Letterboxd — Your life in film

Note to self: 1st watch at cinema in 2D having read Roberto Orci's prequel comic book series 'Countdown to Darkness'.

Disclaimer - These are my immediate reactions having just seen the film, with a desire to avoid major spoilers, this is going to be more of a ramble than a review.

First things first, in the four-year build-up to the second instalment of 'New Star Trek' I was right to feel disquiet regarding the 'is there or isn't there' a…

This low-budget and well intentioned 'by the fans for the fans' style documentary on slasher movies boasts a plentiful supply of interviews: directors, writers, actors, special effects artists from the past and present speak in numerous talking head vignettes. Moreover, the range of film clips and memorabilia on show is a pleasure to behold for die-hard supporters of the genre.

However, with competition from similar documentaries like GOING TO PIECES and the exhaustative NEVER SLEEP AGAIN, I expected a little…

Of all the 'Star Trek' films I've seen, WRATH OF KAHN remains my personal favourite: largely for nostalgic reasons. However, I've enjoyed this J.J. Abrams '09 reboot more and more on each subsequent viewing. The issues I had with the plotting and the one-note characterisation of Bana's Nero are largely mediated having now read the two prequel comic book miniseries 'Countdown' and 'Nero'. The film should stand on its own of course but having attained a keener insight into the…

Watched good old-fashioned 2D version.

Disclaimer: I suspect my less than favourable reaction to the film is at least in part due to the inconsiderate behaviour of those sat next to me in the theatre. From beginning to end, I had to endure high-pitched screams of 'awesome', lines just heard on screen repeated ad infinitum and excessive waving of hands. To say this may have impeded the cinema-going experience for me is an understatement.

Like many, I consider myself a…

Note: Watched theatrical version.

A childhood favourite long overdue a revisit. I'm immensely satisfied to find STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN still manages to blend the built-in 'Trekkie' cheesiness with genuine creepiness to perfection. Director (and uncredited screenwriter) Nicholas Meyer departs from the traditional Gene Roddenberry school of ideas driven SF to bring more action and drama (hammy acting aside) to the franchise whilst continuing to develop the characterisations of the Enterprise crew.

Ricardo Montalbán is superb as…