- The Matrix
Keanu Reeves in a dazzling special effects masterpiece. This time he’s not wooden: he’s electric ;) I’m looking forward to the sequels...
- Notting Hill
Very enjoyable romantic comedy with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in the leading roles. I loved the “Ain’t no sunshine” part as they showed his journey through Notting Hill in different seasons after she’d gone. All the cast make the film what it is, so it works wonderfully.
- Entrapment
Sean Connery still being cool and Catherine Zeta Jones in leather. Fun crime/action film, with some possibly unexpected twists. Ignore the gaping age gap and enjoy yourself.
- The Mummy
Egyptian action adventure spectacular with some great special effects. Possibly just a big love story with lots of scarab beetles that just get everywhere..
- 10 Things I Hate About You
This started off as an annoying teen-flick that you might actually watch by accident during school holidays or on a Saturday afternoon if you had nothing better to do (cue Saved by the Bell, California Dreams... type memories). Actally turned out to be pretty good, and features “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (the good version, Frankie Valli) which is never a bad thing. Oh yes, Heath Ledger too, and don’t forget kids: it’s based on Shakespeare’s “The taming of the shrew,” so counts towards your bardpoints collection.
- Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
Yes, the lightsabre battle was wonderful and the pod race too, even Jar Jar Binks wasn’t anywhere near as annoying as I’d been led to believe - he even managed to achieve some useful things. If Ewan MacGregor could scream in Alec Guinness tones, it might have seemed more believable but something about it reminded me of Shakespeare, possibly a comedy and possibly “The Merchant of Venice.” Watch it you will. Like it you may. Even if you are left thinking that you'd rather have the rest of the series about Darth Maul and Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid is great).
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
OK. So it is essentially the first film all over again. The main addition is Mini-Me and the “Just the Two of Us” bit is quite fun. If you haven’t seen the first one, then you may as well see this one - otherwise just stay content that you saw the first. If you’re looking to hire one on video, just hire the one that’s cheaper. You can’t say I’m not good to you. Well, you could: but it would be a lie.