tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40988803425251762972024-03-12T23:55:44.099+00:00FilmCriticsGuildThe Central Zone of Film Criticism. (We're back!)FilmCriticsGuildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443371082925993308noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-57487369238721452952011-10-23T12:40:00.001+01:002011-10-23T16:43:47.882+01:00Paranormal Activity 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Directed by: <span class="content" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span itemprop="name">Henry Joost</span>
,
<span itemprop="name">Ariel Schulman</span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Genre: Horror, Mystery & Suspense</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Runtime: 84 Minutes</b></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hard as it is
to believe this is the best of the series, now a horror trilogy! This is
definitely an improvement from the previous film throwing in more suspense,
more thrills and many more scares. Although using the same formula of the series,
I guarantee that your audience will be lively if there are many in it and will enhance
the experience of the film. Perhaps here, third time is the charm as we dive in
to a low-budget mokumentary prequel that has a lot of the film’s title going on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Read full </span></span><br />
<a href="http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/10/paranormal-activity-3-horror-marathon.html">http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/10/paranormal-activity-3-horror-marathon.html</a>Tom_Film_Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203244525938129170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-83512064416690217742011-10-22T23:17:00.001+01:002011-10-23T17:17:36.555+01:00Entre Nos 4/4There have not been many films out there that actually try to capture the struggles of illegal immigrants in the USA. Good thing that netflix exists because I found an incredible drama that perfectly portrays it called Entre Nos (Between us).<br />
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The film follows a family of four which consists of Mariana (Paola Mendoza) and her two kids and her husband Antonio (Andres Munar) He’s the kind of man who can never stay still in one place and always have to move to somewhere else. They have moved constantly in there native country and then finally to the United States. One day he tells her that he’s found a new job in Miami and that he is headed down there. He says to her that once he gets settled that he will send for her. She reluctantly lets him go leaving her alone with the kids without her having a job. One day she discovers that he doesn’t want her to come or even the kids, leaving her abandon. As well as to make matters worse there are illegal.<br />
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The movie is an unforgiving look into the life of immigrants who fall in hard times. It also shows how messed up the system that our government employs to solve these issues, while the movie is not political. You can feel the air of tension of her getting caught and then getting her kids taken away and being deported. I love the acting in the film especially of Mendoza she is great. Her performance as the mother is excellent. She has this knack in the entire film where no matter how things are going she still stays strong in front of her kids. She does falter and there are scenes that make you believe that she will break, but she calmly picks her self up. The child actors are great as well.<br />
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The film was directed by herself Paola Mendoza herself with a co director. It’s based on true life experiences (The movie is dedicated to her mother which the movie is based on) and she knows how to sidestep clichés and melodrama into more serious tones.<br />
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Entre nos might feel bleak at times but life is like that sometimes, it does not care about your plans. Mendoza perfectly infuses a bleak future with simple ending of hope.<br />
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4/4 <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxwAlQfGOUtBDIQPgQR_4Ou8FeAbBQ3Jbnh6VPEXwtNnN2jqH9Cn1O4hOvfVdY0DkPINv6MN5kNWyST1gKFJ2Pb3FdsnWZzNjstLCh_HjdYO9SKi5uFUMaSNt_l56vrwpQ4F1rZERxYmX/s640/blogger-image--1064580033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxwAlQfGOUtBDIQPgQR_4Ou8FeAbBQ3Jbnh6VPEXwtNnN2jqH9Cn1O4hOvfVdY0DkPINv6MN5kNWyST1gKFJ2Pb3FdsnWZzNjstLCh_HjdYO9SKi5uFUMaSNt_l56vrwpQ4F1rZERxYmX/s640/blogger-image--1064580033.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-46248638308138268042011-09-18T09:05:00.002+01:002012-03-29T11:21:35.986+01:00Horrible Bosses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a month since I've seen a movie at the theatre, but after finishing my exams and given that there's nothing out this week had me interested (I live in Australia and the movie Drive is out on October 22nd) so I went to see this movie for the sakes of laughing throughout its core... and I did.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Jason Bateman, Jason Sudekis and Charlie Day are Nick, Kurt and Dale, three best friends who work for bosses that treats them like shit. Nick has Harken (Kevin Spacey), the psychotic head of an investment company who manipulateshim, Dale has Jennifer Aniston his nymphomaniac dentist while Kurt was about to enjoy his job until the coked-up son of his boss Bobby Pellit (a combed-over Colin Farrell) takes over. So the three guys decide that their only choice to justify how they're put up with it is to murder their respective bosses. They consulted with an expert played by Jamie Foxx and as you would expect, their plans becomes puzzling.<br />
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From the opening 20 minutes, we get an interestingly cynical insight of our three leads' workplace environment. The major contribution from these environments are the bosses who as the title states are horrible with their employees. And the funniest part about this and the movie as a whole are the bosses who are so exagerrated to the point where you want to agree with the three guys and wishing they were literally dead. But after this the ecstastic feeling you would get from this film turned stale.<br />
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This movie would've turned out to be a caper black comedy and it is in some scenes. Instead it's made from R-rated comedy 101. I admit that I laughed as much as I thought I wouldn't but it's usually the jokes that I find that are not that funny or inconsistent to the purpose of the film. That's where most of it came from in the second act where the guys are off to murder where it shows how incredibly idiotic they are. There's one scene where Kurt sticks up Bobby' toothbrush and razor up his ass and I don't really know whether it justified how his boss is literally an asswiper or just being stupid. Another is when Dale and Nick enter across Harken's mansion and they come across cats which is only funny the first time, when two more comes up leaving the movie to be so seriously tedious.<br />
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But the worst part that turns me off about it is that some of them shows that this movie... really hates women. You can have Aniston as a hypersexual boss but when you notice that almost every woman is depicted as a cheating she-devil in particular Spacey's wife played by Julie Bowen and that the only person who seems to think so is Kurt. So there are some major issues I had with the screenplay and of Seth Gordon's direction. However it would then pick itself up in the third act that had time to be very unpredictable.<br />
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While Jason Bateman, Jason Sudekis and Charlie Day are all having fun here, they all play the same characters we used to know from TV. As much as I like Jason Bateman, I think he deserved much more range in his comedic timing. Sudeskis still plays the same character he was in Hall Pass while Day is the breakout even if he really sounds irritating.<br />
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Problems aside, I like the bosses better and as usual Kevin Spacey is dangerous. Seeing the relationship between him and Bateman reminds me of The Devil Wears Prada with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway as it's veteran vs first timer tension coming off. It's nice to see Jennifer Aniston playing against type as the maneating dentist and Colin Farrell as the cokehead boss who's much worse of an employer than you would expect.<br />
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I didn't think it was funny as everybody thought it was. It has some huge laughs but I wished Horrible Bosses would have worked more as a black comedy moving along with its premise than just the usual profane, woman-hating R rated comedy it is. But I had a good laugh and that's about needed in this film.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><b>B- (6.3)</b></span>Neutral3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07265287755535444101noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-59693725777631698512011-08-30T15:31:00.000+01:002011-08-30T15:31:10.700+01:00He sounds like Seth Rogen, talks like Seth Rogen, and cracks jokes like Seth Rogen.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUy9iohqgiUAdWoM56fw3AOqvZme_ZwaNGgrxJUMZoBl5yYGWJY5MsgK7NndpJadN1iYTbxza9yPuDcb21Xa6LencEXa4G4eT9OjvAyktKwYlwraVZCKlBers-Qg79SsRMWcbjqVfex1k/s1600/paul_film_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUy9iohqgiUAdWoM56fw3AOqvZme_ZwaNGgrxJUMZoBl5yYGWJY5MsgK7NndpJadN1iYTbxza9yPuDcb21Xa6LencEXa4G4eT9OjvAyktKwYlwraVZCKlBers-Qg79SsRMWcbjqVfex1k/s320/paul_film_image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Paul was an interesting comedy from the team of Superbad and I expected something a little much better but there are some good things to find in Paul.<br />
