ScreenArchive

s

 

6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A - Multiple Viewing Possibilities
B - Deserves Another Look
C - Once Should Suffice

 

SADE LIVE
The lady with the immaculate voice sounds great on record, but pulls it off equally flawless in the live environment. This mid-90s show features some of her best known and loved songs like The Sweetest Taboo, Love Is Stronger Than Pride, Smooth Operator, No Ordinary Love and Paradise, not to mention Your Love Is King, Red Eye, Haunt Me, Pearls, Cherry Pie and Cherish The Day - 18 songs in all. Her graceful presence illuminates the stage as her band hit every note.
Sade's class separates her from your average female solo artist. Special features include Sade's biography and discography.
5 / B
- PB


SADE - Lovers Live
This twin package contains
Sade's long awaited album Lovers Rock on CD as well as the Lovers Live DVD. With 22 tracks, she performs Lovers Rock in its entirety, scattered amoung many old favourites (Smooth Operator, Jezebel, Paradise, The Sweetest Taboo, No Ordinary Love and Is It A Crime; plus Cherish The Day, Kiss Of Life, Pearls and more). The show is a smooth, atmospheric experience, Sade's voice carrying the entire evening. Additional material includes backstage footage, King Of Sorrow music video and classy stills from the tour. Message To Sade by The Polish Brothers is a collection of interviews with fans (sending messages, some singing her songs, one guy even proposing). As a Pop-Jazz icon Sade's fans have been patient and loyal during her long absence, proving their support with this release. A fine performance from both Sade and her band captures the emotion of each song, spellbinding the audience completely.
5 / A
- PB


SAHARA
With Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penelope Cruz, Lambert Wilson, Delroy Lindo, William H. Macy
Directed by Breck Eisner
McConaughey (also executive producer) stars in this action-adventure comedy romp in the desert as adventurer Dirk Pitt (with a tan and facial hair that makes him look like a Spanish gigolo). Pitt and his wisecracking buddy (Zahn) head out to West Africa to try and track down a lost American Civil War battleship with a valuable cargo that was never found. People are also dying inexplicably in the area, and together with the romantic interest (a world health worker played by Cruz), they get to the bottom of some serious underhanded dealings with life-threatening results, wild action set pieces and ludicrous scenarios. Fun, but no
Indiana Jones.
Bonus features include multiple commentary tracks, deleted scenes and documentaries.
3 / C
- PB


SANTANA - Sacred Fire (Live In Mexico)
Shot in 1993, this impeccable live performance by one of the world's living guitar legends offer up 1½ dozen songs predating the more commercial collaborative touches of
Santana's last two albums. It's one of those watch & enjoy, no-frills live shows that needn't rely on gimmicks as Carlos Santana and his lively band spread positive vibes from start to finish with classic songs like Black Magic Woman, Gypsy Queen, Guajira and more.
4 / B
- PB


SANTANA - Live By Request
Since the late '60s
Carlos Santana had a firm grip on his unique combination of Rock and Latin musical flavours, filled with rhythm and fire. This recent performance sees (and hears) the cream of the crop from Santana's prolific career. The man's fingers are still more than nimble on the guitar's fret board. Songs include Black Magic Woman, Oye Camo Va, Evil Ways, Foo Foo, Soul Sacrifice, and Adouma, as well as Smooth and Dame Tu Amor (with Rob Thomas), The Game Of Love (with Michelle Branch), and Maria Maria (with The Product G&B). Unfortunately no extra material is included.
5 / B
- PB


The SARAH BRIGHTMAN Special - HAREM a desert fantasy…
This one-hour journey takes you through the creation of
Sarah Brightman's Harem album. The Arabic word for forbidden place, the Western association is usually misconstrued as a brothel, which is not exactly the case. Contributors to the sound of the record include Egyptian musicians lending a haunting North African and Middle Eastern desert mood with traditional pipes & drums, like the Lebanese percussion. From these location recordings they also zipped by Abbey Road studios for some Nigel Kennedy violin. There is the orchestra and choirs, all supplementing Brightman's amazing voice. At the German studios the vocals and modernized electronics are added to the organic, earthy sounds, produced by Frank Peterson. Jaz Coleman (ex-Killing Joke) created the orchestration. Sarah's fantastic voice is obviously one of the highlights. A half hour behind-the-scenes documentary takes you through the process and includes the Harem video shot in Morocco and Egypt. The video can also be viewed in an alternate version (depicting the recording process & locations). Tracks from the album are scattered throughout the DVD and the music has a vast cinematic feel to it, sometimes tasting like a 007 movie. Makes you think, isn't it time they use Sarah for a James Bond theme song i.s.o. some mainstream pop choice? There's a location photo shoot & Photo Gallery. Sarah is extremely photogenic, seeming like a bushy haired frumpy lass, but styled & lighted she looks amazing. You've probably seen bits of this on TV with the album's release, but the DVD contains the whole deal. You'll can also access a detailed text Biography and Discography. With 15 million album sales under her garter, Brightman has come a long way since the Phantom Of the Opera... but I'm not so sure whether the album's release was good or bad timing (coming out around the 2nd Gulf War).
4 / C
- PB


SARAH BRIGHTMAN - LA LUNA: Live In Concert
I had tickets to go see
Sarah Brightman in concert when she swung by our Mother City, but didn't get to the show. So, this DVD is the closest I'll get to it, for now. This package not only includes 26 live songs wonderfully performed across her repertoire for the La Luna show with all of its beautiful stage extras, but also an added bunch of footage to send shivers down Sarah fans' spines. Songs include La Lune, Scarbborough Fair, Who Wants to Live Forever, Pie Jesu, Nessun Dorma, Phantom of the Opera Suite and more. The special features include an interview, behind the scenes of the show, recording of the album, photo shoots, after parties and rehearsals, including some spectacularly effective stage gimmicks. A music video of A Whiter Shade Of Pale is also included. This DVD is a full, well-packaged collectors' item highlighting most of this gifted artists talents, but also showing a lighter side to her and the effort that goes into such a show.
4 / B
- PB

SAVAGE GARDEN - Superstars And Cannonballs:
Live On Tour In Australia

This lively show in their Australian hometown include 17 tracks incl. their three fine hit tracks To The Moon And Back, Truly Madly Deeply and I Want You, as well as Affirmation, I Knew I Loved You, The Best Thing, Two Beds And A Coffee Machine, Hold Me, The Lover After Me and The Animal Song. They have a cool lighting set-up by the people who did work for
U2. There are costume changes. The documentary Parallel Lives takes a look at the two lads Darren & Daniel - one being the shy, quiet music guy, the other the show-off "Popstaa". Their two clashing personality types working well together. Some of the tracks get commentary as well as multi-angle tunes. You also get a not-too-vast discography, plus 3 bonus music videos. The bonus 12 track audio CD includes Affirmation, Crash And Burn, You Can Still Be Free - all 12 tracks appearing on the live show. They produce very good pop songs with a rock edge at times. The tackle serious and relevant subject matter as opposed to frivolous words to match the beat to get you dancing - Chained To You being the only blatant track treading that ground. Their Animal Song's line of "live like animals" sounds like "cannonballs" or "cannibals" - which they've also noticed! Love, emotion and pushing through the bad times are projected creatively and with talented musical prowess.
4 / C
- PB


SAVING GRACE
With Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson, Martin Clunes, Tchecky Karyo,
Leslie Phillips
Directed by Nigel Cole
When the widow of a sleepy fishing town in England inherits her dead husband’s debt, she has to make serious plans in order to keep the debtors at bay. It culminates in a partnership with her gardener where they put her orchid breeding skills to use by growing marijuana in her greenhouse. This light comedy is hardly a Cheech & Chong fest, but has many lovely, simple human qualities and laughs which separates it from the blockbuster mayhem.
3 / C
- PB


SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
With Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Mrs Ryan is one unlucky lady. Three of her sons get killed during WWII. The government decides to get a group of soldiers together to find her fourth son, somewhere in hostile territory, collect him and return him home. Hanks is the squad leader with this dangerous but noble task, leading a mixed bag of soldiers to do this job. The opening scene of this fine war film is one of the most hectic, disorienting and amazingly shot in a very long time. With the cinema sound in this scene being earblowingly fantastic, a home surround sound system will be the only way to do it justice in your lounge. Obviously on video it will also not be in widescreen, but don’t get me started on this. An amazing film with ground shaking scenes of war and real compassion for the characters.
5 / A
- PB

SAVIOR
With Dennis Quaid, Nastasja Kinski, Stellan Skarsgard
Directed by Peter Antonijevic
Hardcore, bitter war drama about a military man who loses his family in an Islamic bomb blast, resulting in him going off the rails blowing away a group of men at a mosque. He becomes a cold hearted mercenary and finds himself in Sarajevo sniping for the highest bidder. At a hostage trading area a woman gets returned, pregnant with an enemy child (the result of being raped). The local man with Quaid tries to kill her on the way home, inducing the pregnancy - Quaid kills him before he can kill her and delivers the baby. The two end up on the road - she wants nothing to do with the child and he doesn’t need the baggage, but slowly his emotions return and he starts looking after the baby. The three end up going through many trials in the hostile land, redemption at the end of the tunnel. A surprisingly moving and intense film that leaves one thinking.
4 / B
- PB

SAW
With Danny Glover, Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Ken Leung, Dina Meyer, Monica Potter
Directed by James Wan
Reports of this film as being a total gross out shocker is a bit of an overstatement. Along the mood of films like Fincher's
Se7en, this brutal thriller has two men waking up, both handcuffed at opposite sides of a room, a body lying between them in a pool of blood. The methods and past innovative murders of the serial killer responsible gets exposed in gruesome detail to the viewer as our two helpless men get clues and instructions on how to go free (the clock ticking). Then there is the cop that let the killer get away. This is a cleverly written flick, with elaborate and creative deaths to go with its moody atmosphere and suspense built around impending doom. Sadistic, cold hearted and brutal in parts, if you've seen the ending to the first Mad Max, you'll know what inevitability involving a hacksaw will swing by at least one of the characters. And if you know your actors' names (lead and below the top billing), this may help you in figuring out who the killer is, due to his subtle presence and non-visibility at the same time.
PS. When I saw the names of Carey Elwes and Monica Potter (respectively starring in the related
Kiss The Girls and Along Came A Spider), as a result I got Glover mixed up with Morgan Freeman (who portrayed the forensic psychologist in both those films), I thought it was interesting how they're all in one movie together. When I realized my ID stuff-up and the fact that the other two characters both died, I abandoned that silly train of thought, so just forget about reading this last bit of rambling.
4 / B
- PB


SAW II
With Donny Wahlberg, Tobin Bell, Glenn Plummer, Franky G, Emmanuaelle vaugier, Beverly Mitchell
Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman
The chances of a horror movie sequel matching (not to mention topping) its predecessor, is rare. In the case of Saw II the filmmakers managed to construct a very cool follow-up with some good twists. Our original distant terminally ill killer nicknamed Saw (because of the jigsaw clues cut from his victims) again punishes people who don't appreciate life. In a very bad state as his cancer eats away at him, Saw is trapped by a cop and S.W.A.T. team. But, the cop's son is captive in house somewhere with a group of other captives. A poisonous gas will snuff them out in a set period and they have to play by the rules, decipher clues and get to the bottom of their predicament. One of the captives is the only Saw survivor briefly in the first film (escaping the jaw-trap). This entire scene is played out on screens hooked up to the secret location. The cop has to play along to get his son back and save the others (who slowly start turning on each other). Gruesome and convoluted, this is great, grissly fun with a cool punch line.
4 / B
- PB


SAY IT ISN'T SO
With Heather Graham, Sally Field
Directed by J.B. Rogers
Publicized as being from the Farrelley Bros. (
There’s Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene), they are in fact only part of the production credits. It does follow the line of their bad taste comedy filmmaking, but lacks that edge which usually separates their films from the likes of Adam Sandler. A young guy is looking for his birth family. He meets a girl and they plan to marry - only to find out his mother-in-law-to-be is his biological mom (thanks to an oily PI)! Thus the love of his life is his sister! His life is ruined and he falls apart - she moves back to her ex across the States - a wealthy tosser. Will he accept this? The stupid-ass jokes, slapstick and bad taste flows freely as this fun little comedy pokes at everything from strokes to amputees. No Comedy Hall Of Fame contender, but a time-passer for a 90 minute getaway - unless you offend easily.
3 / C
- PB

SCARED ALIVE
With Barry Dove, Rick Dean, Red McVay
Directed by Bill Naud
An early '80s yawnfest of a low budget horror attempt that doesn't even try to compensate for its lack of cash with well thought out plots or at least creative murders. The cast and crew for a low budget film head out to an island where they get picked off one by one to the tune of a song on a little tape player with their mode of death always in the lyrics - a lame Ramones-styled song. While the whole final punchline is actually not that bad, the poor acting, drudging pace and non-existent scares and not very special FX make it more laborious than entertaining. Some of the crap acting and bad lines are actually pretty amusing, but if you want to laugh, get
Young Frankenstein. The tag-line of "it's worse than dying" can easily be applied to the watching experience, but at least these guys went out, shot and released their effort. If you are fascinated by cheap obscurities like Horror Farm, this may be your cup of bile.
PS. I picked this up in 2001 at a second hand store for R9 (the equivalent of around $1 !) - and it was a waste of money!
1 / C
- PB


SCARFACE
With Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeifer, Steven Bauer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia
Directed by Brian DePalma
With the help of Oliver Stones screenplay, Brian DePalma recreated the classic
Scarface Chicago gangster tale of the '30s in an '80s Miami setting, making one of the best organized crime movies of that decade. Tony Montana is a Cuban refugee who enters America with big dreams. But for someone like him getting beyond washing dishes to the big time via legal channels is very slim. Together with a friend Tony rises up the gangster ranks, eventually usurping the top seat. In a haze of cocaine he becomes the king of the world, but is as susceptible to a hostile take-over like anyone. Running an empire with double crossing colleagues, over-protecting a sister who wants to do her own thing, a coked out girlfriend, coke smugglers who don't want to negotiate better wholesale prices and a business that can get you locked up forever, Tony takes the reigns and goes all out. With so many memorable scenes, this epic is one of DePalma and Pacino's coolest movies, clocking in at almost 3 hours.
6 / A
- PB


SCARY MOVIE 2
With Shawn & Marlon Wayans, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, James Woods, Tim Curry
Directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans
As if the first one wasn't enough! With the enormous box office takings, what's the chance of the Wayans family not cashing in again? The
Naked Gun-style movie rip-offs abound again (mostly Horror) flowing freely with the bad taste and crude factor still well in tact. Most of the characters from the first Scary Movie return to form with silly, crazy, dumb & nuts scenarios flowing into one another. Cheap laughs never made so much money!
2 / B
- PB


SCARY MOVIE 3
With Charlie Sheen, Anna Faris, Anthony Anderson, Simon Rex, Leslie Nielsen, Queen Latifah, Pamela Anderson
Directed by David Zucker
The Zuckers will never be likely to shy away from the movie spoof genre. This time round
Scary Movie has taken on a life of its own while still dependent on other popular flicks. Here they take a stab at The Ring, Signs, even 8 Mile and The Matrix, blending them into a concoction of total stupidity and sometimes a laugh or two. Silly physical jokes, a touch of vulgarity, direct movie reference rip-offs, boobs and a whole lot of hamming up later at least makes you sit through the calamity, since you can't help but find it funny (provided of course you've seen the bits they rip off). There is a Michael Jackson bit in a scene stolen from The Others that is just plain freaky and funny in a very sick way. Slapmeister Leslie Nielsen pops in as the stupid president, Ja Rule his bodyguard. Sadly there are no Wyans present. With slapstick flicks like Flying High (aka Airplane), Top Secret, Hot Shots and now this, the Zucker brothers are a far cry from the Coen brothers, that's for damn sure!
2 / B
- PB


SCHINDLER’S LIST
With Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Embeth Davidtz
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Oscar winning WWII drama dealing with opportunistic capitalist who ends up looking past his greed to help over a thousand Jewish workers escape the Nazi labour camps and gas chambers. Shot in black & white, this vivid, shocking drama earned Spielberg his first director’s Oscar. Eye opening and disturbing, it all lies in the uninhibited honesty of the subject matter and fine performances. Absolutely heart-shredding.
6 / B
- PB


SCHOOL OF ROCK
With Jack Black, Joan Cusack
Directed by Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater (who gave us
Slacker, Dazed & Confused, Before Sunrise & - Sunset) surprises everyone who thought he would come out with another talky flick Philosophy students and coffee shop arties would love. He teams up with comedic madman Jack Black, who plays a guitarist in a rock band that gets kicked out of his own group, replaced by a better looking poser. He's freaked out, especially since the battle of the bands is round the corner. Totally into his rock & roll lifestyle he's unemployed, sleeps late and mooches off his buddy, a school temp (his girlfriend getting on his case about it). In order to get money, he fakes being a school temp when he takes a call intended for his housemate. Impersonating his pal, with the intention of loafing through class, collecting the pay cheque, he discovers some of the kids in his class can play instruments. He springs into action to put a rock band together, maybe even playing at the battle of the bands competition. Sure, I also thought the kid element would be a sell-out drag, but they're quite good, playing well off the manic Black. The soundtrack contains some great rock tunes, old and new (some cool ones unfortunately not making it to the soundtrack album). I also didn't notice any Tenacious D (quite odd, being Jack's crazy two man band). If Adam Sandler was cast it would be an entirely different movie, for a start not as funny. Black takes it and rolls with it, wringing hilarity out of the simplest scenario. School Of Rock has the odd soppy moment, but as a whole it's quite a blast.
4 / B
- PB

SCOOBY DOO 2
With Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Geller, Seth Green, Alicia Silverstone
I missed the first live action version of this much loved (but ultimately crap) cartoon series (if you didn't grow up with it). Besides never being a great fan, the main reason was the annoying Matthew Lillard in the role of Shaggy. Top this off with the 2-dimensional Freddie Prinze Jr. and the all-American blondie Sarah Michelle Gellar, and you're in for a grating ride. (This second installment adds the bothersome ingredient of Alicia Silverstone and dull Seth Green). But with its colourful explosion of frivolity, spooks and bad jokes (not to mention the crap digitally created Scooby dog), youngsters will dig it. Not like a plot is necessary, but here the spook criminal investigators of Mystery Inc. have to solve the dilemma of a masked mastermind stealing the exhibited costumes of all the ghosts & goblins the team have caught, creating a new range of baddies to terrorize the city.
2 / C
- PB


