Film Reviews by HM

The first film set the scene as a humorous take on zombies. It worked. This is in the same vein but taking the fun further. If you liked the first one, this is even better for my money. The pace never lets up and there is a plot, not just a mindless chase. No depth of course, it is played for entertainment value and laughs. I am hard to please on the laughs front but this kept me chuckling and the action scenes are exciting; hard balance to get right as other attempts in the genre tend to overload the gore but this loads up the eye catching nonsense really well. Get popcorn/Jerky and beer then enjoy a good lark of a film.

Based on a true story we follow a journalist into Ukraine uncovering Stalin's ruthless disregard for human life as people starve to feed Moscow. Not a revelation in itself but the movie paints a picture of suffering and how the lid was lifted on the propaganda the Soviet Union put out about how wonderful life was under a communist dictatorship.

Not a thriller but a serious study of courage and dedication. A fitting tribute to the type of journalism we all need even now; behind enemy lines and face to face with war zone dangers. I finished the movie with a deep regard for the profession and the dignity of Gareth Jones and his mighty pen.

Delivers on all levels; thriller, action, sci-fi, plot and characters. What's not to like? Add mystery and fast pace, the entertainment value is top of the tree. Afraid AI may become a threat and get out of hand? You will be after this. Minimal special effects and maximum James Bond action set this movie apart from the pack and not a massive budget that these days encourages their use in place of the real thing. Well done delivering this slice of excitement.

Charming drama revolving around Lowry's relationship with his crochety old disabled mother. His career hasn't lifted off yet and she hardly encourages him so the film is really about his determination to pursue art as a career come what may. The obstacles are close and personal. The atmosphere claustrophobic. We know the outcome of his career but the tale behind is engaging and worth a watch. Liked it. Amazingly Maggie Smith didn't get the old lady role!

How can a film about a strip joint and its criminal fraternity be this boring? Get fed up half way through. Bad enough that the characters are not particularly attractive, but any sympathy goes out the window pretty quick when they go bent. Air head people doing nasty air head things. Then again I am bored with gangster films too, maybe it is just me. The direction allows the pace to falter over and over, so it doesn't intrigue or keep your attention. Give it a miss frankly.

This movie shapes up as a teenage comedy for a while then gets into a bit of plot which isn't a bad effort by superhero standards. However, the plot is reminiscent of Iron Man 3 whereby the Mandarin isn't what he seems. There are only so many story lines I suppose. Once the action is underway it is captivating enough, you know; boom, bang, girlfriend in danger, big finale. Am rather bored with superhero movies and this one didn't put me in a much different mood. Entertaining enough though.

Seen Wicker Man? Well this is a similar path. A secret cult tucked away in Sweden practices dark arts which begins to dawn on a group of Americans visiting their hideaway. A more sophisticated approach than a pure slasher movie, it ends up travelling the same route.

Very slow and not springing any real surprises it fails as a horror film and as a thriller for my money. Also, it drags the whole thing out for nearly 3 hours, thereby allowing plenty of time to add up 2 and 2 so it flops on the suspense front. Cannot recommend it frankly as it mostly fails to entertain and therefore seems pointless.

This is a treat. The pictures tell their own story mostly without any in-depth explanations. We all know the ending so to speak, so it is an inside view of events without embellishment. I think this was the right approach as it is all the more immediate and engaging. Those too young to have much awareness of the mission will be most impressed I suspect.

Having a home movie theatre helps as when the rocket takes off; IT TAKES OFF!

The whole mission was low tech compared to today and fills you with admiration for the courage of the whole enterprise and not least the astronauts. Keeping an eye on the fuel gauge in the corner of the screen is an education let me tell you. Technical problems, potentially dangerous just prior to lift-off come to light and CCTV cameras tracking events leading up to the men accessing the rocket capsule add a feeling of actually being there.

Much recommended and a lot better than SF garbage like Star Wars etc. A lot more intelligence going on!

A true story of an alcoholic self-loathing author down on her luck. She decides to pay the bills by forging letters attributed to famous authors. It can't last of course. Along the way she meets an alcoholic gay partner in crime and the story revolves around this relationship and the crime caper.

These two live comic tragic lives, which amuses as well as appals in equal measure. A fascinating glimpse into unexpected misfit lives. Kept me gripped in the same way you watch a car crash in slow motion. Definitely a true slice of life drama, which makes you pleased to be 'normal'.

One of those 'Ye Old England' meets the modern world. The Cornish characters reminded me of the Yorkshire Moors men in the pub during opening scenes of American Werewolf in London. Naturally old world charm disarms the city slickers from a record company who kid one of their own whilst driving around Cornwall that they would like to sign a bunch of local fishermen to make an album.

Left to his own devices muggins attempts to sign them up whilst ogling the daughter of one of them (Tuppence Middleton; yes please!).

So, romance, humour and pathos. An OK movie best consumed with a few beers/gins to lower your cliché monitor. Safe to watch with partner and probably best bet!

Girl buddies movie. Endearing, witty and just plain daft. Goes out of its way to entertain with some silly characters. However, it never gives the impression of leaving reality behind so that you lose empathy with the characters. One you can watch with your partner (maybe not Grannie) safely!

Two college girls feel they have missed the racy side of college life so set about a pre-graduation day spree; if only they can find the 'big' party the in-crowd are going to. During the search they discover things about themselves and other people, so gain valuable lessons on life.

Leaves you with a glow that the human race is OK really, maybe a bit gooey. Recommended as a good drama, comedy, life reaffirming movie

This is my kind of 'superhero' movie. Loved Watchmen. The hero genre is tired and childish. The original Joker was born of an accident and was hitherto a petty criminal, he transformed into the psycho Joker as if by magic. Here, we see him go insane and another version of himself starts to form; much more convincing. This version is perhaps the precursor of more adult versions of the comic book characters otherwise we will be in for more reboots of the kids comic books.

How about a new set of characters conceived for the adult market. Anything to get away from Star Wars in costumes. I like this direction and hope we will see more like it. Top marks from me.

No CGI to make up for a lack of a decent script. No tag team smackdown goodies v baddies finale. An intelligent turn at the crossroads. More please.

A grown up super hero film? Yes, nasty violence too. Unlike Watchmen it is really a horror film, the super hero part is minimal. Creepy and shocking, the main character is a boy from another planet but has serious social issues! An interesting concept: what happens if Superman is an evil dude? You find out.

Good entertainment but be warned, it is a horror movie...

People's lives brush against each other as they pan out as a series of accidents. Intellectually interesting I suppose, but boring from the point of view of entertainment. Maybe even pretentious? Overlong to no great end frankly.

A bit Village of the Dammed, where people are not what they seem, that kind of thing. Two brothers return to a UFO cult village and encounter a series of odd events; is there a secret power at work or not? Time loops and Groundhog events stir things up for the hapless two. Atmospheric with a sense of menace growing by the minute, the movie does engage you and lets out its secrets one by one. Pretty scary but with no slasher nonsense a psychological thriller really.

Enjoyed it; more intelligent than many bigger budget SF movies.