Review: The Girl Who Played with Fire

The Girl Who Played with Fire

Subsequent to the events that transpired in the previous instalment, computer hacker Lisbeth Salander is accused of three murders, whilst magazine journalist Mikael Blomkvist attempts to uncover a human trafficking ring with his colleagues, whilst frantically trying to prove Lisbeth’s innocence.

The Girl who Played with Fire is the second chapter of the Millennium trilogy, adapted from the literary phenomenon from Swedish author, Stieg Larsson. Both Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist return as the two protagonists, Lisbeth and Mikael, but this time round Daniel Alfredson takes on the role of director, in place of Niels Arden Oplev, who helmed previous instalment, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Unfortunately the film does not resonate the brilliance it predecessor did, being less believable, and not as foreboding, albeit the ever-present violence, sex, and rape.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was one of the best films of 2009, and gave a fresh if not visceral renovation to the modern thriller. This is where the Girl who Played with Fire differs, in that it lapses into an inconsistent and unbelievable follow up. The trademark shock makes a triumphant return, but is used incorrectly, and in some cases unnecessarily. On top of this, the new additions to the cast are ever so slightly ridiculous, such as a hulking hit man, who must have got lost on the way to the latest James Bond film auditions.

Coupled with an inconsistent narrative, and an ending which disappoints, The Girl who Played with Fire is a far less superior part to the trilogy. The film has a tendency to drag as well, and magazine journalist Mikael doesn’t meet our bike riding, bisexual, computer hacker Lisbeth until the end of the film, their stories feeling awkwardly separate. On the other hand, it was interesting to delve further into Lisbeth’s back-story, and the film does have entertaining moments to it, as well as a handful of decent thrills.

In terms of how the film is shot, there are no complaints really, which is by far the best thing it has going. The shots are nicely mixed, occasionally throwing us into the fray, and sometimes making us watch from a distance, cleverly manipulating how we perceive the film.

Overall The Girl Who Played with Fire is hit and miss. It feels rushed, and thus suffers the consequences, as opposed to living up to the expectations of its predecessor. It’s not all bad though, and certainly packs a punch when it wants to, but unfortunately, not as much as it should.

Rating: 3/5
Verdict: The Average

Update: 24/09/10

Hey guys. Just an update as to whats going on. In the next few days I should have my next bunch of reviews up, which will not be for the films I previously stated, but The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Zombieland, and Four Lions.

I'm moving into my new flat tomorrow and am catching up my social life so expect them by Monday or Tuesday. Further more I just finished watching Robert Rodriguez's latest exploitation flick, Machete, so will have a feature review for that sometime next week as well.

As far as my first list goes as well, I've done the top 20, and now just sorting the following 80 from a pool of about 500, but I'm working as fast as I can.

And finally as far as film watching goes, I'm looking to regain my 100% status for the IMDB 250 this week when I watch Infernal Affairs, as well as gaining 100% on the AFI 100 Movies list too. So if everything goes to plan, it should be a succesful week.

James

New layout!

Took me a whole 5 minutes thanks to the not so attractively named pimp-my-profile.com.

Its been a long time coming but any feedback would be great! I'd really appreciate it. But not quite as much as someone telling me how to remove that unsightly banner at the top. I hate it!

Cheers,

James

Spotlight: Takeshi Kitano

Like many other oblivious people, I thought Takeshi Kitano was just a Japanese TV personality who drove around in a dodgem, squirting water at people on the final stage of cult TV show, Takeshi’s Castle. Little did I know until watching Hana-Bi, that he is perhaps the most celebrated and charismatic director/writer/actor in Japan today.

His work as a director is beautifully crafted and shot, and shows some of the most imaginative and original film making since David Lynch. On the other side of the spectrum his acting is practically flawless. Similarly to Joe Pesci, Kitano manages to create characters that are chillingly intimidating, but at the same time very funny. Whether it is an exiled Yakuza hit man, a blind Samurai, or a troubled artist, Kitano can do it all.

