Estella Reviews

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Trash!

[25 April 2004]

Let me just get one thing clear. I've never liked Quentin Tarantino. Ever since I saw as much as I could bear of the horrendous Resiviour Dogs (a film which for some reason is judged a masterpiece) I didn't think I'd see another film of his again. But hearing about Kill Bill I thought the man would pleasently suprise me. But no, yet again it is juts another film which consists of nothing but a blood-splatter fest verging on the pornagraphic.

Now don't get me wrong. I have no problem with violent films- Die Hard, The Terminator,etc these films I have no problem with. But Dogs and Kill Bill just have scene after scene of gore which I really got utterly bored of. I stopped both films before the end as I really was tried of it. Tarantino has to be the worst director ever. Uma Thurman and the music score are the only two good things about Kill Bill.

Seabiscuit (2003)

Wonderfully heartwarming

[20 March 2004]

The true story of an unorthadox race horse and his unorthadox jockey becoming famous on the race track is one of the most heartwarming feel-good movies I've ever seen.You're really in there with Red (played wonderfully by Tobey Maguire) as he races Seabuiscuits against all odds into American history. The excitment, and nerves of the races I felt myself, and there were several times when I welled up, especially at the end. It It is a real pity that this movie was up against the giant that was Return of the King at this years Oscars for Best Picture, as I think it deserved Best Picture just as much as King did. A wonderful, heart warming film. If you feel low down, this is the film to cheer you up. Magical.

Die Another Day (2002)

Pretty Poor for a Bond flick.....

[21 February 2004]

I've seen loads of Bond films and Pierce Brosnan is my fave Bond, but I have to say, that D.A.D is the weakest 007 film I've ever seen. With such a great cast it looked really promising, but unfortunatly it was totally marred by a non-existent plot. The plot had been replace by tons of SFX which didn't enhance the film as much as hinder it. Most of the film seemed unbelivable, even by Bond standereds. A real shame...

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Something worth fighting for....

[27 January 2004]

This was the film that really cemented me as a Ring fan. I loved the first film, but after this I knew I was hooked. More wonderful memorable characters, SFX, fights, hanky-moments etc etc. I loved the way nature fights back in it too. And Sams speech towards the end is just brilliantly poetical, and fitting for the times we're now living in....

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The end of all things

[27 January 2004]

THE BEST OF THE THREE! I really became a mega fan of LOTR after seeing the third and final film. It's just awesome! Eljiah Wood (who has fast become one of my fave actors) should have been Oscar and BAFTA nominated for this. He's amazing in all the films, but in this he really surpasses himself as an actor. When his big beautiful blue eyes fill with tears you just want to give him a BIG hug. Sean Astin too should have been nominated. Some of the scenes with him and Sam are just beautiful and heart wrenching. OK, so the end is too long, but thats the only complaint. Thumbs up to all involved. Shame it's finally ended!

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Maidenhead, Berkshire

[27 January 2004]

I went to see Fellowship twice when it came out, because I really wasn't sure if I really liked it the first time. I'd never seen anything like it, but couldn't quite make up my mind. After the 2nd time, I'd decided it was brilliant. I hadn't read the books (I've only just started on the 1st now) so couldn't compare it, but as a film all on it's own it is just ace.

Imppecable casting (Can't imagine anyone else but the wonderful Elijah Wood as Frodo) amazing SFX and wonderful New Zealand scenery, and plently of scary moments and hanky moments too. Brill.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Precious!

[6 January 2004]

This is definatly the best of the three Ring films. OK,so there was no need for all the added bits on the end, (come on, we all know where it *should* have ended) but this is the only complaint.

The cast are top notch. The hobbits, particulerly Elijah Wood and Sean Astin are outstanding. Eljiah's Frodo is my faveourite character, and I just couldn't imagine anyone else playing him. Elijah makes Frodo totally endearing (those beautiful big blue eyes only adds to his appeal)and Sean Astins' Sam is lovable and loyal, and several of Sam and Frodos secens made me almost blub.

