Male, British, ex-RAF. Is anyone else experiencing REALLY bad lag in the review text box at the mome...
Male, British, ex-RAF. Is anyone else experiencing REALLY bad lag in the review text box at the moment? Its so bad I have stopped writing & editing reviews completely. Can't Ciao fix this?
Member since:14.02.2006
Reviews:412
Video reviews:1
Members who trust:12
This truly was England of the late 70's and early 80's, having grown up at that time in the Midlands I can confirm that life was like this and people were like this too. This film follows a short period in the life of Shaun whose father had just been killed in the Falklands War. He is bullied at school and befriended by a local Skinhead who takes him under his wing and Shaun is gradually accepted into the Skinhead group, happy to become one of them until their real leader is released from prison and starts to voice his racist views and inflict his National Front style influences which cause a split in the group.
In sections this film is incredibly difficult to watch. And the reason for that is it's so accurate. The guy playing Combat must have known skinheads as a kid and he's right on the mark. All the actors in this are amazing. The costumes are spot on, everyone looks authentic eighties.
Shaun is like so many boys I know and I can totally relate to him (though I was a 2-tone rude boy myself, not a skinhead) I do struggle to watch certain parts as it is so close to reality. I knew people like this, I grew up with people like this. I lived on an estate like this, I went to school with people like this. It's not just close to correct, it's exactly correct. Watch this and love it.
Some people may watch this and think of movies like Romper Stomper (mainly for the character of Hando) which certainly did seem to influence characters like Combat but this film is more about the easy going side of the skinhead nature and culture than the more racist influenced National Front skins.
(this review also appears on dooyoo)
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Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
This Is England tells the story of Shaun (Thomas Turgoose), an 11 year old kid growing up ... more
in the North of England. Set during the summer holidays of 1983, it follows his journey from a shaggy haired ruffian grieving the loss of his father into a shaven...
THIS IS ENGLAND tells the story of Shaun (Thomas Turgoose), an 11 year old kid growing up ... more
in the North of England. Set during the summer holidays of 1983, it followshis journey from a shaggy haired ruffian grieving the loss of his father into a shaven ...
Advantages: Poignant, powerful, great performances, great setting Disadvantages: Not for you if you like beautiful film stars or if you don't like swearing
sonic0209 07.10.2007 (07.10.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of This Is England (DVD)
Advantages: Good portryal of the subculture, well written, characters appear real, good setting Disadvantages: What is the actual message, poor casting the 'Shaun', unsatifactory ending
Davidhutt 11.05.2007 (12.05.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of This Is England (DVD)
Feb 18th, 2009
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