V for Vendetta Cinema Review Hooray...after been seriously underwhelmed at the cinema this year, a film as finally come along that as reinstated my interest in the cinema year of 2006.

Based on the British graphic novel by Alan Moore (who had disowned the movie before a single shot) and set in an 1984 dystopian society- the titular "hero" V (Hugo Weaving, amazing considering his face is never seen) bombs up parts of London whilst Eveie (Natalie Portman) is witness to one such event on November 5th (Guy Fawkes Night- "Remember, remember the fifth of November"). V is planning something big excactly a year from the now which involves the people uprising.

The moments to the 1066 Overture are fantastic, as his the Benny Hill moment (you'll know what I am on about when I see it) and this the Wachowski's brothers (who wrote the script) here that made The Matrix and not it's sequels and James McTiegue makes a visually stunning directorial debut

The cast is awesome, Weaving of course, as his the love of my life Ms. Natalie Portman, suitably managaing emotions whilst juggling an English accent, the supporting cast of mostly British actors are fine such as Stephen Fry.

Overall, the film is extremely well made and watchable, with terrific moments and performances, I recommend this. I give it A for Awesome

****

Expected reviews to be added later today: cinema review of V for Vendetta (seen a week late), Andy Kaufman's only starring movie role Heartbeeps, and a pair of remakes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Longest Yard

Today's entertainment news from around the world:

• Keith Carradine files a civil law suit against Hollywood P.I Anthony Pellicano after discovering he was among the stars named in a wire-tapping scandal.
• Isaac Hayes as rubbished reports that a stroke was the real reason he quit South Park.
• Jessica Simpson as dumped her record label Columbia to join Epic, she's doing a lot of life changing at the minute, it's not long since she dumped Nick Lachey.
• Paul Newman is backing a bill to protect image and vocal rights for actors.
• David Hasslehoff is fighting off rumours that claim he terrorised his estranged wife in front of their kids, claiming she needs help.
• Randy Quaid is suing the producers of Brokeback Mountain for $10 million claiming they lied to him about how big of a project the movie was.

R.I.P

Richard Fleischer

I was sad to hear of the death of director Richard Fleischer, who died aged 89 and whose career spanned countless decades- his work including the original Dr. Dolittle, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Tora! Tora! Tora and two films with Arnold Schwarzenegger: Conan the Destroyer and Raw Deal.

My DVD Collection

I thought I'd post some pictures of my DVD collection (some of the DVDs are not pictured), but this is the jist of how obsessed I am with DVDs. There is a lot of television DVDs and the rest are in alphabetical order. I own about 800 at the moment, I did own over 1100 at one point, but sold many to fund the Trip to America.

The Good Girl

Okay pop quiz hot shot, Friends was one of the most successful shows on television for ten years but there big screen experiences leave little to be desired- okay Courteney Cox in Scream, Lisa Kudrow in The Opposite of Sex, both deserve mentions as good movies. But on the other hand you've got Matt Le Blanc's Ed and Lost in Space, Cox's The Shrink is In, Matthew Perry's Whole Nine Yards and it's sequel, David Schwimmer's The Pallbearer- it's just a lot easier to list the turkeys, the big fat stinking turkeys. The Good Girl certainly instantly joins the list of good movies.

Jennifer Aniston is so un-Rachel, this is one of those small indepenent movies and she actually shows she can act, but it helps she is surroned by an awesome cast, Jake Gyllenhaal- Those Gyllenhaal kids are some talented bastards- you feel sorry for the kid cause he appears unbalanced, John C. Reilly is as always excellent, as the naive husband and Tim Blake Nelson as his best friend, Zooey Deschanel is lovely and brilliant as a co-worker at Aniston's store with almost zero customer care skills and Mike White (he wrote this, and also wrote episodes of Freaks and Geeks, School of Rock, Chuck and Buck and Orange County) and is talented as both an actor and a writer.

The film is fair to probably to describe as typical indie fare, but there is nothing wrong with it falling into that category- nothing pretty much happens, is a way to describe this movie, but everybody involved with this movie shows great talent, and Aniston will no longer just be known as Rachel. Funny and sad in equal measures it was a great little movie to watch with some wonderful little moments and performances. Recommended for those who don't need explosions and car chases.

****

The Untouchables

I was pretty young when I saw The Untouchables for the first time, it was probably one of the first grown up films I ever saw, my parents where quite liberated in what films I could watch. And when I watched earlier today for the first time in a couple of years, the film stood up tremendously well with awesome performances, awesome set-pieces, David Mamet's excellent script and Ennio Morricone's awesome musical score.

The Untouchables is the story of Elliot Ness (arguably I'd say he's only been as good in JFK) battles mob boss Al Capone (an awesome Robert De Niro) during prohobition era Chicago with the help of his group of Untouchables (Sean Connery's excellent Irish cop, a career making turn from Andy Garcia and a wonderful role for Charles Martin Smith).

Director Brian De Palma's movie is beautiful in every frame, it makes you wish you could experience 1930s Chicago, the set pieces stand out, the opening expolsion ("Mister, mister you forgot your bag!"), Capone going wild with a baseball bat, two major deaths, and the Battleship Potemkin influenced pram and staircase shoot out, and a memorable ending. Untouchables is a brilliant movie in every single department.

Ennio Morricone's great score probably helps, (the entire film could be paint drying but it still would be remember as beautiful) as does Mamet's sparkling script ("If they send one of yours to the hospital, send one of there's to the morgue..."), but the film could have easily been made in the 1940s, the 1960s or the 2000s it's so timeless.

The Untouchables is probably in my top 25/30 movies of all time- whilst De Palma's Scarface seems to get all the plaudits, this along with Carrie is the true De Palma masterpiece.

