It is really good.

I can't think of any better protrayl of Hitler off the top of my head.

Although Robert Carlisle was pretty good.

The Living Daylights

This was Dalton's first and penultimate outing as Bond (I rated him highly as a decent Bond), and its a film I really like.

Sure its a genre flick, and keeps to the straight and narrow Bond cliches but a gritty soviet plot, great action sequences and an intelligent storyline means its one of the better 80s Bond movies.

I watched Snatch for the 1st time yesterday and then TNA Bound For Glory 2006 this morning

Letter To Brezhnev

The factories, pubs, clubs, hotels and streets of 1980s Liverpool form the backdrop for this tale of love, friendship, sex and a letter to the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev. Two Liverpool lasses, Teresa and Elaine meet two Russian sailors, Sergei (a young Alfred Molina!!) and Peter and hook up for a night of fun and frolics. Teresa is looking for sex and a smile, Elaine wants love, romance and the dream of life far away from the grime of the Liverpool docklands.

This film is a let down, superficially gliding over its redeeming factors such as the idea of an illconceived perception of Russia and the Soviet Union, instead it is over sentimental and embarasingly scripted.

The photography and gloomy feel of Liverpool however is spot on, and despite a monotonous direction, the shots create a real broody feel to the film. Sadly this is let down by people falling in 'love' with each other within hours of meeting, unlikeable characters (the two main girls are annoying, possibly a glimpse into the darker side of the 'laddette' culture) and the film really doesn't pick up till the last half hour when things actually start getting interesting with the possibility of Elaine moving to Russia being shown.

Certainly not the greatest British flick from the 80s, and I wouldn't recomend you bother with it despite its okayish factors.

Picked up Pusher for £2 from Smiths is it any good?

This is a film I've always wanted to track down. Good review.

Drunken Monkey
I was so looking forward to this, and was so hoping it would be good. And it is. Sort of. It's good, but it could have been better (or at least better suited to my tastes).
Basically it's a kung fu movie, with the classic "master gets betrayed, disappears for a few years, trains up a new student and returns to kicks ass" storyline. The kung fu master is question is Lau Kar Leung, who is a genuine old school kung fu master that trained in fields with logs and rocks and stuff. Also in the film is Lau Kar Fei (AKA: Gordon Lau from Kill Bill), who is Lau Kar Leung's adopted brother in real life, and also a fucking awesome traditional kung fu master.
Now, Kar Leung isn't a young man (he was in his mid-late 60's when this was made) and so when his character is doing the flips and acrobatic stuff synonymous with monkey style kung fu, it's obviously a double. I wouldn't mind so much, but in other scenes he's doing rolls and showing agility that's perfectly acceptable for the style and pretty impressive for his age. It just seems so unecessary when he's in such good shape and is so impressive in his own right.

Plotwise, it's an autopilot movie. You know pretty much what's going to happen, and some of it is a bit dated looking, like an old Shaw Bros movie. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, depending on taste.

Choreographywise, it's everything you could hope for from Lau, that perfect balance of screen-flashiness and realistic looking technique. The fight in the temple against Kar Fei is breathtaking. Both men matching each other with crisp, precise technique delivered at lightning speed. Even at such an age, the Lau brothers are a fucking spectacle to watch, which is why I found it so annoying when we get a long shot of Kar Leung's character doing a backflip off a table.

If you love The Pops, then it's a must-see-but-don't-go-out-of-your-way-to movie.


Odd Couple
Samo Hung's legendary weapon-fest. I've been wanting to see this for years, and thanks to Play.com's sale, I picked it up for £4.99.
This movie has been hyped as the greatest weapons movie ever, and a work of choreographical genius. It had a lot to live up to. And it managed it. The plot actually has more to it than the reviews ever lead me to believe, and there's some great comedy in there too, such as Master Rocking, and Samo's "opera" fight.
The fight scenes really are some of the most incredible I've ever seen, and a shining example of why I love old chop socky movies. You can stick anybody on wires, and edit them together with footage of a double in the modern style, but to see two guys in wide angle, with only a few cuts, performing this most intricate of physical feats is awe inspiring.

