Review added to Cinema by Magic Marmalade:
The Falling (2014)Rated 6/10

Aiming to be a kind of Picnic At Hanging Rock for our times...

...with all the whoosy, surreal atmosphere of that odd, enigmatic masterpiece, this doesn't really achieve that lofty ambition.

Like Picnic, it centres around a strange happening occurring to a group schoolgirls, whereby they begin to act oddly, dance about in a trance-state, then "fall" on the floor.

>your joke here< :)

It's all "metaphor for sexual awakening" and so-on, which the whole film is based around. Unfortunately, rather than being mysterious and enigmatic, it comes off as crudely done, melodramatic, and a bit embarrassing. Their "falling" has these girls waving their arms about and trancing away in a manner more like the first meeting of the local Am-dram society than being a serious production, and it undermines the whole concept.

Not the actors fault though, as they all play it through with a straight face, and give as good performance as they can, given what they've been asked to do (They probably thought it would turn out better than it did, themselves)...

Maisie Williams is good, and I understand she's quite popular at the moment in that Lord Of The Rings knock-off, and Maxine Peake is always brilliant in whatever she plays (probably the best actor in Britain today).

But I came away feeling decidedly underwhelmed by it.

Review added to TV by MR B PAGE:
The Adventurer (1972 - 1973) (1972)Rated 10/10

This TV series first shown in 1972-73,and 26 episodes were made and ran for 25-30 minutes as far as I can remember.First screened in the London area on Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m,and repeated again on Friday nights at 7:00 p.m, in 1974-75 and Saturday afternoons at 12;00 p.m in 1976. This is one of my favourite TV programme of all,because I like the main theme tune,and it is written by John Barry,best remembered composing for Bond films amongst others,and not to mention The Persuaders,also another ITC series and ran for 24 episodes.Also,the series launched the careers of famous celebrities such as Stephanie Beacham,John Savident and not to mention Ben Kingsley[before he became famous in the 1982 film Gandhi].Even the late Burt Kwouk appeared in 2 episodes and not to mention the late Roy Kinnear who work in the scrapyard in the Episode called `Skeleton in the Cupboard`,and also filmed in various countries like France as well as England.

Review added to DVD by HelBic:
Braveheart - 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1995)

Everyone probably already knows that this is a really really inaccurate telling of the story of William Wallace but... if viewed as a period action movie, it's brilliant.

There's supposedly a red car driving along the side of the valley in the opening battle but no matter how many times I watched it, I've never seen it.

Always worth a watch, even if Mel's Scots accent is wobbly most of the time.

They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!

Review added to DVD by HelBic:
Passengers - Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2017)

I loved the look of the movie just like Gregs78s but.... that's as far as it went. Very little story, I didn't feel any chemistry between the two stars and as for the end.... My recommendation would be to give it a miss. It doesn't even qualify as a chick flick (my girlfriend didn't like it either).

Review added to Cinema by Magic Marmalade:
It Follows (2014)Rated 9/10

One of the best horror films I've seen in years.

...Relying not, as most modern "horror" films do, on jumps and scares, or just chopping people to pieces, this has bags of atmosphere, the way horror films used to; Taking, as it does, it's cue from the John Carpenter style of movie.

A simple, creepy concept, of a thing: "it", which, erm... follows (you).

Relentlessly - slowly - but relentlessly,

...and the target of it's following can be transferred from one person to another, through the ever reliable medium of sex.

But it's addition of a highly evocative soundtrack, which most immediately calls to mind these old school horror film associations, that really elevates it. I shouldn't be surprised if the soundtrack to this achieves some kind of classic status, and the vinyl especially, becomes highly sought after.

Review added to DVD by gregs78s:
Passengers - Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2017)Rated 7/10

Undeniably visually impressive,especially on and around the ship itself,but not your typical humans vs aliens thing however,this one's more of a Sci-Fi rom/com really :)

Review added to 78 RPM by sixtiesmusicfanatic:
Ruth Rydell - On The Carousel / Someone Is Crying (1954)

This disc appears to be Ruth Rydell's sole release, available in 78 format only. The "A" side, "On The Carousel", is a jaunty sing-along style number, very tuneful. Rydell delivers it with zest, accompanied by backing singers who are well to the fore, and the track is enhanced by a scintillating arrangement incorporating fairground sounds and whistling. The flip side is a compelling emotional ballad, which provides Rydell with more scope to display her vocal prowess. I was unable to locate a copy of this record on the London label, so in the end I had to settle for the American release on the obscure BBS label. Finally, I can find no information on the Internet about Ruth Rydell. Can anyone out there assist with this?

Review added to Vinyl Album by kab2112:
Rossington Collins Band - Anytime Anyplace Anywhere (1980)

Gary Rossington and Allen Collins got this band together to carry on the spirit of Lynyrd Skynyrd allbeit with a female vocalist in the form of Dale Krantz. There are some excellent tracks on here, in fact there isn't a poor track on the album. The pick of the bunch are probably "Misery Loves Company" "Getaway" and "One Good Man" Dale Krantz is a fine singer for this type of stuff and there is some very nifty guitar work in the "Suvvern" vein. Well worth a listen 37 years on. Dale Krantz is now Dale Krantz-Rossington and tours with the modern day Lynyrd Skynyrd as a backing singer in the band.

