It's Christmas week

Well gentle reader we have reached Christmas week at last. Over the next few days I will be running a taxi service to meet the needs of my childrens social diaries. I have survived the office Christmas dinner and have been contemplating the week's film offerings.

Tonight is a veritable feast of entertainment if you love film with no less than 8 films worthy of attention. But before I get on to those I watched A History of Violence which I recommended as being worth a look a couple of weeks ago. On watching the film myself for the first time this week I have to confess to being a bit disappointed. It isn't that it's a bad film it is just not as good as everybody else seems to think it is. Also I was reading The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn which is to be made into a film. I couldn't really recommend it to anybody else as I lost interest in the story part way through.

All evening will see you battle with deciding what to watch and what to tape, always assuming that you have the option. At about seven o clock the choice comes between a quirky little Australian number and an American classic. The Dish (c4 7pm) is the story of how a small remote radio telescope played a part in the moon landings. Sam Neill is the 'star' of this piece but it is just a gentle film and more than worthy of note. However, it is up against The African Queen. This is one of those marvellous films which just transcends time. The two stars Bogart and Hepburn are just outstanding. The film White Hunter Black Heart is loosely based on the filming of this masterpiece.Look out for cameos from Richard Marner of Allo Allo fame, Walter Gotell (General Gogol in the Bond films) and Theodore Bikel (Rabbi Koslov in Babylon 5).

At about 9 o clock there are two more films. One I have never managed to see all the way through and the other is pure 80's class. A Knights Tale is the film that many would argue brought Heath Ledger to international notice (certainly to me). I hope to give this one a look. The other option is Gremlins. This is just a classic comedy, horror, christmas story. It does look a bit dated but the story is great. It is rated 15 and would probably be a 12 today but it is certainly not one for the kids.

The late shift features 4 films which clash with each other. Geronimo is a brilliant adaptation of the tale featuring Robert Duvall and Wes Studi. Again I have never managed to see this through to the end due to technical problems. MI2 whilst being a diverting film is not a patch on the first cinematic release. Fans of the X Men movies rejoice at the fact that Dougray Scott was delayed making this and so was unable to play Wolverine. V for Vendetta is something that I watched on DVD recently and although it is disowned by its creator Alan Moore is still worth a look and is certainly entertaining. Also Cliffhanger is on. Stallone is no great shakes as an actor, although he is much better than people give him credit for. This is one of his better offerings. He is acted off the screen by John Lithgow. In addition Janine Turner provides a welcome diversion.

Sunday brings us Finding Nemo which is OK if you like that kind of thing. The new version of King Kong which I haven't seen but which everybody says is not as good as the original with Fay Wray. Also there is Road House featuring Patrick Swayze and Sam Elliot.

Monday has Brothers Grimm which was slated but then Gilliam films frequently suffer this fate. I haven't seen it and so can't comment. There is also Pan's Labyrinth. Again I haven't actually managed to make it all the way through this film. Whilst being visually stunning which is undeniable I found the actual story slow and difficult and it wasn't because of the subtitles.

Tuesday brings us a sci-fi classic with 20000 leagues under the sea featuring Kirk Douglas and James Mason. This is well worth a look. There is wuirky comedy Overboard featuring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. I caught this by accident once and found it to be mildly amusing. The film of the night though is Con Air. The cast in this film is just outstanding. Admittedly JOhn Malkovich steals the film, which he usually does, but Nick Cage, John Cusack, Danny Trejo, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi and Colm Meaney all provide excellent entertainment. This is Hollywood blockbuster filmmaking of the highest order.

Early on Christmas morning we have a rare treat. Nothing says peace and good will to all men like a Chuck Norris fight fest. I will be keeping a look out for Good Guys Wear Black. In the afternoon there is Bill Murray at his laconic best in Scrooged. As an adaptation of A Christmas Carol it is extremely well done. However the best adaptation is the one by the Muppets and Michael Caine which was on last week.

Boxing Day brings Crocodile Dundee which is really starting to show its age but is still good fun. Pirates of the Caribbean 2 gets its terrestrial premiere. Also the surprise of the season is black comedy Death Becomes Her. The cast is terrific with marvellous performances from Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis and 'Muriel Strepsil'. Also Ingrid Bergman's daughter, Isabella Rossellini, features.

So seasons felicitations to all readers and family photos will make an appearance in the next couple of weeks.

The pre Christmas build up

Well everybody it's nearly that time of the year when people pig out, drink too much, do things they really wish they hadn't and then detox in the new year hoping that nobody noticed the previous month.

Unfortunately for this group there are people like me who don't drink, notice a lot and have a photographic memory to use at the most appropriate times.

It is also the silly season for TV listings I currently have three this week and will have a fourth by early next week. So as I haven't indulged my reviewing skills for a while I thought I would go for it again particularly as the film world is a reviewer short at the moment. I believe he said something that a lot of people didn't like.

