Movies reviews.

[boloa]

Have to agree with you on 'The Eagle' as I am sure you will with me on the remake of' I Spit on your Grave'

I decided to go for the double bill tonight and watch David's recommendation 'I Spit on your grave '. To be honest I wish I hadn't. This movie boarders on "torture porn" and anybody how actually says they enjoyed this movie is a sick individual .The rape scenes were very hard to watch for me because it was so violent and it's unimaginable that anyone can treat a woman or any living thing in this manor.Please viewers don't waste you time watching this movie as I did and watch something that is entertaining instead.2/10

[Dave the Dude]

I didn't say I liked it, I said you will agree with me.

I thought it was crap too! See, I was right!

[boloa]

I didn't say I liked it, I said you will agree with me.

I thought it was crap too! See, I was right!

You should have told me this before I watched that cr*p 

[Dave the Dude]

Just watched Sean Bean in Black Death. Not a bad middle-ages movie. Sean is quite armless in the end and Im sure I saw BOLOA in many opening scenes.

7/10

[boloa]

Just watched Sean Bean in Black Death. Not a bad middle-ages movie. Sean is quite armless in the end and Im sure I saw BOLOA in many opening scenes.

7/10

There is nothing like a good review and the above is nothing like a good review. Try to stringing a few sentences together ,give us a synopsis of the plot and how you felt whist watching the movie.....that is a review....not just 'Not bad'  7/10.  

[boloa]

After David's riveting review of the Black Death I thought I would give I a view.
I started watching the movie last night but fell asleep after about 10 minutes in so decided to give it another go this afternoon and yes the beginning is a bit slow.The film is set in 1348  when he Black Death is ravaging medieval England. A warrior on behalf of the church (Sean Bean) seeks a guide from the monastery who can lead him and his men to a marsh as they have learned of a village that is free from the plague.Upon taking a young monk (Redmayne) it soon becomes clear that all is not as was described. The village they seek is protected by evil and there are stories of men eating men and the rising of the dead. Bean is to bring the heretic back to the church for a confession and an execution.
Parts of the movie is beautifully shot and the story reminds me of a cross between "Witch-finder General" meets "The Wicker Man".The acting is good but the storyline is a bit slow in parts.Tim McInnery ( Captain Darling ,Blackadder 4th )plays against type and John Lynch plays a convincing Christian Solider .This movie is not about good v evil or Christians V Pagans ,this movie is a sad exploration of human nature and how religions  needs to force its beliefs upon others as it did in the middle ages and how it still does today .
If you like some blood and gore ( which seems to be a trend these days )Christopher Smith film direction and have a few hour to kill then this movie could be for you.As David I will give this one 7/10 

[boloa]

I have just watched The Green Hornet .....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Hornet_(2011_film)

Sometimes you read a few review before watching a film,I had read a few bad ones about The Green Hornet so I was pleasantly surprised to find a film that was funny /action packed and with good characters.
Seth Rogen (playing Britt Reid/The Green Hornet) was funny but I do feel this part was made for Will Ferrel. Some of the one lines had me in stitches with camp undertones akin to the Batman TV series.Jay Chou (playing Kato) play the perfect part as half the brains behind the duo and Cameron Diaz ( Lenore Case ) playing the brainier other half with The Green Hornet wanting to take all the credit.
Christoph Waltz ( who  plays the baddie Benjamin Chudnofsky AKA Bloodnofsky ) is fantastic as a villain and worked his role very well and very convincingly. Plus there was also a good sense of humour to his role, and it worked well.The story is fast paced and keep you entertained from start to finish.
This movie is no Batman or Superman but it is a watch-able ,funny,action packed 1 hours and 50 minutes of fun .May not be to everyones taste but I loved it 8.5/10 

[boloa]

