tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121281615961562102024-03-14T00:20:11.357-07:00An angry man's view on filmsA slightly grumpy mans view on all things film relatedAngry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-47680623229459679912012-12-27T11:26:00.000-08:002013-01-01T11:42:01.302-08:00The Angries 2012<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.17623452353035202" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Around this time of the year, most people do the customary thing and put together a list of their favourite films. That’s too obvious for the Angries, so I've put together an alternate list of winners. Mainly stuff that has annoyed me throughout the year really.</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The after party's at Pizza Hut, however there are no doggy bags with </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">iPhones</span><span style="font-size: 15px;"> in them.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Coppola award for I wish you'd go back to making really good films</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David Cronenberg for Cosmopolis. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David Cronenberg is a great director, hell he's got more creativity in his little finger than I do in my whole body but Cosmopolis is pants, even more pants than a Dangerous Method. I'm sure this is just a blip, it's not like he's made something as bad as Jack</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Return of the King why </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">doesn't your film end already Award</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Hobbit</span><br />
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Plenty has been written about this already. Yes it's long and no it probably doesn't need to be that long, maybe the next two will be shorter? Who am I trying to kid, of course they won't be<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Toy Story 3 fitting end to a trilogy award</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dark Knight Rises</span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Heath Ledger's Joker left a massive hole in the trilogy and while it's not perfect, it's still the benchmark by which all superhero films will be measured. Who didn't cry a little when Gary Oldman read his Tale of Two Cities quote at the end.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Jigsaw</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Award for why has your film franchise not died a painful death</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Resident Evil:Retribution</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why, oh why, oh why are we still being subjected to Resident Evil Films? Come to think of it why is Paul W.S. Anderson still making films?Allquestions with no answers, but I imagine we'll be discussing Resident Evil:Double Dip Rcession next year</span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Phantom Menace award for the biggest disappointment for such an eagerly awaited film</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ridley Scott for Prometheus</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Is there anything more to be said about Prometheus? No. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was a huge disappointment, but at least it was an honest disappointment not some Michael Bay piece of crap</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Michael Bay award for "We hope he gives up directing" </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">George Lucas</span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Red Tails is a shockingly bad film. What's more shocking, is that it's based on true story that should be exciting.George some how sucks all the excitement out of it. Fingers crossed he's called it quits with celluloid.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Daniel Day Lewis award for injury in the commitment to a role</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">John Hawkes in The Sessions </span><br />
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</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Injured his back in the Sessions, due to prolonged periods lying on his back with his spine curved. An effect he achieved by stuffing a foam ball down one side of his top</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The how did you get a sequel when the first film was bollocks award sponsored by Look Who’s Talking Now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Wrath of the Titans</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Was there a great clamour to see more Titans films after the release of clash? Did I miss some massive internet campaign demanding more of Sam "Charisma Vacuum" Worthington as Perseus, The whiniest son of a god committed to celluloid? No, but here we are with Wrath of the Titans. The only thing you can say about Wrath, is that it's not as bad as Clash. Faint praise indeed.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bobba Fett Nerdvana award</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Avengers</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The Avengers has been a wet dream for nerds for a long time. Numerous set up films have come and gone just so we can have the back story of each character. Thor (average film), Captain America (rubbish film), Iron Man (one good one shit film) and Hulk (two films, both of which the avengers pretend don't exist) combine with Hawk Eye (man with great eye sight and a bow and arrow?) and Black Widow (woman with great ass) to kick Loki's ass. Genuinely good fun, it also wins the WWE award for name change due to legal reasons</span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Se7en award for an actual ending is important idiot</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Devil Inside</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">A piss poor film, which ends by telling you to go and Google the ending for yourself. No wonder the Vatican didn't want you to see it, they must have pretty good taste in films.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Grave of the Fireflies "I feel like slashing my wrists now" award</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Absolutely brilliant, with stunning performances but a thoroughly depressing film. Not one to cheer you up on a rainy day</span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The "I'm being self referential aren't I clever?" award sponsored by Scream </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Cabin in the Woods</span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes Joss, we know you're a clever bloke who knows his horror films and genre conventions, but there's no need to be so smug about it. A film that seemed to divide the majority of people I know. I quite enjoyed it but it still annoyed me a bit as well</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bob de Niro "I'll be in this awful film cause I've got a down payment due on a yacht"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Al Pacino for Jack and Jill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">This is the guy who played Tony Montana, Michael Corleone, Charlie Brigante, Ricky Roma and now he thinks making googly eyes at Adam Sandler in a dress is a good idea? WHY!WHY!</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Punch Drunk Love award for I can act but choose to be in shit </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Adam Sandler for Jack and Jill, That's my Boyetc etc</span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Whilst we're on the subject of Adam Sandler, do his films get more embarrassing every year?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Christmas Jones stupidest scientist award</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr Maria Shearing in The Bourne Legacy</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQt02lGu59E/UNyUGzyBJGI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/VBCScwTuqA0/s1600/Rachel-Weisz-in-a-still-from-the-Hollywood-movie-The-Bourne-Legacy-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQt02lGu59E/UNyUGzyBJGI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/VBCScwTuqA0/s1600/Rachel-Weisz-in-a-still-from-the-Hollywood-movie-The-Bourne-Legacy-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">She does point out at one stage of the film she has a Phd, though her general moronic behaviour makes you think she just printed it out online. Or won it at a duck shoot at the fair.</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Marlon Brando I really don’t want to be here</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Tommy Lee Jones (MiB3)</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlJQ1H0WQh4/UNyUhb5HjjI/AAAAAAAAAMY/INN7oy8v_Ls/s1600/Tommy_Lee_Jones_in_Men_in_Black_3_Wallpaper_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlJQ1H0WQh4/UNyUhb5HjjI/AAAAAAAAAMY/INN7oy8v_Ls/s1600/Tommy_Lee_Jones_in_Men_in_Black_3_Wallpaper_03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Tommy Lee Jones seems as unhappy to be in MiB3 as we are watching it</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The not another found footage award sponsored by the Blair Witch</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Chronicle</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n2GgFg2_wZ4/UNyU5HDT-OI/AAAAAAAAAMo/aldxI63w3so/s1600/chronicle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n2GgFg2_wZ4/UNyU5HDT-OI/AAAAAAAAAMo/aldxI63w3so/s1600/chronicle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Are we not done with the found footage hook yet? Chronicle would still be a perfectly watchable film without the need for the found footage trope </span></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Mel Gibson award for historical accuracy</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Madonna for W.E.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3q-0X8UJHqk/UNyVWNHP3JI/AAAAAAAAAMw/grQXp_l2aYg/s1600/we_ver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3q-0X8UJHqk/UNyVWNHP3JI/AAAAAAAAAMw/grQXp_l2aYg/s1600/we_ver2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Madonna's not someone to let the facts get in the way of making a terrible film. We'll just wash over the whole Nazi sympathizer bit eh</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Nic Cage Gurning award</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Nic Cage (Insert Name of crap Nic Cage film here)</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHTbPBUNeNA/UNyV8K6db9I/AAAAAAAAAM4/wgXujYjqMrg/s1600/44692000001_1338012470001_GhostRiderSOVrev2-son-t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHTbPBUNeNA/UNyV8K6db9I/AAAAAAAAAM4/wgXujYjqMrg/s1600/44692000001_1338012470001_GhostRiderSOVrev2-son-t.