Saturday 09/08/14

Immortals (Channel 4, 9pm)

What's It About? A power-mad ancient Greek king raises an army with the intention of not only conquering the known world, but also using a mystical weapon to unleash the legendary titans and overthrow the gods.

The immortal deities are unable to interfere directly, so select a mortal man to be their champion and defeat the tyrant.

Is It Any Good? Director Tarsem Singh is a master visual stylist, but his storytelling skills leave a lot to be desired, and some of those costumes are plain bonkers.

New Superman Henry Cavill may be the hero, but Mickey Rourke dominates the screen as the bloodthirsty villain, King Hyperion.

Anything Else? Cavill is now hard at work on Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. He's the first actor to play Superman twice on the big screen since Christopher Reeve in 1980.

Starring: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Stephen Dorff, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, John Hurt, Joseph Morgan, Anne Day-Jones star

Rating: *** 

Northwich Guardian: Henry Cavill on the attack in Immortals

 

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (ITV, 9.45pm)

What's It About? Farm boy Luke Skywalker is thrust into the midst of an intergalactic battle between good and evil.

Setting out to rescue a stubborn princess from the clutches of the sinister Darth Vader, Luke discovers the mysteries of the force, and receives help from a space pilot, a veteran warrior, a pair of bickering robots and an eight foot-tall hairy warrior.

Is It Any Good? While the prequel trilogy and the sequels covered new and somewhat darker terrain, this original entry in the sci-fi franchise is basically a good old-fashioned matinee adventure, with a rousing score and - at the time - unbelievable interstellar action sequences.

Anything Else? Casting took place at the same time as Brian DePalma's Carrie, as both films required two male leads and a young heroine.

Among those in the running for Star Wars were Nick Nolte and Terri Nunn. The latter eventually found fame with breath-taking group Berlin.

The 'A New Hope' subtitle was added a few months after the first release; Lucas realised Star Wars would be the umbrella title for the other sequels.

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker star

Rating: *****

 

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Channel 4, 11.10pm)

What's It About? Based on Stephen Sondheim's acclaimed musical, it tells the story of barber Benjamin Barker, who was transported to Australia for a crime he didn't commit.

Fifteen years later, he returns to London with a new name - Sweeney Todd - and a burning desire to get his revenge on the corrupt judge who destroyed his life.

When his plan goes awry, Todd starts venting his rage on innocent customers, but luckily his landlady, pie-shop owner Mrs Lovett, knows a way they can get rid of the bodies...

Is It Any Good? A bloody, 18-rated musical about serial killings and cannibalism won't be to everyone's taste, but if you're willing to give it a try, Tim Burton's film is a darkly delicious treat.

Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter do a great job with Sondheim's tricky score, and both manage to make their characters oddly sympathetic.

Anything Else? Depp has clearly got the Sondheim bug - he's playing The Wolf in the upcoming screen version of the composer's fairytale musical, Into the Woods.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ed Sanders, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jayne Wisener Star

Rating: *****

Northwich Guardian: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

 

Sunday 10/08/14 

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (Channel 5, 5.05pm)

What's It About? Very loosely based on a book by Babe author Dick King-Smith, it's set in the Scottish highlands during the Second World War, and follows Angus MacMorrow, who discovers a giant egg by the edge of the water.

When it hatches into a cute sea creature he tries to keep it a secret, but unfortunately the creature grows at an extreme rate and the task of keeping it hidden proves more difficult by the day.

Is It Any Good? This children's fantasy adventure is old-fashioned in the best sense - it's charming and heart-warming with a welcome touch of magic.

And while the visual effects of the water horse are well crafted, they are not allowed to overwhelm the rest of the movie.

Anything Else? The title of the film is a reference to the kelpie, a beast of Celtic lore that disguises itself as a horse to lure unsuspecting victims to their watery death.

Starring: Alex Etel, Emily Watson, David Morrissey, Ben Chaplin, Brian Cox, Bruce Allpress, Craig Hall

Rating: ****  

Northwich Guardian: The Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep

 

The Eagle (Channel 4, 10pm)

What's It About? In 120 AD, the entire Ninth Roman Legion disappears without trace in Scotland, and its standard, a golden eagle, is lost forever to the eternal shame of Rome.

