Polar Bear

Let's forget Phantom Menace was ever made and call this one "Episode I". Ewan and Natalie acted MUCH better in this one, it actually had some great action scenes and Jar Jar Binks wasn't in it very much. Haydn Christensen was a revelation. After that annoying brat in Ep I, it's nice to see the good/evil struggle in Anakin. Haydn did really well with some horrible dialogue and I really felt he could become Darth Vader. His speech after the Tuscan raiders massacre was cold and perfectly delivered. Perhaps it was just me, but some of the shadow shots of Anakin even made him look like Darth Vader. Much better and I'm actually looking forward to Ep III now.

"The Iron Giant" deserves it's place in the top 250. I love Disney films, but there's not a one that can touch the clever humour, or emotional range of this wonderful film. It's perfect viewing for kids, but adults will find value in the 50s references: the "duck-and-cover" educational film, the B-movie about the killer brain and the hepcat played by Harry Connick Jr. With beautiful animation (how did they get the robot to be expressive?) and a clever script, this film is absolutely unmissable. Ted Hughes would have been proud.

"Hercules" is a cracking Disney film and for once it's not just for the kids. The animation is more like the "old-school" Disney, before the cute, big-eye syndrome and the characters are hugely entertaining. It has sly humour and in-jokes, but what sets it apart are the songs; soul, RNB, jazz and not a drippy sugar-song in sight. Quality entertainment!