Great fun!

Before the release of this film at the cinema I wasn't sure this film could work at all or whether it would have the success it has had. I had seen the show in London a few months earlier. Would it translate well onto the big screen? Double Oscar winner Meryl Streep and one of the best James Bond actors in Pierce Brosnan? Also it is a film with Abba songs. Would it be well received, as they have taken quite a bit of stick down the years.

Well, my concerns were not justified, as this film clearly translated well, had some solid performances and was lapped up by Abba fans and also it seems alot of non Abba fans.

The film has been tweaked in certain places to accommodate the move to the cinema. There is the odd bit missing here and here and there, but nothing that is to the detriment of the film.

Meryl Streep, (Oscar winner for Kramer vs Kramer and Sophie's Choice) was not who I expected to be in this role. I just didn't think it would would work. I can happily say I was very wrong, as she embraces the role entirely, is clearly having so much fun, and to my amazement, she actually has a half decent singing voice.

Pierce Brosnan seemed an odd bit of casting to me, but fair play to him for taking it on. It actually worked very well. I know alot has been said about his singing voice, but he probably would have got more stick if they had used somebody elses voice. Very brave I thought. I wouldn't focus too much on that though, as the key to this being such a great film is that it isn't taken too seriously.

If you just watch this and enjoy it for what it is. A fantastic feel-good musical, with some amazing scenery as the backdrop and some of the best pop songs ever written you will enjoy it immensely, and it won't take you long before you are singing along!!

The Joker Steals The Show

I gave this movie four rather than five stars because I think it suffers from being just slightly over long, its unsure whether it wants to be family viewing or just as sinister as it could be and I'm still not sure that Batman himself hasnt been miscast.

This is the second in the series of films which began with"Batman Begins", it is set years after the first film. Crime and corruption are still a problems in Gotham but pale in comparison with what they once where as a consequence of not just Batman's vigilante justice but some crusading politicians and cops.

Bruce Wayne is contemplating retiring Batman, partly for personal reasons (a love interest) but also because he feels the"state of emergency" conditions of the first movie, which had Rasa Ghoul contemplating liquidating the place, have passed.

Enter The Joker who steals the show from everyone, a psychopathic jack the ripper style character wanting nothing other than to indulge his homicidal and sadistic urges. The characterisation of The Joker is unsurpassed and is destined to become one of the archetypical film psychopaths like Hopkin's Hannibal Lector, unmistakeably unhinged, insanely compulsive and repulsive, any ingenuity in his scheming is pretty much unsurpassed by the sinister, sick nature of the same.

In the end circumstances leave no doubt that Gotham isnt ready for a world without Batman, although public attitudes to the same are changed for good, another film's set up but not in any way which detracts from this set piece.

The movie's great but I'm a fan of a lot of Batman comics, books and films and still feel that in these movies The Batman himself lacks prescence.

Laughed 'till I cried

I found this incredibly funny.. Had tears in my eyes all the way through.
A very funny man.

Great film, interesting message

This was a great film, I can see why some children may have found it slightly boring with no dialogue at the beginning, but I thought it was so cute and funny. Completely adore Wall-E, and the message about looking after the environment truly gets across.

Excellent

A great film stunningly well transferred onto Blu-ray. The aspect ratio changes for the IMAX portions which look amazing in HD. Highly recommended.

What else did you expect?

Having seen all of Lee's previous recorded stand-up, I knew that this year would be another 'safe' bet. Don't let the safe fool you though. You know what he's going to deliver, a fantastic 2 hour set with laughs from start to finish.

2 hours of stand-up itself is no easy feat. Quite how he can churn out such long shows at such a rate only he can answer, but the quality is all there. I don't think this is on the same level to the XL tour. The quality is the same, but I think the material is a little contrived - the last hour seems to be entirely focused on his wife - again - don't think this takes away from the quality.

I gave it four stars purely because I think the XL DVD is better. The material is more wide ranging - but don't let think that this isn't worth buying. Lee is a quality performer, and this is no exception.

My only criticism - and I wish someone would have the guts to tell him this - can we stop the singing at the end of each show, its a pointless waste of everyone's time. If you want to watch music - buy music, if you want watch comedy music - buy Tim Minchin's DVD.

Plucky panda saves the day

Po the Panda spends his days working in his dad's noodle bar and his nights dreaming of being a Kung Fu hero. His dreams start to come improbably true when he is revealed to be none other than the Dragon Warrior - the ultimate Kung Fu hero destined to save the valley from the destructive rage of evil snow leopard Tai Lung; much to the disgust of genuine Kung Fu experts Monkey, Tiger, Snake, Mantis and Crane.

The plot is comfortingly familiar. Po stands firmly in the tradition of Jack the Giant Killer. Many of the supporting characters, too, are familiar and a special mention must go to the rhinos (last seen in Robin Hood) who give a first rate performance as the guards charged with keeping Tai Lung in his mountain prison.

