Reviews

let's face it: 2010 wasn't the best year for movies. A year full of terrible reboots, squeals and snore-fests that gave critics a lot to complain about. When the Oscars came about in 2011, I was really annoyed that the only great movie that year, INCEPTION, was snubbed for best picture. Who was the mysterious larcenist? none other than the Kings speech. The king's speech flew under my radar, believe it or not, I never seen any of the trailers. So lately, after looking into the positive reviews, I sat down and watched the film that captured even our own Queen Elizabeth II's attention.

The King's speech is a historical drama about King George VI, the monarch who reigned over the United Kingdom in the time of one of the most devastating wars in history. However, George lacked something that strong leaders required; Fluent speech. As a victim of a speech impediment, King George seeks out a therapist to help develop him vocally before he can speak publicly.

I'm going to say it now - The kings speech blew me away in numerous ways. The sheer depth and emotion of the film lifts it high above any other film in the genre, with beautiful acting, music, cinematography and script- the bare bones of an instant classic.

lets start with the acting. Now I haven't seen many Colin Firth movies bar Mama Mia (which didn't leave a good impression), but his performance as King George VI was among the best of the modern era, second to DDL's performance in Lincoln. You really invested in his character. Playing a person with a stutter is very hard to pull off effectively, but Firth hits all the right notes. Going into this film I believed that he would pull of the cliché performance and that his voice would be perfect by the end of the movie- but no! Actually, he never truly fixes his voice and even at the final climatic speech, George still struggles to get a word across. This is what makes his performance great. He shows how hard it really is, in that even with months of practise, he still finds it hard to talk to his own brother. Props to Colin! All the other actors are exceptional also, with the likes of Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter (serious role??). The Kings speech shines in the acting category like no other British film.

If your a historian, like me, you probably know this story inside out, and may also be annoyed at the slight liberties they took in writing the film's script. However, in order to get the appropriate emotional response, I believe it was necessary. If I was to complain about the film, it would be that the plot does become predictable at times, and there are many scenes that you are able to guess the outcomes before they happen, but the sheer presentation and delivery of the script overpowers these insignificant factors and make you forget about all that. I don't believe many of you watch movies for their camera angles, (and if you do, join the club!0, but I just loved the cinematography in this film. Its hard to describe the movement of the camera without showing you the movie, but if you watch the movie in full HD and look out for how each scene is filmed, you too will be blown away.

Finally, I cannot Finnish this review without at least mentioning the musical score. The score is the heart and soul of this very movie that inflects some very strong emotions in many of the scenes. The constant piano playing may be an annoyance to all you heavy metal junkies out there but if your into classical, or just music in general, if nothing else at least buy the films soundtrack.

Am I still annoyed at Inception's best picture snub?Of coarse! but that's another review for another time. What got the award is a stylish, sleek, artsy movie, with breath taking visuals, acting and sound. I left this film proud to be a British citizen and wanted to grab the nearest microphone, get up in public and give a inspirational speech. Regardless to anyone that would care about me doing that, any movie that gives me such an urge deserves praise in my book.

Before You Can't Take It with You , Before Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, before It's a Wonderful Life - There was Mr. Deeds Goes to Town!

This is my review on Mr deeds goes to town.

The plot goes like this;

The kindhearted Longfellow Deeds is suddenly whisked away from his average village life when he inherits a fortune from his late relative and becomes one of the richest men in the country. However, He doesn't know how to use it, and as the money vultures circle, he must defend his own dignity.

If any of you know me (which I certainly hope not), you would know that I'm a huge fan of Frank Capra. He delivers such basic story lines into heartwarming classics which cannot be topped.

The story of MR deeds is no exception. I just love the morality painted throughout the film. Mr deeds doesn't want to ruin his lifestyle with money as he was content with what he owned, and valued love over money. How could you not like that? It follows some elements of the "prodigal son" story, showing that most fat cats in the city would only grant you friendship if you had loads of money.

To Mr Deed's advantage, hes played one of the giants, Gary cooper. Have you ever seen him do a bad performance? nope. me either- and this is no exception. He makes the character have a sense of innocence and ignorance but you and the audience know too well that he is smarter than he looks. Props to Mr cooper for another brilliant performance.

The film also shows the difference between love for self and love for others. Mr deed's love interest Babe Bennett is a cleverly a mix of both, wanting the cash and Mr deeds's heart. She plays a double agent for the press to expose the new millionaire's secrets. However, his undeniable charm gradually wins her over, but by then it's too late.

Mr deeds goes to town is one of those films that you should go in without much knowledge of the plot, in order to enjoy it further. The comedic moments are genuinely hilarious, the duologue is well written and the plot is completely unique. While its not as memorable as It's a wonderful life it is an unforgettable film.

A delightful, heartwarming film to be watched again and again. I'm giving it a 10/10

The American civil war has got to be one the most interesting yet horrid wars ever to break lose in pre-modern history.Even with modern technology developing and battle tactics changing, it has become one of the most heartbreaking wars as brother fought against brother for a cause right in their own eyes. And out of all the civil war movies produced, only one truly shows this to it's full extent.

This is my review on Gettysberg.

The plot goes like this; It's July 1863, halfway though the American civil war. The leader of the Confederates, Robert E Lee, launches a attack on the little town of Gettysberg. Little did both sides know that it was going to be the most ghastly battles ever to be raged on American soil.

The American civil war is one of my favourite topics in history. There is just so much political intrigue between the to sides of the war. Both sides had very good reasons to grab a gun a fight for their country. Conferderates wanted Slavery and felt that the union, who wanted to end slavery, was taking away a major part of their economy. The union thought slavery was completely inhuman. In a way, this topic is depressing because they weren't fighting against another country that they could join together and fight. This war pitted friends, brothers and loved ones against each other, sometimes unwillingly. America was on the brink of collapse.

Onto the movie. the movie centres around the topic mentioned above but delves deep into it. However, unlike most civil war movies, Gettysberg shows both sides of the story, highlighting every reason for fighting. In my opinion, they couldn't have done it better as you feel for every character in the film. every loss in battle makes you cringe. Wiether your loyal to the union or the confederacy, you are going to feel for each individual character.

The acting is top notch for a film like this. Jeff Daniels takes centre stage on the union side, staring as Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. His performance is definitely memorable as he recites many of the films great speeches and delivers the best performance of his career. Other people that stood out were Martin Sheen, Stephen Lang and Tom Berenger. Each and every performance was heart felt and they all seemed to enjoy every minute of their performances, even when their characters are suffering loss.

The tone of the film is fantastic. It's start6s off a bit slow developing the characters back stories but once the battles take place, you really start to get the feeling the director is trying to get across. All the scenes before battles sometimes feel a bit meaningless, but most show the true depressing fact that all the soldiers don't want to fight, they just want what's good for their state and country. One thing this film does brilliantly is the relationship between two of the characters. Both play Generals on both sides of the war. They both long to see each other again before the battle proceeds but fear that they might not make it out alive. This is where the film shines and it portrays one of the best friendships in the history of film.

The action scenes are also fantastic. Each scene, including the huge main battle at the end, begin with a huge battle plan which is interesting to see them establish. History/military fans will enjoy each and every moment. The body count is huge with thousands of human bodies on screen at one time and it works to the film's advantage, making it feel huge.

In conclusion, you probably know how I feel about the movie. It is VERY long and it could have been cut down a bit as there seems to be a lot of fill, but I'm not going to mark the film down for that. I say if you like history and the military see this film. Many may find this film boring and I would see where they are coming from but this film is right up my street.

Im giving it a solid 10/10.

Up until 1933, Universal was on a role, with many great horror hits on their hands. Films like Dracula, Frankenstein and Phantom of the opera were great hits with the public. These films were brilliant films, especially Phantom of the opera, but there is one that tops them in all in so many levels...

This is my review on HG Wells' The Invisible Man.

The story goes a bit like this;

A mysterious figure turns up in a old hotel in a deserted town and requests for a room. He also insists that he wants privacy and no disturbances. After not paying his rent, The inn keeper demands that he should pay his fees and leave. Outraged that his privacy was disturbed, he assaults the inn keeper and throws him out of the room. Word gets across the whole village of the deranged assailant and the police are called in. It is to policemen that the mysterious man's surreptitious plot is revealed. He is not like normal men and women. He is invisible.

The invisible man is, like most movies of that time, an adaptation of of the famous HG wells novel with the same name. I have NOT read the book so I cannot make comparisons.

So how is it as a stand alone movie?

As talking acting was new to cinema, I never really expected their to be such well delivered duologue. Claude rains is a perfect example of how a villain should be. His vocal tone is fantastic and they way he delivers some of his lines make you shiver in your seat. When he's angry, you're scared. When he's sad, you sympathetic. He is invisible for most of the movie so you can't read his body language or facial expressions. However, it's like he transferred all of his lost acting strength into his voice. Clude Rain's interpretation of the invisible man is unmatched and makes Mr Griffin one of my favourite villains of all time.