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Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are Graeme and Clive, two very eccentric fans of sci-fi and comic con. They finally have a chance to visit comic con and they have one hell of time there. They rent a RV and they decide to visit all the famous locations where UFO’s has been supposedly witnessed. They have a map and each little dot has been marked across the country. While at the same time trying to find a ending for their book they have together. One day they witness a accident and they literally find an alien. Who is strangely voiced like Seth Rogen and they decide to help him. <br />
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Now the movie has some problems, I have not seen Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead but the first half was kind of a lame. It wasn’t that funny as it should be, come on it’s comic con I’m pretty sure they could have made better jokes. Seth Rogen actually makes the film better when he enters. However then that’s another problem. He sounds like Seth Rogen, talks like Seth Rogen, and cracks jokes like Seth Rogen. Then why don’t you just put Seth Rogen in the film. It kills the illusion of him playing a character that is suppose to be mystifying or weird. Before he talk that way he was first an alien and then learned the language.<br />
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Then that is another problem, it never explains why he talks like that or why he acts that way. It really doesn’t make sense, but at the same time there are parts that will make you laugh. There is some good material here to be found but I just feel like there were not enough decisions for the material. I felt like they wanted to do another bromance film but with the twist that one of them is an alien. They even half the whole entire Judd Apatow crew here. We just needed Paul Rudd, Jason Segeal, James Franco, Danny Mcbride just to pop out of nowhere. <br />
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Paul was interesting but nothing really special I expected more out of Gregg Mottola his credits include Superbad, Adventurland. Great coming of age movies but what the hell was Paul. <br />
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2.5/4 <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-6842343929966957412011-08-28T08:20:00.002+01:002011-08-28T19:29:07.862+01:00Quick Rentals - The Big Lebowski, City of God, American History X<b>The Big Lebowski (1998) </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d8/The.Big.Lebowski.1998.Screenshot.2.jpg/220px-The.Big.Lebowski.1998.Screenshot.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d8/The.Big.Lebowski.1998.Screenshot.2.jpg/220px-The.Big.Lebowski.1998.Screenshot.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've seen Jesus so many times, but I didn't know he smelt like pot</td></tr>
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Having a cast reunion of a certain movie is rare because often two or more actors from the same movie will be in another movie twice, three times or more. But recently the cast of <i>The Big Lebowski </i>did that and it urged me to see that movie given that it was a celebrity favourite (Seth Rogen had shared his admiration for this movie in an interview) and a cult favourite.<br />
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Jeff Bridges plays Jeff Lebowski, an unemployed slacker who enjoys bowling with Walt (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi), a joint and White Russians and prefers to be referred 'the Dude'. However he is mistaken for another Jeff Lebowski and they are at both ends at the spectrum because he is more wealthy, has a lavish house and has accomplished everything and Lebowski berates him for not having a job. The Dude is mistaken for that Lebowski since he owes them debt to Jackie Treehorn but who's actually owing them is the other Lebowski's trophy wife (Tara Reid). So when she's presumed kidnapped, Lebowski asks the Dude to hand in a million dollars ransom to the kidnappers, but he doesn't not only because he is so lazy to do so, but because Walt assumed that she faked the kidnapping herself to gain the ransom and the fact that Lebowski's daughter (Julianne Moore) suggested that she went off making something dirty for a living.<br />
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Now I'm not a huge fan of the Coen brothers (I still haven't seen Fargo and I find No Country for Old Men and True Grit so overrated) but this is the perhaps the best I've seen from them. It's hilarious to see Jeff Bridges play a likeable person who haven't done anything in his life and who doesn't play too much on his accent. The majority of The Dude's situations are hilarious and almost all of it is an imitation of art both realist and surreal regarding most of the dream sequences. Also funny is John Goodman as the Dude's best friend who must be suffering from PTS after serving in Vietnam that is causing his short temper. BTW Julianne Moore spends half of the movie naked.<br />
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The reason why the Big Lebowski is so funny is simply because it follows oldest rules in the book of what a funny comedy should be, however it goes to the far opposite with the script itself. Every scene remains consistent but ultimately some just entered into a surge of surrealism. It's a case of mistaken identity but is dealt in an nihilistic manner. This is black comedy at its best and the Coens are good at it. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><b>A- (8.7)</b></span><br />
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<b>City of God (2002) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">(Spoiler_Alerts)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIZaBDaMhpxAdd6bF4WOyzQhUfAY9Lk8p84VUevTI1nEWkD9zKRw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIZaBDaMhpxAdd6bF4WOyzQhUfAY9Lk8p84VUevTI1nEWkD9zKRw" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Execution is so painless.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Any style of film that is so stylish is perhaps suited for me when it can also drywetch the mind out of me. <i>Fight Club, A Clockwork Orange</i> and <i>Sin City</i> are some of my favourite movies that can become malevolent with a huge meaning from its violence. And now we have City of God, a Brazillian film with so much violence it was disturbingly confronting.<br />
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City of God is the slums of Rio De Janiero, in where crime and poverty is common and not much have been done to combat it. Rocket and Lil'Dice are two boys living in the City and witness the Tender Trio robbing motels and gas trucks. Both boys decide to take on different paths. Rocket shies away from crime by turning into a photographer while Lil Dice changes to Lil Ze in where he becomes the biggest crime boss and drug dealer of the City and turns progressively sadistic and paranoid with his power.<br />
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<i>City of God </i>reminds me so much of Martin Scorsese's <i>Goodfellas</i>. In fact it's almost a homage of many of Scorsese's films up to <i>Gangs of New York </i>before <i>City of God's </i>release. The fast paced editing, the cold cinematography, it's kinetic soundtrack, Rocket's narration and much of Fernando Meceille's dynamic direction hands the oldest tricks in Scorsese's book. City of God gives an indepth character study of a crime lord turned psychopath. Lil Ze and Joe Pesci's Tommy DeVito is easily comparable and both this and <i>Goodfellas </i>share the same story structure however <i>City of God </i>goes into so many flashbacks.<br />
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The cast here are natural especially the guys who played Rocket and Lil'Ze (who I think is channeling Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci). To depict the brutal and nihilistic violence of gang crime anywhere to any age, the movie goes into high extremes with the violence where the film depicts kids holding all kinds of guns (we're talking 9 to 10 year olds) and where human life has to be wasted, I've find disturbing but at the same time it has a sense of anarchic realism (case in point - a young Lil-Ze shoots almost everyone at a motel then laughs like a maniac).<br />
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Then again, this is a film that knows what it is doing by executing flair with stylish shots and rarely stops telling the story. It inspired <i>Slumdog Millionaire </i>in a way that's made to be visually exhilirating that sticks up the point of crime and poverty together and yet restrains much of its heart. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><b>A (9.6)</b></span><br />
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<b>American History X (1998)</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoke on the water</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><br />
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Edward Norton plays Derek Vinyard a racist who used to lead a white supremist movement before being sent to prison for three years of a third degree murder of an African American. His past and flashbacks are told in black and white where his racist views tears apart his family following the murder of his father by a black drug dealer yet it inspires his brother Danny (Edward Furlong) to come along. Following his release from prison, Derek radically changed his ways and becomes shunned by the movement. Derek also try to prevent his brother not to end up like him.<br />
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<i>American History X </i>brutally depicts the contemporary racism occuring in America and director Tony Kaye does that well. It's an honest concept of the strong and opportunistic hatred added with racial conflict and what it brings in mind is <i>A Clockwork Orange </i>another movie that is about opportunism and morality and how the message of becoming a reformist doesn't do you any good. What's also great is the swift paced dialogue David McKinna provides.<br />
