Van_Dammer

The Breakfast Club

Five students, who are strangers to each other, are in detention on a Saturday morning. The principal forces to write an essay about themselves, respectively, and they have eight hours to complete it. Instead, they begin to talk to each other and slowly reveal their fears and problems.

The Breakfast Club has a very distinct set of characters; Andrew's the jock, Brian's the geek; John's the thug, Claire's popular and Allison's weird. They may be stereotypes, but they're played flawlessly. Each of them has their own specific mannerisms, actions and general demeanor.

Judd Nelson, who plays John Bender is fantastic in this movie. Being somewhat of a lout, he initially aggravates and provokes the other characters. Everything that he does comes across well because Nelson is great at delivering his smarmy and, sometimes, offensive dialogue.

Anthony Michael Hall's performance is also good. As in Weird Science, he plays an awkward geek. Hall just seems perfect in such roles and this is no exception.

I hate to admit it, but I found the psycho brunette, Allison, extremely attractive. Not when she was acting freaky, though.

Click to Show/Hide

Interestingly, I think she looked awful towards the end of the film, after the cliched Hollywood make over. In my opinion, it also sent a pretty mixed message. Prior to that, however, the sight of her slurping the fizz off of her Coke can was quite nice. Something tells me that she'd be up for anything...

Anyway, The Breakfast Club is, fundamentally, about how the five characters react with each other and, eventually, being to understand each other. As it's aptly executed, it becomes an involving, interesting, funny, enjoyable and dramatic film.

 

It's a shame that it has a shit soundtrack.

It was an A-Level...

I download them. My sources consist mainly of a torrents and few multimedia forums...

He watches more obscure film than me and im a Media Production student :s

Yes, I do.

DJ Stevie C, regarding Gozu...

MAJOR SPOILERS

A Love Song For Bobby Long

Following her mother's death, Purslane Will (Scarlett Johansson) returns to her home town, looking to reclaim her childhood house. However, it hasn't been left solely to Purslane, but also to two of the mother's friends; Bobby Long (John Travolta) and Lawson Pines (Gabriel Macht).

This film has an interesting and rather original story. It takes the time to tell it well and there is very close attention to detail, which definitely results in an engaging experience. A Love Song For Bobby Long is primarily character-driven and succeeds because of how effectively it establishes and develops their personas.

John Travolta is terrific in this film. Without a doubt, his performance in A Love Song For Bobby Long is the best that he's given in years. It makes me want to forgive him for Battlefield Earth. Scarlett Johansson and Gabriel Macht are both decent in their roles, too, but this movie belongs to Travolta.

A Love Song For Bobby Long is wonderfully directed. Additionally, the soundtrack fits perfectly and is pivotal to the moving tale.

My only criticisms of are that it needs to be more entertaining in certain places and that it drags slightly towards the end. Overall, though, it's a decent film.

A History Of Violence

A family man, Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen), becomes a local hero by thwarting a robbery at his diner and saving the lives of innocent people in the process. Then, a group of mobsters come to his town...

My views on A History Of Violence are mostly negative. Within the first twenty minutes, it comes across as incredibly cheesy and, in some respects, ridiculous.

Made

Lifelong friends Bobby Ricigliano (Jon Favreau) and Ricky Slade (Vince Vaughn) become caught up in a money laundering scheme through making a delivery to New York.

I'll start with the positives. Although it's essentially a buddy movie, with a comedic character and a 'straight' guy, Made isn't overly conventional or predictable. Accordingly, some of the funniest moment occur in situations that you woudn't necessarily expect.

Additionally, the performances are pretty good. Vince Vaughn is much better in Made than he is in many other films. He's exceptional as a loudmouth who annoys the other characters. Peter Falk also does very well in his role and I'm not just saying that because I'm a big Columbo fan.

With Made, there are two major negatives, though. The first is that it seems somewhat boring in certain places. The second is that the writers seemed to have loaded the script with explicatives because they ran out of material. Generally, I have absolutely nothing against swearing, but if it isn't used properly, it simply isn't funny.

