I think Tom Hanks is a very fine actor and just keeps getting better.

He stars in Charlie Wilsons War?

Has anyone seen it ..whats it like.?

Hi Oceanz, while not a big Tom Hanks fan myself, I do respect  his work,  and preferr his more comedic roles, but as for Charlie Wilson's War, it is well worth a look, I enjoyed it and would rate it as a 7 out of 10.
Definitely one of the better films of recent years.

Philip Seymour Hoffman steals the show, as usual, he is an exceptional talent.

If you have not seen Gone Baby Gone, directed by Ben Affleck, and starring his younger brother Casey, then check that out, it should have won the Oscar for best movie last year, but didn't even get nominated, far better than either, No Country For Old Men, or There Will Be Blood.

The Great Debaters, about young black kids facing racism in the '30's, with Denzel Washington is also a solid film, worth your time.

Another film which I found joyous and entertaining was Across The Universe, which is pretty much told by the cast singing Beatles songs for 90% of the movie, and it also has brilliant choreography if you like great dance scenes, it is very much a love it or loathe it film, but as an old Beatles fan, I loved it.

My tastes are obviously not the same as everyone elses, I thought I am Legend should have been called, I am rubbish, but lots of people loved it, so movies are a very personal taste thing, but I try and watch most new movies, but ones I know I won't like, like Sex and the City, I give a miss.

If you like something a little offbeat, then Wristcutters; A Love Story, and Rocket Science, were a couple of slightly weird independent movies I really enjoyed also.

Just finished watching that movie Mozz..your right it was very good. A Politician with a conscience..now thats new.!

I saw I am Legend and I was a bit dissapointed I have to say.

Funnily enough "Cast Away" was the first time I really sat down and watched Tom Hanks..and even tho' I thought the story line was too limiting to be any good..I was deeply impressed by his portayal and I can see why it was nominated for an Academy Award.

I loved his relationship with Wilson..it was bizzarely sad/funny and poignant.

Great story.

Some good tips there -ta!i

I've never seen Cast Away, but like you, others have praised it, so I will check it out.

The thing I liked about Charlie Wilson was his drinking, womanising etc. were not downplayed, as we would expect in an american tale, he was portrayed as a flawed man of conscience, which was refreshing, and that it was based loosely on the facts is always a plus for me.

Have you seen Napolean Dynamite?

ggrr..i hate it when that happens...dyslexic fingers..ha ha

Napolean reminds me of someone I used to know in Cracker..wait it was Beowulf. lol

mozzaok wrote on Sep 6^th, 2008 at 8:30pm:

I've never seen Cast Away, but like you, others have praised it, so I will check it out. The thing I liked about Charlie Wilson was his drinking, womanising etc. were not downplayed, as we would expect in an american tale, he was portrayed as a flawed man of conscience, which was refreshing, and that it was based loosely on the facts is always a plus for me.

Agree mozz..I think he called his office girls."jailbait"?? ..

Yes it was great they didnt sanitise that side of him...it made him very real.

Booze and broads.

I thought that it was a good movie. Phillip Seymor Hoffman stole the show.

The problem with one-sided movies of historical events, such as Charlie Wilson’s War, is that they permanently emblazon in the public’s mind simple ideas about complex events that may be in dispute among historians.

Charlie Wilson was quoted to have said that the movie was true to the book. Although the book version of Charlie Wilson’s War at one point acknowledges that the causes of the Soviet Union’s fall are still debated among historians, the movie enshrine the overall message that the reason the Soviet Union expired was that Wilson and Reagan gave the Soviets a costly, Vietnam-like quagmire in Afghanistan. Wilson argued that he had hastened its demise by five or ten years.

Hollywood had to use almost none of their usual poetic license to embellish reality to make the film interesting, because the raucous Wilson was more entertaining than fiction. For example, on a trip to conservative Islamic countries, he took along his own belly dancer, whose uniquely risqué American adaptation of the traditional art form raised eyebrows. And this was one of the tamer stunts the boozing, womanizing, and alleged drug-taking congressman pulled off. But entertaining exploits masked disastrous policy failure.

The Republican interventionist policy of the day was mainly in Latin America. However, Wilson (a Democrat) steered, annoyed, cajoled the Reagan administration towards Afghanistan. He was quoted to have said "I hate bullies" - ironic considering that the interventionist policies of the US (of which his was one) sides with rich ruling dictators who bullies their own citizens.

Wilson now works as a lobbyist for several weapons companies and the US defence dept. He once represented Pakistan in acquiring weapons from the US (the fee was rumoured to be US$ 30,000/month).

oceanz wrote on Sep 6^th, 2008 at 8:22pm:

I saw I am Legend and I was a bit dissapointed I have to say.

mozzaok wrote on Sep 6^th, 2008 at 7:53pm:

I thought I am Legend should have been called, I am rubbish, but lots of people loved it, so movies are a very personal taste thing....

I am a big fan of the book "I am Legend" written by Richard Matheson in 1954. There were 3 movies adapted from the book of which the Will Smith movie of the same name has remained true to the novel. The other 2 adaptations are The Omega Man and The Last Man On Earth. While I've enjoyed the movie I Am Legend (in context to the novel) I can't shake the gripe in my mind that it's another Will Smith movie.

Hollywood glitz and glam aside, I like I Am Legend for content only (because its true to the novel) and The Omega Man for entertainment.

Mozza, I have not seen Gone Baby Gone but the fact that you say it was better than No Country for Old Men says a lot. I thought NCFOM was a fantastic movie. Very much a Cohen Brothers fan. I will check out Gone Baby Gone.

I Am Legend could certainly been a lot better. It was still fun for the most part but flaws you could drive a GT40 through become grating.

Tom Hanks is a pretty good actor and has a good body of work beyond the light hearted, Saving Private Ryan, Philedelphia, and Road to Perdition are all excellent.

Fantastic political movie though is Wag the Dog, I have to warn you though that this movie has nothing to do with the deployment of the B3 bomber. ;)

Quote:

Very much a Cohen Brothers fan.

Yes me too.
The Big Lebowski is one of my all time favourite films.

Burn After Reading, should be out very soon, the trailer looks funny, great cast, Coen Bros, it is a winning formula.

I was disappointed in NCFOM because of what I considered the rushing through of the ElPaso section of the film, I thought they could have lost ten minutes of the mood setting start, and fleshed out the climax a bit more, the lack of which diminished from the impact of the conclusion of the film for me.

I should qualify as being disappointed from the perspective of if it had better editing it would have risen to the stature of greatness.

The Big Lebowski is hilarious, it's been too long. I'll have to drag it out of the cupboard.

I also meant to comment on 'There Will Be Blood', beautifully shot and acted movie. A masterpiece of cinematography. But funny that I was still left unsatisfied at the end of it.

Very much looking forward to 'The Watchmen' and 'Captain America'
and have not had the chance to see 'Tropic Thunder' or the latest 'Hellboy' yet. Maybe drive-in this weekend.

A few years back I watched this movie..Sophies Choice.

It was about Hitlers War..She was Polish I thinkand had 2 young children .

At one point as the civilians were herded onto  train bound for somewhere..there was another train bound for Auswitch..(spelling)

She was asked to choose which child she wanted to keep with her  and which child would go to the camp..and so die in the gas chambers.
She watched German Soldiers tear from her arms her little child and she screamed . She went mad over the years and became an alcoholic ..not able to forgive herself..

Altho it was a quite a while ago..the impact on me was huge.

How could anyone make that choice of which child to keep and which child to forsake knowing he/she faced certain death?

The film starred Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline..

Altho Im a bit over Meryl these days..her potrayal in this film shows why she has been regarded as one the finest actors of the our time.

Quote:

She was asked to choose which child she wanted to keep with her and which child would go to the camp..

Yes it was a good movie Oceanz.  This was a decision thousands had to make at the time.  How do people survive this sort of ordeal?

I prefer comedies.  

mantra wrote on Sep 12^th, 2008 at 2:02pm:

Quote: She was asked to choose which child she wanted to keep with her and which child would go to the camp.. Yes it was a good movie Oceanz.  This was a decision thousands had to make at the time.  How do people survive this sort of ordeal? I prefer comedies.

comedies are definitetely much better for the soul I agree.

I've read Sophie's Choice, but didn't realise there was a movie out about it. It sounds like the movie was from a slightly different perspective.

freediver wrote on Oct 6^th, 2008 at 4:07pm:

I've read Sophie's Choice, but didn't realise there was a movie out about it. It sounds like the movie was from a slightly different perspective.

That doesnt surprise me FD..

I read Stephen Kings The Shining..I thought it was a great book.

I then saw the movie and even tho' quite a bit of the book was cut out it was still a very good movie..

I think if anyone other than Jack Nicholson had played that part I would not have thought so tho'.

I just watch a dvd call "Chapter 27" starring a deliberately overweight Jared Leto. It an interesting movie about Mark Chapman - the man who assasinated John Lennon. Apparently he felt that he was the embodiment of the character Holden Caulfield in Catcher In The Rye.

