Reviews by Stephen Carty

Order by: Date, A–Z

• 
  Rocky IV (1985)

  Review preview for Rocky IV

  One for the eyes and ears instead of the heart and head.

  When Apollo Creed is killed in a boxing bout, Rocky decides to take on the challenger himself.
• 
  Rocky III (1982)

  Review preview for Rocky III

  Not full-on farce, but getting there.

  When the boxing hero is beaten by a challenger his former rival offers to train him back to former glory.
• 
  Rocky II (1979)

  Review preview for Rocky II

  Rocky’s necessary fall from grace back into the gutter makes us root for the big-hearted lug every south paw-jabbing step of the way.

  The boxer is tempted back into the ring.
• 
  Fighting (2009)

  Review preview for Fighting

  Instead of emoting and getting involved we’re left with a sea of questions.

  A young street hustler is drawn into the world of bare-knuckle fighting.
• 
  How To Lose Friends And Alienate People (2008)

  Review preview for How To Lose Friends And Alienate People

  Aside from the odd bite and some nice material about pursuing a life of worth, the end product is a missed opportunity.

  Can a British journalist hack it in the New York world of a fashion magazine.
• 
  The Hurt Locker (2008)

  Review preview for The Hurt Locker

  An impressive return.

  An elite bomb disposal unit struggles to function in the heart of the Iraq war.
• 
  Rocky (1976)

  Review preview for Rocky

  Credit is due to John G Avildsen for directing (he won one of three trophies), but the real victory here belongs to Sly.

  An underdog boxer gets a shot at the big time.
• 
  Waiting... (2005)

  Review preview for Waiting...

  There's just no heart or story to accompany all the toilet humour.

  Low grade genitalia humour in a restaurant kitchen.
• 
  Max And Paddy's Road To Nowhere (2004)

  Review preview for Max And Paddy's Road To Nowhere

  There are well-used catchphrases, a few memorable moments and some coarse dialogue you'll want to recycle as your own.

  Phoenix Nights spin-off about two pals and their camper van adventures.
• 
  Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past (2009)

  Review preview for Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past

  There's some good material about how getting hurt changes you as a person, but the problem is its too often trapped underneath overly-trite sentiment and the need to please impatient teen girls.

  An eternal bachelor finds himself haunted by romance past, present and future.
• 
  The Nines (2007)

  Review preview for The Nines

  Some movies have a little existentialism in them, here it’s probably more accurate to say that this existentialism has a little movie in it.

  Alternative reality comedy thriller about a man who may or may not be a celebrity.
• 
  Mission: Impossible III (2006)

  Review preview for Mission: Impossible III

  Abrams combines kinetic action sequences with internal logic-fuelled storytelling to give us an impossible mission head, shoulders and a rabbit's foot above the previous two instalments.

  The Ethan Hunt franchise gets personal, while chasing a psychopathic arms dealer half way round the globe.
• 
  Minority Report (2002)

  Review preview for Minority Report

  Wildly ambitious, mindblowingly-creative and pulse-pounding.

  Sci-fi thriller about cops who predict murder before it happens with the use of psychics.
• 
  Michael Clayton (2007)

  Review preview for Michael Clayton

  Though the trailer sold us a fast-paced, garden variety, against-the-odds conspiracy thriller, its actually a clever slow-burner, more concerned with paranoia-inducing mood and delicate character subtleties.

  A lawyer forced to clean up after a colleague's breakdown begins to question the ethics of his job.
• 
  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.
• 
  Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

  Review preview for Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

  After the 24th 'hilarious' hit in one scene it all wears thinner than one of White's lycra one-pieces.

  Misfits enter LA dodgeball tournament in a bid to save gym from closure.
• 
  Outland (1981)

  Review preview for Outland

  Gritty, throbbing with mood and featuring plenty of Connery’s unique brogue.

  A Jupiter moon mining settlement's marshall discovers deaths at the outpost are linked to a drug.
• 
  Smallville: Season Three (2003)

  Review preview for Smallville: Season Three

  The production values are impressive as ever and the cast (particularly Welling) continue to elevate even the strangest material.

  The continuing adventures of the young Clark Kent, aka Superman.
• 
  Good Will Hunting (1997)

  Review preview for Good Will Hunting

  The end product might not feature too many surprises, but the dialogue is occasionally dazzling and leads to many poignant moments.

  A janitor is discovered to be a mathematical genius.
• 
  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.
• 
  Indecent Proposal (1993)

  Review preview for Indecent Proposal

  Probably the most romantic picture Lyne has attempted.

  A loving couple in dire financial straits are offered a million bucks... if the wife to spend the night with another man.
• 
  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.
• 
  Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

  Review preview for Diamonds Are Forever

  Flawed and tired without being completely unwatchable.

  The super-spy is assigned to a smuggling op.
• 
  See Arnold Run (2005)

  Review preview for See Arnold Run

  It’s hard to argue that this is anything but a love-letter.

