Doctor Who: Season 7 Part 1: Blu Ray Review

Doctor Who: Season 7 Part 1: Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by Roadshow Home Ent and BBC

So, this is goodbye.

For Matt Smith's 11th Doctor, Karen Gillan's Amelia Pond has been the one constant. She was with him when he regenerated and has been travelling with the Doc in the TARDIS for the last 3 years. But now with the start of the new series, it was time to say goodbye. And that's something which hangs over these 5 episodes, each of them feeling more cinematic than the last.

In the first, Asylum of the Daleks, The Doctor's plunged onto Skaro to help the Daleks destroy the asylum of their insane; but below is a terrible secret - and one hell of a brilliant surprise with the introduction of the actress who will be the new companion. From then, it's Dinosaurs on a spaceship, a filmsy romp which is all laid out in its title; then a Western seeing the Doctor lose some of his sanity in A Town Called Mercy. The fourth is set on the latter day earth and is an interesting tale of what the Ponds do when the Doc's not around and whether they want to keep travelling with him. Finally, the end comes with The Angels Take Manhattan, in which Amy and Rory leave in heartbreaking fashion.

While Doctor Who: Season 7 Part 1 feels like a swansong throughout, there's a feeling of hope with the introduction of Jenna Louise Coleman; her freshness is evident in the writing and spark on screen. But it's Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill who impress most in this set - Matt Smith,as ever is on top of his game. While the adventures are varying, this is still very strong Who and worth investing in.

Extras: Doctor Who: Season 7 Part 1: Blu Ray has a flimsy amount; a couple of prequels, the making of the Gunslinger and The Science of Dr Who (A BBC America doco which is ok). It's a shame there's no retrospective doco and interviews with the cast given it's such a big change, but maybe those are being saved.

Doctor Who: Season 7 Part 1: Blu Ray Review Rating:

Dr Who The Eternity Clock PS3 Game Review

Dr Who The Eternity Clock PS3 Game Review

Released by BBC
Platform: PS3

Hands up, then. I am a lifelong Who fan so the idea of a new game with vocal talents of the latest incarnation of the good Doctor made me somewhat giddy at the knees.

There's never been a fully successful Who game released before; sure the BBC have had some online games produced during the last run of the series, but it's never really made the transition to other platforms.

Enter The Eternity Clock.

You play as The Doctor (or River Song in a co-op game) and basically, with the Eternity Clock threatening to rewrite all of time and space, it's upto you and your trusty sonic screwdriver to try and save the day in this side scrolling puzzle solving piece. With Daleks, Cybermen, Silurians and new series villain The Silence out and about during the game, there's certainly plenty for the Doctor to avoid.

And, erm, that's it.

Don't get me wrong; I love the scope and ambition of this game - with Matt Smith and Alex Kingston providing heaps of lines and their voices to the action, it feels like a proper Who game (even if the voices of the enemies aren't in keeping with the show - a minor nitpick for fans) as well as the gorgeous incidental music from Murray Gold but as a gaming experience, I'm sad to say it's a little flawed in places.

The game's limitations - you can only move left or right - and problems when you team up with River Song (sometimes the computer's too slow to catch her up to you) mean it's not the smoothest playing experience and I think casual gamers won't forgive it those problems. (Though Who fans will likely allow these things to pass).

There are some fan thrills around - a lot of the background work has been targeted at the fans with in jokes and markings on the walls providing smirks) and using the Dr's sonic is fun too (you have to match soundwaves by shining the stick at doors to get them to open) but it's not just not a deep enough gaming experience to engross yourself in.

Not an unmitigated disaster for the publisher or fans - the voice work makes it feel so authentic and canon - but for casual game players, the simplicity of running left and right, jumping, hiding, shifting boxes and collecting hats and pages of a diary may not, unfortunately, be enough of a lure.

Ultimately though The Eternity Clock marks a very solid in road for the Dr Who gaming world; here's hoping that enough will buy it to ensure future games get it spot on as opposed to this very nearly effort.

Rating:

Dolphin Tale: Blu Ray Review

Dolphin Tale: Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by Warner Home Video

From the people who brought you the inspirational Blind Side, comes Dolphin Tale, a similarly spirited family movie based on a true story.

Gamble stars as Sawyer, the young kid of a broken family; his dad left him and his mum (Judd) years ago and as the flick starts, Sawyer’s about to lose his cousin to the war abroad and is forced to go to summer school to boost his grades.

However, whilst heading in on the first day, Sawyer finds a dolphin on the beach caught up in a crab trap. Sawyer helps cut the dolphin free and it ends up in the local marine aquarium, where Dr Clay Haskett (Connick Jr) and his co-workers try to nurse it back to health.

But things get worse for Winter (the name they end up giving the dolphin) when her fin has to be amputated – and facing an uncertain future.

And it’s not just Flipper’s pal who’s got trouble – Dr Clay’s Marine centre’s in dire financial straits and Sawyer’s schooling has also taken a dive.

The thing with a Dolphin Tale is you can see what it’s doing a mile off; it’s one of those films which feels like a made for TV movie that occasionally the American audiences revel in and the rest of us wonder why schmaltz like this continues to be made.

Firstly, aside from the opening where the dolphins frolic in the water, the 3D in this film is pointless; it adds little to the story.

Secondly, there are so many clichés at play in this you can see them before they even show; every stereotype is here – from the kid with a broken family who needs the wounded animal to heal – both for his well being and the animal’s - to the doctor facing financial adversity.

And yet, for everything that’s served up in this overtly sickly sweet film with terribly earnest acting, there’s just something about it which keeps it engaging – just.

That would be Morgan Freeman’s appearance as a prosthetic limbs specialist. He brings a welcome note of humour which pricks the dour feel of the film just at the right moment. Essentially he’s playing another nice guy, but the warmth he brings just about saves this saccharine celluloid outing.

All of the cast give it their all and there’s certainly something to be said for the family feel of this film – if you’re willing to leave your day to day cynicism at the door.


Extras: Animated short, behind the scenes with the real dolphin, spotlight on scene, additional scene and gag reel

Rating:

Dr Who - The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe - DVD review

Dr Who - The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe - DVD review

Rating: PG
Released by BBC And Roadshow

So, another festive outing for Matt Smith's 11th Doctor...and it's the most Christmassy Who yet.