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The film would've work alone with Edward Norton's powerful performance as Derek who at the end of the film shows he's ashamed of his past. Edward Furlong's character however doesn't go into any depth at all and felt really one dimensional and so many of the characters both good and bad involved. It's easy to conclude that <i>American History X </i>is tragic as you reach the end of the film but at its best it's a gripping and yet unforgettable character study of a person who rebels against society. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><b>B+ (8.4)</b></span>Neutral3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07265287755535444101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-33244691768407250072011-08-28T04:01:00.001+01:002011-08-28T04:01:37.850+01:00The Good, the Bad and the Ugly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> **** out of ****<br />
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“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is a classic tale of violence, greed, and deception; told through the eyes of director-co-writer Sergio Leone and through the performances of Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach. What a spectacular film it is. It wasn’t well-received, particularly at its time, but it has since gone on to be regarded as a classic. Now, thanks to the film, Spaghetti Westerns are respected yet again; and that is how things shall stay for some time now. But as far as those films go, I’d have to say that this is the best I’ve seen. It’s a grand, sweeping epic built around spectacle, characters, story; all the key ingredients you need for a movie as long, visually stunning, and historically important as this one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0_b8LdjtCgJgjLw4BMJpJqctJVH3UvCN36nr5UIHdMYQs57ZqIrBtq344Y1lZG7L-h-iY5PvQxmVg8V4JlBhZL6ixE2sPYW9i05Dx0IPGJAaLDFliD_MM6l8sAyTlDBKSUkw6_16R9E/s400/good-bad-ugly-quad+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0_b8LdjtCgJgjLw4BMJpJqctJVH3UvCN36nr5UIHdMYQs57ZqIrBtq344Y1lZG7L-h-iY5PvQxmVg8V4JlBhZL6ixE2sPYW9i05Dx0IPGJAaLDFliD_MM6l8sAyTlDBKSUkw6_16R9E/s400/good-bad-ugly-quad+poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <a href="http://reviewsfrombeyondthelabyrinth.blogspot.com/2011/08/good-bad-and-ugly.html">Full review here.</a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-81533366741957135772011-08-22T22:53:00.000+01:002011-08-22T22:53:18.420+01:00M (1931) Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqcTu0vnhwvFbyq3ezPxrF0YYY1tlgj_Z7aOFgjr0ykDd4QA0S1fTM0Y60AAa-Hcfs3DCN-vOek3RaqnmmuirJJZ5VnyBAU9MnWxDNb-Zm3fmmCf8TnoN7I0kADrY7hC73oYTwEzh56w/s1600/m2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqcTu0vnhwvFbyq3ezPxrF0YYY1tlgj_Z7aOFgjr0ykDd4QA0S1fTM0Y60AAa-Hcfs3DCN-vOek3RaqnmmuirJJZ5VnyBAU9MnWxDNb-Zm3fmmCf8TnoN7I0kADrY7hC73oYTwEzh56w/s320/m2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Directed by: Fritz Lang</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Genre: Art House, Mystery & Suspense</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Runtime: 110 Minutes</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The thing that makes “M” so great is the official film noir quality it has and its thrilling plot. “Fritz Lang” was one of Germany’s best directors and was an immensely important one too. “M” is certainly one of his best as is “Metropolis”. Featuring a young <b>Peter Lorre</b>, who was surprisingly distinguished in his role in the film, the story is drenched in great suspense. This is one of Lang’s final films made in Germany as he emigrated in 1933 (I assume because of the Nazis) and “M” remains one of his most important films. This is one of Lang’s greatest works and is everything you could ask for in film noir.</span></span></span></div><br />
<a href="http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/m-1931.html">http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/m-1931.html</a>Tom_Film_Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203244525938129170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-77924713110667632262011-08-21T10:21:00.000+01:002011-08-21T10:21:10.656+01:00COWBOYS & ALIENS (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dojfBefHVVQ/TlDK-ulBWQI/AAAAAAAACKM/97O2rpcsCL4/s1600/Cowboys%2526Aliens_poster%255B3%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dojfBefHVVQ/TlDK-ulBWQI/AAAAAAAACKM/97O2rpcsCL4/s320/Cowboys%2526Aliens_poster%255B3%255D" width="216px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Director: <span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0269463/">Jon Favreau</a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Running time: 118 mins (approx)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Certification (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region></place>): 12A</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Genre: Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">UK Release date: 17<sup>th</sup> August 2011</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Watched at the cinema Saturday 20<sup>th</sup> August 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I must admit I was intrigued by this one when I first heard about it almost a year ago. In recent weeks I have seen the trailer several times and this has only intensified my interest. Despite a few poor reviews from across the pond I was still determined to make my own mind up (as I do with most things) and so when it came up at my local cinema I was there. While it’s neither the greatest Western ever made, nor the greatest Sci-Fi film ever made, I still found it very entertaining, exciting and just about everything you’d want to fill a damp Saturday afternoon. I will give you my thoughts after this brief summary.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-cowboys-aliens-2011.html"><span style="color: purple;">Full Review Here</span></a></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421082530776501691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-81117616856075270352011-08-20T15:07:00.000+01:002011-08-20T15:07:39.303+01:00Film Review: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (1975)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WhdkbAktwcQ/Tk-7tP-JW7I/AAAAAAAACJc/kZMpwjiomcw/s1600/OneFlewOvertheCuckoo%2527sNest_poster%255B3%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WhdkbAktwcQ/Tk-7tP-JW7I/AAAAAAAACJc/kZMpwjiomcw/s320/OneFlewOvertheCuckoo%2527sNest_poster%255B3%255D" width="241px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Director: </span><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0001232/"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Milos Forman</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">R</span>unning time: 133 mins (approx)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Certification (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region></place>): 18</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Genre: Drama</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">USA Release date: 19<sup>th</sup> November 1975</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Watched on Sky+ Saturday 20<sup>th</sup> August 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Based on a novel by <span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0450181/"><span style="color: purple;">Ken Kesey</span></a></span>, and later a play by <span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0913670/"><span style="color: purple;">Dale Wasserman</span></a></span>, this film won 5 Oscars including; Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. So it looks like it’s a ‘must see’, which, to a large extent, it is. I did find, though, that as a translation of a novel/stage play to the big screen it did suffer from being just a little too, well, theatrical (for want of a better word). I don’t want to detract from some truly excellent performances, but, as a whole, I did come away very slightly disappointed. As usual, my thoughts after this brief summary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-one-flew-over-cuckoos-nest.html"><span style="color: purple;">Full Review Here</span></a></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421082530776501691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-32055058169160900642011-08-20T09:17:00.000+01:002011-08-20T09:17:24.908+01:00OFFICE SPACE (1999)<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQOpDsSx_n4/Tk9p7nHnLbI/AAAAAAAACIs/Mn3LRMnO8Lw/s1600/OfficeSpace_poster%255B3%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQOpDsSx_n4/Tk9p7nHnLbI/AAAAAAAACIs/Mn3LRMnO8Lw/s320/OfficeSpace_poster%255B3%255D" width="217px" /></a><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Writer/Director: </span><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0431918/"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Mike Judge</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">R</span>unning time: 89 mins (approx)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Certification (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region></place>): 15</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Genre: Comedy/Crime</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">UK Release date: 19<sup>th</sup> April 1999</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Watched on Sky+ Friday 19<sup>th</sup> August 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This film came up in a conversation about </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0000098/">Jennifer Aniston</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">, and a claim that she never made a good comedy. Well, this one was recommended to me and, I can concede that, by today’s standards, this is a good comedy. However, Jennifer Aniston does not play one of the leading roles in it. Her performance is good, but I’ll argue that she isn’t the star… although her name does come up second in the cast list. But I digress, it’s a film about office life, and how one individual, with the help of his friends, deals with it. Here’s a brief summary before I give you my thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-office-space-1999.html"><span style="color: purple;">Full Review Here</span></a></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421082530776501691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-71213856374322816302011-08-18T22:35:00.002+01:002011-08-18T22:35:45.746+01:00Love the 80’s and maybe that’s why I took it easy on the film.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodgo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Take-Me-Home-Tonight-3-e1294389813446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.hollywoodgo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Take-Me-Home-Tonight-3-e1294389813446.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Take Me Home Tonight is a collection of 80’s clichés and that is one my personnel guilty pleasures. Love the 80’s and maybe that’s why I took it easy on the film.<a name='more'></a><br />
