Viewer Reviews
Recent Reviews By SHARI
 | Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Film)A franchise falls on its feet... - ShariI had heard mixed reports about Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and having enjoyed 2009's first installment to the franchise, I approached the movie theatre with equal parts excitement and trepidation. I needn't have worried. This sequel retains the fun and spark of the first movie with a storyline that is a little bit more accessible. In A Game of more ... |
 | Harry Brown (Film)A bleak an unrelenting picture of modern life - ShariDon't pick this movie if you are having a bad day or are in need of a lift! Harry Brown tells the story of an elderly pensioner (played with amazing sorrow and heaviness by Michael Caine) who, having lost both his daughter & his wife, lives a grey existence in which his only small joy comes from a daily pint & game of chess with his best friend more ... |
 | 9 (Film)Too dark for kids - ShariI was extremely impressed by this animated masterpiece, but I was glad I hadn't brought any young children to see it as the story is dark and dystopian while the action sequences and machines are quite terrifying. 9 tells the story of a group of mechanical dolls who are alone in a devastated world where intelligent machines have decimated the human more ... |
 | The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Film)This one is for the fans... - ShariI attended this movie on the opening night, surrounded by hyperactive fans (of all ages, mind you) who were entranced by what they saw. Edward & Bella's embraces were met with 'ooohs' and 'aaaaws', Jacob's newly buff body was greeted with appreciative cheers and wolf whistles and even Bella's gruff-but-sweet dad Charlie earned a cheer from the audience. more ... |
 | Blood: The Last Vampire (Film)Hugely Disappointing - ShariDespite a visually stunning opening half with spectacular fight choreography the film is let down by a clunky story and acting that is wooden at best...ultimately disappointing, with a rushed and unsatisfying climax. more ... |
 | Awaydays (Film)Far and away better than the review describes - ShariDirected by Pat Holden, this sensitively handed British film deals with football violence in the 1980s. I saw it as part of this year's Jameson Dublin International Film Festival . Awaydays tells of the intense and difficult relationship between middle class Carty (Nicky Bell) who has a secure job in his uncle's company but whose life lacks excitement and more ... |
 | In The Loop (Film)A Dizzying Fast Paced Ride - ShariThis searing political drama combines biting wit with the shaky hand-held camera style of a documentary to create a chilling portrait of how the most insignificant verbal misstep by some insignificant political figure can send the powers that be hurtling towards that big red button marked 'All Out Chaos'. Peter Capaldi is fantastic as the foul mouthed more ... |
 | State Of Play (Film)Excellent Tense Political Thriller - ShariYou wait around for a good political drama for absolutely ages, and then like proverbial buses, two come along at once! State of Play has an entirely different tone than it's satirical counterpart, In The Loop, but both are excellent examples of intelligent political film-making. State of Play, like In The Loop, is based on a BBC television production. It more ... |
 | Monsters Vs. Aliens 3D (Film)Great Family Film - ShariThis is the ideal film for children aged 6 to 12, but you won't be bored if you are accompanying them. I went with a friend and we laughed out loud throughout, so there is plenty to keep both young and old entertained. The star-studded cast bring to life the tale of Susan (Reese Witherspoon) who is hit by a meteorite on her wedding day, turning her into more ... |
 | Confessions of a Shopaholic (Film)Instantly Forgettable - ShariYou might think I'm being glib by saying that this movie was 'instantly forgettable' but I genuinely mean it. I saw this film on a Thursday night and when asked on the Friday what I had seen the night before I couldn't for the life of me remember what film I had sat through for nearly two hours. Confessions of a Shopaholic is a light breezy girly rom-com, more ... |
 | The Boat That Rocked (Film)Rocked My World - ShariStep onto The Boat That Rocked and you step out of your land-locked, Recession-induced-misery-drenched world and into a riot of colour and fun on these high seas as you will travel back in time to be part of the magic that was pirate radio in 1960s Britain. The Boat That Rocked is a fictional tale of free love and rock and roll based on real life radio more ... |
