Reviews

I didn't know Danny Dyer, I do not follow any soaps at all, but I watched this episode anyway and was fascinated with how this wide boy EastEnder was able to get his lineage tracked back so far and so so SO impressively. I don't care much about the person they follow, to me it is about the social history, but frankly I thought this was a marvellous episode precisely because of who he was and where he ultimately came from. I bet his wife did too.

I am surprised it did not score a bit higher, I certainly think it is worth the 9 points I gave it. They are often only able to go back a few generations but this was a case of more is definitely more.

Another great performance by the late and very much lamented Victoria Wood. Her portrayal of Nella Last, a woman emerging from under the thumb of a somewhat dictatorial husband is stellar viewing.

Despite her continued anxiety Nella blossoms during the war years and seems to find her niche in assisting the WVS and Red Cross efforts. It is based on the very real diaries of Nella Last.

As someone skidding across the stage of life towards old age I found this feature truly heartening and uplifting. While the subjects featured were well heeled and in predominantly good health the reason they were comfortably off is because for their whole lives they have gone out and just done it. They didn't sit back and wait for things to fall in their lap, they have worked hard for their success and that zest and drive is still very much in evidence today. My particular favourite was the 100 year old lady who took up running in her 80's This is a documentary that gives hope and not a little incentive to get up and get going.

I came into this knowing nothing about it apart from a brief on-screen description. The opening credits gave a clue as to the tone of the story with the cartoons of odd bodies and strange happenings which reminded me a lot of the Pink Panther opening credits. The start was a bit confusing and didn't grab straight away. But as the story evolved I was reminded very much of the movie Clue with all the different characters with who knows what secrets. Its silly, black and funny, and although I wasn't rolling in the aisle it was still an entertaining little movie recommended for light relief.

This started out well on the 2D screen with the high octane delivery of the presents and the introduction of the Arthur character but from then on I got the impression that this was directed almost totally at the 3D market. Characters, story and humour making way for what I presume would be 3D effects. Mrs Santa would have been 2 dimensional even on a 3D screen despite Imelda Stauntons substantial talent. Don't get me wrong I am a HUGE fan of Aardman animations and have been since their original Oscar winning short Creature Comforts which was hilarious, and clever,but that was Claymation and this movie isn't. It is pure CGI and loses the charm factor because of it, and that is a shame given the big name cast. Although getting some of those 'names' in for a couple of lines sounds like overkill and did not add to the bankability at all. I was disappointed that I found it disappointing

I love the work of Alan Plater. His Beiderbecke series was absolute magic. But those stories weren't told in 110 minutes but slowly developed over many episodes which helped give it greater depth and great characters. I have to agree with the previous reviewer that this production of Joe Maddisons war fell well short of its full potential. It could have been a cracker of a story showing the frustration of a man who could not actively participate on the front line, being able to do his bit in the Home Guard. It could also have given us a more balanced view of the contribution of the Home Guard than the admittedly very funny but inaccurate "Dads Army" series. Unfortunately all we got was a meandering saga spread thinly from 1940 to 1945 with unnecessary interjections of archive footage that was supposed to set the time but arrived in the most curious places seeming to split a subplot in half. The actors did well with the material they had, Derek Jacobi as always superb, Robson Green adding the comic element, but they were let down by the story and continuity. It is a great pity that Alan Platers Swan Song is such a disappointment.

You can line up all the best voices in the business but it will not save a movie with a thin plot and little character structure. This was awful. Regardless of how this originated in the comic industry how can you make an entertaining story that starts out in such a tragic way. I like good cartoons and good sci-fi. This is neither. (Spoilers)There is a anomaly where two characters are both subjected to the same treatment by the 'bad' robot one survives one does not, why? (spoiler)there is no mention of aliens in the movie and suddenly one appears at the end. (Spoiler)Parents turn up to claim an orphan, why bother at that stage of the story. really glad I didn't have to pay to watch this rubbish

Brilliant performance from Juliet Stevenson in this tale of betrayal and revenge, also amazing work from Trevor Eve as the errant, conscienceless husband and embryo Prime Minister. Juliet as the wife could have forgiven and forgotten had it not been for the damning evidence given to her that she uses to feed her revenge. And this is revenge of the best kind. Not the clothes cutting, brick throwing revenge of a tempestuous hothead but a calculating scheme that hits the target where it hurts the most. She is aided in this from an unlikely source but also gains the help of others through guile and charm making them unwitting allies in her plan. And you are totally on her side. A triumphant experience.!!!

