David Beckett(Reviewer) posted this on Sunday, 17th September 2006, 21:18
On DVD:
The Exorcist - As I now have an up and working 7.1/6.1 sound system, I put in the R1 `The Exorcist - The Version You`ve Never Seen` to see how the DD EX sounds. An already brilliant film with terrific atmospheric sound sounds even better with full surround sound and, although I prefer the theatrical cut, this is an excellent version of Freidkin`s masterpiece. :D
Peepshow Series 1 - It took me a while to get used to the first person POV in which the camera constantly changes depending on who`s speaking but the content is very funny. :)
V for Vendetta - I wasn`t overawed when I saw this at the cinema but, having now read the graphic novel and seen the film twice in as many days, I found it to improve with every viewing and consider that the Wachowskis have made a very good film from the excellent source material. :)
When a Stranger Calls (1979) - The first 20 minutes are very good but after that, the film just drifts along without any menace or sense of purpose. :(
When a Stranger Calls (2006) - Taking the first act of the original and stretching it into an 80 minute film results in a boring film which is just not scary. >:( Full review here.
Cinema
Little Miss Sunshine - Although this was probably the funniest film I`ve seen this year, I feel that they missed a trick in not making more of the twisted and abusive nature of child beauty pageants. Still, the ensemble cast are excellent and the film has plenty going for it. :)
Pulse - A boring remake of the excellent `Kairo` but at least it`s not the worst Hollywood adaptation of an Asian horror movie. :(
Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby - Banality rules OK! I laughed more during the trailer for the Borat movie that preceded the film than during Adam McKay and Will Ferrell`s latest outing. The film is at least 20 minutes too long and doesn`t have the laughs that the intermittently funny Anchorman did. :(
The Queen - I could care less about Princess Diana and think the Royal Family belong in history, along with ducking witches and child chimney sweeps but, despite this feeling like the sort of film you`d see on ITV between 8:00 and 10:00 pm, I really enjoyed it. The script, which has obviously been well researched, and the performances of Michael Sheen and Helen Mirren are superb. :)
Television
Friday Fight Night - The Junior Witter vs. Demarcus Corley fight was a bit of a dull affair and the undercard was far from exceptional but at least Britain has another major world champion.
Extras - The change in format will take a bit of getting used to as Andy has achieved moderate success but at least Orlando Bloom was funnier in the 10 mins he was on screen than in both POTC movies!
That Mitchell and Webb Look - Having enjoyed Peepshow earlier in the week, I expected a lot from this and was only slightly disappointed - some of the characters (especially Angel Summoner and BMX Bandit) are brilliant whereas others will take some getting used to.
London Irish vs. Bristol - I expected Bristol to be relegation fodder but their pack is obviously not old, its experienced and if teams turn over ball then the backs have enough pace to make them pay.
Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Rocky Juarez - In the top of the bill, Barrera `schooled` Juarez which made for an excellent display of technical boxing rather than a thrilling fight, but thankfully the bouts between Jorge Barrios and Joan Guzman and particularly the up and down affair between Israel Vasquez and Jhonny Gonzalez.
NFL Sunday - Tonight`s double header is still going on and the league is more open than I expected.
Matthew Smart(Reviewer) posted this on Sunday, 17th September 2006, 22:46
Quote: the excellent `Kairo`
I personally thought it was one of the weakest Asian horrors I`ve ever seen. Convoluted, badly edited and overlong, with some flawed pacing but interesting ideas - though mishandled. I was at once point actually looking forward to seeing the remake just to see how they approach it, but from the trailer, it looks like a scene for scene re-hash with a typically teen-horrorised decision to make the ghosts malevolent.
Ninja Scroll - A fantastic action anime, perhaps the action anime. Very influential; Hideo Kojima`s Metal Gear Solid series of games among many owe it a great credit.
Wonderland - Pulp Fiction meets Boogie Nights meets Rashomon. A little over-slick, in particular James Cox`s decision to flood the soundtrack with a relentless barage of 70`s tunes for that `authentic` early 80`s feel. Still, an enjoyable spin on the gangster movie, based on the Wonderland killings of 1981, with possibly a career best turn from Val Kilmer.
