Science Fiction & Fantasy > V Science Fiction & Fantasy > 5 GBP to 10 GBP

Advantages: Still impressive visuals, great cast
Disadvantages: Pretentious, confusing, my copy's out of sync

...Even after over twenty years, Dune is still a very very weird film. Cult director and probable insane genius David Lynch helmed this 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert's doorstop science-fiction novel. Specific gripes first: my copy of the DVD is a bit glitchy. The transfer seems to have been a pretty ropy job in places with freezes, pixellation and skipping (that might just be my copy) and the sound is out of sync with the actors by up to about half ...
...dread to think how much Dune must have cost to produce. It is a ridiculously lavish film, full of massive sets with hundreds of extras, and special effects that still hold up commendably well for the digital age. If the occasional ornithopter shot looks a bit creaky, the fabby shield fighting and the groovy flying Baron Harkonnen more than make up for them, and to my amazement the giant Worms of Arrakis (the desert planet) don't look too bad either. ... Read review

Advantages: action blockbuster
Disadvantages: time travel style paradox

...Philip I. Dick short story, Minority Report tells the story of the head of pre-cognitive crime division John Anderton who is accused of a crime he hasn't yet committed. Set in Washington in the year 2054, 3 genetically altered humans can see into the future and give the pre-crime police details of crimes that will soon be committed. If just one of the 'precogs' sees a different outcome it is filed as a 'minority report'. But the time-travel style ...
...a murder, can the person be accused of the murder, which, because they have been arrested already can never take place? The prisons are likely to fill up quickly with this style of justice and the system, which is trialling well in Washington is beginning to receive opposition. Anderton, played reasonably well by Cruise, is a big fan of the system, throwing himself into his work to get over the death of his son 6 years earlier, until his name comes ... Read review

Advantages: Sharper script
Disadvantages: None

Captain Jack and the Torchwood team return for another series of alien encounters convieniently placed in Cardiff. With more adventerous storylines and sharper writing this show really comes into its own. From battling with old flames to looking death in the face (literally) the torchwood team will never be the same again. With guest appearences from James Masters (Captain John) and Freema agyeman (Martha Jones) to show adds depth intoducing back ... Read review

Advantages: Great drama for all ages
Disadvantages: Final Installment of series 4

...close the darkest series of Doctor Who to date. Old friends return at the end of the univere for a battle that will effect the whole of reality itself. With excellent perfomances from David Tennant and Julian Bleach the latest installment of the cult show is an instant classic with three of the most well written episodes of the new series on one disk Turn Left, The Stolen Earth and Jouneys End provide the fitting finale to the Time Lords adventures ... Read review

Advantages: Our fave monsters
Disadvantages: Executed poorly

...onto a ledge where an alien just was, even if she is hanging over a chasm? From certain death into certain death? Why when the 1st alien is speared by the girl does it not attack with it's arms at all? Why when the predator cuts the aliens head off his knife doesn't melt? Likewise with blades of spinner on facehugger? How come Millar seems to lose his Scottish accent just before he dies? The Queen is bitten multiple times but is fit to go on a rampage? ...
...all? Why are there so many Aliens? Only 8 people are facehugged! When the bomb is detonated how come there seem to be about 20 aliens in the main chamber as they board the sled? Clearly this film was not researched at all. Aliens and Predator fans will be picking holes in it for years to come. As for the pred-alien at the end? We'll be lucky to see a sequel I think, seeing as how long it took to get this movie on the screen. In the end, the jury ... Read review