*****

The V for Vendetta Preperation: I'm going to probably see V for Vendetta tomorrow, thought I'd get in practice for annoying sayings to put in the review: A for Awesome B for Bad C for Crap D for Dull E for Excellent F for Fantastic G for Great H for Horrible I for Interesting J for Joyless K for krazy L for Lobotomy M for Marvellous N for Nonsence O for Original P for Pathetic Q for Quiet R for Rockin' S for Shit T for Terrible U for Unwatchable V for Vast Scenes That Slowed Down the Pace of the Movie W for Watchable X for Xcellent and Xciting Y for Yawn Z for ZZZZ Of course what pointless remark I make depends on the enjoyment of the movie. At least Natster is in it though.

Today's Entertainment News from Around the World:

• Futurama is coming back for 26 episodes, no it isn't, yes it is, no it isn't, conflicing reports annoy me
• South Park vs Tom Cruise: It's all to do with Scientology, Cruise threatened to boycott a Paramount premiere, if a Paramount owned station didn't drop the Scientology episode.
• The Simpsons will run for at least two more seasons, in that time Simpsons will pass the 400th episode landmark.
• The sequel to the brilliant Sin City as been delayed- director Robert Rodriguez is waiting for up the duff Angelina Jolie.
• Portia De Rossi (Arrested Development rules) blames Ally McBeal for the eating disorder she had, I'm pretty sure she means the show as an whole, rather then the fictional character she didn't play.
• Not really news but related to the above, Harrison Ford as never seen an episode of Ally McBeal featuring his girl Calista Flockhart in the lead role.
• I'll pass judgment until I see X-Men 3, but X3 director Brett Ratner is already in line to direct the much discussed Wolverine spin-off.

Yes, I've still been very slow at updating this past week. I haven't watched much this past couple of weeks that is ready for review.

I'm probably going to see V for Vendetta this week on Tuesday, so expect a review on Wednesday.

I did also start watching the original Village of the Damned, but was pretty tired when I watching it (not the fault of the movie), but it seemed pretty atmospheric, I expect to rectify it later in the week (maybe later today).

Stay Classy

Today's Entertainment News from Around the World:

• Funnyman Jack Black elopes and marries his musican girlfriend Tanya Haden, good for him
• Desperate Housewives' Nicolette Sheridan as got engaged to funny perm haired crooner Michael Bolton, there is hope for the rest of us yet.
• Jessica Simpson snubs a meeting with President Bush, because of conflincting political motivations.
• Despite some rumours Will Ferrell did not die in a freak paragliding accident, a short statement was released "I have no knowledge of Will Ferrell paragliding"
• Phil Collins as seperated from his wife, apparently she heard his music.

Havoc: Unrated Edition

Maybe I'm just growing into a bit of a miserable twat this year, I've been unimpressed by a lot of the recent movies I've seen and a film gaining a one star rating was bound to come sooner then later and Havoc directed by Oscar winning director Barbara Kopple and Oscar winning screenwriter Stephen Gaghan (Traffic) is sadly the first.

Maybe white people pretending to be wiggers just doesn't interest like it does some people, maybe the fact the script was on the shelf for over ten years said something, or maybe the fact it went straight to home video (despite the Oscar pedigree) could have been a slight clue. The film is basically about rich valley girls trying to be street (with dum dum dum- consequences at the end of the movie). They are some plus points and mainly reside inside the clothing of ex-Disney princess Anne Hathaway and Bijou Phillips, whilst Freddy Rodriguez and Joseph Gordon-Levitt aren't bad in their roles, whilst Michael Biehn and Laura San Giacomo just seemed wasted. The film just lacks any real life or spark and would fail to interest anybody into this sort of life and culture. In the lead Anne Hathaway clearly as a career away from Disney and does show it, but the kid making the video just comes across as a bit of a cliche.

Sadly, it's not a very good movie, there's about a thousand and one youth films out there, that are much better, better. Just give it a miss unless you want to see Anne Hathaway and Bijou Phillips topless. (R1 only)

*

Team America World Police

If it comes from the creators behind South Park (Trey Parker and Matt Stone), you kind of already know what your getting yourself into- you already know it's gonna lean a tad towards the taboo, South Park is usually take no prisoners (at the time of writing this- Isaac Hayes whose voiced Chef for years quit because of the recent Scientology episode) and Team America is clearly influenced by the work of Gerry Anderson (it's amazing to think an idea like this wasn't done before).

Team America is about a global police force dedicated to maintaining global stability who recruit Broadway actor Gary Johnstone to go undercover and learning that power hungry North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il is out to destroy the world. Team America is a funny movie, the film from the first second is a piss take of the Hollywood big budget movies, most notably Michael Bay- and gleefully in the opening scene destroys Paris landmarks, the songs are pretty good (Everybody has Aids, America Fuck Yeah, etc) which is not unexpected after South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut and the appearances of the anti-war celebrities- The Film Actor's Guild (which stands for F.A.G) political opinions aside is pretty damn funny- You've got Michael Moore, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Matt Damon (very, very funny) and all host of others- at least you can call it an equal rights attack and it is as really a memorable sex scene.

Parker and Stone have made a decent film with some very funny moments, whilst I'm never going to consider this the greatest comedy ever made, it was good for a chuckle or two (like South Park I guess) and really worth a watch.

***

The Hills Have Eyes Cinema Review Something I didn't do much of last year was go to cinema, I was pretty broke last year cause of saving and did manage to see a couple of films on the big screen during the year, this year I hope to remedy the fact, and Tuesday is the cheapest day to go to cinema, the Cinema Review on this blog might become a regular fixture.

So this the remake of the 1977 "classic" (the original though enjoyable is not or never was the greatest horror movie out there) the first horror remake to hit this year in what will be the year of the horror remakes (The Omen 666 and The Wicker Man are coming) and some people have been trumpeting this and a whole bunch of other horrors as the return of grown up horrors and there are moments when this film is pretty brutal, but in all honestly it's bit meh.

