Drama > Burton, Richard Drama

Advantages: Outstanding film with excellent Bonus Features
Disadvantages: None

...to take the part of Cleopatra she said "yes, for one million dollars"; to everyones amazement, the studio agreed. The original film budget was only $2 million but by the time the film was finished in 1963 this had soared to $35 million. It is still the most expensive film ever made in real terms (when you take inflation correction into account). Not withstanding the amazing historical story of Cleoptra's rise and fall; the film has an amazing story ...
...making their mark (or not); tempestous actors and actresses shouting at each other and anyone who disagreed with them in the offset lot. The film certainly inspired passion in everyone who was involved. The film started in Italy but was moved to England when the Rome Olmpics started to interfere with filming. Film shooting also stopped & started part-way through for eight months while Elizabeth Taylor suffered a major illness (mostly she claimed ... Read review

Advantages: Great film
Disadvantages: Slim on DVD extras

...Canterbury, not far from where Becket was murdered/martyred. Becket became a folk hero, a canonised saint, and the stuff of myth and legend, as useful in politics as in literature – Chaucer’s famous pilgrims telling their Canterbury tales were on their way to the same location as Henry II paid his penance for the death of Becket. The idea of the separation of church and state is an admittedly modern invention, but even in Becket’s time, the intertwining ...
...up a background rivalry for Becket and Henry II while they are both on the same side (Henry II appointed Thomas Becket as his chancellor, a position not dis-similar to being his first, or prime, minister). When Henry decided to take control of the church by appointing his own man as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Becket then has what some have described as a road-to-Damascus conversion experience – the film follows this interpretation. ‘Honour is ... Read review

Advantages: Great production and direction shown off well in this widescreen version
Disadvantages: none!

...must see. The story of Cleopatra is a great one, and this film really delivers on a great script. The chemistry sizzles between Taylor as Cleopatra and Burton as Mark Antony and there are great supporting performances by Rex Harrison as Caesar, Martin Landau, Roddy McDowell, George Cole, Francesca Annis and Michael Hordern, to name but a few. THe most expensive film ever made, at the time, I simply adore every indulgent minute of it. This particular ...
...version with an even longer director's cut, but this is quite long enough, thank you!) If you've never seen this film then I strongly recommend it. This version has a few rather dated extras but nothing worth bothering with. This DVD is worth buying though as the film is such a great visual trat having it on a great big FST on widescreen is just what it deserves! ... Read review

Advantages: A limited appeal for enthusiasts of electric trains, and Sophia Loren
Disadvantages: The list would be too long.

This is definitely is a re-make that should never have been made. A harsh comment perhaps, but the nevertheless true. The production is less than average for a producer of such status as Carlo Ponti (husband of Sophia Loren). The scipt is dull by any stretch of the imagination, completely ruining Noel Coward's original story, so wonderfully captured in the 1945 Black & White original. The acting is well below standard for such a skilled thesbian ...
...to be worse-the-wear from drink in front of the camera. In conclusion: The film, unsuccessfully made in colour, fails miserably to capture the atmosphere of the original production starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. How a cinema audience is supposed to be captivated by the 'comings and goings' of Southern Railway electric trains, filmed possibly in Surrey or Hampshire, in contrast to the dramatic night scenes shot at Carnforth railway station ... Read review

Advantages: Can be tense, shocking and unpredictable
Disadvantages: Appears to be a typical chick-flick on the surface

My reason for purchasing Match Point in the first instance was quite simple, Jonathon Rhys Myers was in it and for me that was as good an excuse as any to buy a new film. I'm so glad however that I did buy this film because not only does Rhys Myers play a fantastic part and look extremely handsome for the main but the film has become a firm favourite of mine. Chris (Jonathon Rhys Meyers) is an Irish tennis coach who after coaching Tom, the son of ...
..."There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net and for a split second it can go either forward or fall back. With a little luck it goes forward and you win. Or maybe it doesn't and you lose." This line sums up the double-edged sword that the film is, as on more than one occasion the ball may go forward and Chris may uphold the life he has dreamed of but just as easily it may fall backwards and the world he has come to love may ... Read review