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Stuart Little 2
The adopted mouse Stuart Little returns, and this time he's got a
few growing pains, typical teenager.
Jason
X
The Friday the 13th series comes back again to haunt us, but this
time it's not that bad, but it's still scary.
Scooby-Doo
The cartoon hero makes it to the big screen in computer generated
form. Not great but enough laughs for the kids.
Resident
Evil
Movie based on the computer game in which lots of zombies are shot,
then shot again, then shot again.
Bad
Company
Run of the mill thriller/comedy in which Chris Rock tries to stop
a nuclear bomb falling into the wrong hands.
Minority
Report
Steven Spielberg proves once again that he's the movie master, with
this excellent sci-fi thriller.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
From the producers of Shrek but nothing like that film. For a start,
the horses don't talk, just neigh.
Murder
By Numbers
Sandra Bullock dispenses with the dizzy beauty roles and plays a hard
nosed detective with a dark past.
Birthday
Girl
Nicole Kidman fails to capitalise on her recent success in a film
which doesn't know if it's a comedy or thriller.
Rollerball
Disappointing remake of the James Caan 1975 original. Plenty of fast
editing, not enough cohesive plot.
Big
Fat Liar
Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz must fight to stop his story
idea being stolen by a nasty film producer.
The
Musketeer
Familiar story using every cliché in the book, especially the
villains. Somehow it all works. Top fight sequences.
Killing
Me Softly
A disaster movie - the disaster being it was made in the first place.
Fine if you want to see naked bums.
Hardball
Keanu Reeves takes charge of a group of young baseball players but
tragedy is just around the corner.
Spiderman
Whilst on a field trip the school geek gets bitten by a genetically
modified spider. Comic caper comes good.
Monster's
Ball
Brilliant performances and plot in a near faultless film which deserves
all the accolades heaped upon it.
Unfaithful
Tedious film in which Richard Gere discovers his wife is having an
affair with a Frenchman.
Crush
Three women meet every week to discuss who has the saddest life - then
one gets a toy-boy boyfriend.
The
Time Machine
Insipid remake with little soul, good special effects and monsters
which veer from scary to Dr Who rejects.
Snow Dogs
Disney delivers family film that fails to even make you smile (except
the dogs - and only mechanically).
Forty
Days and Forty Nights
Josh Hartnett takes a vow of celibacy after being dumped, only to fall
in love again almost immediately.
Hart's
War
An understated Bruce Willis in a Prisoner of War film with a racial
twist which almost comes off.
Thunderpants
A one-joke film about the art of letting off wind / trumping / farting
which somehow manages to hold your attention.
Star
Wars: Episode II
George Lucas makes
up for the Phantom Menace, and returns with the excellent 'Attack of the
Clones'.
Dog
Soldiers
Cracking re-telling of the werewolf tale as a bunch of squaddies fall
victim to the monsters in the Scottish Highlands.
Slackers
Teen comedy which doesn't quite deliver what it could have. Slushy romance
spoils a promising start.
Waking
Life
I don't think so. You'll be hard pressed to keep your eyes open in this
dreadful film investigating what a dream is.
Panic
Room
A classic edge of the seat rollercoaster headed by Jodie Foster. Don't
panic, you won't be disappointed.
Showtime
De Niro and Murphy team up for a comedy about reality TV. It should have
been a lot better.
About
A Boy
Hugh Grant gets a hair-cut and puts in a stylish performance in this great
adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel.
Road
Kill
Don't mess with the nutter in the truck who doesn't like having jokes
played on him and consequently seeks revenge.
The Scorpion King
Arnie, Sly, the Belgian
muscles... and now the Rock! This 'big and beefy' action adventure looks
good but lacks the lines.
The
Count of Monte Cristo
The ultimate tale of betrayal and revenge gets a makeover for the 21st
century, starring Guy Pearce.
