Yellow Submarine
****
Classic period-piece animation about The Beatles’ journey to defeat the Blue Meanies and bring music back to Pepperland.  The surreal images and story and innovative animation techniques used in Yellow Submarine have been very influential, for example in the Dangermouse cartoons.  Although the over-the-top story sags a bit towards the end, Submarine is a loveable, occasionally poignant 60s period piece.  The soundtrack music is brilliant as well of course!
Released: 1968
Seen by me:  8.4.05 (with Naomi)

You’ve Got Mail
****1/2
Romantic comedy with very strong political undertones.  The beautiful Meg Ryan plays Kathleen Kelly, owner of an independent bookshop founded by her mother and Tom Hanks is Joe Fox, a ruthless executive of a multinational book chain opening a store in the area.  Not surprisingly Kelly and Fox quickly become enemies though unbeknownst to them, they are also intimate e-mail pen-pals sending messages about their unhappy love lifes which also allude very vaguely to their work situation.  Fox’s shop opens and, after much protest, Kelly is forced to close down.  At about the same time, Fox finds out who his e-pal is and strives to subtlety win her love against all the odds.  You’ve Got Mail is a good film with the modern corporate sub-plot being far stronger than the rather unbelievable love story.  Hanks and Ryan are excellent and backed up by an excellent support cast, most notably  Greg Kninear and Parker Posey as their original partners, of opposite beliefs politically but as stubborn and selfish as each other.  An excellent, surprisingly powerful and thought provoking film.
Released:  1999
Seen by me:  27.2.05 (with Naomi)