Just one more thing...

Another quick update on how my life is going at the minute.

My wednesday evening workshops are going pretty well, all my students (never thought I'd apply that expression to myself) are very into my course it seems. Had a free ticket to see Knocked Up at the same time my workshop was annoying which was a tad annoying.

What else...

Finished watching the first season of the wonderful West Wing, need to buy the other six seasons on DVD fast (I know some of the seasons vary in quality but I'm a completlist). Still watching Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, enjoying that, obviously not in the same league but very good. Aaron Sorkin is a bit of a legend.

For some reason I've got Last Comic Standing on at the minute, not sure what to think of it as a show, most of the comedians I don't find particularly funny and a lot of them are very one note. Speaking of something Last Comic Standing related (it will make sense in a bit) I've been getting into watching Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, why? I'm not too sure. I disliked her on Suddenly Susan and really hated her on the red carpet for E! but there is something that worringly draws me too the show ---Oh yeah, she was one of the judges on an episode of Last Comic Standing during the most recent My Life on the D-List episode show over here--- There's a couple of other shows I tend to have on, when I'm not paying 100% such as 8 Simple Rules (they've gone back to the John Ritter years over here) and that Candian show Kenny vs Spenny, which is watchable but also very obviously fake.

Oh yeah, gonna set regular dates during the week for posts to be up.

Every Monday: Guilty Pleasures

Every Friday: Great Television Characters

There's a few more columny type things that may get designated to certain days, just don't want to start them all up at once.

Great Television Characters

#1 Columbo Played by Peter Falk Columbo was an incredibly easy choice for the first in great television characters. I'll give you a little bit of history on the character to begin with, he was created by Richard Levinson and William Link and first appeared in an 1960 episode of the anthology series The Chevy Mystery Show in which he was played by Burt Freed and this same episode was adapated into a stage play in 1962. Peter Falk first played Dt. Columbo (there is a lot of argument over what is first name is) in 1968 in a television pilot in an episode called "Prescription for Murder" and a second pilot in 1971 called "Ransom for a Dead Man", the popularity of this pilot created a regular series on NBC that premiered in 1971 as part of the wheel series NBC Mystery Movie and was an immediate hit. The show stands out intially because of the way the clichés of the whodunit story are reversed: You see the killer commit the crime in the first act and how it's done (in a standard whodunnit it's usually not until the final act the killer is revealed). The "mystery" from the audiences point of view is spotting the little clues to how Columbo will solve the crime. What makes the character of Columbo so unique, he often appears scatterbrained and the killer often don't take him too seriously at first ---often he begins to annoy them---, Columbo rarely displays any anger (the murderers are often from privileged backgrounds), unlike most detectives he oesn't carry a gun and as never required physical force (there's never been a scene he's chased the killer). Columbo is one of the greatest creations in television history and Peter Falk as earned his place in television history with this one role.

Guilty Pleasures

#1 MAN OF THE HOUSE (2005)

Now guilty pleasures is not going to necessarily mean good films just films I just love for whatever reason. Some might fit into the so bad it's good catergory, some I might feel are just under appreciated and some are just what a 24 year old straight male shouldn't really like. These are not going to be strictly my favourite films either. Man of the House (this one not too be confused with the Chevy Chase/Jonathan Taylor Thomas comedy from 95ish) is far from a good movie.

Tommy Lee Jones stars as a Texas Ranger who is assigned to protect the only witnesses to the murderer of a key figure in the prosecution of a drug kingpin, who just so happen to be a group of cheerleaders from the University of Texas and Jones goes undercover as an assistant cheerleading coach and moves in with the young women.

Doesn't that plot outline just sound like comedy gold to you? Yes! No!. What's odd about this movie is that Tommy Lee Jones as an Executive Producer credit, which might just mean he add some interest in the script and was not just making the movie to pay some bills. And why does the plot sound so familiar to me? Somebody write a comment to tell me if there is a familiar film out there, none come to mind.

Anyways, Jones ends up doing loads of "funny" stuff liking buying tampons for the girls (comedy goldmine right there) and taking there advice when it comes to the ladies and bonding with his daughter. I haven't really mentioned the cheerleading girls that much, but that's what makes the film work...

Kelli Garner plays Babs, and I'm going to be unbiased here. I'm madly in love with this woman. There is just something I love about her and would gladly watch anything with her in, she's my favourite, Monica Keena as Evie is my close second favourite. All the girls are very likeable except really Christinia Milian who plays the leader of the cheerleaders, her character doesn't have the spark the others quite have.

It's really hard to justify what I like about this movie. It's never really that funny, it's very predictable saved by Tommy Lee Jones' role and the spunk of the girls. For those who don't mind to watch a no-brainer every now and then.

I invented storyboards don't you know!

Well I didn't end up going to see Simpsons Movie I got destracted by going to the pub and not getting home till about quarter to twelve, which was way too late for cinema.

There are two films in the pipeline for me to be offered, both documentaries, one on sex- like I'm the big expert on that subject, which will be about people's first times I thing's like and one on drugs- the legal kind, all I need is Rock n Roll and it will make a perfect trilogy. Still early doors though so fingers crossed.

Warren had to cancel last night's film workshop at the last minute, which was a shame, was able to take the disappointment better today when I found out I'd get paid for the two hour session I never did.

Watch a lack of DVDs this week, watched Studio 60 earlier, which of course I'm loving.

Gonna have a mad-crazy DVD watching weekend me thinks.

Oh yeah my heading is to do with somebody seeming to think I came up with this new idea of how to plan a film.

First Update of August

Been somewhat away from a computer for the last weekish or so. Anyway a quick catch up on my life at the moment.

Ran my first filmmaking workshop as tutor last Wednesday, it exceeded all expectations in quality. All my students (I have an hard time calling them that for some reason) where very keen and eager and in two hours we brainstormed an idea for a film, came up with some scenes, shot the scenes, edited it which included adding musical and sound effects aswell as credits and showed the film on our big screen. All in two hours, I impressed myself there. My only worry his I set the bar a little too high for future workshops.

In other news, I should be back updating this regular after the week off, everything seems to have sorted itself out.

What I've been watching.

The West Wing: Really getting into Studio 60 in the Sunset Strip and the quality of that made me decide I wanted to revist the first season of this classy drama. Like I said in an earlier post Bradley Whitford's Josh was probably my favourite WW character (Leo, C.J. and Toby are very close though). I just love the interaction between the characters in this show.

Seinfeld: I am working my way through the first and second season. George is easily my favourite character ---Jason Alexander is just so perfect for the role---, It's been said before it's a show about nothing and that's why people love it.

Saturday Night Live: Will go more indepth with this in a later post. Really digging John Belushi and Gilda Radner on this first season though.

