Reviews

I saw this short film on a DVD containing short films by some of Europe's great directors including the likes Jean Luc Godard, Tom Tykwer, Peter Mullan etc. I have been big fan of Lars for a while now and seen most of his films so I was eager to see this and I wasn't disappointed. Right from the very start you can tell it is a Lars film due to the distinctive style. You can also see how it has influenced his later films e.g. The Element of Crime due to the use of filters. It is good to see how Lars has progressed from this early short and fans should check this short out although it is over too soon. It is a simple but effective short and fans should definitely like it, so check it out!!

Zatoichi is definitely one of my favourite films and I consider it one of Kitano's best if not his best in terms of his acting and directing. I have the majority of Kitano's films and I was over joyed to hear that he was starring and directing Zatoichi and I was not disappointed when i saw it. Everything about the film is exceptional although a big disappointment for me was the fact that CGI blood was used which does look a bit fake in some scenes. That is the only criticism I can think of. The film is very violent but like Kill Bill it is comic violence. I was also pleased to see Tadanobu Asano(Kakihara from Ichi the Killer)who was very good and he also plays a reasonably similar role in Gohatto(also starring Kitano). Fans of Kitano and Japanese cinema should watch this as well as fans of the Zatoichi franchise.

Near flawless film!!

9.5/10

I have wanted to see this film for a long time due to the controversy and critical acclaim and I was not disappointed. The acting is superb especially from Jena Malone who did an amazing job. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael Rooker and Ron Eldard were also very good. Even though the subject matter is disturbing the story should be told because this is what happens in the world we live in. I strongly recommend this film although as many people have said it is very disturbing, nonetheless this important film should be seen. The book is supposed to be better and although I can't compare the film should be seen. Well done Angelica Huston!!

8/10

This was the fourth Miike film I have seen and I have to say like Ichi the Killer, Audition and Dead or Alive I liked it immensly. Like all Miike's films it is disturbing but it wouldn't be a Miike film if it wasn't. Fans of Miike would definitely like it but others may think it is a little too disturbing. the film is very funny but the only downside is that it is alittle short but other than that it is very good. I recommend it.

Blood is a great anime and it is great to see digital animation. The story is good aswell as the charcters but it is definitely too short and it ends just when you get into it. I also like the fact that it mixes english and japenese. I definitely recommend this to anyone and especially anime fans who haven't seen it.

Amazing film definitely one of Tarantino's best if not his best. This film is basically flawless and I can't believe some people dislike this film. The action scenes are great and the music is exceptional definitely one of the best things about Kill Bill. Tarantino has done martial arts/samurai fans proud and it is great to see references to past Tarantino flicks aswell as early martial arts flicks. I hope Kill Bill vol 2 is on par with this. Everyone should see this flick, enough said.

I have loved this flick ever since I first saw it and it is not a clone of Trainspotting because it stands in a league of its own. If you are British it is impossible not to like this flick but some Americans might not be able to understand the accents. Everyone should watch this and it features Rhys Ifans and Dougary Scott's in their best roles yet. The violence and language (there is alot) may offend some people but to me it just makes the film even funnier and more entertaining. Buy this flick, see this flick. Make it your goal in life to see this flick. 5 out of 5

I first saw this film when I was about 12 and I thought it was amazing and very realistic. Gary Oldman is a great director and the camera work makes it seem almost like a documentary adding to the realism. The domestic violence and strong language may offend some people but it once again adds to the realism. The acting from Ray Winstone and Kathy Burke is exceptional and Steve Sweeney has a great and funny role. This should be seen by every Brit. I also recommend Tim Roth's directorial debut 'The War Zone'.

This is the best series ever directed by the great Lars von Trier. I have got the 4 disc boxset containing both The Kingdom 1 and 2 and it is one of the best DVDs I have got. I urge anyone who hasn't seen it to pick it up. Fans of von Trier should definitely see this as it similar to some of his other work such as the camera work and the yellowish tinge that the scenes have. The only downside is that both series are inconclusive nonetheless it is very entertaining with some frightening moments. Watch it.

I am a big fan of Miike's film so I had to see this aswell as the average anime and I was not disappointed. 1-Ichi is a great intro into the world of Ichi and you can see what happens for him to become the deadly assassin figure in 'Ichi the Killer'. Fans of Miike's Ichi will not be disappointed seems it contains alot of violence but none of it is as graphic as in 'Ichi the Killer'. The only downside is that the great Kakihara is not in it. Nevertheless I recommend this because it is very entertaining and if you like this try the anime which is not great but basically a animated version of 1-Ichi.

I saw this last week and I was blown away by it. This has to be one of the best dramas I have seen and the acting by James Nesbitt and the other family members is exceptional. Sometimes it is difficult to watch but it is well made and an important drama which people should see. I highly recommend although it is sometimes frustrating when the witnesses do not come forward straightaway and the murderers intimidate the grieving family. Great drama its just a shame it is based on a true story.

I heard this film was very unsettling and in the same vain as 'Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer' and because I am a fan of that film and other films like it, I bought this film. I enjoyed the film alot but I did not find it disturbing or unsettling at all, nonetheless I thought the techniques used to film it were great i.e the camera panning from the kitchen to the dinig room and so on. The performances were good especially that of the great Tim Roth and the music added a great essence to the film. I suppose soem people may be disturbed by the film but those who are not and who like different films, I recommend this.

