What I've been watching

The Departed (2006) is the latest film from the masterful Martin Scorsese. Of course it's a wonderful piece of cinema, what else would you expect from him?. It is probably his best film for quite some time (that's not discounting his most recent films I'm just saying how much I loved this). The cast are all great but extra word should go out to "mad" Jack Nicholson as the crime boss Frank Costello and Mark Wahlberg (with films like this and I Heart Huckabees) he's more than made up for Planet of the Apes). Highly recommended. Rent (2006) is a limp musical based on the original Broadway production. I don't know something just didn't click for me- the music was bad it sounded like musak-, the performances where pretty good though in places such as Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel. I'd never seen the original production so maybe I'm missing something. Give it a miss P.S. any film that features BOTH Rosario Dawson and Sarah Silverman and I'm saying give it a miss, they must be something wrong. Dead and Breakfast (2004) surprised not that it was anything special, in that it surprised me that it was a lot better then I thought it would be. There's enough blood to satisfy the blood lust crowds and actually as some funny little moments. The cast features David Carradine, Erik Palladino (formerly Dr. Dave on ER), Bianca Lawson (formerly Kendra on Buffy. I also remember her from Saved by the Bell: The New Class), Jeremy Sisto (Spoiler: He seems to die in every horror film I see him), Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show) and Oz Perkins (son of Anthony 'Psycho' Perkins). Not groundbreaking or life changing but recommended.

The Hills Have Eyes (1977) is "classic" grindhouse horror - not a piece of art but a piece of enjoyable cinema- Wes Craven as directed some good and some duds in his career and this thankfully falls in the good category, if anybody as seen the remake and not seen this- it pretty much follows the same pattern, including the dogs called Beauty and the Beast and the order of the family's demise. Watch it for Michael Berryman. Watch it for a funny 70s moustache. Watch it to be on edge. Recommended.

THE TV SHELF

What I'm watching at the moment in rotation to each other:

Ali G in the da USA (I believe titled Da Ali G Show in America)

French and Saunders at the Movies

The Addams Family Volume One

Party of Five Season One

My So Called Life: Complete Series

How I Met Your Mother Season One

Death Race 2000 Thoughts Before: I remember owning the video back in the early 90s and even then knowing it was a cheaply made movie. I though honestly can't believe it took me nearly 5 years to own the title on DVD. Review: Death Race 2000, yes you can tell it didn't have a massive budget- but that only adds to the wonderful appeal, with Roger Corman producing you know what your getting for your money. Coming in at around 80 minutes the movie never outstays it's welcome, the movie from a slew of Corman produced 70s racing films as auto racing has the concept, it's not only how fast you drive, but how many pedestrians you hit with David Carradine as Frankenstein taking on (among others) Sly Stallone's Machine Gun Joe in the brutally bloody, funny race. With the underrated (as a director and actor) Paul Bartel directing the film with a cast on top from (aswell as gratious nudity!!!) the film is the very defintion of the perfect B-Movie. Stand out Moment: Euthensia future style- nurse's leaving dying pensiors in the middle road to be killed only for Frankenstein in a sick twist of humour sort of way mow down the nurses. Conclusion: Death Race 2000 is a fantastic relic of the 1970s, anybody who likes there films a bit cultish will absolutely adore.

*****