Top Gun, Ghandi, The Bucket List

After the week of Easter, I had quite the opportunity to watch a lot of films - including several rewatches of those old 5*s, and then these new ones. There's another post to come sometime this week.

#1 - THE BUCKET LIST

Stars - Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson,
Director - Rob Reiner
Memorable Quote - 'We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round.'
Review - Quite a touching little storyline really, which in fact causes you to think about the mortality of the actors themselves - Morgan Freeman's getting on a bit now, isn't he? Can't really say much about this one - worth a watch if you're a fan of either of them, and a heart-warming ending, but not so very amazing that I want to watch it again. Still, as I say, the storyline is nice, and there's a message to be found there. 3/5

#2 - GHANDI


Stars - Ben Kingsley, Martin Sheen, John Gielgud
Director - Richard Attenborough
Memorable Quote - 'I know a way out of Hell. Find a child, a child whose mother and father have been killed and raise him as your own. Only be sure that he is a Muslim and that you raise him as one.'
Review - Wow, this film is long, first of all. Very long. A lot of the time I found myself thinking, 'do we need to see the same fight scene over and again so many times?' And if anything that is the main fault with the film - its repetition. Only so many times can you see a street brawl or watch Ghandi gaze with compassion before you start to lose your concentration. Good film though with good cause to create a film, and certainly one that could be inspirational to us all. Also, I now know what to do if faced with a charge of horses. 3/5

#3 - TOP GUN

Stars - Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan
Director - Tony Scott
Memorable Quote - 'You can be my wingman any time.'
Review - Ahahah. What a remarkably corny movie. Also, about halfway through I recall commenting that 'this is the most homoerotic straight film I've ever seen.' And I've seen a good few straight films. There was 100% a secret Maverick/Iceman relationship going on there, you could cut the tension with a knife. Seriously though, too many flight scenes and not really enough storyline. And what kind of training programme spends years getting the best pilots, sends them on ONE mission, and then lets them retire? Also 3/5, a bit of a week for it this time.

The Hurt Locker, The Company of Wolves, Inglourious Basterds

Whew, there are a lot of good films out there, right? And not enough time in the day to watch them all.

#1 - THE HURT LOCKER

Stars - Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Christian Camargo and some well-known cameos
Director - Kathryn Bigelow
Memorable Quote - 'You know you can shoot people here. You don't have to throw wrenches.'
Review - An interesting one, this - while I did enjoy it, I didn't quite think it was worthy of all the attention it has received. Yes, the cinematography and direction are very good, but there is a complete lack of storyline, and for me that's nothing more than a pretentious attempt at being realistic. I spent the whole film waiting for the storyline to actually start, but there just wasn't one. So a little disappointing in that way, but it was well acted, and as I said the camera work was nice (though not particularly exciting). 3.5/5

#2 - THE COMPANY OF WOLVES

Stars - Stephen Rea, Sarah Patterson, a whole load of creepy people
Director - Neil Jordan
Memorable Quote - 'If there's a beast in men, it meets its match in women too.'
Review - Uh, well, wow. I guess the animatronics were cutting edge back then, eh? Shame that they look so... ridiculous now. And, like most adventure movies aimed at young girls, there was so much wrong with this story I don't even believe it. I mean, come ON, the werewolf was not the kind of man anyone would go for unless they had a brain tumour, no eyes, and had lost their hearing. Plus, SHE WAS REALLY YOUNG eugh paedophiles. 1/5

#3 - INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Stars - Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Bruhl, Melanie Laurent
Director - Quentin Tarantino
Memorable Quote - 'The German will be sickened by us, and the German will talk about us, and the German will fear us. And when the German closes their eyes at night and they're tortured by their subconscious for the evil they have done, it will be with thoughts of us they are tortured with. Sound good?'
Review - ARGHHHH this film is awesome! Tarantino's done it again - great script, great directing, great acting... Everything you could wish for, including a surprise twist ending and characters so good that you get all sentimental when they die. Also, isn't Eli Roth just great? Christoph Waltz deserved the praise he got - the interrogation scene between him, Pitt and his sidekick was hilarious. I particularly enjoyed the soldier who'd just had a son, the war hero, the Gestapo-murdering German, and the French girl with a penchant for revenge; and the best scenes a mon avis were the interrogation, the cinema finale, and the bar scene; though of course there were many great moments. There were also about 30,000 quotable lines, especially from Lt. Aldo Raine. I'm extremely glad I bought this on DVD, because I'm certainly going to watch it again. 5/5

