Friday, February 01, 2008
ScreenClick 1
Ok, Sorry this has taken so long, but after John gave me a nudge (i.e.: someone actually bothered to look at this blog!!), I have decided to post at least something. Maybe not the world media style reviews I was planning, but something anyway.
I have decided to use a ratings system but don't take it too seriously.
And I'll try to rate them respective of their kind.
I.e.: If I watch a chick-flick (there won't be many of them, if any, i promise), I'll keep it in mind and rate it in comparison to other chick-flicks.
Before I get started though, here's a list of the movies in my collection if you wanna know the kind of movies i like:
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=21047428
1. Amelie (2001) [ 7 / 10]
I rented this after seeing it in the IMDb Top 100 movies of all time and a few friends said it was very good.
I quite liked the story and the characters were fantastic, very quirky and funny.
Not what I'd put in the Top 100 movies of all time but hey, a very enjoyable movie all the same.
2. Blade Runner (1982) [ 8 / 10 ]
I had wanted to see this for a long time but never got a chance to see it.
I enjoyed it alot.
Harrison Ford & Rutger Hauer were on top form as always, the whole film looked fantastic, the action was really enjoyable without being too "high-octane".
A classic film still with the fantastic film-making of the 70's running through it.
In other words, how a film should be made.
Really, this film couldn't have been made any better.
I can only fear a modern re-make to speed up the action and replace Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer & Sean Young with younger, talenless piece of crap.
3. Close Encounters Of A Third Kind (1977) [ 6 / 10]
Another film I had wanted to see for a long time.
I have to admit, despite being a big movie fan, Stephen Spielberg isn't one of my favourite directors, although I could listen to him all day talking about his interest in movies.
He's one of the very few directors I've seen talking about movies that seems to have a huge personal interest and love for movies and always give great interviews. But his films often don't work out for me. I'll give a quick list of the movies of his that i've liked and disliked.
Liked: Jaws, The Indiana Jones Trilogy, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, Munich.
Disliked: E.T., Schindler's List, Minority Report, The Terminal.
Also, most of the others that I haven't seen haven't held much interest for me (A.I., War Of The Worlds).
I'll admit, he is a good director, but he just doesn't make films for me.
Anyway, back to Close Encounters.
Again, I wasn't bowled over by this movie.
I think if I'd seen it as a kid, I may have enjoyed it alot more but being 26, it's just not really for me. Very fantasy based and lacking in nearly every way that Jurassic Park excelled.
I didn't hate this movie, it's just not my type of movie I guess.
I couldn't tell you not to see it.
4. A Short Film About Killing (1988) [ 7 / 10]
Don't know why I wanted to see this movie exactly, it just appealed to me for some reason.
And I like giving foreign movies a try every now and them because I generally enjoy alot of the foreign movies I seek.
It's very slow-moving and depressing throughout, but not really in a bad way.
I don't wanna say too much about this movie, it's best to see this for yourself.
Not that there's a huge twist in the tale, but I think the less you know before seeing this movie the better, other than i'd definitely recommend it.
Not exactly your laugh-a-minute rom-com but a very good movie nonetheless.
5. Existenz (1999) [ 7 / 10]
Ok, here's a weird one.
I saw this movie when it was first released and I remember liking it.
Cronenberg is one of my very favourite directors of all time.
It's not one of Cronenberg's best films by any means, but I do remember liking it.
Maybe just because I love Cronenberg and Jennifer Jason Leigh (mmmm, hottie!!).
So I decided to pull this one off the shelf and take another look.
Even by the 15 minute mark I was bored, irritated and just plained pissed off.
By the end, it wasn't any better.
The acting was terrible, the plot was riduculous, & the directing seemed terrible.
Not what I remembered at all.
(And there's not even a flash of JJ Leigh's titties to redeem it - for shame! ;)
Basically, a bad version of VideoDrome, which if you haven't seen it, is a classic.
(I love James Woods. Debbie Harry can act, and she gets her titties out. So that's all good)
So despite being quite tired and bored after 90 mins of schlock, I had to check out the Director's Commentary, expecting an explanation ffom Cronenberg as to why the film didn't work - you know the usual production problems and budget-cut bullshit that directors run into.