3.5/5 stars

IMDB - Chapter 27

Acid Monkey wrote on Oct 7^th, 2008 at 11:43pm:

I just watch a dvd call "Chapter 27" starring a deliberately overweight Jared Leto. It an interesting movie about Mark Chapman - the man who assasinated John Lennon. Apparently he felt that he was the embodiment of the character Holden Caulfield in Catcher In The Rye. 3.5/5 stars IMDB - Chapter 27

Hi Acid..good to see you  :)

That movie sounds very interesting..I know very little about the mystery surrounding this character so Il try to have a look at that one..

Are you in your monastery yet..or is that a dumb question seeing as tho you have comp access?

No. I'm visiting some friends in my birth town of Kuching, Malaysia atm. This Saturday I will fly to Chiang Mai, Thailand and will "check in" to Hotel Poverty on Monday. After that you won't hear from me for at least three months. I'm hoping to get a Sak Yant via the traditional bamboo method in between the monastery chores and practices.

Acid Monkey wrote on Oct 8^th, 2008 at 10:39am:

No. I'm visiting some friends in my birth town of Kuching, Malaysia atm. This Saturday I will fly to Chiang Mai, Thailand and will "check in" to Hotel Poverty on Monday. After that you won't hear from me for at least three months. I'm hoping to get a Sak Yant via the traditional bamboo method in between the monastery chores and practices.

Hotel Poverty..interesting name..got a pic?

A Sak Yant is a type of shelter ?

I could google it.

oceanz wrote on Oct 8^th, 2008 at 6:16pm:

Hotel Poverty..interesting name..got a pic? A Sak Yant is a type of shelter ?

Lol. No, and no.

Hotel Poverty is what I'm calling the monastery that I'll be staying at for three months. I was being funnny.  ;)

A Sak Yant is a traditional Khmer tattoo. It is applied in the traditional way - ink on sharpened bamboo which is pierced into the skin. Check out this link.

Acid Monkey wrote on Oct 8^th, 2008 at 9:53pm:

oceanz wrote on Oct 8th, 2008 at 6:16pm: Hotel Poverty..interesting name..got a pic? A Sak Yant is a type of shelter ? Quote: Lol. No, and no. Hotel Poverty is what I'm calling the monastery that I'll be staying at for three months. I was being funnny.  ;)  oops of course you were   :-[.[quote]A Sak Yant is a traditional Khmer tattoo. It is applied in the traditional way - ink on sharpened bamboo which is pierced into the skin. Check out this link.

[/quote]

that looks painful Acid..very unusual tattooes. You will stand out in a crowd with one of those.

Oceans what is that thing in your avatar?

freediver wrote on Oct 10^th, 2008 at 5:22pm:

Oceans what is that thing in your avatar?

Im assuming its a yacht type boat..or some type of boat/sailing vessel anyway.

I doubt its a shark..just gauging by size and distance etc.

I just got home from seeing the Coen Brothers' new film "Burn After Reading" and they've followed up on "No Country for Old Men" with another beauty.  However, this one is a screwball black comedy with great performances from George Clooney, John Malkovich & Brad Pitt.

Malkovich plays an ex-CIA agent whose memoirs fall into the hands of two gym employees who try to blackmail him into buying them back.  The situation turns into a giant, comical, cluster bugger, which seemed like it may have been a meditation on the past eight years of the Bush administration. It's definitely worth seeing on the big screen.  

Yes Ive heard good thing about "No Country for Old Men", another to add to my growing list of movies Ive yet to watch...

I watched "The Bucket List" recently..it was a comedy about 2 old men who had 6 months to live and they made a bucket lst..things to do before you kick the bucket.

It starred Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson..great actors both of them.
Its not a new one ( but recenltly released ) still a really good movie.


Great story and a good cry at the end.

No country...  crap ending.
In the words of Rove McManus...  WHAT THE!

Why was it a crap ending?  

Sorry?
Sudden car accident...  cut to kitchen table zen rant....  what the!

I thought the car accident was just the writer’s way of messing with the audiences' expectations. They would've thought that Chigurh was going to be brought to justice somehow and when the accident happened they were probably expecting it to kill him. I was glad it didn't. In fact when I was watching the movie and that car crash happened, I thought Oh bull$hit. Not because of the accident but because I thought he was going to die and if he did that would've been way too convenient.    

As for the rant at the end, basically Ed Tom Bell was explaining to his wife (and the audience) that he's realised that it's naive to think that good always prevails, because evil often prevails. So it’s not surprising that a lot of people didn’t like the ending.  

[last lines]
Loretta Bell: How'd you sleep?

Ed Tom Bell: I don't know. Had dreams.

Loretta Bell: Well you got time for 'em now. Anythin' interesting?

Ed Tom Bell: They always is to the party concerned.

Loretta Bell: Ed Tom, I'll be polite.

Ed Tom Bell: Alright then. Two of 'em. Both had my father in 'em . It's peculiar. I'm older now then he ever was by twenty years. So in a sense he's the younger man. Anyway, first one I don't remember to well but it was about meeting him in town somewhere, he's gonna give me some money. I think I lost it. The second one, it was like we was both back in older times and I was on horseback goin' through the mountains of a night. Goin' through this pass in the mountains. It was cold and there was snow on the ground and he rode past me and kept on goin'. Never said nothin' goin' by. He just rode on past... and he had his blanket wrapped around him and his head down and when he rode past I seen he was carryin' fire in a horn the way people used to do and I could see the horn from the light inside of it. 'Bout the color of the moon. And in the dream I knew that he was goin' on ahead and he was fixin' to make a fire somewhere out there in all that dark and all that cold, and I knew that whenever I got there he would be there. And then I woke up.

Well I didn't like the prelude to the ending, mainly because it seemed rushed, in fact I felt much of the pace of the movie was too erratic, some slllloooooow, and some rushed.
They could have got it much, much, better.

A new film which I really enjoyed is "Body of Lies"

A new Ridley Scott film, with Leo DiCaprio, and Russel Crowe.

It is all about CIA, muslims, terrorism, anti-terrorism, and it has a nice multi-dimensional quality which we do not see a lot of from hollywood.

I particularly like the murkiness and lack of moral compass which pervades the actions of all sides of the conflict.

No good guys here.

On the mozzameter I give it four and a half thumbs up.

Why people love the movies:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=IziY12GbGLg

oceanz wrote on Oct 17^th, 2008 at 12:26pm:

Yes Ive heard good thing about "No Country for Old Men", another to add to my growing list of movies Ive yet to watch... I watched "The Bucket List" recently..it was a comedy about 2 old men who had 6 months to live and they made a bucket lst..things to do before you kick the bucket. It starred Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson..great actors both of them. Its not a new one ( but recenltly released ) still a really good movie. Great story and a good cry at the end.

Both excellent actors. The movie was O.K. but just too cute for me to really like it.

I liked the ending of NCFOM. I would give the movie a 9/10 at least. This movie is destined for a massive cult following in the future I reckon.

locutius wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2008 at 12:31pm:

oceanz wrote on Oct 17th, 2008 at 12:26pm: Yes Ive heard good thing about "No Country for Old Men", another to add to my growing list of movies Ive yet to watch... I watched "The Bucket List" recently..it was a comedy about 2 old men who had 6 months to live and they made a bucket lst..things to do before you kick the bucket. It starred Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson..great actors both of them. Its not a new one ( but recenltly released ) still a really good movie. Great story and a good cry at the end. Both excellent actors. The movie was O.K. but just too cute for me to really like it. I liked the ending of NCFOM. I would give the movie a 9/10 at least. This movie is destined for a massive cult following in the future I reckon.

Should have realised it would be too cute for the average man. Still.

NCFOM must be mans movie .

Another decent film, if you like non-stop action stuff, is "Taken", written by Luc Besson, and starring Liam Neeson.

It is shallow, sometimes silly, and a great 90 minutes of edge of your seat action, I loved it.

Mind you, it is not a film you would probably watch more than once.

Wall-E was better.

Well I saw a few movies this weekend, most ho-hum, the most disappointing being Burn After Reading.
I had really been looking forward to it, but it was weak as water, and crime of crimes, an unfunny comedy, sure there is a social message, but if they can't entertain while they deliver it, it loses it's impact.


One bright light, or radiant star by comparison, was a small independent british film, called "Dangerous Parking", it was brilliant, funny, real, human, tragic, and glorious, I have not enjoyed, or appreciated a film more, for many a long day.

Mozza, I'm gunna watch Gone Baby Gone tonight so I am looking forward to it. Dangerous Parking sounds interesting.

Have you seen Station Agent ot Kikujiro. These are two of my favourites, oh and Harold and Maude, hilarious.

I hope you enjoy Gone Baby Gone, I certainly did, with the small exception of the join the dots bit at the end, which I assume they were forced to put in for the US audience, lol.