THE SCORE
With Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton, Marlon Brando, Angela Basset
Directed by Frank Oz
Kermit the Frog has become quite the slick film director. While mostly going the Steve Martin comedy route, this way more serious heist-flick by Oz does tend to follow many of the same old recipes. Like, for instance, the old pro who wants to do one last big score so he can settle down with his lady (who can't see the importance of this one last job & just not quit right away). Then there's the young gun in on the multi-million dollar scam. The connection. The inevitable betrayal… Nothing new. That's all fat, while the meat of the matter is located in the setting up, planning and ultimate execution of the elaborate scheme to steal a priceless scepter from the high security basement in the Montreal customs office. Tension mounts in all of these areas, but you pretty much know which way it'll swing. Fun entertainment, though.
3 / C
- PB

SCREAM
With Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich, Courteney Cox, Rose McGowan, David Arquette, Drew Barrymore
Directed by Wes Craven
The creator of that jackass show Dawson's Creek started a whole new resurrection of the classic '80s slasher flick genre. At least director Craven is a horror veteran with his Nightmare On Elm Street flicks and by mocking the genre's recipe, has fun with it.
3 / B

- PB

SCREAM 2
With Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette
Directed by Wes Craven
The usual suspects return, proving that (usually, and in this, definitely) the sequel is usually the crappest installment - as Craven saw with the raping of his initial Freddy idea with the puke inducing bad follow-up. They rip this fact off in the movie while in fact they make themselves guilty of it. Puns like you'll Scream to make he rubbish stop can be flung in any ol' direction, but it boild down to - Dreadful.
1 / C
- PB


SCREAM 3
With Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox, Parker Posey, Patrick Dempsey, Lance Henricksen
Directed by Wes Craven
After the slasher-flick resurgence with the first Scream, buckets full of imitations of the imitation spilled forth. With its success (financially, of course), a sequel was inevitable. But this third installment should hopefully lay the whole thing to rest. More running, stabbing and screaming as this time round Sidney (Campbell) is lured out of her tranquil place of reclusive hiding, when a killer in the same garb kill people in body count sequence of the 3rd Stab film in production (based on the killings of the original Scream). Some laughs, cheap frights and many cop outs turn this into another piece of fluff - although Campbell & Cox are mighty fine.
2 / B
- PB

SCRUBBERS
With Chrissie Cotterill, Amanda York, Elizabeth Edmonds, Kate Ingram
Directed by Mai Zetterling
Reform school girls in the showers always seem like a titillating thought, but here we get to stare at the underbelly of hardcore, under-aged offenders. This might scare away people who are considering a career in social services, yet it also sheds light on the aspirations and feelings within these outcasts who are never given a chance. Directed by Mai Zetterling with Chrissie Cotterill and Amanda York.
4 / B
- PB


SEABISCUIT
With Jeff Bridges, Tobey Maguire, Chris Cooper
Directed by Gary Ross
Besides some Oscar® nominated credibility, it takes a lot for a movie about a racehorse to draw me to it. I eventually saw it and was pleasantly surprised by this uplifting tale of triumph. It's the depression era and four down on their luck lives converge. They are an automobile builder, a feisty young man who wants to be a jockey but isn't small enough, a cowboy whose roaming nature is fenced in by ranches and a horse he saves from being shot. Together they build a championship team winning almost every championship they enter. Based on a true story, the victory of the underdog plays out perfectly in this well-told tale with lovely cinematography and believable characterization. Fans of Black Beauty, The Black Stallion and National Velvet will be well pleased.
4 / C
- PB


THE SEA INSIDE
With Javier Bardem, Belén Rueda, Lola Duenas, Mabel Rivera
Directed by Alejandro Amenábar
This Spanish Best Foreign Oscar winner is an emotional ride with a quadriplegic, Ramon, who has been confined to his bed for 26 years after an accident diving into an ocean pool. He is fighting the authorities to allow euthanasia and keeps hitting dead ends. If he could do it himself, he would, but he also doesn't want to implicate his family and friends (many of them respecting his viewpoint, but don't want him to go through with it). He also befriends a young single mother. His brother, sister in law and their son look after him, and an agency fighting for his right to choose have become very close to him, making his decision even harder to swallow. A specialist lawyer is called in. She has a degenerative disease that will ultimately lead to her death, and the two of them connect. Ramon's only escape is to fantasize about flying to his favourite beach. But when reality strikes back, he is still helpless in his bed.
The Sea Inside is a stirring drama based on a true story, dealing with both emotional and controversial issues. The fact that Oscar winners are often connected to some affliction or disability is again proven here. Bonus features include director's commentary, deleted scenes, photo gallery and a documentary - A Trip To The Sea Inside.
4 / C
- PB

SECOND SKIN
With Javier Bardem, Jordi Molla, Ariadna Gil, Cecilia Roth
Directed by Gerardo Vera
Touching Spanish film dealing with love and infidelity. An attractive wife and mother discovers her husband is having an affair… but unaware that it is with another man. He still loves her, but feels the same about his lover. The complex and painful situation meanders when he promises he’ll never speak with his lover again. But he cannot stay away. Most of the time the sympathy lies with the wife, her husband’s sometimes heartless idiocy leaving little room for empathy. Then there is the lover who is instrumental and no faceless sidekick. His feelings are also real and passionate. This intricate love story won’t be everyone’s cup of tea as it is no flowery, fluffy mainstream slice of cinema. The black & white Rorscach-style collage titles serve for a lovely opening, elements from the film incorporated, without giving away anything.
4 / C
- PB

THE SECRET ADVENTURES OF TOM THUMB
With Nick Upton, Deborah Collard, Frank Passingham, John Schofield
Directed by Dave Borthwick
A mindblower of an animated film, with a difference. What sets this apart from other animated movies is the fact that it's not cuddly and warm, but dark and tragic; but most of all it is the technique of traditional stop animation that expands into live action, actors animated together with the plasticine and latex characters. Bolex Brothers affiliate Dave Borthwick took the classic Tom Thumb fairytale and gave it a fantastic reworking, as our title character's diminutive stature does not prevent him from becoming a hero in a cruel, depressing world of downtrodden people and abused creatures. The revolutionary animation is sensational, the art- and creature design great.
Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones wrote the Tom Thumb theme with The Startled Insects doing the rest of the eerie soundtrack. A powerful film that simply everyone has to behold.
6 / A
- PB


SEED OF CHUCKY
With Jennifer Tilly, Redman, John Waters, Hannah Spearritt, and the voices of Brad Dourif and Billy Boyd
Directed by Don Mancini
Franchise creator Don Mancini is taking the helm of this fifth instalment. The fact that the
Child's Play movies have become a parody of itself is no surprise, only now it has gone all the way, with Tilly (who debuted as the voice of the Tiffany doll in Bride Of Chucky) playing herself and taking the piss all the way. Her career is on the fritz and she needs a big hit. Rapper Redman has turned director and is doing a Jesus epic, and she wants to play Mary. Chucky's kid (born at the end of Bride) has been used by a scummy ventriloquist and escapes from the UK to look for his parents. He accidentally resurrects the two dolls (used in a horror movie shoot). The hacking couple is back and soon their killer instincts flare up. Chucky wants the (crotch-less) plastic progeny to be a boy, following in his dad's murderous footsteps, while mom wants a girl who doesn't kill. The B-movie king Ed Wood's transvestite film Glen Or Glenda gets a homage with the battle between Chucky and Tiffany to call the kid either one or the other. The jokes are slapstick, the lines cheesy, the entire plot as hokey as it can get (as if a killing doll isn't enough already!). But, our new parents still want live human bodies and decide to get channeled into Redman and Tilly and be a new Hollywood power-couple to boot! But the kid also needs a body, so Chucky has to whack off in a cup to artificially inseminate the hamming Meg. This makes for an hilariously crude scene with cult director John Waters playing a tabloid photographer who snaps this action. Crazy, silly, occasionally funny and definitely entertaining, the film also features some cameos from actors like local-guy-cracking-it Jason Flemyng.
3 / B
- PB


SEINFELD Seasons 1 & 2
With Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards
Directed by Tom Cherones, Art Wolff
Standup comedians Larry David and Jerry Sienfeld created a sitcom that redefined the whole game. No-one anticipated it. The expectations for the '90s were high after the shortcomings of the Reagan-Thatcher-era '80s (which did however spawn some great music and movies, but bad fashion and TV). The characters of Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer in the New York City setting took the viewer into everyday settings, more often than not focused on relationships, the pursuit thereof and the hilarious results of the characters' hang-ups and general human fallibilities. But what made these shows so great was the fact that the writers really got great moments out of the most basic of day-to-day human activity, from laundry and jobs to phone messages. This DVD series is a brilliantly packaged 4-disc foldout box-set affair with all the remastered episodes plus a truckload of extra features. This batch contains the first five episode (plus the pilot) of the first season, as well as the second series' 13 episodes. It includes shows like The Stake-Out, The Robbery, The Ex-Girlfriend, The Pony Remark, The Jacket, The Apartment, The Chinese Restaurant and The Deal. The packed extras on all of the season releases include interviews with all the key players, commentary tracks, deleted scenes, notes, inside looks, bloopers, photo galleries and web links, plus additional stand-up bits from Jerry Seinfeld. This first release also contains a Making-Of Documentary. At first many viewers weren't prepared for the blend of clever writing, situation comedy, slapstick and human quirks, but soon couldn't wait to turn on their TVs to let their favourite bunch of nuts into their homes.
6 / A
- PB


SEINFELD Season 3
With Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards
Directed by Tom Cherones, David Steinberg, Joshua White
If you're unfamiliar with this TV series, you certainly missed out on a piece of the '90s and TV history. But, now's your chance to catch up and get turned on to this revolutionary comedy series which defied the format. Seinfeld pretty much played himself, also a stand-up comic in the show, bits of club based routine opening and closing each episode (plus bits in between), mostly relating to subjects cropping up in the show. George is the neurotic incompetent, Elaine the girl in the gang who's pretty much one of the guys and Kramer the mad neighbour (adding physical comedy to the smart verbal quips). The 22 shows of Season 3 include The Note, The Parking Garage, The Pez Dispenser, The Subway, The Keys and the two part Boyfriend episodes. Never before has personal hang-ups, quirks, menial daily activity and sitting around talking crap been so brilliantly utilized for comedic effect. The substantial load of extras on all of the season releases include interviews with all the key players, commentary tracks, deleted scenes, notes, inside looks, outtakes, photo galleries and web links, plus additional stand-up bits from Jerry. This 3rd season release also includes a piece on Kramer's origin. Some people were aghast at the million-dollar payday Jerry Seinfeld eventually received per episode, but with the global popularity of the show, why not? I have to add, I do love good packaging. These compact 4-disc releases slide in & fold out with images of our favourite New Yorkers Jerry, Elaine, Kramer and George all over the place. This is also my first encounter with a new space saving twin disc storing technique, which has two discs overlapping.
6 / A
- PB

SEPULTURA
With Sepultura
Three of the band’s videos from the Roots album are represented her, reason being they were never broadcast in their entirety on worldwide TV. Roots Bloody Root, Hatamatata and Attitude can be seen as intended, the band’s vision in tact. More so than other bands of the heavy metal genre, Sepultura have delved into their Brazilian culture, incorporating it in their music, and the same with these videos. The first with its traditions and percussion, the second (a great piece of stop-animation) focussing on Brazilian folk heroes and the last placing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ultimate world fighting champ Gracie ring center (literally). They’re all fine videos for fans and the mere interested alike. It also includes interview links relating to the ideas behind the videos, what it means to the band and how it came about. It might not be as long as some hardcore fans would’ve hoped, but it’s still a fine piece of Sepultura history you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.
5 / A
- PB

SEPULTURA - Under Siege (Live in Barcelona)
With Sepultura
Directed by Steve Payne
This powerful live show by the Brazilian metal monsters in Barcelona seemed to come out of the blue and smack the scene upside the head (especially those unaware of the band). From poverty and years of struggle in Sao Paulo, their alternative attitude turned them to expressing their dissatisfaction with the dispensation in brutal, fast music. The show is energetic, furious and invigourating, the band playing as a tight unit intent on taking no prisoners. The in between interviews don’t really retract from the flow of the show, but in stead provide those unprepared for it just enough time to catch their breath. This was filmed as they started to make a worldwide impact and even though vocalist Max Cavalera moved on to form his new band Soulfly, it’s still a great video to watch (and hear), with some of their coolest songs from that period in their career.
5 / A
- PB

SERENDIPITY
With John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Molly Shannon, Jeremy Piven
Directed by Peter Chelsom
Cusack is no stranger to romantic comedies. Here he pairs up with
Pearl Harbour lass Kate Beckinsale. The two meet in a department store where the first spark strikes. They chat all night and sit down at the Serendipity restaurant - a prophetic place where the coincidences are ignited. They are both involved and decide not to swap numbers. In stead she writes hers in the front of a book and promises to sell it to a second hand dealer. If he finds it, it's meant to be. Years later when they are to marry their respective partners, the two still can't get the other out of their minds. Clues and hints start to pile up, making it obvious that they have to try once more to find the other before they commit themselves to someone else for good. With the film's title getting full mileage, the near hits and misses can get frustrating, but takes some wonderful turns. From the outset it seems to be one of those passable romantic movies, but becomes a pleasant, warm film of love and destiny.
4 / C
- PB

SERIAL MOM
With Kathleen Turner, Ricki Lake, Sam Waterston, Matthew Lilliard, Scott Wesley Morgan, Mink Stole, Traci Lords
Directed by John Waters
Turner still has it as she relishes this wacky role only John Waters could’ve thought up. A lovely mother/housewife is actually a serial killer in a quiet suburb. All hell breaks loose as she starts knocking off more people than usual, her oblivious family getting entangled. Crazy and funny, the dark element not once touching on the serious - as it ought to be.
5 / A
- PB

SERIES 7: The Contenders
With Brooke Smith, Mark Woodbury, Michael Kaycheck, Marylouise Burke, Merritt Weaver, Richard Venture, Glenn Fitzgerald
Directed by Daniel Minahan
Taking the "reality TV" and
Blair Witch angle one step further, these low budget film-makers manage to pull a believable and chilling portrayal of how far our voyeurism and fascination with reality shows could go. For those unaware of Man Bites Dog (a Belgian classic about a documentary film crew following a killer around on his various "jobs" - making the voyeuristic crew and viewers accomplices), Series 7 boils down to a similar principle. Only difference is, where Man Bites Dog is a "private" and perverse documentation of murder & mayhem, Series 7 takes it a step further by bringing the real killings into the homes of everyone with a TV set. Half a dozen contestants are randomly picked, each armed with a weapon and a cameraman. Eliminating the other contestants before they nail you is the main objective, the method entirely open for improvisation. The hunter-killer theme had been used quite of through literature and cinema. The Prize Of Peril was a book and film before Stephen King's Running Man echoed its televised runner chased by killers. Hard Target and Surviving The Game took the "hunting humans" angle in a blood thirsty private capacity as opposed to this "beamed into every home" approach of Series 7. The actors appear very natural and convincing as they portray the varied contenders from a pregnant woman (the reigning champ), a testicular cancer survivor, a teenage girl, an old man and an elderly nurse. The TV show links and commentator is great. The blatant social commentary is apparent and the cold blooded realism will shock and appall many viewers while its inherent humour is undeniably choice. Some will laugh because of its satirical lunacy while other will laugh because they're shocked. While walkouts are highly likely, I would urge viewers to sit through it for great story development and climax. (Brooke Smith, the excellent lead actress in this compelling film, portrayed the hostage of Silence Of The Lambs' serial killer).
5 / B
- PB


SERVING SARA
With Matthew Perry, Elizabeth Hurley, Bruce Campbell, Cedric The Entertainer
Directed by Reginald Hudlin
Seeing the cover to this comedy makes me want to groan. But, this little film is not all that bad.
Friends star Perry plays a court order server. He has to lay divorce papers on our pretty (but annoying) Liz, who is being dumped by her cheating rich Texan hubby (played by the cool Bruce Campbell). Time become a factor when whoever serves the papers first will have a head start in court. This means she can lose a huge settlement. Perry is also about to lose his job for not performing - his colleague out to thwart him. Long story short - he takes her side to nail the bastard husband and, guess what, slowly falls for her (now that was a surprise wasn't it?). Enjoyable, but forgettable.
3 / C
- PB

SESSION 9
With David Caruso, Peter Mullan, Brendan Sexton III, Josh Lucas, Stephen Gevedon
Directed by Brad Anderson
Ah, an interesting psychological scare flick for a change - no teenagers running around screaming. A team of guys get contracted to do an asbestos removal job at an old dilapidated and deserted mental hospital to be turned into a commercial facility. At a very steady pace things start to turn strange. Each of the team have their personal problems to deal with amid the rush to finish the job. The team foreman's marriage seems to be on the rocks, his partner trying to hold things together while another of the guys is having a thing with his ex-girlfriend. There's a young mullet idiot and an educated man who nips out to listen to tapes he found in a storeroom of a patient with multiple personalities. A very eerie atmosphere is created as things start to unravel, fall apart and become deadly scary. This is a great thriller with some frightening moments and well worth the 90 odd minutes.
5 / B
- PB

SET IT OFF (in Afrikaans)
met Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Blair Underwood
Regisseur: F. Gary Gray
Vier vriendinne in die South Central Los Angeles area besluit dat hulle onbevoorregte situasie onverdraaglik begin word tot die punt van desperasie. Hulle neem die gesamentlike besluit dat hulle enigste uitweg sal wees om bankrowers te word. Alles verloop glad totdat hulle versteekte fortuin verdwyn. Dan begin die poppe dans. Ek weet nie of ek die enigste een is wat so voel nie, maar die cliche van die South Central tragedie wat deur John Singleton se Boyz N' The Hood begin is, word nou 'n bietjie afgesaag. Die hip-hop kultuur wat baie Suid Afrikaners as hulle eie aanneem word ook na ons gegooi op elke tweede sitcom op die televisie. Daar is definitief 'n mark daarvoor, maar nes erotiese rillers word sekere temas 'n bietjie oordoen. Tussen die geweld en kru taal kan die prent wel 'n "boost" wees vir die vroulike geslag, deurdat die karakters opstaan, reageer en vuurwapens hanteer nes enige man kan.
2 / C
- PB


THE 70's SOUL JAM - Live From The Palace Theater
These days you get many young cocky singers trying to emulate the Soul power of the past legends. But there's nothing like the real thing. These performances by a variety of classic Soul artists from the 1970s ware recently recorded at the Palace Theatre in New Haven. There are the
Stylistics, The Dramatics, The Chi-Lites, The Delfonics, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Major Harris, and Cuba Gooding Sr. (Oscar winning Jr.'s dad). They may be coming on in years, but they've still got it. A great nostalgia breeder.
5 / B
- PB