Instead, even within 15 mins again, I had completely changed my view on it.
Cronenberg is another director that I could literally listen to all day.
He's a frigging genius of film-making and his interviews & commentaries are always fantastic, I love the guy.
Basically, he just explained the movie and why things are the way they are in the movie.
I guess you'd have to see the movie and then the commentary to understand so i'd only reccomend this movie for Cronenberg fans who are willing to sit through 3 hours to enjoy it.
Even then, does that make this a good movie.
After watching the movie I'd have given it 4 / 10 but after watching the commentary, I can boost that rating up to 7 / 10.
Decide for yourself if you think it's worth it.
6. Rabid (1977) [ 7 / 10 ]
Another Cronenberg movie to entertain me.
I instantly liked this movie despite going in with a slightly negative attitude.
I'd been told it wasn't his best and it surely wasn't but I found it quite entertaining.
The acting I though was spot on (the lead is Marilyn Chambers - a former porn-star) and even though this was quite similar in certain ways to 'Shivers' which Cronenberg had made just 2 years previously, I found it alot more entertaining.
Unfortunately there's no commentary on this version i had rented, but there is a fantastic 10 minute making-of documentary with Cronenberg, in fascinating form as always.
I might have to pick up the Region 1 DVD:
http://www.play.com/DVD/Region_1/4-/2510143/Rabid/Product.html?cur=258
instead of the Region 2 DVD:
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/95222/Rabid/Product.html?cur=258
not least of all because it has a commentary, but there's a slight price difference too ;)
Well, that's my lot for now.
It's over to John's tonight, for some good old-fashioned slatter-esque gore no doubt.
And I just recieved 'Shadow Of The Vampire' in the post to look at when I get a chance so I'll report back when I've seen another few movies. Maybe late next week.
Over & out.
I have decided to use a ratings system but don't take it too seriously.
And I'll try to rate them respective of their kind.
I.e.: If I watch a chick-flick (there won't be many of them, if any, i promise), I'll keep it in mind and rate it in comparison to other chick-flicks.
Before I get started though, here's a list of the movies in my collection if you wanna know the kind of movies i like:
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=21047428
1. Amelie (2001) [ 7 / 10]
I rented this after seeing it in the IMDb Top 100 movies of all time and a few friends said it was very good.
I quite liked the story and the characters were fantastic, very quirky and funny.
Not what I'd put in the Top 100 movies of all time but hey, a very enjoyable movie all the same.
2. Blade Runner (1982) [ 8 / 10 ]
I had wanted to see this for a long time but never got a chance to see it.
I enjoyed it alot.
Harrison Ford & Rutger Hauer were on top form as always, the whole film looked fantastic, the action was really enjoyable without being too "high-octane".
A classic film still with the fantastic film-making of the 70's running through it.
In other words, how a film should be made.
Really, this film couldn't have been made any better.
I can only fear a modern re-make to speed up the action and replace Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer & Sean Young with younger, talenless piece of crap.
3. Close Encounters Of A Third Kind (1977) [ 6 / 10]
Another film I had wanted to see for a long time.
I have to admit, despite being a big movie fan, Stephen Spielberg isn't one of my favourite directors, although I could listen to him all day talking about his interest in movies.
He's one of the very few directors I've seen talking about movies that seems to have a huge personal interest and love for movies and always give great interviews. But his films often don't work out for me. I'll give a quick list of the movies of his that i've liked and disliked.
Liked: Jaws, The Indiana Jones Trilogy, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, Munich.
Disliked: E.T., Schindler's List, Minority Report, The Terminal.
Also, most of the others that I haven't seen haven't held much interest for me (A.I., War Of The Worlds).
I'll admit, he is a good director, but he just doesn't make films for me.
Anyway, back to Close Encounters.
Again, I wasn't bowled over by this movie.
I think if I'd seen it as a kid, I may have enjoyed it alot more but being 26, it's just not really for me. Very fantasy based and lacking in nearly every way that Jurassic Park excelled.
I didn't hate this movie, it's just not my type of movie I guess.
I couldn't tell you not to see it.
4. A Short Film About Killing (1988) [ 7 / 10]
Don't know why I wanted to see this movie exactly, it just appealed to me for some reason.
