Reviews by Stephen Carty

Order by: Date, A–Z

• 
  10,000 BC (2008)

  Review preview for 10,000 BC

  A bland movie that is less dangerous than a plate of nachos with jalapenos.

  When the woman he loves is taken by slavers, a young mammoth hunter sets out to try and save her.
• 
  17 Again (2009)

  Review preview for 17 Again

  Clichés are comforting rather than irritating thanks to a likeable turn from the impossibly handsome lead.

  Age-swap comedy, Zac Efron style.
• 
  2012 (2009)

  Review preview for 2012

  If you’re expecting two hours of things being destroyed, you’re wrong. It’s actually two and a half. And it feels like three.

  Solar activity brings about the end of the world as we know it, but a handful of people are determined to survive.
• 
  21 (2008)

  Review preview for 21

  Overall, 21 is certainly not going to change the cinematic world, but it’s lively and believes in itself enough to justify a worthwhile night at the flicks.

  A group of card counting college kids try to take the dealers of Vegas for a ride.
• 
  300 (2006)

  Review preview for 300

  In short, death has never looks so gorgeous.

  An adaptation of the Frank Miller comic about the real life struggle of 300 Spartan soldiers to hold a pass against the full might of the Persian army.
• 
  The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

  Review preview for The 40 Year Old Virgin

  While undoubtedly snort-out-loud funny with many a look-away wince-inducing moments, it’s first and foremost a realistic tale with a sweet centre.

  American Pie for grown ups.
• 
  About A Boy (2002)

  Review preview for About A Boy

  Funny, touching and so well-observed that commitment-phobic guys everywhere will nod their heads from start to finish.

  Hugh Grant, who hates kids and loves their mums, becomes friends with an odd 12-year-old boy.
• 
  All The President's Men (1976)

  Review preview for All The President's Men

  For the patient and intelligent viewer willing to give it a chance or for those interested in the topic at hand, this is cinematic gold-dust.

  The story of the Watergate scandal from the perspective of the reporters who broke the story.
• 
  The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

  Review preview for The Amazing Spider-Man

  Where Raimi’s approach was energetic, quirky and comic book-y, Webb’s is a modern, edgier, hipster version.

  Peter Parker tries to get to the bottom of his parents' disappearance.
• 
  The American President (1995)

  Review preview for The American President

  Occasionally veers into trite territory and the climax involves a big rousing speech, but it’s all very charming and intelligent.

  A widowed president falls for a lobbyist.
• 
  American Psycho (1999)

  Review preview for American Psycho

  A quite brilliant, blacker-than-black-usually-is comedy filled with biting satire that is packed to the designer-label rafters in subtext.

  Tales of a yuppie serial killer.
• 
  Angels & Demons (2009)

  Review preview for Angels & Demons

  There are hints of a decent science-co-existing-with-religion debate, but it’s buried beneath copious layers of plotting.

  The Catholic Church calls on its old adversary Robert Langdon to save it from an Illuminati threat.
• 
  Alfie (2004)

  Review preview for Alfie

  More concerned with alpha-male analysis than last minute happy endings.

  Remake of Sixties film about womanising lad about town who gets his comeuppance.
• 
  Alias: Season One (2001)

  Review preview for Alias: Season One

  Alias is intelligently-written, notably complex and deserves to be more well-known that it is.

  A college grad black-ops spy, becomes a double agent to bring down corruption.
• 
  American Pie Reunion (2012)

  Review preview for American Pie Reunion

  A charrming and funny improvement over the second and third slices.

  It's high school reunion time for Stifler and the gang.
• 
  Any Given Sunday (1999)

  Review preview for Any Given Sunday

  Drags you into the game to the point at which you’ll be checking to see if you’re jock strap is secure.

  Oliver Stone takes a gladiatorial look at the world of American football.
• 
  Ashes To Ashes: Series One (2008)

  Review preview for Ashes To Ashes: Series One

  Overall, Ashes To Ashes isn’t terrible, it is a perfect example of ‘difficult second album syndrome’.