It comes across closer to the Wrong Turn then to the original movie (it is a lot better then Wrong Turn though) and is pretty well cast: Aaron Stanford, whose a very underrated actor is very good in the lead role as Doug and the quest towards the end nearly almost fully draws you in, the rest of the family that get stranded in the middle of the desert are pretty good: Kathleen Quinlan (from Breakdown- never go on anywhere with her) and Silence of the Lambs serial killer Ted Levine playing a good guy her both good in the parent roles. whilst Dan Byrd as the son and Emilie de Raven (Claire from Lost, not another woman to travel with), both give suprisingly strong performances, the mutants though though never reaching the peaks of Michael Berryman are pretty memorable, but it's the dogs that steal the show (Beauty and Beast). Whilst I complained that Final Destination 3 did not have any character development, this just seemed to last an age to take off.

Overall, I'd probably would watch it again (I promise to review this again the future, after a DVD release), because part of me feels it does deserve another watch (I'm admitting I might be wrong on my first viewing). P.S I can't be the only one who feels a bit uneasy when a baby is put in the path of danger.

**

I haven't forgot about this.

I'm just in the middle of watching a lot of stuff (television wise)- expect reviews before long of the following:

Eerie Indiana: Complete Series

Taxi Season One

Pee-Wee's Playhouse Volume One

Garden State

Whodafunkit? An actor best known for a (top) sit-com, writing and directing (and starring in) something so Scrubs star Zach Braff takes the lead role as Andrew "Large" Largeman, an actor constantly in a lithium induced coma, who returns home to Jersey when his mother dies, so far, so production line indie...

and it's like that for the first 25 minutes, and it's watchable- Braff, Peter Sarsgaard and Ian Holm hold the screen- but in the 25th minute it all changes, the film in a moment becomes special- I am of course talking about the scene Natalie Portman enters, the magic that Portman brings to this movie is out of this world- you instantly fall in love with her character, the compulsive liar Sam.

Portman completely makes the movie, why she wasn't nominated for a Best Actress Oscar is bewildering, to be fair this film doesn't feature the greatest quality of writing that ever existed , sometimes just feeling like a series of scenes, but Portman and the other performers make it worthwhile, Sarsgaard as Braff's old best friend also stands out in a fine ensemble.

This truly is a great film (the shortcomings are only nitpicking) and If your a fan of Ms. Portman, you'll love this so much, everybody else I'll like it too.

*****

Greg the Bunny: Complete Series

Another of those television show, that I love so much that didn't even last a complete season, Greg the Bunny lasted a dozen or so episodes in 2002, and takes the premise of the title character Greg, one of the 3.2 million fabricated Americans ("puppets") living in the US. Wanting a job that doesn't involve working only on Easter, he convinces his roommate Jimmy Bender (Seth Green) to find him a job on the kid's show "Sweetknuckle Junction," which his father Gil directs (Eugene Levy). While Greg thinks he's going in for a backstage office job, he inadvertently bluffs his way into becoming a cast member.

Greg the Bunny instantly in my mind draws comparisons with Peter Jackson's Meet the Feebles both obviously target the Jim Henson creations- but GTB mixes a human cast (in this world both exist remember) and is funnier then Jackson's creations overall- Greg (voiced by Dan Milano) brings the right level of innocence to a cute little bunny (and doesn't always quite understand something sexual) and other brilliant puppet cast members- Count Blah, with a weird speech impedement (he can't help but say blah after everything), Warren, a classically trained actor (even goes for an audition for Gary Oldman at one point), Susan, a giant puppet and the likeable Tardy the Turtle, who is slow. The human cast don't let the side down either you've got Seth Green (always likeable in everything he does), Eugene Levy (the man is seriously funny), Bob Gunton (crossing dressing Sweetknuckle Junction co-star, brilliantly deadpan), Sarah Silverman (The executive, a bit of a bitch- great value) and Dina Waters (as Dottie Sunshine, really likeable, you find out she as the reputation of been a slut) round off a really unique network television show.

There was some neat guest stars during it's short run, I've already mentioned Oldman, but you get Marilu Henner, Lindsay Sloane, Sasha Alexander and a really brilliant turn from Corey Feldman as himself.

I recommend this show, the characters grow on you really quick, the interaction between human and puppet is brilliant, another show it makes you sad to watch the last episode (R1 only)

****

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Volume One

Another of the Adult Swim cartoons I brought back from America, and there is one thing that is surprising is how consistently funny Adult Swim shows are considering there made for late night television.

Like Harvey Birdman (that I'd previously reviewed) Aqua Teen are very short coming in at about 12 minutes a piece- and during the course of the first volume seem to get even funnier.

Who are the Aqua Teen Hunger Force- Frylock, whose a box of fries and probably the most intelligent of the team, Master Shake, an obnixious milk shake and Meatwad a meatball who can shape shift into a hot dog and an igloo. The other main character is their landlord Carl.

Every episode starts with the evil Dr. Weird inventing something that goes wrong usually impacting on the Aqua Teen (or not). The standout episodes include adventures with the Rabbott (about a giant mechanical rabbit), Leprechauns using the Rainbow Maker 400 to steal shoes. Best of all is the appearances of the Moonities, appearances of the stupid aliens (probably Eastern European), Ol' Drippy, Happt Time Harry doll, Master Shake selling Meatwad to the circus, the pop up banners on the internet, the missing PDA and best of all the two-dimensional alien characters (pictures below) that end up corrupting Meatwad- genuis cartoon creations.

This show is brilliant and the first volume of four released so far, you've got brilliant characters (Master Shake's unneccesary bullying of Meatwad is great) and is a very, very funny show. Recommended.