Okay, so this isn't so much of a review, as me just wanking over it. But tough shit. It really is that good.

It was free in The Guardian last year, but I only just got round to watching it.

Pusher

This was a film I had heard of for a long time, before having any idea what it is about so when I saw it for £2 on DVD in WH Smiths I couldn't resist.

Its a film from Denmark, the whole plot takes place in the worst week of a drug pusher's (Frank) life in Copenhagen. The idea being that he owes money to his supplier, but when a few deals of his get fucked up (intervention from police, bad deals etc), he realises that he is on a time limit to get the money and with no source of funding is in for hell.

It is shot in the now cliche'd manner when dealing with gangster/ drug culture of a shaky handheld cam, which doesn't quite feel as intimate or alternative as it may have once did or wished. The plot appears outlandish and even cartoonish at times, especially when the violence is often abrupt and not quite as daring as it could be.

However, the concepts of one dodgy drug dealing or the slightest bust leading to the snowball effect of all the other drug deals fucking up is interesting and thought provoking. Also the trepid relationship between Milo (the 'Don' of the film) 's hardman relationship with Frank is probably the best thing about the film, the idea of one day joking in a car together the next he is torturing him for the money brings up a lot of interesting questions about the nature of the game.

Frank played Kim Bodina is a very strong lead, not allowing the audience to fully sympathise with the character (by his actions towards his mother and whore girlfriend), so as the audience is able to stand at a distance where, although they don't approve of his actions, his violence, or his drugs deals, that he still is the pieces anti-hero that you want to see prevail.

Over-all, this film is very good at what it sets out to achieve. It protrays the drug underbelly of society to be far more complex, violent and dirty than a couple of just a few swaps of goods for money. The films sets your pulse racing from frame one, with the tension rising throughout to the bitter anti-climax. I would not call it a classic, or the best flick in it's drug gangster genre, but it certainly is a good contender.

Gladiator

With Oscar weekend just passed I decided to dig out a film that had won loads of Oscars, and nominated for even more. I went for Gladiator, a flick I hadn't seen for at least five years, which five years ago I remember thinking wasn't anything special.

And apart from the action sequences, that view still holds. Sure, the collisieum scenes are something special - possibly some of the great action scenes ever shot, but they are let down by a mess of a film, full of bad dialogue, gaping plot holes and bad acting.

Russell 'I can only do one expression' Crowe, is perhaps one of the films biggest let downs, he can't decided whether he is a emtionless bad ass, not giving a damn whether he dies or not, or whether he is an emotionally fragile man. I've never been a big fan of Crowe, but especially in the role of Maximus, I feel it is one of the film's hinderances.

The dialogue is camp and cartoony, with one of the first lines "Why can't people just admit when they've been conquered?!" appearing completely inappropriate for a savage battle scene. Throughout the film the dialogue is one of the recurring problems, which makes itself apparent when it appears self-aware or over-sincere ("You must live or I shall die").

Also, we're meant to believe that Maximus can escape the Roman army and travel undected from Germania back to Spain, but wait he can't escape from a shoddy little slave ring. Its plot holes like this that mean that Gladiator can't be the classic it badly wants to be.

However, it does have quite a few redeeming factors, such as the fact that it is really well directed by Ridley Scott (his choice of panning camera shots and brillant intimate feel to the battle scenes have to be seen to be believed). And Joaquin Phoenix is spot on as Commodus, never choosing to protray him as a straight bad guy, but the most multi-diemensional character in the film.

Oh yeh, and the soundtrack is great too!

Pusher was made quite a long time ago, and if you liked that, you really should check out pusher 2 and 3, which was made last year and the year before that. Cool that you enjoyed that while your aint danish.