So what delights do we have for next week. There is nothing filmwise on Saturday that I can recommend either because I haven't seen the films that are on or because I've only recently recommended the films anyway. However, I would like to heartily recommend a documentary and a comedy program. On BBC2 we have the second part of Boris Johnson's documentary After Rome. Whatever you think about London's mayor he is an excellent broadcaster and this documentary is yet another wonderful offering. It is immediately followed on BBC1 by Outnumbered. I caught the second episode of this second series a couple of weeks ago and haven't laughed so much in ages. Andy Hamilton can always be relied upon to come up with something funny Drop The Dead Donkey and Old Harry's Game being my personal favourites. I never saw the first series but if it is as good as this one has been it will be a joy. Go on have a laugh.

Sunday night has a couple of films and one must see TV show. The films are Just Cause with Sean Connery. I will probably be giving this a look as I love legal dramas and haven't actually seen this one. However, it clashes with an excellent film. Master & Commander. I am told that the books are better than the film and have to admit that when I first watched it I wasn't expecting much as I am not a great lover of this period of history. But I was pleasantly surprised at the film as a whole and of the performances of both Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. On TV is Top Gear a program for the grumpy old man in all of us. It is not PC and never claimed to be and that is its key.

Monday night, when I can actually get to the TV after people in our household have watched the same episode of Dr Who for the 200th time is full of some great documentaries. There are also a couple of films of note. Channel 4 has Niall Ferguson's The Ascent of Money. It is a fairly dry subject but it is crucial that we understand the subject if we wish to understand our way out of the current difficulties. It is followed on the same channel by Catastrophe. Tony Robinson looks at the science behind how we actually got here at all. Horizon it isn't but as ever Robinson makes his subject accessible and understandable. At the same time on BBC2 is WWII Behind Closed Doors. Whilst it is an excellent documentary featuring the ever popular Bob Gunton as FDR I have to say that I don't think it is the best of Laurence Rees' WWII documentaries. Personally I think The Nazis: A Warning From History is the best and one of the most chilling series I have ever watched. It is still worth a look though. At 10 on C4 is A History of Violence. I haven't seen this film but it has had excellent reviews and the cast of Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris and William Hurt would under usual circumstances guarantee a good film. Also later on is Tim Burton's first Batman movie. Stolen by Jack Nicholson as The Joker I have to admit that I think Michael Keaton has been the best Batman (other than the animated series) until Christian Bale. If you happen to have Sky Movies Sci/Fi then also check out Raising Cain. It is one of the best films I have ever seen.

Tuesday is a night for the film buff if you don't like football. The one drawback is that you will need some new fangled equipment or a helpful friend to enjoy it all. On ITV2 it is an Arniefest. We have Total Recall and Termonator 2 Judgment Day. The former is one of the best Arnie films I have seen. It is Arnie doing what he has always done best which is blowing things up and shooting people. It is based on a Philip K Dick story called We Can Remember It For You Wholesale. On the whole this author's work is very hit and miss when it is filmed. For every much vaunted Blade Runner there is a Minority Report. I personally think this is more the former than the latter. I also would like to say that I actually don't like Blade Runner that much. Arnie is supported as usual by people who can act. Namely Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside and Ronny Cox all of whom are excellent. This is then followed by the highly acclaimed sequel to The Terminator. This is just Arnie at his best and even if you don't like sci-fi or Arnie is a good film. At the same time on Film4 is The Transporter. Now I actually saw the sequel to this a few weeks ago and the plot, such as it is, is just a vehicle for moving from one fight sequence to the next. If the first film is as laugh out loud enjoyable it will be a treat.

Wednesday is Heroes. If you are so inclined you can also watch the aforementioned sequel to The Transporter and also Lucky Number Slevin which received some good reviews when it was released. Thursday is Jason Bourne night. Well at least the first two. ITV 2 is showing Ultimatum and Supremacy back to back. These are both excellent films with an excellent cast and are the reason Bond changed direction with Casino Royale. These are both good friendly violent fun. The only thing of note on Friday night which I haven't already recommended today is Judge Dredd. I know critics and comic lovers hated it but then they were always going to. This is a role which Stallone was ideally suited for and despite the panning it got it is still visually great and fantastic fun. Rob schneider spoils it but then he has that effect on most films he is in. As is the case for most action heroes they surround themselves with excellent support. Here we have Max Von Sydow and Jurgen Prochnow to name but two. Also keep an eye out for a cameo from Ian Dury.

Until next time enjoy.

Well there really is no hope

Well we had barely a centimetre of slush here this morning and as expected normally good drivers left their common sense behind and the traffic system in Huddersfield came to a grinding halt. It is always the same the slightest bit of bad weather and all sense of reason or ability disappears and the country shuts down.

I remember when we had proper snow drifts not this namby pamby stuff we had this morning. As I recall the country coped reasonably well certainly much better than it seems to nowadays. It also depresses me that every time this happens we have the same outcome - chaos. I wonder what the Scandinavians, Canadians, Alaskans, Americans, Germans and Russians must make of our inability to deal with what to them are minor inconveniences. These countries do not grind to a halt they struggle on in spite of the conditions.

They probably have a version of You've Been Framed showing videos of traffic jams in the UK when there is barely a millimetre of snow on the ground. How they must laugh?

I hate driving in snow but I at least try and drive with common sense as far as is possible but find it frustrating that people driving Chelsea tractors can't cope largely because they have never been near a field in them.

Well rant over for now. Graduation piccies and post will be coming soon. Well as soon as I can find the camera with the photos on it.