Reviews by tartan_skirt

Maundy Thursday is a very touching story about an ex-singer and a prisoner, brought together by the former's nun aunt. They meet each Thursday to talk and a (platonic) relationship slowly forms between the two. It touches on the wrongs of capital punishment and forgiving those who have done you wrong.

The acting in the film as very good, especially from Na-yeong Lee who played the female lead character. I think the director handled this film much better than Calla, nothing was overdone.

I really wish I could get ahold of the original novel, but it doesn't look too likely. However, I recommend this film to anyone interested in Asian films, as it really is well made and has a great story. It is very sad though, so those prone to tears may need a box of tissues. ;)

Skins is one big hyperbole of British teenage life. Cramming every possible adolescent scandle into each show it seems to be more about the shock factor than the actual problems. It's just stupid most of the time, though I must admit it has its funny moments.

For me it really just seems like a way for Nicholas Hoult (who plays Tony) to get out of his About a Boy image. His character is the biggest jerk imaginable, a teenaged womanizer and knowingly smart. The only character I actually like in the show is Cassie (played by Hannah Murray) because she is at least interesting.

I'll continue to watch this show for the sake of finding out what becomes of Cassie. If it doesn't become interesting soon I'll leave it...

*Edit to include series finale*

The end of the first series was actually alright. Seems the creators of the show were able to produce a better episode that the one before it. The penultimate was just too detached from its surroundings for my liking, while the finale at least helped to round off the series a bit more. The very end features a well-deployed device to help it along.

Calla is a romance with the slight twist of time travel. It is pretty much average on the storyline front, but it does have a nice way of working out in the end. I think the music was a bit overdone, it just seemed to go on and on and overpowered everything else at points.

I quite enjoyed this romantic comedy. Though it is primarily an average looking film it does have the odd hint of more impressive graphics with little effecs thrown in. These are far and few between though, and it could have done with a couple more.

I found it slightly confusing to begin with (though I could say that about any subtitled film I watch), but it resolved itself after a while. I liked the storyline of the film and how it was played out, and the ending was a definite surprise which lived up to the name.

Overall it was a good comedy (through the situation, not jokes) and I would probably watch it again if given the chance.

The book was overrated to begin with (and it was a wee bit of a ripoff of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings), but this book-to-movie adaption was just pathetic. It is a condensed version, at best, and really doesn't explain anything. So much is missed out from the book that it really doesn't seem worth it to me. I'm not going into too much detail, you can see for yourself. I didn't really like much of the acting, and I just have to ask... why does Durza look like a toned down version of Mortiis at times? (That might just be me...)

All that said it does have some nice effects (though the film does seem to be concentrated on them). I have to admit I went "awww" at the baby Saphira.

Now to avoid ranting about how every fantasy film seems to have a mandatory Scottish guy nowadays...

It probably would have done me good to know the actual meaning of Complicity before starting the book (or indeed finishing it), but knowing it now makes sense. The "you" and "I" narrative is definately interesting and works well here, but I don't think I'd be able to put up with it all the time in books. The long sentences used to characterise Cameron were another example of this.

I enjoy Iain Banks' writing style because he always leads the reader one way only to surprise us and take another path altogether. I had made up my own mind on what was going on half way in and Banks even suggested it himself after a while, and this made me all the more surprised when I continued with the story. He handles his subjects well and makes even the most shocking twists fit perfectly with allusions and flashbacks.

I have to admit that I like Scottish books because I find that having the location within a couple of hours road/train travel makes it all the more interesting (although I can't really remember ever visiting Edinburgh before).

This is definately one of the best films I've seen in a long time. Everything was just so amazingly good! The storyline, the characters, the acting, the music, the graphics and effects, they were all just about perfect. All of these together make the film beautiful and touching, yet at the same time suspenseful. The elements of horror and graphic violence in the film add to it's realism, a perfect escape from the usual sugar-coated films.

This really is no ordinary fantasy film. It is beautifully crafted in every way and I would definately recommend it. :)

Having watched this film I have to say that I'm disapointed with it. I liked the fact that unknown actors and actresses were used and that they actually used their first names in the film, but the acting (IMHO) didn't seem very realistic at all, but maybe thats because I'm not an American. I didn't really like the camera work, especially the gliding after a character walking down a corridor, that just felt a bit weird to me. Also, later on in the film some of the actions of the characters just didn't make sense. I won't spoil anything here though. ;)

I get the film's impact and of course it does explore a serious issue, but maybe it's just one of those films that are set in a culture you need to have experienced to understand fully. This film is packed full with teenage problems, but it gives a detached view from the characters' actions and feelings and we never really find out why they are the way they are.

Don't let me put you off, it is an ok film, and it's one that you just need to make your own mind up about.

I really liked this collection as it shows glimpses of what Nix is capable of outside his two main fantasy series'. I especially enjoyed Down to the Scum Quarter, a humourous version of a Choose Your Own Adventure with plenty of twists and turns, even if it is only short.

I was expecting more stories from the Old Kingdom when I first heard of the release, but this was just as good, though a little misleading. The novella at the start (Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case) was probably my least favourite story in the collection anyway. It was too much of a let-down after the original trilogy.

That actually wasn't a bad movie. From all the adverts I put off watching it because it looked like another boring old American comedy (lets face it, they're running out of decent scenarios). It was actually funny (most of the time, but not all), and one of the main reasons I liked it was the ending. It made me laugh at the unexpectedness of it, and it was a perfect way to close. It avoided a rubbish ending very well indeed.

If you're looking for a comedy that is a good laugh, a good romance, and a little bit crude (or a lot, depending on how you look at it..), then this might be a good option for you.