K-PAX
Kevin Spacey plays an alien visiting Earth from the planet K-PAX. Or is
he? He could just be a nutter.
Bend
It Like Beckham
Disappointing follow up to Bhaji on the Beach which tackles now familiar
cultural differences in an all too familiar way.
Queen
of the Damned
The vampire story returns again this time with a blood sucker who comes
out and becomes a mega rock star.
The One
Jet Li fights himself more than a hundred times in a daft science fiction
film only for true fans of the martial arts.
24 Hour Party People
This is not a film about Tony Wilson. Nor is it meant to be a documentary
about the music scene in Manchester.
Kate
and Leopold
James Mangold tries, unsuccessfully, to add an extra twist to this
over used romanatic comedy formula.
E.T
- The Extra Terrestial
The galaxy's cuddliest and friendliest alien, returns to the screen
to celebrate the film's 20th anniversary.
Crossroads
Teen chick flick about three girls coming together for a roadtrip across
America - not a movie for the chaps.
Ali
G Indahouse
London's ruffest rude boy, Ali G of the West Staines massive,
hits the big screen lewder and cruder than ever.
Ice Age
A simple tale that just fails to live up to the heights of Shrek/Monsters
Inc. but kids will love it nonetheless.
Jimmy Neutron - Boy Genius
Very funny kids/adult movie about a bunch of kids who head to outer space
to free their kidnapped parents.
The Royal Tenenbaums
Highly watchable comedy about a family of dysfunctional geniuses with
an all-star cast including Gene Hackman.
Thir13en Ghosts
Run of the mill scare fest as a family's inheritance of a house suddenly
turns into a nightmare.
We
Were Soldiers
We're back in Vietnam as Mel Gibson tries to maintain the confidence of
his men despite being heavily outnumbered.
In
The Bedroom
Tipped for Oscar success this is a tale of an ideal marriage and family
life brought to the brink of collapse.
The
Shipping News
Kevin Spacey's world collapses around him but Dame Judi Dench is on have
to whisk him to a better life.
The
Mothman Prophecies
Not a man dressed in a giant moth costume to be seen, but plenty of tension
as Richard Gere seeks the truth.
Ali
Will Smith has the task of becoming possibly the most recognised man on
earth - Muhammad Ali.
A
Beautiful Mind
Oscar nominated film about mathematical genius John Forbes Nash Jr., staring
Mr Gladiator Russell Crowe.
Don't
Say A Word
Craggy Michael Douglas must stop nasty Sean Bean from killing his daughter
in a, you guessed it, race against time.
Charlotte
Gray
War time drama about a timid Scottish woman who finds hidden courage when
she joins the French Resistance.
Flicks
in the Sticks
A weekend of films based on books is coming to a village hall, with talks,
a writing session, quiz and ice-cream too.
Ocean's
Eleven
Big star cast and a wonderful film as George Clooney, Brad Pitt and co.
try to rob three casinos in one night.
Monsters
Inc.
The makers of Toy Story return with another winner telling the tale
of a little girl who finds herself in a monster world.
From
Hell
Another take on that old chestnut Jack the Ripper, this time with
Johnny Depp providing a dodgy London accent.
Just
Visiting
Crocodile Dundee meets Blackadder in this unfunny tale of a medieval knight
and his squire transported to modern times.
Shallow
Hal
Don't be
fooled by the trailer which shows all the best bits of the film. Cherish
those five minutes and forget the rest.
Gosford
Park
Possible
Oscar contender as a host of British film stars become embroiled in a
murder whodunnit.
Training
Day
A classic
account of how too much power can corrupt, starring Denzel Washington
and Ethan Hawke.
Last
Orders
Caine, Hoskins,
Mirren and co. star in a British movie about a dead man's wishes to have
his ashes scattered in the sea.
Vanilla
Sky
Much talked
about but ultimately disappointing film which sees handsome Tom Cruise
lose his good looks.