  Biopic tracking the Austrian Oak's bid to become the Governator.
• 
  The Time Traveller's Wife (2009)

  Review preview for The Time Traveller's Wife

  Rarely gripping but never boring.

  A woman falls in love with a man who spontaneously travels in time.
• 
  On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

  Review preview for On Her Majesty's Secret Service

  The romance might turn some fans away, but seeing our hero so vulnerable refreshingly humanises him.

  Bond tackles the threat of a biological plague being planned by Blofeld.
• 
  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.
• 
  Deja Vu (2006)

  Review preview for Deja Vu

  While Déjà Vu isn’t an intellectual think-piece, it gets points for attempting more than just wall-to-wall bangs.

  A detective in New Orleans goes back in time to solve a mystery and save lives.
• 
  Thunderball (1965)

  Review preview for Thunderball

  It's an undoubtedly stop-start affair, but there's enough to keep you going.

  The super-spy hunts stolen nukes in the Bahamas.
• 
  You Only Live Twice (1967)

  Review preview for You Only Live Twice

  The film that saw the super-spy become larger-than-life.

  James Bond heads off to Japan in Roald Dahl's wacky adaptation.
• 
  The Hangover (2009)

  Review preview for The Hangover

  Broad and full of lazy clichés, the lowbrow 'laughs' on show are rarely intelligent and almost never funny.

  After a drunken stag night in Vegas, nobody can remember what happened - and the groom is missing.
• 
  The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)

  Review preview for The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3

  Not completely irredeemable, but rarely in danger of thrilling.

  A group of armed men hold a crowded New York City subway train to ransom in this remake of the 1974 thriller.
• 
  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.
• 
  Moon (2009)

  Review preview for Moon

  Prolonged isolation, alienation, what it means to be human, these existential themes are all chewed on and will have your mind spinning for days afterwards.

  An astronaut starts to lose the plot at the end of a mission to the moon - but is there something else going on? Plus read our exclusive interview with Duncan Jones
• 
  He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

  Review preview for He's Just Not That Into You

  An ideal date movie that oscillates between chick flick clichés and a few long-overdue dating observations.

  Love is all around, but saccharine's kept at bay.
• 
  Stardust (2007)

  Review preview for Stardust

  Much like Danes’ hair, Stardust is shiny, floaty and full of interesting swings.

  Fantasy epic about a boy who goes looking for a falling star.
• 
  Jumper (2008)

  Review preview for Jumper

  Doug Liman’s audacious latest takes itself seriously while being bags of fun.

  A young man discovers he has the ability to teleport and that a secret society wants to kill him for it.
• 
  Deep Blue Sea (1999)

  Review preview for Deep Blue Sea

  Thankfully, Deep Blue Sea is also pretty easy to like if you can accept it for what it is – minimal intellectual input, maximum shark carnage.

  Research scientists may end up swimming with the fishes after sharks fight back.
• 
  Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

  Review preview for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

  Probably Allen's sexiest flick to date.

  Two young American girls on holiday in Barcelona become romantically involved with a Spanish painter.
• 
  Meet The Spartans (2008)

  Review preview for Meet The Spartans

  There are some rare moments of laughter... but the endless unfunny references to American TV shows just feel like an extended set of unsuccessful sketches.

  Parody of 300.
• 
  Public Enemies (2009)

  Review preview for Public Enemies

  A challenging and competent antidote to the hordes of brainless blockbusters out there.

  The FBI is charged with hunting down Public Enemy No. 1: John Dillinger.
• 
  Gangster No 1 (2000)

  Review preview for Gangster No 1

  Perhaps not as good as the sum of it’s parts, McGuigan’s second effort is visually impressive, a great comeback for McDowell and a launching pad for Bettany.

  As his former mentor is due for release from jail a gangster considers his life.
• 
  Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003)

  Review preview for Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines

  The brave ending is both surprisingly dark and chillingly affecting.

  Third installment in the Terminator franchise has robot Arnie fighting a metallic woman.
• 
  Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009)

  Review preview for Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

  Loud, fast, shallow, unexciting, overly-silly and bursting at the seams with CGI.

  Sam Witwicky has to save the earth from Decepticon (again).
• 
  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.
• 
  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).
• 
  Smallville: Season One (2001)

  Review preview for Smallville: Season One

  Though brought down substantially by too many villain-of-the week plotlines, the show excels in all other areas.

  A sly spin on the Superman mythology, as we return to Kansas.
• 
  Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)

  Review preview for Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

  Though Superman IV carries the sub-moniker of ‘The Quest For Peace’, it’s more accurate to describe it as ‘The Death Of A Series’.

  The Man of Steel decides to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
• 
  Superman III (1983)

  Review preview for Superman III

  Good work is undone by a zany tone.

  The Man of Steel faces the threat of synthetic kryptonite.