Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

The first Pirates film was released 23 years ago and is the latest of the re-releases that I have gone to see. Before the film started one of the trailers was the first Fast and the Furious film which turns 25 this year. This is what is truly scary. Not films I saw growing up but films that were released when I was in full time work not reaching a quarter of a century. The set up is that Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is trying to get back his ship which was taken from him by Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) who is trying to get rid of a curse with the help of a medallion that Elizabeth (Kiera Knightley) took from Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) several years earlier to hide the fact he was a pirate.

Johnny Depp gives one of his best performances since Ed Wood and he arguably hasn't had a role as good as this since. The over top manner is not too bad in this film but in future films it would become a parody. It’s reigned in enough to make the character likeable and funny. Another trailer before this film shows Depp plays Ebeneezer Scrooge in the latest remake of the Christmas classic and they cite Jack Sparrow and whilst I think it might be good, it wont be as good as Sparrow because the character is so memorable. Despite being a pirate, he is likeable and you want to see him get the Black Pearl back.

Orlando Bloom was clearly cast to cash in on the Lord of the Rings trilogy because that was the only reason to cast him in this. I have grown to like his performance in this over the years but I still think that was cast not for his acting abilities but because he was in one of the most popular trilogies in movie history. Kiera Knightley is another that wasn't really cast for her acting abilities. I think that at that time Bend it Like Beckham had gone down a storm and so they were probably trying to use her name recognition. She has the looks but there is very little there in terms of acting but because the film works as well as it does means that Knightley’s performance doesn't bring the film down. The chemistry that the film hopes is there between Bloom and Knightley sadly never appears in any of the films. As much as my opinion of Bloom and Knighley has improved over the years, the one thing that hasn't improved is their chemistry. It’s non-existent which is a shame.

Geoffrey Rush is really good as Barbossa. The friction between Barbossa and Sparrow is at the heart of the movie and Rush seems to be having fun playing a villain which is pitched just right for a Disney film.

The supporting cast is also really good with Jonathan Pryce being his usually charming self as Governor Swann (Elizabeth’s father), Jack Davenport as the likeable but equally snarky Norrington. Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook are a great double act as Pintel and Ragetti (Crook was another who was quite well known in 2003 with The Office still popular). There isn't really a weak performance from the supporting cast and that helps make the film enjoyable because you want the team that Jack cobbles together to succeed even if they abandon Jack at the end.

Considering that this film is over 20 years old, the special effects obviously hold up a lot more than films from the 90’s or 80’s. There are a couple that look a little iffy but to be fair given how many special effect shots there are in the film, one or two isn't a bad number. The dynamic between Depp, Knightley and Bloom is a good one although that is largely due to Depp.

The film is the best in the series and the one that doesn't suffer from the weight of an overcomplication in the plot. The film feels like a lot of fun which is something the later films lack and the film moves along at a great pace and is as much fun as it was 23 years ago. The story works because it is relatively straightforward, the action scenes are well done and you can see everything that is happening so the shaky cam thing is not an issue and the score is fantastic from Klaus Badelt. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a film that can still be enjoyed and seeing it on the big screen is the best way to watch it.

Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future was the latest classic movie to get a re-release and I sadly missed the chance when it was the 40th Anniversary last year but I put that right now. The setup is simple. Marty McFly ends up in 1955 and has to try and get back but in doing so making sure that his mom and dad in 1955 get together so that he can exist in 1985. The thing about this film is that it is a perfect blend of science fiction and action. This starts as ‘Steven Spielberg Presents’ and that was during arguably his greatest period as a director and producer.

Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd are brilliant as Marty and Doc Brown. Despite them being different ages and seeing the world differently, the characters have a bond and I think it is the eccentricity from Doc that makes the pairing really work. The look of both Marty and Doc are iconic and and surprisingly haven’t dated considering that this film was made in the mid 80s. The fashion in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure on the other hand……

The screenplay is really good because it tells the story and explains all the science in a way which I imagine wasn't 100% accurate in 1985 still came across as credible. I did chuckle when Doc was dismissive of Ronald Reagan being US President as he was an actor in 1955 considering we have a reality tv ‘star’ now President. 

