Film Reviews by PV

A truly baffling and boring fantasy movie by a massively over-rated director. Boring.

Epic? Well, I suppose three intertwined stories means 'epic' here. However, it was not really epic at all - just endless fantasy sequences and a lot of old guff about a magic tree.

Now, if you are the time of new age fan who goes WOW! when you see a cryctal skull (made in China) or a dream catcher, and believe all this spiritual mumbojumbo, you may well find this movie deep and meaningful.

I found it pretentious nonsense. as I did the other films by this oh-so-fashionable director. But then, I'm a grown up.

I know some people love this movie and that the critics loved it too and that the script is favourite to win the best screenplay oscar but - I just didn't like it. I found it boring, predicatble and nowhere near as clever as it thinks it is.

I do so hate these Hollywood mocies that think they're intellectual and profound; OH NO THEY ARE NOT! They are just tricksy and gimmicky and adolescent.

Not original either - the Stephen King TV movie the Dead Zone was about living in dreams too - as were many ancient texts. I suppose the difference here is that this is big budget with loads of CGI and Leonardo di Capuccino doing this thing. But it did nothing for me, I'm afraid.

I found myself looking at my watch wondering how long before it finished - BUT if you like adolescent stuff like the Matrix, you'll love this.

Apart from an ending that feels tacked on - (the film should have ended 2 minutes before it did) - this film was excellent. Only three actors, no fancy locations - and no dialogue at all for the first 9 minutes. It's clearly emulating Pinter; it's also full of twists, and how much you like this will depend on whether you can suspend your disbelief here! But a highly enjoyable thriller nontheless. Recommended.

One of the best foreign language films ever - and truly creepy. Five stars.

This movie should give all intelligent people hope that the people of America are not all fundamental christian brain dead amoebas who think jeus was suckled by a T-rex.

Great writing, great everything. Proof that, although some - maybe most - americans are idiots bible-bashers, there are some serious brains on that continent!

A breath of fresh air - and sheer joy! I could watch this movie over and over again! Congratulations Mr Stone et al...

If you've seen 'The Others', then you see this film, you'll see where 'The Others' got all its ideas from. Brilliant writing - mostly by Truman Capote - and well-adapted from Henry James' classic Turning of the Screw, this film still has the ability to shock and scare.

Massively over-rated dross, made by a pretentious feminist film-maker on British taxpayers money. And theyt all speak in thick scottish accents - so most people won't understand anything. If you want to see a great British thriller, rent 'London to Brighton', made on a shoestring but with real talent all round. Avoid.

This is watchable, but certainly not in the same league as the excellent Gladiator.

Why? Well, for a start, the film seems to have been written and casted by a committe or perhaps an HR diversity manager:

Black actor Noel from Dr Who, tick; Asian (Muslim) Roman soldier, tick; women in macho aggressive feminist roles, tick. This is utterly predictable and tiresome in so many British films, and is especially true for films made with the backing of the PC Film Council and lottery funding.

Too much like a Dr Who episode really. And the way the women all have make-up and nicely done hair as they rush into battle with their swords and spears killing dozens of Romans twice their size is (unintentionally) hilarious! Girlpower? Comedy, more like!

History it ain't! But at least it is mercifully short! Worth watching, but no better than a time-passer.

This is an excellent film- slightly spoilt by hollywood demands for romantic subplots etc. Superb acting. perhaps i should watch this movie again when i feel more open to scenes of endless horror and barbarism...

really well made though so i would recommend it

Realy good fun and well-written movie. Shame that the ego-maniac director had to push the )new) writer out of the way to claim equal writing credits. Scripts get re-written all the time - but usually the re-writers take NO CREDIT. Perhaps the director - who, like most directors seems very uncreative - will stop trying to put his name on others' work? As i was saying to my flying pig...

This is one of the best foreign films I have ever seen: I simply could not take my eyes off the screen. The soundtrack of Grieg is great too. A masterclass in how to make an intelligent and entertaining, thoughtful movie.

I usually hate mel gibson's work - 'braveheart' is one of the worst, not to mention inaccurate, films of the last 20 years - but this film is sublime! It does, it is true, have some hammy plot twists, but the fact that it is in Mayan and is about that culture make it an excellent antidote to hollywood movies (let's appeal to 14yr old american idiots eh?). Only those who can read and understand complex historical ideas can understand this film - which is probably why some chavvy 'middle-class' morons don't like it. Fine. Go to ikea and bingo and watch jane austen adaptations on the bbc. Leave the real talent to us boys. I LOVED this movie - it is unique.

This film has effectively been banned from TV in the UK. And why? Because the comic genius Peter Sellars has make-up on and does an Indian accent - so therefore, according to PC muppets, it's racist. It's isn't of course, it's mimickry - just like anyone doing any accent or caricature. This film is also much funnier than most comedians' mediocre efforts - whether they be white, brown or black (and that includes the goodness gracious me rip-off merchants). This movie is a classic - but you'll only enjoy it if you take off your self-righteous sanctimonious PC hat and go with the flow!

Based on Roald Dahl's superb short stories, this series was a classic when first aired in 1979/80 and still is! Despite a slower pace than series now, and some harsh lighting, these 30 minute gems are a must-see. Like all TV dramas and films it all starts with the writing - and Dahl is a master at that! If only one could say the same about TV these days...

I can see why people like this movie, despite its staginess. However, probably because I went to a grammar school in the 80s I HATED it - it is SO unrealistic, and all the boys speak like 1950s schoolboys (like Bennet, actually). Perhaps if i were American or had had an education in a comprehensive I'd love it - but I simply cringed at how inaccurate it was! Grammar schools in the 80s were NOT like this!