Black
Hawk Down
Fact based
war story, starring Ewan McGregor, with plenty of gore but a sense of
having all been done before.
Iris
Touching
tale of novelist Iris Murdoch's final years as she fights against Alzheimer's
disease.
Long Time Dead
A teen horror
movie guaranteed to have your heart pounding. If you enjoyed the Scream
films then this is one for you.
Domestic
Disturbance
Run of the
mill thriller starring John Travolta. A few nice touches, but little to
have you sitting on the edge of your seat.
Soul
Survivors
Scary teen
fodder which has few surprises but gives you the excuse to hold someone
tight on the back row.
Top
10 movies of 2001
So which
films has our critic deemed worthy of chart inclusion. Harry Potter fans,
don't hold your breath!
Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter's
greatest challenge has arrived. Can Frodo Baggins see off the challenge
of the boy wizard?
Serendipity
Perfect
Christmas slush as two strangers fall in love over a pair of gloves and
take seven years to find each other again.
Mean
Machine
Vinnie Jones
takes a lead role for the first time as a hard footballer! Don't worry,
it's actually better than it sounds.
Riding In Cars With Boys
Drew Barrymore
grows up before our very eyes in a film which starts promisingly but outstays
its welcome.
The 51st State
As Colin
Welland once said, "the British are coming" and this action
movie proves we're as good as the Americans.
John
Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
Cops join
forces with thieves to overcome a Martian spirit trying to force all humans
off its planet.
Zoolander
The world
of Fashion is a world of assassins. Will clueless model Derek Zoolander
save the day?
Jay
and Silent Bob Strike Back
Kevin Smith's
fifth and final instalment of his New Jersey Chronicles relies heavily
on low-grade humour and spoof material.
Harry
Potter
The waiting is over. Harry is released. Read the reviews which matter
by the children then try the
grumpy adult view.
Ghost
World
Nothing
supernatural about this film, more a case of living on the periphery and
not being able to relate to society.
The
Others
Creepy psychological thriller in which every character has a secret which
leads to a terrific conclusion.
Osmosis
Jones
Clever mix of live
action and animation in which white blood cells are police officers chasing
an evil virus.
The
Animal
Wouldbe cop has a car crash. He's put back together using animal parts.
Cue lots of butt smelling .Year's worst film.
Legally Blonde
Top escapist film to bring a smile to your face even if life around you
is crumbling. Nothing radical just good clean fun.
The
Man Who Wasn't There
Deeply dark yet visually stunning film from the Coen Brothers with excellent
performances but very few laughs.
Atlantis:
The Lost Empire
Harry Potter lookalike hero discovers the lost city, finds love but is
then betrayed in this half term winner.
Jeepers
Creepers
It's fright night again as our intrepid heroes stumble across something
they shouldn't have. Cue many dead bodies.
America's
Sweethearts
Hollywood's (fictional) golden couple break-up. It's bad for business
so the spin doctors go for reconciliation.
American
Pie 2
More of the same from the entire team which brought you the original Pie
and none the worse for that.
Amelie
Wonderful French movie following the exploits of a woman trying to bring
happiness to everyone she meets.
The
Score
Big name cast, average film as Robert De Niro breaks all his own rules
and tries to crack a safe in his backyard.
Mike
Bassett: England Manager
Fly-on-the-wall spoof on the job no one wants - that of the England
manager. Ricky Tomlinson stars.
Enigma
World War Two drama about the going's on at Bletchley Park as the
Brits try to decipher German codes.
A.I.
Artificial Intelligence
Spielberg's ambitious film about a robot boy who loves too much. A
rival to Moulin Rouge in film of the year stakes.
crazy/beautiful
Romeo and Juliet with a twist. Life in LA can make it difficult for
love to blossom between rich and poor.
The Fast and the Furious
A thriller on wheels. Not great but there are some fuel injected quality
moments which put you in the drivers seat.
