kimdino-1 Reviews

The Watch (2020–2021)

In a parallel universe vaguely similar to Discworld.

[7/10 · 20 July 2021]

I imagine most will watch this as fans of Discworld, and expect to see things as Pratchett wrote them. If you are one of these then stay away, you will be left feeling very disappointed and angry.

I would liken this this rendering to be like what countless Hammer/Hollywood films did to Shelleys 'Frankenstein' or, perhaps even more so, what Disney did to Dumas's 'The Three Musketeers. However, many who did not know of Dumas's novel or the great work on the nature of life that was the novel 'Frankensien' enjoyed these very lightweight, totally different & trite renditions. You need to do the same in order to enjoy 'the Watch'.

If you view it with an open mind & no expectations then it becomes an enjoyable lightweight romp. However, you will still need to have read the Discworld novels to understand the Cheery comes from a people (dwarves) where the women are as butch & masculine as the men. Also, though Carrot is physically a human he identifies as a dwarf, though a very open-minded one.

But this knowledge of the novels left me very confused as to which character was Lupine Wonse. Vetinaris assistant was not named so when the name came up I naturally assumed that, as Pratchett stated, this was who Wonse was. But then who was woman with Carcer. It took until ep.7 to deconfuse the issue. And then introducing characters with the same names as used used in the novels, but as a totally unrelated character (e.g 'throat Dibbler the of Thieves Guild)!

This could have been good. Either by much better and more mature treatment following of Pratchetts novels or, alternatively, applying much more thought to the writing, casting & editing in the way Hammer did.

I have to give credit for. Richard Dormers portrayal of Sam Vimes though. He gave us a character much closer to how I imagine Vimesy from the novels than ANY other portrayal I've seen. Everyone else plays Pratchetts loveable, slovenly, ex-drunkard, but briiliant Watch leader far too seriously. Dormer brought out the full humour of the character, It is only unfortunate that the producers didn't supply a Carrott that was ultra-serious enough for Dormer could play of against.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

A beautiful film that transcends its genre

[9/10 · 7 July 2021]

I am not a great fan of Wuxia, in fact it bores me stiff to the point. Where I'd rather watch paint dry than the posturing heroes showing off. However, this film, though based on the Wuxia genre, becomes something much greater. However,a friend was adament that I should watch this and I am glad that she was so persistent.

Ang Lee has put together excellent actors, beautiful ci9nematography and his directorial skills to create a work of artistic greatness for which the Wuxia is only a framework to wrap a story around. He has taken an eye for mind wowingly beautiful camera shots and added a story that twangs the heart strings. Then he reassesed the fight scenes, necessary in any martial arts film, and choreographed them into beautiful dance scenes while retaining them as believable fight moves.

A true work of genius that should satisfy the martial arts nuts, but is something so much greater. A great work of art that will leave you with your soul refreshed regarding the beauty of mankind & the world..

Worzel Gummidge (2019– )

Beautiful magical hours

[9/10 · 17 May 2021]

This is not to be compared with the Jon Pertwee series. They are very different offerings. While the earlier rendition was something to keep the kids quiet for a short time with a humourous story, this series is something much richer.

It is hard to describe what exactly makes it. The best I can come up with is to ask "What made the early 'Doc Martin' episodes more than just a sitcom about a misfit GP"? Drawing you in to become immersed in a beautiful magical world, maybe. Or the lovely character renditions, perhaps. All I can really say is that each episode provided me with a magical hour that I didn't want to come to an end.

Please, please, PLEASE make some more.

The Missing Postman (1997 TV Movie)

A great British road movie.

[9/10 · 5 February 2021]

In 'Continental Drifters' Rich Hall declares that it would be impossible to set a road movie in Britain. This series proves that wrong.

Plot Outline:- Clive is a postie who loves his job but is being forced into retirement by new technology. So, after emptying the last postbox at the end of his last day, he suddenly decides not to return to the sorting office to hand in his uniform & bike, but instead decides to deliver the letters himself. So begins an adventure well worth watching , with all the drama, heartache & joy of the best road movies. There is even his having to evade the police trailing him.

