Film Reviews by AB

As a middle-aged man I was apprehensive about this film but went with the views of a critic in a national newspaper that it should be watched - and I was very pleasantly surprised. A whole host of household names with multi-threaded intertwined storylines (that you have to keep an eye out for *during* the film and not via Wikipedia, as I did), all with feel-good intentions and amusing (but not funny/hilarious), low-key scenes, leading to the inevitable pairing off at the conclusion of the film, cleverly shot at a Christmas concert and Heathrow to bring the whole shebang together, tying the threads into a single entity of love. A typical British feel-good film with effortless acting, self-deprecating humour and clever storyline. Yes to watching it if you are in any doubt

The storyline concept (unknown threat) was a fair one and the implementation was plausible (Mars base, tourism, semi-secret mission, know-all Government agencies etc) but I still found the film uninteresting as it could not decide if it was a thriller, a "who/what dunnit", a bonding story, a psychological/psychiatric remedial or what. This film actually could have (should have ?) been a lead-in for many unknown Holywood actors/actresses as the actual parts played by Liv Tyler and Tommy Lee Jones were minimal. Big names do not a film make, despite the hype that the film industry attaches to them and their abilities (which they did not have a chance to showcase here. Heck, I'll even include Brad Pitt in that statement as ANYONE could have played the part he did). This film was certainly pushed by the industry when it came out but be in no doubt, it is not worth it.

Nice drama (wanted to call it thriller, but the outcome is known so can hardly call it that) about the freedom of the press v the political beasts.

As it was all based on a true event, some licence used in the detail but that is really a minor area for dramatic purposes and it works very well as a film, showing the different pressures being played out, from different perspectives (financial, legal, rivalry, personal).

The only gripe I have is in the personnel details as to who was whom in various aspects - we all know who Nixon was, but the other players would have helped by having some sort of guide as to their roles in government, military, newspapers.

A very good film, with good acting, and Tom Hanks seems to have aged a lot!

nice timing, well-acted, family-set film that is a gentle farce with a nice outcome and without any over-action, swearing or shouting!

Well-drawn, nice storyline with shades of Harry Potter and other magic-based stories. Very un-Japanese characters but that it no way takes anything from the film. One to watch with young children

This is the epitome of what westerns were like when we were growing up - John Wayne, Indians, cavalry, battles, dust, horses being worked too hard

One of several collaborations between Wayne and John Ford (Director) in the western theme, most of which are regarded as classics, and this one is no different AND with a theme that you can't stop whistling!

I cannot believe that the critic's review (below) gave this 5 stars - obviously film critics inhabit a parallel world where unfunny, depressing, pointless films like this one rate as hilarious, uplifting and genre-defining. Avoid at all costs as not even Theron can save this from being only fit for ridicule

I had not heard of this scenario (albeit the film is 'based on true events') but the film is very good at relaying what the whole situation was and what could be (including the normal prevarication of politicians). You *knew* what was coming but even then the resulting firefight was so one-sided as to be embarrassing. Some humour in the film, some anti-authority in the men of the GIGN, but also some pathos when the outcome comes to an end. If even half of the detailed events are true, it is what these sort of men are trained for and it makes me feel a bit safer knowing that they are capable of helping. Acting was good, effects worth their salt. Had to look it up but I didn't know that Olga Kurylenko was fluent in French - thought that she had a fantastic linguistic teacher for the part! Recommended to watch

I really liked this film - OK it is in the same vein as Hunt For Red October as a submarine-based film but in this film (as in others) you realise the pressures of command that these submarine captains are under - not through leadership of men but the power that they hold in the capability of starting a conflict that will have no winners, and they are asked to play politics as well, dealing with people who drive a desk all day and call it pressure. Submarines are not as un-manoeuvrable as some will have you believe, just slow and steady when required and where everyone has to think in more than 2 dimensions. My one major gripe about the film was the unbelievably simplified scenario that the SEAL team just walked into a Russian naval base. I would recommend this film

Contrary to the film critic's view, this is not "a masterpiece" nor a "must see" - it is unadulterated drivel, with a premise of a storyline quickly disintegrating into a fairy story and psychedelic over-reliance on the viewer's observation and guesswork. As for the ending, wtf is it supposed to mean? Another of those films that only film critics rave over due to 'atmosphere' 'camera work', 'storyline' or sound-track, but especially the last of those do NOT make a film worth watching. Even the critic below does not know what is going on "What is this main event you may ask? Well, I don’t know for certain:". I do - there isn't one that is worth mentioning but it is rubbish whatever it is

Don't know why this spawned 6 sequels as it was very average with only a couple of amusing scenes with predicable outcomes in the whole storyline

Intriguing film but a bit confusing at times - trying to work out what *actually* happened, I turned to Wikipedia where it told me that there were two timelines in play - one in black and white and the other in colour (backwards and forwards). The film might have held it together for me a bit better if I had known that before watching it.

This is just a female Indian version of the "Only Fools and Horses" Jolly Boys Outing but with a bit more social commentary, probably more akin to an Eastenders/Coronation Street episode. Most of life's foibles and troubles are here but what spoiled the film for me was the soundtrack - most of the time I couldn't make out what was being said by the characters - accents? poor diction? Poor soundtrack quality?

Wasn't a great deal of actual history in this - sure the outline facts were correct and the film was set in one particular time and setting, but the whole thing was set in Britain, so it was basically about the Romans trying to subdue the Iceni, etc. (despite a side issue to inter-"racial" love story) and nothing to do with their whole way of life, structure, army, conquests, etc The modern-day rapping, dancing and singing would help younger viewers remember some areas of the history but it still left me hankering after the Monty Python "What did the Romans do for us?" scenario

Despite the critic's review (see below) I found the opening scene the funniest of the film - not much laughter followed after that because of the paucity of jokes, scenes and situations. Very American in its humour -i.e. puerile, in a suburban setting where everyone has perfect teeth, houses, cars, jobs, money and ways of overcoming any sort of obstacle without getting into any harm