9th to 22nd of March Movie Reviews

A little held up last week so here is two weeks of movie goodness

Bananaz **** A Documentary about the birth and growth of the Gorillaz. A jumbled mix of video footage and animated band material, this film may not really interest anyone who has no background awareness of the band, but maybe it may get you hooked!

Red Cliff ***** This has made it to my 5 favourite films of all time because in everyway this film is epic! The landscapes, the acting, the story telling, the amazing battle sequences, everything slides together like a child’s jigsaw puzzle.

Shutter Island ****

From Paris with Love **** This film flew past, I’m not surprised! One action scene after another, the main characters do not stop searching for their goal till the titles roll! The action sequences are brilliant and are completed with amazing one liners from John Travolta. In a way Travolta owns this film, he is funny and witty but at the same time very serious. My favourite part of the whole film was the great Pulp Fiction line, why?!?!

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo **** A murder mystery, that manages to intertwine two characters from different backgrounds, suffering their own problems, to pair up and work together. This made me what to watch more Swedish cinema, as I have seen little but what I have seen is pretty good, dark but so appealing.

Predator **** I watched this after watching a trailer for Predators and I was reminded how brilliant it is! Great one liners, some brilliant action scenes, tacky but I’m guessing for the time not bad effects and an alien that looks pretty bloody cool. Also a great final battle, where the hunted becomes the hunter! Damn you Schwarzenegger, why did you give up the movie business!

Shifty **** For some reason I can not get enough of gritty London dramas about drugs, the mob and hard living, as long as its not about bloody football hooligans! A friend returns from the North for a visit to a friend he ran away from, and he gets back into the trouble he ran away from. Some great acting in this from actors whose CV’s have Eastenders written all over it. Funny, but dark and emotional at the same time.

Tideland **½ Most the time I love Gilliam’s work, and I pretty much enjoyed this, but the story was just so so twisted! Dead parents, Hill Billy retarded neighbours who loved the 10 year old main character and talking Barbie heads!

Ponyo **** A lovely magical take on the Little Mermaid story. Loveable characters, great scenery and the animation of the sea was spectacular! Something I will be watching again and again in the future, Japanese or English Version!

Jack Said * O my, what can I say about this London/Noir, with a minor role by Danny Dyer and a “from the grave” cameo from Frank Butcher. Well it does not help that the only reason I watched it was because of a TV ad and the fact Danny was in it. After watching it I found out why it was so confusing, it was the second part of a trilogy! Bad acting, confusing plot and stupid voice over. Some nice shots of London though.

Frost/Nixon **** A great piece of character acting from the whole cast, but mainly the two leads.

30 Days of Night **½ As I write this I am only half way through my first second viewing and it has gained a star from the first time I saw it. I think it works well as a background film, when you’re chatting but you have something to stop and look at now and again. Pretty freaky vamps though!

A Perfect Getaway *** An average thriller. Started to get bored half way in then the twist came, which I guessed 10 minutes in, and then the pace started to pick up to an end which was predictable as hell, but what I hoped for.

300 *** Another night, another evening of watching a movie with Jonny. And we had fun taking the piss out of 300 half naked men! A good action movie, some bad acting but a nice look and some great fights.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail ****½ “Jesus Christ!” and “You make me sad, come Patsy”, two of my favourite lines from this crazy comedy. Re watching it, I noticed so much that I have not realised before, because this film is just so full of comedy gold. The 6 Monty Python’s are masters at their art.

I Love You, Phillip Morris **** All the promo stuff made me want to see it as Carrey just seemed so on form. But the problem with the promo stuff was it only portrayed the comedy side of the film, which is true, it is very funny. But the love story is beautiful and heart breaking, Carrey and McGregor have amazing chemistry on screen. Both actors made this film both loveable and laugh out loud funny.

The Bounty Hunter *** A Rom Com about a guy hunting down his ex wife, but on the journey back to prison guess what happens! You will never guess!?!

2nd to the 8th of March Quick Ass Movie Reviews

Roll up, Roll up. Learn what I been watching

White Out *** I do not understand why everyone hates this so much, do not get me wrong it was not great, but it was a run of the mill thriller. Ok when I started watching it I did think it was going to a Horror/Sci-Fi so was a little disappointed that it was like a crime/thriller thing. Some bad acting and not great effects, but not so shit.

Alice in Wonderland **** I was going to knock a star off because of 2 reasons, people telling me it is shit and the bloody dance at the end! A fun kids movie that in places did feel like a reintroduction, more then an action/adventure. But I did like the way the film felt like a sequel to the books, more then a retelling of the story, but because of this reason I understand why people do not like it. Most of the characters were under used, but my favourite character was the Chester Cat as he was well voiced and animated brilliantly as was the Jabberwocky!

Exit Through The Gift Shop ***** Went in knowing little about Banksy and the world of Graffiti Art, left with great interest and the want for more. A well presented story about a crazy French man who films everything he sees who falls into the world of street art and his hunt for Banksy. Just entertaining and really enjoyable.

Tale of Two Sisters *** Like most Korean Horrors, it was very very creepy, and when something scary was coming I pulled my t-shirt up to my nose and put my fingers in my ears! But this film was very confusing and halfway through I realised I’d seen the dreadful remake so that ruined the ending!!

22nd of Feb to the 1st of March Movie Reviews

Not many films this week. Been busy

Mic Macs **** A fun story, that never stops with the comedy till the last scene. A great cast and some brilliant set pieces and props. O yer, really really funny as well.

The Cradle will Fall * A mum who loses it and tries to kill her 4 kids, ranged between 10 months and 10 years. Why in the name of our lord, did I think it would be any good?

Observe and Report ** In the whole film I laughed out loud once and that was 2 minutes before the credits, too little too late! I thought with a cast including Seth Rogen and Ray Liotta, maybe the acting would be good, but alas no, of course not!! I have not even seen Mall Cop, but I get the feeling that would be a much better film, even tho it looks crap!!