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HiFi’s Film Reviews

353 Films have been rated or reviewed by HiFi.

All the President's MenAll the President's Men (1976)Recommended
4 stars (Very Good) People talking, typing, telephoning – so, pretty uncinematic, then – but made gripping by a lucid script, a raft of committed performances, Willis' understated but effective cinematography, and Pakula's evident intelligence as a filmmaker.
Hobbit, The - The Desolation of SmaugHobbit, The - The Desolation of Smaug (2013)Recommended
3 stars (Good Enough) Surprisingly enjoyable. Felt like a very tarted–up 7th Voyage of Sinbad. Only a nodding acquaintance with the book – in a way its saving grace: wholly Jackson's creature, now, with his fabricated elf/dwarf romance the most compelling feature.
Flight of the PhoenixFlight of the Phoenix (2004)
3 stars (Good Enough) Maximum popcorn, with beautiful desert photography. I always enjoy this, and if you approach it as a Monster Garage/Survivor crossover episode, you won't be disappointed. Plus, there's aaaaabs aplenty!
Man on FireMan on Fire (2004)
3 stars (Good Enough) Starts well, nice photography, Denzel's great, the relationship with the mother & daughter's convincing, but the film degenerates into cartoon violence. And it's very long. Gaudy junk, but absorbing enough.
Grand Budapest Hotel, TheGrand Budapest Hotel, The (2014)Aro Favourite
4 stars (Very Good) Charming Ruritanian bagatelle with deep undercurrent of melancholy, stuffed to the gunwales with high–powered thesps and production design. Fiennes' wonderful performance glues it all together. A mixed bag, but full of marvellous confectionery.
DVD $24.95 $18.70
Monuments Men, TheMonuments Men, The (2014)
2 stars (Good Try) A bit like those star–studded romps of the '60s & '70s. Meandering, shallow, and while it misses no opportunity to pontificate about preserving art in order to honour Hitler's victims, actually seems to be doing them a disservice.
Saving Private RyanSaving Private Ryan (1998)Recommended
3 stars (Good Enough) Spielberg sets the scene with such terrifying realism, but the rest seems contrived, manipulative, awkward, dishonest. In a word, Spielbergian.
DVD $20 $15
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force AwakensStar Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)Recommended
3 stars (Good Enough) They fitted a new engine and tyres, tightened up the steering, polished the wood and chrome, took off the embarrassing fluffy dice and hood ornament. But it's still just a fairly basic family saloon.
Inside Llewyn DavisInside Llewyn Davis (2013)Recommended
4 stars (Very Good) Noirish folk–themed odyssey which seems closest in spirit to 'A Serious Man'. Isaac's wonderful performance kept me right there with the character, every step of the way...
Captain America: The Winter SoldierCaptain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)Recommended
3 stars (Good Enough) I had fun, but these don't seem like movies to me, more like the ganglia of the Marvel universe – everything's paying off, servicing, setting up or referencing something else.
Blu-Ray $59.95

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