Overall, Made isn't anything great, but it's not bad, either. I'd rate it about average.

11:14

Five different stories that lead up to two 11:14 PM car crashes.

This is a really interesting film as it follows distinct sets of characters, their actions and individual perspectives. As it progresses, you begin to discover more about them and their exact involvement with each other and as to how the events intertwine.

The writing and direction are both excellent. Although 11:14 is a shrewdly executed and intelligent film, it's not stuck up its own ass. There's a great degree of dark comedy, which makes it even more enjoyable.

The cast seem ideal in their roles. Hilary Swank is surprisingly funny as dumb cashier and Patrick Swayze is fantastic as an overprotective father, especially due to his mannerisms. Ben Foster is awesome in his part, too.

In short, 11:14 is a smart, funny and entertaining film. It deserves so much more recognition and it's definitely worth watching. As an extra incentive, Rachael Leigh Cook show off her magnificent cleavage - a lot.

Gozu

Initially, I thought this was going to be a gangster flick. All of the required elements are there in terms of the iconography, style, characters, sets, dialogue and initial plot. The boss of a yakuza group becomes very alarmed by the seemingly insane behaviour of one of the members, Ozaki. He then secretly orders Minami to take Ozaki to a disposal site.

Within approximately fifteen minutes, Gozu changes entirely and becomes an eerie, atmospheric and twisted movie. True to director Takashi Miike's style, there's a succession of bizarre scenes, wierd characters and a rather unconventional story. Strangley, it's even pretty funny in some places. Fittingly, there are a few evident links to Visitor Q, Miike's 2001 film, in regards to a couple of scenes in particular. Kenichi Endo, who played the father in Visitor Q, is also in Gozu, but he's only in it for a few minutes and hardly says anything. That's a shame, really, as I would've liked to have seen him in full comedic psycho mode again... Anyway, as Gozu is so unorthodox, it maintains a sense of intrigue throughout its two hour and ten minute duration. With a number of twists and unpredictable occurances, it doesn't drag.

Looking beneath the obsurity of Gozu and its imagery, the film has several underlying issues and themes. Somehow, it makes sense when you put it into some sort of context...

I'd actually rank this as one of Miike's top three films. It's a truly insane ride.

Eddie Murphy - Delirious

After watching Eddie Murphy's 1987 stand-up, Raw, I subsequently heard a great deal about his 1983 gig, Delirious. The majority of people that I had spoken to said that Delirious is the better of the two...

In this very explicit stand-up, Eddie Murphy takes aim at everyone from celebrities and gays and even touches on issues like racism and beating women. Most of his material would be regarded as politically incorrect now. However, I'm not easily offended at all and I totally enjoyed Delirious.

Murphy begins the show with some great impersonations of various singers. He makes fun of Michael Jackson in a rather friendly manner, but then completely lampoons the likes of Elvis, James Brown and Stevie Wonder. He also presents his views on show business, which are very funny because you can tell what's supposed to truthful and what's exaggerated.

It's interesting that Murphy talks about a number of topics and is able to go from one extreme to the other. For example, part of Delirious is about sex and comprises of a lot of adult humour, but then there's also simple and comparably innocent subjects, such as kids chasing after an ice cream van. Normally, it wouldn't really be amusing, but Murphy can make a subject like that seem absolutely hilarious because he truly excels at creating a scenario. Nothing exemplifies that better than the story about his annual family cookout. Honestly, the bit about his aunt falling down the stairs had me in stitches.

In addition to the material, Eddie Murphy's performance is exceptional. His timing and delivery are perfect and he has the crowd in the palm of his throughout.

In short, Delirious is an excellent stand-up. It's easily one of the funniest that I've ever seen. However, I still think Raw is better as the running jokes were far superior and it just seemed a lot sharper.

Damn, Eddie Murphy was fucking brilliant.

Shinku - Deep Red

Whilst away on a school trip, a young girl's family is killed. Years later, the murderer is sentenced to death, but the remaining girl, Kako, befriends his daughter...