Yes Harold and Maude was great, but it must be pushing 30 years or more since I have seen it.
The other two I have not seen, but I will check them out, cheers.

It was a bummer about burn after reading, my wife has never been much of a coen bros fan, and I dragged her along to this hoping for another lebowski(which she never thought was that funny anyway), but it is a bit of a dog, with Brad Pitt providing the only funny performance, imo.

Dangerous Parking is about an alcoholic director's life, I think it may be vaguely autobiographical, although I do not know the guys work, or reputation, he just had such a "knowledge" of the subject matter, it seemed probable.

This week had a bit of a splurge for movies.

Run Fatboy Run......Pretty funny, would recommend it. 7/10

Mr Woodcock.........Pretty bad, not recommended at all. 2/10

The Happening......Some interesting concepts but disappointing overall 5/10

What Happens in Vegas....Very average, had some funny bits. Ireally dislike Cameron Diaz, she is one of those actors that I just can't suspend belief with, but that aside still only 5/10 tops.

Gone Baby Gone....Thanks mozza, this was an excellent film. Impressive directing debut for Ben Afflick. Casey Afflick was quite good, but I think he was better in the Jesse James movie. For me just behind NCFOM .......interesting moral dillema at the end, mozza did you agree with his decision, I think he was he was a considerate and strongly ethical young man that technically made the correct decision, but I would have gone the other way. 8/10

Good to relax with a few flicks, I don't sleep a lot, so get to watch a few at night.

I liked gone baby gone better than NCFOM, because of the ending, GBG, left you thinking, and questioning just what would be right, I think No country needs re-editing, it has it all, but is paced badly, coming out like another "just a bunch of stuff that happened" films, and I am over them.

I would have done the same as the lead in GBG, and I would have had the same regrets and feelings of responsibility too.
I loved the setup scenes at the start where he used real people from a real neighbourhood, to set the tone,  Affleck and Damon seem to have a handle on hollywood, without being mesmerised by it, I thought it was very well done for a first film.

If you get the chance to see Dangerous Parking, grab it, I watched it again, it was just as good the second time round, even when I knew what was coming, very Indie styled, but I like that sometimes, and the lead role played by the director, peter howitt, was excellently done, and it is not autobiographical, it is of a book of the same name, by another writer, stuart browne, but try to go in blind if you can, it will be better without spoilers.

Yes I loved him for his sense of responsibility also.

Saw The Shining for about the 4th time today..[love that movie]

Im a bit perplexed about Jacks role as the caretaker [played by Jack Nicholson] was actually a reincarnate of a previous caretaker of the Overlook Hotel or did the ghosts of the hotel take possession of his mind whilst he lived there for the period he occupied the place?.

In a very old photograph at the end portraying past staff members from long ago.. the current caretaker [ Jack]was in that photo..it showed a picture of him as part of staff from much earlier days.

I read the book too' but dont think it said either way.

Has anyone seen this movie and did you figure out if he was actually a ghost/reincarnate from the past..could be he was just plain crazy I guess.

http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:yI_yYe9hw7IXPM:http://content6.flixster.com/question/29/62/88/2962884_std.jpg http://images.blu-ray.com/reviews/264_1.jpg

I watched that the other day too!!

I think basically the hotel is possessed and drives people crazy and then inducts them into some freaky hellish afterlife bound within the hotel. so at the end in the photo that's saying that because jack died as a result of the hotel's shenanigans, that he is now claimed by the hotel- inducted into its freaky haunted world.

so say the next caretaker comes along, they'd probably meet jack as one of the freaky afterlife cast

The 1997 version is better... its on DVD.
Might be clearer for you in that one Ogly.

oh almost forgot...  saw QOS Bond movie...  not as good as the previous IMO.

Gaybriel wrote on Nov 22^nd, 2008 at 2:45pm:

I watched that the other day too!! Quote: I think basically the hotel is possessed and drives people crazy and then inducts them into some freaky hellish afterlife bound within the hotel. so at the end in the photo that's saying that because jack died as a result of the hotel's shenanigans, that he is now claimed by the hotel- inducted into its freaky haunted world. OK now thats a slightly different way too look at it.. [quote]so say the next caretaker comes along, they'd probably meet jack as one of the freaky afterlife cast

Yes it was this bit that had me stumped..even tho' thru' the first couple of veiwings I was just transfixed basically by Nicholsons portrayal.(.he is such a great character actor esp. in these roles..)that I didn't plug into the significance of such details..

Your explanation makes sense of where I was going with this one..thanks Gaybriel

Quote:

The 1997 version is better... its on DVD. Might be clearer for you in that one Ogly.

If I see it around Beo Ill take a look..but I cant see how it could possibly be better then the original..which is now a cult classic.


Quote:

oh almost forgot...  saw QOS Bond movie...  not as good as the previous IMO.

Dont say that..I loved the first one..and I have heard others say it was not as good as the first..

I just realised how much I overused the word 'freaky' in that description of mine.

I'm a tool!

Watched Zohan and Love Guru over the weekend. Both very average. There were a couple of really good off-beat comedy moments in both but could not recommend. 5/10 for both and that's being generous.

Also saw Leatherheads the other week with George Clooney. Terrible. Too long, too not funny and too boring. 3/10 tops.

Rewatched Ninja Scrolls on the weekend. Awesome anime. One of the very best. Have to watch Ghost in the Shell again this weekend. Both 9/10.

My top picks (not definitive but a bloody good rainy weekends worth)

Blade Runner            - Sci-fi
Platoon                  - War
High Planes Drifter            - Western
To Kill A Mockingbird            - Classic
Love Actually            - Romance
Aliens                  - Action
Edward Scissorhands            - Fantasy
Ironman                  - Comic/Hero
Vampire Hunter D            - Anime
The Man Who Knew Too Little      - Comedy
Enter the Dragon            - Martial Arts
Matilda                  - Family
Toy Story                  - Childrens
Wag the Dog            - Political
This is Spinal Tap            - Mocumentary
Kikujiro                  - Foreign

Honourable mentions

The Right Stuff
The Crucible
Harold and Maude
The Unforgiven
Terminator
Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman
Grosse Pointe Blank
Apocolypes Now Redux
The Elephant Man
Vanilla Sky
Chaplin

I can't stand the movie Platoon.

The Departed is pretty good though not a war movie.

Yes mate, The Departed was an excellent movie. After watching Titanic I could not bare to watch Leonardo for a very long time. I changed my mind about his talents with The Aviator. He was extremely good in that.

I have added Robert Downey Jr "Chaplin" to my list above as well.

What about Milo and Otis? I literally watched that every day after school between the ages of 15-16. :-[

easel wrote on Dec 8^th, 2008 at 5:55pm:

I can't stand the movie Platoon. The Departed is pretty good though not a war movie.

Ok, what about "Glory", the first movie that I saw Denzel Washington in. Very good movie.

Two other contenders would be "Kelly's Heroes" Clint Eastwood and Donald Sutherland are excellent in this, and "Enemy at the Gates" love a good sniper movie. Not many about of course.

I haven't seen them, I'm not that much of a movie buff.

Though, as far as war movies go, I did enjoy 'The Great Escape', except for the part where hardly anyone escapes (although the resistance blasting the enemy in the cafe with the machine gun is wonderful), and 'We Were Soldiers' I thought was a good movie too.

Have you seen those movies called 'Sniper'? I think there might be two of them. Those are sniper movies. And they're double plus ungood.

Good sniper movies I'm not sure about.

Also any one here a fan of Deadwood the HBO TV series. One of the most interesting characters in the series also played the deputy in NCFOM.

Good sniper movie?????

The Shooter.

Grendel wrote on Dec 10^th, 2008 at 6:28pm:

Good sniper movie????? The Shooter.

Real boy's movie. Nothing wrong with that of course. Yes I enjoyed it very much. Not the classic that EATG will become, but lots of red mist from the bad guys.

Also while I think Jackie Chan is a pretty cool dude. I just cannot stand his movies. The fight scenes just go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on. Very acrobatic but bloody boring. Give me Bruce any day.

[quote author=midnightcowboy link=1220675706/45#54 date=1228788588]What about Milo and Otis? I literally watched that every day after school between the ages of 15-16. :-[/quote]

I have heard about it easel but never seen it. It is about a couple of dogs???

Not one for talking animal movies myself but I did enjoy Babe. Some animal movies I have liked, "Call of the Wild" an oldie and King Kong. Actually I just remembered as a youngster with my brother and sister we loved the movie "Namu" about a killer whale. To this day I think the Killer Whale is the most beautiful animal on the planet.

Got Enemy at the gate too...  like both, for different reasons.

Boys film...  lol.

Saw Dark Knight..finally!!    and I wasnt very impressed.

Maybe I'm hard to please..some didnt like the ending but I did.

Heaths role was good but I expected more..why did I listen to all the hype.  >:(

Strangely enough I was dissapointed with Christian Bale's role as I am a big fan, generally good but the growling way of speaking really got on my nerves. I'm sure he did not do that in the first movie.