SEX PISTOLS - The Filth And The Fury
With Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Johnny Rotten, Glen Matlock
Directed by Julien Temple
Made about three decades after the swift rise and fall of the rule breaking Punk band the
Sex Pistols, Great Rock 'N Roll Swindle director Julien Temple revisited the subject. Here he delved deeper into the tumultuous post WWII times of idealism, which was a social disaster (giving birth to widespread dissatisfaction), the band members' pasts and the band's inception, plus more personal details. As a reaction against conservative illusions and repression of anything going against the state controlled status quo, the Sex Pistols was an avenue for young people who had enough of the old guard oppressing them. With new Rotten, Cook, Jones and (original bassist) Matlock interviews, Temple get the firsthand opinions, memories and accounts from the guys who lived it - the joy and mostly bitterness and sadness it bred, due to more reasons than Malcolm McLaren being a prick. With some shots re-used from the Great Rock 'N Roll Swindle, it is hardly a mere rehash with some unseen band, news and BBC footage, or extended pieces (which includes Siouxie Sioux and Billy Idol). A fascinating and heartbreaking viewing, especially when Rotten breaks down about the loss of Sid Vicious. This is a perfect companion-piece to the Swindle movie. Includes a trailer and commentary track.
6 / B
- PB


SEX PISTOLS - THE GREAT ROCK 'N ROLL SWINDLE
With Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Malcolm McLaren
Directed by Julien Temple
Today kids think "Punk" is a bunch of fashionably styled baggy-denimmed, mushy-gelled hair lads playing up-tempo radio friendly sing-along rock tunes. They're obviously oblivious to the existence of socially charged groups like
Exploited, Dead Kennedys, Discharge, G.G. Allin and of course, one of the original pioneers of the late '70s, the Sex Pistols - not to mention the social, political and economic motivations behind it all. This movie surpasses all the cheesy band movies that came before from The Beatles and The Monkees to Elvis and The Spice Girls. Here you get the telling of the band's rise and fall via an energetic mix-match of documentary and live footage, crazy animation, a fake PI thread and manager Malcolm McLaren's 10 point lesson in swindling the record companies out of as much cash from chaos as possible. Director Julian Temple undertook this triple headed mix of documentary, rockumentary and mockumentary across several years while still in film school, and ended up with one of the classic rock films of our time (regardless of McLaren's egotistical interference). Obviously the soundtrack is wall-to-wall Sex Pistols, from Anarchy In The UK, Holidays In The Sun and God Save The Queen to guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook's tunes with exiled great train robber Ronnie Biggs in Brazil, and Sid Vicious' deliciously twisted version of My Way and Eddie Cochran tunes. This highly entertaining romp takes you through the triumphs, tribulations, pain, chaos, sorrow and tragedy that gave these young misfits (and a generation who identified with their disenfranchised lot) something to believe in, but ultimately also their demise - in particular the ultimate price in the death of Sid Vicious and his nasty piece of work girlfriend Nancy. With language, nudity and profanity that'll shock many viewers, this remains one of the best rock movies ever, and a piece of history.
6 / A
- PB


SHALLOW GRAVE
With Ewan McGregor, Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston, Ken Scott, Keith Allen
Directed by Danny Boyle
This admirable mid-90s debut effort by the team who went on to give us
Trainspotting utilizes mystery, noir and suspense standards to great effect. A group of three housemates get an extra lodger, but find him mysteriously dead in his room - and with him an obscene stash of dosh. Utilizing great suspense & tension with innovative photography, greed and mistrust soon has the three friends turning on each other (on top of the fact that the money's owners are looking for it). This was also McGregor's kick-start to stardom.
4 / B
- PB

SHALLOW GRAVE
With Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston, Kerry Fox
Directed by Danny Boyle
Intriguing, tense low budget Scottish feature about a group of housemates who turn against one another when a new boarder is found dead in his room with a suitcase filled with cash. Inventively written and shot, the performances are equally good. One of the best thrillers to come from this part of the UK.
5 / A
- PP


SHALLOW HAL
With Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Black, Jason Alexander
Directed by The Farelley Bros.
The Brothers F had brought us a wild array of comedic cinema, usually wading around the bad taste end of the pool. But, taste so bad and human, you cannot help but laugh at their exposing of the crude and funny sides of life most people would never talk about - opening the sluices to these potentially hilarious phenomena and making us laugh at ourselves via on-screen reflective personalities. But, be it
Dumb & Dumber, King Pin, There's Something About Mary or Me, Myself & Irene, they don't hold themselves back when it comes to leaning on the sentimentality (and even romantic) taps. It usually involves an incompetent who might just get the girl. With Shallow Hal, Jack Black depicts a guy who, all his life merely looked at women from the outside. When he gets stuck in a lift with motivational guru Anthony Robbins, the guy whips him around mentally to see beyond the aesthetic exterior and see the internal beauty. That's when he falls for our Gwyneth, who is in fact one huge lady. But to Hal, she is a slim beauty and he cannot believe his luck that she doesn't have a boyfriend. Alexander (Seinfeld's George) does his thing as the buddy with some funny results. While some of the gags are predictable, this movie is more socially conscious than any of the previous Farelley outings. While making fun of overweight situations, they also turn the spotlight on how cruel the world can be towards people finding themselves to be more than just a couple of pounds over.
4 / B
- PB


SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE
with John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, Udo Kier, Eddie Izzard
Directed by E. Elias Merhige
Vampire genres have ventured in almost every possible direction: Classic (Bela Lugosi's
Dracula), Teen (The Lost Boys), Comedy (The Fearless Vampire Killers), Blaxploitation (Blackula), Epic (Bram Stoker's Dracula), Cheezy (Andy Warhol's Dracula), Realism (The Addiction), Stoopid (Dracula - Dead And Loving It), Stylish Action (Blade), Erotic Exploitation (The Bare Breasted Countess)… With limited access to one of the best (and most overlooked) vampire classics, few are aware of F.W. Murnau's amazing 1920's film, Nosferatu. Stoker's wife wouldn't surrender the rights for the eccentric German director to film her late husband's novel, Dracula. So, Murnau merely changed names and minor details. Shadow Of The Vampire is an incredibly rich film combining pseudo-fact, horror, comedy and art. We're taken on a film-maker's journey as the determined Murnau leads the participants through a nightmarish stint to commit this tale to celluloid. Where I am sure that many of the struggles in making this slice of genius might well have occurred (albeit sometimes presented in a more comedic fashion than would've been reality), one serious bit of fact gets altered which is the film's main premise and focus. This is the case of actor Max Schreck who played the vampire. Murnau told his cast and crew that he is a serious method actor who will only appear in full make-up and character. Slowly everyone starts to wonder about this weird "actor", if he IS in fact one and exactly how Murnau intends on remunerating him for his "performance", members of production getting freaked out and also dying. Shadow Of The Vampire defies a clean-cut genre definition like the above-mentioned films and aside from its great visualization and intelligent writing (Steven Katz), is part of its genius. If you hadn't seen the original Nosferatu, this film will still be a great experience, but those viewers familiar with the masterpiece (or even Werner Herzog's outstanding 70's remake with Klaus Kinski and Isabelle Adjani) will get so much more from it.
5 / A
- PB

SHAFT
With Samuel L. Jackson, Christian Bale, Vanessa Williams, Richard Roundtree
Directed by John Singleton
This is not a re-make. This particular Mr Shaft is the nephew of the real mean mutha (shut yo’ mouth) who dazzled audiences in the 70’s in the form of Richard Roundtree, the ex-cop turned PI who gets way in deep. As a black rolemodel, he still kicks ass. (Roundtree pops up a few times). Jackson is a brilliant choice here as the cop who quits after a race killer constantly gets off the hook. He tries to take him down any which way - the last resort being a witness on the lam. The action, the attitude and humour is all pretty top notch and even if you missed the original (which you’d better track down), this is still a great film on many levels.
5 / B
- PB

SHAKIRA - Live Off The Record
The bleached Colombian hip wiggler is quite a talented little girl (also playing guitar, drums and harmonica), even if her throaty yodel gets a bit annoying. Her live set is expertly executed, almost half in Spanish, the other in English. Being a rock fan, she hair-bangs to an
AC/DC cover (Back In Black) and obviously finishes the set off with her hit Whenever, Wherever, other favourites including Si Te Vas, Underneath Your Clothes and The One. A great fan extra is the inclusion of a DVD containing her live show with 15 tracks as opposed to the CD's 10. Some of the extra songs include Rules, Ready For The Good Times, and Inevitable. Besides frivolous pop and love songs, she also has a political view of peace as on Octavo Dia (featuring a backdrop of Bush & Hussain playing chess, both controlled by the Grim Reaper), the band wearing politician masks. It also contains an in depth documentary and other extras.
4 / C
- PB


SHALL WE DANCE?
With Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Jennifer Lopez
Directed by Peter Chelsom
Like wedding movies, dance flicks always have a huge audience, the viewers not necessarily dance fans. This one is a remake. Gere plays a successful family man who feels that there's something missing in his life when his wife can't think of what to get him for his birthday. On his way home by train from work every evening he spots a young woman staring out of a window at a dance studio. This drives him to go there and together with a few other oddly matched guys they start taking ballroom dancing lesson. Obviously he checks the young instructor out and his wife doesn't know about these nightly dance lessons. Will he cheat? Will she find out? These questions become irrelevant as he finds a part of himself he didn't know existed. Initially I was reluctant to bother watching this, but it will be especially entertaining for middle-aged viewers. Extras include director's commentary, deleted scenes, beginner's ballroom and music videos.
PS. Interesting to see the resurrection of Casablanca Records that was created for the band Kiss in the '70s and also had some disco acts like Donna Summer - the soundtrack's on this label and contains a lame cover version of David Bowie's Let's Dance. The original would've been a better choice. By the way, this is an American remake of a Japanese film.
3 / C
- PB


SHANGHAI NOON
With Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu
Directed by Ted Bey
This time round master stuntman/choreographer/action superstar Chan hits the wild west…with a smaller budget than Wild Wild West, but far more punch (and kick!). The Chinese emperor’s daughter is kidnapped and taken to the US. She is held captive by a traitor of her country who now found his refuge in the new world, exploiting his own people who immigrated to build his railway lines. Chan is a subservient Imperial Guard who ends up travelling to the US to save her. Here he meets a fumbling but good hearted outlaw who teams up in his quest. Great action and fighting set-pieces with a bit of a story behind it after all. Chan’s Hong Kong popularity is getting more and more global each picture he makes. But the Hollywood glitz in his new pictures do tend to lack that classic, bare knuckles, mad and reckless raw beauty of his early HK films.
4 / B
- PB

SHAOLIN SOCCER
With Stephen Chow, Vicki Zhao, Ng Man Tat, Patrick Tse Yin
Directed by Stephen Chow
At first glance it seems as though the producers had a meeting deciding that market research shows soccer fans to be big kung-fu movie watchers; with the millions of soccer fans across the globe, this would logically result in a financially sound return. Shaolin Soccer in fact ends up being an ass- and ball kicking blast. Not being much of a sports fan, it had me in stitches and will even entertain soccer haters as we're led through an action-packed tale of an underdog soccer team assembled by a washed out coach (against his old rival with an illegally enhanced super team) in a big contest. The underdogs consist of Shaolin martial arts experts who use their skills in the sport - a motley bunch of brothers, held together by our hero (and director). It sounds ludicrous, but with crazy humour (and even a spontaneous musical number!), digital FX and intense energy they pull it off to make one hell of an enjoyable movie defying both laws of science and cinematic expectations.
5 / B
- PB

SHATTERED GLASS
With Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgard, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Zahn, Hank Azaria
Directed by Billy Ray
Fact often outstrips fiction when laid bare. This true story looks at the fall of a promising young writer (in his 20s) whose stint at the prestigious New Republic magazine took a serious nosedive when his fabrications started surfacing, snowballing into a serious disaster. Steven Glass's flights of fantasy initially used to soup up stories eventually became full-blown lies. Christensen (who played a young Darth Vader in the
Attack Of The Clones chapter of Star Wars) could easily have had his career damaged by appearing in Lucas's film, but he managed to get out of the fantasy loop and tackled this serious role with conviction. The office dynamics, interpersonal relationships, sense of trust and professionalism around this, the only in-flight mag of Airforce One grabs hold of the viewer as we see this man careening into more and more shit as he lies to cover up lies. Writers from Forbes on-line wanted to do a follow-up on a hacker article (and even with his fake notes), Glass's house slowly came tumbling down as evidence (or the lack thereof) got excavated. A fascinating film, which also features a 60 Minutes TV interview with the real Glass as well as a commentary track by director Ray.
4 / B
- PB


The adventures of SHARKBOY & LAVAGIRL in 3D
With David Arquette, Cayden Boyd, Taylor Dooley, Kristin Davis, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
There are a few things I love about Rodriguez: besides his great cinematic instincts, all-round involvement, and wonderful utilization of High Definition video, he can make a violent adult themed film one year, and follow immediately with a light hearted kiddy flick. Here the creator of
Spy Kids builds on the last installment of that trilogy by doing another 3D kids adventure. Max is a boy who lives himself into his dream world. In his dreams he created Sharkboy and Lavagirl, polar opposite superheroes that work together. Max notes all of these escapes in his dream journal, but there seems to be evidence that his two dream friends cross over into the real world. After the class bully steals his journal, a raging storm has Sharkboy and Lavagirl enter his classroom to take him to planet Drool, where all his dreams reside. It is being taken over by darkness and they have to save it. With ample digital assistance the fun ride takes the viewer through an amazing dream world of weirdness and peril, the evil one and his electric henchman trying to catch our three heroes. The 3D effect works well and takes up the bulk of the movie, adding to the high-energy fun, family values and moral lessons. If this isn't for you, and you're looking for something with a bit more kick, then rather try Rodriguez & Frank Miller's
Sin City.
PS. The 3D specs manufacturers should look into smoothing out the sharp edge of the nose bridge area.
4 / B
- PB


SHERYL CROW - C'Mon America 2003
For several years
Crow has craved her own niche by giving her fans folk / country flavoured acoustic rock with a pop appeal. Sheryl is quite sexy in this no-frills show (albeit big screens behind her & the all-male band). The 21 songs include Steve McQueen, Riverwide, My Favourite Mistake, C'Mon C'Mon, The First Cut Is The Deepest, Strong Enough, If It Makes You Happy, A Change Would Do You Good, Leaving Las Vegas, All I Wanna Do, Soak Up The Sun, Safe And Sound and closes with an impressive cover of Led Zeppelin's Rock And Roll (in a pair of leather pants, bare footed on top of the grand piano - hmmm). The disc contains no extras, just a little interlude with footage from the stage set-up & behind the scenes with a bit of Sheryl voice over. Playing guitar, bass & piano, this multi-talented lady has come a long way from being a Michael Jackson back-up singer(!).
4 / A
- PB


SHERYL CROW - The Very Best Of
The cool, swaggering style of
Sheryl Crow can be found here in al its glory on a Best Of CD, a live CD and a DVD video collection. The two CDs clock in 30 tracks. The Very Best Of disc includes All I Wanna Do, Soak Up The Sun, My Favourite Mistake, The First Cut Is The Deepest, Everyday Is A Winding Road, Leaving Las Vegas, Strong Enough, If It Makes You Happy, Picture (Kid Rock feat. Sheryl Crow), C'Mon C'Mon (feat. The Corrs), A Change Would Do You Good. The Live In Central Park CD includes many of the abovementioned hits, plus My Favourite Mistake, Gold Dust Woman, It Don't Hurt, White Room and Tombstone Blues. The Very Best Of DVD assembles 14 clips - pretty much in the same order as the CD version, but also include Steve McQueen and Anything But Now. Perfect for a Crow fan.
5 / B
- PB

SHE’S SO LOVELY
With Sean Penn, Robin Wright, John Travolta
Directed by Nick Cassavetes
Intriguing and often strange & heartbreaking tale of an unconventional couple. After a traumatic experience Penn ends up in an institution, going off the rails. After years he returns, the love of his life married with children. Intense human drama with gritty edges, originally written for the screen by classic indie film director John Cassavetes, here directed with finesse by his son.
4 / B
- PB

SHINE (in Afrikaans)
Met Geoffrey Rush, Armin Mueller-Stahl
Regisseur: Scott Hicks
Hierdie lieflike storie van 'n jong, talentvolle pianis se persoonlike reis, is vir 7 Oscar toekennings genomineer. Geoffrey Rush se hartstogtelike, sensitiewe en maniese vertolking het hom die beste akteur toekenning laat losslaan. Met 'n domineerende, harde, streng pa, wat hom tot sy uiterste vermoe dryf, maar aan die ander kant hom verhoed om die huis te verlaat om studie-beurse in ander lande te benut, werp sy lewe taamlik omver. Dit lei tot 'n punt waar hy sy greep op realiteit begin verloor. Hierdie hoe aangeskrewe rolprent sal net tot sy volle potensiaal strek as die gehoor se stemming vir so 'n verhaal ingestel is.
4 / C
- PB

SHIPPING NEWS
With Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore, Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett
Directed by Lasse Halström
When you throw emotionally inflicted characters together in a freezing environment (often blatantly used as metaphor), you usually get a tough, trying cinematic journey. This is indeed one of them, but does have a sliver of sunlight behind the dark clouds. Spacey is a quiet, insecure man who inadvertently gets involved with a loose slag. They have a kid and she dumps him (after numerous screw-arounds). On running away, she dies in a car crash and the guy has to raise the kid. He moves to the cold harbour village of his ancestry and finds a job at the small newspaper where his new life unfolds together with flashbacks of the area's past. He meets a woman and things don't seem as bleak. A touch taxing at times, but a wonderfully moving film nonetheless. (Great introductory sequence of Spacey morphing into different scenes).
4 / B
- PB

SHIVERS
With Paul Hampton, Lynn Lowry, Alan Migicovsky, Susan Petrie, Barbara Steele
Directed by David Cronenberg
The tenants of an isolated modern apartment block become victims of a spreading disease turning them into sex zombies. This transfer occurs when Twinkie sized parasites are passed on. A doctor in the building developed this as a substitute for failing organs, but it all goes horribly wrong as these parasites invoke an extreme sense of uninhibited lust. Shows how much can be done with great story and innovative utilization of low cost gore FX. Another fabulous medically fuelled Cronenberg classic.
6 / A
- PP
…the 2nd opinion…
SHIVERS aka THEY CAME FROM WITHIN
With Paul Hampton, Joe Silver, Lynn Lowry, Barbara Steele
Directed by David Cronenberg
Shivers is Canadian director Cronenberg's commercial debut that set the scene for his ongoing theme of biological horror. Backed by Ivan Reitman (in pre-comedic success mode), the film concentrates on an up-market self-efficient apartment community. Within these walls, a researcher's experimental parasitic leech-like creatures are infesting the tenants, turning them into sexually depraved semi-zombies with venereal disease parallels. With two hot actresses and some visceral FX, Cronenberg created an amazing shocker still enjoyable today, even with its budgetary shortcomings.
5 / A
- PB