I like foreign films as much as I like any other sort of films - and usually they are much more true to life than Hollywood blockbusters.

Norbit - Watched this yesterday and thought it was a brilliant family comedy which had me laughing on numerous occasions. Eddie Murphy doing it again as a fatty is great, if your a fan of The Nutty Professor or even Big Mommas House you will enjoy this. 4*

You Got Served - What an absolutly shit film, i dont know if they even hired actors/actresess in this film and just hired dancers instead because it was terrible. Its about street/break dancing crews who battle it out for money, then something big happens a massive fall out between 2 best friends, the crew breaks up, a massive tournement with a chance to win big money, will the friends make up and get the crew back together blah blah blah. 1*

Does anyone know if Saw 3 and Jackass Number 2 are out on DVD yet, because i want to see both of them.

http://www.sendit.com/video/item/7001000130038 - Saw 3's been out since the 26th Feb.

http://www.sendit.com/video/item/7001000130282 - Jackass 2 won't be out until the 26th March.

I've just seen a trailer for Norbit last night at the cinema and need to see it now, looks like a good review, so I'll catch it ASAP.

RE: You Got Served, I fucking loved it for some reason. As predictable as it is, everyone loves a bloody obvious film with some BAD MOVES!

There's your order bitch! You just got SERVED!~.

Anyway...watched BASEketball last night again, and it's another one of those films I love to watch due to it being a sport film. And WALLAH, great Psyche Outs and hot women. ****

The Number 23. People and critics bitch and moan that Jim carrey can't do serious. Watch this and you'll change your opinion if it is like that. ****1/2.

Dodgeball. Again, another DVD I watched last night. Awesome stuff from the comedy Stiller to the beautiful Christine Taylor, it's a hilarious story of MANING UP! and saving your ass. ***1/2

And finally, School For Scoundrels. This film was just one I didn't expect much from when I decided to stay late at the Odeon and it surprised me to say the least.

I've read boosk similar to the story (The Game by Neil Strauss) and it reminded me just how awesoem some of the stories from the play community are. Another *** here.

Hostel. Meh.

The Wild Thornberrys. I didn't think I'd enjoy it. I was right.

Oh and Click. That was ok.

Samurai Rebellion
Usual great turn by Toshiro Mifune, good story following a father who's son is forced into a similar situation that he is in (a forced marraige) though his own is loveless, his son and his wife fall deeply in Love, so when the emperor commands the couple to split he rebels against the order splitting his family apart and causing the clan elders to take action. It loses a bit at the end but very good if you like your classic Samurai Drama's.

The Brotherhood
Taped this off Film 4 the other day, forgot just how good it was. SEE IT. Think the first 20 mins of Saving Private Ryan for about 2 hours. Excellent.

Tonight I'm off to see Hot Fuzz, and then Sunday Number 23. Excellent!

Seen as Cheltenham is coming up, I might stick on "Champions" with John Hurt tonight. Tremendous film. Yes, I know "Champions" is about the Grand National.

Tomorrow The Killing Fields is free with The Times. I urge anyone who hasdn't seen it to pick up a copy tomorrow, as it is great.

Thanks for reminding me.

Hapkido
Another kung fu "classic" I'd been wanting to see for years, particularly as I'm a Hapkido practicioner myself.
The plot is very reminiscent of Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury, with several actors reprising essentially the same role in this film as they did in Fist of Fury. This time, it's the Japanese having a problem with the Koreans having a school.
Plenty of future stars are apparently in this one. I spotted Jackie Chan (as a member of both the Korean school and the Japanese school. Two timing bastard!), Lam Chin Ying and Yuen Wah. Apparently Yuen Biu is visible, but I didn't spot him.
The action scenes are a mixed bag. At the beginning we get Chi Hon Choi (the "father of modern Hapkido") doing some fantastic joint lock work, and Whang In Sihk with his trademark kicking awesomeness. Apart from that though, most of the fight scenes are typical early 70s big swinging punches and crescent kicks. Not particularly Hapkido-based at all.

