Dutch actor Rutger Hauer has the uncanny ability to totally take over any movie he's in, building larger than life characters. Sometimes there is humour and a spiritual aspect (Blind Fury). In other movies Rutger is violent, and eccentric...
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Dutch actor Rutger Hauer has the uncanny ability to totally take over any movie he's in, building larger than life characters. Sometimes there is humour and a spiritual aspect (Blind Fury). In other movies Rutger is violent, and eccentric (Bladerunner). My favourite Rutger Hauer role was as John Ryder in the original 'Hitcher' movie. He played an unassuming hitch-hiker, softly-spoken, picked up by a passing driver (C. Thomas Howell) in the pouring rain.

They pass a stranded car, and Ryder explains that the driver wasn't going to go very far because he'd cut off his legs, and arms and head!! And that he was going to do the same to him. Very very dark movie, this one. But very atmospheric. The cast are excellent, supported by Jennifer Jason Leigh.

In my opinion, Rutger's best movie ever. Great actor.

In the UK he also appeared in a series of humorous and surreal ads for Guinness, 'It ain't easy being a dolphin' the selling-line of one of them!

I first saw Nora Zehetner on Heroes, and think she's particularly underrated! It's a real pity she was killed out of the show so early on. Nora is a multi-talented actress, experienced across several film genres. She puts in edgy and believable...
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I first saw Nora Zehetner on Heroes, and think she's particularly underrated! It's a real pity she was killed out of the show so early on. Nora is a multi-talented actress, experienced across several film genres. She puts in edgy and believable performances, belying her 'late' entry into acting. Not being a 'stage-school brat' means she portrays her characters honestly and intelligently, rather than being predictable and formulaic. I can't wait to see what she does next!

For me, Nora is inspirational, having been incredibly gifted at science and maths, and deciding to ditch them to follow a more artistic and creative career. Courageous decision! There aren't many people who, at 18, could reject the 'safe' option – something they are very good at - to take a risk and chase their dream. And I'm happy it paid off for her.

It was probably an overzealous fan claiming she's in People's 100 Most Beautiful 2007. In any case, being mean about her isn't the solution. So in the interests of fairness, in my '1 Most Beautiful', Nora – with her lovely eyes - wins top prize! So, well done Nora! ;)

Level 42 is a band that I didn't discover until they'd already reached worldwide commercial success – which started from 1985 onwards with 'World Machine'. I'm overjoyed that I eventually saw the light, and investigated their work from 1980-1984....
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Level 42 is a band that I didn't discover until they'd already reached worldwide commercial success – which started from 1985 onwards with 'World Machine'. I'm overjoyed that I eventually saw the light, and investigated their work from 1980-1984. Some of these early tracks are outstanding pieces of musicianship.

The band started in 1980 with Mark King, Mike Lindup, Boon Gould and Phil Gould. There was also the renowned keyboardist Wally Badarou, the band's unofficial fifth member.

Their early style was jazz-funk fusion, and focused heavily on Mark's use of sixteenth notes and 'machine-gun' triplets in the slap-and-pop style. Examples are 'Mr Pink' and 'Sandstorm'. Superb and fantastic!! His ability to play slap or fingerstyle, while singing counterpoint (and chewing gum!) is beyond belief (a good example is 'True Believers').

Mike, Boon and Phil all provided unique input into the sound of Level 42, with Mike's keyboard melodies and falsetto backing vocals; Boon's understated guitar riffs; and Phil's metronomic and driving drumbeats.

There have been many changes to the line-up over the years, and the latest album Retroglide has seen Mike and Mark joining forces again after a long break from Level 42. I've seen them live several times over the years, and they love to put on a show. They are the only band I know that sound better live than in the studio.

A rarity for me, having read the book, and subsequently caught the movie. It was an enjoyable movie to watch, but one I feel is better to watch if you haven't already read the book. I think the film has a good go at telling the story, but I'd...
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A rarity for me, having read the book, and subsequently caught the movie. It was an enjoyable movie to watch, but one I feel is better to watch if you haven't already read the book. I think the film has a good go at telling the story, but I'd imagined it differently in my mind from the book. So I'm not really slating it, but it appears my imagination had left me expecting much more from the film that we actually got. A reasonable 3 stars for the acting performances though, which were good.