The
Martins
Oh dear. Here we go again, another duff British movie staring the
usual acting suspects. Oh for the joys of Carry On.
Moulin
Rouge
The film of the year has arrived. This is a two hour visual rollercoaster
which will alienate as many people as it pleases.
Scary
Movie 2
If the first one made
money let's make a quick follow-up. Expect nothing out of the ordinary
in this horror ham.
A
Knights Tale
This medieval tale has all the makings of a hit. Good guys, a bad
guys, a love interest, and loads of pop music.
Lucky Break
From the director of
The Full Monty comes the latest big British movie staring the guy from
Cold Feet.
Josie
and the Pussycats
Seventies cartoon series
comes to the big screen. We have two reviews - good
and bad - make up your
own mind.
Crocodile
Dundee in Los Angeles
Third time unlucky
for Paul Hogan in this stinker of a film which is a pale imitation of
the original.
Planet
Of The Apes
What's the new version like. This time Charlton Heston sees what
it's like from an apes point of view.
Lesbian
and Gay Film Festival
A touring film festival
from the British Film Institute featuring films from Australia, Spain,
France and the US.
Final
Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Can computer generated actors act? Well yes they can but make sure you
give them the right script.
The
Parole Officer
Steve Coogan stars in the latest British comedy to hit the cinema - it's
just unfortunate it's not that good.
Cats
and Dogs
Another big children's
film with talking secret agent dogs trying to stop cats from taking over
the world.
Dr
Dolittle 2
Disappointing sequel
which often repeats what happened first time around without adding anything
original.
Recess: School's Out
TV series makes a successful
move to the big screen as TJ and the gang fight to save summer holidays.
Swordfish
Big bangs and big chases
in this hi-tec computer heist thriller with an overly complicated plot.
Human
Rights film season
Part of a British Film
Institute touring programme. Six films showing at the Broadway throughout
July.
Jurassic
Park III
Surprisingly enjoyable
third visit to the land of the dinosaurs with the usual fight for survival
against all the odds.
High
Heels and Low Lifes
Disappointing British version of Thelma and Louise which fails to deliver
much tension or many laughs.
Jazz,
Reggae and Salsa season
Music and movies for a hot summer's day featuring Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra,
Buena Vista Social Club and jazz greats.
Dr
T And The Women
Satire of an upper-class
elitist Dallas community starring Richard Gere, Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett
and Laura Dern.
Ginger
Snaps
Superb horror combining
the best elements of dark humour, gore and plenty of frights. Be
very afraid.
Lara
Croft : Tomb Raider
The famous computer
game makes the transition to the big screen with predictable results.
Shrek
Meet the star of the
summer - a giant green ogre with a Scottish accent. A fairy tale with
street cred.
Evolution
Cute, cuddly monsters quickly transform into nasty man-eating creatures
and the race is on to save the earth.
Dracula
2001
The count returns in a film which, apart from a very glossy look,
could easily pass for a Hammer Horror.
Down
To Earth
Chris Rock stars as the man removed from earth before his time and
sent back in a new guise.
The
In Crowd
A flat script full of holes, a lot of lip gloss and some annoying
college brats - But it wasn't that bad.
Pearl
Harbor
An epic action adventure, stunning special effects, and an intriguing
love triangle - but does it measure up.
All
The Pretty Horses
Beautifully photographed but less than riveting story of cowboy friends
who seek adventure over the Mexican border.
See
Spot Run
Disappointing and predictable film involving a dog, a boy and a dim hero
chased by a villain. Plus a love interest!
The
Mummy Returns
You can't keep a good mummy down, especially one that's a box office
success, so here's yet another sequel.
The
Dish
The true story of how those historic pictures of Neil Armstrong's first
moon walk got back to earth.
Captain
Corelli's Mandolin
Top film which is likely to receive equal measures of praise and criticism.
See also: the real Cephallonia
Along Came A Spider
Tense, psychological thriller as Morgan Freeman hunts the kidnapper
of a congressman's young daughter.
