My 5 star recomended films ...

Director:Ridley Scott
Released: 1979
Stars: John Hurt, Ian Holm, Sigourney Weaver and Harry Dean Stanton
Genre:Sci-Fi/Horror
Country: UK/USA





The crew of the deep space mining ship Nostromo are awaken from hypersleep to investigate a strange signal from a nearby planet. While investigating the signal, they discover it was intended as a warning, and not an SOS. What follows are some grisly and inventive special effects based on the work of H.R.Giger

I can't believe I haven't got round to watching this absolutly superb film nor the rest of the series. So Let this be the start of my Alien Marathon. All I can say is thank god I've watched it now.

This is the one I think most of my friends on here remember, the one that started it all. I obtained yet another director's cut of Scott's film but I decided to watch the orginal '79 theatrical version. Superisingly, because I haven't watched it beefore there are very few flaws even 29 years on since it was made. Despite numerous Alien oe teenage horror films adopting a similar plot, I still could feel the suspense in every single scene and in some cases I did indeed scream. What is still brilliant about Scott's masterpiece is the fact it still feels very modern even almost 30 years on. The bleak and empty atmopshere is still prevelant even to this day.

The opening credits I thought were absolutly spectacular. Complete with Jerry Goldsmith's haunting score before the film has even begun, you are given a little something as to what's to come. Mangnificent. Godsmith#s score adds to the huge amount of tension within a scene and without it, we are left helpless as we have no ides of what's to come.

What's amazing to me is that the idelogy of Alien's exsisting in this film seems all the more real. Scott creates this believable enviornment that will leave you feeling at the end of the film that Aliens really do exsist. Alien's narrative is paced perfectly. at no point do you feel that the film has suddenly moved forward way too much, you are left engrossed in the story. What is also prevelant is the fact that after an hour of the film, I felt like so much has happened, yet I've only seen two or three instances of "Alien attacks." Which is a testemant to the supern direction and tension filled in the scene by Ridley Scott.

The set-designs reminisent of Kubrick's 2001, peerfectly depict the environment and also so well presented in the opening shot. The gorgeous cinematography even in the '79 theatrical version still seemmed absolutly spectacular to me. Oddly thought Alien only achieved two Academy award nominations at that time.
What stops alien from becoming a less than perfect picture is the incredible cast and their performances. Weaver, in her first lead role realistically depicts her character well without any over-exaggeratuons, the legendry Ian Holm is just perfect and John Hurt just as brilliant. Also worth noting Live and Let Die's Yaphet Kotto, who I Didn't think was in anything else.

Along with Blade Runner, both are Scott masterpieces of his career. Alien is a film which I highly recomend to anyone who enjoys cinema.

10/10

I've already rated this and given it a review so wtf is this all about?

Well, obviously I love it so I won't comment any further but just to say flixster gets weirder every time.

Director:Andrew Dominik
Released: 2007
Stars: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepherd and Sam Rockwell
Genre: Drama,Western
Country: USA





The last months of Jesse James's life, from meeting Robert Ford, a 19-year-old who idolizes Jesse, to the day Ford shoots him. Jesse's a wanted man, living under a pseudonym, carrying out a train robbery, disappearing to Kentucky, and reappearing to plan a bank holdup with Robert and Robert's brother as his team.

In the words of Lester Burnham;"S-P-E-C-T-A-C-U-L-A-R." I loved every minute of it. the 2 and a half hour lenght flew by. Films of this decade are getting beter and better every year. Seriously for me one of the best of this decade and one of the most underated films of last year.

The Assasination of Jesse James deserved more Oscar nominations than it did. For instance it deserved to be there instead of Juno, which didn't deserve it at all. The film is absolutly mesmerising beyond belief. For one thing I would be sitting there thinking, "hang on I'll just which a few minutes" and suddenly the lenght flew by. What I loved was the fact that, whilst it seems slow, it's meant to be that way. I notice a lot of critiscms of the pace but seriously I didn't ntoice it at all, because of the superb direction, which incidently deserved some Oscar nomination, and the fact you become a part of the story in some way. The use of landscape shots on many occasions and mid-shots emphaise my point and also shows progessions of the characters, in a sense that we see their progression over time and their personalities develop.

What also works well is the mangnificent use of diagetic music which blends into brilliantly with every frame of the film. For example in the final scene gives us a sense of inevitablity if you see what I mean. I think the soundtrack will live with me for days on end so so beautiful. Must buy it soon.