Brother
Director/writer/actor

One of Kitano’s only part-English Language features, Brother is the story of an exiled Yakuza hard man who moves to LA with his small time criminal brother, and slowly starts to take over the city underworld. Shot in his trademark style, with wide shots and similarly creative photography aplenty, Brother is one of Kitano’s most underrated titles.

The film can be quite testing, and the nonlinear narrative is sporadic, making it hard to follow at times. In general though, Brother is extremely entertaining. Like many other Kitano titles, the film commands the ability to make you laugh one moment, then recoil in shock the next. A compelling blend of cultural clashes and criminal life, with Kitano’s signature violence topping it off, Brother does not disappoint.

Outside of its target audience, Brother may not seem as impressive. Whilst watching with my girlfriend, she was taken aback at the logic behind the Yakuza values of honour and respect, especially the removal of fingers. If you’re a fan of art house and gangster films, especially those of the Oriental persuasion, I cannot recommend it enough.

Rating: 4/5.
Verdict: The good.

Battle Royale
Actor

Set in Japan, where discipline in schools has gone out the window, the government has passed an act which pits a class of school kids against each other on an island. The objective - fight to the death. Having seen plenty of gory and graphic film, I can still say taking into account the visceral nature of the film, as the school kids kill each other off, Battle Royale is one of the most shocking films I’ve ever seen.

Kitano only comprises a minor role in the film, as the teacher of class 4B, and the overseer of the sickening massacre, but once again he really does shine with very little screen time. It is once again his ability make the most bizarre characters seem real with his calm and charismatic appeal, despite the violent and psychotic nature of the character.

There are many underlying themes present, and the film really drives home values such as friendship, loyalty, and trust. In a nutshell, Battle Royale is one of the most critically important foreign films of the last two decades, and delivers a knockout blow of violence and morality.

Rating: 4/5.
Verdict: The good.

Hana-Bi
Director/writer/actor

Kitano plays a police officer whose wife is dying from Cancer. In an effort to spend more time with her, he quits his job, and travels around the Japanese countryside with her. On top of this, his best friend gets shot whilst on the job, and gets put in a wheelchair for life, burdening him with guilt.

It is impossible to describe the surreal and captivating experience of watching Hana-Bi, but providing you’re open to such a complex blend of genres into one film, you’re assured to find a beautiful and bittersweet gem.

Hana-Bi is a brilliant encapsulation of Kitano’s style and ability, and is a perfect blend of drama, violence, love, and black comedy. Whether it be his masterful and artistic direction, his poetic and ingenious writing, or his career defining performance, Hana-Bi showcases Kitano’s talents perfectly. An absolute must see, and a severely underrated masterpiece.

Rating: 5/5.
Verdict: The good.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the reviews, and a brief highlight of one of today’s most prolific directors. I’ll have some more reviews up next week of American Graffiti, Four Lions, and whatever my girlfriend decides to get from Blockbuster.

James

18/09/2010: Update

I know I said last time, and the time before that, that there would be no more delays, but as per usual, there has been. Holidays, work, broken internet, and screenwriting have all taken their toll, but I'm finally back on track.

So what's happening in the next few weeks?

Well I'll be posting my Takeshi Kitano reviews later on TONIGHT, be officially accepting the award Sammy V has very kindly decided to nominate me for, as well as plenty more reviews to come, and a new layout to grace the pages of my blog.

But the majorly exiting thing is the revealing of my first list, which I'm constantly fallng out with myself about, so there might be a slight delay with that (but not much... hopefully).

I shall no longer be using the pseudonym of Dean Window anymore I'm sad to say, and will be going by my real name, of James Turnbull.

I hope you enjoy everything that'll be coming over the next few weeks, and would really appreciate any criticism (positive or negative).

Cheers,

James

Reviews: Shane, MASH, and Repo Men

An eclectic bunch of films to say the least. I've picked out what I believe to be a good mix, as I didn't want you all to think I was going soft with the handful of 5 star reviews I've recently given out.

In the coming weeks, I've officially decided on my first list, which will be posted soon, with another bunch of reviews dedicated one of my favourite directors/actors of all time, the irrepressible and ever cool, Takeshi Kitano. But for now, here's some more reviews.

