this film stars Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Tim Curry and Catherine O'Hara. While his family is heading off to Miami for Christmas our mischief maker accidentally ends up in New York.

For most of this film the film makers manage to keep the tone of the original without repeating events too closely as to make this seem like just a remake. Oddly it is the big battle finale which goes too close to the original for my taste but still this is an entertaining watch and a good sequel. The film is well made and manages not to ram the Christmas message too strongly down the throats of the audience.

3/5

A play without a play

Glumov's Diary (1923)

Directed by Sergei Eisenstein this is a collection of inserts from an adaptation of the play of the same name. The scenes star Grigori Aleksandrov, Aleksandr Antonov and Mikhail Gomorov.

Watching these inserts by themselves it is pretty hard to work out any plot or connecting threat so in that sense this is not really a film, short or otherwise. Where the film has it's strengths is in some nice early special effects that show the start of the career of one of the masters of early Russian cinema. There is entertainment to be had here but only as a curiosity really.

2/5

If Pixar and Marvel had a child....

Big Hero Six (2014)

Directed by Don Hall & Chris Williams this film based on the comic of the same has voices from Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Maya Rudolph and T. J. Miller. Following the death of his older brother a teenage genius adapts a medical robot to help him find out what happened.

This film deviates in a pretty big way from it's source material and more of what you would expect of a Pixar take on a Marvel film. As enjoyable as this film is it lacks some depth and does not really explore the themes of loss fully enough. Despite all the flaws I really enjoyed this film, there is plenty to like here, it is just a shame it does not fully explore the idea of a Japanese team of super heroes like the comic does.

4/5  

Mossy on down to the Red Sea

Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

Directed by Ridley Scott this Biblical epic stars Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro and Ben Kingsley. A man raised by Egyptian royalty finds he is of Jewish decent like the salves the kingdom relies on.

Starting from a modern view point I found this to be a slightly different and interesting take on the well known story. The story unfolds well and while not completely faithful to it's source material I found it entertaining as a non-believer. Some of the casting is a serious problem but if you can look past that then this is a decent entry into a nearly dead genre.

4/5

A monster in New York

Cloverfield (2008)

Directed by Matt Reeves this film stars Michael Stahl-David, Odette Yustman, T. J. Miller, Jessica Lucas and Lizzy Caplan. Attractive 20-somethings try to escape New York during a monster attack.

Thanks to being presented as a special effects film this is essentially a special effects film with bad camera work which is kind of a bad idea in my opinion. Both the characters and the plot have no depth which is a shame for a film made when New York under attack was still a very raw and topical subject. I found that all this film succeeded in doing was giving me a head ache thanks to the shaky and often unintelligible camera work.

2/5

Chicken Dance

Hen Hop (1942)

Directed by Norman Mclaren this is an animated short film. A chicken dances round to music as the animation becomes more abstract.

This is a pretty simple film with a simple animation style. The chicken and bits of chicken dancing round is entertaining but not especially insightful. As a passing distraction I found this enjoyable but not much more.

3/5

The daddy of Norfolk radio returns

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013)

Directed by Declan Lowney this film based on the television series of the title character stars Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney and Felicity Montagu. A small time local radio host with an ego and aspirations beyond his station finds himself the centre of a hostage crisis.

Taking a television character to the big screen is not easy but it works well here and the film is amusing through out. The story has a few digs at the direction of modern radio while providing plenty of laughs and cringes at the protagonist. While the end result is not very “cinematic” it does work in a longer version.

4/5

All the wrong moves

Suzanne (2013)

Directed by Katell Quillevere this film stars Sara Forestier, Francois Damiens and Adele Haenel. A 17 year old girl gets pregnant and over a number of years we watch her make all the wrong decisions.

I found this to be an entertaining watch but I never felt we really got inside the head of the protagonist or the feel had any deeper message. There is not really much growth for the protagonist just a series of bad choices. The cast give some good performances and the direction is solid.

3/5

Gonna party like it's 1899

Cinderella (1899)

Directed by Georges Melies this film stars Mlle Barral, Bleuette Bernon, Carmelli and Jehanne d'Alcy. A young woman is not allowed to attend the ball, thankfully her fairy godmother rocks up to save the day.

Benefiting from being based on a well known story this film does not necessarily give the complete tale of Cinderella but it does manage to squeeze a lot into six minutes. As with an Melies film the special effects and more dream like sequences are the highlight of the film. This may still be early in his film making process but this is a good watch from Melies.

3/5

The shoe fits

Cinderella (2015)

Directed by Kenneth Branagh this adaptation of the well known fairy tale stars Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden and Stellan Skarsgard. A young woman who is used as a domestic slave by her step mother and step sisters falls in love with the prince of the land.

This is a pretty gentle and traditional adaptation of a very well known story. Somewhat disappointingly there is nothing fresh or any real finesse about this version given all the talent involved. Probably the best thing about this film is the supporting cast but even they mostly seem to be just picking up a nice pay cheque.

3/5

A happy robot chappie

Chappie (2015)

Directed & co-written by Neill Blomkamp this film stars Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Ninja, Yolandi Visser and Hugh Jackman. In South Africa a police robot is given an experimental AI and raised by a criminal gang.

At times both the plot and characters of this film are a bit too simplistic, with the script never really delving into the deeper sci-fi or human themes. Where the script does work is in the charm of it's title character and his growth giving a small window into how some are raised into a life of crime in South Africa. The special effects are decent and so are the performances but it feels like the script needs another draft or two despite having some charm to it.

3/5

The morning train

Daybreak Express (1953)

Directed by D. A. Pennebaker this is a short film set to the music of Duke Ellington. We explore the early morning commute in New York.

There is not a huge amount to this film but the camera work is really nice. The images capture the city in the early morning and has some nice cityscapes . I found this to be an entertaining little documentary that is not really that experimental.

3/5  

Contra to popular belief

Kill the Messenger (2014)

Directed by Michael Cuesta this film based on a true story stars Jeremy Renner, Romsemarie DeWitt, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Michael Sheen. During the 1990s a reporter at a minor American newspaper investigates alleged links between the CIA and drug dealers.