The commander of those soldiers also vanishes and two decades later, his son, Marcus Aquila, accepts a posting in Roman-occupied southern Britain to learn the truth about his father's demise.

Is It Any Good? Less graphic than Gladiator, this swords-and-togas adventure features a solid turn from rising star Channing Tatum.

Okay, it's not as much mindless fun as his more recent foray into the action genre, White House Down, but Kevin Macdonald's version of Rosemary Sutcliff's classic novel The Eagle Of The Ninth is still a gritty diversion with a superb cast.

Anything Else? Macdonald is currently working on Black Sea, a drama with Jude Law.

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Mark Strong, Donald Sutherland, Julian Lewis Jones, Denis O'Hare, Tahar Rahim

Rating: *** 

 

Killers (Channel 5, 10pm)

What's It About? Spy Spencer retires from the game when he meets Jen, the love of his life. Three years later, they are still enjoying a picture-perfect marriage - that is, until the morning after Spencer's 30th birthday.

That's when Spencer and Jen learn he's the target of a multi-million dollar hit.

Even worse, the hired killers have been stalking the happy couple for years, and could be anyone: friends, neighbours, the grocery store clerk, even that crabby old guy shuffling across the street.

Now Spencer and Jen are on the run for their lives.

Is It Any Good? This action-comedy may not be particularly original, especially if you've seen True Lies, but it is a lot of fun.

Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl are the likeable, easy-on-the-eye leads, and there's good support from Tom Selleck.

Anything Else? While filming a fight scene, Kutcher managed to accidentally knock out one of the stunt men.

Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Tom Selleck, Catherine O'Hara, Katheryn Winnick, Kevin Sussman

Rating: ***

 

Monday 11/08/14

The Black Knight (More4, 11.40am)

What's It About? Alan Ladd takes up the starring role in this swashbuckling adventure about a humble sword-maker in the kingdom of King Arthur.

He decides it's high time he proved his worth as a knight, and at the same time attempt to impress a nobleman's daughter.

While fighting to foil an invasion, he discovers the attacking army is in league with traitors in the royal court.

Is It Any Good? Alan Ladd seems perfectly cast in this entertaining adventure. Okay, so it's not the most enthralling of film offerings for the week, but with a supporting cast including Peter Cushing as the bad guy and a decent script.

The Black Knight has aged well and is definitely worth a look. It's perfect for whiling away a couple of hours on a boring Monday morning.

Anything Else? Trivia fans may be keen to note that conspirators King Mark of Cornwall and Sir Palamides are both played by actors who would go on to portray Dr Who - Patrick Troughton took on the television role in 1966, while Peter Cushing played the big-screen version in two mid-1960s Dalek films.

Starring: Alan Ladd, Peter Cushing, Patricia Medina, Patrick Troughton, John Laurie.

Star Rating: *** 

 

The Bourne Supremacy (ITV2, 9pm)

What's It About? Jason Bourne and his girlfriend Marie go on the run when a Russian agent is dispatched to Goa to kill the amnesiac assassin.

Believing his pursuer to be a CIA operative, Bourne decides to find out more about Ward Abbott, the shady high-ranking US Government official, and newcomer Pamela Landy, who is leading an investigation into the failed black-ops exercise Treadstone.

Is It Any Good? Unlike many film sagas, the Bourne movies, inspired by Robert Ludlum's novels, have improved with each subsequent chapter.

A terrific cast, screenplay, stunts, editing and score raised the action thriller bar so high, even 007 had a job topping it.

Anything Else? Keep an eye out for the scene in the consulate where Bourne takes down John Nevins and a security guard - while filming this, Matt Damon accidentally knocked out Tim Griffin who played the interrogator.

Starring: Matt Damon, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, Karl Urban

Rating: *****  

 

Like Someone in Love (Channel 4, 12.25am)

What's It About? Struggling through her education, a Tokyo student tries to support herself by going into prostitution.

Her pimp puts pressure on her to pay a visit to an elderly widower, and when she reluctantly agrees, she's shocked to find the client only wants to talk to her.