The acting in this is both superb and so well brought about. Brad pitt was excellent, surpassing all my expectations and brilliantly plays the outlaw well and depicts to us a well structed porrait of the famous man. Casey Affleck, well is an absolute revoulation brilliantly plays the so called innocent 20-yeard old to a man who turns into the very man he killed. Possibly one of the underated performances of 2007 and possibly one of my favourites. More than deserved his Oscar nomination. Both Pitt and Affleck have chemistry on screen which helps us as an audience really get a picture of what when on at that time and what sort of a relationship they had. Superb!

The cinematography plays a vital role in the film. The beautiful, surrean planscape created by Roger Deakins, is so vast that you feel engrossed in the film. The various amounts of colours which beautifully define what you are viewing on screen, absolutly magnificent. The narration to some people is off-pointing and some have sated that here. But seriously, you wouldn't know that story if it wasn't there. It helps to deterimine what is going on the the narrtive and helps us to cpmprehend certain derails that can't always be shown on screen. Mangificent filmaking indeed. I hope to see more films like this in the future.

I can';t recomend this enough. Technically superb, brilliantly directed, acted filmed and written. I have to admit that I still feel a little "wowed" if you get my meaning," a similar sort of thing which i felt whilst watching last year's : Into The Wild, Antonement, There Will Be Blood and No Country. All masterful pieces of film-making. All I can se is that I will look forward to the next film by Andrew Dominik, who has crafted one fantastic western and one which I think will be remembered. I will defiantly see more of Casey Affleck's work and I predict another nomination for him in the future.

I feel this film will leave me thinking and thinking about what I have just envisioned for days.

10/10

Director:Paul Thomas Anderson
Released: 2007
Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciaran Hinds and Kevin J. O'Connor
Genre: Drama
Country: US




A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.

Well, first things first, I didn't think that I would come across a film that would have the same impact on me when i watched Atonement. Boy was I wrong! Everything in this film is pure genuis on Anderson's part. Stunning cinematography,acting,score,editing....everything that I want in a film and more. An absolute masterpiece.

There Will Be Blood contains some intresting idelogies about surburben America. Most notably an incredibly isolated one. But two that come to mind are this Anti-Religious theme and Ant-capitalism. We see the character of Plaintiff, who feels uncomfortable around Eli Sunday in relation to his evangelical preching. Daniel Day-Lewis' character is one of a seriosuly repressed man, who wants no more than to own every oil enterprise in the land.

What was so brilliant about this film, which I will probably say again was just absolutly bloody everything. The score I will begin with. Made by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, who for some starnge reason did not get an Academy award nomination for this, produces a score which prefectly relates to the time period. The whole errieness of it and the detuning of the score, adds to the bleak, corrupt atmosphere that we see on screen. Abolutly mesmeriszing. Something which I have to buy very soon. Still have it in my head. So brilliant"

The film also contains huge christian like imagery. For instance Plaintiff, is seen as deriving from hell, ie- we first seen him down in the pit lookin for oil. From there we can see he is a violent, selfish man, who is deterimined to get what h wants. From there on, when he takes the son of another man and poses him as his own-also symoboloses this. There are loads more but I dodn't want to give too much away as it's just blown me away!

Talking of "blowing me away" the cinematography. WOW oh Wow! again I didn't think I would see should sensational cinematography since I watched Atonement back in September. Again I was serisouly wrong. Throughout the film, the colour on the screen changes from dark to seriously light. Again, possibly signifies the changing of mood. One oncredibly piece of imagery is that scene where the oil place is on fire is unbelivably. The colours, is set up perfectly for something spectactualer. I don't have the words to describe it but once you see it you'll see what I mean.

Being a Scorsese fan, I can see hell of a lot of trademarks in here that he uses. For instance the jump cuts in here, that he often uses. These, as I can see from reviews have put people off and confused them a little. For me this is is beauty of the film. It has certainly made be think about how much I take for granted everything told to me in the film. I mean Anderson takes a chunk of vita nrrative information and doesn't tells us anymore. I loved this. Seriouslyy people is a good thing you know. It's something that is original and not often used. People wake up! Anyway, I loved some of the tracking shots in this, not quite beating Atonement but still some unbeliveable scenes in it.

The acting...well just outstanding. Daniel Day Lewis seriosuly pocess the inner-body of his character so well. The John Huston like voice, mannerisms, e.t.c is just mind-blowing. If he doesn't win best actor at this year's oscars-I'l eat my own hat!! I have to say Paul Dano is serisouly under-rated in this role. He brilliantly plays the twin-brothers Eli and Paul so so well. I love his crazy preaching moment...but I can't go into that much. Both actors, Dano and Day-Lewis have brilliant chemistry on screen which shows. I can't understand why Dano hasn't been credited more with his role-only a BAFTA nomination. I guess his is slightly over-shadowed by Day Lewis's performance.

