John's Reviews

Probably the best selection of episodes from Series 3. Absolutely brilliant! I highly recommend it.

One of the best recent British comedies, this film is basically a parody of all the crappy zombie flicks which have come out over the bast ten years. I absolutely love this film and recommend it highly to all.

Quite funny but not the best of Dylan Moran's stand up. Somehow this one seems a little more whingy and contains a bit less of the brilliant satire and sarcasm which Dylan Moran brings to the stage. Nonetheless, it's worth the watch and I'd definitely recommend it.

Not a bad dramatic Australian miniseries, if you're planning on renting this, note that the pace is quite slow and the film quality (in terms of conversion to DVD, probably due to the quality of the original film) is not quite what you'd expect from more modern productions. That said, the acting isn't bad and the story writing is fairly good for a homegrown film. I'd recommend it but you'll have to be up for a fairly slow, low-budget series.

A bit slower than most other rounds of stand up that I have seen, I actually quite enjoyed this. The slower pace of Danny Bhoy's delivery actually allows for greater tension in his performance and makes the whole show much funnier. Quite funny and compiled well, don't forget to check out the extras (particularly the hilarious Tour of Scotland piece.) I highly recommend this.

Quite a well made film about the issue of family during wartime. Well written, well directed and quite touching, I'd highly recommend it.

A well thought out film about the great scientific achievement that was played out in outback Australia during the moon landing of 1969, this film is fairly typical of low budget Australian films; the story and actors are willing but the market is not. Another odd piece of trivia lies in the first scene in which we are told that '"this is based on a true story." Although tempting to believe, from what I understand, it is not. Parkes was not the site of the reception of telemetry from the Apollo 11 crew. Nonetheless, I think the acting, story and cult-status (within Australian Cinema) of this film elevates it to something truly worth appreciating, for the fact that it informs the audience that ordinary people are the ones who often make the extraordinary things happen, yet go unnoticed. I'd recommend it.

Supposedly a classic sci-fi film, I found this film to be a little too clinical and random to actually get to the crux of any real background story. The effects were, undoubtedly, state-of-the-art in their day and the actors gathered were all quite capable but, somehow, I ended up thinking that the lack of a strong and independent plot made this film feel a little bit hollow.

A very bizarre, yet somehow appealing, film, I'm not sure whether it can be classified as sci-fi, action or comedy. There is great acting in this film but the plotline can get a bit too non-sensical. Overall, I'd recommend it.

A brilliant film about love, regret and character. Well made, well-acted and well conceived, this film is all the more enriched by the individuality of its production. Quirky and a very independent arthouse film, I'd highly recommend it.

Clint Eastwood's attempt at a nail-biting, hardcore jab at modern, urban societal drama; I didn't mind this film for the fact that it is a stand-alone piece of cinema that breaks away from Hollywood's family-orientated plots. Overall, worth a watch for Eastwood's direction, but not worth five stars.

A classic sixties attempt at addressing the problem of authority within society, I felt that the film was a bit slow and took too much getting used to. That said, Paul Newman makes this film and for that reason I feel that it is worth the watch. Overall, I'd recommend it but not highly.

A nice piece of pre-wolverine Hugh Jackman cinema, this film proved to be a little slow and corny (as is typical of 80s and 90s Australian movies) although I must say that the acting is quite well done for what is essentially a low-budget, locally made film. Overall, yes, I'd recommend it.

Although I usually like historical dramas, I found this film a bit of a slow grind. That said, Frances O'Connor's presence makes all the difference and for that reason alone I give this four stars and a recommendation to fellow drama lovers.

A great, out-of-left-field, bizarre comedy, I quite enjoyed this film's divergence from the typical Hollywood attempt at producing artificial laughs. This film has a more relaxed tone, although the hype surrrounding it created an entirely different mental image for me. Fun and out there, I'd recommend it for those who like their comedies different.

See other comments.

See other comments.

See other comments.

An excellent film, I highly recommend it to the audience who like a dark film. This is a cutting and original nineties film, much like the Matrix or Pulp Fiction and I commend Rufus Sewell's excellent performance in the lead role. Brilliant!

Not a bad movie, I felt that the film was still somehow a little tinny compared to the book. Still, a great effort and I recommend it for at least a lazy sunday watch.

As always, the BBC have managed to put out another quality documentary to educate us all. A great look at the development of European art, it's probably best to not be led on thinking this series is about the development of humanity but about art in Europe. Still, a very good series and one which I recommend highly.