****

A Christmas Story: Special Edition I was sad to hear about a week ago, the passing of actor Darren McGavin, now McGavin had a long and varied career that went back to the 1940s and he had roles in films such as The Man With One Arm and to later work such Raw Deal and Billy Madison as well as the lead role in the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker, but there will always be one role I’ll eternally remember him for playing the father in the 1983 movie A Christmas Story. I think there will be a lot of people affected by his death just because of how much this movie did and still means to them. A Christmas Story, maybe is the ultimate christmas movie, (you can say It’s a Wonderful Life etc), this is the Christmas movie even though you feel like your coming more like Scrooge want to watch every Christmas. Never mind that it's set in the 1940s, the plight is generational for any kid that wants the one thing, in this case Ralphie dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun (brilliant recurring line- "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"- but it's really about family and been together. This film as everything in a Christmas movie: a scary santa, a leg lamp, the pink bunny suit, when Ralphie swears and as to have his mouth washed out with soap, it geniuenly when I was younger put me off swearing.

The film did end up inspiring the Wonder Years and it's hard to believe it was based on a book (In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd) that was a series of writings for Playboy. The casting is perfect from the young actors- Zack Ward as the school bully Scut Fuckus maybe the greatest bully ever committed to celluloid- as her the adult actors, which parents aside are usually horrible people who shouldn't be near kids.

Outstanding Christmas movie, that I could watch anytime for warm fuzziness that as aged well, (Geek note: Yes I do own Christmas Story figures) and along with Kolchak, for anybody would be a fitting tribute to the memory of The Old Man- Darren McGavin (thanks for the memories!) (R1 only)

*****

Closer Since today is the day of the Academy Awards, I thought I’d review a movie that should have at least won one of the best supporting catergories (Clive Owen and Natalie Portman were nominated)- instead (side note: I couldn’t generally remember for a moment what actually won) Million Dollar Baby carried home a lot of the gold. Patrick Marber, who wrote the play and adaptated the screenplay (god, I remember him for Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge) that deals with four people (played by the good looking foursome of Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen and the ever lovely Natalie Portman) and their relationships ups and downs, why she would we care though? Good looking people having these issues boo hoo, go and find somebody else equally attractive, but that is the power of the writing and the performances- it draws you, you do care, you do feel emotion whether good or bad. Like I’ve said the power is in the acting Natalie Portman is a wonderful (she plays a stripper aswell!!!!) as is Clive Owen, Jude Law is probably the most charismistic he’s been since The Talented Mr. Ripley, Julia Roberts though, it doesn’t feel like she as much to do and her performance doesn’t stay on your memory for long. Things like the Internet Chat, Clive Owen called Julia Roberts a Fucked Up Slag and Natalie Portman in a thong stay in your mind for a long time.

Quality performances, writing and directing (from Mike Nichols) make this an exceptional movie for anybody who likes grown up movies. *****

The Oscars

So the Oscars are tonight and to be honest this year I've been perfectly disinterested but there is some top class talent among the nominess who I'd like to see take home a baldy-

Actor in a Leading Role

I'd be happy if Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Capote) or David Straithairn (Good Night and Good Luck) won, I wouldn't be disappointed if the other nominees Terence Howard (Hustle and Flow), Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain) and Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line).

Actor in a Supporting Role

Give it to George Clooney for Syriana, Paul Giamatti who's been nomintated for Cinderella Man might get it by proxy, Jake Gyllenhaal is probably the (bookies) favourite, Matt Dillon (Crash) and William Hurt (A History of Violence) neither I can see winning.

Actress in a Leading Role

though I haven't seen none of their movies I'd like either Keira Knightley (Pride and Prejudice) , Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) or Felicity Huffman (Transamerica) who I can see winning, Charlize Theron shouldn't win for North Country and I feel Judi Dench (Mrs. Henderson Presents) is like Meryl Streep she gets nominated when the Academy can't think of anybody else.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Rachel Weisz deserves it for Constant Gardener, Michelle Williams might win for Brokeback (I reckon Brokeback will win most awards tonight), Frances McDormand (North Country), Amy Adams (Junebug) and Catherine Keener (Capote-no nomination for 40 Yeard Old Virgin) I can't comment on.

Director

Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) will win but George Clooney (Good Night and Good Luck) is maturing as a director so fast and may steal it, I can't see Spielberg winning (though Munich is a strong movie) and I think Capote will be better known in the future for it's performances.

Best Picture

I predict Brokeback Mountain, I'll feel cheated if Crash wins (It can't be the best film of 2005), whilst Capote and Munich are more there for numbers IMO, the dark horse like for director will be Clooney's Good Night and Good Luck

Animated Award will go to Howl's Moving Castle

Adaptated and Original Screenplays will go to Brokeback Mountain and Good Night and Good Luck respectively.

So there you go some of my predictions.

Truth be told it's rare the Academy gets it right- Driving Miss Daisy, Forrest Gump, A Beautiful Mind come to mind of winning the Best Picture and not even been the best film of the year. Sure it's probably a nice thing to put on your C.V for somebody and it's also been a night to embarass yourself (Sally Field, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry), dress nice (or horrible) and wear million dollar jewellery, but I don't think it truly holds that much importance to people.

Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Volume One

Whilst on Holiday in America, I brought real (obsessive amount) lot of DVDs and a couple where Adult Swim cartoons (Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Brak Show, Home Movies etc) but Harvey Birdman was the first title I made it through.

Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law is a near perfect creation, mixing the "classic" Hanna Barbara cartoons with adult situations- of course the more memorable episodes are probably the episodes featuring the best known HB characters: Shaggy Busted (Scooby and Shaggy are stopped by the police and there natural gibberish leads the police to believe there under the influence), Death By Chocolate (Boo-Boo is a revolutionary who sends boobytrapped gift baskets and cookie bouqets to the heads of corporate America) and The Dabba Don (Is Fred Flintstone a Mafia Don) there are many good episodes in the set, the creators go back into the Hanna Barbara archive and mix the old cartoons in (and it's hard to tell sometimes where one stops and one ends).