(one scene involving Frodo trying to escape a certain creature made the lady next to me gasp 'oh my god!' as it was so tense!)

The battle scenes are brilliant and made you want to punch a fist in the air and yell.

To quote Ron Weasley: 'Bloody brilliant!'

Finding Nemo (2003)

Another brilliant Pixar movie

[10/10 · 20 November 2003]

This has got to be one of the most beautifully made animations ever made. The ocean setting is stunning, the characters wonderful. What I love about Pixar is that despite the amazing graphics, they really care more about the characters and having a strong storyline. Cos of course if they didn't have these two important factors, then their wonderful films wouldn't be as fab as they are.

Finding Nemo is another hit. Funny, moving and exciting, with excellent performances from the cast. 10/10

Band of Brothers (2001)

Fantastic

[15 November 2003]

I've always been interested on WW2, and loved Saving Private Ryan. Since this is by the star and director of SPR, I was really looking forward to this. The British papers slagged BOB off way before it was aired because of the fact that it's a strictly Amercian affair, and according to the papers, BOB (and SPR) show the war being won by just the Amercians. I found the accusation rather unfair. The fact is that both stories soley focused on one group of Americans,(BOB is based on a book) and told the American solders story. Yeah, they could have focused on the Brits, but then they could have focused on the Australians, French etc etc, and all the other countries that participated in the war. And so any country not shown could have screamed 'unfair!!!' Of course there are a lot of Brit actors in it. I especially like Damian Lewis as the lovely compassionate and loyal Richard Winters....

Anyhow, BOB is a fantastic, mesmerising piece of TV drama. Just watching the horrific battle scenes make me wonder how on earth these brave men came out of the war sane. It also made me think how grateful we should all be to the brave soilders who gave their lives for freedom....BOB should be shown to the teenagers in history lessons. They'll learn a lot.

From Hell (2001)

Had potential....

[14 September 2003]

This film could have been soooo good. A fascinating story, two brilliant leads- Johnny Depp and Heather Graham, and plenty of scares. Unfortunatly it wasn't like that. Johnny and Heather are great, with brilliant Cockney accents (I don't know why their accents seem to come under such critism, I know what a cockney accent should sound like, and they do the accent great) but the film is badly put together, and lacks substance, and somehow I just couldn't care for either Depps or Grahams characters. (Depps other Cockney, Jack Sparrow, knocks the stuffings out of his detective in this one)It's not even scary..... SUCH a shame, as this film looked like it could have been very good.

Chicago (2002)

Deserved every award

[2 September 2003]

Why are people being so hard on this wonderful piece of escapism? Unlike so many Oscar winners that are just hype hype hype, this deserved every award it got. Along with the wonderful 'Moulin Rouge' this film proves that musicals really are cool again. Renne Zellweiger, Catherine Zeta Jones and Richard Gere excel in their roles, give us a couple of hours of pure toe tapping joy. 10.10

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Pirate movies are afloat again....

[10/10 · 13 August 2003]

I have always been a big fan of the Swashbuckler movies,and like Jonny Depp, so rushed off to see this one as soon as it opened. Basically people, if you are only going to see one film this summer, POTC has to be it. It's exciting, funny and action packed, with a wonderful cast. But the stand out performance has to be from the wonderfully unorthadox Jonny Depp. He could have played Jack Sparrow like any other dashing rouge, but in true Depp style, he adds his own unique characteristics and make Sparrow a wonderfully funny, charming (and lets face it girls,damn sexy)character.In every scene he's not in, your just waiting for him to come back on screen. He steals every scene he's in. This film is just whats needed after the overblown self important junk thats come out this summer. POTC is a great way to spend a couple of hours. It didn't even feel that long to me.....FAB!

A Knight's Tale (2001)

Rock on........

[16 April 2003]

I love this movie. It's great fun. Love the modern music playing over the action. Queens 'We Will Rock' you works particulerly well over the openeing credits. Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell, Mark Addy and co are all fab. The only let down in an other wise fab film is the dire Shannon Sossoman. She's so wooden you could set her alight. Laura Fraser, who plays Kate, should have had Sossoamns part, as she can actually act.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

'We will say NI again to you....'

