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Graham Young

Graham Young

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (15)

See what our film editor, Graham Young, thought of the film starring Russell Brand. Read

Cannon Hill Park

Shameful

IN LESS than three weeks since the MAC closed for an 18-month £13.5 million refurbishment, developers have already obliterated two of Cannon Hill Park's best features. Read

Three And Out (15)

THIS is a Mackenzie Crook comedy about the need to find someone willing to kill themselves. Read

Toby Carvery

Toby Carvery, A45 Stonebridge Island, Nr NEC

CALL it a strange ambition, but I've always wanted to visit this pub. Read

Bells Lane Fish Bar

Bells Lane Fish Bar, Druids Heath

CLOSE to the A435 Maypole island gateway to Worcestershire's beautiful countryside, you'll find this chippy behind the Phoenix pub. The grotty row of mostly-shuttered shops scarily resembled the set of a Hollywood zombie movie at sunset. My chatty and bright-eyed server scooped up a 70p bag of deep-yellow chips which crashed through the 500g line on my in-car scales like a bag of cement. They tasted better than expected, but a mere handful was enough for me. Read

Balls Of Fury (12)

YOU'D never guess that Christopher Walken had starred in some of the finest films ever made when you see him in this movie directed by Robert Ben Garant (Reno 911!: Miami). Read

Liza Minneli

Liza has lived life to the full

LIZA Minnelli has been there and done it all. Read

Street Kings

Street Kings (15)

SINCE completing The Matrix trilogy, Keanu Reeves has led the line in Thumbsucker, Constantine, A Scanner Darkly and, er, Sandra Bullock's The Lake House. Read

Lars And The Real Girl (15)

DIRECTED by Craig Gillespie (Mr Woodcock) and recently Oscar nominated for best original screenplay alongside the triumphant Juno, this is a lovely little film about the real meaning of relationships, tolerance and true love. Read

In Bruges

In Bruges (18)

A SERIES of cleverly-spaced advanced screenings has generated plenty of word of mouth on this film. Read

A Walk In The Park: Cofton Park, Rednal

THIS VAST park is something of a miracle of nature especially given where it is. Read

Botanical Gardens

Gardens are a perfect tonic

IT'S LESS than two weeks since Cannon Hill Park's MAC arts centre closed down for an 18-month refurbishment. Read

Stockfield Chippy

Stockfield Chippy, A4040 Stockfield Road, Acocks Green

I'D never noticed this tiny chippy before - perhaps because the window posters make it look like the decorators are in. Inside, the curry smell could overpower boxer Ricky Hatton, but nothing could stop the local chatterbox from holding court late one Monday night. Read

Hit the jackpot

THERE'S always something going on that's different in Britain's capital of fun. Read

You Kill Me (15)

BEN Kingsley plays alcoholic assassin Frank Falenczyk, who seemingly can't put the bottle down for long enough to shoot straight. You Kill Me is always watchable with a cast including Luke Wilson, Dennis Farina, Philip Baker Hall and Bill Pullman but the therapy scenes are too long. Out to buy for £15.99. Read

St Trinian's (12)

FORMER Doctors' star Jodie Whittaker plays sassy receptionist Beverly in this energetic update of the 1950s and 60s movies which starred Alastair Sim as headmistress Miss Fritton. Girls still just wanna have fun, but today they're likely to be making 100 per cent proof vodka in the biology lab or running a (tame) phone sex line and Rupert Everett is now the toothy headmistress with a doctrine of self-empowerment. As daft and insubstantial as Spice World a decade ago, this is one for teenagers only. Also available to buy for £19.99 (Blu-ray £24.99). Read

30 Days Of Night (18)

SETTING a vampire movie in an Alaskan town enduring 30 days of darkness is a good idea. Josh Hartness plays a rather young-looking Sheriff Eben Oleson who stays behind when the sun disappears. The film is no classic, but director David Slade offers lashings of blood and a two-disc special edition DVD includes an exclusive 30 Days Of Night graphic novel. Out to buy for £19.99 (Blu-ray £24.99). Read

Alvin And The Chipmunks (u)

HAVING grossed more than $200 million in the US alone, Alvin... has been the biggest unexpected monster hit of the past 12 months. When three chipmunks find their home is chopped down for a Christmas tree in the lobby of Jett Records, they meet down-on-his-luck musician Dave Seville (Jason Lee). Alvin, Simon and Theodore combine their skills with Dave's and become superstars overnight. Elements of a furry version of The X Factor, with animated characters which youngsters love. Also out to buy for £19.99 (Blu-ray £24.99). Read

BBC WM Radio DJ's Phil Upton and Paul Franks

Radio presenter tells of crash nightmare

POPULAR radio presenter Paul Franks today spoke for the first time about the terrible day he was involved in a fatal collision. Read

A Walk In The Park: White Out!

AFTER going to bed at midnight on Saturday, I miraculously woke up at 5am thanks to a dripping tap! Read

Author Profile

Award-winning Film Editor Graham Young has covered the Midlandsý radio and TV scene for two decades. The father of three is also the Mailýs reviewer of pubs, parks, family days out and chips and a keen photographer.

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