Casa de mi Padre A parody on / homage to Mexican soap opera westerns. Uber-dramatic story, stupidly cheap special effects, Will Ferrell speaking spanish (quite OK, too) and a very handsome leading lady *). The movie is intelligently done and has relatively few cheap laughs, and I enjoyed this from beginning to end!

Cheers,

EJ

*) miss push-up bra from Man on a Ledge

Knocked Up

Got this as it has Paul Rudd who I think is a good comic actor ......and.

I stuck with it, and it is entertaining, but ....

You have really got to believe that the highly motivated leading lady would stick with the guy from the bar.

I thought they covered the initial meeting well, as he used his initiative to get them some beer, and then gave them to her. But as the film moved forward I had to keep burying the feeling that she would keep as far away from him as possible.

I think the 'internet team' in the film would have made a special link for the push up bra from Man on a Ledge.

M

Logans Run

I thought I had watched this years ago, and the beginning was familiar, but as the film moved on I realised I had not, probably mixed it up with the TV series!

I really enjoyed this film. The special effects and music reminded me of 1970's Dr Who, with poor model work and VERY electronic soundtrack, but the story really stands up.

I suppose if I was being uber-critical there are some elements that could be easily lampooned, but much of it was first rate, especially the elements that dealt with the human condition.

***Spolier***

I thoroughly enjoyed the lack of guilt by the enforcers, called Sandmen, as they killed people trying to escape the city.

As citizens reached their thirtieth birthday they underwent renewal, were in fact killed. The few that believed this was the end might attempt to escape, and become 'runners'.

****

M

The legend of Ron Burgundy is a bizarre comedy, about a 70s anchorman's private struggle with his female competition within the wider context of a vicious - literally - battle between the news networks. Brilliant central role for Will Ferrell and great cameos of just about the entire frat pack. Christina Applegate was enjoyable without matching her co-stars' charisma. And one of Steve Carrell's best roles as the local weatherman with an IQ of 58. 

Cheers,

EJ

Was going to watch it last night but unfortunately the disc arrived badly cracked and will have to re-order it. Has anyone seen this documentary?

"More than a simple portrait of an artist, this documentary about celebrated photographer Edward Burtynsky is also an examination of industrialization and globalization. Known for finding strange beauty in large industrial vistas, Burtynsky searches for great shots on trips to China and Bangladesh. In contrast to his seemingly impersonal aesthetic, the film focuses on individuals, revealing the dreariness and dangers of industrial work."

"Paloma is a serious and highly articulate but deeply bored 11-year-old who has decided to kill herself on her 12th birthday. Fascinated by art and philosophy, she questions and documents her life and immediate circle, drawing trenchant and often hilarious observations on the world around her. But as her appointment with death approaches, Paloma finally meets some kindred spirits in her building's grumpy janitor and an enigmatic, elegant neighbor, both of whom inspire Paloma to question her rather pessimistic outlook on life."

Well made and recommended.

Twice in three days ...

The Boy In The Stripped Pyjamas.

I would thing everyone above the age of the certificate age of 12 years should watch this.

It makes points that are more profound and less laboured than heavy-weight and very long films - less than easily consumed by children - like Schindler's List, and The Pianist. though I admire both of these immensely. It is a rather short film with a particularly abrupt end. It would not be better being longer ...

ATB from George

Moonrise Kingdom

I'm not sure what to write about this but .....wow.

Really, if you have any romance in your soul then put this on your 'to watch' list.

M

I have just watched "Ted" I absolutely loved it, the humour and the ridiculousnes of it all hit the spot perfectly. Top marks.

Two really wonderful films I have recently watched on DVD:

I recommend both to you all very highly.

+1 on the intouchables

And for something completely different, I recently watched (for the umpteenth time) this again.  A fairly recent remastering has cleaned things up very nicely.  This is in my list of top 10 films of all time.  Utterly mesmerising.

Tunes of Glory

Recently reviewed on Ain't it Cool News:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/60868

M

Oh dear.  Let's hope the reviewer picks up rather more with the next watch.  Not even the breifest mention of the film's true star performance, that of Dennis Price playing the pivotal character of Charlie.  So subtle, but once you get it, you appreciate so much more the hidden depths of the film.

Mr Nobody. Uhhhhh... yes. I roundly admit, I didn't get this.

Cheers,

EJ

Let Me In

The Hammer remake of 'Let the Right One In'.

.....and?

It is well made with strong performances all round, but, it sticks so closely to the plot of the original as to beg the question, why do this?

I enjoyed the original, especially the low key beginning. This is sacrificed in this version to have a more energetic start, and one that robs any new audience of that sense of build and tension that the original engenders.

One thing that did assist me was the resetting into a fully western milieu, the Scandinavian setting did leave me occasionally unsure on what was happening, in terms of some social interactions.

I think my main feeling having watched this is that I would have liked them to have been far more radical in re-imagining this film. Set it in Miami or California, get away from the snow and ice, but retain the central dynamic between a bullied boy and the eternally twelve year old girl.

If you haven't seen the original, and you can't stand sub-titles then this is a good substitute,

M

Great film - great music (The Black Bear - bagpipes - stirring stuff) I think I will watch it again. 

Cosmopolis

A film that was, for me, hard work and consistently unrewarding.

This is a film that seems to me to be one of parts: On one level it has a narrative; On another it is a philosophical dialogue driven piece; In another it is a juxtaposition of data in modern capitalism against its use in modern security and pattern analysis; and I felt it failed on each and every one of those levels.

Philosophically it sounded to me like a bunch of first year university students who were high and trying to impress each other with high flown language and ideas, but which actually signified nothing. I haven't heard anything that I felt deserved to be posted on Pseuds Corner so much since The Matrix Revisited.

The narrative didn't work for me. It asked me to invest in a person, or a series of people, who were hermetically sealed off from the human condition. Frankly I cared little for any of the characters and so didn't invest emotionally.

The only positive thing I could say about this piece is that the actors were all committed and delivering, it is what they were delivering that dissapoints.

M

The next three days - solid film with good acting, but nothing that really stands out. One short scene has Crowe and Neeson share a table, they just talk, but it is the best scene of the film.

EJ

Judge Dredd

I really enjoyed this. Straight-forward narrative, but one that added interest by including a 'rookie' judge. This gave me a character I could empathise with, otherwise the film threatened to be a series of shootouts between a man cauterised from feelings, and humanity, and a series of sub-human ciphers - which would have been of NO interest to me.

Shame this bombed at the cinema.

M

Total Recall

I decided NOT to see this at the cinema off the back of reviews that said it was too similar to the original; and, in many ways, that judgement is spot on. But, there is a lot to like here:

1. Great production values;

2. Good all round acting;

3. Great role/performance by Kate Beckinsale;

4. A tinkered with plot line that works better than the original.

The only things that didn't work for me were the idea of a tunnel through the planet core, really not needed for the film, and the climatic ending, for a number of reasons.

Although if, like me, you think that Quade ends up lobotomised then any details in the story are forgivable, as it is all a pulp fiction trip being pumped into his brain.

Worth a watch.

M