Probably my favourite amongst the James Bond films, Timothy Dalton somehow managed to beef up the role whilst remaining as faithful as possible to Ian Fleming on the one hand and the box office junkies on the other. Clearly a tight balancing act that has produced the best James Bond and probably only equalled by Daniel Craig. Love this film, deserves a few watches.

Classic Star Wars strikes again! Probably the best of the six movies, I've always thought this film to be a must have for any Sci Fi, Action or Adventure fan and deserves a place towards the middle of the top shelf. I highly recommend it.

A bizarre and rather urbane nineties action flick; this is, nonetheless, a film which has achieved cult status and become infamous as the set on which Brandon Lee was killed. It is, though, a nice piece of gritty, urban dystopianism which predates Sin City and V for Vendetta and it is thus an ancestor of these modern, effect-heavy movies. Well worth the watch, you'll either walk away completely bored or completely enthralled. I recommend it.

A great series of performances from Noah Taylor, Geoffrey Rush, John Gielgud, et al, makes this film a very enjoyable piece of domestic cinema. I quite liked the storytelling, although recent facts have cast doubt on how accurately the film reflects the real events. Then again, most films are not meant to be factual inquests and I must say that this movie deserves a place on any Australiana-lover's top shelf.

Not a bad jibe at modern multiculturalism, the comedy's a bit dated but it still kicks in a few laughs here and there. A comedic appearance from Vince Colossimo a year before he starred in Chopper is also welcome. Overall, worth a watch.

An amazing movie about the cruelties of British Imperialism in India at the turn of the century, I found the film (which is, of course, based on the novel by EM Forster...yet still selectively historic) to be a great piece of both acting and directing. Starring Judy Davis, Alec Guinness, et al, this film really was the greatest of all David Lean's works. Highly recommended to those who prefer idiosyncracy and drama to special effects and action.

Probably the greatest of Quentin Tarantino's films, expect foul language, violence and...a brilliant, cult-attracting film. Great music and great acting (especially the one film where Bruce Willis didn't play some predictable, middle-aged women's heartthrob) I highly recommend it for everybody to watch at least once.

An interesting and cleverly made film, the only flaw that I found was that the movie was a bit slow and vague at first; that, though, is only my opinion. Set amongst a group of Aboriginal tribesmen and reflecting upon the experience, rather than study, of Aborigines, this movie deserves more than the three stars I've given it but, in the end, it just seemed to lack the type of drama I was expecting. All in all, I'd recommend it.

Great to see Al Pacino in one of his earlier roles, this film follows a Cuban drug dealing strongman's rise to the head of his underworld business and his bloody downfall. A classic film, I highly recommend it.

Gory and dark, this film explores the relationship between two police officers (an old hand and rookie) and their pursuit of a dangerous, sadistic, homicidal psychopath who is intent on punishing his victims according to the seven deadly sins of Christian mythology. Akin to a Hannibal Lecter, in magnitude, to a Hannibal Lecter film; it sounds gory but this film is very well performed and directed with the lead actors being Brad Pitt (he's actually quite good in this film), Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey. Well directed and a proper thriller/horror film, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes suspense with realisitc (non-sensational) horror elements.

Basically a movie about a near-future, urban dystopia; I didn't mind this film, it has a sort of kitschy, comic-book appeal to it. A bit cliched due to its resemblance to an Orwellian (actually, I should say Zamyatin themed) future horror novel, I still quite enjoyed Natalie Portman's contribution and the grungy, hard-boiled-fantasy feel that this film emanates. Overall, I'd readily recommend it to teens through to young adults.

Gratuitous and bloody, this film is not for the timid or faint-hearted. That said, the acting, directing and the overall picture of the film is excellent and lives up to the Tarantino-esque, anally-retentive standard that I've come to enjoy. Basically this is a film about the routine of hitmen and the dismissive disaffection that westerners think of organised, urban violence. I like the shock appeal of Tarantino's earlier films (this included) and I recommend it highly to those who like a divergence from Hollywood's boring, family-friendly flicks.

Okay, but I use that term loosely. Van Diemen's Land is not a horrible film but not a terribly good one either. The film techniques employed (stained colour shots, bizarre zooms) and the lack of any real recognisable cast makes the film a bit weak. Not bad for a mindless look at Australian history, I wouldn't go away thinking this film accurate (or worthy of any award either!)

Always a joy for those who like a bit more of the laid back, stand up comedic style. A great show, well worth the watch, Adam Hills proves that his position as one of Australia's greatest current performers is not a fluke in the slightest.