Largely riffing on C S Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (The clue's in the title), this one sees the Doc in the middle of World War II and trying to help a potential widow give her 2 children the best Christmas they could ever have before having to tell them their father's died in the war.

Cue The Doc, who's masquerading as a housekeeper and who inadvertently ends up sending the youngest to another dimension - so he has no choice but to save the day.

Christmassy, festive and with very little story (if we're honest), this Who is a light frothy tale which to be honest is worthy of being watched through a bit of a festive haze.

Matt Smith is as ever, simply brilliant as the Doctor - and supporting roles this time for the likes of Claire Skinner, Arabella Weir and Bill Bailey are solid and bring the story nicely together.

Overtly Christmassy, this special is enjoyable; with its mix of great effects and good performances it's a watchable slice of sci fi.


Rating:

Dolphin Tale: Movie Review

Cast: Harry Connick Jr, Winter the dolphin, Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd,  Nathan Gamble, Kris Kristofferson

Director: Charles Martin Smith

From the people who brought you the inspirational Blind Side, comes Dolphin Tale, a similarly spirited family movie based on a true story.

Gamble stars as Sawyer, the young kid of a broken family; his dad left him and his mum (Judd) years ago and as the flick starts, Sawyer’s about to lose his cousin to the war abroad and is forced to go to summer school to boost his grades.

However, whilst heading in on the first day, Sawyer finds a dolphin on the beach caught up in a crab trap. Sawyer helps cut the dolphin free and it ends up in the local marine aquarium, where Dr Clay Haskett (Connick Jr) and his co-workers try to nurse it back to health.

But things get worse for Winter (the name they end up giving the dolphin) when her fin has to be amputated – and facing an uncertain future.

And it’s not just Flipper’s pal who’s got trouble – Dr Clay’s Marine centre’s in dire financial straits and Sawyer’s schooling has also taken a dive.

The thing with a Dolphin Tale is you can see what it’s doing a mile off; it’s one of those films which feels like a made for TV movie that occasionally the American audiences revel in and the rest of us wonder why schmaltz like this continues to be made.

Firstly, aside from the opening where the dolphins frolic in the water, the 3D in this film is pointless; it adds little to the story.

Secondly, there are so many clichés at play in this you can see them before they even show; every stereotype is here – from the kid with a broken family who needs the wounded animal to heal – both for his well being and the animal’s - to the doctor facing financial adversity.

And yet, for everything that’s served up in this overtly sickly sweet film with terribly earnest acting, there’s just something about it which keeps it engaging – just.

That would be Morgan Freeman’s appearance as a prosthetic limbs specialist. He brings a welcome note of humour which pricks the dour feel of the film just at the right moment. Essentially he’s playing another nice guy, but the warmth he brings just about saves this saccharine celluloid outing.

All of the cast give it their all and there’s certainly something to be said for the family feel of this film – if you’re willing to leave your day to day cynicism at the door.

Dolphin Tale: Movie Review - Rating:

Dr Who: Colony in Space: DVD Review

Dr Who: Colony in Space: DVD Review

Dr Who - Colony in Space
Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow

It's to 1972 we head for this six part slice of time travelling with Jon Pertwee's Dr Who.

When the Time Lords realize the Doc's nemesis, the Master's got his hands on a Doomsday device, they send the Doc and his companion Jo to the 25th century to try and save the day.

Slightly wonky and aged sets aside, this serial isn't a bad entry into the final batch of releases from the Who range. Atmospherically put together and acted with such purpose by Pertwee and Katy Manning, plus a great chemistry between Roger Delgado's The Master and The Doctor, it's a fairly pacy romp which looks at the consequences of weaponry - but in a non overtly preachy way.

An average set of extras for the release include commentary and a doco looking back - but nothing sensational.

Rating: 6/10 

Dr Who: Paradise Towers: DVD Review

Dr Who: Paradise Towers: DVD Review

Dr Who - Paradise Towers
Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow

This four part serial from 1987 is not one of Who's finest hours.

When Sylvester McCoy's 7th Doctor takes Bonnie Langford's Mel to Paradise Towers to relax, the pair finds themselves in a world that's fallen into ruin.
Overrun by gangs and with a series of sinister goings on, the Doctor realises he must save the day - once again and overthrow a vicious evil lurking deep within Paradise Towers.

This adventure is a difficult watch - even for fans of the show.

McCoy spends a lot of the story gurning and Richard Briers is barely much better as the fascistic Chief Caretaker of the block; it's a serial which verges on tedious rather than entertaining.

Extras: Thankfully, these are a slightly higher quality bunch (almost as if those behind the release knew how weak it was) with a doco looking back at the making of the serial; a vignette on how McCoy was cast as the Doc and an interesting three hander where Sophie Aldred, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton reflect on their time as Who companions.

Rating: 4/10 

Sherlock: Series one: Blu ray review

Sherlock: Series one: Blu ray review

Sherlock Series One
Rating: M
Released by BBC and Roadshow

A new Sherlock Holmes for the 21st Century?

Didn't Robert Downey Jr already do that on film last year?

Well, he did - but to be honest, he never reached the heights of this brilliant 3 parter from the team who helped with the reinvention of Dr Who, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss.
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and a BAFTA award winning Martin Freeman as Watson, this is compelling viewing from the get go as it takes Holmes from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books and updates him to the 21st century crime world of London.

This Holmes though is somewhat of a sociopath; he consults with Scotland Yard as a hobby because he has little else in life to keep him intellectually involved; so when Watson, a former army doctor ends up meeting Holmes, the pair become allies - albeit unlikely ones as they investigate a clutch of cases in London.

Over the course of three 90 minute stories, this modern day new version shines through - even though the second story isn't as compelling as those either side of it. And it's the writing, the clever visual touches and the brilliance of the main duo which make it so spinechillingly good.

Perhaps the highlight though is the third tale which introduces Holmes' nemesis and ends on a cliffhanger that you're screaming at the screen when the credits come up.

Clever, smart and confoundingly enjoyable, this is a Sherlock to love - and thank goodness more is on the way.

Extras: Commentary from creators, unaired pilot and a making of - a decent bunch

Rating: 8/10 

In A Better World: DVD Review

In A Better World: DVD Review

In a Better World
Rating: R16
Released by Vendetta Film

Golden Globe and Oscar winner In a Better World opens in Africa with Mikael Persbrandt's Anton working as a doctor in a field hospital and dealing with the fall out of a warlord and combat.

