Dick (4 Stars)

The Watergate affair as told through the eyes of the two 15-year-old girls who used to walk President Nixon's dog. During their time in the White House they got to know all the top politicians and became the president's friends. After hearing a tape in which he shouted at his dog they decide to expose him and become instrumental in forcing him to resign.

I feel tempted to give half a star less because the sexiest scene in the film is ruined by being shown at the end with the credits rolling over it. If you've seen the film you know what I mean.

Better than Chocolate (3½ Stars)

Maggie (Karyn Dwyer) has dropped out of law school to work at a lesbian book store. So far her family doesn't know that she's a lesbian, but that all changes drastically when her mother and younger brother come to live with her. They arrive the day after Maggie meets her new lover Kim (Christina Cox).

The film would have been better if it had avoided all the lesbian clichés. More than anything it seems to be lesbians making fun of themselves. Or maybe that's the intention? But at least the film features the beautiful Karyn Dwyer. Christina Cox is attractive as well, but she looks better with long hair.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (5 Stars)

Please don't forget the apostrophe in the title after "Ladies". In the film Precious makes a big deal about it, and so should we.

This film is the pilot for the tv series with the same name, for which only six episodes have been made so far. It's based on the series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith about Precious Ramotswe, a young woman in Botswana, who decides to open her country's first woman-run detective agency for idealistic reasons. "I love my country Botswana, and I love Africa, and I want to do good with the time God has given me".

Unless you live in Africa the background to the stories will seem very foreign to you. Detective stories in an African village bear little resemblance to stories that take place in America or Europe. The first time I watched this film I was overwhelmed by the settings. It wasn't until the second viewing that I was able to appreciate the stories themselves. The film is growing on me. While not a comedy, the agency's secretary, Grace Makutsi, frequently makes dry comments that make me laugh aloud. "In history class we learned about a former time before computers, when typing was done on machines and the country was called Botswanaland and dinosaurs roamed the earth".

This is a heart-warming film. You will fall in love with the characters and cheer for Precious as she solves her cases. Rarely is a film so unique and so charming. After watching it you will want to see the tv series. In America the pilot film and the tv series have been released in a single box set. In the UK they have to be purchased separately.

Strangers on a Train (4 Stars)

A story of suspense as only Alfred Hitchcock could tell it. Two strangers meet on a train and discuss the possibility of each killing a person the other hates. One of them murders his designated victim without waiting for the other to agree. From a slow start the film steadily increases in pace until it reaches its dizzying climax.

Kaante (3½ Stars)

A difficult film to rate. Its main weakness is that it moves too slowly. It takes 45 minutes before anything begins to happen, and even after that it stops and starts. The film length of 160 minutes is unnecessary. It could have been improved by shortening it an hour. It seems rather absurd that in the strip club all the pole dancers are fully dressed.

Reservoir Dogs (5 Stars)

Is there anyone reading this blog who hasn't seen "Reservoir Dogs" yet? It's a film that should be compulsory viewing for everyone everywhere. It excels on so many different levels. It breaks all the conventions of film making, but it's still exciting from beginning to end. And yes, the actors are terrific. If you haven't seen "Reservoir Dogs" yet, stop reading now and come back after you've watched it. My review after the picture contains spoilers.

This was Quentin Tarantino's breakthrough film. In many ways it's still his best. It tells the story of a robbery that went wrong, a jewel heist, without ever showing the robbery itself. All we see is conversations leading up to the robbery, and then the aftermath. Almost all of the film takes place in the claustrophobic atmosphere of the empty warehouse.

It doesn't matter if you don't like gangster films. "Reservoir Dogs" isn't about gangsters, it's about people. We get to know the characters intimately. We see their strengths and their weaknesses as they crack under pressure. On a psychological level this is an astounding film.

The choice of actors is amazing. They all slot into place. I can't imagine any of them being exchanged for other actors without spoiling the action.

Harvey Keitel and Tim Roth take the centre stage as Mr. White and Mr. Orange. Both of them are world class actors. The development of a father-son relationship between them is moving, and you can feel the tears welling in your eyes when Mr. Orange confesses to Mr. White that he's betrayed him.

Michael Madsen's portrayal of the cold psycopath Mr. Blonde is chilling. When he meets Joe and interviews for the job he seems likeable, but in the warehouse we see his true nature. The bizarre mixture of dancing and torture is one of the film's images that will always be remembered.

