Film Review Index
This is an index to films by the first letter of the title
Misc A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
5 Days (2005) - Professionally made documentary, though hardly worth the worldwide attention it has received.
Æon Flux (2005) - Lush and imaginatively sumptuous sci-fi, deliciously served.
5x2 (2004) - Finely nuanced and impressive performances.
9 Songs (2004) - Beautiful, intimate, responsible. A minor triumph..
2046 (2004) - Artistry and cascading beauty in this modern allegory.
Ônibus 174 (2002) - Dramatic documentary at its finest.
21 Grams (2003) - Successful new techniques - an interesting movie.
25th Hour (2002) - Stick it out - it justifies itself eventually.
8 Mile (2002) - Barely taps the surface - the next Eminem movie will be better!.
17 fois Cécile Cassard (2002) - Beautiful Dalle draws us in to the depths of her character's feelings again.
28 Days Later (2002) - Trainspotting Director, Danny Boyle, does what he does best - making a big-grossing movie for pennies - this time inflicting post-apocalyptic and pretty scary virus-victims on a few survivors in a Mad Max me.
40 Days and 40 Nights (2002) - Adult sex comedy - will mean different things each side of the Atlantic.
101 Reykjavk (2000) - Adult fun - just about keeps going.
ma soeur (2001) - A polished film from Breillat on her usual themes of sexuality.
Ôdishon (1999) - Landmark horror movie.
15 Minutes (2001) - Thrills a minute but fairly forgettable.
28 Days (2000) - Sandra Bullock comes of age.
A - B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All the Kings Men (2006) - A powerful showcase of talent in a gripping film.
An Inconvenient Truth (2006) - Inconvenient but exciting.
Art School Confidential (2006) - A couple of spliffs short of the trippy work of art it should have been.
Apart from That (2006) - Stuck in a rut of self-congratulatory experimentation, this film is hideous even if it may be art.
A Crude Awakening The Oil Crash (2006) - A rather stiff dose of reality.
Angel-A (2005) - Happiness is not in heaven.
Ask the Dust (2006) - A film that is more than Farrell's buttocks, but not quite the great classic it aspires to b.
Asylum (2005) - Like an insidious sense of darkness creeping up from the unconscious.
Antares (2004) - Penetratingly observed, life itself is sufficient to find meaning and differences.
Akai kami no onna (1979) - Am I missing the point or wasn't there one? Help!.
Abril Despedaado (2001) - A gem.
Anatomie de lenfer (2004) - A masterpiece of French cinema.
American Splendor (2003) - A modern classic of successful innovation.
Alexandras Project (2003) - Raw, naked talent that takes the audience on an unforgettable emotional (and disturbing) journey.
American Wedding (2003) - Fabulously gross.
Adaptation (2002) - Let's Make Up a Screenplay for this Movie as we Go Along.
Auto Focus (2002) - How Chickie-Birdies Got their Kit Off.
About Schmidt (2002) - Nicholson's comedic approach to later years.
Anita and Me (2002) - Moving coming of age comedy.
All or Nothing (2002) - Serious kitchen sink drama that manages to rise above its drab bleakness and discover a note of uplifting warmth.
About a Boy (2002) - Hugh Grant gets a decent script where he can do what he does best and doesn't have to stutter.
A Beautiful Mind (2001) - A beautifully crafted winner.
Artificial Intelligence AI (2001) - Not the great movie it should have been but still worth seeing.
Angel Eyes (2001) - Tolerable date movie.
A Knights Tale (2001) - A new spin on the medieval knights theme.
Along Came a Spider (2001) - Or is it a Fly? A Secret Recipe?.
Antitrust (2001) - Geek heaven.
Almost Famous (2000) - A rather good film.
A Clockwork Orange (1971) - Brilliant - but why???.
A Room for Romeo Brass (1999) - An unexpectedly emotionally satisfying movie.
American Beauty (1999) - Ignore the hype to avoid disappointment.
A Midsummer Nights Dream (1999) - A testament to the fact that Shakespeare is enjoyable even when performed poorly..
Analyze This (1999) - What is there to analyse? Run of the mill comedy with stars added.
B - A C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Bunhongsin (2005) - Shoe madness - 'psycho-subway' brand.
Basic Instinct 2 (2006) - Film noir with a confusing cleavage.
Brokeback Mountain (2005) - The mountain of our fears and dreams.
Breakfast on Pluto (2005) - Worth more than a wolf-whistle.
Batman Begins (2005) - The Comic Book coming-of-age.
Beyond the Sea (2004) - Not Spacey's best work.
Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason (2004) - Podgy, frumpy and thoroughly attractive sequel.
Being Julia (2004) - Lyrical adaptation of Somerset Maugham.
Birth (2004) - Quirky, offbeat, unsettling and quite interesting.
Bride Prejudice (2004) - Bollywood Miramax style . . ..
Big Fish (2003) - Quirky and lovable - Burton just about carries it off this time.
Black and White (2002) - More of a near miss than a resounding success.
Bruce Almighty (2003) - Carrey on form.
Boksuneun naui geot (2002) - Artistic integrity and stomach churning horror.
Blue Crush (2002) - More of a surfing that a chickybabe movie, but easy on the eye anyway.
Bowling for Columbine (2002) - An American hero's film.
Bully (2001) - Remarkable.
Black Hawk Down (2001) - Battle minus script or plot details.
Batoru rowaiaru (2000) - Vacuous slasher-mentality movie.
Before Night Falls (2000) - Evocative film-making.
Blow (2001) - Better than expected.
Bread and Roses (2000) - Documentary or entertainment?.
Bridget Joness Diary (2001) - Empty-headed but likeable.
Blow Dry (2001) - Amiable light comedy.