Anton is the pacifist, preferring to take the moral high ground rather than strike the first blow - but it's more difficult for his son Elias back in Denmark. He's bullied by the school kids and a bit of a loner.

One day, new kid on the block, Christian defends him - and a friendship forms. But as the friendship grows, Christian, who's recently lost his mother to cancer and is full of anger plots revenge on those who would do him and his friends wrong.

And it all escalates with devastating consequences.

In a Better World is a powerhouse, slow burning drama.
With evocative cutaways (either in Africa or Denmark), there's a real brooding intensity throughout - and while Persbrandt is good as Anton, the film belongs to the kids - William Jøhnk Nielsen as Christian and Markus Rygaard as Elias.

Both bring a real intensity to their brooding - Nielsen's particularly subtle in his role as a kid who's experienced loss and grief and doesn't know where to channel it.

Expect to become quickly engrossed in this drama - it's multi-layered, subtle and deeply rewarding.

Extras: None

Rating: 7/10 

Dr Who: A Christmas Carol: DVD Review

Dr Who: A Christmas Carol: DVD Review

Dr Who - A Christmas Carol

Released by BBC and Roadshow
Rating: PG
So Matt Smith's first Christmas outing as the Eleventh Doctor arrives - and it's a complete rip off of Dickens.
With Amy and Rory on honeymoon and trapped on a space liner about to crash, it's upto the Doc to save the day.
But standing between him and a rescue effort is Michael Gambon's Kazran Sardick, a Bah humbug character who doesn't believe anyone deserves a happy ending.
So, with the Doc taking on the role of Christmasses past, present and future (Time travelling's never been so convenient), he sets out to melt Sardick's heart and save his pals.
Firstly, this is about as Christmassy as Who gets - which coming after Tennant's Festive Farewell in 2009 is a relief; but it does have the feeling of being a little too fluffy at times - and even has a flying shark.
No seriously, it does.
But,ultimately this does melt your heart and before you know it (and with a second viewing) you're swept along with the adventure and feeling festive. However, Steven Moffat really does need to up the writing to match Matt Smith's impeccable performance - and it remains to see if Series six will deliver later this year.
Extras: Dr Who at the proms and Behind the scenes - a rounded if unspectacular package.

Rating: 7/10 

In A Better World: Movie Review

In A Better World: Movie Review

In A Better World
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen
Director: Susanne Bier
After snagging a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, and with an Oscar nomination in tow, it would appear In a Better World can do no wrong.
It opens in Africa with Persbrandt's Anton working as a doctor in a field hospital and dealing with the fall out of a warlord and combat.
Anton is the pacifist, preferring to take the moral high ground rather than strike the first blow - but it's more difficult for his son Elias back in Denmark. He's bullied by the school kids and a bit of a loner.
One day, new kid on the block, Christian defends him - and a friendship forms. But as the friendship grows, Christian, who's recently lost his mother to cancer and is full of anger plots revenge on those who would do him and his friends wrong.
And it all escalates with devastating consequences.

In a Better World is a powerhouse, slow burning drama.

With evocative cutaways (either in Africa or Denmark), there's a real brooding intensity throughout - and while Persbrandt is good as Anton, the film belongs to the kids - William Jøhnk Nielsen as Christian and Markus Rygaard as Elias.

Both bring a real intensity to their brooding - Nielsen's particularly subtle in his role as a kid who's experienced loss and grief and doesn't know where to channel it.

Expect to become quickly engrossed in this drama - it's multi-layered, subtle and deeply rewarding. As the emotional tense pressure cooker boils up, you will be moved by the powerful punch it packs at the end.

And it will probably be clearing some space for Oscar very soon.

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus: Blu Ray Review

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus: Blu Ray Review

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus

Rating: PG
Released by Sony Home Pictures

Forever determined to be known as Heath Ledger's final film this is the fantasy tale of Dr Parnassus (a wonderfully world weary Christopher Plummer) who travels the land with his carnival troupe (including Verne Troyer of Austin Powers fame) and his daughter Valentina (a porcelain doll like Lily Cole).

Granted immortality, Parnassus is locked in an ongoing battle with Tom Waits' Devil - and the Devil has arrived to collect his due. You see, years ago, Parnassus wagered his first born and now to stop the Devil taking what's his, he bets he can win over five souls.

Into this mélange of madness in modern day London, arrives Heath Ledger's shyster Tony. Mysteriously left for dead, he's taken in by the troupe - and could be the tipping point in Parnassus' quest to finally beat the Devil.

Yes, it's sprawling and a bit unfocussed at times, but The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is perhaps one of the most visually original pieces of cinema you'll ever see - even on the small screen (and particularly in Blu Ray).

There are flashes of pure genius from director Terry Gilliam as he weaves his surreal web. It's a wonderfully talented ensemble cast who make this film work - and a real tribute to Gilliam's genius that the film continued with the likes of Jude Law and Colin Farrell coming onboard.

Recommended without a shadow of a doubt.

Extras: The disc is really a tribute to the Ledger legacy with exclusive featurettes forming the majority of the extras and a packed disc it is too.

Rating: 9/10 

Dr Who: End Of Time: DVD Review

Dr Who: End Of Time: DVD Review

Doctor Who - The End of Time
Rating: PG
Cast: David Tennant, John Simm, Timothy Dalton, Bernard Cribbins
Released by BBC and Roadshow Entertainment
And so the end comes to pass on one of the most popular Doctors in the show's 47 year old history.
The End Of Time - Parts One and Two (aka 2009 Winter specials) sees David Tennant's Doctor vacate the TARDIS for the last time as he takes his swansong.
Since the end of the Waters of Mars, the Doc's known his time is up and his death draws near - and so summoned by the Ood, he finds his old nemesis the Master (John Simm, all bleached hair and hoodie) reborn and on the brink of bringing around the end of time itself. However, what neither of them realize is that pretty soon everyone's lives will be changed forever by the return of something no-one could foresee&
The End of Time is brilliant in places - and infuriating in others. It's not just David Tennant's swansong, but it also sees the departure of the team which brought back the show in 2005 - including head writer Russell T Davies, who wrote these two episodes which clock in at over 2 hours of Whooey goodness.
But the cracks show in some of the story telling; if you're being nitpicky, you could claim that Davies has stolen various parts of fantasy elements for the (slightly absurd) resurrection of the Master; and when the big bads of these episodes are revealed, the plot holes abound.
That said though, while the first part of the story lacks a little, it's the end which sees this corker of a finale come to life - thanks in large to the acting of two people; David Tennant, who showcases all of his best at the end and Bernard Cribbins, who despite being in his eighties, shows what a wonderful actor he is. Simple scenes between this pair will leave most of you close to tears as they show (in one scene in a café) what good writing and superlative acting can do.
EXTRAS: On Blu Ray, the final product looks superb in full HD and is well worth investing in if you have the extra cash. Also included on the 2 disc set are the behind the scenes making of the final episodes (complete with David Tennant's last day on the set - and all the emotion which comes with that), as well as the BBC idents made specially for the series swansong over Christmas 2009. But the highlight has to be the David Tennant video diary in which we actually witness through his own camcorder, the end of the era - just brilliant.