SHOWER
With Zhu Xu, Pu Cun Xing, Jiang Wu, He Zheng
Directed by Zhang Yang
Intimate film about a successful businessman who returns to his hometown where his father and retarded brother still runs a public bath house. Touching and well made.
4 / C
- PB

SHREK
With the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow
Directed by Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jensen
Dreamworks is becoming one hell of a competitor for Disney. This digitally animated feature bursts at the seams with visual detail, action, great laughs and jaw-dropping realistic animation design that simply has to be seen. Shrek is an Ogre who simply wants to live his quiet life in his slimey swamp, going about his daily Ogre business. When a vertically challenged megalomaniac banishes all of the classic fairytale characters (from Pinocchio to the 3 little pigs) to his swamp, Shrek goes to the castle to sort it out. But, together with his new tag-along friend (a talking donkey) he gets roped into saving a princess from a tower guarded by a dragon. Our mini-dictator-wannabe needs to marry a princess in order to be king, but it goes without saying that Shrek may fall for her during this amazing quest. Shrek contains so many stellar moments which includes the gross & funny introductory sequence, loopy action, silly & cool humour (including slapstick), a WWF simulated battle sequence, wild adventure and yes, romance. Myers is splendid as the voice of our unlikely "regular" Ogre with his best Scottish accent. Murphy shines as the yapping, silly donkey while Diaz does her part as the princess. All the best known fairytale characters and concepts get woven into the witty storyline & backdrop in a very clever and humourous way. But the meticulous detail - man it's good. One of the most amazing modern animated films to date. Like most DVDs have extras, the VHS release has extra footage added at the end. A special DVD release includes an extra 3D adventure with glasses included. Other extras include commentary tracks, featurettes and documentaries, interactive games and technical info.
6 / A
- PB

SHREK 2
Voiced by Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Julie Andrews, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Saunders
Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon
The first Shrek was a worldwide hit enjoyed by the whole family. Besides the great digital animation, the character voices played a great part in making this twisted fairytale world believable. Well, they're all back. Shrek, princess Fiona and donkey. The happy new couple has to travel to the land of Far Far Away to visit Fiona's parents (who obviously do not approve - of Shrek the ogre or Fiona's matching cursed green complexion). The fairy godmother's poncy son was meant to marry Fiona and she gets to work to wreck the relationship so her boy can step in. New characters like the Puss in Boots liven it up further. With some hilarious moments, some adult slants that'll go over most kids' heads and a great imagination incorporating well know fairytale elements, I won't say this is better than the original, but certainly a great companion. DVD extras include
commentary, sing-alongs, music videos, Far Far Away Idol and more.
5 / B
- PB

SIGNS
With Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Patricia Kalember, Cherry Jones
Directed by M. Knight Shyamalan
What an amazing addition to the Shyamalan trilogy (which will make an amazing DVD box-set). No,
Unbreakable wasn't a carbon copy of The Sixth Sense, and neither is Signs. What this talented young director brings to the table is innovative, intense filmmaking which relies greatly on the viewer's imagination to flesh out the intrigue. Signs ventures into visiting intelligent alien life. Like his other films it is best to keep the details to a minimum to avoid spoiling it. By slowly pulling us into the film's characters and situation, Shyamalan succeeds in making us a part of the experience (my girlfriend was shitting herself, even when visual information was withheld). Even macho man Gibson can't spoil this crafty piece of work. He plays an ex-preacher who lost his wife and lives on a farm with his two kids and brother. One morning enormous crop circles appear in his cornfield. The phenomenon is all over the planet and seems far too huge and widespread to be a hoax. From here the tension and brooding exposition of the excellent filmmaking gift takes a hold and sweeps you up with the interplay of clues, horror, tension, humour, drama and suspense, refusing to let go of your attention as you're nailed to the screen (or your hands over your eyes like my girlfriend's case! - Having had something of a close encounter before, this was especially freaky for her). Individual incidents (be it gravely significant or seemingly small) all roll into one another to build up into one big consequential exposition. This is neither Independence Day nor Mars Attacks, this is an angle you've rarely experienced and I urge you all to get out there and see it before your friends blurt everything. Phoenix and the kids are great while the director also features in an extensive cameo. What makes Shyamalan a good director is the fact that he is a great cinematic writer.

6 / B
- PB


THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
With Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn
Directed by Jonathan Demme
At the time of its release, this second film based on a Thomas Harris book set the trend for countless flawed imitations in the serial killer genre. (The first film having been
Manhunter, directed by Michael Mann, based on Harris's Red Dragon). In the multi-Oscar winning Silence Of The Lambs, Jodie Foster portrays Agent Starling, a new recruit used to milk info from a convicted psychiatrist turned cannibal killer, Dr Hannibal Lecter, to track down a once patient of his turned serial killer. What ensues is an intense relationship, bordering on a dark romance (further elaborated in the follow-up, Hannibal). The tense scenes of the two conversing are altered by moments of graphic realism as the killer drives towards his objective, slowly moving the film forward to a double climax unravelled by Starling and brilliantly constructed by the crafty Lecter. The film also displays a dark sense of humour while the easily spooked & squeamish won't notice that. A decade later the film still has great impact, Hopkins still marvelous and the atmosphere still as ominous. While Foster is a fine actress, it just seems that the Oscar may have been handed over a little too hastily, her performance sometimes too staged (her Taxi Driver role for one outstripping her here). The ensemble brilliance of the writing, direction & Hopkins' performance, as well as the new introduction of a brutal yet intelligent villain into the mainstream world of likely horror, her flaws may have been overlooked. But, regardless, after a decade passed, the film is still chilling, gruesome and wonderfully entertaining.
This special 10th Anniversary Edition contains a number of fine features including great looking animated menus, outtakes and documentaries. A commentary track by the elusive Demme would've been splendid, though.

5 / A
- PB


S1MONE
With Al Pacino, Catherine Keener, Winona Ryder, Elias Koteas
Directed by Andrew Niccol
Pacino plays a Hollywood director disillusioned by the whole system, overpaid and overrated actors and money becoming more important than the art of the craft. His star walks out on the film he's working on and the project (which is close to his heart) gets canned. On cue he's approached by a freaky scientist who has been working on a digital creation he calls Simone (an abbreviation for Simulation One). Refusing to go along with his madcap banter (including a mention of a tumour in his eye that will cost him his life), a computer hard drive arrives in the mail several months later. The man died and left the director his life's work - A beautiful virtual actress that doesn't talk back, demand millions and act like a temperamental brat - doing exactly what is required. His cancelled project gets completed with Simone inserted into the already shot scenes. She becomes an instant sensation. The rise of this virtual star (unbeknownst to the entire world) slowly starts to consume the industry and escalate beyond the director's control. At times the whole thing goes a little far to the point of becoming farcical. In between hoping he can patch things up with his estranged producer wife, he tries to manage the monster he's created by keeping Simone an elusive, reclusive mystery - but people are starting to fish, wanting a piece of this bright new star. Some of the technical elements are a little over-simplified and some scenes get a bit slapstick. It does get thought provoking and funny at times, yet dumb and overstepping the margin at another. The film's commentary still shines through amoung the downer moments, making it a fine addition to the range of filmmaking movies like
The Player, Swimming With Sharks and Living In Oblivion.
3 / C
- PB

SIMPLE MINDS - Seen The Lights: Live In Verona
Simple Minds never really had the boyish sex appeal of other bands from their '80s genesis - in stead they offer good musicianship and a political conscience. Directed by Andy Morahan, this DVD was compiled from shows recorded on 14 & 15 Sept 1989. The show opens with the '90 Remix of Theme For Great Cities and rock through songs like Street Fighting Years, Mandela Day, Waterfront, This Is Your Land, Belfast Child, Alive And Kicking, Sanctify Yourself, and their hit that propelled them into stardom via the Breakfast Club movie, Don't You (Forget About Me). Black & White film footage of the crowd and city is mixed with colour, Verona life interspersed as well as comments. An extra show is thrown in - shot at the Newcastle City Hall in 1982 (Broadcast in 1983), the 16mm film giving it a documentary look in stead of glossy glam new wave, even when the lads are young and rosy cheeked with New-Romantic / Mod haircuts & posturing. Tracks like Glittering Prize, Someone, Somewhere (In Summertime), The American, Big Sleep, and New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) are included. Another early hit, Promised You A Miracle is not in there. Their '80s synth-pop with a conscientious slant is more mature than most bands of their era. You can also access the CD-Rom segment with wallpaper, screensavers, a web-link and discography.

4 / B
- PB

A SIMPLE PLAN
With Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda, Gary Cole
Directed by Sam Raimi
When two brothers find a plane in the snow covered wooded area in their dead-end town, all kinds of dormant human evils crop up; greed being only one of them, and possibly the deciding factor for all their fates. With a very “Fargo” feel to it, the desolate white landscape instills a sense of isolation and a false sense of purity. Raimi’s crossover to “normal” films after his great Evil Dead movies has been a good one. His handling of actor and environment is handled masterfully, while he brings the best of Paxton and Thornton. The money is believed to be illegal, so no one will claim it - or so they thought. Filled with suspense, intrigue and eventually murder, the simple plan turns out to be far more complicated than they’d ever expected.
5 / C
- PB

SIN CITY
With Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Benicio Del Toro, Clive Owen, Elijah Wood, Michael Madsen, Brittany Murphy, Josh Hartnett
Directed by Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller, with Quentin Tarantino
What an incredible cinematic experience - ass-fuckin'-kickin'! Innovative filmmaker Rodriguez (who gave us classics like
El Mariachi and From Dusk Till Dawn) took Frank Miller's moody Sin City noir graphic novel tales and weaved it into the best-utilized High Definition video shot picture ever (besides Sky Captain). The black & white noir tone of the stories (with its cops and hoods, working folk, lowlifes and comic book villains), are brilliantly translated with the occasional splashes of colour (mainly red), and top use of shadows. The dark tales meander and meet up throughout, keeping you nailed to your seat through many incredible set pieces, action sequences and moody atmospheric moments with the little flickering flame of good, righteousness and justice scraping at the edge of Basin City's brutal darkness where even the good guys have a mean streak. Never a sliver of daylight, the pictures are perfect, the characters and the actors portraying them splendid, the style lavish and visually striking, and the predominantly digital surroundings working perfectly for a change as it replicates the two dimensional look of the black & white pages from which they're brought to life. Sin City is sheer cinematic class and easily one of the coolest films of the year, even though many viewers will find some scenes savagely intense. In stead of "special guest stars", the film features Quentin Tarantino as special guest director. Conventional this surely 'aint!
6 / A
- PB


THE SIN EATER
With Heath Ledger, Shannon Sossamon, Peter Weller
Directed by n/a
For some reason I had this one mixed up with the
Exorcist prequel. Anyhow it also deals with priests and a battle with faith and evil. Ledger plays Father Alex Bernier, one of the last members of an ancient Christian Order. His mentor is mysteriously murdered and he heads for Rome to investigate. Sossamon is the woman he loves but cannot consummate. Weller is the next in line to be Pope and puts Bernier and his colleague on the trail of the "sin eater", an ancient man who imbibes the sins of those who had been excommunicated by the church before they die. Throw in a dark sect, a plot of domination and more coinciding (seemingly ritual) deaths, and you have another flick to add to the occasional religiously based thriller that swings by every year or so. In this particular addition the characters are bland and blasé, even after violence, death and supernatural happenings - as if it's an everyday occurrence. This makes the whole deal that much harder to swallow, slotting it in more with the likes of The Prophecy sequels than The Omen or Exorcist.
3 / C
- PB

THE SIXTH SENSE
With Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Tony Collette, Olivia Williams
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Willis gets serious as a psychologist who tries to help a young boy with what seems to be illusions of grandeur. He believes he sees dead people and they’re tormenting him. In true psychologist fashion, Willis tries to relay it to the boy’s grieving of his father having left the family. With an intriguing story line, spine chilling scary scenes and an amazing twist, Sixth Sense is a surprise hit that needn’t ride on any hype. Great entertainment with a couple of Oscar nominations.
5 / B
- PB


SKELETON KEY
With Kate Hudson, Gena Rowland, John Hurt
Directed by Iain Softley
Black magic gets a bit of a resurrection in this moody flick set in a creepy old house (almost always a winning location!). On top of this the eerie, swampy New Orleans backwoods is the geographical setting. A young hospice worker takes a job in the said house and area where an elderly man seemed to have suffered a stroke whilst in the attic. His staunch wife is a bit apprehensive to employ her, but does. Almost immediately the strange energy of the house starts making itself known. The old man seems to want to communicate something to the girl, but can't, so she starts to investigate, until dark secrets start to unfold as she finds a hidden door in the attic… It's good to see Hudson in a role other than a romantic comedy. The coolest part of this film is the uncompromised ending and "oh, okay!" revelation as you backtrack events.
4 / C
- PB


SKOUSPEL 2004
Huis Genoot, one of South Africa's biggest Afrikaans weekly rags, has been around for decades, dealing with everything from gossip to real life drama and entertainment. Sponsored by the magazine, this Skouspel show packs in a bunch of commercially viable local acts with varied success. From the bonehead popular "crooners" like
Kurt Darren and Theuns Jordaan, to guys with more substance like the operatic Jannie Moolman and Coenie DeVilliers, blonde bimbos like Patricia Lewis to cabaret favourite Elsabe Zietsman and old school lady Rina Hugo. Besides Jordaan and Lewis, other big embarrassments include Pieter Smith and Juanita DuPlessis. Dozi and Steve Hofmeyr cannot be excluded, and DNA Strings hightens the standard somewhat, while the most alternative of the bunch constitutes Valiant Swart and Gian Groen. Jennifer Jones, the Afrika Mamas and the Anglo Gold Choir add some colour to proceedings. From originals to traditional covers, the show had its crowd quite excited, but is definitely an acquired taste.
2 / C
- PB

THE SKULLS
With Joshua Jackson, Hill Harper, Leslie Bibb, Paul Walker, Christopher MacDonald, William L. Petersen, Craig T. Nelson
Directed by Rob Cohen
Pudding faced Dawson’s Crack (sorry, Creek) star portrays a student who gets elected as a member of one of the most powerful secret societies on an American campus. This Freemason style group looks after its own, but with some sacrifices necessary. When our hero’s best buddy dies and the Skulls seem to be behind it, he gets disillusioned and try to get to the truth. An okay effort, but a little too formulaic and teen to be truly great.
3 / C
- PB

THE SKULLS II
With Robin Dunne, Nathan West, Ashley Lyn Cafagna, Lindy Booth
Directed by Joe Chappelle
The first one left a lot to be desired. And they actually put the money up for this smelly sequel? It's kind of like
Carrie and American Psycho getting its rip-off sequel for a quick cash in - not exactly related, merely picking up a thread as basis to plod along with its story. No, actually, merely using the name in the hope of scamming fans of the first one. I can imagine American Psycho having fans, but I'm not sure about the first Skulls. Here, the secret Skulls society on an American campus still exists after the first film's "tragic" consequences. One of its new initiated brothers witness what looks like a murder and in trying to find out if it really was, he gets strong and dangerous opposition from the fellowship who like to keep their actions private and its members safe. A boring, dumb, waste of time.
1 / C
- PB


SKY CAPTAIN & THE WORLD OF TOMORROW
With Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Giovanni Ribisi, Angelina Jolie
Directed by n/a
Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow join up again (since The Talented Mr. Ripley) in this imaginative adventure. In a blending range of eras, genres and moods, from noir thrillers to WWII pilot hero- and 50's Sci-Fi flicks, our leads have to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding gigantic robots attacking major cities. Almost entirely shot against blue & green screens, the digitally enhanced movie with its saturated hazy texture and monotone shadows takes on a sense of fantasy and mystery amid the action, thrills, dry humour and inevitable but restrained romance. It's always cool to see someone take the digital era into an innovative new direction as opposed to the obvious. With a great look and cliché but familiarly irresistible moments (be it action or love), the makers created something new from something old by using advanced tools at their disposal. A unique, stunning experience that is not too inaccessible, but definitely not your average romp.
4 / B
- PB

SLEEPY HOLLOW
With Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Christoper Lee, Christopher Walken, Martin Landau, Michael Gough, Jeffrey Jones
Directed by Tim Burton
Tim Burton masterfully captures this legendarytale of a headless horseman terrorizing the town of Sleepy Hollow at the turn of the previous century. Depp is Ichabod Crane, the rational pragmatic man of science who has to investigate this carnage. He is faced with supernatural forces that run against all his scientific beliefs. Marvelous tongue in cheek acting, amazing sets & scenery, an eerie, dark gothic atmosphere, eye popping FX and decapitations, fine wit and an overall exhilarating experience. A serious touch of class finally returning to the gothic horror/thriller. Also features some classic Hammer Horror actors.
5 / A
- PB

SLEEPY HOLLOW
With Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Christoper Lee, Christopher Walken, Martin Landau, Michael Gough
Directed by Tim Burton
With the Burton-Depp partnership only reaching momentum at this point, here they teamed up to bring the legendary tale of the headless horseman to the screen in true dark fairytale fashion we've come to expect of the director. As a quirky investigative expert, Depp visits the town of Sleepy Hollow to solve the case of a headless horseman terrorizing and killing off the population. Visually stunning.
5 / B
- PP


THE SLIM SHADY SHOW
More rude and obnoxious than the South Park gang, this
Eminem backed web cartoon comes at you in full force - guts, gore & profanity in tact - as our jumbled gang misspend their youth in the worst possible ways, beating up some celebrities in the process! Not even Christina Aguilera, Mase or Leonardo DiCaprio is safe from these joyriding, warped trailer parkers. Slim Shady is the hip one while Marshal is the insecure little brother who gets taught life lessons (and more) as they rampage through their American landscape. Being a web based toon, it's crude in more ways than one!
4 / B
- PB


SLIPKNOT - Disasterpieces
From the obscure American state of Iowa to one of the most explosive metal acts of the new millennium,
Slipknot certainly ploughed their rewards back into one fucking phenomenal live show to accompany their second album, named after their home state. In case you have no idea who I'm talking about, this is the 18-legged grotesquely masked & matching over-all wearing musical assassins who combine the fury of guitars, drums and bass guitar with samples, turntables and additional extravagant percussion into a wall of ferociously infectious sound. Even though they only have two albums to their name thus far, there are plenty of incredible tunes packed into this live show at the London Arena, each a gem in its own right. This totally killer double DVD offers an eye-popping live performance from the tight 9-man metal machine with all the energy, intensity, brutality and stage props to make this one of the live shows of the year. Disasterpieces also include music videos (like Spit It Out's The Shining homage and the rare animated video to Wait And Bleed) and extra bits like a bonus unavailable audio track (Purity) to satisfy the maggots' insatiable hunger for more of this sharp-as-a-knife outfit that put some spectacle back into live music (hydraulics and spinning drum risers!). In between you get to see the band's preparation, sound checks as well as first person view on stage - each of them having a small camera mounted on their masks! The Menus are stylishly designed, furthermore enhancing the mood and impact of this must-have package.
6 / A
- PB