All is not lost though, as you've got Samo Hung, Carter Wong and Angela Mao Ying in the lead rolls. Mao Ying has a reputation as a respectable, wholesome woman, but in this she absolutely smoulders. There's some underlying sexual chemistry between her and Wong, and she looks like she could fuck you into a spinal brace, and then demand a refund.

In short, it's good, but unbalanced between really good stuff, and just okay stuff.

The Prestige

Amazing film. I was amazed to see David Bowie. Anyways, most of the developments were stunning. There were times when you wanted BOTH men to just give up their obsession, but then the thrilling ride just drew you in. The performances from Hugh and Bale were stunning. I'd say it's probably the best film of 2006.

Like Mike 2 - For anyone still wondering if the rumour of Kel(from Kenan and Kel) is dead then wonder no more. He plays the brother of a guys ex wifes cousin, helping manage her son to become big on the street basketball scene after he finds a pair of basketball sneakers one night that make him magically amazing at basketball. ABSOLUTLY CRAP 1/100*

I've had this for a while but never been bothered to watch it. Thanks to you i got my bed time film

Is Film 4 the American dubbed version of Taegukgi / The Brotherhood? even though ive got the Region 2 Ive seen the American dub and it makes me cringe.

I saw Das Leben der Anderen from a DVD I loaned the other day from a mate who bought in the German released Which he asked me to add subtitles if I ripped the DVD.

Intresting but slow movie I thought, but very to the point, Good Bye Lenin I think is a better East German set movie even if its a little later.

Anybody see that film last night on BBC1 "Return to the River Kwai" with Edward Fox and the late Chris Penn?

Seen it a few times before, and I loved it.

From what I have seen of foreign films on Film 4, is they tend to go for subtitles rather than dubbed.

didnt see it last night, but ive seen it before...good movie, bit of a forgotten one.

Yeah, its criminally forgotten IMO.

Saw Ghost Rider today. One of the worst films I have seen in 2007 and one of the worst comic-book movies I can remember seeing as well. Poor story, laughable script, dire bad-guys (who Ghost Rider beats with no difficulty at all), effects ranging from ok to poor (the effects for the wind bad-guy in particular were bad), poor acting and far too long for what it was (nearly 2-hours). Cage was probably the highlight of the film (he seemed to be having fun in the part, delivering the awful dialogue he was given), while the rest of the cast were mostly poor (including Eva Mendes who had little to do playing a pretty pointless character).

The Departed

Just seen the Best Picture©, and I have to say I'm impressed. DiCaprio's great as Costigan, and the rest of the cast were right on the money too (Wahlberg's final scene, you know which one I'm talking about, was brillant). It was as expected from Scorsese, well directed without being over-directed. This is a very very good cop thriller, its no Heat, but its certainly one of the best films of 2006.

Downfall

I thought this was a really good film. I love this subject-matter anyway but this film really showed how schitzophrenic Hitler was during his last few days. It was a very claustrophobic film I thought - lots of intense close-ups and it really made you feel like you were in the bunker with them. I didn't quite understand the role of "Peter" though. I didn't say at the end what happened to him after the war. Was he real?


United 93

Probably one of the best films I've seen in a while. I had to be in the right frame of mind to watch this. I liked how it was in real time and that it really drew you in without exploring the characters too much. You know how it ends but you're still rooting for them to succeed. Powerful and touching.