While this is an entertaining watch I am not sure it ever really gets to grips with the contraversial nature of it's subject. The script is a little too far on the side of the protagonist to handle things objectively. Despite the flaws I enjoyed the film and it has a great supporting cast filling many minor roles.

3/5

Close encounter of the turd kind

Hanover Street (1979)

Written & directed by Peter Hyams this film stars Harrison Ford. Lesley-Anne Down and Christopher Plummer. In London in 1943 an American bomber pilot falls in love with a woman who turns out to be married.

Taking homage from romantic war time films of the 1940s and 1950s this film attempts to mix romance with action and ends up missing the boat completely. Nearly every cliché in the book is attempted and goes wrong here with a story that is massively disappointing, filled with paper thin characters. It is hard to find much to praise here and I only watched this film as it has Harrison Ford in it.

2/5

Seven years, several changes

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud this film based on real events stars Brad Pitt, David Thewlis and B. D. Wong. In 1939 an arrogant Austrian climber travels to the Himalayas, becomes a POW and escapes to live in Tibet for seven years.

While this is a story based on true events history does not get in the way of the film maker's agenda. The story manages to stay clear of what could easily be an overly melodramatic change for the protagonist and is entertaining even if not completely truthful. What is clearly the highlight of this film is the scenery and locations which are pretty stunning, unlike Brad Pitt's attempts at accents.

3/5

Dancing bridges

Bridges-Go-Round (1958)

Directed by Shirley Clarke this is an experimental short film. We see a montage of various New York City bridges set to music.

I actually enjoyed this short quite a lot and while it does not have a lot of depth it is a nice experiment in using a camera to create motion in things that never move. The various sky lines and bridges are good to look at and provide a nice back drop for the film. Certainly this is one of the experimental films I have enjoyed more.

3/5

Red-y for a better sequel than this

Red 2 (2013)

Directed by Dean Parisot this film stars Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovic and Helen Mirren. Our heroes are on the run again after details of a secret operation from the Cold War is leaked online.

Again there is a great cast with even more good actors added in this time but this sequel fails to really capture the fun of the original. Most of the time it feels like the film is just going through the numbers. Our protagonists also seem to slaughter a rather large number of people that are not bad guys and just trying to protect the world which does not really sit right.

2/5

Losing focus

Focus (2015)

Directed by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa this film stars Will Smith and Margot Robbie. An experienced con man takes an inexperienced woman under his wing to learn the tricks of the trade.

Unfortunately this film is not as intelligent or as slick as it thinks it is and the characters are disappointingly lacking in depth. While the film may be superficially entertaining it never really surprises the viewer, telegraphs it's twists and does not always hold together. The cast do the best they can with what they have but the script needs some extra work in my opinion.

2/5

An 1890s tale of cockblocking

Pauvre Pierrot (1892)

Directed by Charles-Emile Renaud this is an early animated film. A man goes to woo a woman only to have pranks played on him by a rival lover.

What stands out about this film is that the animation and art are really high quality, especially for being one of the first animated films ever made. The plot is pretty simple but compared to some of the animated films that follow this the standard of image is much higher. While the story might not do more than raise a slight chuckle in places it's still a good watch.

4/5

A journey through defeat

Lore (2012)

Directed by Cate Shortland this film based on a story from the book “The Dark Room” stars Saskia Rosendahl, Kai Malina and Nele Trebs. In the days after the end of WW2 the eldest daughter of an SS officer leads her younger siblings across Germany to try to get to their grandmother in Hamburg.

The plot of this film is about the clash between the Nazi ideology the protagonist was raised with in and the defeated Germany she finds herself in. It seems there are some deviations between the film and it's source material but this is still a strong story reminiscent of Germany, Year Zero (1948). Directed in a very slow and withdrawn style I found this to be a really enjoyable film that really captures the mood of it's characters.

4/5

Weak YA adaptation

How I Live Now (2013)

Directed by Kevin Macdonald this film based on the novel of the same name stars Saoirse Ronan, Tom Holland and Harley Bird. A 16 year old teenage girl from the US is sent to spend the summer in the English countryside with her cousins just as WW3 starts.

The first third of this film is a really bad teen romance with a standard manic pixie dream boy and the rest of the film never gets to grips with the darker side of the material. Kids living through WW3 is an interesting hook but the film never lives up to it's promise sadly. It also feels like a lot of the character depth that may have been in the book is dumped out to make the plot fit into a film.

2/5

Not a piece of

Cake (2014)

Directed by Daniel Barnz this film stars Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza, Sam Worthington and Anna Kendrick. A woman who lives with chronic pain struggles with the loss of her son and the suicide of one of the members of her support group for people with chronic pain.

There is nothing especially original or insightful about this film but it is a well handled film about a subject that could easily stray into melodrama. Thankfully the film ignores the overly sentimental pitfalls to give a well balanced feel to the film. The performances are decent but at times it feels like there is some scenes that must have been cut with so many big name actors in supporting roles that are barely on the screen.

3/5

Reasonless

Return to Reason (1923)

Directed by Man Ray this is an experimental abstract film. Various objects, shapes and textures jiggle about on the screen.

Another abstract film, another fruitless search for meaning on my part. While there are some interesting shapes and textures on the screen I could not find any more to the film. Thankfully this is not a long film and some versions come with a later musical accompanyment.

2/5

Taken on a plane

Non-Stop (2014)

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra this film stars Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery and Lupita Nyong'o. An alcoholic air marshal finds himself the centre of a ransom plot as an unknown person threatens to kill passengers on the plane he is travelling on.

The plot of this film paints itself into a corner and ends up finding it has no clever way out. While the story is not too bad it is not really believable and at times it feels like only token efforts were made to flesh out characters. Surprisingly there is a really strong supporting cast but they do not really have much to do.