There is a lot of genius in the surronding characters creations including Harvey's assissant Peanut (he is a ***** creation), his boss Phil Ken Sebben (Ha! Ha!) and paranoid lawyer Reducto (who carries a shrink ray)- all in all a wonderful little show, every episode is short (they come in at about 12 minutes) so there is never chance of them staying at there welcome.

I recommend this to any fan of animation, people who like the more "adult" friendly cartoons and people who have a special place of Hanna Barbara cartoons will both more then love this.

****

Entourage Season One

American Cable channel HBO as consistenly provided quality programming from The Sopranos, Oz, Six Feet Under to The Larry Sanders Show and Curb Your Enthuisasm. There programming as always seemed to different to other American TV shows (maybe cause swearing is allowed as is nudity). Entourage is about Vinct, Chase (Adrien Griener) a rising star in Hollywood, his best friends join his entourage. Meet Eric (Kevin Connelly), Turtle (Jerry Ferrera) and Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon): three guys from Queens dedicated to helping their film-star buddy Vincent navigate the absurdities of modern-day Hollywood--where sex, parties and super-agents rule the town.

It's fair to say Entourage is nothing special in it's genre- Hollywood on TV as been done better before but it's a fairly decent entry into the genre- it really offers nothing new within this first season, which is only eight episodes long, the dilemma's (though there's the use of bad langauge) sometimes seem slight (Vincent doesn't want to go to a High School reunion, going on a talk show etc) and the overall story arc doesn't grab the audience enough.

Jeremy Piven is excellent as Vincent's agent Ari as is Kevin Dillon and some decent guest stars pop up including Mark Wahlberg (who executive produces), Jessica Alba and Larry David, and Monica Keena, Debi Mazar and Samaire Armstrong have memorable recurring roles. Adrien Griener whilst probably easy on the eyes for the girls is pretty bland in the lead role that needs to exuberate charisma. Overall, pretty good I'll probably buy the next series if it comes out on DVD, I like it enough, the acting is pretty much strong and there are some good jokes there.

***

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

(spoilers) Is the Star Wars saga finally over?- the second trilogy is finally complete after Episodes I and II disappointed fans, antcipation was still high for Episode III after all- this was the one you'd get too see Anakin become Vader, the Jedi get wiped out, Luke and Leia being born, millions of fans hoping this would be the one Jar-Jar gets slaughtered. This was the prequel everybody had been waiting for- fans could excuse the weaknesses of the first two prequels- because this would be it- this would finally shut up the Star Wars fans-

Well let's go back to the original set of films- my favourite Star Wars films of them all is The Empire Strikes, I love the rebel taking a beating, fleeing Hoth, Luke's hand coming off, Han in Carbonite, the twist, ESB as an incredibly dark tone for a movie that the kids can see, and happily ROTS is the closest Star Wars films since to this tone- we got all them things we wanted (except the Jar Jar slaughter sadly)- We start with a kick ass opening scene that takes a straight into battle with Obi Wan and Anakin trying to save Senator Palaptine- Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) is suprisingly killed within the first fifteen minutes- because any Star Wars fan know the true villian of the piece as yet to show his colours. After the rescue, the film which was the main problem of the first two prequels becomes uninteresting when there's a lot of dialogue, George Lucas has never been brilliant at dialogue (Harrison Ford once said to Lucas "You can type this shit, but I can't say it")- the gushy love story between Anakin and Padme continues, but not as bad as Episode II. The film comes back into it's own with the death of Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson not going out like some punk!) and the assassination of the Jedi Knights (it's no Goodfellas but it's decent), Yoda fights Palapatine and the final battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan may be the best of the saga- Padme then dies during child birth of a broken heart(!) and we see Anakin become Vader which is cool until he speaks ("Nooooooooooooo") and then truly the prequels and sequels become one (not a perfect one but still...)

Ewan McGregor as got better with each prequel in my opinion, you finally just about believe he could become the legendary Alec Guinness, Hayden Christensen is also much improved as Anakin (he suffered a bit from whiny teen syndrome in the last movie) whilst the film belongs to Ian McDiarmid as Palapatine, whose been consistently good during the entire prequels and may arguably give the best performance in the entire saga, the lovely Natalie Portman (after two brilliant performances in 2004) as nothing too do but look pretty (something she does really, really well) and Chewbacca's appearance is not as bad as I thought it would be.

Overall a good way to end the series- not perfect, I'd happily watch this a couple of more times, I kind of was tied between giving it 3 or 4 stars- I feel like I should be a bit stingy- like I've said it's all come full circle as far as six films- but now instead of perfect trilogy (the originals) now it's an imperfect saga of movies.

***

Chappelle's Show Season One Dave Chappelle and his Chappelle's Show as as a bit of coverage at the moment, after Chappelle had done the first two seasons of the show, he signed a $50 million contract for a further two seasons, a little bit into filming for the third season, he disappeared, went to Africa, reappeared on his farm, Chappelle's Show probably finishing in the process. A couple of questions might go through your mind- was he worth $50 million to begin with, why did he walk away and what is up with him and if you haven't seen the show- is it any good? The first season runs for 12 episodes- there are many, many laughs to have a long the way, Dave Chappelle as natural charisma and easily carries the show, the first episode features Chappelle playing a blind white supermacist called Clayton Bigsby, now this very funny sketch (IMO) will be where the viewer gets divided- some people will feel it's in bad taste and (perhaps rightly so) will where the Chappelle's Show experience end for them. Look out for anything with the character of Crack head Tyrone Bigguns (particulary his first appearance in the second episode), other stand out sketches in this include Reperations 2003 (where black people finally get reperations from slavery), Inside Chappelle's Show Studio (Big Foot, Little Foot), Frontline: Racist Hollywood Animal Stars, Dave starring in own video game, The Player Hater's Ball, R Kelly: Piss on You Music Video and any appearance by comedy writer Paul Mooney. A lot of very funny sketches and as a strong hit to miss ratio, but like I say not everybody's cup of tea.