And I like giving foreign movies a try every now and them because I generally enjoy alot of the foreign movies I seek.
It's very slow-moving and depressing throughout, but not really in a bad way.
I don't wanna say too much about this movie, it's best to see this for yourself.
Not that there's a huge twist in the tale, but I think the less you know before seeing this movie the better, other than i'd definitely recommend it.
Not exactly your laugh-a-minute rom-com but a very good movie nonetheless.
5. Existenz (1999) [ 7 / 10]
Ok, here's a weird one.
I saw this movie when it was first released and I remember liking it.
Cronenberg is one of my very favourite directors of all time.
It's not one of Cronenberg's best films by any means, but I do remember liking it.
Maybe just because I love Cronenberg and Jennifer Jason Leigh (mmmm, hottie!!).
So I decided to pull this one off the shelf and take another look.
Even by the 15 minute mark I was bored, irritated and just plained pissed off.
By the end, it wasn't any better.
The acting was terrible, the plot was riduculous, & the directing seemed terrible.
Not what I remembered at all.
(And there's not even a flash of JJ Leigh's titties to redeem it - for shame! ;)
Basically, a bad version of VideoDrome, which if you haven't seen it, is a classic.
(I love James Woods. Debbie Harry can act, and she gets her titties out. So that's all good)
So despite being quite tired and bored after 90 mins of schlock, I had to check out the Director's Commentary, expecting an explanation ffom Cronenberg as to why the film didn't work - you know the usual production problems and budget-cut bullshit that directors run into.
Instead, even within 15 mins again, I had completely changed my view on it.
Cronenberg is another director that I could literally listen to all day.
He's a frigging genius of film-making and his interviews & commentaries are always fantastic, I love the guy.
Basically, he just explained the movie and why things are the way they are in the movie.
I guess you'd have to see the movie and then the commentary to understand so i'd only reccomend this movie for Cronenberg fans who are willing to sit through 3 hours to enjoy it.
Even then, does that make this a good movie.
After watching the movie I'd have given it 4 / 10 but after watching the commentary, I can boost that rating up to 7 / 10.
Decide for yourself if you think it's worth it.
6. Rabid (1977) [ 7 / 10 ]
Another Cronenberg movie to entertain me.
I instantly liked this movie despite going in with a slightly negative attitude.
I'd been told it wasn't his best and it surely wasn't but I found it quite entertaining.
The acting I though was spot on (the lead is Marilyn Chambers - a former porn-star) and even though this was quite similar in certain ways to 'Shivers' which Cronenberg had made just 2 years previously, I found it alot more entertaining.
Unfortunately there's no commentary on this version i had rented, but there is a fantastic 10 minute making-of documentary with Cronenberg, in fascinating form as always.
I might have to pick up the Region 1 DVD:
http://www.play.com/DVD/Region_1/4-/2510143/Rabid/Product.html?cur=258
instead of the Region 2 DVD:
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/95222/Rabid/Product.html?cur=258
not least of all because it has a commentary, but there's a slight price difference too ;)
Well, that's my lot for now.
It's over to John's tonight, for some good old-fashioned slatter-esque gore no doubt.
And I just recieved 'Shadow Of The Vampire' in the post to look at when I get a chance so I'll report back when I've seen another few movies. Maybe late next week.
Over & out.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Much news
Ok, since i last blogged, many many years ago, I have:
- left work (at an undisclosed location off the M50),
- completed a DeskTop Publishing course,
- bought a new PC,
- got connected to the internet at home,
& (amongst numerous other things i'm sure)
- registered for ScreenClick, the online DVD rentals company, which will hopefully encourage me to update this blog more frequently.
To start off my ScreenClick expreience, on it's way to me this week are Amelie & Blade Runner.
Gasp!
Yes, i've never seen Blade Runner, sorry world.
You'll see more shocks than that across these green fields over the coming months believe me, so keep posted.
Also to be mentioned, since it relates to the subject of my last blog here all that time ago, is the creation of the musical mayhem (in a good way) that is Concerto For Constantine, the new band formed by Mark Greaney of former JJ72 genius.
I've already seen them live 3 times and they rock.
They are due to release an album this year and along with this will come many more live performances for me to enjoy.
Other than that, there's plenty more i could say at the moment, but i'm a bit lazy currently so i'll leave you with that for the moment.