2/5

No hope, only confusion

Paradise: Hope (2012)

 Directed by Ulrich Seidl this film stars Melanie Lenz, Verena Lehbauer, Joseph Lorenz and Viviane Bartsch. While her mother is on holiday in Kenya a 13 year old girl spends the summer at a fat camp where she forms a crush on the middle aged doctor.

 This film is fairly ambiguous at times which leaves you wondering just what has happened in some scenes. There are plenty of scenes that make you uneasy but I am not sure the story ever really makes clear what it is talking about. I thought the acting and direction was good but found the story a little hard to pick apart for deeper meaning.

 3/5

T-t-t-t-that's a winner folks

Knighty Knight Bugs (1958)

Directed by Friz Freleng this is an Oscar winning animated short with voices by Mel Blanc. King Arthur sends a court jester (Bugs Bunny) to recover a singing sword from the Black Knight (Yosemite Sam).

Despite being the only Bugs Bunny cartoon to ever win an Oscar I do not think this is the best or funniest of Bugs's cartoon. There are some good jokes but not as many as I would expect and the pacing is a little slow. The animation is good but not stand out levels.

3/5

More sick relatives than you can shake a stick at

Paradise: Love (2012)

Directed by Ulrich Seidl this film stars Margarethe Tiesel, Peter Kazungu, Inge Maux and Dunja Sowinetz. A middle aged Austrian woman travels to Kenya as a sex tourist.

This is a fairly unique film in that you rarely see the topic of women that pay for sex covered and it does a good job of exploring the topic. I found the film very reminiscent of Our Trip to Africa (1966) with interesting comparisons and contrasts in what has changed in the way Europeans exploit Africa. There are good performances from the cast, especially Tiesel who really captures the woman naively looking for love.

4/5

Basement buddies

Me and You (2012)

Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci this film based on the novel of the same name stars Jacopo Olmo Antinori and Tea Falco. A 14 year old Italian boy's plans to bunk off a school ski trip and spend a week living alone in a basement are interrupted by his older half sister.

Given the age of the protagonist you can easily guess this is a coming of age story and it does not offer a huge amount that is new to the genre. The story moves a long at a fairly sedate pace and does not really do anything wrong. With a director of the talent of Bertolucci things are handled well but there is not much that is remarkable about this film.

3/5

No brain, still entertains

Big Bullet (1996)

Directed by Benny Chan this film stars Lau Ching-wan, Jordan Chan, Theresa Lee and Cheung Tat-ming. Following a shoot out gone wrong a hot headed police detective is sent to work in a unit of rejects.

While this film is thin on both plot and character development it does contain a suitable amount of action sequences. We may not be getting John Woo levels of direction here but there is enough action to keep the viewer entertained at least. If you can switch off your brain this is not too bad of a watch.

3/5

Action hackers

Blackhat (2015)

Directed by Michael Mann this film stars Chris Hemsworth, Tang Wei, Wang Leehom and Viola Davis. Chinese and American law enforcement work with a convicted hacker to investigate a cyber crime.

This film is show with Mann's recognisable style of using digital, hand held cameras for a level of realism. While the plot aims for realism it quickly stretches believability in terms of what the characters are allowed to do despite trying to state rooted in real jargon. Despite being well made I found the film a bit flat as it struggled to over come the problems common to any film where people sit at a computer a lot.

3/5

Flush with disappointment

Jupiter Ascending (2015)

Written & directed by The Wachowskis this film stars Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Sean Bean and Eddie Redmayne. A young woman stuck cleaning toilets finds out she is a space princess.

Disappointingly this film has so much unfulfilled potential, the characters completely lack depth and the themes are explored too little, too late. There is far too much emphasis on plot, too much telling over showing when it comes to back story/character and I found the protagonist far too passive. I was also not a huge fan of some of the special effects. It could well be that a three hour version of this story would have given room to solve a lot of the problems here.

2/5  

Musical magic

The Melomaniac (1903)

Directed by and staring George Melies this is a short film from the silent era. A band master uses telegraph lines to write music on.

Essentially this is a short built around using trick photography like many of Melies's early films. The plot is pretty simple and does not have much to it. Compared to other Melies films I have seen this is not the most impressive or entertaining but it does hold together.

3/5

Little honour

Honour (2014)

Written & directed by Shan Khan this film stars Aiysha Hart, Paddy Considine, Faraz Ayub and Harvey Virdi. A young British, Muslim woman's relationship with a non Pakistani man leads her family to plan an honour killing.

At times the plot of this film skirts cliché, especially in the characters, but is still a rare look into a closed community. The character of the bounty hunter is forced but I liked the use of a non linear narrative here. In the end this is a fairly middle of the road film with a decent, if not remarkable, delivery.

3/5

Fifty shades of shite

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson this film based on the novel of the same name stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan. An inexperienced young woman beings a relationship with a billionaire who clearly wants different things to her.

As you might expect this is a pretty had film, the plot and dialogue are beyond weak at times. There is barely a surface level to this film which I suppose might not be too bad if the elements that were supposed to carry the film were not equally shallow and mostly reduced to montage sequences. It is hard to find anything positive about this film but some say it is better than the book even if I find that hard to imagine.

1/5

Origins of a master

The Sugarland Express (1974)

Directed by Steven Spielberg this film inspired by a true story stars Goldie Hawn, William Atherton, Michael Sacks and Ben Johnson. A young woman breaks her boyfriend out of prison and the kidnap a highway patrol officer while trying to get their baby back from the state.

This film is an early example of Spielberg's ability to handle comedy, drama and tragedy all in the same narrative without any feeling out of place. The plot sits somewhere between Dog Day Afternoon and Raising Arizona, with a very poignant ending. There are decent performances from most of the cast and while Goldie Hawn draws most of the attention I really enjoyed the more subtle performance from Ben Johnson.

4/5

Another trip down experimental lane

Film 2-3 (1944)

Directed by brothers John and James Whitney this is an experimental short film as part of their film exercises series. Different coloured shapes swirl and move around on the screen.

