Movies of the Week

Well here we go again with this week's recommendations. Saturday night is not that great. But if you are looking for something to watch then check out the following two films. The Chronicles of Riddick is worth a look but is not a patch on its predecessor Pitch Black. As an alternative you could take a look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It is the film which launched the massive TV series. It patently is not as good but is mildly comic entertainment. The performances of Donald Sutherland and Rutger Hauer are a delight. Also look for a role by Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman).


Sunday on the other hand is a veritable feast for film lovers. If you like musicals and I don't then you have On The Town. But if it's escapism you love then there is Dr No. Connery (still the best Bond ever) makes his debut in the role that would make him a superstar. And then there is Ursula Andress and that scene. For the trivia nuts amongst you it is said that Enter The Dragon the iconic Bruce Lee pic is heavily influenced by this film. Follow this up with The Great Escape. One of the best war films of all time. Scripted by James Clavell who went on to write Shogun. as ensemble casts go they don't get much better than this. Late night entertainment is provided by Rutger Hauer in Blind Fury. OK the plot is mildly ludicrous but who needs a deep film for entertainment. Also there is The Wraith utter garbage in general terms but worth a look anyway. Who says 1980s straight to video films can't be good.


Monday night's standout film is True Lies. It is one of Arnie's best films and the cast clearly enjoyed the fact that this is just pure escapist nonsense. As was the case the bad guy is played by an English actor (Art Malik). Support comes from Jamie Lee Curtis, and Tom Arnold. There is also a cameo by Charlton Heston as Arnie's boss. As alternatives can I recommend the following films. Anybody who knows me knows that I cannot stand Ben Stiller and will avoid films with him in because I just don't see what all the fuss is about. However, there are always exceptions. Dodgeball is one such. Stiller is as terrible as ever but Vince Vaughna and his gang of misfits supported by Rip Torn are excellent. Eddie Murphy on his day is outstanding and generally his earlier work is better. 48 Hours is reasonably tolerable. Much better though is Crocodile Dundee 2. As sequels go it is one of the better ones I have come across. Alison, my wife, thinks that 50 First Dates is a good film I don't agree but I include the opinion just to show that I am magnanimous and open to editorial variety.

On Tuesday there is little of great value. Jurassic Park 3 and Star Trek Generations are the only films worth a look. Neither is great and the latter is an odd numbered Star Trek film and is thus doomed to be terrible.

Wednesdays films tend to be comedies that are worth watching. School of Rock is Jack Black at his best and as a rock fan the soundtrack is great. Bird On A Wire is also worth a look as is The Hunger. Avoid The Wicker Man which is in my humble opinion one of the most overrated films I have ever seen.




Friday has two films worth a look. The Shining is perhaps the best adaptation of a Stephen King novel. Jack Nicholson is just incredible as the man who goes insane. "Here's Johnny" and "Redrum" are memorable lines from this film which has an exceptional cast. Another adaptation of a novel is The Rainmaker which is an adaptation of John Grisham's book. It is workmanlike and the cast of Matt Damon, Mickey Rourke and Danny DeVito are excellent. It may be a Grisham by the numbers story but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.