With James Bolam perfectly cast as Clive, Alison Steadman as the wife left at home and Jim Carter as the pursuing policeman, there are great performances. These and the excellent script provide a very enjoyable three hours of entertainment. thart rival Easy Rider, Vanishing Point, Thelma & Louise etc. And even if you aren't a road movie lover, this is still a great light drama of the 'Doc Martin', 'Withnail & I' type..

Hidden (2018–2022)

Dark, but brilliantly deep.

[10/10 · 6 March 2020]

All the television I have seen from North Wales is very dark & gloomy, and this series is no exception. But it adds so much depth that dark & gloomy becomes the perfect way to present its subject matter.

There are many questions asked by it creators, and they are vividly answered. How a backwards looking mentality is unable to deal with modern social values. And how, in such a situation, the inevitably repressed human needs come out in perverted, even psychopathic ways, in an otherwise good individual. How the aim for good can crate a monster. etc, etc, etc..... . Some may complain that much of it is in Welsh but this is a British language that equally qualifies alongside the ubiquitous 'English'. Live with it, it is well subtitled & worth the effort.

I have only watched the first series so far but have found it to be a very thoughtful work ranking amongst the greatest of British TV output..

My Honor Was Loyalty (2016)

Excellent film, sadly condemned to attracting those unable to appreciate it

[10/10 · 12 November 2019]

Let me first query how many of the reviewers actually watched & understood this film? Not many it seems. It specifically states at the very beginning that it is NOT a war movie, it is the story of a man. It is a very moving story of a mans redemption.

Herckel is a man born into a post WW1 Germany, a country wrecked by the WW1 settlements. He has seen Hitler breathe new life into his country, so he has been lapping up the Nazi propoganda. Thus he join up with the elite brigade of the Waffen-SS, confident in the rightness of Nazism.Until the start of the film everything he has been told & seen backs this up.

Then he begins to see the truth and starts to become confused about what things are all about. The 'evil' people aren't so evil after all. There is evil on his own side. He has been lied to etc.

He no longer wants to fight for the ideals he was brought up with but cannot see what else to do, and is merely now fighting for his comrades. But then one-by-one these are lost. However, he realises that he still committed to having to fight as his home is now under threat...........

I see reviewers complaining about the unrealism of battle scenes. How many battles have of these have actually seen battle? I freely admit that I have seen none, the only criteria I have to judge by are fake scenes from movies & games and I would like it to stay that way. Most film & game makers want to induce feelings of action & excitement in the viewer.

But, remember, this isn't a war film but the story of a mans loss of interest in fighting. The directors uses the battle scenes to partly tell this part of the story. The early scenes show the protagonist & his unit in control of the battles. But as the story progresses the battles become more chaotic, confusing & sordid. The unusual musical score works with this very well.

I would rate this an excellent film, but sadly condemned to attracting those unable to appreciate it.

Deutschland 83 (2015)

The tension of the early 80s - nailed

[9/10 · 21 July 2019]

I was growing up in Britain during the events of this story and this series brought back the creepiness of the cold war at this time. How we lived under the ever-present threat that, in the next four minutes, we could be totally annihilated. And the permanent paranioa about what the USSR was up to.

It was only afterwards that we learnt how much we'd been fed and about the times we came so close to nuclear annihilation. The Able Archer fiasco wasn't publicized until much later (that would have made CND unstoppable) but, nonetheless, we never had to dig very deep to find the tension.

This series brought back the tension of the times. Let's hope we never do this to ourselves again. Nonetheless, humanity has shown itself stupid enough to keep repeating it mistakes, so stuff like this series serves as a useful reminder to us all.

Many reviewers have made comments of the form 'there's no way that....' regarding innaccuracies. Putting a spy into the enemy top level wold have taken a great deal of work & patience, with too much detail to have fitted in a miniseries. The pertinent fact is that the Stasi had infiltrated NATO, and so was able to stop Able Archer becoming WW3. The same goes for other details. This isn't so much a reenaction of how spying was achieved as a presentation of the general picture of the times, and a very well presented one.