As pleasant as the visuals of this film are it does not really go anywhere beyond being swirly shapes. I could not find any deeper meaning but was still entertained at least for the brief run time of this film. Ultimately a little too abstract for my taste.

3/5

Of pigs and dogs

The King of Pigs (2011)

Directed by Yeon Sang-ho this animated film has voice acting from Yang Ik-June, Oh Jun-se and Kim Hye-na. A struggling ghost writer reconnects with an old friend from school, they go over the bullying they suffered and the boy that tried to protect them.

This film goes pretty far into the dark corners of the human experience as it explores some brutal bullying, issues of class in Korea and the response of those not mature enough to know what to do. The story is unsettling and depressing but a good watch. I liked the animation style but it is not that remarkable.

4/5

Fueling a crime war

Viva Riva! (2010)

Directed by Djo Tunda Wa Munga this film stars Patsha Bay, Manie Malone, Hoji Fortuna, Fabrice Kwizera and Marlene Longage. A Congolese man returns from Angola after 10 years away with a truck of stolen petrol during a fuel crisis.

The plot of this film is pretty standard genre fare that strays into exploitation territory but is a fun watch thanks to some slick execution. Seeing a crime story like this set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a refreshing change and gives a slightly different perspective. Nodding at themes of the destructive nature of greed adds a little depth even if it is not a ground breaking idea.

4/5

Fuzzy film fare

Remedial Reading Comprehension (1970)

Directed by Owen Land under the name George Landow this is an experimental short film. A woman dreams of people filling up an auditorium to watch a film.

This is one of those films that at times just appears to be a real jumble of images and footage. I found it hard to pull out any deeper meaning from the confusing dream style sequence. Not doubt this film is famous for a reason but what that is eluded me.

2/5

Stuck in an distant orbit

Pluto (2012)

Written & directed by Shin Su-won this film stars Lee David, Sung Joon, Kim Kkot-bi and Jo Sung-ha. A transfer student at a highly competitive academic school in South Korea is suspected of the murder of one of his classmates.

Taking this issues of pressure on students, bullying and elitism in South Korea this Su-won spins out an dark thriller. Initially the non-linear nature of the film made things a little confusing but once the story gets going the plot twists and turns nicely. There are some decent performances but the script is the clear highlight here.

4/5

Criminals, crushes and crosses

Dedh Ishqiya (2014)

Directed by Abhishek Chaubey this film stars Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi, Madhuri Dixit and Huma Qureshi. Two thieves at odds over a stolen necklace get caught up in a poetry competition to win the hand (and estate) of a widowed noblewoman.

Despite this film being a sequel it works perfectly well as a stand alone and has no references to it's predecessor. The plot is not really a comedy as in it is not overly funny but the story is a bit reminiscent of themes commonly explored in Shakespeare's romantic comedies with many characters hiding who they really are. Not much stands out about this film but it is a solid effort that could have done with exploring it's comedic side a little more.

3/5

The muscles from Prussia

Sandow (1894)

Directed by William K.L. Dickson this short documentary features body builder Eugen Sandow. The subject of the film does a number of poses to show off his muscles.

There is not a lot to this film other than a short sequences of poses but I suppose the fluid movement of muscle may be appealing to some. It is hard to much about a this film as there is nothing in the way of narrative, it is just a short showcase. The camera does not even move and there is no real editing to speak of either.

2/5  

An unexpected turn of events

The Big Swallow (1901)

Directed by James Williamson this short film stars Sam Dalton. A man gives a speech as the camera zooms in on him and he promptly swallows the camera and camera man.

For an early short film this is pretty funny, it certainly raised a smile for me despite it's simple nature. There is not a huge amount to the plot but it is a funny moment making early use of cinematic magic. It is not a perfect special effect that the film hinges on but given the technology available it is well done.

3/5

Inherently bizarre

Inherent Vice (2014)

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson this film based on the novel of the same name stars Joaquin Pheonix, Josh Brolin, Katherine Waterston and Owen Wilson. A stoner working as a PI is visited by a former girlfriend and drawn into a complex world of crime.

Sitting somewhere between being a satire of the LA neo noir and a stoner comedy this is certainly a unique film. The plot is so full of coincidence it is hard to take seriously but is entertaining through out even if too intricate and strays some from it's source material. There are plenty of hidden jokes through out the film that are worth watching out for and they certainly make this film entertaining.

4/5

Twisting Turing test

Ex Machina (2015)

Written & directed by Alex Garland this film stars Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac and Sonoya Mizuno. A computer programmer visiting his reclusive employer is invited to take part in a Turing test on an experimental android with an AI.

Taking a common sci-fi theme this film really runs with the idea and gives us a really complex story of manipulation. Beyond the obvious themes the script digs deeper into ideas of gender and social interaction. Both the special effects and performance of Vikander are impressive.

5/5

Cat, mouse and bicycle

Krazy Kat, Bugologist (1916)

Animated by Frank Moser this short is based on the cartoon strip by George Herriman. A cat goes on a bicycle ride with his best friend Ignatz the mouse.

There is not a huge amount to the plot of this short and it is not especially humorous. Compared to some of the other earlier animation I have seen the animation style is not that impressive either. The characters are a bit stop start in their movement and word balloons take a while to fill out as well.

2/5

A non-dilemma

The Enemy General (1960)

Directed by George Sherman this film stars Van Johnson, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Dany Carrel and John can Dreelen. An American OSS agent working with the French underground is ordered organise the escape of the Nazi general turned traitor who had his fiancée executed.

While this film sets up a nice dilemma for the protagonist it is something he never struggles with which means the film falls completely flat. There is something to work with in the set up here but this film never is anything more than a action film of B-movie quality. Stock footage is used here and there to try and spice things up but this is a bit of a limp effort really.

2/5

Drama on the cat walk

Fashion (2008)

Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar this film stars Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Mugdha Godse and Arjan Bajwa. A young woman dreams of becoming a supermodel but success goes to her head and her career comes off the rails.