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">I'm going to go with Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance cause good 'ol Nic pulls some awesome faces in this one. The one above is just one example</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The more fun than Takeshi’s Castle award</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Raid</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C6l2JqGV_vM/UNyWPANBiCI/AAAAAAAAANA/qnbQWITcm64/s1600/The_Raid_serbuan_maut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C6l2JqGV_vM/UNyWPANBiCI/AAAAAAAAANA/qnbQWITcm64/s1600/The_Raid_serbuan_maut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Non stop action from start to finish, what more could you ask for?</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The George Lucas flogging a dead horse to make more money than he can ever really spend</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">James Cameron for his 3D re-release of titanic in 3D</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hbhsaoz_bTM/UNyWbZsvw6I/AAAAAAAAANI/IIECiwkA5XQ/s1600/Titanic+3D+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hbhsaoz_bTM/UNyWbZsvw6I/AAAAAAAAANI/IIECiwkA5XQ/s1600/Titanic+3D+03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Because everything is more fucking brilliant in 3D isn't it? Or so Mr Cameron would have you believe</span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Celine Dion award for annoying movie music</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Haywire</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2yL7wJvwzM8/UNyXISCUDmI/AAAAAAAAANQ/BWcgcCiacDw/s1600/haywire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2yL7wJvwzM8/UNyXISCUDmI/AAAAAAAAANQ/BWcgcCiacDw/s1600/haywire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">That stupid Jazz music through every single scene was just plain irritating. It just goes to show how easy it is to miss good music in film when it fits perfectly but when its wrong........ It's all you hear</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline;">The Madonna Award for every film I'm in sucks balls, is it me?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Taylor Kitsch</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--zapwq5vYsw/UNyXbe7J-yI/AAAAAAAAANc/Fjhsm-qLLyg/s1600/taylor_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--zapwq5vYsw/UNyXbe7J-yI/AAAAAAAAANc/Fjhsm-qLLyg/s1600/taylor_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Taylor had a particularly bad year, being in two of the worst films released. If he's lucky, the CIA might give him a new identity so he can start fresh.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Requiem for a dream award for I can’t watch that bit again because it made me feel a little sick in my soul award</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Killer Joe</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZiUjIEqv2o/UNyX04GoBOI/AAAAAAAAANs/vf_SJjnNseM/s1600/killerjoe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZiUjIEqv2o/UNyX04GoBOI/AAAAAAAAANs/vf_SJjnNseM/s1600/killerjoe.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">I still can't look the Colonel in the eye</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: large;">There's Something About Mary Hairdo award</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Hunger Games </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi09CNNSjGE/UNyYesZPOPI/AAAAAAAAAN0/pMH2kIWI0dE/s1600/elizabeth-banks-440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi09CNNSjGE/UNyYesZPOPI/AAAAAAAAAN0/pMH2kIWI0dE/s1600/elizabeth-banks-440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci there are some weird hair do's on show in the Hunger Games. There's also an honourable mention for beard cultivation</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Inception award for film most likely to be compared to Inception</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Looper</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-xAxDX8SFs/UNyZm0YpuyI/AAAAAAAAAOI/JNMqiHoTyBc/s1600/Looper_Poster_Bowtied.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-xAxDX8SFs/UNyZm0YpuyI/AAAAAAAAAOI/JNMqiHoTyBc/s1600/Looper_Poster_Bowtied.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Time bending, mind bending thrill ride, with the always awesome Joseph Gordon Levitt.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Gus Van Sant pointless remake award</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Silent House</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I8qnXk7lZlQ/UNyZ4IxfphI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/rIuGXwtUKKk/s1600/The+Silent+House+Poster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I8qnXk7lZlQ/UNyZ4IxfphI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/rIuGXwtUKKk/s1600/The+Silent+House+Poster.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: 15px;">The same film but in English. If I'm honest I didn't think too much of the original, why would I want to see it again shot for shot?</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The YOU LOST US HOW MUCH award sponsored by Heavens Gate</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">John Carter (of MARS but keep that to yourself)</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sL9OKO1d1Dc/UNyaZ5ERIDI/AAAAAAAAAOY/sA-w9u9JHqg/s1600/13707_John_Carter_Quad+_V2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sL9OKO1d1Dc/UNyaZ5ERIDI/AAAAAAAAAOY/sA-w9u9JHqg/s1600/13707_John_Carter_Quad+_V2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The increasing budget and audience interest on this one don't really seem to be on convergent lines. Andrew Stanton may never be allowed to film human actors again</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that's it. The winners can expect their awards in the post</span></div>
Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-25817812692593884082012-11-15T09:41:00.000-08:002012-12-17T14:19:30.346-08:00I'll have subtitles with that please<span id="internal-source-marker_0.8740791245363653"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Every year the best foreign language films, or films not in the English language as the academy language describes them, are remade in “American.” </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We've</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> reached the point now where some remakes are even being made before the original has even finished doing the rounds and being acclaimed.</span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Often these remakes end up being either, a shot for shot reshoot (Silent House) ,or utter crap (put your own example here I’m sure you can think of one yourself). In the case of Silent house the original was an interesting idea but it didn't really have much going for it beyond that. Yet we have the remake which doesn't improve on any of the issues with the original, happy to simply to be a rehash of the same film. </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even when the same director is brought in to helm the remake it can still go wrong. George Sluizer directed the fantastic Spoorloos, a film with a genuine sense of dread leading up to the famous climactic ending. “Get the same director to do the remake, it’ll be awesome,” you can almost hear the studio execs thinking. Typically the remake was a truly awful piece of shit losing all the best bits and altering the ending, probably on the say so of the same studio exec who wanted the film remaking.</span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Good directors aren't immune from the urge to redo a foreign film. Chris Nolan remade the Swedish thriller Insomnia. If you watch his remake it's a perfectly competent film, but when you watch the original the remake whilst not inferior seems a bit pointless.</span></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">No matter how many shit remakes we get it doesn't look like slowing down with the remake of my all time favourite films, Oldboy, in the offing some time soon. </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what if we lived in some bizarre alternate universe where the opposite were to happen?In this universe Hartlepool United are champions of Europe, 3D films have died a death and the shittiest English language films are remade as foreign language films. Would the inverse occur and rather than a pale imitation, we'd get a fantastic film to take the place of the original? </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With that in mind here are some possible options. (Any Studio execs reading yes i will allow optioning on any of these ideas).</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Who to Suspect When You’re Expecting</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Remake of What to Expect When you're Expecting)</span><br />
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</div><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Danish crime thriller about a pregnant woman whose husband, unbeknown to her, is an art thief. After he is killed by someone in her ante natal class, she discovers he had a second life she knew nothing about. She must figure out which of her fellow pregnant friends double crossed him and why. All before the baby is born!</span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>The Fast Car Thieves</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Remake of any of Fast and the Furious films except Tokyo Drift, because that film really was ridiculous)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-6CSqRu7Yc/UKUR4MKUkqI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Gl6IoiJ_3vE/s1600/Bicycle_Thieves_09_DVD%2520vis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-6CSqRu7Yc/UKUR4MKUkqI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Gl6IoiJ_3vE/s400/Bicycle_Thieves_09_DVD%2520vis.jpg" width="282" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We follow a man and his son in modern day Italy looking for work during the economic crisis. He finds work with a team of high speed HGV hijackers, led by a balding American who is planning "one last job." At no point during the film does anyone suggest that the old fashioned method of hijacking HGV's, by stopping them and waving a gun in the drivers face, is still the most efficient way to do it. With the added benefit of not needing a stunt mans driving ability. I digress however. Disaster strikes when the man's car is stolen. We follow them looking for the thief whilst viewing the social aspects of the recession, and the desperation it inspires</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Wishing Well</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(Remake of the Change-up)</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A J-horror remake, two men take a leak in a wishing well, one a dedicated family man the other a womaniser, not knowing that anyone who relieves themselves in the fountain is found dead 9 days later......... on the toilet. Their search for answers takes them to a sewage works and a possessed loo brush wielded by an angry adopted Japanese girl. Oh and they realise that the family man is actually happy with his life, whilst the womaniser just needs to find the right woman.</span><br />