The story fleshes out as time goes on and unfolds into a very creepy motion picture. The tone in this film is perfect. Usually horror films of the 30s would make me laugh more than scream, but this was quite the opposite. I was at the edge of my chair for most of the scenes. The thing about this movie is that it there is no visual monster on screen- The "monster" is invisible! It's the ery silence that truly makes this film creepy. Even in many of the duologue filled scenes you find yourself wondering, "Is the invisible man standing in the room?", "Is he going to kill anyone here?". The story plays to this effect and, without spoiling anything, it does catch you off guard many times. When the main protagonist is locked in the house with jack griffin (the invisible man), you are as scared as he is because you don't no if Jack is watching his very move. Props to the story and the directorial efforts.

The script is a pinnacle of movie history. What can I say that I haven't said before? Claude Rains delivers some thought provoking lines that make you think hours after the film is ended. Example are; "Don't worry, the whole world's my hiding place. I can stand there amongst them in the day and night and laugh at them."--"If you try and escape by the window, I shall follow you, and no one in the world can save you.". One of my all time favs is this;

((The Invisible Man: I hope you car's ensured, Kemp. I'm afraid there's going to be a nasty accident in a minute. A very nasty accident!

Dr. Kemp: Griffin, I'll do anything! Everything you ask me!

The Invisible Man: You will? That's fine. Just sit where you are. I'll get out and take the handbrake off and give you a little shout to help you on.You'll run gently down and through the railings. Then you'll have a big thrill for a hundred yards or so until you hit a boulder! Then you'll do a somersault and probably break your arms. Then, a grand finish up with a broken neck! Well, goodbye, Kemp. I always said you were a dirty little coward! You're a dirty sneaking little rat as well! Goodbye!))

For a universal film its actually quite funny in scenes. The policemen are bumbling idiots and share some hilarious scenes including times where they get their trousers stolen. Jack is also funny as he always sings while he goes around killing people in his maniacal killing spree. Believe me, You'll have "gathering nuts in may" stuck in your head all day.

Fantastic visual effects, comedy, script and acting. If I had one complaint with the film, it would be that the romantic relationship between Jack and his girlfriend Flora wan't explained enough, But it's a horror, not a romantic.

Definitely give it a watch. 10/10

Musicals used to be one of the most popular Genres of all time with classic hits like Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Clamity Jane and Fiddler on the roof. But, like in every Genre, there is always one that rules the roost...

This is my review on Singing In The Rain.

The plot goes like this;

It's the roaring twenties and the silent era of film dominates public entertainment. At this time, Don Lockwood is the most famous man in the film industry staring in hundreds of popular silent films along side his love interest Lina Lamont. When the first ever talking picture is released, directors and producers are forced to leave the era behind and begin making "talkies". Things turn out for the worst when Don's first vocal film is a disaster which would lead to his downfall. However, his best friends Cosmo Brown and Kathy Selden decide to turn things around and persuade Don to transfer the film into a musical before the film ruins his career.

There's no other phrase for it; Singing in the rain is a masterpiece. Trying to pick faults in this film is like trying to pick faults in a perfect diamond- There is none!

So what makes the film so good?

Lets start with the acting. Acting legend Gene Kelly stars as the main character, Don, and his performance is WAY above average. This is the film that turned his career around and there is good reason for this. The way he smiles, the way he laughs- what ever he does you buy the character. His part is quite hard to play and Gene gets the emotions of the character spot on. He also is a fantastic singer, but I will get onto that later. However, while Gene is brilliant, the actor who steals the show is Donald O'Connor's Cosmo Brown. NEVER have I laughed so much at an actor's performance in all my life. There is not a man on earth who can play the part of Cosmo Brown like Donald. You often find yourself looking at I'm even when he is not speaking in case he is making some hysterical facial expression. How he never brakes into i cink of laughing is beyond comprehension, but Cosmo Brown has to be one of the greatest characters in movie history. Finally, Kathy Selden is played by the lovely Debbie Reynolds. Her performance is great, though there isn't as much to say about it as the two actors i mentioned above.

The plot is actually really good for a musical. Musicals are usually pretty basic films with light hearted plots, which is fine, but Singing in the rain delivers more than that. Singing in the rain is definitely great for young children as the plot is easy to follow and there is a lot of funny material in the film to keep them entertained. This is the film children should be watching instead of films that have adult material which children seem to like these days. The film is also great for casual viewers who love music and romance and if you are one of these people, you will be greatly impressed. The film, however, really stands out for die hard film fans as is has all the things above plus a little more. There are lots of references to films before it's time like Lovey Mary and even Citizen Kane. The man plot even revolves around The Jazz Singer, the very first talking film. They could have easily just said that the vocal films are coming into fashion, but this film takes it one step further and actually addresses the actual film that started it all which relates the film to the real world.

The film's greatest feature is it's musical numbers. The music in this film surpasses the music of the modern age by FAR. Each song is lively, innocent, funny and heartwarming and you actually feel the love and emotion that went into writing these marvellous songs. I am only going to address some of the songs cause I would rather you go into the film and be surprised. "Make 'um laugh" (sang by Donald) is the funniest song of the film, which really relates to the title. It consists of Donald pulling of a serious of stunts and I still cant fathom how he did them. You see him bouncing off wall and flirting with an old doll. Garenteed laugh. May favourite song in the whole film the theme song, Singing in the rain. Every time your hear the tune you are instantly prepared to have your heart filled with Joy at the brilliant lyrics. The love song by Gene, which is debatably his best scene in all his acting career. The icon of him hanging happily onto a lamppost is one of the most famous movie symbols of all time- and with good reason!

It's time to wrap the review up. Singing in the rain is so wonderful that words cannot sum it up in one single review. The romance is great, the songs are perfect, the plot is intriguing and the acting is amongst the best in history. This is the film i'll be watching again and again. This is the film I will be sharing with my children. This is one of the best movies ever made!

I'm definitely giving Singing in the rain a 10/10

Movies about horses never really appeal to me which is the main reason why I didn't go see this movie. And yet again I am constantly reminded of that old saying, "Never judge a book by the cover"...

This is my review on War Horse.

The plot goes like this;

It's 1914. A faming family is on the brink of bankruptcy as the drunken farmer Ted Narracott comes home from market after spending all his money on a weak,unstable horse not suitable for ploughing. With Mrs Narracott breaking into deep distress their son Albert swears that he will look after and train the horse at all costs. During this time he grows deeply attached to the creature, communicating to him like he was a human being. When War suddenly breaks lose in Europe, The drunken depressed father has no choice but to sell the horse to a solider. although Albert is very distressed, he agrees to let his horse go to war and vows that he will meet him again. However, during the terror of war, the horse is passed on from person to person, each with there own views on the horse. But as the terror of war jeopardises the horse will he ever find a way home?

War horse is based of the British novel of the same name and, since i have not read the novel, I cannot make comparisons.

But how was it as a stand-alone film?

Lets start with the acting. The farmer's son Albert is brilliantly played by Jeremy Irvine, and for his first sliver screen performance he makes an excellent job. He plays his part full of emotion and energy that is absent in most actors today. He plays some outstanding scenes with the leading horse and you REALLY feel the bond between them (He REALLY loves that horse). You don't see him as much as you would think but his performance is something spectacular. Other roles include British legends Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston who only have minor roles but are still absolutely stunning. They both share some fantastic quotes that are among the best in movie history. These include Cumberpatch's be brave speech. When you watch it, a burst of patriotism fills you body with a great feeling. Call me weird but that is how I felt.

The story is a bottomless pit of depth, honour and good old fashioned storytelling. I was contently blown away by the awe-inspiring cinematography and camera angles truly did the film justice, bringing the film to life. Yes the film has it's slow parts especially halfway through but it is hard to mark down a film on something it needs to be in order to be great.

For the most part, there isn't many battle scenes and when they do happen they aren't as wide scale as most films of this genre but I don't believe that is what Spielberg wanted; and it works for it's benefit. I will give it credit though- It was loud, fast paced and Adrenalin rushing which is all a battle scene needs to be. showing the true brutality of war, war horse really lives up to it's title as it really places the horse in the gruesome war it was as if it really happened.

What could passably top great acting, story, duologue and cinematography? The Music. The soundtrack is written by the movie composing legend, John Williams, that brought us the Jurrassic park theme and the Star Wars Suite. But this soundtrack is by far his best work yet. Never once does the film disappoint in the musical department with scores ranging from bright and cheery to loud and booming. The main theme heard in the trailer is probably my favourite musical score to date- period.

