Posts Tagged ‘Alan Rickman’
Author: James
Alice? Alice?
There are some novels that cannot, or should not, be filmed – Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World springs to mind, and Tim Burton’s archetypally dark, visually stirring but emotionally hollow adaptation of Lewis Caroll’s journey down the rabbit hole seems to prove that Alice in Wonderland belongs in the same category.
Author: James
Festive faves
Following our take on the turkeys last week, we present a selection of ten movies without which Yuletide simply couldn’t exist. A very happy Christmas to all our readers!
Not all of them have a festive setting, but there are no apologies – in terms of mood, memories and magic, these are the films that this reviewer always seeks out in the festive schedules. I hope you don’t have a problem with that? Do let me know, won’t you…
Author: Jeremy
Trouble with Harry?
Jeremy Slater‘s back with his thoughts on the latest goings-on at Hogwarts…
This may be the sixth instalment in the Harry Potter saga, with Parts I and II of the final book, The Deathly Hallows, to come in 2010 and 2011, but the heart still beats fast in David Yates’s Half-Blood Prince, with the acting from the three main cast members reaching its peak as they approach adulthood.
Author: James
Johnny be bad…
Mr Depp seems singularly incapable of picking a bad role – after his triumphant conclusion to the Pirates of The Caribbean trilogy, At World’s End (2007), he reunited with Tim Burton for the first time since Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (2005) to make Sweeney Todd (2007). Burton’s output, on the other hand, had been somewhat underwhelming just previous to this – although Charlie… wasn’t half bad, it was preceded by the disappointing Corpse Bride (2005), Big Fish (2003) and Planet of the Apes (2001).
Author: Colin
Hell sent
Yep, well – the film title kind of gives away what the story’s about, doesn’t it? Well, I’d say yes and no, in fact. Perfume (2006) (to give its short title) was a film I came away from thinking: ‘I enjoyed that, but I’m just not sure why.’
The central character is a distinctly unlikeable chap from the off. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw) had a rather unpleasant childhood, that’s for sure, but I don’t think his background had much to do with it. Whishaw, a handsome young chap, manages to play Grenouille so convincingly, he actually looks like the kind of guy you wouldn’t mess with. In one scene, he turns to face the camera and it’s like staring into the face of Satan. Superbly freaky stuff.
Author: James
Past-it action hero
All good things…Except in Hollywood, of course, they frequently don’t come to an end, do they? With franchise ‘three-quels’ and fourth installments now all the rage, the time seems wearily appropriate for catching up with John McLane (and, this time around, his grown-up daughter) and booing and hissing at the latest evil villain, with whom he must match wits.
Author: Colin
Space, camp
Hands up – who has never enjoyed an episode of Star Trek? Not many, I’ll bet. Those of you who are less than seven years old or have not owned a TV set since the early 1950s may want to go to another of our reviews for entertainment.
Galaxy Quest is Star Trek with more obvious costumes and sets (if that were possible) a very affectionate spoof of the series, its sometimes-fanatical fans and cast. There are even two monikers that refer to the show’s fans – Questies and Questrians – mirroring real life and the ongoing debate as to whether true fans are Trekkies or Trekkers.
- Colin: Mike: the Matrix was utter toss. Don’t go there. Anyhow, I’m right with you on Aliens –...
- Colin: James: Why not do ten more and see if you can avoid putting the god-awful travesty that is Independence Day in...
- CD: The Day the Earth Stood Still (it’s about an alien who is Jesus…but better than ET) Soylent Green...
- James: Hello Chris, and welcome to Picturenose!
Many thanks for your comment – I thought, in fact, that... - James: Colin, good points, both on Westworld (which should really have been included, I know, I know) and otters.