This movie is hilarious! And with a great cast. Literally a laugh a minute. Whenever I hear the name 'Abby' it always reminds me of the scene where Igor tells Frankenstein who's brain he stole for the monster.

This film is Mel...
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This movie is hilarious! And with a great cast. Literally a laugh a minute. Whenever I hear the name 'Abby' it always reminds me of the scene where Igor tells Frankenstein who's brain he stole for the monster.

This film is Mel Brooks at his best!

I really enjoyed this film. It had a nice balance of plot, action and comedy. The drinking games scene was very funny...uno mas?

Definitely one to watch if you want a giggle.

A bit of a slow starter, this one. But I enjoyed the storyline, and the special effects were great. It was an especially nice touch that the 'good' Jet Li was a Bagua master, and the 'evil' Jet Li a Xingyi master; neither of these styles appear...
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A bit of a slow starter, this one. But I enjoyed the storyline, and the special effects were great. It was an especially nice touch that the 'good' Jet Li was a Bagua master, and the 'evil' Jet Li a Xingyi master; neither of these styles appear very much in movies in the West. I think it got slated by the reviewers, but I would recommend this, if only for its fight choreography.

A real blood-chiller of a movie! Rutger Hauer puts in a great performance as the psychotically deranged serial killer in this atmospheric film. I loved the early scenes where C. Thomas Howell picks up the hitchhiker, up to the realisation that...
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A real blood-chiller of a movie! Rutger Hauer puts in a great performance as the psychotically deranged serial killer in this atmospheric film. I loved the early scenes where C. Thomas Howell picks up the hitchhiker, up to the realisation that he's just made a fairly serious error of judgement! I can watch this film (and have done) over and over again.

Awesome! Such a wonderfully clever film, and with a jaw-droppingly unexpected ending. I can normally see an ending a mile away (eg in Seven, where I knew how the movie would end about half-way in, very predictable) but this was spectacularly...
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Awesome! Such a wonderfully clever film, and with a jaw-droppingly unexpected ending. I can normally see an ending a mile away (eg in Seven, where I knew how the movie would end about half-way in, very predictable) but this was spectacularly unexpected. Great acting, a definite must watch.

One of my all-time favourite movies, I have seen this over a dozen times! A long, but nevertheless enthralling film, with a brilliant storyline, and great acting, actors and action. Ennio Morricone did himself proud with the stunning...
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One of my all-time favourite movies, I have seen this over a dozen times! A long, but nevertheless enthralling film, with a brilliant storyline, and great acting, actors and action. Ennio Morricone did himself proud with the stunning soundtrack.
This movie sets the gold standard for the genre. An absolutely 'must-see' film.

Plot:
'Aren't you gonna hang him?' Laurel asks, as tough guy Walter Long is found guilty in a courtroom. Long threatens that he'll 'pull off their legs and tie 'em round their necks' if he ever catches them. This prompts Stan and Ollie to...
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Plot:
'Aren't you gonna hang him?' Laurel asks, as tough guy Walter Long is found guilty in a courtroom. Long threatens that he'll 'pull off their legs and tie 'em round their necks' if he ever catches them. This prompts Stan and Ollie to leave town, and as they are broke, advertise in the local newspaper for someone to come along and share the costs. The ad (placed by Laurel) ends: 'Those not interested, do not answer.'
They find a lady to join them, and meet up with her to conclude this hilarious escapade.

Review:
Very funny! Full of visual gags. Once L&H get to the girl's place, just watch the bunch of flowers they brought with them. Wonderfully ironic and improbable plot. Brilliant short-film.

I loved this movie. In the TV series, the gags come thick and fast. This is a very much harder task in a full-length film, and I thought the writers achieved an excellent balance between amusement, and plot-development. A culmination of years of...
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I loved this movie. In the TV series, the gags come thick and fast. This is a very much harder task in a full-length film, and I thought the writers achieved an excellent balance between amusement, and plot-development. A culmination of years of comedy writing, and it's such a shame Phil Hartman (Rest in Peace) isn't around to have contributed, as Troy McClure. Great film.