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richard_peers
Reviews
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
All is now explained!
This is a roller-coaster, a tour de force of a film, with bags of action sequences and special effects throughout. Inevitably, as the third film in the sequence (but the sixth to be filmed and released), the theme is somewhat dark, covering as it must the climax of the downward spiral of the democratic Galactic Republic into the dictatorship of the Galactic Empire. Both the pace and the darkness are unremitting, and there is much less humour than in the other films, especially episodes 4 to 6, which often used the two droids as comic relief at times of high tension, and were thus able to boast a U certificate. This is still a family film, but with a 12A certificate in the UK (PG-13 in the US), is not really suitable for younger children, or for children on their own. There are lots of action sequences, but the plot has an inevitable emphasis on politics and power-broking, and the dialogue mostly concerns itself with Anakin Skywalker's internal conflict and eventual acceptance of the Dark Side of the Force. The casting of the two main roles (Skywalker and Kenobi), which didn't seem to gel totally in the previous film, comes into its own here: Christensen somehow captures the exact look of his screen son, Mark Hamill, from over 25 years before, while if George Lucas had popped back in a time machine and borrowed the young Alec Guinness for the role, he could hardly have been more convincing as the youthful and vigorous Kenobi we see here. The special effects really are just that: special, and even if some anorak spends ages with the DVD on slo-mo locating defects in the early space-battle sequences, this should not detract from the film for the ordinary viewer. All the creatures and droids are lifelike and believable, and I was able to keep immersed in the director's creation throughout. Of course, we are dealing with a prequel here, and practically everyone who sees this film will have seen the Original Star Wars (Episode 4: A New Hope) before this. The film is therefore a bit like watching a massive Rubik's Cube solving itself. At first, we are just caught up in the whirl of colour and action, not seeing where the pattern is taking us, but as we move to the climax, each piece slots into place like a jigsaw, until finally we see the entire form, complete and ready to plunge us into the adventures of the Rebel Alliance's battle with the Emperor's Death Star.
First Knight (1995)
Better than I expected
Well, after looking at the vote score and reviews for this film, I wasn't expecting much, but watched it anyway since my wife is both a Connery and a Gere fan. I must say I was pleasantly surprised: both by the plot, which was somewhat different from most Arthurian legend films, and by the acting. Anyone who criticises Connery's abilities should be forced to watch the death scene at the end: so often in films, the hero delivers his dying words, and then flops sideways in an overdone dramatic flourish. There was none of that here; instead, Connery has Arthur just drift away, staring into the beyond, and somehow, goodness knows how he does it, the life just vanishes from his eyes! An amazing piece of acting, and worth seeing the film for, if nothing else is.
Beyond this, however, there is plenty for the viewer to enjoy. Of course, it's not Shakespeare, and isn't trying to carry a strong message. As pure escapist entertainment, I found it passes muster, and if this was its First Knight, then the run should be a long one. 7/10
Goodfellas (1990)
So what's all the fuss about then?
I bought this film on DVD on the strength of two things - one, de Niro's excellent track record, and two, the very high rating on IMDB (in the Top 50). Having watched it, I have to ask what all the fuss is about? This is a very ordinary film which explores at extreme length the intimate details of the lives of the most childish individuals ever committed to celluloid. Whether or not people like these really exist, I found it completely uninteresting. I have no idea why so many people are fascinated by the mafia - maybe it's envy of the power - but they should not hold a fascination for civilised human beings. People who deal out death as a punishment for the slightest reverse in their lives deserve to be ignored or reprimanded, not lauded and celebrated as in this film. For every Henry Hill, there are a thousand or more kept in poverty because of the crime which supports his odious lifestyle. It would be nice to think there was some kind of a moral ending, but even then, we see Henry selling out his colleagues just to keep himself somewhere nearer the feeding trough.
How anyone can rate this film so highly is beyond me; how so many of you IMDB browsers can and do, just beggars belief!
Slipstream (1989)
Ideal for insomniacs
I saw this film when it first came out in the cinema. We were all looking forward to seeing Mark Hamill relaunch his career, but we came out wishing we hadn't bothered. Many people walked out after about half an hour - I wish I had too. The basic premise seems okay, but the plot was ridiculously involved and tortuous, and runs out half way through. Its completely unmemorable, and not a film you want to have paid money to see. If you're really bored and it's on TV, then it'll help you kill a couple of hours (or help you to nod off!). 2/10