Overall, the length of the film DOES NOT matter, the jump cuts, DOES NOT matter, acting, score cinematograpy all contribute to a sensational, outsanding film which words can't not express. I couldn't keep my eyes of it all the way through, just annoyed me that I picked a crapy version but I will get it on DVD soon.

Go out and see it when you can, you wont be dsappointed. Ignore the negative comments here because they're wrong!! There Will Be Blood gave me the same experience as I had with the brilliant Atonement. One of utter admiration for the director and just all around Wownes...a word I made up right there!

Oh and one quote I will never forget. A great metaphor oil.

I drink you're milkishake.........I drink it up!

10/10

Director:Ridley Scott
Released: 1982
Stars: Harrison Ford, Sean Young,Rutger Hauer, Daryl Hannah
Country: US
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy



Los Angeles, 2019: Rick Deckard of the LPD's Blade Runner unit prowls the steel & micro-chip jungle of the 21st century for assumed humanoids known as 'replicants'. Replicants were declared illegal after a bloody mutiny on an Off-World Colony, and are to be terminated upon detection. Man's obsession with creating a being equal to himself has back-fired

Often considered one of the greatest films ever made and one of the greatest science fictions films ever made and rightly so. Blade Runner has something which most films do not. The ability to enlighten me every time I watch it.

Blade Runner is clearly an example of a Post Modern film. Set in a world where all theories on society are meaningless, where you shape your identity accordingly. For example we see the nexus six models in the shape of Roy Batty, living for only three years. The secret to the scucess of this films for me and why it is still relevant in today's world, is simply this- Blade Runner is about Identity, knowing your true self. The character of Rachel for isntance has no idea she is a replicant and seeks to understand being a human.

Blade Runner contains some of the finest examples of cinematography I've seen. Even with the endless cuts by Scott it's still amazing every time you look at it. Every frame in Blade Runner gets better every time I watch it and still mesmerising to me.

Highly recomend and one of my top five favourite films.

Year: 1957
Director: Igmar Bergman
Country: Sweden
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Stars: Max von Sydow, Bibi Andersson and Gunnar Björnstrand

A Knight and his squire are home from the crusades. Black Death is sweeping their country. As they approach home, Death appears to the knight and tells him it is his time. The knight challenges Death to a chess game for his life. The Knight and Death play as the cultural turmoil envelopes the people around them as they try, in different ways, to deal with the upheaval the plague has caused.

One of the most amazing films I have ever seen, so brilliantly constructed and one film which is a classic in world cinema.

Absolutly mind-blowing...

More to follow in greater detail....

Based on Ian McEwan?s award wining novel of the same name, Atonement tells the story of A British romance that spans several decades. Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.

I?ve waited several months to see Joe Wright?s second feature film ?Atonement? and it did not disappoint. For an only second feature film by 35 old Joe Wright, it?s absolutely astonishing. Directed superbly on all levels. From the stunning Dunkirk visuals, to several Point of view shots empathising each character?s need and feelings at that point, you can?t help but feel intertwined in the story and with the characters. I haven?t seen such an epic of a film since The English Patient, I hope it continues to do well at the box office and worldwide, as it deserved to. I haven?t read the novel, so I will do soon.

There are many sensational tracking shots in this, which I loved. For instance, in the Dunkirk scene, we walk with Robbie and see the devastation through his eyes, just amazing. At the beginning, Briony?s view of Robbie and Celia is done through two perspectives. One being what Briony believe has happened and two the real truth, this creates a dilemma for the audience as you don?t really know who to believe at that point. One shot I loved was of Briony?s eye, an extreme close-up almost giving a clue to the viewer. As I mentioned before, I can not believe that Wright has produced such a masterpiece of a film, in only his second feature.

The Dunkirk, scene is something to be remembered. Watching it at the cinema, I was so taken aback by the extraordinary beauty of the scene. The cinematography is sensational. It captures the mood of that time, so well that you can put yourself in there. What works is that you think what you?re seeing is real, and everything in every frame of that scene. I can?t really describe the words, as it won?t really doesn?t do justice to what I thought of the scene but let?s just say I?m still thinking about it now and will always. Subsequently that scene has to be up there with some of the best war scenes ever created for the silver screen, and I don?t often say that unless it?s seriously something that has left me speechless beyond any recognition- that hasn?t happened. Some other scenes to mention are; Celia and Briony?s estate like house and the scenery and the wartime London are also sensational. Plus, there done in such a way you wouldn?t expect a 21st century film to make.