Steve Buscemi is a contradictory character as Mr. Pink. He obviously has a lot of anger, and he's closer to cracking up than any of the others, but he's constantly pulling himself together, telling the others and himself that he's a professional.

Lawrence Tierney, who plays the boss, is really the most professional of the characters. For him it's all about business. He doesn't get involved in the joking of the rest of his crew. His son, played by Chris Penn, isn't quite as self-controlled. His shouting in the final scene is a major catalyst in the ensuing bloodbath.

This was a daring film. It could have failed. With lesser actors it would definitely have failed. It was a daring decision to leave the story's central event, the robbery, out of the film altogether. In many ways "Reservoir Dogs" is more like a theatre play than a film. Almost all the scenes could be shown on a small stage. The conversations between the gang members are more important than the action itself. While this was a relatively low budget film, costing barely more than one million dollars, the lack in funding is never apparent. This is a film that will always be remembered.

TV Series: Blood Ties

I just watched the final episode of the second season of "Blood Ties". With a heavy heart. The episode ended on a cliffhanger, but after three years of waiting it looks doubtful there will ever be a third season. This is tragic, since it was one of the most intelligent, thoughtful tv series ever made. Despite the low budget the special effects are never silly or unrealistic. None of the actors were known to me before this series, but they all deliver solid performances.

To summarize the series: Vicki Nelson is an ex-policewoman who quits her job due to her failing eyesight. She starts a private detective agency, hoping to do easy jobs like proving husbands are being unfaithful, but a series of circumstances (which I consider to be spoilers and won't name here) lead to her specialising in supernatural cases. If there's a werewolf, ghost or demon walking the streets of Toronto, Vicki is hired to deal with it.

Vicki is aided by two men in her work. One is her ex-partner from the police force who still works as a cop. The other is a 500-year-old vampire who makes a living writing comic books. Both of them love her, and she's constantly torn between the two of them, unable to choose. This love triangle is a subplot that runs through the whole series, often as important as the supernatural threats themselves.

The series has just been released on Blu-ray, which is an indication that it still has a fan base. While "Blood Ties" follows a similar premise to "Angel", it's far superior. The storylines are darker and more menacing. This series was cancelled way too soon. Tragic.

Sorority Row (4 Stars)

A slasher film with pretty girls and glimpses of nudity that are too brief to be erotic. The story isn't original. If you've seen "I know what you did last summer" you already know the plot. But in films like this originality isn't as important as the rising body count. Turn the lights off, snuggle up with your partner on the couch, and watch the film. It will be a night to remember.

Flash Gordon (4 Stars)

Everybody thought "Barbarella" was the ultimate in camp cinema. But then Dino De Laurentiis outdid himself with "Flash Gordon". Here we see a football player saving the universe. Timothy Dalton dresses like Robin Hood and fires guns like James Bond. Ornella Muti is in a pillow fight. The scenes are colourful as a Chinese martial arts epic. This film has it all.

The Paperboy (5 Stars)

Sometimes you have to ask yourselves what it takes to make a good film. Do you need a big budget, expensive locations and famous actors? This film has none of those. Filmed on a shoestring budget, "The Paperboy" is one of the best horror films ever made.

So what makes it so good? First of all, it's a well written story. Then the actors, unknown as they might be, turn in solid performances. Marc Marut is amazing in the title role. But most of all the film terrifies the viewer through its realism. It isn't a powerful killer or a supernatural monster. The killer is the innocent looking 12-year-old who lives next door. The placid scenes and the idyllic music add to the atmosphere. Everything seems normal in the small town, but what is lurking beneath the surface?

Unfortunately, this film has yet to be released on DVD in America or England. It hasn't even been released in Canada, where it was made. If you want to buy it you have to order it from Australia, if you're able to watch Region 4 PAL DVDs. Follow the link on the picture above.