The Handmaid's Tale (1990)

A steak dinner, with the steak removed.

[3/10 · 5 June 2019]

Attwoods novel truly is one of the alltime great novels, illustrating that a populist movement can easily take over a democratic nation and enslave its people. She also shows that the USA could easily fall into that trap, it is only the peoples vigilance in monitoring political motives that keeps it safe. It is this EXTREMELY valuable lesson that makes the novel great.

Those who know the novel will already know the the real meat of the story lies in the final chapter. Offred is shown to be a relative nonenity, just of of many as she disappears leaving behind only diary to be discovered years later. It is the analysis of this story that is the real meat of the book. How corrupt powermongers use religion and fear to bamboozle populations into supporting their takeover, and enslavement. And nothing of the mass murders. And of how the USA could easily fall into this trap.

This films hardly tries to do justice. It just shows Offreds story trimmed of anything worthwhile. If this is your thing, then there is plenty of better versions out there. I offer 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' & 'The Diary of Anne Frank' as examples. Both based on real situations where populist movements turned a democracy into a monstrous dictatorship. Or even READ Attwoods novel. But don't bother with this crap.

Now & Later (2011)

Ignore the distractions, just relax & enjoy this beautiful film

[9/10 · 12 July 2016]

I could analyze this film as a critique of the American Dream and a very good one it is.

I could also point out the mass of very good social commentary and analysis of modern Western ethics.

And I'm sure the prudes will be put off by the very intimate sex scenes while the pervy types will be distracted from the story by them. So I could implore you not to let this happen and, instead, just allow these scenes to draw you into a feeling of intimacy with the characters.

I could also go on about how much the two lead actors must have put into this to bring their characters to life so vividly.

But instead I'll just say "Enjoy what is a very beautiful film on several levels".

btw I reserve 10 points for really, REALLY excellent films that stand out well above others. Otherwise I would have given this 10.

Scott & Bailey (2011–2016)

If we must have misogyny then can have the 70s version instead.

[5/10 · 22 February 2016]

I would be inclined to rate this 7 or 8 but for one REALLY big issue.

Do you remember those police dramas of the 60s & 70s where all the heroes were men, and the women were either there for glamour or to show off the machismo of the male lead? I remember all this being attacked, rightly IMO, as misogynistic crap and am very glad we have moved on. But now, what do we have here? An even worse misogyny, and being hailed by many as great because it is so. No longer passive, the other sex must now be actively shown to be despicable.

There is nothing inherently wrong with the fact that the heroic characters are female, that is is a realistic possibility. 50% of us are female, which leads to a 12% possibility that, all else being equal, the three people that rise to stand out in any situation all being female. Fair enough, but considered this along with ALL the significant male characters being painted in a bad light. From the barrister, whose major crime according to the script was not his corruption of the legal process but his two-timing ways. Then there is the boyfriend/husband who cannot grow up to 'maturity'. And the brother with good intentions but whose stupidity means his several attempts to help only make things worse. Then there is the male DC whose only contribution is inane comments. Another DC who is blackened for allowing himself to be seduced ONCE, while drunk, at a party. Meanwhile one of the female leads drops her knickers several times, amongst other negative acts, but this is alright because its just her way. So, we have 'if it's a woman it's okay but if it's a man then it has to be bad'. The script begins to take on the appearance of a hatefest.

Most police procedural have side stories as well as the crime solving aspect, there are even many for which the crime solving is only a framework to provide a plot while the real issue is elsewhere. This comes across as one of the second, with the real issue being to show what a load of useless, untrustworthy bastards men are. From a marketing point of view this works. There are many woman who have suffered from making bad partner choices after being given unrealistic expectations. This show reinforces their feelings very well and will have gained a very big thumbs-up from these many misguided souls. There are also many who support smoking. Many who think those of a different skin colour are lesser people, many who think those not supporting their own religion should be killed. Just because many people may share a particular point of view does not make it right.