I recommend this for fans of comedy that's near the knuckle (but intelligent) and it's good to see Chappelle finally get a moment in the sun after supporting turns in movies like Con Air and the Nutty Professor and not only that be such a great show in the process

****

Arrested Development Season One I'm not sure since the Simpsons mid-90s prime I've laughed so hard and so much at a television programme which sadly as I write this looks to finishing once and for all- the show revolves around Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), the “normal” one in a family of crazies, who is forced to stay in Orange County and run the family real estate business after his father, George Bluth Sr (Jeffrey Tambor), is sent to prison for shifty accounting practices. While George Sr. spent the last year in the slammer discovering his newfound Judaism and recording inspirational tapes, Michael spent it picking up the pieces and trying to teach his offbeat family how to live without an endless expense account. All the while, Michael has also been trying to do right by his 14-year-old son, George Michael(Michael Cera), an earnest kid who works diligently at the family’s frozen banana stand. The Bluths are led by manipulative matriarch Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter), a socialite who is as icy as her martinis. Then there’s the oldest son, Gob (Will Arnett), a womanizer and struggling magician (sorry, “illusionist”) whose biggest trick will be to make a real job appear. The youngest brother is Buster (Tony Hale), a neurotic professional grad student and glorified mama’s boy (he spent 11 months in the womb). The Bluth siblings are rounded out by cause-obsessed sister Lindsay (Portia de Rossi), who is married to the hapless Tobias (David Cross), a doctor-turned-actor who might get more work if he wasn’t a self-proclaimed “never-nude.” Lindsay and Tobias are the ultra-permissive parents of Maeby (Alia Shawkat), a 14-year-old who loves finding unique ways to rebel against their overindulgence.

Like I've already said the show is very, very funny it also one of the most intelligent written sit-coms ever written (it requires the audience to have a memory), excellent moments include Gob entering prison after making a promise to the warden that he'd get out in 24 hours (the end to this is LOL hilarious), Liza Minnelli's funny recurring role as Lucille 2 (romantically linked to Buster of all people), anytime Henry Winkler shows up as the families terrible lawyer, Michael losing in short term memory thanks to Lucille, the possibly stand out marijuana, teach a lesson episode, Tobias' never nude problem, Lucille adopting a 14 year old Korean boy, the "blind" attorney, Maeby's illness fraud, George Sr trying to set up the family's accountant, the take your daughter to work day and the season finale. These are just moments that have come to me, there is so many more.

The cast are very funny- Will Arnett is a future star, De Rossi is even better then she was in Ally McBeal, David Cross and Tony Hale are also brilliant, old pro's like Jessica Walter and Jeffrey Tambor round off an amazing cast.

Recommended to anybody who likes to laugh (we are not talking people who list Friends as their favourite sit-com), this should forever be known as a legendary sit-com in years to come ("why oh why didn't it last for years!"). Awesome.

*****

Please release Slingshot on DVD

It's got Thora Birch (I've been obsessing a lot about her lately) and was completed in 2005. The rest of the cast features Julianna Marigulies and David Arquette and his about two cunning and manipulative drifters venture into Farifield County, Connecticut looking to seduce wealthy and lonely housewives. There is no offical word yet from either side of the pond but anything starring the lovely Ms. Birch is on my wishlist.

Sin City: Extended and Recut

Take this for what it's worth: this was my favourite film so far of 2005, granted I haven't had chance to see that money (there wasn't much disposable income for 2005 because of saving for Holiday) but the film in my opinion absolutely brilliant- arguably the most loyal the original comic book adaptation since Mario Bava's Danger Diabolik in the 60s, every stunning frame of Sin City comes straight from the comics by Frank Miller (who co-directs with Robert Rodriguez).

The film concentrates on three of the stories "That Yellow Bastard", "The Big Fat Kill" and "The Hard Goodbye" (renamed from Sin City), all three stories are terrific and amazingly shot mainly using blue screen (cars and buildings where added on later) and features some brilliant performances- recommended are Devon Aoki, Brittany Murphy, Rosario Dawson and best of all in an amazing comeback turn: Mickey Rourke- the once faded 80s star not only takes the film from everybody else who builds a new career on it. Also look for Quentin Tarantino doing a spot of guest directing and more then one top action sequence.

There are people out there who didn't like this film (my brother for one), I found this bewildering- this film was one of the fresh, most innovative films to come around for a few years. This set comes with graphic novel copy of the Hard Goodbye and the extended version is in four stories (There is a bookend for the movie) which you can watch as self contained little movies (R1 only/R2 expected)

*****

Once Upon a Time in the West I was going to stick to my self imposed rule of only reviewing films and television shows brought in or since I came back from America for the timing being, but I've been listening to the musicial score by Ennio Morricone quite a bit for what is arguably my favourite movie of all time.

It's fair to say West is the quintessential western (there are other fantastic westerns) which director Sergio Leone made after completing the excellent Dollars Trilogy- everything about the film is great- The camera work, the shots, scenary, the Ennio Morricone score, the performances- Charles Bronson as never been better, Jason Robards spectuclar and a shocking performance by blue eyed American Boy Henry Fonda as the psycho (blue eyed) villain- who in one the best characters introductions uncarlingly slaughters an entire family. Storyline wise it's very simplistic it's about a train station been built and the four main characters playing a role (Claudia Cardinale is the female lead), but there is also Harmonica's quest (Bronson), why does he want revenge on Frank (which gives the film a brilliant climax), Cheyenne (Robards) veers almost comedy relief but like I've said Robards is terrific- so it's a film about the performances, the one off scenes, the music, the scenary- everything you tend to remember after seeing a film.Once Upon a Time in the West in a geniune cinematic classic and the best work of one of the most visually spectuclar directors who ever lived. This film should be part of any self respected DVD collection- this is one of the films that didn't get the full credit for ushering a new era of cinema but watch it and prepare to be blown away.

