Neil Queen Reviews Archive

News from Neil Queen

Results 1 to 25 of 61.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - DVD
Bar weep grana weep ninny bong, again 27 November 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
You can say what you like about how dumb it is, but it’s rarely dull, and its dedication to the spectacle has to be admired

The Bad
I wouldn’t advise spending even the slightest portion of a second thinking about any of the plot points or the basic premise - a majority of you will find it too stupid for words. It also lacks a touch of the gentle humour of the first episode. Yep, there was a bit

Verdict
Simply drink enough beer that your critical faculties are fried, fire it up on your flatscreen and spend a couple of hours smirking your hind off

Price
£24.99
Terminator Salvation - DVD
Can Bale save mankind? 20 November 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Sam Worthington comes out of this in credit, plus there’s a neat kinda-cameo

The Bad
The single-disc package is inexcusably free of extras, while Christian Bale’s career arc is fast becoming very tiresome

Verdict
For all its flaws, Terminator Salvation is still a totally watchable actioner that clocks in under a comfortable 2 hours. But sadly, given the heritage, that’s not quite enough

Price
£19.99
Moon - DVD
Out of this world? 13 November 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Plenty – great from top to bottom, from script to set design to soundtrack

The Bad
Maybe sci-fi fans weaned on an diet of CGI bangs and crashes may find it a tad ponderous, but they’re fools if they think that

Verdict
For a debut picture, and one made on such a relatively small budget, it’s effortlessly grandiose and expertly executed – its design is flawless, from the classic 70s space station chic to the perfectly pitched atmospheric soundtrack

Price
£19.99
Football Manager 2010 - Mac
Another season rolls in 10 November 2009 8:22 GMT

The Good
Loads – the new interface makes it easier to glide around the many parts of the game, while the matches themselves feel more fluid, thanks to the touchline shouts. The backroom advice offered by your staff is a neat addition, plus the tactical expansion and match analysis offer an even greater immersion than ever before

The Bad
Anyone with a life can kiss it goodbye, thanks to the far greater detail and customisable features, and though a logical improvement that improves the gameplay, the new interface feels a touch antiseptic, making it feel more of an application than a game

Verdict
It may feel like the default setting to praise the series and others may have been playing it longer than this reviewer's 5 years, but due to the significant changes they’ve made and the ease with which they’ve been integrated, this very well may be the best Football Manager yet

Price
£39.99
Public Enemies - DVD
Another Michael Mann classic? 30 October 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
It’s beautifully shot, with some sumptuous photography

The Bad
It feels like it doesn’t do enough with its subject matter, while Bale is fast developing into a predictable and tedious character rut

Verdict
Undoubtedly suave, beautifully shot and smoothly put together, Public Enemies still weirdly fails to hit the spot

Price
£19.99
Drag Me To Hell - DVD
Can Raimi still put the frighteners on? 23 October 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Sam Raimi’s flair for horror remains intact, as does his eye for memorably twisted set-pieces

The Bad
It feels shorter than its 1hr 40m running time, and the thin extras on the standard DVD make the single-disc package feel a touch on the light side. And where's Bruce Campbell?

Verdict
Swapping brutality for good old-fashioned primal fear and imagination, Drag Me To Hell turns out as a striking, enjoyable, and at times startlingly visceral shocker

Price
£19.99
X-Men Origins: Wolverine - DVD
Is this just a case of franchise expansion? 16 October 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
It’s a solid companion to the X-Men trilogy, and Hugh Jackman effortlessly nails the part. And surprisingly, the appearance of The Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am causes no distress

The Bad
Some underwhelming casting and the sense that franchise expansion was the prime aim

Verdict
It’s a dynamic, entertaining and solid piece of cinema that won’t disappoint fans of the series - yet it won’t wow them either

Price
£19.99
Synecdoche, New York - DVD
One for the discerning viewer? 9 October 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Deft and imaginative storytelling that weaves a remarkable tale of incredible richness

The Bad
Its David Lynch-esque quirks and overly gentle pacing make it hard work for casual viewers seeking some easy thrills

Verdict
Synecdoche rejects comfortable predictability and as a result is a heartfelt philosophical piece that’s astounding in both its vision and execution

Price
£15.99
Crank: High Voltage - DVD
A wind-up or a turn-on? 11 September 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
The insanely paced, tongue-in-cheek direction means it’s never less than totally compelling

The Bad
Despite its dubious merits it’s also visibly risible, and just as likely to aggravate as amuse. And Geri Halliwell makes an appearance. I repeat, Geri Halliwell makes an appearance

Verdict
An absurdist bonanza of sex and violence that delivers a constant stream of gags and shocks, Crank: High Voltage will simultaneously appal and enthral – indifference isn’t an option

Price
£17.99
Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle - DVD
A masterclass in delivery and material? 4 September 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
An unending stream of devastating gags and observations faultlessly delivered

The Bad
It loses its potency when it shifts from weightier subject matter and the linking sketches are fairly patchy

Verdict
Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle is a comedy essential, a masterclass in delivery and material; playfully offering a cultural signpost to a better world where mediocrity is no longer acceptable as currency

Price
£19.99
The Damned United - DVD
Beautiful game. Beautiful people? 28 August 2009 12:07 GMT

The Good
It’s beautifully filmed and well cast

The Bad
Moments in the script let the whole thing down, undermining the gravitas of the entire story

