Moviegoround Reviews

On Hostile Ground (2000 TV Movie)

I've read the other reviews and I think some people have been watching a different movie

[3 October 2011]

This was a competent disaster movie, with a nail biting last 15 minutes or so.

The special effects were very good, and this type of thing could easily happen in any town or city in the world in the right conditions

I have read the other reviews and can only assume that the writers must have been watching another movie.

This was a nice, and very well made and plausible disaster movie. With a real nail biting ending.

This was certainly not a funny movie.

I rate this film 8 out of 10 easy.

Swing Time (1936)

Without the Songwriters, there would be no musicals.

[6 September 2011]

Where would we be without them ? No I'm not talking about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I'm not even talking about the Hollywood musical.

What I'm talking about are the Great American Songwriters, Composers, and Lyricists in the 30's and 40's who created the Hollywood musical and who in turn gave jobs to musicians, dancers, orchestra leaders, and singers.

Yet how little these creative men and woman are known, or even mentioned today, ?, rarely if at all is the answer to that question.

We can thank Composer Jerome Kern for writing not only the music in Swing Time, but also for writing countless melodies that we know today, and with various lyricists.

On Swing Time, Mr Kern's lyricist was Dorothy Fields. Miss Fields wrote, "pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again, Mr Kern wrote the bouncy playful melody.

I have been an enthusiast of American's great songwriters of the 20's 30's and 40's all my life, their creative genius has given me an interest and much joy.

So when people go to see a musical written in the past, they should remember that the musical they have just enjoyed the songs of, had to be composed first, then words had to be written.

Swing Time had music Jerome Kern and lyrics by Dorothy Fields.

And the other writers for Astaire and Rodgers musicals were Cole Porter music and lyrics. Irving Berlin music and lyrics. And George Gershwin music, with brother Ira writing the lyrics.

So, in this review I am paying not only a tribute to Mr Astaire and Miss Rogers, I am also paying a tribute to Mr Jerome Kern who penned thousand of songs with different lyric writers during his life, including Swing Time.

And I'm paying an equally tribute to Miss Dorothy Fields who also wrote her streetwise lyrics with various composers through her lifetime, including Swing Time.

It all boils down to this.

The audiences of the 30's and 40's were more mature and sophisticated than today's audiences because they had to be having just come through the second World War.

Todays audience is largely immature and childish because they do not have the same struggles, and today's so-called music reflects this.

The Man from Earth (2007)

This film is not Sci-Fi. It is not rubbish. It is very clever.

[1 August 2011]

If you do not want to know about this film, please do not read any further, my review cannot be made without writing about the content of this film.

So, here goes.

This was a highly intellectual and literate film, it comes across like a documentary, like the viewer is a fly on the wall, when one of the actors begins tell his friends, who are all professional people, he has lived for thousands maybe millions of years, having never grown old, somehow he has bypassed the aging process, and this is also a matter for conversation between him and his friends.

His friends reactions to his stories about the past at first flow between astonishment, shock, to anger at supposedly being duped, but slowly they begin to really take in and believe what he is telling them.

From the outset they make statements, ask questions, are astounded, are astonished, are shocked, are angered, but slowly and surely they do begin to believe him.

The ending is a twist you might or might not see coming, and it happens quick, so you don't get time to really think about it, but when the twist comes, you also might believe him, only to realise that this was a film, and not reality. The documentary, fly on the wall side of this film, may well take you in, you may well get sucked in to believing what you are watching and listening to is real This film is billed as science fiction, it is not science fiction, it is different to anything you have ever seen before.

Based on the script, this film is full of facts about the past on this planet, from the Apes to today, and the film is based on one man's story that he has seen the lot and experienced much.

I would urge anybody who has a "thinking" brain to make sure they see this film, because the very way that this film is made, and it's subject, throws up many questions for the "thinking" person. This film is not rubbish. It is very clever, because it will make you think about lots of things, just like it did me, hence this review, which I had to write.

I will tell you now, that when this film finished with the twist ending, I was gripped to my seat because my subconscious had taken the film as a reality, it was my wife who quickly brought me back to the reality that this was only a film. But it is a very clever film.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

All married couples need a Mrs Doubtfire.

[10/10 · 6 July 2011]

Mrs Doubtfire is not so much a comedy. It is relate for married couple's on the verge of divorce.

Mrs Doubtfire could be anybody connected to a married couple who are in their own corners sticking up for their own rights and seeking divorce.

It is only when this fictional character with no seemingly blood relation to either couple, gets verbally involved and is listened to by one person in this couple that thinking begins to change.

Although there are many light moments in this film, I saw no comedy, no offence to either actors.

I observe that the very last people who should be talking during a divorce is the couple themselves, because each will always seek their own corner, and therefore get nowhere.

Mrs Doubtfire is primarily a councillor for the wife, a friend, a house keeper, who observes what the wife does not want to see.

There is a lesson here methinks.

Man with a Million (1954)

This movie sums us all up.

[10/10 · 26 June 2011]

I do so love films that take a poke at British subservience, arrogance, and pomposity. None so better that this film.

