Around the World in 80 DVD's

[Rich]

Bonjour Belgium and Waterloo...



Napoleon's abduction and his exile to Elba: his dramatic escape, his reunion with his devoted troops and their generals. His last, desperate bid for ultimate power and glory, so narrowly defeated in the fields of Waterloo.
'Waterloo' is a film on an epic scale with a cast to match. Rod Steiger, Christopher Plummer, Orson Welles and Jack Hawkins all contribute fine portraits of great men against a magnificent backdrop of battle and bloodshed.

Classic Epic war film, Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer are excellent in the lead roles, the movie has lost nothing since I viewed it last on a vhs. Action filled history - 6/10

[Rich]

Vive La France...



Amélie is a 2001 French film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou. Its original French title is Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain ("The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain"). Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical and somewhat idealised depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre. It tells the story of a painfully shy waitress who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better, while struggling with her own isolation.
Amélie won best film at the European Film Awards; it won four César Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and was nominated for five Academy Awards.

On first viewing I could not understand the multi awards that followed this film, but admit it is a wonderful screenplay, shot superbly, crisp acting and typically sardonically French in style, leaving a goofy grin after watching it. For me not a masterpiece, but I can understand people falling in love with the feel good undercurrent of the story.  Interestingly the original role of Amélie was written for Emily Watson (see review below) 6/10

[Rich]

a quick yodel in switzerland...



Dr. David Linderby and his wife Anansa are carrying out an inoculation program in a small African village when Anansa disappears. The police can do nothing to find her and David has almost given up hope when he hears a rumor that Anansa has been kidnapped by a slave trader called Sulelman, to be sold to an Arab prince

How can a director go from Soylent Green to this?    Dire script, poor acting, laughable accent by the normally reliable Ustinov as the Arab slaver, and Caine looking totally uninterested. Only overshadowed by the worst acting ever seen by model Beverly Johnson as the kidnapped wife, and the cheesy cameos by end of career actors Sharif and Harrison. Avoid this unless on pain of death - 2/10

[Rich]

ski across austria...



A film crew travels to the Austrian Alps near the (former) Yugoslav border to film three extreme sports enthusiasts being chased down by an avalanche for a commercial. What they don't know, however, is that they're filming near the secret hideout of Slobodan Pavle, a Serbian war criminal. Accidentally catching him on film, they become locked in a life-or-death chase through the mountains that includes skiing, snowboarding, sky diving, white water rafting, helicopters, motorcycles, and base jumping

Should be called Extreme Oops, a poor man's Cliffhanger, a bargain basement buy that I wish I had walked straight past. With a plot so childish and the characters so obnoxious it is impossible to give a s$@* what will happen next. It is lucky to get a 1/10, and that's just for the blonde chick in the jacuzzi 

[Jon]

a quick yodel in switzerland...



Dr. David Linderby and his wife Anansa are carrying out an inoculation program in a small African village when Anansa disappears. The police can do nothing to find her and David has almost given up hope when he hears a rumor that Anansa has been kidnapped by a slave trader called Sulelman, to be sold to an Arab prince

How can a director go from Soylent Green to this?    Dire script, poor acting, laughable accent by the normally reliable Ustinov as the Arab slaver, and Caine looking totally uninterested. Only overshadowed by the worst acting ever seen by model Beverly Johnson as the kidnapped wife, and the cheesy cameos by end of career actors Sharif and Harrison. Avoid this unless on pain of death - 2/10

Oooh, harsh! "Saucer of milk for table two..."  C'mon, it's harmless fun! Everyone was slumming it and it's not a bad result...

[Rich]

through largely unknown Croatia...




Between war and peace, humor and hate, capture and surrender, life and death lies No Man's Land. Set in the unforgiving trenches of the Bosnian-Serb conflict, this "astonishing" (Chicago Tribune) film follows the story of three soldiers caught between two fighting lines. Hailed as "one of the best films of 2001,"* No Man's Land is a "powerful, harrowing, shockingly entertaining" (Movieline) exploration of the absurdity of war.