Shane
Upon recently watching Pale Rider, I subsequently found out it was based upon Shane, which until then, I hadn't really heard of. I enjoyed Pale Rider albeit some poor acting and a slightly uneventful middle, so I was eager to watch the film Clint Eastwood had based his unofficial remake around.

The stranger coming into town is one of the most popular stories of all time, especially in the Western genre, and Shane is one of the most successful in accomplishing this to a high standard. The main character, Shane, roles into town and moves in with a family who warm up to him very quickly, as he takes on the local gang of bandits.

My favourite aspect of the film was the actual character of Shane. Everyone loves a good character, and when acted and created well, they make a film come alive. This is coupled with the relationships he shares with the other characters, particularly the son in the family, which make the film quite beautiful to watch, being able to manipulate the tension and excitement relatively easily.

Shane isn’t just a film for Western fans, and is far more accessible than most, due to its familiar but not stale plot, as well as a likable set of characters, and some stunning photography. Shane isn’t as good as some of the Leone greats, but is a very much underrated classic.

Rating: 4/5.
Verdict: The good.

MASH
I’ve heard a lot of things about MASH, but it doesn’t seem to have as much of a following in the UK as it does in the States. Based on a book, with a TV series that followed it, MASH is definitely one of the most successful American franchises of all time.

The film itself revolves around life in a US army hospital camp in Vietnam, and the arrival of two troublesome soldiers Hawkeye and Trapper. The film has a unique structure, in that you can tell it’s directly transferred from a book, and consists of several chapters. Unlike Tarantino, the chapters aren’t explicitly stated, but as a viewer you can tell they’re there. There is also no direct objective to the story, and it is instead comprised of bite size chunks of life.

The film is a bizarre American version of a Carry On film, but not quite as funny. Maybe it was a case of the film not aging well, but I felt it was disjointed and poorly put together. MASH is a film that belongs in the era it was set in, and does not transfer well to today. Interesting characters and structure, but disappointing.

Rating: 3/5.
Verdict: The average.

Repo Men
This is what happens when you let your girlfriend’s sister take charge of picking the films. I’d been called into work for the graveyard shift when I was supposed to be stopping over, and they all went for a trip down to Blockbuster to pick out a few films. Due to my absence, they very kindly offered to watch Repo Men the next night with me. I’d have been better off going back into work for 90 minutes.

The film didn’t start off to badly. Relatively intelligent discussion, what seemed to be an interesting protagonist, and a nice bloody scene that I don’t recommend watching with your dinner. Sadly the film goes downhill from here, and it becomes predictable, boring, and poor performances take over. This is not helped by the ending, which believe me will make you wish you hadn’t watched it. There are too many clichés to count, and the story is severely flawed, with little justification for the events that take place.

The only redeemable qualities are Forrest Whitaker, who puts on the best performance of the movie as a dedicated but stoic killer, and the elaborate locations and sets. If you want to see a good post modern film, give Children of Men a watch. Repo Men just doesn’t cut it.

Rating: 2/5.
Verdict: The bad.

That’s it for now, but more to follow soon.

Dean

Review, thoughts, and reaction: Inception

In today's entertainment hungry society, it is very rare for a film to come along and instantly be considered a classic. But how do we define a classic? A wholly original, magnificently acted piece of cinema, with stellar soundtrack and beautifully crafted dialogue to boot? And just think how difficult this criteria is to achieve, taking into account how many plots, characters, and shots we've had come and go since the dawn of film. You'd be pretty certain this cinematic status is near impossible to achieve. Right?

Wrong.

Inception is the new film by Christopher Nolan, and his first completely original piece of work since his feature film debut, Following. The film is essentially a heist movie with a twist, in which Cobb (DiCaprio) and Arthur (Gordon-Levitt) steal people's deepest secrets by effectively invading their dreams. The film takes a U-turn though when Saito (Watanbe) offers Cobb a chance to regain his previous life, by planting an idea in someones head, instead of stealing once. Hence the title; Inception.

Everything about this film is almost flawless, but despite two viewings, I'm still finding it difficult to see whether this is the case, due to the initial awe the film inspires in the viewer. This could perhaps warrant a second reflection in a few weeks time, which might result in a slightly more neutral result, but hopefully not.

