June Watson Movies
In this fantasy adventure tale, Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) and his kinsman Duncan (Adrian Paul) are "Immortals," members of a secret clan who can be killed only through decapitation. Connor and Duncan find themselves thrown into a tournament where Immortals both good and evil battle one another in a bid to become the last of their kind. Highlander: Endgame was the fourth feature film in the Highlander franchise, but its narrative draws from the storyline of the Highlander television series and ignores the events of the second and third films. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Christopher Lambert, (more)
Glenn Close goes to the dogs once again in this sequel to 101 Dalmatians, Disney's 1996 live-action adaptation of their beloved animated classic. After three years in prison, Cruella De Vil (Close) is judged to have paid her debt to society and is set free, as she pledges to have nothing to do with animal fur (especially dogs) ever again. Meanwhile, Kevin (Ioan Gruffudd) operates an animal shelter that has fallen on hard times; unless he's able to find new financial support, the lost dogs he's been caring for will have nowhere to go. Kevin and his girlfriend Chloe (Alice Evans), who happens to be Cruella's parole officer, get the idea of bringing their plight to the people through the press, but media reports of the shelter's problems attract an unlikely benefactor -- Cruella. While Ms. De Vil claims the purest of intentions, it seems the shelter is housing a large number of dalmatians, and in cahoots with mad fashion designer Monsieur Le Pelt (Gérard Depardieu), she plans to turn the puppies into haute couture. 102 Dalmatians was the first live-action feature for director Kevin Lima, who previously helmed two animated features for Disney, A Goofy Movie and Tarzan. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Close, Ioan Gruffudd, (more)
Originally telecast over Britain's ITV1 in 2000, the two-part mystery miniseries Thursday the 12th began with the discovery of an unidentified body on the estate of Marius Bannister (Ciaran Hinds), a wealthy dentist and politician. As an investigative TV reporter Julian Glover sifted through the particulars of the case, the viewer was introduced to the dramatis personae: Bannister; his wife, Nina (Maria Doyle Kennedy); their troubled adopted teenaged son, Martin (Jim Sturgess); and Nina's predatory sister, Candice Hopper (Elizabeth McGovern). In Rashomon fashion, a series of flashbacks indicated that any one of these worthies had motive aplenty to be a murderer -- and in fact, one of them was the victim. The key to the mystery was in the hands of Marius' supposedly senile father, Edgar Bannister (Peter Vaughan). In the U.S., Thursday the 12th first aired over the Bravo cable network on June 4, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Glover, Ciarán Hinds, (more)
- 1995
A simple-minded young man finds himself forced into a life of crime in this gritty but provocative British drama. Simon Willerton is young, awkward and almost autistic with his strange movements and mannerisms. He is also funny and very intelligent, but this side of him seldom escapes. Soon after graduating from high-school, the hapless fellow finds himself bullied and badgered by the local punks who force him to become a small-time thief. Naturally, he is awful at it and soon gets caught. Thanks to an apathetic justice system and Simon's equally apathetic parents, the young man is sent to juvenile prison where he soon comes to the end of his rope. Literally. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1979
The Knowledge is the story of four men and how they make preparations for an all-important event in their lives -- the examination that will allow them to work the coveted job of taxi driver in Greater London. In the course of learning of their hopes and aspirations, and the impact of these plans of the men's families, the viewer gets a deep and abiding respect for the strictness with which standards in this field are maintained in London. "The Knowledge" is the familiarity with the city's myriad streets and neighborhoods, and often takes many years to master. Made for British television, this comedy drama got a fair amount of notice around the world, especially in the United States -- and no more so than in New York City, whose Taxi and Limousine Commission frequently licenses drivers whose knowledge of the streets goes no further south than Houston Street or north of 200th Street (which is Dyckman Street -- a trick answer). The film flew on its own merits, but was also a revelation in the city when shown on public television. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nigel Hawthorne, Mick Ford, (more)