I did not particularly enjoy this film but I did enjoy all the techniques used because it makes the film original and different. The techniques e.g. fast editing, weird camera shots, animation etc add to the drug related theme but I feel it is just trying to imitate the brilliant 'Requiem for a Dream'. The cast was good especially Jason Schwartzmann who was great in 'Rushmore' and it was great to see Mickey Rourke acting again. Good but not great.

I heard alot about this film so I bought it and was amazed. The film is very tense and it seems very realistic making you think that it could easily happen to you. The film was also very different because the killers act as if they know they are in a film e.g. rewinding the scene using a remote to change the outcome. The film plays with the audience and that makes it more interesting. Some of the events are also unexpected. Great film perhaps abit slow in parts but this just adds to the tension. I am waiting now for it to be unsuccessfully remade. I highly recommend it.

I saw this documentary on the Denmark DVD of Dogville and because I thought the film was brilliant I was eager to watch this to see into the mind of the great Lars Von Triers and to see how he directs and interacts with the cast. Anyone who is a fan of Dogville should watch this because you can understand the effort into making this film. I strongly recommend the film and I strongly recommend this.

I bought this on DVD and although it was cut by over 3 minutes I thought it was amazing. The film was very stylish and I thought the violence wasn't as bad as I expected but maybe because that is due to the violence being very comic. Even though I have not seen all of Miike's I have to say this is my favourite out of the ones I have seen. Kakihara has to be one of the best movie characters in film history. I will be looking out for Miike's films in the future and I can not wait to see 'Gozu'. I strongly recommend this film but some people may find the violence unsettling but those who like blood, guts, pain etc should watch it.

I wanted to see this due to the film having the dreaded NC-17 rating so I bought the uncut version. Due to the rating I expected alot more violence, sex etc but this was not present so it made me wonder why it got the NC-17 rating. Nevertheless I enjoyed the film and the performance of Paul Dano was very good giving me the impression he will star in alot of films in the future. The ever realible Brian Cox was great as always. Good independent film but not the best I have seen. 3 out of 5

I am a big fan Larry Clark and when I heard about Ken Park's reputation I had to see it, so I tracked down the DVD and I was blown away by the film. I had high expectations of the film due to all the reviews I had read and I have to say my expectations were fulfilled. I have to say this is on par with 'Kids'. Some people may be offended by the strong sexual content and although the film contains unneccesary nudity some people may see it as necessary to the story. I thought this film was great and strongly recommend it. I just hope it gets released worldwide and that it gets the recognition it deserves.

I first saw 'The Royal Tenebaums' and because I enjoyed that and liked the significant style I wanted to see the other work of Wes Anderson so I bought the Criterion DVD and I was blown away by the film. This is the best of Anderson's films even better than 'Bottle Rocket'. One of the best things about the film is the performance by Jason Schwartzmann because it is an exceptional performance for an exceptional character. I was also to see the great Stephen McCole in this film and I hope he gets more recognition in american films. I will definitely look out for more of Anderson's work.

I saw this when it first came out and when I didn't know who Larry Clark was and at the time it was a very powerful film. I must admit the first time I watched it I didn't particularly like it but as I watched it more and more it grew on me and now I thing it is brilliant. I know think of Larry Clark as a great director who portrays teeagers as they really are. Kids is filmed in a gritty documentary style which adds to the realism. I have now seen all of Clark's film and this and Ken Park are my favourites. I recommend this film to everyone and I think parents should watch this to see how their children really behave. The film is very hard hitting but its needs to be. I strongly recommend this and all of Larry Clark's films bar 'The Teenage Caveman'. 4 out of 5.

I am not a huge fan of historical dramas but I had to watch this for an college exam and I was impressed. The direction by Kapur is commendable but the best thing is Cate Blanchett's oscar nominated performance which is amazing. The rest of the cast is also great.The pace is sometimes a little slow and the historic elements may be a little inaccurate but other than that I thought it was a well made film. I found this film to be very similar to 'Shakespeare in Love' but 'Elizabeth' is much more darker and violent. I highly recommend this film if only to see Blanchett's brilliant performance.

I was very eager to see this after seeing nearly all of Lars Von Triers other films so I decided to buy the 2 disc Denmark DVD. This film is not like anything I have seen before. Although the film is slow in parts you are just mesmerised to continue watching due to the set and the way in which the film is shot. Even though this film is original and unique and I can't believe it has not been tried before. The performances are great and I can not wait for the other two films in this trilogy. Any fan of Lars would surely appreciate this film but non fans may not, but give it a try because it is different and a great accomplishment in film making.

Due to to positive reviews on IMDB and because I am a fan of Charles S Dutton I decided to purchase the DVD and I was amazed by what I saw. The acting is amazing and convincing, the writing is exceptional and the camerawork adds a gritty feel to the series. This is one of the best series I have seen and the fact that it is all true adds to the entertainment and one of the best things is you get to see the real life people which the series is based on at the the end of the sixth episode. This is an important series that should be viewed by everyone. 10/10.

I bought the DVD of the brilliant 'Punch Drunk Love' and included on the bonus material disc is a feature title 'Blossoms and Blood'. I am a very big fan of PTA so as any respecting fan would do I viewed this special feature expecting to see something great. The feature is basically a collection of alternate takes and deleted material from the film which are compiled and matched with the Jon Brion song "Here We Go" in this plot-less but very interesting short film. This short piece also features more Jeremy Blake artwork that was not included in the film. Worth a watch but nothing to rave about.