FULL REVIEW HERE

An inordinately complex man who has been labeled everything from hero, to charlatan, to sadist, Thomas Edward Lawrence blazed his way to glory in the Arabian desert, then sought anonymity as a common soldier under an assumed name. The story opens with the death of Lawrence in a motorcycle accident in London at the age of 47, then flashbacks to recount his adventures: as a young intelligence officer in Cairo in 1916, he is given leave to investigate the progress of the Arab revolt against the Turks in World War I. In the desert, he organizes a guerrilla army and--for two years--leads the Arabs in harassing the Turks with desert raids, train-wrecking and camel attacks. Eventually, he leads his army northward and helps a British General destroy the power of the Ottoman Empire

David Lean's stunning film is often reffered to as "One of the greatest films ever made" and one of the "greatest British films to cross the pond "and rightly so. So breathtakingly beautiful I even had the stunning colours in my dream last night and that score playing over and over again. As Spielberg said on the DVD" A film which is an inspirational to all" and I totally concur with that as I, like Speilberg won't to try direction in the future. This is the film that inspired Spielberg to make movies and the likes of Scorsese. So this is one film that no-one should miss.

A film of epic proption and stunning visuals is overwhelming when you watch it. In modern film making it's unlikely that you will see a film so authentic as this. With the introduction of CGI, a film like this would not be made today!

I doubt I'll give such a detailed review, as I am still spellbound by the film...still thinking about it's greatness. I will most likely repeat myself, so bear with me.

It took 2 years to film this, but you can see the attention to detal in every frame. So well directed and so well put together with stunning visuals, which makes most films you've seen recently look average. If only films were like this now, I would be so much more happy! The screenplay has to be one of the greatest ever written. Every bit of dialogue, you want to hear and when there's no dialogue you are still engaged by the landscape and the spacal awareness of the characters-who so wonderful portray their characters, you can't help but feel part of the film. Each actor's dialogue so brilliantly play off one another...again it's so wonderful to watch. Some outstanindg performances from Peter O'Toole, and Omar Schariff, who rightly gained an Academy Award nomination, and Alec Guiness and Anthony Quale.

By the end of the film, I didn't realise it was almost 4 hours long, which again shows how much I enjoyed this film. Perhaps it shows the shot attention span of people today as to some negative reviews I've read on IMDb and here. That annoys me a lot. All I can say to people is this, it shouldn't matter the length of a film!

That score has to be one of the greatest I've seen on film. I am still running over in my mind now, so well orcestrated it's unbeliveable.

Arabia contains some of the most iconic scenes in cinema history from Omar Scharrif's entrance to Lawrence standing on top of the turkish train with a background of sunlight....it leaves me Wowed. Again that scene with the entrance of Omar Schariff, wow! One of the greatest entrances I've seen. So well photograped and directed, you'll never see such a scene like that again. Superb!

Overall, a masterpiece of a film, which every single person on this site such watch. Such an amazing film...outstanding!

Gone into my top 100 films
10/10

Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon some dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande.

I manged to watch this whilst trawling through the internet for films to watch. Luckily I found it! And it's not even released in my country yet. I was not disappointed. No Country for Old Men is one hell of a film, so good I might have to re-rate some other films. For sure an American classic and yes this is a masterpiece. And no American Gangster is not what I first thought it was after watching it. This is the first Cohen brothers film that I've watched. I don't know how I have manged to not watch any of their films but I will now. No Country For Old Men is a character-driven masterpiece. I'm sure I will mention that again in this review.

No Country For Old Men is definatly one of the best of 2007, possibly in my top 5. Not as good as the superb Atonement, but is still sensational. The film's narrative is relativly simple but by the end of the film you come out feeling like you witnessed something more. The film is incredibly stylistic. I mean you find yourself deliving into the scenery because it's just awe-inspiring it truly is. I don't think i've seen such a great film this year since Atonement.

The film plays with your own perception of morality. For instance the tossing of the coin by Bardem's character and Le-Jone's character's perception of morality in this era. The sense that what is real now does not reflect the past is also reflected in the film. Vietnam is often repeated symbolised the "Old Men" in the title. Also symobolising this is "No Country For Old Men." If you see what I mean. Luckily most users on this site, from reading their reviews have picked up on that.

Shot through some humours moments, which is evidently refelcting what would otherwise be in a real-life situation, should not be mistake for "gooy" moments" in the film. As No Country For Old Men is one serious girtty western drama. And for once an American thriller which actaully keeps you thrilled to the very last moment.