Oh and one thing I almost left off - you get your first look at the 11th Doctor Matt Smith at the end of these episodes - and if you're not left salivating for more, you're clearly never going to be a Whovian. The perfect send off piece on a great set.

Rating: 9/10 

Dr Who: Series 1-4: DVD Review

Dr Who: Series 1-4: DVD Review

Doctor Who - Series 1 -4 Box Set
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Rating: PG
Cast: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Billie Piper, Catherine Tate
23 discs, 2 Time Lords, a wealth of Daleks, Cybermen and adventures - what's not to love about this collected set of the first four series of the remade for the noughties audiences?
Well, this set is a timely reminder of why new Who has been so successful - there was no guarantee when it rematerialized on our screens back in 2005 that it would be a bona fide hit - but thanks to the oft overlooked presence of Christopher Eccleston behind the TARDIS, this series had sure fire hit written all over it.
And when David Tennant, a self professed fan of the show stepped behind the blue doors, the show got stellar and became bigger and bigger.
It's easy to see why the show's so popular - over 45 minutes and some 50 odd episodes, there's much to love - all of the show's cast and its supporting players throw so much into the mix as the Doctor was brought into the 21st Century.
There's only 2500 of these complete series in existence in New Zealand - but without being churlish, aside from a lavish 68 page book, there's little new to entice old school fans to shell out once again for the 4 series they're already likely to own.
Don't get me wrong - there's some great entertainment here; episodes like Dalek, The Christmas Invasion show why the show's done so well in this day and age with a great script and story being the main thrust over the effects (granted there are a few duds - Fear Her and the one with Peter Kay as a loin cloth wearing alien aren't the finest) but for the die hard fan, there's likely to be a sense of frustration that this set doesn't come right upto date with current Doctor, David Tennant's final episodes (being broadcast this Christmas).
That said, the extras are the same as the original sets - and it's quite fun to see David Tennant being given a police escort and his priceless reaction in the video diaries; there's also the behind the scenes cut down episodes of sister show Doctor Who Confidential, which beef up the package.
All in all, if you're a new fan to the show, it's a fabulous jumping off point - if you're an old school Whovian, you may be heading straight to TradeMe to sell off your old sets to get the money together for this set - or for the inevitable reboxing of it along with Doc 10's final eps.
Extras: Christmas episodes, commentaries, outtakes, deleted scenes, cast interviews, BBC idents, video diaries - a 68 page booklet - almost as gigantic as the TARDIS itself.

Rating: 9/10 for new fans, 6/10 for fans who've already bought the series

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Movie Review

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Movie Review

Rating: 8/10
Cast: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Lily Cole, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Andrew Garfield
Director: Terry Gilliam
Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room - yes, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is the last film with Heath Ledger in following his untimely death.
But it's important to note, he's only part of an ensemble cast - and isn't the real star of the film; granted there'll be a lot of attention on it because of that, but that's not the main reason to see this.
Anyway, I've got a bit ahead of myself there - plot wise, it's the fantasy tale of Dr Parnassus (a wonderfully world weary Christopher Plummer) who travels the land with his carnival troupe (including Verne Troyer of Austin Powers fame) and his daughter Valentina (a porcelain doll like Lily Cole).
Granted immortality, Parnassus is locked in an ongoing battle with Tom Waits' Devil - and the Devil has arrived to collect his due. You see, years ago, Parnassus wagered his first born and now to stop the Devil taking what's his, he bets he can win over five souls.
Into this mélange of madness in modern day London, arrives Heath Ledger's shyster Tony. Mysteriously left for dead, he's taken in by the troupe - and could be the tipping point in Parnassus' quest to finally beat the Devil.
Yes, it's sprawling and a bit unfocussed at times, but The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is perhaps one of the most visually original pieces of cinema you'll ever see - there are flashes of pure genius from director Terry Gilliam as he weaves his surreal web.
Within minutes of the film's slightly sinister opening, we're thrown directly into the wondrous world of The Imaginarium and see what wonders it offers those who peer in. I don't really want to spoil the visual surprises on offer moments into the film - but suffice it to say, I'm pretty sure you'll have never seen anything this audacious or original up on the big screen before - both in terms of landscapes and scale - it's simply awe inducing.
If there's a star to this film, then it's director Terry Gilliam - while Ledger shows why he was always a cinematic presence, his dodgy dealer Tony, with his Jack Sparrowesque stylings, is not as outstanding a performance as his portrayal of Joker in The Dark Knight (although it was never meant to be). The rest of the cast are pretty damn good too - from Waits' seedy Devil to Plummer's put upon Parnassus, to Lily Cole's debut performance; each rise to the challenge laid down by their director.
Gilliam has had the wonderful visionary flair to create something magical among the mundane; his flights of fancy transform the film and turn it into something fantastical and new.
It was, after all, his vision which allowed him to give the film a life after Heath Ledger's death; it was his idea which gave Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law the chance to be part of it - and he manages their arrival into proceedings flawlessly and so perfectly, you have to double take how you've been given the visual equivalent of sleight of hand.
It's not a perfect film - and its rambling ways and narrative sometimes threaten to derail it; but for flights of fancy and unique spectacle, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is astonishing on so many levels. The journey is fantastic and so moving that by the end, you'll fight hard to keep a tear back.

If this is Ledger's legacy, then he can be grateful Terry Gilliam helmed his final outing - because what they've produced is simply unique. Easily one of the best films of the year - if only for the sheer audaciousness of it all.

