penfold

Not my experience of him, I have to say...If he likes a film, whatever the genre, he says so, and if he doesn't, whatever the genre, he says that too. In fact, as a horror expert, he's particularly tough on them. Not that I get his Exorcist obsession....but his tastes are wider... to quote him on his reasons for being a film critic....

"I became a film critic because I love films - films such as Powell and Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death, Kaneto Shindo 's Onibaba, Disney's Mary Poppins and Ken Russell's The Devils."

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Third Man

I really don't mind Kermode at all, he's got passion his style may grate on some people but I like a person who's got an opinion and he definitely has one and it's seems quite refreshingly independent - I also find it quite amazing that he should take on the total and complete responsibility of analysing and explaining The Ninth Configuration - it does tell me one thing however that he loves film.

Simon

batman

I like him too .... he is knowledgeable and his presenting style is very watchable.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

charliekane

:Anyone else remember 'Uncle Jimmy' Hanley in the kids programme 'Five o Clock Club' with Muriel Young in the late 50s ?

Merton Park

I do indeed. Who could ever forget that theme song? Thought it was 60's myself, but who cares?

Fellwanderer

Muriel Young - there's a name from the past!

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

charliekane

Yes indeed - dear 'Auntie Mu'

Wee Sonny MacGregor

Not forgetting Ollie Beak and Fred Barker

julian_craster

For Captain Waggett and other fans, a BBC portrait of young Matthew, your BBC4 'B' movie presenter......

charliekane

Remember when LPs used to have a note on the back cover - 'Stero playable Mono' or (worse !) 'Stereo enhanced' ?

charliekane

I think the problem with all tv film critics is that they feel the need to be 'entertaining' - and, no doubt, this is why the Beeb choose them in the first place. Surely Jonathan Ross didn't get the job because of his encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of cinema, but rather because someone at the BBC thinks that the public 'like' him (plus, of course, he has to do something for his 18 million quid).

Similarly, Matthew Sweet has created a niche for himself, I suspect based on his sleazefest book on Shepperton and including a slightly creepy relationship with retired forgotten silent actresses (a bit Sunset Boulevard ?). TV producers seem to like that sort of thing as opposed to someone who would simply introduce/present a programme in praise of films that deserve to be seen on their own merits. Many of us, I suspect, would gladly write articles on Donald Calthrop, Charters and Caldicott or Wally Patch if we could only get them published - and if this sounds a little like sour grapes, then I agree entirely.

Lord Brett

I'm going to have to rely on repeats for some of the films on the British B-Movies season, especially some of the ones on tonight (Saturday) that clash with Doctor Who.

Harbottle

To get everyone in the mood for tonight

YouTube - The Stanley Baxter Big Picture Show (Part 3 of 6)

charliekane

You may have to wait some time for these to be repeated, though - I had the same problem but decided I'd watch Dr Who on the BBC i-player thingy later

funlover

Just watched film on BBC4 "The Last Journey" 1936. Not much of a plot and ham acting but as it was railway themed most enjoyable and nostalgic. Also saw an actor I had forgotten about years ago. Dear old Frank Pettingel.