The problem with princesses

Stenka Razin (1908)

Directed by Vladimir Romashkov this film stars Yevgeni Petrov-Krayevsky. A group of bandits lead by the title character capture a Muslim princess and their leader becomes obsessed with her.

Taking a real Russian folk hero this is a fictional tale based around his life and claims to be the first Russian narrative film. Essentially this is a simple plot with not a lot to it but for the period it hold ups well. There is not a lot to remark upon here but it's not the worst early film you will ever see.

3/5

The perfect struggle to communicate

It's Only The End of the World (2016)

Directed by Xavier Dolan this film based on the play of the same name stars Gaspard Ulliel, Mathalie Baye, Vincent Cassel, Marion Cotillard and Lea Seydoux. Returning home after 12 years away a young playwright struggles to tell his family he is dying.

While it may not be to everyone's taste I really loved this tale of mortality and a family unable to communicate with each other. There are some great moments between the characters and the story is really touching. The film has maybe the best French cast possible and the direction really accentuates the scenario.

5/5

Underwhelming

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

Directed by Anna Foerster this 5^th film in the franchise stars Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Lara Pulver and Tobias Menzies. Vampires and lycans fight again, are you surprised?

Rattling through a poor excuse for a plot this is very much an unnecessary sequel that offers little. There is no character growth and just a rehash of the same old same old. I suppose the action sequences are not too bad but rarely stand out and the editing is annoying at times.

2/5

Shit Shane Clone

Forsaken (2015)

Directed by Jon Cassar this film stars Kieft Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Brian Cox, Michael Wincott and Demi Moore. Deciding to give up his life of violence a gunfighter returns home to find an evil land baron trying to buy up all the local farms.

It is very hard not to see this film as just a weak imitation of Shane (1953) that entirely missed the point of it's source material. As a typical genre piece it is not too bad but this film will always exist in the shadow of much better films. I suppose the cast do their best but I could have lived without Kiefer Sutherland trying to growl his way through some scenes like a cut price Clint Eastwood.

2/5

Trick shop

The Haunted Curiosity Shop (1901)

Directed by Walter R. Booth this film is a short film produced by Robert W. Paul. A man owns a shop with many magical items that get out of hand.

Essentially this is a special effects film that does little more than show off the camera tricks the film makers have. While entertaining there is not a huge amount of variety in this short film and it some what lacks any narrative. An enjoyable diversion but not much more.

3/5

To survive

The White Countess (2005)

Directed by James Ivory this film stars Ralph Finnes, Natasha Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave and Hiroyuki Sanada. During the 1930s in Shanghai a former Russian countess working in a seedy bar to support her family meets a blind American that used to be a diplomat.

This is a classic Merchant-Ivory collaboration mixing romance, period setting and moral/political commentary. While this may not be the best of the Merchant-Ivory films it has more than enough going on to entertain the viewer as well as encourage some though. The cast is good as our the sets which really invoke the period.

4/5

Water landings

Sully (2016)

Directed by Clint Eastwood this film based on a true story stars Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney. We follow the story of the captain who landed a passenger aircraft on the Hudson river in 2009.

While this is not Clint Eastwood's best work even in his weaker films you are still in very safe hands. There are some changes from real events but I like the way the plot of the film focuses as much on the aftermath as it does on the main disaster and the way in which it tells the story in a non-linear fashion. As you would expect from Eastwood the film is well made and never quite becomes overly sentimental.

3/5