*****

Second Generation Yes, I am in love with Parminder Nagra, so this review is gonna lean on the side of slighty unbias, made for Channel 4 after Bend it Like Beckham and just before she joined the cast of E.R, Second Generation despite being British made as yet yet to recieve a U.K release, and it's not even yet listed on DVDaficionado.com, so I counted myself lucky when I was able to find it in America.

In a modern reworking of King Lear, where a businessman lies in a coma while 2 of his daughters plan to turn off his life support machine and sell his business. His third daughter (Nagra) has his best interests at heart but is estranged from the family. In all honesty it's fair to say this two parter isn't up too much- if Ms. Nagra wasn't involved, I would probably have next to zero interest. Nagra is wonderful here, the rest of the cast put in decent performances even Danny Dyer plays a somewhat likeable character for the first time and it as actually a nice ending.

Anyway, I'd only recommend it to other Nagra fans, British Television drama as been done a lot better before and since, nothing special. (R1 only)

**

Crash

No film in 2005 probably divided opinion as much- some people thought it was a clever multi-storylined that dealt with a very and always topical issue of racism, even within different minority groups, others thought it was an overblown, badly written and overly sentimental, where do I fall, nearer to the first one, I am not gonna hype it as the modern classic a lot people have said it is, but my opinion is it's a good movie with good moments, good acting and nothing like director/writer Paul Haggis might have intended- life changing.

At first impression, the story quickly draws you in, two black youths talking about how they are judged by the colour of there skin before going onto carjack a car, I did like the film yes- Latino Jennifer Esposito insulting the Chinese, Thandie Newton's truly astonishing performance (just the see part when she goes into the turn of the century black racial stereotype), Matt Dillon finding the name of the call centre woman was "black sounding" then suddenly changing his attitudes, it's one of them films that every character as there own agendas- no character is painted black and white, there is a lot of grey, and I defy you in not giving anything way in not been moved in one seen with the young Ashlyn Sanchez and her father.

Overall, a pretty decent film, the multi-layered, mutli-character storyline as been done better before (Short Cuts, Magnolia), but the film does suffer in places (i.e some of the characters seem pointless) and sometimes comes across as a bit preachy.

***

Bad Santa After seemingly taking an age to come out in British cinema and another age to come out on DVD, Bad Santa, made and released to US cinema's in 2003 finally made it's DVD bow in 2005 (I'll reckon the fact it's a Christmas movie). So it was certainly a long wait for anybody who didn't happen to import in the meantime. There have been a number of classic Christmas movies over the years, two of them: Gremlins and Die Hard are certainly not your typical Christmas movies and now you can add Bad Santa to that list, the filthy, fouled mouthed, filthy bastard child of Disney (Disney owned Miramax financed it) is not your typical holiday movie, and I forgot to mention it's absolutely hilarious. Bad Santa is the story of two conmen who go on a road trip to malls dressed as Santa, Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) and his elf, Marcus (Tony Cox). Rather than spreading good cheer, the duo's motive is to rob each establishment, a strategy that becomes complicated when they encounter a loney 8-year-old fat boy (Brett Kelly) who teaches them the true meaning of Christmas. The plot despite the obviousness of Willie eventually growing to like the ever likeabel and overtrusting boy and his grandma, never goes too sickly sweet and just when you think it might, Willie goes ahead and does something else distgusting. The cast are brilliant, Thornton and Cox spar well with each other, whilst Kelly who is credited simply as The Kid, is the perfect counterbalance to Thornton, forever naivé, other strong casting includes Lauren Graham, Thornton's love interest with a Santa fixation ("Fuck me, Santa!) and John Ritter, in his final screen role as the uptight Mall manager.

I highly recommend Bad Santa which is alright to watch the rest of the year, just don't put it on for any little kids, they'll be asking a lot of weird questions.

****

SCTV Volume One Let's get a tad confused: SCTV Volume One comes from the fourth season of SCTV, the first three seasons where made and produced in Canada and lasted thirty minutes, this is the fourth season when they moved to NBC in America the show went to 90 minutes (and had to have a musical guest) but retained most of it's cast. SCTV will get many comparisons to Saturday Night Live- both have included hilarious comedy performers, but SCTV despite using a sketch show format is nothing like SNL, this show is funnier, and the less dated of the two. With at least one classic, classic sketch in each episode (consistently more then one) and excellent show running sketches or dilemma's. The cast are as follows:

• John Candy: Candy is of course beloved by many people today but not a lot of people in the U.K knew he was on this show, probably the least adaptable of the performers but so immensely likeable. His Johnny LeRue character is perfection
• Joe Flaherty: I think Flaherty is god and Count Floyd and Guy Cabbellero are such brilliant characters created by probably along with Thomas the most underrated performer from SCTV
• Eugene Levy: Most people probably know him as Jim's Dad the best thing in the American Pie movies, it's a testement to how good this show is when he is not the automatic choice for the best thing in this.
• Andrea Martin: Probably my least favourite of the performers, all her characters are OTT, a lot of people are fans of her and she does deserve credit, I do believe she is a top comedianne
• Rick Moranis: Another one of the more famous SCTV alumni- very funny, it's amazing how unfunny is stuff was post-1990 when you think at how funny is stuff is on here, great.
• Catherine O'Hara: Very funny and attractive- her impression of Brooke Shields is brilliant as is her signature character Lola Heatherton, you'd have seen her in loads of movies since she was on SCTV
• Dave Thomas: As many spot on impressions, like Flaherty probably the most underrated, his impression of Bob Hope is so spot on as is amazing British accents (this is coming from a Brit remember) round off a fine cast.