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First of all Take Me Home Tonight is a tribute for the rated R comedies of the 80’s. There are numerous references towards 80’s movies and culture and including a banging soundtrack. The plot consists of Matt Frankiln (Topher Grace) a MIT grad who still works at a video rental store. One day a very beautiful girl from his high school comes to the store and he’s so embarrassed he hides the fact that he works there. He lies to her by saying that he works for Goldman and Sachs. There are going to the same party and they plan to meet there. The movie has all the required stuff for a 80’s movie. The bumbling sidekick, the sister who gives out a eye opening speech, and the beautiful girl that finds herself. Oh as well as getting caught by a parent at some point in the movie. In a magical way everything gets solved at the end. <br />
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The leads are great, the soundtrack is awesome for any 80’s fan. It has a overall sweetness about it. You’re pissed at it’s flaws but you can’t seem to get mad at it. There are times when the movie gets pretty predictable. If you saw every single famous 80’s teen movie then you probably seen this one. I think the problem with the film is it’s rating. The movie is very rated R. If it was lighter it probably would have been much better. John Hughes directed the best teen films in the 80’s and there were PG-13 or a light R. Those films were so much better then the hard R teen comedies. The film is pretty good the first half and it kind of shoots itself in the foot in the second half. Then when the final act comes you can admit you fell in love with a silly movie.<br />
<br />
If you have that nostalgia for everything 80’s then this is your film, but why don’t you watch Easy A a better film that invokes John Hughes essence better.<br />
<br />
2.5/5 <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-26330203063367132232011-08-15T22:55:00.000+01:002011-08-15T22:55:08.644+01:00EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (2010)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Director: </span><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm2612991/"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Banksy</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">R</span>unning time: 87 mins (approx)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Certification (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region></place>): 15</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Genre: Documentary</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">UK Release date: 5<sup>th</sup> March 2010</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Watched on Sky+ Monday 15<sup>th</sup> August 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This film by street artist </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm2612991/">Banksy</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> tells the story of </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm3836285/">Thierry Guetta</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">. As a young man Thierry would film anything, it was an obsession with him. He is a Frenchman who lives in <city w:st="on">L.A.</city> and one day, on a visit to <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">France</country-region></place>, his cousin is making some street art. This fascinates Thierry and he begins to follow all kinds of street artists around <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">L.A.</city></place>, Paris, anywhere he can find them, cataloguing their work and even helping out from time to time. And as he gets more and more into it, he becomes aware of an artist called Banksy, but Banksy is very elusive. Eventually they meet and Banksy lets Thierry film him at work, something those close to him are not too happy about. He is supposed to be making a documentary about street art, but, if the truth be known, he’s just filming… There is more to tell, but I don’t want to give too much away here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-exit-through-gift-shop-2010.html"><span style="color: purple;">Full Review Here</span></a></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421082530776501691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-78205240487027006342011-08-15T04:46:00.002+01:002011-08-15T04:46:57.212+01:00There is no reason to make nasty sex gags to make people laugh.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.daemonsmovies.com/mov/up/2011/02/hall-pass-movie-photo-16-550x366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://s3.daemonsmovies.com/mov/up/2011/02/hall-pass-movie-photo-16-550x366.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Hall Pass is the new directorial effort from The Farrelly Brothers, the same directors who brought us There’s Something About Mary. Hall Pass doesn’t really match up with that better film.<br />
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Owen Wilson plays Rick Millis a family man who works spend time with his kids and is having some problems with his wife. His friend Fred played by Jason Sudeikis is in the same boat, worse every time he doesn’t get any sex with his wife he goes to masturbate outside in the car. One day Rick gets his wife so upset that she grants him a hall pass, a week with no restrictions. Meaning that he can cheat with no problem, Fred gets one again and they both go through one hell of a week.<br />
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Well one good thing going for Hall Pass is that Sudeikis and Wilson are actually pretty good together. We can believe that there friends. There is a lot manic zeal going on the film. Reader, there are parts in the film that made me laugh out loud and it will probably make you laugh. The supporting actors as well brings some cool stuff to the table. There is one scene where they ingest a certain drug on a golf course and it’s pretty funny. What the movie fails on its that the majority of the jokes falls flat. There is big laughs but it’s not enough to really carry the movie. So the questions arises that why the movie was even made. The Farrelly Brothers could have made a better script and better film when the time is right. The film can get kind of a crude. There is no reason to make nasty sex gags to make people laugh. <br />
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It has been four years since The Heartbreak Kid that the Farrelly Brothers has made a film. Hall Pass was not a great return to form for them. <br />
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2/5 <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-30244829829048768192011-08-15T03:20:00.000+01:002011-08-15T03:20:33.462+01:00Sadly it just follows the same route towards mediocre PG-13 horror films.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE1fRrxtmanO82aQqBO6taUhNkVX4q9aERKnEfmEKKNE-B_WlmHlkyzydcEvRTR1SMQCu7cYhLSiOS0vFMIXM6QhDIryOndGtII8MqpLvLJPZyiNSLqS4H4uGIZe1AbuXdTFIETTJzRQ/s1600/The+Rite+Movie+%252820%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE1fRrxtmanO82aQqBO6taUhNkVX4q9aERKnEfmEKKNE-B_WlmHlkyzydcEvRTR1SMQCu7cYhLSiOS0vFMIXM6QhDIryOndGtII8MqpLvLJPZyiNSLqS4H4uGIZe1AbuXdTFIETTJzRQ/s320/The+Rite+Movie+%252820%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The Rite tries to bring up the topic of exorcism is it real or just a hoax. The film tries to show that and at the same time talk about the faith of a man. Sadly it just follows the same route towards mediocre PG-13 horror films. <br />
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The film follows Michael Kovak played by Colin O’Donoghue a young man who works at a funeral home with his father played by Rugter Hauer. To escape from his home he tries priesthood but tries to quit. After a incident where it kind of tests his faith. A priest offers to try out a course that teaches how to do exorcisms. He takes the offer and heads to Italy. When he gets there he expresses doubt about the existence of devils and actual possession. The instructor sends him to Father Lucas played by Anthony Hopkins who has a lot of experience with exorcisms. That’s when Kovak starts really wondering what is real and what is not. <br />
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The film has a lot faults and it’s disappointing because the film kind of goes in the right track. The film had me in certain spots. Where the film shines is that it takes it’s subject very serious. There are very educated talks about religion and medical science. In the film people actually sit down and talk while now a days you don’t see that much. However the film shoots it’s self in the foot. The screenplay has no excitement and at times poorly written. There is also no scares a film about exorcisms and no actual scares. There is a sense of creepiness, but it’s pretty much what you get. As well as we all know that every exorcism movies has to beat the one that is the queen of them all, The Exorcist The cinematography though is amazing and it looks great. Kudos to Ben Davis the cinematographer. <br />
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The best thing about the film is of course is Anthony Hopkins, you give that man a teddy bear and he can make it scary. He brings a wise and man of experience in Father Lucas and when the latter parts of the movie comes he’s very impressive. While we’re talking about acting another thing that bogs down this movie is Colin O’Donoghue’s performance. His weak performance doesn’t really help you get through the movie. It’s a shame because the film was directed by Mikael Hafstrom the same who directed 1408 a much better horror movie then The Rite.<br />
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The Rite is well made and Hopkins’s is always great to watch, but it can help The Rite head to just another failed PG-13 horror pile.<br />
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2.5/5 <br />
My Official Site <br />
