(03-09-2017 14:19 )M-L-L Wrote: [ -> ]Escape to Victory 1981 : gritty realist documentary-style depiction of true events during WWII when an Allied POW soccer team thrashed the Nazis in a propaganda match in Paris which changed the whole course of the war and led straight to D-Day....
no sorry I can't do this with a straight face : it's complete tosh.
How did this ever get made ?
Revealing probably for how Britain - pre Falklands War jingoism - was still desperately clinging to the wreckage of an image of former "greatness" in a time of economic doldrums and World Cup failure. At least they could stick it to Germany in the films !
Surely ripe for a Brexit-era remake now that the UK's picked up its ball sulkily from Europe and declared itself not to be playing anymore ?
They could remake it with CGI representations of the 1966 England team ?
Escape from Brussels perhaps ? With Nigel Farage in the Sly Stallone role.
Journey To Rome(2015) An unassuming museum guard living in Prague steals a painting, and for no particular reason takes it on a train journey to Rome, meeting some oddball characters along the way. A haphazardly plotted but engaging film which goes off at unpredictable, but surreal angles, occasionally baffling, but does supply some interest, enjoyment and laughs along the way. Starring Vaclav Hrzina,Berenika Kohoutova and Nina Diviskova. 6.5/10
Sky Cinema continue their Star Wars movie channel with all episodes (including Rogue One, which I still haven't seen) now available and in remastered format. There are extra scenes now in ROTJ which many may not have seen before. The rebels and the Empire are set for a final standoff with the main part of the story split into three acts: Luke confronts Darth Vader and the Emperor for the final time; Han, Leia and Chewbacca lead a dangerous ground mission on Endor; and Lando pilots the Millennium Falcon to lead the space attack against the new Death Star. The lightsaber duel here between Luke and Vader is still the best one in the entire saga for me and there's an emotional finale that always demands repeat viewing. Empire Strikes Back is still my favourite part of the saga, but Jedi runs it a close second. Mark Hammill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones (voice), Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker are all timeless in the original space adventure that I'll always make time to watch. 4.5 / 5
The Broadcast(2015) USA 1938 and this film is the story of an agoraphobic ex actress and her neighbours against the backdrop of Orson Welles' infamous War Of The Worlds radio broadcast. This has some things going for it, though not that many, principally the interesting camerawork, the black and white photography and a fine lead performance from Anja Akstin. However, the film although billed as a thriller, fails to build up much tension and drags even though it only runs for 1 hour 20 minutes. Also starring Morgan Middlebrook,Larry Bukovey and Jayden Leto. 5/10
Mathew Broadrick stars a high school computer genuis who hacks into a military computer and nearly brings about the total destruction of civilization in the process.Developed in response to the nuclear threat during the cold war era,the line "The only winning move is not to play." is especially relevant in the light of recent events.
The Madness Of King George(1994) Nigel Hawthorne is brilliant as King George III in a film that covers his 'madness' in the 1780s (almost certainly a hereditary blood disorder) and Dr Willis' (an excellent Ian Holm) disciplined treatment of his illness. Hawthorne covers a gamut of emotions through lucid, quiet, sad to madcap and energetic. Strong performances too from Rupert Everett as the Prince Of Wales and Helen Mirren(despite an iffy German accent) as Queen Charlotte. As well as the King's illness, Alan Bennett's intelligent, thoughtful and funny script covers the intrigue in Parliament at the time. Also starring Rupert Graves,Amanda Donahoe,Julian Rhind-Tutt(Duke Of York),Anthony Calf, Adrian Scarborough,John Wood, Julian Wadham(Pitt the Prime Minister ) and Jim Carter. 9/10