A daring title that may well put a lot of people off but this film is definitely worth a look.

The movie starts with strong overtones of 'Shirley Valentine' (though not as good) as an older Pauline Collins again plays the part of a much put upon not to say bullied wife and mother with no life of her own. There is a small undertone of rebellion even before the fateful day when her husband is laid out for duck or should I say for want of a duck.

Mrs Caldicot finds she does indeed have a mind of her own and starts a small rebellion in the twilight rest home where she has been parked by her son, baulking at the harsh regime and standover tactics of the management.

The story then moves on to an oft repeated scenario of old folks locked away, drugged to the eyeballs to keep them subdued as selfish offspring fulfil their own needs at the expense of the parent. Unfortunately it wont prick the conscience of those guilty of these deeds in real life for two reasons, they wouldn't be able to see themselves up there and they probably wouldn't watch or appreciate a movie of this calibre.

It was fun to see John Alderton up there as an antagonist of Pauline Collins which would have made for some interesting and fiery rehearsals at home I'm sure. Parts of the movie were a little far fetched but added to the overall fun of it. I hope the message got through to viewers about the quality of life for the older generation because there are going to be a lot more of them in the future with the improved health habits and mobility of most aging people. I certainly plan to be one! It may be distressing of course for those who don't have any choice about the long term care of their aged relations, knowing that they may be experiencing these same degrading practices.

Overall a very pleasant 100 minutes of humour, pathos and reckoning and I shall be heartily recommending that my own aged in-laws go and see it.

This the TV adaptation of JB Priestly's play of the same name first published in 1938. Three couples are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversaries. Not only do they all share the same anniversary they all got married at the same church at the same time by the same preacher. But a revelation that comes forth during the festivities throws them all in a turmoil. The play revolves around the repercussions of this revelation, and what can be done to solve the problem. The story is further enhanced with the possibility that certain characters are quite pleased with the new situation and are not especially enthusiastic about rectifying it.

This comedy is one of those delightful Who's Who of British Theatre productions that doesn't put a foot wrong. Written in 1938 by one of Britains best playwrights, JB Priestly, it is set in Northern England, 1908, where the theme of the story would indeed have made the participants social pariahs and bywords. Three couples are celebrating their combined 25th wedding anniversaries when they receive news of such calamity, such misfortune, such...well I shan't spoil the surprise, just try and watch it if you can. The story centres around solving what seems at first to be unsolvable.

One of the lesser but certainly more memorable members of the cast is Liz Smith, the stalwart of the working class character, as Mrs Northrop the cook with a weakness for keyholes. "I wouldn't 've missed this if it meant 'aving ear ache for a week." "It's better than a turn at t'mpire" A couple on this screen and in real life are Prunella Scales and Timothy West. He is a dull, pompous, penny pinching 'stingy' man to her shy, sweet, endearing but ultimately courageous woman. You can almost see him deflate before your eyes. Peter Vaughn pairs up with Patricia Routledge as the host and hostess and have an extra problem turn up later in the proceedings. Bernard Cribbins and Rosemary Leach make up the final 'happy' couple. Patsy Rowlands and Joss Ackland are an outside influence that create their own havoc amidst the turmoil that takes over the evening.

It is a large cast but then that equates with the huge entertainment it provides

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys words over weapons.

I expected more of this film than it could deliver. I havent read the novella but other comments lead me to believe that the ending was different from the one filmed. Perhaps they should have stuck to it.

If I love a movie I rave about it If I hate a movie I am equally fervent in my comments but with this one I dont even care enough about the movie or the characters in it to comment more. Disappointing.

This was a fun movie with a few interesting ideas. The ending after the ending makes you think about the relativity of size, and it was cute. It didnt take itself seriously which unfortunately ID4 and Lost in Space did. At 98 mins it is a little on the short side for current movies but I guess it is aimed at the short attention span of younger people.

All the stars were good, Tommy Lee Jones plays Tommy Lee Jones with the usual staccato delivery and dry wit, Will Smith and his own brand of humour offsets TLJ nicely. Vincent D'Onofrio was brilliant as Edgar the bug. The loose skin thing worked really well.