Dr Who: The War Games: DVD Review

Dr Who: The War Games: DVD Review

Doctor Who - The War Games
Cast: Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury
Rating: PG
Released by Roadshow Entertainment and the BBC
A seminal release in the Doctor Who back catalogue, The War Games represents a seismic shift in the early days of the show itself (but more on that later).
Patrick Troughton's Second Doctor, along with his companions Jamie (Hines) and wunderkind Zoe (Padbury) find themselves back in the middle of the trenches when the TARDIS delivers them into 1917.
Arrested, the trio find themselves tried as deserters and sentenced to death - however, the Doctor soon realizes that he is out of his depth and may have to commit an unthinkable act which will change him forever...
The War Games is an epic on many scales - the ten part black and white serial sits at mammoth four hours of Whoey goodness (and thankfully doesn't see any real lulls throughout) and sees stellar performances from the main trio who are about to exit and a myriad of supporting characters.
And as is befitting the story, this latest release is a three disc behemoth which is superlative and a real treasure trove for long term fans of the show - and contains enough for the casual viewer to understand why fans are so passionate.
The War Games signified an end to the black and white era of Doctor Who in 1969 - and also saw the first introduction of a back story and race (The Time Lords) for the errant time traveler; as well as the revelation of where he came from. In terms of the show's history itself, it's a gem and demonstrated how the show could endlessly reinvent itself (which has served it well as it enters its 47th year)
The depth of extras on this release has seen it gifted an entire disc with the beautifully remastered story split over 2 discs - some of the highlights include a look at the Second Doctor's comic strips, behind the scenes of the production, as well as some nice fan based extras (including a fan tribute to bridge the gap between Patrick Troughton leaving the show and Jon Pertwee taking over in 1970)
This is an essential release for any fan of the show and as they ready themselves to bid farewell to the latest incarnation in the form of David Tennant, it serves as a reminder of why the show really blazed its trail back in the times of a lack of special effects and budgetary confines.
Extras: A mammoth amount - War Zone - cast and crew recall the making of Patrick Troughton's epic swansong; Shades of Grey - just how did the technical and artistic constraints of monochrome television conspire to effect the unique look and feel of early productions? Now and Then - the ongoing series visits the locations of 'The War Games' forty years on; The Doctor's Composer - prolific composer Dudley Simpson looks back at his first five years of work on Doctor Who; Sylvia James - In Conversation - make-up designer Sylvia James talks about her work on Patrick Troughton's Doctor Who stories; Talking About Regeneration - the concept of regenerating a show's main character into an entirely new physical form proved to be both a lifesaver for the show and an increasingly important part of its mythos. This feature explores the ideas involved and takes a closer look at each of the Doctor's regenerations; Time Zones - historians discuss the reality behind the various time zones featured in 'The War Games'. With political historian Dr. Martin Farr, military historian Crispin Swayne, Newcastle University's Lindsay Allison-Jones and author Prof. Susan-Mary Grant; Stripped for Action - The Second Doctor - the continuing series of features focussing on the Doctor's comic strip adventures looks at the Second Doctor; On Target - Malcolm Hulke - the first in a series of features on the Target range of TV story novelizations looks at the work of writer Malcolm Hulke; Devious - for over a decade, a group of friends on England's south coast met on weekends to shoot an amateur Doctor Who film - 'Devious' - which takes place between the events of Patrick Troughton's swansong 'The War Games' and Jon Pertwee's introduction in 'Spearhead from Space', and features their own previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor. To segue back into 'Spearhead', the team decided to put up the money to employ Jon Pertwee for a day - in what was to become his last ever appearance as the Third Doctor.

Rating: (For Dr Who fans) 10/10 - for non scarf waving members of Earth, 8/10

NZFF Reviews - 2009 Archive

NZFF Reviews - 2009 Archive

Morphia

Morphia is a dramatic slice of life in an isolated town. Set in a brutal Russian winter, an inexperienced doctor in the turn of the century is called in to help the pregnant and heal the sick. A gory but yet realistic life during 1917 sees the doctor question his own life as he is accidently introduced to morphine. This addiction spirals out of control as he begins to seek ways to continue his habit while jeopardising the safety of the community who has he been charged to look after. This addictive love story with the back drop of a winter that continues on forever makes this film dark but fascinating - especially if you love Russian history and culture and of course vodka! Dark and moody, gripping and fascinating, Morphia is a great entry into Russian cinema.


Valentino - The Last Emperor

An insightful doco film about the live and loves of Valentino, Valentino: The Last Emperor begins with an opening statement that “Valentino loves beauty and it’s not his fault”.
This man was born to design clothes for beautiful women, as he has a vision; when he touches a piece of fabric to sketching the design to his merry team of dress makers then creates the dream.
This private man opens up his business and his personal life to the film before taking to journey of retirement(which was forced upon him rather than him choosing it), making you gasp at the designs and the flamboyant life he leads in the often cut throat and fascinating world of being one of the world’s leading designers.
The perfect film to finish off a wonderful film festival in Auckland. Here's to 2010!

My Year Without Sex

An Aussie comedy drama about a family whose lives are forever changed when the mother has an aneurysm and nearly dies, My Year Without Sex follows them as they deal with the fallout over a 12 month period. It's a film about faith in many ways - be it faith in the church as the mother tries to find some kind of spiritual bent after the brush with death, faith in those around you who support you through troubled times and faith in the future.The film's divided up into monthly set pieces with each one titled something to do with sex - ie missionary - and this framing doesn't work as well as it could do (appreciate it's supposed to be about how everything's become sexual)as it has little to do with what's going on onscreen. It's not a bad film overall - some unexpected laughs here and there - it's a gentle piece which has a sly humour and warmth and may find you leaving with questions about what your own life has amounted to.

OSS 117 - Lost In Rio

Sure the spy spoof genre's been done to death but OSS117, the latest entry-sacre bleu, a Frenchie- is pretty damn good.Actor Jean Dujardin is Hubert de la Bath, a post war spy, who's part racist, part sexist and all funny - he even resembles a French version of Sean Connery- it's 1967 and despatched to Brazil to retrieve a microfilm, de la Bath ends up in a series of (mis)adventures which appear to channel Clouseau at times and which show he's a relic of a world gone by. However, whereas this could lapse so far into parody, it consciously stays away from that and lets the sheer nincompoopery of its agent showcase the comedy.It's a bucketload of fun, complete with Brazilian bikini babes, a blistering Bossanova soundtrack, devilish Chinamen (as he calls them)Saul Bass style film-making and a stellar performance from dujardin. I hope pretty soon we get to spend more time with Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath - because the whole film is a joyous spoofy romp -and far superior to Austin Powers.