Another well made Aussie film that looks at life in the Australian 'burbs through Australian eyes. Also it was great to see Hugh Jackman in his earlier (pre X-Men) days. A little bit slow and not quite as 'fleshed out' as I would have liked, I still recommend it (even if only for its pre X-Men value.)

Although originally panned by cinema-goers, I have always found this film particularly well made and highly enjoyable. Great to see Morgan Freeman (although it may only be in a supporting role) and Tim Robbins provide emotional depth to a colourful yet simple plotline. I highly recommend this to all.

Classic Kubrick again! This thriller film is set around the haunted visions ('the shining') of the son of a man looking after an abandoned hotel. Great acting by Jack Nicholson and great directing from Stanley Kubrick make this film a great watch for anybody who is in to classic thriller cinema, even if the book seems much more of a 'true' thriller than the film.

I first saw this programme on ABC when it premiered. I thought the mini-series was well made but on viewing it again I felt that the plotline was a little hollow and tinny. A great series for those who want to see some of Australia's older talent make a return, this film is a little let down by the lukewarm performances of the younger cast members (excluding Leon Ford

One of the true classics of cinema, I loved seeing Christopher Reeve in his acting prime and watching a star supporting cast flesh out the rest of the film. Well made, well acted and well worth watching, I highly recommend Superman to anybody who like action films that hark back to a time when CGI was not synonymous with plotline.

One of Jim Carrey's earlier attempts at a comedic film, I thought that this movie was funny but not quite as good as the Ace Ventura films. I like the 90s feel and raucus comedy of this movie but it does get a bit trying at times.

Recommended to me by my father and grandfather, I was told this musical would be light-hearted and fun. While there exists no fallacy, I simply found so much singing and dancing a bit boring after the first half an hour and had to switch to some more contemporary comedy. In short, not bad but not something you would spend your Sunday afternoon watching.

Billy Connolly in his usual rounds of stand up, these were the days before his comedy well began to dry up. Good to see him in his comedic prime, I recommend this to all who want a a bit of a light-hearted laugh.

A whacky and obscene comedy about the prophecies of religion, I found this film likeable but a fraction lewd. Quite funny to those who don't take theirs (or anybody elses, for that matter) religion too seriously, I recommend this film for a bit of a dark laugh at the complexities of modern religions.

Probably the best interpretation of EM Forster's classic novel, I really enjoyed seeing Maggie Smith in such a serious role. The film is populated by a star-cast (Helena Bonham-Carter, Denholm Elliot and Daniel Day Lewis to name a few) and is expertly shot. A beautiful work by James Ivory, I only hope they would make more films of the same calibre.

The perfect spoof of sixties spy films, Austin Powers turns the sex-driven, risk-taking, boy's own polyglot of James Bond into an anachronism, at which one can oly laugh. Great for a bit of a raunchy, teen laugh.

A great fan of Stanley Kubrick films, I was not disappointed with this movie. Set in 17th century England, the film follows the social ascendency of Irish born Barry Lyndon. I loved every scene in this film, Kubrick's attention is, of course, flawless. I highly recommend it to all.

Quite an enjoyable film, I was quite suprised with this movie. Essentially a moderne sci fi version of Homer's Odyssey, the film is well worth the watch. (The effects might be a bit corny but it really adds to the quality of the film.)

Not a bad attempt at fifties sci fi, I found this film a bit slow. Nonetheless, it deserves a fair go if one is to appreciate the era in which the film was made. Still, I think that the movie has some merit in the sci fi genre.

A classic of sixties sci fi, this film has a lot of sex appeal with Raquel Welch in the lead role. The plot is a bit hard to take, but Raquel makes up for it in the cavewoman costume.

I had heard a lot about how this film was supposed to be one of the greatest westerns made. Dull, contrived and hard to sit through, I could not recommend this film to anybody really. I give two stars for the cinematography.

Quite a funny film, this is a nice piece of Australiana that sees Mick Molloy and Bob Franklin portray two detectives from the ZTU fighting their corrupt superiors. The film is a bit slow and takes a bit of getting used to - seeing there is an absence of wild sex and explosive car chases, which act as the usual Hollywood cinematic experience - but in the end it is very funny and has more of the feeling of a two hour sitcom than of a serious cinematic experience.

"It's the stuff dreams are made of." This work is cinematic par excellence and one of the most memorable films starring Humphrey Bogart. This is a movie which fits well into the hard-boiled detective and mystery genres and is well worth several viewings at the very least.