It's not long before the mismatched pair form a close bond - but it leads to her secret double life coming to light.

Is It Any Good? This won't be to everyone's tastes, but it is a likeable effort and perfectly watchable - if only for the dramatic twist at the end (which has sparked plenty of debate between those who have seen it).

This is a superbly acted, touching drama, which should keep you pondering long after the end credits have rolled - in fact some might even say Like Someone in Love is hugely underrated.

Anything Else? The film was given the production title The End, which was the initial name of the movie.

Starring: Rin Takanashi, Tadashi Okuno.

Star Rating: ****

Northwich Guardian: Like Someone In Love

 

Tuesday 12/08/14

A Better Life (Film4, 7.05pm)

What's It About? It's a gripping drama about an illegal Mexican immigrant in Los Angeles, who works hard as a gardener in the hope of securing a good future for his teenage son.

However, his dreams of earning enough to move to a better area look set to be ruined when he gets dangerously close to being caught by immigration officials and street gangs trying to lure his son into a life of crime.

Is It Any Good? It's a touching story that will see any viewer ride a rollercoaster of emotions before the end credits have rolled.

Credit where credit is due to the superb lead Demian Bichir, who perfectly depicts that often-rocky relationship a father shares with his son.

Highly recommended, but do keep a box tissues handy...

Anything Else? Director Chris Weitz made sure he performed all the script's stunts before he asked his cast to perform them.

A stunt double taught him and lead actor Demian Bichir how to climb a palm tree, but the latter went on to film all the scenes himself, and the stunt double wasn't needed.

Starring: Demian Bichir, Jose Julian, Joaquin Cosio, Gabriel Chavarraia.

Star Rating: ****

 

War (5*, 9pm)

What's It About? Jason Statham crosses over into martial-arts thriller territory as FBI agent Jack Crawford, whose partner was murdered, along with his family, by a mysterious assassin named Rogue (played with eerie style by Jet Li).

Many years later, the killer resurfaces and begins bumping off members of various criminal gangs, giving Crawford the chance to avenge his friend's death.

Is It Any Good? Professional tough-guy Jason Statham notches up another energetic action thriller with this feature-film debut for director Philip G Atwell.

This is more than an average revenge thriller, and there are some simply astonishing twists and turns, along with incredible fight sequences, courtesy of veteran choreographer Corey Yuen.

The film never lets up the pace for a moment, from the word go to the shocking conclusion you won't see coming.

Anything Else? Keep a look out for the silver sports car driven by Jet Li - it's a Spyker C8 Spyder which costs around $287,000.

Starring: Jet Li, Jason Statham, Devon Aoki, Luis Guzman, Saul Rubinek.

Rating: ***

 

Psycho (Film4, 10.45pm)

What's It About? Janet Leigh is splendid as Marion Crane, the duplicitous woman on the run with a stash of money.

When she makes the mistake of stopping off at the Bates Motel, the most famous shower scene in history takes place, resulting in Marion's demise.

A string of people go looking for her, leading to a shocking finale.

Is It Any Good? This dark thriller is a stylish if terrifying tale which should be watched from either behind the sofa or through latticed fingers.

Anthony Perkins is great as disturbed young man Norman Bates and Saul Bass's opening titles are simple and effective.

The Bernard Herrman score ranks among his finest and has been ripped off many times since.

Forget the Gus Van Sant remake with Anne Heche and ignore the host of sequels - just revel in this cheaply made movie which will give you nightmares for weeks to come.

Anything Else? Janet Leigh wasn't at all bothered by filming the famous shower scene, but seeing it on film reportedly moved her, and she later commented that it made her realise how vulnerable a woman is in the shower.

Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, Martin Balsam, John Gavin, John McIntire

Star Rating: *****  

Northwich Guardian: I was afraid you'd say that...

 

Wednesday 13/08/14

Inkheart (E4, 8pm)

What's It About? Based on the novel by Cornelia Funke, this is a family adventure about a secret class - the Silvertongues - who possess the power to literally bring books to life.