SMALL TIME CROOKS
With Woody Allen, Tracey Ullman, Hugh Grant, Jon Lovitz,
Michael Rapaport, Elaine May, Elaine Stritch
Directed by Woody Allen
Lovely Woody Allen comedy about an aging failed criminal who wants go for his one big score. The plan is to rent a shop, turning it into a cookie parlour as a front, then tunnel under towards the bank. His team of co-conspirators, one as thick as the other, bumble almost everything, while the only person with real sense is his wife running the cookie production. But, the initial plan gets dumped once the cookies become a total hit. Allen gives this delightful little film his trademark stamp of neurotic humour and everyday logic as our characters (from a lower class New Jersey neighbourhood) change very little once they become millionaires. Although his wife tries to become more cultured (via an English fop), it's hard for her to shed her tacky taste and style, leading to many social embarrassments and laughs. A fine Allen delivery.
4 / B
- PB


THE SMASHING PUMPKINS - 1991-2000
Greatest Hits Video Collection

I still find it amazing how this great band managed to alter their image from psychedelic hippie-grungers to dark gothic hard rockers. This DVD is packed to the brim with all of their videos and more. With their creative thoughts and that of the directors, a wealth of interesting videos was produced. Their first video, Siva, was a grainy performance effort with some psychedelic influences while Rhinoceros had them filming themselves in a park when the initial concept fell through. For Cherub Rock they found themselves bathed in floods of coloured light in the woods. Today finds them on a silly ice cream van trip whereas Bullet With Butterfly Wings has the band playing in what seems like an excavation hole with a horde of extras clamouring around them in dirt and mud. 1979 takes a ride with a group of American smalltown teens - capturing that carefree feeling and houseparty thing so many bands have imitated since - and still. This also marks Billy's shaven head look. Zero gets a lower budget confined costume shoot while the super expensive and impressive single shot video of Ava Adore takes the cake and introduced their more Gothic look. Tonight, Tonight goes the classic pioneering French film route with a trip to the moon ala Méliès (Voyage dans la Lune). The Everlasting Gaze goes the instrument smashing route with D'Arcy gone and Melissa on bass. For their last ever video Try, Try, Try they decided to go all out and produce a hard hitting uncut piece of a junkie couple on the street. The DVD also contains the expanded short film edited from this hardcore video. Geek USA from 1993 is presented in a live performance with clowns on stage while An Ode To No One was filmed live at the last Metro performance. A previously unreleased video, I Am One, is included while Rocket gets an alternative performance cut. Disarm, Thirty-Three, Perfect and Stand Inside Your Love are some of the other 20 videos to be enjoyed. Band and director commentary tracks can be selected as well as behind the scenes footage revealing some interesting facts and anecdotes. A fine memento for a band that will be missed by many.
5 / A
- PB

SNATCH
With Brad Pitt, Benicio Del Toro, Dennis Farina
Directed by Guy Ritchie
This tremendous piece of cinema from (no, not “Madonna’s husband”, but) the man who brought us the equally amazing
Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, kicks ass in so many ways. If you still hadn’t seen Lock, Stock then you’d better head down to the video shop and rent these two for a fantastic double feature. Ritchie’s superb style flows over to his second masterpiece with a host of colourful, dirty and hilarious underground characters of both British and American extraction, centred around a huge gem.
6 / A
- PB

SNOW DAY
With Chevy Chase, Chris Elliott, Jean Smart, Pam Grier
Directed by Chris Koch
Silly little Nickelodeon teenage flick with the kids of a weatherman (Chase) hoping it’ll snow so that they can get off school and participate in all the crazy snow activities conceivable. The wicked snow plough man however goes out of his way to clear the roads of all its snow, spoiling the kids’ fun and sending them back to school. The daughter in the family is intent on stopping him while her older brother is more interested in snagging the girl of his dreams. Their dad, the meteorologist whose show has dropped ratings due to a new charismatic weatherman on a rival TV channel, wants to expose his clean cut nemesis as a fraud and take his rightful place as weather king. Their over-worked mother ends up staying home with the crazy toddler and the headmaster constantly gets pelted with snowballs while these story lines meander across a white canvas. A few laughs do pop up, but its style will mainly take note with teens. A pleasant surprise has Iggy Pop in a cameo role of a DJ spinning crappy old easy listening records at the ice rink. Throw-away, feel-good entertainment for summer or winter.
3 / B
- PB

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
Directed by David Hand
This groundbreaker of a Walt Disney feature made over half a century ago, set the standard for almost every animated film thereafter. This is the definitive version of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. A vain, narcissistic queen stepmother orders the death of her stepdaughter because her magic mirror proclaims the child as more beautiful. The killer cracks at the moment of truth and she escapes into the woods. There she finds a home with seven dwarfs who work in a mine. But, the wicked queen won't let her get away that easily! Beautifully drawn with some classic songs, the Deluxe Two Disc Set of this fine film contains a magnitude of additional material, everything from behind the scenes looks & commentary to deleted scenes and even a game! A huge amount of supplementary viewing awaits you.
6 / A
- PB

SOFT FRUIT
With Jeanie Drynen, Linal Haft, Russell Dykstra, Genevieve Lemon
Directed by Christina Andreef
Sometimes people find Australian films to be a tad too realistic and gritty. For God’s sake, isn’t art meant to imitate life? In this slice of borderline (and sometimes full blown) miserable life, three daughters and a son come home to be with their mother before she dies of cancer. Their hard, stubborn father has a heart but can’t always show it. The daughters are all over weight. One comes from the States (married a Yank), the other is a single nurse (who wants a kid), while the more liberated one is divorced with children. The son is on parole and the father wants nothing to do with him. Laughter, violence, tenderness and tears stain their time as joy does come from the strangest of places. Not as depressing as it might sound.
4 / C
- PB

SOLARIS
With George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Jeremy Davies, Viola Davis, Ulrich Tukur
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Based on a story by legendary sci-fi writer Stanislav Lem, this outer space experience falls more in the
2001: A Space Odyssey framework than, say, Aliens (though it was produced by Aliens director and Terminator creator James Cameron).
A gigantic ball of energy has been discovered and an expert is sent to the observing space station where something is going terribly wrong. The crew are encountering vision of loved-ones who seem more real than fantasy. It has driven them to the point of madness and suicide, its implications on mankind too vast to contemplate. The slow, at times tiresome pace (with sparse music) was not designed to liven up the action fan, but to project the experience of the participants, millions of miles from earth, facing something seemingly basic and close to them, but totally freaking their minds. Approach this film only when you're focussed and not prone to distractions of any kind, ready to watch and be engrossed as opposed to laughing your ass off or getting thrilled by a fast and furious ride of explosions and spectacular scenes of Hollywood carnage. Director Soderbergh has carved his success story out nicely from Sex, Lies & Videotape to Traffic and can now make a film like this without worrying about its box office performance to ensure future jobs.
[Did you know, there has been a Russian version made in the 1972 by director Andrei Tarkovsky, a highly acclaimed one at that - well worth fishing out, having been released on DVD internationally]
3 / C
- PB

SOLDIERS OF THE ROCK
With Vuyo Dabula, Michael Dlamini, Glen Gabela, Lebo Mathosa, Sibusiso Mhlangu
Directed by Norman Maake
A young educated black man decides to go and work in the mines where his father slogged away for years, eventually losing his life underground. His work down the mines also enabled him to send his son to school to better himself. As the new guy, the young man is met with antagonism, but also accepted by others. One of the guys (an ex-hijacker) has a plan to get the men together to rise above being mere labourers sent down into ever more dangerous circumstances. A romantic interest is included while the stubborn, close-minded idiot of the tale is bent on spoiling everything for everyone. A fine effort by young SA moviemakers.
3 / C
- PB

SOMEONE LIKE YOU
With Ashley Judd, Hugh Jackman, Greg Kinnear, Marissa Tomei, Ellen Barkin
Directed by Tony Goldwyn
One can often feel when a film is directed by a woman - Mr Golwyn must be in touch with his feminine side as those vibes radiated off the screen. But, then, it was written by a lady. This film is all about the hope that the right person is out there, somewhere, and not all men are scum. Jane finds the perfect man - who predictably disappoints her, leaving her in the lurch and in a quandary which results in her studying animal behaviour and how it relates to her constant experience of being unlucky in love. It leads to an anonymous column, which reaches super-popularity status - but it doesn’t solve her problem. The fact that you can find love in the most unlikely places and the film’s outcome is pretty much predictable from ¼ into this cute little romantic comedy. The film is very New York, including the character types, fads and locations, including the frequented Hogs & Heffers bar. One annoying part is Judd’s constant eating. For the first dozen scenes there is hardly a shot without her munching on something - and I can think of many comments, but I’m a gentleman…From hotdogs & sandwiches, bagels & salads to restaurants, delis, even cucumber on the eyes, left-over Chinese, coco-puffs…Crikey. I was looking out for it to ease back once she starts to “get some”, but not really - and it’s not like she’s a lard-ass or fitness type - fast metabolism I guess - like me! Judd is hot no matter what. Kinnear does his nice guy act (who turns out an asshole). Tomei can look like she’d just rolled out of bed with or without the make-up artists’ assistance and does the love advice buddy thing. Jackman looks far less cool than he did in his impressive role as Wolverine in X-Men, but he succeeds. A typical film title for a movie like this, but it manages to pull through with a little extra. The final smooch, however is one of the worst this year.
3 / C
- PB

SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
With Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Amanda Peet, Keeanu Reeves
Directed by Nancy Meyers
Mid-life romantic comedies aren't exactly first on my entertainment list (until I reach that stage in my life, I'm sure), but this has its moments. Jack is Jack. He plays an older guy who only dates young girls. That's until he meets his current girlfriend's mom. This happens at the mom's beach house. A medical complication strikes him and he has to go to the nearby hospital. This forces him to stay as a guest at the beach house in order to go back for observational tests. Slowly he starts to appreciate the female maturity and sensuality that is a whole new experience for him. Contrasting his lust for young girls is the doctor (played by Keeanu) falling for Keaton's older character. Keaton got several nominations for her performance. Typical American comedy, but with some warm human moments.
3 / C
- PB

SOUL FOOD (in Afrikaans)
Met Venessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Brandon Hammond.
Regisseur/Skrywer: George Tillman Jr.
Of hierdie familiegebonde drama se sukses in die VSA ook hier weerspiee"l sal word, sal ons moet wag en sien. Dit is verbasend dat mense nog verstom is wanneer daar 'n rolprent wat op die psige van die swart gemeenskap fokus sukses behaal. Soul Food slaag daarin om die gehoor op 'n wye spektrum te nader, aangesien die probleme wat gehanteer word menslik is en nie etnies gebonde is nie. Elke Sondag vir 40 jaar het Mama Joe die hele familie by haar huis vir 'n groot ete. Sy het hulle nog al die jare bymekaar gehou en slaag altyd daarin om die vrede te bewaar. Alles begin egter verbrokkel wanneer sy gedurende 'n operasie in 'n koma verval. Deur die oe" van die jong Ahmad (Hammond van die Gregory Hines Show), sien ons hoe die onenigheid begin toeneem. Teri (Williams) is die oudste suster. Sy's taamlik suur, 'n suksesvolle advokaat en moet gewoonlik vir alles betaal. Sy laat almal dit ook weet. Haar stryd met haar suster, Ahmed se ma, Maxine (wie haar ke^rel gesteel en met hom getrou het) loop reeds taamlik diep. Dit raak al hoe erger. Lem wat voorheen in die tronk was verloor sy werk en dinge raak ontstuimig tussen hom en Bird (die derde suster). Boonop pleeg Teri se man overspel met haar niggie. Dit voel asof dit nie erger kan word nie. Waar die Sondagete gedien het as oplossing vir watter probleem ookal, het dit tot 'n einde gekom. Die familie verbrokkel. Ahmed neem dit op homself om almal bymekaar te kry een Sondagmiddag en om soos te vore samesyn te skep. Maar sonder Mama Joe is dit 'n moeilike taak. Tegnies is daar niks besonders aan Soul Food nie terwyl Babyface aanhangers bly sal wees om baie van sy komposisies te hoor. Hy is terloops ook die uitvoerende vervaardiger. Die onskuld en opregtheid wat deur die selfsugtigheid en hardkoppigheid filtreer, om hopelik te oorwin, het meer goeie bedoelinge daaragter as enigiets anders. Ek is seker die swart gemeenskap is siek daarvan om hulself op die skerm te sien as "gangsta's" in 'n rapper se droom we^reld. Soos Waiting To Exhale fokus Soul Food op menslike emosies en nie eksploitiewe sensasie nie. Liefde is die fokuspunt al neem dit 'n aantal onaangename ondervindinge om daar uit te kom.
3 / C
- PB

SOUR GRAPES
With Steven Weber
Directed by Larry David
Funny pic from the co-creator of Seinfeld. Two cousins fall out after one wins close to half a million $ in a jackpot during a light hearted spin in Atlantic City. The one (a doctor) gave the other (a shoe sole designer) his last 2 coins, suggesting he play with 3 in order to win big. And he does! He reckons he should give him at least half, but it never crossed the guy’s mind! It results in some crazy, funny scenarios with the humour very Seinfeld-ish in many respects, but at the same token quite original.
4 / B
- PB

SOUTH PARK - BIGGER, BETTER, UNCUT
With Voices of Trey Parker, Matt Stone, George Clooney
Directed by Trey Parker
The amazingly successful, rude and 2D animation TV hit South Park, created by Matt Stone & Trey Parker, finally gets the rude big screen makeover. Our four little buddies, Cartman, Kyle, Stan & Kenny go to watch the new Terrance & Phillip movie (dodging the age restriction by being accompanied by an adult - a homeless drunk they paid off). They walk out swearing like sailors. The parents are up in arms and it blows up to the extent that they declare war on Canada, the origins of Terrance & Phillip!! They want to execute them, but if this happens, Satan and Saddam Hussein will rise from hell and rule earth! Totally wacky, over the top, rude, politically incorrect and damn hilarious. If you love the TV show, the movie will definitely be a more fulfilling experience - if you can handle some serious cussing. The funny scenes just keep on rolling with some great big musical style songs to boot. If you find potty humour offensive, then this is probably not for you - it’s just that it’s so deliberately inflated, you cannot help but laugh your ass off.
5 / A
- PP

…the 2nd opinion…
SOUTH PARK - Bigger, Longer & Uncut
With voices by Trey Parker, Matt Stone

Directed by Trey Parker
It was only a matter of time before the quartet of third-graders from the little mountain town of Southpark (Kyle, Stan, Cartman & Kenny) got their own big screen movie. Hardly a kid's cartoon, the rude and over the top scenarios set up by creators
Matt Stone & Trey Parker has become a total phenomenon. While the TV episodes held back with the rude shit, the characters let rip with the big screen debut. Our four little 2-D buddies inadvertently start a war, between the States and Canada, when their outraged parents overreact when they become foulmouthed brats after seeing the Terrance & Philip movie Asses Of Fire. To top it all, Satan wants to take over with his boyfriend Saddam Hussein. It's a laugh riot of the lowest common denominator. While you can see this as a crude animated adult movie on the one hand, it's a meticulous musical on the other. Between Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman's songs & music, unless you listened to the hilarious and rude lyrics, you'll think it's music from a Disney film. Stan sings about his little mountain town, Terrance & Philip farts through a killer track of base toilet humour and rudeness in their movie, Kyle's mom flips out at Canada (nominarted for an Oscar and shamefully not winning!), Big Gay Al does a super gay show tune, school guidance counsellor Mr Mackey sings about alternate curse words while the lads ponder what Brian Boitano would do! It's crazy, zany, hilarious and damn sharp underneath its base exterior. There is even a track when Kenny goes to hell that features an un-credited James Hetfield from Metallica. Satan performs a soppy Disney rip tune while Parker's band D.V.D.A. does a hardcore version of the Brian Boitano song over the end credits. The DVD release is double-sided, regular on the one and widescreen on the other. We all know which one you should be watching in order to get the whole scope of the picture, now don't we? The extras are limited to trailers and a music video. But, who needs extras when the movie's this cool?!
5 / A
- PB

SPACEBALLS
With Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Mel Brooks, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, Michael Winslow
Directed by Mel Brooks
Brooks made such amazing comedies like
The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and The Silent Movie. Spaceballs is probably his last great film (unless you thought Life Stinks, Robin Hood-Men In Tights and Dracula Dead and Loving It were cinematic landmarks...). Spaceballs takes a crack at almost every Sci-Fi movie that went before, in particular Star Wars. Even Alien gets a nod. After such serious cult followings of the abovementioned and even more so, Star Trek (conventions and other activities turning it into a religion), many people needed to lighten up. Brooks did that by poking fun at the genre and certain specific elements of these films. But, if those classics didn't exist, Brooks wouldn't have a movie (as he wouldn't have if Robin Hood and Dracula didn't exist - let's hope he gets his comic muse back in stead of ripping off that created by others).
4 / A
- PB
…the 2nd opinion…
SPACEBALLS
With Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Mel Brooks, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, Michael Winslow
Directed by Mel Brooks
One of the last Brooks parodies worth its salt (
Robin Hood Men In Tights an embarrassment). Here he takes a stab at the highly popular cultural phenomenon most will be familiar with - Star Wars. With abounding slapstick there are no sacred cows, and even movies like Alien gets a plug. Only funny if you're at least partly clued up on the Star Wars details, the entire movie one big in-joke.
4 / B
- PB

SPACE COWBOYS
With Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, James Garner, James Cromwell
Directed by Clint Eastwood
An astronaut team who never made it up into space get another chance - 30 years later! The obsolete technology on a Russian satellite can only be fixed by the man who designed it: Eastwood. If not, it’ll hit earth with disastrous effects (obviously there’s an added bit of cunning and underlying details surrounding the satellite). Clint rounds up the old crew and they start training. There’s bad blood between Eastwood and the man heading the space program who tries everything to prevent them from going up. Many cliché and stupid moments are inevitable, but as a whole it’s one exciting little slice of fiction with a nice little dose of humour, some drama and even action.
4 / C
- PB