I find it absolutely incredulous that there could ever be an opera so grand as this, the rendition by Opera Australia is not only inviting but masterfully crafted. The production of the Opera does not stand in the way of modern conception nor does it overly flatter the tradtitional view of Puccini's work. I am aware that I must be babbling now, I advise you to watch this a few times to really grasp the enormity that is 'Madama Butterfly.' Especially loved is the aria 'Un bel di vedremo.' Please; rent, view, enjoy, embrace.

This is a grand rendition of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' and I must say that it is excellently performed. I saw this production live once, however, and I feel that this may have tainted my view of this production. Nonetheless, this is an excellent production, well worth watching for not just Mozart's conducting but also the theatrical input which makes this such an excellent opera.

Back in the days when Billy Connolly was more self-deprecating than he has recently become, 'Big Yin' was one of the funniest men on the stand up circuit. While I have begun to shy away from his more recent performances, this collection of comedy material is gold and it is well worth a few watches at the very least.

In a travel back to the bawdy seventies 'Carry On' films, I felt that this was probably the best of the series apart from 'Carry On Doctor.' These films suit are sort of an ancestor of the Austin Powers trilogy and while irreverent and somewhat funny I dare say these films are a bit dated now.

This really is a good collection of TNG episodes. You do, of course, have to like the drama heavy episodes of the early Next Generation but, if you do, you can't go past these. This disc contains 'The Measure of a Man', 'The Dauphin', 'The Contagion' and 'The Royale.' The Dauphin was a bit much but when weighed against The Measure of a Man one cannot back away from this compilation. It would probably have to be the award-winning episode of the Next Generation. Coupled with The Contagion, this disc is absolutely invaluable to any Star Trek collection. I won't go into much detail, so in short; five stars and as many watches as your sight permits.

These episodes from Voyager's sixth season are truly priceless.The episodes included on Disc 2 are 'Alice', 'Riddles', 'Dragon's Teeth' and 'One Small Step.' Alice and Riddles weren't so bad but the true gold comes in Dragon's Teeth in which Voyager awakens the Vaadwaur battalion who attempt to commandeer the vessel and One Small Step which takes us back to our own time of space travel when Voyager discovers a 21st century ship inside a spatial anomaly. It would be foolish to go in to too much detail. Suffice it to say, these are some of Voyager's better episodes, they deserve a good round of accolades. Rent them, rent them now.

This is a good film, starring Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra and Claude Rains as Julius Caesar, set to the tone of Shaw's 1901 play of the same name. This is a great film for those who like a bit more of the classics like myself but please do not be fooled into thinking that this film is a) historically accurate; or b) a Shakespearean production. This is a grand film for those who love the theatrical element of hollywood's older production. A grand film, I recommend it to those who love the theatrics.

A classic piece of Australian cinema that occurred at the heart of its revival, this film is a pretty good adaption of AB Patterson's lyric poem. Sigrid Thornton still appears to have been at the better end of her acting career and the obligatory Jack Thompson appearance (it was pretty much compulsory in Australia in the eighties) gives a bit more thespian clout to the film. A good adaption well worth watching.

An excellent follow up to 'Birth of a Nation', this film is good in its classic film value - in that it tackles a grand theme and does so with grand acting and grand sets - but it was somewhat "narrow" (with such a broad title it seems confined to a Christian-American view of the world.) Three out of five stars for being a classic but one that is not universally loveable.

A classic, classic film with Clint Eastwood's excellence in the main role. The film's plot is pretty basic - it revolves around a hired gun to clean up a town - but the point of the film is its classic value and the capability of Clint Eastwood to turn a spaghetti western into a truly brilliant movie.

Paul Gross' use of special effects and set designs not withstanding, I found this movie a bit tinny. It seemed to lack the character of a proper war drama yet the effects were excellent and the production quite good.

Pure Excellence!!

Based on Miles Franklin's titular novel, this film sees Sam Neill and Judy Davis playing a couple who find themselves on the wrong side of the social line-in-the-sand when Sybylla (Davids) decides to act as an individual rather than a social pawn. Although this film was marred by the politically sensitive issues of equality on its release date, one can now more greatly admire the talent of two Antipodean thespians in all their glory and more deeply appreciate the issue of equality that Miles Franklin's novel seems to evoke. An excellent film Australian film, worth all stars and at least one or two sittings.

Very well made, this film deserves five stars for Dame Judi Dench's portrayal of Queen Victoria in her inconsolable days following Prince Albert's death. Billy Connolly is also quite good but the attention to set detail and Dame Judi's performance make this film worthy of a grand round of accolades.