What's good?

Nolan's firm grasp on the art of story telling is very much apparant in Inception. Not only does the film pack a knockout punch of originality, and intricate detail, but it also operates on several levels, leaving the viewer to distinguish between the dream world and reality. This is what makes the film special, because as well as amazing you, it will stimulate your mind, causing you to think it over for hours, even days after you've seen it. Especially the ending. I guarantee it will drive you crazy.

Away from the script and story, the casting and performances are the best I've seen in ages. Similarly to the Godfather there isn't a bad performance, and although in most cases we may not feel as endeared towards less prominent characters as we are with Fredo and Sonny, it is impossible to ignore how convincing the performance are. I've already picked Leo for best actor this year, and possibly Ellen Page, who was robbed from best actress for Juno.

Despite the new found obession of 3-D cinema, especially after the success of James Cameron's 'Avatar', you'd have thought Inception would have followed suit. Wrong again. Nolan himself is not a fan of 3-D, and many think because of this the film will suffer visually. Trust me - this is not the case. Overflowing with amazing CGI and some really awe-inspiring photography, Inception is the years the most impressive film, especially on the big screen. Definitely worth taking a trip down to your nearest IMAX for.

The soundtrack is also something that Nolan and Zimmer have triumphed with, and when played through the cinema sound system, it really does give you goosebumps, from the sheer ferociousness of the gunfire, to the haunting music.

What's bad?

Not an awful lot to be honest.

The plot has come under scrutiny, and yes there are some holes here and there. It's not something you're going to fully understand straight away, which in a way can be frustrating, but is really aided by a second viewing, and a good explanation, several of which can be found online. The plot itself isn't that bad, but the minor details about dream levels and how it all work can be slightly dizzying at times.

And although the performances are great, and as an audience we do feel sympathy towards Cobb, the other characters appear quite shallow on the screen, in terms of their backstory and personality. This is a double edged sword though, and one could argue it helps the ambiguous and mysterious nature of the film.

Conclusion

Inception is a major triumph, not only for Nolan, but for film itself. Not once did I take my eyes off the screen, and very few films manage to command and capture that high level of attention. It will no doubt be remembered as a classic of our generation, as well in the history of film. It is by no means the best film ever made, but it is the closest we've had in years.

You have to see this film.

Rating: 5/5.

Verdict: The good.

Take... erm... what take are we on again?

It's funny how I always seem to be busier in holidays than I am in term time. There's definitelty something wrong there. But hopefully now everything is calming down a bit now, so I should get plenty of time for blogging and reviews.

So whats been keeping me? Well. Between the last time I posted and now, I've turned 20, completed the IMDb 250, restarted driving, been trying to catch up with all my Telford friends, been working, and sorting out various forms of finance. It's been a bit of a whirlwind.

But now everything seems to be sorted, I can start breathing some life into this seriously malnutrioned blog. In the next few days I'll get my review of the Godfather trilogy posted, as well as special on Inception, packed with my thoughts and reactions to it.

This will be the last time I leave my blog for so long. Scouts honour!

Dean

Reviews: The Godfather Trilogy

Me and one of my friends had planned to do a Godfather marathon for quite a while, but never really got round to it. We then decided what better to celebrate essay hand in with , than watching one of the most iconic trilogies in film history from start to finish. For anyone who hasn't already, I'd highly recommend it. Get together with a mate, or a bunch of mates, get some beverages in, order a pizza, and you've got one heck of a day lined up!

But what can be said about the Godfather trilogy (more specifically parts I & II), that hasn't already been said? Not a lot is the answer, but I'll do my best.

The Godfather: Part I
Many people, including myself, will argue that this is the greatest film of all time, and is the closest thing we've got to cinematic perfection. It is the finest story, the best collection of characters, and really needs no introduction.

Whereas the story, cinematography, and soundtrack are all superb, what really stands out is the cast. The film served as career defining performances for Brando and Pacino as Vito and Michael Corleone, despite the uncertainty of the studio to cast them in their respective roles. But in addition to these; John Cazale, James Caan, and Robert Duvall put on three of the best supporting roles of all time as the hapless Fredo, hot-headed Sonny, and Irish/German lawyer; Tom Hagen.

