Case for prosecuting

 

The Prosecutor (2024)

Directed by star Donnie Yen this film also features Julian Cheung, Michael Hui and Francis Ng. A police detective starts a new job as a prosecutor and tries to over turn a miscarriage of justice.

Attempting to mix martial arts films and court room drama I do not think this film will appeal to fans of either genre as the other gets in the way of the parts they are interested in. Based on a true story I very much doubt it sticks closely to real events given the inserting of over the top fight scenes. Surprised this one has so much praise.

2/5

The first advert?

 

Rudge-Whitworth – Britain's Best Bicycle (1902)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early advertisement. A woman shows off her bike to a man who is unhappy with his.

Survives really well for the age of the film. Fairly decent advert, nothing that special by modern standards. Interesting piece of history.

3/5

Lacking companionship

 

Companion (2025)

Written & directed by Drew Hancock this film stars Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quad. A young woman and her boyfriend go to stay at the house of a rich Russian with his friends.

There are a few interesting concepts here but the film tips its hand too early to work as a mystery thriller and does not go deep enough on any of the higher concepts to be thought provoking. Seems like something of a wasted opportunity. Much better versions of this story out there.

2/5

Two women wave

 

The Queen and the Queen Mother on the Palace Balcony Responding to the Call of the Populace (Coronation of Wilhemina) (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Royalty wave to the crowd.

Very milky in the surviving footage so not exactly easy to make out what is happening. The camera is a bit far away to make out the individuals which also does not help. Not the best in this series.

2/5

Old in old

 

Review of the Royal Netherland Guard in the Costumes of the Middle Ages (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Guards on parade for the coronation of Queen Wilhemina.

Fascinating to see soldiers in what was out of date costumes even for the day. Decently framed shot and good image quality. A nice piece of history.

3/5

Not a mastiff in sight

 

The 12 Inch Pianist (2025)

Directed by Lucas Ansel this is an animated short film. A familiar joke extended to surreal conclusions.

I really enjoyed this short, it takes a simple concept and stretches it out nicely. The animation style is pretty cool and does not look cheap at all. A very fun short.

3/5

Best left in the chamber

 

1 in the Chamber (2024)

Directed by Diana Wright & Annie Girard this short film stars Mary Elizabeth Ellis and Yara Martinez. A woman is sent to kill her co-worker.

A one note joke extended out to 7 minutes fairly well. Obviously made a bit on the cheap side. Fine for what it is I guess.

2/5

RIP 18

 

Mickey 17 (2025)

Directed by Bong Joon Ho this film stars Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie and Steven Yeun. A man signs on to be an expendable in a colonization mission.

Much like some of the director's other films this is a dystopian dark comedy. There is a lot to enjoy here even if the film could maybe do with a just a tiny bit more depth. Pattinson does a great job in multiple roles.

4/5

Could the title be any longer?

 

Arrival of the Queen at the Palace, Amsterdam, Sept 6^th (Coronation of Wilhelmina) (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. People arrive at the palace for a coronation.

A nice elevated shot shows people on parade. Decent for what it is and survives in good condition. A slice of history.

3/5

Not such a famous voice

 

Mr Burton (2025)

Directed by Marc Evans this film stars Harry Lawtey, Toby Jones, Lesley Manville and Aimee-Ffion Edwards. We follow the life of a young Richard Burton as he meets and learns from his mentor.

I am not sure how well this film sticks to real events, from a little reading it does seem it strays a fair amount. Standard British feel good “based on a true story” type film that the industry loves to churn out. Not sure about the lead actor as Burton, never really captures that famous voice.

2/5

Having a Papal sit down

 

Pope Leo XIII Resting on His Way to His Summer Villa (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. The Pope enters the frame and has a sit down.

A serious lack of summer villas in this short film. Fine for what it is I suppose, nothing that special. Another piece of history from Dickson.

3/5

In the streets

 

View on Boulevard, New York City (1896)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see a street scene from New York.

Pretty much what it says, a mix of traffic on a street in New York. Decent image quality. Probably more for historical record than entertainment value.

3/5

Not that great

 

Amann, The Great Impersonator (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Ludwig Amann dons to disguises.

More dress up than impersonation really. Fine for what it is, the historical context is lost a little on a modern viewer. Decent image quality.

3/5

A gem

 

Uncut Gems (2019)

Directed by Josh & Benny Safdie this film stars Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox and Kevin Garnett. A Jewish-American man's life is falling apart due to poor choices but he has one shot to get out from under it all.

I thought this was a really good look at the degeneracy of a person caught in the grips of a sports betting addiction, you see the protagonist lurch from one desperate roll of the die to another. Always good to see Adam Sandler in a dramatic roll, often they are better than his recent comedies. Well worth a watch.

4/5

Talk about a long title.

 

Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer (2024)

Written & directed by Tolga Karacelik this film stars John Magaro, Steve Buscemi and Britt Lower. A writer struggling with his second book and a wife that wants a divorce meets a retired serial killer.

A decent black comedy that has a fair few laughs along the way. There is nothing ground breaking here but it is entertaining. The main cast all do a good job.

3/5

Bad title

 

The Landing of Savage South Africa at Southampton (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A group of Zulus at Southampton in traditional dress.

Obviously the title of the film is pretty dire. The contents of the film is not too bad, a group of Zulus in traditional dress. Decent if you can overlook the title.

2/5

Out for a Procession

 

Corpus Christi Procession, Orvieto (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A shot of a religious procession.

Unfortunately the murky image quality kind of ruins this one. An interesting subject and angle you just can not make out much of it. What could have been.

2/5

A argument

 

He and She (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. An older man and his younger wife have a row.

A simple short with a bit of humour to it. The film is rather blink and you will miss it but you still do get a sense of personality from the characters. Really good image quality for the age of the film.

3/5

Fuzzy fishing

 

Brook Trout Fishing (1900)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. River fishing in Canada.

An idyllic scene with the addition of a man slipping on the rocks in the background. Unfortunately the image is fairly fuzzy so it is difficult to make out all the details. Wish it survived in better quality.

2/5

Obstinate pixels

An Obstinate Cork (1902)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A couple struggle to open a bottle of wine.

Because of poor image quality it is pretty hard to tell what is going on here. No doubt a fun idea, just does not work when the image is so fuzzy. Sort of lost to time unfortunately.

2/5 

Charge!

 

Charge of the Carabineers, Aldershot (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Massed cavalry charge.

An impressive shot of massed cavalry charging past the camera. Good image quality and you can really feel the size of the body of troops. A fun watch.

3/5

Does it ever change?

 Changing Guard (Berlin) (1897)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. German military on parade passes the camera.

Decent shot, film seems to have survived pretty well. You can pick out a lot of the details on the men passing the camera. Makes you wonder how many were still serving in the army in 1914.

3/5

Not actually surviving

 Duncan Smoking (1891)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. A man smokes a pipe.

Not clear that the films online claiming to be this are actually the film and not a couple of stills from it. As presented it is not a film. Images are poor quality too.

1/5