Been busy working hard the last couple of weeks. Will be back to updating probably around the 27th, right after Xmas is over with. Some good news to share then and other stuff, see ya then.Sunday, December 23, 2007
A Quick Word
Been busy working hard the last couple of weeks. Will be back to updating probably around the 27th, right after Xmas is over with. Some good news to share then and other stuff, see ya then.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Best Trailer of All Time...
Probably my favourite trailer of all time from the classic movie Psycho (1960)
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
"Lorraine, my density has bought me to you."
Back to the Future
(1985) manages to be be splendid family entertainment despite featuring a storyline involving incest and attempted rape. Of course as far incest goes, it not as if anything distgusting is actually done, Marty's mother Lorraine wants Marty really bad, of course she doesn't know that it is son from 30 years in the future. I guess Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale felt Biff forcing himself on Lorraine was needed to make George a hero, putting her in a genuinely dangerous situation for her.Anyway, enough about the iffy parts of BTTF, you all know the story and if you don't where the heck you been?. I really like the cast in this movie all utterly memorable in their own little way. The story is strong and there's an whole bunch of exciting moments.
It's certainly the most fun time travel movie ever made and one of the best, I really liked the sequels, but this is in a class of it's own, HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
First Blood
(1982) is often cited as one of the first films of the guts and glory Reagan era action film, which I feel is an unfair comment of the movie, it's certainly true of the sequels I'll give people that, but this is a story about a fractured and clearly affected ex-Vietnam vet whose persecuted by a small town sherrif department because of the way he looks.
The body count is actually extremely low ***SPOILER ALERT*** One notable death featuring a deputy falling out of an helicopter seemed to be more out of need for survival then killing the other person ***END OF SPOILER***. Sly Stallone is pretty good here, he was never the greatest of actors, the rest of the cast like Brian Dennehy and Richard Crenna are also on good form and the ending is also pretty low key considering what was to follow.
This would probably be more highly regarded today if they'd gone with the original book's ending (I won't give it away), but it's a film I really liked, so I'm going to have to I recommend it.
Empire Records (1996) is one of those films I always think as slacker films that came about in the mid 90s and features a young cast who either made it big, fairly big or not big at all, among them future Oscar winner Renée Zellweger aswell as Liv Tyler. Also in the cast is Anthony LaPaglia and Maxwell Caulfield and the plot is so slight it's barely worth mentioning, the story is basically a day in the life around a record store that's about to be brought up by a franchise.
It's enjoyable thanks to some great performances such as Brendan Sexton III and Ethan Embry and a really good soundtrack. Recommended.
A film that you can surprisingly somewhat compare to Boogie Nights in a good way is The Pornographer (1999), and is an indie production about a man who watches a lot of porn and thinks he can do a better job of directing. Despite it's showings on late night erotic slots over here on U.K. channel, the film brings up some good points but ultimately some scenes of T&A can't help but mute the point. Better then it should be, but not amazing by any stretch of the imagination.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Tomorrow is another day...
Back tomorrow, just got in, too tired, reviews coming up for First Blood, Empire Records, Back to the Future and an indie film called The Pornographer (which is nothing like you'd expect it to be from the title)
Monday, December 03, 2007
"Do you wanna play football lad or do you wanna do some maths!?"
My favourite scene from the wonderful movie Kes (1969). Brian Glover is brilliant here.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
"Captain Insano shows no mercy."
I think Adam Sandlers make very watchable movies and contain some funny moments -I might have already written that somewhere on this blog (I can't really remember) whilst something like The Wedding Singer is a really good romantic comedy, a film like The Waterboy (1998) is purely for laughs.
Adam Sandler plays idiot Bobby Boucher (very similar to his Cajun Man character from Saturday Night Live) a waterboy for a college football (American) who egged on by Coach Kline (the ever great Henry Winkler) uses his aggression to tackle one of the players and he is made a quarterback for the team whilst keeping it secret from his overprotective mother (the ever great Kathy Bates) The film is funny, but nothing special (I couldn't decide whether to give it 2 or 3 thumbs up from Fonzie), Sandler manages to get by on the angry young man/buffon shtick he's done in plenty of movies, while the support is good from Winkler, Bates and Fairuza Balk as his jailbird love interest Vicki Valencourt. Not life changing but good enough.
I have something of a love/hate relationship with the entire Wayans' family, In Living Color was a great sketch series, I'm Gonna Get You Sucka was very funny. Whilst on one hand, Scary Movie 2 was awful, ditto Little Man and White Chicks, Kim Wayans performance in the sit-com In the House was beyond annoying and Damon Wayans is probably the most abusive loving dad in sit-com history on My Wife and Kids (go and watch and see how sometimes his actions should class as child abuse). Don't Be a Menace in South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) (I think I spelt it write), falls closer to the hate section.