I could go on for days about the triumphs of this film, but I think I'll leave it for those who haven't seen it to find out about it for themselves, as part of the beauty of this film is watching the story progress, and the characters develop. For those who have seen it, it will hopefully be recognized as the film that defined not only a genre but cinema itself, and the must see film of all time.

I very much doubt for as long as we live, we will never seen anything better The Godfather.

Rating: 5/5.

Verdict: The good.

The Godfather: Part II
I once read somewhere that the Godfather II has something its earlier counterpart does not: De Niro. The beauty of Coppola and Puzo's sequel to their masterpiece from 2 years previous, is that it not only chronicles Michael's reign of fear atop the Corleone family, but also Vito's rise to power, starting from when he was a young boy in Sicily. And who better to play the role, than the best actor of all time, Robert De Niro.

The use of nonlinear narrative is perfect, and unlike other films which use the technique, the backstory is in no way irrelevant, and just as much of a part of the film as the main story is. Again I won't reveal too much about the story for those who have not been fortunate enough to see this masterpiece, but once again, it is completely flawless.

Something else I particularly love about this film, is the larger part John Cazale plays a Fredo, which is one of my all time favourite performances. Watching his relationship with Michael develop and decline, is like poetry in motion, and leads to some of the most emotional and beautifully acted scenes of all time.

I still maintain my view that The Godfather: Part I is the greatest film of all time, but The Godfather: Part II comes extremely close. And although Coppola had brilliant core material to work with in Puzo's original novel, the ability to helm two films as good as this in the space of two years, is extraordinary.

Rating: 5/5.

Verdict: The good.

The Godfather: Part III
Now this is where it gets interesting. Many critics, particularly the guys over at Empire (who gave it 2/5), have absolutely slated the final part of the trilogy, The Godfather: Part III. Most of the negativity revolves around poor performances, and the lack of the beautifully constructed narrative we were accustomed to in the previous masterpieces. Whilst I partially agree with some of these complaints, I think a lot of the criticism is unfair and in some cases unjustified.

I'll start off with what constrains the film from being as good as the first two parts in the trilogy. Whereas the addition of Andy Garcia as Vincent Mancini is a welcome addition to the cast, the lack of Brando, De Niro, and Duvall does pull the standard of acting down. This isn't aided by Sofia Coppola as Mary Corleone, who does not conform to the Oscar winning acting in the previous entries.

The other aspect which seems to cause unsettle amongst film fans is the incestuous romance between Vincent and Mary, as well Michael's rekindled affection towards Kay. I believe however that this is a matter of perspective. The nay-sayers will argue that the contempt ridden character Michael, which has been so well constructed over the last few films, has been unravelled. The argument itself if logical. If you were Michael Corleone, who shot his own brother, would you forgive your wife who tried to take your kids away, and aborted your third without permission? As Michael himself so elegantly put, 'No'.

But this leads onto my view of the film, which is that it is simply, misunderstood. Obviously incestuous romance was not top of our list of 'things we wanted to see in the final part of the greatest trilogy ever', but it did keep it in the family (pardon the pun). The Romeo and Juliet style romance, creates a strong undercurrent of forbidden attraction, and allows tension to slowly seep into the cracks of the story, which comes to a head at the end of the film. Michael's reunion with Kay also allows Coppola to convey one of the major themes of the film, which is forgiveness and reflection, that is also aided by the more religious aspects the film endows.

So what are the high points of the film? The closing 40 minutes almost make any other complaints irrelevant. Again the theme of reflection is brought up, as the finale closely mirrors that of the first film, and if you have any sense of emotion or compassion, you will find yourself balanced on the edge of your seat, with much shorter nails. The soundtrack is also something that stands out, especially with the vocalized rendition of Brucia La Terra, which is used in another of the stand out scenes. And finally although the older prequels are easily preferred, which orchestrated a more poetic portrayal of violence, the more modernized violenced fits in well with the time period, creating a chronologically accurate feel.