Marty spends a humorous amount of the film trying to ward off the advances of his future mom. I do worry that to a certain generation this might be creepy but as it never really goes anywhere it is fun because of the awkwardness. The idea that when Marty returns to 1985 that his life is clearly better than it was at the start of the film might not work for some but I don’t think it’s drastically different to begrudge them a better life. Crispin Glover is great as the cowardly George. It was easy to sympathise with him because he is very likable and Biff is so easy to dislike. The only aspect of the ending that I wasn’t as keen on is when Marty goes back to 1985 and George is rude and a bit sleazy version of what he was like before. Thomas F. Wilson was really good as Biff. He was unlikeable enough to be a good antagonist to George but not too much to be the centre of the story cause that isn't what the story is about.

The score is great and the theme by Alan Silvestri is stunning and one of the greatest of all time. It’s weird to think that he would go from this to the Avengers films and would also do the score for Predator, Forrest Gump and Who Framed Roger Rabbit but none of them are on the same level as the score for this film. 

Back to the Future is a great film and seeing it on the big screen was a joy. Sometimes nostalgia can make a film from the 80s seem better than it actually is but that isn’t the case here. The characters are great and fun, the pacing is solid from the very beginning and it has a cheeky little sequel bait ending.  There are a couple of technical things that stand out but that is to be expected from a film 41 years old. Not all 80’s films have aged as well as Back to the Future and whilst the sequels aren't as good as this one, they are worth watching simply because of Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd and how good they are together.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)

I saw this at 5:30 on opening day and in the largest screen at my cinema and it was a sellout. Even the rows at the front which I call the neck aching seats were sold out. This is the  second film with Tom Holland and Zendaya that I have seen in the space of 10 days with The Odyssey being the other film and I have to say on every level that film is better.

The film follows on from Brand New Day where everyone has forgotten that Peter Parker is Spiderman. He is doing his vigilante thing and seemingly being encouraged by DeWolff. 

Tom Holland gives another solid performance as Spider-Man. He has grown into the role over the years and it's nice to see him away from Iron Man and this was the strongest performance that Holland has given. I dont think its as good as The Odyssey but its still the sort of performance a leading man should give. Zendaya is good as MJ although I think its a rather average role, Zendaya manages to make something of it and make it quite interesting. Jacob Batalon is fine as Ned and only really works when he is with Zendaya and Holland as the three have some good chemistry. There was a nice cameo from Florence Pugh’s Yelena. Although it looked like all her scenes were filmed in a day because she never moves out of that swimming pool set.

It was good to see Hulk back and nIce that Banner seems to have moved on from The Avengers. I think the last time I saw Mark Ruffalo was in Mickey 17 where he was doing his Donald Trump impression. I think I read somewhere that they made Hulk smaller during the Thanos stuff to make Thanos look more of a threat. There is only so much that you can do with Hulk and its used well in this film. Jon Bernthal was the thing in the movie. I feel like its an obvious thing to say and you could argue that he plays the same shouty type character in almost all his films but it very much works in this film. He had several good moments and some of his lines got chuckles from the packed audience.

Sadie Sink debuts a Jean Gray which was kind of spoilt because some people wanted to spoil it and I thought she was fine. Jean was after V-Max and I had a funny feeling that this wasn’t going to be an important thing and it turned out to not be because it’s revealed that it is the name of the brand of the a/c unit in the room her sister was in. Which might annoy some with how unimportant it is but it’s typical Marvel. Despite this Sink did the best with what she was given and it a shame her debut came as late in the film as it did.

The main issue that I have with this is that the film is 145 minutes long and it is about 40 minutes too long. 40 minutes of Peter Parker moping around and it’s at that point the plot actually kicks in. Some might like that but I just think we are well into this franchise that we can just jump into it with minimal set up. You could have spent 15 minutes setting things up and then start with the Jean Grey stuff.

There is one shot where Hulk and Spiderman are fighting and the camera is spinning around and I didn’t know what I was supposed to be watching. Now this isn’t a knock on the director as I like Destin Daniel Cretton's previous films Shang Chi and Just Mercy with the latter being really good. I think he did a good job. The film wasn’t as flashy as previous Spider-Man films but there was a bit more character stuff going on even if it took way too long to get there.

Ultimately the film despite having some good moments is somewhat disappointing. I didn’t know  what I was expecting but I think I wanted a bit more and I think the experience of sitting it a completely sold out helped.

Sunny Dancer (2026)

Sunny Dancer was a mystery screening and sees Bella Ramsey play Ivy who is recovering from cancer and is sent away to a summer camp for young adults recovering from cancer. So the film is not a laugh out loud comedy but what it is is a coming of age drama.