Subtlety is not really the speciality of this film which is kind of a paint by numbers look at the fashion world. All the excesses and abuses you would expect are present but the film never goes deep enough and relies a little too much on stereotypes. There is a lot of glitz and glamour but maybe a few too many montages despite the decent performances from the cast.

3/5

Early animation to Cuban music

A Colour Box (1935)

Directed by Len Lye this is an animated short film. Various colours and shapes dance around to Cuban music.

This is another of those films that is noted for it's place in history rather than it's outstanding quality. As an animated film it is decent but the animation does not always fit the music as well or as in as clear a progression as other shots of this type that I have seen. No doubt there is some skill involved in making such a film but I have seen more interesting efforts.

3/5

Walking to discovery

Wild (2014)

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee this film based on a true story stars Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and Thomas Sadoski. Following her divorce a woman sets off alone on a 1,100 mile trek along the Pacific Crest Trail.

What this film does really well is capture the experience of hiking in the wild, travelling alone and particularly showing a female perspective on the experience. The script manages to seamlessly flit between the trip and the protagonists back story weaving together a complete picture of her life to that point. A little too much of the camera work is focused on the protagonist rather than the landscape for my liking but that is just personal taste, otherwise this is a really well made film.

4/5

American disappointment

American Sniper (2014)

Directed by Clint Eastwood this film based on a true story stars Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. A man from Texas becomes a Navy SEAL sniper and serves several tours in Iraq.

This film ends up being a bit of a disappointment as it always seems like it is going to focus on the psychological affects of war and the poor treatment of veterans but it never gets there. To much is focused on the war sections which are sadly changed to suit simplistic Hollywood norms. As always Clint Eastwood delivers a steady hand of direction but the script for this film keeps it average.

3/5

Sporting aspirations

Kai Po Che! (2013)

Directed by Abnishek Kapoor this film based on the novel “The 3 Mistakes of My Life” stars Sushant Singh Rajput, Asif Basra, Rajkummar Rao and Amrita Puri. Three friends open a sporting shop and academy for kids.

A lot of this film strays into cliché territory and some of the montages are a little overly sentimental but there is still some interesting stuff in this film. While the base story is somewhat less interesting the back drop does hint at the divides that still exist in Indian society along religious/political/class lines. The film is pretty well made even if it is a little over the top in places, it does not help matters that the film starts with a flash forward that pretty much takes away all suspense.

3/5

Cheese exposed

The Unclean World (1903)

Directed by Percy Stow this film also known as “Cheese Mites” stars Cecil M. Hepworth. A professor eating his lunch examines some cheese with a magnifying glass.

There is not much to this short film and it is essentially just two shots so there is not really a story. For the age of the film the image quality is decent but both shots probably last too long. No doubt there is a reason this is a well known early film but it's hard to find much in it.

2/5

An awkward fit

Side Effects (2013)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh this film stars Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Cahterine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum. A young woman struggling with depression starts taking medication but suffers from side effects.

What starts out as an interesting exploration of psychological treatment and big pharma has a second half of a thriller that undercuts it's earlier work in my opinion. While the film works out fairly well I am not sure that it ever fulfils it's potential. There are good performances from the cast but not a huge amount that stands out.

3/5

Like someone telling a story

Like Someone in Love (2012)

Directed by Abbas Kiarostami this film stars Rin Takanashi, Ryo Kase and Tadashi Okuno. A student working as an escort struggles to keep her profession hidden from her family and her boyfriend.

This film pushes the idea of narrative ambiguity to the maximum which is a little frustrating at times, leaving the viewer not much to go on. While the film does not feel long to me at times it felt empty but it does end up being an interesting film about characters who never really communicate properly with each other. Most interesting is the fact that this is a Japanese film directed by an Iranian, not something you see very often.

3/5

Booze for all

Whiskey Galore (1949)

Directed by Alexander Mackendrick this film based on the novel of the same name stars Basil Radford, Bruce Seton, Joan Greenwood and Wylie Watson. Durring WW2 a small island in Scotland finds itself without whiskey till a large cargo ship full of whiskey hits the rocks near by.

This is a pretty basic comedy with the standard anti establishment British humour. Nothing much surprises and for a film with such a classic reputation the characters are on the thin side. The locations are nice but really not a lot stands out about this film sadly.

3/5

Nuns facing guns

Conspiracy of Hearts (1960)

Directed by Ralph Thomas this film stars Lilli Palmer, Sylvia Syms, Yvonne Mitchell and Ronald Lewis. During the Second World War nuns in Italy attempt to smuggle Jewish children from a concentration camp to safety but things become more dangerous when a German officer takes command of the area.

While this film has a fairly simple plot and safe take on it's subject matter it inevitably has some heart breaking moments. With a bit more depth this could have been a really excellent film but falls just short, still being a good watch. Most of the cast give good performances although it's clear most are British rather than the nationalities they are supposed to be portraying.

3/5

Insanity isn't even the start

Birdman (2014)

Directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu this film stars Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts and Zach Galifianakis. A film actor famous for his work on a super hero franchise tries to put together a play with artistic merit to create a legacy for himself.

At times it is hard to pin down what this film is preciesely but it is always entertaining and has plenty of depth. The plot is very much poking at the life of actors as well as the world of theatre and film with an interesting intertwining of the protagonist's life with the role he has in the play he is working on. There are a ton of long takes shot with steady cam that give the film a frenetic energy and must have been very hard to pull off.

5/5

Japan's first

Maple Leaf Viewing (1899)

Directed by Shibata Tsunekichi this short film stars Onoe Kikugoro V and Ichikawa Danjuro IX. A swordsman defeats a demon disguised as a Princess.

This is the earliest Japanese film and to be honest the image quality is not great. I found it hard to make out what was happening despite the really simple plot of the story. As a historical record no doubt this is an important film but for viewing entertainment it does not have much going for it in my opinion.

1/5

It's to Bollywood that we go, for this tale of Juliet and her Romeo

Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013)

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali this film stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. A man and woman fall in love but their relationship is hampered by the fact they come from rival crime families that divide a small Indian town.