I think I'm going to see The Simpsons Movie tonight. I didn't want to see it the first week cause of the annoying kids in the cinema.

A bigger updater later.

Another update

Thought it was best just to crack on with things. Not had the best of news tonight.

Watched the pilot episode of Stuido 60 on Sunset Strip last night and I have to say I was very impressed. It was a really strong pilot episode. I know I am late seeing this but here in the U.K. it as only just premiered for the first time and am fully aware that the show as already been cancelled. Created by Aaron Sorkin, who made Sports Night and The West Wing, too shows I really like and with a decent cast including Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford (he possibly was my favourite in West Wing), Amanda Peet (good in the first episode, I've heard negative stuff about her in the show), Steven Weber and Timothy Busfield (he'll always be Pointdexter in Revenge of the Nerds to me) are all characters I want to see more of. Judd Hirsch was brilliant in his little role in the first episode as well with his wonderful rant. I really hope the shows sustains the quality of the first episode. May watch some of the later episodes online but have been trying to avoid that.

Haven't watched a single film all week because of circumstance. I work my first tutor hours next week, got a letter today listing all my hours for the next couple of months, a big DVD spend as to be in there somewhere.

Real Life Gets in the Way

I fully intended to update the blog a couple of times a week, but my cousin, who I am quite close to had a baby a few months ago born with heart problems, he recently had an heart operation and I spent a couple of days with them away from things like the internet.

Might film/TV update later today or over the weekend.

Title goes here.

It's weird I always find the need to try and come up with a title for the blog entry I'm talking about, I can't always think of one and I try to be clever but sometimes it fails me.

I've had a bit of a habit lately of doing blong entries, saving them and forgetting about them, like the Saturday Night Live one below, there's an Eli Roth one I'll put up when I bother to finish it. I'm working on another top ten at the minute and a couple of weekly special articles (probably beginning next week I reckon).

What else can I talk about, the main dvd in my player lately is Saturday Night Live Season One, haven't watched a movie all week because of the TV DVDs (There's a future blog there).

I'll write some more later because I shouldn't be doing this while I've got stuff to do or I'll get in trouble.

EDIT: Blong is a word I clearly just invented on the spot- meaning long blog entry. P.S. it was really a spelling mistake but I like it.

Saturday Night Live Season One (Review 1 of probably 8)

It came out on R2 DVD yesterday and picked it up today. I always think of this and another sketch show as the groundbreaking North American sketch shows, the other one I am referring to is of course SCTV. I am actually more of an SCTV fan myself. There's a lot of reason to compare both, both feature very funny people who had successful careers ahead of them, both used the sketch format obviously, and both had musical guest. However SNL was recorded live as the title suggests and SCTV had a laugh track added later (much to the hate of the SCTV cast), Saturday Night Live is still going after beginning in 1975 whilst SCTV lasted in a couple of versions between 1976 and 1984. Let's cover the first disc of SNL...

Episode 1: George Carlin

The Good

• George Carlin's monolagues, always funny. Big fan of him so I'm bias.
• Andy Kaufman's performance of Mighty Mouse- Genius
• Albert Brooks Mock Documentary "The Impossible Truth"
• The Musical performances of Janis Ian and Billy Preston.
• Gilda Radner's reaction in the courtroom scene.
• The expecting fathers what are bees waiting at hospital.
• The video asking people to show there guns.
• The debut of the weekend update with Chevy Chase. Little uncomfortable here but still funny.
• The Home Security sketch.

The Bad

• See I'm a Jim Henson fan. Love Seasame Street. Love The Muppets. Don't discount Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth or Dark Crystal either. But what the hell is going on here. This muppet sketch with characters like King Ploobis and the Mighty Favog just doesn't sit well.
• Lack of Gilda Radner
• Valri Bloomfield's stand up routine, just not very funny, no suprise Kaufman was asked about multiple times and not her.

Episode 2: Paul Simon

The Good:

• Simon and Garfunkel reforming and sing a few classic songs.
• The basketball game between Paul Simon and Connie Hawkins.
• The Weekend Update again.

The Bad:

• Too much Paul Simon. Now I am a big enough Simon and Garfunkel fan, anything solo of theirs just doesn't do it for me.
• The cast (Not Ready for Primetime Players) are in for only about thirty seconds in bee costumes.

Episode 3: Rob Reiner

The Good:

• Rob Reiner's lounge singer monologue.
• Reiner with Penny Marshall presenting the segment on fashion faux-pa's, features most the cast.
• Andy Kaufman's performance of Pop Goes the Weasel, even funnier then his first appearance.
• The Squeaky Fomme interview.
• The end skit with the Bees.

The Bad:

• Albert Brooks' short film on heart surgery just goes on way too long.

All in all not three bad episodes, all have their shining moments for tuning in. It's clearly a show evolving into what it became within these three episodes. Gilda Radner is wonderful, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd wonderful and Andy Kaufman's bits are genius. I can strongly recommend the first disc.

Scary Remake News

BOGUS!

The L.A Times is rather scaringly reporting that MGM is planning a straight to DVD reimaging of "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure"

Apparently the original creators behind Bill and Ted attempted to make a third film official centering around Bill and Ted in their 40s. Keanu Reeves' manager urged him not to go there.

There is no word on the casting for the remake, not that it really matters.

I was one of them holding up hope for a true third movie. Boo Keanu Reeves' manager boo!

Hey, it's letting me write a title now...

Still ill, still very tired.

Just watched loads of television today, nothing groundbreaking, plenty of stuff I'd seen before, episodes of That 70s Show, Grounded for Life, Frasier, King of the Hill, Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpsons, aswell as Veronica's Closet (which was Mary Lynn Rajskub's first appearence in the show- I like her), haven't put a DVD on only really had energy in little spurts.

Mary Lynn Rajskub = Wonderful

Finished the Top 10 Shortlived shows, appears under the date I began, feel like I've done something wrong there.

I'm feeling sick as a dog at the minute since Sunday, even left work early today, actually a long time since I've done that...

Watched a couple of things since I've been in: finished with ER Season Seven earlier today (had the last three episodes of the season to watch today), might give a more in depth look at that later, I did call the sixth season the last truly great season, maybe that's a bit unfair, also just finished watching Everyone Says I Love You, a musical by Woody Allen and his perhaps one of his most underrated movies, with an excellent cast including Natasha Lyonne, Edward Norton, Tim Roth, Natalie Portman and Alan Alda, I highly recommend it- It feels more of a Winter movie then a Summer movie, if you know what I mean.

Gonna go to cough up some flem (very attractive), might post some of my draft posts in the next couple of days, including that shortlived television one and one about Eli Roth.

I know I haven't updated in a couple of days, haven't been in front of a computer as much as I normally am.