Three... Extremes - A clever anthology bringing three of the top Asian directors of the moment together. Fruit Chan`s Dumplings is the most traditional anthology piece, about the persuit of eternal youth with a gruesome sting in its tale. Park Chan-Wook`s Cut, in which a movie director finds his home invaded by an extra from his set, is a typical visual accomplishment from the Korean extreme auteur, and the pick of the bunch. Takashi Miike`s Box is an aesthetically lush examination of grief and guilt, but ultimately, the narrative is stalled in a web vagueness.
This item was edited on Monday, 18th September 2006, 04:28
RE: What I watched this week (w/e September 17th)
Gareth Williams(Elite) posted this on Monday, 18th September 2006, 22:56
Films
Severance I will admit I wasn`t expecting much thanks to the inclusion of Danny Dyer (who gets on my nerves), but apart from a few stupid things (the humour was, at times, a little too dark for my taste, and some characters are pointless) it proved to be one of the more inventive and witty horror/comedy movies of recent times. :D
Veronica Guerin This is one of those films I`ve been meaning to check out since it was first released, but never got around to. Having now seen it I`m wondering why I left it so long! I loved every second - Cate Blanchett is on perfect form as usual, as are Ciaran Hinds and Gerard McSorely (though the latter will always be Father Todd Unctious in my eyes :D ). Harry Gregson-Williams` music is beautiful too, especially at the end - an interesting story about which is on IMDB: Quote: Composer Harry Gregson-Williams heard a boy (Brian O`Donnell) singing on the street for money in Dublin when he arrived to spend a few days on the set of the film. Later, he tracked the boy down again and recorded him singing six or seven folk songs a capella in a quiet alley. Gregson-Williams chose "Fields of Athenry" from the recording and added his own music around the song for the moving scene following Veronica`s death.
See No Evil I should have realised at the start when the WWE Films logo appeared that this would be crap. In place of a script it has the absolute most wafer-thin plot (deranged serial killer stalking attractive people in a decrepit building) and a list of jaw-droppingly cliched characters and scenarios. I really would love to know who greenlights these things. Not remotely scary, either >:(
TV
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - 1x01 Pilot Aaron Sorkin returns to TV with this faux-Saturday Night Live backstage comedy/drama, and it`s absolutely superb! I`ve only seen the pilot but this has automatically become one of my favourite shows - Judd Hirsch`s speech at the start is the best thing on TV this year. :x :x
Simpsons 18x01 Yawn, tired and not funny anymore. :(
Family Guy 5x01 A few decent laughs but nothing near the quality of previous seasons. Really hope this doesn`t go the way of the Simpsons. :)
Prison Break 2x04 Best show on TV (until Lost starts in a fortnight) and another great episode with a great ending :D SPOILER: Poor Abruzzi :(
Looking forward to CSI, ER, Heroes starting this week :)
This item was edited on Tuesday, 19th September 2006, 01:00
RE: What I watched this week (w/e September 17th)
Andy_R(Elite) posted this on Tuesday, 19th September 2006, 01:06
Brian Elliott(Reviewer) posted this on Wednesday, 20th September 2006, 16:11
Quote: posted by Gareth Williams on Monday, 18th September 2006, 23:56
See No Evil I should have realised at the start when the WWE Films logo appeared that this would be crap. In place of a script it has the absolute most wafer-thin plot (deranged serial killer stalking attractive people in a decrepit building) and a list of jaw-droppingly cliched characters and scenarios. I really would love to know who greenlights these things. Not remotely scary, either
Believe it or not, the film did well at the box office and more than broke even, and that`s before the DVD sales which the WWE are hoping will make them a very tidy profit. This isn`t the last film that the WWE are producing either, as John Cena and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin have both already filmed movies. Cena`s film, "The Marine", is released in a couple of months, and by the trailers, it looks ok for an all-action, little plot film.
Brian Elliott is the Sports Editor for multi-faceted rock music magazine Burn, and is a regular contributor to DVD Reviewer and SLAM! Wrestling.