This film takes a while to get started, but once it does, it's a visual feast, drawing strongly on its Chinese setting. Tai Lung's escape from his Mordor-like prison is animation at its best. As with a number of recent animations, though, less care has been taken with some of the crowd scenes, but these don't detract from the overall enjoyment.

When it first hit the big screen, some reviewers criticized this film for encouraging children to think that you don't have to work at success: being true to yourself is enough. This is unfair to the overweight and distinctly un-athletic Po who submits to a rigorous training programme under the guidance of Kung Fu master Shi Fu.

"Kung Fu Panda" is a essentially a children's film that many adults will also enjoy. Youngsters will be delighted by Po and his chums, but parents would do well to note the PG rating as some scenes may distress very young children.

A must for animation aficionados and overweight Kung Fu enthusiasts everywhere.

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging [2008]

Angus thongs and perfect snogging is slightly spoilt by it's title. I know this is quite a minor bug but I know someone who wasn't allowed to see it because of the title. Overall this is a heartwarming chick flick that is very very funny and perfect for girls 12 - 16. Fab! Five star! I love angus!

Brilliant!

I watched this film on Christmas day and found it hugely enjoyable. If you enjoy Will Smith playing his usual cuttingly witty but laid back character he tends to put into most of his movies, you will love this. Funnier than either MIB film, more jaw dropping special effects than anything I have seen in any film recently and more entertaining than any of his other recent offerings. Brilliant! Bring on Hancock2!.

The worst film ever made

Now you all have seen Narnia 2 and that was abismal this film has sunk to a whole new level of pants. The Novel was or would have been 20x better then the film i grantee. I was so bord in the cinema that started chucking food (Popcorn) around the room and this old man who was around 70 by his looks and he gave me evils. Now this film is worse then enchanted and Jaws 4 and even the grudge. I would raver bye the film Doggy Poo! Its that bad I give this poor film 1/5 atchualy i must this is so bad its like watching High school mucisal! So Bad I would rather die then watch it again. I din't buy this poor exsuse for a film i was forced to see it and i really hated it and the reason i looked it up was to tell you it was abismal, so here i go! IT WAS ABISMAL

Who'd have thought it?

When I heard Robert Downey Jr had been cast as Iron Man I was intrigued. And I have to say he really pulls it off giving us one of the most refreshingly original takes on a 'superhero' yet. He has such an abundance of charisma on screen and he really looked to have buffed up for the role. He manages to embody geek, playboy, morally ambiguous businessman, action man and philanthropist in the right quantities. I also liked the political message of the film as it weaves in the war in Afghanistan, American foreign policy and the corrupt nature of the military-industrial machine, perhaps a brave stance to take. It seems to me that superhero movies in the 21st century are less about superheroes who are perfect role models and more about ordinary people put into extraordinary situations. Even Superman has struggled to find a place for himself up against Spiderman, Iron Man, Batman and the Fantastic 4. The message seems to be: it's up to us to play the cards we are dealt. Iron Man is an excellent example of a man who felt comfortable with his place in the world, his playboy lifestyle, his boy toys and suddenly gets confronted with the consequences of what his company does, sees what he would not be able to see on a report. He then decides to use his talents to change things when it might be easier not to - and that is surely the most valuable lesson any superhero can teach us? To stand up for what is right no matter what the personal cost? A cracking film...

Top Gear Cool Wall Rating = Cool

Clarkson has done it again for Christmas with another DVD and the main man The Stig is there as always. All the usual bits and pieces you would expect from fast cars to blowing thibgs up. The cars were great, arial filming on location in the alps is just stunning just what we expect from the Top Gear film crew - top notch work guys (and gals).

It's a showcase of the engineering masterpieces at the present day and age. And as usual, to tie things together, Clarkson's incessant humerous comments provide very frequent bouts of laughter which makes the journey to find the perfect thriller car a highly enjoyable experience.

The only thing I didn't like in the film was that a whole segment towards the middle is based on blowing things up rather than finding the perfect thrill.

It's a very enjoyable film to watch for all the petrol-heads out there and I'd highly recommend it.

Must-have item of 2008!

This is all you need for a real girls night in!
If you watch it alone, you will definitely grab your phone and ring your best friend afterwards...

Enjoy!

P.S. I also have the Complete Series 1-6. You might want to consider that as well and start it all over again...

Humour is about more than using the 'F' word, Frankie...

I love watching Frankie on 'Mock the Week', where he's refreshingly savage, frequently hilarious and outrageously non-PC. Bring it on!

Unfortunately this DVD shows he's better in small doses than in a full 90 minute show, where his relentless rants and desire to shock are very wearing indeed. Of course some of it's great, but I prefer my wit to be of the sniper variety where the comedian takes clever pot shots, rather than Frankie's machine-gun, obliterating-every-target-in-sight approach.