Haven't actually watched a film in a couple of days, watching TV on DVD, mainly being swapping between ER Season Seven and SCTV Volume Three, wish I had more time to watch DVDs sometimes, got Monday off again this week, so might watch an handful of DVDs on Monday.

Working on a another top 10, this time Top 10 Shortlived Television Series, there might be clues all over my blog if you are aware.

Wish I had more to say to be honest.

Top 10 Unfairly Short Lived Shows (One Season Wonders)

Criteria: All shows must have been cancelled within or at the end of the first season, a season usually is around 22 or 24, any show that lasts any longer (or onto a second season) do not count, The Critic lasted 2 seasons but wasn't really given a chance, Arrested Development was mostly unwatched on television but it lasted three seasons so that doesn't count either, also a show like Band of Brothers was originally planned as a mini-series and that doesn't count either, let's star the top 10...

10- Clone High (2002-03)

Clone High was a short lived animated series produced by Bill Lawrence (of Spin City and Scrubs fame) about an high school the clones of lot of famous historical figures attend, such as Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln, cleopatra, JFK and Gandhi. The show as a lot of funny moments thanks to the High School horndog Gandhi. Best line of the entire series however goes to jock JFK when he says "Nothing bad ever happens to the Kennedy's!". Working checking out, think it's only available on Canadian R1.

9- Young Americans (2000)

Something of a spin-off to Dawson's Creek, that helped launch the careers of Ian Somerhalder (Lost), Kate Bosworth and Katherine Moennig (The L Word) was I believe debuted on American television in the Summer set around Rawley Summer Academy (an Elite school). Moennig plays a female pretending to be male to get into the school. Apparently it did not bad numbers but was not brought back, shame. Lasted about 8 episodes and not currently available on DVD.

8- Greg the Bunny (2002)

The cast features Eugene Levy, Seth Green, Bob Gunton and Sarah Silverman and guest appearances from Gary Oldman and Corey Feldman was basically Meet the Feebles made for American Network Television. There's enough laughs to be had thanks to some of the great puppet characters such as Count Blah (whose speech impediment means he says Blah at the end of every sentance). One of the things responsible for love of Sarah Silverman. Currently available on R1, as is Greg the Bunny: The Best of Film Parodies. 7- Clerks: The Animated Series (2000)

Only six episodes produced, only two of which aired, the two which aired are probably the better two, straying away from the film it is based somewhat. I truly think Jeff Anderson as Randall came into his own on this show even improving on his performance in the film, his memorable for me for a number of reasons including "Who's driving the car? Bears driving the car, how can that be?" and the entire flashback episode (the second episode). Available on R1. 6- The Ben Stiller Show (1992-93)

Before A-List beckoned, Ben Stiller starred in this short lived sketch show alongside Janeane Garofalo, Bob Oedenkirk and Andy Dick. Unusually recorded without a laugh track, Stiller even cautiously mentions in the first episode that they might get cancelled soon. It's like any sketch show, there's some stinkers to be had however Stiller's Cruise is always good as is Oedenkirk's Charlie Manson, fact: The Do It guy that Stiller does whilst in disguise in Starsky and Hutch orginated here. Worth checking out. Available on R1.

5- Undeclared (2001-02)

It's certainly in the same league as Freaks and Geeks (see below) and is something of a natural follower on dealing with college life as oppose to F&G high school life and even a bunch of actors appear in both. There isn't many college based television comedies out there really (Boy Meets World went to college, as did Saved By the Bell, they where the first two that came to mind), the cast are excellent, a standout being folk singer Loudon Wainwright however the inclusion of Christina Payona's Tina is useless though. Only available on R1.

4- Eerie Indiana (1991-92)

Brilliantly crafted and shockingly short lived, I could have sweared there was more than 19 episodes made. Cult enough to gain a sequel series titled Eerie Indiana: The Next Dimension. This was a constant favourite of mine when I was a kid (and it actually features future Spidey Tobey Maguire). With some highly original episodes, the series is truly exceptional. Available everywhere I think.

3- Firefly (2002-03)

Joss Whedon is god alone for creating Buffy the Vampire Slayer and it's spin-off Angel but Firefly is also of genuis. Thankfully the DVD sales where high enough to warrant a feature film titled Serenity. It's kind of the Anti-Star Trek, there's no aliens for one and the story of River Tam (Summer Glau, pictured above) is very intruging and is somewhat addressed in the movie thankfully, Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds also deserves to become a star after this.

2- Police Squad (1982)

It's unbelievable that this only lasted six episodes. An argument could be made they are the funniest six epiosdes ever made of anything (a lot of the jokes got repackaged for the movie) and I never tire of it despite how few episodes they are. This along with Airplane basically ended Leslie Nielsen as the serious actor. Best of all unlike the films it's not tainted by the inclusion of O.J. Simpson. Available everywhere it seems.

1- Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

Straight in at number one as close as you are going to get to a perfect show. Freaks and Geeks is one of the few teen-aged show that feels so real. Maybe it was just too good too last very long, maybe if it had gone two or three seasons, the magic of it would have gone. Busy Philipps' Kim Kelly is a truly wonderful creation: perfectly bitchy, my best friend Rich also as mucho love for Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) and any show with Joe Flaherty is alright by me. Available on R1 only.

Life Update

Yeah, I'm still around updating this.

Pretty good today, had an interview to become a tutor this morning at The Warren Youth Centre where I do most of my filmmaking for them to run courses for them: £12.50 an hour ($25 dollarish an hour if you are an American) and got accepted, the catch was there is no guarentee of work, but was offered work straight away, mostly for next month teaching filmmaking and editing. Not bad, not bad at all.

Haven't watched a film last couple of days, watched some of my TV DVDs, currently watching ER Season Seven, around writing this, still a fantastic show. Nothing much else to report.

My Top Ten Favourite Directors of All Time

I'm going to do regular countdowns (Top 10, Top 5), sometimes serious, sometimes dumb. The criteria for the list is very simple- it can be any movie director living or dead in the history of cinema, I want to go through some of the people who didn't make the cut but love their work: Brian De Palma, Alan Parker, Dario Argento, Walter Hill, Ridley Scott and Joe Dante. There is a lot of modern directors I would have considered and maybe knock one of these off in the future they include Christopher Nolan, Paul Thomas Anderson and Wes Anderson.