Just watched London Boulevard .....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Boulevard
Another film I had put off watching after reading a few bad reviews,well what a fool I have been.This film kept be glued to the screen and was written and directed by 49-year-old Bostonian William Monahan – a screenplay Oscar-winner for Scorsese's The Departed,need I say more 
Colin Farrell stars as Mitch, a south London hardman just out of Pentonville with an intention to go straight. Almost immediately, our  hero is faced with a dilemma: should he get sucked back into the violent world of crime  or go straight . Ray Winstone plays the London Underworld godfather who try to entice Mitch to work for him.Mitch gets a job as a minder to reclusive and vulnerable superstar Charlotte, played by  Keira Knightley, protecting her against the paparazzi in classy Holland Park and you guest it they fall in love  .I found this an engaging gangster drama ,smartly written, and incredibly well-acted by the great British and Irish cast.The film also has a great sound track with song from the 60's like the Yardbirds which is a musical era I love.well worth a watch with a twist at the end which was unexpected 8/10

[boloa]

Just watched Morning Glory ........http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Glory_(2010_film)

I thought I would try a nice feel-good movie for a change instead of the violence and blood and guts of the films I have watched lately.
Morning Glory, like its director Roger Michell’s most notable film, Notting Hill, doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but takes it for a pleasant spin around town. He trades the grey skies of London for the skyscrapers of Manhattan with a fun if formulaic romantic comedy that boasts an impressive but underused cast, including Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton and Jeff Goldblum.
Of course, the real star of the show is Becky Fuller, the behind-the-scenes boss of fictional network IBS’ (what a name) fledgling morning show Daybreak, played by America’s newest sweetheart Rachel McAdams. She gives Becky spunk, sexiness and a strong resolve to succeed in a business that isn’t kind to new recruits. Her task is simple to grasp but hard to execute: revive the show and boost its ratings. Had she been working with Matt Lauer or Diane Sawyer, the job would’ve been easy but the film would’ve missed out on the possibilities for screwball workplace comedy.
The heartiest laughs are provided by supporting characters like Ty Burell’s Paul McVee, who is more entertaining to watch in his ten minutes of screen time than the majority of the core cast throughout the film’s 102 minute run. Not every character is meant for comic relief, though, like Ford’s growling curmudgeon Mike Pomeroy, a hard-nosed, award-winning journalist and relic of the past in a world more interested in “fluff” over facts. Pomeroy is strong-armed by Becky into Daybreak co-hosting duties because of a clause in his contract, and he does everything he can to make her life a living hell. His reluctance to cooperate is eventually undermined as a result of a “mutual understanding” between the two, but it feels unauthentic as he betrays his own ideals for a barely developed friendship.
Even more phony is the virtually useless love angle between Becky and Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson), a fellow producer at IBS who advises her not to hire Pomeroy based on his own negative experience with the seasoned commentator. You could remove the character from the film completely without affecting the end result. Unfortunately, the same can be said for Keaton’s co-host, Colleen Peck, whose arc mirrors Ford’s but who arrives at the finish line first. It’s a shame, really, because both are fine actors who could have done a lot more with characters with a bit more depth.
Its message about the sad state of American media aside, depth isn’t what Morning Glory is about. This is a cheery comedy with a few chuckles and plenty of charm. Sure, it’s silly, but it’s definitely not stupid and doesn’t get overly sentimental. The script, courtesy of The Devil Wears Prada scribe Aline Brosh McKenna, is sharp enough to entertain if you don’t think too hard about it. It may not be the most memorable movie you’ll see this year, but it’ll surely bring a smile to your face.7/10

[boloa]

Just watched Let Me In .......http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_Me_In_(film)
All the reviews  I read before watching this film kept going on about it not being as good as the Swedish original.As I never saw the original so I can't compare the two but this is a good movie. 
The movie concerns a bullied 12 year-old - here called Owen and his friendship with new arrival on the block Abby.  Owen's mother is wrapped up in religion, his father has left and is undertaking divorce proceedings; and on top of that Owen has to deal with 3 sadistic school bullies . Owen soon realises that Abby is strange and different, and is drawn to her and the two quickly become fast friends. But there is a punchline......Abby is a vampire.   
This is not a Twilight-style story, but a mature examination of childhood loneliness and horror, and it packs a hell of a punch.This is a great little movie. Hammer may never be the same as they were in the old Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee days, but what a come back! 8/10 

[Admin]

Your reviews are great and pleasure to read.

