w films

Click on the film titles to see full reviews.

"WAKING NED DEVINE" -- When the big winner in the Irish lottery dies with the winning ticket in hand, the citizens of his tiny village try to maintain the fiction that he is still alive in order to collect. Lots of blarney, lots of charm, warms the heart.
-- Carlos deVillalvilla   VHS DVD

"THE WATCHER" -- James Spader is a burned-out FBI agent suffering from miscasting. He's chasing a serial killer (a wooden Keanu Reeves). A predictable cat-and-mouse game in claustrophobic MTV-style thriller. For less-than-discriminating audiences.
--Carlos deVillalvilla  DVD

"WHERE'S POPPA?" -- Brilliant black comedy directed by Carl Reiner and starring George Segal, Ruth Gordon and Trish Van Devere. Segal is a lawyer whose life has been turned to, uh, muck by his senile mother. The answer to the title question is "Still dead." Some of the funniest moments ever committed to film. The DVD is great.
-- John Orr

"WILD, WILD WEST" -- Few TV shows of its day matched "The Wild, Wild West" for sheer coolness; this big-screen version doesn't even come close. Will Smith and Kevin Kline have no chemistry as West and Gordon; it's one big gadgetfest whose camp factor becomes wearing.
-- Carlos deVillalvilla

"WILD, WILD WEST" -- Not a great film, but enjoyable. Probably Kenneth Branagh's most over-the-top role ever.
-- John Orr   DVD VHS

"THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH" -- Presidents may come, monarchs may go but Bond is forever. This one pits superspy Bond (Pierce Brosnan) against Renard (Robert Carlyle), who has a bullet in his brain that is slowly killing him - and rendering him impervious to pain. Bond is protecting Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), the daughter of M (Judi Dench). Action nirvana.
-- Carlos deVillalvilla   DVD VHS