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Korean revenge thriller. After getting together with Wallis Simpson, Edward VIII has the crown snatched from him by evil forces in the monarchy. Painted in a terrible light by the British press, Wallis becomes a vengeful angel raining justice on those who have wronged her. Ultimately she'll discover that revenge never brings you peace. This version of the film may be more historically accurate than the original Madonna made W.E.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Beat that My Heart Skipped</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">(remake of Fingers)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZL1C5YvYZ6I/UKUTs12QekI/AAAAAAAAAH8/TmlCjAttSIo/s1600/The_Beat_That_My_Heart_Skipped_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZL1C5YvYZ6I/UKUTs12QekI/AAAAAAAAAH8/TmlCjAttSIo/s400/The_Beat_That_My_Heart_Skipped_poster.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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In a french remake we follow a young Parisian enforcer who must decide between life as a criminal like his father, or a concert pianist like his mother. Some one should make this one it seems like a good idea.......</div></span><br />
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</div>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-65973460098551726202012-10-20T15:07:00.001-07:002012-10-20T15:07:15.308-07:00We Need To Talk About Prometheus<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is probably the last review of Prometheus you'll read. I don't mean this in a self congratulatory manner,<i>"after this awesome Prometheus opinion, all other opinions will pale in comparison, wilting away under the glorious glow generated but this review."</i> I mean it more literally. More than likely you'll already have read a millions reviews of the DVD by now, never mind a review of a film released in the cinemas many moons ago. Work commitments mean I've had to abandon blogging for a while, but as this was a film I so looked forward to I still wanted to share my thoughts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So to set the scene, imagine it's May; the PR men are still telling you this is the event of the year. We can still only imagine what it'll be like to host the Olympics, Lance Armstrong is still your hero, England haven't embarrassed themselves at another major footballing event, no one has broken the sound barrier whilst parachuting and my car hasn't over heated and died (that last one is more of a personal setting the scene moment). Now that we've travelled back in time without the need for a flux capacitor, 1.21 gigawatts of energy or plutonium from dodgy Libyans, read on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this is it. Ridley Scott's return to Sci-Fi films and the Alien ‘universe.’ We've had trailers, posters, teasers and viral marketing. It's the film we've heard about non stop for what seems like the last 6 years, Is it up to all the hype? More to the point, could any film live up to this sort of expectation? I've mentioned in previous blogs that I've tried to dampen down my expectations, with Alien being one of my favourite films of all time it’s been difficult. I’ll try and keep my references to Alien down to a minimum, and judge the film as much as i can on it’s own merits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what’s Prometheus about? The original Alien (first Alien reference but a necessary one) famously contained the “space jockey.” An unfortunate alien who’d had his chest exploded whilst sitting in what looks like the biggest lazy boy ever created. Scott was originally asked to remove this scene as it added nothing to be plot. He however disagreed and the scene remained, with Geiger’s mysterious creature at the centre. The following Alien films made no mention of the space jockey again. It’s amusing that a scene that nearly ended upon the cutting room floor is now the basis of one of the biggest films of 2012.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The year is 2089. The crew of the good ship Prometheus are heading off into deep space, looking for an answer to the question that eludes all humans........ who created us. Based on what can only be described as quite flimsy evidence, Dr Shaw and Holloway, have gathered a rag tag team of scientists and set off for LV-223 (not LV-426 Alien reference number 2) to answer said question. It won't come as a surprise that things do not go according to plan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First the positive stuff. The cast is on the whole outstanding, but then looking at the cast list you’d be surprised with anything less. In particular Michael Fassbender is the pick, as the android David. What sort of Alien film would be complete without an android who’s motives are less than clear. We’re introduced to David spying on the crew members dreams whilst they're in stasis, shooting a few hoops, learning a new language the usual stuff you might do if your a robot and your on your own for a while. It's actually nice to see what the ships robot does whilst everyone else kips, even if it is a little bit creepy. David is constantly told he's just a robot, as someone who can't dream it seems obvious that he would spy on the dreams of the crew, the humans he is supposedly beneath. David has reached the point in his “life” where he is asking the same sort of questions the crew have travelled all that way to find out. The part of the film that works best for me is David’s questioning of his place in the universe. He is at various points in the film proclaimed to have no soul, be just a machine and yet he seems to grappling with that very human emotion of being overlooked continually. Fassbender is perfect in the role giving David a slightly odd manner, like he's been shown how to act human by Keanu Reeves. I know people who have questioned the motives for his actions in the film. To me he just seems mischievous, he just wants to mess with these people who created him<i> “just because they could.”</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmm why was Charlize cast to wear a skin tight space suit?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Noomi Rapace is also impressive, and I'm always a fan of Idris Elba. He just seems to fill the whole screen with his character even though he has only a few scenes in the film. However Charlize Theron is completely wasted, only present for her inability to run at a right angle and probably because she looks hot in skin tight clothing. With the removal of the scenes of Weyland as a young man, casting Guy Pearce in old man make-up also seems like a waste.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The special effects are outstanding. But when you've got an eye for the visual like Ridley Scott does you'd be amazed at anything less. It seems unfair to be so dismissive of the special effects, but he did so much with so little in Alien. When you watch it now, other than the presence of a BBC computer as mother it still stands up today (Alien reference number 3). We've become so used to good CGI we barely notice it now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The script and plot is truly awful. Some of the characters are asked to deliver lines so poor even Michael Bay would think twice about including them."I can't create life" must be one of the most ridiculous lines uttered since George Bush said humans and fish can co-exist. Some of the dialogue is so dreadful it's unbelievable.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The black goo extras from the X-files have been<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weyland also seems to have gathered a crew of the stupidest scientists ever compiled. Maybe if they’d taken some pretend scientists, like homeopaths (you know you're not real scientists) they might of had a better chance of finding the answers they're looking for. The plot seems to struggle to get things moving along so we’re introduced to X-files type black goo which seems to have a different effect on every one it comes into contact with. Underneath all this there probably is a good story about where we come from or the nature of our existence. Unfortunately the plot however seems so obsessed with posing questions it forgets that maybe we might want the odd one answering. There's a lot of arm waving and shouting things like, "if we don't stop them we’ll have no home to go to," a sound bite designed for the trailer if ever there was one. The original Alien (Alien reference number 4) was all about the smaller details. The only thing Parker and Brett were interested in was getting their share of the money, not saving the earth.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE ALIENS? Seriously that's all we wanted to see, some damn aliens killing stuff. Not angry, incredibly ripped, slap heads but shiny black xenomorphs killing people for fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've aired my grievances with 3D in the past so i won’t start that rant again. This is the first 3D film I've seen since Toy Story 3, I've actively tried to attend 2D screenings of films where possible. I am a huge fan of IMAX though, and the only way to see Prometheus in glorious IMAX is to watch in 3D. So unfortunately as stubborn as I usually am,ask my wife and she’ll roll her eyes and say very, I had to give in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I always do, I forget to wear my contacts lenses when I saw Prometheus. So I had to wear the 3D glasses over my own glasses, which always ends up hurting my ears, more so with IMAX 3D glasses. Perhaps I need to invest in some prescription 3D glasses? It seems churlish to hold my forgetfulness against Ridley though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In relation to the 3D I'll keep it brief. In all honesty, I forgot the film was in 3D about halfway through. Occasionally when I'd turn my head the side slightly to make sure my wife was still awake, the picture would blur a little reminding me “it's 3D idiot keep your head still.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did the hype ruin Prometheus or was it just a poor film? It's probably a bit of both, which is a slightly lame cop out to be fair and sums the film up perfectly. I've read an article that looks into the hidden references in Prometheus which can be found <a href="http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html" target="_blank">here</a>. It's an interesting and well researched piece but rather than a whole load of deep references in the film, I'd have been happy with a plot that wasn't shit. Head over to <a href="http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1563" target="_blank">Empire</a> to read an interview with the original scriptwriter. Would the film have been better with his script? At least it had aliens in it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roll on Blade Runner sequel(!)</span></div>
Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-69150925859256546832012-05-25T10:47:00.000-07:002012-05-26T10:21:06.515-07:00Summer Preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.7338659316301346" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 1st is fast approaching and with it comes the summer blockbuster season. We’re always lead to believe that the most exciting films come out around this time of the year. As if to say, the weathers nice outside go and sit in a dark room and watch a film. Admittedly in England it’s just as likely to rain in July as it is any other time of the year. </span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.7338659316301346" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each year around this time we get a glut of big budget, “spectacle” films. The sort of films that scream "look at me, look at me" whilst waving their arms in the air, trying to get the attention of anyone and everyone. Getting our attention normally takes the form of posters, teasers, computer games, trailers, viral marketing campaigns on twitter and Facebook, merchandising, tie ups with fast food chains etc etc . You get to the point where you’re being sold Avengers Cologne and being pushed to wear Watchmen condoms (I shit you not, who wouldn’t want to smell like a 90 year old defrosted virgin, with a blue condom in their wallet?). The only time you don’t hear about a particular film is when you’re asleep, I guess the studios haven’t figured out how to force trailers into our dreams.................. yet. </span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year it looks like Prometheus will win the award for the cheapest girl at the party. She's giving it all away for just free, letting every have a peek up her skirt. The viral marketing campaign seems so intent on showing as much of the film as possible, I’ve imposed an embargo on myself from watching any of the trailers for the film. God forbid I might want the odd surprise when I see the film</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The line up always seems exciting at first glance. “This year will be the best one yet,” the studios seem to tell us all the while, patting us down for our wallets and valuables. Forget about that year Tomb Raider was out, don’t think about The Green Lantern, and lets everyone pretend like Catwoman never happened, please God don’t anyone think about Catwoman. “We won’t do anything like that to you again” they tell us whilst releasing the usual line of prequels, sequels and reboots. This year exemplifies this perfectly, The Dark Knight Rises (Sequel), Prometheus (prequel sort of) and The Amazing Spiderman (reboot).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having said all this, like a little child still believing in the tooth fairy, I still look forward to summer blockbusters! </span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So this is my preview of the biggest releases of the next 3 months, not just the blockbusters but the films I’m looking forward to.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prometheus </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(June 1st)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the first sci-fi film Ridley Scott has made since making two of the defining films of the genre, Blade Runner and Alien. That should be reason enough to be excited about Prometheus. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Originally pegged as an Alien prequel it’s now a story set in the ‘Alien universe,’ what ever that means. With Charlize Theron, Naoomi Rapace, Guy Pearce, Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba this must be one of the best cast lists outside of the Dark Knight Rises. With Scott at the helm we can be sure it’ll look bloody impressive as well.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a little part of me that is just that bit worried that this isn’t going to be as good as I hope, I’ve covered it in a previous blog <a href="http://angrymansfilmblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/highlow-expectations.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Who cares though maybe, just maybe, it’ll all come together perfectly. I’m not linking to the trailer obviously, but I’m sure you can all google it.</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Fantastic Fear of Everything </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(June 8th)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Written and directed by Crispin Mills, formerly of Kula Shaker, for those of you who don’t know what a Kula Shaker is they were a rubbish band from the 90’s. It stars Simon Pegg as a children's writer who, in a move he probably regrets, decides to move into crime fiction. As the title suggest he then develops a fear of everything, but mainly the hedgehog from his children’s books.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other than when directed by Edgar Wright, it seems no one can get the best of Pegg and present it on screen. He’s always very watchable in everything he’s in, but the majority of films don’t seem to make the most of his talents. Hopefully this will prove me wrong.</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(June 22nd)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I’m honest I’m sold just by the title. Along with Zombies, vampires still seem to be the occult beasties of choice at the moment. Based on a novel of the same name, Vampire Hunter imagines the famous American President as the only thing that stands between the US and Vampire domination. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, it’ll at least be entertaining. Possibly one to go in the guilty pleasures group. In a few years we might get David Cameron: Hoodie Underage Drinking Asbo Hunter (with Nick Clegg as his faithful Lackey).</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ted </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(June 29th)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A foul mouth teddy bear version of Peter Griffin, who wouldn’t want one of those for christmas? Imagine if you wished your teddy could talk and that came true, what would the adult version of the teddy be like? Well Mark Wahlberg stars as the grown up boy who’s teddy talks, swears and smokes weed. When he falls for Mila Kunis, it’s time for Ted to move out.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Written and directed by Seth McFarlane, I imagine this will be love it or hate it, as it is with his show Family Guy. Personally I’m a fan of Family Guy so I can’t wait.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Amazing Spider-man </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(July 3rd)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It doesn’t seem that long since Spider-man 3 was critically mauled, effectively killing the series in its old guise. I have a lot of fondness for the first two spidey films, number 3 tried to do too much, introducing one of the key characters, Venom, but then barely doing anything with him. Out goes Tobey Maguire and in comes Andrew Garfield to start everything anew, or rather reboot things.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m a little unsure of what to expect with this film. Garfield looks a perfect fit for Peter Parker, Emma Stone is always very good and Rhys Ifans as Dr connors mean the cast is all in place. However early footage of the lizard was ropey to say the least, and the trailer doesn’t really seem as exciting as I’d like. Perhaps it’s just a crap trailer? I’d rather have a rubbish trailer and good film rather than the other way round (I’m looking at you Matrix sequels).</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Dark Knight Rises </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(July 20th)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This really is the film that I’m looking forward to above all others this summer. The conclusion to Nolan’s Batman trilogy, has had everyone holding their breath since the credits rolled on the Dark Knight. The cast from the previous films return with the addition of Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anne Hathaway.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The plot takes place 8 years after the event of the Dark Knight. Batman, now in exile, returns to go head to head with Bane. This is the Bane from the comic books, not the ridiculous bane from Batman and Robin (I just felt a shiver down my spine just saying the name of that Joel Schumacher piece of shit). “The legend ends” tagline give the impression that all bets are off in this one.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chris Nolan has earned our excitement, producing a superhero trilogy that is darker than any that has gone before it. Batman Begins was good, but with the Dark Knight he raised the bar a long way beyond other superhero films. He’s shown he’s a safe pair of hands what ever film he makes, plus he hates 3D!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brave </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(August 17th)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the awful sequel to Cars, Pixar had a rare faltering moment. Unheard of for a studio who only seem to deal in critically acclaimed hits. Brave is the chance to correct that and get things back to their normal standard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brave tells the story of a princess who wishes to join the men of her country on the frontline as a warrior. It’s an unusually unoriginal storyline for Pixar, with more than a little nod towards Disney’s Mulan, but I’m sure they’ll put their own stamp on it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ignoring Cars every film they’ve made has been brilliantly original and well received, I’m sure this will get them back on that track.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those are the films I’m looking forward to this summer, will some of them disappoint me? Almost definitely but who knows which ones! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honourable mentions go to the Bourne Legacy, Lawless and ParaNorman.</span></b></div>