I for one will be looking forward to the sequel.

I vividly remember the first time I watched this movie. The lead up to the finding of the old films was without any obvious clues, so it wasn't 'til the Richard Pearse footage that we became seriously suspicious. My husband is a forensic photographer so the digital imaging to get the date off the newspaper was a dead giveaway to us. The eleventy seven dozen eggs was another big pointer. From then on we treated the whole thing as a lark and just revelled in the imagination that is Peter Jackson's trade mark.

We were of course, greatly impressed with the enormity of the project and could only surmise that the actors in the "Salome" movie were also conned into thinking they were filming a real movie and didn't know the truth until the 'doco' came out. Either that or Peter Jackson has a loyal entourage that kept a secret which could never have survived in any Hollywood arena.

I look forward to even more of Peters work.....

What a bunch of misery mongers some people are. Arent we allowed to go to a movie now and JUST ENJOY it??

This film was pure, unadulterated escapism. Sure it was vulgar in parts, in was also extremely clever, visually stunning,(toned down cos it looked too real at first) and one of the funniest films I have seen in a long time. I belly laughed!!!!

If I compared this movie to anything it would be "The Princess Bride". One of my all time favourite movies that covered all the bases in entertaining every member of the family.

If you havent seen the movie yet dont take notice of ANY of the comments here, since just as many people are ready to trash it as praise it. Just sit back relax and watch with an open mind and I for one sincerely hope you have 90 minutes of pure joy as I did.

We made one big mistake when seeing this movie. We had just eaten! Being virgin Imax viewers in the big city we popped along to see what was on for the afternoon. Hey! There's one starting in 10 minutes, and wow its 3D!! Based on your normal movie the production quality and the graphics were excellent especially the space docking scenes. The aliens were well composed and their personalities come through even with the dialect barrier. The first 3D experience is via a simulator in a theme park. This one takes us to the arctic circle for a sleigh ride. We get tobogganed all over the place. One thing I noticed in all the 'rides' was that there was quite often another car/item directly in front of the one you are supposedly sitting in. Can someone help here, is this to enhance the sensations or to temper them a bit. It meant you tended to focus on the middle of the screen. Anyway the Arctic one was very good, the bedroom one was very well done as well, I think I stopped appreciating them after that as the food and the sensations worked their own magic on my constitution.

It was probably about 10 minutes too long. I remember thinking the aquatic scenes were not nearly as good as the earlier ones. Even so, I think everyone should have at least one session in a 3D movie and although I have nothing to compare it with, (as yet) I will recommend this one.

A bittersweet story about children wanting their mother back. Vanessa and her siblings watch as their divorced mother once again embarks on a drunken spree that would ensure their Christmas will be ruined. Steps must be taken. While mother is in a stupor they manoeuvre her down to the basement and lock her in the sauna to dry out. So starts a conspiracy to hide her absence from their father and the cleaning lady. The children feed their mother and spend many hours in the basement with her, hence the title 'Mothertime'. The children also spend time with their beloved father and his new wife hoping to find some way of bringing the family back together again. It is not going to be easy. All these machinations bring out surprising qualities in the family members, not always to their credit.

Despite the drear plot this is a humorous, enchanting story, with quite a few little surprises in it. Kate Maberly is delightful as the maternal older sibling having to mother her own mother as well. Gina McKee (Notting Hill) is excellent as Caroline, the talented artistic mother who has lost her way.

High votes don't always signify quality, but in this case it is right on the button.

This the TV adaptation of JB Priestly's play of the same name first published in 1938. Three couples are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversaries. Not only do they all share the same anniversary they all got married at the same church at the same time by the same preacher. But a revelation that comes forth during the festivities throws them all in a turmoil. The play revolves around the repercussions of this revelation, and what can be done to solve the problem. The story is further enhanced with the possibility that certain characters are quite pleased with the new situation and are not especially enthusiastic about rectifying it.

This comedy is one of those delightful Who's Who of British Theatre productions that doesn't put a foot wrong. Written in 1938 by one of Britains best playwrights, JB Priestly, it is set in Northern England, 1908, where the theme of the story would indeed have made the participants social pariahs and bywords. Three couples are celebrating their combined 25th wedding anniversaries when they receive news of such calamity, such misfortune, such…..well I shan't spoil the surprise, just try and watch it if you can. The story centres around solving what seems at first to be unsolvable.

