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WHAT LIES BENEATH (US:PG-13 UK:15) Starring Harrison Ford, Michelle Pffiefer Directed by Robert Zemeckis DREAMWORKS SKG.

With its high production values, skilled director and big name actors, I must admit I was expecting a bit more from the Hitchcock-equse shocker, "What Lies Beneath." When Harrison Ford and Michelle Pffiefer, both looking for a decent movie recently, both choose the same script you expect something special. And with "Back to the Future" director Robert Zemeckis at the helm, What Lies Beneath has a lot of potential.

A simple ghost story, with some neat scares, What Lies Beneaths plot and twists were, notoriously, given away in the terrible advertising campaign by DreamWorks. To sum up, Pffiefer plays a housewife who believes a spirit is in her house, while husband Ford refuses to believe her.

While promising much, the film never really reaches greatness, in fact it barely passes average on scruntination. Still, with it's eerie atmosphere and largely effective jump scenes, What Lies Beneath is an enjoyable ride the first time, especially in the cinema. There are many jump scenes, but somehow they still manage to make the audience jump even towards the end of the film. Zemeckis creates a good atmosphere, and the cinematography is superb. Ford is somewhat weak, but Pffiefer plays a fine victim, and pulls off some scenes especially well, such as a creepy possesion scene. Zemeckis even has time to throw in some good special effects.

The musical score by longtime Zemeckis collaborator Alan Silvestri, although only used sparingly, creates an effective mood. But the writing is below par, with none of the other characters except Pffiefer being interesting. A lot of the plot elements are given away early on, and an interesting subplot is discarded with little explanation halfway through the film. And at over two hours, What Lies Beneath is far too lengthy for this type of film, and includes some rather boring moments.

I couldn't help but think this could have been better. Some parts are scary, but overall, What Lies Beneath is an average thriller with an above average production team that never uses its potential.

With Bruce Willis, Sly Stallone and Arnie storming the screens with violent action movies, James Bond decided to have a go with this gritty, violent film. In this Bond film, Felix Leiter (David Hedison) has just got married. Unfortunately, his wife is shortly killed by agents of a drug lord named Sanchez (Robert Davi), and Felix himself has his legs bitten off by a shark. James Bond (Timothy Dalton) quits the secret service and goes on a personal vendetta to eliminate Sanchez.

Although Licence to Kill is fun in the traditional Bond style, it is sometimes grisly with the violence. The shark scene is bad enough, but the film goes even further with electrocution, a henchman getting chewed up, and even a head exploding! It all seems a little out of place in the Bond universe. Bond himself is tougher and more cunning: he actually uses brain rather than stupid gadgets to get himself out of a tricky situation. Talking of gadgets, Q gets a meaty role for once, and the film is more enjoyable for it.

The film features some excellent stunts, including an exciting truck chase at the end. The Bond girls are as stunning as ever. Sadly, there's a cameo by Wayne Newton, but if you have the stomach, Licence to Kill is one of the more better films in the series.

(Action, 1989)

Five kids have to go to a 'breakfast club' detention, and discover more about themselves and each other in traditional John Hughes style.

Although the script is a little silly, and the ending completely bizzare and unrealistic, the rest of the Breakfast Club is enjoyable enough teenage fare. Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson are the highlights of the cast, particulary Sheedy who says almost nothing during the film and still manages to make an impact. Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald are a litle bland, but so are their characters. Paul Gleason comes off as stupid and unrealistic as the principal.

Despite the odd corny lines, the script is truthful enough, and sometimes quite witty. The soundtrack is full of eighties hit music, including the powerful Simple Minds theme 'Don't You Forget About Me.' Worth catching on television.

(Comedy/Drama, 1985)