“Batman Returns” to “Bedknobs and Broomsticks”
Batman Returns (1992) The second installment in the Tim Burton and Michael Keaton has three Bat-villains Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) and, believe it or not, its even darker than their first outing. (GS)
The Battleship Potemkin (1926) This is one of those films that youre always told you have to see but it sounds really dull so you put it off. Its long-winded in sections, but this cinematic landmark has influenced filmmakers for over 80-years. See it. You wont be disappointed. (GS)
The Beast Must Die! (1973) A movie with a reputation amongst the more serious end of the horror cognoscenti that’s lower than rattlesnakes piss. Yet such scowling, dismissiveness is completely unwarranted. Over-ambition isn’t the worst crime in the world and The Beast Must Die, whilst not being entirely successful in all of its conceits is, nevertheless, a brave attempt to do something radical with a very conservative movie genre. By adding in several unexpected elements, the movie overcomes the more ludicrous elements of its plot (and some of the awful dialogue that it features). A great cast have fun with their characters, keeping the audience guessing the identity of the werewolf right up to (and, indeed, beyond) the point of revelation. A film very much worthy of reinvestigation. (KT)
Bedazzled (1967) Peter Cook and Dudley Moores brilliant send up of Faust. Inspired casting of Raquel Welch as that most deadly sin, Lust. And who can forget the leaping nuns! Ignore the remake and see the original. (GS)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1970) Oscar-winning Disney combination of live-action and animation, tale of war-time evacuees, magic jungle kingdoms and the weirdest of football matches. Some inventive casting (David Tomlinson, Angela Lansbury, Roddy McDowell, Tessie O’Shea, Bruce Forsyth) and fun songs (The Beautiful Briny). (KT)
Originally published in Raspberry World – Volume 2, Issue 1 (June/July 2007)