2500 years ago, the Persians – the world’s first superpower – bent literally on global domination, decided to invade Europe to put an annoying backwater force there to sword. The backwater was Greece; the force – wrought with infighting, jealousy and pettiness – was a precarious coalition of Sparta and Athens. The future of Western civilisation was to be set in motion by what followed: the David/Goliath battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea.

Holland was done a terrific job of putting together a colourful, accessible and engaging narrative. On top of that, the East-West, clash-of-civilisations, subject matter seems very, disturbingly, relevant to today’s reader.

A cracking book.

Certainly an interesting movie to look at but the innovative “interpolated rotoscoping” (animation drawn over live action) is more than a visual gimmick: in realising a skewed – recognisable but not quite right – version of reality perfectly suited the material.

I was very grateful for the stoner comedy moments in A Scanner Darkly – I think it would have been too bitter a pill to swollow (sorry) for me, otherwise. Because there is no doubt that at its core this a bleak, tragic film. Moreover, its quite obviously based on very personal, very tortured experiences (in this case those of the author of the original book, Philip K. Dick).

This is a very worthwhile movie, and a very relevant one too.

In 1599 – with the backdrop of tumultuous political machinations, war and rebellion in Ireland, the terrifying threat of a Spanish invasion, the manifest uncertainty brought about by the end Tudor monarchy, and construction of his own Globe theatre in London – Shakespeare went into artistic overdrive. Up until then he had been accomplished producer of very popular plays. But, then, in apparent attempt to push himself, the play-going public, and the artform itself, he rolled off Henry the Fifth, Julius Caesar, As You Like It and then Hamlet.

This book is bloody brilliant! By narrowing the focus to this one bombastic year, the author vividly brings to life the world, the literary backdrop, his influences and peers, and the historic context of Shakespeare’s literature-changing purple patch!

I loved this captivating and stylish French thriller-cum- character study. I was spellbound from the first minute to the last: largely, I think, to do with a simply remarkable and complex performance by the brooding Romain Duris – by turns charasmatic and darkly intense.

Tense, vivid and poignant stuff!

Interesting, watchable and very well acted.

Not quite sure if Roehler fully pulled off what was being attempted though.

Ben Kingsley is absolutely terrific here, electric!!

A very entertaining movie indeed… highly recommended!

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn’t want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. ‘That’s some catch, that Catch-22,’ he observed. ‘It’s the best there is,’ Doc Daneeka agreed.

Gripping, tense and unflinching at the same time:

The movie draws you deeper and deeper in the world presented on screen – and you feel increasingly uneasy as intial confusion turns into tension which turns into horror!

An incredibly accomplished debut.

The funniest movie (well, along with The Life of Brian!) I think I’ve ever seen!!!

So quotable, so quirky, so funny…

Movie perfection, in my book! :)

Wow, I’m shocked at all the negativity here towards this smashing movie…

I though the characters were acutely observed (and serving both the comedy and the drama, and hard trick to pull off!), and the acting uniformingly brilliant, and the direction pitch-perfect!

But on top of all that, I though it was a believable, touching and, above all, an entertaining experience!