September 2010
6 posts
“Without culture, and the relative freedom it implies, society, even when...”
– Albert Camus (via alexanderpaulderonde)
4 tags
Knight and Day
Okay, so straight away I’m going to admit my dislike of Tom Cruise. It’s nothing too personal, I just can’t stand the man. I dislike him even more due to the fact that I enjoy every film he’s in. I also can’t stomach Cameron Diaz simply because she is always too happy and quirky. Don’t judge me, I’m obviously just too miserable for my own good and enjoy...
2 tags
3 tags
6 tags
The Expendable Expendables
Before I get into this let me just say that my opinion of this film has not been marred by my gender, in fact I’m quite a fan of action films. So when it was announced that all the famous icons such as Sylvester Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li and even Arnold Swarchenegger were to be mashed together into one I was surprised that my reaction was one of suspicion.
Let me explain. Firstly...
16 tags
It's been a while
Recently I’ve watched more films that I’ve been reviewing so brace yourselves for a run down of the good, the bad, and the surprising. The past few weeks have yielded a variety of flicks that have tantalised cinema goers, as well as a few classics that I thought deserved to be revisited.
TOY STORY 3
First on the agenda is Toy Story 3. After an 11 year wait the highly anticipated...
August 2010
7 posts
1 tag
8 tags
The A Team
I originally went to see this film because I was waiting around for someone and had a few hours to kill. In all honesty I was expecting a decent take on the original t.v. series but nothing spectacular that would blow my socks off. So imagine my surprise that within the first 10 minutes my socks had been completely blown into orbit. No messing about, just straight into the action with Colonel...
2 tags
2 tags
Bruce Willis
“You can’t undo the past… but you can certainly not repeat it. ”
- Bruce Willis
1 tag
3 tags
1 tag
Still Not Good Enough...
3D films are rapidly appearing on a more regular basis in cinemas, and I have to say I’m not impressed. There has been a sudden surge over the past year as film makers have been taken over by some kind of 3D fever. Symptoms include the belief that making a film 3D automatically means it’s going to be better. Initially when 3D films were introduced their popularity was due to the fact...
July 2010
3 posts
7 tags
Inception is Exceptional
First of all, apologies for the seemingly endless amount of time that has passed since I last posted on here. You would not believe the amount of hassle moving house, applying for a new university course and catching up with old friends and family can be. Or how much time it can consume. But I am back. With a few points up for discussion.
On the film front I’m ashamed to say that for the...
A quick note...
Just so everyone knows I’ve been on holiday the past week, but will resume posting as normal once I’m back after the weekend.
3 tags
Tom Hanks once said.....
“I love what I do for a living, it’s the greatest job in the world, but you have to survive an awful lot of attention that you don’t truly deserve and you have to live up to your professional responsibilities and I’m always trying to balance that with what is really important. ”
- Tom Hanks
June 2010
15 posts
6 tags
Hart's War
To say that a film set in a prisoner of war camp has spectacular scenery seems to contradict itself, but Hart’s War opens with just that. It tells the story of Lieutenant Thomas W. Hart, played by Colin Farrell, who is captured by the Nazis and sent to a POW camp during World War II.
Initially the film’s aim seems to be to tell the tale of the group of men Hart becomes associated...
3 tags
Audrey Hepburn
“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.”
- Audrey Hepburn
(May 4th 1929 - January 20th 1993)
1 tag
To Watch or Not to Watch...
I have before me a copy of Saw 6. I am seriously doubting whether to watch it. After numerous disappointments from this series I’m inclined to think that this will be no different.
However I like to think I give all films the benefit of a doubt and don;t judge until I’ve actually watched them…so here we go. I expect my review will be predictable but who knows? It may surprise...
4 tags
Midnight Meat Train
Do I like a film that takes an unexpected turn and makes me question what I’m watching? Yes. Does Midnight Meat Train accomplish this? No.
The problem with this film is that it is good until the last 20 minutes or so. If a film is going to be daring and change the ending into something unexpected it needs to do it successfully, so that the viewer is left feeling surprised but satisfied that...
4 tags
Cary Grant once said...
“We have our factory, which is called a stage. We make a product, we color it, we title it and we ship it out in cans.”
Cary Grant (aka Archibald Alexander Leach)
January 18th 1904 - November 29th 1986
3 tags
Orson Welles once said....
“A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet.”
- Orson Welles
May 6th 1915 - October 10th 1985
4 tags
ANY IDEAS?
Last night me and my house mate sat down and watched Halloween. That’s the ORIGINAL version for the record. We also ended up discussing the horror genre and films in general, which I did not mind in the slightest. We’ve come up with a list of films that we have not seen to watch over the next few weeks (expect reviews on most if not all of them):
1. Repo men - the remake of a musical...
2 tags
Chaplin once said...
“I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician.”
- Charlie Chaplin
16th April 1889 - 25th December 1977
1 tag
Marilyn Monroe once said...
