Devil Girl From Mars(1954)
Nyah played by the very gorgeous Patricia Laffan visits Earth looking for men to repopulate her planet.Mostly remembered for the black vinyl outfit Nyah wears throughout.David McDonald directed this dumb but harmless,low budget sci fi film.
5/10
The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013) Although not as good as the original this is a likeable, amusing movie directed by & with Ben Stiller in the title role. One of its assets is a radically different storyline with not that many dream sequences. The characters are generally sympathetic and/or interesting. Also starring Kristen Wiig,Kathryn Hahn,Adam Scott,Adrian Martinez,Shirley MacLaine,Olafur Darri Olafsson & a good cameo from Sean Penn. There is also an enjoyable mellow soundtrack. 7/10
The Killings At Outpost Zeta(1980)
An often overlooked sci fi gem.A team investigates the mysterious and sudden deaths of the two previous expodotioners in a strategically important part of a seemingly barren world.
7/10
Victoria(2015)
Sebastian Schipper's amazing film doesn't get off to a promising start,seemingly just a clichéd,modern romance with a few very annoying characters but your patience will pay off as the last hour and half morphs into an in unmissable crime,heist thriller.Shot in one,complete and unbroken take from start to finish and with improvised dialogue from the actors this really feels like a once in a lifetime film.Laia Costa's central performance as Victoria is pure brilliance.If only Hollywood could be this daring.
8/10
Time Without Pity(1957)
A crime drama from Joseph Losey about an alcoholic who has 24 hours to save his son from being hanged for a murder he didn't commit.Featuring a top notch cast including Michael Redgrave,Ann Todd,Leo McKern,Alec McCowen and Peter Cushing.
8/10
Mandela The Long Walk To Freedom (2013) A pretty strong attempt to cover much of Mandela's life in 2 and a half hours, including briefly his childhood, his days as a lawyer which led to his radicalisation, his prison days and then afterwards by which time there was a distance both personal and political developing with his wife, Winnie. It is a good introduction to his life and I guess a way into reading about his life for some viewers. An impressively complex performance from Idris Elda, and Naomie Harris is equally strong as Winnie. Also starring Jamie Bartlett,Terry Pheto,Tshallo Sputla Chokwe & Gys De Villiers 7.5/10
The Sword Of Monte Cristo(1951)
Swashbuckling adventure set in 19th century France.The country's conniving and corrupt chief minister will stop at nothing to gain possession of the fabled sword. Featuring brilliantly choreographed action sequences and sword fights and good performances from George Montgomery and Rita Corday.
7/10
The Flesh and the Fields[aka Mania](1960)
George Rose and Donald Pleasence make superb low life scum as Burke & Hare in this solid telling of the classic tale.Peter Cushing is excellent as an ice cold and arrogant Dr.Knox.June Maverick is very good as his unsuspecting daughter.Another overlooked effort directed by John Gilling.
7.5/10