Reviews by John Gallagher

Order by: Date, A–Z

• 
  Battle In Heaven (2005)

  An ugly taxi driver and the prostitute daughter of a general go at it and at it and (yawn).
• 
  The Brothers Grimm (2005)

  Review preview for The Brothers Grimm

  There are scenes that go on and on and...

  Bogus ghostbusters finally meet their match in a genuine enchanted forest.
• 
  Cinderella Man (2005)

  Review preview for Cinderella Man

  [Braddock's] struggle makes for great viewing and a terrific story.

  Biopic of all American working-class (boxing) hero.
• 
  Constantine (2005)

  Review preview for Constantine

  If you get past the annoying Constantine-wannabe-taxi-driving sidekick and the use of only one cliched scare, this is really enjoyable.

  The comic book adventures of a chain smoking paranormal gumshoe in post-apocalyptic LA.
• 
  Coast Guard (2002)

  Review preview for Coast Guard

  Shows the personal tragedy of war rather than how it affects a nation.

  A border soldier loses grip of reality after an accidental killing.
• 
  Coyote Ugly (2000)

  A smalltown girl heads for the bright lights to make it as a singer.
• 
  The Driver (1978)

  Review preview for The Driver

  The elements involved in creating this movie were well thought out and planned perfectly (just like the driver’s getaways).

  A detective hunts a getaway driver through the streets of San Fransisco.
• 
  The Devil's Rejects (2005)

  Gritty, grotty, rustic sequel to House Of 1000 Corpses.
• 
  Elizabethtown (2005)

  A man heads for a funeral and finds love on the way.
• 
  The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

  Fast cars, hot women and intense camerawork - Japanese style.
• 
  The Fog (2005)

  Fog wafts over a small town bringing revenge with it.
• 
  Four Brothers (2005)

  Nobody messes with the Mercers.
• 
  George A Romero's Land Of The Dead (2005)

  Review preview for George A Romero's Land Of The Dead

  Land is well worth the wait and fans of the first three [instalments] will not be disappointed.

  The creator of the zombie genre returns with an allegory of Bush's abuses in Iraq.
• 
  Good Morning (1959)

  Review preview for Good Morning

  If you're looking for a movie that has no action, no monsters, no sex and no bad language then you've come to the right place.

  The humanity of small things in a Tokyo suburb in the Fifties as Western consumerism encroaches.
• 
  The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (2005)

  Douglas Adam's classic end of the world comedy finally makes it to the silver screen.
• 
  Hoodwinked (2005)

  Review preview for Hoodwinked

  I dare anyone not to enjoy this movie.

  The truth about Little Red Riding Hood.
• Humanist (2001)

  Review preview for Humanist

  This movie is a last resort for someone with extra 100 minutes to spare when they wouldn't rather be painting, taking the dog for a long walk or even drinking.

  A spoilt, rich kid tries to get away with murder by staging a kidnap.
• 
  Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

  A good guy, trying to convince people he's a bad guy, runs into serious trouble.
• 
  The Last Detail (1973)

  Ordered to take a young convict to prison, two Navy officers decide to help him have one last good time.
• 
  The League Of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)

  Review preview for The League Of Gentlemen's Apocalypse

  The League deserves to be judged by its fans. This one felt that they had been fed some dodgy special stuff.

  Convoluted comedy from TV-based series that questions the meaning of reality.
• 
  Lord Of War (2005)

  Review preview for Lord Of War

  One of the best intros ever.

  The cynical dark world of an unscrupulous arms dealer.
• 
  Miami Vice (2006)

  Cop duo Crockett and Tubbs ditch their 80s pastel suits to crack - pardon the pun - down on a gang of ruthless drug dealers in style.
• 
  Mission: Impossible III (2006)

  Review preview for Mission: Impossible III

  In between all the action - the scene on the bridge is awesome - we get to see the serious side of Ethan and, you know, I would have enjoyed it more if we hadn't.

  The Ethan Hunt franchise gets personal, while chasing a psychopathic arms dealer half way round the globe.
• 
  Mr & Mrs Smith (2005)

  Review preview for Mr & Mrs Smith

  The perfect amount of laughter, action and romance to keep everyone happy.