Beautiful Creatures (2000) - Another low in British film-making.
Bounce (2000) - Reasonably light and fluffy date movie.
Bless the Child (2000) - God blesses what God blesses and it ain't this film!.
Bring It On (2000) - Flimsy stuff done rather well.
Billy Elliot (2000) - Dancing into your heart and soul.
Being John Malkovich (1999) - A cult classic, but don't take it too seriously!.
Bride of Chucky (1998) - Exemplary specimen of almost lost genre.
Bringing Out the Dead (1999) - Not up to Scorses's usual high standards.
C - A B D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Casino Royale (2006) - Shaken or stirred - can you tell the difference . . ..
Children of Men (2006) - Armageddon . . . again.
China Blue (2005) - You'll feel more comfortable if you don't wear your Levis to watch this film . . ..
Crush (1992) - Doesn't quite live up to its expectations.
Colour Me Kubrick A Trueish Story (2005) - Colourful, but very in your face.
Casa de Areia (2005) - A masterpiece of dreams and passions unwillingly inherited.
Clerks II (2006) - There's no smoke without a decent Kevin Smith sequel . . ..
Capote (2005) - A brilliantly multilayered, sophisticated and understated melodrama about an incredibly complex character.
Caché (2005) - Definitive cinema.
Casanova (2005) - A delightful romp!.
Cinderella Man (2005) - Simple crowd pleaser.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) - Perfectly created, perfectly realised fairytale.
Crash (2004) - Oscar bait with broad appeal - yet a remarkably thought-provoking film and one of the most interesting portraits of L.A. to date.
Constantine (2005) - Goth comic-book thriller that eventually picks up steam.
Creep (2004) - Admirably unpatronising and genuinely scary.
Closer (2004) - Not for everyone's taste, but a superb tour de force for those can digest serious theatre.
Choristes Les (2004) - No substance, but quite delightful.
Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) - Mostly appeal to those who love Jim Jarmusch's quirky work.
Collateral (2004) - Stylish film noir.
Control Room (2004) - Hard hitting and well-made documentary.
Cremaster 5 (1997) - Part of a modern art classic.
Cremaster 2 (1999) - Part of a modern art classic.
Cremaster 1 (1996) - Part of a modern art classic.
Cremaster 3 (2002) - Part of a modern art classic.
Cremaster 4 (1995) - Part of a modern art classic.
Culloden (1964) - Very dramatic historical reconstruction.
Cold Creek Manor (2003) - Would be entertaining enough as a 'B'-movie.
Cold Mountain (2003) - Another triumph for Nicole Kidman.
Chignon dOlga Le (2002) - A fine example of sensitive and charming French cinema.
Company (2002) - Bollywood Gangster.
Chicago (2002) - Slick, superficial.
Cidade de Deus (2002) - Explores a world or violence and moral ambiguity rarely depicted on film.
Catch Me If You Can (2002) - Polished, highly entertaining - and cleverer than it seems.
City by the Sea (2002) - Nice enough attempt.
Citizen Kane (1941) - A masterpiece by the standards of its day.
Changing Lanes (2002) - American movie that tries with very limited success to grapple with moral analysis.
Club Le Monde (2002) - British comedy that hits its mark, though not for everyone.
Croupier (1998) - Solid British mystery thriller.
Captain Corellis Mandolin (2001) - Bland and syrupy.
Chocolat (2000) - Delightful and expertly delivered, if also a little insubstantial.
Chopper (2000) - Original and disturbing.
Charlies Angels (2000) - No frills entertainment - switch mobile phone and brain off first.
Coyote Ugly (2000) - Straightforward entertainment - engaging braincells not needed!.
Cookies Fortune (1999) - Beautifully detailed but sadly self-conscious.
D - A B C E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Deep Water (2006) - Deep Water is about more than just the ocean.
Destricted (2006) - More contemporary art than contemporary cinema.
Driving Lessons (2006) - A young man's escape to Scotland - and from the ties that bind.
De particulier particulier (2006) - Only for those who like a challenge.
Dead Mans Cards (2006) - A slice of gritty entertainment, served with a sharp knife.
Date Movie (2006) - Definitely not a date movie.
Dont Come Knocking (2005) - Watching paint dry on a minor masterpiece.
Dominion Prequel to the Exorcist (2005) - Is there a thinking alternative to gratuitous shock & gore?.
De battre mon coeur sest arrté (2005) - Frenetic and schizophrenic with enough feelgood to hit all the right buttons.
Dalkomhan insaeng (2005) - Entertaining enough, if not quite a Ji-woon Kim masterpiece.
Dear Wendy (2005) - Post Dogme, and reasonably satisfying attempt at the cult genre.
DiG (2004) - If you'd never heard of Brian Jonestown Massacre you won't forget them after seeing this film.
Dead Meat (2004) - Low budget gore with all the successful elements.
Dodgeball A True Underdog Story (2004) - Superior slapstick comedy - tightly scripted, it gets immense mileage out of the flimsiest of gags.
Dead Mans Shoes (2004) - Derbyshire dirt - and some not very nice characters . . ..
Diarios de motocicleta (2004) - A road movie about social conscience.
Dawn of the Dead (2004) - Standard fare.
Dogville (2003) - Dogged by unfair criticism.
Dogville (2003) - A major triumph of Danish filmmaking.
Dans ma peau (2002) - Disturbing, fascinating, and difficult viewing.
Dans ma peau (2002) - Disturbing and poetic.
Dreamcatcher (2003) - Mish mash and overdose of Stephen King themes.
Die Another Day (2002) - Gadgets, Babes, and Lotsofexplosions.
