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Reviews
Dunkirk (2004)
OK, but should have been much better
After seeing the BBC Adverts for "Dunkirk" i was honestly looking forward to seeing this Docu-Drama showing us the events leading up to and the evacuation of over 300,000 British,Belgian and French troops from the beaches at "Dunkirk".
It must have only been 10 minutes into the first episode of the Three part series that i began to feel let down by a programme that at best i can only describe as OK.With the BBC's experience of helping to make "Band of Brothers" and resources that should have been made available for such a project,OK just isnt good enough. Did the BBC not think that showing black and white stock footage of Stuka dive bombers and German soldiers might impede the viewers ability to actually feel like they were there with there soldiers.The whole thing contradicted itself,make a Docu-Drama for realism then show old footage(in black and white!) Germans Aircraft and Troops? Just as i found myself getting into "Dunkirk" some stock footage would pop up,presumedly just to remind the viewer that the non black and white images arent actually real,which of course is true but thats not the point. The use of stock footage only showed me that this is a Low budget programme and it didnt take long before my thoughts were confirmed. As in one of the so called "Action" scenes a dozen or so British soldiers are attacked by around 7 German troops and some Tank Tracks.Bizarrly as soon as the Officer sees those Tank Tracks he orders his men to surrender giving the impression that they fought for around 2 mins before giving up.Now this is annoying(even if you do ignore the lack of an actual Tank) because in reality one of the reasons those men were taken to the barn and executed was because they had fought stubbornly and inflicted heavy casualties on the SS soldiers they faced.The German Commander(Moltke) was annoyed by this and the British troops payed a terrible price for their stubborn fighting.
Overall i thought "Dunkirk" was badly let down by its (obviously)Low budget.As it was made by the BBC it really shouldnt have been so cheaply made,is this all our Veterans deserved?. The BBC might do well to bare this in mind for future projects,if youre not going to do it properly then dont do it at all.
The Wicker Man (1973)
Dreadful,uttterly dreadful not even the ending can save it.
*Possible Spoilers*
I saw this around 4 months having read all the hype and praises from this website and many others and i have to say that this must be the most overrated British film ever made.Its hard to describe how dissapointed i was with this film.But i'll try.
I was expecting a superb Horror indeed ,one the best British Horror films ever made! Intstead i found myself watching a Musical/Camp Horror film with absolutely awful acting,editing and some truly embarassing scenes.This really is a shame as the idea is good and not every film gets an ending as good(or potentially as good) as "The Wicker Man" had at its disposale.I just cant understand why all the singing and chanting was included it really did ruin the film.Even the ending which for the most is superb is then completely ruined by the irritating singing "Look we're pagans so we sing and look crazy, youre going to die burn burn bread burn lalala" What? Please!
As for the acting, Edward Woodward is very good and giving a very good performance boy is he out of place in this film.Christopher Lee plays ,well... he plays Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland is nude alot(no complaints) and the rest of the cast especially the locals at the pub dont seem to know whether its night or day let alone that they are supposed to be acting in the Best British Horror Film Ever Made!
The story is good one but also full of massive plotholes which others have already gone into.Although i did my best to ignore them it didnt matter the other negatives did most of the damage as far as my liking of the film was concerned.But..just how does dancing on a Maypole signify Mystical Scottish paganism??
Overall i was expecting so much more but often found myself laughing at Britains supposely greatest horror film.I wouldnt advise people not to see it but if you do watch it prepare to be disappointed.
3/10
2 points for the ending,1 Point for Edward Woodward's name & acting.
The Great War (1964)
The War To End All Wars
Even though it was nearly 40 years old and in Black & White "The Great War" immediatly grabbed my attention with its music,truly shocking images and excellent narration.
The start alone would be worth a "10" score,showing a British soldier staring blankly beside a German Officers gruesome corpse whilst that haunting,bombastic music plays."The Great War" as it was known before before that other War is a Brilliant and Intelligent series about the First World war that certainly does not hold back.As i said some of the images are truly shocking with film footage of British,French and German dead shown through-out the series,yet this is vital in showing the futility of war and in particular,"The Great War itself." Certainly some of the images you see in this series you will not be able to forget forexample even though i saw the "Gallipoli" over 6 months ago i can still remember the ending showing a British or ANZAC soldier with his head in hands whilst the credits rolled and the sublime score brought the episode to an end.Also the pictures of Lancashires Landing from the same episode are equally hard to forget even though they were just drawings.I can honestly say that Music,Imagery and Narration has never been used together so well,not even in "The World at War"
On the negative side,Propaganda footage was used far to often and was easy to spot(just look at the angle the camera was facing) as was some of the same footage. Also British High Command seemed to get off rather lightly in "The Somme" episode.Because although Haig and Rawlinson should certainly not take all of the blame it annoyed me that they didnt recieve any critcism and the 'inexperience' of the British army was often highlighted as the main problem as far as that battle is concerned.Also of the interviews with those that fought in the war,i didnt think there was enough ordinary British soldiers to give their opinion and to many 'Cut-glass' accented men.Nothing against those men,just i dont think it was a fair representation,regardless of how they speak.
But my complaints are certainly minor and i would advise anyone with an interest in the First World war to watch this or buy the DVD.
Phoenix Nights (2001)
"Dont stand up, or you might die!"
In "Phoenix Nights" the comic genius that is Peter Kay has created a Modern Classic.This is probably the best British comedy of recent years,whilst "The Office" is excellent i think "Phoenix Knights" just edges it.If i could rate each episode,every one except maybe the first episode and last episode of Series 1 & 2 respectivly would get 10/10,it really is that funny. Each episode has least half a dozen proper laughs and some great one liners.My favourites including Max the bouncer commentating "How far away are they?" upon seeing Dwarf Football fans exiting their coach or resident DJ Ray Vons "Lets here it for Albert,Albert is a registered Diabetic"
British Comedy at its very best. 10/10
My Family (2000)
Below Average British Sitcom
The jokes are predictable and not funny,the writing is poor and its about as politically correct and clean as you would expect from a BBC "Comedy" aimed at Middle England.For those who have seen "Phoenix Nights", think Brian Potter telling the Comedians what was acceptable in the 'Funny Farm' episode and then imagine him telling the Writers of "My Family" the same thing.
As you can probably tell i didnt like it and with the excellent "The Office" just finished,the next "Phoenix Nights" series in limbo and the once great "Only Fools and Horses" now sadly past its sell by date,it would appear British comedy has a Grim future.
Glory (1989)
Best War Movie Ever Made ^Possible Spoilers^
It says on the back of the Glory DVD cover that this is one of the Greatest war movies ever made and i disagree, this is THE Greatest War Movie ever made and possibly one of the best films ever shot.The Acting,the Cast,the Music(the Music!!) are all top draw and there are so many memorable moments that the film just has 'Classic' written all over it.But the things that really do stand out in this film are James Horner superb score(in my opnion the best he's ever made) and the Assault on Fort Wagner,i read further down that a young girl couldnt stop crying after she'd seen those scenes and i must admit i was close to tears when the end credits finally went up.Im a big fan of War films and i can honestly say that although most of this film is superb the final ten minutes are better than anything else ever put in a War film in film history.
Brilliant,Brutal and Stunning.
10/10 A Must see.