Dan Hall Reviews Archive

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Results 1 to 25 of 95.

Blades of Glory - DVD
Can Ferrell bring Talladega Nights to the ice? 15 August 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
The dopey repartee, gruesome nudity and quick witted improvisation are textbook Ferrell, Heder’s homoerotic dancing sequences are worthy of a 6.0 for artistic impression. Newcomer Jenna Fischer is one to watch

The Bad
The paper thin storyline is bogged down in formulaic clichés, a sub-plot involving William “Prison Break” Fichtner disappears without a trace after the first hour, Ferrell’s skating

Verdict
Perhaps the most predictable film of the year, in terms of plot and performances, Blades of Glory nevertheless manages to be thoroughly entertaining

Price
£20
Gone - DVD
Can the Brits make a decent thriller out of Gone? 2 August 2007 0:00 GMT

The Good
Ledwidge builds the tension slowly but effectively, Mechlowicz is the pick of the acting talent, showing a nice blend of charm and menace, Ben Seresin shoots the hostile Australian outback with a keen eye

The Bad
The clichéd final third, a disappointing lack of Wolf Creek-style gore, Warner and Evans fail to convince as a couple

Verdict
Gone is an intermittently tense psychological thriller that eventually loses its way in the clichéd final third

Price
£20
Catch a Fire - DVD
Political masterpiece or not worth the bother? 31 July 2007 9:00 GMT

The Good
Director Phillip Noyce has a proven record in intelligent political thrillers, Luke takes another step towards the Hollywood A-list, Chamusso’s life story was made for the cinema

The Bad
We learn nothing new about the brutal apartheid regime, Robbins’ pantomime villain performance, the ending fizzles out with a whimper rather than the expected bang

Verdict
What we have ended up with is a worthy but dull spectacle

Price
£20
The Illusionist - DVD
Two magician-based stories in as many months? Which one should you watch? 18 July 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
Jessica Biel's spectacularly toned derriere, Giamatti does his best to inject some life into proceedings, Norton is well cast as the enigmatic magician

The Bad
Soporific pacing, predictable plot twists, the wholly unconvincing love affair

Verdict
As Paul Daniels would say, "you'll like this but not a lot"

Price
£20
Ghost Rider - DVD
Comic book great or just comic? 7 July 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
Cage’s pantomime gusto, Johnson’s occasionally witty script, true fans will enjoy the 13 minutes of previously unseen footage

The Bad
Wes Bentley is horribly miscast as Mephistopheles’ son, The expensive CGI trickery is neither memorable nor especially entertaining, the predictable plot

Verdict
And the results? Yup, you’ve guessed it ... middling to poor

Price
£20
The Good Shepherd - DVD
Can De Niro impress with his latest directed offering 29 June 2007 9:00 GMT

The Good
De Niro has created a tightly organised, beautifully shot and carefully orchestrated world, entertaining supporting turns from Joe Pesci and John Turturro, Matt Damon brings all his sober and solid charms to the central role

The Bad
The gargantuan 167 minute running time, Angelina Jolie is horribly miscast as the dowdy housewife, dramatising the deafening silence of counter intelligence is a tricky proposition

Verdict
Bob De Niro’s latest is long and slow but, if you give it a chance, it brings its own rewards

Price
£20
Blood Diamond - DVD
Can DiCaprio and Hounsou impress? 23 June 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
Stunning sweeping vistas and exhilarating action scenes, Hounsou gives an accomplished performance as the moral foil to Leo’s unprincipled anti-hero, Blood Diamond brings an important political message to a large audience

The Bad
DiCaprio’s Zimbabwean accent has drawn mockery from some quarters, the last half hour descends into clichéd Hollywood action formula, Charles Leavitt’s crowded and occasionally preachy screenplay

Verdict
Director Edward Zwick combines stunning sweeping vistas with brutal violence and exhilarating action scenes

Price
£20
The Fountain - DVD
Does this film flow with appeal, or was the studio right to try and bury it? 21 June 2007 9:00 GMT

The Good
Set design, soundtrack

The Bad
No action and a complex storyline

Verdict
A great piece of Sci-Fi, but not for everyone

Price
£20
Hot Fuzz - DVD
I fought the law and the law one - has it with this movie? 18 June 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
Relocating the traditional American buddy cop thriller to the mean streets of Gloucestershire is a scenario ripe with comedic potential, the Pegg / Frost double act, intentionally absurd action sequences, witty one-liners and subtle sight gags

The Bad
The plot runs out of gas after the hour mark, three separate endings is too much, even for a parody

Verdict
While the movie will have you laughing out loud, Hot Fuzz falls down in the final third

