Screen Queen-Some of what I'm watching this Month

Everyone (DVD)
Starring: Katherin Billings Michael Chase Matt Fentiman Brendan Fletcher Suzanne Hepburn Mark Hildreth Bill Marchant Cara McDowell Andrew Moxham Stephen Park Carly Pope Tom Scholte Namcy Sivak Debra Thorne Anna Williams Director: Bill Marchant Run time:90 mins
Genres: Gay/Lesbian
Released: September 26, 2005
The perfect gay couple are having a wedding in their backyard, and they've invited the family and all their emotional baggage. When the happy couple starts fighting over what to call it, you know it's going to be a long day...
My thoughts
Absolute rubbish dreadful script, appalling acting and stereotypical characters this film has all the charm of a dead slug. According to the end credits, (which I only just survived a coma of boredom, to get to) One of the cast was responsible for the script, directing, music and presumably the on-set catering. Unfortunately that one was, the untalented blind and stupid one with no taste and extremely limted talents, although he obviously, has an enormous capacity for boredom.
Needless to say- dont bother.
* Star

Munich (2005)
UIP
Starring: Eric Bana Daniel Craig Ciaran Hinds Mathieu Kassovitz Hanns Zischler Ayelet Zorer Geoffrey Rush Director: Steven Spielberg
Genres: Drama
Released: May 29, 2006
During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and execute those responsible for the attack. Summary written by Anonymous In the wake of 1972 Munich Olympic tragedy, the Mossad retaliates by deploying a team of agents(led by Avner(Bana)) in Europe to assassinate Palestinian terrorist leaders suspected of planning the attack, which left eleven Israeli athletes dead.
My Thoughts
Well its not Schindlers list, but Munich sees a return to form for Steven Spielberg (though its lack of bias toward the Israelies is surprising). Eric Bana as the tortured Avner walks away with the film although Geoffrey Rush turns in, a pretty scene stealing, supporting role as the Mossad Chief who recruits him. Daniel Craig as always gives an immensley watchable performance and there are plenty of deft Spielberg touches (the orange kitchen becoming almost as powerful an metaphor as the red coat in Schindlers List) a little overlong perhaps but highly recommended.
**** Stars

Man of La Mancha (1972)
MGM HOME ENT. (EUROPE) LTD.
Starring: Peter O'Toole Sophia Loren James Coco Harry Andrews
Director:Arthur Hiller
Run time: 124 mins Genres: Action/Adventure Music/Musical
Released: December 05, 2005
Cervante's immortal story of Don Quixote and his spiritual quest for 'The Impossible Dream' of honour, chivalry and adventure. Broadway's greatest fantasy musical comes to the small screen with Peter O'Toole in the title role with Sophia Loren as his fair lady, Dulcinea.
My Thoughts
Hmm quite why Arthur Hiller chose to cast this musical oddity with two stars totally incapable of singing is beyond me, however after you get past the feeble warblings of Mr O Toole and the somewhat more robust screaches of Miss Loren (neither of whom come any where close to hitting the right notes!) There is a semblance of a charming story and though the tunes are butchered beyond belief, they are somewhat hummable. What is it with 60's period/costume dramas that always places them squarely and somewhat obviously in their own decade? One possibility could be that Miss Loren with her trademark egyptian eyeliner and heaving bosom looks exactly like she does in every other film period or not! Having said all that, this low budget musical with singers who cant sing does actually work on some whimsical level. Overly long but mildly entertaining.
**1/2 Stars
DVD's courtesy of Screen Select Rental http://www.screenselect.co.uk/

* Star-Complete turkey
** Stars-Yawn! bit of a dud
*** Stars-Not bad, but no masterpiece
**** Stars-Definately worth watching
***** Stars-An instant classic