Reviews
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Boring
I saw this film at the weekend and I was deeply disappointed by what I saw. I went to the cinema with an open mind, my girlfirend raving about how could the book is but I still didn't expect that much, and it did not deliver.
The film looks nice and the established actors do their job adequately (Robbie Coltrane, I have to confess, was excellent) but the younger actors just don't convince. I had heard a lot of good things about the ginger haired kid, yet his only lines that brought any laughter from the audience were when he degenerated into saying the phrase 'bloody hell' - that is a cheap laugh I would expect from a second-rate play at the local theatre.
I'm sure reading the book makes the film more enjoyable, but a film should stand on its own two feet. However, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone may look good, but it is mainly poorly acted, the character's are undeveloped and it is simply boring viewing.
It will please the under twelve age group, anyone older is trying too hard to enjoy it. Where is the motivation behind looking for the stone? I'm sorry but 'they're just curious kids' will not wash with me after the film has had £90 million spent on it.
This isn't the worst film I've ever seen, 'Dude Where's my Car' is far worse to be fair, but it is very overrated and only made semi-interesting by a brilliant Robbie Coltrane. My mark? 3/10.
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Don't believe the critics
Pearl Harbor is a great film. The romance is a bit awkward at times and some of the script is a little 'what were you thinking?' at times.
However, it works and in 180 minutes I wasn't bored once. The real highlight of the film was always going to be the assault on Pearl Harbor, and that was the most thrilling half an hour of cinema I have ever seen.
The way the violence made you feel uncomfortable and nervous would be expected in a Scorcese film rather than a supossed summer block buster. Normally, this would probably be seen as a bad thing, but in a dastardly attack like Pearl Harbor I think it is totally appropriate and exquisitly done.
Don't believe the critics - if you miss Pearl Harbor at the cinema (definately it's most appropriate and worthwhile format) you will miss out.
I give it 8 and 1/2 out of 10.
American History X (1998)
Ed Norton is PERFECT
Edward Norton makes this film. He will be staring in great films for the next 50 years. He plays such a different character here than he does in Fight Club, his other most notable performance, but he is still completely believable throughout. Indeed, here he plays 3 different characters - the confused kid, the racist hooligan and the redeemed hero. The film shows how racism can split a family apart and the devastating affects of enstilling racism into young people. A fine film. A fine Edward Norton. - Furlong isn't bad either!
The Secret of Monkey Island (1990)
Threepwood's greatest adventure!
This game is an absolute classic. Guybrush Threepwood must go down in history as the most likeable computer sprite of all time and LeChuck is his perfect nemesis. The Secret of Monkey Island and LeChuck's revenge or similar in formula but both extremely unique and imaginative. The more modern follow-on was great too but not in the same league as the early '90s originals. This game is cheap to buy and will run on any PC (it worked even on an Amiga for goodness sake!) so there is no excuse why any PC owner shouldn't own the game. The solutions to puzzles aren't simple, but especially in the original game they are logical and realistic in the context of the game. That is what makes the game stand out for me as better than modern equivalents. A true classic, buy it!
The Curse of Monkey Island (1997)
Good but not classic
COMI is not in the same league as the original Monkey Island, Ron Gilbert works. MI1 and 2 worked as a series but this one doesn't really fit in. I loved the bit in Monkey2 where Guybrush revisited that Melee Island backstreet but COMI doesn't have that kind of humour. It is a good game, if a bit short, but I would truly love to see MI4 revert to the old format and still benefit from technological advances. Glad to see a bit of the old swordfighting back but a little disappointing overall. Good try though, especially from Threepwood's voice.