What I've just watched

So what have you just watched? Be it in the cinema or on DVD:

Last new film i saw was Wall-E a coupla weeks back - wonderful!!!

On TV was prolly Barry Lyndon, a tad over long but beautifully shot throughout. Ryan O'Neil a tad wooden though.

On DVD was Untracable at the weekend, well worth seeing!

Had a cinema double on Sunday,

Wall-E 4/5
Hancock 3/5

then back home on DVD

Cars 4/5

The Great Escape 4/5

saw sex and the city for 2nd time 3/5
and on dvd i saw juno 2.5/5

Last week I had a Pixar marathon!











Toy Story (Can’t recall how many times I’ve seen it, at least 30 I think) – I haven’t seen this in about 5 years and it was an absolute joy to watch it again. As fresh and as funny as it ever. Jam-packed with visual gags and wonderful one-liners, a whole host of adorable characters and animation that still stuns, this a true masterpiece. The only Pixar film I haven’t seen on the big screen, a huge regret of mine – 5/5

A Bug’s Life (8th view) – I’ve always loved this despite not finding it as compulsively rewatchable as Toy Story. Again, a film I haven’t seen in a few years, and it benefited. It seems to be the forgotten Pixar film, which is a huge shame as there is a great deal to enjoy and the gag count is almost as high as Toy Story. The circus bugs are particularly likeable, some of Pixar’s best creations – 5/5

Toy Story 2 (6th view) First thing’s first. This isn’t as good as the original. Still very funny, but never quite so laugh out loud (the exception being pretty much any scene involving Rex, Hamm, Potato Head and Slinky, the true heroes of these films and it’s great that they have a bigger role in this film). The new characters are nothing special, and the obvious reversal of the first film in story terms is sometimes rating, as are a few of the jokes (I am your father. Really?) Still, it does so much right, and most of the characters are so endearing, it gets top marks – 5/5

Monsters Inc (At least 30 views!) – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; this is as close to perfection as I think a film can get. That isn’t to say that is has the best script, direction, score, etc etc, as it doesn’t, but rather that there is not one single thing I could think of to change. Everything fits together wonderfully; I can’t imagine anything ever being different. Mike Wazowski and Sulley are a comic paring made in heaven. Randy Newman rightfully won his first Oscar for his amazing work here, the animation is gorgeous, the script funny (visually, it’s also Pixar’s most humorous film) and the closing scene is, without a doubt, one of the most heart-warming and emotional moments in film. The finest animated film I’ve ever seen, and one of my top 10 films of all time – 5/5

Finding Nemo (11th view) – A slight comedown from Monsters, but still excellent. The animation is sublime here, and Thomas Newman excels musically (One minor gripe, all to often the sight and sounds combined do have the look of BBC documentary. It’s almost Pixar saying, “look what we can do”, forgetting that they have a story to tell. As ever, the two leads are well-cast and loveable character, Dory and Marlin work well together. It’s just a shame that so many of the best characters – Nigel, Jacques, the sharks, - get short changed for screen time, and one incident near the end of the film takes things bit to far. It also has a lower gag rate than others (though Dory speaking whale is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen) – 5/5

The Incredibles (4th view) – A change of pace here, and Pixar newcomer Brad Bird taking on writing and directing duties. It’s certainly a fresh angle for Pixar and indeed a nice take on the superhero genre, quite easily surpassing most live action superhero films (batman Begins, Superman and perhaps X-men only beat it). It’s the weakest Pixar film so far, short on subtle gags, but still a winner – 5/5

Cars (3rd view) - Ok, so I love this film. I’m one of the few I know, but I’ve had a really good time on all viewings. I love the folk of Radiator Springs, and there’s some great verbal and visual humour. The fact that it looks great goes without saying, and I think there is a genuine heart here, a lack of which is often criticised. It might not be the best film, but it’s hugely enjoyable – 5/5

Ratatouille (2nd view) Opinion seemed divided when this came out last year. I though it was 2007’s best film. A second viewing reaffirms that belief. Remy is a great creation, expressing the widest range of emotions without, half the time, speaking, Peter O’Toole gives one of the finest vocal performances ever as Anton Ego, and Skinner (Ian Holm) is perfect. Michael Giacchino’s score was robbed of an Oscar this year. Rarely has a film, animated or otherwise, ever looked so beautiful (Remy’s first view of Paris is the kind of shot cinema was invented for) and, one of it’s greatest triumphs – it almost made me interesting in cooking, one of the mind numbingly dreary tasks in existence – 5/5

