My name is Philip Raby. I have been watching films for more than 50 years, with at least 10,000 hours of viewing time.
For the last 23 years I have run a film rental shop in Bath called On the Video Front. I have been Chair of the Bath Film Festival for 20 years, I run film classes, and have taught film to doctors, psychotherapists and business managers. I have an MA in Film Studies and have written a book called Letters to the Stars.
This does not make me an expert - how can you be an expert in opinions? - but it does mean that my opinions are grounded in experience. And I love films. Starting with 101 Dalmatians, The Guns of Navarone and The Magnificent Seven, all the way through to Let The Right One In, Coraline and Un Prophete, I have found hundreds of films that I love and want to encourage other people to watch. Of course there are thousands more that are either mediocre or worse, and it's equally important that I discourage people from wasting their time on Blade Runner, The Sound of Music or Mamma Mia.
I have prejudices, like everyone. Musicals, horror films and sci fi are a few of my pet hates. Films in which real people engage in relationships with other real people are so much more interesting. You might disagree, which is fine. If your idea of a good time is watching Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rene Zellwegger pretending to sing - good luck to you.
What I aim to offer is simplicity, clarity and authenticity. I will keep reviews as short and straightforward as possible, make sure you know what I mean and tell the truth as I see it. You can't ask for more than that.