To round up, War horse is brilliantly directed by the master Steven Spielberg. Acting and story has never been so deep and beautiful, almost bringing a tear to the eye each time you watch. War horse has a feel-good ending that will stay with you for the rest of the week. War horse has got to be one of the best modern movies ever made and it gets my highest grade, a 10/10.

In 1968, Toho had so many popular monsters in their arsenal that they decided to produce one of the greatest ideas in monster movie history! This is my review on Destroy all monsters The plot goes like this; All of earth's giant monsters are captured and contained by the people of earth on a small island off Japan. However, aliens swoop down from the skies and set the monsters lose on the world. As they destroy the major cities, the people of JApan must come up with a plan to stop this alien threat.

Godzilla has been in A lot of good movies but this one is at the top of the list.

Let's start with the story. I have to say, I really enjoyed the plot. It wasn't to deep or mind-boggling, but it was quite interesting with a couple of plot twists here and there. Most of the movie centres around the human's efforts to stop the alien plot. While the story is interesting, it does sag a little, but that is not why we watch Godzilla movies, nor does it degrade this monster flick.

Now onto the monsters. Never has there been such a great monster crossover gathering in all movie history. Rodan, Mothra, Varan, Manda, Baragon,Kumonga, Anguirus, Gorosaurus and King Ghidorah all show up in this huge picture, each with their own unique abilities. Mothra shoots webs, Anguirus spikes his enemies, Gorosaurus with his classic flying kick- the list goes on. My only disappointment is that baragon and varan don't make a big appearance. I was hoping they would join in at the end, but they didn't.

At the end, one of the best monster rumbles in movie history goes flat out, with heat rays, webs and other monsters going every where. The three headed Dragon ,King Ghidorah , shows up to wipe out earths monsters and gets a "warm" welcome. The fight is huge and it still makes me think how they did some of the effect, which thankfully isn't CGI.

One of the best monster movies in history that assembles all the greatest monsters of all time. They should do it again, without CGI and a lot more monsters for us to sink our teeth into. In my opinion, it's the perfect movie to watch with a younger viewer, particularly if you have a son. Just sit down and enjoy this cheesy action romp.

Im giving it a 10/10

For A Sci-fi "B" movie to be great it must be; Interesting, Have great looking aliens, have a good and original storyline and be original.

Unfortunately, not all films are like this.

This is my review on It came from outer space.

The plot goes like this; A spaceship crashes on earth leaving a huge hole in the deserts of Arizona. Only one man,John Putnam, witnesses this and is sure that it is the first stage of an alien invasion. However, nobody believes his claims and he becomes obsessed with trying to prove his point. After excavating the site, John Putnam stumbles across the alien beings and their ultimatum becomes clear...

Now don't get me wrong, it was a good flick. However it's flawed by a couple of issues.

Firstly, the plot isn't really interesting and all the characters are as dull as could be. The main character, played by Richard Carlson, is very well acted, but lacks interesting qualities. His character seemed to spend most of the time trying to prove his point, which was alright for a while but slowly became monotonous. I know you only really watch B movies like this to see the aliens and, while they are interesting to look at, which I will move onto in a moment, They're "plan" is slightly boring. (Spoiler) They are only on earth because they just crashed and have no interest in invading the planet. I was expecting it was some sort of "fake crash" so that they would secretly crawl out and invade. I no, I'm making a plot line up, but I was sort of expecting something round those lines. The fact that it didn't live up to expectations might be part of the reason why I don't like the film as much as I could have.

The Movie is very slow to start off with horrendous "talk" scenes that don't seem to add to the story what-so-ever, apart from how the ship got there etc.

Now what was good about it. Although I said the alien's motives were boring, their appearance more than makes up for it. They are completely unique and they certainly stand high in my favourite alien list in terms of how they look. They are huge, rock-like monsters with one bulging eye and large tentacles sticking out. This alone makes the movie worth while.They do have some interesting scenes, especially when they first meet Richard Carlson's character, John Putnam. It's both suspenseful and fun to watch. It came from outer space also had a great ending scene with these aliens that made the film a lot better.

Im not going to say the film was horrible, but there were a couple of unimaginative scenes in the movie that seemed either taken from another movie or just to dull to be any good. The film has lots of redeeming qualities that do make the film worth while but there is not enough of them to raise it above my final rating.

Im giving It came from outer space a 7/10

It has been over 42 years since a "good" Weird west movie came out. Now, Paramount Picture attempts to revive the genre again. Did It work? This is my review on Cowboys and Aliens.

The plot goes like this; A man wakes up in a desert without any knowledge of of history or his identity. He also notices a metal armband around his arm which looks like something WAY beyond it's time. He eventually finds a small town in Arizona entitled "Absolution". After causing chaos with the local Sheriff, he runs into a dirty, good-for-nothing Cattle owner named Colonel Dolarhyde who seems to own the town. But before Dolarhyde could get ahold of him, mysterious attackers from the skies assault the town, abducting anyone who stands in their way. After the attack, Dolarhyde decides to cut a deal with the man with no name, due to the fact that his armband is some sort of alien weaponry. A Posse is established and they set out to find the invaders and reclaim their family members.

With a few exceptions like "True Grit" and "3:10 to Yuma", Westerns that have come out in the 21st century have been far from Brilliant status of the older movies. Cowboys and Aliens seem to mix the two together; Assembling a classic western storyline with a modern alien twist- and it works!

The story has all the stereotypical western characters that appeared in the oldies. You've got an old drunk, the young kid that needs to learn manners, a greedy land owner and of course, a man with no name. The writers did a really good job establishing some great western clichés that seemed to be used a lot in the old movies.

The characters are extremely well acted- And why wouldn't they be. It stars great acting legends like Harrison ford and Daniel Crag. Harrison plays brilliantly, grunting and growling like some savage beast which the character seems to be. Daniel is quite good to,though there is nothing out of the ordinary to talk about. Good acting in general, but don't be going in thinking that there is going to be the best acting ever- because it isn't.

One factor a look at most in Sci-Fi movies is the Aliens. The aliens in this movie are amongst the greatest of modern aliens. Im probably alone in this, but they make me feel like I'm watching an old-school alien ultimatum which is very hard for modern filmmakers to achieve. One thing I like about them is their weaponry. You see a alien armband on the Daniel Crag's character for most of the movie, but as you get to the end they reveal a lot more. They have huge, under-arm Lazar cannons that explode large sections of the landscape which is quite entertaining to watch.The aliens' motivation is nothing special but it wasn't TERRIBLE. For the appearance and weaponry, I think they deserve credit.

There is a lot of action scenes to keep the action junkies happy. As well as the explosions mentioned before, we has huge spaceships blasting people, Indians stabbing aliens, Cowboys shooting aliens etc. There is A lot of battles which are extremely entertaining.

Im not saying this movie is for everyone and most people will disagree with everything i have just said, but I, on the other hand, can't praise it enough. It brought me back to the old school B movies. I highly recommend the film to fans of Sci-fi action and old B westerns.

I give it a 10/10

There's been plenty of Cowboy Crossovers; The beast from hollow mountain, The Valley of Gwangi, Cowboys and Aliens- The list goes on. But, wither they hate it or love it, there is only one weird west crossover that stands out amongst the rest.

This is my review on Billy the Kid Vs Dracula

The plot goes like this;

An American vampire arrives in the old west in search of a woman to be his Un-dead bride. As he embarks on a stagecoach to a wild west town, his fellow passenger shows them a picture of their daughter,Elizabeth, who they were going to meet later that week. The vampire instantly falls in love with her an plans to make her his undead wife. He provokes the local native American tribe to attack the stage they are travelling in, so that he could kill off Elizabeth's Uncle and take his identity. Since they had never met, he could easily be mistaken as her Reletive. When he arrives at the town he runs into bother with a gunman-turned-farmer, previously known as Billy The Kid, who finds the vampire impostor suspicious.

For a 60s "B" movie, Billy the Kid Vs Dracula is a very original wild west crossover. One of the most famous western figures Vs one of the most famous figures of film. What could go wrong?

The Story, though it may drag at times, is quite entertaining. If you are a western fan, you will notice that it borrows ideas off some famous westerns. For example, the movie starts off like the main plot of the 30s John Wayne film, "Stagecoach". You've got your grumpy stage driver, moaning old woman, pale faced old man and the stereotypical drunkard, who were all present in the 1939 classic. Also, the Indian attack seemed like a diluted version of the final Indian attack in "Stagecoach". I don't know if it was intentional, but if it was, it was a nice wee nod to the early classic.