The Godfather part III is not as good as its predecesors, but then again, when compared with arguarbly the two greatest films of all time, it is hard to achieve this feat. Although the film does have it's downfalls, there are several prevelant elements in the film which I feel still make it a worthy candidate of the trilogy, despite it being widely misunderstood.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

Hope you've enjoyed reading the reviews, sorry for the delay, and more to follow soon.

Dean

Reviews: Kick-Ass, How to Train Your Dragon, Top Gun, Enter the Dragon

Kick-Ass
Originality is something that is hard to come by. Not necessarily because people can’t be bothered to come up with new ideas, but because there have been so many different films released, it’s extremely difficult to produce something that wholly original. But every now and then, you get one that stands out from the rest. Kick-Ass is that film.

An extremely potent blend of violence, comedy, and action, Kick-Ass does exactly what it says on the tin. The story revolves around Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic reading high school reject, who decides he’s going to make a difference. He dons some green spandex, and becomes the superhero the community desperately needs; Kick-Ass. He soon finds out he’s not alone though, and is joined by father/daughter team of Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) and Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage), as well as Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse).

Not only does the film succeed in being one of the most violent and funniest main stream productions of the last few years, it also packs an overwhelmingly original story, some amazing performances, and some brilliant cinematography.

It’s easiest to think about like this. The base of the film could be described as a teen comedy, revolving around discovering your identity, and overcoming social constraints in order to make the girl of your dreams recognize you for who you are. The ultra-violent super hero overlay is what makes the film stand out though. In an unprecedented mix, we are given a monumental achievement in writing and cinematography, which will humour, shock, and delight you, making Kick-Ass the number one film to see in 2010.

Miss it at your peril!

Rating: 5/5.

Verdict: The good.

How to Train Your Dragon
With 3D cinema proving to be the next big innovation for the film industry, everyone is jumping on the band wagon. How to Train Your Dragon is the latest animated outing from DreamWorks, and by far their best yet, blowing previous title holder Shrek out of the water.

The film is based on the novel of the same name, and set on the imaginary Viking island of Berk, where (to paraphrase the opening few lines), the pests aren’t mice or mosquitoes; but dragons.

The hero of the story is Hiccup, another hapless protagonist with a thirst for success, but unfortunately lacking the necessary tools to get there. Upon shooting down an elusive Night Fury dragon during an attack, he learns that everyone has dragons all wrong, and they just want to be loved. Aww.

The script is beautifully written, providing light hearted comedy for all ages, and an extremely enjoyable story. Whereas the 2D version doesn't take anything away for the film, the 3D version is absolutely stunning, which coupled with the big screen, creates a visually stunning experience. How to Train Your Dragon is something for all the family, and with an intelligent story, and as well as some colourful characters, it is one of the most pleasing animated films of all time.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

Top Gun
If you look at ‘guilty pleasure’ in the dictionary, I’m sure Top Gun will be under there somewhere. This film has it all. Cheesy music, cheesy lines, cheesy story; what is there not to love? Cruise comprises the role of Maverick, a fighter pilot with disregard for authority and rules, living in the shadow of his old man. He and his buddy Goose (Anthony Edwards) are sent to Top Gun, a school for the top fighter pilots in the world, in which they learn to lost art of aerial combat.

But we’re not in the 80s anymore. A lot of the elements in the film don’t hold constant, and not surprisingly there are several cringe inducing moments, namely a topless greased up volley ball game with Cruise and Kilmer. But at the risk of contradicting myself, it’s these moments that make the film so likable.

As a film, it’s nowhere near perfect, but as a bit of light hearted entertainment for a Saturday night, to provide you and some mates with a few laughs and a slice of 80’s cool, you can’t really go wrong.

Rating: 3/5.

Verdict: The average.

Enter the Dragon
If you only ever see one martial arts film in your life, make sure it’s this one. Bruce tragically passed away before the film was released, but it still stands as a monumental bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, along with one of finest showcases of his legendary ability. The acting is poor in places, and the script has its moments, but sometimes these factors are just irrelevant, due to the sheer magnitude behind what the film has done.

