Wanted [2008]

starring: Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman
directed by: Timur Bekmambetov

October 20, 2008
This may not be the best film, but it has all the ingredients needed to be.

Wanted has what I would say a very interesting cast choice, I would never have picked James McAvoy for an action role but he did play it with some grace - I think the fact Wes starts off as a hopeless waste of space allows McAvoy to really play it well going by some of his previous roles. Morgan Freeman was a little surprising but you give him any script and he will be able to do it. Now Angelina Jolie, she adds ... Read More:

Atonement [2007]

starring: Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave
directed by: Joe Wright

February 04, 2008
Reading reviews on Amazon always bemuses me. Why some people seem to get so angry about a film, its diversion from the book or one or another actor confuses me. Anyway no anger here.

I have always been an enormous fan of Ian McEwan and think that atonement is one of his greatest novels. But, like all great tragedies (and believe me this is a tragedy), it leaves you with an empty feeling. The book manages to convey the deep erotic and almost painful love of C and Robbie in a way that was always going to be difficult ... Read More:

Used Price: £2.73

Becoming Jane [2006]

starring: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters, James Cromwell, Maggie Smith

September 10, 2007
This was much better than I thought it would be having read that the story didn't hold together and wasn't based on any real fact. If it was intended as a love story then it's ok. Are biographical films ever based truly on reality? Julie Walters is excellent as Jane's mother and thanks to another reviewer for mentioning where I'd seen Anne Hathaway before.

I'm not keen on Jane Austen's novels (forced to read them at school), except perhaps, "Northanger Abbey", for which the recent TV adaptation was excellent. "Becoming Jane" ... Read More:

Used Price: £4.30

Penelope [2007]

starring: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Dinklage
directed by: Mark Palansky

June 23, 2008
For some time (almost 2 years) I have known about, and waited patiently for this Reese Witherspoon production; wondering if it ever would come to fruition on DVD in the U.K. On 12th August, I found it in a local Super-Market, and bought my copy there and then.

I have to say that my first thoughts when I watched it for the fist time were not very complementary. But, unusually for me after such thoughts, I let the film continue, watching it to the Happy Ending that it duly deserved. As I watched that first time, the film slowly ... Read More:

Used Price: £3.99

The Chronicles Of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe [2005]

starring: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Sophie Winkleman, Liam Neeson
directed by: Andrew Adamson

April 03, 2006
I would give this book a five star rating because narnia is absolutely brilliant.whenever I read it I cat put it down that is how good C.S Lewis is.Also ,the drawing's init are excellent.woul recamend this book to people who like adventure stoies.Thebook is fiction and I also love it because it is in a fantacy would but it seams real at the same time.

Used Price: £2.93

The Last King Of Scotland [2006]

starring: James McAvoy, Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson, David Oyelowo, Kerry Washington
directed by: Kevin Macdonald

May 14, 2007
A skewered plot and an awful performance by James McAvoy combine to make this film a painful viewing experience.

Used Price: £2.40

Atonement [HD DVD] [2007]

starring: Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave
directed by: Joe Wright

March 10, 2008
I think you have to look past the hype and see the film for itself. In that regard, James MacAvoy was as usual superb, and brought his character (Robbie) to life. Saoirse Ronan as the young(est) version of Briony, showed us all of the intensity of a 13-year-old on the cusp of adolescence. Her motivation is clear - she has strong feelings for Robbie, feelings which she cannot express, does not know how to express, but somehow must do; and then she catches her sister and Robbie together, intimately, and it is the resulting bottled-up rage that destroys all three of them. ... Read More:

Used Price: £2.91

Wanted [Blu-ray] [2008]

starring: Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman
directed by: Timur Bekmambetov

December 01, 2008
I think you have to look past the hype and see the film for itself. In that regard, James MacAvoy was as usual superb, and brought his character (Robbie) to life. Saoirse Ronan as the young(est) version of Briony, showed us all of the intensity of a 13-year-old on the cusp of adolescence. Her motivation is clear - she has strong feelings for Robbie, feelings which she cannot express, does not know how to express, but somehow must do; and then she catches her sister and Robbie together, intimately, and it is the resulting bottled-up rage that destroys all three of them. ... Read More:

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The Chronicles Of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe [Blu-ray] [2005]

starring: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Sophie Winkleman, Liam Neeson
directed by: Andrew Adamson

June 16, 2008
Great film, enjoyed it despite initial misgivings about watching a 'kids film'. Not going to review it in depth since so many others already have on the DVD section.

The picture on the bluray disc is excellent throughout, which does mean that some of the more dodgy special effects are shown up - though fortunately not too often. For the most part the graphics are very good, Aslan in particular is impressive.

The sound offers 5.1 and uncompressed. I could not get the uncompressed sound to work initially, but all was ok after a play around, and the uncompressed ... Read More:

Used Price: £15.66

Shakespeare ReTold [2005]

starring: Sarah Parish, Shirley Henderson, James McAvoy

December 26, 2005
Before I begin may I just compliment Amazon for it's amazing service. Not only is this dvd fantastic value (being four movies for £4.98) Amazon also had it shipped to me here in Ireland within two days. So if you're one of those people who used to be like me and afraid of online shopping I urge you take the chance and start today. You won't be disappointed.

Well what can I say about these adaptations. Fantastic isn't the word. I, myself am a fan of Shakespeare but had never read any of the plays in this series but I am definitely putting it on my list of things to do following ... Read More:

Used Price: £4.69