Donnie Darko (2001) - Description-defying but very original movie about a disturbed adolescent with schizoid fantasies that manages to be charming, disturbing, funny, touching and thought-provoking all in one.
Dog Soldiers (2002) - Trashy horror, D.O.A..
Dont Say a Word (2001) - Fast Food Thriller.
Down from the Mountain (2000) - A gem worthy of the historical place that needed to be commemorated.
Dracula 2000 (2000) - Plays to current audience trends but not well enough to be taken at all seriously.
Dirty Dancing (1987) - A cult milestone.
Dancer in the Dark (2000) - Innovative and dramatic song and dance movie.
Down to You (2000) - If you Throw Up, It Aint the Food.
Dogma (1999) - Waste of talent in self-congratulatory hype.
E - A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
East of Havana (2006) - Political whitewash.
Estrellas de La Lnea (2006) - Media manipulation or heartwarming, responsible, social documentary making?.
Enduring Love (2004) - Intelligent and exciting film-making.
Earthquake (1974) - OK for a silly midnight movie.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - Fabulous and inventive storytelling.
EvenHand (2002) - A breath of fresh air for American indie film making.
Embrassez qui vous voudrez (2002) - Nice little French comedy.
Enigma (2001) - Brilliant tour de force.
Evolution (2001) - Unevolved sci-fi comedy.
Eu Tu Eles (2000) - When subtitles are more interesting than the movie.
Earth (1998) - A great film under any other name.
F - A B C D E G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Fehér tenyér (2006) - East meets West in this authentic and challenging story of a gymnastics gold medallist.
Flightplan (2005) - A plot stretched wafer thin to provide a stage for good acting.
Fantastic Four (2005) - Here we go again.
Forbrydelser (2004) - The character's 'hands' are also those of any one of us - cinema heals itself in the hands of Dogme . . ..
Fem benspnd De (2003) - A self-examining work of art that is greater than its constituent parts.
Fakers (2004) - Gangster chic - witty but unmemorable.
Finding Neverland (2004) - Touching the soul of inspiration.
Finestra di fronte La (2003) - Graceful and unpretentious.
Freaky Friday (2003) - Better than you might expect.
Freddy vs Jason (2003) - Welcome back Freddy - all is (almost) forgiven - at least for this above average sequel.
Final Flight of the Osiris (2003) - Well executed and enjoyable marketing.
Far from Heaven (2002) - "I was Prejudiced against Reality".
From Hell (2001) - Unexpectedly cerebral.
Fabuleux destin dAmélie Poulain Le (2001) - Subtle, beautiful, and worth seeing more than once.
Final Fantasy The Spirits Within (2001) - A new page in animation.
Fah talai jone (2000) - Thai cinema renaissance.
Finding Forrester (2000) - Zen and the art of writing Sean Connery scripts.
Flawless (1999) - A good story that should be more memorable than it is..
Fa yeung nin wa (2000) - A rare and intimate masterpiece.
Frequency (2000) - Nice action - shame about the screenplay.
Final Destination (2000) - Last Ditch Effort.
G - A B C D E F H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Gwoemul (2006) - Toxic tadpoles and organic morons.
Good Night and Good Luck (2005) - If I were born in the USA, this is a film that would make me feel proud to be an American.
Grizzly Man (2005) - Even handed, insightful and gripping film-making.
Gypo (2005) - Some films just make you really proud of UK film-making . . ..
Guy X (2005) - Nice idea - shame about the delivery.
Gaau ji (2004) - An exquisite exercise in bad taste.
Gunner Palace (2004) - Available as a bootleg DVD on the streets of Iraq now.
Gacaca Living Together Again in Rwanda (2002) - A valuable contribution, but limited in scope.
Garden State (2004) - Whacky comedy that is strangely meaningful and relevant.
Geoul sokeuro (2003) - Overly ambitious Korean ghost story but with some creepy highlights.
Grand Theft Parsons (2003) - Fairly lame low-budget comedy.
Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) - Lyrical perfection if it's the sort of thing that turns you on.
Good Bye Lenin (2003) - A beautiful film, and a valuable one..
Gattopardo Il (1963) - Touches on the true meaning of aristocracy.
Gangs of New York (2002) - Excessive talent dished up with too much monosodium glutamate.
Gin gwai (2002) - One of the year's best horror movies, though the subtitles will sadly put many people off.
Gosford Park (2001) - Effortlessly impressive.
Ghost World (2001) - Teen flick with substance.
Gimme Shelter (1970) - Well told story.
Ginger Snaps (2000) - Cutesy and cool - nothing that shocking though..
Get Over It (2001) - Above-average intelligence in this 'dumb teen flick' offering.
Girlfight (2000) - For love and the fight.
Gangster No 1 (2000) - Competent but gratuitous.
Gladiator (2000) - ("Blood & Guts in Ancient Rome" - sorry ladies, this film is *not* called "Russell Crowe gets his Kit Off").
Go (1999) - Light and reasonably entertaining but not worth going out of your way for..
H - A B C D E F G I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Happy Feet (2006) - More than just a flipperful of fun.
Hollywoodland (2006) - Good actors let down by poor execution.
Hoodwinked (2005) - Aiming at all ages.
H6 Diario de un asesino (2005) - The sort of thing for an all-night horror fest.
Holly (2006) - Excellent information on a complex problem, but feels too much like an educational film.
Hong yan (2005) - Stylish if overlong, visually splendid tale of a downtrodden girl in 80s/90s China.
Hormigas en la boca (2005) - A film noir of murky greyscale calibre.
Hostel (2005) - Not exactly a trip through Disneyland . . ..
House of Wax (2005) - Familiar slasher pulp with some debatable redeeming features.
Hitch (2005) - Amiable romantic comedy.