Price
£
Apocalypto - DVD
Worth a gander or more gruesome tales from Gibson? 16 June 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
Using indigenous actors and the original Yucatec language gives Apocalypto a grippingly authentic feel, Gibson and Safinia’s subtle approach to the collapse of the Mayan civilisation, the exhilarating extended chase sequence that closes the movie

The Bad
Gibson should have cut 10-15 minutes from the meandering second act, the clumsy religious analogy in the final scenes, some particularly gruesome scenes may leave viewers feeling queasy

Verdict
Gibson has a created a gore fest with a grippingly authentic feel

Price
£20
Infamous - DVD
Deja vu or worth a look? 14 June 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
Toby Jones’ stunning portrayal of Capote, Douglas McGrath’s witty script capably demonstrates Capote’s charisma and charm, Daniel Craig puts in another menacing turn as Perry Smith

The Bad
Warner Bros’ reluctance to release Infamous at the same time as Capote meant it was always destined to fail, why no mention of Capote’s burgeoning pill and alcohol addiction? Infamous is neither as subtle nor sombre as Bennett Miller’s earlier movie

Verdict
A beautifully acted biopic that can be enjoyed even if last year’s movie sits fresh in the mind

Price
£20
Bobby - DVD
Can Estevez pull off a drama? 12 June 2007 0:00 GMT

The Good
Estevez’s style is reminiscent of the late, great Robert Altman, the best all-star cast assembled in recent years, Estevez draws interesting comparisons between Vietnam and the Iraq war

The Bad
Trying to give depth to 22 main characters is an impossible mission, Ashton Kutcher’s “comic” interludes clash with the tone of the rest of the film, the subject may be worthy but with no thrills or spills Bobby is hard to love

Verdict
Structural weaknesses aside, however, Bobby is a worthy work of faction

Price
£20
Rocky Balboa - DVD
Can the sixth installment be crown Rocky's glory years? 28 May 2007 9:00 GMT

The Good
Stallone has gone back to basics, recreating the template of the award-winning original, Bill Conti’s iconic theme tune, the adrenaline fuelled training sequences and final punch up

The Bad
Stallone has a tendency to fall back on cheesy, sentimental monologues, er … isn’t Sly it a bit old for this shit?, Talia Shire couldn’t be persuaded to return as Adrian

Verdict
A dignified ending to one of the biggest movie franchises in history

Price
£20
Babel - DVD
One to watch or just one the critics enjoyed? 25 May 2007 9:00 GMT

The Good
Babel subtly draws comparisons between different societies and races across the globe, an impressive, natural performance from Brad Pitt, beautiful cinematography from Rodrigo Prieto

The Bad
The bum-numbing 142 minutes running time, Arriga’s fails to bring the four plot lines together satisfactorily, The non-existent special features package

Verdict
Honourable but never really enjoyable

Price
£20
The Last King of Scotland - DVD
Does it justify the hype? 23 May 2007 0:00 GMT

The Good
Forest Whitaker’s Oscar-winning depiction of Idi Amin, Last King is a gripping combination of political drama, biopic and Hollywood thriller, McAvoy gives a pitch perfect performance that confirms his status as Britain’s most promising young talent

The Bad
The final third panders to the demands of predictable Hollywood formula, Gillian Anderson is wasted in an underwritten supporting role

Verdict
A superbly acted, thrilling, and enlightening piece of work

Price
£20
London to Brighton - DVD
Dark and moody, but is it any good? 17 May 2007 13:00 GMT

The Good
Director Paul Andrew Williams employs vivid lighting, radical editing and inventive camerawork to make up for his lack of budget, Lorraine Stanley gives a fearless performance, offering up her body to the camera with all its blemishes and bulges, Williams depicts a gloomy, unglamorous Brighton that wouldn’t look out of place in a Dickens novel

The Bad
At times, Groome’s Northern accent slips into theatre school posh, at only 86 minutes long might this have been better as a television hour?

Verdict
This is a thrilling piece of cinema

Price
£20
Smokin' Aces - DVD
A great follow up to Narc or one to avoid? 16 May 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
Carnahan injects the movie with a degree of visual flair and energy, Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman put in entertaining cameos, cinema fans will enjoy nods to Mission Impossible, The Big Lebowski, and True Romance, among others

The Bad
Carnahan attempts to recreate elements of past Tarantino / Guy Ritchie gangster classics with mixed results, the bloated plot struggles to accommodate six interweaving storylines, the final twist is irritatingly predictable

Verdict
It is the ludicrous, and highly predictable, final twist that really wrecks Smokin’ Aces.