I'll post back after i see some movies worth reviewing.
Laters,
Kevin.
P.S.: It's good to be back.
- left work (at an undisclosed location off the M50),
- completed a DeskTop Publishing course,
- bought a new PC,
- got connected to the internet at home,
& (amongst numerous other things i'm sure)
- registered for ScreenClick, the online DVD rentals company, which will hopefully encourage me to update this blog more frequently.
To start off my ScreenClick expreience, on it's way to me this week are Amelie & Blade Runner.
Gasp!
Yes, i've never seen Blade Runner, sorry world.
You'll see more shocks than that across these green fields over the coming months believe me, so keep posted.
Also to be mentioned, since it relates to the subject of my last blog here all that time ago, is the creation of the musical mayhem (in a good way) that is Concerto For Constantine, the new band formed by Mark Greaney of former JJ72 genius.
I've already seen them live 3 times and they rock.
They are due to release an album this year and along with this will come many more live performances for me to enjoy.
Other than that, there's plenty more i could say at the moment, but i'm a bit lazy currently so i'll leave you with that for the moment.
I'll post back after i see some movies worth reviewing.
Laters,
Kevin.
P.S.: It's good to be back.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Gaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!
JJ72 PRESS RELEASE
After 11 years and two critically acclaimed albums which have sold in excess of 650k worldwide spawning a series of UK and Ireland chart hit singles including Snow, October Swimmer & Oxygen JJ72 have announced they are to split up with immediate effect due to record company issues. Mark Greaney is currently in the studio working on a new project with more details to be announced shortly.
Statement from JJ72
Reader, we are to let thee know,
JJ72's body only lies below;
For could the grave JJ's soul comprise,
Earth would be richer than the skies.
JJ72 was born during an Easter many seasons ago; today it dies on the cusp of midsummer eleven years later.
Mark Greaney, Fergal Matthews & Sarah Fox wish to express their deepest and darkest gratitude to all of those with impeccable taste who helped and supported the band.
"We remember everything, from mechanical birds in Japan to angels in arid Arizona, from broken bones and Berlin birthdays to predatory Portsmouth spiders. For those who disliked and perhaps despised (gasp) JJ72, thank you - how did beautiful photographs exist without a negative?!
We crafted two monuments of magnificence for the future aural pleasure and pain of all would be JJ believers and doubters....and for those who care not for the passing of the petulant yet powerful pup....shame on you! Thank you to Hilary Woods for being a dazzling damsel and thank you to all who played music in/with the band. You know who you are."
JJ72 decided it was the end as it did not want to undermine its achievements by continuing a ridiculous argument with a label that would not be able to support the release and touring of the third JJ opus - a label who lost funding from Sony/BMG some time ago.
After 11 years and two critically acclaimed albums which have sold in excess of 650k worldwide spawning a series of UK and Ireland chart hit singles including Snow, October Swimmer & Oxygen JJ72 have announced they are to split up with immediate effect due to record company issues. Mark Greaney is currently in the studio working on a new project with more details to be announced shortly.
Statement from JJ72
Reader, we are to let thee know,
JJ72's body only lies below;
For could the grave JJ's soul comprise,
Earth would be richer than the skies.
JJ72 was born during an Easter many seasons ago; today it dies on the cusp of midsummer eleven years later.
Mark Greaney, Fergal Matthews & Sarah Fox wish to express their deepest and darkest gratitude to all of those with impeccable taste who helped and supported the band.
"We remember everything, from mechanical birds in Japan to angels in arid Arizona, from broken bones and Berlin birthdays to predatory Portsmouth spiders. For those who disliked and perhaps despised (gasp) JJ72, thank you - how did beautiful photographs exist without a negative?!
We crafted two monuments of magnificence for the future aural pleasure and pain of all would be JJ believers and doubters....and for those who care not for the passing of the petulant yet powerful pup....shame on you! Thank you to Hilary Woods for being a dazzling damsel and thank you to all who played music in/with the band. You know who you are."
JJ72 decided it was the end as it did not want to undermine its achievements by continuing a ridiculous argument with a label that would not be able to support the release and touring of the third JJ opus - a label who lost funding from Sony/BMG some time ago.