Samson and Delilah

This film about two outcast Aboriginal children who flee their reservation and hardly speak throughout has had all of Australia talking.And judging by the packed Civic Theatre in Akl it's likely to be the same here in NZ.What a film-Warwick Thornton's pulled together various threads from his life in Alice Springs and what he saw around him,you almost wonder how anyone could live in a place such as this.Both the leads are mesmerising in a heartbreaking sort of way as you watch the way their non-verbal tender relationship grows as well as feeling sick to your stomach at the times when the real shocks hit.Watching the duo(who are first time actors)suffer is at times bleak and painful to watch but you are glued to the screen and left fully aware that for some, this is the daily reality of their life.There's light at the end of the film but even without that ray of hope glistening, the entire film is still compelling - and sickening - in equal measures

Mary and Max

An Australian 8-year old girl, Mary, socially outcast and awkward, decides one day to start a pen friendship with a random name she pulls out of the phone book. That person is Max, a 40something clinically obese and diagnosed with asperger's syndrome, NY resident. Mary and Max is a beautifully dour piece of claymation animation, tinged with a sadness and dark(at times bleak) humour narrated by Barry Humphries and voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toni Collette - it's hard to pin down exactly what it's appeal is-whether it's the aussie nostalgia which colours everything brown in the animation and grey in NY - or because there's humour in unexpected places - laugh out loud funny in some. Granted the animation's not exactly smashing the mould for originality-in fact the characters look like the Cadbury ads which used to be on before Coro - but it's just a sweet and oddly engaging film - and a real celebration of the simple joy of unadultered friendship.

Dogtooth

A Greek film, Dogtooth is about a severely (and I mean severely) dysfunctional family who have no contact with the outside world.A mum, a dad and 2 girls, 1 boy live in their house- the kids are permanently grounded and controlled by their father - he feeds them misinformation on what things are - it's his attempt to eliminate any views of the outside world. Quite why is anyone's guess-there's never really any explanation of motivation.Dogtooth is one of the more shocking films to hit this year's festival(maybe not as much as AntiChrist) and to be honest, it's a wild ride from the blackly humorous to the ferociously sickening in parts-while it's a semi plausible take on Daddy Knows Best, the lack of context as to why may leave many cold -and certainly some of the violence will sicken some.I found this perhaps the hardest film of the festival to watch-and yet at times I found it extremely funny.But the over-riding view is that it's a challenge to watch- and some may not be upto it.

Adventureland

Ah the American coming of age film - it is in its own rights becoming a rites of passage for movie makers. Adventureland from Greg Mottola is set in the 1980s and followis Jesse Eisenberg's James who's about to go to college in NYC when he learns his dad's job's changed and they can no longer afford for him to go.So to make ends meet, he heads to the local craptacular fairground Adventureland to score some work - there he has the summer job we can all recognise from our teen years - coupled with aching lust for fellow carny worker Emily (Kristen Stewart - from Twilight). Adventureland is great fun -wrapped full of humourous well timed lines and pitch perfect performances (including Bill Hader as the carny boss complete with horrendous tache). It's a nod back to the 80s and despite the somewhat tired out genre, Adventureland is a welcome entry - it's fresh, amusing and strangely recognisable. A soon to be cult classic.

Coco Before Chanel


Coco Before Chanel is a biopic of the famous designer.
It begins with Gabrielle before she was nicked named Coco (after a song) being delivered at the orphanage by her father – it’s an issue which plagued Coco all of her grown up life, that of abandonment and no position in society.
Father, lover, husband - all of these roles were never stable in Coco’s life but played an important part in her growth as a designer and the drive to become her own master.
French actress Audrey Tautou was the perfect choice for this role; the way she moved in the shapeless gowns that made Chanel famous and facial expressions - incroyable!
You could see how the designs developed with her understanding of women’s bodies and how the garments were restricting - all of these were fascinating insights into the master.
This likable film was slow in parts but in other areas flowed like the fabrics used by Chanel herself. A must see to any follower of fashion and culture.

Looking for Eric

The king of gritty drama makes a comedy/ fantasy of sorts? Ken Loach brings the philosophical genius(cough) of Eric Cantona to a postman whose live has gone down the gurgler since his family fell apart- this Man U postie finds solace in weed and chats with Cantona as he tries to get his life back on track.And for the most part, it works - but then Loach, formerly the king of miserable realises he may have lightened up too much and halfway through a big slab of unhappiness is thrown into the mix-which endangers the film by making it feel like two flicks tacked together - even Cantona(imaginary or otherwise)disappears when the reality hits. However, a crowd pleasing comedy finale sees the sunshine overthrow the grime and suddenly like a flash of footballing genius, the film's won over in the dying minutes. It's an odd mix but strangely rewarding.

Dead Snow

This film's very easy to sum up - Dead Nazi zombies attack a group of holidaying students high in a cabin in the Norwegian snowy mountains. But what that doesn't tell you is this is a horror splatterfest which is quite humorous in plenty of places - it also covers every single horror cliche in the genre; the gang are a randy bunch - and movie nerds- and the ones who have sex are the first to be picked off(didn't they see Scream?); there's a crazy man wandering the land warning of danger in them thar hills - yes every single cliche is present and correct but in a throwback way and an acknowledgement of what's gone before in the genre.The Nazi zombies themselves are a strange bunch with their motives only really present at the end - but films like this don't lend themselves to sustained analysis.Tremendous fun, gore-tastic and black humour abound - and even odes to Evil Dead..can't fault it- check yr brain at the door(well the zombies would only want to eat it)

Winnebago Man

What do you do when you become a youtube phenomenon? And more importantly who were the phenomenona before youtube? This doco takes a look at Jack Rebney, who gained notoriety after a series of outtakes (taken during the filming of a winnebago commercial) gained a cult following on the underground video sceene - quoted in hollywood, and seen by millions, Rebney was an icon. However, as this doco sets out to find out-what happened to the man whose lowest moments were made so public?Austin based filmmaker Ben Steinbauer tracked him down and found out - the results are surprising and oddly touching - watch the star in its ascent and see what happens next (you can't really say without spoiling it)- an astonishing portrait of an innocent man whose life was changed by factors out of his control. Screening in Auckland has the filmmakers present for Q

The Strength of Water

Sensationally simple and heartbreakingly direct, Strength of Water is perhaps one of the best films I've seen at this year's Festival.Set in the Hokianga, it's the story of two 10-year-old twins Kimi and Melody whose lives are irrevocably changed by the arrival of drifter Tai to their small community.A terrible accident follows and the community is ripped asunder by the shocking turn of events. It's hard to say too much about this without spoiling it-but what I can say is although the cast are relative newcomers and first timers, Strength of Water is a stunning debut for those involved-Hato Paporoa's performance as Kimi is the stand out of the film- just the right amount of sadness, cheek and loneliness for the character and his life.Director Armagan Ballantyne's captured perfectly the beauty and desolation of the coastal villages- the whole film is unflailingly subtle and beautifully shot- a story of bonds, community and heart, Strength of Water achingly raw and is not to be missed.

