Change Your Image
andrewbayly
Reviews
Be Your Own Boss (2012)
Really good business education
It's probably not the greatest reality TV show in history and I can understand why people in search of light entertainment might not remain interested for long.
But as an education for anyone thinking about going into business, it doesn't have much competition. It is far, far better than most business books and it gets to the heart of the matter for aspiring entrepreneurs.
If you're thinking "Will I start my own business, or won't I?", I would highly recommend you to get your hands on a copy of this series.
Reed constantly and constructively reviews the ideas and actions of the hopeful start-ups, and there's an entertaining tongue-in-cheek commentary over the top that keeps the shows moving along nicely.
Avatar (2009)
It's a must see, but only for a few years
Avatar is definitely a must see feature, if you're going to the cinema in 2009-2010. It's a sumptuous cinematic smörgåsbord, and takes visual pleasure to new heights.
However, the scriptwriting and story would have been thrown out - or at least covered in big red question marks - at even the most basic screen writing class.
The first fifteen minutes of the film is loaded with exposition, the hour after that includes some interesting developments that hold some promise, but the story implodes in the last hour as one plot possibility after another is sold out in order to set up nothing more than literally explosive highlights, and emotional clichés.
It continues to look fantastic, but its story devolves into simplistic nonsense.
You pay for 3D glasses (well worthwhile), but watch a one dimensional story.
In another few years, many other films will be using computer generated animation in this way, but they'll be doing it with far, far superior story-lines.
In the meantime, despite these severe criticisms, the film is a must-see for movie buffs.
I strongly suspect it will be little more than a subject of trivia questions ten years from now.
Be prepared to turn a blind eye to its shortcomings, and enjoy it... while you can.
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
More a variety show than a musical story
This movie contains a number of outstandingly entertaining scenes.
However, it also ignores the integrity of its own story - quite spectacularly at the end - in order to pursue some variety moments.
Clearly, this works and is acceptable to a lot of viewers.
In my view, abandoning the story undermines the whole, and while it might be an all-time favorite entertainment for many, I simply don't think it should be compared with - or included in the same category as - the great stories that have been told on film.
It's a ripping historical document brimming with great musical moments, and definitely worth a look.
But, in my view, it's certainly not a great movie.
Rear Window (1954)
Magnificent Light Entertainment
This is not a movie to change your view of humanity in any way. Except, strangely, to build a simple sense of community.
But it is probably Hitchcock's greatest film because it plays with so many layers of lightness and joy, seemingly in contradiction with the plot of the story. Hitchcock makes the act of witnessing and uncovering murder into a ripping good yarn, and a bit of fun.
Stewart and Kelly flirt with each other in very morish fashion, and they share a few terrific, spell-binding moments in which they build realisations through trusting each other's intuition - despite their better judgment. We, the viewers, revel in the way they come together in pursuit of the truth.
The set is magnificent: a world in which we can all be voyeurs, witnessing the great emotional struggles of the simple lives playing out around us. And through it all, Hitchcock relentlessly - and perfectly - builds the tension to a glorious climax.
Not one of the most searching films ever made, but most definitely one of the best.