Four of us went. Fiona and myself and her brother Dan and his wife Mai. We took a cool bag stacked to the top with food and drink, my rucksack stacked to the top with food and pillows and blankets. Dan and Mai slept a bit, but Fi and I were the hardcore film buffs, we sat awake (using matchsticks on occasions) through the whole affair.
OK. Since we saw eleven films in total I'm not going to devote the usual amount of space to each individual film that I would otherwise do...
In order of viewing:
The Shawshank Redemption
Ben says: This was one of my favourite films of 1994 and it was lovely to see it on the big screen because I had to watch it on video the first time around. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman both give outstanding performances and although they themselves don't seem to age much, the outside world does very convincingly.
Ben gives it: 
Leon
Ben says: Another superb movie from Luc Besson proving that he is one of Europe's foremost directors. Jean Reno's performance as the eponymous Leon is good as is Danny Aiello's shady mentor. Gary oldman is completely over the top as the bent cop, but it's Nathalie Portman that steals every scene as the young streetwise girl that loses her family. She's going to be a star.
Ben gives it:
Trainspotting
Ben says: It's amazing that the cinema managed to get so many top-notch films and all for free since it was for charity. Trainspotting is one of those films that doesn't sound too appealing, you know, heroin addicts in Scotland, but exceeds your expectations immensely. A groovy film and no mistake (and no, it doesn't glamourise drugs, you'd know that if you'd seen it).
Ben gives it:
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Ben says: One of those films you go to because someone else is and you have nothing better to do, but then you find yourself really enjoying it. Terence Stamp is great as the transsexual Bernadette and Guy Pierce (Mike from Neighbours apparently) gives a great performance as the bitchy Felicia. The costumes were outrageous (there was one made from flip-flops) and the film was good...
Ben gives it: 
Alien
Ben says: The Robins Cinema had asked for a variety of films, but when they received them it turned out that they were unplayable. However this original 1979 print of Alien (complete with a certificate X warning) had very few crackles or jumps. This is the second time I've seen Alien at the cinema and it is so much more powerful than on the telly it should be banned from the inferior format...
Ben gives it:
Aliens
Ben says: I don't know if the "Director's Cut" version of this has ever been available in a cinematic print, but it would have been nice to see that rather than the standard film. All the same, this is still one of the best sequels of all time. Ooh Sigourney, yum!
Ben gives it:
The Craft
Ben says: OK. Our first disappointing film, even more so that Fi and I went to see this movie the week before and paid for it. A kind of substandard Lost Boys clone but with witchcraft instead of vampirism. The effects are pretty good and there's always that "If only I could do that" kind of thing that always improves a movie, but it has to be said that the outstanding feature of this film is its attractive cast...
Ben gives it:
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Ben says: Wow! What a great film. It was complete, unbelievable tripe but done with such verve and panache that the crew get away with it. Every stunt brought groans of disbelief from the audience and it was the perfect film to play at 5AM because it certainly woke us all up. I'm not totally sure about Geena Davis' suitability for the role (although I guess the fact that she is married to the director might have something to do with it), but Samuel Jackson is brilliant as the seedy down-at-heel detective. Turn off your brain for this one...
Ben gives it:
The Van
Ben says: The third of Roddy Doyle's books to be made into a film, The Van has this odd feeling of familiarity to it. This and the Long Kiss Goodnight were the only two films out of the eleven that I hadn't seen before, but there's was something about this film I didn't really like. For one thing, it's obviously only a short(-ish) story stretched out to two hours. Still Colm Meany is always good value for money which accounts for the extra star this film receives.
Ben gives it:
True Romance
Ben says: Ah! One of my favourite films (apart from the tacked on happy ending). The tale of Clarence and Alabama is superbly told in a fashion that owes a lot to Japanese anime movies (if you've seen it you'll know what I mean) and the supporting cast (Christoper Walken, Dennis Hopper, Brad Pitt) is excellent.
Ben gives it:
Footloose
Ben says: Did we ever think that this was a good movie? I can't believe it now, but I'm sure I thought it was great when I was twelve. Kevin Bacon is deeply unconvincing as the kid who just wants to dance in a midwest town where rock and roll and dancing have been banned (boo!). Still, the audience had fun, all of us joining in doing silly dances in the aisles, more out of relief that the 24 hours was finally over, I suspect, rather than anything to do with wishing to emulate Kevin's terpsichorean antics.
Ben gives it:
 |  | last updated: 7th December 1996 |