The
Mexican
Even Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts can't save a film which can at best
be described as ordinary.
One
Night At McCool's
Michael Douglas sports a dodgy hairpiece, John Goodman dresses as a cop
and Liv Tyler bursts out all over.
The
Contender
The fight to have a woman vice-president of the USA as Hollywood goes
behind the scenes at the White House.
Bridget
Jones's Diary
The wait is over and it's been worth it. Laughter and romance
and the chance to see Hugh Grant act a different role.
Out
of Sight - archive film festival
The only archive film festival in Britain is on our doorstep. It is
devoted to showing films that have been locked up for years. Read
about what you missed.
Spy
Kids
Another movie for the younger generation as a brother and sister try
to rescue their top spy parents.
Rugrats
In Paris
Tommy and the gang are back and creating mayhem in Paris in a film
which will keep the kids happy this Easter.
You
Can Count On Me
Family life takes a turn when a wayward brother returns home and alters
everyones way of thinking.
Men
of Honour
True story of a man's fight to be accepted as a US naval deep sea diver.
Features a loud Robert De Niro.
Save
The Last Dance
Yet another dance movie with the same plot as countless dance movies before
it. Think Fame.
Miss
Congeniality
Absolutely awful film in which FBI agent Sandra Bullock goes undercover
to stop death at a beauty pageant.
15
Minutes
Two killers decide to film their murders in the belief US TV stations
will buy the footage. They're not wrong.
Enemy
At The Gates
Below par Second World War story which promises much but ultimately fails
to deliver.
Thirteen
Days
Kevin Costner returns for a retelling of the Cuban Missile crisis
as seen from behind Whitehouse doors.
Born
Romantic
The 91热爆's next big film venture after the overwhelming success of
Billy Elliot. Sadly not as good.
Best
In Show
From the people who brought you This Is Spinal Tap comes a "mockumentary"
on the world of professional dog shows.
Chocolat
Soft story with a hardish edge as Juliette Binoche dares to open a
chocolate shop at the start of Lent.
Proof
of Life
Lack lustre action thriller about a kidnapped businessman and the
prolonged attempts to free him.
Finding
Forrester
Sean Connery plays a hermit novelist forced to consider leaving his
home when his protege runs into trouble.
Hannibal
A sure-fire smash as Anthony Hopkins recreates his role as Hannibal
Lecter ten years after Silence of the Lambs.
The
Emperor's New Groove
Disney's back for half term with a film which should satisfy the kids,
the adults and fans of Sting.
Remember
The Titans
The anti-racism message is clear as a newly integrated US college
team try to overcome prejudice in the deep south.
What
Women Want
Mel Gibson pops up in time for Valentine's day in a slushy movie where
he can hear women's thoughts.
Traffic
Old Channel 4 series makes a winning move to the big screen and secures
more plaudits for Catherine Zeta Jones.
Vertical Limit
High jinx high up K2 as a rescue party races against time to save
some mountaineers trapped by an avalanche.
Cast
Away
Tom Hanks has a bad hair day as he fights for survival on a remote
South Pacific island.
Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Visually beautiful martial arts film from Ang Lee, the director of
Sense and Sensibility.
Unbreakable
A voyage of self discovery for two men with little in common but who
ultimately discover why they were put on earth.
The
Family Man
High flyer Nicolas Cage finds himself living another life in this
"what if..." Christmas feel good movie.
102
Dalmatians
Glenn Close returns as Cruella De Vil in a sequel that will keep the
children quiet over the holidays.
Hamlet
Hamlet is transported from Denmark to New York and recites "To
Be of Not To Be" in a Blockbuster video store.
The
Grinch
The first of the family Christmas releases features Jim Carey as a bitter
outcast out for revenge.
Urban
Legend : Final Cut
Yet another predictable slasher movie this time involving film students
who evoke to wrath of the ultimate critic.