The acting in this is something of pure greatness. From Tommy Lee Jone, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem and Scottish actress Kelly McDonald; No country for Old Men delivers something of pure greatnes, if that's a word, maybe I made it up right there. Javier Bardem, in the first role that I've seen him in, seems to have done his best performance of his career. For sure an Oscar nomination and possibly my vote for winning it. His character's presense and ghost-like ora throughout the film, gives off one chilling performance that I will never forget. I'm still thinking of it now. Josh Broling, who also completes the sensational cast, produces a great performance but is outlclassed by Javier Bardem for me. Tommy Lee Jones is as ever brilliant and will no doubt get an oscar nomination. Also great to see Scot Kelly McDonald complete one great Texan accent. You could hardly regonise her in this.

The cinematogrphy is magnificent. It's the part of rthe film in which you are imeadiatly drawn into. The colours, almost fitting the mood of every scene. The script is expertly crafted to perfecton and will no doubt get an oscar nomination.

What is magnificent about this is that for majority of the film, there isn't much dialogue and much of the character's body language conveys the meaning to you. For instance one scene in the petrol station with Bardem's character and one with Brolin and Bardem's character.

If there's one film that yu see after you watch Atonement....it's this one. Both are just magnificent films. No Country For Old Men goes into American Film history as one of the great films. I'm still in awe of these two great directors. I must watch more of the Cohen's work.

I do't want to say any more about this brilliant piece of filmkaing as I will give bits away...so I will leave you to make your minds up.

Roger Ebert:

"This movie is a masterful evocation of time, place, character, moral choices, immoral certainties, human nature and fate. It is also, in the photography by Roger Deakins, the editing by the Coens and the music by Carter Burwell, startlingly beautiful, stark and lonely. "

*Magnificent Highly recomend*

Director:Florian Henckel-Donnersmarck
Released: 2007
Stars: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Muhe, Sebastian Koch and Ulrich Tukur
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Germany




The horrifying, sometimes unintentionally funny system of observation in the former East Germany. In the early 1980s, the successful dramatist Georg Dreyman and his longtime companion Christa-Maria Sieland, a popular actress, are big intellectual stars in the socialist state, although they secretly don't always think loyal to the party line. One day, the Minister of Culture becomes interested in Christa, so the secret service agent Wiesler is instructed to observe and sound out the couple, but their life fascinates him more and more

The Lives of Others was 2007?s Best Foreign Language Film winner and I totally agree with that. Despite most people believing Pans Labyrinth was a sure winner, for me this is just far superior in every respect. For a start the film lives up to the trailer. What I saw in the trailer was exactly what was in the film and more. Just the perfect film in ever respect and just a flawless piece of work. I?m not completely familiar with the context behind this film, only bits and pieces. I was about one when the Berlin Wall came down and only studied parts of the GDR whilst studying German. Now I gain a full picture of exactly what happened. This in turn shows just how brilliantly it depicts life under GDR rule and the situations that many people faced at that time. The Lives of Others towers above many German films that I?ve seen this decade. The artistic flair. Pace and the direction just make it one of the best films of this decade as well.

What is amazing that this is director; Florian Henckel-Donnersmarck?s debut. Just incredibly hard to comprehend that such attention to detail, characters, script pacing of the film is just magnificent. The attention to detail of every scene, for instance the interrogation chamber to the scenes in which Ulrich Muhe?s character is observing Sebastian?s Koch is once again just brilliant. There are also some fine examples of editing, with Dreyman and in which we see Dreyman and Wiesler, with the observation scenes. What I just loved was the inter-cutting of the two scenes with the attention to every frame, witted with the brilliant music you hear on the trailer. Just some fine examples of film-making, which I wish we see more often. It?s such a shame that this wasn?t given a wider release. It was not at my local cinema, but at the nearest area specialised in Art House cinema. It really deserved to have a wider release, to just show the context of the film and depict it to a wider audience. Just such a shame films like this aren?t given a wider release.

The Lives of Other?s is a well crafted thriller and quickly grasps the underlying social and psychological factors of the context within the film. Dreyman is an elegant, dashing figure, who is dating a prominent figure within the Art world. Wiesler is a more preserved character, who believes in what he is doing and the political aspect to it. However further into the film there are changes which I won?t give too much away. What is chilling is the seemingly normal life that each member of the stasi Police believes this to be. This in turn is depicted but the brilliant photography of ?80?s Germany. You feel transported to that era and feel engaged with every scene in the film.

The acting in this film is just magnificent. Ulrich Muhe?s performance is just incredible. I know that he was filming whilst suffering from Stomach Cancer, which is just not noticeable on screen. His performance is so captivating that he?s the character of the film that you pay more attention to right from the beginning of the film up until the end. Also a notable mention to Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch, who also did superbly well.

