Reviews by Daniel Hooper

Order by: Date, A–Z

• 
  2001 Maniacs: Field Of Screams (2010)

  Review preview for 2001 Maniacs: Field Of Screams

  As a story it falls apart because there is no one to root for.

  A cannibal clan goes on the move in search of fresh meat, which is bad news for two beautiful heiresses making a reality TV show. Plus read our exclusive interview with Bill Moseley.
• 
  The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin (1978)

  Review preview for The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin

  viscerally stimulating and emotionally engaging.

  San Te is on course for a battle with the Tartars... but first he needs training.
• 
  The 39 Steps (1935)

  Review preview for The 39 Steps

  History has been kind to Hitchcock’s film, something which is a testament to the director’s immense talents, and it is remarkable how well The 39 Steps holds up.

  A well-intentioned gentleman finds himself in trouble after getting involved in counter-espionage.
• 
  The Band's Visit (2007)

  Review preview for The Band's Visit

  The simplicity at the heart of The Band's Visit is charming.

  The misadventures of an Egyptian police band, who get lost in Israel.
• 
  Brother (2000)

  Review preview for Brother

  If the crux of the narrative is a fairly standard gangster archetype, then at least the heart of the story engages the viewer.

  An exiled yakuza leads a drug war against the mafia.
• 
  Burnt By The Sun (1994)

  Review preview for Burnt By The Sun

  A period piece with a relationship plot at the heart of the narrative, enhanced by wonderful cinematography and authentic production values.

  A historical piece, family drama and love story set in Soviet Russia.
• 
  Client 9 (2010)

  Review preview for Client 9

  It’s hard to feel too much pity for Spitzer as the clichéd ‘man who had it all and threw it away’, but the film shows his virtues and faults, and presents a compelling, if occasionally anecdotal, case for there being conspiracy.

  A profile of the man who, potentially, could have been president, and the scandal that bought about his downfall.
• 
  The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (2007)

  Review preview for The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

  The film doesn’t paint Jean in his life before the stroke as the most likeable character and Schnabel deftly explores the relationships and past life in flashback, linking them to present day Jean.

  The memoirs of a man who awoke from a coma to discover he was completely paralysed apart from his left eye.
• 
  Fido (2006)

  Review preview for Fido

  An inventive and superior entry into the zomcom canon.

  Zom-com sees a boy befriended by the family zombie... but trouble brews when he eats the neighbour.
• 
  Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder (2009)

  Review preview for Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder

  Fans can now rejoice at having Futurama spin-off that is up to the standard of the series.

  Bender finds love, Fry gets telekinetic ablities and Leela fights to save the environment from Leo Wong.
• 
  Futurama: The Beast With A Billion Backs (2008)

  Review preview for Futurama: The Beast With A Billion Backs

  The narrative of Billion Backs contains too many disparate elements but when the comedy is this consistent it isn’t too much of a compromise.

  The world is threatened by love struck alien Yivo.
• 
  Gamer (2009)

  Review preview for Gamer

  The story may lack originality but the visual stylings and action go some way to making up for its shortfall.

  In the near future, death row inmates fight in an online game for their survival.
• 
  Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008)

  Review preview for Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

  Gibney portrays the man’s excesses in a way that is not excessive and wisely lets the writing speak for itself.

  A documentary tribute to the legendary creator of gonzo journalism.
• 
  Iron Man (2008)

  Review preview for Iron Man

  Big, dumb, explosive and, most importantly, fun.

  A wealthy industrialist fights evil with a newly invented super-suit.
• 
  In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007)

  Review preview for In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

  Boll mistakes unexplained action for plot and hammy dialogue for exposition.

  Fantasy sees a man go on a quest to rescue his family.
• 
  Ip Man (2008)

  Review preview for Ip Man

  The fighting is slick, frenetic and plentiful, mixing fast cutting with subtle wire-fu, even if it is by no means particularly original.

  The first biography of Grandmaster Ip, mentor of Bruce Lee.
• 
  Jeff Garlin: Young And Handsome (2010)

  Review preview for Jeff Garlin: Young And Handsome

  Frequently amusing but rarely hilarious

  A stand up performance by Curb Your Enthusiasm's Jeff Garlin.
• 
  Jamaica Inn (1939)

  Review preview for Jamaica Inn

  An entertaining and surprisingly dark period drama.

  As Mary travels to Jamaica Inn to see her relatives, she is unaware of sinister goings on at the guesthouse.
• 
  Joy Division (2007)

  Review preview for Joy Division

  The soundtrack is, of course, superb, and the television appearances and bootleg live videos testify to how charismatic Joy Division were as live performers.

  An in-depth biographical account of the legendary Manchester band.
• 
  Kamikaze Girls (2004)

  Review preview for Kamikaze Girls

  A kitsch nightmare.