  Husband and wife assassins find themselves targeting each other.
• 
  Over The Hedge (2006)

  Review preview for Over The Hedge

  It hits all the right notes. It's cute, it's funny and the creatures and the backdrops are all amazing.

  More cartoon critters learn 'important' lessons.
• 
  The Ordeal (2004)

  Review preview for The Ordeal

  Don't watch this while eating.

  A passing crooner is kidnapped by a loony in the woods.
• 
  Poseidon (2006)

  Review preview for Poseidon

  Not missing a beat, Petersen has taken all the suspense from the original and brought it forward into an updated classic.

  Another cruise liner, another wet day at the office, another remake
• 
  Pulse (2006)

  Review preview for Pulse

  The Americans have a way of destroying what could be an interesting, atmospheric story and instead opt to shove in as many SFX and wooden actors as they see fit.

  Teenagers are killed as they battle an evil website.
• 
  The Quiller Memorandum (1966)

  A British secret service agent is sent to West Berlin to uncover a neo-Nazi cell.
• 
  R-Point (2004)

  Review preview for R-Point

  It is one of the creepier movies that I have seen in a while and we are once again reminded that although the Korean and Japanese horror films are some of the very best around, there is still the problem of the ending.

  Soldiers at war see ghosts in the charnel house.
• 
  The Sentinel (2006)

  Review preview for The Sentinel

  It's been done before and as predictable as watching an episode of Big Brother.

  US secret service attempts to foil a presidential assassination plot, while uncovering a traitor in its midst.
• 
  Silent Hill (2006)

  Review preview for Silent Hill

  Finally, a horror movie worth bragging about.

  The singed secrets of a burnt town reveal a terrible haunting.
• Sixth Happiness (1997)

  Review preview for Sixth Happiness

  Waris Hussein breaks with the stereotype and shows Brit as a flawed, sexual character, not passive but actively trying to forge a future for himself beyond the life of dependence his disease forces upon him.

  The life, loves and laughter of an irrepressible Indian with brittle bone disease.
• 
  Saw III (2006)

  Review preview for Saw III

  The biggest problem with Saw III is that it doesn't make the impact that a third and final instalment should make.

  Jigsaw's final game attempts to link the pieces in this blood-soaked franchise.
• 
  Sin City (2005)

  Review preview for Sin City

  Sin City simply screams cool.

  Stylised graphic novel adaptation shows three men on a mission.
• 
  Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

  Review preview for Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge Of The Sith

  Worth the wait.

  Anakin's personal struggle against the Dark Side becomes more difficult as rebellious robots and an enemy within threaten to topple the Republic.
• 
  Tarnation (2003)

  Review preview for Tarnation

  This movie is like a car crash and you are kept pinned to the screen while his family's disturbing life is spilled out in front of you, like too many donner kebabs on a Friday night.

  One man's ultra-personal documentary about growing up with a schizophrenic mum.
• 
  Weapons Of Mass Deception (2004)

  Review preview for Weapons Of Mass Deception

  This is probably the closest to the truth we will ever get to what really sparked the war in Iraq.

  Documentary lifts the lid on media coverage of the conflict in Iraq.
• 
  Wedding Crashers (2005)

  Review preview for Wedding Crashers

  Will have you laughing until you're sore.

  A womanising duo, who specialise in trawling weddings, take on their last, hilarious challenge.
• 
  Whispering Corridors (1998)

  Review preview for Whispering Corridors

  You would think that because it's not an American CGI-infested horror, it would be half decent. You would be wrong.

  Ghostly murder at a South Korean girls school.
• 
  War Of The Worlds (2005)

  Review preview for War Of The Worlds

  The sets are amazing, the destruction is breathtaking and the aliens are something different.

  Earth is under attack and survival at a premium as giant alien robots gather for Armageddon.
• 
  X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

  Review preview for X-Men: The Last Stand

  The way the story flows from beginning to end is an act of beauty.

  The mutants battle over a manmade 'cure' for their condition.