Page 1 of What I watched this week (w/e September 10th)

On DVD:

Brotherhood - Although this was compared to `Saving Private Ryan`, I much preferred this to Spielberg`s rather ponderous WWII drama. This was terrifically acted with some brilliant battle scenes and a story that perfectly encapsulated the `family versus family` nature of the Korean war - it was so good that I watched it twice! :D
Commentary - Bey Logan is joined by Mike Leeder for an informative and busy commentary although Logan`s bitching about CGI got up my nose given the films he has championed which rely heavily on wire-work and stylised violence. :)

Snowbeast - Using exactly the same plot as `Jaws`, but with a `Bigfoot` type creature replacing the shark, this is predictable nonsense, badly acted and boring. >:(

Horror of the Zombies - A TV crew battle the ghosts of the Knights Templar (no kidding!) - just dreadful. >:(

Mama Dracula - Exactly the same premise as `Countess Dracula` only the titular character (played by Louise Fletcher no less) asks a scientist to develop a lifetime`s supply of synthetic "weergin`s blood" for her. Camper than an acre of tents (in a bad way) and horribly acted by all. >:(

Murder Mansion - I`m sure there`s a plot here somewhere, but I`m damned if I can figure out what it was! >:(

The Hustler: Special Edition - A brilliant film. :D Watch this space for full review.

The Old Dark House (Regions 1 and 2) - An excellent gothic horror from James Whale - review of the R2 version here, review of the R1 to follow. :)


Cinema

Adrift - It seems that the film is only known by this title in the UK and as `Open Water 2` everywhere else. I can see them wanting to distance it from the 2003 sea-based horror which was a terrific nerve-jangling and genuinely tense film, whereas I couldn`t care less about anyone apart from Amy and baby Sarah. :)

¦The Wicker Man - Dreadful, pointless, boring etc etc... >:(

Right at Your Door - An interesting premise with some genuinely thought-provoking scenes, but the finished film wasn`t as compelling as the trailer led me to believe. It doesn`t help that I didn`t buy the fact that anyone would leave their new wife and the love of their life outside to die whilst they were clingfilmed inside the house - I wouldn`t. :¦


Television

England vs. Pakistan third, fourth & fifth ODIs - It seemed that Pakistan tired mentally as the series progressed whilst England improved and got stronger and stronger. I only saw the first half of the fourth ODI as I went to Kingston Park to see Newcastle vs Worcester and was shocked to find that England had won by 8 wickets; the fifth showed that low scoring games can be just as exciting as high scoring 300+ run affairs.

Sale vs Northampton - A decent game but not up to the quality of last week`s play. Charlie Hodgson underlined his position as England`s number 1 fly half the day after I saw Jonny Wilkinson pick up a knee injury.

F1 Italian Grand Prix - I really like the Monza circuit and this was a very good race in which Schumacher became the first driver to win it five times and predictably announced his retirement. As he now only trails Alonso by two points, I hope he goes on to win the Drivers World Championship and retire as a reigning eight times World Champion.

NFL - A decent game to open the season on Thursday night/Friday morning and the double header, which is still going on, makes me realise how much I missed the sport over the summer.


David Beckett

Crank - Much better than the average blockbuster s*** that Hollywood are churning out by the millions.

It was a fun action flick, and I can`t believe how pro drug this movie is, I know it was part of the story, but there were no `drugs are bad` kind of message, but it's just none stop and at 87 minutes there's no let up.

I was totally shocked by the ending which made me like it even more, I think the only thing that spoilt it was the sex scene, and yes Jason maybe a crap actor, but who cares, so was Schwarzenegger, so was Stallone, but he`s a more believable hard man than say Bruce Willis.

It`s basically a 21st century version of Speed plus D.O.A. that 80s flick starring Dennis Quaid, and in all honesty I don`t think it is trashy unlike say The Wicker Man which was pure trash.

Scanner Darkly - I wanted to walk out but I thought I`d stick with it, there`s no twist to the film at all, it was very contrived, and illogical.

This could of been set in present day, as setting it in the future served no purpose, they could of all that watching him etc happen all in his mind, having it animated served no purpose only to spice up what has to be the most boring film about drugs ever.

It might of be good if they focused on the other characters as they were far more interesting than the Reeves character.

It`s not about getting it, because there was nothing to get, for those who have not seen it, don`t bother if you want to see an excellent movie about the horrors and the paranoia of drugs then watch, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Requiem of a Dream, Trainspotting, or Naked Lunch.

X Files Season 9 - The final season, was good if not better than Season 8 but still felt no chemistry between the new agents, the individual stories were okay, (some were excellent) if not ended up in the air on a few occasions, the final episode was a bit of a anti-climax, and a bit predictable with an open ending which I think they were hoping to conclude with a movie(s).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 - Quite shocking for a first season with teenage slaughter a plenty a long with a couple of suicides, and without knowing what the rest of the seasons are like, I can imagine after the Columbine massacre, in which I seem to remember there was a big uproar regarding the episode Graduation Day (WHICH I`VE NOT SEEN), the teenager deaths would be non existent after season 3 onwards
.
The Characters are fun, including Cordelia who is brilliant as the self centred student, but the actor who plays Xander is basically imitating Chandler from Friends, but they are instantly likeable and you do become attached even with just 12 episodes.

The stories are excellent, but the only thing that`s off putting is the way Giles is portrayed as the bumbling English Librarian who is being took the p*** out of by everyone saying he's stuck in the 18th century.
The other thing that's annoying is the acceptance of strange and unusual things by practically everyone without questioning or disbelieving, at least with X Files we had Scully who was the non believer, and by the end of the episode or season she believed that something unexplained was happening.

I`m half way through Season 2 (which so far I`m enjoying), so I`ll post my verdict next week.

floyd

Silent Hill
I'm not familiar with the game so can only comment on this as a 'standalone'. Some effectively creepy scenes near the start when mum first lurches into the town... looks good in places. Unfortunately the longer it went on, the more confused (and hence bored) I got, to the point of neither knowing nor particularly caring what was going on. I do suspect I might get more from a second viewing but I'm not prepared to take the chance. Still, as a survival-horror game to film it could have been worse - at least it doesn't star a facially-challenged stick insect has-been whose acting range began and ended with 'mooltipass'.

Slither
A no-nonsense, no-brain monster movie that comes across a cross between Tremors and any number of zombie films. Fun for a while but it seemed to fizzle out and never got to be quite as much fun as it promised.

Hard Candy
Riveting stuff with a precocious teenaged girl appointing herself judge and jury while turning tables on a suspected paedophile. Only two people on screen for the most part, and in one location, but gripping from start to finish; even if the girl did appear to be unconvincingly mature for the 14 she was supposed to be. Sensitive males may squirm.

X-Men 3, or whatever it's called.
With Kelsey Grammer painted blue and hilariously thinking he's a guest on a Sesame Street revival, and Vinnie Jones in padded tights proclaiming he's bursting for a pee, all other comment is superfluous.

A bit behind due to a holiday in Brighton, being busy at work and changing my website so this is about two weeks worth.

DVD

Psycho :D

The Barbarian and the Geisha :)

The Longest Day :)

McLintock! :D

The Hired Hand :D

The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery :)

Hellraiser :D

Hellbound: Hellraiser II :¦

Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth :¦

District B13 :D

Jess Franco Double Bill Vol. 2 : Devil's Island Lovers/Night Of The Assassin :(

Cinema

Severance :D

Snakes on a Plane :)



Mine Was Taller

This item was edited on Wednesday, 13th September 2006, 21:05