The acting of the film is nothing special (apart from Dracula, who I will discuss in a moment). Chuck Courtney's attempt at playing the famous gunslinger, Billy, was decent, but you cant expect a high quality actor in a movie like this. Melinda Plowman, who plays Billy's Girlfriend Elizabeth, is quite annoying but is watchable. However, John Carradine nails his Dracula part perfectly. His performance is nothing to challenge the likes of Bela Lugosi, but they way he walks and talks sends shivers down your spine and it completely sells the character. Out of all the characters, John Carradine certainly plays the funnyest. There are some hilarious hypnosis scenes where he rolls his face inwards while his face glows like a tomato. People watching this barely smirk, which is strange because i know if I was being hypnotised by a person who made that face, I would burst out laughing.

If you are looking for action, there wont be much to recommend though there is some shootouts, one resembling a shootout from the Duke's final film, the shootist. What is with this film and borrowing from John Wayne movies? Maybe it's me. The film also contains some fistfights that are also entertaining.

Billy the Kid Vs Dracula was released back to back with another Weird west flick, Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter which also pitted a famous historical figure against a famous monster. I sometimes wish they would have made more like "Butch cassidy Vs The creature From The Black Lagoon" or something similar. I also wish Hollywood would make more films like this now-a-days.

This is an excellent, one of a kind B movie that deserves recognition. Im giving it a 9/10 and I highly recommend.

British Director Alfred Hitchcock has made some good movies in his time. 2 Of his films really stand out to me; North By NorthWest and...

Vertio!!

The plot goes like this;

A detective who is haunted by his dramatic past involving heights is asked to shadow a old friend's wife who has gone insane. She makes regular pleasure jaunts on her own and appears to be trying to commit suicide. The more detective John Ferguson delves into the situation however, the more he falls desperately in love with the woman...

James Stwert has done a lot of movies for Hitchcock; The man who knew too much remake, Rope, rear window-all classics. However, James Stewart really tops it all in this thrilling extravaganza.

Lets start off with the acting. As you wold expect from a film of this class, the acting is nothing under A*. James Stewart plays his role perfectly, adding great lines and sometimes anger into his role. The supporting cast is fantastic too. The reason I don't delve to deep into what the actors say is because this film is surprisingly action based (No, not shooting). What I mean is sometimes, the film has no talking what-so-ever. Instead you see the characters expressions and movements to a great extent and you can almost read the character's minds. This is a technique lost in modern filmmaking.

Spoilers coming up.

The story is sometimes really hard to follow, especially halfway through the film. You eventually find out that the woman committing suicide is actually a conspiracy made by her husband to murder. James Stewart gets caught in the scene and when he finally finds it all out, it's too late. but then another woman who looks identical to the woman who was murdered appears in town and Stewert can't resist looking into it. I will not spoil any more for you, but I can guarantee, the ending will make you think good, long and hard about it. Not that that's a bad thing of coarse.Fantastic storyline that lacks in a lot of thrillers.

Another thing I liked about the acting was the creepy wife. Throughout the movie, she looks completely blank; no expressions, no emotions, Nothing!! She rarely speaks in the whole film apart from about once a scene. In my opinion she is one of the most well crafted characters in thriller history.

Lots of scenes in this movie are very intense. They will have you at the end of your scene and most of this is due to what I call musical timing. This is where films use the right types of music for the right scenes and they have to be at an exact moment, or the scene will fall flat on it's face. in this film, it is used to an extreme. Sometimes it will be really quite and then music will bare out when something intense happens. The musical score is pure brilliance.

All in all, a fantastic thriller and probably Hitchcock's greatest hit, tied with Noth By Northwest which you should really check out if you love this film.To think this film was poorly received when it first came out! in fact, it was James' last movie working with Hitchcok because Hitchcock thought he was to blame for the failure. humph. I right! Anyway Brilliant film and one of the best heart stopping thrillers of all time.

Comic book adaptations are quickly becoming one of the most popular movie genres of the modern era. With high speed action, a good story and some great acting, who could blame it. however there is one film that is constantly battered by fans and movie goers alike.

Yes, this is my review of Green Lantern.

(Note; I do not believe in Millions of years, so i'm just going to leave it out of this review. I ignore usually these kind of references)

The plot goes like this;

Somewhere in the universe, a mighty force of nature called Parallax, who feeds on the fear of the universe, escapes custody by a green lantern warrior known as Abin Sur. Parallax fatally wounds Abin but he narrowly escapes instant death in an escape pod. He contacts the rest of the green lanterns and tells them who he encountered and that he will die. His pod lands on earth and at the brink of death he is met by a man who was brought there by his power ring. He passes on the ring to the man, Hal Jordan, and tells him to speak the oath. He does, and becomes one of the green lanterns. It eventually falls on him to save the universe from Parallax and defeat him once and for all.

While this movie doesn't live up to the standards of "Captain America- The First Avenger" or the Nolan Batman Trilogy, this film is still quite enjoyable.

I'll admit, the acting wasn't that great. There was no real character that stood out for me as being well acted but it was still watchable. As for the characters themselves, they were quite interesting. Although the human characters were interesting to an extent, It's the green lanterns that stole the show. Their is one scene were all the green lanterns are having a conference of some sort. There are so many green lanterns that sometimes all you see is green. Each one looks different and unique; I actually pause at this part to see what other strange beings i missed inn the first viewing. Props to the designers for creating some brilliant looking creatures.

The story isn't to special, but it is interesting. It's nothing more than the normal super-hero origin story, with a couple of unorthodox plot lines. The movie's ending tells you that there is another movie coming. I won't spoil, But green Lantern fans will like it, If they didn't like the movie itself.

The villain, I thought, is what brings the film down a notch. Halfway through the film a scientist gets infected by the power source of Parallax, corrupting him into a monstrous creature that can control objects with his eyes. I wasn't too fond of the guy. His motives for his actions were uninteresting making some of the "intence" scenes a little tedious, but this is a minor fault.Parallax is more impressive. There are some scenes were he is tearing through the city eating everything in his path. However, like the other guy (Who's name escapes me), Parallax lacks motive for what he does other than the fact he needs fear to become more powerful.

One of the most interesting things about the green lanterns is the power to make thought reality. For example, you can think of a massive artillery gun and it would appear right beside you. This is an interesting concept and is far more diverse to other superheros. Although there are plenty of scenes of this power, I thought it was under used; Sometimes all they did was fire balls of green energy at their enemies which I thought was a waste.

Don't let that put you off though. There are some impressive action scenes to sink your teeth into. The battle at the end with Parallax is definitely worth seeing. It didn't have as much action as i thought it would have or would have liked but it still was satisfying.

All in all, a great summer action flick. Not everyone's cup of tea but if you just like watching movies and are willing to bypass mistakes, this is the film for you. With over use of CGI ad badly created villains, it wasn't the best way to start a franchise but it is still enjoyable none the less.

John Wayne is probably one of the best actors ever to star in a film, acting in over 140 films. I'm glad this gem brings the duke to my home, UK!

Yes, this is my review of 3rd last film, Brinnigan

The plot goes like this;

A US cop arrives in London on a mission to hunt down an American delinquent that escaped justice. Although he partners with Scotland yard and in required to follow British Laws, Brannigan takes the law into his own hands, occasionally putting himself and his colleagues at risk.

This is John Wayne's second crime thriller. His first was a film called McQ, which he acted in a year earlier. Although the film was great, this film surpasses it in a number of levels.

Firstly, there is a lot more action. Most of them are great shootouts but there are 2 scenes that really stood out for me. The first would be a huge fistfight that starts in a tavern that will leave you aching with laughter. It's slapstick gold with chairs and people flying in all directions. The second scene that really stood out for me was the car chase. In this scene, Brannian hijacks a public Vehicle and follows a criminal in hot pursuit. They speed pass traffic knocking cars everywhere and it ends with the car flying up tower bridge when it was still being raised! Adrelaline rushing stuff! It's Filmography is fantastic and shows you from the bonnet of the car which was a good twist. Best car chase ever? I think I can say yes!

There isn't really any actors that are well known bar Richard Attenborough who acts brilliantly. He and Brannigan go like chalk and cheese and it's just hilarious to watch.

John Wayne films are known to have jokes and funny one-liners but none have as much as this classic. Sometimes it feels like you are watching a comedy. One funny line is a conversation with Richard and John; "This is not Chicargo you know brannigan!" "thats right commander you can't get a decent hamburger anywhere!". Classic. If you don't like the film, you will like the jokes.

Finally, the film's thriller side really succeeds it's intriguing and mind boggling. If you like mystery movies with a good plot look no further! Although it has a deep storyline, you will find it easy to follow. The final act is action packed and has a really exciting climax (I will not spoil it for you.)

The movie is rated "15" or "R" but it deserves a PG. there is very little that will upset younger viewers.

A fantastic cop movie from the Duke himself. A hilarious crime triller that contains great mystery and the best car chase ever. Don't miss out on this Gem.