Heath Ledger surprised me, as a am not a fan but his role was brilliant bordering on genius. Interesting considering everything else he has done I could only describe as adequate. I don't think it was a level he could have maintained but who knows.

See... you should listen to me Og...  at least I tell the truth.

locutius wrote on Dec 16^th, 2008 at 5:07pm:

Strangely enough I was dissapointed with Christian Bale's role as I am a big fan, generally good but the growling way of speaking really got on my nerves. I'm sure he did not do that in the first movie. Heath Ledger surprised me, as a am not a fan but his role was brilliant bordering on genius. Interesting considering everything else he has done I could only describe as adequate. I don't think it was a level he could have maintained but who knows.

Love Heaths work locutious ( Ned Kelly/ Brokeback etc)..and his portrayal in Dark Knight was very dark and edgy but from the trailers it seemed a lot more menacing somehow.

I did like his part tho'..like you Batmans voice irritated me.
The whole movie lacked any real substance I thought.

Loved Batmans bike.

Grendel wrote on Dec 16^th, 2008 at 5:36pm:

See... you should listen to me Og...  at least I tell the truth.

Yes I can see that you even impress yourself.  

But seriously you did tell me..I have to admit I do agree...this time.

Quote:

Yes I can see that you even impress yourself.

;D ;D ;D lol

You win the funniest line of the week comp, Oceanz.



BTW, I agree with all of you, Batman begins was much better than Dark Knight.

I guess trying too hard to turn a comic book spinoff into a message movie will do that.

Ghost Town, the romantic comedy starring Ricky Gervais, starts out very funny, but it ends up a bit of a chick flick towards the end, still, the funny bits were worth it, even if I had to put up with the romantic ending.

It has one of the best opening scenes of any comedy I have seen, and Gervais delivers some classic lines as a totally, self absorbed, self pitying, aloof prick.

Well worth a look.

You must be easily impressed...  oh well so is Mozz it seems...  nothing i said was about being impressed.

You people are just total wankers sometimes.

Gotta flame me even when you agree with me...  comes under pathetic in my book.

Who likes the Jason Bourne series of movies?

I like the final one, where the CIA gets taken down, from the inside, with official documents presented by people who officially work for them, as opposed to those who can't prove it and get dismissed as crazy.

Gorgeous movie.

Get over yourself Beo, it was just a joke, if we cannot laugh at ourselves then we have real problems.

I know "self" deprecating is the traditional aussie style, but a little bit of a dig in good fun is OK. Isn't it?

Easel, I loved the Bourne trilogy, real action packed "guy" films.

If you liked them, you will also probably enjoy 'Body Of Lies', it shows the US secret service as duplicitous back stabbing creeps, and the islamists as crazy fanatics, a pretty fair assessment overall, with a fair smattering of action, shooting and torture to keep us entertained.

If they had chucked in some sex and gratuitous nudity, it would have been perfect. ;D

Also, the new movie, "Slumdog Millionaire", is well worth a look, even if the story line seems a little contrived at times, it is so well done you can easily forgive that.
It is about a young guy who grew up on the streets of india, in abject poverty, who goes on to take out the top prize in "Who wants to be a millionare", and the assumptions by all that he must have cheated.
He uses his life story to show how he "learned" the answers.

I have a gsoh Mozz...  say something funny and I'll laugh.

hate the bourne movies primarily because they have almost nothing in common with the books...  which are GREAT....

OK Grendel, here is an oldie which may get a laugh from you.

Pauline Hanson was embarrassed that she was not as smart as some of the other pollies, so she asked Oldfield for advice.

He took her out into the country and stopped next to a sheep paddock.

He picked up a handful of sheep dung and told her they were smart beads, and if she ate them, she would get smarter.

She started chewing and said, "Uggh, these taste like sh1t"

"See, you are getting smarter already" he replied. ;D

heard it b4...  funnily enough you seem to have inserted public figures not in the original version...

tsk, tsk, tsk....  

Knowing the people involved personally does make it difficult to laugh at since reality negates the "humour".

Saw TDTESS.....  nice special effects, just lacks something in the storyline.  Feels a bit flat.  The change in the relationship between GORT and KLAATU might have something to do with it.

I thought Vantage Point was very good...

But then I think Dennis Quaid is a good actor...

Loc I dont like Mr Jackie Chang either and Im sorry to tell you we can't give you Bruce Lee..he is but mere bones these days..but yes he was cute.

Well the new Clint Eastwood film, "Gran Torino", will open in theatres on the 22nd of January, and should be the next big hit of the summer.

It tells the story of an old, grumpy widower, a traditional old fashioned all american guy, and veteran of the Korean war, whose neighbourhood is now taken over by ethnic minorities, and how he interacts with them.

His neighbours are Hmong, pronounced 'mong', who are vietnam war refugees who settled in the US, and his blatant distaste for them, and open racist language, does not inspire any type of relationship between them, until events force them to interact, and his journey of discovery, and redemption begins.

This is a character driven story, and Clint Eastwoods portrayal of the growling, snarling old man, initially seems a bit overplayed and comical, but as the story progresses, I found myself actually looking forward to hearing his next growl of disapproval.
The actors who play his vietnamese neighbours are apparently just previously unknown locals, but they carry their roles beautifully, and lend a real authenticity to the story.

As the conflict between the family and a local gang escalates, so the relationship between the old man and the families, lonely son grows into something that none of them expected.

The story builds towards a dramatic climax, which I won't spoil for you, but it is very well handled, and ties up the moral questions raised along the way, quite neatly.

So, Clint Eastwood, seems to be like a fine wine, that just keeps getting better with age.
I could recommend this film to anyone, and happily give it a 9/10, it is sure to be one of the best films of the year.

Yes going to see it and Valkyrie at the movies next week.

Yes, I am looking forward to Valkyrie too.
If it is half as good as Gran Torino, then you are in for a double treat.

I struggle getting past thinking what a total goose Tom Cruise is, when watching him act, but despite that, he does often do a performance, and hopefully, this role will be one of them.

Saw Revolutionary Road the other day.

The story of what happens to an anachronistic character (Kate Winslet) when she is thrown into 1950’s Eisenhower’s America with an appropriately contemporary 50’s husband (DiCaprio). A conflict results that can only end in tears.

Kathy Bates as usual portrays a complex role with more subtext to its surface character than a political monologue. Her smiles and desperate depiction of serenity are ultimately betrayed by the revelation of the true agony of her existence.

For those who like engrossing drama, this is an 8.

I really want to see that movie helian, so thanks for that.

On a lighter note I watched Hancock last night..it was very funny. Will Smith..Charlize Theron ( can hear the guys drooling now)...

A derelict superhero (Smith ) with a bad attitude and amnesia..wont spoil it for those who havent seen it.

Saw Gran Torino as well. It was a good movie, but it took me a little while to suspend my incredulity while watching Eastwood trying to invoke the memory of his most powerfully iconic spaghetti-western characters.

I also felt the plot was rather trite in that it could have been subtitled ‘How old whitey saved the hapless slap-heads from themselves’ (remember those scenes where Walt is trying to Americanise Thao?).

But anyway, Eastwood’s performances are always captivating and complex, so the film was still a 7 for me.

NorthOfNorth wrote on Jan 25^th, 2009 at 12:07pm:

Saw Gran Torino as well. It was a good movie, but it took me a little while to suspend my incredulity while watching Eastwood trying to invoke the memory of his most powerfully iconic spaghetti-western characters. I also felt the plot was rather trite in that it could have been subtitled ‘How old whitey saved the hapless slap-heads from themselves’ (remember those scenes where Walt is trying to Americanise Thao?). But anyway, Eastwood’s performances are always captivating and complex, so the film was still a 7 for me.

Yes Clint is getting on a bit but what a great actor..(he looks like my dad)..

Its a real treat when some of his old stuff comes on ...So it looks like Ill be seeing Grand Torino too then.

Im hoping Heath Ledger gets the best supporting actor Oscar for Dark Knight..for even if the film was not so great..he played his part to perfection.

Instead of getting to the movies fortnightly or even weekly, it's averaging quarterly at the moment but I am happy to say that we saw Slumdog Millionaire the other night, and Mozza was right. Two thumbs up, it was very good. The acting was pretty good especially by the youngsters. The girl who played the female lead as an adult was stunningly beautiful.

The other thing about the movie was that it was such a brilliant concept that once thought of, I reckon the book/script would have nearly written itself, well done.

Saw Benjamin Button a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed that as well, but felt it was too long overall. I can't believe that Scott Fitsgerald is know for that crap the Great Gatsby and this work was largely unknown. Still I would give it 4 stars, just. Would like to read the book but it is currently in RIP OFF mode at the bookshops.

Really looking forward to Ghost Town and must see big screen feature WATCHMEN, currently reading the Absoulte Watchman collection in hardcover. Gritty.

Would also like to see the Changeling which is another Eastwood film (directing not acting) it sounds interesting.

