Film Reviews by Nicholas from Chesterfield

Its not bad. Not bad at all. Sure, doesn't quite have the charm, warmth and wit of the trilogy, but it was entertaining in its own right.

And it didn't suffer from Soderberg's nauseating colour filter craziness. Definitely worth a rental . 

Over a year later and not only did I buy the thing - after renting it - but it's had more play time than any of the other Ocean's. Sometimes you can watch a film repeatedly just to enjoy the way it was put together. This is one such film for me. Nothing to do with endless attractive females. No sir.

The story of Hamlet retold in China may seem an odd choice, and will likely offend some, but meet it halfway and I guarantee you poignancy and an  emotional depth that you won't find coming from the big studios. I could never appreciate Shakespeare when confronted with it at A level Eng. lit , but 45 years later and an exotic setting and I'm sold. Perhaps it's the sumptuous  visuals. Perhaps it's the haunting music. Perhaps it's Zhang Ziyi's bare buttocks....

This is film is surprising on two counts.

1. Picture quality is sensational  - rich and vivid colours ,razor sharp detail. No banding , shimmer or flicker. Inky blacks, no fashionable orange and teal colouring. It looks completely natural , unlike most of what comes out of Hollywood these days. The musical motif heard throughout the film is strangely reminiscent of Nolans Dark Knight . . . and you wouldn't have expected that , would you ?

2. I've lost count of the number of ' bible ' films that ignore most of the source material when it is crucial for the narrative. Usually has me wanting to shout obcenities at the screen in protest. But this one didn't. As the story unfolded my amazement at it's  fidelity and that of the filmakers grew and grew.

If you have any interest at all in old or new testament you ought to buy this outright.

If not, then rent it to see just how good a modern film can look on blu ray.