The late Scottish poet Robert Burns, coined a phrase that went something like this.

"oh the power be us, to see ourselves as others see us". Naturally this is my own version of what Robbie Burns said.

The Million pound note observed what still is British pomposity, British arrogance, and British subservience, to a tee.

Gregory Peck is perfect in the role of the American one and all begin bowing and scraping to, just because he has a bank note for one millions pounds in his pocket.

The status of having money, owning "one's own home", the status of middle America, and middle England are all there in this film.

How we look up to the green stuff was endorsed positively by Thatcher and Reagen, but this worship has always been there.

And how we look down on those who "appear" to have nothing, is there for all to see.

Yes, this means, you.

Shadow of a Doubt (1995 TV Movie)

This excellent movie is for the non fickle.

[10/10 · 18 April 2011]

This film could be directed by Alfred Hitchcock. But it was not. There are Twists, turns, twists, and more twists.

You don't know where you are, but you think you know where you are, and all is well, and then it hits you, at least you think it hits you, because its subtle.

This movie keeps you thinking, keeps you guessing, there are more if's but's and maybe's than a sponge has holes.

And the twist is delivered like a slivering snake.

Brian Dennehay as actor and directer is first class.

The entire movie is excellent at all levels.

Brian Dennehay knows what he is doing, and he delivers.

I recommend this movie to the intelligent, and non fickle.

GREAT STUFF.

The Great Debaters (2007)

I have no time for badly educated, ignorant, bigoted white people.

[10/10 · 21 March 2011]

As a white man myself whenever I see movies involving racial hatred, none more so that movies depicting Nazi Germany during World War 2, and the antics of the Mississippi South in the 60's, all I want to do us puke ( be literally sick ).

Because I cannot believe that white mindsets can "think" that just because someone has a different coloured skin, that those "coloured" people, are in fact inferior to white people.

Anybody reading what im saying here, I ask you as a white person, to explain to me just how a black person, can be inferior to a white person ?, if anything, it is the other way round, ie that a white person is inferior to a black person.

To me, The Great Debaiters simply told of a true life struggle, as all true life struggles are, of black people in America, but with a good solid central story.

This film simply underlines a mindset that I thank god that I have never had.

So, any film that shows up the whites as a bigoted, ill educated, and arrogant race, has my vote.

Im aged 62 if anybody is interested, im not a young naive man, I've had black frienbds in my life, and white friends, and the blacks I have always found to be more interesting, and better educated, but my white friend just think they are.

Descrimation is a terrible thing, so why are some white people descrimative ?

When you reading this, finds out the real answer to this, pease let me know.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

The American political system has a lot to answer for.

[10/10 · 17 March 2011]

Contrary to the reviews I have already read, I really did not know what to make of this film based on a true story, although I do believe that Will Smith's performance was superb.

The Pursuit of happiness played against a background of modern, free enterprise America, yet there are soup kitchens and clear signs of other deprivation, I believe I caught a glimps of a man lying on the streets, and people were litrally walking past him.

In my view, the soup kitchens, the homelessness, the deprivation across the USA, and the apathy that supports it, are the real story here, and as such need addressing through the American media, but are they being addressed ?????????.

Modern America is the archetype of how "not" to run a country, because people have a "right" to a decent reasonably paid job, and affordable housing, yet the underclass shown in this film courtesy of Will Smith's travels are being deprived of their human rights.

I can understand the Hollywood moguls wanting to make a film about people who strive against the odds to better their lives, because Hollywood are part of the so-called American dream, yet in the 20's, 30's, and 40's, Hollywood itself treated those who worked in it, like virtual slaves, because they wanted to sell a product for their American audiences, who were, and still are, trying to achieve their own American dream.

Whilst I do take my hat off to the real life character played by Will Smith, and what this guy achieved in real life, this man was clearly an exception to the rule.

Most people in free market America, as here in England due to the same marked based system, live in fear of losing their jobs, their homes, their very livelyhoods, because these are all the downside of a low tax economy free market culture.

I found "The pursuit of Happiness" depressing, but I kept with it so I could write this honest review.

I am not giving this film 10 stars. I am giving Will Smith's gripping performance 10 stars.

And I pour shame on America who have the Statue of Liberty as their hallmark of "Liberty".

Because frankly there is no liberty, or human rights in America, people can have it all one moment, then lose everything the next.

Harry Brown (2009)

Harry Brown is politics. It's not Michael Caine playing Dirty Harry.

[1/10 · 11 March 2011]

Okay, now to get to the nuts and bolts of Harry Brown.

Michael Caine was interviewed around the time of this films release, and in this interview he talked about the very real issue of thousands of young people being thrown on the political scrap heap by the politicians, and that his film, Harry Brown is about these type of youngsters.

What annoys me about Michael Cain, is that he is a known Thatcher supporter, and it was Thatcher in the 80's who got rid of our manufacturing bases, who destroyed our infrastructure, who got rid of our council houses, who took hope away from millions by removing their jobs, making millions of adult men and woman unemployed, and on life long benefits for millions.

