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Silkwood
(1983)
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Terry Grimley
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Silkwood falls into that uneasy modern category of a film with a strong factual base which nevertheless shades off into fiction around its edges, either to avoid lawsuits or to make a more acceptable commercial package.
Posted May 12, 2023
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Yentl
(1983)
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Terry Grimley
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[The songs] are by no means as obtrusive as they look when shown out of context on television, but they do tend to sound strikingly alike... Still, from a visual point of view the film is magnificently upholstered.
Posted May 12, 2023
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Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(1984)
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Terry Grimley
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Steven Spielberg says that for him films are like boxes of toys. What Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom demonstrates is that Spielberg has a bigger and better box of toys than any other kid on the block.
Posted Apr 17, 2023
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3 Women
(1977)
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Arthur Steele
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A movie which, for all its difficulties, has exquisite qualities.
Posted Apr 06, 2023
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3/4
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Boys on the Side
(1995)
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Alison Jones
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Herbert Ross's articulate weepie also boasts wrenchingly flawless performances from its trio of stars -- Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louse Parker, and Drew Barrymore.
Posted Mar 14, 2023
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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
(1953)
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Arthur Steele
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Left me with a slightly unpleasant flavour in my mouth.
Posted Mar 07, 2023
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Thelma & Louise
(1991)
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Graham Young
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The buddy film every woman ought to see will also appeal to absolutely everyone else, on different levels, except for "macho" boyfriends with no sense of humor.
Posted Feb 28, 2023
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4/4
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The Truman Show
(1998)
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Graham Young
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It's innovative. It's different. And it's a worthy reflection of our docu-soap times.
Posted Feb 03, 2023
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4/5
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The Big Lebowski
(1998)
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Graham Young
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The Big Lebowski is worth seeing for Jeff Bridges’ towering performance alone.
Posted Jan 21, 2023
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Eve's Bayou
(1997)
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Graham Young
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... A beautifully-photographed study of sisterhood and family fidelity.
Posted Jan 09, 2023
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Dances With Wolves
(1990)
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Graham Young
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If you only go once to the cinema this year, it's got to be to see this. Make sure, too, that it's on the biggest screen you can find. I guarantee you'll be left begging for more.
Posted Nov 02, 2022
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La Strada
(1954)
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Arthur Steele
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There is a tenderness and pity in almost every scene which cannot be defined in words. That is the miracle of Federico Fellini's direction.
Posted Sep 14, 2022
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A Man for All Seasons
(1966)
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Arthur Steele
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Its translation from stage to screen not only adds a lot of visual beauty but does not mar the drama. And it adds a stronger sense of period.
Posted Sep 08, 2022
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Platoon
(1986)
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Marion Brennan
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Platoon is a realistic film, although less imaginative than, for example, Apocalypse Now, and politically more cautious than Stone’s previous film, Salvadore, Nevertheless, its success is richly deserved.
Posted Aug 22, 2022
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The Last Emperor
(1987)
|
Fred Norris
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It is an epic masterpiece, one of the truly great films of our time.
Posted Aug 02, 2022
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Raiders of the Lost Ark
(1981)
|
Roland Smith
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For this hyped-out adventure packs in as many hairbreadth and “with one leap our hero was free” escapes as a dozen of those escapist serials that once had Saturday matinee audiences agape with horror and delight.
Posted Jul 27, 2022
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Driving Miss Daisy
(1989)
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Russell Rhodes
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More than merely a story of two elderly people, it is a subtle portrait of the changing nature of relationships between black and white in the South over the decades.
Posted Jul 26, 2022
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The Color Purple
(1985)
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Terry Grimley
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Generally the film is a big disappointment, although it is true that it has a central performance of enormous character and appeal by Whoopi Goldberg.
Posted Jul 12, 2022
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Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
(1989)
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Fred Norris
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The Spielberg stunts and special effects are as impressive as ever and the humour is almost vintage Bond
Posted Mar 29, 2022
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Rebecca
(1940)
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L.B. Powell
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There is not a moment... when the camera is not used with cunning confidence... Add to that the usual brilliance of Laurence Olivier and the fact that Joan Fontaine attains a new high level in her career, and you know why this is a first-rate picture.
Posted Mar 24, 2022
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4/5
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Ram-Leela
(2013)
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Manish Gajjar
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In what is most probably her career-best performance, Deepika wins you over with her acting and dancing prowess.
Posted Dec 12, 2017
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3/5
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Star Wars: The Clone Wars
(2008)
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Roz Laws
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Star Wars fans will want to see this, if only to discuss its failings, but I can't see it having a wide appeal at the cinema.
Posted Nov 16, 2015
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Quantum of Solace
(2008)
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Graham Young
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It's good, yes, but it won't leave you shaken or stirred.
Posted Nov 02, 2015
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5/5
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Shaun the Sheep Movie
(2015)
|
Graham Young
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Running to a brisk 85 minutes, the movie never wastes a second.
Posted Aug 31, 2015
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4/5
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Kingsman: The Secret Service
(2014)
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Graham Young
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Outlandishly entertaining and gadget-packed with eye-popping set pieces including a bumper-to-bumper car chase, Kingsman aims to be nothing more than a supremely escapist night out laced with lots of Tarantino-lite kinetic violence.