Bella Ramsey is quite good as Ivy. Ivy is naturally sceptical of the summer camp and is reluctant to get involved and as the film progresses Ivy grows into a person that can open up to her new found friends. They are all interesting enough and mean something different to Ivy. Some of the scenes are going to play better to a young audience and I could have done without the disco lights and the show and tell about how a tampon works. Again, might work for a younger audience but not for me. 

Jessica Gunning and James Norton the other two familiar names and play Ivy’s parents Karen and Bob who seem quite keen to palm Ivy off to the camp although they do come across as nice parents. This is the second Gunning film I have seen in 2026 and she probably gets the same amount of screen time although I think this is a much better role. Neil Patrick Harris plays the fish out of water American Patrick who runs the camp and has some good scenes and gives the sort of performance you would expect from Harris. He manages to be serious but pull of a couple of humorous moments.

The big reveal is that at the talent show they have a special guest and it is James Blunt but it was spoilt if you saw the trailer cause he appears in it and there is no other reason why he would. Don't get me wrong he sings ‘Your Beautiful’ and does it well but the surprise was ruined. Also if you don't like the Scissor Sisters song ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ then you needs to start could you hear it about half a dozen times throughout the film.

I like the Mystery Screening events because they tend to show films I would never have gone to see and sometimes it works and sometime it doesnt. At the beginning of the film I was dreading this film but by the end I was happy that I saw it. A couple of people did walk out after about 45 minutes but there was still about 25 people on a Monday night that stayed. 

This film isnt for everyone but its a a film thats worth seeing although I wish they had come up with a better title cause Sunny Dancer isnt the greatest name. The story is perfectly fine and its directed well enough. The pacing was just right and at 96 minutes it doesnt outstay its welcome. There have been a couple of lovely looking films filmed in the UK & Ireland in the last year or two and this one doesn't do as good as job of showcasing the landscape as films like Glenrothan and 500 Miles but that isnt what this film is meant for but I think what it does well is show how people are struggling to deal with their cancer treatments and what happens afterwards. 

Jurassic Park (1993)

Jurassic Park is one of my favourite films of all time. It is in my favourite four list on Letterboxd and will remain there until I draw my last breathe. I remember seeing this film at the cinema back in 1993 and afterwards when I got home I would imagine that T-Rex’s would come bursting through the trees at the back of my garden (I was 10 at the time!!!!).

The set up is that Hammond (Richard Attenborough) invites Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) to the island to say that it is safe and thus allow the opening of the park to take place but of course things go wrong and the rest of the film is about them trying to get off the island without being dinner for the T-Rex or the Velociraptor.

The effects are just as impressive as they were back in 1993. The first encounter with the T-Rex is still one of the most jaw dropping moments in cinema and everything comes together to make it heartstopping. The score is brilliant. I have grown to respect music scores more in the last year or two and even though I have always loved the theme, the score throughout the film is great. John Williams has created one of the greatest theme songs in movie history but there are several action scenes which are elevated by Williams’ great score. 

The scene where Nedry was killed is something that scarred me when I first saw it in 1993. Even now at 43 years old I find it a great little moment. It’s hard to feel sorry for Nedry and this shows how you write a good bad character and you feel satisfied that he got his comeuppance. 

I will admit I felt sad the first time that Sam Neill appeared on screen. As I write this its been about two weeks since he passed away and this is the first film I saw him in. It’s debatable whether its his best but its on the shortlist. He is introduced as a child-hating person but is forced to spend a good chunk of the film with Hammond’s grandchildren Tim and Lex. Despite being sidelined with the kids, Neill makes it work and the kids make him more of a parental figure and it feels genuine. Laura Dern is great as Ellie and she gets some cool action scenes. There is a love triangle that is hinted at between Ellie, Grant and Malcolm. Thankfully there is more to her character than the love triangle and her moment to shine is when she goes to reset the power and unknowingly electrocutes Tim. Jeff Goldblum is great as Malcolm because…..well he’s Jeff Goldblum. There is a fun vibe to the character and he goes get some of the funniest lines and arguably one of the most memorable when he says “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should”. It’s a great line and it’s makes even better because of Goldblum. 

The way that the characters are written is so good that when Hammond is looking sadly at his cane I still felt sad for him. Even after all the death and destruction it is because of Richard Attenborough that you even have an ounce of sympathy. The film also sees Samuel L. Jackson appear as Arnold and whilst the character get short changed with an off screen death, I always forget that he is in the film. This happens when I think of the actors in the film and its has created the ‘Samuel L Jackson rule’ which applies to well known actors who appear in films you really like and have seen multiple times but forget they are in it.

