Four Lions (2010) - Chris Morris

Possibly one of the best films to come out of Britain and made by Film4 for years. Also, Riz Ahmed is one of the British actors to watch in the future. He owns the screen. You mark my words: the boys a star! A near-perfect comedy film, even if the subject matter is a little risqué.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Princess Bride (1987) - Rob Reiner

Obviously, a film called the Princess Bride brings the thoughts of some kind of baby girl's chick flick. Thank God, this wasn't what I expected. So much better, and lovely bits of filmmaking, and action sequences and oh gosh, so good. I wish I'd watched this as a kid, because I could really have related to Grandfather reading a story to the kid when sick. Really sums up childhood. It also managed to convey two of my worst fears: fire, and the ocean. Well done, Reiner! Or William Goldman, who wrote the original book.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

American Splendor (2003) - Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini

I'm a big fan of Paul Giamatti, but I don't think even his acting could have saved a film from Harvey Pekar's grumpiness for a whole film. The David Letterman interview section was the only saving scenes of the films, and the only ones that kept me entertained. Whilst Harvey, as a character, is bang on, he's not a very loveable or interesting subject choice to pay attention to for a whole film.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) - Danny Leiner

Everyone's favourite stoner comedy, also known as Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies over here in Britain, where White Castle isn't even a thing. Very reminiscent of parts of Danny Leiner's other stoner comedy, Dude, Where's My Car? (2000), especially as I only realised it was one of his after googling to write the actual director in this review. The slapstick comedies of the noughties, when compared with things like Airplane! (1980) - Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, get much more of a looked down upon feel from filmgoers, although Harold and Kumar still manage to entertain me.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Airplane! (1980) - Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker

A classic piece of American comedy, and Leslie Nielsen's first really memorable and time spanning movie. Slapstick comedy at its finest.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The Graduate (1967) - Mike Nichols

Any film that can have the soothing sound of (silence) Simon and Garfunkel is perfect to me. After having been asked to watch this multiple times by my father and his girlfriend, I struggled to see how it could live up to the hype. Add to that the fact I was very hungover from that morning's drinking session and having been in North Wales as well, then this must be a pretty fucking amaze-balls movie. And it is. Dustin Hoffman is perfect in it, as are the two female leads, the legendary Mrs Robinson in particularly, showing that an older woman can still be sexy and beautiful.
The soundtrack is what really makes the film though. I found myself anticipating in great will for the legendary Mrs Robinson to come on, but every other song was still a treat.
An unbeatable classic movie, and a fine piece of soundtrack from one of the most iconic musical duos.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) - Jim Sharman

'Nuff said.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Ghost World (2001) - Terry Zwigoff

Does Thora Birch still exist? I haven't seen her in things since the 90s that I can think of. If she's dead or something I'll regret that comment, whilst Scarlett Johansson has gone from strength to strength. All the main stars in this film are good in it, especially Steve Buscemi. Nobody plays lovable loser quite like Steve Buscemi. His role in Reservoir Dogs (1992) - Quentin Tarantino, obviously makes us think of him as a bad tough guy, but there are so many layers in his acting ability, that any film with him in, is dragged immediately upmarket. I just found myself feeling so bad for him in this film, but it's an enjoyable cringe.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - Peter Jackson

This is my personal favourite Lord of the Rings. I'm not sure why: is it Sean Bean? Is it the camaraderie? Is it even the fact that Bilbo is the scariest baddie in this one? (You know what face I mean.) When I was younger, I rewound and rewound that bit just so I could pause it on his scary out of control-nes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cry-Baby (1990) - John Waters

The unmatchable John Waters when it comes to camp and cheesy musicals. Johnny Depp plays it magnificently dark in this underrated masterpiece. Bits don't make sense, but therein lies its beauty. It's sometimes so random, that the entertaining part is wondering what's going to happen next.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Starship Troopers (1997) - Paul Verhoeven

Very easy going film. Big Jim Rennie, also seen in Breaking Bad as Hank had a small role in this. Neil Patrick Harris, yes!

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Mr Nice Guy (1997) - Sammo Hung Kam-Bo

Everybody loves a generic Jackie Chan movie, and this is a lovely bit of cheese for between university and Come Dine With Me. Jackie Chan Adventures was everyone's favourite children's show, and this film shows why! A simple thing, but enjoyable, nonetheless.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) - Anthony Minghella

I had no idea of the homosexual undertones of this film, which was probably the correct way to market it: make the message more poignant, so that people with right wing views would still go to see the movie and be a little cultured, rather than not going at all, purely for a homosexual protagonist.
Jude Law is still annoying, and very similar to the way he portrays his character in Wilde (1997) - Brian Gilbert.
I do, however, like watching films where I have no idea what's going to happen, as it makes certain moments (no spoilers) very surprising.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Adventures in Babysitting (1987) - Chris Columbus

Chris Columbus' first ever directorial role. And what a brilliant film. You think it's just another kid's film, and at some points, it does stray into that area. However, there are so many adult jokes and references it had to be rated a 12 over here in Britain. A nice film to watch on a night when there's not much on, and you don't need to concentrate. And Elisabeth Shue is pretty hot as well.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta (1986) - Hayao Miyazaki

Laputa: Castle in the Sky is the first of the Studio Ghibli films I have ever watched, and it did not disappoint. Whilst not as famous as some other big named Ghiblis, I struggle to see how much further they can better this. With an impressive dubbing starring Mark Hamill (who's he?), this is how cartoons for kids should be made.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Prisoners (2013) - Denis Villeneuve

This was a great film. I'm thinking of giving it five stars, just for blowing me away so much, after it had been so hyped as well.

Jake Gyllenhall has the sort of mouth that always looks like it's smiling, which makes dramatic scenes kind of awkward, especially as he's supposed to be the officer in charge of a kidnapping case. In this, he's very believable as a police officer in the way he draws his gun (reminiscent perhaps of End of Watch (2012) - David Ayer, when Gyllenhall also played a police officer) and his constant twitches made his character a real human being without giving too much away about his back story. Hugh Jackman was equally good, and well supported by the "other" father, played by Terrence Howard. The on screen chemistry between the two was very believable. One, a struggling carpenter, the other, a well to do probable office worker trying to look out for his mate on Thanksgiving, until the tables are turned and Jackman has to use his brutishness to find their kids.

But I think we all know that the real star of the show is Paul Dano, who really puts the performance in. His little screen time really makes us feel bad for the guy, even if he has kidnapped the girls. No spoilers, but I defy anyone to watch this film and not feel horrible for him (even with what he does to the dog - yelp!).

A beautiful film, and you know what? Fuck it: five stars.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Parallax View (1974) - Alan J Pakula

This film made absolutely no sense, but I think that's what it wanted. Only towards the end did I think I "got" it, but then it threw another curveball. It seemed a lot like The Box (2009) - Richard Kelly, in that there's a company that is never fully explained, but behind the adventure. And again, like The Box, I didn't enjoy it.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Friday (1995) - F Gary Gray

I know you don't smoke weed. I know this, but I'm gonna get you high today, 'cause it's Friday; you ain't got no job... and you ain't got shit to do. This movie probably appeals to the pot smokers of the world for this reason, but it's a good laugh, and still very entertaining to watch again and again.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Dead Silence (2007) - James Wan

Very similar to all of James Wan's films in pace and twist reveal (although I did enjoy the twist in this one, and did not see it coming. Topped off with a definite Mike Oldfield sounding version of the iconic Tubular Bells, and you've got yourself a purty good scary movie.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Heat (1995) - Michael Mann

Heat is a lovely film. And Al Pacino and Robert De Niro do not disappoint.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