War Horse (12)
Jeremy Irvine stars in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's first world war children's novel. Overlong and visually spectacular (a typical Spielberg effort, then), it was nominated for six Oscars and five BAFTAs. Benedict Cumberbatch, David Thewlis, Emily Watson and Tom Hiddleston also star.
Heavenly Pursuits (15)
From Glasgow-based re-release outfit Park Circus comes this 1986 curio from overlooked Scottish director Charles Gormley. Tom Conti stars as an unbelieving remedial teacher at Glasgow's Blessed Edith Semple School who witnesses what may or may not be a miracle – this as the school priest lobbies the Vatican to confer sainthood on Edith. Helen Mirren and David Hayman also star, and keep an eye out for a young Ewen Bremner playing one of Conti's most difficult pupils.
Falstaff: Chimes At Midnight (PG)
Another curio, this one from Orson Welles via underground music and film label Mr Bongo. Shot in stark black and white in 1965 with a cast including John Gielgud, Jeanne Moreau, Fernando Rey and Margaret Rutherford, it squashes Shakespeare's four-strong Henriad cycle of history plays into one breathless 90-minute sprint. Welles plays Falstaff in a film which displays all his usual visual flourishes.
Dark Shadows: The Original TV Series (PG)
The cult 1960s TV show Tim Burton's new film is based on never screened in the UK, so this timely three-disc reissue from Metrodome will fill in the back-story a little. Though not initially pitched as a supernatural series, the introduction of ghosts and the character of remorseful, centuries-old vampire Barnabas Collins made this strange, gothic soap opera a daytime hit for network ABC. Quentin Tarantino and Johnny Depp, who stars in Burton's 2012 update, are both huge fans. If you like Twilight, Buffy or True Blood, you'll love this.
Barry Didcock
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article