CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

Shrek 2 [2004]

starring: Mike Myers, Conrad Vernon, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Cleese
directed by: Conrad Vernon, Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury

Release Date November 02, 2004
I loved the orignal Shrek so much that this film was a must buy. However, while it is still quite fun it simply cannot live up to its predecessor. The story seems to be a rehash of the first film with Shrek's struggle for acceptance, the switch from ogre to human and donkey's antics. The multitude of fairy-tale characters in the first film seem a bit dull in this one. The Fairy Godmother and Prince Charming are wonderful but many of the other characters don't make the grade. The film is largely saved by Antonio Banderras' Puss in Boots. Overall it's quite nice and worth a watch, but does seem like just another sequel.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

Evita [1997]

starring: Madonna, Jonathan Pryce, Antonio Banderas, Jimmy Nail, Victoria Sus
directed by: Alan Parker

Release Date November 10, 1997
I've never seen Evita on stage, but from watching this film it becomes very obvious that that is where this story belongs, and although certain musicals have translated very well into films ('the Phantom of the Opera' and 'Hairspray' being two that spring immediatley to mind), this is one of those that I feel should have been left on stage. Saying that however, watching this film has made me very keen to see the musical in it's original format one day, and it is just a shame that it is no longer being shown in the West End.

Whenever Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice get togther for a musical, you know you're going to be in for a treat, and no matter what other reservations I have about this film, there is no doubting that musically, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Royal Albert Hall Celebration [1998]

starring: Tina Arena, Michael Ball, Antonio Banderas, Keith Duffy, Stephen Gately
directed by: David Mallet

Release Date October 16, 2000
Even if you don't like all the selections on here, if you like Evita, Phantom or Sunset Boulevard, it's worth it.

Antonio Banderas is amazing in "Phantom of The Opera". His voice, usually warm and rich is here cold and sinister. It makes an interesting contrast to Gerard Butler's portrayal of a passionate man who, but for his disfigurement, would have been a romantic hero. Banderas, although not in costume or make up, vividly conveys the dark side of the character. Sarah Brightman is, of course, splendid in her performance.

In the funeral scene from Evita, Banderas acts his part as well as singing it. This scene is most welcome for anyone who remembers fondly the original staging of Evita, before the messy film and Lloyd-Webber's ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

El Mariachi / Desperado / Once Upon A Time In Mexico

starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Joaquim De Almeida, Carlos Gallardo
directed by: Robert Rodriguez

Release Date September 13, 2004
Desparado is highly entertaining stuff, however the other two movies are silly incoherent nonsense movies directed by a Hollywood deadweight director. In fact i could not get the El Mariachi movie to play in this dvd boxset. The movie featured a voice over of the loud American director. No wonder this package is so cheap, cos its really only 2 movies.

Anyhoo, call me an idiot but for me a good movie consists of the following (not necessarily all of these) ingredients:
Clever dialogue, solid characterisation (with likeable & hateable characters), interesting story, good music and decent direction with high production values all wrapped up in a sense of intrigue/suspense or a sense of impending doom ie (atmosphere depending if the movie is a horror ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Green Mile, The / Cast Away / Philadelphia

starring: Tom Hanks, Nick Searcy, Geoffrey Blake, David Allen Brooks, Denzel Washington
directed by: Frank Darabont, Robert Zemeckis, Jonathan Demme

Release Date September 16, 2002
Desparado is highly entertaining stuff, however the other two movies are silly incoherent nonsense movies directed by a Hollywood deadweight director. In fact i could not get the El Mariachi movie to play in this dvd boxset. The movie featured a voice over of the loud American director. No wonder this package is so cheap, cos its really only 2 movies.

Anyhoo, call me an idiot but for me a good movie consists of the following (not necessarily all of these) ingredients:
Clever dialogue, solid characterisation (with likeable & hateable characters), interesting story, good music and decent direction with high production values all wrapped up in a sense of intrigue/suspense or a sense of impending doom ie (atmosphere depending if the movie is a horror ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

Original Sin [2001]

starring: Antonio Banderas, Angelina Jolie, Thomas Jane, Jack Thompson, Gregory Itzin
directed by: Michael Cristofer

Release Date September 09, 2002
This film I found to be OK- the plot was pretty good and the characters unusual. The film is based on a book and this is obvious in that the film is full of literary twists, which probably work better in the book- for instance several characters just appear for a brief moment and aren't developed as fully as perhaps they should- I liked this story as essentially it is a love story of the underworld, of infatuation and lust and this is conveyed remarkably well by Banderas and Jolie, who really do have a special on-screen chemistry. However, perhaps one should consider that this film was never released on DVD in Britain and I can't remember it adorning our screens either- so maybe if you're after a cinematic experience- i.e a fantastic film, perhaps you should give it a miss, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

The Mambo Kings [1992]

starring: Armand Assante, Antonio Banderas, Cathy Moriarty, Maruschka Detmers, Pablo Calogero
directed by: Arne Glimcher

Release Date March 13, 1995
I found out by this movie by accident and I'm surprised that it's not better known. It really transports you into the Mambo world of 1950's New York and is very glamorous. We've heard similar stories before, but the acting by both Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas is very convincing. However, an accent coach might have been useful for both, one sounds too American and the other speaks Spanish with the European lisp; clearly not Cuban. It features the real Mambo King and Queen, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz and also a small cameo by José Alberto. The club scenes are electric with fantastic dancing and hot rhythms and for me it's astounding how little mambo music and dancing seems to have changed since then. Yes, it's a bit cheesy in parts, especially when Armand Assante dances ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

Shrek/Shrek 2

starring: Mike Myers, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Jennifer Saunders, Eddie Murphy
directed by: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon

Release Date November 02, 2004
These movies are great like most animated movies that dreamworks produce. It is great for the kids but has an underlying adult humour which is great. This means that i can watch it and laugh at the same time my son watches it. Very funny excellent characters. The second movie follows on really well and is just as entertaining as the first.
If you have kids i would buy it.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

The 13th Warrior [1999]

starring: Antonio Banderas, Vladimir Kulich, Dennis Storhøi, Daniel Southern, Neil Maffin
directed by: John McTiernan, Michael Crichton

Release Date September 25, 2000
This has been consistantly my favourite film for a long time. I don't know why? I have watched it six or seven times, always enjoying it, the story is pacey, there's humour, action, and loads more. Banderas shouldn't fit but does and gives, for me, his best performance in a film. Buy with confidence, fills loads of genres, action, adventure, fantasy, heroic fantasy, etc etc. Enjoy.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown [1985]

starring: Pedro Almodóvar|Carmen Maura|Antonio Banderas|Julieta Serrano

Release Date January 28, 1991
this is the most excellent box set on amazon at the moment
Almodovar is a comic genius