Just seen Final Destination 5 on dvd.

You can't beat a good 'ol gruesome death can you?,just as long as you keep your sense of humor .

Mindless pap really,but it beats Eastenders anyday.

Mind you,I'm now a touch worried about that 'dream' I had yesterday regarding the p.v.c suit,the inflatable gherkin,the jar of mayonase & busty Juile from 3 doors down.

Remember, pickles go in root last. And don't let the mayonaise spoil. Good times.

I watched Men of Honour last night - not a bad film, think Cuba Gooding Jr. was tops in it though.

I went to see The Descendants last night with George Clooney - no, alas, not actually WITH him - he was in the film. It was an enjoyable film without being earth shattering. It takes place in Hawaii where George and six cousins hold in trust (with George the main trustee) a vast and beautiful piece of land on one of the outer islands. They inherited this from a great-great-great grandfather who was the last King of Hawaii. None of them, however (except for one of his children) look like they have any Hawaiin blood and they do not speak Hawaiin. The lease on the trust is due to run out in seven years and there is a developer who wishes tp buy the land and create a resort. The cousins are divided on this. At the same time, George's wife is in a coma in hospital having been hit on the head by a boat while she was surfing.The 17 year old daughter tells her father that mother was having an affair before this accident occurred. Dad with children and older daughter's boyfirend in tow (and the children - especially the younger one - are foully rude, but it is quite funny) embarks upon a search for said lover... inevitably the 2 tales are linked...

Implausible but watchable - once.

Now I promised Youlots some time ago I would write more about Happiness. This is a film I will watch again and again - with carefully selected friends.

In a way it reminds me of American Beauty in as much as it questions the whole notion that beauty and happiness are not only within the grasp, but are the right of all. On an artistic level, It is not such a brilliant film as American Beauty but on a thought-provoking level it is right up there. One reviewer described it as "savage irony." I would not have described it as savage. For me, it was both gently funny and gently sad. Totally unjudgemental of people whose fantasies and desires are not "the norm". A sensitivie portrayal of people who are more usually portrayed as the butt of a film's humour.

You have to watch it yourselves to judge. But careful who you watch it with.

I'll use Grave of the Fireflies as an example again, even if it's not a kids' movie, but I was around ten years old when it was released. I was around 13 when Porco Rosso was released and around 18 when Princess Mononoke was released. Many people consider those classic Ghibli movies, so people who are around 30 years old now weren't that far off from the aimed demographic back then.

Fair fair. But these days it aint

And just to keep you all updated with my movie watching, this afternoon I watched Pom Poko.

I have waited all my life to use the expression "from the sublime to the ridiculous!" Like young ladies of yore, I'm glad I waited for the perfect occasion.

I have waited all my life to use the expression "from the sublime to the ridiculous!" Like young ladies of yore, I'm glad I waited for the perfect occasion.

Bible quotes?

From the Sublime to the Ridiculous (Luke 18:31-19:10)

My first interaction with any creative work is emotional, not intellectual. For example, I love Beethoven and struggle mightily with jazz.

I responded very strongly to the emotional content of The Descendants. I understood Clooney's character and also his daughter's, having on some level shared their experiences. I appreciated the honesty of their anger. I liked the boy's role as a sort of Greek chorus. I really, really disliked Clooney's sappy speech at the end. It was discordant and undermined much of what had preceded it.

Quadrophenia is on, which is one of the best films of all time, so on that note goodnight!

I recently saw original, non-edited version of "Scum". In light of recent Chels form, it gave my spirits a proper lift to note (in bathroom scene) that Phil Daniels, an averagely hung Blooo Boy, manifestly outshone Ray Winston (scummy hammers) who, by comparison, is clearly a Pawnbrokers' shop signage!!!

Edited February 23, 201214 yr by fishCFC

I went to see Albert Nobbs today. Enjoyed it immensely.

Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) has lived as a man since she was gang raped at the age of 14. He/She works as a butler in a big hotel in Dublin, run by Pauline Collins who does a wonderful cameo as Mrs Baker, a rapacious avaricious old bitch who smarms all over the rich customers.. Glenn Close does a really good job of being a timid self-effacing middle-aged bloke, who has spent his/her entire adult life trying to blend in. I would not have believed it possible, but she was utterly convincing. Then.. one day there is a painter decorator, Hubert Page, working in the hotel and as he hasn't finished when night falls Mrs Baker says he'll have to share Albert Nobb's room ( and bed). Albert's fear of having his life's secret revealed is conveyed by his face and his timid stammerings. At first we get the impression that Hubert Page is going to blackmail Albert. (Hubert Page is extremely fanciable, and I was just thinking "Corr, I wonder who that actor is!") Instead, he opens his jacket to reveal a pair of huge breasts! He (she) was brilliantly acted by Janet McTeer.

From then on, the story doesn't go at all the way it sounds as if it might. I won't tell you the whole tale in case you ever want to see it for yourself.

It is a very sensitive film with moments of humour, which I thoroughly recommend.

P.S. beautiful Sinead O'Connor song in it too

Edited February 23, 201214 yr by moi

I can remember watching that Shaolin soccer thing and it was pretty goo, though I had no idea what the hell was going on.

Just watched it. It wasn't horrible, but definitely not as good as I had hoped. Oh well.

Just watched it. It wasn't horrible, but definitely not as good as I had hoped. Oh well.

That's how I felt about it too. I kept waiting for something more.

Watched The Breakfast Club last night, was expecting a Ferris Bueller style high school film but it was completely different to what I expected and seriously exceeded those expectations, absolutely loved it!

I'm just in the middle of watching Goodfellas, absolutely love this film!

Watched The Guard again this evening. By golly that's a good fillum. There's not a thing wrong with it anywhere. Great writing, great characters, great performances.

It's been pointed out to me that a certain individual is very unhappy when I post my reviews here.

With that in mind, here's my review of Winter's Bone. Excellent film.

Winter's Bone

Jennifer Lawrence

Kevin Breznahan

Dale Dickey

Directed by Debra Granik

Screenplay by Debra Granik and Anne Rosselini

The modern hillbilly doesn't live in a log cabin and cook moonshine. He lives in a ramshackle house and cooks meth.

He lives in the drab, gray Ozark mountains of Southern Missouri, where everyone's related to everyone else but where blood isn't necessarily thicker than water; not when it comes to snitches. Which means he lives in a grim, suspicious and violent world. A world where the men and women can be downright malevolent in applying their brand of social justice.

In Winter's Bone, director Debra Granik immerses us in this world to tell the difficult but emotionally rewarding story of a girl who defies her society's code because, really, she has no choice. Based on the novel of the same name by Daniel Woodrell, Winter's Bone is about Ree Dolly. Although she's only 17, she's the adult in the family, supporting her mentally ill mother and her younger brother and sister. She's barely making it when the sheriff tells her that her meth-cooking father has skipped on his bond and disappeared. If he's not found they'll lose the house. They'll be left to live in the fields like dogs, as she says.

What follows is a terrific performance by Jennifer Lawrence as Ree quite literally takes her life into her hands by challenging the social code of silence that envelopes her father's whereabouts and his fate.

There's not a false note anywhere in Winter's Bone. Granik has created an unpleasantly real place. Every performance is genuine. The characters, even the bit parts, feel real. The writing, the language never put a foot wrong. The poverty and desperation, the crank and the paranoia are raw. I've been to such places in rural Missouri and Illinois and Granik nails the ambience and the people.

As you might have gathered, Winter's Bone isn't a lot of laughs. But ultimately it's a deeply rewarding experience. It's one of those few times each year when you can say to yourself that you've seen a finely crafted piece of work; where everything -- the writing, the directing, the casting, the acting and the art direction -- is exactly as it ought to be to tell the story. Easily one of the best movies of the year.