10- TIM BURTON

One of the more visual pleasing directors with his own artistic designs. Even his early short films are visually excellent (Vincent and Frankenweenie). His first full length feature was Pee-Wee's Big Adventure aimed squarely at kids but had Burton's dark sense of humour running through out, Beetle Juice is the film that brought him to the dance and still stands up incredibly well today. He also directed the first two Batman films (Batman Returns is still my favourite Batman film of all time), Edward Scissorhands might just be my favourite of his, a modern fairytale with a tragic hero it helped make Johnny Depp a movie star and is simply wonderful, also wonderful is Ed Wood, another film I seriously love and highly recommend. Even though he didn't direct The Nightmare Before Christmas is fingerprints are clearly all over it and is an exceptional piece of work, it's just hard to know how much credit show go to the director Henry Selick. He's had a few missteps, most notably the distarious Planet of the Apes. His recent work as been solid if not brilliant and welcome any new film in his warped vision.

9- FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA

My Heaven's sake, the guy made The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now in the 1970s and should be on the list for those films alone. Even though in the decades since some of his output hasn't even been a fifth of the quality of any of them. Some of his work his strong: The Outsiders, Rumble Fish etc. Some really misguided: Jack and he hasn't made a film since 1997's The Rainmaker. I hope Coppola comes back soon and with a BANG!

8- THE COEN BROTHERS

Yeah I know Ethan usually produces and co-writes while Joel directs and co-writes. I fell in love with the Coen films in my teens thanks to Fargo, Raising Arizona and Barton Fink (and a touch later The Big Lebowski). Like Burton, there is just something visually wonderful about their films and with a sense of humour often pitched firmly in the black, as I grew older I saw Miller's Crossing and Blood Simple (their first movie) and what wonderful movies they truly are. Of their recent output 2001's The Man Who Wasn't There is their best. I think they've got a film coming soon but I just can't remember the title off the top of my head.

7- MARIO BAVA

The greatest of the Italian Giallo directors (even though his career was so much more). I've just loved every film I have seen of his. They say a director should be measured on how often he is imitated, well he's been imitated many a time, often by hacks they recreate his scenes with little of his masterful suspense, watch A Bay of Blood then Friday the 13th Part II, then play spot the difference. An odd film I recommend you must watch is Hatchet for the Honeymoon, truly one of the greats.

6- ROBERT ALTMAN

His work is that respected that it spawned it's own term: Altmanesque, a style in which Paul Thomas Anderson and the 2005 movie Crash have tried to emulate which feature multiple story threads and characters. There's four films that instantly come to mind when I think of Altman: M*A*S*H, Nashville, The Player and Short Cuts- all four of them are genuine ***** classics. His work will truly stand the test of time. It's sad that there's going to be no more Altman films out there just Altman imitators.

5- SERGIO LEONE

It's surprising how few films he directed in his career (7 films spanning the 1960s to the 1980s), Leone directed my favourite film of all time: Once Upon a Time in the West, which just gets everything right: the shots, the music, the same could be said for the Dollars Trilogy or Once Upon a Time in America though, Leone should be commended for taking what was a dying genre in the 1960s and make it relevant again which still holds up today.

4- ALFRED HITCHCOCK

Actually just realized he is the only Brit on the list (Powell and Pressburger came very close though), Hitchcock had a long, long career with many instant classics. People always called him "The Master of Supsense" which was a truth, many went and tried to do Hitchcock but none could ever equal him: Just look at a handful of films, Psycho, North by Northwest, Veritgo, Rear Window, Rebecca, The Birds, all wonderful films and not just all wonderful genre films at that.

3-STEVEN SPIELBERG

There always seems to be times when there is backlash against the 'Berg. The 'Berg's had a constantly exceptional career since the 70s (including directing an excellent episode of Columbo). Come on who didn't jump during Jaws, who didn't cry during E.T, who doesn't love Indiana Jones or have their mouth wide open when they so the dinosaurs for the first time in Jurassic Park and who wasn't shocked and saddened by Schindler's List. The 'Berg as earned his reputation and I've enjoyed some of his more recent fair such as Saving Private Pryan, Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can and Munich. I have faith The 'Berg will keep putting out quality entertainment for years.

2- MARTIN SCORSESE

The third of the Movie Brats on the list, which they all come from what is an highly influential time for me. Scorsese though his a master. You know why he won an Oscar this year for Best Director, The Departed a great film it is was not neccesarrily for that. The Academy felt guilty. AND fucking guilty they should, Raging Bull lost out to Ordinary People and Goodfellas lost out to Dances with Wolves, that's not fair is it. Don't forget the excellent Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, or the criminally underrated The King of Comedy, which I believe a lesser director could have never made. He's had a good run the last few years, often teaming with Leo instead of De Niro these days, but his work still remains quality.

1- BILLY WILDER

I just adore Billy Wilder movies, they always have the most high quality writing (Wilder usually co-wrote), there was a time I'd never seen many old movies to be honest and it was Wilder, along with Hitchcock who kind of introduced me to those 'dreaded' black and white films. Sunset Boulevard is the ultimate black comedy, you don't laugh much cause what you are seeing is so sad (in a pathetic way), he was also responsible for my favourite POW movie Stalag 17, the fluffy but excellent romantic comedy Sabrina and two truly awesome films with Jack Lemmon (they made a few more together) in Some Like it Hot and The Apartment. The last script I wrote was clearly so influenced by The Apartment and Cameron Crowe would probably admit elements found it's way into Almost Famous. Billy Wilder, the rgeatest director of all time, you betcha.

Quickie in the Back Seat

Just a quick update. Didn't watch another film, watched televison instead. Watched an episode of Penn & Teller: Bullshit dealing with guns, always enjoy that show, just finished watching Two and a Half Men apparently cause I've lost the remote control.

Lazy Monday

I spent the entire day doing nothing, nadda, bugga all, woke up a bit earlier then I wanted to this morning thanks to some drilling outside, then pretty much have done nothing but watch DVDs for the rest of the day.

Firstly watched the first three episodes of The Fast Show Series One, which is brilliantly funny (and I will fight you if you say otherwise). My favourite sketches are the Suit You Sir shop assistants, Arthur Atkinson and the news show. Probably watch the rest of it tonight (3 more to go). Streets of Fire (or Streets of Rage as keep calling it by accident, a game I many hours of playing it on my Megadrive in my childhood), is a Walter Hill movie I'd never seen before and I have to say I was pretty darn impressed, Michael Pare might be a tad bland but Rick Moranis and the spunky Amy Madigan more then make up for that, some good action set pieces, my second Walter Hill movie in as many days aswell there. Terror Trax, I had little hope for to be honest, I brought it cause I was a fan of John Ritter but the film was better then I thought it would be, the segment with Bryan Cranston (Al from Malcolm in the Middle) and Buff Bagwell and a deranged monkey is probably the best of the segments but the Granny Killer one is odd fun aswell. Great, great ending to the entire film aswell, can't believe I am actually recommending this film to be anybody but I am. The Way of the Gun rounded off a suprisingly impressive day of DVD watching so far, directed and written by Christopher McQuarrie (who wrote Usual Suspects) which impressed me enough, strong performances (Benicio Del Toro, James Caan, Juliette Lewis) and cool action also wins points for featuring Sarah Silverman as an obnixious woman who's henpecked her boyfriend and ends up getting punched in the face, again recommended as is everything I've watched today.

