Film According to Mr Cinema review: "It's a Wonderful Life" 1946

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is Frank Capra’s 1946 immortal pantheon classic. The film focuses on George Bailey (played here wonderfully by James Stewart) who, through a series of events, has decided to kill himself by jumping off a bridge on Christmas Eve, however through the prayers of his friends and family he is visited by his guardian angel: Clarence (portrayed by Henry Travers) who shows George what life would be like for the people in his little town of Bedford Falls if he had never been born.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a lovely, lovely film that has truly earnt its title as one of the greatest of all time. This was the first film to make me cry since I was 5 years old. I am not the biggest person on soppy or sentimental movies for the majority of the time, but this film is just such a beautiful piece of work, it was just impossible for me to dislike it. The only criticism I make regarding this film (and it’s a very small one) is that Mary (played by Donna Reed) was put in the position of a weak female stereotype very much reflective chauvinist of attitudes toward females that were very much dominant at the time that this film was made.

Rating: 9/10

Film According to Mr Cinema review: The Silence of the Lambs, 1991

Jonathan Demme’s 1991 thriller classic: “The Silence of the Lambs” has undoubtedly earnt its title as a one of the greatest, most suspenseful movies made in (relatively) recent years. The film trails CIA trainee: Agent Clarice Starling who is required to match wits with the equally insane yet brilliant Dr Hannibal Lecter (Sir Anthony Hopkins) to assist in the persecution of serial killer: Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb (Ted Levine) who was based on true life murderer: Ed Gein.

“The Silence of the Lambs” is a perfect mix of general technical filmic excellence, a genuinely gripping and disturbing tale and a completely intense mesmerising and feel about it. I was absolutely captured by the elements of philosophy (what is sanity and how is it measurable), dark thematic tones and the general all round brilliance that seems to have surrounded this picture. If there were one small gripe I had with this film, it’s that some elements could have been further extended upon; just to have an extra quarter of an hour added on to make more of the background story of agent Sterling or Dr Lecter. (although they revealed very little about Buffalo Bill’s past, his character was best left mysterious and menacing) also, have a lookout in this film for a brief cameo by George A. Romero.

Rating: 9/10

Film According to Mr Cinema review: Terror Toons, 2002

“Terror Toons” is Joe Castro’s 2002 straight-to-video horror/comedy b-movie gorefest. In the film, Cindy (Beverly Lynn) receives a DVD sent by Satan himself in the mail while her parents are away for the weekend; she proceeds to watch it, to find that the two homicidal cartoon characters that are on the DVD transport from their television realm into the human realm to wreak surprisingly nasty, bloody havoc. Meanwhile Cindy’s older sister, Candy (Lizzy Borden) is having a house party downstairs with her friends, will she manage to save the day, or will the toons conquer the world.

I saw this film about a month back on YouTube, and knew that I was in for a chortle or two after the first 4 minutes. “Terror Toons” is a very entertaining little schlock-horror movie. If you drop all pretence towards any pretence towards watching an artistically great film at the door, you are more than likely to have a good time watching this film. I certainly enjoyed this film, just because it was a fun little movie with laugh worthy acting, shitty directing and actually, half decent special effects (considering the ultra-low budget). If you want a film that delivers funny one liners, amusing concepts and downright laugh out loud dialogue, you can do worse than “Terror Toons”.

Rating: 7/10