Best Fantasy Film Jack The Giant Killer
In preparation for the new Jack the Giant Killer movie from Bryan Singer next year, I watched the original which is a weird, fever dream of a kid's movie. Featuring fantastic old school effects that add to the charm, this is well worth checking out.
Best Sci-Fi Film The Space Children
A real b-movie curio with a distinct Village of the Damned vibe that was brought to my attention by a recent issue of Sight and Sound magazine.
The WTF? Award Sir Henry at Rawlinson End
From the mind of Vivian Stanshall of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, a master-class in British comic eccentricity with beautiful sepia-toned photography.
Best Animated Film A Cat In Paris
Absolutely charming Academy Award nominated animation.
Best Documentary Tabloid
The bizarre true story of Joyce McKinney from director Errol Morris
The Why Didn't I See This Sooner Award The Battle of Algiers
Despite having the DVD for six years, I only just got around to watching this masterpiece.
The In-Kermode-We-Trust Award The Ninth Configuration
Thanks to the championing of this film by Mark Kermode I finally got round to seeing this gem of a movie. The second film in William Peter Blatty's faith trilogy (following The Exorcist and succeeded by Legion) is by turns very funny and deeply moving.
Best Cinema Visit The Dark Knight Rises
It was either this or The Amazing Spider-Man, no competition.
Worst Film Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Other contenders included Exorcist 2: The Heretic and Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, which gives you an indication of how awful I think this film is.
More often than not, when browsing through videos on YouTube, my thoughts turn to old programs from my childhood. The more obvious ones such as Transformers and Masters of the Universe are largely ignored because of their ubiquity and the challenge becomes dredging up half-forgotten shows from my mind.
One such show is Once Upon a Time...Life, a French production that aims to tell the story of the human body to children. Broadcast on Channel 4, my memories are that this was one of the earliest cartoons in their Sunday animation block and I would normally catch it while waiting for something along the lines of Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors. I only remembered the show as that one that was a bit like the Numbskulls with a bearded dude in it, but the joys of the internet meant it didn't take long to uncover a title and episodes on YouTube.
Unlike certain shows from my childhood, which will remain nameless, Once Upon A Time...Life stands up as a superb cartoon that is remarkably enjoyable to watch. In fact I probably enjoy it more as an adult than as a rather impatient child jacked up on sugary cereal.
Once Upon A Time...Life was the third series in the Once Upon A Time series, although I only vaguely remember the first two series, Man and Space. The series has continued beyond my childhood to include The Americas, The Discoverers, The Explorers and Planet Earth.
I don't think the Once Upon A Time series is currently broadcast in the UK, and it certainly isn't available on DVD, which is a crying shame as it is something that would entertain and educate a new generation of children.