Silver Bullet (4 Stars)

I like this film a lot. It's one of the Dino De Laurentiis films I've decided to watch in his memory, although I admit that I'd forgotten it was one of his films. Nobody remembers the producer, right? I remember this film most for the performance of Corey Haim, an excellent actor who died way too young. Why did he have to kill himself? Was the strain of being a star all his life too much for him? It wasn't even a spontaneous suicide, it had been planned. "Haim had used aliases to procure 553 prescription pills in the 32 days prior to his death, 'doctor-shopping' seven different doctors and using seven pharmacies to obtain the supply, which included 195 Valium, 149 Vicodin, 194 Soma and 15 Xanax." And he died broke, leaving not enough money to cover his funeral costs. What a waste!

This is a good film, though maybe not a horror film in the strict sense. Rather than concentrating on the werewolf itself, we're taken into the life of the crippled young boy played by Corey Haim and his determination to find the monster. Worth watching, and not just at Halloween.

Silence of the Lambs (4½ Stars)

It's been years since I last watched this. I'd forgotten it was so good. Anthony Hopkins is menacing throughout. And it's good to see the tragically underrated actor Charles Napier appear as a police sergeant. Jodie Foster's accent annoys me because she sounds like she's chewing gum throughout the film. Is that really how they speak in West Virginia?

Please Sir (4 Stars)

This is a film spin-off of the popular British comedy series "Please Sir", that originally ran from 1968 to 1972. While this is doubtless of the same quality as other britcoms of the 1970's, it's never become popular in America, where people usually rave about British comedy. Maybe it's because British schools are so different that Americans can't relate. Not sure.

However, I'm reviewing the film, not the tv series. The children of class 5C (ages 15-16) go on a school trip to a remote country village. While an entertaining story, I prefer to see the kids in their classrooms in London.

On another note, I admit that I had a crush on the actress Liz Gebhardt when I was in my young teens. Admittedly she wasn't as pretty as most of the girls in the class, but I found her naive innocence appealing. She was actually a lot older than me, because she was still playing a 15-year-old into her late twenties. I say "was" because she died of cancer in 1999. It's difficult to find a good photo of her. I'll make a screenshot when I review the series itself.

Liz Gebhardt
12 April 1945 – 10 August 1996

Red Dragon (4½ Stars)

A thrilling film from beginning to end. My only criticism is that having been filmed later it assumes that the viewer has already seen "Silence of the Lambs". This is another film that Dino De Laurentiis should be remembered for.

The Passion of Anna (3 Stars)

This is a difficult film to watch. It represents the peak of director Ingmar Bergman's alienation techniques. While ostensibly a drama about four characters living on the remote Swedish island Fårö, it's actually about the four actors who play the roles and the way they represent the characters. The film is interrupted by interviews with the actors about how they understand the characters they play, and we see a stark contrast. The actors are all friendly, likeable people. The characters they play are distant, unable to relate to one another, except through acts of violence. They are as remote as the island they live on.

The film ends with the main character pacing up and down, alone in the remote landscape, with Bergman saying in voiceover "This time he was called Andreas Winkelman". Implied is that in the next film he will play a different role.

What is Bergman trying to say? Most reviewers concentrate on the action in the film, such as the love affairs and the lynching of the man suspected of killing animals. I believe we should think about the metafilm instead. Bergman knows that very few of the film's viewers live in an environment like Fårö, an island with a population of only 500 people. Despite the openness of the scenery, the atmosphere is claustrophobic. Bergman is asking the viewers if they could live in such a place. Would the viewers also degenerate and become unable to reveal their emotions? Would they undergo the same metamorphosis as the actors, who are portrayed as both physically and psychologically crippled?

Vamps 2: Blood Sisters (4 Stars)

A sexy vampire thriller with an over-ambitious plot that fascinates, but could have been better. A strip club on Christmas Day, an ancient prophecy, a priest and a vampire messiah. If I had to point my finger at one weakness it would be that there are too many characters. The story would have been better with less vampire strippers, but obviously the director felt the need to show a bigger variety of naked flesh. Unnecessary. He could have given the delectable Glori-Anne Gilbert more time on screen.

The two disk set offered at Amazon includes "Vamps 1". Good value for money if you want to enjoy naked blood suckers.

Love Exposure (5 Stars)

A love story of epic proportions, this is one of the best films I've ever seen. The film runs for four hours, passing through phases of family drama, action and weirdness, but it's never boring. Genre defying, this is a film that everyone should watch.