Might watch 1 or 2 more DVDs tonight, maybe some TV Series on DVD (Fast Show, ER, MASH or something else) and might write about them later depending on my mood.

Film Now

Had a pretty quiet day, not doing much next couple of days either, handed in the final cut of a short film on poverty and money issues I was making for work and deserve a couple of days off at least.

Finished watching ER Season Six today, in which I've spread out watching over the past week, it's probably the last truly exceptional season of the series (even though many of the later seasons are well good), I call it an exceptional season because of many a thing such as Alan Alda's guest arc, Corday and the serial killer, Two of the Goonies appearing, the two parter Be Still My Heart and All in the Family which involve the staff having to treat two of their own, Carter's drug problem, Mark Greene and his dad, the farewells of...SPOILER ALERT Jeannie and Hathaway- which includes a cameo from George Clooney and much, much more, love this series, going to be staring on ER Season Seven ASAP.

Some of the film's I've watched the last week or so include But I'm a Cheerleader, starring Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall, which sees Lyonne as a cheerleader whose family and friends believe she is a lesbian and send her to a rehab camp for homosexuals, the film which could have been so much i.e a biting satire but just feels flat for some reason despite good performances by them both aswell as RuPaul and Melanie Lynskey. Clerks II is very funny in most places if sometimes not feeling like a proper sequel to the original, the original characters are still funny and there is welcome support from among others Trevor Fehrman and Rosario Dawson, recommended. Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny is another film funny in places, as not a particular fan of the Tenacious D "sound" I probably viewed this film differently to a lot of people (I do like the presence of Jack Black and Kyle Gass) and some of the musical numbers feel like I've already seen them in School of Rock for some reason, full marks for Tim Robbins cameo. Slither is a loving b-movie tribute starring Nathan Fillion (of Firefly fame) and Elizabeth Banks (the sex freak in 40 Year Old Virgin) which takes a little bit to get going but is super fun once it does, suprisingly dark in places. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion stars Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow as two former high school losers going to their high school reunion (as the title does suggest!) is midly to averagely funny and the two leads are very likeable at times, not life changing but a good way to spend 90 minutes. Today I watched Brewster's Millions, the 1985 version starring Richard Pryor and John Candy, a film I watched fairly regularly as a kid, Pryor as to spend $30million in 30 days to inherit $300million from his kook of an uncle, likeable film thanks to the lead performers, I think it's a tad underappreciated. That's all thart comes to mind.

Current TV Shows in Rotation: M*A*S*H Season Ten, Amazing Stories Season One, ER Season Seven, Charmed Season One.

Planned Watching?: Streets of Fire (1984), War of the Worlds (2005), Stir Crazy, Throw Mama From the Train, The Way of the Gun, Batman Returns, Everyone Says I Love You, Time Bandits and The Elephant Man

Benoit

I've been a wrestling fan for 18+ years (for some reason I'm using Wrestlemania V as a reference point), I was a kid obviously as I'm 24 now and most people specially here in Hull, England they expect you to grow out of it by now...

I have many happy memories of watching wrestling, in the early 90s enjoying Bret Hart and The Hart Foundation, The Rockers, Ric Flair, Ted Diebse (booed like hell for him) and others.

I was a teenager during the Monday Night Wars period or the WWF Attitude period. It was a great time to be a wrestling fan we had WWF, WCW and ECW (Bravo would show ECW over here in the U.K.) which introduced me to a variety of different wrestlers, many I'd never heard of before and just completely blown away by, among them.

• Chris Jericho
• Eddie Guerrero
• Dean Malenko
• Chris Benoit

Loved um all and others (like Rey, Booker T and RVD), If anything they strengthed my love for wrestling those years (and it actually became cool again during this time period) and where all in WCW (minus RVD) when I was the beginning of my peak of being a wrestling fanatic- 1998. Jericho jumped ship to the WWF in the Summer of 99 with one of the greatest debuts in wrestling history and Guerrero, Malenko and Benoit (along with Perry Saturn) jumped ship in 2000, making me an incredibly happy bunny.

I was going to talk about my memories of some of these guys in the WWF (later WWE): Jericho becoming the first ever Undisputed World Champion, Benoit winning the Royal Rumble, Eddie winning the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar and Benoit and Eddie at celebrating at Wrestlemania XX after Benoit had just won the Heavyweight Title.

The moment of Benoit and Eddie celebrating became more touching when Eddie Guerrero died in November 2005, I will not go into details here, but the death as a wrestling fan touched me and the image I'd keep in my mind forever...

Or so I thought. Last Monday. After Benoit cancelled his appearence at the Weekends House Shows and Vengeance PPV because of a family emergency, Benoit was found dead along with wife Nancy and his 7 year old son Daniel...Benoit had killed them both then killed himself, I don't want to go into the gory details, there's enough places on the internet that will tell you what probably happened step by step and I don't want to talk about if it was roid rage or too many concussions.

I wanted to talk about Chris Benoit: a wrestler I looked upto, he was arguably the most gifted technical wrestler wrestling today, a wrestler who I cheered for endlessly when I saw live, a wrestler I tuned into see regularly during the Monday Night Wars and beyond, a wrestler I shed a tear when he and Bret Hart fought in memory of Owen, a wrestler I so much wanted to be World Champion because he deserved it, a wrestler I choked up most when he spoke of his friendship with Eddie, that Wrestlemania XX ending, hell his matches against Jericho or Booker T which I loved so much.

But those memories are not gone, there tainted...tainted forever, Chris Benoit, a performer I looked up is a child killer, a murderer, plain and simple. It's knocked me for six honestly, it's hammered home the world is a bad place- stuff like this happens, stuff like this happens from people you'd never think. Benoit used to stand for what is right in wrestling now he stands for what's wrong in the world.

I'm not trying to write anything here that hasn't been said before I just wanted to get written down the events and how they effected me like many wrestling fans, and it's probably the most major wrestling incident ever...

A bit about me and film

I have exactly 1650 DVDs. That's a lot right? Yeah I know the answer, it was a rhetorical question. I started collecting them in September 2001 after having a long love affair with VHS, whilst VHS was in my childhood and teenage life, I had to rely on pocket money to feed my habbit and never reached the heights of 1650 that my adult life could afford me.

My favourite actors are Robert De Niro (I own 45 of his films, I'm getting there) and Jack Lemmon. My favourite actress is probably Audrey Hepburn, but have love in the modern world for Natalie Portman and Maggie Gyllenhaal. My favourite director is Billy Wilder with Scorsese a very close second. My favourite film, I often usually cite as Once Upon a Time in the West but it's very hard to choose and my favourite television show of all time is M*A*S*H.