It's amazing to think there was only 9 episodes in this set (if you work it though, at 1h 5m there about the length of three half hour programs sans adverts is about the equivelent of 28 television episodes not bad really), and I'm gonna go through the episodes listing some favourites and some of the (rare) missteps: EPISODE ONE Flaherty's station owner Guy Cabbellero opens the show in a wheelchair and soon takes a tumble, you quickly find out he can actually walk and only uses the wheelchair for respect- a memorable opening to the show, you've got the hilarious "High Q" quiz show spoof- only Young Ones University Challenge is in the same league, the sketches are mostly hit, my favourite sketch is the Leaver it to Beaver 25th Anniversary and the Bob Hope/Woody Allen sketch (Dave Thomas does a brilliant Bob Hope like i've said), EPISODE TWO as the Tim Ishimuni Show possibly the most dated thing on SCTV, not politicially incorrect in this day and age, The Larry Siegel Show is an excellent spoof of Hollywood producer Joel Silver, the most famous sketch is Polynesiantown (which doesn't exactcly resemble Chinatown) and is very funny which includes musical guest Dr. John really well (SCTV always included the musical guests in sketches, a genuis way to include them) and the shows end with two brilliant sketches: The British Film Festival, with Dave Thomas playing the angry young man and Catherine O'Hara been pregnent in every film in the festival, the English accents are brilliant especially Thomas' rather amazing accents and The Gerry Todd Show end the show excellentally- EPISODE THREE and it's major weakness is the longest sketch in the episode "The Fracasas" which just falls felt, the introduction of Yellowbelly and Speaking of Talk are good, but it's the introduction of Count Floyd in the Monster Chiller Theatre and the Ingmar Bergman parody that raises the most laughs EPISODE FOUR as the excellent 50s gameshow spoof What's My Shoesize, with Flaherty doing a great impression of, Mel's Rock Pile is brilliant with a really long version of Richard Harris doing MacArthur Park (that is the joke!), this episodes also features the excellent The Man Who Would Be King of Popes and another Monster Chiller Theatre (Dr. Tongue's 3-D House of Stewardesses!).

EPISODE FIVE as a strong running story thread with LeRue coming to terms with Polyensianown's failure, Bad Acting in Hollywood is the show's funniest sketch and the Steinbeck spoof The Grapes of Mud provides laughs. EPISODE SIX actually deals with a serious issue at the time and this episodes provides the first such enterprise, as the network deals with pressure groups who try to influence programming. This thread features critic Bill Needle and his willingness to sell out. The runner gets somewhat preachy at times, but it’s still a good way to tie together the program. Mr. Falbo's Tiny Town is excellent and the Merv Griffith Show is better (Flaherty does a brilliant Don Knotts), the return of the Gerry Todd Show is again excellent, one of the best episodes in the series so far EPISODE SEVEN, is another episode with a strong runner, where the station holds a telethon after the previous episode which features the Elephant Man for some unknown reason, Farm Film Report is fun and Mel's Rock Pile 20th Anniversary which features Roy Orbison is fun, one of the weaker episodes for sketches EPISODE EIGHT as the runner of Lola Heatherton (probably Catherine O'Hara's best character) and a terrible TV special, funny moments comes from The Oscar parody The Nobel thanks to Dave Thomas' OTT performance. No real duds here, no massive stand outs here though either, the final episode of the package EPISODE NINE features the always fun Mackenzie Brothers going in search of a topic for the showrunner (I've failed to mention the Mackenzie Brothers in any other episode rundown, but there appearances are always welcome), the best sketch is the extended take on Fantasy Island, thanks to John Candy as Herve Villechaize and Flaherty and Thomas' take on Crosby and Hope, Money Talks is also great fun as is Mel Torme's take on the Star Spangled Banner. There it is the complete volume one and hardly a miss on it.

This as been my longest review by far so far, but I spent a great deal of time watching it and wanted to do it justice. The extras are great: a couple of documentries, commentaries (by Joe Flaherty and Eugene Levy, Flaherty even as a major revelation in saying he tried coke in the seventies) and an Apsen Comedy Festival Reunion special. Overall a great package, which was one of the more expensive sets I brought back from the US, bring on Vol.2-4

*****

Will Snakes on a Plane be the guilty pleasure of 2006? Plot Outline: On board a flight over the Pacific Ocean, an assassin, bent on killing a passenger who's a witness in protective custody, let loose a crate full of deadly snakes. And get this it stars Samuel L. Jackson, Mr. Cool himself (who only signed on cause of the title, and when they was going to change it, he demanded it stay the same) with Rachel Blanchard in a film with one of the most self explainatory titles in the history of cinema.

With David R. Ellis directing, who as directed some fun films you think you shouldn't enjoy as much such as Final Destination 2 and Cellular this should at least be entertaining.

Stephen King's It Based on the really, really, really long and sometimes wondering Stephen King novel, this two part mini-series made in 1990, was a staple of my early 90s home video viewing with a show stealing anc chilling performance by Tim Curry as Pennywise the Clown (who isn't in it enough goddamit), the first part is the kids battle against IT, the second part after a pact they made is the adults returning to finally kill IT once and for all. From the start it's obvious It was made for television, director Tommy Lee Wallace clearly as talent though because there is more then a flash of visual brilliance here and there a stronger young cast (a young Seth Green, Emily Perkins who went onto to star in the underrated Ginger Snaps movies, the sadly now deceased Jonathan Brandis included) who are a lot easier to sympathise with and the adult cast (a good cast aswell, even though I was easily distracted by Richard Thomas' ponytail), but it's fair to say the story runs out of steam by the time the second part roles around (there are some memorable moments in the second part). Overall, pretty good as far as made for television mini-series goes, it's not in the league of many Stephen King adaptations, but it's better then a few, worth a watch.

***