Hotel Rwanda (2004) - Making a film and a contribution to humanity.
Haute tension (2003) - New life into slasher killer movies.
House of Sand and Fog (2003) - Only a near miss.
Honey (2003) - Make the world a better place with dancing?.
Historias mnimas (2002) - Probably the weirdest and most heart-warming road movie since the Straight Story.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) - Light hearted chick flick.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone (2001) - Uninspired hack job but kids (and Potter fans) will love it.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone (2001) - A children's classic.
Heartbreakers (2001) - Above average date movie.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) - Brilliant toe-tapping stuff.
Hannibal (2001) - Dollars, dollars - eat 'em while they're hot!.
Hollow Man (2000) - Hollow reviews don't a hollow picture make.
Honest (2000) - Dave Stewart Makes an Honest Living.
Humanité L (1999) - I found it an enjoyable slice of French cinema, though it will obviously be controversial..
I - A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Ils (2006) - Standrad fare, with a twist or two.
Inside Man (2006) - Very polished heist movie.
In My Fathers Den (2004) - Seriously worthwhile Kiwi film-making.
I Heart Huckabees (2004) - An existential comedy for intellectuals or just a head-banger?.
I Robot (2004) - Standard fare.
Invasions barbares Les (2003) - A truly great film.
Its All About Love (2003) - A film that really is 'about love' than just a cheesy portrayal.
In the Cut (2003) - One of the under-rated movies of the year.
Intermission (2003) - An Irish medley of pure roller-coaster entertainment.
In America (2002) - Like sucking on liquid saccharine.
I Capture the Castle (2003) - Fairytales meet reality in a subtly stunning 1930s romance.
Intacto (2001) - Original stuff.
InchAllah dimanche (2001) - An issue that needed highlighting.
Irréversible (2002) - Interesting, but easy to miss the point on first viewing.
Impostor (2002) - Sci-fi addicts fodder.
Iris (2001) - Disappointing disease of the week movie, but reasonably good performances.
Intimacy (2001) - Unnerving exploration of compartmentalised love affairs and the actor in all of us.
J - A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Jackass Number Two (2006) - Puerile and disgustingly hilarious.
Jarhead (2005) - A rifle can be a possessive lover . . ..
Johanna (2005) - Remarkable that it works at all: more remarkable that it works rather well.
Johnny English (2003) - 90 minutes of harmess fun.
Joy Ride (2001) - Cheap thrills.
Jurassic Park III (2001) - More of the same - more expensive CGIs.
K - A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
King Kong (2005) - Has the whisper of greatness beneath a clamour of commercialism.
Kingdom of Heaven (2005) - Lord of the Rings meets Gladiator.
Kontroll (2003) - Weird and whacky, don't take your granny.
Kill Bill Vol 2 (2004) - Classic Tarantino.
K-19 The Widowmaker (2002) - Good old fashioned drama, based on a true story, of cold war Soviet nuclear flagship submarine K19 and the bravery of its crew when the boat keeps going wrong.
Koroshiya 1 (2001) - Manga-esque gore flick.
L - A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Little Children (2006) - Finely featured story with references to Flaubert.
Laberinto del Fauno El (2006) - A masterpiece.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) - Outstanding comedy that also asks serious social questions.
Legaturi bolnavicioase (2006) - More than just a light romance.
London to Brighton (2006) - Seedy, forced and not very good..
Lady in the Water (2006) - A fairy-tale for adults and older children.
loudQUIETloud A Film About the Pixies (2006) - Rock documentary with excellent production values.
Ladies in Lavender (2004) - Cosy but unadventurous portrayal of rustic Cornwall.
Laws of Attraction (2004) - Loads of talent do not a story make up for.
Liquid Sky (1982) - Cult classic.
Lost in Translation (2003) - There's more than one way to find yourself . . ..
Love Actually (2003) - ‘Three Weddings and a Funeral' without the originality..
Lilja 4-ever (2002) - Doesn't really go far enough but still a good film.
Laam yan sei sap (2002) - Chinese poetry weaves magic in this mesmerising love triangle.
Luca y el sexo (2001) - Outstanding European cinema.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider (2001) - Trite, but nice to see Jolie do the hollywood bit.
Lost Souls (2000) - Standard god-versus-devil horror movie reasonably well-done see.
Loves Labours Lost (2000) - Musical, slapstick, and still respectable homage to Shakespeare.
Love Sex (2000) - Great date movie.
Liberty Heights (1999) - Good, but not hitting any heights.
Lola rennt (1998) - Pop video disguised as a thriller.
Life Support (1999) - Responsible and entertaining TV hospital ethics drama.
M - A B C D E F G H I J K L N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Mater natura (2004) - Colourful transgender romp.
Marie Antoinette (2006) - An original aesthetic - hats off to Coppola!.
Madeinusa (2006) - Stepping into another world . . ..
My Country My Country (2006) - Forget politics - this is real people.
Munich (2005) - Spielberg goes out his comfort zone - was it worth it?.
Match Point (2005) - Effortless direction.
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) - A tantalising taste of something it's not.
Manderlay (2005) - Art and social conscience at a high point of philosophical enquiry.
Mad Hot Ballroom (2005) - Strictly Ballroom without the bitchin'.
Mean Creek (2004) - Mean Creek asks uncomfortable questions about bullying.
Melinda and Melinda (2004) - Delightful mix of experimentation, casual self-reflection and fairly well-delivered entertainment.
Mar adentro (2004) - Riveting and inspiring in spite of such an apparently downbeat subject.
Maria Full of Grace (2004) - Excellent contribution to our understanding of the problem of drug smuggling.
Meet the Fockers (2004) - A knockabout comedy for effortless Sunday afternoon viewing.