SPACE TRUCKERS
Met Dennis Hopper, Stephen Dorff
Regisseur: Stuart Gordon
Dat hierdie fliek nie 'n kolosale begroting het nie is absoluut irrelevant. Vir iemand wat nou verblindende spesiale effekte van groot ateljee produksies verlang sal dit dalk 'n bietjie teleurstellend wees. Wat vir my van belang is en wat ek geniet, is om te sien hoe hulle met 'n minimale bedrag 'n genotvolle prent maak. Hopper speel 'n ruimte vervoerdrywer wat saam met twee passasiers aarde toe reis met 'n geheime vrag. Wanneer hulle deur ruimterowers gekaap word en die vrag rusteloos raak, is die aksie nou wel nie oorbodig nie, maar aanvaarbaar. Ons is gans te kieskeurig wanneer dit kom by sulke tipe rolprente (ek weet, ek is een van hulle) - maar as ons nie die kleiner rolprente 'n kans gee nie, sal die vervaardigers en regisseurs nooit die kans kry om iets groter aan te pak nie. Hulle maak dit vir ons, die gehoor en partykeer is ons 'n bietjie ondankbaar na al die tyd en moeite wat aan sulke prente gespandeer is.
3 / B
- PB

SPAWN - Director's Cut
With John Leguizamo, Michael Jai White, Martin Sheen
Directed by Mark A.Z. Dippe'
Many people feel the director's cut is a farce. Aliens and Bladerunner's re-edits were fantastic while a version like The Abyss could've remained. On the disc format the true vision is usually more of a possibility than the studio's theatrically released versions. In the case of Spawn it is definitely a plus. Not only are scenes, which were cut out (in order to get a lower age restriction) re-instated, but also the original hilarious, lewd and crude dialogue by the movie's highlight, the Violator (John Leguizamo). Far superior to the "safer" release, another highlight is the added commentary track by director Dippe', FX man Spaz and original comic creator McFarlane. It includes background commentary as well as scene walk-throughs. The commentary is highly education and at times amusing. Also unleashed on disc is Spawn 2, the second HBO animated feature. Slow, dark and intriguing, this epic bit of animation oozes atmosphere from every cell. Don't expect He-Man or She-Ra, kids, this is serious adult animation with heavy issues and graphic scenes.
5 / B
- PB

THE SPICE GIRLS - Girl Power, The Videos
Well, Geri might be gone (why the hell is she everyone's favourite anyhow - who elected her leader?!), but the leftovers are adamant to make another couple of million. On this tape you can see the whole bunch in the videos that shot them to stardom. It might be better not to hear them speak, but unfortunately there's a host of interviews and behind the scenes footage to sit through. Gather round and witness the male driven creation of Girl Power. I guess it's better than nothing...
2 / C
- PB

SPIDER
With Ralph Fiennes, Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson
Directed by David Cronenberg
Canada's best director has given us some fantastic thrillers, chillers and grisly classics with his unique obsession with the human body - physical, sexual and mental powers, limits and evolution. Scanners, Shivers, Videodrome, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, Crash - all amazing cinematic accomplishments morphing biology, psychic powers, inanimate objects and more. M Butterfly still had sexual / biological significance (and based on fact) had one of the least horror affiliations. Thing is with Cronenberg, his horror is hardly unbelievable - it all seems so likely, its mental motivation the real convincing factor. In Spider he goes straight into the mind of a mental patient. Fiennes delivers a profound performance as the title character who is placed in an intermediate home for the mentally unadjusted. Slowly he starts recalling his life growing up as a child and how his perception of his parents becomes clear in his murky mind. With flashbacks he finds himself back in his past the events of his mental state slowly unfolding. Slow and intense, this is not for everyone. But if you must compare, Cronberg's Fly makes lunch of Spider.
5 / B
- PB

SPIDER-MAN
With Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco
Directed by Sam Raimi
After decades of fanticipation, the super-hero relief finally struck the globe (after even more waiting to rectify scenes involving the World Trade Center). Now the major comic-to-screen adaptations have been done:
Superman, Batman and now old Spidey. Approach this film with the mere need to be entertained. Evil Dead trilogy creator Sam Raimi is now a fully-fledged big time director (after his horror exploits, he made the Fargo-like Simple Plan and the looong Costner romantic baseball drama, For Love Of The Game). Good for him. He does the Stan Lee comic book character justice, albeit with the help of major CGI FX. Did you expect anything less in this day & age? Peter Parker (convincingly portrayed by the ever-totally-guy-next-door Maguire) is the nerd whose had a lifelong crush on his next door neighbour's daughter - a major driving force behind the narrative. After being bitten by a genetically spliced spider, he gains several spider characteristics with its advantages and shortcomings. The words of his uncle that "with great power come great responsibility" echoes through his exploits. While moonlighting as a wall-climbing, web-shooting & -swinging crime fighter, his biggest nemesis comes in the shape of his flatmate's industrial science dad, whose experiment turns him into a deranged Jekyll & Hyde character, The Green Goblin. With enough humour and romance to counteract the violence, action, and dizzying web-flying scenes, Spider-Man does exactly what it set out to - entertain. Sequels are already in pre-production - especially with its box office shattering openings worldwide. I'm just really glad it was Raimi who got the shot - just disappointed that he could only squeeze his old buddy Bruce Campbell (Ash from the Evil Dead flicks) into a small role as wrestle ringmaster. The double disc contains a wealth of extras. Commentary tracks from director and stars as well as FX guys. Multi-angle web-i-sodes. Subtitled factoids. 4 featurettes - making of's and profiles of director Raimi and composer Danny Elfman. A documentary on the comic book character with creator Stan Lee and artists interviews. Outtakes. Screen tests. TV spots & trailers. Sum 41 ans Chad Kroeger (Nickelback) music videos. Spider-Man villain profiles. Easter Egg. Photo gallery. DVD-Rom features like Comic/Feature comparison, weblinks, 3 Marvel dot.comics, PS2 game levels, Record Your Own Commentary…Pretty damn impressive, or what. Is it safe to say video is dead or at least halfway out the door?
4 / B
- PB


SPIDER-MAN 2
With Tobey McGuire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, James Franco
Directed By Sam Raimi
Peter Parker is still in love with Mary Jane but cannot fulfill his dreams since his duty as Spider-Man will endanger her. His grades are slipping and his crappy pizza delivery job that pays the rent to his crappy apartment is lost due to his time consuming efforts as the (unpaid) crime fighting superhero. His pal, the young Osbourne, (whose dad, the Green Goblin he popped in the first film) is financing a fusion project of Dr. Otto Octavious. The trial run goes horribly wrong, fusing Octavius' mechanical arms to his body. Obviously he goes a bit nutty and wants to recreate his dangerous fusion device. I wonder who will have to stop him? But, Peter decides that he has had enough of the great responsibility his great power has laid upon him. While an enjoyable ride, this second
Spider-Man outing is less of a thrill than expected. Raimi fans will be glad to know that Bruce Campbell gets another little cameo as well as his brother Ted. Expect a bunch of bonus featres to get the die-hard fans salivating.
3 / B
- PB


SPIKE
With Spike Milligan
Directed by Alan J.W. Bell
This hilarious look at the comedy genius of Spike Milligan with a historical angle is not only for those inclined to laugh at British humour. Milligan is a comedy genius, even if most of the time it is demented, ludicrous and childish. Some of his best clips are strung together with crazy linking interview footage of an aged Spike, still as crazy as he was on the Goon Show or his TV series Q Milligan. Priceless comedy that gives Monty Python fans an idea where they borrowed a lot of their style.
4 / A
- PB

The Work Of Director SPIKE JONZE
Some may only know Jonze by his incredible films
Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. His visual visions actually started when he moved from skate magazines and photography to music videos. This double-sided disc contains 16 of his incredible music videos. They include the single shot slow motion video for Wax of a man on fire running for the bus, the Beastie Boys' 70s cop show styled Sabotage and The Pharcyde's reversed clip. There's the all-kid video for Notorious B.I.G., Daft Punk's dog in the big city clip, Weezer's Happy Days integrated video and Björk's crazy dance production number. Not to forget the Sofia Coppola starring gymnastic rivalry video for Chemical Brothers and the two Fatboy Slim videos - the award winning amateur dance trip of Praise You and dancing-flying Weapon Of Choice exclusively with Christopher Walken. There are artist interviews, audio commentaries and a making of Pharcyde's Drop. In addition the disc includes short films and documentaries, including Amarillo By Morning where Jonze documents a day in the life of a bunch of young kids who want to become rodeo cowboys, What's Up Fatlip? (digging into the ex-Pharcyde rapper's life) and Torrance Rises, the mockumentary on the Torrance community dance troupe whose amateur dancing video for Fatboy Slim won several MTV music awards, and peaking with a live performance at the awards. Each of these Palm Pictures Directors releases contains a stylish, individual, info packed 52-page book with pictures, interviews, drawings and other great stuff on each groundbreaking director. Truly inspiring video makers.
6 / A
- PB

This Is SPINAL TAP
With Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner
Directed by Rob Reiner
Spinal Tap is a classic mockumentary about a rock band’s rise and fall. With such an amazing cast making it seem so real, I’m sure many people were fooled in thinking it’s real. Besides actually having some cool songs, anyone who’s been in a band before will recognize a lot of the hassles and hang-ups they’re faced with, from annoying girlfriends to pissed-off managers and failed stage props. A hilarious cult movie that’s always worth watching every now and then.
6 / A
- PB


SPRINGBOK NUDE GIRLS - OPTI MUM
Finally the band that rewrote South African rock history have compiled their own home video which is not as disappointing as that of Just Jinger, but in no way as bizarre as that of Uncle Vinnie. This accompanying piece to the Opti Mum CD which includes some singles and remixes (that might confuse the unenlightened), is a mixture of videos, behind the scenes footage and general "rondfokkery". Live clips from a number of tours (including their trip to the UK) give those who haven't yet experienced their energy a good idea on what it's all about. Four of the six full length music videos were especially created for the video by Huyser of
Battery 9, so expect something NOT boring. The songs include Managing Mula (not my favourite), Grrr (my very favourite), Enemy in Me, Supergirl (all the ladies' favourite), Again and Blue Eyes (absolutely everyone's favourite).While most of the personal footage are fairly "safe" and not too outrageous (like some of us know them), I came to the conclusion that they do have younger fans who may be shocked into becoming raving straight-jacket wearing droolers if they see their icons' wilder side...okay, I may be exagerating a little, but you get the gist of it. The basic purpose is for the public to get a little glimpse into what they're all about; professional, yet not too seriuos to lose their sense of humour; normal people having the time of their lives. The black and silver cover is slick and stylish. Another great accomplishment for a great rock band.
4 / B
- PB


SPIRIT Stallion Of The Cimarron
Directed by Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook
This animated feature included both modern and traditional animation techniques to tell the story of America's pioneering days and freedom through the eyes of Spirit, a strong wild horse encountering man (both native and foreign). It's not exactly one for the very little ones, but aims the sights a bit higher to the older animation fan, its subject often getting serious and tragic (no flying elephants here). Danger, peril, adventure and triumph all add to this lovely movie which features a soundtrack by
Bryan Adams.
3 / B
- PB


THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE
With voices by Tom Kenny, Clancy brown, Roger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Scarlett Johansson, Alec Baldwin
Directed by Stephen Hillenburg
The crazy Nickelodeon created characters from Bikini Bottom down below the ocean splash into feature length territory with total lunacy. Our hero, the one and only Spongebob Squarepants hopes to be elected manager of the new Krusty Krab 2 restaurant, but gets snubbed. Meanwhile the evil Plankton hatches Plan Z to rule the whole of Bikini Bottom by stealing Neptunes crown (framing Mr. Krabbs and stealing his Krusty Krab burger recipe to serve at his Chum Bucket restaurant). With a mind-control trick he subjects the entire town to his power. It is up to Spongebob and his pal Patrick to save the day by traveling to the edge of the city to retrieve the balding king's crown. Believing they're real men up for the task, the two get into a whole lot of trouble and laughs. Even David Hasselhoff throws a live cameo (in Baywatch mode). Loads of laughs for the kids as well as their folks who will have to rent or buy this bag of nuts.
PS. Twisted Sister fans will love Spongebob's Goofy Goober take on I Wanna Rock and Ween fans will dig their Ocean Man track at the end credits.
3 / B
- PB


SPY KIDS
With Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Robert Patrick
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
Some people may think that the access to a stack of cash dictates director
Rodriguez’s imagination. Those who’ve had the pleasure of seeing his previous works like the shoestring El Mariachi (later reworked and continued in Desperado) and the great vampire flick, From Dusk Till Dawn, will know that he has a unique style and energy related to the film making process as a whole. The big budget more than likely assists in fulfilling his rich imagination. His hands-on involvement from writing and production to directing and editing gives a picture his lasting identity. At first Spy Kids seems like a sell-out, I mean, the name is already enough to put you off - but he manages to maintain his cinematic integrity (which is more than can be said for his abysmal teen sci-fi horror pooper, The Faculty). An ex-spy couple gets roped back into the game because of the husband’s involvement in a top-secret project now unearthed by the bad guys. An army of robot kids doubling the offspring of important people is developed by a Pee-Wee Herman like children’s TV show host (very Tim Burton flavoured). They need the secret, which our two kid heroes’ daddy spy developed, in order to fulfill their process for a take-over. Our spies get captured and it’s up to the kids to save the day. With great gadgetry, madcap situations and crazy action sequences, a family film is created with many enjoyable aspects for all age groups. Rodriguez favourite Danny Trejo adds gruff with his small role. With the door left open for sequels, the bucks pulled in thus far will no doubt make it a highly likely prospect - duck, here comes another franchise - and then a TV show...
4 / B
- PB


SPY KIDS 3D - Game Over
With Daryl Sabara, Alexa Vega, Sylvester Stallone, Ricardo Montalban, Salma Hayek
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
The one-man movie-making machine who started out making a guerilla style no-budget impact with
El Mariachi is now the guy to resurrect the 3D cinema experience with cutting edge technology. Having made the brave complete switch to digital video from film, Rodriguez now has the freedom he needs. In this third Spy Kids installment (as with so many sequels striking that number: Friday The 13th, Amityville Horror etc.), his utilization of the new digital technology works perfectly, especially since the entire story is also set in a digital realm. Juni, our young Spy Kid has retired. But, he gets called back in when his sister is trapped in a popular video game designed by a corrupt, slightly insane ex-agent The Toymaker (Stallone). Juni has to go in and get her, as well as switch the game off before it goes on sale - its main aim to put the kids under its spell. The three dimensional moments are enough to amuse you, but not distracting enough to lose track of the movie in its entirety. With all but the actors digitally created, the film is also aptly billed as a "Robert Rodriguez Digital File" as opposed to "film". Stallone has fun with the role and almost all of the previous characters pop up for a few minutes of screen time - Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Alan Cumming, Carla Gugino, Tony Shalhoub and even George Clooney makes a turn. This is an absolutely care-free fun family flick, but if you're prone to optical headaches, enter with caution.
4 / B
- PB

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
With Roger Moore, Barbara Baxch, Curt Jurgens, Richard Kiel, Caroline Munro
Directed by Lewis Gilbert
With vast locations like Egypt, Sardinia, the Bahamas, Canada, Malta, Scotland, Okinawa and Switzerland (phew!), Bond has to outwit the villainous Stromberg who wants to create an underwater empire by starting WWIII with 3 stolen nuke subs. The bulk of the Roger Moore 007's really made good use of throwing in the gadgetry. Who could forget the white Lotus Esprit turning into a sub-marine car - superb ! The baddie's underwater fortress, Atlantis - boffo ! Side-car rockets - crikey ! And not to mention the Introduction of giant henchman, the metal toothed Jaws ! What a blast.
5 / A
- PB

STACIE ORRICO - Live In Japan
Stacie Orrico has a great voice, but isn't the little cliché blonde. Her darker Mediterranean looks and lack of over-exhibitionist show-off style or scantily clad brat attitude makes her a bit more tolerable than the usuals, who will not be named (as they already get more publicity than they deserve). Orrico has made a worldwide impact, but she's pretty big in Japan, this show recorded there in Spring of 2004. With dancers livening up the stage, the 15 live tracks include the obvious hits like Stuck and (There's Gotta Be) More To Life. You also get Tight, Hesitation, I Promise, Strong Enough, Security, Dear Friend and I Could Be The One. Her highly capable band of dreadlocked guys also does a Jazz Interlude. You often get a certain idea of an artist by means of the portrayal in music videos - Stacie grated me with the high rotation of her best known videos, which are included here: Stuck and the catchy (There's Gotta Be) More To Life. With very little documentary footage, this is strictly for fans.
3 / C
- PB


STANDER
With Thomas Jane, Deborah Kara Unger, David Patrick O'Hara, Dexter Fletcher, Ashley Taylor, Marius Weyers
Directed by Bronwen Hughes
This superb film zoning in on the life of one of South Africa's most notorious cops wins ¾ of the battle with its authentic depiction of 70s/80s SA - from the accents and set dressing to the cars, wardrobe and ads of the era (the only flaw being a web-address on a yacht). André Stander was a young successful detective who kicked in the opposite direction of his profession by becoming the most wanted bank robber of his time. His motivation is depicted in the film as his rebelling against the system which placed him in the position to follow orders of the Apartheid government which included riot and township patrols - one particular incident leading to the death of a protester by Stander's gun. His bank-robbing rampage came to a temporary end when his partner Cor van Deventer (played by our Outsurance man Ashley Taylor) nailed him. It was in jail that he met up with Allan Heyl and Lee McCall a breakout and reunion leading to their gang's spree of bank heists - until it all fell apart, Stander eventually gunned down by a cop in Fort Lauderdale on a minor offence. His wife Bekkie (played by the smoldering Unger) pulls off a near-flawless SA accent. Stander is a blast, even though they glamourized quite a bit and injected some exaggerations.
5 / B
- PB

STARGATE
With James Spader, Kurt Russell, Jaye Davidson
Directed by Roland Emmerich
Interesting time traveling Sci-Fi spectacular with scientists decoding an amazing circular carved rock. The scientists pass through this time portal (accompanied by military personel) and end up in an ancient Egypt where they discover seriously hostile alien presence. With an equally hostile element in the military ranks, things get hot and sparky. Broad appeal with fine utilization of newly instilled digital FX breakthroughs.
4 / B
- PB

STARK RAVING MAD
With Seann William Scott, Lou Diamond Phillips
Directed by Drew Daywalt & David Schneider
At first glance this looks like just another crap post-
Pulp Fiction heist comedy. It is, but with more merit than the usual tripe. A dude and his misfit team has to steal a valuable statue for a crime lord by breaking through from the venue they're having a huge rave into the bank safe next door. Everything has to go according to plan. Obviously it doesn't, leading to some great situations and funny moments as the rush to get this job done with their balls in tact spiral out of control. A fun script with some cool lines, viewpoints and resolutions. Much better than just another hip, flash camera move, twenty something slice of modern action-comedy cinema. Slick and crazy.
4 / B
- PB


