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. *****