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Chickenhawk2002
Reviews
The Prestige (2006)
Go see it and judge for yourselves
This film seems to have polarised IMDb posters like no other for a while.
I don't know if it is a trick (sic) of time but the posts at the top of this list seem to love it and the posts at the bottom hate it. Is this due to having had time to think about it before commenting? In my case no. I came out of the theatre thinking what a good film, but by the morning, what a great film.
The mere fact that it plays on the mind, and requires a lot of thought to see some of the holes (yes there are some but not as clearly dismissed as in some other films)gives an indication of the impact it had on me.
I had to laugh at the comments over the accents and "mumbling". It's called English. It is not "American English". I don't criticise American actors for talking in American accents, so please don't do the same to my native tongue.
My only advice here is go and see it for yourself if you have not already. Oh and look up a certain Nikola Tesla on Wikipedia if this name is not familiar to you.
And finally, don't forget, it's a film. And fiction. It's not real, or historic. Enjoy it. I did.
Robin Hood (2006)
Robin Hood: (Men in ) Pants
As an English archer, I was so looking forward to this, a BBC production, so it ought to be quality, and a possible rival to the excellent Robin of Sherwood.
Um no.
(Mild spoiler)
The acting was appalling, the budget clearly non-existent,(as evidenced by the population of the city of Nottingham being 16 and a dog), the pace was turgid, and after an hour Robin had managed to build his band of hardened freedom fighters to I think 4. Luckily the garrison of Nottingham was only 5 so the odds were about even.
The production crew hadn't even bothered to teach the cast how to shoot a bow. Even Kevin Costner had a better style and looked as if he'd practised a bit. For a big budget Braveheart type affair that might not matter, but this is Robin Hood, Englands greatest archer! And talking of Kevin Costner, just how much of Prince of Thieves do the BBC intend to steal in one episode? There are copyright laws! Sadly I hope the sheriff catches him quickly and strings him up, then perhaps they can bring Dr Who back into that time slot a bit earlier. But then Billie Piper has left.....
Ghostboat (2006)
Ghostbored
Ghostboat was a nice idea, partly saved only by the always watchable icon that is David Jason.
However, this was a tired, plodding effort that sadly went nowhere, and sadly sank into the murky depths of drama lite.
The CGI was mostly deplorable,I assume as most of the budget was spent on the actual set which was on the whole quite good.
However, what spoilt this for me, and I would guess anyone with any connection with submarines (I have no connection but am an avid Sub sim player) or anyone who has watched Das Boot, was the total lack of realism.
Warning- here there be spoilers!
Torpedos were launched at long range targets on a whim. No time to bother with settings, range, calculations, deflection etc. Just arcade style point and shoot. Reloading took a few seconds too When the sub was attacked by the slowest flying ME109's I have ever seen, the sub managed to dive in seconds.
And worst of all was the appalling cartoon "Russkies" who just pointed excitedly at a blip on their radar as the sub "snuck" into a heavily fortified harbour, with it's periscope up the whole time, and did nothing.
All in all a pointless waste of two evenings. This could have been a taut one hour ghost story. But it wasn't.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
What Attack?
After The Farcical Menace, I approached this film with some trepidation, but it is Star Wars for god' sake!
Oh my God. Boring, slow, laughable dialogue, more cheese than the entire output of Dairylea, and some awesome but frenetic battle scenes. Luckily these were at the end so you left with that bit foremost in your mind.
If I just agree with all of the bad reviews you will find here from my esteemed fellow reviewers, I'll save my fingers.
Two questions though.
1. With all the incredible technology on show, how come no-one has invented double glazing yet. The noise of traffic going past the windows on Coruscant, and the constant rain on that water planet would drive me mad!
2. The gladiatoreseque 'executions'. If Amidala, Annakin and Obi wan were condemmed to death, how come 20000+ bloodthirsty flying creatures just sat and watched them first kill their would be executioners and then escape. 'Someone shoot them. They're getting away'.
6/10 - That's just because that logo and the music still sent a shiver down my spine, it's Star Wars!