I enjoyed Shinku because it's quite original. The story, although slightly weighty in the middle, is nicely crafted, well-written and doesn't become overly predictable. Contrary to the official synopsis, I'd class Shinku as more of a drama than a thriller. It's a film that doesn't really aim to frighten, but rather present a story that slowly unravels. As it all progresses, it becomes darker and gradually more engaging.

Nonetheless, the technical codes of the thriller genre are skillfully utilized in order to create an atmosphere. There's also good use of symbolism, some of which is rather subtle, and definite themes that you can pick out.

The two leads, Uchiyama Rina and Mizukawa Asami, deliver decent performances and I think they're suited to their respective roles. Uchiyama Rina, in particular, is extremely good-looking, in my opinion, so I have absolutely no problem with her being cast. Facially, she's like a mix between Shamita Singha and Bipasha Basu...

Anyway, I'm surprised that Shinku isn't well-known. I'm unsure as to whether it's due to a lack of promotion or because of some other reason. Either way, it's certainly worth checking out.

To summarize, Shinku is an entertaining film, worthy of more recognition.

V For Vendetta

Set in a not-too-distant future, A freedom fighter, known as V (Hugo Weaving), uses terrorist tactics to seek vengeance on the oppressive government in a dystopian Britain. After he rescues her, Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman), becomes involved in his affairs.

V For Vendetta truly succeeds because it has an interesting story and is shrewdly executed. Dealing with a few controversial political themes and social issues, it has illicited a pretty strong reaction from different groups already. I think some peope need to lighten up.

As the story unfolds, the development of V's character is great. Hugo Weaving perfectly portrays him as an intelligent and articulate, yet ruthless and rebellious individual. Evey, from what I understand, is notably different from the original comic book series. Regardless, Natalie Portman's performance, accent aside, is exceptional as she conveys a range of emotions effectively.

Visually, V For Vendetta is superbly stylish. It's expertly directed and filmed, especially in terms of the action. Somehow, it all seems natural and, as a result, there's an array of memorable scenes, which are accompanied by a fantastic score.

This film isn't without its flaws, though. However, I'm willing to forgive them as V For Vendetta is as cool as fuck, completely entertaining, different and remarkably well-made. Unless I'm forgetting something outstanding, I'd say that it's the best film of 2006 so far.

Misery

After a near-fatal car crash, novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is rescued by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates). After revealing that she's his biggest fan, Annie keeps holds him captive in her house.

The story, which is based on a Stephen King novel, is very good. Primarily, it's about just two people and the gradual building of their characters. Accordingly, Misery slowly escalates in terms of suspense and tension. Everything comes across perfectly because of the excellent performances by Caan and Bates.

The only major negative, in my opinion, is that the film looks fairly cheap. Misery was actually made in 1990, but it looks much older...

Overall, though, this movie is pretty impressive. It's absolutely worth checking out if you're a fan of thrillers.

The Promise

I have this on my "to watch" list. Worth watching in the near future, or one to put near the bottom of the (large) pile?

The Bird People In China

A salaryman is sent by his boss to find a quantity of jade. Accompanied by a yakuza and some explorers, they come across a tribe in deepest China.

The Bird People In China is a somewhat strange and unconventional film. Directed by Takashi Miike, in some respects, it's different to what I've come to expect from him. There's no gore or excessive violence. This film is about mystery and definitely remains intriguing throughout.

It's mainly character-driven and, like Miike's other films, The Bird People In China is very well-directed and artistic. My only real gripes with it are the pacing and that it seems uneventful...

Nonetheless, I liked it and I'd say it's worth checking out, although it's nothing spectacular.

Hotel Rwanda

Based on a true-life events from 1994, Hotel Rwanda is about a hotel manager, Paul Rusesabagina, who gave shelter to over a thousand refugees during a time of conflict.