Emma, First Knight, Funny Games

This couple of weeks has been very much a re-watch week, but you'll be pleased to hear that the last film in this post is one that makes me ridiculously excited.

#1 - EMMA

Stars - Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Jeremy ~Northam
Director - Douglas McGrath
Memorable Quote - 'Mr. Knightley, if I have not spoken, it is because I am afraid I will awaken myself from this dream.'
Review - The first of the re-watches then, and this is a lovely little piece of Austen. Period dramas are always a favourite with me and this ranks highly, certainly the best version of this particular story. Added bonus of Ewan McGregor, although I do sometimes find Paltrow a little irritating at points. 4/5

#2 - FIRST KNIGHT

Stars - Sean Connery, Richard Gere, Julia Ormond
Director - Jerry Zucker
Memorable Quote - 'This is called an oubliette. That's French for a place of forgetting.'
Review - Second re-watch, although I'd actually forgotten that I'd seen it before until I realised I knew exactly what was about to happen in the next scene. Well, it's sort of cute I suppose, but of course Sean Connery is waaaaay too old to be Arthur at this stage of the story, and I don't blame her for going for Lancelot. Not a bad effort but could of course have been improved by a removing of some cheese. 2.5/5

#3 - FUNNY GAMES

Stars - Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt, Brady Corbet
Director - Michael Haneke
Memorable Quote -
Review - THIS IS AN AMAZING MOVIE. I am so excited by this movie that I might explode before finishing this review. It is SO uncomfortable at times, and the direction is absolutely fantastic - this is a film about film, and every single little detail is controlled to give a certain feeling. It starts off all normal, a little disturbing with the music, but normal - and quickly descends into an unforgettable night of terror. The script, also, is amazing, not to mention the acting - Michael Pitt shines as the terrifying antagonist, and Naomi Watts shows off some of that wonderful female thriller lead practice she's had. This is extremely worth watching if you're a horror fan, a fan of psychological thrillers, or a fan of film in general, and worth a look-in even if you're none of the above. Good grief, I love this movie. Here are some more super-creepy pictures as a little sample of the action. 6/5

28 Days Later, RocknRolla, The Little Dog Laughed

Ahhh yes, here we are - the theatre entry, as promised. Perhaps you can bear to read through two film reviews before you arrive at the long-awaited event!

#1 - 28 Days Later

Stars - Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Ecclestone, Brendan Gleeson
Director - Danny Boyle
Memorable Quotes - "No, no. No, see, this is a really shit idea. You know why? Because it's really obviously a shit idea." and "REPENT - THE END IS EXTREMELY FUCKING NIGH"
Review - So the 'rage' virus turns most of the human population of the UK into almost-zombies. Cillian Murphy wakes up (quite naked) in hospital with a head injury, and walks out into a deserted London - deserted, that is, except for the infected who soon try to eat him. And from there on it actually gets even better. As far as dystopian movies go, this is fairly unarguably awesome; all you could wish for is a better antagonist than Christopher "Lame" Eccleston. 4.5/5

