Hi,
Last night caught the hiest flick Armoured, directed by Nimrod Antal and starring Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne and Milo Ventimiglia.
This wasn't that bad, nothing great, but it held my attention for the 90 minutes. The cast was good and the script was ok, the story played out as expected with no really surprises.
I don't think it would be a DVD purchase but it was worth watching.
(6/10)
Thursday 28 January 2010
The Book of Eli
Hi,
Seems a while since I've posted for a film, anyway The Book of Eli was one I caught at the end of last week.
Directed by the Hughes Brother and starring Denzel Washington and Gary Oldham, I wasn't really sure where this film was going or where it would end up. But in the end i quite enjoyed it. Washington was good, Oldman was ok and the rest of the cast did enough. The script was good, the music was very good and the action pretty good.
As you might have guessed it was good! (7/10)
Seems a while since I've posted for a film, anyway The Book of Eli was one I caught at the end of last week.
Directed by the Hughes Brother and starring Denzel Washington and Gary Oldham, I wasn't really sure where this film was going or where it would end up. But in the end i quite enjoyed it. Washington was good, Oldman was ok and the rest of the cast did enough. The script was good, the music was very good and the action pretty good.
As you might have guessed it was good! (7/10)
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Films I didn't like in 2009
Hello,
As good as 2009 was, it did have it’s fare share of films I didn’t like, note I didn’t like, as bad as I think a film is someone somewhere will like it, and even as good as a film is people won’t like it. So I won’t call them bad films!
Some films just outside the list,
Fame – not really a remake but fell short by trying to tell the story of too many kids.
2012 – Stunning visually, cheesy hokum for the rest of it!
Angels and Demons – Didn’t like the first and this seemed more of the same, but was a little better.
Transformers 2 – Stunning visually, but no character involvement and the story was terrible along with a bad script.
So on to my list of films I didn’t like in 2009
10. New Moon
WOW! This was poor; the 2nd in the saga and nothing has improved over the first one. The script is terrible, the acting is terrible, the action is terrible and I still hate the fact a vampire sparkles in sunlight.
- Final Destination 3D
I like the final destination films, but I think the life has been drained out of this franchise. The 3D was ok in this film, and due to the more elaborate death scenes it work pretty well. The film followed the same formula, but tried to use the best scenes from the previous 3 films, so in the end it didn’t really have its own identity, just a mash of the best of the rest! The acting was ok, the script ok, but I liked to opening death sequence on the race track, much better than the rollercoaster!
- My Bloody Valentine 3D
Horror films have really grasped the new 3D, but they need to do more than just through bits of flesh at you. I know it’s gimmicky and it does lend itself well to gore flying out of he screen, but after a few jaws and eye balls flying at you it quickly loses it’s fun. This film was a typical teenage horror film, poor script, pretty obvious story and mediocre death scenes.
- Gamer
The best thing in this was the villain, Michael C Hall was great! And that’s where it stops, well
- Surrogates
Another film with so much potential and then it fell flat on its robot face! Willis was Willis, the script was terrible, it seemed a miss mash of films with not one clear idea what it wanted to say or do.
- Lesbian Vampire Killers
I don’t watch anything these two do and after this I doubt I will do. This film had the potential to be funny, with some scares and some descent women action. All we got were two idiots trying to be funny, and not really delivering anything what the title of the film implied.
- Halloween 2
Rob Zombie’s new take on Halloween wasn’t too bad, however he let the ball go with the follow up and for some reason I’ve heard they are planning a 3rd one. Anyway this was a wasted opportunity, poor story telling was the problem here, it didn’t seem to flow, and the supernatural element didn’t work for me. There were a couple of good scene’s but no really tension or scares.
- Jennifer’s Body
Was my expectation too high, Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in a dark horror-comedy with the wit of Heathers and Mean Girls and a boy eating demon, written by Diablo Cody. How could this fail?
Well it did, spectacularly! From the not very funny script, to some of the worst horror editing ever. The two girls did ok, and the story was ok, but the execution and the script were terrible, even the kiss didn’t perk it up!
- The Spirit
After the brilliant
- Giallo
A frightfest film and one which had so much potential however it soon fell apart when the killer spoke, and from that point it went downhill with every silly line, and poor plot turn. Not to mention the acting, not helped by a woeful script, the actors fell down the hill with the film. Even the cinematography was terrible; I can’t recall the music so that must have been poor too.
SO THE FILM I LIKED THE LEAST LAST YEAR WAS GIALLO!
