Reviews by Mark

"Equilibrium" is very good. It's very stylish. It's obviously influenced by "The Matrix", but doesn't copy from it. It feels like an old-fashioned dystopian science fiction novel, like Orwell's "1984", perhaps. The actors are all excellent, with a pre-"Batman" Christian Bale showing his full range, both physically and emotionally. This movie was a very pleasant surprise.

I thought it was very good, but not as good as X2. The mutant-on-mutant fighting was cool, but it wasn't as character-driven as the first two movies were. It didn't have as much heart.

Directed by and starring Jackie Chan, and from before his first trip to Hollywood for "Rush Hour", these two films are probably my favourite Chan movies. Stunning action sequences are mixed with hilarious slapstick comedy, and the movies can be seen as his best tribute to the Buster Keaton movies Chan has always cited as an influence. These two movies are just *fun* from start to finish.

The Collector's Editon of Close Encounters has to be the best version of Spielberg's classic movie. It's a film of contrasts, from the epic scenes of the chanting crowd in Egypt to the tiny domestic scenes, and at its core is a very simple exploration of every man's struggle to be true to himself and make something of his life, but at the same time to provide for his family.