This is Romeo and Juliet filtered through Baz Luhrmann by way of Bollywood with a final third that is more like The Godfather (1972). As a straight up adaptation of Romeo and Juliet the plot wandered too much for my taste but was still entertaining through out. The protagonists are a little old to really capture Shakespeare's tale of teenage obsession but the colour and pageantry of the film are worth seeing.

3/5

Clingy love from beyond the grave

Burying the Ex (2014)

Directed by Joe Dante this film stars Anton Yelchin, Ashley Greene and Alexandra Daddario. When he starts to pursue a new relationship a young man finds his clingy ex-girlfriend has come back from the dead.

There is a fair amount of promise in the premise of this film but it does not go anywhere especially interesting. Most of the plot is as you would expect and while there is the odd funny moment as a comedy you would not say this film is especially funny. The cast do what they can but there is not a huge amount to work with really.

3/5

Indian blockbusting bonanza

Chennai Express (2013)

Directed by Rohit Shetty this film stars Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. An unmarried 40 year old gets on a train and ends up kidnapped along with a mobster's daughter who is facing an arranged marriage she does not want.

Ending up as something of a mixed bag this film mashes up Rom-com, action comedy and screw ball comedy into a film that is a bit long and often not as funny as it should be. There are some hints at something more beyond the basic plot with a lot of the comedy based around the language differences in India and the idea of India as a nation of different peoples. The editing is really slick and the cinematography is full is amazing colours but at times over sentimentality is used like a sledge hammer.

4/5

Bored by the board

Humours Phases of Funny Faces (1906)

Directed and animated by J. Stuart Blackton this is a short animated film. Various short scenes are shown drawn in chalk on a blackboard.

There is not a huge amount to this film in terms of content but it is well known as it is considered to be a historical milestone. Using stop motion animation of chalk figures is created with occasional real time interaction by the animator. For a short distraction this is not too bad but it is not much more than that.

3/5

The path of true love is as clear as mud

Mud (2012)

Written & directed by Jeff Nichols this film stars Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. A 14 year old boy and his friend discover a man living in a boat up a tree in the woods.

This is a coming of age tale rooted in the Mississippi and the legacy of Mark Twain. While there is not a huge amount that is strikingly original here it fits solidly in as a genre piece that covers the points you would expect well. Sometimes the story elements are sign posted a little too clearly but otherwise this is a well made effort.

3/5

Lashings of abuse

Whiplash (2014)

Written & directed by Damien Chazelle this film stars Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons. A 19 year old aspiring jazz drummer joins the jazz band of a bullying, abusive teacher.

No doubt this film has great performances from it's leads and does a really good job of putting the viewer in the position of being as nervous as the protagonist at when his abusers next explosion will be. On the down side I would say that the plot is rarely subtle and I have some reservations about the implications of the plot. If nothing else this is an intense watch that captures an abusive relationship excellently.

4/5

Round things

Circles (1933)

Directed by Oskar Fischinger this is an experimental animated short film. Animated circles move and pulsate to music.

Compared to Allegretto (1936), which I really enjoyed, I found this to be a weaker film which is probably not surprising as it was made earlier. The animation is not really that remarkable and while it does fit the music it is not as good of a fit as Allegretto. No doubt it required skill and patience to make this film but I would point views the way of it's successor.

3/5

Average Mike

Magic Mike (2012)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh this film stars Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Cody Horn and Matthe McConaughey. An aspiring entrepreneur working as a male stripper takes a younger man under his wing and introduces him to the world of stripping.

This is a pretty familiar cautionary tale about living a hedonistic life style with the only “fresh” element being that the film is about male strippers. I did not find the film had much of interest to say about the world it is set in but is a decently enough made effort. While it is disappointing that there is not more to the film beyond the surface elements it still has more than a steady hand walking us through proceedings.

3/5

Bizarre brothers

Being Bhaijaan (2014)

Directed by Shabani Hassanwalia & Samreen Farooqui this is a documentary from India. We follow two super fans of Bollywood star Salman Khan.

What starts off as a pretty innocent look at those obsessed with a film star takes a turn when it reveals some of bizarre/darker views the subjects have on women and sex. While the subject matter of the film is narrow and the run time short this film does give a good window into both modern India and cult of cinematic masculinity there. I found this to be a really interesting lens to look at life in India through.

4/5

The problems with time travel

Project Almanac (2015)

Directed by Dean Israelite this film stars Jonny Weston, Sofia Black D'Elia, Sam Lerner, Allen Evangelista and Virginia Gardner. A high school student that wants to go to MIT discovers plans his father left for a time machine and time travels with his friends.

There is a lot of promise in the premise of this film but it falls far short of doing anything interesting. Events become a bit of a jumble thanks to all the time travel and I do not think this is an intentional affect like in Primer (2004). The worst part is presenting the whole film as found footage which is seems to be an excuse for some really annoying camera work that constantly took me out of the film.

2/5

A bit of leg leads to trouble

The Gay Shoe Clerk (1903)

Directed by Edwin S. Porter this short film of the silent era stars Edward Boulden. A young lady shows some leg to the clerk fitting her for a new shoe, he kisses her and the lady's escort hits him with an umbrella.

There is not a huge amount to this film and it barely lasts more than a minute. The plot is pretty much as described above and might raise a momentary chuckle at most. It is hard to expect much more from these early shorts but I suppose for the era this is a well made film.

3/5

Wacky heroes of cinema

Supermen of Malegaon (2012)

Directed by Faiza Ahmad Khan this this is some where between a making of documentary and an exploration of a sub-culture. Impoverished Muslims in an industrial Indian city make near zero budget parodies of Bollywood and Hollywood films they love.

This is a fun look at the love of cinema and the way it inspires people to create themselves. Despite having few resources pretty impressive results are achieved by those working on the fan film which is a real inspiration. The film manages to capture something universal even though it is looking at a very unique situation.

4/5

Too British

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Directed by James Marsh this film based on the story of Stephen Hawking and his first wife stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. One of the great minds of our time finds himself trapped in a body which he is slowly losing control of.