  An odd-couple friendship forms between two teens in small town Japan.
• 
  The Last House On The Left (1972)

  Review preview for The Last House On The Left

  A pivotal influence on the level of graphic violence permissible in modern horror and, more specifically, the plot devices and sequences featured in the recent torture porn genre.

  The attackers of two teenage girls inadvertently take refuge with their parents and face a terrible revenge.
• 
  Major Dundee (1965)

  Review preview for Major Dundee

  At its most effective when in conflict, be it ideological or combat.

  A divided troop on the trail of violent Apaches.
• 
  My Name Is Bruce (2007)

  Review preview for My Name Is Bruce

  Plays a lot like a neutered Troma movie – it lacks what makes Troma films appealing, namely the razor-sharp satirical touches and garage rock filmmaking ethos.

  Washed-up actor Bruce Campbell is forced to save the town of Gold Lick from ghost Guan-Di.
• 
  Nightwatch (1994)

  Review preview for Nightwatch

  After a tense, if tonally awkward, beginning, climaxing with a neat double bluff, Nightwatch falters rapidly.

  A game of dare leads to trouble for two pals in this killer thriller.
• 
  Penelope (2006)

  Review preview for Penelope

  For a fairytale Penelope lacks the sense of the fantastical.

  A young heiress is disfigured by a curse which only true love can lift.
• 
  [Rec] (2007)

  Review preview for [Rec]

  An engrossing and very terrifying experience.

  A news crew get trapped in an apartment block with a deadly virus and something else...
• 
  The Sound Barrier (1952)

  Review preview for The Sound Barrier

  With a slightly-too-long runtime and an unsatisfactory ending, this is more a curio than a classic, but one that can boast impressive technical feats and good production values, as well as wonderful performances from its seasoned cast.

  Troubled attempts at breaking the sound barrier and the turmoil caused for the wife of the test pilot.
• 
  Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided (2008)

  Review preview for Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided

  The fluid CG animation works wonders for the series, with space dogfights and lightsabre battles that are as explosive as their cinematic counterparts.

  The first four episodes from The Clone Wars animated series.
• 
  Star Wars: The Clone Wars Volume 2 - Clone Commandos (2008)

  Review preview for Star Wars: The Clone Wars Volume 2 - Clone Commandos

  The dubious episode selection and lack of extras only serve to exacerbate the feeling that this disc is a bit of a cash-in job.

  Four more episodes from the Clone Wars Season One.
• 
  Survival Of The Dead (2009)

  Review preview for Survival Of The Dead

  It would be overly enthusiastic to say that Survival is a true return to form after the relative misfire of Diary, but it is difficult to deny that Survival is a pretty good piece of genre filmmaking.

  Two tribes go to war in an undead apocalypse.
• 
  They Live (1988)

  Review preview for They Live

  With gusto and humour John Carpenter delivers a steady stream of explosive gun fights and brutal action.

  Alien conspiracy to brainwash California is exposed by looking at life through "magic" sunglasses.
• 
  Underground (2007)

  Review preview for Underground

  Just how much pleasure can be gained from watching unpleasant characters beat on each other? Answer: Not much.

  Twelve fighters compete to win £500,000 in an underground fighting competition.
• 
  Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

  Review preview for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

  Walk Hard delivers a wonderful collection of pastiches that are both amusing and very catchy.

  Spoof biopic of a rock 'n' roll singer.
• 
  Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden? (2008)

  Review preview for Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?

  Though humour is an important tool for spreading a message, here it seems the light-hearted tone clashes with the hard-hitting issue.

  Morgan Spurlock goes in search of the al-Qaeda leader.
• 
  Woman On The Run (1950)

  Review preview for Woman On The Run

  Given depth by Ann Sheridan’s nuanced performance.

  Eleanor is forced to find her ex-husband, after he witnesses a murder.
• 
  Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)

  Review preview for Wristcutters: A Love Story

  Wristcutters isn’t a story of despair but of hope, moving on, and, yes, love.

  A young man kills himself and awakens in a land where everything is "just a little bit worse".
• 
  When You're Strange (2009)

  Review preview for When You're Strange

  Seamlessly balances the scenes that made the band infamous, with the intimate moments and the atmosphere of an era.

  Documentary tracking the rise of The Doors, featuring rare footage of the band and Jim Morrison.
• 
  You, The Living (2007)

  Review preview for You, The Living

  If Andersson is good at using the visual to create links, then he accompanies this with a strong aural sense.

  Surreal, dreamlike, and darkly comic sketches about life and death.
• 
  Zombies From Banana Village (2007)

  Review preview for Zombies From Banana Village

  The humour varies between dumb and silly and more often than not misses the mark.

  Following the death of people who died after eating at a local café, the undead rise to scare the locals.
• 
  Zombieland (2009)

  Review preview for Zombieland

  Everything about Zombieland works, from the expositional flashbacks, to Columbus’ voice-over narration, to the well-judged but sudden changes in tone.

  When the world is overrun by zombies, four people try to survive.