Now I didn't hate this movie, I just thought it was rarely funny, I was familar with many of the films they spoofed -Boys n the Hood, Juice, Menace II Society etc- but there just wasn't a spark to be had- written by and starring Shawn and Marlon Wayans, who went onto do Scary Movie (and you could probably accuse them of creating the modern spoof, one that is made up of often bad recreations of other movies such as their own Scary Movie 1 &2, and then it's Wayanless sequels aswell as Epic Movie and Date Movie). Laughwise Bernie Mac's little role raised a titter and a couple of scenes made me smile so it wasn't entirely bad
I know a lot of people who find this hilarious (same for the Friday movies which I just could never get into>, maybe there seeing something I'm not, I'd recommend watching Keenan Ivory Wayans earlier I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (which is something of a spoof of blaxploitation movies) instead. but fans of Shawn and Marlon will lap it up.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
"Have you got a frozen Zoom?"
Ronnie Barker was a legend, with a number of very successful series under his belt, he was just not a fine comedy actor but a fine actor all around, I recently purchased 12 disc Ronnie Barker set, so over the coming weeks look for little reviews and notes popping up...
Seven of One
, was a BBC television series that aired in 1973. The show was seven individual episodes each kind of serving as a potential pilot for a series (though I reckon some if most where planned as one offs from the beginning). The legendary Barker was the only actor to appear in all 7 episodes, two of the pilots went onto two successful shows (more on that in a bit). Here is the episodes one by one- Open All Hours: Also starred David Jason. Of course this would eventually go on for four series. I like this sit-com because of it's simplicity: A man runs a corner shop and his nephew works for him, the show works obviously because of Barker and Jason (who's know slouch when it comes to great comedy).
- Prisoner and Escort: Would go onto become the series Porridge (which lasted 3 series, have 2 christmas specials and a spin-off series), what's different to this then the Porridge series is the fact Fletcher (Barker) only gets to prison at the end of the episode. Funny stuff, I should note only two episodes in and Barker as already proved he's convincing at more then one type of character.
- My Old Man: Another fine character from Barker, there's a lot of funny moments here as an old man forced to movie in with his upper class wannabe son and family (Hey they could have almost sued the makers of Frasier). Not my favourite episode in the set but still very good.
- Football Blues: Probably the weakest episode, but I still laughed out loud a couple of times particulary the match footage and the attempt to scare the other team at the end of the episode.
- Another Fine Mess: Barker as somebody remarkabley like Oliver Hardy and Roy Castle as somebody remarkably like Stan Laurel in the funniest episode of the series. One gag involving a carpet and a piano leg had me in stitches for ages. This really is a wonderful tribute to Laurel and Hardy and they get the characters down perfect.
- One Man's Meat: Barker plays a man forced by his wife to go on a crash diet -which means taking all the food out of the house etc.- and he's home alone going crazy with hunger. One racist moment aside a great episode with Barker carrying most of the episode. Joan Simms and Prunella Scales are also in this episode.
- Flying for a Quid: It's all about a father and son obsessed with getting a winning betting slip for a lot of money the grandad had before he died, funny episode, again there's an whole bunch of laugh out loud moments within the episode.
It's just a shame, there was only ever one series of this, I laughed a lot. Ronnie Barker is excellent as every character he plays here (8 characters over the series, he plays 2 in the final episode. Recommended for fans of Barker or British Comedy.
In case you didn't realize Julie Brown rules
Julie Brown singing Cause I'm a Blonde from the classic 80s movie Earth Girls are Easy.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
"People are frightened by what they don't understand."
David Lynch's reputation as pretty much lied on the fact is films usually don't make sense but still be ultimately engrossing - I don't know maybe some people do know what goes on in his films, just not me - and a good viewing. The Elephant Man (1980) however, actually does make sense, it efforts to tell the true story of John Merrick (real name is actually Joseph Merrick - played wonderfully by John Hurt), born hideously deformed and nicknamed The Elephant Man
Go to IMDB to check out the full plot of this film. The Elephant Man is one of those movies that sticks in your mind long after you see it, full of wonderful performances including Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, John Gielgud, Freddie Jones, Wendy Hillier and Anne Bancroft in a relatively small role. The film packs a wonderful emotional punch, for the last hour of this movie, I practically had tears down my eyes, Hurt brings a wonderful realism to Merrick turning in an amazing performance despite been under pounds and pounds of makeup
It's hard to believe this film is from 1980, I mean that becauser the film feels completely timeless, looking easily at place in the 50s as it does now, with terrific performances and brilliant direction, this is David Lynch at his best, I wish in someways that all of his films where this style (there is some dreamy stuff going on here though. If you haven't seen this movie SEE IT NOW!!!, you won't be sorry
Scenes That Rock (Video Special)
From now on if I can find video evidence of the scene in question that I love, I'm going to post a video of it. This film is from the ending of the 1973 film The Wicker Man and it spoils the ending for you if you haven't seen it. I think the song the islanders all sing is amazing.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
"Consider That a divorce!!!!"