This is a highly involving and moving film. Hotel Rwanda is powerful and truly makes you care due to the character development and emotive dialogue. Obviously, the subject matter itself is of an extremely shocking nature, but the performances are essential in dramatising the events. The acting is great, especially by Don Cheadle, who plays the hotel manager.

I think Hotel Rwands is very good film, but I'm still not sure if it's worthy of the immense praise that it's received...

The Promise

A young orphaned girl makes a promise with a sorcerer; in exchange for beauty, adoration and riches, every man she loves will be taken from her. Later, she becomes a princess and falls for a General, knowing that they will be torn apart. Meanwhile, Kunlun, the General's slave aims to look into his past.

So, this is your typical fantasy epic. Battles, swords, a love story - you get the picture. The Promise is dramatic and effectively conveys its mythical element. There are quite a few tense and suspenseful moments, which is probably where the film succeeds most. Judging by the premise and very mild violence, The Promise is almost like a fairytale... and then there's a sex scene.

Ultimately, this film fails because it becomes rather boring and predictable. Seriously, the dialogue is so unimaginative that you can tell word for word what the characters are about to say.

Apparently, The Promise is the most expensive film in the history of Chinese cinema. It certainly doesn't look it. The cinematography is good, but the effects and CG are like something out of a Playstation game.

Overall, this film is painfully average, which is unfortunate as it could have been great if done properly. At least you get to ogle Cecilia Cheung, though.

True Romance

In short, this film is about Clarence (Christian Slater) and Alabama (Patricia Arquette). After Clarence takes something from a set of gangsters, they're after the young couple...

I particularly like how this film begins and the ways in which it develops. It seems rather unorthodox at times, but all comes together perfectly. Written by Quentin Tarantino, it contains a lot of quotable dialogue, especially in the major scene with Christopher Walken. Additionally, the characters themselves are great and can evoke a range of emotions.

It's quite interesting that the biggest stars are in the smallest roles. Nonetheless, the performances by the cast are exceptional. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are very good in the lead roles.

The direction by Tony Scott is excellent, too. True Romance features an array of fantastic scenes, especially in terms of action and violence. In certain places, this film is quite graphic, but never really gratuitous.

In short, I think True Romance is excellent.

Shinobi

At its core, Shinobi is essentially the story of Romeo And Juliet. Two star-crossed lovers, Oboro and Kouga, cannot be together due to their Shinobi (Ninja) clans. An order from the Shogun then states that the two communities must each select their five best warriors and do battle. Oboro and Kouga are selected to represent their respective clans.

There's a prominent fantasy element to Shinobi. Each of the warriors are some kind of super-being and possess special powers, but it all works flawlessly within the story because of how well it establishes its own world and environment. The fight scenes are terrific as they're highly imaginative and, sometimes, brutal.

The greatest aspect of this movie is the cinematography, though. It just looks brilliant. There's numerous beautiful landscapes and scenery, which obviously helps, as does the evident skill of a good director who can shoot it effectively.

Overall, Shinobi is a fairly enjoyable film. It's not perfect, but it's better than I had expected. Released some time last year, it enjoyed much success at the box office in Japan. In fact, there are already attempts to require the rights for an American remake of Shinobi.

Ghost In The Shell

This Sci-Fi anime is set in the near-feature, where computerization and networking have been integrated in to practically every aspect of life, including human beings. Fittingly, Section 9 is formed in order to prevent criminals and terrorists from hacking in to the system. Cyborgs Kusanagi and Bateau, a part of Section 9, attempt to track down an assailant, The Puppet Master.

Combined with its plot, Ghost In The Shell presents a few elaborate and though-provoking themes and ideas. The philosophy behind the film is central to this and becomes apparent towards the middle.

Artisitcally, this is film is stunning. The attention to detail is impressive, which creates several great visuals. There's an abundance of memorable scenes, too. Complimenting them well, the music is very atmospheric and effective, akin to Akira.

However, something about Ghost In The Shell simply didn't click for me. Maybe my anime-loving friends built it up too much or maybe it's because I found it to be a bit cliched. Whatever the reason, unlike many others, I wouldn't class this film as a masterpiece. It's a very good, intricate piece of work, but it's not great like Akira, Spirited Away or Perfect Blue.