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http://miguelsreviews.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/8080100-the-rite-2011Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-37886438032910055792011-08-15T01:49:00.002+01:002011-08-15T01:49:44.611+01:00Top 10 Movies of the Year - 1992<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct0CmCHqQKLNDKg4udbfS-3ycoKkwKZDADOi9rAQDHLjtCtczHmCMQ55lPPX8ndXS91N4fpb0dP2hFrr7IoSMgp-bnF11vuIl-oLiTMShHA-q3VKVX-PR2HZMuwSqvW8x20V_3dEN4aU/s1600/1992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="120" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct0CmCHqQKLNDKg4udbfS-3ycoKkwKZDADOi9rAQDHLjtCtczHmCMQ55lPPX8ndXS91N4fpb0dP2hFrr7IoSMgp-bnF11vuIl-oLiTMShHA-q3VKVX-PR2HZMuwSqvW8x20V_3dEN4aU/s320/1992.jpg" /></a></div><br />
1992 - Part 3 of the best 21-part list series you'll ever find. Money back guaranteed. (Proof of purchase required)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptpo97kVcsVRuQoKtQwoWdtlnCUuxEPn4T4hJrUyb7PUOiKhWDigDAr4yTPjk6mzQXo8xns915ll7oU3PETQFcuCpuQCflu71GlZz2VdQnBfW3e-QglDKx1F6T9hkcOe1HTKMud461gU/s1600/thecryinggame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptpo97kVcsVRuQoKtQwoWdtlnCUuxEPn4T4hJrUyb7PUOiKhWDigDAr4yTPjk6mzQXo8xns915ll7oU3PETQFcuCpuQCflu71GlZz2VdQnBfW3e-QglDKx1F6T9hkcOe1HTKMud461gU/s200/thecryinggame.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#10 - The Crying Game</b></p><p>Directed by: Neil Jordan</p><p>Though the second half doesn't quite live up to the promise laid in place by the first half, <i>The Crying Game</i> is still a one-of-a-kind drama with some great moments, and a shocking twist.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2mIw_z6eKxEOQMiLvHhsmMwRQ7-8-2dXrnmLsN3jIjAqFEcl00XAZLdnwj6sTHfyWul-EpGLLaFVMm-xCd5j0U3slXUz1iEIq8gHkl4dYEbf6l7uLsMVfXkxKA0j1PN6QLgll6V23x8/s1600/malcolmx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2mIw_z6eKxEOQMiLvHhsmMwRQ7-8-2dXrnmLsN3jIjAqFEcl00XAZLdnwj6sTHfyWul-EpGLLaFVMm-xCd5j0U3slXUz1iEIq8gHkl4dYEbf6l7uLsMVfXkxKA0j1PN6QLgll6V23x8/s200/malcolmx.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#9 - Malcolm X</b></p><p>Directed by: Spike Lee</p><p>Featuring Denzel Washington's strongest performance, <i>Malcolm X</i> is a stylistic bio, that manages to succeed despite it's overlong runtime.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX05kor8QlTt5_8LBq-0st_aAa4C2YJdggqiNJeTZlydi-Kt5bLpZLSwWFj6yXgzEyo-gRtrSbKUD8l0D9_JwGFKmpVHGbg7JvOzFmnpyv1kD54qqBQPC8CiIsYJbfjRSSPZI8g974MfI/s1600/mycousinvinny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX05kor8QlTt5_8LBq-0st_aAa4C2YJdggqiNJeTZlydi-Kt5bLpZLSwWFj6yXgzEyo-gRtrSbKUD8l0D9_JwGFKmpVHGbg7JvOzFmnpyv1kD54qqBQPC8CiIsYJbfjRSSPZI8g974MfI/s200/mycousinvinny.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#8 - My Cousin Vinny</b></p><p>Directed by: Jonathan Lynn</p><p>Joe Pesci, in one of his most entertaining performances, is supported well by a great cast of characters in this hilarious, culture-shock courtroom comedy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Un4IiAXXov2kzfmXp0wE8wsa31VrSD8mWKaNWvApJEpTvr69AMAmLXUi314dvos0Pt9sfRaoKWB2IGRv_SihX9KSoAlKR8-iHs_1ZR7fpS6cYvhJSu6RzFESDiCETNAFM-bmFEwUmWg/s1600/theplayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Un4IiAXXov2kzfmXp0wE8wsa31VrSD8mWKaNWvApJEpTvr69AMAmLXUi314dvos0Pt9sfRaoKWB2IGRv_SihX9KSoAlKR8-iHs_1ZR7fpS6cYvhJSu6RzFESDiCETNAFM-bmFEwUmWg/s200/theplayer.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#7 - The Player</b></p><p>Directed by: Robert Altman</p><p>Another in a long line of enjoyable Altman ensemble pieces, <i>The Player</i> features a strong cast, great writing, and hilarious insight in Hollywood corruption.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisLsiTYEUYxUy28Ol28YSkqeer9CTFptN2AK1SqDDjW6vEZZCQ8-aNFnJpUSznkRp_zxB286fTyGoogtcoCPWceO8laEO9Gm7lFERkosmmWf4KiPsbHBojLCgZvzFE-PJQI4KFFgrRDw/s1600/unforgiven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisLsiTYEUYxUy28Ol28YSkqeer9CTFptN2AK1SqDDjW6vEZZCQ8-aNFnJpUSznkRp_zxB286fTyGoogtcoCPWceO8laEO9Gm7lFERkosmmWf4KiPsbHBojLCgZvzFE-PJQI4KFFgrRDw/s200/unforgiven.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#6 - Unforgiven</b></p><p>Directed by: Clint Eastwood</p><p>Featuring some of the best performances of Eastwood, Hackman, and Freeman's careers, <i>Unforgiven</i> feels like a sequel to some of Eastwood's older westerns.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOePVj4_ZxMkAVrn8_mVTHIqkMT1Boz6mJv8frOnwPrKAuEMx4TW7MNFBWMrnYcl84awAy8WtA3NqaVM8l1ybsUDrIePS-aKrZZ0RWmAX2YuasYS6eLUUarm_pxHWvSKObgqynXlW7EY/s1600/thelastofthemohicans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOePVj4_ZxMkAVrn8_mVTHIqkMT1Boz6mJv8frOnwPrKAuEMx4TW7MNFBWMrnYcl84awAy8WtA3NqaVM8l1ybsUDrIePS-aKrZZ0RWmAX2YuasYS6eLUUarm_pxHWvSKObgqynXlW7EY/s200/thelastofthemohicans.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#5 - The Last Of The Mohicans</b></p><p>Directed by: Michael Mann</p><p>Though Daniel Day-Lewis delivers an uncharacteristically dull performance, Michael Mann's adaptation of <i>The Last Of The Mohicans</i> is a sweeping epic with beautiful music and wonderful cinematography.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ste9VVzfrcXplSxHDGHzbpo64vlo4yI5eMJnj2cbp0UA2KrskhT2-sKObG6lWNJdVNLGTA_De0I0iISkEdn0gZEvZLq-c4f-Gd4WD5lgYsV0o9k6ZU9fWYtdn3r4wZWz9BVO7Gf99EY/s1600/scentofawoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ste9VVzfrcXplSxHDGHzbpo64vlo4yI5eMJnj2cbp0UA2KrskhT2-sKObG6lWNJdVNLGTA_De0I0iISkEdn0gZEvZLq-c4f-Gd4WD5lgYsV0o9k6ZU9fWYtdn3r4wZWz9BVO7Gf99EY/s200/scentofawoman.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#4 - Scent Of A Woman</b></p><p>Directed by: Martin Brest</p><p>This enjoyable, endearing drama features one of Pacino's strongest performances. Not entirely drama, <i>Scent Of A Woman</i> manages to go from comic to tragic without skipping a beat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVWSVGQzt3esX2Js5GcPxBHwJ8sdb8Id_nGRSeVTUXU6XCBrcrXZyWneCRo-Hd2OUCWzu-Q9Cn39WaNAA3-TglL0xT_q5lK1xEW849kwuadO386IjVy3lkvQyYp0lTNKigu4vFgmRbu8/s1600/reservoirdogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVWSVGQzt3esX2Js5GcPxBHwJ8sdb8Id_nGRSeVTUXU6XCBrcrXZyWneCRo-Hd2OUCWzu-Q9Cn39WaNAA3-TglL0xT_q5lK1xEW849kwuadO386IjVy3lkvQyYp0lTNKigu4vFgmRbu8/s200/reservoirdogs.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#3 - Reservoir Dogs</b></p><p>Directed by: Quentin Tarantino</p><p>Taratino's directorial debut, <i>Reservoir Dogs</i> is an intense, bloody crime drama with a great script and perfect casting. Wonderfully sets the tone for Tarantino's career.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqczRg04jOyxIlreGjvQAa7Hq0kqPtWf2GSquB2aGzBLRjRd_0_oGdH_I8EkG2NQpp5gv9IQVuob-8lw8OmVSixKyS7nZDb8dgNbTWm-7LUQ4hX4nVUDo6lHXE1GRhvF9xvko9YIZsfo/s1600/afewgoodmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqczRg04jOyxIlreGjvQAa7Hq0kqPtWf2GSquB2aGzBLRjRd_0_oGdH_I8EkG2NQpp5gv9IQVuob-8lw8OmVSixKyS7nZDb8dgNbTWm-7LUQ4hX4nVUDo6lHXE1GRhvF9xvko9YIZsfo/s200/afewgoodmen.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#2 - A Few Good Men</b></p><p>Directed by: Rob Reiner</p><p>One of the best courtroom dramas ever made, <i>A Few Good Men</i> has an awesome script (supplied by Aaron Sorkin) and great performances from Cruise and a very small, powerful role by Nicholson.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0IvgKFoARIVPNv3ZAsnpQZuKUwlzzU9cOYNLFBk_W4PXaVQRpOM6kjFSFvS1_sAtI0g-OzJ8aJkm1rIKAbNvMJZDN0hYsGqgKdP_Qdwag9SaMyJRQjnG7jwI92U1oruem8OKvim6w0s/s1600/glengarryglenross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0IvgKFoARIVPNv3ZAsnpQZuKUwlzzU9cOYNLFBk_W4PXaVQRpOM6kjFSFvS1_sAtI0g-OzJ8aJkm1rIKAbNvMJZDN0hYsGqgKdP_Qdwag9SaMyJRQjnG7jwI92U1oruem8OKvim6w0s/s200/glengarryglenross.jpg" /></a></div><p><b>#1 - Glengarry Glen Ross</b></p><p>Directed by: James Foley</p><p>It's almost impossible to find a better principal cast in a movie, and unlike other movies with this kind of acting strength, <i>Glengarry Glen Ross</i> doesn't squander it. Great performances and an impeccable script. Hard to beat.<br />
</p>Jeff SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18061980318630943559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-28582178751201177232011-08-15T01:23:00.002+01:002011-08-15T11:18:22.256+01:00Atonement (2007)<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBaW9EkQQ6f2xw9k72rp0jAu7qUF-iUM5KEn2cKEjOwXVYyTZzmcKK4RCqIKbtkj-2idZEbwY9dDOnVXaHqwKcGzztfhZ-z7HJxbIIHBMoCTrVhZks0mHeNKha-p5dDIqmbTiKR1pGkY/s1600/atonement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBaW9EkQQ6f2xw9k72rp0jAu7qUF-iUM5KEn2cKEjOwXVYyTZzmcKK4RCqIKbtkj-2idZEbwY9dDOnVXaHqwKcGzztfhZ-z7HJxbIIHBMoCTrVhZks0mHeNKha-p5dDIqmbTiKR1pGkY/s400/atonement.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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Let yourself be sucked in by this storytelling achievement, even if it does break your heart because it sure did break mine. Love stories don't come this deep or engrossing, what this is here is something to treasure. A perfectly cast film that brings three characters to the screen that will live on forever. With a true passion for the material Joe Wright brings Ian McEwan's timeless novel to the big-screen, and now even people too lazy to read will be able to experience this journey through time, war, and love.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://adammoodymovieblog.blogspot.com/">Full Review Here</a>AdamMoodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080331339106480045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-33836109847199251562011-08-15T01:16:00.003+01:002011-08-15T11:18:35.519+01:00Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzEWHm80ABd-oZ-Cw7DO2pTqc5PVvXG1lBNpm07thgFCAbh0CYad9c0KyspDToI6tuPikDhVOBAkk1tbY-kzdnxR5AK3pqDn7QE2NqhiyF2YLmY-HywCHjemFabE5sDRVkcaW646vMbw/s1600/hobo_with_a_shotgun_poster1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzEWHm80ABd-oZ-Cw7DO2pTqc5PVvXG1lBNpm07thgFCAbh0CYad9c0KyspDToI6tuPikDhVOBAkk1tbY-kzdnxR5AK3pqDn7QE2NqhiyF2YLmY-HywCHjemFabE5sDRVkcaW646vMbw/s400/hobo_with_a_shotgun_poster1.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>If you have an open mind Hobo with a Shotgun can be an interesting experience, some unique people may even find its no-holds-barred attack on taste and society entertaining. Jason Eisener does a brilliant job at creating the authentic cheap-looking feel to this film, with Rutger Hauer's leading performance being more deep than this film would ever want to be. Ultimately it is the extreme violence that makes these types of films such common destinations for cult followings. There are multiple times that its distastefulness gets the upper hand, but violence that is some outgoing and knows how to have fun with itself is just so addicting. Daring, remorseless filmmaking that turns into, slightly organized, chaos.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://adammoodymovieblog.blogspot.com/">Full Review Here</a>AdamMoodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080331339106480045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-43952356512371257982011-08-14T19:38:00.002+01:002011-08-15T11:18:52.963+01:00Lord Naseby's review of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (with deepest apologies to Edgar Allen Poe)Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, <br />