Verdict
The Damned United has lost much of the compelling sadness that undermines the novel but it’s still solid viewing for anyone who has a soft spot for the big man

Price
£19.99
In The Loop - DVD
A Britcom hit? 21 August 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
The greatest collection of one-liners ever assembled – and the incomparable Malcolm Tucker

The Bad
James Gandolfini’s presence feels little more than a decorative bauble

Verdict
Savvy, cool, funny, hugely likable and utterly memorable, In The Loop is must-viewing for anybody with even the vaguest passing interest in Britcoms

Price
£17.99
Paul Blart: Mall Cop - DVD
Die Hard for kids? 10 August 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
It’s better than The Happening

The Bad
The over-riding feeling of meh-ness it inspires

Verdict
It’s not difficult to spot that Paul Blart is in fact tepid family comedy with few high spots

Price
£19.99
Knowing - DVD
All numbers and no action? 31 July 2009 15:33 GMT

The Good
The action sequences are powerful and striking, more humanised than traditional Hollywood fare thanks to its subject matter

The Bad
There are a few elements and clues along the way that feel like they should be tied up, but are left hanging. Oh, and there are some god-awful parenting techniques on display

Verdict
It won’t be to everybody’s liking, but is intriguing enough to take a punt on

Price
£19.99
Watchmen - DVD
One to watch? 24 July 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
From a visual point of view, the casting, set design and locations capture the look of the comic beautifully

The Bad
Damn, it needed some serious editing

Verdict
Overlong and overblown, the greatest ever comic has become the greatest disappointment

Price
£19.99
Hush - DVD
British horror bites back 17 July 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
The audio track does a cracking track of ramping up the terror, with its animalistic onomatopoeic techno

The Bad
It flags slightly in the middle, with the over-reliance on tension reinforcing the 15 certificate

Verdict
Stylish and potent, Hush punches above its weight, making it a highly watchable and accessible horror that calmly hits the spot

Price
£15.99
Religulous - DVD
Religion meets the ridiculous. In more ways than one 10 July 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
It’s always good to see people in power who milk the masses taken to task

The Bad
Bill Maher’s case would have been helped immeasurably if he wasn’t so unlikable, irksome, dogmatic, patronising or offensive. Some more laughs would have been nice too

Verdict
Intriguing and brave as an idea, Maher’s dictatorial approach sadly means Religulous is instead an ineffective smug-fest.

Price
£17.99
Gran Torino - DVD
Tough as old boots? 3 July 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Clint Eastwood makes the most astounding grumpy old man

The Bad
The big man’s singing over the closing credits. Kermit-esque

Verdict
Powerful and resonant, Gran Torino is a compelling tale of respect and manliness

Price
£19.99
Anvil! The Story Of Anvil - DVD
Will this rock your world? 26 June 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Pretty much every aspect of it, really

The Bad
The whiff of Spinal Tap is inescapable

Verdict
Funny, moving, heartfelt and oddly touching, Anvil is essential viewing

Price
£17.99
The Good The Bad The Weird - DVD
Western goes East 19 June 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
It really is visually majestic

The Bad
It gets a bit saggy in the middle

Verdict
Dazzling, extravagant and wildly entertaining, any glaring flaws are swept under the carpet in a bewildering display of popcorn joyousness

Price
£19.99
Valkyrie - DVD
Does this movie bomb? 5 June 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Bill Nighy’s performance - he superbly sums up the internal struggle of those committing a crime in the pursuit of a greater good

The Bad
Keeping a handle on the accents would have been a good idea, as we get American Nazis, British Nazis and even the odd German Nazi

Verdict
Neither as emotive or as action-packed as it perhaps could have been, Valkyrie is solid entertainment, if perhaps sadly not as inspiring as it could have been

Price
£19.99
The Wrestler - DVD
Can you smell what the Rourke is cooking? 29 May 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Smart film-making, aided by a stunning and sympathetic performance from Rourke

The Bad
Marisa Tomei as stripper Pam looks worryingly like Carol Vorderman. She’s sliding seductively down a pole, and I’m having thoughts of debt consolidation. Weird

Verdict
Entertaining, fresh, expertly crafted and as wry as it is moving, The Wrestler is a weighty tale of personal sacrifice that even haters of wrestling would be impressed by

Price
£19.99
Martyrs - DVD
Not for the faint-hearted 22 May 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Good’s perhaps not the word, but it at least stimulates some internal dialogue about what the f*** is going on

The Bad
The many gut-wrenching moments

Verdict
If you have a taste for challenging world cinema, then it doesn’t get much more challenging than this

Price
£15.99
Frost/Nixon - DVD
Dry political drama? 15 May 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Superb performances that give life to what could have been bland fare

The Bad
Seriously, if I have to see the trailer for The Boat That Rocked one more time…

Verdict
Curious as a historical document, and compelling as a work of drama, Frost/Nixon makes dry-ass political debate seem far more potent and exciting than anyone ever thought possible

Price
£19.99
Role Models - DVD
Just another frat pack movie? 8 May 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Can't go wrong with any film that features a kid with as foul a mouth as Bobb'e J Thompson

The Bad
You won’t need satnav to work out how it’s all going to end. And doctors and social workers may find flaws in the idea that listening to Kiss is a cure for all known problems

Verdict
As smart as it is dumb, Role Models is a nailed-on winner that’s a riot from start to finish

Price
£19.99