</div>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-23871046314218024992012-05-23T03:58:00.000-07:002012-05-23T03:58:37.227-07:00Has Tim Burton lost his Mojo?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rVi2lWYw2ZQ/T7y-Ptt2s8I/AAAAAAAAAFM/Di0Vtk_uE0I/s1600/220px-Dark_Shadows_2012_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rVi2lWYw2ZQ/T7y-Ptt2s8I/AAAAAAAAAFM/Di0Vtk_uE0I/s320/220px-Dark_Shadows_2012_Poster.jpg" width="215" /></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5278650808613747"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There used to be a time when I'd genuinely look forward to the new Tim Burton film, Dark Shadows. There was a quality that ran through his early films, as he honed that gothic off kilter look and direction. This was a director making films on his own terms, not a hint of selling out. In Johnny Depp, he had an actor seemingly created to star in his films. His films were successful and critically well received. What could go wrong? He could merrily go on making the films he wanted.</span></b></div>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.5278650808613747"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately things do seem to have gone awry, with Burton seeming to have lost his mojo. His most recent output has all his usual hallmarks, that dark gothic look, Johnny Depp and a fairytale story line. It should be a case of mixing it all together with liberal helpings of Helena Bonham Carter, and hey presto another hit.. Recently that hasn't been been the case..</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can almost split his career in two. Films made pre and post Planet of the Apes; as shown by the graph below.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planet of the Apes is the first Burton film I saw at the cinema. That’s not because this was the Tim Burton film above all others that I was desperate to see, no sir. The majority of Burton’s films I had seen to that point had been on TV, on account of me being too young to see them at the cinema. Having seen and loved </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Beetlejuice and Ed Wood</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I was bizarrely looking forward to seeing the Apes remake at the cinema. The good favour he’d built up with his previous films, made me think that maybe he could pull it off. With Batman he made the big action superhero film whilst sticking to his visual aesthetic, and it was a huge success. What we got with Planet of the Apes was an almost by the numbers film, you could describe it as a Hollywood studio film, the ending may have been brave but it just didn’t work.</span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nwIk1XnsiiI/T7zAVGssydI/AAAAAAAAAFc/WFyfw8mF55c/s1600/FrankenweenieTeaserPoster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As awful as Apes was it didn’t put me off. Anyone can make a bad film, it doesn’t make you a bad film maker. Alex Ferguson once said “form is temporary, class is permanent,” which was a mantra I applied to Burton. Maybe Ape’s was shit because he forgot to cast Depp? Maybe the studio meddled too much? His next film would surely sort it out, I told myself. So it was that I saw his next film, and his next film, and the next after that at the cinema</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Were they the return to form I hoped for? No. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Big Fish</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Received mixed reviews, but I actually didn’t think it was that bad. It’s all over the place but the ending is emotional and heartfelt. Have I felt the urge to watch it again? No</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Another remake and after the last one went so well! Burton teams up with Depp again, who channels Michael Jackson to make Wonka much creepier than Gene Wilder ever did. I won’t even mention the rubbish oompa loompa and the tacked on father issues.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDOV5wdEd7c/T7y-_zh9gCI/AAAAAAAAAFU/zaGRwRIDDVY/s1600/depp+as+wonka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDOV5wdEd7c/T7y-_zh9gCI/AAAAAAAAAFU/zaGRwRIDDVY/s400/depp+as+wonka.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Jackson? </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Corpse Bride.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Probably the best reviewed of Burton’s recent work, but for me it just didn’t have same charm as The Nightmare before Christmas (I know Henry Selick directed that). </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s where I drew the line, I haven’t seen any of his films at the cinema since. I’ve still rented them all on DVD, fingers crossed in the hope that this is the one where he finds his feet again. I’m usually disappointed. Sweeney Todd and Alice in Wonderland have both been instantly forgettable. There seems to be more than a hint of giving into the studio on both these films. Sweeney Todd had the bizarre non musical trailer and Alice the 3D conversion. Both films made their money back and then some, but that Burton Magic from earlier films was missing. I’d hoped that Sweeney Todd might capture some of the mayhem of Beetlejuice, or with Alice the fairy tale wonder of Scissorhands but, they both just seemed flat. Flat pictures projected to give the image of 3D in the case of Alice.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nwIk1XnsiiI/T7zAVGssydI/AAAAAAAAAFc/WFyfw8mF55c/s1600/FrankenweenieTeaserPoster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nwIk1XnsiiI/T7zAVGssydI/AAAAAAAAAFc/WFyfw8mF55c/s200/FrankenweenieTeaserPoster.jpg" width="135" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Am I judging too harshly? Is he paying the price for such a blisteringly good early career? In some ways perhaps even he knows it. His next film, Frankenweenie, is a return to his roots, the film that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">got him sacked from </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Disney</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> all those years ago</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I sincerely hope it’s a return to form. A world where Tim Burton makes good films is always going to be a more interesting place.</span>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-55709992778736601752012-05-14T14:48:00.000-07:002012-05-15T11:57:34.192-07:00The Most Irritating Characters Committed to Celluloid<div>
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.19881184538826346"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even a film which is nigh on perfect can have a character that irritates. You know the type, if you met them in real life Hari Kari might suddenly seem like a good idea. The sort of ridiculous characters that say and do the stupidest things imaginable, yet still end up smelling of roses by the end.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If a person like this worked in your office, the adult thing to do would be to avoid them until they think you're dead. Unfortunately you can't do that with movie characters. So here are my most annoying movie characters.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Star Wars</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've decided to combine all the Star Wars character that boil my piss into one category, otherwise this whole list would be Star Wars characters alone.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">JarJar Binks</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The most reviled man in the whole of the Star Wars universe, probably correctly. Ignoring the whole argument about racist stereotypes, his voice and mannerisms make you want to stick knitting needles in your ears. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Included as a 'comedy' sidekick, its difficult to remember a single funny thing he does during the whole film. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the Jedi are strong with the force, surely they must have known bringing him along in the first film was a bad idea. His speech and vote in the clone wars give emergency powers to the emperor, thereby sealing everyone's fate. Yoda is all worried about Anakin, but if he'd just lopped JarJar's head off, he might have saved a lot of hassle later on.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iD5oHB5oCEU/T7AenLhkYLI/AAAAAAAAACU/W1EDHJ_OJoA/s1600/hiphopjedi.blogspot.com_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iD5oHB5oCEU/T7AenLhkYLI/AAAAAAAAACU/W1EDHJ_OJoA/s400/hiphopjedi.blogspot.com_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even Space has Racial Stereotypes</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anakin (young and old).</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The only positive is that young Anakin was only in one film. Shouting yippee and generally acting like he's got ADHD, no wonder his mum was so happy to get rid of him. She must have have been desperate for a bit of peace and quiet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Darth Vader was the biggest bad ass in the universe, yet Hayden Christensen plays him like a poutting teenager. Snivelling and whining his way through both films. What in gods name does the emperor see in him? Or for that matter Padme? My favourite moment. When he tries to look conflicted before slaughtering the younglings, but instead looks like he's trying to remember where he parked his car.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s8Y_kabo1Lg/T7AfT7_hodI/AAAAAAAAACk/0TEqvzCvaMY/s1600/anakin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s8Y_kabo1Lg/T7AfT7_hodI/AAAAAAAAACk/0TEqvzCvaMY/s400/anakin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conflicted? Confused? Constipated?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ewoks</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I don't think there's much more to be said about ewoks. Either you love them or you think they're a cynical ploy by Lucas to shift a bunch of cuddly toys before Christmas. I think you can guess which group I'm in. Perhaps George needed more of the green stuff to buy some new plaid shirts.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6wu8IETyioI/T7AgZkcDu6I/AAAAAAAAACs/W4nzujSqvHI/s1600/Ewoks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6wu8IETyioI/T7AgZkcDu6I/AAAAAAAAACs/W4nzujSqvHI/s400/Ewoks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blood Thirsty Killing Machines</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jurassic Park</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">The two kids.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I don't even remember the names of the two kids in Jurassic Park, just the annoyance they cause me every time they're on screen. Honestly who isn't rooting for the raptors in the kitchen scene. Every time I've seen it I always hope this is the time that the raptors rip them apart, unfortunately I'm always disappointed. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steven Spielberg does seem to have a special place for annoying children in most of his films. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The only function of the children in Jurassic Park is to try and get everyone killed at almost every turn. The lawyer meets a sticky end because of the girls urge to wave a flashlight around, her inability to then turn it off just compunds the issue. Does she seem particularly bothered she's caused this man's death? Does she balls! He probably had a wife and kids that she's orphaned and widowed. That's the sort of thing most of us would struggle to live with, but it doesn't even seem to register. She won't eat meat, which she announces with such smugness, but the death of a person because of her actions? She passes that off without even batting an eyelid! What an evil bitch. As for her brother, I don't think he annoys me that much but he is related to her!</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfZxFlwTuac/T7AiFRQakyI/AAAAAAAAAC0/YatO00Bjtbw/s1600/Jurassic_Park_raptors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfZxFlwTuac/T7AiFRQakyI/AAAAAAAAAC0/YatO00Bjtbw/s400/Jurassic_Park_raptors.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brain the size of a walnut, the dinosaurs aren't too clever either</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Arthur</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arthur(Russell Brand).</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remaking Arthur always seemed like a bad idea. The original film traded on Dudley Moore's likability, and his rapport with John Geilgud. The remake decides it’s best if Brand just act like a rich, spoilt six year old, who dresses as an 18th century dandy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, he was the comic foil to the ‘straight’ guy. In these films it is the straight guy who does the learning, Brand can be left to act like a drunk because he didn't have to be redeemed. In Arthur we’re expected to care for him, want him to be redeemed by falling in love, realise he doesn’t need money to be happy. However all we get is him drink driving, and buying stuff. Not really someone you want to succeed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzNUACCKCE4/T7F2Qv8dDKI/AAAAAAAAAD8/JKPg0_M2soY/s1600/Russell+Brand+Helen+Mirren+Filming+Arthur+U0HJuLGMqZJl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzNUACCKCE4/T7F2Qv8dDKI/AAAAAAAAAD8/JKPg0_M2soY/s400/Russell+Brand+Helen+Mirren+Filming+Arthur+U0HJuLGMqZJl.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who wouldn't warm towards him?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Transformers</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are a huge number of irritating characters in the transformers series. The Parents, Carly, the twins from the second film etc. But I thought I’d go with the main irritation in the film (other than Michael Bay’s awful direction).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sam Whitwicky.</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve said it before Shia LaBeouf is not a leading man. He is utterly devoid of charisma,with virtually no screen presence at all. The only way you can tell he's on screen is you can hear that screeching noise he calls acting. If he’s the last hope of humanity, then I'd rather it all ended with us enslaved by the Decepticons.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MW3QH2LQoO8/T7F1mjDGaQI/AAAAAAAAAD0/7kk1WeUGoPA/s1600/2009_transformers_revenge_of_the_fallen_037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MW3QH2LQoO8/T7F1mjDGaQI/AAAAAAAAAD0/7kk1WeUGoPA/s400/2009_transformers_revenge_of_the_fallen_037.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has the same problems the common man does calming down his giant robot</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He spends the whole of the 3rd film complaining about is life. Yes, what a hard life he has. He can’t find a job but lives in a stunning apartment, has a beautiful girlfriend, a medal of honour from the President and he attended an Ivy League University for free. Yes I feel a great deal of sympathy for him, in the current economy he’s just like you or me. I spent most of the films praying he’d get killed or maimed, Hell I’d have settled for a viral throat infection that meant he couldn’t speak. I’m surprised he hasn’t damaged his own vocal chords the amount of screaming like a little girl he does</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Short Round.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Steven Spielberg really does like his annoying kids doesn’t he. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reasons Indy is cool:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smart one liners - Check</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kicks Nazi ass - Check</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sean Connery is his dad - Check</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A way with the ladies - Check</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He’s also Han Solo - Check</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annoying child side kick............... erm Check?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why would Indy even need a side kick? More to the point why would he have a child as a side kick? It seems a little reckless, after all Indy does tend to get himself into quite a bit of danger doesn’t he? Surely this is a child endangerment issue, plus he’s not even family. Why is a grown man taking an 11 year old with him all over the world? It all sounds a bit weird.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m hard pressed to find any part of the film he’s amusing in, his 'banter' basically consists of him speaking in pigeon english. Lines like "he no nuts he crazy' or 'you cheat very big' hilarious I know. However the bit below where he gets a punch in the chops had me cheering!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Temple of Doom is considered the worst of the first three Indy films, and short round had a big part to play in that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Adam Sandler</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rather than blame the films Adam Sandler is in, I thought I’d go straight to the source. Some people play the same character in virtually every film they’re in. It means they become typecast but if they do it well, whats the problem. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dam Sandler also plays the same character in every film but, it’s an annoying, shoutty, jerk of a character. The angry, sneering, man child seems to be the whole range of his acting ability. It was amusing in Happy Gilmore, but by the time you get through to Anger Management the joke has wore very, very, thin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fact that he plays the ‘good guy’ in his films is even more galling. We're supposed to believe that he’s the sort of chap who should end up with the girl/money/happiness? He should end up in prison, where he could get in to an altercation with an inmate and be stabbed with a shiv made out of a toothbrush. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plus he seems to keep Rob Schneider in work which is a crime against humanity itself.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can all dream can't we</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whats more depressing is Paul Thomas Anderson actually coaxed an amazing performance out of him in Punch Drunk Love. I guess that just goes to show the genius of Anderson!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honourable mentions also go to Jay Barutchel just for being him, Ruby Rhod (Fifth Element),M ary Corleone (Godfather III) and Basher Tarr (Oceans films). You were all annoying, I just don’t have the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which Character irritates you most in a film?</span></div>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-62244772739942231422012-05-07T13:00:00.000-07:002012-05-10T10:51:04.651-07:00Mr Nobody Understands Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FUWR9SysM7I/T6gbea2eQlI/AAAAAAAAABw/ZOkC2ytr9qg/s1600/Mr-nobody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FUWR9SysM7I/T6gbea2eQlI/AAAAAAAAABw/ZOkC2ytr9qg/s400/Mr-nobody.jpg" width="282" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mr Nobody is
a film of truly grand ideas. Attempting to cram in as many questions about human
existence as it can, as if involved in some sort of mad bet with the other films
in the playground. Life, death, choice, love, fate, the nature of the universe,
physics, you name it there’ll be a reference to it. Mr Nobody cannot be accused
of being unambitious</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Now this is the
point where it is customary to produce a quick plot synopsis; you know the drill, cover
main characters, what happens, try not to give away too much (I refer to my<a href="http://angrymansfilmblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/dreaded-spoilers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"> blog about spoilers</span></a>). This does
not apply to the plot of Mr Nobody. I couldn't spoil the plot even if I tried because,
and I'm not ashamed to admit this, I'm not sure if I can follow the plot entirely
myself. I should show willing though, so I'll try and 'summarise' the plot as best I can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Nemo Nobody
(Jared Leto) is at 118 years of age the last mortal man. In 2092, the
inconvenience of ageing and dying has been done away with. He's a novelty, a
futuristic side show freak, used to entertain the public via a reality TV show. Through interviews with first his Dr and then a journalist he recalls the story of his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A life that
seems to contradict itself at every turn; Nemo stayed with his mum or his dad, he
marries one of three different women, he’s in a coma, his wife is dead or he’s
dead etc. It seems that every decision that Nemo make,s he is able to see the
different routes that decision will take him down. All of which seems to boil to his one key decision, to either stay with his mum or dad. The choice seems to come down to the quality of laces employed by the shoe
company, in one of the films many butterfly effect moments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is the contradictory life story a comment on the very nature of memories? Is it about the
butterfly effect and the idea of fate? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Whilst