The influence that Ghost In The Shell has had on its genre is evident, though. Whilst watching this film, there were several things that I picked out and directly related to The Matrix...

WCW Thunder Blunders (The Worst Of Thunder)

Robocop And Sting

Yet another remake that doesn't need to be made and will be so inevitibly shit that it'll tarnish the name of the original.

Airplane II: The Sequel

Set in the future, a space shuttle goes off-course because of a faulty computer system. Passenger Ted Striker must save everyone by preventing the shuttle from flying into the Sun.

My very first thought after watching Airplane II was that it's a huge disappointment. It simply isn't a satisfactory sequel to the original, which is an absolute classic comedy. The most evident problem with this film is that the plot and jokes are just slight variations of those from the first. Actually, some jokes are exactly the same. In the instances of some originality, the director, Ken Finkleman, seems like he's doing his best to imitate the Zucker style and fails to do so successfully.

Nonetheless, Airplane II does have its moments. There a couple of clever lines and, at the very least, it's fairly entertaining. It's also great to see that most of the original cast are in this sequel, especially because their performances are the strongest aspect of it. I liked the addition of Rip Torn because, in my opinion, he's awesome. It's unfortunate that Leslie Nielsen isn't in Airplane II, though, as he probably could have saved the movie.

In short, this film isn't any near as good as it should be. It's like a second-rate version of the first Airplane movie, but, then again, it's not the worst way to kill an hour and a bit.

Memento

Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) suffers from a strange form of short-term memory loss. Via the use of pictures and notes, he tries to find the man who killed his wife.

The element of paranoia and uncertainty comes across very well in Memento, which is assisted by the great narrative structure. The writing and direction are very good, too, as are the performances by Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano.

I don't think I need to say much about Memento other than; it is excellent.

Super Size Me

The 2004 documentary by Morgan Spurlock. Influenced by a legal case featured in the media at the time and the shocking levels of obesity both in America and internationally, Spurlock decides to conduct an experiment. For thirty days, he eats nothing but McDonald's for every meal in order prove or disprove a statement made by the courts. Prior to undergoing the ordeal, he consults three doctors, who determine that he is perfectly healthy. They then monitor the severity of the affects on his body caused by the experiment as he also lives his life as an average American, in terms of exercise, etc.

This film is probably most well-known for the fact that Spurlock lived on the McDonald's diet for a month, which is a significant part of the documentary, but there is much more to it. Super Size Me examines the issues surrounding modern health problems, which can attributed to many factors. Most notably, he explores how fast food is heavily marketed towards youngsters, the ways in which it can become an addiction and the standards within the industry.

In some ways, Super Size Me is comparable to Michael Moore's work. However, there is less bias and Spurlock is a more engaging and entertaining presenter. Although I have nothing against Michael Moore at all and I like his documentaries, I can imagine that people will generally find Spurlock to be more likeable. He succeeds in incorporating elements of humour and shock to the documentary, mainly through his own personality and experiences.

I wouldn't class Super Size Me a legendary documentary, but is certainly important, intriguing and worth watching. It's very interesting that, since film was released, McDonald's have tried to promote a supposedly healthier line of food and become a poor Subway imitation. Personally, I stopped eating there years ago because the food suddenly tasted horrible. Then again, maybe it's because there are far superior alternatives...

Has Jim Carrey ever appeared at a WWF/E event? If I'm not mistaken, the supposedly real feud between him and Lawler was established entirely through 'reports' from the set of Man On The Moon. Correct me if I'm wrong, though, as I didn't have Sky/Cable for that period of time and missed some WWF TV.Anyway, Carrey is apparently a devoted wrestling fan, so, even outside of that movie situation, has he attended any events and been shown on camera as many other celebrities have?

Cannibal Holocaust

Was it the Vipco version of the film?Cut to shreds if it is. Still tremendous though.