Cheri

Michelle Pfeiffer as a courtesan in Stephen Frears's adaptation of Collette's Cheri...it's an odd choice but in this tale of the old tart gets a heart and falls in love, it only just works. Pfeiffer is Lea, who believes it's time to settle down from the nightlife, and who inadvertently falls for Cheri(Rupert Friend) son of fellow former courtesan Madame Peloux (Kathy Bates)-trouble is after six years together, Cheri is torn asunder and to be married off.Cue Lea's mourning and heartbreak...can the pair get back together?Cheri is on odd film, it's very faithful to its literary form and there's a lot of banter and concentration needed for the subtleties of the language - but despite Frears' direction and the sumptuous costuming magnificently evoking the era, this drama feels oddly lacking in substance and is quite shallow.Bates is catty throughout and never sympathetic but there's something oddly compelling in Pfeiffer's performance as she channels her last chance for love.

Flame and Citron

Based on actual events and eye-witness accounts of two of the most active resistance fighters in the Holger Danske resistance group during World War II,Flame and Citron is a tense thriller of betrayal, conscience and violence.One of the most expensive films to be made in Denmark, it's also one of the most compelling I've seen for a while as you try to guess who's betraying whom - the contrasting views of the duo are an interesting way to portray their eventual questioning of what exactly they're doing-Citron (the mavellous Mads Mikkelsen)is a reluctant killer and Flame (a mesmerising Thure Lindhardt) is all steely determination as they try to pick off the collaborators. About half way in, I realised I was hooked and gripped by the film's vice-like take on the reality some faced during the War.By turns, thrilling and callous, Flame and Citron is compulsive viewing.

Largo

I had pretty much never heard of LA nightclub Largo until seeing this film but sometimes being ignorant wields the best results - basically the club has a drop in policy for anyone who wants to appear on stage.This doco is black and white and features an array of acts on a dark stage - musical and comics - including those Conchords, Bic Runga, Greg Proops, Sarah Silverman, John C Reilly, E from the Eels, Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Aimee Mann - to name but a few.The only problem is because of the lack of on screen captions, you don't always know who's on the stage-and if you're discovering something new which you love (as I did with the stunning Andrew Bird and his rendition of Nervous Tic Motion of The Head To The Left (youtube it) then it's hard to pick up.That said, I was transifxed and I guess it reflects the intimate and random nature of the club itself-Largo is really entertaining music film-and one of those rare music docos where you end up wanting to see more of the acts

An Education

A coming of age film as 16-year old Jenny(an outstanding turn by relative newcomer Carey Mulligan) who begins a questionable romance with a man twice her age as she yearns to shake free the shackles of a dull English life in the 1960s swinging London. It's about experience of life over reading it in books and burying your head in study. Written by Nick Hornby and based on Brit journo Lynn Barber's memoir An Education doesn't shine as much as it could - it's patently clear the man she starts seeing is a bit of a sleaze - but Jenny is so in awe at being part of the world she dreams of, she doesn't care. The recreation of 60s London is exhiliarating - and Carey Mulligan is superb as the teenager who's older than her years - she's been much lauded for this role and it's easy to see why as she lifts the slightly average TV movie out of the predictable mire.

The Chaser

A Korean thriller which steals liberally from Silence of the Lambs but is never derivative because of it. A former cop turned pimp is convinced his girls are being stolen and sold off by someone on the streets - but he suddenly realises that one of his ladies of the night is in real danger from a serial killer who abducts the women and deals to them in a very haphazard way. I was shocked as to how tense this was - there are moments when your expectations are completely confounded and the direction moves you to a completely different place. Also it's one of the few films I've seen where the fight scenes and chase sequences are random, haphazard and messy - this is a gripping film which is sadly being remade for hollywood - worth seeing the original now rather than reading about the debate over how America (potentially) ruined it.

Ponyo

Studio Ghibli animation is always a delight - and this latest offering from the stable of Miyazaki Hayao is no exception. A 5-year-old boy, Sosuke, adopts a goldfish (the titular Ponyo)when she emerges from the sea one day - however their friendship is torn apart as quickly as it's begun - and then Ponyo works a way out to become human and return to her friend - but her desire could signal the end of the world...Sweet and quite beautifully animated in many ways – Ponyo is simplistic and childish (not in a bad way) but accessible to all.In fact the children in the audience were entranced by the vivid animation and beautiful score as they sat spellbound - and the adults were equally as excited!Ponyo has a pure heart and joy about - even when a tsunami threatens to engulf a town, the visual of Ponyo, in her human form, skipping over the waves brings a smile to your face.A work of fantasy and one which shows there's plenty of life left in Studio Ghibli

Moon

Sam Rockwell is a genius - much underrated and oft ignored - If there's any justice Moon will change that. Rockwell plays the sole inhabitant of a mining moon station (well aside from Kevin Spacey's emoticon voiced robot GERTY) who's nearing the end of a 3 year stint and looking forward to going back home. Awash with alienation, depression and the loneliness, he's definitely looking forward to heading home - but one day he suffenly realises he's not alone on the station...Moon is wonderfully minimalist, full of whites and greys - yeah, there will be comparisons to 2001 - mainly due to Kevin spacey's monotoned robot (whose output is solely emoticons on its screen)but that's doing it a disservice - Rockwell puts in a powerhouse performance and carries the film all by himself - it's a stunning feat of filmmaking as Rockwell's character deals with issues of identity and humanity with gravitas and grace - don't miss this one at all costs!

