Nothing But The Hill - Pochill

Advantages: lightly amusing; easy to read; convincing dialogue
Disadvantages: no 'hidden depth', characterisation very simple

..., I tend to find anything more than a few glowing quotations off-putting; surely if the writer is that much of a genius then the publishers shouldn?t need 300 quotations to prove it?) Having never read anything by Holt before, but enjoyed a lot of Adams? writing, I approached this book with enthusiasm and waited to be transported to a magical place where dragons fly and goldfish may be something rather more deadly. ?Nothing But Blue Skies? revolves around the very British obsession with the weather. Casually dismissing centuries of accumulated scientific knowledge, the narrator asserts that, of course, the real reason it rains is because of irritable Chinese Water Dragons. Unfortunately, some weather forecasters have become aware of these ancient creatures and are furious at the way in which the great beasts ?deliberately? undermine... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Wonderful welsh landscapes. Easy-watching and witty.
Disadvantages: A little too cutesy in places

...Gyrn Moelfre (here perhaps I should explain the title of this review moel is welsh for hill a bi-lingual pun no less). There can be nothing but praise for cinematographer, Vernon Layton for his atmospheric almost nostalgic filming. The characters in the film are all larger that life. The Englishman of the title is Reginald Anson, played by Hugh Grant. Reginald is a shy, stuttering and always-sorry man who desperately does not want to offend the local villagers which of course he ways does. Hugh Grant is at his charming best in this role. His partner in crime, fellow Englishman and cartographer George Garrad, played by Ian McNeiceis is an arrogant stuffed-shirt of a man who views the Welsh as little more than savages. McNiece puffs himself up with such absurd pomposity that is simply irresistible. A contrasting duo reminiscent... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Hmmmm. Landscapes aren't bad
Disadvantages: Grant, story, setting...

...pecs and it has to be said that every film I've ever seen him in has annoyed the hell out of me (I haven't seen Four Weddings and now you know why). His very being immediately dictates the type of film that he appears in and Englishman-Hill-Mountain (I can't be bothered to type the whole title time and time again) is no exception. Extremely weak and 'gentile', with lots of 'nice' inoffensive 'humour', and a load of stereotypes that will neither offend or excite. If one word had to describe Mr Grant and his style of film (including this one) it would without a doibt be...bland. Grant's foppish personality goes hand in hand with the 90's accepted British comedy film and I have to question why he, and indeed the films, have such popularity. There are exceptions to the rule and The Full Monty proved this, but generally speaking, any film that is... Read review

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