Over many a quaint and curious movie of forgotten lore, <br />
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, <br />
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my dorm room door. <br />
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my dorm room door - <br />
Only this, and nothing more.' <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, <br />
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. <br />
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow <br />
From my movies surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Terminator - <br />
For the rare and Indestructible machine whom James Cameron named the Terminator - <br />
Tarnished here for evermore. <br />
<br />
<br />
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain <br />
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; <br />
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating <br />
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my dorm room door - <br />
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my dorm room door; - <br />
This it is, and nothing more,' <br />
<br />
<br />
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, <br />
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; <br />
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, <br />
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my dorm room door, <br />
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; - <br />
Darkness there, and nothing more. <br />
<br />
<br />
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, <br />
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; <br />
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, <br />
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Terminator!' <br />
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Terminator!' <br />
Merely this and nothing more. <br />
<br />
<br />
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, <br />
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. <br />
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice; <br />
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore - <br />
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; - <br />
'Tis the wind and nothing more!' <br />
<br />
<br />
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, <br />
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. <br />
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; <br />
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my dorm room door - <br />
Perched upon a bust of Hitchcock just above my dorm room door - <br />
Perched, and sat, and nothing more. <br />
<br />
<br />
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, <br />
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, <br />
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven. <br />
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - <br />
Tell me why did they make this horrible Terminator?!' <br />
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' <br />
<br />
<br />
Much I marveled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, <br />
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; <br />
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being <br />
should ever see this horrible Terminator - <br />
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door, <br />
With such name as `Nevermore.' <br />
<br />
<br />
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only, <br />
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. <br />
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered - <br />
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have seen this movie - <br />
On the morrow its existence will be proven a bad dream.' <br />
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.' <br />
<br />
<br />
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, <br />
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store, <br />
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster <br />
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore - <br />
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore <br />
Of "Never-nevermore."' <br />
<br />
<br />
But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, <br />
Straight I wheeled a bean bag chair in front of bird and bust and door; <br />
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking <br />
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore - <br />
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore <br />
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.' <br />
<br />
<br />
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing <br />
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; <br />
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining <br />
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, <br />
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, <br />
She shall press, ah, nevermore! <br />
<br />
<br />
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer <br />
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. <br />
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee <br />
Respite - respite and nepenthe from memories of The third Terminator! <br />
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this bad Terminator!' <br />
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' <br />
<br />
<br />
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! - <br />
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, <br />
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - <br />
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore - <br />
I know they make a fourth - tell me - tell me, I implore! WILL THEY STOP AT FOUR!?' <br />
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' <br />
<br />
<br />
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! <br />
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore - <br />
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, <br />
It shall forget a tainted movie the producers call The third Terminator? - <br />
Forget a bad and evil movie that taints its predecessors. Will I forget the third Terminator?' <br />
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' <br />
<br />
<br />
`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting - <br />
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! <br />
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! <br />
Leave my sadness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door! <br />
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!' <br />
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' <br />
<br />
<br />
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting <br />
On the pallid bust of Hitchcock just above my chamber door; <br />
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, <br />
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; <br />
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor <br />
Shall be lifted - nevermore! <br />
<br />
and they're making a fifth one. crap.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwIiW3l1_5CljF_ca9asbTPYMZm9TmKk2PjZbhCnSWbM8Bgzu2QeGFhl2KIAGZhsnrooB6Q1dTmR2tN2owsq2oVqvUPN2mxSSzZg24EBZGgzsng37jVm5ryjGjBFFstqC9ZRLmQcekZe0/s1600/Terminator3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwIiW3l1_5CljF_ca9asbTPYMZm9TmKk2PjZbhCnSWbM8Bgzu2QeGFhl2KIAGZhsnrooB6Q1dTmR2tN2owsq2oVqvUPN2mxSSzZg24EBZGgzsng37jVm5ryjGjBFFstqC9ZRLmQcekZe0/s320/Terminator3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor James Cameron. They're ruining The Terminator with 4 more sequels. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tommy Durbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12051317506448329837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-73158789064768688052011-08-14T14:37:00.002+01:002011-08-14T14:37:55.633+01:00THE LIVES OF OTHERS [DAS LEBEN DER ANDEREN] (2006)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Writer/Director: </span><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0003697/"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">R</span>unning time: 137 mins (approx)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Certification (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region></place>): 15</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Genre: Drama/Thriller</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">UK Release date: 13<sup>th</sup> April 2007</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Watched on Sky+ Sunday 14<sup>th</sup> August 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">I remember when this came out it got quite a lot of critical acclaim. Of course it never made it to a cinema near me and so when it came up in the TV listings it became a ‘must see’ for me. I’m really glad I saw it, it’s somewhat different to what I was expecting (in a good way). I know there are a few out there that are afraid of subtitles, so I should tell you that yes, it’s in German with subtitles. For me, this isn’t a problem, but with a long film (as this is), I find I sometimes have to take a break to rest the brain for a few minutes. I found it to be a really engaging drama that has some truly powerful scenes and some great performances. Here’s a brief summary before I give you my thoughts.