On DVD:
The Lives of Others - When the Oscar results were announced, I was surprised that this picked up the Best Foreign Film award even though I hadn`t seen it as I couldn`t believe that there was a better film than `Pan`s Labyrinth` in the category. Having now seen it, I still think del Toro`s film is far better, but Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has crafted an absolutely captivating and gripping film, with a superb performance by Ulrich Mühe. Von Donnersmarck provided an interesting and well delivered commentary. :D
28 Weeks Later - Whilst I prefer Danny Boyle`s film, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo`s take on US foreign policy and the infected is still a very good horror/action film with enough jumps and a superb scene with a helicopter versus the infected. The DVD package is also very good, with some decent supplementary material including a commentary by Fresnadillo and writer Rowan Joffe. :)
Intolerance - Watched again for an assignment and found the film to still be excellent - shame there`s no `definitive` edition with a remastered picture. :D
Went the Day Well? - Set and released in 1942, this is a story of an English village that plays host to a platoon of British soldiers that turn out to be German paratroopers who are there as part of a Nazi invasion plan. There is a certain realism to the characters that really works and the film must have been chilling in 1942. :D
The Wicked Lady - Margaret Lockwood plays the titular villain who isn`t content at stealing the love of her best friend`s life but escapes from the boredom of her marriage by becoming a highwayman. Lockwood is excellent, but I spent much of the film thinking of the `Amy and Amiability` episode from Blackadder the Third! :)
Halloween - As close to a perfect stalker/slasher film as has been made and really the only film to watch on October 31st. :D
Danger: Diabolik - Adapted from the hugely successful Italian comics that are still being published, this 1968 Mario Bava film concentrates on Diabolik, a robber par excellence, whose methods occasionally amount to terrorism. John Phillip Law is impressive in the title role with his off-screen relationship with Marisa Mell helping to make their on-screen relationship more convincing. Ennio Morricone`s 1960s score is excellent, with some psychedelic imagery to cement the time and comic book roots. A surprise inclusion on MST3K. :)
Cinema
Dracula - Although dated, this is still hugely enjoyable and benefits from a brilliant digital remastering. :)
Television
Calzaghe vs. Kessler lived up to the hype with a fight that will go down as one of the best seen on British soil. It`s a shame that Setanta started the build-up so early with a poor undercard and commercial breaks showing the same adverts over and over and over again!
In the Leicester vs. Cardiff game, the Tigers welcomed back their World Cup stars who seemed to become more cohesive as the game went on and they ran out worthy winners. Nigel Owens had a poor game with the whistle but it didn`t spoil it too much.
The NFL regular season gets better and better with a fine game between San Diego and Minnesota before the most anticipated regular season game in recent years sees the two undefeated and best teams in the league meet at the RCA Dome. I hope the Patriots can avenge their loss from last year`s AFC Championship game although it doesn`t look good at the moment but hope springs eternal.
Edit: Hope springs eternal indeed! Trailing 20-10 in the 4th quarter, Brady engineered two TD drives and the interception of Manning, with just over two minutes left, ended the game. Hoping for a perfect season! :D
Site reviewer, DVD Reviewer
Must be depressing to be hanged on a damp day.My Top 20 Horror Movies ----
My DVD CollectionThis item was edited on Monday, 5th November 2007, 09:59