Comedy Central original Idiocracy was less hillarious then I was hoping for.

Infact it was more frightening them funny. A bleak depiction of what I expect of the future if the libertarians and internet punkasses in my country ever get the upperhand... Green peace hippies might think the day after tommorow is the likely future in twenty, fourty years.. They should be more worried about Idiocracy.

Where everything is about rabid consumeraism, sex, "reading is for faggots", and the place is a smacking dump.

Hell, we're living in it now. Just not to the same extent. Also they got those V-chips in the movie. The lolbertarians in my country say they oppose it, but that'd be the perfect tool for a capitalist society.

Cause hell, why print money if it can be forged or stolen?! It's so much more practical to just implant a chip!

Why go back to gold standard?! That'll just hurt the free market immensely because you can't just carry a waud of cash and it's just not practical for the global market!


I'm onto them...

I expect you will like Ghostown, it is worth the admission just for the opening scene.

It gets a bit mooshy at the end, but if you like ricky gervais, and don't suffer fools gladly, there will be plenty to keep you amused in this one.

Definitely one of the better comedies of late.

Changeling is OK, but I think it is more of a chick's flick, I couldn't buy into the central premise, so it failed to take me with it.

I liked Benjamin Button, but it is nothing like the short story, and I thought they could have ended it better, and sooner.

Yes Man is another Jim Carey movie, with a few laughs, and you would need to be a Carey fan to rate it above average, but still worth a rent when it hits video.

Probably the most powerful film I have seen recently, is "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas", a low budget UK production, about the family of an SS commander, who gets posted to take charge of a concentration camp, in the days of the final solution. The son is bored, and sneaks away to check out the "farm" with the fence, where they wear their pyjamas all the time, he strikes up a friendship, through the fence, as his dad implements the final solution inside.
I was like a rabbit transfixed, I could see the truck coming, but I couldn't get out of the way, it was very disturbing, and moving, and for any with working electrons above the neck, you will be considering the moral implications of your allegiances for days afterwards.

Thanks Mozz, I didn't know what this "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas", was about but saw the posters at Dendy and forgot to check it out. Sounds good.

Makes me want to watch "Life is Beautiful" (La vita è bella) again.

Idiocracy should have been better, but it could grow on me. I enjoyed it more the second time I watched it at a mate's place. Maybe only because someone else was laughing, I don't know.

"Changeling" Thanks for the chick flick warning mozz, the wife can go and see this with her sister I think. I had thought it might have been a supernatural thriller but I googled it yesterday and saw it wasn't. Not much into ploice dramas myself. The last on we watched was "Black Dahlia" and honestly I could not wait for it to end. But I did enjoy "Zodiac" but will give almost anything a go with Robert Downey Jr in it.

Well I just watched "Evil Roy Slade" again, for the first time in a few decades, and while not as funny without a gutful of whoopee weed in me, it still had some pretty funny lines.

When he is trying to go straight, and can't take it any more he says;
"the only nine to five job I like, is when I have nine guys robbing five guys".

One movie line that's stuck with me (after Eastwood's famous one liners of course) is from Clockwise.

John Cleese's character realising that he may not make a ceremony for which he was to receive an award despite hilarious efforts to beat the clock, is almost at the point of surrender when he says, "Its not the despair,... I can take the despair. It's the HOPE I can't stand". ;D

Oh how the English love their irony.

Well, the Oscars have come and gone again, and I must say that they were the best run, as far as the show goes, that I have ever seen, with Jackman giving a stellar performance as host.

Winslet winning for the reader, was a cruel joke upon the others nominated, for far stronger performances, in far superior films, but no-one says that Oscar is always fair.
I suppose it could be a reward for appearing naked in the vast majority of her roles, she could have got a lifetime achievement award for "nuding" up, on film,, with the reader just another, in the long line, with the chance to flash the flesh.

While I always respect Sean Penn's work, I feel that Brad Pitt, is one of the most critically under rated stars in hollywood, and once again is passed over.
But hey, he is not alone, with Leo DiCaprio, not even being nominated for his stunning performance in Body Of Lies, a film also passed over by the academy.

Still, Slumdog, the big favourite, took out the two biggies, and a few more to boot, but nobody begrudges them for that, as it was definitely one of the better films this year.

mozzaok wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 4:16pm:

Winslet winning for the reader, was a cruel joke upon the others nominated, for far stronger performances, in far superior films, but no-one says that Oscar is always fair. I suppose it could be a reward for appearing naked in the vast majority of her roles, she could have got a lifetime achievement award for "nuding" up, on film,, with the reader just another, in the long line, with the chance to flash the flesh. .

Mozza, you say it like its a bad thing. ;D Nice map of Tasmania!!

I agree about Brad Pitt, I realized he was more than just a pretty boy with his performance in "12 Monkeys"

Helian, you've just got to love that line. Beautifully Shakespearian I think.

Ledger rightfully won his trophy for that role. Maybe they can let the exaggeratted accolades about the rest of his career die down now. I can think of more than a dozen finer actors of his age. The comparisons to Brando were nauseating.

Brad Pitt has always been a good actor.

Right...  saw The International this week whilst waiting for my car to get serviced.  Surprisingly good...  I was expecting a dull ho-hum more of the same sort of thriller without thrills...  but the actors and their characterisations made it very bearable, even the small part players.
Even Naomi Watts wasn't boring or grating.

Saw the trailer for Watchmen...  it looks great...  gotta go and see this one this week.

I have been waiting very impatiently for the Watchmen. I ordered the hardcover Absolute Watchmen a couple of months ago. Now I don't know whether to finish reading it before I see the movie. Only about a 1/4 of the way into it and about to hit the good stuff.

This will be a big screen must.

Saw Watchmen...  it was gooooood.  Usually hate movies without a proper musical score and just songs in its place, but the ones in this movie really worked.

Wow, six o's good, sounds like you really enjoyed it.

I am unfamiliar with what the watchmen are, in fact I had never even heard of them until the movie was promoted, are they like the X-Men sort of thing?

I don't mind the odd comic book/fantasy flick, but so few are done well, that I rarely get enthused about the thought of seeing them, and I cannot think of any, apart from Batman Begins, that I would want to watch more than once.

This has had some decent reviews, so it must be OK, because critics usually pan these types of films, mercilessly.

Do you feel like doing a brief review of the film Grendel?
I really enjoy reviews from ordinary film goers, rather than professional critics.

Ok I'll give it a shot.

I have the graphic novel (comic) but decided not to read it till after the film.  Is it any good? Well i might go see it again, but then that's me.  I think some people will either love it or hate it.  I almost love it, there are many things to like about it. Apart from the characters who are all played wonderfully.  IMO.

Watch for the scene where Night Owl drops down from his ship, watch his cape.  That's an image that sticks with me.  It's the little things that make this worth going to see.

Watchmen is a stunning and vivid adaptation of Moore's work. It's closer to Batman in its darkness than perhaps any other movie so far from this genre.  The special effects are great and seemless.  The same director brought us 300, and I think this is a step up from that.

It is set on an alternate Earth whose history is similar to ours and yes, they have superheroes or should I say costumed vigilantes.  Point being that these "superheroes" are after all just human, with human needs and foibles. I like the fact that it is structured a bit like 1950s film noir, detective story.

The script is dense with dialogue as well as action and some of the action is violent and quite graphic.  The cutting between times and characters will require you to pay attentiion otherwise you could get a bit confused.  That said it doesn't drain your brain and you wont walk out feeling fatigued or with a headache.  

Watchmen is not light entertainment, how could a political satire with shades of philosophy about the human condition ever be.  The music is another highlight of the film, Bob Dylan's, The Times they are a Changin', over the opening montage and Simon and Garfunkel's, The Sounds of Silence over a funeral, hit the mark, and only add to the moment.

Many people have problems with movies over 90 mins these days, I don't know why, but it runs for over 160 mins, trust me, it will not seem that long.  Enjoy the ride.

If I had to rate it, I'd give it 7 out of 10.

Great job grendel, thanks, you have whetted my appetite, now I am really wanting to go see it.

I really enjoyed 300, and it was done very much comic book style, so I can see why they would choose that director.

As a bit of a lapsed sci-fi/fantasy fan, the whole alternate earth concept gets me intrigued before I even know where it's going, so I guess I better go and check it out for myself.
Thanks mate.

Great description Beo..who would have thought ?

You could be a reveiwer ,its not a stretch.

Im not sure if I would want to watch Watchmen even so, but it sounds interesting.

I love long movies if they are good..its like reading a good book..you dont want them to end.

I want to watch the latest with Decaprio and Winslett..

Revolutionary Road.

Of to see Watchmen tomorrow, and can't wait. Don't get to the flicks like we used to so splurging out and going Gold Class. Especially being a 2 hour plus movie . Saw all the LOTR movies Gold Class. Nachos and a beer.

300 was awesome and I think the comic book movies are getting definitely better. Marvel took a long time to get them right, and I do love the Stan Lee pop up in every movie. Sin City was another favourite and looking forward to the sequel.