“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”
-Marilyn Monroe(aka Norma Jeane Mortenson)
June 1st 1926 - August 5th 1962
6 tags
Valkyrie
I’m not a huge fan of Tom Cruise, mainly due to personal bias than any lack of acting ability. I can’t really fault him as an actor as the performances I have seen have always been effective.
Valkyrie is no exception. Based on true events it tells the story of an assassination attempt on Hitler’s life from within Germany. Cruise portrays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg well as...
4 tags
The Master of Suspense
Undoubtedly the father of suspense and thriller here is a list of Hitchcock films (in no particular order) I think everybody should see:
1. Vertigo
2. Rear Window
3. The Man who Knew too Much
4. Psycho
5. Dial M for Murder
6.Strangers on a Train
7. North by Northwest
8. The Birds
9. The trouble with Harry
7 tags
Classic Remakes
Admittedly I have never been a fan of horror film remakes, simply because they do no justice to the originals. Classic horror icons such as Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers need a specific screen presence and convincing atmosphere to have that fear inducing impact. Unfortunately whenever some bright spark decides to resurrect them for remakes or long winded sequels, the results are often cheesy...
4 tags
"Robin Hood"
I say “Robin Hood” because this film is arguably not what you would expect. Think of the stereotypical Robin Hood legend: robbing the rich to feed the poor, loyal to Richard the Lionheart, in love with the fair Maid Marion. Then completely disregard this. Don’t go into the cinema expecting any of the conventions of the classic story because they are non existent. This is also the case with any...
May 2010
1 post
8 tags
Ironman 2
If you have read the Ironman comic books you’ll know Tony Stark’s history and how Whiplash came to be. For those of you who haven’t, it doesn’t matter because the film delivers the story well. Without over doing it, director Jon Favreau mangages to incorporate elements of the original story, new characters and brilliant actions sequences perfectly.
Is there too much...
April 2010
12 posts
4 tags
Cast Away
Last night I sat down and watched Castaway and was reminded why it is such an incredible film. Admittedly I also found myself wondering why I had not rewatched it sooner.
Made in 2000, it stars Tom Hanks as FedEx executive Chuck Noland who crash lands on a desert island after his plane goes down. To survive, he must transform himself physically and emotionally and use all his ingenuity to stay...
5 tags
Fun Animation!
Glimmer Festival has been going on for nearly a week now and recent events have prooved interesting. I attended a stop motion animation workshop on Friday and I have to say the experience was both stimulating and entertaining. I thoroughly recommend adult workshops: they’re free and you come away having learnt something new.
Being presented with a pile of old paper, toys and clay and...
6 tags
I Love You Philip Morris
Genuinely entertaining and based on a true story I Love you Philip Morris see Jim Carrey in one of his most enthusiastic roles. He is truly on top form as he swings effectively between slap stick humour to darker comedy; a style he has finally managed to grasp.
He plays Steven Russell. Happily married to Debbie and working for the local police force, his life is suddenly changed after a car...
4 tags
Glimmer Film Festival
Hull’s annual film festival is back this year and the line up is set to be a good one. If you would like details of what will be showing and what workshops are available visit the Glimmer website at http://www.hullfilm.co.uk/
Alternatively you can contact me as I will be working there this year. You can buy tickets for individual events or a week pass for £20. See Hull Box Office for...
A quick Message
Just a quick mesage to say thanks to the people now following me. Appreciate you taking the time to read my stuff :)
If there is anything in particular you want information / a review on reblog this post and let me know.
Thanks again.
6 tags
Malice at Alice
I will be honest and admit that this post is more of a rant than a review. But hopefully you’ll forgive me when you release why. Bang wagons. Every so often people jump on them after the sucess of particular type of film. The Saw series would be the an ideal example as yet another is set to be released next year. That takes the grand total up to seven films! Seven films of the same...
8 tags
Jennifer's Body
Megan Fox is a man eater. Quite literally in this recent film that sees her in the leading role. She plays cheerleader Jennifer who is one of the “popular kids” in high school and best friends with the more dorky character Needy, played by Amanda Seyfried. It is made clear from the start that Jennifer is a flirtatious man eater who has many liasons with boys at her school This,...
4 tags
Edge of Darkness
I can really see why this film has this title. For one, is place the film begins and two Mel Gibson’s portrayal of a man on the edge is one of his best recent performances.
From the trailer we’re able to work out that Gibson plays a police officer, Thomas Craven, whose daughter is shot. He then spends the rest of the film on a quest to avenge her death. Sounds straight forward until...
6 tags
Not Such a Cop Out
Fast paced. Witty one liners. Action packed. These all describe Kevin Smith’s new film Cop Out, the first film where he acts solely as the director. Previous works from his “Askewniverse” involved him as director, producer, writer and actor in his recognisable role as Silent Bob. This is only his third film that doesn’t link to any of his other work: previous films...
6 tags
Three for Three
The coming months are set to see the release of many new films: some bad, some good and some you just can’t quite categorise. Initial impressions really do count in the film industry so obviously your trailer has to have an impact. Whether this impact is what you aim for however, is a completely different matter. Let us look at an upcoming film that did just this. The Human ...