The fight scenes are the clear highlight of the movie, and show just how phenomenal a martial artist Lee was. His talent was unparalleled, and even with the rise of Jackie Chan in the 80s, and now Donnie Yen, he will always be remembered as the best, despite his mere 5 title filmography. The choreography is superb, and there is great use of visual disorientation, particularly in the final show down with Han, which acts as a thrilling conclusion to the film.

So whereas Enter the Dragon isn’t a cinematic masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, it has some of the finest choreographed fight scenes of all time, as well as some of Lee’s fabled philosophical views, which combine to make it the flagship for the martial arts genre.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

Back to Business!

I can safely say this has been the busiest and most stressful few weeks of my life. Way too many things have gone wrong recently, but they’re starting to look up again now. I won’t go into all of them, but your laptop dying 3 days before a deadline date, taking one of your 3000 word essays with it, is not a situation I would advise getting yourself into.

On the flip side I doubt I’ll ever have motivation issues again.

But now it’s all over, I’ve got everything handed in, had a great night out with the Newcastle University English society, and only have one exam on June 1st to deal with. Result.

The coming week is going to see plenty of film watching, with a Godfather marathon planned (with subsequent reviews of all 3 films) planned for Wednesday, and a trip to the Tyneside Cinema to see a free screening of Run Lola Run.

I was going to review a bunch of films I watched a while ago, but so much stuff has passed through my head since then, I’m going to do a bunch of others instead. So yeah, sorry for all the delays, but everything is back on track now.

Dean

No blog posts until May 14th.

Sorry guys - really busy with uni work. Waaaay to many essays. Normal blogging service shall be resumed on the 16th. Got a whole bunch of reviews and a 20 top list lined up too.

Hopefully after that it should be back to normal until the next set of deadlines!

Dean

iCheckMovies.com

Gonna post some reviews later on tonight, but I though I'd just highlight the site I'm using to go through the various movie lists.

www.icheckmovies.com.

It's a great little site, and has all the essential lists you'll ever need, from IMDB, to Academy Award Winners, to Best at the Box Office, it's safe to say the coverage is pretty comprehensive. The site operates like a checklist, and you tick movies off as you go once you've created your free account. From there you can browse through the various lists, search by film, and interact with other users, which you can be matched to in accordance to film compatibility.

What's more is you get awarded with trophies for seeing a certain percentage of each list, ranging from bronze to platinum, giving you that extra feeling of satisfaction for reaching various milestones. The interface is very simple, and although it can run a little slow at times, for film geeks, it really is the ideal site.

Dean

All systems go.

I was hoping to have another bunch of reviews done by now, but I've been held up by English Language essays on metaphysics (don't ask), and last minute packing for the trip back up to Newcastle on Saturday. Bit crazy at the moment!

I'm aiming to have reviews for Benjamin Button, Rosemary's Baby, Prom Night, and Magnolia done by Sunday. Monday at the latest.

You might think it strange Prom Night is sitting comfortably between two cinematic masterpieces, but the only reasons I'm reviewing it are a) to make sure people avoid it like the plague, and b) I haven't decided yet, but it's been a very good week for movies, and everything is likely to get 5 stars, so I thought some variation might be nice.

So yeah - sorry for the delay!

Dean

Shutter Island, Harvey, The Grave of Fireflies, I Robot

Shutter Island

Martin Scorsese is one of the most consistently brilliant film makers ever. The majority of his previous films are considered classics, and he is heralded as 'the master of the mob movie'. This is why I was so anxious to see his latest epic, Shutter Island.

Moving away from the gangster genre, Shutter Island is a gripping thriller, revolving around two federal marshals (DiCaprio & Ruffalo) trying to track down an escaped mental patient from an isolated prison facility for the criminally insane. Needless to say it's not just as simple as that, and the story contains more than a few twists and turns along the way.

The plot is very intricate, with plenty of contingencies and detail, but also took me two viewings and a bit of reading to fully understand. It requires your full attention, and the ability to think back to various events in the past of DiCaprio's character in order to be fully appreciated. It could almost be described as a psychological jigsaw, and will stick in your mind long after the credits have rolled.