A 17-year-old boy who is brought up in a strict Christian family learns kung fu techniques to aid him in taking upskirt photos of girls' panties. His life is turned around when he sees a lesbian schoolgirl beating up a gang of men. The only way he can be close to her is by pretending to be a woman, but matters are complicated when their parents marry and they become brother and sister. Adding to the confusion, his family is being stalked by the leader of a religious cult, who is also a cocaine dealer.

I can't begin to praise this film enough. It's hard to believe it hasn't yet been released in America after winning awards around the world. Just read a few of the reviews at IMDB to see what others have to say about it. "Love Exposure" is a stunning work of genius.

Barbarella (4½ Stars)

If Dino De Laurentiis has to be remembered for one film, let "Barbarella" be his legacy. As dated as it may seem today, especially the music, this is a beautiful film. I almost gave it 5 stars, but I had to deduct half a star for the gratuitous clothing. After the opening nude scene Barbarella's insistance on clothing later in the film seems illogical and unnecessary. Apart from the one fault, this is a classic film that will always be remembered.

Vamp (4 Stars)

This used to be one of my favourite films. When I watch it today it's difficult to understand why. It may be because I was fascinated by Grace Jones when I was younger.

In the 1980's Grace Jones's picture was everywhere. As a singer she had only moderate success, but she was the queen of scandal. Whether it was for standing at her window naked waving to photographers or for being arrested after having sex on an airplane, everyone knew her face. And her body. Her extremely dark skin and her taut muscles gave her an almost unhuman look.

In 1984 she had a small role opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Conan the Destroyer", but it wasn't till the following year when she was recognised as an actress, after starring as May Day in the James Bond film "A View to a Kill". "Vamp" was touted as the film which would make her famous as an actress.

But it didn't work. "Vamp" was the peak of her acting career. After this she faded into insignificance as an actress, although the scandals continued. She said in interviews that she had given up acting to further her singing career, but the truth was that nobody wanted her. So what went wrong?

I don't think it was Grace's fault. The inexperienced director Richard Wenk was to blame. He didn't make enough of Grace's obvious talents, namely her beauty and her deep sexy voice. The vampires in the film are ugly, and Grace was the ugliest of them all. The first time we see her she has a red wig and her skin is covered with powder to make her white. In the next scene she's her black self, but as soon as her fangs sprout her face turns into a vision of ugliness. From then on she becomes progressively uglier throughout the film, until in the final scene she looks so nasty that she's unrecognisable. And why oh why is Grace mute in the film? The only small treat we have of her voice is a dark sexy laugh.

I've given this film 4 stars anyway. Not because of Grace Jones. Her performance is forgettable. It has appeal as a teen comedy. I enjoyed watching the pledges running round looking for a stripper for a frat party. The strip club manager who dreams of opening a vampire club in Las Vegas amused me. As a vampire film "Vamp" is entertaining. As a promotional vehicle for Grace Jones it flops.

On the town (4½ Stars)

This is one of the best musicals I've ever seen. Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin shine as three lovable sailors on 24 hour shore leave in New York. (I've never heard of Jules, was he famous?) And what do you do when you only have one day in a strange town? You go pick up girls! After 60 years the songs, the dances and the humour are just as fresh and enjoyable as they were in 1949. Some films don't age.

Man from Uncle: The Spy With My Face (4½ Stars)

An extended film version of one of the early Man from UNCLE episodes. The series was always good action. It's a long time since I've seen it repeated on television, but I have it in fond remembrance.

Kung Fu Zombie (4 Stars)

Kung fu kicking zombies, ghosts and vampires... a drunken wizard... grave robbers... family feuds... and a Buddhist monk saves the day! This film has it all! Considering this is a comedy, there are some incredible fight sequences.

R.I.P. Dino De Laurentiis

A truly great man passed away on November 10th 2010. For more than 60 years Dino De Laurentiis produced some of the most memorable films in cinema history. Far from being a "snob" who preferred one style of film over another, his output contains both blockbusters like "Hannibal" and low budget classics like "Army of Darkness" (which was the first DVD I ever bought). Producers rarely get the same recognition as directors. Putting it simplistically, the director is the artist with his head in the clouds while the producer deals with the practical realities of film making and has both feet on the ground.

Let me name a few of his films. Films that mean something to me. Approximately in their order of importance. Please, feel free to comment and add your own personal favorites.

