The Water Babies (1978)

A loose adaptation of Charles Kingsley's 1863 book of the same name, the film is notable for its blending of live action and animation, which likely doesn't seem as special now as it did back in the late 70s. Set in 1850 in England, it's the story of twelve-year-old Tom (Tommy Pender), apprentice to a cruel chimney sweep (James Mason). When Tom is blamed for something he didn't do, he escapes to an animated fantasy world, which gives the film its name.
The animation side of things is colourful and the primary moral lesson is straightforward and easily understood, but there's some broad cultural stereotyping that may seem crude by today's standards. Billie Whitelaw plays multiple roles, which doesn't make a lot of sense, but she brings a welcome level of real-world wonder to what at times is a pretty grim way of life.

3 transformations out of 5

Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)

aka Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth

James Mason stars as a professor of geology who receives a rare gift from a student, sparking an adventure into the unknown depths of the Earth.
The works of French novelist Jules Verne have been inspiring film-makers for over 100 years, but not all of the resultant films are good. JttCotE's budget meant it had to excise a large amount of what the travellers encounter during their subterranean adventure, but the sets are inventive and the script, despite its changes and additions, tries its best. Alas, the pacing is problematic and the outdated attitudes of the main characters (sexism, self-importance, boorishness, arrogance, etc) make them difficult to sympathise with. An enjoyment of the movie means that an enjoyment of Verne — or rather Hollywood's interpretation of the same — is something of a prerequisite.

2½ frayed cuffs out of 5

NORTH BY NORTHWEST [1959]

Director Alfred Hitchcock teams up with The Sound Of Music screenwriter, Ernest Lehman to craft the finest of paranoid thrillers, North By Northwest.
Dressed in some mighty slick suits: Cary Grant, James Mason and Martin Landau make for some fascinating chemistry with their game cat & mouse while Eva Marie Saint brightens things up a bit with one her best performances apart from On The Waterfront.
Laying down the formula for many paranoia thrillers after it, Hitchcock still does it best, showcasing some iconic backdrops, deafening silence at all the right times and stunning style that equals the substance.
The perfect blend of humor and suspense makes for one of Hitchcock's most audience friendly films in his career.

4 Big girls in all the right places out of 5

LOLITA [1962]

Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita is a bit of a challenge to actually like.
The story about a 40 something year old, falling in love with a 14 year old girl that is the daughter to the woman he married is a might bit creepy, yet disturbingly hilarious. Kubrick captures the rapidly changing era by subtly pushing music, fashion and lingo into the foreground at perfectly timed moments. However, every single character in this film is incredibly unlikable and makes the film difficult to care about. With that being said, Peter Sellers inevitably steals every scene he has with his trademark disguises. Had it not been for the interesting character study and direction I would have given it the ol' heave ho out the window.

3 Chopin butchers out of 5