Wall-E (1st view) – This was easily my most anticipated film of the year. More than batman, Indy, There Will Be Blood, anything. I doubt I’ve anticipated a film so much since Return Of The King. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint, as it’s pure joy in every single aspect. Wall-E himself is a spectacular creation. Impossible not to love and with more vibrancy and heart to him than most real-life characters. The opening scenes, just him and the cockroach, are both beautiful and strangely depressing. And the magnificent desolation on show betters anything similar I've seen in live action films. The introduction of EVE is well handled, and their blossoming romance is lovely. For two near silent characters who express pretty much with their eyes only, it's amazing and I honestly do think that this couple makes for one of the most charming and lovely romances I've ever seen. Once the story changes tack, it never lets up, and the ending actually had me on the edge of my seat, the noise and bustle of the cinema blacked out completely. Beautiful, charming, funny, thoughtful, exciting, inspiring. The kind of film that makes me happy to be alive. Just brilliant – 5/5


I realise this all might seem a tad gushy but I can’t help it. Do all of these films actually deserve full marks when viewed from a critical, checklist-ticking standpoint? Well, probably not, but I do genuinely love each and every one of them, and as such, regarding their enjoyability, entertainment value, endearingness and the way the engross from start to finish, they deserve nothing less top marks. I love Pixar!


And lastly, in order I’d place them :

Monsters Inc, Toy Story, Wall-E, Ratatouille, Cars, A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2, The Incredibles.



And since then, these few


Braveheart (4th view) - Historical accuracy be damned, this is a rousing action/adventure epic. I'm not really all that familar with exactly how it differs from the truth, but that seems to be the biggest problem people have with the film. It's quite hard to see Wallace as a character, and not look beyond Mel Gibson doing his crazy eyes acting in a kilt, but behind the camera he has a great eye for action. It's been a while since I saw it and I'd forgot how violent it was. The Stirling Bridge battle makes many similar scenes in films since seem quite tame by comparison. I love James Horners score, and there's fantastic support from Brendan Gleeson, Brain Cox, Ian Bannen ( ), Patrick McGoohan (almost as good as Alan Rickman's Sheriff in the "boo hiss" bad guy stakes), David O'Hara, Sophie Marceau and James Cosmo. Near the end it all gets quite emotional as well. Great stuff, unfairly criticised in my eyes - 5/5



Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2nd view) - Partly inspired by a recent review over on Empire, I went and bought this the other day, and watched it again for the first time in a few years. I'd forgotten how enjoyable it was, often blackly comic, all the while maintaining a nourish sense of plot and style. There's some fine chemistry between Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmer, and it finally afforded Michelle Monaghan a decent role. Very entertaining - 4/5




Mousehunt (8th view) - when this first came out, a number of reviews noted that it was a blend of Laurel and Hardy and Tom and Jerry. As such, it was almost a given that I'd love it. It does offer both the lovable buffoonery of the former and the cartoon violence of the latter, but manages to become its hilarious beast. Nathan Lane and Lee Evans are on fine form, Christopher Walken almost steals the film as a pest exterminator and the rodent of their undoing is a combination of CGI, animatronic and real mice. The laughs come thick and fast, never letting up from start to finish. One of the funniest films of the last 20 years. Special mention must also go to Alan Silvestri's vastly underated score - 5/5

Diary Of A City Priest (1st view) - David Morse stars in this American TV movie, playing the titular priest as he begins his job at an inner city church. I've always liked Morse, on both the big screen and small, and he's really the only reason to watch this, as it's a tiresome and preachy affair - 2/5

The Rock (9th view) - David Morse again here, providing decent support to the lead trio of Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery and Ed Harris, who are all on fine form. Michael Bay has a fine grasp of action, and the script is peppered with memorable and funny lines. I've always loved this flm, it's one of the most stupidly, ridiculously entertaining films ever made. It might not be subtle, it might not be great filmmaking, but it sure is a whole load of fun - 5/5

Gimli, your Pixar post would be the perfect start to a Pixar Appreciation type thread. Just an idea.

Elizabethtown 2/5

Moonrise (1st view) – Film noir is a hugely hit and miss affair for me, so I was weary of watching this,. Thankfully though, it manages to avoid most of the pitfalls that makes the genre so annoying and tiresome. It stars Dane Clark, who has been tormented all his life as his father was hung for murder when he was a child. During a fight with one antagonist he ends up killing the man, and fears he has become his father. Gail Russell appears as his girlfriend, and Lloyd Bridges makes an appearance. Tense and engaging, and it looks superb – 4/5



Balls Of Fury (1st view) – I suppose a film about an underground Ping Pong tournament could have some comic potential, but any such potential was completely lost in this film. Not even Christopher Walken could save it. I think I laughed once and smiled three times, not a great result for a comedy. Still, it features a brief appearance from Patton Oswalt, and this being the first film I’ve seen him in since I saw Ratatouille, it was vaguely interesting to put a face to the name – 2/5



