2005
Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes
Charlie (Lopez) has never found her Mr Darcy...until now. She falls head over heels for the stunning Kevin Fields (Vartan). He is perfect, bar one teeny tiny problem! The mother in law.
I actually enjoyed this far more than i thought i would. Not since Out of Sight, has Jennifer Lopez actually looked like she has any acting capability at all. Her and Jane Fonda as the evil mother in law are just a hilarious twosome. Wanda Sykes as the outspoken personal assistant also gives a hilarious comic turn.
It isn't going to win any prizes for being the most creative film in the world, but that doesn't matter because it is pretty damm funny :)
8/10
"WHAT WE DO IN LIFE ECHOES IN ETERNITY"
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Gran Torino
2008
Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang, Ahney Her
Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) is a grumpy old racist Korean war veteran, who has just lost his wife. As well as mourning her death, he is also mourning the loss of his American neighbourhood to the Korean family who have moved in next door. His only prized possession is a 1972 Gran Torino which he keeps in mint condition in the garage. When his young neighbour Thao (Vang) sets out to steal the car for his gangland cousin, Walt catches him in the act and makes it is business to reform the teenager, not realising that he too would become embroiled in gang warfare!
The positives of Gran Torino are the cinematography, music and Clint Eastwood. The man can go no wrong, in front or behind the camera. The bad......Vang and Her just can't act. Their performance is so wooden and scripted, i am surprised Eastwood allowed it. It is an enjoyable film with a heartbreaking ending...but lack of acting skills makes the kids tedious to watch.
7/10
Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang, Ahney Her
Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) is a grumpy old racist Korean war veteran, who has just lost his wife. As well as mourning her death, he is also mourning the loss of his American neighbourhood to the Korean family who have moved in next door. His only prized possession is a 1972 Gran Torino which he keeps in mint condition in the garage. When his young neighbour Thao (Vang) sets out to steal the car for his gangland cousin, Walt catches him in the act and makes it is business to reform the teenager, not realising that he too would become embroiled in gang warfare!
The positives of Gran Torino are the cinematography, music and Clint Eastwood. The man can go no wrong, in front or behind the camera. The bad......Vang and Her just can't act. Their performance is so wooden and scripted, i am surprised Eastwood allowed it. It is an enjoyable film with a heartbreaking ending...but lack of acting skills makes the kids tedious to watch.
7/10
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Downfall (Der Untergang)
2004
Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Kohler, Heino Ferch, Thomas Kretschmann
Downfall tells the story of Hitler (Ganz) and his last days within the confines of his bunker. It is told from the perspective of his young secretary Traudl Junge (Lara). The Russians are closing in, Parkinson's is clouding his judgement and even his closest allies are sceptical about the state of his mental health. Of course we all know the outcome, but seeing it from the inside gives the story an almost human perception.
Of course what Hitler did to the Jews was absolutly horrendous but people forget, that within every dictator is the ability to act completely normal with those they love and cherish. Far from making me sympathise with him, this film actually shows how scary it can be to be so close to someone who can change their personality at the drop of a hat. They may have done some horrendous things under the leadership of Hitler, but the majority of soldiers felt they had no choice. It was do as he says or i will die.
There are some absolutly horrendous scenes but they are so very powerful, there are no duff performances, everyone gives as good as they get. Ganz should have had that Oscar for this one...his likeness to Hitler is quite frightening.
One of my all time fave films, for cinematography and music.
10/10
Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Kohler, Heino Ferch, Thomas Kretschmann
Downfall tells the story of Hitler (Ganz) and his last days within the confines of his bunker. It is told from the perspective of his young secretary Traudl Junge (Lara). The Russians are closing in, Parkinson's is clouding his judgement and even his closest allies are sceptical about the state of his mental health. Of course we all know the outcome, but seeing it from the inside gives the story an almost human perception.
Of course what Hitler did to the Jews was absolutly horrendous but people forget, that within every dictator is the ability to act completely normal with those they love and cherish. Far from making me sympathise with him, this film actually shows how scary it can be to be so close to someone who can change their personality at the drop of a hat. They may have done some horrendous things under the leadership of Hitler, but the majority of soldiers felt they had no choice. It was do as he says or i will die.
There are some absolutly horrendous scenes but they are so very powerful, there are no duff performances, everyone gives as good as they get. Ganz should have had that Oscar for this one...his likeness to Hitler is quite frightening.
One of my all time fave films, for cinematography and music.
10/10
Volcano
1997
Tommy Lee Jones, Anne Heche, Don Cheadle
Los Angeles is heating up....moreso every day, but nobody knows why! When a group of construction workers are badly burned in the sewers, Policeman, Mike Roark (Jones) heads down to investigate. What he finds will set off a whole catastrophic chain of events which almost sees LA drowning in lava.
First off.....it's a bit of a silly film but it doesn't pretend to be anything other than that. If you enjoy action movies with a charismatic lead then Volcano has it by the bucketful with TLJ! Just don't expect something wonderful and you will enjoy it.