Posted Jul 13, 2015
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The Bourne Ultimatum
(2007)
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Graham Young
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Anything James Bond can do, it seems, Jason Bourne can do, too.
Posted Jun 23, 2015
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Star Trek
(2009)
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Graham Young
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Star Trek works by paying homage to the past without being chained down by its history.
Posted Mar 17, 2015
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5/5
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The Hurt Locker
(2008)
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Graham Young
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The idea of watching people risking being blown to smithereens might not create a box office blockbuster. But this is certainly director Kathryn Bigelow's best film since Point Break in 1991.
Posted Feb 25, 2015
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Slumdog Millionaire
(2008)
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Roz Laws
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It's highly implausible at times but still entertaining, touching and romantic.
Posted Feb 22, 2015
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2/5
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Fifty Shades of Grey
(2015)
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Graham Young
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Yawnography.
Posted Feb 13, 2015
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3/5
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The Gambler
(2014)
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Graham Young
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Monahan's script is far too wordy for its own good and the uneven score (by two composers) seems to be taken over by a Michael Nyman fan at all of the wrong moments.
Posted Jan 21, 2015
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4/5
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Ex Machina
(2014)
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Graham Young
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The lush setting avoids the stifling grey look of so many other sci-fi films and the commendably-restrained special effects are as outstanding as the three fast-rising lead actors.
Posted Jan 21, 2015
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4/5
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Interstellar
(2014)
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Graham Young
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Interstellar's themes are universal and some of the dialogue really resonates too.
Posted Jan 05, 2015
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3/5
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Obvious Child
(2014)
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Graham Young
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An independent film with characters you'll care about as well as a rare silver screen attempt to at least begin to try to understand the nature of abortion.
Posted Jan 05, 2015
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3/5
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20,000 Days on Earth
(2014)
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Graham Young
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It's unlikely to appeal beyond Cave's core fan base -- but they are sure to love its sheer eccentricity.
Posted Jan 05, 2015
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5/5
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The Drop
(2014)
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Graham Young
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The Drop is predictable but this portrait of greed and ambition on the mean streets of New York hits most of the right menacing notes.
Posted Jan 05, 2015
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5/5
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The Imitation Game
(2014)
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Graham Young
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Morten Tyldum's masterful drama neither shies away from Turing's homosexuality nor lingers on it, framing nail-biting events at Bletchley Park with the mathematician's 1951 arrest in Manchester.
Posted Jan 04, 2015
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4/5
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Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
(2014)
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Graham Young
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While Keaton is a tour-de-force, Fight Club star Ed Norton is similarly rejuvenated as co-star Mike.
Posted Jan 02, 2015
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In Bruges
(2008)
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Graham Young
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In Bruges is a refreshingly different take on the hitmen genre.
Posted Dec 14, 2014
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Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
(2010)
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Graham Young
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A James Bond movie, fairy tale and potentially a full blown horror story rolled into one, if you enjoyed the original Swedish vampire thriller Let The Right One In, you'll find much to admire here.
Posted Dec 14, 2014
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Hellboy II: The Golden Army
(2008)
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Graham Young
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The new story sees some rebellious creatures coming out from their underworld to attack humans. Watching Hellboy physically sorting them out is terrific fun.
Posted Dec 08, 2014
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5/5
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Hellboy II: The Golden Army
(2008)
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Roz Laws
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I was a fan of the first film about this unlikely hero, a big red guy with horns, a tail and a liking for sweets, kittens and cigars. And the good news is the sequel is even better.
Posted Dec 08, 2014
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Bridge to Terabithia
(2007)
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Graham Young
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Bridge to Terabithia is the most moving, intelligent drama with children for a decade.
Posted Dec 05, 2014
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4/5
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Coraline
(2009)
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Graham Young
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This is a wonderful-looking animation with a wafer-thin plot.
Posted Nov 17, 2014
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Pan's Labyrinth
(2006)
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Graham Young
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The cinematography and creature effects are terrific, while the subtitles never get in the way of the story which follows young girl Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) into a nether world which will test her to the limit with a series of dangerous tasks.
Posted Nov 12, 2014
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2/5
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Hector and the Search for Happiness
(2014)
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Graham Young
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( ... ) whimsical to the point of being an itch you can't scratch. When one of Britain's most successful stars tries to say with a perfectly straight face,"I'm not rich and I'm not important," you'll find it impossible to believe him!
Posted Oct 10, 2014
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3/5
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The Expendables 3
(2014)
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Graham Young
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After the two earlier movies were rated 18 and then 15, many will decry the lack of blood in the new 12A, but the actors seem to be enjoying their pensioners' paintball party complete with helicopter funships.
Posted Oct 10, 2014
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2/5
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Step Up: All In
(2014)
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Graham Young
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The dancing is king. So if you can't stand the heat of competition, stay out of the kitchen.
Posted Oct 10, 2014
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3/5
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The Nut Job
(2014)
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Graham Young
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Children under seven will enjoy the slapstick nature of the fun and the irresistible Gangnam Style end credits sequence [but] parents might question why a film of this nature needs to feature humans using guns.
Posted Oct 10, 2014
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2/5
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Believe
(2013)
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Graham Young
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Believe has its heart in the right place and it's nice to see a homely British film about family life. A bit like watching your own team, you'll feel yourself cheering it on regardless of how badly it is playing at any given time.
Posted Oct 10, 2014
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