Michael Cain is on record as saying that he grew up on the type of kitchen sink estates he plays Harry Brown in, but when Maurice Micklewhite ( Michael Caine's real name ), was a young boy, Thatcher was not in power.

This film should not be about pensioner Harry Brown going on a rampage among young thugs, to find out and gain revenge on who murdered his friend.

The real issue in this film is an indictment of 18 years of right wing Tory rule under Thatcher and Major, and a further 13 years under Blair and Brown who did nothing to reverse the national decline they inherited in 1997, a country in tatters, and youngsters with no hope.

Im not stereotyping all youngsters as thugs. I am saying that the thugs stereotyped in Harry Brown, including Michael Cain's interview comments, are a replica of a lost generation in survival mode, due to breakdowns in family life.

Michael Cain's political interview comments have brought forth this review of Harry Brown.

I believe it is a shame that this film revolved around Harry Brown's revenge, and the violence which came forth was typical and predictable.

Michael Cain could have made a film with a political edge, to make us think, but he didn't, like the politician's, Michael Cain chose the easy way out. Violence in a modern Britain.

Bicentennial Man (1999)

If there were a higher score, I would give this film 1000,000,000,000

[10/10 · 9 March 2011]

Somehow I feel that to even comment on this film in any positive way would do it a gross injustice.

What I mean is that this film is so beautiful in every sense of the word, it is beyond any reviewers words.

I found this film, moving, funny, sad, profound, and romantic, this film stars Robin Williams in what I believe to be his finest performance.

Suffice to say this film is about a robot played by Robin Williams.

All other actors, like Sam Neil, are just bystandards.

If you reading this have a heart, and a soul, see this film.

If you reading this believe you are hard - nosed, go see this film, it will melt your hard heart.

This film was Directed by Chris Columbus. I will look out for more films by this director in the future.

12 Angry Men (1957)

The best film I have ever seen in all my years going to the movies.

[10/10 · 8 March 2011]

There are simply not enough positive words in the English Dictionary to describe how superbly brilliant this film is.

Suffice to say it is my all time number 1 favourite film. It is also in my view, Henry Fonda's best role.

I think what I liked more than anything else in this film, is Henry Fonda sticking his neck out from the crowd, standing for what is right and what is just, against the ridicule of others.

Directed by Sidney Lumet in 1957, and produced by Henry Fonda himself, this is a masterpiece of cinema and acting.

Any half decent bloke watching Fonda play his part, will likely as not relate to Fonda 100 per cent.

If you only ever get the chance to watch one more movie your whole life, watch 12 Angry Men starring Henry Fonda, made in 1957.

Buried (2010)

Awful

[1/10 · 7 March 2011]

If you don't what to know how this film ends, don't read any further, because I cannot write my review of "Buried", without mentioning the ending.

Most people like happy endings, this film did not have a happy ending, and this is what makes this film, absolute crap.

Im not saying that the acting wasn't good, or the direction wasn't good, or even the plot wasn't good.

And im not saying that there weren't a few cock up's that the director failed to spot, even so, it was the ending that spoilt this film.

Now you can all make your own mind up about that.

The Invaders (1967–1968)

Roy Thinnes made it work

[27 May 2010]

The Invaders had a most ordinary and imaginative beginning. Roy Thinnes as Architect David Vincent drove into that Diner's car park and straight away his astonished face made this series work as the alien space ship slowly descended to the ground in full view in front of him.

Dominic frontier's theme music was equally atmospheric, lending much to the atmosphere of the series.

The series relied on little in special effects, just the imagination.

I've heard that they are planning a remake.

It wont work, we are all to sophisticated today, digital effects have taken the imagination away.

Man in a Suitcase (1967–1968)

What is wrong with wanting to put yourself into a role to make it realistic ?

[26 May 2010]

Man in a suitcase played superbly by Texan actor Richard Bradford was simply the best TV series in the mid 60's, and to-date in general Richard Bradford's big mistake though, was wanting to put a really human side to this character named simply, Mcgill.

Richard Bradford wanted to do his own stunts and he wanted the stunt men to really hit him, he wanted things to be as authentic as possible.

For this reason, he fell out with many stunt men on the Man In A Suitcase Set.

And in my view this is why another series of Man in a Suitcase never materialised, and also because Richard Bradford's name went round, as a trouble maker, because he would not fall in line with the British status quo.

The Human Jungle: The Vacant Chair (1963) Season 1, Episode 1

British society now needs psychiatrists

[10 March 2006]

I loved the Human Jungle with Herbet Lom in the starring role as Doctor Roger Corder. But this programme was before it's time. During the 1960's when this programme was shown, Britain had community's where people talked to each other, people could relate to each other.

But from the 1980's British society started to breakdown, we started to become social and economically divided, we started not getting to really know our neighbours, but instead to worship the materialistic world, we started to need someone to talk to but we did'not even know it.

If The Human Jungle was shown today people would realise that they actually needed someone else to really relate too, because no man is an island, but the 1980's personified individualism as the great ideal.