following each of the different strands, the film jumps and loops back on its
self, never fully giving away where any particular strand is heading. The young
Nemo, played with perfect teenage angst by Tony Regbo, has the opportunity to
end up married to three different women depending on his decisons. It is the
adult Leto we see living out these futures. Leto does seem to have a similar
blank look on his face regardless of which future he's in; his haircut or presence of glasses
seem to be better than him at conveying which life he’s in. Luckily for him, the d.p shoots each future in a slightly different style, differentiating each
one with subtlety. To be fair to Leto he does perform the scenes under the
latex as old Nemo admirably. Of the female leads it’s Juno Temple who impresses
the most as a young Anna, the love of Nemo’s life.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nemo if he'd made the children's character choice in his life</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The real question comes down to whether the film is bigger than the sum of its different
strands? The ambition of Jaco Van Dormael cannot be questioned, i fact it
should be commended. In a time when films treat us with kid gloves, afraid to
let us think in case our heads explode, he has produced a film which gives no
quarter to anyone. Even at 140 minutes (this is the cut I saw there are other cuts available) the
film is never less than entertaining and technically very impressive. Unfortunately it never quite comes together perfectly. In films that are difficult to follow
there is often a point towards the end when the film starts to come together,
the underlying theme comes through, but with this you are left scratching your
head. It pains me to say that perhaps instead of making the film so
impenetrable, he should have conceded a little to the viewer. In the directors mind
I’m sure this all makes sense, if he could let us in a little more perhaps
it would be more rewarding. I can't help but think a slightly better edit may have helped things seem just a tad clearer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For what it’s
worth I do think there is an interesting film in here about the nature of fate
and choice. Who hasn’t struggled over a difficult choice in their life? Puzzled
over which route to take, who to settle down with, career decisions etc. What
if we could play out these decisions to the nth degree (in a much better way
than Next see<a href="http://angrymansfilmblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/dreaded-spoilers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"> my blog about spoilers</span></a>). Isn't that the best way of making an
informed the decision, a sort of live action pros and cons list. Perhaps that’s
what Nemo has done, played out every decision to the absolute end. Whether that’s
death, happiness, a loveless marriage or whatever he knows and can decide. Isn’t that all
we want from life, to make the best decisions for ourselves and our loved ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-loUeQm2oqAQ/T6go1zuFOeI/AAAAAAAAAB8/J4KwySkGNmw/s1600/mrnobody11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-loUeQm2oqAQ/T6go1zuFOeI/AAAAAAAAAB8/J4KwySkGNmw/s400/mrnobody11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Overall I’d
recommend this film purely because I commend its very existence. It may not
always work, the whole space short story I could’ve done without, but watch it
and then watch it again and come to your own conclusions. It's confusing but in a good way, not like the Box which is confusing in a crap way! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There was an alternate version of this blog in which I take the completely opposite view point in, Nemo kind of way I weighed it up and decided against it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What did you think of the film?</span></span></div>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-15497535851194217622012-05-05T20:44:00.000-07:002012-05-11T14:14:41.328-07:00Traditional animation and my top 5 Studio Ghibli<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've all gotten used to watching animated CGI films these days. We're treated to a slew of computer animated children's films whenever the kids break up from school. Toy story 3, Madagascar 2, Ice Age 3, Kung Fu Panda 2, these films have been around long enough to have reached multiple sequels. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hell things had gotten to the point were Disney even closed down it's traditional animation department. Admittedly that error was corrected by John Lasseter who re-opened the department in 2009. It's amazing to think that Disney, a studio who made their name making beautiful and well respected animated films, would shut down 2D animation.</span></div>
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<img height="272" src="http://images.wikia.com/kungfupanda/images/3/30/PoDadWolfFight.jpg" width="640" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which brings me to why I'm writing this. Whilst watching Kung Fu Panda 2 I realised that I was entranced by the flash back scenes, which are shown as traditional animation, more than I was the rest of the film. This isn't to say I didn't like the film; some of the fight scenes are a bit samey, and it's not quite as funny as the first one but on the whole I enjoyed it. The animation is superb, every single strand of Po's fur looks lovingly created. I don't doubt the time and skill that goes into producing each and every frame. P</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">erhaps the flash back scenes looked more vibrant intentionally, the bright and vivid colours making it more memorable. Or maybe it's just that we're so used to CGI, it was nice to see some old style animation (I know it was probably still done on computer but you see my point).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Top 5 Studio Ghibli</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even with the advancement of modern technology in recent years Studio Ghibli have stuck to crafting beautiful hand drawn animation. For over a quarter of a century the studio set up by Hayao Miyazaki and the late Isao Takahata have produced some of the best animated films in the world, with a level of quality few outside of Pixar can replicate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Princess Mononoke</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd have difficulty putting this list in order but my favourite of all is Princess Mononoke. It contains all of Miyazaki's pet themes; the environment, human nature and the futility of war. Combined with strong beautifully drawn characters and a slightly darker tone than his usual works, the 2 hours+ running time never seems too long. The opening scene of Ashitaka being chased by and eventually killing the Boar demon is as visceral and exhilarating as any scene you'll see in film.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Spirited Away</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winning Ghibli's first and only Oscar and still the only non English language film to win best animated Oscar, Spirited Away introduced a wider audience to Ghibli's films. The character design is a deliriously of kilter roster of gods, demons, dragons and soot monsters; No-face in the above picture being a particular stand out. At the centre of the film is a typically strong willed heroine desperately trying to get her parents back into human form. It's impossible not to be charmed by Spirited Away's beauty and story telling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Grave of the Fireflies</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only film in the list not made by the legendary Miyazaki. This is a genuinely heart braking tale of two orphaned children struggling for survival in WWII Japan. Released the same year as My Neighbour Torturo it's difficult to imagine that they came out of the same studio. An animation that really is for adults, showing the effects of war on innocent children, it truly is heavy going. With an ending that really is gut wrenching, anyone not moved by it is made of sterner stuff than me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">My Neighbour Torturo</span><br />
<img height="480" src="http://fdaphotography.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/my-neighbour-totoro.jpg" width="640" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plot to My neighbour Torturo may be wafer thin but that's beside the point. You share the sense of wonder that Satsuki and Mei experience when exploring their new surroundings and their encounter with the eponymous Torturo. One of the most iconic Ghibli creations, he even makes an appearance in Toy Story 3! My Neighbour Torturo is a film that has to be seen; you can't describe it to someone because they'll probably say it sounds ridiculous or boring which would deprive them of ever seeing the catbus! If public transport included catbus' no-one would complain about using them</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ponyo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my wife's favourite Ghibli film and yet again it's got the sort of story line that sounds ludicrous. A fish that wants to be a girl; a decision that may be destructive for the whole world. Even though Ponyo isn't quite as strong a female lead as Miyazaki's other creations she's no less charming, her shouts of Ponyo as she skipping through the waves always make me smile. The scenes of the ocean floor have so much going on and such intricate detail you almost feel as if you need two viewings to take it all in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honourable mentions to Howls Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service and Nuasicaa of the Valley in the Wind (technically before Studio Ghibli's formation). I just didn't have enough space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This isn't to say I don't like computer animated films (I refer to my blog on <a href="http://angrymansfilmblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/we-all-love-pixar.html" target="_blank">Pixar films</a>), I just hope there's room for both forms of film making in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whats your favourite Studio Ghibli film? </span></div>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-66981615668790226982012-05-04T11:07:00.000-07:002012-05-09T16:13:58.184-07:00Moments that can ruin a whole film<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know, I know movies are meant to be the suspension of belief. The rules of physics, the laws of man, even common sense don't have to apply. A good film will create a universe in which you believe what is happening as long as it conforms to the rules of the universe within the film. This is the why we accept films about super heroes, like superman, spider man etc. But do you ever feel that things go that little bit too far sometimes? Is there a limit to the amount of belief that you can suspend? That at a certain point you just think come on, I mean really COME ON. </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Dogma</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like dogma. I can go along with the story line all the way; a couple of angels who just want to go home, not realising the consequence of their actions. Fair enough you've got Alan Rickman so I'm sold, anything with Alan Rickman is alright by me. Just as everything is moving along nicely to the climax, up pops Alanis Morissette as god. Yes I'll say it again Alanis Morissette as god............... not just god but a nodding, grinning, stupid, retarded looking god. Okay so God should look pleased with themselves, after all they created everything that is and ever will be but she just looks moronic. Grinning like an imbecile whist blowing heads up. Surely Alan Rickman is too cool to take orders from that god? Hell even I'm too cool to take orders off them and I'm a long way down on the cool meter!