However, for every fictional character allowed to leap across the divide, a real person must take their place.

Doting father Mo Folchart has kept a terrible secret from his daughter, Meggie, since she was three-years-old: he is a Silvertongue and inadvertently sent his beloved wife, Teresa, into the pages of a book called Inkheart.

When Mo stumbles upon an old copy of the book, he finally believes he could be reunited with Teresa only for the past to catch up with him.

Is It Any Good? A fun-filled and action-packed movie with great special effects.

Anything Else? Star Brendan Fraser was Funke's personal choice for the part of Silvertongue.

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Siena Guillory, Helen Mirren, Paul Bettany, Eliza Bennett

Rating: **** 

Northwich Guardian: Inkheart

 

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (5*, 9pm)

What's It About? The demonic crime buster returns to tackle a warrior keen on resurrecting a fabled army of soldiers who could bring about the destruction of mankind.

However, he also has to cope with domestic problems, including a broody girlfriend and a lovelorn sidekick.

Is It Any Good? One of the best fantasy adventures of the 21st-century, boasting terrific special effects, a witty script and an assured performance by Ron Perlman as the eponymous creature.

It also boasts unforgettable images, such as a battle with a huge plant creature, and a wonderfully silly scene set to the strains of Barry Manilow's Can't Smile Without You.

Anything Else? Acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro went on to make the two Hobbit films. At times, this looks like a dry run, with stunning visuals reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings saga.

Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, John Hurt, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor, Luke Goss

Rating: ***** 

Northwich Guardian: Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (12A)

 

The Wall (Channel 4, 12.25am)

What's It About? A woman travels with two friends and a trusty hound to stay in a remote hunting lodge.

However, on arrival, the pals head out only to never return - and the woman realises that she has been trapped by an invisible barrier.

Completely isolated from the outside world, she realises she must learn to fend for herself in the forests, with only a few animals for company, and keeps a journal of her struggle to survive.

Is It Any Good? Absolutely - it's a haunting and atmospheric piece which boasts a fine Austrian cast.

On the face of it, this might seem like it shares several plot points to Stephen King's Under the Dome, but the similarities begin and end with the barrier - this, with its Robinson Crusoe themes, is an entirely different beast.

Anything Else? This was the official submission by Austria for the 2014 Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film category.

Starring: Martina Gedeck, Wolfgang M Bauer, Ulrike Beimpold, Karlheinz Hackl Star Rating: ****

 

Thursday 14/08/14

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Film4, 4.50pm)

What's It About? Two notorious outlaws realise their successful career of bank and train robberies may be about to come to an abrupt end when a seemingly unstoppable posse is formed to bring them to justice.

The duo plan to flee America and start a new life in Bolivia, joined by their schoolmistress lover, but they find that staying ahead of the law is not an easy matter.

Is It Any Good? The great success of this excellent Western, based loosely on real events, is due in no small part to the chemistry between stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

The pair anchor the film with a sometimes understated portrayal of their characters' curious relationship, that is regularly lifted with bouts of banter and comedy.

Anything Else? Other actors considered for the role of Sundance were Steve McQueen, who withdrew due to billing disagreements, and Warren Beatty, who declined because he found the film too similar to Bonnie and Clyde.

Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Strother Martin, Henry Jones

Rating: ****  

Northwich Guardian: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - Corinium Cinema

 

The Divide (Film4, 11.10pm)

What's It About? In a not-too-distant future, New York City comes under nuclear attack.

Nine strangers survive by holing up in the basement of an apartment block. I

nitially, the building's Super does a good job of rationing out supplies, but when their meagre resources begin to dwindle, it leads to raising tensions amongst the group.

Is It Any Good? It's a classic set-up which had been examined decades earlier in The Twilight Zone.

However, director Xavier Gens keeps the tension palpable as the characters' situation goes from bad to worse.

Anything Else? The chronological filming process was a first for star Michael Biehn. At the time of shooting he had been making films for 35 years and this was the first one he'd made in sequence.

Gens allowed for a lot of improvisation, and constant script re-writes kept the actors on edge. It seemed to work as it generated a lot of tension.