Westerns are my favourite type of movie; What's not to like? Gunfights, battles, funny duologue, classy hats. There are many great westerns. However none are as colourful or as well acted than this film.

This is my review of How The West Was Won.

The plot goes like this;

The wild west age is probably one of the most well known historical periods of all time. This informative movie tells you the history of the west from start to Finnish. From exploring to fighting, from prospecting to mountaineering- the whole history summed up in 2 and a half hours.

This movie may sound like some documentary from the history channel but believe me, it's so much more!

Lets start off with the cast. The film has probably every character I would want in a film. We have James Stewart, Henry Forda, Gregory Peck, George Peppard, Richard Widmark and fantastic cameos from lee van clef and John Wayne. All these actors, although they don't appear long, they give the performance of their lives. Each character is different in their own special traits and personalities- no character is the same! James Stewart plays a wonderful mountain man who is torn between staying with the girl he has just fallen in love with or pursue his life-long dream. Henry Fonda plays a lone hermit type character who has good relations with the natives. There has never been as much well written characters in a movie- period.

The scenes look stunning and sometimes you are staring into beautiful scenery that are just pure eye boggling. The first scene is eye candy at it's best as a mountain side explodes unto the screen. The film was filmed in Cinerama Technicolour and it has probably the highest picture quality you will ever see in a film of the 60s.

The story is basically a whistle-stop tour of the history of the west. the movie is split up into three sections- Founding of the west, The civil war and final days of the west. It flows at a steady pace and each section is quick to the point. You can't go wrong with the story.

The best part of the film is it's breathtaking soundtrack. It's all magnificent, significant and appropriate to the situation at hand. Some of them just stir you up to dance or some just leave you feeling joyful and feeling warm inside. The best soundtrack I have ever heard. Not for people who love Pop/Rock music though.

The action is great. There is a waggon chase, a couple of civil war battles and several shootouts. each is significant and appropriate for the scene. My personal favourite is a shootout on a moving train. It's a fast paced spectacle with danger galore. Bandits try to hijack the train but is stopped by a local sheriff. A battle throws down with lots of things happening; Logs rolling into people, people flying of the train into a ravine and a rather amusing stunt were a guy flys face first into a cactus. It's hilarious.

All in all, this film is perfect in every way. Although it is 2 hours and a half, it doesn't feel that long. Actually, it makes me want it to be longer!! Great acting from the best actors of all time performing in some great battles and other exciting situations. This is probably one, if not my, favourite film ever made. Don't miss out!!! Watch it in HD!!

Monster movies in the 50s were excelling and many companies started to make made low budget sci fi movies that sometimes raked in millions more than they put in. This was the B movie age and this is probably the biggest of these.

This is my review on The Beast from 20000 Fathoms.

The plot is very simple.

A beast gets woken up from an ice glacier when a bomb goes off in the area. It starts attacking boats and lighthouses before eventually landing on the city of New York and running amok.

This is probably the birth of the Giant monster movie craze. apart from King Kong and the lost world, no one had really seen this type of movie before. A enormous lizard roaming around the city of New York destroying everything in it's path. It was really scary in those days!! Now when I watch a film with stop motion animation I instantly give a mark to the final score if it's done right. After all, anyone who can use this wonderful film technique deserves it. This film is no exception and the animation it uses is top notch. Who could blame it if the animator of the film is none other than Ray Harryhausen, master of film stop motion animation. The effects are marvellous from the lighthouse scene to the fairground sequence at the end. The Beast itself is just brilliantly made- I wouldn't mind having one of those myself! The characters are inspiring but forgettable. You won't remember their names by the end of the film- Garenteed. However they was a sweet cameo appearance that I was really pleased about-Lee Van Cleef. Yes, old angel eyes makes an appearance and is actually responsible for the downfall of the mighty creature. I'm really glad they put him in; Hardly any lines of duologue but the fact he was there makes up for it.

The city scenes are action packed and are a spectacle to be seen in HD with good sound. It's only out on DVD to my knowledge but even on the DVD it looks mighty fine. The monster jumps through buildings and smashes cars. he destroys a whole theme park. is there anything that can stop this monster!? Well, like in all Monster movies, they kill off the good monster. The beast is my favourite movie monster ever and to see him die was quite sad. He gets shot by a special gun that shoots unique bullets that kill the monster in seconds. It pains me to watch the last scene where he rolls about in pain then finally dies. I'm sure i'm not alone in thinking so.

This has got to be the best Monster movie ever made. It's got action to die for, great scenes of suspense and will have you at the edge of your seat. I will go as far to say that this could be one of the best movies ever made.....

Some people call the "Creature from the black lagoon" the last of the universal monsters. This is true and boy, did they go out with a bang!

This is my review on The Creature From The Black Lagoon"

NOTE: I do NOT believe in millions of years or the evolution theory so I'm just leaving them bits out, just like I ignored it in the movie.

The plot goes like this; Scientists find a fish like claw sticking out of a rock down a tributary of some river in South America. They are curious to know what could've owned this strange hand. One suspects that the rest of the skeleton might have been blown downstream. He and the rest of the scientists head downstream into unexplored territory- The black lagoon. during their research they find out that they are in the habitat of a fish-like monster.

Out of all the universal monsters (Wolfman, Drackula etc) The creature is probably the most diverse. The story feels more like a sci fi than a horror and there are no haunted mansions, creepy graveyards or bleak dungeons. Instead, the movie takes place in a very dark lagoon.

Lots of the movie takes place underwater. There are scenes were the scientists go diving for bits of rocks to compare with the skeleton (Don't ask me, I'm no scientist!) Also is shows some very interesting scenes of the monster darting through the water towards it's prey. These scenes are phenomenal for a 50s film and it is evidence that you don't need CGI for everything which films now-a-days seem to have. I personally haven't a clue on how they filmed all these scenes. It's hard to describe on a written review but when you watch the film you will no what I mean.

The acting isn't top notch but it's OK. The main character aren't really that memorable, but they don't need to be! it's the monster you watch it for!

For a 50s film, the monster looks rather frightening, certainly for younger viewers. Even I found some of the scenes quite creepy. The monster hunts down all the scientists who have been travelling into his lagoon on a bust-up old barge. It's interesting to watch the monster react to the humans as if he could understand them. The man the the suit needs an Oscar! Constantly in the film, no matter how many times the scientists try to stop the monster, it just keeps coming back for more. This chemistry never gets old for me and it's just a joy to see the many attempts of the creature.

The final 10 minutes really tip the scale of this little gem. We've got underwater battles with the creature. We've got the creature kidnapping a damsel in distress. We've got a got pursuit with guns and...erm.. claws. The last scene is just worth it alone. They finally hunt the creature down and, unfortunately, kill it. For me, this was rather sad that a fantastic movie monster was killed of in it's first film. If you are like me, don't fret! There is 2 more movies to sink your teeth into however I have not got round to seeing them so Icannot say wither they are good or bad.

All in all, probably one of the best universal monster classics with great monster, fantastic hunt, an under water battle and some of the best cinematography ever filmed. There is evolution in it which I don't agree with, but bypassing it this is one of my all time favs.

There are many brilliant sci fi movies, but there a few that are as well written, well acted and well done as the Star Wars Saga. Action fantasy films that have been a movie inspiration for over 30 years.

This is my review on the fist classic hit- Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope.

The plot goes like this;

Along time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a viscous government called the empire controls the universe. A newly found rebellion stakes back at the brutal empire by stealing plans to their Ultimate Super weapon, The death star, which has the mechanical power to destroy a whole planet in a single second. As the empire hunts the plans down, A princess in charge of the rebellion is ambushed by an imperial battleship. She and her accomplices are captured, but manage to hide the plans in a small droid, recording a short help request to an old man on the planet below. The put the droids in an escape pod and send them down to the planet without the imperials finding out. The droids crash land on the dusty planet and bump into a young man and a old Jedi warrior. They watch the recording of the princess's plea for help. They 2 men set off to find and release the princess from imperial captivity.

The plot is rather simple, which is a change from the movie's sequels. The movie's plot is recognisable to other famous movies and is sometime cliché. However, this is not a bad thing. It is not cliché in the since that it is EXACTLY the same as other films, but instead is a sort-of homage the the classics and taking a different approach to the same idea. For example, in the John Wayne film, The Searchers, John Wayne returns to his encampment finding it burnt to the ground and all his loved one dead. The same thing happens in this film; The young man Luke drives home to find his farm is burnt to the ground and his adopted parents killed. It uses classic plot lines and forms them in a very smart way.