STARSAILOR - Love Is Here (Live)
The first thing that strikes you about
Starsailor is their deceptive air of simplicity. The songs are in fact brilliantly written and performed intricate emotionally layered pieces of sound that can easily crawl under your skin. A modest, quiet but focussed quartet, the young lads from Starsailor deliver soul reflecting, moving and mature music matching some old and seasoned veterans, in some cases surpassing many. This DVD (with its very classy menu) contains the live show at The Forum in London with more than a dozen tracks, including some one-man acoustic performances. Some covers include that of Leonard Cohen and Elton John. Like their live show, the four promo videos included mostly comprise straightforward yet effective pieces of visual accompaniment - but, like their music, are not as forthwith as at first glance. The clips include Alcoholic, Lullaby, Good Souls and Poor Misguided Fool, a remixed track with flashier video is included for those who may get a little restless with the lack of modernized sounds and techniques. You'll also encounter four documentaries including a general one on the band by Channel 4, a tour documentary and two focussing on the recording of the songs Love Is Here and Born Again. You'll also get to see Starsailor's frontman park off near a field outside the studio to sing a few tunes accompanied by his guitar - clean, raw, fresh and flawless - his Marc Bolan reminiscent voice playing a great part in the band's sound. While the songs are great and the rear projection at the show interesting enough, the pace and excitement value of the actual show can dwindle, due to the overall tone of the music which has to grab your attention - therefor it will help if you're a diehard fan or if you can get into the music without the need for frills. Guitar, bass, drums, organ and voice - Starsailor takes these elements and thoroughly stamp their name on it.
5 / C
- PB

STARSHIP TROOPERS
With Kasper Van Dien, Michael Ironside,
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Man, if ever there was a comicbook put to celluloid, this sucker is it! After such triumphs as RoboCop, Total Recall & Basic Instint as well as embarrassments like Showgirls, Dutch born director Paul Verhoeven is back on form with this over the top movie of total annihilation. Here the gung-ho factor is so cool, because it's so damn tongue in cheek. Insect-like creatures attack earth and it's up to the young to volunteer and go blow them to bits. Fabulous. The battle sequences are phenomenal with thousands of aliens swarming all over the place. An amazing bit of escapism that had a few people faffing about it's facsist attitude - hey, it's a movie idiot!
5 / A
- PB

STARSKY & HUTCH
With Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Snoop Dogg, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell
Directed by Todd Phillips
The Stiller-Wilson double team is a good choice for this comedic big screen adaptation of the popular '70s cop TV series. Sure, they ham it up as Stiller does the intense, overly serious Starsky and Owen the cool, laid back Hutch. Obviously they get partnered against their wishes and become an effective team on the trail of a coke dealer. Between the gags and humour you get shoot-outs, chases and a ham-up of the buddy-cop TV show formula. Several highlights include a disco dance-off. Snoop Dogg plays pimp street informant Huggy Bear to good effect. I was a big fan of the show in the old days, especially because of the red Ford Gran Torino with its snazzy white stripe - I still have an original Corgi miniature from the series' era.
3 / B
- PB

STAR WARS TRILOGY
With Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carey Fisher, Alec Guiness the voice of James Earl Jones
Directed by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand
By today's standards some of the effects of this classic late '70s / early '80s space serial styled adventures may seem a little outdated - but, a well executed model spaceship or prosthetic monster is still often way more effective to me than digital CGI fakery. Comparable this original trilogy (which takes up the second half of the series) is way better than the recently produced multi-million dollar prequels that are so digitized it's pretty much an animated movie! Sure, some of us grew up with it and have a special place in our hearts for Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbaka, C-3PO, R2-D2 and of course, villain supreme Darth Vader, so we may be biased. George Lucas and his selected collaborators (including the specially created Industrial Light & Magic) had to pioneer most of the effects and find ways to make something believable that hasn't been done before. This set the wheels in motion and lay a template for many sci-fi action-adventures to follow. The trilogy is a classic fight between good & evil and consist of
Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope, Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi. Some of us prefer the movies in its original shape and not with the digital additions that got added later - I personally feel that it detracts instead of enhances. Besides the three films released for the first time on DVD, you also get a fourth disc in this boxset with all the bonus footage and extras you want so badly. With many Eastern references and Tolkien threads to be detected, Lucas created a lasting cinematic legend that'll be remembered for a very long time.
6 / A
- PB


STAR WARS EPISODE II - Attack Of The Clones
With Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by George Lucas
It's impossible to describe in words what this movie means to me, or the thousands of others around the world who might consider themselves Star Wars fans. But quite simply, a fan of anything will have a hard time finding fault with the primary focus of their fanatical behaviour.
And with that said, I cannot find fault with this movie. It is the essence of what great movie making ought to be on all levels: Superbly filmed, accompanied by an incredible score and of course, storytelling at its Lucasian best.
The second prequel to the original trio of
Star Wars movies, which themselves ushered in a paradigm shift in film-making in the 70's and 80's, takes us a little further into the beginnings of the Star Wars with the original "Clone Wars", and expanding on the origins of some of the now iconoclastic characters.
The
Star Wars trademark elements of love and hate, obedience and honor, good and evil and just plain thrilling action from start to finish are all here. And there are some dazzling surprises which had the audience in my show applauding like out of control football fans!
Yeah,
Star Wars is not just a movie franchise, it's a way of life... more a culture than a cult. For those fans who are very familiar with the chronoligical progression of the tale, ATTACK OF THE CLONES will feel like an intensely interesting history lesson and really begin to bring a lot of the story's elements together. But more importantly, it will re-release that kid in you who saw the originals as they were released over the past 25 years...
After standing in a line of 400 for 2 hours to get tickets on opening night (which is really nothing if you're familiar with the kinds of things fans of this saga are prepared to endure to secure a ticket), I remember walking out of the theater totally exhilarated and thinking to myself: What a great time to be alive!
- Brett Reynolds (US Correspondent)
...the 2nd opinion...
STAR WARS EPISODE II - Attack Of The Clones
With Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Frank Oz
Directed by George Lucas
The vast phenomenon created by
George Lucas several decades ago does, to a certain extent, surpass us all. It is a culture within itself, surmounting any Trekkie-fanaticism. Those of us who grew up with the original films have an affinity newcomers may not feel as strongly. This, the second in the chronological flow of Lucas's initial back story to Star Wars (Episode 4), The Empire Strikes Back (Ep. 5) and Return Of The Jedi (Ep. 6) start filling blanks of narrative detail and characters in the originally filmed trilogy. (Have to mention the reviewer in the Tygerburger getting it wrong in every way by calling this current episode the 3rd one! It's the 5th one made but the second in the chronological series, genius). While my companion loved the film and got engrossed in all of the characters, facts and line-ups for consequential events we'd already experienced since the 70s, I found myself in another place entirely. As I sat trying not to notice the overwhelming digital barrage, she lapped up all of the jargon, references and details building out this phenomenon. For starters, the casting of the young Skywalker (later to turn to the dark side as Darth Vader in the next and concluding episode to the first trilogy) in the shape of Hayden Christensen is far too American Teen for the Galactic good of the film's credibility. The old Harrison Ford / Mark Hamill / Carrie Fisher films were hands-on model building and FX innovation bar none. The newly developed digital techniques are just so apparent, its believability zips straight out the window like an X-Wing for me. Visions of the entire movie shot in a blue or green room of Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic Skywalker Ranch and 100 fold the time spent in post-production flooded my mind while I was supposed to pay attention to the story and visual spectacle flashing on the screen. McGregor hams it up while not-quite-bad-ass-Jackson is pretty low-key and serene, as a Jedi should be. Portman's sad-ass mouth can get to you, but thank goodness the floppy eared Jar-Jar Binks (is that how you spell his dumb-ass name?) has little screen time. You get to see Yoda in a totally different light that will either wow you or have those eyes rolling way back. Lee pulls off his dark side character well - not like in Lord Of The Rings, but after all as Dracula in the Hammer films he had ages of practice. The romance element may be trite but is essential - where did Leia and Luke come from, after all? While Attack Of The Clones is essential viewing for anyone remotely interested in the Star Wars cult, if you miss it, you needn't shed a tear, as it's just another part of the assembly line you're bound to bump into on video, DVD or TV. There's no way it'll fall away without you getting a glimpse - in fact, it'll come find YOU.
3 / B
- PB

STAR WARS Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith
With Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee
Directed by George Lucas
And so it comes to an end - the last of George Lucas' creation that shaped many generations and an entire culture. Everyone was hanging with bated breath to see how the young Anakin Skywalker would turn to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader. Where the first two chapters (
Episode I and Attack Of the Clones) were lacking in so many ways, even eclipsed by the pioneering but technologically more primitive original New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, the prequels were more often than not a digital disaster. But, to be fair, millions of fans have grown so fond of the originals (instantly at its time of release and over the decades), that hyper-critical reactions were expected - yet, there was no excuse for Jar Jar Binks! This Episode III is by far the best of the more recent trilogy. Many tiny loose ends get tied up (while rabid fans will find the odd loophole). While 95% digital, this time round it succeeds with the technology further pushing the reality boundary, making it less obvious and pulling the viewer into this exciting saga of good and evil, love, action, betrayal and hope. Now I guess all that is left to be done is watch all 6 flicks back to back - but do you start with Episode I or IV…? How a Jedi answer would?
5 / B
- PB

THE STATION AGENT
With Peter Dinklage, Paul Benjamin, Jase Blankfort, Paula Garces, Josh Pais
Directed by Thomas McCarthy
This low-key human drama hides a sense of triumph and joy below the surface. Finbar is a 4 ft loner who inherits a dilapidated station building from the old man with whom he worked in model train store. He moves in and at this deserted new location hooks up with two other outsiders: Joe, a guy looking after his dad's take-out stand, hungry for conversation and a klutzy aspiring artist Olivia, whose child died and is separating from her husband. While diminutive in stature and a private loner, Finbar becomes the centre to which these lonely characters gravitate. The trio slowly develops a bond. With the town a very uneventful place, the filmmakers manage to pull the humanity from these characters to keep you intrigued without the need for any chaotic events (although some moments step up the case). A moving and rewarding cinematic experience.
5 / B
- PB

Classic STATUS QUO
Rocking and rolling in their very particular way since the 1960's, Mr Rossi and his clan are still doing so today (2005). They are very much a live geared act and it is illustrated in the ten videos selected here, mostly performance based or actual live clips. It includes their still popular tunes Whatever You Want (recently used as the basis of an SA shopping chain tune), Rockin' All Over The World, Down Down, Rain, Rock 'n Roll, Caroline, Again & Again, Don't Waste My Time, The Wanderer, and In The Army Now. If yo like your rock & roll uncomplicated, this is certainly for you.
4 / B
- PB


THE STENDHAL SYNDROME
With Asia Argento, Thomas Kretschmann, John Quentin
Directed by Dario Argento
Stendhal Syndrome is supposed to be the condition suffered when someone is overwhelmed by the beauty of a piece of art. Dario's daughter Asia plays a detective who gets sucked into a convoluted storyline where she's trailing a serial rapist-murdered who targets her. With Argento's '90s work fluctuating, this 1998 flick captures a lot of his trademarks with many of the uneasy, unsavory bits present. Some therapists would have a lot to say about him having his daughter raped in his movies…whether it is necessary for added shock effect is another debate. Fact remains he certainly has his own very distinct way of scaring his audiences.
3 / B
- PB


The Work Of Director STÉPHANE SEDNAOUI
Sednaoui's specific style is one with a wide scope. It includes the annoying personalities of Alanis Morissette in a single vehicle location (Ironic), both the black & white effective simplicity and glowing neon colours of Björk (a day and night version of Big Time Sensuality, plus Possibly Maybe), the grittiness of the Black Crowes (with Sofia Coppola starring in Sometimes Salvation), the heavy post-production & glowing special FX, double exposure dissolves & weird martial arts theme of Mirwais (Disco Science, and I Can't Wait), the bright flashy look and visual distortion of U2 (Discotheque, and Mysterious Ways), a less inspiring clip for French hip-hoppers NTM (Le Monde De Demain), the silver glammy Red Hot Chili Peppers classic Give It Away (as well as Scar Tissue), and the point of view angle of Garbage (Queer). Others include Massive Attack (Sly), Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry (Seven Seconds), R.E.M. (Lotus), and Tricky (For Real, Hell Is Around The Corner, & Pumpkin). Besides interviews, you also get short films and animation that'll give you further insight into the man's art and process.
5 / A
- PB


STEVIE RAY VAUGHN & Double Trouble - Live From Austin, Texas
Another guitar genius no longer with us. This release contains a brilliant 14-track live CD with
Double Trouble, recorded at Carnegie Hall (with tracks like Testifyin', Love Struck Baby, Honey Bee, Dirty Pool, C.O.D., Lenny and Rude Mood) plus a DVD of Stevie & Double Trouble's historic Austin City Limits appearances in '83 and '89. He blew the audience away with his 6-string flair, fusing Blues and Rock with a blast, including songs like Texas Flood, Leave My Girl Alone, Tightrope, The House Is Rockin', Crossfire, Tick Tock, Hendrix's Voodoo Chile and a posthumous video of Little Wing. A guitar hero to be missed.
5 / A
- PB


STING - Bring On The Night
Sting's transition from frontman of The Police to solo artist was a gradual one as he adapted some Police tunes and ones he wrote during his tenure with Stewart and Andy. His new band members in this new frontier with a jazzy slant included the highly competent crew of Omar Hakim (drums), Darryl Jones (bass), Kenny Kirkland (keyboards), Branford Marsalis (sax) and some backup singers. The documentary was filmed during rehearsals and their performance in France. Songs are dispersed throughout the intimate study of this process of a band being created as the music is shaped. The promotional, pre-production and press activities are also included, as well as personal intimate moments like Sting's wife giving birth on camera.
DVD bonus material: music videos to Bring On The Night, If You Love Somebody Set Them Free, and Russians; trailer; photo gallery, and radio spots.
In addition you get 2 CDs in this set with over a dozen tracks. They include Bring On The Night, Consider Me Gone, We Work The Black Seam, The Dream Of the Blue Turtles, Demolition Man, One World (Not Three), Love Is The Seventh Wave, I Burn For You, Down So Long, and Tea In The Sahara. There are also notes by
Sting on the CD tracks, and from director Michael Apted for the DVD (Apted's other films include Agatha, Blink, and the 007 movie The World Is Not Enough).
Audio options include Stereo, DTS 5.1 or Dolby Digital 5.1.
5 / B
- PB

STING & THE POLICE - The Very Best of
Most of the Police's classic songs are on this tape as well as Sting's finest solo tracks (as the title suggests!). There's the unforgettable Walking on the Moon, Roxanne, De Doo Doo Doo De Da Da Da and fine chunk of Sting's mellow masterpieces like (one of my favourites) Englishman in New York. The tacky lower budget of the old Police songs (which is brilliant in its dated look) contrasts sharply with the more modernised slick of Sting's cuts. With so many "Best of..." Police albums floating around, this video seems to be the most definitive for the visual medium. Some old interview footage would've been very welcome.
4 / B
- PB

STIR OF ECHOES
With Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Erbe, Zachary David Cope
Directed by David Koepp
Tom Witzky is a regular guy in a nice close-knit Chicago suburb. Though he had many dreams before getting married, he hadn’t accomplished much. His skeptic outlook leads to his sister in law hypnotizing him at a party and suggesting he be more open minded. What she didn’t realise was that this newly opened door also included the world we don’t see. Scary visions and an apparition subsequently haunt Tom. His son has the ability to see her and speaks to her regularly. At first he is completely freaked, not knowing what’s going on, until he learns there is unfinished business she wants taken care of. Tom’s obsession starts to consume him which obviously leads to tension with his wife. This fine super-natural thriller has a few chilling scenes and some good scares. Comparison to The Sixth Sense is obvious, but it is hardly the same thing. There is also no big twist like the aforementioned film, as there are too many visual clues scattered throughout. James Newton Howard’s haunting score also contributes to the film’s atmosphere while some great FX scenes bind the narrative. Take someone you really like to this film and they might just end up sitting in your lap.
4 / B
- PB

THE STORY OF US
With Bruce Willis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rob Reiner, Tim Matheson, Paul Riser
Directd by Rob Reiner
By now comedy should be second nature to director Rob Reiner. This one is a little more serious though. It’s also not exactly a “romantic” comedy as it starts off with a crumbling marriage. At first the façade lasts, but there are kids involved and a resolution seems impossible. Throughout this realistic (mis)adventure, we get to sympathize with both characters as the escalation to the decision to get a divorce is peppered with flashbacks from both their perspectives: the good and bad. For Reiner it might be a matter of fact to get a film made nowadays after so many, but without the co-operation of stars like Willis and (a still foundation-shaking stunning) Pfeiffer, it could be much harder. This quite beautiful tale with which many can identify is hardly a When Harry Met Sally. But similarly it leaves the opportunity for hope, once again making us realise what a silly species we are.
5 / B
- PB


STRAIGHT OUTTA BENONI
With Brendan Jack, Gavin Williams, Colin Moss, Louw Venter, Tanit Phoenix, Kagiso Lediga, Danny K.
Directed by Trevor Clarence
The lads who gave us those funny MTV Crazy Monkey clips (of guys doing totally dorky dares thinking its extreme), unleash their first big screen effort. Finally there's a light comedic flick for younger (and some older) cinemagoers that doesn't get into the country's heavy political past. It is however very SA-bound, with suburban cultural phenomena and South Africanism all over the place, from language and behaviour to the landscape itself. Our two heroes (or losers) want to get famous the day before their high school reunion so they can make an entrance as somebodies. Benoni, the town where our Oscar gal Charlize grew up is the focal point of our tale, as our buddies-for-life, naïve but determined, ready themselves to put on a live show of their band, The Astronauts, to get noticed by Danny K's manager and become instant stars. Along the way a cop pursues them, suspecting their involvement in an American actor attacked while on a shoot in Benoni. The jokes are very indigenous and some scenes are pretty funny, but several seem as though it just needed a little extra push. Many a local cameo includes comedians, models and veteran actors. As a Leon Schuster antidote, this is a very good start to create a new SA film industry as opposed to merely being a location for foreign movies.
3 / B
- PB