Charlie's
Angels
They look good, they fight tough but the big screen version doesn't
really improve on what was an average 70's TV series.
Bedazzled
Liz Hurley proves she's just as wooden an actor as Hugh Grant in this
remake which sparkles only briefly.
Duets
Six strangers meet to create sweet music on the karaoke stage. The
movie results are sadly off key.
Pitch
Black
Spaceship crashes on a planet plunged into darkness by a solar eclipse.
That's just the start of their troubles.
Wonder
Boys
Author Michael Douglas suffers writer's block, a midlife crisis and
marital problems in a comedy. Honest.
Purely
Belter
What would you do to get a season ticket for Newcastle United ? Two
fans go to exteme lengths to see Alan Shearer.
The
Little Vampire
A kiddie vampire sets off to find the secret for turning himself back
into a human being in this family feature.
Dinosaur
Disney use their animation skills to bring us dinosaurs as we never
knew them before - cute and cuddly.
Road
Trip
It's a race across America to grab back a tape before anyone sees it.
College comedy in the "National Lampoon" vein.
Billy
Elliot
Billy is a talented boy who is torn between his love of dance and
the deterioration of his family.
Nutty
Professor II : The Klumps
Eddie Murphy returns as Sherman Klump and the rest of his family in
a sequel to his first nutty outing.
Hollow
Man
Special effects heaven in a film which mixes the Invisible Man
with Alien to produce a top class thriller.
Me,
Myself and Irene
Jim Carrey stars as a cop with a split personality. Double Carrey
for your money but not double the laughs.
Space
Cowboys
Four veteran actors with a combined age of 262, finally get to become
astronauts. It could only happen in Hollywood.
Shaft
Welcome
the nephew of the original John Shaft. Can Samuel L. Jackson eclipse Richard
Rowntree?
O
Brother, Where Art Thou?
Must see movie from the Coen brothers. Great cinematography, great
story, great performances, great music.
Dancer
In The Dark
Big movie project for singer Bjork. Experimental, depressing, in your
face. You'll either love it or hate it.
The
Cell
Another pop singer shows she's more than a three minute wonder. Jennifer
Lopez enters the mind of a serial killer.
Scary
Movie
It's not scary and it's not funny. It's awful. But the Americans love
it and we can expect Scary Movie 2 all too soon.
Snatch
Can anything Guy Ritchie directs ever match up to Lock, Stock and
Two Smoking Barrels? Here's the answer
Jimmy
Grimble
He is unhappy and bullied, a schoolboy discovers the joys of winning
through a pair of magic football-boots.
Shanghai
Noon
Jackie Chan finds himself battling his way through the wild west in this
high action comedy romp.
Gossip
Three media studies undergraduates investigate the power of gossip.
This results in events which they cannot control.
Cherry
Falls
Gory serial killer tale that aims for horror and humour but falls
into a middle ground and becomes silly.
X-Men
A movie with characters called Wolverine and Magneto can't fail -
can it? Summer fun from the world of Marvel comics.
Gone
In 60 Seconds
Vinnie Jones is back but he does not say a word. Car theft is taken
to the extreme as Nicolas Cage tries to save his brother.
Mission
Impossible 2
Can Tom Cruise save the day? Probably. Fast paced and full of action.
Who needs a decent story line.
The
Road to El Dorado
Cartoon capers as two Spanish castaways happen to stumble across the
legendary City of Gold.
The
Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas
Go back in time and find out just how Fred and Barney first met up
with Wilma and Betty.
High
Fidelity
Nick Hornby's tale of records and relationships moves to America for
the big screen treatment.
Chicken
Run
Move over Wallace and Gromit, Ginger and Rocky are here. Will the hens
escape the clutches of the evil Tweedy's?
Stuart
Little
School's out and the kids are bored. Stuart Little could be the answer,
even if he is just a cute, cuddly mouse.
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