  Gene transfers to the London Met in Life On Mars spin-off.
• 
  Ashes To Ashes: Series Two (2009)

  Review preview for Ashes To Ashes: Series Two

  An improved second series that has more recurring plotlines and less irrelevant crimes of the week.

  The Gene Genie is back...
• 
  Auf Wiedersehen, Pet: Series One (1983)

  Review preview for Auf Wiedersehen, Pet: Series One

  Brilliantly-written, expertly-observed and just as well acted.

  First season of the comedy drama about brickies abroad.
• 
  The Bank Job (2008)

  Review preview for The Bank Job

  Spends time developing its characters beyond mere chess pieces on a board and has a plot that is both complex, yet easy enough to follow.

  The true story of a group of bank robbers who stole more than they'd bargained for.
• 
  Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)

  Review preview for Batman: Gotham Knight

  Although there's the odd cool moment, this is a big disappointment.

  Six, loosely-related animated shorts set after Batman Begins.
• 
  Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries (2003)

  Review preview for Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries

  Complex, well-written and intelligent science-fiction.

  Humans flee to escape anihilation at the hands of the Cylons.
• 
  Back To The Future (1985)

  Review preview for Back To The Future

  One of the most deservedly popular movies in cinema history.

  A time travel classic of supreme comic invention, involving Marty McFly, a mad scientist and a DeLorean motorcar.
• 
  Back To The Future Part II (1989)

  Review preview for Back To The Future Part II

  The audacity of the plot deserves to be both admired and applauded but there are so many story developments to comprehend that figuring out what the hell a Gigawatt is doesn’t seem so tricky.

  The continuing story of Marty McFly and Doc Brown, in which they discover bad things in the future.
• 
  Batman Begins (2005)

  Review preview for Batman Begins

  Fuelled by logic and with realism as the key word, Nolan’s vision takes place in a real world far removed from the art deco stylised production of Burton or the lavish fancy dress party on steroids of Schumacher.

  The evolution of mixed up rich kid Bruce Wayne into the Dark Knight of Gotham City.
• 
  Blade (1998)

  Review preview for Blade

  Full of visceral action from start to finish, this is a kinetic mix of impressive stunts and inventive shots.

  A vampire half-breed wages war on his killer brethren.
• 
  Blade II (2002)

  Review preview for Blade II

  As a side-effect of all this style and imagination, there’s no room for substance or depth.

  Wesley Snipes returns as the half human, half vampire destroyer of evil.
• 
  Blade: Trinity (2004)

  Review preview for Blade: Trinity

  Blade feels like a supporting act in his own movie.

  Comic franchise gets a comedy revamp(ire).
• 
  Body Of Lies (2008)

  Review preview for Body Of Lies

  Body Of Lies is so bogged down with plot developments and dull exposition that it doesn't really have time for anything else.

  Counter-terrorist thriller about a CIA operative in the Middle East and his US-based 'handler'.
• 
  The Book Of Eli (2010)

  Review preview for The Book Of Eli

  The set-pieces are sporadic – but always exciting and kinetic.

  In a post-nuclear landscape, one man guards the world's last bible.
• 
  The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

  Review preview for The Bourne Supremacy

  Character development is marignalised in favour of chore-like shaky-camera action sequences.

  Amnesic assassin is still on the run from the CIA after being framed for a double murder.
• 
  Breaking Bad: Season One (2008)

  Review preview for Breaking Bad: Season One

  A mixture of intelligent writing, hard-hitting topics and ballsy acting.

  A chemistry teacher embraces a life of crime after being diagnosed with cancer.
• 
  Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

  Review preview for Beverly Hills Cop

  For all the charm on show, there’s still too much cheese.

  When his friend is murdered, rough-around-the-edges Detroit cop heads to Beverley Hills. Culture clashes abound!
• 
  Bionic Woman: Season One (2007)

  Review preview for Bionic Woman: Season One

  Relies too heavily on plot-of-the-week adventures and is peppered with clichés.