Tuesday 12 January 2010
The Best of 2009
Hello,
Was 2009 a good year at the cinema – yes I think it was! Well 131 visits to the cinema over the last year speaks for itself, whether the films were any good is another question, and one I’m going to answer in the next couple of posts.
This first one highlights my favourite 10 films and some others which I also really enjoyed.
In fact looking at the list from this year, I think it’s been a very good year, and my top 10 is going to be a hard list to compile, the ones that made the list scored 9 or 10. From my previous posts you may already have guessed my film of the year…….
So some films which didn’t quite make the top 10.
Zombieland - best zombie-comedy since Shaun of the dead
Heartless – my 2nd favourite film at frightfest
Trick R Treat – my 3rd Favourite film at frightfest, the best Halloween film ever!
Slumdog Millionaire – the Oscars favourite and I thought it was brilliant too.
Frost/Nixon – Ron Howard directs a great piece of Cinema with Sheen and Langella on top form with a well written price of drama.
Benjamin Button – Fincher’s wonderful film of a man aging backwards buoyed by a fantastic performance from Brad Pitt.
So on to my best 10 films of 2009.
10. Moon
Sam Rockwell is outstanding in this film, and really makes it work, considering he’s the only actor in 98% of the film, it worked really well. It’s interesting and clever, never bores and has a good twist, which I didn’t see coming. Very intelligent film making!
9. UP!
Can Pixar do any wrong? not really, I’ve enjoyed every single Pixar film, and UP was no exception. Stunning animation, the story is simple, but it’s the meaning behind the film which makes this a wonderful film. Also it has possible 2 of the most poignant sequences I’ve seen in any film, except maybe the final scenes of Phar lap and Grave of the Fireflies! But this is another great animated story from the masters and I liked it a lot.
8. Coraline
Just pips Up as my animated film of the year, wonderful imagery, amazing in 3D, very creepy and beautifully voiced. Can’t really remember the score, but have seen it since on Blu-Ray and it lost none of its appeal. I don’t know if I was reading too much into this film, but it’s content was pretty disturbing or maybe that’s just me and too many horror films! But it still remains a great piece of animation.
7. Avatar
I really don’t think this film could be overlooked, in most top ten’s of the year, most will have it sat at number 1 or 2, well not me. As good as it looks and it looks stunning and I bet I’ve not really seen everything there is too see in the jungles of Pandora! The one problem is the story it’s just lacking substance and its need to end on a happy note leaves it flat. However the message in the film doesn’t though and this is just enough to keep the film from sinking! The score is very good, the cast do a good job, and the script is ok however the IMAX version isn’t as good as I hoped it would be.
That said I am looking forward to seeing it on Blu-Ray as I think the 2D version does look good.
6. Let the right one in.
I actually saw this in 2008 at frightfest, but it made it to my local screen in April of last year so deserves its place in this list. Another film being remade and due out this year for the US market. The original is a superb vampire story of friendship, loyalty and violence. It’s slow, it has meaning and it cares about its characters with no pay off just great story telling, direction and two wonderful performances from the children.
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
One of my favourite films from frightfest, possible my favourite really. A brilliant thriller, with a great script, great acting and superb direction made this another great piece of cinema. Not yet having a major release, most people will end up seeing the soon to be made US remake, which is a shame, because this is just brilliant!
4. Where the Wild Things Are
I loved the trailer, I loved the film. Iconic film imagery for me, Max sat on the headland with Carol as the sun sets, fantastic. I got it, got it all. Max, his behaviour, why he was like that and why he created his story of the Wild things. Jonze did a superb job with this film from a book with very little to work with. Having read the book since Jonze got it spot on!
3. The Hurt Locker
A superb war movie full of tension and with an awesome performance from Jeremy Renner and brilliantly directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break), this was just superb cinema. A sensitive subject dealt with without prejudice or accusation concerning it’s self with a soldiers career in the bomb disposal unit in Iraq.
2. Sherlock Holmes
Never really one to get excited by a Holmes story, the trailer again turned my attention. The cast looked great and with a good director this looked good.
Again surpassed my expectations, this was great fun. London looked amazing; Law stole the show, and a franchise in the making. I loved the score, the script, the cast and the direction. Seen it twice and looking to see it once more before it goes off.
1. Star Trek
Not a huge Trekkie, I enjoyed the original series, liked some of the films, never got into Generations but really quite liked Enterprise. But when I saw the first trailer for this re-boot I was excited this looked good.
Well it was better than good! It was amazing! I made the mistake of seeing it at the IMAX first which although was superb it wasn’t till I saw the film on a normal screen that I really-really enjoyed it. Everything about this film was outstanding, the direction, cast, the script, the story (to a degree), the SFX and the score. It all worked, and worked so well I ended up seeing it at the cinema 5 times and 3 times on Blu-Ray.