[16 April 2003]

How can so many people dislike this wonderful film? Well, each to his own I guess. I LOVE it. One of the best comedies ever made. Extremley silly stuff- knights who say NI (my fave bit) peasents 'being repressed!'Holy Hand Granades, and sorcerers called Tim. Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Micheal Palin and co are at there ridiculous, silly best.

Bootleg (2002)

Yummy!!

[10/10 · 22 December 2002]

Every once in a while, a family drama comes along that really warms you up on a cold winter day, and 'Bootleg' is one of them. A simple story of two boys and their friends trying to get round a chocolate ban imposed on the country by the sinister Nazi-like 'Good-For-You' group. Wonderful performances by the cast, (and mouth-watering chocolate!!) makes this a real feast for the whole family. -I am a chocoholic myself, so was going to watch this lovely family programme from the start simply for that reason! Well done to all involved.

Wit (2001 TV Movie)

Wonderful

[19 December 2002]

I saw this wonderful movie when it was on TV the other night. I was interested after seeing the ads, but wasn't expecting it to pull me in so quickly. Within the first 15 mins I was hooked. Emma Thompson is just amazing in this film, and I could feel my throat tighten up towards the end before Niagra falls erupted at the end. It's funny, thought provoking and moving. If Emma Thompson doesn't win an award for this, then theres no justice!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Beats LOTR hands down

[10/10 · 21 November 2002]

Having read all the HP books and seen The Philosopers Stone, I was really excited by the new film, and expected it to be good. I wasn't disappointed. It was BRILLIANT. This film is more action packed, exciting, and funnier then the first film, with the wonderful child stars giving more confident performances. Daniel Radclife, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have really settled into their roles nicely, and the adult cast are too, terrific. Kenneth Brannah almost steals the show as the hilarious Gilderoy Lockhart. The showdown at the end is tense and exciting, and even though I'd read the book I still gasped in several places. The flying car and Dobby are just some of the brilliant CGI effects, and the Qudditch match is fast and furious. Just beware if you don't like spiders as theres one in there that would make any one with agrophobia faint!

As too all these comparions to LOTR, I liked LOTR's very much, and will be going to see The Two Towers, but the HP films are so much more fun, and magical. They really touch the child in you. OK so LOTR scooped an Oscar or two, but when it comes to public affection, it's Harry whos literally on the money. Harry Potter has smashed it's own record in Britain, and has become the third most sucessful opening in the US behind Spiderman and the original Harry Potter film. It deserves all the success it's getting. Roll on The Prisoner of Azkaban!

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Fiddle-dee-dee!

[19 September 2002]

Classic. That about sums up this film, which quite rightly is still the highest grossing film of all time, and one of the most loved. Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable are perfectly cast as the firery couple Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler, and Olivia de Havilland and Leslie Howard are on top form as Melenie and Ashley Wilkes. Many films are called masterpieces, but this is truly worth of it's title, and it's place in cinema history. Like The Wizard of Oz, it took 5 directors and numerous rewrites to get it right-but they got it right in the end! It other so-called masterpieces like Titanic (which I love very much, but can't compare) pale in comparison!

Signs (2002)

'It's just a bunch of guys who've never had a girlfriend...'

[10/10 · 16 September 2002]

Having always been fascinated by crop circles, and being a fan of both Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, I was really looking forward to this. I was disappointed with Unbreakable, but had a feeling this would make up for it, and it more then did. It's SCARY. Thankfully scaring us with the UN-seen rather then the seen, this really makes you sit on the edge of your seat. Mel Gibson is of course fab, and Joaquin Phoenix is as usual marvellous, and providing much of the laughs inbetween the gasps of fear! Clever, thought provoking, and marsterly directed, this will no doubt keep the crop-circled fields of England a source of interest!

Round the Twist (1989–2001)

Brilliant!

