The greatest film ever made ? Depends what you are looking for in a film but for sheer entertainment value there are few films that can match it. This is the film that turns Star Wars into a saga. Not content with simply rehashing the original, here we get a greater scope as new worlds and characters are introduced but more importantly the returning characters are all developed logically. Crucially, the chief villain becomes something much more significant and the…
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2001
Jackson's realisation of the first of the Lord of the Rings books is one of those rare instances where everything from casting to production design, music, editing, cinematography and location come together to such stunning effect that the minor quibbles with the film feel like redundant trivialities. The fusion of location shooting around New Zealand with the production design and effects bring another world to life in a way not seen since the original Star Wars films and Jackson gives…
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When Harry Met Sally... 1989
Still one of the best romantic comedies of all time, the structure of the film helps to ground it and make the gradual relationship between Harry and Sally feel believable and relatable. The first half is refreshing and by far the strongest element as chance encounters over years culminate in an eventual friendship and whilst the more conventional second half adheres more closely to common genre tropes, it still manages to feel like a natural progression of the relationship between…
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Face/Off 1997
Ridiculous and overblown with family dynamics that are so sickly as to make you gag, it’s still hard not be entertained by the sheer energy of Travolta and Cage here, who seem to revel in just how silly the whole thing is. There are plenty of moments that have not aged well and Joan Allen is wasted. Action sequences that impressed at the time don’t hold quite the same impact, with Woo’s style becoming increasingly grating, other than the finale sequence that at least matches the tone of the rest of the film. And yet…Travolta and Cage…overacting to the extreme….what’s not to like ?
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Gone Girl 2014
A compelling mystery that develops in surprising ways this is a film that is best seen knowing as little about the plot as possible. Suffice to say the opening and closing shots encapsulate the clever way the film plays with your perceptions of the two central characters and both Ben Affleck and especially Rosamund Pike give great performances. The film is also a vicious satire on the media, especially in the US, the constant spin, faux analysis and rush to…
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Aliens 1986
Aliens is a textbook example of how to do a sequel right and remains Cameron’s best film. Like the first, the film takes time to gradually build tension and whilst it initially plays on the audience knowledge of the creatures, the film wisely chooses to take the story and tone in a different direction once they appear - here we essentially get a war/action film instead of horror. Cameron’s ability to create compelling action sequences is rarely in question, but…