Novastar Reviews

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Tarantino at his worst

[4/10 · 31 October 1999]

There are two words I'd like to use to describe this film, one of which is "dross" and the other wouldn't get through the IMDB guidelines. This looks a cracking movie when you first sit down to watch it; full on Tarantino style, including some clever camera work in the motel room scene (watch carefully for the Pulp Fiction references.) Then they enter the bar, again all looks good. Then someone turns into a vampire. At this point, immediately evacuate the room, for your first great impressions should not be spoilt by the anticlimax that is to follow. I fully relaxed at this point, I was no longer engaged in the film. I almost lost sleep over, but not quite, the decision to either give this a 3 or a 4. In the end I opted for the 4 because a) the beginning is great and b) Juliette Lewis makes the film entirely more watchable. No wonder the sequels were straight-to-video.

Macbeth (1979 TV Movie)

Best Version

[10/10 · 20 October 1999]

I have seen a fair few versions of this play but this one knocks every single one out the way. There is no better way to get the full experience of this work apart from performing it yourself. Every performance is spot on, the camera work divine and all done so that no aspect of the theatrical performance is lost.

Live! From Death Row (1992 TV Movie)

Mildly entertaining but needed more work.

[2 September 1999]

I completely didn't expect to see this, I came home one evening and it was on. However I was instantly compelled to watch it. The death penalty is an area I find quite interesting and this film plays on that. Bruce Davison was excellent even though he didn't really seem to be in control 100% of the time. I wasn't quite sure, though, how Alana Powers really was the host of one of the best national talk-style shows as I found her actually rather dull. There are some really great supports and the final scene between Lorraine and Kenny was done extremely well.

This is one of those movies that you shouldn't go out of your way to watch, but it's definitely worth a good look if it comes your way.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

A very satisfying Shakespeare Remake

[9 August 1999]

I don't know who couldn't see the Taming of the Shrew (things I hate about you - ooh, odd rhyming parallel there) in this film, it's quite obviously there. Fair enough, the story is an absolute classic. The movie storyline does stick reasonably closely to Shakespeare's story, perhaps, in fact, a little too much in places to make the story mildly awkward. The characterisation, strangely enough for a teen-romance was well done. Heath Ledger did the best job at getting the audience (me at least) to feel his anguish. Julia Stiles also does a great job at being repulsive in the beginning but then growing to be really likeable, reminiscent of Christina Ricci in "The Opposite of Sex". Andrew Keegan did a brilliant job of just making you want to smack him! Like so many films now, there are these cunning little jokes and references that could be missed so easily, especially some of the Shakespearean references for example one of the lead character's surname being Verona. I was a little disappointed to see the film end at the Prom, surely that's going out of fashion now, though I was impressed with the audacity of the writers to attempt to show a teen-party in more detail than usual; not many films have a go at that. I shall end with possibly the most satisfying part of going to see this at a cinema and that was watching everybody leave as soon as the credits start. I'll admit I'm one of those who does like to watch the film to the very end, and what a treat I got doing so. Some of *the* funniest out-takes I've ever seen. I was literally in stitches with one of them. They also explain how no-one ever dances in time with the music in films. That was something I didn't know.

This is one of those films that you've probably seen before in some form or another but it's definitely worth seeing this one. Fully recommended.

Labyrinth (1986)

A cult classic hidden in the woodwork

[30 June 1999]

It must have been 1988 when I saw this film first on television - I completely missed it at the cinema. A friend of mine had recorded it. We must have watched it 5 or six times in that week! It's amazing, if you go somewhere and just quote a single line or even just a single worm-style "'ello!", everyone knows exactly what you're talking about. This film really has reached cult status for those born around 1980, plus or minus a few years with a lot of other followers outside that period. David Bowie, the "King of the Cod-Piece" steals the show with his first appearance at the bedroom window. I'm really surprised this film was given a universal rating over here in the UK as some parts could be really quite scary for small children, but hey, it never did us any harm :-) The soundtrack I've just bought from Amazon 'cos I can't find it anywhere else. I'm going to be the envy of all my friends! I hope this film lives on until I'm old and grey. If they re-released it in theatres, it would make an absolute killing and loads more people would fall instantly in love with it. Rock on "Serrr-wah!"

Air Force One (1997)

Glenn Close is fantastic, not sure about the rest..

[7/10 · 27 March 1999]

This film had that element of "We are Americans and no-one else matters". Obviously not a film designed to sell well abroad. Well I'm English and I still thought it was pretty good. Glenn Close gives a fantastic performance as does Harrison Ford but the overwhelming "Yee-hah!"s and "Yes Sir's" made so many scenes laughable. It did it almost as much as ID4. But then I think, it's an action film - it's allowed to do that.

All in all, worthwhile watching, I was tensing up at times but I didn't come away thinking "I want to see it again".

The Opposite of Sex (1998)

Ricci was superb - one brilliant piece of writing

[10/10 · 25 January 1999]

This is one brilliantly written script. Despite what others have said, Christina Ricci's narrative over the film was fresh, humorous and intelligent.

The casting had some dubious points - Kudrow was definitely the right choice for the role, so many small points suited her to a tee, but overall she didn't seem "concrete" enough for the audience to really become attached to the character. This I thought was a shame; she can be a fabulous actress. Lovett's character could have been played by anyone really, and in someways that's not such a bad idea. Perhaps the director just forgot about him.

After having seen so many big budget films recently I was left feeling very satisfied with the film as a whole - for once the ending was gradual and didn't leave you hanging out with so many things unfinished. This has put me right in Christina Ricci's fan club - a worthy treat for any film lover.