My Movies: Billy Elliot

11-year old Billy Elliot wants to take up ballet dancing, but he has in a world where boys are expected to do things like boxing before going down the coalmines, his chances of getting into a top dance school look slim.

Set in 1984, at the height of the British Coal Miners strikes, this is a “nothing is impossible” story that has been nominated for nearly 20 awards, nominations which are well deserved.

It really feels like the film was made around the time it is set. and the acting is excellent.  I would highly recommend it.

Billy Elliot on IMDB

My Movies: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Robert Ford grew up idolising outlaw Jesse James, but the more he got to know him, the less he found they had in common with each other.

The assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford tells the tale of the last few months of the life of the notorious American outlaw.  Robert Ford, who considered Jesse James his hero, longs to be a member of his gang, but as the story goes on, he becomes less and less enamoured with him.  Combine this with an ever increasingly paranoid James, who suspects just about anyone of being a member of the Pinkertons Detective Agency, who have been hired by the Railroad companies to hunt him down.

While this is a great piece of film-making, don’t expect yee-haw type of action.  This is more of a personal tale of Jesse James rather than a chronicle of his robberies.  It is quite long at two and a half hours and not one for the easily bored.

And heres a tip.  those of you who bought the two disc edition and would like to skip the trailers, pick “Republic of Ireland” rather than United Kingdom when the list of countries comes up at the start.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford on IMDB

My Movies: Ben-Hur

Jewish businessman Judah Ben-Hur and Roman Tribune Messala were childhood friends. But when Messala returns as Commaning officer of the Roman forces in Judea, their friendship comes to an abrupt end when he asks Ben-Hur to inform on his countrymen.

One of the greatest, if not the greatest movies ever made, it has everything from gooey love stories to sea battles and an epic chariot race. While the film isn’t necessarily about Christ, it does feature events of the Bible, such as the birth of Jesus, and his crucificition, as well as references to Ponteus Pilat being appointed as Governer of Judea.

Best watched on a Sunday afternoon following the Sunday feed.

If you haven’t seen this, then you must.

Ben-Hur on IMDB

My Movies: Apocolypto

Jaguar Paw and his fellow villagers have been captured and are to be taken to the great Mayan City. He must now save his family from certain death.

Mel Gibson’s epic about the Mayan people set at the dawn of the 16th century is one that comes highly recommended.

If you have poor vision then don’t bother though, there is no English audio on the DVD, (at least not the one I have anyway) and keeping up with the subtitles can be difficult.

This becomes less important as the film progresses as the amount of action increases with the amount of talk decreasing.

From the start there is action, so if you like the adrenalin rush, the buy this one.

 Apocolypto on IMDB