Top films

What's It About?
Evergreen fantasy based on the L Frank Baum fairy tale about Dorothy Gale. The Kansas girl trapped in the fabled land of Oz seeks out the land's ruler, who has the power to send her home. Along the way, she meets some fantastic companions, all equally keen to follow the Yellow Brick Road and meet the great and powerful sorcerer who will grant their wishes.

Is It Any Good?
It's the ultimate fantasy classic. Rich in colour, gloriously photographed and oozing true charm, it has everything a family film should boast - even if the flying monkeys may scare the pants off anybody still in single digits. The tunes are great, Garland is wonderfully sympathetic and the decision to film Kansas in black and white and Oz in colour still seems like a masterstroke.

Anything Else?
The song Over the Rainbow picked up an Oscar, while Herbert Stothart also won an Academy Award for his score.

Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr

Star Rating: ***** (1939)

What's It About?
This time around, our wisecracking hero is on the trail of a computer hacker who is suspected of sabotaging the FBI network. But things become increasingly complicated when McClane stumbles on a far bigger crime. A devious mastermind has a plan to launch a technological attack on the US, and only the cop and his new computer-hacking sidekick can put a spanner in the works.

Is It Any Good?
Okay, it's not Shakespeare, but fans of the franchise lapped it up. The set-pieces are of the finest order and despite getting on a bit, Willis (and a couple of doubles, no doubt), can still hold his own when it comes to the stunts.

Anything Else?
In the elevator shaft scene where Mai Lihn swings on the wire and flies into the truck and hits McClane, the stunt double accidentally cut Willis's eyebrow with her spiked heel. She jabbed Willis hard enough that when medics examined the injury, the brow bone was exposed.

Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long, Maggie Q

Star Rating: **** (2007)

What's It About?
Two teenage boys embark on a Mexican road trip with an attractive older woman, and learn a thing or two about life, friendship, sex, and each other along the way.

Is It Any Good?
This Oscar-nominated, multi award-winning movie might not be the type of fare you'd feel comfortable viewing with your folks thanks to its sex scenes, but it is nevertheless well worth a watch for the superb acting and portrayal of self-discovery.

Anything Else?
The last names of all the principal characters are those of important figures in Mexican history. Plus, when the producers tried to buy the rights of Frank Zappa's Watermelon in Easter Hay they were told it was one of three of his songs the musician refused to allow to be played in any media except the album they appear on. However, his widow made an exception after viewing the film during the editing process.

Starring: Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Maribel Verdu

Star Rating: **** (2001)