When, oh when will Tim Burton take on another one. I reckon he should do Bizzaro.

be interested to hear what you think of Watchmen Loc.

Watchmen was pretty much everything I hoped for and more. I am glad I did not read the comics yet before seeing it.

Cannot recommend it highly enough. It's gritty and full of grey areas, and I'm not talking about the graphics, which are top class. This movie/comic is full of compex characters that are full conradictions that are often simply more apparent in larger-than-life personalities. You'll find youself not compromising on some characters (this could be a real gender thing for one character in particular) and some you'll misjudge and later admire even though you may have a different pragmatic outlook.

Does the end justify the means??? There is a interesting and well written scenario here. Go see it with someone you'll have a coffee and a meal with later, it will be a good talk if you both have a good imagination. I would go see this again today and tomorrow. Can't wait for the DVD.

Cleverly written, beautifully directed, and very good acting from some actors that deserve some bigger, but I hesitate to say better roles.

Oh, did I mention that I liked this movie. Sorry if I'm being obscure, I hate spoilers, which is a pity because my wife loves them. I think it comes from the fact that I am a reader and have learned to wait for the ending at the authors pace while my wife is not a reader. I have never, in probably 1000 + books sneaked a peek.

Also saw the previews to the new Star Trek movie. I really does look the best ever. And any movie that has the heat of battle desparate cry of "Fire...........EVERYTHING!!" You just know I'm gunna be there for the big screen spectacle.

well?

https://www.wspa.org.au/campaigns/romanianbears_lp/images/Solution_RomBear.gif

This bear should be in a movie

I at last have seen Qantum of Solace, it was as good as Casino Royale but the opening song was crap..but we are talking about frikkin Alicia Keys after all.   ::)


9/10

Wel I posted another review and it disappeared too...  so no more posting until I get some guarantee it aint gonna disappear and waste my time.

unless you were posting as easel thats simply not true- in any case its your perogative!

AH NO AND IT IS SIMPLY TRUE....

PERHAPS SOMEONE WAS OVER-ZEALOUS...  PERHAPS IT WAS AN ACCIDENT...  NONE-THE-LESS IT WAS DELETED AND IT HAPPENED WHEN EASEL'S STUFF WAS.

HENCE I HAVEN'T POSTED MOVIE REVIEWS SINCE.

Grendel wrote on May 10^th, 2009 at 10:34am:

AH NO AND IT IS SIMPLY TRUE.... PERHAPS SOMEONE WAS OVER-ZEALOUS...  PERHAPS IT WAS AN ACCIDENT...  NONE-THE-LESS IT WAS DELETED AND IT HAPPENED WHEN EASEL'S STUFF WAS. HENCE I HAVEN'T POSTED MOVIE REVIEWS SINCE.

Caps lock??

Ok Ill concede it may have been an accident but I have no recollection of it....but you've never flamed so it was never neccessary..

He’s Just Not That Into You.

I really liked this film. But I’m thinking for the most, it will depend on what sex you are, what sort of experiences and how much experience you have had in relationships. For me there are lessons for everyone and lots of truths, some implied and some stated. The film is basically a bunch of intertwined “romantic” vignettes. For my part, done very well.

It has a terrific ensemble cast; Ben Affleck, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Long, Ginnifer Goodwin, Drew Barrymore and Scarlett Johansson, and is based on the best-selling book of the same title, by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo. Who also work on (Sex and the City). The film is liberally peppered with some memorable lines like - "people don't meet organically any more" - and delivers the definitive backhander to social networking on the internet. Get a life people. LOL.

If your looking for answers and a definitive message about relationships, then good luck. At the end of the movie I was more confused than at the beginning. Too much information perhaps.

I suppose I’m just a big softie because there were parts that affected me emotionally, (read; cried/teared-up), and there’s at least 1 person I’d like to send to see it. It’s IMO one of the best relationship movies I’ve seen in a long while. Hey you never know, I might even go see it again.

Unlike Duplicity this is a movie where you do care about the characters. Oh and BTW it could have just as easily been called… She’s just not that into you…

If I had to rate it, I’d give it 7.5 out of 10.

X-Men Origins; Wolverine.

I liked the character Logan/Wolverine from the X-Men series. So did a lot of other people... When they decided to film his origins then, it came as no surprise. The movie trailers all looked good. But somehow when I walked out of the cinema after seeing Wolverine, I felt flat. There was no elation, no joy, no urge to rush back and see it again. There lies my disappointment. This was a well cast, well made, but in the end, a workman-like piece of film-making. It should have been much more.

There has been some criticism of the quality of the special effects in the movie, but I think they held up really well. There was only one scene where I think they fell down a bit. Won’t tell you where, it should be obvious when you see it.

The story itself is pretty pedestrian fare for a “super-hero” plot and a bit clichéd in areas. It’s basically the typical good-brother, bad-brother plot. Throw in a touch of military intervention, a drop of romance, tragedy, and a last minute plot twist, and there you have it.

Sometimes the motivations of some of the characters seem a bit incongruous and one scene in particular I just couldn’t fathom it at all. Why would someone interfere and then fight someone who was so obviously on his side. What were the writers thinking? Or were they? Maybe it comes down to bad editing… but I doubt it. Maybe the director had too many special effects and just needed to use some on yet another fight.

I’m sure this will all appeal to teenage boys though. Seems to me like this was the target audience.

One scene I enjoyed that some critics have panned is in a boxing ring. This involves more character interaction than special effects and works well. It even harks back to the first time we saw Wolverine in the X-Men movie. Just be careful not to call anyone Bub.

One scene that disappointed from an originality point of view was the “Martha and Jonathan Kent” scene. If Superman was dead he’d be rolling in his grave.

There were nice touches of humour throughout and you have to wonder what didn’t make it to the screen. The movie could perhaps have used a bit more in character development and time to other characters after all it runs under 2 hours.

Hugh Jackman does well as Wolverine, as you’d expect, but something is missing. Liev Schreiber is great as his brother Victor and I think most people will come away with stronger memories of him than the lead character. Unfortunately the interaction between the two and their fights, (and there are a few), tend to lack variety and become a bit monotonous.

Some characters are wasted and fans of the comics will be disappointed in what happens to some or how they are treated in the movie.

Well I’m off to find Hugh Jackman’s personal trainer. Got to be the reason he gets so many good-looking leading ladies.


If I had to rate it, I'd give it 6.5 out of 10.

Star Trek.

New faces, old characters. Well almost. This Star Trek, reboots the series.

What Wolverine lacks in character interplay, Star Trek has in spades. Which is probably why it will fare better than the X-Men origins movie.

The story is a bit reminiscent of “Wrath of Khan” with Eric Bana this time playing the bad-guy… a Romulan with a grudge. His prime target is Spock. In fact he’s so ticked off he’s gone back in time to take revenge and hopefully prevent a disaster of planetary proportions he blames Spock for. Mind you he has plans for a few planetary disasters of his own.

The time travel allows director JJ Abrams to introduce us to younger versions of the Star Trek characters we already know. It also allows for modest changes to past events.

There are some well-placed one liners through-out and the reactions between the crew members elicit chuckles and laughter in exactly the right places and in ways true to the original characters from the earlier movies.

The film also pays homage to the original series in several other ways… but none greater than the inclusion of the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, in a clever cameo that is critical to the storyline.

All the new actors do a fine job. Chris Pine is great as Kirk. Zachary Quinto (Spock), Karl Urban (Bones), Simon Pegg (Scotty), all do fine jobs.

I’m still hoping they will go where no man has gone before… and make it enjoyable for all of us, for years to come.

There are a couple of spots where the writers, lost the plot. But hey, the rest of the movie more than makes up for it.


If I had to rate it, I’d give it 7 out of 10.

Quote:

He’s Just Not That Into You.

Great review Grendel. I haven't seen this movie yet - but will see it shortly.  It's amazing how these "chick flicks" get to you.  I used to hate them, but after being forced to watch dozens over the past few years - now find them very entertaining and clever. Actors like Drew Barrymore,  Scarlett Johansson and Kate Hudson are excellent and so professional, they really lighten up any movie.

I've never been a fan of Star Trek or X-Men which so many males seem to be - so I doubt whether I'll ever see these movies - they both sound a little childish to be quite honest.  

Thanks mantra.  Don't think it really falls into the "Chick flick" category though. (Not like "The Painted Veil" say).  Just like I wouldn't call the others "childish".  It is a good movie though...  hope you like it.

Id like to see this movie, but I think it would be a bit depressing for women..


How many women would be going home to partners wondering and looking for signs that their man is just "not that into them"..? Its natural and many would...

I dont think you can lump all men into the same category by saying if HE is doing X and Y then he is just not that into you..there may be perfectly good explanation that dont have anything to do with the sterotypes set down in this movie..

We have to see a "Shes just not that into you " coming soon  I hope so.

I think you should actually see it b4 jumping to conclusions Ogly.  :)

because it could as easily be called "She's just not that into you..."