THE STRAIGHT STORY
With Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Harry Dean Stanton, Everett McGill
Directed by David Lynch
From the outset, seeing David Lynch’s name preceded by a Disney logo is almost as surreal as most of his mind-blowingly brilliant films. But, fear not hardcore fans, Lynch’s identity is imprinted all over this little gem. Like the title, that’s pretty much what the film is, straight, simple, modest - but that’s obvious. It mainly refers to the lead character, Alvin Straight, whose estranged brother suffers a stroke a couple of hundred miles away. Alvin’s health is also suffering in his 73rd year, but he decides to undertake a journey to see his brother, swallow his pride, face the odds and do it. How? With a small lawnmower truck, pulling a trailer - all at a snail’s pace. One of the most pensive road-movies in the last few years (no high speed convertibles or blood and gunfire). The scenery gets absorbed as Alvin edges along on his journey. He has very little need for self-discovery (having lived life to the full from fighting in the war to being a parent with a disadvantaged daughter), but he does. More importantly is the wisdom (however simple, yet significant) that he leaves behind with the people he meets along the way. As to be expected, it’s not all smooth sailing, as dangers in various shapes are a very real threat, but without turning it into an action fest. The simplicity of the film is what impacts the most. This beautiful piece of cinema can turn one inward and reflect without struggle. The Badalamenti score is wonderful, the photography lovely and the acting more than convincing. Another fine film from one of my favourite directors. (Don’t expect Wild At Heart or Eraserhead, folks, but don’t think it won’t have as much impact).
5 / B
- PB

STRAW DOGS
With Dustin Hoffman, Susan George, Peter Vaughan, Peter Arne, David Warner
Directed by Sam Peckinpah
The misogynistic traces in Peckinpah's films are no mystery. He is also no stranger to violent material, and here the line between rape, consent, self-righteous macho overpowering, the "asking for it" factor and the emotional effect of such events collide into violence, bloodshed and death. Hoffman is a nerdy American mathematician married to an English gal. They move to her neck of the woods in the countryside outside of a small coastal village, and soon an ex of hers and repairmen working at their home decide to take more than just a few liberties. Their violations and lack of conscience drives our mild mannered hubby to find his inner beast and execute his own justice. Quite controversial at its time of release in 1971, over thirty years later it can still shock many viewers, if not make them extremely uncomfortable.
4 / B
- PB


STRICTLY SINATRA
With Ian Hart, Kelly MacDonald, Brian Cox, Alun Armstrong
Directed by Peter Capaldi
Ian Hart delivers a marvelous performance as the small time English lounge singer whose allegiance to Sinatra seems obsessive. When he gets unwillingly pulled into the underworld, his dreams seem to become a reality, but at a price. He meets a girl and things seem great - but things start taking some very dark turns and twists. When the mobsters start doing him favours (mostly against his wishes), like checking up a producer of a TV talent show, he gets sucked in deeper still. He soon becomes enamoured but his conscience rebels. While watching you can anticipate how the whole thing will end - but you'll be pleasantly surprised. A low key but intriguing film about the little guy who wants to be bigtime, but seems to be doomed to remain trapped in obscurity.
4 / C
- PB


STUART LITTLE 2
With, Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Lipniki and the voices of Michael J. Fox, James Woods, Nathan Lane and Melanie Griffith
Directed by Rob Minkoff
The first movie was cute. Somehow, now that we know the characters and lovely digitally created mouse FX (and loads of other snazzy, fluid tricks), it simply seems like another episode in a TV series. Our tiny mouse hero, living with his human family, is pretty well adjusted by now and even semi-buddies with Snowball the cat. Only thing is, his brother and best pal has other interests and friends, Stuart left out and a bit on the lonely side. As luck would have it, a friend falls in his lap - well into his car's passenger seat on the way from school. The female bird who was chased by a vulture, move into the Little residence to recover, becoming Stuart's friend, and, perhaps, girlfriend? But there are more sinister forces behind it all. Fun, silly, slapstick and all round fuzzy family entertainment with lots of thrills, spills, adventure and life lessons.
3 / C
- PB


STUCK ON YOU
With Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Cher
Directed by The Farrelly Bros.
In true Farrelly Brothers style, they take physical and mental disadvantages and turn it into both comedic and romantic popcorn fodder. Here Damon and Kinnear play conjoined twins, stuck at the hip since birth. The one (Damon) is content working in their burger joint in Martha's Vinyard, while the other (Kinnear) wants to become an actor, oblivious to how the industry (and world) will see him with a guy attached to him. The naivety and love of the two brothers overcome many obstacles. Coincidentally Damon's internet girlfriend of 3 years happens to live in Hollywood. They head out into the big world with loads of related jokes, gags and physical lunacy resulting. Our aspiring actor lands a job on a TV show via Cher (who wants to get out of a contract). And, yes, it does get a bit sentimental in parts. Some funny visual gags include the crooked old talent manager's super-crap wig, huge glasses and battery-operated senior citizen's cart, plus a jealous guy in a club with doll-head hair plugs. The Farrellys are also putting more and more physically disabled and mentally challenged people in bit parts. Fun, but if you miss it on the big screen, video will do just fine.
3 / B
- PB

THE STUPIDS
With Tom Arnold, Jessica Lundy
Directed by John Landis
Disappointing turn for Landis whose Blues Brothers and American Werewolf in London will saty with us forever. Here Arnold goes for cheap laughs as, well, the stuppid head of the Stupid family. Dumbass jokes in a dumbass movie that may provoke a chuckle or to, I hate to say…
1 / C
- PB

SUBWAY
With Isabelle Adjani, Cristopher Lambert, Richard Bohringer, Jean Reno
Directed by Luc Besson
The film that made everyone sit up and notice Besson as well as Lambert has a stylish, hip and mysterious feel to it, while at times it does seem as though it might be meandering a bit too much. After eluding the authorities, Lambert discovers an interesting subculture living in the Parisien Metro system. Life underground is a strange but intriguing one while Adjani’s beauty is staggering as always.
3 / B
- PB

SUGAR & SPICE
With Marla Sokoloff, Marley Shelton, Mena Suvari, Sean Young, James Marsden
Directed by Francine McDougall
It seems as if pretty much all the angles have been explored when it comes to bank robbing/heist flicks. The female writing, production, directing & acting team came up with one that hadn't seen light of day (on a commercial level anyway). A quintet of varied buddies make up the bulk of the cheerleading A-team. Their close knit bond looks past their different characteristics as they're sisters who'd stick with one another no matter what. Even when one falls pregnant? Gets married? Has to work a crappy job to stay afloat? Rob a bank to overcome the financial restraints of going to school, working and gearing up to pop a baby? Yep. The silly-assed jokes fly readily as our gang face their problems & assert themselves in funny, dangerous and silly ways. This teen flick is a must for anyone who loves a healthy high school body, cute face and bad joke. The film's over the top sentiments and optimism is part of its charm.
3 / C
- PB

THE SUM OF ALL FEARS
With Ben Afleck, Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, Bridget Moynahan
Directed by Phil Alden Robinson
A missing nuclear bomb is uncovered in the Middle East and after changing hands on the black market, becomes the focus of a resurrection of the Cold War between Russia and The USA. A battle of the "Presidents with Fingers on the Red Buttons" ensues and our young hero, Jack Ryan (played by
Ben Afleck), races against time to convince each nation not to start World War 3... using some inside information and his training as a CIA agent. A standard action film made up of classic Tom Clancy elements: espionage, nuclear warheads, terrorism and politics. Budding love makes its token appearance as the sub-plot via Bridget Moynahan, and the bad guys (as ever) are Nazi throwbacks and a white South African black market arms dealer. (Say that fast three times!) The action is standard and predictable, and so are the characters. The intensity of the DefCon 5 scene falls a little short and could have had me a lot closer to the edge of my seat. The story as a whole is captivating enough to entertain you, but expect nothing more. If you miss this one, something similar is bound to come along again soon. Not vital viewing if you're not a diehard Clancy fan.
- Brett Reynolds (USA)


SUPERFLY
Terrible cover design aside, this collection of indigenous flavours contains 15 tracks from across the Kwaito, R&B, Hip-Hop flavoured board. Fallen star Brenda Fassie appear twice, with TV's Popstars Jamali and everybody's favourite Ringo doing their thing respectively. No new kid on the block Mdu is there and the extravagant Lebo still flies comfortably solo. Mandoza is obviously present, both solo and with Danny K. You also get the masked nut Mzekezeke and SAMA winner Brown Dash. Ghetto Lingo, Doc Shebeleza, Ntando and Solly Moholo round it out. If you are not an avid Ya Mampela watcher, you would not have seen these clips hundreds of times. And even if you are, and still can't get enough, there's no reason for you not to add this to your collection.
3 / C
- PB


SUPERGRASS is 10 - The Best of '94-'04
A cool simultaneous release with their Best Of album, this double DVD packs in 17 of their videos as well as an in depth documentary covering many aspects of this fun pop-rock act's success in the UK and abroad. Videos include the gritty Caught By The Fuzz, the fun Mansize Rooster, carefree Alright,
Blur Song 2-ish Richard III, hilarious extended puppet bodies of Pumping On Your Stereo, Going Out's park performance clip, the flowing melodic Moving, the horror infested Mary as well as Grace, Seen The Light, Kiss Of Life, Lenny, Time, Sun Hits The Sky and more. A very cool experience, even for those who never really caught onto the pop-rock-punk Brit vibes these three guys (and their keyboard player) bashed out over the last decade. You also get some bonus clips, commentaries and karaoke function.
5 / B
- PB


SUPERMAN
With Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando
Directed by Richard Donner
This is the first double-sided DVD I've encountered - the movie and all of its supplementary material on one disc. Super! When the advanced planet Krypton is destroyed, a sole survivor is sent to earth. He grows up to become
Superman. Mild mannered reported Clark Kent by day, but transforming into Superman when trouble looms, fighting for justice in Metropolis. Criminal mastermind Lex Luthor has a few tricks up his sleeve, though. Besides the amazingly executed first live action version of this timeless comic book character, the DVD contains documentaries and interviews with director & characters, shedding eye opening light on the effort put into the project. For those truly interested in facts like that, Richard Donner (who went on to direct the Lethal Weapon movies and also did The Omen) contributes an enlightening commentary track. A varied casting audition tape as well as a look at the CGI-free, but still fantastic FX, are included. The innovation and effort to create some of the scenes are unbelievable. This is a superb package for a groundbreaking movie.
5 / A
- PB


SUPERSIZE ME
With Morgan Spurlock, Ronald McDonald
Directed by Morgan Spurlock
This fascinating low budget odyssey into fast food hell makes for an enlightening and entertaining documentary subject. With America becoming the fattest nation in the universe, Spurlock set out to investigate this obese phenomenon by focusing on the country's fast food epidemic. In the wake of McDonald's lawsuits (girls blaming the company for their lard-ass dispositions) and the fact that there are more McDonalds per square mile than any other fast food outlet, Spurlock picked them as the focus of his study (not that KFC, Wendy's or any other favourite is any better for you). In perfect health, he set out to eat nothing but McDonalds for a whole month. Throughout the process a range of health consultants track his progress (or rather degeneration), his weight gain and physical transformation shocking! Halfway through his advisors suggest he quits or may face serious health problems! With facts, numbers, stats and info along the way, Spurlock managed to present both an informative, scary and hilarious piece of docutainment. Not to be missed.
DVD contains some cool extra material and scenes.
5 / B
- PB

THE SUICIDE KINGS
with Christopher Walken, Denis Leary, Sean Patrick Flanery, Henry Thomas
Directed by Peter O'Fallon
To say that Christopher Walken is so fucking drop-dead cool that you ought to see every movie he's in, is stating the obvious. In this case he is a "retired" mob man who gets kidnapped by a group of young guys. The reason: to get him to use his muscle in order to ensure the return of one of their kidnapped sisters. Tense and very funny, this original idea serves as a reminder that explosions are not necessarily required to make a fine, memorable film.
4 / B
- PB

SUMMER OF SAM
With John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Anthony LaPaglia, Ben Gazzara
Directed by Spike Lee
Wonderful film about the Son Of Sam .44 murderer who turned New York upside down in the summer of ’77. We’re taken along the trail of several neighbourhood characters that care to a more or lesser extent about the serial killer. Paranoia and general madness grips the whole place, as the killer won’t stop ‘till he’s caught. Wonderful characterizations all round. Together with Malcolm X, this is one of Lee’s best films, especially since it doesn’t focus on how bad the white man is. You can feel the heat and fear in the air as Lee shoots his favourite city with class. Great performances and 70’s soundtrack.
6 / A
- PB

SUPERCOP
With Jackie Chan, Michelle Khan
Directed by Stanley Tong
This Chan offering was released in the East as Police Story 3 almost back to back with Rumble in the Bronx. First Strike (also available on Disc) was originally released as Police Story 4. Supercop is the USA release with a reworked soundtrack and American refinements to make it more attractive to that market. Again Chan is that likeable, laughable, rough & ready cop who this time needs to infiltrate a drug lords realm in order to nail him from the inside. As to be expected, it's biggest draw card is that of the fantastic stunts and choreographed fight sequences. The final scene where Chan (amongst other things) hang from a ladder under a helicopter, swooping over Hong Kong, is jaw dropping. Michelle Kahn (real name Michelle Yeao who made her Western debut in Tomorrow Never Dies) takes no shit. She's the Chinese counterpart Chan has to team up with and she pulls a few crazy stunts herself, like ramping onto a moving train with a motorcycle! Some added bonuses on the laserdisc are the elaborate wide screen format and 5 extra deleted scenes. These scenes range from silly antics to some serious drug related ones including info on how criminals smuggle drugs and a close-up injection and overdose. Chan is the man and everyone should get to see each of his movies. Now go and get it.
4 / A
- PB

SUPERNOVA
With James Spader, Angela Basset, Lou Diamond Philips, Robert Foster
Directed by Thomas Lee
A space rescue team answers a distress call which needs to have them hyperspace over 30 light years. On reaching their destination, their ship is damaged and need 17 hours to recharge the time jump mechanism. The lone sender of the distress call comes on board and slowly all hell breaks loose. He had with him a phenomenal object that can not only change the world, but universes.
2 / C
- PB

SURFIN' SHORTS
This Bruce Brown Golden Years Of Surfing Collection looks at the '60s with classic, pioneering surfing footage taking you from America to Japan. The reason this baby is lo
oked at in a musical sense is its genre relevance in music history. While this was made in the 60s when surfing was still making its way towards becoming a recognized and world renowned sport, the surfin' music was also still in development. No, there are no Beach Boys tracks, but The Sandals do feature with a twangy surf-flavour. The rest of the soundtrack is a Jazzy affair, almost like industrial instruction movies! This surf (and early skateboarding flashback) is great fun to watch and hear.
4 / B
- PB

SWEET & LOWDOW
With Sean Penn, Samantha Morton, Uma Thurman
Directed by Woody Allen
Sean Penn portrays the arrogant, annoying guitarist Emmet Ray who definitely had a screw loose - or who was merely so talented it affected him mentally. He was a man who loved to watch trains go by and shoot rats in the dump (taking ladies to both). He seemed to have been a kleptomaniac, but was one great guitar player, and he was never shy to claim he was just that (except for Django Reinhart, his idol in whose presence he’d passed out more than once). He was a womanizer but had a long relationship with a mute, Hattie. His strange life plays off a little like a mini-series for TV, while comments by anyone from music aficionados and writers to Woody Allen pop up occasionally with comments, tales, rumours or facts. Though many found this to be a great Penn performance, I don’t feel it’s his best performance (unlike Oscar worthy roles like that in Carlito’s Way). It could also be the fact that he plays Ray so authentically (a total asshole), that he grates one as intended - still if there is any sympathy meant to filter through, it’s more pity for Ray’s pathetic personality. The film is interesting and luckily never boring none the less, and does add to a fine list of films on musicians, only, anyone who has a keen musical ear and eye might be put off by Penn’s fumbled fretwork at times.
2 / C
- PB

THE SWEETEST THING
With Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, Selma Blair, Thomas Jane, Jason bateman, Parker Posey
Directed by Roger Kumble
From the get-go you know what you're in for here. Twenty-something sex/romance comedy. Three girlfriends live together in San Francisco. One still gets hurt when guys dump her, but the other two are hardened, not letting their guard down or falling head over heels - indirectly becoming exactly like the men they despise. One night at a club Diaz's character accidentally meets a guy, all evidence showing that she thinks he's a dick. But, inside of her it's a whole different story and result in a road trip to try and get at him (without his knowledge). It's the same old goddamn thing, man, with some slapstick and crude girl bits thrown in. Many people may expect a
Something About Mary, but this film's annoying characters is a far cry from it. Strictly for Diaz fans.
1 / C
- PB

SWEET SIXTEEN
With Martin Compston, William Ruane, Annmarie Fulton
Directed by Ken Loach

Ever seen a jolly Ken Loach movie? This is no different. The man's ability to bring hard hitting real life tragedy to the screen seems to know no bounds. Set in Scotland, we're introduced to Liam, a tough hardheaded little bastard on the brink of his 16th birthday. His mom is in jail and he plans to provide a nice place for her when she gets out, away from her scumbag dealer boyfriend. Liam doesn't like drugs, but turns to selling it in order to make his dream come true.
Here the adults are no role models whatsoever and children show more courage and strength than those who are supposed to pretect them - in stead neglecting them and making them part of the greater problem and its evils. With his buddy Liam encounter both the good, the bad and the life threatening in this gray pursuit of happiness. The terrible weather adds to the miserable atmosphere of this bleak but powerful film which delivers some incredible performances (even from the toddler). Bittersweet Sixteen is more like it. The accents are wickedly strong and if you've heard a Scot or two, it'll make sense, but there are subtitles provided since Americans will find this like a foreign language.
5 / C
- PB

SWIMFAN
With Jessie Bradford, Erika Christensen, Shiri Appleby, Jason Ritter
Directed by John Polson
The
Fatal Attraction theme gets milked to nauseating lenghts in this atrocious teen-thriller of a promising school swimmer whose one night stand with a new girl leads to the ruining of his reputation as she goes psycho on him, injuries and death also resulting. Each scene is as predictable as the next. A load of lame, lame and then some.
1 / C
- PB


SWORDFISH
With John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Vinnie Jones
Directed by Dominic Sena
When ol' Joel Silver is behind an action pic, you can expect something spectacular. Jackman is an ex-hacker - one of the best in fact. He gets approached by a wealthy "International Playboy" to pull a multi-billion dollar on-line rip-off. If our likeable hacker gets close to a computer, he's toasted by the government. But the persuasive fee and (crappy) plotline of then being able to afford getting his daughter away from her druggypornstar mom, convinces him to go with it - even though the people involved are pretty damn dangerous, conniving and sly. Berry looks mightydamnfine and Travolta pulls the cool badass act off pretty well. Jackman's convincing enough (with his ruggedly-handsome-accidental-hero looks) albeit for a couple of eye-rolling cheezy bits (like the animated hacking infront of the PC bit - hack indeed). The action sequences are vibrant and exciting and the plot not too predictable, which adds to making
Swordfish an enjoyable take on the age-old heist theme, spruced up with technology and cold blooded violence.
4 / B
- PB

© 2006 Flamedrop Productions