Price
£20
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - DVD
Has this film got its sense of smell? 11 May 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
Frank Griebe’s lush cinematography competently brings the filthy realities of 18th century Paris to life, Dustin Hoffman puts in a decent supporting turn, Director Tom Tykwer successfully translates Grenouille’s remarkable sense of smell to the big screen

The Bad
The bloated plot runs half an hour too long, Whishaw fails to recapture the brilliance of his 2004 turn as Hamlet at the Old Vic, the rather bizarre ending

Verdict
Perfume runs on for at least 30 minutes too long

Price
£20
Black Book - DVD
Can Verhoeven return to form with this movie? 7 May 2007 13:00 GMT

The Good
Every shot, whether vast panorama or the biggest of close ups, is lit with a painter’s eye, Verhoeven never trivialises the suffering nor underplays the bravery that characterised the lives of millions during those terrible years, Carice Van Houten is totally captivating all the way through to the emotionally draining conclusion

The Bad
The bum numbing running time isn’t ideal, some may be put off by the subtitles, but don’t be!

Verdict
His new movie is very much a return home for Verhoeven

Price
£19.99
Miss Potter - DVD
Can Zellweger pull of playing the storyteller? 25 April 2007 12:00 GMT

The Good
Zellweger’s ruddy cheeks, well-honed English accent, and comic timing are all perfectly suited to Potter’s eccentric character, the unusual mix of whimsical comedy and heart-breaking tragedy is surprisingly entertaining, Richard Maltby Jr’s debut script is a very British affair, despite his American roots

The Bad
The cutesy directing from Chris “Babe” Noonan may grate with some, Beatrix’s lifelong struggle with the Royal Botanic Society is a curious omitted from the story, the anorexic special features package

Verdict
Mixing whimsical comedy and heart-breaking tragedy, Miss Potter is very much a movie for adults despite its “U” certificate

Price
£20
Eragon - DVD
Is this the next Lord of the Rings? 19 April 2007 11:19 GMT

The Good
Eragon’s second-rate CGI plays better on the small screen, fantasy fans may enjoy the Peter Jackson action sequence knock offs, plans for two further episodes have been put on hold after Eragon’s poor box office takings

The Bad
Writer Peter Buchman has struggled to turn the hefty source material into a manageable narrative, capable thesps Robert Carlyle and John Malkovich are reduced to cheap pantomime cameos, Director Stefen Fangmeier takes things far too seriously throughout

Verdict
Eragon takes everything far too seriously rather than lightening the mood with moments of comic relief

Price
£20
Flushed Away - DVD
Can the move to CGI improve on previous efforts? 11 April 2007 11:00 GMT

The Good
Watch out for a stunning high speed chase through London’s underground sewer system, Buckets of movie in-jokes and a remarkable level of attention to background detail fills every shot, Shane Ritchie is an inspired choice to play an obese sewer rat

The Bad
The switch from stop-motion to CGI animation has taken away much of Aardman unique charm, Nick Park played no part in Flushed Away’s creation, it shows, Hugh Jackman lacks charisma in the central role

Verdict
CGI over stop-motion plasticine technique means the film loses that unique charm

Price
£20
Tenacious D: In The Pick Of Destiny - DVD
Is this the greatest rock film in the world? 6 April 2007 9:00 GMT

The Good
The final “rock-off” with the Devil raises some late laughs, watch out for entertaining cameos from Tim Robbins, Meat Loaf and Ben Stiller

The Bad
Black’s familiar crazy-eyed rock act is wearing thin now, The dopey plot is as thin as Gass is fat, the monotonous soundtrack lacks any stand-out numbers

Verdict
For any die hard Tenacious D fans out there at least there is a decent extras package

Price
£20
Jackass number two - DVD
Worthy second instalment or cash-in? 2 April 2007 13:00 GMT

The Good
Thankfully, approaching middle age appears to have empowered rather than mellowed Jackass frontman Johnny Knoxville, Medicine ball Dodgeball in the dark - genius, despite its origins, Jackass never feels like a TV concept dragged out for the big screen

The Bad
Surely one of the boys is going to get seriously hurt on of these days, Steve-O remains a thoroughly unpleasant character, the unrestrained pleasure that the lads take in their mates’ pain and embarrassment isn’t a great anti-bullying message

Verdict
Jackass remains a thoroughly enjoyable watch that never feels like a TV concept dragged out for the big screen

Price
£20
The Heart of the Game - DVD
Is this the female version of Hoop Dreams? 28 March 2007 13:00 GMT

The Good
A remarkable true story that the finest Hollywood screenwriter couldn’t have dreamt up, The Heart of the Game uses sport to address key issues such as race and class, Director Ward Serrill slam dunks modern society’s gender stereotypes

The Bad
It lacks focus for the first half hour, wasting time on minor players who play no part in the final games, we are given little insight into either of the central character’s private lives, the complete lack of extras

Verdict
The Heart of the Game addresses some key issues such as race and class, slam dunks modern society’s gender stereotypes

Price
£12.99