Right, aside from the misogyny:- The plot works most of the time though the characters can be a bit 2D. I must admit that I was drawn to this series by Lesley Sharp, an actress who I find usually worth watching. But she seems a bit reserved to the part, as if she was acting on half-throttle. And there is an occasional bit of really good acting, when Nicola Walkers appears the show lights up. If you can switch off to the scriptwriters sniping at the male half of the species then there is enough to make it well worth watching. But my preference would be to ask "Could we have 'The Sweeney', 'Target' etc back instead?". They may have had their faults but the faults weren't thrown in your face.

Sexual Chronicles of a French Family (2012)

"Facts of life: Advanced Course (Sex As A Part Of Life)"

[10/10 · 26 August 2015]

I'm giving this a top score (which I do extremely rarely) not because it it a great film but, because it is a much needed film that no one has been brave enough to make until now.

Reading the other reviews I get the impression that the writers watched the film as 'entertainment', it is that and has enough of a plot & deep enough characters to stand up as such.

However, I believe the films real value shows when seen as what a school biology curriculum may title as "Facts of life: Advanced Course (Sex As A Part Of Life)". It is clichéd and a little unreal, as such educational films are, but still very good.

Of course this film is never going to be shown as part of a school curriculum, or is it? Life itself is a school. Most of us are raised with a closed-minded attitude to sex, and as a result have a perverted view of it.

This film shows us that all us adult pupils of the school of life (from age 16 to the end) are sexual beings for which sex can be a very enjoyable & enriching part. This applies whether or not we have a 'good-looking' appearance, sex can be a beautiful act even when old wrinklies are involved. It also shows that it is to be treated with care & responsibility. It also drops in that sex is something to be shared, not taken or merely bought. While commercialised sex is at best empty & possibly damaging.

Someday this film will be unnecessary, in which case this would be merely entertainment. When that happens I would probably give this a mere 5 or 6, and the other reviews I see would be apposite. Until then this film is great art, given that great art is meant to challenge us & make us think.

Unfortunately most of us have a 'broken' thinking machine so most only see porn. For those can do only see it a such, try watching & understanding the expressions of the sexual participants, both pre & post coition, also during. You will see that love and care comes out much more vividly than eroticism. You will also how it can be awkward for first-time participants but then, as they learn to relax with each other, how the bond between them grows. This is not porn, this is a very worthwhile piece of art for whom I would like to praise all the participants.

Edit: I saw a pirate version of this film after it was taken from a P2P download. But having seen it I decided that it was worth buying and attempted to. However, I was only able to source worthless censored versions. So it seems that I am disallowed from financially supporting the making of such films, and that we are only allowed to learn about sex from perverts (i.e. schoolmarm types & pornography). Hmmmm, what a weird world we live in... it just emphasises the need for more stuff like this film.

Passer By (2004 TV Movie)

We need more films like this

[9/10 · 27 May 2015]

Almost everyone seems to believe that society is falling apart, and we all have our scapegoats to blame for this. But how many of us look at our own actions, or inaction, as a cause.

Joe Keyes is a an ordinary guy, your typical Mr. Average, who on seeing a nasty scene, with the potential for it to escalate very badly, walks away. On learning of the consequences he has to deal with his conscience & his relationship with his fellow human beings. His inaction is mirrored in his relationship with his family.

If you are of the belief that passing strangers are not human beings then this film is not for you. If you are a cold hearted bastard who couldn't care less about others then you will be bored by this film. For the rest of us this should be watched and thought about. For my part, I believe the 'broken windows' monologue is brilliant.

I'm not normally a great fan of James Nesbitt as his characters can be a bit OTT but this he gives gives a solid and believable performance. The script is very good and the support actors give a more than adequate performance.

Dancer in the Dark (2000)

Shock, Catherine Deneuve outperformed by popstar.

[9/10 · 29 November 2013]

I am a follower of von Trier but this is one film I felt no great urge to see for two reasons:- 1/ I hate musicals - nothing spoils my involvement in a story more than all the characters suddenly breaking character to go into a song & dance routine. 2/ Placing a pop singer in the lead role strikes me as farming off the celebrity value, only necessary when the script is poor enough to need a helping hand. Surely, a trained and experienced actor would do a better job. So I haven't bothered with 'Dancer in the Dark' until now. What an idiot I was.