I don?t want to give too much away but the ending of the film is one that I did not expect at all. For a start I almost shed a tear and just hoe emotional it was. Just showing how well crafted the characters were into his film. You just relate to them so so well.

The Lives of Others is not only a masterpiece of German cinema but one of cinema?s rue great films. From the incredibly script to acting it delivers on all levels. I seriously can?t recommend this enough, just outstanding stuff and a film I don?t think I?ll ever forget.

Director:Sean Penn
Released: 2007
Stars: Catherine Kenner, Emile Hirsch, Kristen Stewart and William Hurt
Genre:Drama, Biography
Country: USA



Based on a true story. After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life

Seriously I didn't expect to feel so much about this film, absolutly breathtaking. Need some time to think about it more.

Review to come at some point....

Superbly directed by Orson Welles on his directrial debut at the age of 25. Visually amazing, one of the greatest films ever made.

Masterpiece,Fiennes is excellent!

Absolute masterpiece. A moving piece of cinemas which will leave you emotionally charged!

Amazing

One of my favourites movies ever. Kevin Spacey is incredibly convincing as the serial killer! Highly recomended

Certainly from the beginning I thought it would be as good as "In the Mood for Love" but, as the film progressed ideas within the film didn't seem to make sense and got me confused. Those ideas though, complex they may be, but mixed with the stunning cinematography I was totally fixated by it.

The idea of Chow's book running parralel to his life was also a little confusing at times but also proved to be an assit for me, as I understood Chow a lot better and ,certainly you're able to synpathise e a little with him.

The three leading ladies; Li Gong,Zhang Ziyi and Faye Wong were all very good but a bit under developed. Perhaps that was the case for Li Gong and Faye Wong, Zhang Ziyii seemed to be very childlike at times but was certainly the better out of the three.Tony Leung Chiu Wai was pretty good. I understood how he felt and what the affair meant to him in In the Mood For Love.

One of the best things in this film and from
" In the mood for love" is the brilliant soundtrack. It captures the emotion of the film and the atmosphere. I loved the slow motion at certain points, like a freeze frame in time- just brilliant

I recomend everyone to watch 2046 but watch In the Mood For Love first as you will be able to understand it a lot better.

Just simply amazing. Right from the beginning of the film I was hooked and mesmerized by the cinematograhpy within every scene, just stunning. The soundtrack, for me was another great part in this film. Well, if only there were 6 stars but sadly there isn't.

Definatly a film i will watch again and one to go in my all time favourites list. Just amazing!

Masterpiece!

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!

Howard Beale (Peter Finch) is an ageing TV anchorman for UBS who is fired, effective in two weeks, after his ratings have been steadily deteriorating. He reacts to this by sensationally announcing on live television his intention to commit suicide on air. In doing so, Beale becomes a major TV icon and one of the most valuable assets to the Communications Corporation of America (CCA), the company that is gradually taking control of UBS. As a result he is given his own show as 'the mad prophet of the air-waves'. He appears live on television every week-day evening to tell the real truth to the people of America. The programme is a huge success but Beale uses his power to make startling revelations about CCA, leaving the company executives with a serious problem.

This has to be one of the best movies that I've seen for a while. Smartly written, brilliantly acted and contains one of the best quotes in cinema history. Outstanding! Sydney Lumet's cynical treatise on the moral and ethical decline of televison hinges on the somewhat naive belief that things will ever run differently. Even so, Network is a brilliant satire of the lurid lengths televison will go to to appease its coperate overseers as well as the complicity of its vast, passive, viewership.

Greed comes into play alot in the film. The characters of Christenson amongst others become so greedy and forget about the implications of what they are doing. That is excelt what televison does. Network could have come across as hypocritical and patronising if the director and writer hadn't done such an oustading job of depicting the worl of televison as sleazy and corrupt. The writing has kept the bitter, desperate acts and darkly comic pervervisities coming at such a brisk clip that you barely realise that the film is not just a portryal of the televison providers but us, the televison viewers. This makes you really want to throw out your TV sets and toss it out into the streets, but the film's major points is that we can's. The fact that we are so visually engaged by televison it makes us keep coming back to it.

Network contains some of the best performances I've seen. Most notably Peter Finch's performance as Howard Beale, who portrayas a man who has been destroyed by televison. Faye Dunaway also delivers a strong performance as perhaps a strong matriach, a modern woman so to speak. I also enjoyed the performance of William Holden, who I haven't really seen in many films.