 | Push (Film)Not Moved By It - ShariIf we ignore the dire flashback sequence which opens the film (complete with cringe-inducing 'THIS IS A FLASHBACK' style subtitles), the first 30-40 minutes of this film are quite entertaining. The premise, which is explained over the stylised titles (the seems to be a bit of a trend for that at the moment, see also The Wrestler and Watchmen) is intriguing more ... |
 | Franklyn (Film)Fantastic Fantasy - ShariGiven that millions of dollars/euros/pounds are pumped into the advertising and distribution campaigns of rather mediocre films (Duplicity is one that springs to mind) I have to wonder why this fantastic British fantasy film has received little or no publicity and has had only a very limited release in the UK and Ireland. I don't even know if it is more ... |
 | Knowing (Film)Now You Know Better - ShariIs the story farfetched and ridiculous? Yes! Is the acting both wooden and melodramatic? Yes! Is the premise based on a vaguely 'scientific' idea and then pushed beyond the realms of plausibility? Yes! Does the story centre on some ordinary family (usually headed by a single parent) who just might hold the secret to Earth's salvation? Yes! If Knowing has more ... |
 | Genova (Film)A Pointless Exercise in Beautiful Filmmaking - ShariI really wanted to like this film. It stars Colin Firth, whom I adore and is set in Italy, a country which I love and which makes the most beautiful setting. The story itself also held promise: a recently widowed father uproots his two daughters, one very young and one teenaged, from icy Chicago to sun-drenched Genova to help rebuild their lives following more ... |
 | Valkyrie (Film)Falls Just Short of the Target - ShariBryan Singer's all star vehicle Valkyrie's intriguing plot should have had the audience on the edge of their seats, but I found the pacing a little uneven as the film's tension eased off just when I felt it should be increasing. The story of Operation Valkyrie will be familiar to many, as it was one of the many assignation attempts on German dictator Adolf more ... |
 | Duplicity (Film)Duplicitous Adevertising Campaign - ShariThe advertising campaign for this movie has been going on for months, and I have to admit to being one of those enthralled by it. Trailers and posters featuring Julia Robert's winning smile, Clive Owen's characteristic wit and charm, not to mention the magic words 'From the writer and director of Michael Clayton...' had me hooked ages before the film graced more ... |
 | Watchmen (Video)Watchable - ShariZack Snyder's epic comic book adaptation, Watchmen, is a lot more bearable than its 2 hour and 40-odd minute running time would suggest. The sprawling saga of an aging group of costumed superheroes in an alternative reality 1980s America is, however, definitely one for the boys, with its stomach-churningly-graphic depictions of violence and its gratuitous more ... |
 | Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Film)Don't Believe the Hype - ShariThis film was widely been touted as a return to form by 'genius' film maker Woody Allen, and with Penelope Cruz winning Best Supporting actress at the recent Oscar ceremony I was particularly eager to see this film. Unsurprisingly, given my high expectations, I was disappointed. Written as well as directed by Woody Allen the film is incessantly narrated by more ... |
 | Notorious (Film)Life After Death - ShariI might me more a fan of Duran Duran's song 'Notorious' than of the work of Christopher Wallace aka Biggie Smalls aka the Notorious B.I.G . but this is the type of well constructed biopic than engages the audience, whatever their musical taste. Notorious illustrates the life of the aforementioned rapper from his childhood on the rough streets of Brooklyn more ... |
 | Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Film)The Perfect Valentine's Weekend Date Movie - ShariI don't normally make a point of recommending 'chick flicks' (just take a look at my review of The House Bunny if you need any convincing), but given the weekend that's in it, if you're going to see a 'romantic' movie, you could do worse that park yourself in front of this. The Nick (Michael Cera) of the title is a poetic soul, a musician who was dumped by more ... |
 | Milk (Film)Deeply Satisfying - ShariIt takes a lot for any film to penetrate my icy cold heart, but this one had me on the verge of possibly having a lump in my throat. Milk tells the story of Harvey Milk, who at the age of 47 became the first openly gay person to be elected to office in the United States, only to be assassinated within his first year as city supervisor. Milk is played with more ... |
 | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Film)Curiously Underwhelming - ShariAt an epic 2 and a half hours+, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button would have been a much better film is it had kept the audience engrossed, allowing every one of those 166 minutes trickled by unnoticed. As it was, however, the audience with whom I viewed this overly long but otherwise excellent film were just as fidgety and restless as I was, with several more ... |
 | The Wrestler (Film)Champion Perfomances - ShariWatching this film is the emotional equivalent to being pummelled in a wrestling ring for a solid two hours: you will leave the cinema feeling drained and shaken and with your head spinning, and yet with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, having been witness to the victory of a low key, intensely emotional film over its audience. Darren Aronofsky's more ... |
 | Revolutionary Road (Film)A Painful Journey - ShariPerhaps it was because I had also seen The Wrestler on the day on which I watched this, but I found this moving exploration of the hollowness of the 'American Dream' lifestyle extremely harrowing to watch, and I left the cinema particularly shaken by the final scenes. Sam Mendes, whose previous offerings include works of cinematic excellence such as more ... |
 | Frost Nixon (Film)Simple/Fascinating - ShariRon Howard's "Frost/Nixon" (2008) is a simply told but fascinating docu-drama detailing the intense power struggle between British talk show host David Frost and disgraced former US President Richard Nixon as the pair conduct a series of interviews. If you glance back at some of my older reviews (particularly that of Oliver Stone's 'W.') you will more ... |
 | The Reader (Film)Provocative - ShariI think the best way to see this film is to know as little as possible of the plot. I review I had read before seeing it was something along the lines of 'A fifteen year old boy is seduced by an older woman in 1930s. This has a profound effect on his life, especially when he discovers the secrets she has been hiding from him'. If you read something as vague more ... |
 | The Spirit (Film)Painful to Behold - ShariWhy does Samuel L Jackson seem to delight in making appalling films? Snakes on a Plane, Lakeview Terrace, and now this mess of a production. This film feels like a minor chapter from Sin City which was omitted from the final cut due to the appalling dialogue, lack of story and its sheer awfulness. I was so disappointed not only by this film, but by the fact more ... |
 | Rachel Getting Married (Film)Self-indulgent faux bohemian nonsense - ShariWatching this film as got to be one of the single biggest wastes of time of my life in recent years. Half the audience at the walked out at the particular showing I was at, and I was sorely tempted to go with them, but unfortunately for my patience and sanity I stuck it out to the bitter end, and got nothing in reward! Johnathon Demme's 2 hour bore-fest more ... |
 | Role Models (Film)Surpirsingly Enjoyable - ShariI had planned to avoid this film like the plague. Not only did trailers bill it as a typical male humour gross out comedy in the style of Amercian Pie or Big Daddy, but it stars Sean William Scott, he of the aforementioned American Pie series, whom I absolutely loathe. Due to frequenting the cinema a little too often one week, I was forced to watch this due more ... |
 | Slumdog Millionaire (Film)Deserving of Accolades - ShariPraise is being heaped on Danny Boyle's latest endevour, the heart warming against-all-odds tales of 'slumdog' Jamil who reaches the final question on Indian 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' despite his lack of education; and I think this film is completely deserving of the accolades being heaped upon it. Unfortunately, however, I doubt this beautifully shot more ... |
 | Australia (Film)Pure Baz Magic - ShariUnsurprisingly I differ hugely with Gavin Burke in his appraisal of this film, but he is right about one thing: Austrailia definitely feels like two complete stories joined together to create one slightly uneven epic. Although I did emerge from the cinema bursting for the loo, it is a testament to Luhrman's skill that although the film clocks in at 165 more ... |