One of the lesser but certainly more memorable members of the cast is Liz Smith, the stalwart of the working class character, as Mrs Northrop the cook with a weakness for keyholes. "I wouldn't 've missed this if it meant 'aving ear ache for a week." "It's better than a turn at t'mpire" A couple on this screen and in real life are Prunella Scales and Timothy West. He is a dull, pompous, penny pinching 'stingy' man to her shy, sweet, endearing but ultimately courageous woman. You can almost see him deflate before your eyes. Peter Vaughn pairs up with Patricia Routledge as the host and hostess and have an extra problem turn up later in the proceedings. Bernard Cribbins and Rosemary Leach make up the final 'happy' couple. Patsy Rowlands and Joss Ackland are an outside influence that create their own havoc amidst the turmoil that takes over the evening.

It is a large cast but then that equates with the huge entertainment it provides

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys words over weapons.

A charming movie set in rural England after the war. Widowed Father Jeremy Irons is bringing up his son in a caravan on a small piece of land where he also runs his own garage. Unfortunately this small piece of land is crucial to the plans of the local, much disliked, Nouveau Riche squire played by Robbie Coltrane. A real smarmy cove. He wants their land and will call in all favours to get rid of them. He is also currying up to the local gentry with a pheasant shoot, but what if there were no pheasants for anyone to shoot?. What they need is a champion pheasant catcher..

This is another winner from Roald Dahl the peerless childrens writer. Real-life father and son Jeremy and Samuel Irons play the leads in this with Grandad Cusack as the local doctor. Just a bit of a whimsical romp for the two elder actors whereas young Samuel had to put a noticable effort into it. All the same it is a thoroughly heartwarming story. There are quite a few well known faces in it, Jean Marsh doing a caricature of a spinsterish do gooder, Michael Hordern as a slightly dotty Lord, Jimmy Nail as a disgruntled gamekeeper, and Lionel Jeffries as the tippling but exceedingly fair Headmaster. It's almost as if they thought "What shall we do this summer? I know lets do a movie together." They are all perfectly natural and comfortable. A joy to watch.

Watch it with your children you wont regret it.

Thoroughly enjoyable, classic Victoria Wood. This woman is extremely talented. I have long enjoyed her stand-up comedy shows on the TV, and her half hour skits. She is surrounded by a wealth of talent in her circle of friends as well, with most of them turning up in her work. Celia Imrie is a favourite and in this production plays an enchanting, somewhat dithery, pregnant PA to Julie Walters Soap Icon.

Anne Reid is another VW regular along with Duncan Preston, these both had marvellous roles. Julie Walters does what she does well and has done before in a Victoria Wood production, the VIP star who must have all the adoration and accolade due her. When she and the frumpy frizz haired Margaret meet on live TV it is not an event welcomed overly much by either. Pat wants to send Margaret home, and indeed Margaret wants to go back to her roadside café and mates, but events are taken out of their hands and they must spend the next few days together during which time they get reacquainted.

The side issues are Margarets relationship with Jim her illiterate boyfriend who still lives very much under the thumb of his mother (Thora Hird) and Pat and Margarets mother who needs to be found by them before the press catch up with her. Throw in Celia Imrie and her hormonal aberrations and it is a feast of fun. Victoria Wood had written Celia Imrie into the script and then found out she was pregnant so changed the dialogue accordingly.

This story can take a bit of work in places, and needs your full attention, but it is worth it. There are scenes in Egypt that are not overly clear or explained but are responsible for the state of mind of the young bride in the story.

Through an acute case of apathy, Margaret has become engaged to the boy next door (David Threlfall). He is not however every mothers dream for her daughter in fact even his own Mother (Joan Plowright) is less than enthused about him on occasion.

The wedding is planned and guests start arriving in town. One of these is the exotic Lili (Jeanne Moreau), an old friend of the brides mother (Julie Walters). She spends her time prior to the wedding with Margaret and her mother and also reacquainting herself with the grooms mother (Joan Plowright). The latter objective having a little awkward history behind it.