</span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-lives-of-others-das-leben.html"><span style="color: purple;">Full Review Here</span></a></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421082530776501691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-47564199322679608492011-08-14T13:07:00.000+01:002011-08-14T13:07:23.272+01:00End of the Week Quickie Reviews 1#<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>This is something new I thought I'd do for films I have watched in the week, but have not written a full review. Seeing I watch a lot of films, I feel writing two reviews a day is crazy and I want to stay more unique with them. Therefore, to avoid commenting on the same things each time, and not to spend hours reviewing everyday, I will post this every Sunday with short reviews for films.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/end-of-week-quickie-reviews-1.html"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/end-of-week-quickie-reviews-1.html </span></span></a></span></span>Tom_Film_Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203244525938129170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-68322068687824828782011-08-14T09:52:00.002+01:002011-08-14T09:52:50.034+01:00RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Director: <span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm1012501/">Rupert Wyatt</a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Running time: 105 mins (approx)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Certification (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region></place>): 12A</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Genre: Action/Drama/Sci-Fi</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">UK Release date: 11<sup>th</sup> August 2011</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Watched at the cinema Saturday 13<sup>th</sup> August 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This must be some kind of record… It’s the third week in a row that my local cinema is showing something I want to see! It is a very rare thing, and something that should be savoured… long may it continue. But I digress, we’re here to talk about Apes. It is seldom these days that I find myself so totally engrossed in a film that time doesn’t matter. This was one of those very rare occasions. I got so involved in the story that people going in and out of the theatre (as they do) didn’t even bother me. I loved every minute of it and have no problem in recommending it to everyone. Here’s a brief summary before I give you my thoughts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-rise-of-planet-of-apes-2011.html"><span style="color: purple;">Full Review Here</span></a></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421082530776501691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-2420025746982530042011-08-13T16:50:00.000+01:002011-08-13T16:50:55.128+01:00Film Review: SIDEWAYS (2004)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Co-Writer/Director: </span><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0668247/"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Alexander Payne</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">R</span>unning time: 126 mins (approx)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Certification (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region></place>): 15</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">UK Release date: 28<sup>th</sup> January 2005</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Watched on Sky+ Saturday 13<sup>th</sup> August 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">As this is the 150<sup>th</sup> film I’ve seen this year I wanted to watch a film I enjoyed first time around, and what better, I thought, than the 2004 wine comedy ‘Sideways’. Well, it happened to have it on the Sky+ hard drive and it was due a watching anyway. I did enjoy this film quite a lot first time around, probably because I could identify with one of the characters. This time, maybe a little less, but I still found it a pretty enjoyable watch. Here’s a brief summary before I give you my thoughts on the matter.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Two guys, Miles and Jack, set of for a wine tasting week in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">California</state></place>. Jack is to be married the following week and it’s kind of a stag week with just the two of them (which I did find a little odd). Now Jack is an actor, he had worked in TV before, but now finds most of his work in commercials. Miles is an English teacher who has ambitions to become a novelist. On their first night they go to a local restaurant where they meet Maya, a waitress. Miles knows her from trips he had made to wine country in the past (he’s a bit of a wine buff). Jack notices that Maya is interested in Miles and tells him so. Miles is hesitant, but also intrigued. Jack has also made it clear that he wants to get laid before he get married, and the next day he uses all his charms on Stephanie, who works at a winery and also knows Maya. They all decide to get together for a meal and things are going well until Miles gets drunk and decides to phone his ex-wife. They all end up back at Stephanie’s place where Miles and Maya talk, but things do not progress at this stage. Jack, on the other hand, is having a wild time with Stephanie! As the days go by, Jack and Stephanie see more and more of each other, leaving Miles to his own devices. Eventually he gains the courage to see Maya again, but will it last? Will Jack get away with not telling Stephanie that he’s getting married? So many questions… Most of which I cannot answer here for fear of the Spoiler Police forcing me to drink Merlot! I guess you have to have seen the film to get that little in-joke.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A really well scripted film with a lot of dialogue, little of which is wasted. It’s a real character piece and there are some great characters to get your teeth into here. Performance-wise, I couldn’t fault any of the leading cast; </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0316079/">Paul Giamatti</a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> did a superb job as Miles, </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0002006/"><span style="color: purple;">Thomas Haden Church</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> was a tremendous foil for Giamatti as <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Jack</city>, <span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0000515/">Virginia Madsen</a></span> was great as Maya and <span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0644897/">Sandra Oh</a></span> did a fantastic job as Stephanie.</place></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Although neither of the leading men are particularly likeable, both are liars and one is a cheat, I did find myself feeling a little sympathy for Miles. He hadn’t made the best of what he had and was now in a situation where the lies were getting too much. Could he learn to be more honest? At the end of the day I did enjoy watching this film again, I guess my only criticism is that it is a little too long. What I did like very much though is the ending… No, I’m not going to tell, but it’s a worthy ending to an entertaining film… Recommended.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">My Score: 8.1/10.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">IMDb Score: 7.8/10</b> (based on 76,620 votes when this review was written).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Book Antiqua;">http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97/100</b> (based on 213 reviews counted when this review was written).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sideways/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Book Antiqua;">http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sideways/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">There are extra bits & pieces (photos, links, trailer...etc.) on my blog at: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-sideways-2004.html"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Book Antiqua;">http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-sideways-2004.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Enjoy!... :)</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421082530776501691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-76307551674817791992011-08-13T15:05:00.000+01:002011-08-13T15:05:00.871+01:00A lot of it doesn’t really make any kind of sense<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.disnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Vanessa-Hudgens-Sucker-Punch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.disnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Vanessa-Hudgens-Sucker-Punch1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
When the news of Sucker Punch started coming out and as well as the trailer. I was very excited it looked really cool and I was excited about Zack Synder’s first original work. Sadly it’s a major misfire.<br />
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The film explores different genres like fantasy, sci-fi, steam punk and you could even say women in prison movies. So your getting a really mixed bag in this deal. The film begins with a long musical intro, explaining Baby Doll played by Emily Browning loses her mom and her sister and her stepfather admits her into a mental asylum. There she meets other prisoners, females with lot’s of issues. With a very evil orderly played by Oscar Isaacs who torments the girls in the asylum. Then the movie starts going into these music filled sequences of intense action and violence GCI overload. There’s one scene that involves large Japanese samurai with machine guns. A lot of it doesn’t really make any kind of sense.<br />
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The film has a extensive cast of females all of them are very talented but it’s not really enough to save the film. Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung and Carla Gigino. I give it to the girls for doing these action scenes they pull it off with style. Everything looks great here visuals, the girls, the action, the music. What the movie bombs is in it’s lack of depth.<br />
