feeling_groovy Reviews

The Wind in the Willows (I) (1983 TV Movie)

Legendary (and the best theme music of any show ever!)

[10/10 · 20 September 2005]

This is legendary animation and a classic of British Tevevision.

The well known Kenneth Gramhame novel is given glorious treatment in stop-motion animation style (before the days of popular Aardman). The animation is perfect, depicting all the colours and textures of the British countryside, and the impressive cast plays to perfection, such as the gruff, unforgettable Badger played by Sir Michael Hordern, the wise, dry Ratty played by Ian Carmichael, and the thoughtful, sensitive mole by Richard Pearson, and the infectious clown Toad played by David Jason.

There are also ingenious visual ideas and direction such as Badger's echoing lecture in the library, and Mole's encounter with the weasels in the wild wood. This is beautiful, atmpospheric stuff for all ages, plus the songs are great, and the theme music is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever! I can't remember who wrote it - but whoever did deserves some high recognition!!!! In fact, this was later developed into an equally great series, one for each of the seasons, and Peter "Wallace and Gromit" Sallis took over the job of voicing Ratty, but the rest of the cast remained.

In short, they're all perfect! Take that, Disney!

Get Carter (1971)

Not just a great gangster film, but a great drama.

[10/10 · 27 August 2005]

This movie is one of my personal favourites. The legendary Michael Caine delivers his meanest, coolest performance, and thankfully ended the Hollywood stereotype that all British gangsters were bumbling prats and British men were weaklings.

Caine plays Jack Carter, a gangster who returns to his home town Newcastle Upon Tyne, to investigate the mysterious death of his brother, killed in a supposed drink driving accident. Jack soon discovers he's wanted out of town, and several attempts are made to take him back to London and to kill him, but they don't have a chance while Jack's got his trusty shotgun handy. The plot thickens when Jack discovers that his brother's death wasn't an accident, and was also a cover up for something even more shattering....

Everything in this movie is believable, and makes the film a great drama, not just a tough, gritty crime flick. The action is understated, and all the better for it. The scenery of industrial Newcastle adds a haunting, dank atmosphere few films have ever created. The film isn't perfect - there are some slow bits, but it's the landmark this film has on cinema that deserves its top rating. With films by the likes of Guy Ritchie making up the current British gangster movie market, it's a shame more young people haven't seen this classic, understated original. Besides, it's a much tougher film than a lot of gangster flicks from both sides of the Atlantic. Kudos also to Mike Hodges' direction and Roy Budd's superb music score.

The Wayne Manifesto (1996– )

Back in the days of good children's shows.

[4 August 2005]

I was the same age as the title character "Wayne" in this show when it was aired in Australia back in 1996. And what a time the '90s were. It was a time when ABC Kids Television was great and we could catch "Ahhh! Real Monsters", "Hey Arnold", and "Superted" in one sitting. Or catch the fresh new show "Rugrats" and the old great early "Simpsons" (OK, that wasn't ABC, but you get my point.) These days I look at the cheaply made, dull crap that passes for kids programs and feel insulted for this generation of youngsters.

I remember "The Wayne Manifesto" fondly - easily the best written, acted and plain funny Australian children's TV show I can remember. Wayne was a funny guy, and his exploits with his mates, family and teachers were real and fresh. In the first few episodes the family were still awaiting the arrival of their furniture, which proved elusive on the many cargo ships and trucks across Australia. And often little sequences would pass in each episode only to be revealed as what Wayne was hoping to happen, and then the show would snap back to reality while Wayne mumbled "But that bit's a lie...." and reveal the real situation, often much worse.

It wasn't quite "The Office" or "Arrested Development" but it was as close as my primary school generation ever got to such subtle, sometimes cynical and often bittersweet humour. And it would have made a great export for foreign countries to show people what a real Australian childhood was like. As for my take on the show now? Well, I wouldn't know since I haven't seen it since, but it's probably been repeated in the mornings on ABC, but that's prime sleep time now.