1. Army of Darkness (1992)
2. Barbarella (1968)
3. Silver Bullet (1985)
4. Hannibal (2001)
5. Red Dragon (2002)
6. Flash Gordon (1980)
7. The Last Legion (2007)
8. The Serpent's Egg (1977)

At first I wanted to list more films, but then I decided only to list the ones that I have in my DVD collection. Maybe I'll rewatch some of them soon.

Frenzy (4 Stars)

One of Alfred Hitchcock's last films, and also one of those most loved by his fans. A serial killer is stalking women in London, and the police are chasing the wrong man. Unlike most of Hitchcock's films, we know from early on who the killer is. We sit in frustration as the police detective rattles off the compelling evidence pointing to the wrong man, and only the detective's wife says it can't have been him.

This film has special meaning for me, because I've long admired Jon Finch as an actor and have never understood why he's widely unknown, having to make do with minor roles in obscure films.

Phone Booth (5 Stars)

Have you ever watched a film that you think is so incredible that you have to tell others about it? Then you explain it to them... and they say it sounds boring? This is a film like that. What happens? A man is making a phone call that lasts for the whole film. I won't even try to explain why it's so good. Just give it a chance. It'll be 72 minutes of your life that you won't regret.

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1½ Stars)

A vain fashion designer sits complaining about the men in her life, while oblivious to the feelings of those around her, in particular her servant Marlene. The film says things in two hours that could have been expressed in ten minutes.

General: Unreleased TV Series

There are probably a lot of tv series that haven't found their way onto DVD yet. I'll come back and comment on all of the following series when I have time.

1. Batman (1966-1968)
One of the best tv series ever! It's a crime that this still hasn't been released, despite regular broadcasts on TV throughout the world.

2. My Hero (2000-2006)
This incredible series starring Ardal O'Hanlan as the superhero Thermoman has me in stitches whenever I watch the TV repeats. For some reason only the third season has even been released on DVD. Weird.

3. Night Man (1997-1999)
An underrated series about one of the lesser known Marvel super heroes. It's easy to pick faults with some of the series' premisses, but the stories were first class!

4. 99-1 (1994-1995)
An unusual police series about an undercover cop. I believe this used to be available on videotapes.

5. Rocket Man (2006)
Difficult to describe. A series about a man who works at a Welsh chocolate factory who spends his spare time trying to build a space rocket.

6. Unhappily ever after (1995-1999)
I already wrote a review of this series here.

General: Unreleased Films

Are there any films that haven't been released yet on DVD that you're desperately waiting for? I can think of a few, including some that haven't been released in England or America, but have been released in other countries.

1. Three into two won't go (1969, Rod Steiger)
This British family drama is occasionally shown on UK television.

2. Date with a lonely girl (1971, James Caan)
A powerful psychological drama. It's been a long time since I last saw it on TV.

3. The Last Woman (1976, Gerard Depardieu & Ornella Muti)
Critics say this was Gerard's best film, so where is it?

4. The Paperboy (1994)
A brilliant low budget Canadian horror film. Only released in Greece and Australia.

5. Heart of Darkness (1993, Tim Roth & John Malkovich)
A faithful adaptation of the novel. Only released in Italy.

6. The Legend of 1900 (1998, Tim Roth)
A brilliant weepy film. The uncut 165 minute version is only released in Italy.

7. The Ogre (1996, John Malkovich)
An unusual war story about a French POW. Only released in Germany.

8. The Idol (2002, Leelee Sobieski)
A passionate drama. Only released in France and China.

9. Dangerous Liaisons (2003, Leelee Sobieski)
This novel has been filmed 10 times, including "Cruel Intentions" in 1999. This version has only been released in France.

Shame I can't make it a round 10, but that's all I can think of right now. I hope my readers can name other films.

Carry On Dick (4½ Stars)

This is the 26th film in the Carry On series. The film is about the adventures of Dick Turpin, known to his enemies as Big Dick. Dick is played by the wonderful South African actor, Sid James, whose birth name was Solomon Cohen. This was the last Carry On film he made before his death. If I had to name the actor in the Carry On team that I admire most it would be Sid James. Rest in peace.

Carry On Abroad (4 Stars)

This is the 24th film in the Carry On series. Friends and strangers from the same town go on a package holiday to a Spanish hotel that is still being built.