There is something quintessentially British about the gentle and reserved nature of this film but I think it does the film's subjects a disservice by not being a warts and all piece. At times the film's agenda is just a little too clear, straying from history too much for my taste. Clearly the highlight is Redmayne's performance in the main role and he does a great job physically transforming himself.

4/5

Delusions not taken seriously

Lovesick (2014)

Directed by Luke Matheny this film stars Matt LeBlanc, Ali Larter and Adam Rodriguez. The principle of an elementary school becomes delusional every time he falls in love.

This film's big mistake is trying to make a cute romantic comedy out of what is a pretty serious mental health problem and would result in dangerous behaviour in real life. Unfortunately it's hard to get passed that major misstep and see much more here. The cast do their best but to be honest there isn't a lot to work with anyway in terms of humour.

2/5

Fly buzz

A Legy (1980)

Written and directed by Frenec Rofusz this is an Academy Award winning animated short film. From the point of view of a fly we buzz about a house.

This film is pretty much what it says, an impression of what it is like to be a fly buzzing about in it's day to day life. While this is a fairly well made film I would not say there is much remarkable or any great depth about it. The animation style is decent enough but did not do much for me.

3/5

A Tamil cinematic origin story

An American in Madras (2013)

Directed by Karan Bali this is a documentary on the American film maker Ellis R Dungan. An American heads to India just as cinema is making the transition to sound and becomes one of the pioneers of Tamil cinema.

This documentary is an interesting look at one of the more unexpected careers in cinema given how separate we imagine American and Indian film making to be. The documentary does a good job of collecting together relevant contributors and has moments of criticism as well as praise. While this may not be a particularly deep documentary it is certainly an interesting diversion for 80 minutes.

3/5

Missed the meadows

Miss Meadows (2014)

Written & directed by Karen Leigh Hopkins this film stars Katie Holmes and James Badge Dale. A prim substitute teacher who seems like she would be better off in the 1950s also kills criminals as a vigilante.

I have seen this film listed as both a drama and a thriller but it could also be a dark comedy, the problem is it fails to be none of these consistently. The film never hits a tone that it manages to carry all the way through, it is not funny enough to be a comedy but far to odd to be ever taken seriously. Katie Holmes is not too bad in the title role but much like the rest of the film I do not think she ever hits her stride either.

2/5

If you can take it you can make it.

Unbroken (2014)

Directed by Angelina Jolie this film based on a true story stars Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson and Miyavi. Louis Zamperini is the son of Italian immigrants to the US, he becomes an Olympic athlete then is captured by the Japanese during WW2.

There is not a lot that is unique or special about this survival/POW story, it covers a lot of familiar ground but does so well. While there maybe the odd element omitted it seems that this film largely sticks to historical facts. In the end this is a solid but not particularly special genre entry.

3/5

Gambling on a remake

The Gambler (2014)

Directed by Rupert Wyatt this film is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name and stars Mark Wahlberg. An English Literature professor has a gambling addiction coupled with a self destructive tendency.

There is plenty I enjoyed about this film, I thought it captured the protagonists dark side really well but was undercut by a disappointing love story that was unconvincing at best. Compared to the original it does seem this is a weaker effort even if it does a good job of showing some of the sickness of a gambling addiction. Most of the supporting cast are decent but the ending is a real let down in my opinion.

3/5

Voyage into Phalke and Benaras

Rangbhoomi (2013)

Directed by Kamal Swaroop this is a documentary presented by it's director and others. Searching for the life of Indian film pioneer Dabasaheb Phalke after he turned his back on cinema and became a recluse working in the theatre.

This is not a straight forward documentary, it uses portions of Phalke's autobiographical play of the same name as a starting point to explore the subjects later life. Mixing excerpts of the play with anecdotes from those living in Benaras is a little confusing at times but does manage to open up on the Phalke as well as the nature of art. No doubt this experimental effort will not be for all but is an interesting watch none the less.

4/5

Not as funny as it was contraversial

The Interview (2014)

Directed by Evan Goldberg and star Seth Rogen this film also features James Franco, Randall Park, Diana Bang and Lizzy Caplan. The host of an entertainment talk show scores an interview with the leader of North Korea and is tapped up by the CIA to kill him.

This is a film that knows what it is, not an overly intelligent satire but funny enough to keep you entertained. While there is nothing intelligent about he humour either it has it's moments and is some what more kind hearted that might appear on the surface. The performances are as you would expect from the stars but nothing remarkable.

3/5

If you go down to the woods in yesterday's era

 Desperate Poaching Affray (1903)

Directed by William Haggar this short film stars Sid Griffiths, Will Haggar Jr. and Walter Hagger. A group of hunters come across some poachers and it all kicks off.

There is little plot here but this is an early action sequence that will entertain for the short time it runs. If you want a bit more story you have to look elsewhere but this is a pretty good piece of action for the time it was made. Very occasionally some of the acting might be a little weak but things move to fast to dwell on such small problems.

3/5

Painting plagarism

Big Eyes (2014)

Directed by Tim Burton this film based on a true story stars Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz. A woman leaves her husband and moves to San Francisco where she marries an aspiring painter who takes credit for her work.

Surprisingly different from the rest of Tim Burton's work this biopic is in an interesting look at the art world and raises some pretty good questions on what art is. For the most part it seems that the film sticks to historical events, not taking huge liberties as some films do. Nothing stands out especially about the execution of the film but Waltz gives one of his usually wacky performances.

4/5

Not as cute as it seems

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Written & directed by John Hughes this film stars Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall. Waking up to find she feels no different on the morning of her sixteenth birthday our protagonist also finds her family has forgotten her birthday too.

This film does a good job of capturing that teenage insecurity when it comes to love and sex even if the plot is a little generic at times. Strangely for a John Hughes film there are sub plots with some really lazy racism and date rape vibes. If you can look past the flaws this is still a decent coming of age film and fits in well with John Hughes other films.