We Own The Night (1st view) – Joaquin Phoenix owns a nightclub, much to the dismay of his father and brother, Robert Duvall and Mark Wahlberg, both officers of the law. When his club is raided in an attempt to arrest a Russian drug lord, leading ti multiple assassination attempts on his family, Phoenix leaves the life he knows behind and joins the police force. A touch preachy at times, but it’s well acted by all involved, and it’s great to see Duvall on the big screen – 4/5

The Dark Knight (2008), Batman Begins 2, and this is also the best Batman film too!! This has Bruce Wayne's alter-ego crusade Batman (Christian Bale) and Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) determined to crack down on organised crime in Gotham City, they've teamed up with popular district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to put a stop to it, but there's a new threat in the city, in the form of a psychotic, menacing bank robber known as The Joker (Heath Ledger), who seems to be one step ahead of the Caped Crusader. Director Christopher Nolan has a great time creating a dark mood and has a ball creating the jaw-dropping action sequences, but also has time for deception here and there, (typical of him.) Whilst Bale gives Batman a dark, human quality, the film belongs to Heath, having the time of his life playing the Joker with much demented and horrific glee, Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero he ain't. What a pity poor Heath never lived to see it. But, his legacy will live on, and along with the rest of the cast and crew, has given the Batman series a good name once again!! 5/5

Spider (2002), David Cronenberg's first film in the UK, it's a dark and bleak psychological drama. It has Dennis 'Spider' Cleg (Ralph Fiennes), who has been in a mental institution for 20 years suffering from schizophrenia. Now, he has been released and it put in a halfway house in the East End of London owned by Mrs. Wilkinson (Lynn Redgrave). He revisits his old haunts, both physically and mentally, he tries to find out what drove him to madness, he relives his childhood where dyfunction between his Mum (Miranda Richardson) and Dad (Gabriel Byrne) could have driven him to madness. It's hardly an uplifting film, but Cronenberg paints a dark and eerie picture of London stuck in time, and he also gets good performances out of his lead actors, and it does have a few deceptive twists throughout that will keep your attention. 4/5

Step up 2 - 2/5

27 dresses - 2.5/5 its ok for a rom com

over her dead body - 3/5 quite funny!

Last few days

There's Something About Mary 2/5

The Spiderwick Chronicles 4/5

Snow Dogs 3/5

Flightplan 3/5

Finally got round to watching The Incredibles all the way through (long story) in glorious HD.

Once again, Pixar show the rest how its done - far better than most live action superhero movies. 5/5

I really need to watch that Rat movie again, as I can't understand how Pixar could have let me down.

Yes, watch it again! You know you'll love it!!


Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (5th view) – Pretty much the only frat pack comedy that’s actually worthwhile. It might not be high art, but it is very funny. The Laurel and Hardy fan in me can’t help but laugh at the painful slaptstick, usually aimed at Justin Long (“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball”) and some of Ben Stiller’s one-liners always tickle the funny bone (“Nobody makes me bleed my own blood”). Some good support from the likes of Hank Azaria, Rip Torn and Alan Tudyk make this highly watchable – 4/5

The Dark Knight: Watched this Friday evening aftr getting outta work early. Absolutely, fucking, fantastic! I knew it was gonna be good, but not THAT good! Well worth the wait (damn you Hollywood). Heath Ledger completely and utterly stole the show, it wasnt him up on screen it WAS The Joker.
Couldve possibly done with a little more Two-Face (but i guess he's saved more for the sequel) but other than that, a practically flawless film!
6/5
(yes i can award 6/5!!)

A Knight's Tale (4th view) - Scanning my DVD shelves, I was in the mood for a film that was light-hearted but not a comedy, action-y without being filled with explosions and something that doesn't tax the brain. My gaze settled on this and it fits the bill completely. Not seen it for a few years, and it's my first view of the longer cut (not really required, but nothing harmful either) All in all, this film is just great fun, with a bunch of likeable actors playing likeable characters, (all the good guys - Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Laura Fraser, Alan Tudyk and Paul Bettany - just seem to work together wonderfully), a great "boo hiss" villain and a wonderful anachronistic sense of history. There should be more films about jousting. Infinitely more interesting to watch than boxing, and we get enough of them! Just a shame that Robbie "no talent" Williams murdered We Will Rock You - 4/5

The Iron Giant 4/5

In Her Shoes 3/5

Tremors 2 Aftershocks 3/5

Nowhere near as entertaining as the first and misses Kevin Bacon but still has it's moments, mostly provided by Michael Gross.