The film itself has an extremely well created foreboding atmosphere, helping to sustain the dark nature of the story. But in something that I have rarely seen as of late, this is maintained successfully from start to finish. From the opening scene of the island ferry emerging slowly from a thick aura of fog to the sound of its sombre horn, to the shot that closes the film, we are kept on the very edge of our seats in this surreal nightmare.

This film is not for everyone, and requires your undivided attention, but if you can sit it out, and process every bit of detail, the pay off can be very rewarding. With another good performance from DiCaprio, as well as great support from Ruffalo and Kingsley, this is definitely not one to be missed by film fans, and one of the best film plots we'll see this year.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

Harvey

I love James Stewart. I really do. I have yet to see a poor performance from him, and this may well be his most lovable and charming character to date yet. He plays the role of Elwood, a kindly and polite man with a taste for alcohol, who has an imaginary 6'3" white rabbit as a best friend. While this seems to inflict more trouble than good on the unsuspecting public and his hapless family, we are kept smiling throughout his various encounters, and the relationships he establishes.

In my opinion this is one of the finest, and light hearted comedies ever to grace the silver screen, and a bench mark for feel good films since. With a good story, great performances, and more laughs and smiles than you can count, I don't see how you could possibly want anything more from a comedy.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

The Grave of Fireflies

This is the most depressing film I have ever seen. That doesn't mean it's bad by any stretch of the imagination, but if you need cheering up, don't watch this - seriously. Revolving around the lives of Seita, and his younger sister Setsuko during the Japanese war, we see the hardships they endure, from death, to starvation, to destruction, and how their relationship grows stronger.

In comparison to other war films, which focus on the action war, this is much more poetic, and offers a refreshing and original change for those who appreciate love and beauty. While the film does have it's moments, it is almost exclusively based on the events outside the fighting. I doubt I will ever watch this film again, as I don't want to spoil its magic, but I highly recommend this to anyone who wants an insight into the harsh and sad realities of war.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

I, Robot

As far as blockbusters go, this is definitely one of the better ones we've seen in the last few years. With a good blend of sci-fi and action, a witty script and a good concept, this is an enjoyable and visual cinematic experience, which isn't meant to be taken too seriously. That being said, the film does touch up moral concepts and has a nice philosophical dimension to it, which is perhaps what sets it apart from the rest of the big budget explosion-fests.

However some elements do remain the same. Product placement. This film has lots of it. Audi and Converse are the main offenders, and there are still elements of the blockbuster with various bit of discomfited plot, and the fact the best performance of the film goes to the robot, with Will Smith comprising his usual role of Will Smith, not Del Spooner. But overall this is an enjoyable film, and provides an uplifting change from the usual Hollywood cannon fodder.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

So that's it. My first set of new reviews done. Hopefully they're better than previous attempts, and any feedback or disagreement (or agreement :]) would be appreciated it. As I've mentioned before as well, they all received a rating of 4, which may seem a little boring, but whilst I'm watching the IMDB top 250, expect more of the same. I'll try and mix it up though. Thanks for reading.

Dean

Back from the dead.

Don't you just hate it when you have absolutely nothing to do, and then all of a sudden you get avalanched with work? Well that's exactly what happened to me half way through my last semester, and the reason why my blog has been brutally neglected for the last 6 months.

But it has it's upsides too. Have you ever wrote something, forgot about it, found it a while later, and then thought 'this isn't as good as I thought it was?' Well that's kind of what happened here, so I've decided to pick it back up again, and start from fresh.

Instead of being awkward, and rating things out of 10 with decimals, I'm going to do it out of 5. Much simpler, and I won't get into arguments with myself as to whether something deserves at 7.7 or a 7.8. I'm also going to do a feature film for each blog post, and then 3 other films with a brief review as well. The verdict system is staying put though, and each will receive a verdict of either 'the good', 'the bad' or 'the average'.

As promised initially as well, I will be keeping tabs on how I'm getting along on with my quest to complete the IMDB top 250, and do a top 20 list each month on stuff like quotes, actors, directors etc.

So yeah, I'm back, and regular blogging has been resumed.

Dean

IMDB: 211/250.