Bjorks acting did seem a bit amateurish for the initial twenty minutes or so, but I urge you to bear with this. This may have been a directorial device to hook you into the simplicity of her character because as the plot develops she renders a character as strong as any. If you are not totally with Selma as the film build to its climax the you must be an unempathic & heartless person not to be touched by Bjorks powerful rendition of this character. A proper actor could have done as well but not by much. However, a proper actor however could not have done the songs, yep, you read right - this musical hater is about to praise the song & dance routines.

For the first two songs I was thinking 'Oh no, get on with it' while waiting painfully for them to end. But during the third something had changed, I began to realise these song & dance routines weren't a break in the plot sequence but were a significant part of it. They were Selmas trips into 'Wonderland', how she managed to cope with a very tough life. I might say that Bjorks songs were more in the line of being arias than musical numbers except this is no opera. The 'musical numbers' definitely added to the films impact.

Also, von Trier seems to have a penchant to throw shock 'gimmick's in his films, such as the hard core scene in 'The Idiots or the emasculation in 'Antichrist'. Thankfully, in this film he just lets the script, direction & Bjorks rendering of the lead character do all the work. The result of these three factors working together left me totally knocked out. After the last scene there was absolutely nothing I could do except sit through the credits in a state of gobsmacked-ness while Bjork sang me back to the real world.

Other actors also put in very creditable performances. Catherine Deneuve did well and Siobhan Fallon came through very strongly while highlighting Bjorks character.

So now I realise - my bigotry has had me missing what is possibly von Triers greatest film.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Why bother?

[4/10 · 13 August 2013]

'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' is a damn good story. The BBC dramatised it very well with great actors and, more importantly, using a mini-series format. Which led me to wonder what the makers of this version could have hoped to add. With a well acted miniseries version out there creating a feature film version is akin to creating a Ferrari based on a moped engine. i.e. it just cannot be.

So I have just watched it hoping to find out because (i) I wanted to make a 'fair' comment, (ii) there was a tiny chance it MAY have been worth seeing & (iii) I had nothing better to do.

Perhaps Gary Oldman could have created a really good Smiley but he doesn't have the time to develop the character anywhere near properly. Perhaps he may even have been able to do even better than Guinness (scoring 11/10) but the the actual result, with the BBC version out there, scores him very low. There is far too little of him to judge compared to what Alec Guinness & Simon Russell Beale have given to Smiley. He stood no chance.

That comment applies equally to the whole film. No matter how many great actors, money, etc the makers may throw at it they had no hope of creating as good a version, not without the extra time. And they failed miserably.

And that's exactly what I saw when I watched it. I found the question 'What could they hope to achieve' unanswered.

So, before this film even reached the box office anyone honest would have said "Don't bother with it. If you want to see LeCarre's story WELL told get the BBC version. We've only got two hours to tell the story in, not a hope of beating them. This remake is pointless".

If you prefer cod-roe to caviar, cola to champagne, Ford Fiestas to Ferraris & plastic cutlery to silver then this might be the version for you. Anyone else get the BBC version where there is room for character development, drama & suspense. A 9/10 version. Or even better - read the book.

King Rat (1965)

A good try. just wrong medium

[7/10 · 23 April 2011]

IMHO most of James Clavells novels are pretty humdrum affairs but 'King Rat' really hits the top notch. To me it is one of the 20th centuries GREAT pieces of literature in Clavells masterful exploration of how various members of a society manage to live on the edge of survival.

However, to attempt to portray this in a feature film is like watching a formation air display on a pocket TV screen, or enjoying a steak by liquidising & sucking it up through a straw. It has no hope of doing the subject matter justice.

I can see so much valuable material left out and so many shortcuts that it can only fail. However, I realise that a feature film is a medium that reaches vastly more people than any other and this was a very good attempt. Very well cast, well acted and well directed.

Perhaps a mini-series? 'King Rat' is well overdue for a remake of some sort.