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The screenplay is very mundane during the scenes with out action. There is not much background for these characters. There all hot woman put up against incredible odds, but if only we care about them more. They have conversations but of nothing really interesting, I admit I wanted them to shut up and get to the action scenes. If you seen enough of Synder’s films his action is very stylized we all saw 300. So you get that pretty much here. The action is well made and it looks great but it just feels like someone else is playing a video game and there not passing controller. They only put it down when the cut scenes come on. There is one scene that I quite enjoyed that involves three females and a lot of robots. <br />
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You give actors bad material well they very often shows their disgust through their acting and that what pretty much happens here. There are blank stares, awful delivered lines and it just feels like they really don’t care. How could they, Synder doesn’t give them a chance to really developed or have dialogue that’s worth saying. Synder actually just cares more about the way the film looks then to actually make characters and a plot to resonant on the screen. Two things that I really didn’t get in this film, Scott Glenn a very good actor who’s been in a dozen films is completely wasted here. He plays The Wise Man he just spits out instructions and is basically a walking fortune cookie. The other thing is why is Joe Hamm from Mad Men is here. Did he need money or something oh wait I know what it is *cough* *cough*…studio didn’t trust movie put someone that audiences knows and recognizes *cough*. <br />
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Synder says this film is about geek culture’s sexism and objectification of women. I just see as a attempt to get 16 year olds to a movie where it has hot girls, guns, samurai swords and dragons. All that sounds cool but Sucker Punch is not a good example of it.<br />
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2/5<br />
Official Site: <br />
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http://miguelsreviews.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/8063538-a-lot-of-this-doesn-t-really-make-any-senseUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-47750845354603720752011-08-13T13:03:00.001+01:002011-08-13T13:04:41.072+01:00Film Review: HIGH NOON (1952)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Director: </span><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0003593/"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Fred Zinnemann</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">R</span>unning time: 90 mins (approx)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Certification (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region></place>): U</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Genre: Drama/Western</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">USA Release date: 30<sup>th</sup> July 1952</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Watched on Sky+ Saturday 13<sup>th</sup> August 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I have seen this film a couple of times before, in my youth. Both times I didn’t rate it much, if I was going to watch a Western, I wanted lots of gunfights and in this film there’s only one. Having matured slightly… (Ok, a lot), and on several recommendations, I decided to give it another go. In the intervening time I did see, and like, a remake of this called </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0082869/"><span style="color: purple;">Outland</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> (1981) starring </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0000125/"><span style="color: purple;">Sean Connery</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">. But back to the original, I must admit I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Yes, it is dated, but it’s still a great piece of storytelling; it’s about a man prepared to do the right thing despite the odds stacked against him. I will give my thoughts after this brief summary.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"></span></span> <br />
<a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Marshal Will Kane is getting married to his new bride, Amy, but even as the ceremony is taking place three men ride into town. These are bad men, men who ran with Frank Miller, a psychopath who Kane had put away several years earlier. For some reason, he has been pardoned and is due to arrive on the noon train. It’s obvious to Kane that he has come for his revenge. He cannot arrest the men who have come to meet Miller, who include; Jack Colby and Frank’s brother, Ben, as they have not committed any crime. In trying to raise a posse, Kane, surprisingly, meets a lot of resistance, even his deputy, Harvey Pell, is unwilling to face Miller. And even Kane’s wife, a Quaker, is against him facing Miller but Kane is determined to see it through. As the clock ticks down to noon will he find an ally in a town that seems to have forgotten who cleaned up the streets and made it a fit place to live? Well it would be a major spoiler if I told you here and them Spoiler Police would throw me in Jail for 30 days.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Even though it’s in black and white, and in a 4:3 ratio, I still found this film very watchable. It’s quite a compelling story and you really feel for the character of Will Kane. This is partly down to a great script and a really good performance from </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0000011/">Gary Cooper</a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> as Kane. Also worthy of note were; </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0000978/">Lloyd Bridges</a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> as the ambitious Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell, </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0432827/">Katy Jurado</a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> as Helen Ramírez, </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0000038/">Grace Kelly</a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> as Amy Fowler Kane, </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0001033/">Lon Chaney Jr.</a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> as Martin Howe, </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0604702/">Harry Morgan</a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> as Sam Fuller, </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0531756/">Ian MacDonald</a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> as Frank Miller and not forgetting, in his first ever big screen role, </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0001812/"><span style="color: purple;">Lee Van Cleef</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> as Jack Colby.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Told in real time, it’s quite an interesting and enthralling film. I found the excuses people came up with were beginning to wear a bit thin by the time Kane got to the church though. The constant refrain of the song by <span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0006323/">Dimitri Tiomkin</a></span> I found an interesting hook and now I’ll always associate the refrain “Do not forsake me oh my darling” with this film. Also the device of the clock, in almost every scene before the train arrives, there’s a clock, reminding the audience that time is getting short. Over all, it’s a really well made drama with some really good performances. I certainly enjoyed it a lot more than I expected… Recommended.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">My Score: 8.4/10.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">IMDb Score: 8.3/10</b> (39,425 votes when this review was written).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0044706/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Book Antiqua;">http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0044706/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96/100</b> (46 reviews counted when this review was written).</span></div><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1046060-high_noon/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1046060-high_noon/</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There are extra bits & pieces (photos, links, trailer...etc.) on my blog at: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-high-noon-1952.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://thoughtsofasteelmonster.blogspot.com/2011/08/film-review-high-noon-1952.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Enjoy!... :)</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421082530776501691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098880342525176297.post-37520112831872240702011-08-12T22:08:00.000+01:002011-08-12T22:08:10.999+01:00100th Review! Psycho (1960)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-oYztsYpOcVbeT23mzK8AZ6ZNSE6djKP4vNrlcYwC2F1vRN9ToIE2yRhVxl4d4J4nJnf0x32o2PBeIgdgk4AvoyrcZ-T278hsdD_kcMgby_DjQVTDUoh-aVbW2NFogw6LiWIgGdzyTk/s1600/psycho-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-oYztsYpOcVbeT23mzK8AZ6ZNSE6djKP4vNrlcYwC2F1vRN9ToIE2yRhVxl4d4J4nJnf0x32o2PBeIgdgk4AvoyrcZ-T278hsdD_kcMgby_DjQVTDUoh-aVbW2NFogw6LiWIgGdzyTk/s320/psycho-poster.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Even after over 50 years “Psycho” is resonate as ever. It is a film that stays fresh in the mind long after viewing and that is how strong the impression of this film is. Master of suspense director <b>Alfred Hitchcock</b> co-ordinated every shot of the film with great finesse and often the film is considered his his best work. "Psycho" is revolutionary and will still be as satisfying an experience in years to come. So far from the five or so films, I have seen of his, this is certainly the most chilling, thrilling, suspenseful and satisfying so far. It is an amazing achievement for cinema because of how it changed horror forever.</span></span></div><a href="" name="more"></a><br />
<a href="http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/psycho-1960-100th-review.html#disqus_thread">http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/psycho-1960-100th-review.html#disqus_thread</a>Tom_Film_Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203244525938129170noreply@blogger.com0