The relationship that develops between these two veteran actors is a delight to watch. I have not seen Joan Plowright in anything where I haven't enjoyed her performance.

Lili has already decided that this wedding is a big mistake. Even the bride knows this. So steps should perhaps be taken to prevent it. The denouement brought about by Lili is magic, but then Lili is a most charming catalyst.

It would be easy to like this story simply because of the resolution that Lili brings to the problem, it is indeed unforgettable. But the movie is more than that. The title refers to Nuns habits. Literally. The custom was to wear one have one in the wash and one in the wardrobe. This is how Lili discovers what sort of bride Margaret really wants to be.

I found that I couldn't empathise with the bride in this story, how can you relate to someone who would allow themselves to marry the obnoxious Syl Munro (David Threlfall), but I revelled in the performance of Lili.

Watch and Enjoy

: Edit in 2016. This review was originally written in 2000. The meek bride in this story, Lena Heady, has since gone on to great things. She is now at the other spectrum as the manipulative and megalomaniac matriarch in Game of Thrones.

It is wartime in Britain, but life must still go on for three friends attending a boarding school where the deprivations of the rest of the country do not seem to have permeated. Our hero is a day pupil and is billeted with a local woman and her somewhat haughty teenage daughter whom he worships in silence. He is also a regular visitor to the local American army camp, making friends and being unwittingly privy to conversations where code words are bandied about. These same words find their way into crosswords blanks that the boys are made to fill out as punishment for some misdemeanor, the finished crosswords are in turn published and mighty minds at the ministry tremble.

This is a sweet tale of innocence, unrequited love, teenage buffoonery (with a kite), with a little mystery and intrigue thrown in.

Extremely enjoyable

Why do I love this movie sooooo much. Because it is one of the most delightful movies ever made.

From the opening shots of Dame Maggie Smith and her aged mother (Liz Smith) jostling for space on the Wurlitzer seat to the closing shots of Michael Palin and Richard Griffiths looking sadly at Betty on the platter this is a movie where every scene has something new.

The contents of Michael Palin's lunch box, Richard Griffiths popping his little trotter over the edge of the chair to get a chocolate for Betty, Liz Smith checking her nightgown for malodorous fumes, Bill Paterson and his wonderful artistry with green paint ( don't miss this line its great), Michael Palin's overt Pythonesque chiropodist sign, and Liz Smiths startled look watching him clean it, these are just a taste of the subtle visual and aural moments that make this movie magic (moments that obviously went completely over the head of a previous reviewer).

Alan Bennetts plot is original and actually believable, as snobbery of all kinds can be found alive and well in any nation in the world at any time, and Denholm Elliot and Dame Maggie Smith would have to be crowned the King and Queen of snobbery for their efforts in this.

Many people read some books over and over This is a movie I watch over and over. I have this movie on Video and I shall definitely be buying it on DVD as well

Annie is a student in the sixties. She has temporarily departed from academia to take a summer job at a seaside hotel in Wales. This movie follows Annie's relationships and interaction with the other members of staff and the outcome of their various dilemmas. That might sound a little heavy bearing in mind that this is a comedy, but it is witty, amusing and totally delightful.

The staff at the hotel are made up of a chatty Scots chef, a brash waitress and her abusive Elvis lookalike boyfriend, the roommate who closes her ears to the noises taking place right next to her, another roommate that closes her eyes to the nightly view of the sleepwalking nudist, the receptionist who is on extremely good terms with the hotel manager and the waitress who ran away from home at the age of 36.

Each of these characters and their life experiences make such an impression on the blank page that is Annie that when she leaves she is a different girl. A brief but enchanting gem of a movie.

Remember You Must Die.....Hardly the sort of thing you expect to hear when you answer the telephone, but this is just what an elderly and somewhat eccentric circle of friends do hear from their mysterious caller. Only one of the circle is seriously upset by the constant calls, the rest deal with it in their own inimitable ways.

A retired inspector takes on the task of finding the source of the calls with extremely interesting results.

The cast of this little gem reads like a who's who of English theatre. Each actor plays their role to perfection, engendering delight and ire accordingly. There is much to entertain in this story, a little harmless sexual titillation from one old gent, tales of long past infidelities, blackmail, a dissolute son, a secret marriage and of course death itself.

This took no effort at all to watch.