I am a filmmaker with a couple of shorts under my belt, people consider me talented and I could go with that, I have also taught film theory and film history on occasion.

I am not here to personally argue if I am or you are a bigger film geek (or fan or whatever) and Harry Knowles or Q.T might be world famous film geeks and I'm not comparing myself to them. I am writing here cause I love film.

What's This? What's This?

Yes, unbelievably this is a new update, after regular bloggin' with MySpace and LiveJournal this is now back to being my regular (or semi-regular or occasionly as it seems to be) blog, now it's nigh on impossible to go on about all the films and other DVDs I've seen this year but I'll be writing reviews (or semi reviews or one line reviews: whatever takes my fancy) but now as this will be my main blog I'll probably feature crap that's going on in my real life, I'm sticking with the Film Geek moniker cause that's what I am and always will be but like I say other stuff will possibly be get mentioned.

Peace out.

Rob

Hopefulness for the future

Yeah, I'm still crap at updating here on blogger, but hey my mind goes other places. Yet another time to not promise regular updates and just see what happens.

Entertainment News

• George Clooney and Renée Zellweger are rumoured to be dating again, the pair dated briefly in 2001 and where seen recently cuddling and holding hands in a restaurant
• Naomi Campbell as been threatened with arrest after she failed to appearer at an hearing at a Manhattan Court, very naughty girl.
• First Chyna and Sean Waltman have a scary sex tape, now it's the turn of Screech himself Dustin Diamond, Diamond's manager actually hope the release of the tape to the public will help raise his profile, aren't you just a little bit curious?
• and that's it Dustin Diamond can't be topped.

Entertainment News

• Mel Gibson comes out of hiding to make his first public appearance to promoto "Apocalypto" since his drink driving arrest back in July.
• Shockingly, since you'd expect it to be drug related, Keith Richards was massively drunk on the set of the third Pirates of the Caribbean and had to be proped up when his scenes where getting filmed.
• David Beckham has found solace in Tom Cruise, I made it sound gayer then it actually is, it was more to do with Beckham been dropped from the England squad.
• Lindsay Lohan is angry at reports she's split up with her fiancee Harry Morton, the Hard Rock Cafe heir, apparently there still together.
• Cindy Crawford is in trouble with certain people after she allowed her 5 year old daughter to model swimwear.
• Bruce Willis tells the world he is a democrat.
• Some sad news, the church in which James Brown did his bit in Blues Brothers as burned down.

Hostel

Eli Roth, director of Cabin Fever can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk, let's start with Cabin Fever, what's the best way to describe it? Average, yet people where excited to see it, but are many people actually a fan of the movie? Hostel, is Eli Roth's second movie and his mouth flapped more and more and how much of a mind fuck the movie would be, but the film with the tag Quentin Tarantino presents where Eli Roth finally learns to walk the walk.

The answer, I've got to say is NO. The film for the first part seems like the movie Eurotrip- obnixious Yanks abroad in Europe- trying to be funny and never been funny, the film takes the From Dusk Till Dawn approach by going all out the window the second half, the boys are told of an Hostel, that's full of women who are pretty much up for it.

Let's talk about the torture scenes, you must have heard about them, or seen the tantilizing glimpses on any number of the trailers- Yes, they are squemish (as is a bit at the end of the movie), but they come too little too late, the interest as already severely wained in the movie. Japanese directing maestro Takeshi Miike as a small role, it's recommend you check out some of his movies instead (if you already haven't).

The film is not that good, moments of gore and attempted humour never sit well together, the film is probably a lesser movie then Cabin Fever. Watch National Lampoon's European Vacation and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre straight after each other instead.

**

Entertainment News

• Marcia Cross, the redheaded one from Desperate Housewives is expecting twins, when I read the headline "Cross Expecting Twins", I instantly thought of Arrested Development slaphead David Cross, now if that was the case that would have been newsworthy.
• Robin Williams, as left rehab and as moved in with a sober friend to save his marriage, do you think he remembers he made Jacob the Liar?
• 80s "heartthrob" Lou Diamond Phillips as been charged in with domestic battery in Los Angeles, nothing funny there, if he as hit his wife he deserves what he gets.
• Jet Li is still ademant he's giving up martial arts movies, hating the fact the theme is always revenge, look for Li in the remake of 12 Angry Men.
• In the best news- Showgirls is to be transformed into a Las Vegas musical, please get Jessie Spano to be in it please, please, I'll fly over to Las Vegas to see it.
• George Lucas as donated $175 million to the USC, the place that provided him with his filmmaking education in a generous gift, just a shame half of his directorial filmography is the Star Wars prequels.
• Saturday Night Live as cut it's cast from 16 down to 11 (with no new cast additions) among those going are Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz---now who's going to giggle during every sketch there in distracting the other performers. The fat one from Kenan and Kel is safe BTW.

Shock Treatment

Wow, you have to be impressed at how regulary I update this blog. Months on end it seems I fail to do any update whatsoever, then I come on after a bit and promise big changes then... NOTHING, a big fat nothing- promises of changes, maybe a couple of updates here and there, So for now- No promises, If I update it, I update it.

Planned watching:

• Good Night, And Good Luck.
• Demolition Man
• Uncle Buck
• Shock Treatment
• Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

What I've been watching

First off, Monday so the arrival of the special edition of V for Vendetta, which is a fantastic (though it seems negatively recieved by Alan Moore purirists) and was reviewed by me back when I saw it at the cinema, American Dreamz, could of been a biting satire of the American President and American Idol but doesn't have any teeth, Mandy Moore looks hot in it though. A film I'd not seen since Childhood without realizing Spaceballs is noticebly not one thing: that funny, a couple of good jokes aside, a lot of it just falls flat, The Ice Storm, one of my favourite films from 1997 (in a year that included L.A Confidential and The Big Lebowski) with a particulary memorable turn from Christina Ricci, it should be noted it's wonderfully acted by all and is Ang Lee's best film to date.

Just finished watching R.S.V.P. (2002), a horror with some neat little ideas- notable as it was the last role for Glenn Quinn, and also featuring Jason Mewes, you have to believe that there was a couple of drugs flying around the set (Quinn died of a heroin overdose) - the movie is ultimately okay, but feels a tad been there done that, The 'Burbs (1987) is incredibly underrated and is a film that before recently watching it hadn't seen for a fair few years. Bruce Dern as the military-nut neighbour is a standout. I think that's all I've watched the last couple of days.