The Wicker Man [2006 version] (4 Stars)

I've been curious about this film for a long time. I've read so many bad reviews about it. People don't say it's "so bad that it's good", just bad. It's held up as an example of a remake that is far behind the original in quality. However, I have the (dis)advantage that I've never seen the original, so I could watch it without bias. And guess what? I enjoyed it.

The opening scenes immediately drew me in with their atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. Nicolas Cage is convincing as a policeman with an agenda. He also seems to have too high an opinion of himself. He's a traffic cop who thinks of himself as a detective. On the island he tries to bluff his way through, claiming that he's on official police business, although he's only doing an ex-girlfriend a favour while he's off work sick.

It's not perfect as a film. The accident at the beginning points to a supernatural element that isn't present in the later development of the film. I don't mind a director throwing in "red herrings", but the accident doesn't make sense in the context of the film. I also fail to see why the pilot was murdered after he had obviously done what was expected of him.

I intend to go back and watch the original version. Maybe it's better. I'll let you know. But I do think that the remake is worth watching in its own right, and it's unfair to put it in the runnings for the worst film of all time.

Carry On Matron (4 Stars)

This is the 23rd film in the Carry On series. A gang of criminals plan to rob a maternity hospital. An excuse for riotous laughs.

The World's Fastest Indian (5 Stars)

If ever a film deserved more than 5 stars, this is it. Anthony Hopkins calls this the best film he's starred in, and it's doubtless one of the best films ever made.

This is the true story of the New Zealander motorcyclist Burt Munro and his first trip to the United States in 1962 to attempt to set a new land speed record. His determination to succeed when everything is against him is an inspiration to everyone. He is a hero in the truest meaning of the word. But the film isn't just made great by Anthony Hopkins' performance. The supporting characters all dazzle with their depths of personality and often their weirdness. They are like vibrant splashes of colour in an oil painting, emphasising the central motif, Burt and his bike.

Whatever your tastes are in films, you will enjoy "The World's Fastest Indian". It will make you want to laugh and cry at the same time. But most of all, when the final credits roll you will close your eyes and feel glad to be alive. This is a film that can inspire hope. If you think I'm exaggerating with my praise, check the reviews on Amazon's web site (click the picture above) and you will find words from more than 300 people who agree with me.

Carry On At Your Convenience (4½ Stars)

This is the 22nd film in the Carry On series. It deals with the relations between staff and management at a factory that makes bathroom equipment, the W. C. Boggs Lavatory Factory.

There were 29 Carry On films made between 1958 and 1978, and they're considered a major part of British film history. The humour is typically "sixties" in its nature. Britain was just breaking free of its prudishness of the past, and "naughty jokes" were becoming common. The films are well known to everyone in Britain through their constant showing on television, but they're hardly known abroad. The full list, in order, is:

1. Carry On Sergeant (1958)
2. Carry On Nurse (1959)
3. Carry On Teacher (1959)
4. Carry On Constable (1959)
5. Carry On Regardless (1961)
6. Carry On Cruising (1962)
7. Carry On Cabby (1963)
8. Carry On Jack (1963)
9. Carry On Spying (1964)
10. Carry On Cleo (1964)
11. Carry On Cowboy (1965)
12. Carry On Screaming! (1966)
13. Carry On Don't lose your Head (1966)
14. Carry On Follow that Camel (1967)
15. Carry On Doctor (1967)
16. Carry On Up the Khyber (1968)
17. Carry On Camping (1969)
18. Carry On Again Doctor (1969)
19. Carry On Up the Jungle (1970)
20. Carry On Loving (1970)
21. Carry On Henry (1971)
22. Carry On At your Convenience (1971)
23. Carry On Matron (1972)
24. Carry On Abroad (1972)
25. Carry On Girls (1973)
26. Carry On Dick (1974)
27. Carry On Behind (1975)
28. Carry On England (1976)
29. Carry On Emmannuelle (1978)

The Carry On films starred different actors in each film, but there was a hard core of actors, the "Carry On Team", who played the major roles in the films. If you ask anyone in England who the main actors were they would probably answer Sid James and Barbara Windsor, even though Barbara only played in 9 of the films. Her fame comes from being the only actress in the films to be shown fully nude, but the secenes are so brief that you have to watch them in slow motion to see anything. The main actors were:

1. Kenneth Williams (25 films) 1-6, 8-18, 20-24, 26, 27, 29
2. Joan Sims (24 films) 2-5, 10-29
3. Charles Hawtrey (23 films) 1-5, 7-24
4. Sid James (19 films) 4-7, 10, 11, 13, 15-26
5. Kenneth Connor (17 films) 1-7, 10, 19, 21, 23-29
6. Peter Butterworth (16 films) 11-18, 20, 21, 24-29
7. Hattie Jacques (14 films) 1-5, 7, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22-24, 26
8. Bernard Bresslaw (13 films) 11, 12, 15-17, 19, 20, 22-27
9. Jim Dale (10 films) 7-15, 18
10. Barbara Windsor (9 films) 9, 15, 17, 18, 21, 23-26
11. Patsy Rowlands (9 films) 18, 20-27

The most successful film at the box office was "Carry on Camping". Critics usually vote that "Carry on Cowboy" is the best film. My personal favorites are "Carry on Spying" and "Carry on Screaming".

Incidentally, the same set is used for the underground lair in "Carry on Spying" (1964) that was used as the Dalek city in "Doctor Who and the Daleks" (1965). The decorations are different, but if you watch the two films back to back you can see that the rooms are the same.

Kick-Ass (4½ Stars)

I love this film. It's a lot better than I expected after reading the reviews. I'll probably write more about it after watching it again. For now, I'll just give it my recommendation.

Carry On Loving (4½ Stars)

This film is the 20th in the Carry On series. While Carry On films are usually associated with the 1960's, this film has a very strong seventies feeling to it. The film is about a dating agency, but who really cares? Carry On films are hilarious whatever they're about.

This was the only "Carry On" film that starred Imogen Hassall, a terribly underrated B movie actress who died at the young age of 38. She's the highlight of this film.

Beware of a Holy Whore (3 Stars)

I have no idea what the title of the film has to do with the story. A film crew and cast are staying in a Spanish hotel, waiting to begin making the film "Patria o Muerte". The filming is delayed by the late arrival of the director, missing film material and in particular problems with the financing. During this time they get drunk, make love and get into fights.

The director struts about as an arrogant, drunken, woman-hater. I wonder to what extent Fassbinder was creating a caricature of himself.

Satan's Brew (1 Star)

The humour in this film is unbearable, on the level of random stupidity. The character has an uncanny similarity, in appearance and acting, to Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean. In fact, the similarity is so great that I suspect this film was the inspiration for the tv show.

Effi Briest (3 Stars)

It will probably surprise people unaquainted with German films that the story of Effi Briest has been filmed five times, in 1939, 1955, 1970, 1974 and 2009. Talk about remake madness! The film I watched today was the 1974 version, directed by the controversial German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The full title of this film is "Fontane Effi Briest oder Viele, die eine Ahnung haben von ihren Möglichkeiten und ihren Bedürfnissen und dennoch das herrschende System in ihrem Kopf akzeptieren durch ihre Taten und es somit festigen und durchaus bestätigen". This is a difficult title to understand, even for Germans, and it seems like Fassbinder, the enfant terrible of post-war German cinema, was attempting to confuse his viewers. It translates roughly as "Fontane's Effi Briest, or Many who have a feeling for their own capabilities and needs nevertheless accept the system around them in their heads and their deeds, thus strengthening and confirming the system". Not quite logical, but as I said, Fassbinder was playing mind games with his viewers.

The story tells of a 17-year-old girl who marries a baron 20 years older than herself. While he is away at war she has an affair with one of her husband's friends. The consequences of the affair aren't seen until six years later.

Fassbinder detaches the performances from all emotions. Instead of the passion we would expect, Effi seems to be floating through all the happenings without feelings, like she's a ghost looking back upon her life. The baron seeks revenge without feelings, not because he feels hurt but because it's the right thing to do. Effi's parents show no affection towards her, only doing their duty as parents. This creates a coldness throughout the film, alienating the viewers, making it impossible to feel sympathy for any of the characters. Obviously Fassbinder is more interested in telling a story of morals to educate rather than to entertain the viewers.

Love is colder than death (3½ Stars)

An interesting story. Two gangsters meet, make friends, share their lover and rob a bank together.