Another thing: do you really need to swear so much, Frankie? God knows I swear quite a bit myself and believe careful deployment of the 'F' word can really enhance a gag. Unfortunately, with Frankie's act it's a major profanity in every other sentence and it simply loses its impact. Compare this stage show with the brilliance of someone like Al Murray who swears infrequently and to much more telling effect.

The familarity of so much of this material does him no favours either. I know television exposure generates big bucks for a comedian, but for the show to work better Frankie's stuff needs to be newer, fresher, more original. I howl with laughter at his antics on 'MTW' but I scarcely even smiled watching this DVD (and none of the audience are exactly rolling in the aisles with laughter either)

One to avoid.

1080i or 1080p argument resolved ?

It is outstanding.
I rented it but then bought the USA import version because of Amazon Reviews. This was a costly mistake and 1 disc less.
My Panasonic Blu Ray player info when playing picture reports this as 1080p. I have a full 1080p 37inch Panasonic TV.
The"extra" disc is 1080i so the packaging reports the whole as 1080i
Some people say the USA import is so much better. I think this is a case of" The Emporers New Clothes" fairy tale.
I have read all the arguments regarding buying the US import version and found this report on an AV forum which I believe to be correct.


Quote
ALL versions of Planet Earth, on both HD DVD and Blu Ray, are 1080P. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT OR WHAT IT SAYS ON THE BOX, THE MAIN PROGRAMMES ARE ALL IN 1080P, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

The video files (as in actual size in MB) are exactly the same size on both versions (US/UK); just try both versions in your player, you will not see a difference.

The UK version mentions 1080i on the box because the 'extra' programmes are in 1080i, but this is at 30fps so the motion looks much better than the main programmes anyway. The 1080i on the box is merely the BBC trying to cover themselves against accusations of false advertising.

Whats worse than people on forums talking nonsense is that if you look at Amazon or Play..com there are people posting 'reviews' which are saying it is 1080i and that they are disgusted with the BBC etc and telling people to buy the US version. There people should ask themselves WHY the BBC would release a lower quality product in the UK - this would cost MORE money, and they would gain nothing in return. The answer is THEY HAVEN'T. It's all 1080p. Use yer loaf!

So please lets stop this nonsense, any lack of image quality in Planet Earth is due to the original recording technology used (24p film / early HD cameras) and not the release format.

If you want the best demo 'nature' disc then just get BBC's Galapagos, it's not as interesting but you'll have no complaints about PQ. (and YES it's 1080p, AND 30fps.

<end rant>

Great, IF you know what you're getting yourself into

Crikey! This is all rather harsh, isn't it? Poor old Bill's come in for a rather undeserved bashing here.

Look, here's the honest truth. If you're a Bill Bailey fan, you won't be disappointed. Tinselworm isn't his finest work, but trust me, it's still VERY good, and has some classic routines that can stand tall amongst some of his most famous moments (ASDA, the doorbell, Imperial March Jazz, Belarus national anthem...the list goes on).

The technical aspects do tend to dominate the show somewhat, but that's the whole point of Bill Bailey's shows - this isn't your average comedy gig, where value for money is counted by laughs per minute. This is an experimental visual-aural experience that happens to be presented by a bizzarely funny man with funny hair. So, just because it doesn't have you in stitches from start to finish (although there are some moments of pure hysteria) doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable. Because it is.

Take the indian guitar battle, for example. Or the German trouser press. Are they funny? Not especially. Are they exciting and fun? Oh yes.

If you're looking for pure laughs, you have the wrong comedian. If you're looking for a mixture of entertainment in the company of a thoroughly likeable man, this is your thing.

MUMMY MORE LIKE DUMMY!!!

I liked the first two films infact they were brillant as for this it was dire. The acting was very average again compared to the first two films I really hope the director doesn't get the offer to do another film because I don't think he was really bothered making this in to a good part 3 and he still got paid!!!. It is worth a watch to say you have seen all three films but do not think you are going to get what you saw in the first two films because you won't!!

Wow, I liked it!

I don't like comic book movies and hadn't expected much from this, particularly after all the fanboy hype in movie magazines, so Hellboy 2 turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

Good strong plot, fantastic visuals and imaginative creatures and worlds. Actually, I never thought I'd here myself say this, but I liked it better than Pan's Labyrinth [2006]

Indiana Jones - A Review In Five Words.

'Oh screw you George Lucas.'

(Not content with ruining Star Wars, now he's ruined Indiana Jones too.)

great

This is a very actual comedy reflecting on difficult parenthood with 3 difficult children and dysfunctional parents.

Is shot mainly with handheld cameras and has a documenaty feel to it , the main attraction are the younger children ( supperbly played by newcomers ) and the challenges they present to their parents.

The 2 adults struggle to put their children's educational needs before themselves and it can be cringe-inducing to watch the million of lost oportinities to correct their baheviour.

The script is original and fresh and is worth the current 2nd series.