The Promise (2011)

Kosminsky fulfils his Promise

[10/10 · 27 February 2011]

I have a thing about miniseries as much more can be put into 6-8hrs that can be packed into the 2hrs of a feature length story. IMO almost all of televisions greatest works are in mini-series such as 'Boys from the Black Stuff', Traffic' & 'Edge of Darkness'. Alan Bleasdale has always been the master of this format but, with 'The Promise', Peter Kosminsky joins him at the top. All 8hrs is used to maximum effect.

'The Promise' shows how Israel was born in violence & how the violence is maintained in the present day. Around this Kosminsky has drawn a gripping storyline of the granddaughter of a soldier in the British Protectorate searching out the mystery of her grandfathers story. Thus Erin, the granddaughter travels modern Israel while her grandfathers story shows late '40s Palestine & the birth of Israel.

Kosminsky has been accused of taking an anti-Jewish stance with this series but I cannot agree with this. The British & Israeli forces are everywhere and very prominent while the modern Palestinian terrorist is a small minority. This is how Kosminsky shows it and I believe that to have given more prominence to the Palestinian violence would have introduced a pro-Israeli bias.

I do not give 10/10 lightly but 'The Promise' has earnt it as absolute top quality viewing.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Don't prejudge - I did and found I was wrong

[8/10 · 1 September 2010]

I must start by saying that I am NOT a fan of Tarantino. I have seen a couple of his other films and thought, to be blunt, they were absolute crap. From them I gained the impression that his films were no more than violence, blood & gore thinly disguised by a weak plot and/or pretentious artiness. I had no plans to see 'Pulp Fiction' and would have avoided it.

I know there are many others who feel the same and if you are one of these then put aside your feelings and give 'Pulp Fiction' a go. I only watched it because someone who knew my thoughts and this film kept on at me to see it. I am very glad he did.

The violence is there but is far from excessive. What really is there is a great storyline with some good interwoven plot lines and many chuckles. Very well directed and acted. Enough to make for a very enjoyable 2-1/2 hours.

So don't let 'Reservoir Dogs', 'Kill Bill' etc put you off. 'Pulp Fiction' is a damn good movie well worth seeing.

Jake's Progress (1995)

Bleasdales lesser known masterpiece

[9/10 · 17 August 2010]

It's all too easy to create drama by unreal events, you see this every day on TV - car chases, explosions, shootouts and so on. Bleasdale doesn't need these gimmicks, his magic is to highlight the drama that exists in all our lives. We have all seen how nasty sibling rivalry can get, the temptations to stray from marriage, great weight being made of thoughtless words and the jokes that go wrong. This is the stuff that touches us all and it is the thread from which Bleasdale, the master plot weaver, creates his dramas.

Bleasdfales "Boys from 'The Black Stuff'" was a great series that has become a British TV icon. 'GBH' also made a great mark. But, for me, 'Jakes Progress' is his masterpiece. Maybe it is just because I can relate to the Diadoni family better than I can relate to Chrissie, Yosser etc from 'The Black Stuff', but I'm sure millions of other people can. What I do know is that this is great, riveting drama that will draw on all your emotions. Where is it all going to end up? Just like real life, we don't know.

44 Inch Chest (2009)

Not a gangster movie but a film about what happens to a man when everything is taken from him.

[8/10 · 13 May 2010]

If you are looking for a gangster film this ain't it. Perhaps this is why the poor reviews as a result of disappointed viewers expecting another 'Sexy Beast' or 'Reservoir Dogs'. This film is about marriage and what happens to a man on seeing everything he lives for fall apart.

The 'gangster' setting is a device that allows the issues and emotions to be addressed in their full harshness and the cast handle it extremely well. Colin Diamond (Winstone) displays how strength & purpose is gained from the marriage bond and how vulnerable it can leave you. This is very well contrasted by Merediths (McShane) refusal to be tied and how it leaves him invulnerable but also somehow inhuman. The other members of the gang also serve to reflect aspects of attachment to another person.

Ray Winstone gives the lead character violent/twisting/agonising emotional turmoil in the way that only he and DeNiro can do. If this was Winstones first film he could easily win awards, unfortunately for him the public has come to expect to see stuff like this from him. The other main actors also give excellent performances.