The acting is pretty good. It contains master performances from great actors like Peter Cushing,Alec Guinass and Harrison ford. All of whom are great, most notably Harrison's and Peter's performances. Harrison produces a grumpy, sarcastic gunfighter type character who always comes up with a droll comment to everything. You always find yourself waiting to see what he says back to a person in a conversion which is rare in film characters. Peter is already a A* actor but after this movie he I find that becomes an even better one. There is a sleazy feel to the character and as soon as he is first seen in the film you know that he is an evil character, which is a great achievement for a villain.

Of coarse, I cannot continue without mentioning the other villain of the film. The main one at that who just happens to hold the title of one of the best villains of movie history; Darth Vader! He is a heavy walking, heavy breathing, force choking, brutal killing type character who has death teeming off him. He is a cruel douche-bag but every time you see him you don't know wither to hate or love him. When he executes horrid directives like the force choke, He also adds a dark remark related to the offender's crime. Well written character with fantastic duologue and great lightsabre moves. He is NOT a force to be reckoned with!!

The film contains loads of creative Sci Fi elements that, in my opinion, make the film the great thing it is. In the cantina scene, there a A lot of strange creatures that only have a couple of seconds screen time, but really intrigue you. It's not a major part of the film, but it still makes the film seem more real. Now-a-days, directors shove CGI in your face and have no creative appeal to it at all. In the old films like these, they become really imaginative, making latex models and sometimes Stopmotion animation. This is the icing on the cake for me. Props to the animators.

The Plot never really drags throughout the film and flows at a steady pace. There are also some brilliant action scenes. In the death star scenes there are some tense shootouts and fights that keep you at the edge of your seat. The battles are fast paced; The heroes can be shooting one minute and falling into a trash compacter the next. The most notable battle in the film however is the battle over the Death star. This is when the rebels launch a massive attack on the death star. This was probably one of the first good movie space battles, with tones of explosions and cannon fire to keep your adrenaline rushing.

With Great acting, The best villain of all time and fantastic action this movie is really hard to beat. A Sci Fi classic that needs to be seen.

In 2005, George Lucas finished making his final Star Wars Live Action film. It had to be epic. It had to beat his previous two films. It had to make an impact.

Did it live up to these questions?

Yes, Yes and YES! This is my review on Star Wars Episode III-Revenge Of The Sith

The plot goes like this;

3 years have passed since the beginning of the clone wars and the republic are closing in on a decisive victory. But all is not as it seems. There appears to be a dark force behind the separatists, far more powerful than the Jedi themselves. Jedi Knight Anikin Skywalker is starting to slip away from the Jedi Council and the Jedi soon find out they are too late to stop the new face of evil who is rising from their own ranks...

After it's action packed predecessor, I thought Revenge of the sith would have to do a lot of work to match it. So they did! The starts off with a huge space battle with so many explosions you many not be able to contain it. There is fighters blasting other fighters. There is battleships bombarding each other. Man, if you watch the opening scene about 3 time in a continuous loop, and look at different parts of the screen you will experience a brand new battle. There is so much happening and it gives a lot of re-watch value.

The acting is top notch, even better than it's predecessors. It's like George Lucas (Director,Writer) said "Right, last film. I want everyone to act like there is no tomorrow. I know people hated my previous films, but I want to leave this with a little respect from my fans". Well I really think he did a good job at that. The tension drips of the actors in the most key points, with scenes of strong emotion and pain, especially at the end. When Anikin (Spoiler) eventually turns to the dark side, he screams and shouts like anyone in that position would. He is suffering from fear of losing his wife and he turns to what seems to be the best option to prevent this. When you look at it this way, you can't really blame him. Anikin's master, Obi Wan is clearly heartbroken, and it is VERY clear to see. There are scenes in this movie where Obi Wan looks if he is going to start crying. Who wouldn't when one of their best friends turn against them, even to the extent of trying to kill them.Actor Ewan McGregor really pulls it off, and I really don't think anyone could do a better job! A* performances from every character. (Spoiler ended) Christophor Lee makes another appearance which I was really pleased about.After all, he is one of my favourite actors. He acted phenomenally in the second prequel and he never fouled up in this one. His fight scene in this film is just plan epic, but a little too quick. During this, he and the 2 Jedi he is fighting, Obi Wan and Anikin, deliver some witty but cheesy lines. For example, Anikin says "My powers have doubled since the last time we met, Count". Count Dooku(Christophor's character) smiles and says "Good. Twice the pride, double the fall". Classic, Just pure classic.

There's also a brand new bad guy named General Grevious. The character is oozing with diverse characteristics even though he is completely CGI. He is a bio-mechanical life-form with a deep, mysterious background and a love of killing Jedi. Even to look at he is quite impressive. On first glance, you think he is some form of battle droid, but when it zooms in on his eyes you start to really think about who or what he is. He has a lot of back story not told in the movie which makes me like the character more. The most interesting thing about him is that he fights with not 1, not 2 , NOT 3 but 4 LIGHTSABRES! Nothing like this had ever taken place in the Staar Wars saga and it was good to see the writers adding more of a diverse way of fighting rather than the usual single lightsabre technique. At times, he has only 2 arms but when he gets into action, another 2 arms fold out so he can hold extra lightsabres. when you see him wave those things it's beautiful eye candy. His battle with Obi Wan in the middle of the film is definitely a highlight is is definitely worth watching.

The final act of the film is a single piece of inspirational cinematography that makes this film Oscar worthy. It bases around the fall of the Jedi, with many Jedi being mowed down by their own soldiers. This is called Order 66 in the movie and when it happens you don't know wither to sit in awe or burst out crying. It's summed up in a short action packed montage, with one of the most fitting musical scores ever composed for film. It really shapes the tone of the film completely making it even more respectful. As the final battles throw down, you really feel sorry for the heroes as they are on the losing side. A much loved hero anikin turns to the dark side and you really feel every emotion going through each of the characters. The final act alone is just so well done I came out of this film content that they finished the Star Wars Saga the way they did.

In conclusion, this is probably one of my favourite Star Wars films, but also one of my favourite films in general. The tone is well placed, the acting is fantastic, the characters are well made and the action is phenomenal.Definatatly give this one a watch.

After a disappointing start to a trilogy of prequels to the greatest Sci Fi saga of all time, I started to have my doubts they would pull this one off.

Boy did I get a slap in the face!

The plot goes like this;

Jedi padawan Anikin Skywalker is assigned to protect a senator of the war torn planet of Naboo from a series of assassination attempts. His Jedi Master, Obi wan Kinobi, stumbles across a unknown planet that was not supposed to exist. He also discovers that a bunch of cloners called the Kaminoains are establishing a mighty army at the request of a Jedi who has been dead for a long time. The army is said to be given to the Galatic republic to fight the growing separatist forces, which are having traitorous thoughts about the capital.

The plot line is VERY deep in this movie. You may need to watch Star Wars The Phantom Menace to get most of the information portrayed in the film. The movie consists of multiple mysterious plot lines which all click together by the end.

As always in the Star Wars films, the acting is great. There are many scenes of high expression especially from Obi-Wan and Anikin. The actors put a lot of passion into what they are saying and they really make the film believable.

This time round, the movie is a little slow to start off. There are just talk of assassination and the discovery of a new planet. This part of the film plays out like a crime thriller with lots of Sci Fi element thrown in. When Obi Wan gets to the planet he has been searching for, Kamino, the movie really gets going. Obi Wan bumps into a bounty hunter named Jango Fett. Jango is one of the main reasons why I like the film so much. From the first time you see him in his blue battle Armour, you instantly like the character. He exploits many tools and weapons from 2 personalised blaster pistols to a jet pack that fires rockets. In every scene you see him fighting he uses a new weapon to keep you interested. Fans of the original will recognise that the armour is identical to the armour of another bounty hunter Boba. You find out that this guy is actually Boba fett's Father. We also see a young Boba Fett which we had not seen before. This was intriguing in itself, but in a way, it sort of zaps out the ruthlessness of the original character, who's past had been shrouded in mystery until now. We finally find out that Boba Fett is actually a clone of his father and is basically the same type of clone as the millions being made for the republic. The character's background seemed unnecessary but it was quite entertaining to find out his origins.

The middle half of the film is spent on the desert planet, Tatooinee, like they did with the first prequel. Why they included this part I don't know but what do know is that Star Wars films need to cut down on it! Most of the scenes in the first film (A New Hope)took place on the same planet, but they were't half as uninteresting as these scenes. Anyway, Anikin, after going to tatooinee against order, sets off to find his mother who was captured by native scum. She Dies and Anikin takes a hissy fit saying he could have saved her. That sums up about 30 minutes of the film. WASTE OF TIME!