An unremarkable anti-war film IMO, with the message hit home with a sledgehammer. 4/10

[Rich]

our fathers in the Vatican...



A lost soul has just received the wounds of Christ and a shocking message that will alter history. Stunning performances from Patricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne and Jonathan Pryce and a cutting edge score by Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins make Stigmata a visual and visceral feast. Frankie Paige (Arquette) has absolutely no faith in God. All of that changes when she suddenly begins to suffer the Stigmata, the living wounds of the crucified Christ. Frankie's miraculous bleeding comes to the attention of the Vatican's top investigator, Father Kiernan (Byrne). But when Cardinal Houseman (Pryce), discovers that Frankie is actually channeling an extraordinary and provocative message that could destroy the Church, he's convinced that she - and the force possessing her must be forever silenced.

Slated by critics en masse, I must admit this film which I'd seen before is like a guilty pleasure, and enjoyed watching this production again. It's a perfect ensemble of actors and storyline that will satisfy those in the mood to think while they watch. Not great, not scary, not overly challenging - but ok. 6/10

[Rich]

flit through beautiful italy



The Allies had barely driven the Nazis out of Rome when Roberto Rosselini went to work on Open City, considered by most to be his greatest work. Shot on bits and short ends of scavenged film, this film helped define Italian neorealism. Audiences were convinced that the actors were all amateurs (they weren't) and the whole film was improvised (it wasn't; the three screenwriters included Federico Fellini). With its semidocumentary camera style and use of actual locations, the film does feel very real.

Cinematic history, slightly depressing content but with an underlying hopeful message. Probably to scholarly for my own tastes 5/10

[Jon]

I see that 3:10 to Yuma is in your banner; have you seen the original? Just wondered what you thought of the update (that I haven't seen yet myself)?

[Rich]

I see that 3:10 to Yuma is in your banner; have you seen the original? Just wondered what you thought of the update (that I haven't seen yet myself)?

No I never saw the original Jon, so nothing to compare it with. For me 3:10 to Yuma is just a tired old format wheeled out again with the latest 'hot' Hollywood names, and wholly unremarkable.
Average would be my summation.

[Jon]

I heard some things about the new one that lead me to believe it's been jazzed up too much. The original story was very basic and that was the whole point.  It is an old format (though not so old back then!), but a strong story, and the two leads are just marvellous. I highly recommend it.

[Rich]

viva l'espana



Set in 1940s Spain against the postwar repression of Franco's Spain, a fairy tale that centers on Ofelia, a lonely and dreamy child living with her mother and adoptive father, who is a military officer tasked with 'ridding the area' of rebels. In her loneliness, Ofelia creates a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret destinies.

Definately not a kids film!!, I'd heard good things about this film and was not disappointed. Dark story with stunning and brutal graphic effects, this is an adult fantasy fairy tale every bit as scary as they were meant to be. Recommended 7/10

[Rich]

Sunny Portugal



Inspired by a true story, the film follows a group of ten 'canoe-commandos' who are taken, by sub-marine, close to the French coast. They must make a highly dangerous journey through 70 miles of enemy waters to destroy giant German battleships.

Although dated and with possibly some of the worst special effects on film, the true storyline kept the movie going to produce an interesting and entertaining feature. 5/10

[Rich]

Jump continents to Morocco 



Casablanca: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if your name is on the Nazis' most wanted list. Atop that list is Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one…especially Victor’s wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. So when Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo’s safe transport out of the country, the bitter Rick must decide what’s more important – his own happiness or the countless lives that hang in the balance

Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, I walked in to his 
Great film, seen it several times before, no need to expand on it's many merits, if you haven't seen it grab yourself some old movie magic and give it a spin 8/10

[Jon]

Glad to hear you enjoyed Pan's Labyrinth. Next time you feel like a bit of Spanish, I can recommend another Del Toro film called The Devil's Backbone. Great ghost story with the civil war as a backdrop again. And like Pan's it is set around children, but it is not a children's film.