Change over time

T2 Trainspotting (2017)

Directed by Danny Boyle this film stars Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Johnny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle and Angela Nedyalkova. Twenty years after the events of the first film Mark travels back to Scotland and looks up the friends he ripped off.

Taking a good look at middle age crisis and nostalgia this is a solid return after so much time away. While the film may differ from Irvine Welsh's books there are enough references to the original film that this sequel seamlessly fits into the universe. There are good performances from the cast and the direction is decent but a little annoying at times.

4/5

To be the villain

Givertaker (2016)

Directed by Paul Gandersman this short film stars Caiti Ward, Jessica Perrin, Sharmita Bhattacharya and Nell Kessler. A teenage girl contacts a dark, mystical force to right the perceived wrongs against her.

While this is naturally a simple narrative given the short run time I really liked the way the plot balances the information you get and the twist at the end. Offering both the idea that you should be careful what you wish for but also the idea that no one sees themselves as the villain this is a pretty refreshing take on familiar ideas. The cast is decent and the special effects really good for the low budget.

4/5

Sherlock Holmes and the case of the disappointing story

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)

Directed by Billy Wilder this film stars Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely, Genevieve Page and Christopher Lee. We follow Holmes and Watson on a case supposedly so scandalous that Watson required 30 years to pass after his death before it was made public.

Mixing Sherlock Holmes with turn of the century Germany spy paranoia this is not really a particularly remarkable outing for the famous detective. I expected a lot more from Wilder and Holmes but that does not take away from this being a fairly decent distraction. Most of the sets and locations are nice but that is about all this film ever is, nice.

3/5

Nap time motherfuckers

Cooties (2014)

Directed by Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott this film stars Elijah Wood, Alison Pill and Rainn Wilson. Teachers working summer school at an elementary school find that a bad chicken nugget has turned their pupils into flesh eating zombies.

If you were expecting the next great American cinematic work of art clearly you are in the wrong place but for what this film is, it is a decent distraction. There are some chuckles along the way but not really enough humour to put this on the same level as Shaun of the Dead (2004). A little more could have been made of the set up but for the most part this is a decent film with Rainn Wilson eventually being the stand out performance.

3/5

Trishna of the d'Urbervilles

Trishna (2011)

Directed by Michael Winterbottom this film based on Tess of the d'Urbervilles stars Freida Pinto and Riz Ahmed. A 19 year old girl from a poor family in India begins a relationship with the rich son of a hotel owner who takes advantage of her.

Competent through out this is a decent film but never much more than that. It takes a while for this film to get going and there are times when I found it hard to understand why Trishna returns to her abuser. The performances and direction are decent but some how this film never really takes off.

3/5

True beauty

Two Sisters (1991)

Directed by Caroline Leaf this animated short has voices from Kathleen Fee, Michael Rudder and Jane Woods. Two sisters living a shut away existence on an island have their life disrupted by the visit of a man.

The plot of this film is not bad but also not overly remarkable. While I did enjoy the story there is not a lot to it but it is the animation style that shines through with this film. I really loved the unique style this cartoon has, especially it's vibrant use of colour.

4/5

Over the edge of reality

The Edge of Love (2008)

Directed by John Maybury this film based on real events stars Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy and Matthew Rhys. We follow the life of Dylan Thomas and his wife during WW2 along with that of their best friend and her husband.

While this period piece, which is some what of a British speciality, has some good parts if never manages to coalesce into something whole. It also seems that the plot wanders off from real events a fair amount. The cast do fairly well and Keira Knightley manages to hold a good Welsh accent through out but ultimately this is a bit of a disappointing effort.

2/5