Review added to 78 RPM by sixtiesmusicfanatic:
Steve Conway - At The End Of The Day / Bless This House (1951)

This single comprises two quasi-religious songs, recorded by the under-rated English singer Steve Conway. Both songs are very familiar, having been recorded by many other acts, and Conway receives full support on both tracks from the Hastings Girls Choir, to appropriately restrained arrangements. There is little to choose between them, but I prefer the melody and lyrics of " At The End Of The Day". Steve Conway was born in Hackney, East London, on 24 October 1920, and he was originally a dance-band singer before signing with Columbia records in 1945. He had a very pleasant mellow voice, and between 1945 - 1951 he recorded approximately 100 songs, mostly religious ballads or what were known as " standards." He also toured the U.K. variety circuit. However, he had suffered from rheumatic fever as a child, which left him with a weak heart, and sadly he died in London on 19 April 1952, aged just 31, after heart surgery.

Review added to Vinyl Album by Azguard:
Bill And Boyd - Dreamin' 18 All Time Greats (1982)

Bill & Boyd ( William "Bill" Cate and William "Boyd" Robinson).
Easy Listening record with slightly countrified versions of some old classics, as well as.
Santa Never Made it into Darwin which charted at # 2 in Australia and was written by Bill Cate as a charity fund raiser for the Darwin relief fund after Cyclone Tracy in 1974. The duo's other charting hit was, Put Another Log On The Fire, this record has very good renditions of both.

Review added to 78 RPM by sixtiesmusicfanatic:
Georges Guetary And Lizbeth Webb - This Is My Lovely Day / I Was Never Kissed Before (1947)

I am not really a fan of stage musicals or this type of music generally. However , " This Is My Lovely Day " , the duet between Georges Guetary and Lizbeth Webb from the stage musical " Bless The Bride " , is one of my favourite songs. " Bless The Bride " opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End in 1947 , and " This Is My Lovely Day " quickly became one of the most requested items on BBC radio. Its popularity was further enhanced by its association later in 1947 with the wedding of the then Princess Elizabeth and Lt. Philip Mountbatten. " This Is My Lovely Day " is a beautiful song , with a wonderful melody , enhanced by the superb performances of the two vocalists - truly mesmerizing. I am less keen on the flip side. It is tuneful , but the vocal delivery sounds affected and old-fashioned , and I could have done without the " spoken dialogue " mid-way through the song.

Review added to 78 RPM by sixtiesmusicfanatic:
Roger Williams - The Key To The Kingdom / Dearer Than Dear (1959)

The " A " side of this single , " The Key To The Kingdom " , is a rather ponderous piece , played in a leaden manner by Williams , with a choir adding to the overall sense of solemnity. The flip side is better , a lightweight tuneful number with Williams' tinkling piano supported to good effect by spirited backing singers. Unsurprisingly , this single bombed , as both sides were totally out of sync with what was charting in early 1959. Nebraska-born Roger Williams released many singles and albums between 1955 - 1980. His first single , " Autumn Leaves " in 1955 , was his biggest hit ( no.1 ). He also entered the Top 20 with three other singles ( " Almost Paradise " , no. 15 in 1957 ; " Near you " , no. 10 in 1958 ; and finally " Born Free " , no. 7 in 1966 ). Williams was a very popular live entertainer ; known as " the pianist to the Presidents " ; he played for nine Presidents of the United States. Finally , Roger Williams died of prostate cancer on 8 October 2011 , aged 87 , in Encino , California , having played concerts up to a short time before his death.

Review added to 78 RPM by sixtiesmusicfanatic:
The Fontane Sisters - Chanson D'Amour (Song Of Love) / Cocoanut Grove (1958)

The charming ballad " Chanson D'Amour ( Song Of Love ) " has been recorded by various acts thru the years. Pop duo Art & Dotty Todd had a no. 6 U.S. hit with it in 1958 , and nineteen years later Manhatten Transfer went all the way to no. 1 in the U.K. The Fontane Sisters' excellent take on the song reached no. 12 in 1958. The flip side of their disc , " Cocoanut Grove ", is another very appealing song , faster than " Chanson D'Amour " and enhanced by the sisters' spirited vocals and a compelling Hawaiian-style arrangement. The Fontane Sisters were Geri , Bea and Marge Rossi , from New Jersey , and they began their recording career on the RCA Victor label , scoring two Top 20 hits , before moving to the Dot label in 1954. There they scored seven Top 20 hits , including the million-selling no.1 hit " Hearts Of Stone " in early 1955. However , by the late '50s musical tastes were changing , and the sisters' last Hot 100 entry was " Jealous Heart " ( no. 94 , in late 1958 ). The Fontane Sisters largely retired from the music business in 1961 , cutting just one more single ( " Tips Of My Fingers " ) and an album in 1963. By then they had ceased touring , saying that they were tired of being on the road and did not want to be involved in the rock 'n' roll scene. Finally , Geri died on 13 September 1993 ; Bea died on 25 March 2002 ; and Marge died on 3 December 2003.

Review added to 78 RPM by sixtiesmusicfanatic:
Jaye P. Morgan - Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries / Operator 299 (1954)

" Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries " dates back to 1931 , when Rudy Vallee had a no.3 U.S. hit with it. It is a slow ballad , with reflective lyrics , and Jaye P. Morgan delivers it in an appropriately relaxed manner. It reached no. 26 in the U.S. charts at the start of 1954 , but I actually prefer the flip side. " Operator 299 " is an appealing quasi-novelty number , with lyrics about a girl anxiously trying to contact her boyfriend on the 'phone. Morgan sings it with gusto , to a jazzy arrangement incorporating telephone sounds. Jaye P. Morgan was born in Colorado in the U.S. on 3 December 1931 , and in the mid '50s she had seven Top 20 hits in America , her biggest being " That's All I Want From You " ( no.3 , in 1955 ). However , her recording career declined in the early '60s , whereupon she turned to acting and was moderately successful on television and in films. She was also a regular television game show panellist during the '70s , and she continued in showbusiness to a lesser degree until about 2004 , when she retired.