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Caligula [1979] (Imperial Edition)

starring: Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Teresa Ann Savoy
directed by: Tinto Brass

September 29, 2008
You cannot defend 'Caligula'. It is a monstrous epic of over excess in almost every way possible. Useless porn spliced into an already labyrinthine production, oppulent sets, brilliant ideas, twisted imagery, crazed camerawork, hysteria and madness. It's closest cousin - bizarrely - is Gibson's 'Passion' in the sense of it being a film you admire for its balls, but don't necessarily approve of. And yet, 'Caligula' is fascinating. Perverse for all the wrong reasons and yet - genuinely - bordering of maniacal, bloody insane genius. The fact that it fails so magnificently is fitting for the production. A weak-kneed, boring film would have been a disaster. Okay, 'Caligula' might veer towards boring in some places (usually involving the 'Penthouse ... Read More:

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National Treasure 2 - Book Of Secrets [2007]

starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Harvey Keitel
directed by: Jon Turteltaub

June 02, 2008
National Treasure: Book of Secrets is everything a big budget adventure sequel should be. A bigger story and better action help make Book of Secrets a surprising crowd pleaser.

Setting out to clear his ancestor's name, Ben Gates is back in treasure-hunting action to unequivocally prove that his family had nothing to do with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. With his usual cohorts Riley, Abigail and his father, Patrick Gates, the trio must race against the clock to stop a new enemy, Mitch Wilkinson, from uncovering an ancient treasure before they can, or forever risk the Gates name being associated with the death of one of America's greatest presidents. Book of Secrets is crammed packed with puzzles, car chases and exciting action sequences ... Read More:

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Excalibur [1981]

starring: Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi, Paul Geoffrey
directed by: John Boorman

May 15, 2000
John Boorman's 1981 film is an exercise in how to treat fantasy in an adult and serious manner.
The fantasy elements are subtle - there are no stop motion monsters to be found here - and yet still pervade the movie with a sense of the magical & arcane. This film in no way attempts a realistic approach to the extent of 2004's King Arthur.
Merlin as portrayed here is dark & ambiguous, constantly aware of the end of the time of magic & the old gods. A very eccentic performance by the
excellent Nicol Williamson. Helen Mirren as the evil & seductive sorceress, Morgana gives an erotically charged performance that is not easily forgotten!
Nigel Terry as Arthur is a bit wooden BUT his tone & manner suits the film's often sombre ... Read More:

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National Treasure/National Treasure 2 - Book Of Secrets [2004]

starring: Justin Bartha, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Harvey Keitel
directed by: Jon Turteltaub

June 02, 2008
i have seen many films most are acceptable a few which are boring and some i couldn't stand. but this has started a new league of it's own i found that the films were mind griping exciting and almost had me glued to my chair. if any one is unsure wheater or not to buy these films my advice to you would be rent them first and see if you enjoy it i done that my self and adored these movies. i highly recommend this and i'm sure you will enjoy it to.

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O Lucky Man! [1973]

starring: Malcolm McDowell, Philip Stone, Arthur Lowe, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts
directed by: Lindsay Anderson

May 19, 2008
Towards the end of the excellent commentary on the second DVD, Alan Price mentions that people who see this film in their early adulthood often say it fundementally changed their outlook on life - I have to agree because, well, I was that soldier. This film is a truely remarkable piece of work and somehow manages to rise completly above it's seventies origins and seem even more relevant more than 30 years on. Disturbingly the film's exaggerated and satirically ruthless businessmen and government officials, complete with dirty arms deals etc, who use Travis throughout the film now seem entirely plausible. The only small disappointment is that despite the lengthy running time the film is still missing a few minutes halfway through, a scene where Travis stays the night ... Read More:

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Caligula [1979] - Uncut Version (REGION 2) (PAL) [Dutch Import]

starring: Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Teresa Ann Savoy, Peter O'Toole, John Steiner
directed by: Tinto Brass


It's very rare to see a version of Caligula in this country above 90 minutes. This is the complete and uncensored version - a Dutch import, but it plays in English. This version does contain hardcore sex, sometimes carelessly inserted into the finished movie as it was. Young Italian director Tinto Brass's original vision was to be shattered, forcing him to withdraw his name from the movie. Producer Bob Guccione fired Brass for over-filming and running up huge costs from filming beyond what was financially acceptable. Guccione then took control of the film, and assisted by Giancarlo Lui later sneaked back onto the set and shot 6 minutes of hardcore sex which was later edited into the film. Lui re-cut, re-edited and changed parts of Gore Vidal's script to fashion what is possibly ... Read More:

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Calendar Girls [2003]

starring: Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, John Alderton, Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie
directed by: Nigel Cole

February 09, 2004
I do like this film but it is very, very American. Why ??

Did any of the classic Ealing comedies cater for Americans. Why do we do this so much.

Apparently Victoria Wood wrote a script of the same story but this one got made because it had an American part to it.

No doubt someone will make Wuthering Heights soon with Heathcliff going to America in his " missing" years.

Helen Mirren and Julie Walters are sooooo good in the film.

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Prime Suspect Complete Collection Box Set [2006]

starring: Helen Mirren, Danny Dyer, Robert Glenister, Lesley Sharp, James Laurenson
directed by: Christopher Menaul, Philip Martin, John Strickland, David Drury, John Madden

November 06, 2006
I have just finished watching this set. I had seen some early episodes originally but watched all again. It is almost a bit "Lost on Mars" as the early series now do seem dated or rather perfectly portraying that time - the early 1990s. I found myself watching the clothes of DCI Tennison and of course the ageing of her in her character with all the trials and tribulations faced by a woman in the police force and in her personal life. She is a demanding , admirable yet imperfect character and it is heart wrenching to see the last episode when retirement beckons. Absolutely fantastic performance by Helen Mirren and of course the rest who make their characters just so believable!

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2010 : The Year We Make Contact [1984]

starring: Roy Scheider, John Lithgow, Helen Mirren, Bob Balaban, Keir Dullea
directed by: Peter Hyams

September 11, 2000
For those who were entranced by Stanley Kubrick's iconic classic "2001" but were confused with the ending - i.e. why would an alien civisation go to the bother of leaving giant domino blocks all over the universe? - 2010 will come as a great relief.

Featuring a solid cast of characters led by Roy Schnieder and Helen Mirren, this well-plotted and beautifully realised film maintains its pace throughout and reunites us with one of the most endearing non-human film characters in SF history - the HAL 9000 computer.

Special effects are stunning, but not overwhelming and the plot (this time) makes perfect sense. Great for a relaxing evening in over a bottle of wine or a wet afternoon.

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The Cook Thief, His Wife And Her Lover [1989]

starring: Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Alan Howard, Tim Roth
directed by: Peter Greenaway

November 10, 2003
one of the classics from that era,if you can get past Helen Mirren naked (difficult I know),its very deep and disturbing.