See first...
jump to conclusions after.

Thanks for the reviews Grendal. I am looking forward to the Star Trek movie and the Wolverine movie, or at least my wife is looking forward to the Wolverine movie. Never really a Wolverine fan myself or Xmen fan really.

I was extremely happy to see that there will be a Deadpool movie coming out in the future, Deadpool also being part of the WeaponX  program. Deadpool is known as the Merc with a mouth because he never shuts up. Very cool and very ninja, except for the silent part.

And while I know that they are often quite clever, when it comes to romance comedies "I'm just not that into them" and avoid them and romance dramas like the pox. Having said that, I should say that the last one I watched, "Love Actually" I enjoyed immensly.

Angels and Demons.

I'm hoping the books are better than the movies. What’s going on with Ron Howard these days? Forgotten how to direct? From my point of view and from what I've heard, neither The Da Vinci Code, or Angels and Demons have translated well into feature films. I’m also starting to think Dan Brown has some serious problems with the Catholic Church. I haven’t read any of Brown’s books so I can’t compare them to the film, which is usually not a good way to go anyway. I also hear the ending of the film is different from the book and that some major characters have been left out.

Having seen both I think, Angels and Demons is a better movie than The Da Vinci Code. Even Tom's hairdo in this one is better. This film, is a thriller… minus serious thrills, a whodunit that doesn't pull the audience in, the way it needs to. The repetition of racing through Rome to continually arrive just too late is a bit tedious. Also the conflict between what the Illuminati says they are going to do and what they actually do leaves you scratching your head. What is wrong with writers these days? Short term memory loss?

The story in a nutshell is; the Pope passes away, the election of a new Pope starts and the “Illuminati” launch a plot to destroy the church. The Catholics call in Professor Langdon (Hanks) to help stop them before it is too late.

Tom Hanks is the best thing about Angels and Demons. The rest of the cast hardly make an impact. Even his lovely co-star, Ayelet Zurer, doesn't stand out. In fact it’s like she’s just a token woman in the movie. The ending seems contrived and rushed.

Even though, Angels and Demons works in ways that The Da Vinci Code didn’t, that doesn't mean it's worth devoting your time to in a movie theatre.

If I had to rate it, I’d give it 5.5 out of 10.

Grendel wrote on May 16^th, 2009 at 5:04pm:

Angels and Demons. I'm hoping the books are better than the movies. What’s going on with Ron Howard these days? Forgotten how to direct? From my point of view and from what I've heard, neither The Da Vinci Code, or Angels and Demons have translated well into feature films. I’m also starting to think Dan Brown has some serious problems with the Catholic Church. I haven’t read any of Brown’s books so I can’t compare them to the film, which is usually not a good way to go anyway. I also hear the ending of the film is different from the book and that some major characters have been left out. Having seen both I think, Angels and Demons is a better movie than The Da Vinci Code. Even Tom's hairdo in this one is better. This film, is a thriller… minus serious thrills, a whodunit that doesn't pull the audience in, the way it needs to. The repetition of racing through Rome to continually arrive just too late is a bit tedious. Also the conflict between what the Illuminati says they are going to do and what they actually do leaves you scratching your head. What is wrong with writers these days? Short term memory loss? The story in a nutshell is; the Pope passes away, the election of a new Pope starts and the “Illuminati” launch a plot to destroy the church. The Catholics call in Professor Langdon (Hanks) to help stop them before it is too late. Tom Hanks is the best thing about Angels and Demons. The rest of the cast hardly make an impact. Even his lovely co-star, Ayelet Zurer, doesn't stand out. In fact it’s like she’s just a token woman in the movie. The ending seems contrived and rushed. Even though, Angels and Demons works in ways that The Da Vinci Code didn’t, that doesn't mean it's worth devoting your time to in a movie theatre. If I had to rate it, I’d give it 5.5 out of 10.

I will watch anything Tom hanks is in just because he is in it..he is a great actor..even my son likes him in any  role he plays and he is a kid.

I used to think Nicholson was the best but Tom is probably that little bit better.

Ok Im off to watch Twilight now..Ill be back in about 2 hours and let you know how it went.

Twilight.

I used to watch “Moonlight”… it was a TV show and I really enjoyed it. It involved a romance between a woman (the beautiful Sophia Myles from “Tristan and Isolde”) and a vampire, (Australian actor Alex O’Loughlin). It also touched on the associated complications of falling in love with a vampire and visa versa. Don’t you just hate it when they ‘can’ shows you really like.

The last vampire movie I saw was “Interview with a Vampire” and I enjoyed it even though it had Tom Cruise in the lead. I always picture Lestat taller. I have to admit I put off seeing Twilight at the movies till now, because in the end I thought it was just going to be a movie for love struck or starved, teenage girls. I also have to admit I haven’t read the book or the books by Stephenie Meyer. Which in this case, could be a good or bad thing. I’d really be interested in the thoughts of anyone who has read the book/s.

In Twilight, we have a modern day romance starring new comers Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen (vampire).

(Isa)Bella has recently relocated from Phoenix, Arizona, to live with her father, (the local sheriff) in the small town of Forks, (a somewhat dark and dank small town),as her mother travels with her stepfather, across the states to Florida. She feels like an outsider at first at her new school, but soon finds friends and an undeniable attraction to Edward. Perhaps his initial reaction to her, peaks her curiosity and challenges her ego to… shall we say, overcome his reticence.

The interest and attraction only intensifies when Edward uses his “non-human” speed and strength to save her life. Soon she can not stay away from Edward and only finds his mysteriousness fueling this new obsession of hers. Edward is obviously drawn to her but is struggling with his attraction to her and what he sees as his need to keep a distance. Once Bella reveals to Edward that she knows he is a vampire and she is not afraid, he gives into his feelings and decides not to push her away anymore. And so the romantic… and not so romantic… complications begin. Will Edward’s family accept her. Will she be safe. Safe from Edward. From other vampires.

As far as the leads go, the casting of Kristen Stewart as Bella was brilliant, she's perfect, not only in telegraphing Bella's nervous, deep infatuation, but, in carrying the movie on her shoulders. She's a real star; when teenage boys begrudgingly take their dates to the movie they’ll be walking away as in love with Bella, as their girlfriends are with Edward.

Some special effects are a little bit wobbly, but the characters interplay more than makes up for any shortcomings. For anyone who has been in love I’m sure you will relate. For those who enjoy the movie, there’s all those sequels to look forward to. I will certainly go see the next one without hesitation.

If I had to rate it I'd give it 6.5 out of 10.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Soren wrote on Jun 1^st, 2009 at 8:49pm:

Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Is it in Australian cinemas already?

Already on dvd Happy..I bought it yesterday..the leading man ,Edward,was just beautiful, now I see what all the fuss is about and the"Jacob" character, mortal not vampire, was very cute too...the girls were served generous lashings of eye candy in this one..the men would not be dissapointed either, even tho , unlike grendel ..she did annoy  me a bit with her overly scripted tortured prickly persona.. but thats just me of course..

It was a brilliant movie and I'd happily watch it more than once..visually stunning.But I wont give anything away here.

Loved your reveiw Grendel.. :)

Quote:

unlike grendel, I thought the leading lady/girl was over all quite good..

huh...?????????


Quote:

As far as the leads go, the casting of Kristen Stewart as Bella was brilliant, she's perfect, not only in telegraphing Bella's nervous, deep infatuation, but, in carrying the movie on her shoulders. She's a real star; when teenage boys begrudgingly take their dates to the movie they’ll be walking away as in love with Bella, as their girlfriends are with Edward.

huh?

here let me clarify...

Already on dvd Happy..I bought it yesterday..the leading man ,Edward,was just beautiful, now I see what all the fuss is about and the"Jacob" character, mortal not vampire, was very cute too...the girls were served generous lashings of eye candy in this one..the men would not be dissapointed either, even tho , unlike grendel ,who just loved the leading lady/girls portrayal as Bella..I ,on the other hand found her performance rather overplayed, over scripted as the tortured mysterious,  prickly girl who was just a bit too "different" for difference sake.... but thats just me of course..

It was a brilliant movie and I'd happily watch it more than once..visually stunning.But I wont give anything away here.

Loved your reveiw Grendel.. :)

Good grief...  don't go back and change things...  that just confuses me.

I thought'd i'd lost the plot.

But yes...  your new version does clear things up.
Glad you liked it.

Gonna see terminator on Thrs.

my editting can be tedious I know..
so let us know how Terminator goes .

oceanz wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2009 at 10:24am:

Already on dvd Happy..

Oceanz,
Do you know what is the lag time between DVD and Cinema screening?

Happy wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2009 at 1:57pm:

oceanz wrote on Jun 2nd, 2009 at 10:24am: Already on dvd Happy.. Oceanz, Do you know what is the lag time between DVD and Cinema screening?

Happy.. I have no idea tbh but the dvd runs to about 208 minutes I think..Im sure anyone who has been to the cinema to see it would be able to tell you  tho'.

