1999
Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, Salma Hayek
Former Civil War Hero Jim West (Smith) is as cowboy as a cowboy can get. When he has to team up with the uber geek Artemus Gordon (Kline) to help rid of the world of the crazed psycho Arliss Loveliss (Branagh), who loves to build the craziest machines which would not have been available in the real wild west, chaos ensues as egos clash and a girl gets in the way.
It is silly, spectacularly stupid but i really liked it......I have never seen the original series it is based on so i have no previous bias and i think that is a good thing, as i can enjoy it for what it is. A great family romp. Smith and Kline make a really good onscreen team and do not ask me why, but i found Kline rather attractive :) Just don't take it seriously and you will enjoy it!
The giant mechanical spider is AWSOME!
6/10
"WHAT WE DO IN LIFE ECHOES IN ETERNITY"
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Men In Black II
2002
Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Rip Torn, Lara Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson
Jay (Smith) is back.... and searching for a new partner, as Kay (Jones) has long since left MIB and gone back to his wife and mundane job in a post office. However, when a dangerous alien crash lands on earth hell bent on finding the mysterious Light of Zartha, Jay soon realises that he needs Kay back...and fast.
Not quite as good as the first, but not half as bad as i thought it was going to be. It lack the punch and originality of the well, original film but it makes up for it in the double act that is Jones and Smith. Lara Flynn Boyle is a great surprise...who knew she could act. The special effects are just as good the second time round and Smith again delivers on a cracking soundtrack.
7/10
Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Rip Torn, Lara Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson
Jay (Smith) is back.... and searching for a new partner, as Kay (Jones) has long since left MIB and gone back to his wife and mundane job in a post office. However, when a dangerous alien crash lands on earth hell bent on finding the mysterious Light of Zartha, Jay soon realises that he needs Kay back...and fast.
Not quite as good as the first, but not half as bad as i thought it was going to be. It lack the punch and originality of the well, original film but it makes up for it in the double act that is Jones and Smith. Lara Flynn Boyle is a great surprise...who knew she could act. The special effects are just as good the second time round and Smith again delivers on a cracking soundtrack.
7/10
Men In Black
1997
Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Rip Torn, Linda Fiorentino
Jay (Smith), just happens to be the policeman who runs down an alien who proclaims the end of the world. Agent Kay (Jones) would like to recruit him as his new partner in the government agency 'The Men in Black'or MIB for short. Thinking this is just going to be a little game of cowboys and aliens, Jay is sceptical but agrees to be taken on. However, when a bug crash lands on earth hell bent on destroying everything in it's path, Jay realizes he is in way over his head.
I have always loved this film....i can't believe it is 15 years old. Will Smith and Tommy Lee at their best. The special effects of the aliens are superb and Will does a fantastic job of the main soundtrack. Love love LOVE everything about it :)
9/10
Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Rip Torn, Linda Fiorentino
Jay (Smith), just happens to be the policeman who runs down an alien who proclaims the end of the world. Agent Kay (Jones) would like to recruit him as his new partner in the government agency 'The Men in Black'or MIB for short. Thinking this is just going to be a little game of cowboys and aliens, Jay is sceptical but agrees to be taken on. However, when a bug crash lands on earth hell bent on destroying everything in it's path, Jay realizes he is in way over his head.
I have always loved this film....i can't believe it is 15 years old. Will Smith and Tommy Lee at their best. The special effects of the aliens are superb and Will does a fantastic job of the main soundtrack. Love love LOVE everything about it :)
9/10
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Monster In Law
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
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
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
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