Million Dollar Baby (2004) - Worthy - perhaps overly-so and very Americanised in its self conscious protesting of valuable issues.
Machssomim (2003) - Marvellously intelligent, non-partisan film to come out of Israel - a contribution to understanding on all sides.
Maquinista El (2004) - No doubt it will have its fans - even if just for Christian Bale.
Machuca (2004) - Two schoolboys from different backgrounds live through the transition from Allende to Pinochet.
Memoria del saqueo (2004) - Historically important, but lacking cinematic pace.
My Summer of Love (2004) - Magnetic characterisation that leaps off the screen with sheer charisma and spontaneity.
Msnap (2004) - Heavy on the weird - is it all really worth it?.
Monster (2003) - Heavy drama.
Mystic River (2003) - A good film - but not the cinematic masterpiece or great moral challenge it maybe should have been.
Max (2002) - An optimistic attempt.
Maid in Manhattan (2002) - J-Lo Gets a New Dress.
My Little Eye (2002) - The best of the Big Brother knock-on dramas with a few genuinely scary moments.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) - It loves itself so much you may find it easier to love than hate.
Ma femme est une actrice (2001) - Nice French farce.
Morvern Callar (2002) - A worthy effort and worth the wait as the film pulls to a close.
Monsters Ball (2001) - Outstanding emotional drama.
Monsters Ball (2001) - Dark and powerful.
Monsoon Wedding (2001) - Feelgood factors and insight into modern India.
Mulholland Dr (2001) - Original film making in a class of its own. WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS AND EXPLAINS THE STORY.
Moulin Rouge (2001) - By the original songs - they are better value.
Mullet (2001) - Damp squib.
Malèna (2000) - Stylish and sexy.
Men of Honor (2000) - Worthy tribute but too long.
Meet the Parents (2000) - All-round entertainment comedy.
Memento (2000) - A compelling mystery that maps unknown territory with a terrifying feeling of absolute certainty.
Me Myself Irene (2000) - Walk out bored or howl with laughter - an inventive piece.
Magnolia (1999) - Laborious soap with some good performances.
N - A B C D E F G H I J K L M O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Naboer (2005) - Sex, violence and psychosis.
Neo Ned (2005) - Multi-level comedy with loaded questions.
North Country (2005) - Will its self-conscious worthiness have the social impact it so earnestly desires?.
Notre musique (2004) - A humbling experience - I felt honoured to see this work on a full screen.
Non ti muovere (2004) - Powerful Italian cinema.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004) - Great talent but needs to be better developed.
Nicholas Nickleby (2002) - A minor 'classic'.
Narc (2002) - Gritty undercover cop thriller.
No Mans Land (2001) - Fiction, but at least it lets us make a stab at understanding the Bosnian war.
O - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Ong-bak (2003) - Definitely some of the best martial arts action on film since Bruce Lee.
Oceans Twelve (2004) - Videos of Brad Pitt, George Clooney etc just smiling for the cameras might be money better spent . . ..
Open Water (2003) - No special effects - just really scary stuff!.
Oldboy (2003) - Before the opening titles, a few nice gut-thumping adrenalin hits - and that's just for starters . . ..
Otro lado de la cama El (2002) - Fabulous.
Otro lado de la cama El (2002) - Outrageous feelgood movie for adults.
Open Range (2003) - A traditional, well-made western.
Out of Time (2003) - Competent but predictable style of cop thriller.
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002) - Barely watchable kitchen sink situational comedy.
Oceans Eleven (2001) - Nice lightweight thriller - stylish to boot.
One Night at McCools (2001) - Dull and mindless comedy that was hardly worth the effort.
O Brother Where Art Thou (2000) - Possibly the Coen Bros' most inventive movie to date.
Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000) - Fun, but don't get off the couch.
P - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Perfume The Story of a Murderer (2006) - Perfume - the story that got murdered on film.
Poeti veradardze (2005) - A testament to the Artist.
Prinzessin (2006) - Gritty violence in German suburb, well acted but a grimy story with little to redeem it.
P (2005) - Showgirls meets Hammer Horror?.
Palindromes (2004) - Remember it's only a film . . ..
Pelota vasca La piel contra la piedra La (2003) - A contribution to our understanding of an important issues, hidden by politicians and the media.
Primer (2004) - A film for the days when science fiction was about wrestling with ideas . . ..
Paycheck (2003) - A waste of Philip K Dick material.
Possession (2002) - Cosy historical romance with mellifluous lines, sumptuous costumes and scenes that glide effortlessly between a Victorian poet's love life and an almost-believable modern-day academic sleuth.
Placard Le (2001) - Pleasant comedy with inoffensive jokes about homophobia carried off better than it might have been..
Panic Room (2002) - Formulaic yet effective - Foster brilliant as usual.
Pianiste La (2001) - A great film it may be, but mainstream viewing it is not..
Planet of the Apes (2001) - Nice plastic suits - shame about the rest.
Pearl Harbor (2001) - The Eat-As-Much-As-You-Like Movie.
Pay It Forward (2000) - If you want to see something emotionally inspiring and can put up with the schmaltz.
Purely Belter (2000) - Funny enough but hardly outstanding.
Q - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y Z
Quills (2000) - A wasted opportunity and a waste of good talent.
R - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q S T U V W X Y Z
Red Road (2006) - Experimental fimmakers successfully rearing their artistic head.
Rabbit Fever (2006) - A film whose batteries have sadly run out before it started.
Rock the Bells (2006) - Not just for hardcore rap fans.
Red Eye (2005) - Well-honed flight into fear . . ..
Ray (2004) - Informative biopic that entertains and inspires.
Red Cockroaches (2003) - Home made movie that is worth indie fans queuing to see.