Finally, they move to a planet Geienosis (Probably not spelt right), yet again without permission. This time it's to help Obi-Wan, who was captured by the separatists. They all eventually get caught and are sentenced to death by three of the strangest looking creatures. They break free and a huge battle take place. IT'S HUGE! Monsters run about trying to kill the Jedi, Battle droids come out and start blasting the the monsters and the Jedi frantically dodge them. Massive amounts of battle droids come out, and start blowing stuff up. Just when you think you can't take much more, about 70-80 Jedi jump out of nowhere and join the fight. It gets really hectic when huge gunships swoop down and bombard all the droids. This is probably the biggest battle I have ever seen in a film! It's high octane stuff that will blast you out of your seats. Watch this sequence on the biggest TV you can find and use the biggest speakers money can buy. You will NOT be disappointed, Trust me!

The film contains some of the best movie music I have ever heard. Some of the gentle music is extremely appealing and I advise all movie music fans to buy the CD Soundtrack. It's just beautiful.

With Fantastic Acting, great duologue and FANTASTIC ACTION SECQANCES it is hard not to love the film. An Action fan's dream and a Sci Fi junky's dream. Definitely one of my favourites of the series.

Star Wars has got to be my favourite movie saga collection of all time. I mean, there is so much stuff to sink your teeth into- the 7 films, the TV series, the comics and books- They are all monumental.

However this one isn't really up to scratch. Yes, this is my review on the first Star Wars Prequel, The Phantom Menice.

The plot goes like this; In a Galaxy far ,far away, a republic is under the threat of rebellion. Two mighty Jedi, Qui-gon Jinn and Obi-one kinobi, are sent out to investigate a flying fortress which has been spotted making aggressive moves toward the peaceful planet of Naboo. Things Don't go to plan, and The Jedi stumble across a plot that eventually leads to war.

The movie's plot is rather deep and may require a couple of watches for people new to the star wars saga- That's if you want to see it again! The film contains LOTS of things that will put people of the franchise for good. Take Jar Jar binks for example. There is absolutely no reason why he should be in this film! Every time he appeared on the screen I just wanted to whack the TV. His annoying personality and jokes my appeal to younger viewers, but not to anyone over 8 years old. It was clearly obvious that the character was made to provide comic relief to viewers who either couldn't understand the plot, or didn't want to.

Other than that, The character are well acted and well thought out, especially Qui-Gon Jinn's character. There seemed to be a lot of background to the character that you just don't find our in the film. He is wise and rebellious at the same time which I find a very intriguing and different. After seeing 3 films with "perfect" Jedi it was good to see a Jedi with different views of the Jedi way. It was also good to see Obi-wan Kanobi ALIVE again. There was a lot of mystery in the character when you watch Episode IV, but now, you start to see a bit more of his past. There was actually one Ironic scene where he meets anikin for the first time. It will float over the heads of casual viewers but it was rather interesting to see Obi-Wan talk to the child that will eventually kill him later on in the series. Both these characters are well acted.

Another character that i found interesting was Darth maul. This was the first time we got to see another sith on the big screen other than Vader and Saidous. It was also the first time we see a person wield a double-bladed light sabre. Although he only has a couple of lines of dialogue, You grow to like the character. When he starts fighting you only see on blade, which was normal enough. At the showdown at the end however you see him with two blades and it's quite interesting to watch.

The storyline flows, for the most part, rather smoothly, but I thought it started to drag abit when the the Jedi land on the desert planet Tatooinee and gamble over a young boy, Anakin, who eventually turns out to be Vader. I'm not a huge fan of his appearance in this film. He acts like any child would but for some reason, it zaps the evilness out of his later character. I never really cared for the character and just longed for him to shut up and do what he had to do. In this case, he had to race in a planetary "Pod-race". This may entertain some, however I found it rather boring. The whole "Tatooinee sequence" Lasts for almost half the movie and sometimes it makes you feel as if you are watching a different movie. It takes away from flow of the story completely and at one point it nearly made me want to turn it off! They finally get back on their ship and just when they are about to leave, Darth Maul jumps out of nowhere and starts attacking Qui-Gon. This is where the film gets interesting. Seeing light sabre clash was just what I needed to refresh my mind after about 30-40 minutes of boredom.

"Why do you give it such a High rating then?" you may ask.

Well, I would've given this film a 4/10 if the following 30-40 minutes hadn't happened. It was like the creator of the film just said "right, we've probably bored the fans to tears. Lets give them what they want" I don't know about anyone else, but it was certainly something to admire. There was about 4 battles happening at the same time!- One huge space battle, one fantastic palace shootout, one massive ground battle and one well-choreographed light sabre battle. What I cant understand is that people who hate this film never seem to mention this part of the film. Maybe they were sleeping. Whatever they were doing, don't let them put you off if you love a good battle. There was explosions, loud gunfire, droids blowing up, fighters blowing up- Edge of you seat entertainment if you ask me! When all the other battles die down, the battle with maul continues and (Spoiler) to my surprise, Master Qui-gon Jinn gets stabbed.It was a huge surprise and quite a shock. And to a further shock, Maul gets sliced in half. These Characters were starting to grow on me but, like most Star Wars Movies and TV shows, The good characters have to be killed off.

I'm going to be honest, Some parts of this film were absolutely rubbish. But I have to say, the climax more than made up for it. All in all, a great film with some really horrid talk scenes in it. Skip the middle part, leave your brain off at the door and enjoy.

The man who shot liberty valence is considered as one of the best westerns ever made. Personally I don't think it's the BEST western but it is very close!

The plot goes like this;

A politician famous for shooting a criminal, Liberty Valence, heads back to the town where he shot him. Journalists meet him and ask him questions. Instead of answering them The senator tells them the whole story...

The man who shot liberty valence was, what you could call, an "end of an age" film. Black and white films were slowly becoming obsolete and colour films were dominating Hollywood. This is probably one of the last GREAT black and white films.

John ford cast some of the best actors in history and I think this is why i love the film so much. Lee Marvin, John Wayne, a cameo of lee van clef and my all time favourite actor James Stwert. Because of the confusing advertising, it's hard to know who is the main character- John Wayne or James Stewart. Although John Wayne has some good line, bold acting and plays a fantastic performance, James Stewart really steals the show. He acts like it was the last film he will play in, acting with so much expression and oozing with talent. He acts similarly in one f his earlier films, "Mr Smith Goes To Washigton" which would make since because both characters he plays are politicians. In this film he plays the character I would like to be; A justice seeking, kind, generous fellow who is not afraid to stand up to injustice. By and large;One of Stewart's best performances. John Wayne's character,Tom Doniphon. He really pulls it off. Although he is the supporting character, he's plays more like an acquaintance to James Stewart rather than a friend which keeps the film diverse. Tom Doniphon encourages the senator to fight a gunfighter who is causing some trouble in the town. The senator doesn't like the delinquent himself, but shooting him conflicts with his beliefs and this is why he doesn't appeal to Tom Doniphon as many western characters would. They play like chalk and cheese and it's just brilliant to watch.

There is no action involved in the film. Instead we get a suspenseful, on edge, thrilling sequence which keeps you wanting to know if James Stewart's character will take up the gun and end the villain or if the villain will shoot him in cold blood. It's rather intriguing and will keep you glued to the screen.

This was John Ford's last black and white film. Boy, did he go out in style.

If your a action western junky, the chances of you liking this film are low. There are a lot of political moments and it may feel a bit long for some. However if you just like westerns in general this is a enjoyable western that not only exposes the injustice of the west but makes a daring, admirable character who stands up to it. A fantastic and unique western.

In 2006, master actor and director Clint Eastwood made 2 complimentary war films. They where 2 movies based on one battle- The battle of Iwo Jima. However the 2 films show how the battle took place in the perspective of each side. The other complimentary film, Flag of our Fathers, is from an American solder's point of view. This film, which I find a whole lot better than FOOF, places you in the Japanese side.

Onto the movie. Did I like it.

I LOVED IT! This is probably the best War film of the modern era. A lot better than Movies like the Windtalkers and even flag of our fathers.

The plot goes like this; Japan recognises that the Alies will be trying to take the island Iwo Jima. In response to this, the Japanese set up strong fortifications to fight off this foreign invader. Lots of the troops are scared and would rather commit suicide than fight what seems to be a invincible army.

The film's storyline is somewhat emotional and if you are Japanese you might find this film emotional. Unlike lots of films based on the war with Japan in World War II, the film sympathises with the Japanese solders and makes you feel every pain they are feeling at the moment. You don't really find out much about the character apart from the fact they hate the war, they want to go home and that they may not ever see there loved ones again. Before the battle starts, the troops get really anxious and start to have flashbacks on how they entered the war by conscription. There are some really sad scenes and, I'm not the one for crying in movies, sometime it might trigger a tear or two. You probably wont even remember the main characters names, but you certainly will feel what they are going through.