[14 August 2002]

I think that the first series of Round The Twist (along with the original series of Eerie Indiana)is the best kids prog ever! I loved it's quirky sense of humour and great silly storylines. Someone else who commented on RTT loved the 'Without My Pants' one, well thats one of my faves too. I have some on video, but not that one!! I wish they'd repeat it cos it's worth seeing again. Pity none of the RTT gang seem to have done anything after cos they were all fab.

Eerie, Indiana (1991–1992)

They don't make em like this anymore.....

[12 August 2002]

My sister and I saw Eerie Indiana when it was first screened on UK TV. We became instant fans of this funny quirky show. It's a rare kind of kids programme in that it is one that adults can enjoy. My sister and I were 13 or so when it was first aired, and now at almost 23 we're still huge fans! It was repeated a few years ago, and we made sure we recorded them all. They don't seem to have aged a bit, and certanley are not 'childish' at all. Omri Katz is just brilliant (come out of retirment Omri!!) and Justin Shenkarow and Jason Marsden are fab too. I recommend this to anyone, kid or adult. A gem that they just don't make anymore.....

The Secret Garden (1993)

Possibly the best family film ever....

[10/10 · 11 August 2002]

I first saw The Secret Garden over the Christmas period a few years ago, but didn't really see it for the beautiful film it is untill a viewing or so later. I have it on video, and watch it whenever I need cheering up. It is one of those rare films that I can really say is flawless. The cast are superb. The three children particulerly standing out. The scenery is breathtaking, and the score beautiful. It makes you feel that wonderful things can happen in life, and that you can make them happen. In a time when more and more films are relying on special effects rather then a good script and a decent storyline, this is one that film makers everywhere should take note of. A rare little gem of a film that should put a smile on the face of even the most cynical movie goer.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Everythings going so well!!

[10/10 · 9 August 2002]

What can I say about this wonderful movie? It's just SPECTACULAR!!!! Good old Baz Luhrman has given us a gem of a film. It's one of the most original films I've ever seen. It's funny, moving, with cracking songs and dances (I love the Can-Can espeially) and two of the most amazing actors on screen-Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor belting out the songs like theres no tommorow. The sets are amazing, the costumes are amazing....it just blew me away. 10/10. I can't say any more then that.

Memento (2000)

Fantastic

[10/10 · 18 May 2002]

My sister recommended this film to me after I told her how much I'd enjoyed Guy Pearces' wonderful performance in The Count Of Monte Cristo.

I got the video out, and was just blown away by it. This is the most clever and original film I have ever seen, and although at first it is a bit hard to understand because of the complex way the story is told, once you've got the hang of it you'll be enthralled. Guy Pearce is just the most natural actor I've seen, and gives a mesmerising performance, you can really feel his anger and fustration. His character is also very funny at times, especially in the scene where he discovers Dodd in his cuboard, and can't remember how he got there.

This film is a must see, but if you don't want to use your brain, then don't see it! All in all, a fantastic, thrilling movie. Quite why Guy wasn't nominated an Oscar for his amazing performance is beyond me.10/10

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Fantasitic!!

[16 February 2002]

I was actually rather slow as far as the Harry Potter books go. I'm an avid book reader,so I didn't get round to reading the 'Philosophers Stone' (or 'Sorcerers Stone') till a few moths before the film opened. I loved the book, and was really looking forward to the film. I wasn't disappointed. When the film started, I felt as excited as a little kid (I am in fact 22) and was grinning like a mad woman! This film bought back that kind of childish excitment I used to feel when going to see a Disney movie on the cinema. I think we need more films like this. The casting is perfect. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are all brilliant. (Ron almost steals the show)and all the grown ups are brilliant too.It's funny,imaginative and exciting. No one should make a fuss about sequences cut from the book, because obviously they coludn't keep everything. Imagine how long 'Gone With The Wind' would have been if they'd kept everything in!

I've seen Harry Potter four times so far, and am thinking maybe a fifth time wouldn't hurt!