3/5

Musical revolutionary in Indian cinema

Pancham Unmixed (2009)

Directed by Brahmanand S. Singh this documentary features contributions from a large number of people in the Bollywood music business. We follow the career of R. D. Burnman also known as Pancham da who is credited with revolutionising the music of Bollywood.

As someone with little knowledge of Bollywood or music I thought this film did a good job of explaining what was special about it's subject but could have done a better job at showing what the state of Bollywood music was like before he began his career. Some more comparisons to contemporaries might have helped but this film does not fall into the the trap of just being hero worship at least. I really enjoyed the small glimpses of the different films from across the ears of Indian cinema that this film provided.

3/5

Under stated

Under the Skin (2013)

Directed by Jonathan Glazer this film based on the novel of the same name by Michel Faber stars Scarlett Johnasson. A strange woman drives round Glasgow in a van picking up men.

While undoubtedly there is something going on under the skin here I found the execution of the film to be too slow and vague even for my tastes. The script ends up straying pretty far from it's source material and while you can tease out some themes of race and genre from the film just far too much is left unexplained. Scarlett Johnasson gives a good performance as a protagonist that essentially has no personality but otherwise this film bored me a little at times.

2/5  

Meat mugging

Stop Thief! (1901)

Directed by James Williamson this short film from the silent era stars Sam Dalton. While carrying a joint of meat a butcher is robbed of by a tramp.

This is a simplistic short film that pretty much is exactly what it says on the tin. There is a bit of action in a chase sequence but there is not a huge amount to go on here. For what it is the film is fairly well made but at just over a minutes run time there is never going to be any depth here.

3/5  

Paint on film

Fiddle-de-dee (1947)

Directed by Norman McLaren this animated film features the song “Mocking Bird” played on a fiddle. Painted shapes dance and twist to music.

Painting directly onto film gives this movie an unique look and it does a really good job of visualising the music that accompanies it. While there is no narrative or attempt to add depth it is an interesting watch. You have to admire the skill that has created this animation frame by frame if nothing else.

3/5

Into the wilds with cinema

Battu's Bioscope (1998)

Directed by Andrzej Fidyk this is a documentary shot in India. A man takes his travelling cinema round rural India showing Bollywood action films.

This is an interesting exploration and criticism of the love of cinema which ends up shining a light on the tragic life of the protagonist. There were times when I wondered just how authentic of a documentary this film is but it still ends up being an interesting watch whatever the case. If you can track it down this is certainly a though provoking film.

4/5

American shite

American Heist (2014)

Directed by Sarik Andreasyan this film stars Hayden Christensen, Adrien Brody, Jordana Brewster and Akon. A mechanic finds himself pulled back into a world of crime when his older brother is released from prison.

This film is based on the earlier film “The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery” and seems to manage to roll out nearly every genre cliché. Subtlety is thrown out the window and things get pretty stupid at times. It is hard to find anything to praise about this film as even some of the special effects seem a bit suspect too.

2/5

An old lady goes to Chechyna

Alexandra (2007)

Written & directed by Alexander Sokurov this film stars Galina Vishnevskaya and Vasily Shevtsov. An old woman travels to visit her grandson who is an officer on a Russian military base in Chechyna.

While the slow, sedate pace of this film fits it's protagonist well others may find it a little on the boring side. Unfortunately the content of the film is also somewhat of a gentle nudge towards ideas on Chechen-Russian relations that lacks the impact to make up for the slow pace in my opinion. There are some decent performances from the cast and the locations really capture the desolate landscape where the film takes place.

3/5

Animals

The Drop (2014)

Directed by Michael R. Roskam this film based on the short story “Animal Resuce” stars Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace and James Gandolfini. A quiet man works at his cousin's bar that is occasionally used a drop point for money belonging to organised crime.

This is a really nice slow burner of a film and fits in well with the standard set by other adaptations based on the works of Dennis Lehane. Taking a fairly simple and familiar set up the script includes some great characters that help elevate the story. It helps there are great performances from the cast, particularly Tom Hardy as the film hinges on his performance completely.

4/5

Dumb

Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Directed by Bobby & Peter Farrelly this sequel stars Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle, Laurie Holden and Kathleen Turner. Twenty years after the events of the first film Harry discovers that he needs a kidney transplant and may have a grown up daughter.

While this film certainly has it's funny moments they are not as often as they should be and the mean spirited nature of the protagonists takes away a lot from the film. The plot is pretty secondary just being a by the numbers effort to allow for the crass humour. Twenty years is probably too long to wait for a sequel and the long period of development certainly did not help this film.

2/5

Beauty in basic

Damon the Mower (1972)

Directed by George Dunning this animated film is inspired by “The Mower's Song”, a poem by Andrew Marvel. A man cuts the grass while talking about the woman he loves.

While the animation style is really unique and pretty interesting I found it hard to divine any deeper meaning from the occasionally surreal collection of images. No doubt there is probably more to this than meets the eye but what it is exactly escaped me. As this is only a short film it is worth a watch in my opinion.

3/5

Racist toons

Bosko, the Talk-Ink Kid (1929)

Directed by Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising this film mixes live action and animation. An animator creates a new character who can interact with him and break the 4^th wall.

For such an early film there are some pretty cool innovations in terms of the interaction between human and animation. Unfortunately the film shows it's age as the animated character is clearly a racial stereotype which leaves a bad taste in the mouth. An interesting milestone in the path of animated film certainly but not much more than that.

2/5

Good marriage, bad adaptation

A Good Marriage (2014)

Directed by Peter Askin this film based on the novel of the same name stars Joan Allen, Anthony LaPagila and Kriesten Connolly. A middle aged woman finds out that her husband is a serial killer but decides not to call the police despite having the perfect opportunity.

I found it really hard to accept the premise of the film, that a person would rather live with a serial killer than call the police. It does not help that the film falls completely flat and fails to build any tension either. Both the main roles were weakly acted so in the end there is not much to recommend this film on which is unusual for a Stephen King adaptation.

2/5