According to Biehn, "The producers were being pulled down three or four times a day to try to break up actors who were fighting".

Starring: Lauren German, Michael Biehn, Rosanna Arquette, Milo Ventimiglia, Courtney B Vance, Ashton Holmes

Rating: ***

 

Biker Boyz (BBC One, 11.35pm)

What's It About? The son of a mechanic killed in a crash is determined to honour his father's memory by becoming a champion motorcycle racer.

However, the leader of the underground motorcycle club where his father worked refuses to let him join.

Outraged, the young biker assembles his own team and vows to avenge the insult, proving once and for all who the fastest rider really is.

Is It Any Good? The Fast and the Furious franchise may have gone from strength to strength since the series launched in 2001, but attempts to recreate the same lucrative magic with motorbikes stalled like a submerged Harley Davidson.

Despite a dreadful title, the cast aren't bad (any movie with Laurence Fishburne is worth a look), and director Reggie Rock Bythewood's offering ticks over nicely.

Anything Else? A year later another movie tried to create a Fast and Furious-style biker franchise in Torque. It also failed.

Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke, Orlando Jones, Lisa Bonet

Rating: ***  

 

Friday 15/08/14

The Gumball Rally (BBC Two, 11.45am)

What's It About?

A wealthy but bored businessman gathers his automobile-loving friends in New York for the start of a coast-to-coast race, with the finish being the Queen Mary at Long Beach in California.

There are no rules, and those taking part must get to the other side of the country in as fast a time as possible, which means ignoring the speed limit. Chaos soon reigns.

Is It Any Good? It's a lot of fun and could certainly never be described as demanding. The film proved to be so popular it inspired real-life races, including the Gumball 3000, which travels through various countries every year.

Anything Else? All the actors did their own driving.

Starring: Michael Sarrazin, Tim McIntire, Raul Julia, Gary Busey, Nicholas Pryor, Susan Flannery

Rating: ***

 

The English Patient (BBC2, regions vary)

What's It About? A hideously scarred man waits for death in wartime Africa.

The eclectic characters that come into contact with him are also nursing their own wounds, albeit psychological, and, thanks to an erratic narrative that flits between pre and post-the Second World War, this tale unfolds so well, you wish it would never end.

Is It Any Good? Anthony Minghella delivers a mesmerising drama of epic proportions and little wonder it picked up nine Oscars.

A great cast provide some first-class acting and elegantly flesh out the tale.

Ralph Fiennes delivers a measured performance as the eponymous, enigmatic character, Kristin Scott Thomas is coolly elegant as his glacial lover, while Juliette Binoche and Willem Dafoe have rarely been better in their supporting roles.

Anything Else? Juliette Binoche won one of the film's Academy Awards.

Unfortunately, her young son damaged the trophy while playing with it, so she had to send it back to the organisation for repairs - a service they provide to winners for free.

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin Firth, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Naveen Andrews, Kevin Whately

Rating: *****

Northwich Guardian: Kristin Scott Thomas in The English Patient

 

Date Night (Channel 4, 11.40pm)

What's It About? A married couple, whose relationship has turned a bit on the stale side, plan a date night.

Deciding on a trendy restaurant in the middle of New York, they find the place is full to bursting and so take up the reservation of a couple who fail to show.

They soon regret it, though, when they realise that the people whose table they've taken are in debt to gangsters and the hitmen are on their trail.

Is It Any Good? The chances are that anything that Steve Carell puts his well-respected name to is going to be worth a watch.

What kicks all of his other efforts out of the ballpark in this, though, is the chemistry between him and co-star Tina Fey.

Pairing two of the funniest people of the last few years with each other on the big screen proves to be an act of genius - and of course brings laughs a plenty.

Anything Else? Film buffs with a beady eye should keep an eye out for Mark Wahlberg's shirtless scenes.

Every one of them was filmed carefully at specific angles to avoid showing a tattoo of Bob Marley on his left shoulder.

Starring: Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Mark Wahlberg

Rating: **** 

Northwich Guardian: CLOSE CALL: Tina Fey and Steve Carell star in the film Date Night, in which a couple’s romantic evening goes disastrously wrong