ewa-12 Reviews

Henry VIII (2003 TV Movie)

Quite good actually

[6/10 · 3 June 2004]

Surprisingly, it is good. I understand why some may be baffled as to the choice of the actor in the lead but Ray Winstone is not bad at all. And mind you - I am not a big fan of his. Especially as older Henry he gets better and better. His accent is a bit of an issue sometimes - cockney does not wash with Tudor times but then again, he definitely looks the part and plays Henry well. Pity that the script is written in a very modern, sometimes too casual, way. When fragments of Anne Boleyn and King's letters are read out, the original language of the time works really well. The portrayal of Henry as a tyrannical, tough and selfish man is fairly accurate. Let's not forget that Henry was a cruel and conceited King (despite being an intellectual, which believe me is not a redeeming feature) and left the country ruined. He did reform Church but only to a certain extent, which suited him. Despite this reform he was persecuting protestants. His last wife, Catherine Parr (who was a closet Protestant), was in trouble for being too outspoken about religion and King had her investigated behind her back. She escaped serious danger only by the King casually changing his mind. He created a whole new class of poor people and beggars by dissolving monasteries (only because of the money he wanted off them). Casting thousands of nuns and monks out in the streets, leaving poor people without medical care that was provided by monasteries was a cruel and stupid move. Henry was not a good ruler and this film shows him in the more realistic light. David Suchet gives a fantastic performance as Cardinal Wolsley. So does Sean Bean as a Catholic Northern rebel leading the Pilgrimage of Grace against the King.

I quite liked the newcomer Emily Blunt as Katherine Howard. She really conveys that teenage recklessness, that cost her life in the end. Good film and worth seeing.

Don King: Only in America (1997 TV Movie)

Very very good

[10/10 · 1 May 2004]

Made for telly but extremely watchable. Ving Rhames shines. His performance is fantastic, he even looks like real Don King. He makes the character utterly compelling even though you know he is a crook and cheat. All his initial deals were held on literally a piece of string and yet he pulled them all off. Nice pace, good script, well produced. Watch out for he boxing ring scenes when Don talks to the camera. Great! 10/10

High Fidelity (2000)

High simplicity of interpretation

[18 April 2004]

John Cusack turned a very British 'boys book' into a very American 'chick flick'. All this to make himself fit into the story, The real character from Nick Hornby's book is ugly, balding and sad thirty something. Thirty something is the only thing that John Cusack's character and the Nick Hornby's character have in common. The result is, well, surprising to say the least. It's a bad film.

Also, does anyone else think that Jack Black is a slightly obnoxious loudmouth and a bad actor? I had to leave the room when he was appearing on the screen. Maybe he was the reason why I utterly disliked this film.

1/10

Stella Street (2004)

Absolutely brilliant

[10/10 · 3 April 2004]

It's smart and very, very funny. Phil Cornwell is fantastic as Michael Caine and Jack Nicholson whilst John Sessions does a hysterically funny Joe Pesci. It is done so well that you do wonder whether it is the stars or not. The script carries it all - the characters are written like you may imagine the stars to be.

See Jack Nicholson living in a South London suburb, asking the corner shop owner (Mick Jagger), "Mick, where are the goddamn Shreddies?"

A real treat for movies fans.

Mississippi Burning (1988)

A truly gripping movie

[10/10 · 4 December 2003]

Whether it is a true story or not, the film holds you from the first to the last minute. It makes you genuinely angry, sad and disillusioned. There is a lot of controversial history behind the issues taken up in this movie and you can see from the comments that the people are divided over it. At the end of the day everyone - it's just a movie and a bloody good one.

Elizabeth (1998)

Fantastic thriller

[10/10 · 27 September 2003]

"Elizabeth" is a great film. OK, it does not stick to the history and how it really happened but that's not an issue here. It does give a astonishing portrait of a young woman being confronted with responsibility of running an empire.

The film hasn't got one boring or over-blown moment. There are so many classic lines in this film delivered with such a power that it touches you as if you were involved yourself. The fantastic cinematography is complementing amazing costumes and a

beautiful English landscape and original locations. I have it on video and see it every couple of months to give myself that great experience of being in the Golden Age England once again.

To Die For (1995)

Excellent!

[10/10 · 21 September 2003]

This film is fantastic and Nicole Kidman was made to play Suzanne Stone.

It's an acute satire on American obsession with television and unreal picture of life that comes with it. It's extremely funny, moving and shocking at the same time. Also the way it was filmed and put together is quite original and suits the movie's main theme perfectly! Must see!

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Lots of fun

[20 September 2003]

This film is exciting and really entertaining with an unusual ending! Obviously don't expect everything to be perfect. As in any Arnie's film it has a lot of insonsistent or silly bits in it but it great to watch.

I think still T2 is the best one (T1 is a bit too eighties for me) Go and see it! It's a good film and keeps you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the end !