Ghost Rider

Christ, Nic Cage is fuckin' old. Seriously he seems to have aged ten years since Wicker Man. Dodgy hairplugs and fake teeth too. Oh yeah there was a film. It sucked. You might like it if you're into movies that are way too long, incredibly slow, mindnumbingly boring and feature terrible acting and worse dialogue. I wondered what happened to Wes Bentley since American Beauty. Sadly he's still "acting" and he's definitely still being hilariously miscast. I was never into the Ghost Rider comics but I doubt Blackheart is supposed to resemble the singer from My Chemical Romance pre-peroxide. Shit villain too, and as for the elemental demon that flame-boy defeats with ease? Less said the better. Sam Elliot must have watched Blade to prepare for his role as he's basically Whistler 2.0. What's the point in establishing that if Ghost Rider gets stabbed, he'll wake up with a knife wound that needs treatment, and then having him get shot about 800 times and he's fine and dandy the next morning? Lazy writing. I'm trying to think of highlights, and apart from Eva Mendes' spectacular cleavage, I can't think of anything.

3 months into 2007, and I already have 3 films for the Worst of the Year list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImPbreJlgOA

After seeing this supurb looking trailer I ordere the DVD immediately and really enjoyed the film. I made this video.

http://www.livevideo.com/video/olivertothe...?&v=mymedia

Agree with you on Ghost Rider. What are the other two films? Thank you.

Apocalypto and Hannibal Rising.

I watched In The Line Of Fire last Friday. It was fucking awesome. Highly recommended.

what didnt you like about Apocalypto?

yeh man, one of Clint's best.

Agree as well. Malkovich was good too.

Also has the strange hotness of Rene Russo in it. Yummy.

Lots. I posted all about it in this thread. There should be an index a few pages back.

I had the same thoughts when watching. If you remember he also gets hit by a truck and the next minute he is perfectly fine and attacks one of the so-called villains (I assumed that there was a scene missing that explained how he actually got from being squashed, but as you say probably not due to the lazy writing).

Page 162 to be precise.

Money Train - this is a movie i remember fondly from my young teen years, i used to have a battered vhs version and used to watch it all the time. I picked it up on dvd in the tesco sale for £3 last week. It's a fun film in the same vein as Bad Boys...it's nice to actually watch a film where Wesley Snipes shows at least some kind of charisma (his latest movies have been shocers), and Woody Harrelson is great as always. The script is pretty tired and cliche'd although there are some genuinley funny moments. The actual train robbery is one of the least thought out and stupid things ive ever seen, if it was that easy to rob a train carrying millions of dollars, every fucker would be at it. But fuck it, it's not the point.

Oh and the best thing about the film...Jennifer Lopez's nipples, yes sir!

All in all, it's a fun buddy cop/actioner...nothing more, nothing less.

Just saw United 93, and would echo pretty much everything positive that's been said about it previously. No one mentioned, however, that a hell of a lot of the air-traffic controller roles are played by the actual people involved on the day. Just a phenomenal credit to those people, and the director for managing to draw such performances out of non-actors for whom reliving the whole experience could have been more than harrowing.

Baise Moi

Very rarely does a film make me actually angry, but this astoundingly terrible flick did.

The shock of seeing an errect penis which isn't in porn wore off after about 5 seconds, as did the constant violence which looked horribly staged and very stupid. It was therefore a real pain that these two happenings make up the main meat of the film, with little bits of lead ups to the next sex scene between them.

The anti-male message is quite offensive, and despite what the director/ author says, the film protrays that redemption through violence against men is the best way to counter-balance the graphic rape at the start of the film.

The film is a complete fucking joke, terribly acted (they used ex-porn stars for fucks sake), terribly directed, and very boring.

This is quite possibly one of the stupidest and unbelievable films I have ever seen. France is lucky that they banned it.

Me too. I bought it off the back of recommendations that compared it to Irreversible (a joke of a comparison, frankly). I despise this film.

Exactly the same story here. I lent Irreversible to a mate, and he said 'oh yeh that was great, but this is way better' and handed me Baise-Moi. I think he thought that because they were both French and had a rape scene that they were of the same type of film.

thought id chuck this is in here as some of you prob dont read the classifieds section...

i got a copy of The Prestige for sale, its an official Region 3 edition, packed with extra's and shit. It's brand new and unwatched.

£6 including postage (this film aint released over here yet), PM me if interested.