The Six Dollar Fifty Man

Not strictly an entry on its own to the programme this year, this delightful little short film played before the film An Education and was quite the unexpected treat. Decked out in a red tracksuit and entranced in the world of Steve Austin (the Lee Majors one, not the wrestler), 8 year old Andy (played wonderfully by Oscar Vandy-Connor) is a Raumati Beach schoolkid who lives in his head more than in the playground - he amuses himself by performing astonishing feats of physical prowess (jumping off buildings)but when he gets into trouble, he's forced to face reality. Funny and touching in places, the $6.50 Man reminds me of my schooldays and how I didn't always fit in but how i got by - Oscar is great as the kid stuck between life in his head and real life- he's a real talent to watch and the short went down a treat before the main feature. More like this please!

Drag Me To Hell


Seriously all I should say about this is Sam Raimi returns to horror films - and that should be enough for you really. DMTH is a great return to the slightly wacky, very funny horror comedy a la Evil Dead- Alison Lohman is a bank loans manager who turns down an old woman one day and is cursed as a result (talk about yr bad karma)- trouble is, that curse will see her pursued by an invisible demon and ultimately have her soul taken from her. Very darkly funny in places and some real gross out moments, DMTH has a crazy spirit to it and is a lot of fun. It's played 100% straight and as a result, the gross out moments are even funnier for it - it's horror by numbers and will leave you slightly agog at the end. The soundtrack's great as well - very manipulative and over loud in places - I loved it!

Big River Man

This is the story of the most insane endurance swimmer I have ever seen - hard drinking, hard living Martin Strel, a Slovenian man in his fifties who takes on the Amazon. Despite advice to maybe tone down some of the excesses while on the swim, Strel decides he knows best and tackles the 3274 mile swim in his own indomitable style. This doco filmed by his son, follows him as he basically descends into some kind of madness - I actually didn't think a film like this would be as gripping as it is - but Strel Jr manages to capture the sprial down in an at times hallucinogenic way as both of them negotiate the Amazon.
I can't recommend this film enough - and I reckon it's one of the top picks of the entire festival - if you ever thought the kind of people who take up endurance sports are a bit nuts, this may make you reconsider your opinion. Gripping and surprising in many ways

Best Worst Movie

Who knew that one of the films deemed one of the worst ever made would make such a good subject for a doco?Best Worst Movie is a study of how Troll 2, deemed the worst film on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes became a cult phenomenon and how that affected the lives of those who starred in it - Michael Paul Stephenson, the child star of the film had been hiding from its "success" but suddenly decided to embrace it one day as he began to document how the cult phenomenon was taking over the world.George Hardy, the main lead in Troll 2, is the star of this film as he tries to negotiate his way back into showbiz after a lifetime in dentistry - while he's the happier end of the spectrum, the film also catches up with the other actors(who have varying degrees of success)and the insane Italian director who refuses to believe he made a bad film.Heart warming, amusing and unexpectedly funny BWM is a joy.See it soon and join the cult! Altogether now -"You can't p*** on hospitality - I won't let you!"

Red Cliff

The first minor disappointment of the festival for me - John Woo returns to Chinese soil with millions of dollars and makes a historical epic about Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi), the scheming Prime Minister to the Han dynasty Emperor, who leads a massive Northern army to quell the ‘rebel’ warlords of the South. Don't get me wrong, it looks sumptuous and gorgeous - and is probably a dream film for those who want to study how wars were conducted in years gone by. But it's ever so slightly hollow - I wasn't quite sure whether some of the close ups of the evil Prime Minister laughing sinisterly were ironic - it's a good story which appears to have been told with a set formula in mind and that hasn't helped. That said, the battle scenes are quite stunning in places (even if it does come with Woo's trademark slow mo shots)- Red Cliff is an interesting film which doesn't quite engage 100% but as a spectacle it looks fabulous.

The Cove

Sometimes a film knocks you sideways in ways you couldn't imagine - from National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos The Cove is a remarkably restrained doco about the lengths gone to for the capture of dolphins to populate the world's dolphinariums. Granted a film which says it is unashamedly activist is likely to make some think it'll be a stringing together of sensationalist emotional material aimed at turning you against the Japanese - but you'd be massively wrong to think that. It "stars" former Flipper trainer Ric O'Barry who is now trying to stop the capture of dolphins in Japan for entertainment purposes - his eloquence and measured behaviour is a real jolt to the senses when you realise he spent 10 years training flipper before realising what damage he'd done.No really disturbing footage in the film - just a dose of reality. This is the NZFF's first essential film - you cannot afford not to see this -Check out the film's site http://www.thecovemovie.com/ and see it now!

In the Loop

Well once again the powers that be have forbidden me from talking fully about this film - but essentially it's a spin off from the TV show The Thick Of It (which screened on TV ONE) and written by brilliant satirist Armando Iannucci. It's about British politics and the satire thereof taking in Washington politics as well. What's great about this though is Peter Capaldi's spin doctor Malcolm Tucker - what a genius performance and what a foul mouth his character's got. Full of questionably quotable phrases (the majority of which involve the F word) it's really worth taking this film in and then seeing it again to catch up with what you've missed because you (or the rest of the audience) were laughing so hard at.

The September Issue

Sadly I'm not allowed to give you a full review of this doco as it's due for release very soon in New Zealand (even we reviewers have a code we have to stick to at festival time!!)- but what I can tell you is that if you love Vogue, the fashion world and want to know more about the tour de force that is Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue, you could do no better than seeing this.
It's an interesting film which takes you into this at times seemingly unaccessible world of photoshoots - be interested to hear what you think of it!

Bright Star

The NZ International Film Festival kicked off in Auckland last night with a packed Civic theatre waiting in anticipation to see the very latest film from Jane Campion - Bright Star, which premiered recently in Cannes. Starring Abbie Cornish as Fanny Brawne and Ben Whishaw (brilliant in TV ONE's Criminal Justice earlier this year) as John Keats, it's the tale of their love affair. Campion's crafted another piece of beautiful cinema which is a story of love, yearning and sensuality. Whishaw's very good as Keats - he conveys the despair Keats felt as an "unsuccessful" poet during his lifetime - and Cornish is commendable as Fanny who is suddenly struck by the wonders of love. There's a playfulness to their courtship to start off with - but that's swiftly replaced by the harsh reality of English society - it looks sumptuous and may strike a chord with many romantics everywhere. Sadly this was its only screening - and it should be on general release in 6 months' time - will let you know