It may not be a huge shock to say that I love this movie. This is at least my third time seeing it at the cinema and I still love this film. It is a great story with some great action scenes and characters that likeable and are easy to connect with. The rest of the franchise never quite live up to this (although the first Jurassic World film gets the closest) but this was Steven Spielberg at the top of his game.

Event Horizon (1997)

To say that Event Horizon is the best Paul W.S. Anderson is the textbook definition of damning with faint praise. The film sees a bunch of astronauts investigate the titular Event Horizon spaceship which disappeared several years before. The film stars Alan Grant and Morpheus with the former turning out to be the creator of the machine that will help people go from a to z in no time at all.

The film has a great sense of atmosphere. Yes the science part doesn't make much sense in the second half of the film but for the most part the film manages to make science at least seem credible. There are clearly moments which seem to have been inspired by The Shining which isn't a smart thing to do but at least these are relatively subtle for Anderson.

Sam Neill is very good as Weir. He is the ‘expert’ and if he had just been that then I would have still liked his performance but the moment he starts to change takes the performance up a notch and becomes the physical antagonist of the film and seems to enjoying himself. Laurence Fishburne gives a typical Fishburne performance. He plays the leader type role rather well and gives what I think is an unintentionally hilarious delivery of ‘we’re leaving’ after seeing the horrific video diary. The film has other supporting actors with Joely Richardson ok as Starck, Jack Nosewrothy ok as Justin, Sean Pertwee delivering a great performance as Smith and Jason Isaacs being the best of the rest as D.J.

This film has a good two thirds but falls apart in the final third. A lot of it hasn’t dated very well but it is one of the few schlock movies that is actually quite fun to watch. It helps having the late Sam Neill and Laurence Fishburne giving it their all and I think that the directing is somewhat standard which for a Paul W.S. Anderson film is still pretty good. He shows in this film that he is interested in how things come together and creating atmosphere and some impressive horrific moments unlike the latter Resident Evil movies. 

Event Horizon is the sort of film to watch and enjoy with your mates. At 96 minutes the film manages to pace things rather well and i dont think that it outstayed its welcome and the special effects have generally aged well although some have not so for a late 90’s film this should definitely be watched which shows that Anderson could actually direct.

Don't Worry Darling (2022)

I never watched Don’t Worry Darling when it originally came out in 2022. I think the behind the scenes drama with the main cast put me off but I thought that I would give it the benefit of the doubt. The set up of the film is Alice and Jack seem to be living the idyllic lifestyle in Victory but Alice finds out that things aren’t quite as idyllic as it might seem when strange things happen to make her question what is around her.

The main problem is that it is a Black Mirror idea that doesn't quite go the distance. It had a good idea but doesn't seem to know what to do with it. Once the twist is revealed then instead of it being this big moment it feels somewhat lacklustre which is a shame cause the setting and look of the film work really well.

Florence Pugh is really good as Alice and is primarily the main reason why I was as engaged with the film as I was. She is the only one of the main characters that you end up sympathising with and its because Pugh makes her as likeable as she does. Harry Styles tries as Jack but this experiment to make him an actor clearly hasn’t worked. His role needed to be more of a menace and I don’t think that Styles has that ability. I hate to say it but this does feel a bit like stunt casting. The studio hoped he would bring young cinema goers to part with their money but I think that compromised the effect the character had on the story. When they have scenes together it feels like Pugh is more convincing than Styles. It seems like Styles was having the time of his life when he’d got to do a bit of dancing but for the rest  of it he felt like he was out of his depth. Olivia Wilde is fine as Bunny. I don’t know if she was more focused on directing than acting but her role felt quite minimal and only the scene with Pugh in the restroom and towards the end when she is helping Pugh escape felt memorable. It would have been nice to see more of Chris Pine which isn’t a sentence I have said before. I think he was a stronger villain than Styles’ Jack so his limited screen time felt weird. As Frank there is something off putting about his character which makes it interesting.

Don’t Worry Darling isn't terrible but neither is it as good as it could have been. The behind the scenes drama is more interesting that the film but I think that the with a better script then this would have worked out much better and I think the behind the scenes stuff wouldn't have manifested. A slight disappointment but at least it didn’t last longer than 2 hours. Thankfully Wilde showed this was a blip as The Invite is a much better film in every way imaginable.