I watched four films on one night, Our House (aka Duplex), Death to Smoochy, Wonderland and 12 Angry Men, all but 12 Angry Men I'd never seen before and all but 12 Angry Men could be described anything but lukewarm. Our House and Death to Smoochy are both black comedies directed by Danny DeVito. In Our House, DeVito basically retraces Throw Momma from the Train with the usual likeable leads of Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore, who are honestly not bad, the problem with the film is, it never picks up momentum, Death to Smoochy is better -just- thanks to the lead roles and one genuinely heartbreaking moment, it was made during Robin Williams, dark career period and is certainly a weaker movie then Insomnia, watchable but not completely great. Wonderland, starring Val Kilmer, tells the true story of ex-porn star John Holmes (his story was kind of the inspiration for Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights) and tells the story of a murder of a bunch of drug dealers and their unlucky houseguests from various points of view a lá Rashomon, it never really reveals the surface of the subject or the event in question and leaves you wanting more, there is one scene at the beginning with Kate Bosworth that is so unbelievably sexy. However, 12 Angry Men is a true cinematic masterpiece, excellently performed by the 12 actors, the film draws you in, wanting to know more, a true testement to less been more, this movie is impossible to fault.

Jack Warden

1920-2006

So I'd got an amazingly good value MGM box-set consisting of ten films for £10, earlier in the week, and the first one I watched out of the box was 12 Angry Men (1957) and was going to talk about what a marvellous film was, but a couple of days ago, one of the actors, Jack Warden died aged 85. Warden had a long, long career and it was sad to hear of his passing- I can also remember the Problem Child movies as a kid (also starring the now sadly deceased John Ritter) and in my teens the underrated Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, films all done in the twilight of his career--- 12 Angry Men is a wonderful film- it should be rightly described as a classic and I'll talk about it more on a later date.

Got MILF?

Yes I am an idiot.

It was an episode of Malcolm in the Middle repeated the other day, can't go wrong with two older women like these.

Let's talk about The Constant Gardener (2005) a bit, the recent batch of "serious" movies have bored me a bit, you know the Oscar baiting (sometimes borderline television movie) though sometimes usually well made and occasionly engaging- just left me with a couple of hours of feeling nothingless. I'm glad the partly British made (or British in spirit) Constant Gardener, changed that. Watched about the same time as Lord of War both make an interesting double bill- Gardener deals with profiting from pharmacetucials, War profiting from arms dealing. Rachel Weisz as never been better (granted pretty much everything else I've seen her in would hardly class as changelling roles) but the bitter poignanticy of knowing her character is killed before the opening credits making Ralph Fiennes plight for truth and justice that all much better. There is one scene towards the end of the movie in the third act, that is just so heartbreaking- words can't truly describe the scene which will stay with me for a long time. Recommended action: watch it.

Entertainment News

• James Gandolfini as gone in for knee surgery therefore delaying the start of the new Sopranos season. Like we wasn't going to wait two years for it anyway.
• Hugh Laurie as been given a huge pay rise for his role in the show "House" upto $300,000 from an original reported mid five figure salary. Rule Britannia.
• Diane Lane chopped off her hair on live television for charity, bless her.

And that's it.

slow news day.

Red Buttons dies aged 87

I was sad to hear of the death of Red Buttons, who died Thursday aged 87.

Many consider his greatest role "Saynora" in which he won the best supporting actor Oscar for in 1957.

However, it's in his roles for "The Longest Day" (a movie in which he stole the show) and "The Poseidon Adventure", as well as his guest spot on "ER" I will probably best remember him for.

A hugely talented performer, Red, you will be missed.

The Return of Captain Invincible

Hello, I'm back finally- I've decidedI've got to take the site in a different way, because of what seems like my extreme ADD, this blog is not particulary holding my interest any more. you'll see the changes coming soon.

Been a while since I've updated here. One reason- big family crisis. I'm going to start trying to update more frequently ASAP.

Robot Chicken Season One

Thoughts Before: Well, I'd seen first sketches through various internet sites and the idea intrigued me, Adam and Joe Show in Britain did a simlair thing using toys from our childhood to act out the scenes and it's a thing that will always appeal to me. And I seem to already have a lot of stuff with Seth Green in it.

Review: The show is very, very funny- the animated sketches never outstay their welcome (the show is only about 11 minutes long) and features an all host of celebrity voices (Macaulay Culkin, Scarlett Johansson, casts of That 70s Show and Scooby Doo), how can you not like it when Superman steals Catwoman's Hello Kitty underwear, or a Cannonball Run sketch (Dom DeLuise and Burt Reynolds are in it!!!), or a Smurfs sketch based on Seven, or many, many more funny sketches.

A good thing about the show he doesn't feel it needs to explain to the geeks out there- A Sleepaway Camp reference!- and occasionly just goes for insane humour in places.

Stand Out Moment: So many sketches to pick from, erm...George Bush in his office in the Armageddon sketch, (zoom zoom zoom!), it annoys my nephew when I do an impression of that.

Conclusion: Recommended to fans of animation, and it's another moden classic from the Adult Swim Channel- 20 episodes are on this set, so there is enough to enjoy and laugh at. (R1 only)

****

Mario Bava Double Bill

A Bay of Blood

(aka Twitch of the Death Nerve)

Thoughts Before: Mario Bava as got quite a reputation in the Giallo fans circles and this movie, by whichever title it's goes is usually one of the first mentioned. I was expecting blood and insane deaths.

Review: And you blood and insane death by the plenty, clearly ripped off to pieces by the Friday the 13th franchise- this movie is insanely difficult to keep track of whose a murderer and whose a victim. It's the sort of film you'd watch not for the story (everybody as their eyes on becoming owners of the bay)- This is typical Giallo (that is a good thing) with great moments (I flinched a couple of times), gratiatous nudity and good characters (It would have been great if the husband and wife team of the fortune teller and bug-scientist got their own spin-off movie- if they didn't die horrible in the movie) and a really, really cool ending. Mario Bava's visual flair is apparent and keeps you hooked from the first moment.

Stand Out Moment: As to be the ending, so cool and unexpected, a moment that lingers on the mind forever.

Conclusion: Rightly, should be regarded as the godfather of all the 70s/80s slashers movies since it was raped and pilaged so much. Excellently directed with memorable characters, recommended.

***** Hatchet for the Honeymoon

Thoughts Before: Bay of Blood came through the post on the Wednesday, watched it that today, loved it, knew my local used DVD shop had this in and went and brought it on the Friday. I was pretty unfamiliar with this film compared to some of Mario Bava's other movies.

Review: This just might be better then A Bay of Blood, this is even more visually stunning then that movie, like most of Bava's imput the story is 2nd place, it's everything else, the insane characters, moments (as a filmmaker I might rip off this film royally)- the plot as a man marrying brides on their wedding days to find out who killed his mother, like a lot of Italian Horror it doesn't matter just soak yourself in and your in for a treat.