This film must be viewed in its own light, if you expect it to be a gangster film or a love story you will be disappointed. Take it as it is and it is well worth watching. It is certainly well written, acted and produced, and examines a subject familiar to most of us. However, it still only feels like a 'little' film and will not stay with me so I can only give it an 8.

Stories of Lost Souls (2005)

Don't bother

[3/10 · 2 July 2009]

"Supermarket" is a waste of time. I think it's supposed to be a comedy but the hopeful/has-been meeting a real star just falls flat with little else left. The slapstick routine with an incompetent trolley girl would have been better left out altogether. Good editing would have left this at less than two minutes and it still would have been dead. (0 points)

"New years eve" is, I suppose, a good example of a shaggy dog story. Pointless and doesn't go anywhere. (0 points)

"Bangers" works as an illustration of mental illness but is still fairly weak. This is where I started to award points. (5 points)

"A whole new day" falls flat almost from the start as it's based on such a ridiculous premise (she took everything, even the paint off the walls?) Though there is a slight element of entertainment value. (4 points)

"Euston Rd" has some merit. I could almost believe that this was done as a five minute short and the rest was added as padding to attempt to make a feature length. (7 points)

"Standing room only" is just plain silliness at work. Though there are plenty of bits to elicit a chuckle. (5 points)

"The same" is just plain sick. Freaks are only allowed to look at other freaks, what sick mind allowed this in here? I gave a massive point deduction for this one.

"Sniper 470" was not on my disc. I found it by googling and watched it online. Why was it removed as this was definitely the strongest item.

If you are planning to see "Stories of Lost Souls" make sure you get a copy that contains "Sniper 470".

The Naked Civil Servant (1975 TV Movie)

A very inspiring & enjoyable film

[9/10 · 5 October 2008]

This film was made from the autobiography of a man who spent more than fifty years battling for his individuality and right to be treated as any other human being. Though the story to be about an effeminate homosexual it provides inspiration for anyone willing to stand outside the crowd and not be beaten into conforming to the norm.

Quentin Crisp is a homosexual who stands up in a deeply homophobic society and shouts 'There is nothing wrong with me and you'll have to learn to accept the fact that we exist'. The film vividly portrays the shock & disgust felt by the vast majority to homosexuality during this period. One telling scene shows how fellow homosexuals, rather than support him, reject him in fear of being outed themselves.

The film shows how he built psychological barriers between himself and the world in order to protect himself and how these barriers enforced his isolation. Even the credits reinforce his isolated existence by listing only the central characters personal name. Even his closest friends are referred to merely as the 'Art Student' & the 'Ballet Teacher'. This film shows a man who lived out such an isolated existence that, though of a very generous caring nature, he was unable to feel love himself. How on the one occasion that his dream partner appeared and offered love, Crisp was unable to recognise & accept it.

There is sadness in the fact that, at that time of release, society had accepted and adopted his means of display while still rejecting his core message. We know, with hindsight, that society has come, largely, to accept homosexuals as normal people but the film shows that during the late 70s queer-bashing still went on while people dressed in a style previously regarded as effeminate.

Joy is to be taken from this film in that Crisps crusade was certainly not in vain, his stance paid off eventually. This film played a large part in British society accepting gays as okay people. For this reason I believe this film as, possibly, one of the 100 most significant films of the 20th century in the way it made us look at an oppressed minority in a new light.

The final scene summarises Crisps life well. This is where the well known 'Stately Homos of England' speech is given followed by his walking off up with head held high but isolated from everyone else in the park. Thus showing how strong his lifelong stance has made him while showing the terrible personal cost of this strength.

The above may make the film sound harsh & gritty but it is actually shot in a very colourful & entertaining manner. John Hurt gives an excellent performance which I am certain would have had him up for an Oscar had the film been made in Hollywood. Crisp later became recognised as a great wit & raconteur and this is reflected in his lines in this film. There are so many strong lines and witticisms that to put them on this articles 'Quotes' page would mean that a significant part of the script would end up there.