Anyone seen Chronicle yet? Realistic and gritty take on an old idea; but I found it hard to relate to two of the three main characters. They seemed pretty self absorbed and you find it difficult to care about them, even with one having a particularly troubling life. The special effects are very well done. Sci-Fi fans will enjoy it.

Edit: Its one of those films done from a hand-held camera perspective like Cloverfield and Blair Witch, so if you can't stand those, this is your warning.

Edited March 1, 201214 yr by Castiel

It's been pointed out to me that a certain individual is very unhappy when I post my reviews here.

With that in mind, here's my review of Winter's Bone. Excellent film.

Winter's Bone

Jennifer Lawrence

Kevin Breznahan

Dale Dickey

Directed by Debra Granik

Screenplay by Debra Granik and Anne Rosselini

The modern hillbilly doesn't live in a log cabin and cook moonshine. He lives in a ramshackle house and cooks meth.

He lives in the drab, gray Ozark mountains of Southern Missouri, where everyone's related to everyone else but where blood isn't necessarily thicker than water; not when it comes to snitches. Which means he lives in a grim, suspicious and violent world. A world where the men and women can be downright malevolent in applying their brand of social justice.

In Winter's Bone, director Debra Granik immerses us in this world to tell the difficult but emotionally rewarding story of a girl who defies her society's code because, really, she has no choice. Based on the novel of the same name by Daniel Woodrell, Winter's Bone is about Ree Dolly. Although she's only 17, she's the adult in the family, supporting her mentally ill mother and her younger brother and sister. She's barely making it when the sheriff tells her that her meth-cooking father has skipped on his bond and disappeared. If he's not found they'll lose the house. They'll be left to live in the fields like dogs, as she says.

What follows is a terrific performance by Jennifer Lawrence as Ree quite literally takes her life into her hands by challenging the social code of silence that envelopes her father's whereabouts and his fate.

There's not a false note anywhere in Winter's Bone. Granik has created an unpleasantly real place. Every performance is genuine. The characters, even the bit parts, feel real. The writing, the language never put a foot wrong. The poverty and desperation, the crank and the paranoia are raw. I've been to such places in rural Missouri and Illinois and Granik nails the ambience and the people.

As you might have gathered, Winter's Bone isn't a lot of laughs. But ultimately it's a deeply rewarding experience. It's one of those few times each year when you can say to yourself that you've seen a finely crafted piece of work; where everything -- the writing, the directing, the casting, the acting and the art direction -- is exactly as it ought to be to tell the story. Easily one of the best movies of the year.

Excellent review, wxwax. Thanks for taking the time to do that. I sha;; watch that at the first opportunity!

"Winter's Bone" is a fantastic movie, great review!

Excellent review, wxwax. Thanks for taking the time to do that. I sha;; watch that at the first opportunity!

Thanks moi!

"Winter's Bone" is a fantastic movie, great review!

Thanks! I was amazed the Oscar people noticed it, because it's such a small film.

Finally watched Hurt Locker. I guess it was solid enough, but nothing amazing.

Finally watched Hurt Locker. I guess it was solid enough, but nothing amazing.

I quite liked it, but it did have some absurd moments. I have a feeling it's a movie I might not like as much on a second viewing. But that first explosives disposal scene was electric.

Edited March 2, 201214 yr by wxwax

Watched 'Mandingo' yet again the other day, brilliant movie. The gorgeous Susan George starring along with heavyweight boxer Ken Norton - don't let that put you off, it's a great film!

Anyone seen Chronicle yet? Realistic and gritty take on an old idea; but I found it hard to relate to two of the three main characters. They seemed pretty self absorbed and you find it difficult to care about them, even with one having a particularly troubling life. The special effects are very well done. Sci-Fi fans will enjoy it.

Edit: Its one of those films done from a hand-held camera perspective like Cloverfield and Blair Witch, so if you can't stand those, this is your warning.

I absolutely loved Chronicle, I was completely absorbed by it.