Stand Out Moment: The insane wedding dress dance knife attack sequence

Conclusion: Excellent, excellent movie, it's hard to know whether to class it as a Giallo, because there is actually so little blood compared to it's counterparts, this film as many excellent moments, recommend. And the UK release DVD I brought, features an hour long Bava documentary that is also very good.

*****

Aliens Among Us (aka Alien Avengers II) Thought's Before: Sometimes you just expect a movie to be bad, that can be a good film, I only brought it cause it stars the lovely Julie Brown. The fact it's only been released in some European countries on DVD. Might be a giveaway sign. Review: Like I said, I only brought this because of Julie Brown and imported it from Holland (I never would have given it a second look otherwise)- who her and Cheer's Norm- George Wendt are both incredibly likeable and funny in the leads. The movie is a harmless if unmemorable way to spend 90 minutes (a couple of times during the duration I held a smile) , the film tries to mix genres (sci-fi, horror, comedy, western), never really settingly on any. The film is credited Roger Corman presents, so you should know what you are getting with that. Stand Out Moment: Justice, new sherrif style, it'll make you never want to speed. Conclusion: Energertic peformances and some funny moments. I'm a fan of Julie Brown, so I'm gonna be on the side of liking this, thank you very much. **

Upcoming reviews include two Mario Bava Giallo classics, another Allan Arkush movie Heartbeeps, Meet the Fockers, the 2005 remake of the Longest Yard, Ed Wood's masterpiece Glen or Glenda, teen comedy How I Got into College, I Love You to Death, a Curb Your Enthuisasm special, a Julie Brown movie that doesn't seemed to be released in any English speaking countries, Shane Black's directorial debut Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Robot Chicken Season One, The Doom Generation, Revenge of the Nerds I&II and NewsRadio Season Three.

Christ, that is a lot on my to do list...

Rock n Roll High School

Thoughts Before: I've seen a lot of "youth" movies but Rock n Roll High School was one I always missed. Seeing the wonderful Ramones featured so heavily in the soundtrack and also acting appealed to me a lot.

Review: So I got this and Death Race 2000 from E-Bay from the same seller and both arrived and found their ways into my DVDs player on the same day, both have a things in common- both are 70's Roger Corman, arguably the best Corman era and Paul Bartel's involvement.

Rock n Roll High School absolutely rocks- unusual, funny, kick ass soundtrack, likeable performances, P.J Soles in the lead role as never been cuter (same goes for Dey Young), a memorable villianous turn from Mary Woronov, while the film belongs to Paul Bartel as the music teacher who is absolutely hilarious and scene after scene that lingers on the memory, It's fair to say the music of Ramones is better then the acting but they have a memorable prescene in the movi and the movie is succesful in creating it's own reality (a giant rat doesn't seem out of place). Allan Arkush's finest directorial moment.

Stand Out Moment: P.J Soles singing Rock n Roll High School in gym, sang with such ferocious enegry.

Conclusion: Like Death Race 2000 it's not a perfectly made movie, but it's such unquestionable fun the movie sticks with, if your a fan of the earlier batch of teen comedies you'll certainly love this.

*****

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.

*****

Beautiful Girls

Thoughts Before Watching: I've seen Beautiful Girls quite a few times but haven't seen it since the end of 1999, so that is a good couple of years. I used to really like this movie and Natalie Portman's terrific performance always stood out for me. I am lookinh forward to seeing it again.

What's Good?: Natalie Portman is absolutely amazing and the rest of the cast fill there roles very well- Max Perlich should get more work. There are some great one line zingers ("Somebody's been eating retard sandwiches")- Ted Demme (who died in 2002) directs probably his best movie (Blow comes close) and Scott Rosenberg's script is not like the other films written by him that come to mind (he wrote Con-Air).

What's Bad?: On occasion the dialogue can feel just like like "cool" things spouted by the actors.

Defining Moment: "Sweet Carolina", the former high school gang sing along to the Neil Diamond classic. The Cameron Crowe moment not done by Mr. Crowe.

Overall: A very, very good movie with likeable and human characters, I'd recommend this to anybody who likes character based dramady.

****

I'm updating the idea of how I do reviews on this blog, expect changes in the coming days that makes this place different.

Bumper shopping today included:

• Curb Your Enthusiasm Season Four
• At Last the 1948 Show
• Do Not Adjust Your Set
• Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends Season One
• Beautiful Girls
• I Love You to Death
• Irma La Douce
• Neighbors
• Hot Pursuit
• Goin' South
• D-Day: The Sixth of June
• The Young Lions

Recent E-Bay (to come...) (all on Region One)

• The Man Who Knew Too Little
• The Oblong Box/Scream and Scream Again
• The Masque of Red Death/The Premature Burial

Out of the stuff from Axelmusic.com NewsRadio Season Three is arriving first according to there handy tracking system, and How I Got into College should be here soon. Look's like there is a lot to watch in the next couple of weeks.

Updated 12/4/06

Add a Danish version of Forgotten Silver and an Aussie version of Glen or Glenda, the bloody horror Bay of Blood, Death Race 2000 and Rock and Roll High School to the e-bay purches

I'm Happy as I've ordered the following R1 DVDs from Axelmusic.com:

• NewsRadio Season Three
• Grounded for Life Season One
• Robot Chicken Season One
• Clone High Season One
• The Doom Generation

And off E-Bay

• How I Got into College

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Scorsese and De Niro, Kurosawa and Mifune, Carpenter and Russell, Raimi and Campbell, some directors and actors are just meant to go together- Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have had a terrific run and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory continues it.

Now I've read the original book many times, seen the Gene Wilder movie many more times, so there was some fear- Planet of the Apes was a book, then a film, then Tim Burton remaked it, POTA was still fresh in the Mind.

I shouldn't bother going through the story, you all must know it by now- it's a good story that strikes a chord with kids and kids at heart.

Johnny Depp part-Michael Jackson/Howard Hughes- is unsuprisingly excellent- his appearance on screen is instantly welcome. Freddie Highmore as Charlie gives a genuine unannoying child performance. Deep Roy equally shines as every Umpa Lumpa and the kids minus Charlie are so unlikeable, as the audience member is filled with glee when they get there just desserts.

This adaptation is closer to the book then the Wilder version- the songs from the Umpa Lumpa's are from the book and is a likeable and sweet film. The film clearly as the Tim Burton magic, full of wonderful colour and sets and Wonka is clearly as much a Burton character as a Dahl character.

Magical with moments that can take you straight back to your childhood- anchored by a wonderful performance by Depp, the film will be a favourite for years to come.

****

I'm suffering a bit of writer's block at the minute, that's why reviews haven't been done the alst couple of days