7/10
Tommy Lee Jones, Anne Heche, Don Cheadle
Los Angeles is heating up....moreso every day, but nobody knows why! When a group of construction workers are badly burned in the sewers, Policeman, Mike Roark (Jones) heads down to investigate. What he finds will set off a whole catastrophic chain of events which almost sees LA drowning in lava.
First off.....it's a bit of a silly film but it doesn't pretend to be anything other than that. If you enjoy action movies with a charismatic lead then Volcano has it by the bucketful with TLJ! Just don't expect something wonderful and you will enjoy it.
7/10
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Addams Family Values
1993
Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Joan Cusack, Christina Ricci
In this equally funny sequel to the fantastic 1991 original, the kookiest family around are back to wreak havoc. There is a new baby in the house and Wednesday (Ricci) and Pugsley don't want to be left out by mum and dad. So they try to kill him, as you do! Morticia (Huston) and Gomez (Julia) realise that this can not be allowed (even though pain is fun) and decide to hire a nanny. They hire the stupidly sweet Debbie (Cusack) who Uncle Fester (Lloyd) falls in love with. Only problem, is, she is a killer who is wanted and on the run.......
I love the original. This does not disapoint.Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston are one of my fave on screen couples. I adore when they randomly make out while spouting french at each other and promising each other painful things in the bedroom later on. It is so funny.
7/10
Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Joan Cusack, Christina Ricci
In this equally funny sequel to the fantastic 1991 original, the kookiest family around are back to wreak havoc. There is a new baby in the house and Wednesday (Ricci) and Pugsley don't want to be left out by mum and dad. So they try to kill him, as you do! Morticia (Huston) and Gomez (Julia) realise that this can not be allowed (even though pain is fun) and decide to hire a nanny. They hire the stupidly sweet Debbie (Cusack) who Uncle Fester (Lloyd) falls in love with. Only problem, is, she is a killer who is wanted and on the run.......
I love the original. This does not disapoint.Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston are one of my fave on screen couples. I adore when they randomly make out while spouting french at each other and promising each other painful things in the bedroom later on. It is so funny.
7/10
Taxi Driver
1976
Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel
Travis Bickle (De Niro) is an ex Vietnam War Vet who is more than a little unstable. He works the long night shifts as a New York taxi driver in the sleazy and violent neighbourhoods. His only little perks are watching porn films at the local sleaze joint. After meeting the cold but alluring Betsy(Shepherd) at a presidential campaign he feels his luck is finally turning, but can he control his mood swings long enough to make something of it?
I love De Niro, lets just get that out of the way. He can do no wrong. He brings a certain naivity to Bickle but also makes you realise that this guy isn't stable. Shepherd is brilliant as the ice queen Betsy. Jodie Foster is one of the best moments of the film as the 13 year old prostitute Travis tries to rescue off the streets. You could tell how good she was as an actress from a very early age.
Music was melancholy and iconic. New York was dark and dingy....not much i couldn't love :)
10/10
Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel
Travis Bickle (De Niro) is an ex Vietnam War Vet who is more than a little unstable. He works the long night shifts as a New York taxi driver in the sleazy and violent neighbourhoods. His only little perks are watching porn films at the local sleaze joint. After meeting the cold but alluring Betsy(Shepherd) at a presidential campaign he feels his luck is finally turning, but can he control his mood swings long enough to make something of it?
I love De Niro, lets just get that out of the way. He can do no wrong. He brings a certain naivity to Bickle but also makes you realise that this guy isn't stable. Shepherd is brilliant as the ice queen Betsy. Jodie Foster is one of the best moments of the film as the 13 year old prostitute Travis tries to rescue off the streets. You could tell how good she was as an actress from a very early age.
Music was melancholy and iconic. New York was dark and dingy....not much i couldn't love :)
10/10
Avatar
2009
Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez
Paraplegic Marine, Jake Sully (Worthington) is sent to the planet Pandora to take over his brothers mission, who has just died. He learns he will be taking an avatar body of the alien species Navi in order to penetrate the Navi's inner workings so that the greedy corporation he works for can mine the native land for a precious material which lies within.. However, he finds himself fallking for more than just the native life.
I absolutly loved this when it first came out in 2009. I saw it in 3D and was amazed at the colours and shapes coming out of the screen at me.........
The story is actually good if you can get past the CGI....something unfortunatly my parents could not.
Everyone puts in a steller performance and introduced me to an adorably cute Sam Worthington. Special mention to a cool Michelle Rodriguez, who i just love as the kickass fighter pilot.
8/10
Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez
Paraplegic Marine, Jake Sully (Worthington) is sent to the planet Pandora to take over his brothers mission, who has just died. He learns he will be taking an avatar body of the alien species Navi in order to penetrate the Navi's inner workings so that the greedy corporation he works for can mine the native land for a precious material which lies within.. However, he finds himself fallking for more than just the native life.
I absolutly loved this when it first came out in 2009. I saw it in 3D and was amazed at the colours and shapes coming out of the screen at me.........
The story is actually good if you can get past the CGI....something unfortunatly my parents could not.
Everyone puts in a steller performance and introduced me to an adorably cute Sam Worthington. Special mention to a cool Michelle Rodriguez, who i just love as the kickass fighter pilot.
8/10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)