Excellent suspense and drama makes this film another classic mystery/thriller from the golden years of Hollywood. This film deserves every star earned.

Pure excellece! I forwent renting the second disc and instead bough the boxset.

The film that looks at the death of Princess of Wales and the Queen (and Royal Houshold's) silence in the ensuing wake. Helen Mirren is quite good in this role (I couldn't believe that James Cromwell can do a passable RP English accent and the portrayal of the Prince of Wales as a caring father and concerned divorcee was a breath of fresh air) which warrants accolade but I couldn't help but feel the film was restrained by the film pandering towards those that felt the Royal Family snobbishly dismissed Diana's death. Worth a watch but not worth four stars.

Excellent film noir for those who are interested in the genre. This film tackles the problem that all servicemen and women have; maintaining their place in a civilian world which has discarded them. Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd play a wife murdered and husband out to prove his innocence. This is truly worth watching.

This is The Next Generation at its best. The two part 'Chain of Command' sees Captain Jellico take command of the Enterprise as Picard goes on a covert mission against the Cardassians. Great acting, better set design, more interesting plots and appreciable special effects see these two episodes off as probably the best of TNG. 'Ship in a Bottle' is to be commended for the set design and acting (especially from guest stars) but is not quite on par with the previous two. In short, GET A COPY OF THIS, this is Sci Fi TV that can't be ignored.

An excellent film that is to be highly commended for the tremendous performances of Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine and Ben Cross. The eleventh Star Trek takes it back to the beginning of the 2258 'five year mission' but with the twist of having an entirely non-canonical plot that refreshes a series of movies which were becoming stale. The film sees Kirk, Spock and CAPTAIN Pike battle Romulans who have travelled back through time to destroy planets of the Federation using vaunted 'Red Matter.' This film deserves a fair go, as it cannot be fairly compared to the old series. For the acting and revamping the series, I'd give it five stars.

Quite an interesting look at the Bourne concept, I found this film possibly a little tainted by my former reading of the novel and viewing of the Matt Damon trilogy (quadrilogy, if Paul Greengrass has his way.) This film 'establishes' the character of Bourne more than the modern version whilst simultaneously giving a fairly good explanation why Richard Chamberlain was not really destined for this role. This is worth a watch prior to seeing the modern version (if you have not already seen it) but beware that this is a mystery not an action film.

See my other comments.

An interesting look at the days of British colonialism in Australia and the foundation of New South Wales. Although enjoyable, the fact that I am a modern Australian history student (and have actually read the papers of many of the people mentioned in this film) probably tainted this a bit for me. Still worth a watch if one is looking for a glimpse at Australian history.

A classic of Soviet cinema, this is a film for all those who enjoy 'soft' science fiction. Set entirely in outer space, this is a film which sees a set of cosmonauts exposed to various delusions and their capacity to deal with the problem of their own psyches gone mad. A fairly slow film for those who like modern special effects, this is a film as much in the genre of drama as science fiction.

A sleepy town in Melbourne is struck by murders and a lone constable with tinnitus is left to solve the mystery in a suburban police van during the dead of night. An odd film, don't get me wrong, I still like the capacity of this film to sum up suburban life in any major Australian city. Not too shabby acting and a homegrown plot makes this film worth the watch, although it would have been nice if they could have replicated some of those grisly murders on Ramsay Street.

Revolution Strikes! This is a classic film for those who love history, and the history of film, and don't mind analysing the propaganda value of Red Russian Cinema. Officers and crew mutiny to save the revolution and take on the White Czarist forces. Based on the true story of the historical importance of the Navy and Petrograd/Leningrad/St Petersburg in the overthrow of dictatorial governments, this film is of great value to those who like an insight into the thoughts of those who wrote Soviet Propaganda.

An amazing film about the efforts of William Wilberforce, and his fellow abolitionists, to end slavery in the British Empire. Although not entirely accurate (the slave trade was outlawed in 1805, slavery did not become illegal until about month after Wilberforce's death) this film is nonetheless an excellent historical drama that includes many great actors in its cast and manages to show that the abolition of the dispicable slave trade was more than a simple issue.

Please read my comments for Disc 1.

The Wizard of Oz, the timeless classic from the golden year of Hollywood, tells a story that nearly everybody can relate to during their childhood; escaping the mundane and becoming part of one's own world. The classic film that launched Judy Garland's career, be prepared for a story that runs along at a nineteen thirty nine pace and is, for the most part, a little bizarre.

