seansmithyorkuk Reviews

Die Another Day (2002)

One Of The Best. SPOILER

[9/10 · 21 November 2002]

SPOILER I saw this movie yesterday, and let me just say that 007 has returned after a long absence. The final showdown is truely great and so stupid at the same time. But, with a Bond picture, you are supposed to suspend belief.

Also, Brosnan plays two Bonds. The first is the usual one, all hero, but take a look in his eyes as he is being released after 14 months in a Korean jail and it you can see fear in his eyes. I don't think that Connery or Moore could of played Bond like this. Funniest moment has got to be the moment that a bedraggled Bond walks into the Hong Kong hotel and asks for a room. That was the moment that it changed from being serious and back to the world that we expect from 007.

The Barefoot Contessa (1954)

Ava's Film

[7/10 · 23 February 2002]

One of the strangest films I have seen in that both Ava Gardner, usually v bad, is very good as Maria, the heroine, and my hero Humphrey Bogart is acted off the screen by everybody else. This being so, I thouroughly enjoyed watching this wonderful movie. A classic tale of Hollywood,not as good as The Bad & The Beautiful, but still more watchable than the usual fare that is put out today.

Fail Safe (2000 TV Movie)

a good remake

[7 August 2001]

one of the best TV films I have seen in recent years! However, I must say that I thought the original was a very good film indeed, so I might of been biased. The thing that I liked about the latest remake was that the producers decided that the TV broadcast was going to be just like the original and not brought up to date. This gave the film a claustrophobic feeling to it and made it more real. So many films today are just explosions and S.F.X. that the real stories are left behind. A well made movie, and a joy to see Richard Dreyfuss back to his top form.

Force 10 from Navarone (1978)

"I speak German. Perfect"

[6/10 · 26 July 2001]

In the first film "The Guns of Naverone, the character Mallory is fluent in many languages. (This is one of the many reasons that he was chosen for the job in Naverone). However, since he came back to England and taken the job at the training camp at the start of Force Ten From Naverone, he has lost this ability. Strange that!!!!!!

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Political Correctness: Right Or Wrong?

[23 July 2001]

When I first saw this film, I am sure there was a joke that has now been deleted from later prints that I have seen. Remember that Gruber has been talking to Lt. Daniels by radio up to the point that he meets him and gets into his car. It was here that Gruber comments and stutters something in the lines of "you sounded taller on the radio". What he meant was he was surprised that Daniels was black and in charge.

As this film was made in 1974 the world has become more enlightened, but why was this line removed at all. I think that it is just a sign of political correctness gone mad!!!!!!

Keep watching the screens

SPS