The Masque Of The Red Death (1st view) – Roger Corman’s take on Edgar Allan Poe’s story, starring the always reliable Vincent Price. In truth, it’s really only worth watching for Price, who once again provides us with a slick charismatic villain. Corman’s low budget horrors often have an unmistakable charm to them, but this was lacking here, and most of the cast are terrible. The good story at the centre gets lost and the whole thing is a missed oppurtunity – 2/5
Sahara (11th view) – First things first. I love this film. A great popcorn actioner. Matthew McCoConaughey makes for a very likeable hero, but Steve Zahn as his best mate and sidekick steals the film. The action is slick and smooth, Clint Mansell delivers a rousing score, and it’s chock full of classic rock songs. Cheesy as hell and all the better for it – 4/5
The Last Samurai (4th view) – Edward Zwick’s historical epic. Pretty much condemned by many as simply being Oscar bait. Perhaps true, perhaps not, but for me this film delivers. Tom Cruise often gets a bad rep as an actor but I like the guy, and he’s near his best in this, incredibly expressive. Still, the film is stolen by Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto, the titular character, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Ujio, who simply defines cool. Zwick has a good handle on the quieter moments of the story, but also gives us some spectacular action. Very good indeed – 4/5