Steven Spielberg's Opus Magnum, this is an incredibly moving film about the destruction of the Jewish population, as a part of the Endlosung and Holocaust. Magnificent acting on the part of Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson and Ben Kinglsey makes this film not only believeable but a testament to the capacity of first class films to completely capture their audience. A testament to the life of the flawed but extraordinary Oskar Schindler, this is the crowning achievement of Spielberg's career and as he said "it was a film that had to be made."

The second part of the classic quadrilogy that sees Harrison Ford swashbuckle his way across the subcontinent to retrieve the sacred stones that empower the evil Kali and his priests. An excellent film that can best be surmised as the true American Boys' Own Adventure.

Irreverent comedy from the great actors of the Blackadder generation. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie manage to perform nearly every conceivable skit with grand self-deprecation and outrageous hilarity that launches back to the pre-House and QI days to a time when two university graduates put their financial knackers on the line to make us laugh.

Another bit of classic Aussie film that sees a star cast portray a series of mental health patients try and show that sanity is subjective and that art is the ultimate form of expression. Very well acted but a little too slow and low-budget to make a real award-winning drama.

See my other comments.

See my other comments.

An incredible film concerning the true story of a number of East Germans who attempted to tunnel beneath the Berlin Wall and Grenzschutz defence network in an effort to reach the democracy of West Germany and reunite themselves with family and a way of life that had eluded them for years. Another excellent German drama that rates with Der Untergang and Das Leben der Anderen and should be considered by anybody who feels just how plastic many of Hollywood's films are.

Although these early episodes of The Next Generation might seem a bit dated (tight eighties shirts and clumsy sets), these episodes are still well worth watching. These final episodes of TNG's second season reflect the changes in direction that occurred in the premier seasons of Picard's benevolent ten year mission to '...seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.' The episodes on this disc are more focused on the drama of the Enterprise's encounter with the Borg ('Peak Performance') and tend more towards character drama than (rather expensive in the eighties) special effects. This is well worth the watch for those who like the combination of both hard and soft science fiction that Gene Roddenberry's control offered.

An excellent film about the resistance that scared the Third Reich the most - from within! This film reflects on the life of Sophie Magdalene Scholl, a prominent (and founding) member of the White Rose resistance movement in Germany, and her demise at the hands of the Gestapo and People's Courts. The movie also chronicles the participation of Sophie's brother Hans Scholl and their execution after being found guilty of publishing defamatory materials to the Nazi Government. This film is quite an educational viewing for all those who have never appreciated the severity of Hitler's authoritarian attitude towards his own nation and the people whose sacriifice has been masked by sixty years of obscurity and blame.

This is a grand series made back in the nineteen eighties by a few little known Australian actors. The series (as the title implies) details the story of a group of Australians who fight their way across the Dardanelles and Western Europe only to end up finding that the 'new war' was going to be more costly than any other. While the series may seem a little dated and cliche (just like the Madonna Bridge in Sydney of the '80s, this series seems to forget the New Zealander component of ANZAC), one must remember the period in which it was made and go along with the enjoyment of watching a bit of our history being depicted by since currently actors.

An interesting successor to David Lean's nineteen sixty-five production of Doctor Zhivago, this modern BBC version of Boris Pasternak's novel seems to add a bit more grunt and colour to the stolid scenes painted by Omar Sharif and Julie Christie. It should be added, however, that if you have read the novel, this film is a screen adaption not a reproduction of the novel. This film deserves at least one watch for anybody who likes good drama although the acting by Keira Knightley can seem a little routine at times.

An interesting take on the history of film, The Story of the Kelly Gang presents one with a look at the development of the feature film and how an Australian picture became the first film to hit an hour in length while taking on the story our convict past. While interesting to note that this film was produced within a generation of the execution of Ned Kelly after the shootout at Glenrowan, it is still rather melancholy to think that only twenty seven minutes of this film have survived and been digitally restored.

JSA is a fantastically modern film about the stress and split-second decisions that soldiers make when posted on the DMZ between the two Korean states. The story of a shooting on the 38th parallel is presented through a series of flashbacks from the perspectives of different soldiers and the detective work being undertaken to unravel the mystery by the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission. A thoroughly good Korean military drama that is still valid in the sad and unfortunate climate of tension on the Korean peninsula.

A film that nearly all Australians could identify with, David Wenham and Frances O'Connor deliver unbelievably grand performances of middle class Australians who find themselves in dire financial circumstances. David Wenham is able to deliver a sense of bewilderment with the accepted money-centred society in which we live that one might be inclined to open revolt after watching this film.