#2 - RocknRolla

Stars - Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Mark Strong, Toby Kebbel
Director - Guy Ritchie
Memorable Quote - " You see that pack of Virginia killing sticks on the end of the piano? All you need to know about life is retained in those four walls. You will notice that one of your personalities is seduced by the illusions of grandeur - the gold packet of king size with a regal insignia, an attractive implication towards grandeur and wealth, the subtle suggestion that cigarettes are indeed your royal and loyal friends, and that, Pete, is a lie. Your other personality is trying to draw your attention to the flip side of the discussion, written in boring bold black and white, it's a statement that these neat little soldiers of death and in fact trying to kill you and that, Pete, is the truth. Oh, beauty is a beguiling call to death and i'm addicted to the sweet pitch of its siren. That that starts sweet ends bitter, and that which starts bitter ends sweet. That is why you and I love the drugs and that is also why I cannot give that painting back. now please, pass me a light."
Review - This was a very surprising movie for me, in that I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it hilarious. Toby Kebbel's performance as Johnny Quid was the stand-out, and Archie's narration was always humorous (despite reminding me of someone from The Bill). Gerard Butler also shone, particularly opposite Alex Kovas' thug character. The script was well-paced, witty, and intelligent, at times hinting at something that had happened long before actually revealing it. All in all a great success, probably even worth a re-watch. I can fault nothing. 5/5

#3 - The Little Dog Laughed

Stars - Rupert Friend, Harry Lloyd, Tamsin Greig, Gemma Arterton
Director - Jamie Lloyd
Memorable Quote - 'Talking to you is like sewing a button on cottage cheese.'
Review - This play, currently on at the Garrick Theatre, is really, really, really good. Honestly. The directing is perfect - the four actors move along at a rapid pace, firing off each other almost flawlessly. Greig is the star, as the ruthless agent who seems to have no problem switching between talking to the audience and the other characters. She guides us through the play in a cunningly-written little trick, using phones and other excuses to let us know what's happening. The play within the play is a perfect symbol for the play itself, showing how the agent manipulates everyone else. The ending disappointed me, hence the loss of half a mark, but sadly that's just because I'm a romantic at heart - idealists may find it more satisfying. Lloyd is also a pleasant surprise, actually acting better than I've seen him on television, which is no mean feat. Also, did I mention the nudity? 4.5/5

The Three Musketeers, Ghost Town, Moon Child

So, after a dizzyingly busy few weeks, involving a feverish illness, many deadlines, and a frenzied trip to London, I bring you another dazzling film review blog entry. Next time, it will be even more exciting - just you wait, I've got a theatre review coming up!

#1 - THE THREE MUSKETEERS

Stars - Chris O'Donnell, Tim Curry, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland
Director - Stephen Herek
Memorable Quote - Porthos: 'Champagne?'
Athos: 'We're in the middle of a chase, Porthos.'
Porthos: 'You're right - something red.'
Review - Nothing more than a good chuckle, this. Lots of little one-liners as one might expect from Tim Curry, and hilarious hair-does (especially on the part of young Kiefer). Generally just a nice revisit to childhood, a bit of a swashbuckle, nothing more exciting or serious than that. 3/5

#2 - GHOST TOWN

Stars - Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear
Director - David Koepp
Memorable Quote - Nurse: 'Come back soon.'
Bertram Pincus: 'What a terrible thing to say in a hospital.'
Review - Well, to be honest, seeing the cast I wasn't expecting a masterpiece. It was largely predictable, very unrealistic (and I'm not even talking about the ghosts - why would she go for a crazy like Gervais - I mean, Bertram?), and pretty much exactly what it looked like it would be in the trailers. At least it had a message, eh? 2/5

#3 - MOON CHILD

Stars - HYDE, Gackt, Lee-Hom Wang, Zeny Kwok
Director - Takahisa Zeze
Memorable Quote - 'The next time we meet... will be at gunpoint.'
Review - This is another re-watch for me, having just got the DVD. This has been a favourite of mine for a while, and the reasons are undeniable - just think about it: futuristic gangster vampires. How could it NOT be awesome?! Gackt and Hyde have almost palpable sexual tension, giving the film an edge, and the surprise ending - which actually occurs about half an hour after you would expect the film to have ended, which I find really quite interesting - is just perfect. It's emotional, hilarious at times, and drenched in a wonderful feeling of something I can only describe as 'Sho-ness'. 5/5
Couple more pictures, cuz it deserves it:

Changeling, Perfume, Eternal Summer

Yet another three reviews, and there's still more to come! Stay tuned!