The action scenes are first class. There is something to supplements everyones taste for action. To start off the battle the Allies send in bombers and blow up lots of the camps. There is also constant barrages from battleships throughout the battle and as soon as the battle starts, you don't hear them stop until the rest of the movie. When the troops land there is a huge battle on the beach. They use flamethrowers to exterminate Japanese bunkers. More planes swoop down and rattle the beach with machine-gun bullets. If you are an action fan and you are not satisfied by the end of this battle, then nothing will satisfy you.

This film is, at times, rather gory and it is definitely not for younger viewers or squeamish folk. Some soldiers lose the will to live and kill themselves and it is quite disturbing.

The cinematography was fantastic. They filmed the battles at brilliant angle and you never miss a gunshot. Sometimes, to set the tone, it's really grey and black. If your looking for colour, this won't be you movie. since the mood of the film is meant to be sad, they make the film look as dark as possible. sometimes it looks as if your watching an old black and white film.

Also, If you have a problem with reading subtitles through a movie, you might want to give this a miss because there is only about 2 scenes where there people are specking English.

All in all, fantastic film. A real modern classic. If you want a all out, ear popping, eye exploding action extravaganza and don't mind a few tears, then you'll definitely want to see this very soon.

This is the final Sabata film and it certainly ends the series well. While none of the Sabata films have any connection with each other,to me the film feels like the end of a great motion picture epic- and it is! The plot goes like this; A gunfighter arrives at a tax oppressed town. The gunfighter, Sabata, soon finds out that the town is being run by an Irish baron named McIntock. Sabata hires a bunch of crazed delinquents and sets out to take down the foreigner.

The film has probably the most crazy movie openings I have ever seen. I won't spoil it, but by the time the main title screen shows up, your staring at the screen wondering "What on earth was the point in that". And that's what I like about the Sabata trilogy. There are good battles and story lines, but sometimes they throw random scenes in for no apparent reason. The makings of a classic! The storyline is rather interesting, but sometimes it drags it's heels a bit too much. The characters are, Like in the other films, very diverse and have colourful personalities. Sabata wants justice in the town but also wants a share of the gold. His classic 4 barrelled gun appears again which i was really pleased about. There is also a fat guy called bronco who declares everything interesting that comes up to the town by beating his huge drum and making speeches. He joins Sabata in the fight just for the gold. There are also two men called feonda and angel who don;t really have much dialogue or character but they both have different ways of killing people. Feonda makes a slingshot by lying down, stretching the slingshot between his legs and firing, mostly at people on top of buildings or at a faraway distance. Angel however is a bit more acrobatic, Jumping on people and bouncing about, making it harder for his enemies to fire at him. Finally we have Clide. Clide appears to know Sabata well, however he never seems to be friend or his enemy. He is the most two faced character I have ever seen in a film. (SPOILER)Near the end of the film, he switches sides between Sabata and McIntock several times. (SPOILER Finnished)He is loyal to no-one. All in all the Chacters are extremely well made and are a lot better than a lot of characters in modern movies nowadays.

The action is superb but you have to wait for it. The film is packed full of edge of your seat action. I'm talking mines blowing up, massive shoot outs at McIntock's house, saloon fights and just some good old fashioned Explotions. In other words, If you can wait through some of the movie's uninteresting dialogue, you will be very impressed with the action scenes. Eye popping entertainment.

By and large, Not as good as the previous Sabata films, but it's certainly worth a watch. A Great end to a fantastic series that I hope keeps audiences attentions for years to come. If you want an all out action fest and want a good laugh at the same time, make sure you watch this instant classic before it disappears!!!!

I'm a huge fan of giant monster movies, especially the Godzilla series. King Kong 1933 is one of my favourite films but seeing the trailer to this movie, I wasn't to impressed. A giant metal Kong fighting the real Kong? It looked like a King Kong take on the classic movie Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla...

...I was wrong!!

The film is actually really good and just as good as some of the other Godzilla films, which I didn't expect. I also found out that this was the film were they got the idea for Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla! Ops! The plot goes like this; A UN sub, which was travelling past some islands off the coast of Japan, gets hit by a landslide, causing some major damage . The crew stop by a nearby island for repairs. Three of the commanding officers sail over to the island to have a look about. They encounter a huge ape called King Kong, who takes a fancy to the female lieutenant and picks her up. Suddenly Kong is attacked by I giant, fly-kicking Dinosaur called Gorosaurus how appeared in a Godzilla movie entitled, Destroy All Monsters. While King Kong is fighting Gorosaurus, the commanding officers flee to the submarine and escape. Meanwhile a mad scientist called Dr. Who tries to get a rare nuclear power source ,known as element X, from underneath an ice Base in the north pole. He builds a robot replica of King Kong and sends it down to receive element X, but the metal Kong shuts down because the elements messes with it's machinery. Dr Who then Kidnaps The real king Kong do do the job the metal one couldn't. He uses mind control to control the ape but this fails and king Kong escapes (Hince the title) Metal Kong pursues the real Kong to Tokyo where a massive monster rubble takes place.

The story, in my opinion, exceeds a lot of other monster movie story lines. Usually in a film like this, the story is horrible but the monster rumbles are fantastic. In this movie we get a good storyline and Fantastic monster rumbles. However, there are only about two monster battles in the whole film and although the story was good, you had to sit through it and wait for the battles.

The highlight of the film for me is probably when Kong fought with Gorosaurus. Ever since Gorosaurus appeared in Destroy all monsters, the monster has always been my favourite movie monster and he certainly doesn't disappoint. He attacks in this jump kick action thats sends Kong flying. This may not be a realistic thing for a dinosaur to do, but it makes the monster interesting and diverse from other dinosaurs who just bite and scratch.

Robot Kong was however a bit of a disappointment. All he did was flash a light in Kong's eyes and punch him. I was expecting rockets to come out of his fingers or him to use some form of weaponry. But at the end of the day, the battle between the Kong's was pretty good.

Some of the scenes in the film are so cheesy they just make you laugh and laugh. There is some really good laugh-out-loud moments that make me love the film even more. It's films like these that put CGI ones to shame. It's not how good it looks- It's how good it IS! This film would get a 1 star rating from me if it was done in CGI and I'm glad they didn't make a remake to this forgotten classic.

All in all fantastic film. Even with some disappointments I can't bring myself to give it lower than a 10/10. If you want some rubber suited monster madness and a lot of laughs, Check it out.

After seeing the first film, Sabata, I was just thirsting for spaghetti western goodness. Then I uncovered 2 of the film's sequels; Adios Sabata and Return of Sabata. This review will only be on Adios sabata but be sure to check my other reviews for the rest of the 3 films.

Now onto the movie. Man. It's hard to do this film justice! This movie is truly a hidden gem in the western archive of movies and is extremely underrated. If I ruled the country I would have the movie poster slapped on every wall i could get my hands on. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS FILM.

The plot line goes like this; A gunfighter, a bunch of trigger-happy Mexicans and a 2 faced gringo start raiding waggon loads of gold off a Austrian colonel. He doesn't take kindly to this so he tries to exterminate them with the full might of the Austrian army.

The plot line is a lot deeper than the first, with interesting plot twists and characters. The characters are really diverse and no character is the same. There is Sabata who seeks justice and gold at the same time. There is a honourable Mexican who executes people he doesn't like. Before his self-proclaimed executions, one of the Mexicans dance on the table and when he stops dancing, he shoots. Then there is also septembre who fires small grey metal balls from his shoes (I don't know who made this, but they are bonkers!). Finally there is an artist who has a bad memory. All the characters were well made and Had some good scenes of dialogue.

The action is fantastic. In fact, it's the main part of the film! There is constant shootouts;Shootouts in a barn, shootouts in a deserted castle in the middle of nowhere, shootouts at a saloon- lets just say if you love action, you would be crazy to miss this fantastic action extravaganza. The battle at the end is simply fantastic. We've got Gatling guns blazing, bombs exploding and Austrian solders flying everywhere. It's loud, fun and exhilarating. Even if you don't like story of the whole film or if you don't like the fact Lee van clef isn't in it, at least watch it for the battle!

Sabata this time around is played by The Magnificent Seven's Yel Brynner. Many western fans don't like the film, or dismiss it entirely just because Lee van Cleff isn't in it, thus making it rubbish. The film isn't even intended to be a Sabata film and it isn't one over in Spain. Istead, the main character is called Indeo black. It got the name Adios sabata when it hit America. The company wanted to cash-in on Sabata, which was popular at the time, so they could pocket some more money. To me, it doesn't matter who sabata is played by as long as he is Sabata. The ironic thing is, the reason Lee Van Clef couldn't do the role is because he was staring in a sequel to one of Yel's movies, The magnificent seven ride!

This is probably one of the best westerns ever made and one of my favourite films of all time.If you want some fun, laughs and good old entertainment, pay sabata a visit.