WARNING, THERE'S A CHANCE SPOILERS ARE ALL OVER THIS
Before I start talking about Total Recall (1990) in this relatively short review, I just want to say I consider Arnold Schwarzenegger the worst actor to ever make the A-list, even if he didn't have trouble grasping the english langauge, he's performances where constantly extremely wooden, I'm not bad mouthing the guy afterall, I own every film he did in the 80s and most of the early 90s: Schwarzenegger 9 times out of 10, always had my favourite catchphrases.
So on Total Recall then, directed by Paul Verhoeven, whose something of a favourite of mine thanks to films like RoboCop, Showgirls, Flesh + Blood and Turkish Delight, his films often feature an healthy dose of sex and/or violence and is based on the Phillip K. Dick story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale". Arnie stars as Douglas Quaid, a man who may or may not have gone to Mars or who may or may not really be the bad guy. The film would almost be a clever mind fuck of a film if it was clear that the Studio Ed's wanted this to be an Arnie film - so there is much mindless violence, poor innocent bystanders getting shot in killed in bloody ways-. Arnie of course it terrible in this movie, but hey it's Arnie. The villains are so much better: Michael Ironside and Ronny Cox, also Sharon Stone who may or may not be Arnie's wife (probably not his wife) is probably at her most sexiest ever in this movie.
In conclusion, it would probably upset Phillip K. Dick purists that the book was turned into an Arnie actioner, others can appericate it as an exciting way to spend a couple of hours. I do however feel the film only just earns 4 Fonzie Thumbs Up. All in all recommended though
"Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho."
Another Christmas movie. Die Hard (1988) holds a special place in my heart. Not only is it one of my favourite Christmas movies, it's also one of, if not my favourite action movie(s). The movie is actually based on a novel by Roderick Thorpe called Nothing Lasts Forever, which was a sequel to The Detective (which in turn was a film starring Frank Sinatra, and on another note Willis made his debut in an uncredited role in The First Deadly Sin which starred Frank Sinatra, it's always six degrees in Hollywood). Bruce Willis stars as John McClane, a New York cop visiting his wife and kids in L.A. on Christmas Eve, they seem to have hit a bit of rocky patch his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) as even reverted back to her maiden name Gennero, however Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), the leader of a group of German terrorists take over the Nakatomi Plaza (Holly's place of work)
The film is action packed from start to finish, with a number of great action sequences, excellent quips and wonderful characters, take Ellis (Hart Bochner) for example, a complete weasel, but utterly memorable because of it, Reginald VelJohnson as Al Powell is also great as are Paul Gleason, Robert Davi, Grand L. Bush and William Atherton. Some of my favourite moments include sending the dead terrorist down in the elevator in tinsel, a Santa hat and the words "Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho" written on his top. I didn't mention Alan Rickman in the group of other great characters earlier because I feel he deserves special mention, certainly one of my favourite villains of all time.
Probably the most kick-ass action packed Christmas movie. This movie is probably among my top movies of all time. Bruce Willis' movie career was born from this movie and you can see why. Recommended.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
This is Tom Hanks saying if you see me in person, please, leave me be.
Managed to see The Simpsons Movie (2007) today. Before moving onto the actual movie, people have talked about a Simpsons Movie for the longest time, many animated series and come (and many finished) since The Simpsons first came onto the air as a series in 1989 and have ventured onto the big screen: Beavis and Butthead, South Park, The Powerpuff Girls, Rugrats, Doug, Hey Arnold, The Wild Thornberry's, Spongebob Squarepants and probably more I can't remember at the minute.
So a show like The Simpsons, which was probably an influence on many of these actually getting onto television was when it came to making a movie, actually lagging behind the pack...anyway, onto the movie, the first thing I want to say: It is funny, Homer in love with a pig is great, a lot of other little moments, however, it doesn't feel like a film, it just feels like a part four episode cut together ***SPOILER ALERT*** Bart exposing himself feels like the only thing we'd have never have seen on the series ***END OF SPOILER***
I'm just going to write a short review of The Simpsons Movie, time is against me. Overall, I recommend watching it, don't expect anything too different from the animated series, but there is a lot of high quality laughs.
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