Mel S

Wow. An incredibly original screenplay with stellar performances from the entire cast. Of course it's a film that won't satisfy all horror fans, but who cares?! It's very entertaining, at times scary but ultimately contains a message about how human activity can result in the ultimate downfall. Cleverly & brilliantly directed, enough said!

A fantastic follow-up to 1993's The Fugitive. Tommy Lee Jones is brilliant as usual but in my opinion, Wesley Snipes shines just as bright. Terrific special effects & a plot twist right at the end that's totally unexpected, makes this film a must-watch from start to finish. An against type, villainous performance by a fresh faced Robert Downey Jnr caps off a thrilling, suspenseful & action packed piece of quality cinema. 🎬🍿📽🎟

An outstanding, brilliantly acted series that once again puts a huge spotlight back on the horrendous & tragic events over Lockerbie in 1988. In my eyes, Dr Jim Swire is an incredibly brave & tenacious human being whose dogged determination to get to the truth over so many years will never stop until he leaves this earth. Some people obviously think the right man was convicted but after watching this, I firmly believe many countries were involved in a massive cover-up. Whatever reason or agenda the real perpetrators had, hopefully one day soon the real truth will emerge. Another trial is scheduled for May 2025 against another Libyan accused of building the bomb that blew up not just a plane, but 270 innocent travellers just trying to get somewhere safely. RIP 🙏😥

Once in a while, a film based on fact emerges that one is hesitant to watch due to fears that the story has been exploited or underdone. But not this movie - John Boyega is incredible portraying Lance Corporal Brian Brown-Easley, a 33 year old Gulf War veteran. He gets treated so unfairly by those who were meant to support him with financial assistance and mental health support for PTSD once he returned home. In 2017, his only option was to take drastic action to be heard but ultimately to no avail, resulting in his untimely and very sad death. I'd never come across this incident in the media before watching it, and some might say he should have realised it wouldn't end well due to implying he was carrying a bomb to blow up a bank with hostages still inside. The bomb threat was proven to be untrue but Brian was already dead by then, and I totally understand the reasons why he chose this route to get people to listen. He had been engaging with a police negotiator at the time who felt a breakthrough was imminent, and the news of Brian's death was apparently a shock to that negotiator who was disgusted by the actions taken by law enforcement without first consulting with him. This is one film I won't soon forget - it comes highly recommended by me. RIP Brian, a courageous African American hero who only wanted fairness and respect, not infamy.

Finally! Leonardo DiCaprio won the Best Actor Oscar for his intense, exceptional portrayal of Hugh Glass. The magnificent Alejandro Iñárritu deservedly scooped Best Director for the second time, and capturing the beautiful but harsh wilderness so splendidly saw the film also take out the Best Cinematography Academy Award. When I watched this at the cinema on its release in 2015, it was shocking and eye opening to say the least. One small issue I had though, was at times the dialogue was hard to decipher due to the strong accents required. But overall, I was blown away by this true story that needed to be told. Brilliant, moving & at times very confronting.

If you want to watch a really, really good thriller (no wait - an enthralling, gripping masterpiece) then make sure Prisoners is at the top of your list. From start to finish it's an extraordinary piece of cinema with an exceptional star cast that navigate their way through a script full of shocking, suspenseful and at times, confronting twists and turns. As a huge movie buff, this is right up there as one of the finest films I've ever seen across all genres. Don't miss it! 🎦🎬

One of, if not the the best piece of filmmaking in history. Why it never won a single Academy Award from seven nominations is completely mind boggling! The incredible and unforgettable performances from Tim Robbins and the late, great James Whitmore didn't get recognised and neither did maestro Frank Darabont for his astonishing directorial debut! Unbelievable. The always brilliant Morgan Freeman was nominated and deservedly so, but the entire cast were truly sensational. An enduring cinematic masterpiece that every single person should watch at some point in their life. Darabont's next film, The Green Mile is nearly as good and also a definite must see.

Wow, one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time. Even though the nearly three and a half hour running time initially put me off, I decided to take a look and am so glad I did! My eyes never left the big screen as legendary director Martin Scorsese delivered a sensitive but also brutal portrayal of a utterly disgraceful and tragic part of Native American history, and I knew nothing about these appalling murders beforehand. Frequent Scorsese collaborators Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro delivered as always, but the actor who stood out the most in my opinion was newcomer Lily Gladstone - an Oscar nomination for a truly mesmerising performance should be a no-brainer. Best Picture and Best Director as well? I certainly hope so! Filmmaking at its absolute best.

A fantastic movie on so many levels: an outstanding cast, a very funny but also moving story of addiction & coming out the other side after rehab, plus a great soundtrack. Sandra Bullock once again showcases her star power & natural ability to take on any role with ease. 28 Days teaches all of us not to judge someone so quickly when they're in crisis; instead show unconditional support, empathy & a willingness to listen. One of the best films of 2000 & comes highly recommended!

An absolute rip snorter of a show! Listen up, NZ's so called "comedians" - you could all learn so much from this incredibly funny, laugh-out-loud display of pure, unadulterated hilarity that only the Brits can so naturally come out with! Host Rob Brydon plus team captains David Mitchell & Lee Mack are, in my opinion, right up there in the top 10% of the most on-point, highly satirical & genuinely humorous comedians of their generation. A highly recommended watch for a bloody good laugh! 🤣😂