Brokeback Mountain

I was apprehensive about this film, because of all the hype and stigma of the "gay cowboy with lovely scenery tearjerker" flick. Films that I'm told I simply have to watch tend to get my heckles up...I don't have to, do I? Of course, everything I've read is true - it's spectacularly shot with some terrific performances, notably Heath Ledger as the stoic Ennis Del Mar. Despite what some Fire & Brimstone critics (probably without actually seeing it) have foamed, this is not a film with a "gay agenda", rather it is a subtly powerful and deeply moving love story.

Cars

What I enjoy about Pixar animations is the creativity, or well observed humour. Sadly, I found Cars lacking in these, possibly the most humorous aspect being one-dimensional characters based on what kind of vehicle they are. What I also found lacking was something to get my teeth into - mediocre at best. In its' favour, the landscapes and character design are very impressive indeed, and small children will probably love it.

Battlefield Earth

Knowing what I do about L. Ron Hubbard, I was in no way expecting a good film. When writing about movie adaptations of books, I think it's important to disassociate one from the other. After all, the source material itself might be unintentionally funny and have plot-holes you could drive a bus through. One must take the work on its merits.

The star and saving grace of this film is John Travolta, clearly having the time of his life. The problems, however, range from unforgiveable overacting, a mind-numbing script, an all-too predictable plot which somehow manages to feel rushed, baffling inconsistencies (like why Travolta is the only Psychlo without Klingon makeup) and tortuous consistencies, like every scene being filmed with the camera at a sharp angle, and every scene cut using the George Lucas method of sliding frames. Dear God, what was I thinking?

Akira

What an exhausting film. From the ultra-violent opening to the apocalyptic ending, it doesn't let up for one second. The ideas behind the science fiction aspect, summed up in a couple of dialogues, are secondary to character development and scene setting, but this means it delivers more of an emotional punch than the more philosophically minded Sci-Fi out there. A skilfully executed world, a fantastic and tightly paced story, with an appropriate soundtrack which stands out but never dominates, leaves me breathless and anything but bored...even after several viewings over the years.

Brazil

The third time I've seen this, and maybe it's the most I've got out of it. Many elements seem to jar, from dystopian horror to Monty Python shorts and pure Gilliam strangeness. Cameos from the pantheon of BBC comedians just adds confusion to the mix, especially when Rabies from Maid Marian and her Merry Men is sharing a film with Robert DeNiro, but somehow, it works. Don't ask me how. Visually, it's stunning, the scary bits are scary, the funny bits are funny...however, the inconsistent nature of the film, with all its disparate parts not always working in harmony, is the reason I've given it a mere three and a half pigs...nearly brilliant, not quite...