Terminator Salvation.

Terminator 1 and 2 are by far the best of the series so far.  The original film,  which really launched Schwarzenegger’s acting career, wasn’t a really big box office success.  In fact when I saw it I was the only one in the cinema, but word of mouth soon changed that and those that missed it at the cinema quickly gobbled up the video release.

This 4th instalment is better than the last Terminator movie; Rise of the Machines.  But then that wouldn’t be too difficult.  Terminator Salvation takes place during the year 2018 in a post-apocalyptic California. The war with the machines is underway, and John Connor is one of the main leaders of the human resistance movement. Skynet has begun sending out terminators to not just kill, but to take humans prisoner.  John Connor meanwhile leads his team on missions and also searches for Kyle Reese, the man who will become his father. They both cross paths with a mysterious man named Marcus Wright, whose secret either holds the key to their future or the road to their demise.

Despite what many others have said I think Christian Bale is good as John Conner and (Australian) Sam Worthington as Marcus Wright is excellent.  These two carry the movie.

It is an action packed movie, quite literally, and in some parts reminiscent of Transformers.  You’ll know it when you see it.  But as is the norm it seems these days the Writers and Director lack imagination and originality in what they present.  There are echoes of not only Transformers, but; Mad Max and The Matrix.  Plot holes, sure, there are a few of those too.  Pity the Director and Writers didn’t opt for more character exposition and less special effects and action.

As with many American movies these days there is the inevitable explanation scene where we are told everything, just in case we couldn’t work it out.

I have a few niggley-naggleys with this movie, but overall it was fairly enjoyable for what it is…  an action flick.  There are some nice touches in Salvation, and scenes and dialogue which pay homage to the original movies.  We even get to hear the iconic… “I’ll be back”…

Well if there's another in the pipeline...  I'll be back
(If only out of curiosity).

If I had to rate it, I'd give it 6.5 out of 10.

well I was wondering about the Arnie factor Grendel...who played his character?

Terminator without Arnie..can it be done.? :o

There was a CGI Arnie...  looked pretty good.

This story isn't about the T800.
So Arnie is pretty superfluous.

surprisingly I saw terminator in the weekend also.
the other ones I really liked, this one was very flat.
No story, no human involvement, no Arnie - he does make a cameo appearance - in the buff of course.

But, for me only 1.5/5

Star Trek  was good, 4/5 for that one.

Body of Lies..

I loved it but the story was about terrorism in the Middle East so I lost the thread quite easily ..even tho I tried to follow it.

Leonardo Decaprio is very good [as always..cute]and Russell Crowe was adequte.
9/10

The Proposal.

Well, I have to tell you right from the get-go… I love Sandra Bullock. But… I’m trying really hard not to let that influence me.

There’s a lot to like about “The Proposal”, chief amongst them are the 2 leads. Sandra Bullock (Margaret) proves again she is made for romantic comedies, and Ryan Reynolds (Andrew) whom I didn’t like at all before this film, proves her equal. (I even like him now.)

This film was directed by Anne Fletcher (“27 Dresses”), which I watched a week or so ago (on dvd)… this is better. She doesn’t try to push the material beyond what it is meant to be and is smart enough to simply get out of the way and let Bullock and Reynolds be funny on their own terms.

“The Proposal” was written by first timer Peter Chiarelli, and he does a really good job. There was one scene I wish they had left out… regarding how Andrew proposed to Margaret… I hate it when people are put in awkward situations and didn’t find it funny just cringe-worthy… buy hey some people might find fun in it. I was glad when it was over.

Margaret (Bullock) is a book editor and a no-nonsense boss (think shades of "The Devil Wears Prada"), well offices have to have someone to hate. Andrew (Reynolds) is a would-be writer who sticks with the job, hoping for better things.
Suddenly Margaret is threatened with deportation (she's a Canadian, whom had violated her visa conditions in the name of work). She's in need of a quick solution… and quick marriage pops into her head. Mind you it was the last thing Anrew was thinking of. And so off she goes for a fish-out-of-water weekend with Andrew's loving family in Alaska. (They have 4 days to get familiar, before being quizzed by an over-zealous immigration official.) Will they, or won’t they?

Fall in love silly.

I have to tell you the town and the countryside is beautiful in Alaska and worth going to the movie for to see just on its own.

Everyone takes a good part. Even Ramone… you’ll know him when you see him. And see him and…


If I had to rate it, I’d give it 7.5 out of 10.

Did I mention Sandra Bullock was really beautiful?

PS. I’m starting to worry. I’m really starting to enjoy chick-flicks… OMG… I’m living my life vicariously through film.

Oh well, gonna see it again next Tuesday. Half price you know.

Sounds like a good one to settle in with some popcorn and a sick bag ( joke)

You only like it because Sandra was in it, admit it..you are a sucker for a pretty face boof.

And dont worry we all live our lives vicariously thru something..with me its my lungs .


-------------------------------------------->>>>>>>>>>

Anyway I saw a silly flick last night called Sex Drive.

My kids loved it and I kind of agreed in a slapstick kind of way it was quite funny..

About an 18 year old virgin male who meets a girl online who callled herself "Miss Tasty"'''he was called "Stallion69" he photo shopped his head onto a buff body..they agreed to meet, but she was like a few states away..so he stole his brothers really cool Mustang to go to see her 9 hours away...his brother was a crazy hot head and when he discovered his car was missing.... he went ballistic.

So the events unfold from there , along the journey they meet up with a smart arse Armish guy played by Seth Green..brilliant portrayal by Seth , he is rebuilt their car engine for them when they cooked the motor and the only payment he would accept was a liberal dose of guilt and obligation...the Armish girls were party animals with the morals of a cat in season...whilst all this was going on the crazy arse brother was in hot pursuit.

Along the way "Stallion69" was co piloting with his childhood friend (very cute ..if your a guy that is ) who also happened to love him and he her, but the preservation of friendship and deep shyness from both was to big to overcome and they never voiced their feelings...until the very end when it was clear "Miss Tasty" was not she was cracked up to be.

So unlike Body of Lies I was not required to process anything much ( which is always a bonus for me) and was allowed to just have a good laugh.  

I give it 8/10.

Good review on "The Proposal" Grendel, but unfortunately I can't stand Sandra Bullock or chick flicks. As well, the movie was actually shot in Massachusetts, not Alaska.

Has anybody seen Year One? It seems like a bit of a laugh, but I'm hoping that the funny bits aren't all in the ad which is so often the case.

Well its really nice scenery there too.

Amadd wrote on Jun 25^th, 2009 at 4:38pm:

Good review on "The Proposal" Grendel, but unfortunately I can't stand Sandra Bullock or chick flicks. As well, the movie was actually shot in Massachusetts, not Alaska. Has anybody seen Year One? It seems like a bit of a laugh, but I'm hoping that the funny bits aren't all in the ad which is so often the case.

Like Grendel - Sandra Bullock is one of my favourite actresses - I don't think I've seen her in a bad movie yet. I saw the Premonition the other day - which is probably fairly old, but it was excellent as per all her films.

I'll get around to seeing the Proposal eventually, but I did end up seeing "He's not that into you". All I can say about it is that it was corny..corny..corny - although my daughter liked it and said it was so realistic. I found it totally unrealistic - or maybe my memory is failing.

Sorry mantra I am tending to agree with your daughter.

But you are right, Sandra is a good actress and she is good at romantic comedy.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

The 2007 Transformers team, is back.and Michael Bay is directing once again. With a budget upped by another $50 million, Revenge of the Fallen cost the studio $200 million to make. One would think then, that for all that extra money, there might be; more plot, better character development, new interesting "Bots"...

Nah! They just went for bigger. We get more "Bots" for our buck and a lot more bang too. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", turns out to be; a loud, under-plotted, special effects extravaganza that lacks the human touch. Something the last film had much more of. Even so, the special effects are great.

Shia LaBeouf is back as Sam Witwicky. The Military are back, but for most of the movie you have to wonder why. Oh, and there is a new woman in Sam's life too, the attractive (Australian actress) Isabel Lucas. Even Sam's Mum is back, more annoying than she ever was in the first film. We also get to meet the Tweedledee and Tweedledum of Autobots. But why? Mind you, I think director Michael Bay has developed a real thing for Megan Fox. So much eye candy can't be good for you. Even I got bored with it after a while and I think she's drop-dead gorgeous.

If you liked the first one, odds are you will like this one too.

Plenty of action, plenty of Megan. Teenage boys are gonna love it.

If I had to rate it, I'd give it 6 out of 10.

ps. I loved the design of the Deceptacon "cat"... and... it was full of surprises :-)

About that deceptacon cat..what kind of surprises are we talking here Boof?   ;)

Gave a clue...  you'll have to see the movie.

I not a Transformer kinda girl..and I didnt think you would make it easy for me.

You are right of course Megan Fox and Isabel Lucas are much more attractive.   ;)