Runaway Jury (2003) - Outrageous exaggeration to make a point, but nonetheless a thrilling movie.
Rokugatsu no hebi (2002) - Masterly cinema but subject matter and style that will repel many.
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) - Statement movie about a bad chapter in Australian history.
Road to Perdition (2002) - Nice looks - shame about the substance.
Red Dragon (2002) - Overall, a worthy prequel.
R Xmas (2001) - Character studies and drugs related storyline.
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) - Simple story, powerfully told.
Requiem for a Dream (2000) - Innovative techniques but lacking in more basic movie construction essentials.
Red Planet (2000) - A posh attempt that should have been a much better movie.
Red Planet (2000) - A posh attempt that should have been a much better movie.
Road Trip (2000) - Take a full toke . . ..
Relative Values (2000) - Value it for what it is, not whether it comes up to the original.
Romance (1999) - A movie about realising identity - not about gender.
S - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R T U V W X Y Z
Stranger Than Fiction (2006) - Clever intellectual wizardry.
Shortbus (2006) - A triumph.
Something New (2006) - Ambitious romcom looking at race and young professionals.
Starter for Ten (2006) - Entertaining no-brainer.
Saw III (2006) - Not one of the best examples of the genre, but a bearable conclusion to the series for fans.
Step Up (2006) - Regular fare, competently delivered.
Snakes on a Plane (2006) - Bite me, squeeze me, baby!.
Sheitan (2006) - Multi-level nasty that's worth more than a nod.
Snow Cake (2006) - A film that makes you look at things in a brand new way - in a word, dazlious!.
Someone Else (2006) - One to take your boyfriend to!.
Stephanie Daley (2006) - When a woman just 'knows' . . ..
SherryBaby (2006) - A realistic and adult look at the struggle of an ex-convict to reintegrate with society.
Sommer 04 (2006) - Sailing into deep blue water.
Shut Up and Shoot Me (2005) - Full length amiable no-brainer that should have been a 20 minute short.
Syriana (2005) - Socially responsible film-making of the exciting kind.
Serenity (2005) - Firefly - the Universal version.
Saraband (2003) - Keeps us spellbound in classic style.
Sin City (2005) - Seminal film noir and remarkable homage to the comic book genre.
Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) - Not bad for a Star Wars movie - though that's not really saying much.
Seed of Chucky (2004) - More nastiness from everyone's favourite psychopathic doll.
Seij gakuen (1974) - Artistic even though it mixes sexploitation with Sade-like comments on the hypocrisy of Christianity.
Shogun Assassin (1980) - Seminal work.
Sideways (2004) - Genre-defying movie that is strangely heart-warming.
Shi mian mai fu (2004) - Beautiful Chinese navel-gazing (Hollywood-style) that deserves an award for Best Bamboo Forest.
Saw (2004) - A story with lots of potential but lacking realisation by economies in the scripting, editing and acting departments.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) - Self-indulgent fodder.
Seom (2000) - Not your average sexual perversion horror movie.
Super Size Me (2004) - A one line diatribe that is entertaining and possibly even effective.
Somersault (2004) - Beautiful cinematography and lackadaisical Australian political incorrectness.
Sixteen Years of Alcohol (2003) - Arty attempt at the 'rehabilitated alcoholic' story.
Spider-Man 2 (2004) - Suffers only from being a sequel.
Secret Window (2004) - Plagiarisism without the self-aware irony.
Song for a Raggy Boy (2003) - Overly simplistic history lesson of Roman Catholic atrocity.
Shaun of the Dead (2004) - Tacky but entertaining English comedy horror.
Starsky Hutch (2004) - Immaculately produced 70s light comedy homage.
Scary Movie 3 (2003) - A film to round off the pub crawl.
Somethings Gotta Give (2003) - Old-young love stories, well-worn plots, but great acting..
Sylvia (2003) - More kitchen sink melodrama than famous poet biopic.
Stuck on You (2003) - Comedy or moralising?.
Swimming Pool (2003) - A psychological thriller that washes over you like warm sunshine and languorous sex.
Solaris (2002) - George's Bottom (2001 Mk 3 with Deep Meaningful Thoughts).
Super Troopers (2001) - Woeful, not even funny woeful.
S1m0ne (2002) - Charming farce with Al Pacino.
Sweet Sixteen (2002) - A worthy attempt - will it hit it's mark?.
Sex Is Comedy (2002) - Fascinating insights under the guise of entertaining comedy.
Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) - Brilliant CGI's that go on long enough to send you to sleep aaahhhh . . ..
Spider-Man (2002) - If only all comic book heroes filmed this well . . ..
Shallow Hal (2001) - Weak as a comedy, too cheesy as social comment, but a nice enough film.
Scary Movie 2 (2001) - Nice opening credits - shame about the rest.
Strumpet (2001) - Disappointing.
Southern Comfort (2001) - Excellent human rights documentary - emotionally engaging.
Storytelling (2001) - Accurate and scathing attack on various forms of political correctness.
Someone Like You (2001) - Light and fluffy.
Shrek (2001) - Self-referential fairy-tale - innovative animation.
Swordfish (2001) - Ultimately unconvincing big action movie.
Series 7 The Contenders (2001) - A nice gory little tongue-in-cheek flick, and quite well-made.
Save the Last Dance (2001) - Cheesy, but great dancing.
Shadow of the Vampire (2000) - Superb portrayal of the legend, though not quite scary enough.
Suzhou he (2000) - Evocative and unusual.
Small Time Crooks (2000) - Old-style comedy.
Sorted (2000) - Good club atmosphere but flawed.
Space Cowboys (2000) - Clint carries it off.
Shaft (2000) - Well-worn but watchable.
