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(01-07-2016 13:12 )sonofapaddy Wrote:  Batman 66

That's a classic

The fugitive (1993)

One of my all time favourite films with outstanding performances from Harrison Ford & Tommy Lee Jones.

10/10

Far From The Madding Crowd(1967)

Director John Schlesinger's regular muse Julie Christie plays Bathsheba,wooed by rival suitors Peter Finch,Alan Bates and malevolent stand out Terence Stamp.Schlesinger is fussily faithful to Hardy,the downside is a somewhat stolid pace that emphasises melodrama over emotional tragedy.However,the length leaves plenty of room for Nicholas Roeg's beautiful cinematography.

7.5/10

Speed 2 - 7/10.

American Gangster(2007)Directed by Ridley Scott with Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas who is smuggling hard drugs into the USA from Vietnam using returning soldiers. Up against him is a straight cop played by Russell Crowe. A film with strong lead performances but it's not quite in the league of classics like the Godfather series or Goodfellas. Also starring Idris Elba,Ruby Dee and Chiwetel Ejiofor 7.5/10

The Octagon(1980)

As usual,Chuck Norris plays a martial arts champion of some kind who turns his back on violence and refuses to play the hero game,but if we've learnt anything from Chuck's adventures at all,it's that he really has no choice but to get involved and dish out copious amounts of pain to dozens of bad guys.Clumsy dialogue and cardboard characters might serve to slow him down a little bit but,when there's people to be punched and cars to be chased,Chuck has a duty to himself,as well as his fans,to kill,kill,kill and kill some more.The plot is that mercenaries are being taught outlawed ninja techniques at a secret training facility called the Octagon.Funded by international extremists and run by a twisted killer named Seikura.It's a terrorist production line where recruits are warned that their families will be killed if they ever cross their master.With an impressive cast including Lee Van Cleef this is thick as a post but quite stylish.It throws us scraps of well put together action sequences throughout and keeps us at bay until a devasting final assault that is well worth the wait.

6.5/10

Macbeth(1947)

An unconventional and only partly successful(upon its originsal release)version of Shakespeare's famous play.Made in only 21 days and starring one of the true,geniuses of cinema.Orson Welles,I personally find his different approach makes the story more accessible than many of the adaptations that followed.Beautifully shot and framed,an underappreciated film.

8/10

The Party's Over(1965)

A young American woman comes to England and becomes completely immersed in the wild,swinging London scene.Considered a very controversial film when it was released.Directed by Guy Hamilton and starring Oliver Reed who puts in a good showing.

7/10

About Elly(2009) Directed by Asghar Farhadi, a well acted Iranian mystery drama in which a group of friends go away for the weekend, but when Elly(Taraneh Alidoosti) disappears it opens divisions and a moral dilemma in the group. Also starring Golshifteh Farahani. 6.5/10

Moby Dick(1956)

John Houston's epic version of elton's novel captured the hearts of cinema goers upon its release and has become a classic.Featuring Houston's trademark framing and vision and some impressive(for the time)practical effects.Gregory Peck is excellent as Ahab.An interesting piece of trivia about the film is that Steven Spielberg wanted to introduce the character of Quint in Jaws by showing him in a cinema, watching Moby Dick and laughing hysterically at it because he thought it was stupid.Gregory Peck who at that time,owned the rights to Moby Dick wouldn't allow Spielberg to use it,not because he was opposed to its usage but because he felt that Moby Dick "Wasn't his proudest moment" on film.

7/10