 | Twilight (Film)Strangely Captivating - ShariI'm not sure if hardcore Stephanie Meyer fans would like to hear me say this, but the first installation of the cinematic adaptation of her vampiric series is, at times, hilarious! I have been to see this film twice in the cinema and both times the exaggerated longing looks and melodramatic score had the audience in stitches. Having said that, we couldn't more ... |
 | Kisses (Film)Absolutely Beautiful - ShariIt's very rare that I agree with Gavin Burke's reviews, but in fairness it would be very hard to find fault with this jem of Irish film-making, which demonstrates just how much talent there is out there, just waiting to be showcased. If only the Irish Film Board would provide the backing that other directors like Lance Daly need, we might be able to see more ... |
 | Choke (Film)Choke: A Fantastic Adaptation - ShariI completely disagree with Niklausniklaus' review, as I am a big fan of Chuck Palahniuk's books and I found this a great adaptation of 'Choke', one of his less imaginative wrotes (at least stylistically) in my opinion. I remember thinking that the book was very cinematic when I first read it, as it uses frequent flashbacks to explain it's mysoginistic, more ... |
 | The X-Files: I Want To Believe (Video)The X Files have lost the X factor - ShariLiving with an X Files nut who owns every single series on DVD, I've seen more than my far share of encounters of the strange kind as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigate weird happenings on behalf of, and sometimes in spite of the FBI. Given that the dynamic duo in question haven't graced the big screen since 1998's 'The X Files Movie' (catchy title, more ... |
 | W. (Film)W. Waste. Of. Time. - ShariI have to say, I really expected more from Oliver Stone's W. I expected deep insight into America's least respected president ever. I expected to understand what make the man so famous for verbals gaffs that the phrase 'Bushisms' has been coined to describe them tick. I expected to love him or hate him but at least have every image I ever held of the USA's more ... |
 | Quantum of Solace (Film)Wham, Bam, Thank You Mam...and I loved it! - ShariJames Bond's 22nd screen adventure has been widely criticised for lacking an emotional core, but what stronger expression of emotion could have driven the plot than the desire for revenge? Quantum of Solace picks up directly where Casino Royale left off, with our hero mourning the loss of his lover Vespa, and burning with rage at the nefarious organisation more ... |
 | Gomorrah (Film)Raw and Gritty and...Confusing - ShariIf, like me, you are going to see Gomorrah without having read Roberto Saviano's real-life account of the Neapolitan mafia, the Camorra, you will no doubt spend a great deal of your 2+ hours wondering what the hell is going on! As a gritty crime drama, the film is fantastic, as it interweaves stories of those living in and around a delapidated block of more ... |
 | The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Film)Beautifully Executed - ShariI absolutely adored this film-- so much so, in fact, that I went to see it twice in one week! I had been apprehensive about a film adaptation of John Boyne's wonderful book, as much of the charm (and simultaneous shock value) of the novel lies in it's narration by an 8 year old boy and his interpretation of the events which surround him in Nazi Germany more ... |
 | The House Bunny (Film)Purely T&A-- Terrible and Awful! - ShariThere are so many things that enraged me watching this film that is difficult to know where to start. Was the worst insult Anna Faris' "acting" which, for someone you has been lauded as a fresh comic talent Stateside, seemed to stretch no further than teetering around on heels and whispering in a pseudo-Marylin Monroe-esque voice? Or the more ... |
 | Taken (Film)Taken by surprise - ShariLiam Neeson as an action hero? I have to admit I wasn't expecting much from this film, simply going along to it because it was the only thing that no one in the large group I was with would veto. I was pleasantly surprised, however, when my low expectations were quickly surpassed-- although 'pleasant' would not be a term I would use in relation to any more ... |
 | Saviours (Film)Saviours of Irish cinema - ShariIf Darren Sutherland had not made it to this year's Olympic games, few people would have seen this fantastic example of Irish film-making as it has never before been released in cinemas. This well paced documentary, shot in a 'rough and ready' hand-held style, focuses on three young men living in Dublin's inner city and the importance that the amatuer more ... |
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