Scary Movie (2000) - Scary Movie without a sequel (except for Scary Movie II).
Sweet and Lowdown (1999) - Lovable jazz paean.
Saving Grace (2000) - Amusing one-line joke but hardly great cinema.
Stir of Echoes (1999) - Sixth Sense II.
Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) - Love in the Cold.
Sleepy Hollow (1999) - A lovely fairly-tale horror story in the Hammer Horror tradition.
T - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S U V W X Y Z
The Nativity Story (2006) - Not a very good film.
The US vs John Lennon (2006) - A film Lennon could only have imagined.
The Holiday (2006) - Swiss Chocolate of Romantic Comedies.
Terra La (2006) - A gem of Italian cinema.
The Prestige (2006) - Sinister sleight of hand.
The History Boys (2006) - A bit like making bucks fizz with Cristal and more stage than screen, but good nonetheless.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) - When a 6 is the new 14.
The Queen (2006) - Rare insights and an emotionally rewarding film.
The Black Dahlia (2006) - Cinematic aesthetic taking precedence over Ellroy.
Trust the Man (2005) - Like an overlong episode of 'Friends' without the gags.
This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) - A well-aimed attempt to restore some integrity to American moral censorship.
The Treatment (2006) - Nice idea, but not an engrossingly enough delivery for a feature film.
The Great Happiness Space Tale of an Osaka Love Thief (2006) - Exotic, compelling and intellectually challenging.
The Lost (2005) - Cult classic.
The Night Listener (2006) - Portentous and flawed, but a thoughtful work.
The OH in Ohio (2006) - Power up your Svadhisthana chakra for a night of buzzing light comedy.
The Notorious Bettie Page (2005) - A powerful film on the power of ignorance.
The Da Vinci Code (2006) - A conspiracy theorist's wet dream.
The White Countess (2005) - Glimmers faintly perceptible.
Transamerica (2005) - Heart-warming comedy.
Tristan Isolde (2006) - Messy adaptation of a great love story.
The Worlds Fastest Indian (2005) - Comfort & speed.
The Matador (2005) - Comedy thriller about the nice guy assassin.
The Libertine (2004) - Dark melodrama with unexpected depth.
The Business (2005) - Glossy, sunny hedonism with a happy undercurrent of vicious crime.
The Longest Yard (2005) - Is there really any mileage in American football movies for non-US audiences?.
The Boys of Baraka (2005) - Heart warming documentary that blows you away.
The Dark (2005) - Genre-by-numbers Saturday night shocker.
The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael (2005) - Unshockable audiences are not impressed.
The Devils Miner (2005) - Moving, uplifting, and very powerful.
The Rising Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005) - Fusion of history, colour, romance, mythology, love and heroism.
The Island (2005) - The Island is an opportunity wasted, in an ocean of talent and opportunity.
The Descent (2005) - Formulaic, but expertly done.
The Jacket (2005) - Difficult to categorize but, for all its faults, still quite a gripping roller-coaster of a movie.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (2005) - Sugar frosted version of the cult classic, devoid of substance but will entertain many nonetheless.
The Interpreter (2005) - Edge of the seat thriller with a reasonably 'authentic' touch.
The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) - Worthy but flawed study of despair.
Team America World Police (2004) - Trey Parker on top form.
The Aviator (2004) - Scorsese is on form with this exciting biopic.
The Phantom of the Opera (2004) - Very difficult to justify such tedious and superficial extravagance.
The Merchant of Venice (2004) - Cinematic examination of religious bigotry that clarifies much of Shakespeare's original play.
The Forgotten (2004) - An unusual film - well worth it if you hold in there - but it won't be to everyone's taste.
The Grudge (2004) - Japanese Americanised re-make of a Japanese pilfered horror (but still quite good).
The Manchurian Candidate (2004) - Overlong.
The Terminal (2004) - Quirky, but eminently entertaining if you allow it to be . . ..
The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) - When will the 'science' come back into science fiction??.
The Hamburg Cell (2004) - Excellent chronicle, non-inflammatory except to the most extreme viewer.
The Hillside Strangler (2004) - Reprise of the video nasty.
Te doy mis ojos (2003) - A cinematic milestone of rare beauty and insight in dealing with the most unsavoury of topics.
The Stepford Wives (2004) - Don't fall for the cellophane package.
Troy (2004) - Ancient Greece? No, but here's the sexy playstation version ….
The Company (2003) - A treat for dance fans.
Taking Lives (2004) - Top notch talent doesn't quite notch up top notch entertainment.
The Butterfly Effect (2004) - Audacious blend and original storyline marred only slightly by clichéd trappings.
The Station Agent (2003) - Beautiful character studies, unhurried but continuously captivating.
The Passion of the Christ (2004) - Gratuitous violence, powerful iconisation, dubious moral content.
Thundercrack (1975) - A cult classic for the seriously open minded.
The School of Rock (2003) - Unbelievably - does what it says on the packet.
The Dreamers (2003) - Sex, film history and politics (or soft porn for socialites).
The Human Stain (2003) - An important film but not delivered with the intensity it deserved.
The Last Samurai (2003) - Good action flick.
The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King (2003) - A monumental film.
Tears of the Sun (2003) - Traditional Uncle-Sam style war movie, entertaining & disingenuous.
Torremolinos 73 (2003) - Amusing but insubstantial.
The Man Who Sued God (2001) - Thought provoking courtroom conundrums with irresistible comedy and romance.
The Tulse Luper Suitcases Part 1 The Moab Story (2003) - Has Greenaway lost the plot??.
Torremolinos 73 (2003) - Nice enough comedy but insubstantial.
Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines (2003) - Perhaps one of the best sequels ever..
The Rules of Attraction (2002) - Hardly mainstream, but worth more than a cursory glance.