What was so oustanding about this films was the fact, despite being made 31 years ago, it's still relevant today. Making it, not just one of the greatest films ever made and now one of my favourites of all time, but a timeless classic that will always be remembered.

9/10

HIGHLY RECOMENDED

Documentary-style drama showing the events that lead up to the tragic incident on January 30, 1972 in the Northern Ireland town of Derry when a protest march led by civil rights activist Ivan Cooper was fired upon by British troops, killing 13 protesters and wounding 14 more.

Wow, Wow, Wow and more Wow!!! This is just one oustanding film and one emotional rollercoaster of a film. Some stunning shots and one brilliant performance by James Nesbitt. Wow I was just oustounded bythis film.



Really I don't think I've ever seen such an emotionally powerful film perhaps since I watched Greengrasses United 93 The documentry feel to this is just oustanding. You really get a sense of being in the moment and feeling the intense atmophere around you. Really, as I said in my United 93 Review" Hats off to Greengrass" this is really a masterpiece.



The film draws to the eventful climax though quick editing, there you really are kept on tender-hooks as you want to keep watching the film more and more. The main strength of the film is that it uses handheld cameras to create a great sense of chaos, confusion and disorientation. This helps show the events in a relatively balanced light. It's not clear if shots are fired at the army or not - it's so noisy that some of the bangs could have been shot. Thus this effect creates the emotion for the film that really made me cry- the last time that happened it was when I watched United 93. There are some brilliant shots of Londen Derry, which add to a claustrophophicatmosphere. Really there aren't that many words to describe this film. I'm left utterly speechless. One powerful, stunning film.



This is the film that got Greengrass the nod for The Bourne Supremacy and I can see why they chose him. All the films that I have seen of his each have the hand-held camera style. This adds to a realism feel and a sense that you really are in the picture with this characters and experincing what they are experiencing. Utterly fantastic!

Being British and watching this makes me question the motives of my Government. I mean after this disaster the British army concluded that their actions were justified. Some members of the army were awarded by the Queen. This really has made me think twice.

Really I think I've repeated "Oustanding" a few times here. You know that I enjoyed this film and that I recomend it. This is why he is doing teh Bourne Franchise his technique in filmaking is stunning!!

I'll stop now. Go out and find this film in your area NOW! You won't regret it. I was left shell shocked and stunned by the end of this brilliant film. I don't think I'll ever forget it. Gone straight to my top 5 favourite movies of all time.

HIGHLY RECOMENDED10/10

Stunning cinematography, beautifully shot , backed up by a superb cast. A Modern masterpiece. My favourite film at the moment

Director:Ang Lee
Released: 2008
Stars: Joan Chen, Tony Leung Chi Wai, Tang Wei
Genre:Drama, Romance, War
Country:China/Taiwan/Hong Kong/USA





Frustrated in his attempts to assassinate Yee, who is an important official in Japanese-ruled Shanghai, Old Wu, who has lost his wife and two sons as well as two women who had attempted to seduce Yee, now recruits Kuang, Mai Tai Tai, and their troupe of drama students from Hong Kong University in yet another attempt to do away with Yee. Mai Tai Tai is chosen to befriend Yee, which she does by posing as the wife of Mak, befriending Yee's wife and her female friends, and then eventually befriending Yee himself

Well I waited a gone long while to see Ang Lee's latest film after being albeit slightly disappointed with Brockback Mountain. Lust,Caution however blew me away. My expectations were slightly shortened because of the many dissapointing reviews I read both in newspapers her ein the UK and reviews on here. To be honest I don't quite know what film they were watching. Utterly compelling and kept me on tender hooks throughout.

As most of my friends on here know I tend to watch a lot of Asian cinema and that Tony Leung is one of my top 5 favourite actors, so I just had to see this. The narrative of the film is incredibly orginal and also because it deals with the subject of Japanese occupied Shanghai, something not familiar to Western audiences. I must admit that I wasn't 100% clear about the background to the story but as time went on it didn't seem to matter as it was inevitably about one character. The film is long but for a reason. It's depicting a story which is incredibly complex and just isn't going to be told in 1 and a bit hours. There are so many sides to the story that you don't envisidge at the first part of the film.

I love the way Lee switches narrative as we see the end of the story at the beginning. This means that we are able to see the full backdrop of the characters and understand their motives, feelings and of course the realtionship with one another. By this I mean Wong and her Dram clas friends who are part of the Resistance. This is an example of superb storytelling, which to be honest I haven't seen for a good few months. What is great is that the 2 and a bit hours just flew by and suddenly I realised the film is almost over. As I've said before just utterly mangnificent.

