Reviews by Darren Amner

Order by: Date, A–Z

• 
  Most Haunted: The Best Of Live - Volume Five (2007)

  Review preview for Most Haunted: The Best Of Live - Volume Five

  This is a show that is probably a victim of its own success.

  The paranormal investigations team visit Edinburgh, Portsmouth and Wales.
• 
  Never Back Down (2008)

  Review preview for Never Back Down

  Has all the ingredients of a fun Friday night out.

  A teenager joins a secret school fight club and starts training in martial arts.
• 
  Never Forget: A New Musical Based On The Songs Of Take That (2007)

  Review preview for Never Forget: A New Musical Based On The Songs Of Take That

  Brocklehurst script oozes romance, despair and humour with equal aplomb.

  Stage show about a Take That tribute band.
• 
  Notes On A Scandal (2006)

  Review preview for Notes On A Scandal

  A great psychological thriller, that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

  A sexual adventure leads to emotional blackmail in a comprehensive school.
• 
  November (2004)

  Review preview for November

  November is similar to abstract art and will engage people for part of the time and possibly cause some debate, but there isn't enough substance for it to truly hold an audience.

  The truth lies outside the frame.
• 
  One Last Dance (2005)

  Review preview for One Last Dance

  One Last Dance tries to be too clever for its own good, attempting to explore a mixture of themes that don’t blend together well.

  An assassin hunts a child-kidnapper.
• 
  P2 (2007)

  Review preview for P2

  Certainly worth a watch but not worth braving the cold for.

  A workaholic woman gets stalked in parking garage on Christmas Eve.
• 
  Party Animals (2007)

  Review preview for Party Animals

  The script is witty and engaging and the actors involved give very credible performances.

  A look at Westminster from the ground up.
• 
  Pink (2008)

  Review preview for Pink

  Predictably, as the ending arrives we learn absolutely nothing or witness anything different that we didn't see coming halfway through.

  A modern fairy tale about a woman who sets out to find love.
• 
  Pink Panther 2 (2009)

  Review preview for Pink Panther 2

  Steve Martin is actually quite good at times, but he's let down mostly by a wafer-thin script and misguided direction.

  The bungling inspector investigates the theft of some historical artifacts.
• 
  The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee (2009)

  Review preview for The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee

  Wry, funny and emotionally-charged.

  A wife who moves to a retirement community with her much older husband, finds herself on the verge of a breakdown.
• 
  Prison Break: Season 3 (2007)

  Review preview for Prison Break: Season 3

  I feel that after all this time I have been part of the escape team

  Plenty of cons, lots more pros.
• 
  Real Fiction (2000)

  Review preview for Real Fiction

  While often surreal and almost intriguing, the film lacks direction.

  A repressed and bullied street artist takes his revenge.
• 
  Restraint (2008)

  Review preview for Restraint

  Ambitious, intriguing storytelling.

  A young couple on the run take a stranger hostage, but have they picked the wrong stranger?
• Seed Of Chucky (2004)

  Review preview for Seed Of Chucky

  The style and dark comedy will draw in a new audience and please diehard Chucky fans as well.

  Fifth slice of horror with the demonic doll.
• 
  Sex and Death 101 (2007)

  Review preview for Sex and Death 101

  Essential viewing.

  A man's life is turned upside down after receives an email listing all his sexual conquests... including those he hasn't had yet.
• 
  Shanghai Kiss (2007)

  Review preview for Shanghai Kiss

  Expecting a frothy no-brain rom-com, Shanghai Kiss gives you so much more.

  Journey of self discovery for Chinese-American actor in Shanghai.
• Silent Grace (2001)

  Review preview for Silent Grace

  The performances are excellent, but this is a movie that could have used more dramatic scenes to put across the struggle and prove a point.

  PoW movie from a women's perspective, tracking dirty protests in the 1980s.
• 
  Skinwalkers (2006)

  Review preview for Skinwalkers

  Skinwalkers had me occasionally howling with laughter, whether it intended to be funny or not.

  A creepy tale of werewolves living among us.
• 
  Society (1989)

  Review preview for Society

  If there is one reason to see Society it’s for the special effects make-up, which is outstanding, if a little warped.

  A young man suspects that the reason his upper class neighbours avoid him is because he's adopted, but the truth is still more disturbing. Gore galore.
• 
  Strength And Honour (2007)

  Review preview for Strength And Honour

  More raging dull than raging bull.

  A bare-knuckle boxer is forced to step back into the ring.
• 
  Super Size Me (2003)

  Review preview for Super Size Me

  Everyone needs to see this film.

  Documentary filmmaker acts as guinea pig in fast food experiment.
• Swimming Upstream (2003)

  Review preview for Swimming Upstream

  The performances are excellent, with Spencer conveying the emotions and suffering Tony endures admirably and Rush, as his alcoholic, abusive father is wonderful.

  Drama, based on the true-life story of Aussie swimmer Tony Fingleton.
• 
  Talk To Me - The Complete First Series (2007)

  Review preview for Talk To Me - The Complete First Series

  One of the series' main strengths is making its protagonists thirtysomethings, broadening the scope of the plot.

  TV drama exploring modern relationships and friendships.
• 
  Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951)

  Review preview for Tom Brown's Schooldays

  Very dated, but the themes that run throughout are still significant.

  Surviving public school in the bad old days of institutionalised bullying
• 
  A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1945)

  Review preview for A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

  As sentimental as it is endearing.

  Growing up poor in Brooklyn, with an irresponsible father and the dream of becoming a writer.
• 
  Uprise (2008)

  Review preview for Uprise

  Feels like an overlong short film.

  A man meets a pregnant woman in a hospital... but have they met before?
• 
  Virgin Territory (2007)

  Review preview for Virgin Territory

  Littered with sexual innuendo that is about as funny as drowning kittens.

  A young buck in mediaeval Italy tries to rescue his love from the clutches of a dastardly Tim Roth... at the same time as avoiding the plague.
• 
  Weirdsville (2007)

  Review preview for Weirdsville

  Instantly forgettable but enjoyable enough.

  The unlikely lives of Canadian junkies.
• The Wendell Baker Story (2005)

  Review preview for The Wendell Baker Story

  Low-budget charmer shows a different side and range to Owen Wilson.

  Feelgood romp with a positive message for old folks.
• 
  When Evil Calls (2006)

  Review preview for When Evil Calls

  If Evils calls, my advice would be not to pick up.

  Clowning around with people's wishes.
• 
  Whiteout (2009)

  Review preview for Whiteout

  Whiteout should have been great; unfortunately it's god awful.

  A US Marshall hunts a murderer in Antarctica on the even of a six month night.
• 
  Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)

  Review preview for Wrong Turn 2: Dead End

  Director Joe Lynch has tried hard to make this movie special in its own right and delivers probably the best direct-to DVD sequel I have seen to date.

  Reality TV contestants fight for survival out in the woods.
• 
  The Wicker Man (2006)

  Review preview for The Wicker Man

  Dire plotting, snail-like pace and comatose cast.

  A detective searches for a missing child in a mysterious Pagan community.
• 
  You Rang, M'Lord? - The Complete First Series (1988)

  Review preview for You Rang, M'Lord? - The Complete First Series

  Each episode furthers character development and aids its audience in feeling and caring for this motley band of hired help.

  British TV class comedy series on an upstairs/ downstairs theme.
• 
  Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

  Review preview for Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession

  An affectionate, touching piece.

  Documentary about the ground-breaking TV channel.