The Core (2003) - The smell of burning batteries.
The Magdalene Sisters (2002) - Rot in Hell Now - Find Sins Later.
The Good Thief (2002) - The Bad Guy with a Heart.
The Hours (2002) - Have You Got a Moment? A Real, Real Moment?.
Two Weeks Notice (2002) - In support of formulaic movie making and mediocre acting.
The Pianist (2002) - A monument to the things that never die.
The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers (2002) - Brilliant as ever, even after three hours (slight yawn!).
The Tuxedo (2002) - The credits were the best part . . ..
The Good Girl (2002) - Aniston takes her acting seriously.
The Transporter (2002) - Superficial as a car advert and as entertaining as hell.
The Quiet American (2002) - A beautiful, haunting film..
The Dancer Upstairs (2002) - An impressive, deep, and finely constructed movie.
The Sweetest Thing (2002) - Not the Beeswing but definitely not scraping the barrell.
The Sum of All Fears (2002) - Mindless and rather tasteless nuclear bomb story.
Tadpole (2002) - An intelligent comedy.
Ted Bundy (2002) - More than just a slasher movie.
The Majestic (2001) - Nice thought.
The Shipping News (2001) - There's more to the 'News' than you'd expect.
The Business of Strangers (2001) - Classic drama.
The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - Star Wars eat your heart out.
Training Day (2001) - Unremarkable but well-acted.
The Others (2001) - Classy ghost story.
The Score (2001) - Fine performances but not outstanding material.
The Man Who Wasnt There (2001) - Atmospheric, funny and a class act.
The Pledge (2001) - Worthy but could do with more oomph.
Trouble Every Day (2001) - Fresh horror.
Tillsammans (2000) - Well-observed, but ultimately fails to entertain.
The Parole Officer (2001) - Original and funny.
Tigerland (2000) - Worthy but sadly forgettable.
The Mummy Returns (2001) - Tastes Just-As-Good-Regurgitated!.
The Hole (2001) - Nice starter - shame about the main course.
The Contender (2000) - Ethical dilemmas and too-good-to-be-true politicians.
The Mexican (2001) - Snappy and stylish.
The Gift (2000) - A well-trod theme better than well-told.
The Claim (2000) - Worthy but inconsistent.
Traffic (2000) - How influential will this movie be?.
The Family Man (2000) - Mushy reworking of "It's a Wonderful Life", but still enjoyable.
The 6th Day (2000) - Enjoyable sci-fi hokum.
The Way of the Gun (2000) - Cult movie style, well acted and with pithy one-liners.
The Yards (2000) - Near miss - could have been something special.
The House of Mirth (2000) - Tragic period drama meticulously portrayed.
The Cell (2000) - One sick story, beautifully told.
The Closer You Get (2000) - A lovely feelgood movie.
Twin Falls Idaho (1999) - Landmark movie with insufficient investment.
The Luzhin Defence (2000) - An outstanding movie.
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000) - Things you can't tell by looking at the cast.
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000) - Things you can't tell by looking at the cast.
Titus (1999) - A Yankee pastiche of a lesser known bard story.
The Patriot (2000) - Mel Gibson frees the world, part II.
The Next Best Thing (2000) - Very P.C. and raises serious questions in a light-hearted way.
The Ninth Gate (1999) - Unadorned gothic.
The Filth and the Fury (2000) - Sweet but not furious.
The Virgin Suicides (1999) - Teenagers are Real People.
The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) - Over-hyped but enjoyable even if over-long.
The Cider House Rules (1999) - Moral dilemmas presented in an easily digestible form.
The Insider (1999) - Some modern day moral dilemmas responsibly addressed.
Three Kings (1999) - Knockabout action with cutting political comment.
The End of the Affair (1999) - A flawed piece but made with artistic integrity.
The Messenger The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) - Teenage fantasy cinema but I liked it..
The Beach (2000) - Saturday night movie - enjoyable, not heavy.
Tumbleweeds (1999) - Insubstantial if well-acted comedy.
The Straight Story (1999) - Lynch at his most mature yet.
The Sixth Sense (1999) - One of the year's outstanding mainstream movies.
The Blair Witch Project (1999) - Scary little low budget movie, exceptionally well-made.
The Matrix (1999) - A modern sci-fi classic.
U - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z
Uglasevanje (2005) - A meditation on marriage that requires a degree of concentration and questioning.
Underworld Evolution (2006) - A superb sequel for fans - others should avoid..
Untergang Der (2004) - Possibly one of the most remarkable documentary dramas ever made.
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) - Like a gentle glass of wine.
Underworld (2003) - Beautiful execution more than compensates for derivativeness.
Une affaire privée (2002) - Moody, murky, sexy detective story - and a glimpse into the life of the detective.
Unfaithful (2002) - Predictable Lyne-ish - minor twist on usual triangle skinflick.
Unbreakable (2000) - A slow attempt at formula.
Unbreakable (2000) - A slow attempt at formula.
Urban Legends Final Cut (2000) - Hollywood, we have a problem.
U-571 (2000) - Traditional war movie, but edge of seat stuff nonetheless.
V - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U W X Y Z
Volver (2006) - A colourful, vivacious movie, full of sex, love, death and genuine emotion.
V for Vendetta (2005) - Matrix-lite semiotics in a confused, if mildly entertaining, grab-bag of popular elements.
Voices of Iraq (2004) - Let's hear it for the Iraqi people.
Vera Drake (2004) - Outstanding characterisation and a lovingly crafted slice of British history - with traumatic and harrowing subject matter.
Vozvrashcheniye (2003) - Classy Russian psychodrama.
Vanilla Sky (2001) - Dares to be different.