[Vombatus]

Just thought I would chip in with a brief review of The King's Speech it has received widespread accolades and much press coverage as a result of all the award nominations. Colin Firth is arguably one of the best/versatile English actors of recent times.

There is, of course, a danger that the publicity 'hypes up' films like this and you finish up being disappointed. Similarly, favourable review from critics does not always mean that the film will be popular with the masses.

I am pleased to say that this was popular with me and I thoroughly enjoyed the film. You cannot escape the predictability of the film because of it being based on historical fact.

I particularly liked the following reviewer's comment:-

The threat of world war looms outside the door, but the movie is really about one man, at war with himself, and the people close to him who helped him find peace.

The relationship between 'Bertie' (George V1) and Lionel Logue  is intriguing - it highlights differences between Royalty and commoners and a confident person versus someone with low self-esteem resulting from their 'disability'. Finally, working together to overcome the impediment to deliver one of the most famous speeches of all time.

There also seemed to be great authenticity in the cameo performances of Timothy Spall (Churchill), Helen Bonham-Cater (Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother) and Guy Pearce as the besotted King Edward V11. Even Derek Jacobi as the Archbishop of Canterbury illustrated how low Royalty/The Church will stoop to discredit individuals when it suits them.

Overall 8.5/10

[boloa]

Yes ,I loved The Kings Speech and Geoffrey Rush stole the show for me.Just to prove what a good actor this guy is I recommend the movie Shine .This is a 1996 film is based on the true story of Australian pianist David Helfgott, this delightful movie charts the early and traumatic early years. Telling the story in flashback we see David as he grows up and into a child prodigy while his father abuses him and his siblings with the memory of his childhood in Europe and the loss of his family in the concentration camps. David finally breaks away from his father and goes away to study overseas, he later suffers a breakdown and returns to Australia and a life in an institution. Many years later he is released and through several twists of fate (in reality even more unlikely than film portrays) he starts playing a piano in a bar before finally returning to the concert hall.A must see 9/10 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shine_(film)

Quote from the above link...
Awards

Shine won the Academy Award for Best Actor (Geoffrey Rush), and was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Armin Mueller-Stahl), Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Original Dramatic Score, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.

It also won a BAFTA and Golden Globe Award for "Best Actor". The AFIs gave it significant recognition as well, with nine nominations total. Interestingly, several different academies recognized multiple actors in the film for a "Best Supporting Actor" award nomination. There was Mueller-Stahl's Academy Award nomination (he also won the AFI Award for Best Supporting Actor), but the BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards nominated John Gielgud and Noah Taylor (adolescent David Helfgott) for Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

[boloa]

Today I watched Battle for Los Angeles ....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle:_Los_Angeles

After reading all the hype and seeing it at Number 3 in the box office charts I though I would give it a viewing.Well I fell asleep the first 2 times I tried to watch it  but today I managed to stay awake for the whole film  though .
The beginning is a bit slow as the cast of characters all have to be introduced  and  then the action starts.The film is a bit like the cross between War of the Worlds,2012,Independence Day and Black Hawk Down but not as good,so there is nothing new here.
Yes the special FX are OK but the shaky hand held camera ( that seems to be popular at the moment )gets annoying and distracts the you from understanding what the hell is going on!. There's more smoke in this movie than in Cheech & Chong's  front-room and to be honest you would need to be high to enjoy this movie.It is a straight action junkie movie but this film has the same old cliché lines like " No way Sarge it's suicide ".The US Marines are over-powered and under gunned by the Aliens but you've guessed it the US Marines  WIN.
To tell the truth I'm not a great lover of American war films( the Aliens could be exchanged for Afghanistan solider and most war film lovers wouldn't notice)  and I sure there are some that will say this movie is the best thing since sliced bread but it's just not my cup of tea I'm afraid...6/10

[Dave the Dude]

Try to stringing a few sentences together

Been on the fire water again, "Cut and Paste Alan" ?