Was 2009 a good year at the cinema – yes I think it was! Well 131 visits to the cinema over the last year speaks for itself, whether the films were any good is another question, and one I’m going to answer in the next couple of posts.
This first one highlights my favourite 10 films and some others which I also really enjoyed.
In fact looking at the list from this year, I think it’s been a very good year, and my top 10 is going to be a hard list to compile, the ones that made the list scored 9 or 10. From my previous posts you may already have guessed my film of the year…….
So some films which didn’t quite make the top 10.
Zombieland - best zombie-comedy since Shaun of the dead
Heartless – my 2nd favourite film at frightfest
Trick R Treat – my 3rd Favourite film at frightfest, the best Halloween film ever!
Slumdog Millionaire – the Oscars favourite and I thought it was brilliant too.
Frost/Nixon – Ron Howard directs a great piece of Cinema with Sheen and Langella on top form with a well written price of drama.
Benjamin Button – Fincher’s wonderful film of a man aging backwards buoyed by a fantastic performance from Brad Pitt.
So on to my best 10 films of 2009.
10. Moon
Sam Rockwell is outstanding in this film, and really makes it work, considering he’s the only actor in 98% of the film, it worked really well. It’s interesting and clever, never bores and has a good twist, which I didn’t see coming. Very intelligent film making!
9. UP!
Can Pixar do any wrong? not really, I’ve enjoyed every single Pixar film, and UP was no exception. Stunning animation, the story is simple, but it’s the meaning behind the film which makes this a wonderful film. Also it has possible 2 of the most poignant sequences I’ve seen in any film, except maybe the final scenes of Phar lap and Grave of the Fireflies! But this is another great animated story from the masters and I liked it a lot.
8. Coraline
Just pips Up as my animated film of the year, wonderful imagery, amazing in 3D, very creepy and beautifully voiced. Can’t really remember the score, but have seen it since on Blu-Ray and it lost none of its appeal. I don’t know if I was reading too much into this film, but it’s content was pretty disturbing or maybe that’s just me and too many horror films! But it still remains a great piece of animation.
7. Avatar
I really don’t think this film could be overlooked, in most top ten’s of the year, most will have it sat at number 1 or 2, well not me. As good as it looks and it looks stunning and I bet I’ve not really seen everything there is too see in the jungles of Pandora! The one problem is the story it’s just lacking substance and its need to end on a happy note leaves it flat. However the message in the film doesn’t though and this is just enough to keep the film from sinking! The score is very good, the cast do a good job, and the script is ok however the IMAX version isn’t as good as I hoped it would be.
That said I am looking forward to seeing it on Blu-Ray as I think the 2D version does look good.
6. Let the right one in.
I actually saw this in 2008 at frightfest, but it made it to my local screen in April of last year so deserves its place in this list. Another film being remade and due out this year for the US market. The original is a superb vampire story of friendship, loyalty and violence. It’s slow, it has meaning and it cares about its characters with no pay off just great story telling, direction and two wonderful performances from the children.
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
One of my favourite films from frightfest, possible my favourite really. A brilliant thriller, with a great script, great acting and superb direction made this another great piece of cinema. Not yet having a major release, most people will end up seeing the soon to be made US remake, which is a shame, because this is just brilliant!
4. Where the Wild Things Are
I loved the trailer, I loved the film. Iconic film imagery for me, Max sat on the headland with Carol as the sun sets, fantastic. I got it, got it all. Max, his behaviour, why he was like that and why he created his story of the Wild things. Jonze did a superb job with this film from a book with very little to work with. Having read the book since Jonze got it spot on!
3. The Hurt Locker
A superb war movie full of tension and with an awesome performance from Jeremy Renner and brilliantly directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break), this was just superb cinema. A sensitive subject dealt with without prejudice or accusation concerning it’s self with a soldiers career in the bomb disposal unit in Iraq.
2. Sherlock Holmes
Never really one to get excited by a Holmes story, the trailer again turned my attention. The cast looked great and with a good director this looked good.
Again surpassed my expectations, this was great fun. London looked amazing; Law stole the show, and a franchise in the making. I loved the score, the script, the cast and the direction. Seen it twice and looking to see it once more before it goes off.
1. Star Trek
Not a huge Trekkie, I enjoyed the original series, liked some of the films, never got into Generations but really quite liked Enterprise. But when I saw the first trailer for this re-boot I was excited this looked good.