#1 - CHANGELING


Stars - Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich
Director - Clint Eastwood
Memorable Quote - 'He is not my son!'
Review - Considering the subject, this movie kind of has two sides to it. First of all, the positives - the casting was incredibly good, as anyone who searches for images of the real murderer will find, and the acting was also convincing, Jolie now seeming to fit in that niche of the desperate wife/mother (see 'A Good Heart'). However, then there are the bad points - like the fact that they have chosen to completely ignore the existence of a woman who supposedly helped with the murders. Still - this is a Clint Eastwood film, and it shows in the quality. Certainly a great introduction to the case, and so compelling that I ended up researching it more myself. 4/5

#2 - PERFUME


Stars - Ben Whishaw, Alan Rickman, Dustin Hoffman
Director - Tom Tykwer
Memorable Quote - 'I'll be looking at you when you're laid on the cross and the twelve blows are crashing down on your limbs. When the crowd is finally tired of your screams and wandered home, I will climb up through your blood and sit beside you. I will look deep into your eyes... and drop by drop I will trickle my disgust into them like burning acid until... finally... you perish.'
Review - This was actually surprising for me, in that I really enjoyed it and in fact carried on thinking about it for a long time afterwards. At first I expected it to be quite average, but the storyline is gripping, and you can't help but feel sorry for Grenouille - he obviously doesn't realise the enormity of what he does. The colours were very rich, and costuming very interesting. Oh, and Alan Rickman is as legendary as usual. In fact, I can't really think of a reason to fault. I think I might watch it again. 5/5

#3 - ETERNAL SUMMER (shèng xià guāng nián)

Stars - Bryant Chang, Joseph Chang, Kate Yeung
Director - Leste Chen
Memorable Quote - 'Best friends can tell each other anything.'
Review - Actually to be honest I've seen this a good few times before, but I thought I would review it now that I own it on DVD. It's one of my all-time favourites in fact, and it was great to get some reliable subtitles (the film being in Chinese). The overall feel of the film is beautiful, and there are many moments that always make me cry or smile or both. The sound is noteworthy, as many moments are either very quiet or have only 'natural' sound effects such as the wind, and long gaps between dialogue that make the acting even more emotional. I can only recommend it; heartwarming, tense, and wonderfully acted, this is a piece that cannot be forgotten once seen. 5/5, have another picture.

Magnificent Seven x2, Over the Hedge

At last we come to the last entry of the festive catch-up! Although, it has to be said that I've managed to watch three more films whilst posting these - but oh well! That's what the life of a film reviewer is like, you know - constant film-watching. Anyway, moving ahead with the actual reviews...

#1 - THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Stars - Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson
Director - John Sturges
Memorable Quote - 'We deal in lead, friend.'
Review - What a great movie. I can't even stress it enough, this stands out as a great Western and a great movie outside of the genre. What more could you want than Yul Brynner in that black hat, rounding up his cowboy pals to do the right thing for once. My favourite of the Seven, other than Chris himself, was Britt (standing at the far right of the image). 5/5


#2 - RETURN OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Stars - Yul Brynner, Robert Fuller, Julian Mateos
Director - Burt Kennedy
Memorable Quote - 'Hell, I haven't been going anywhere for ten years... and neither have you.'
Review - A worthy sequel, and despite the lack of McQueen this delivers what it promises. Chico and Manuel are endearing, Colbie is funny, and the rest of the guys all seem to have a few skeletons in their closets, rounding up a great cast with a perfect Western storyline. Also 5/5.


#3 - OVER THE HEDGE

Stars - Bruce Willis, Avril Lavigne, Omid Djalili
Director - Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick
Memorable Quote - 'I thought we'd be dead by step two, so this is going great.'
Review - Not really so great - I mean, as far as light entertainment goes Omid Djalili's character was great, but something tells me I've just got a little bit too old for this sort of movie. And considering that I enjoy stuff like Shrek and Ice Age, it really makes me wonder how young you have to be. 2/5.