Flightplan (2nd view) – Returning home to America with her daughter, Jodie Fosters falls asleep only to wake up and find her daughter missing, with not one of the 400 people on board the plane knowing where she is or even remembering seeing her As films go, this must be one of the most implausible but taken with a pinch of salt it rattles along entertainingly. It’s always nice to see Foster, and even though this shares many similarities in both style and tone with her previous film, Panic room, she makes it worthwhile – 3/5




The Other Boleyn Girl (1st view) – I haven’t read the source novel for this, and my knowledge of the period is pretty much restricted to stuff I learnt 18 years ago, so I can’t compare it to the book or say for certain just which aspects of the film are complete deviations from the truth. No matter though, for as a period drama filled with political shenanigans, it works quite well. Once Natalie Portman’s Anne Boleyn starts her scheming, the films never lets up. I’m not the greatest fan of Portman, but she is very good here. Erica Bana as Henry VIII doesn’t have much to do but look very angry (but he does it very well, I wouldn’t want to get on his wrong side). As ever, Scarlet Johansson lets the aside down, utterly useless. On he whole though, highly engaging – 4/5




The Goat (2nd view) – A Buster Keaton short from 1921. Buster is mistakenly taken to be a notorious murdered and the first half of the film features him trying to outrun a bunch of policemen. It’s as remarkable inventive and stunt-filled as anything else he’s done and is superbly entertaining. The second half falters slightly after he’s made his escape and a romantic subplot is chucked in, but overall it’s a winner – 4/5


The Dark Knight (1st view) – It’s hard for me this one. I really did love it but for some reason, I just didn’t manage to hold my attention as much as I had hoped. There is really nothing I can fault with the film beyond that except for, perhaps, the action scenes. They never delivered that heart pounding rush that they should have and I thought the final fight was quite choppy and hard to follow. Still, all the actors where on top form. Maggie Gyllenhaal isn’t my favourite actress but thankfully banished all memory of Katie Holmes. Heath Ledger was astonishingly good (his pencil trick as fantastic!) and Aaron Eckhart was equally impressive. There is a superb sense of dread throughout and quite a few times I was on the edge of my seat, close to shouting at the screen “No, don’t do that!” (Isn’t it great when films provoke such a response?) and some great dark humour. I think in some ways my expectations were so high, reviews and acclaim had me almost believing that this would a life changing events, and it was never going to be. Taken on it’s own though, or indeed as a single entry in the ever increasing roster of superhero films, it’s superb and there’s so much right wit it I have to give it top marks, despite it’s faults – 5/5

Batman Begins 5/5

Hitman (1st view) - Ha ha, this was just awful. Great fun picking out all the truly terrible bits. The plot makes no sense at all, the film features some of the worst acting this side of Bradford Dillman in The Swarm, and there's better choreographed action scenes in a Mr Men cartoon. Brilliantly bad - 2/5

The Dark Knight 4/5

Octopussy (1983), the title song of this James Bond film is 'All Time High', but alot of people call it an All Time Low for Bond. They're quite wrong. This has James Bond (Roger Moore), travelling to India and Germany to uncover a jewellry smuggling scam, led by Kamal Khan (Louis Jourdan), and General Orlov (Steven Berkoff), using a circus owned by the mysterious Octopussy (Maud Adams), as a cover for an atomic bomb to go off at a US Army base. It's the campest Bond film, and it's a little different, and the bits in India have a very colonial attitude to them!! But, it makes for good entertainment, for reference, this is the one with the microlite coming out of the horses arse in the horse box, and the Rickshaw chase. It's an underrated Bond film, give it a chance!! 4/5

Enchanted (2nd view) – A wonderful piece of whimsy, seeing the Disney folk poking fun at some of their history with more heart, flair and humour than the Shrek films. Amy Adams gives a delightful performance as Giselle, a real life Disney Princess if ever there was one and she’s supported by a fine cast (James Marsden is particularly good, you could almost forget he played he played grumpy Cyclops). Some nice tunes as well, especially Happy Working Song! – 4/5



The Poet (1st view) – During WWII, disillusioned German soldier Oskar is part of a small group infiltrating the resistance. He meets and falls in love with a Jewish girl, Rachel, and she becomes pregnant. They soon become separated and she marries another man, Bernard but fate will eventually bring all three together. It’s obvious the film was made on a tiny budget and the only stars names to appear, Darryl Hannah and Roy Scheider, take one very small and forgettable roles. Still, it’s a reasonable film and one not without some fine moments – 3/5



The Counterfeiters/Die Fälscher (1st view) – Winner of the Best Foreign Language Oscar earlier this year, this Austrian/German film tells the story of Operation Bernhard, an attempt by the Nazis to flood the UK with fake currency. The forgers of the title are all Jewish prisoners held in a concentration, and in return for their co-operation they are awarded luxuries not afforded to others. Self-preservation gradually makes way for fear and doubt and their awareness of the role they are playing in overall war. It’s uniformly well acted, particularly by the lead Karl Markovics. The subject matter alone makes holocaust films depressing, and this is no exception but it’s a fascinating, moving and thought-provoking story – 4/5

American Psycho 4/5