Though 'The Naked Civil Servant' has done its job in opening up our minds & attitudes it shouldn't be written off as it so entertaining while reminding us what life is like for our social outcasts. You can watch it and learn, or you can watch it and just enjoy it. It works extremely well both ways.

Sex and Lucía (2001)

Beautiful & excellent

[9/10 · 6 August 2008]

I see the usual range of comments that a good art film gets - ranging from people more used to Hollywood dross who don't get it, to those looking too hard & seeing too much.

'Too much sex' - sex is the driving force behind the character interactions so how can you leave it out. I suppose if we learn to make war & gangster films without any violence in? The only real titillating scene has no more than a pair of buttocks showing and is done to draw the watcher in to a horrible event. This scene left me with the same sense of shock as the two characters involved would be feeling and did it to a level that would not have been achieved otherwise.

'Meta-stories' - I just saw a writer weaving his own experiences & imagination into his story & using it to deal with an experience that was too horrible to speak of to anyone, including his partner.

This is a film that carries an air of surreal fantasy which is as blunt and intimate as life while being as subtle as the world we live in. It is truly beautiful.

I only drop a point because the acting seemed flat but maybe this is only because my lack of Spanish forced me to follow the dialogue from the subtitles. The only actor that didn't seem slightly flat was Elena Anaya, something which tends to reinforce this possibility as her part relied more on action rather than dialogue.

Breakfast on Pluto (2005)

Strong words, softly spoken

[9/10 · 23 May 2008]

A classic phrase of the Irish, and one that Jordan/McCabe are very good at putting into film. Not least with 'Breakfast on Pluto'.

I have just watched it for the second time and got the chance to really appreciate how Jordan & McCabe In this film I saw the illustration of our hypocrisy, bigotry, hatred of those who are different & violence of society & just how weird we can all be. Very strong words.

However, McCabe & Jordan manage to wrap this up in a sweet, lilac tinted package that is a joy to watch. Often surreal, always colourful, plenty of smiles and chuckles. Murphy gives a excellent & heartwarming portrayal of a tortured, but still beautiful, person in an excellent performance. Softly spoken indeed.

A brilliant film that, IMHO, deserves far more attention than it gets.

The Golden Compass (2007)

Something was missed somewhere.

[8/10 · 18 April 2008]

This film had everything going for it but somehow fell flat. The producers took one the greatest (IMHO) stories, a lot of great acting, award-winning effect and good cinematography. They put all these great ingredients into a pot and, somehow, turned out something none-too-special. I felt that the producers/director have tried to cram it all into too short a time and lost the feel. For this I am inclined to award the result just 6 points.

For those who haven't read any of Philip Pullmans 'His Dark Materials' trilogy I cannot begin to tell what was missed. I will say that it is a truly epic tale, full of extremely well developed characters and beautifully told. He, at the same time as telling the story, slips in teaching some very advanced philosophy so well that my 11 year old nephew was able to understand that good and evil are not absolutes but must be judged from a social perspective and gain a (basic) understanding of quantum physics upon reading it. I can see attempts at this in the film but done so hastily that it fails. The vast majority of modern films don't even try to put this, the solid content of a good story, in so I am giving an extra point for the attempt.

The great acting deserves another point making 8 in all. That seems about right for what felt like almost a great film. Now, I recommend that reading the books to see what you missed, you won't regret it. Meanwhile, if only the producers would consider another go at it.

Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989)

Should be great but falls flat

[8/10 · 9 March 2008]

This should have been a great film, but somehow becomes merely 'very good' to me. The performances are very good, Selbys story is beyond excellent and is faultlessly executed, Everything about this film is spot-on but, somehow, it failed to draw me in to the point where I could get any empathy with the characters. These were just people going about their business in a shitty world, people who remained strangers to me.

Maybe a touch of brightness or humour somewhere would have provided the contrast to make the blackness stand out, Without that it was dull. Far from boring, just dull.

Having got that off my chest I must say that it is still a very good film. The stories are intense, worth 11/10. The characters are well acted, score 9/10, the scenery is well shot and very atmospheric, again worth 9/10. However, I feel I can only rate it at 8/10.