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vikingraider1
Reviews
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003)
Promised Much - Delivered Little
Having seen this in the video shop I thought Great! Another Brit film which promised much but delivered very little. For me, having watched Dead Man's Shoes (another film about avenging a dead brother) shortly before watching this, this film does not compare. Full of clichés and a terrible ending compared to DMS. The hard men are unconvincing and was there any need for Ken Stott's character? I have yet to see Wil Owen in a decent film and this one is no exception.His character was one dimensional and unconvincing, as were most of the others. I would say give it a miss and if you haven't seen "Dead Man's Shoes" watch that instead.
Dead Man's Shoes (2004)
A Brilliant Tale of Revenge
Watched this film last night and I have to say it is one of the best films I have seen in a very long time. It's the tale of Richard (Paddy Considine) who on his return from serving with the Parachute Regiment (he wasn't in the Marines as some people seem to think on here!!!) hunts down and exacts revenge on the people who tortured his mentally retarded brother. Setting in the grim north it gives a real earthiness to the film. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone. The best scene I thought was between Gary Stretch and Paddy Considine when he confronts him in the street. Very sinister indeed. There are also some very comical moments in this film too which shine through like sunlight among this dark thriller.
Riff-Raff (1991)
A Truly Remarkable Film, ver close to home (literaly!)
I first saw this film, drunk one Friday after a heavy nights drinking after work on a building site. I was then a bricklayer - a job I had done for over five years. Watching this film, it dawned on me that this was filmed in the part of London where i lived. I could truly relate to it and I would have sworn that the actors had themselves spent their lives working on sites it was so realistic. Go to any site and you will see at least one character who you could say directly related to a charater in this film. The safety aspect has been cleaned up a lot now but back then, sites were a dangerous place to work. Accidents were common and the end scenes were not in any way unrealistic.
The thing that did it for me was the portrayal of the working class of Britain. The sentiments were all there, the humour, the desparation, the sense of wanting to rise above the rest and the shattered dreams. They are all here. I would say that if anyone from abroad wanted to study the character of the British working class then they MUST see this film. It is tough, gritty and full of humour...a truly remarkable piece of film that is sadly neglected.
Buy it, Rent it, Steal it, Borrow it...whatever you do SEE IT!
To End All Wars (2001)
What A Film!!
A real classic. There aren't many films that make you look at yourself and question you morality, but this one does, and without mercy. If it was a work of fiction then it would still be good but it is based on a true story which makes it so much more powerful.
Basically it is about a group of Allied prisoners of war in a Japanese POW camp. Based on a true story there are no punches pulled and every aspect of human behaviour is portrayed here, anger, frustration, retribution, humanity, forgiveness, guilt, rage and sorrow. Reality reigns with cruel grandeur here and some of the scenes are shocking and it is worth remembering that it is a true story. I urge everyone to see this film. A real moving experience. If you are a big fan of the Hollywood flag waving action films with a leading lady and a happy ending then forget it...stick to your popcorn and cokes and live in your own little dream world.
I cannot say enough about this film, it is one of them films that at the end you are left stunned for hours afterwards. If you liked Das Boot then you will love this.