Oddly, this being a part USA film, this received no Oscar nominations but luckily us Brits awarded some BAFTA nominations. Believe me it so deserves it and it just depicts the story so so well. Being an art house film lover aswell, the story was paced so so well. This is partly due to the superb script writen by American James Schamus who brilliantly writes quick, informative dialogue that imeadialty gets you hooked from the start. Again....utterly amazing. Still can't get over the snobbery at the Oscars these days. As many of Lee's films, Lust caution is ipeccably photographed throughout it's length time. From the gorgeous sceney to the lush lanscapes of Shaghai.

The acting in Lee's film is fantastic. Tony Leung, who I will never say a bad word about, brilliantly plays two sides of Yee; charming and albeit slightly callous. This meant that as a viewer you liked him one minute and hated him the next. Leung is utterly amazing and deserves more credit by Western audiences. I hope he gains some sort of way into Western cinema soon. Tang Wei, who gained a BAFTA rising Star nomination was equally brilliant playing the naive yet incredibly strong Wong who eventually completely turns Mak(chi-Wai) around from this cold hearted man to a man who is left helpless at the end of the film. Their relationship is depicted strongly in the conterversial sex scenes, which were heavy publisied in the USA and that it was awards an NC-17 rating. Which is ridiculous. The sex scenes look so real and depict this up and down relationship betwen the two charactersl for instance the several sexual posistions and the more "harder" scene and a more emotive one. This I think is a reason why a lot of people didn;t get this film. I think because it's very "arty" and not exactly your more mainstream film.

Overall a stunning masterpiece which might very well be one of my favourite films as I could watch this again. Lust,Caution is seriously UNDERATED and deserved far more credit. It's offical Ang lee is on of the great story tellers our there.

Highly recomend and one of Lee's very best films.

10/10

A young boy lives in a small floating temple on a beautiful lake, together with an elderly master who teaches him the ways of the Buddha. Years later the boy, now a young man, experiences his sexual awakening with a girl who has come to the temple to be healed by the master. The youth runs away to the outside world but his lust turns his life into hell, so he returns to the lake temple to find spiritual enlightenment.



Wow, Wow, Wow!!! is all I can say about this. Possibly one of the most beautifully shot films I've seen. Such attentions to detail and the isolation of the main characters was felt by me. You could almost put youself in the film and imagine what it would be like to live like that. I haven't had much experice at learnng the religion of Buddishm but after watching this, I can certainly see why Richard Gere turned to this.

I'm possibly a newcomber to Ki-duk Kim's work but I am now on the case to watch more of his work!

What I noticed is the fact there is very little dialogue and the imagery and facial experssions of the characters tell the story. I mean from the opening sequence with the young monk, as soon as he started to cry-you could feel the anguish that hey was going though, almost because I remember feeling like that. I don't think I've seen a director's work which relies on style to tell the work and let the viewer come to their own conlusions.



I love the coming-of age story here, told through the seasons. There is also evidence of sympbolism and colour, which seemed to be telling the mood and feelings within the scene. There was colours to represent the seasons and much of the objects were symbolism.



I love the idea that you can gain greater spirituality by going to an isolated area and just emjoy what's around you. All of that you can make up your own minds. I don;t think there is one clear explanation as to what is going on, you can make that you for youselves. That's what I loved about this film-it's incredibly self-consciencous. The film manages to speak directly to the soul (or...failing to believe in the soul...something deep inside anyone watching it), and this is where it's beauty lies. Parts are so affecting that a painful nostalgia for a place you never knew overwhelms you. I also loved the simplicity of the opening doors to introduce each scene to the stunning and hypnotic ending that makes you believe in the human spirit. If you walk away with anything from this film, I hope it is hope.

Anyway, I can't recomend this enough it;s one stunning film. I will now seek to find more of Ki-duk Kim's work.

9.5/10

Outstanding performance by Bruno ganz as Adolf Hitler, totaly convincing as the fuhrer.

Masterpiece. One of the greatest films of all time, and mine.

This is the best film out of the trilogy. The narrative is played around a little in this as we see Michael in this present and his father, Don in the past. This works well and that's why i love this one and it has become one of my favourite films.

Brilliant. The ending is totally unexpected. Plus a incredibly realistic submarine drama!

I can't believe I haven't a review for this modern masterpiece of a film and one of my favourites. Brilliant film, with top notch acting,direction and displaying an accurate portryal of American life.

Spacey is truley memorable in this film and surely his greatest role to date. Annete Benning is in possibly her greatest role as well. I can't tell you how great a film this is. Highly recomended.