Well it was better than good! It was amazing! I made the mistake of seeing it at the IMAX first which although was superb it wasn’t till I saw the film on a normal screen that I really-really enjoyed it. Everything about this film was outstanding, the direction, cast, the script, the story (to a degree), the SFX and the score. It all worked, and worked so well I ended up seeing it at the cinema 5 times and 3 times on Blu-Ray.
STAR TREK is My film of the year!
Daybreakers
Hi,
At last a vampire film which is a vampire film!
Directed by the Spierig brothers (Undead), this is a great film, with a different take on the vampire story which works very well. The cast is great, Hawke, Neill and Defoe all work well, all helped with a good script and a good story.
But the most important thing was the vampire lore, and it wasn't messed with, they died buffy/blade style. They set on fire when they were touched by sunlight, and what they added also worked very well. None of this diamond shimmer when they step into sunlight!!!
But the film as a whole worked well, vampires struggling to survive, blood running out, vampires mutating into bat like creatures from the lack of blood, or feeding on themselves or other vampires were all good additions to the vampire lore. Even the final twist was good!
On a whole this was a great vampire film, enjoyable lots of blood and gore with a interesting story! (8/10)
At last a vampire film which is a vampire film!
Directed by the Spierig brothers (Undead), this is a great film, with a different take on the vampire story which works very well. The cast is great, Hawke, Neill and Defoe all work well, all helped with a good script and a good story.
But the most important thing was the vampire lore, and it wasn't messed with, they died buffy/blade style. They set on fire when they were touched by sunlight, and what they added also worked very well. None of this diamond shimmer when they step into sunlight!!!
But the film as a whole worked well, vampires struggling to survive, blood running out, vampires mutating into bat like creatures from the lack of blood, or feeding on themselves or other vampires were all good additions to the vampire lore. Even the final twist was good!
On a whole this was a great vampire film, enjoyable lots of blood and gore with a interesting story! (8/10)
Sherlock Holmes
Hi,
Well I got to see it again, and I enjoyed it even more this time. Law is just superb as Watson, Downey is great as Holmes and Strong is a great villain.
The soundtrack is great, fun, different and fits the piece perfectly, I have listened to it outside the film and really like it and it plays great on it's own.
What got me this time round was the level of detail, in London, in Holmes house, the costumes etc. It's all just amazing, and again enhances the film no end.
As good as Avatar is visually, Holmes was my favourite film of the Xmas period, closely followed by Where the wild things are and then Avatar.
This said I have decided that Holmes deserves full marks, and have upped my score to 10/10
Well I got to see it again, and I enjoyed it even more this time. Law is just superb as Watson, Downey is great as Holmes and Strong is a great villain.
The soundtrack is great, fun, different and fits the piece perfectly, I have listened to it outside the film and really like it and it plays great on it's own.
What got me this time round was the level of detail, in London, in Holmes house, the costumes etc. It's all just amazing, and again enhances the film no end.
As good as Avatar is visually, Holmes was my favourite film of the Xmas period, closely followed by Where the wild things are and then Avatar.
This said I have decided that Holmes deserves full marks, and have upped my score to 10/10
Saturday 9 January 2010
Avatar (IMAX)
Hi,
With the bad weather conditions the cinema trips are on hold at the moment, hopefully I will get to see Sherlock Holmes again tomorrow, with my eldest. But before the bad weather broke I managed to see Avatar at the IMAX.
Overall I was a little disappointed with it, it was too big, the majority of the screen was blurred apart from the area of screen I was focused on. This did spoil it for me.
The sound is amazing, though, the explosions rocked my insides - brilliant!
I did get vertigo a couple of times though, in the dragon scenes and when they climbed some of the trees really got a sense of height....
I did enjoy it again, and I still feel I could see it again soon, but on the normal 3D screen.
I thought it would do well with the box-office figures, but it's cruised past the Billion with no problem. Amazing!
With the bad weather conditions the cinema trips are on hold at the moment, hopefully I will get to see Sherlock Holmes again tomorrow, with my eldest. But before the bad weather broke I managed to see Avatar at the IMAX.
Overall I was a little disappointed with it, it was too big, the majority of the screen was blurred apart from the area of screen I was focused on. This did spoil it for me.
The sound is amazing, though, the explosions rocked my insides - brilliant!
I did get vertigo a couple of times though, in the dragon scenes and when they climbed some of the trees really got a sense of height....
I did enjoy it again, and I still feel I could see it again soon, but on the normal 3D screen.
I thought it would do well with the box-office figures, but it's cruised past the Billion with no problem. Amazing!
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