  A barmaid saved by high-tech medical implants adapts to a new role as part of a shady goverment organisation.
• 
  Blade: The Complete Series (2006)

  Review preview for Blade: The Complete Series

  It isn’t just Blade killing a different ‘monster of the week’ every episode (cynically, this would have been more popular), it’s a big inter-connected canvas in the style of The Sopranos.

  The vampire killer sinks his teeth into a spin-off series.
• 
  The Boat That Rocked (2009)

  Review preview for The Boat That Rocked

  Feeling like watered-down Curtis, the jokes frequently fall flat and you keep waiting for the big laughs that we know he can deliver.

  The story of a boat-based pirate radio station which the government tries to ban.
• 
  Boiler Room (1999)

  Review preview for Boiler Room

  Younger infuses Boiler Room with an impressive level of detail.

  Trouble brews at a brokerage firm.
• 
  The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

  Review preview for The Bridge On The River Kwai

  Lean's bridge-building drama doesn't grip as much as its reputation promises.

  An exhausted group of prisoners of war are forced to build a bridge, yet keep their spirits high.
• 
  Bruce Almighty (2003)

  Review preview for Bruce Almighty

  Using all the tricks in his comedic, improv-heavy bag, JC seems to have been let off the leash, with buddy Shadyac content to watch him do his thing whilst offering some very inventive sight gags.

  Jim Carrey becomes the Almighty, pray it isn't so.
• 
  Cashback (2006)

  Review preview for Cashback

  A visually-creative and introspective journey into weary self-analysis.

  Romance about an art student who works the nightshift in a supermarket, explores the issue of time - and what would happen if you could make it stand still.
• 
  Casino Royale (2006)

  Review preview for Casino Royale

  By focusing on the journey of how a spy becomes the Bond, James Bond we all know, the movie manages the impossible task of coping with all the baggage laid before it and reinvigorating our interest.

  James Bond earns his double zero status and relaxes at the poker table with a mass murderer.
• 
  Chasing Amy (1997)

  Review preview for Chasing Amy

  Smith crafts a movie that is more polished and - arguably - more mature than his previous efforts.

  A comic book artist falls for a lesbian.
• 
  Chinatown (1974)

  Review preview for Chinatown

  A dense and dark storyline that is compelling in and of itself, rather than simply ladelling on lots of game-changing twists.

  A PI stumbles into a water conspiracy.
• 
  The Crow (1994)

  Review preview for The Crow

  Full of gothic visuals and brooding melancholy, the bleak gloom is striking.

  A restless soul comes back from the dead to seek vengeance.
• 
  Cemetery Junction (2010)

  Review preview for Cemetery Junction

  Perhaps most impressive of all is how the themes of ambition, friendship and life-affecting decisions are dealt with without resorting to mush or cheesy-sentiment.

  A new job spells change for three friends in the Seventies.
• 
  Chuck: Season One (2007)

  Review preview for Chuck: Season One

  Ineffective blend of action and comedy

  An IT nerd finds himself thrust into espionage after Government secrets are accidentally downloaded into his brain.
• 
  The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)

  Review preview for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

  The Pittster does do his best with a restrained and mature performance, but he's about as shackled by Benjamin's condition as the character is.

  Fantasy about a man who ages backwards, from old to young.
• 
  The Damned United (2009)

  Review preview for The Damned United

  It’s Sheen’s ability to humanise the brilliant-yet-volatile legend that hits the back of the net hardest.

  Partially fictionalised biopic of the outspoken manager, Brian Clough
• 
  Daybreakers (2009)

  Review preview for Daybreakers

  Has enough bite. Just.

  Vampires have overthrown the human race... but now blood stocks are running low.
• 
  The Dark Knight (2008)

  Review preview for The Dark Knight

  Incredibly, The Dark Knight lives up to all the expectation, and then some.

  The Caped Crusader isn't the only batty one in Gotham... The Joker's also in town.