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I dressed myself today!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>War of the Worlds</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">(Beware there may be a spoiler contained in this bit you have been warned)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've never been the biggest Spielberg fan. I agree that his films are always spectacular looking, but I always find something to irritate. The ending of AI, Tom Cruise explaining the plot to the camera in Minority Report just in case you were too stupid to follow it, or that he seems to advocate</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> the shooting of PoW's in Saving Private Ryan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is War of the Worlds that irritates me the most though. This has nothing to do with the fact that it is a remake, yes it's an unnecessary remake but we'll ignore that. My main issue is halfway through the film the family split up. Cruise's son decides to go and help fight, where as Tom decides he needs to protect his daughter. His son goes over the hill into a war zone, explosions going off everywhere and Tom looks like he might not see him again. Flash forward, and Tom's been through hell to get to his ex-wife's house but low and behold there's Robbie. His lack of army training, fighting experience or stupidity have not held him back, he's beaten dad home. How did he manage that? Maybe once he got over the hill the aliens were less angry and advanced, just needing a punch on the nose to be defeated. Maybe he gave the aliens some sort of brain disease, causing most of them to die of stupidity. Perhaps it's not bacteria but Robbie who saved the whole planet? He doesn't even look like he's been through a trauma, there's not a scratch on him. He's stood in the doorway with a smug look on his face like he's head of the household now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">War of the Worlds has at it's heart a survival of the fittest idea. Those that are best suited to the environment survive, but this absolutely flies in the face of natural selection. His son is a doofus; he runs off into a war zone without a second thought. Surely his genes deserve to be wiped of the face of the planet. He shouldn't be given the opportunity to reproduce and pass them on, but Steve loves a cheesy ending!! So here's ROBBIE.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little guy who saves the day (i don't men Tom)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Hitman</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hitman is not a good film by any stretch of the imagination. Yes it's a good game, but as with most movies made from computer games there's something lost in translation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The action sequences are a bit generic and that guy from prison break does an awful Russian accent. It's not a horrendous film, it's just ordinary. However there was one thing that stood out and annoyed me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is a clandestine group who manufacture top notch hitmen to do their donkey work. I've never ran a business; maybe you do need a way to keep track of your staff, but barcoding them on the back of their baldy heads? That's the best you can think of? Why not security chip them? It works fine with pets, surely they could've hired some management consultants to come up with a better idea than barcodes. A super killer who has a big massive barcode on the back of his shiny noggin. Maybe he could wear a bright red tye and black suit when ever he kills people, just to stick out that little bit more....................... oh wait he does wear a black suit and red tie when killing people. They definitely need to change their employee hand book. The only thing more amazing is that it takes Interpol so long to catch up with him!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/06/hitman-movie-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/06/hitman-movie-pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">101 ways to blend in</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Scientists in Films</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm good at science I am</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This isn't aimed at one film in particular but a general thing about scientists in movies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Watch Thor again and tell me what type of scientist Natalie Portman's character is. What is she researching? If you do know maybe you could tell me. Scientists are often in films just to </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">spout ridiculous phrases "like the neutrinos have mutated." They can't mutate you idiot what sort of scientist are you? Some sort of rubbish scientist who used to be in Eastenders?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Saffron Burrows is a scientist in Deep Blue Sea. Yet when electrocuting a shark she takes of her wet suit so she can stand on something rubber, ignoring that her shoes are made of rubber. She's not a very clever scientist is she. No wonder every one ends up getting killed. I understand why the script wanted her to take off her wetsuit but why not just make her barefoot?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's The World is Not Enough that really takes the biscuit. In fact they've taken so much biscuit with Denise Richards character that they've emptied the whole supermarket. For Alanis Morissette's sake her name is bloody Christmas Jones, really Christmas Jones. Her character just randomly spouts long words to remind us she's a clever scientist. I get the impression the lab must keep her around because they want a pretty face on the brochure. Just to enforce that idea they put her in some skimpy shorts as well!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">These are just a selection, I've got a whole bunch of these but it'd be the longest blog in the world if I put them all down!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So which bit's annoy you most in films?</span><br />
<br />Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-20156733247229466882012-04-24T12:10:00.001-07:002012-05-14T14:08:34.608-07:00My Favourite 13 Action Scenes<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's nothing better than a good old fashioned action sequence is there? One of those moments in a film that, gets your heart beating a little bit quicker, makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, or just plain takes your breath away. These are the type of sequences you remember most fondly from a film. The bits you hope you haven't missed when you flick through sky movies and catch a movie halfway through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By action sequences I don't mean just scenes from action films. The type of film that the scene is in has no bearing on it's selection, though the majority are from action films in the more classic sense. It also has nothing to do with money, a good film maker will make a good action sequence on a shoestring. It's because you have something invested in the characters, you care what happens to them. A good action scene will keep ratcheting up the tension but never drag, just cause you have a lot of money doesn't mean you should throw it all at the screen. I'm taking about the Michael Bay's, Brett Ratners and Roland Emmerich's of the world. T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he end of Transformers 3 goes on for so long I gave up caring. I just wanted everyone on screen to die an agonising death, just so that it would end and the chance of Transformers 4 would be out of question. Honestly though, it's a film about cars that turn into robots, why is over 2 hours long? What could possible take that long to say about some robots hitting each other on the head, whilst Shia Lebeouf does that irritating screechy nostril flaring thing. This is what passes for a leading man these days?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here are my top 13 action sequences (not in any order). Why 13? I don't know I had to cut it off at some point otherwise it may have been top 128!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Oldboy</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are a number of sequences in old boy that stick in the mind.From live octopus eating, to tongue slicing, or ants crawling under the protagonists skin, but there are few which capture Oh Dae-su's relentless quest better than the corridor hammer scene. Made to look like one take, it has a streets of rage look to it, with one man against the world and just a hammer for company. And just when he gets to the end of the corridor? There are a few more blokes in the lift. Suffice to say they meet a sticky end as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Children of Men</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can never decide if I prefer the car reversing motorbike scene or the final warzone scene. Both have a very naturalistic look to them, with so much going on in the scene you don't know where to look. For me the motorbike scene is more exhilarating, made by a supremely confident film maker who knows what he's doing. It's so action packed you might just miss a major character catching a bullet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>The Dark Knight</strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of two Chris Nolan films that make my list, he's become the go to guy for original action sequences. The whole of the Dark Knight has a constant sense of tension that never drops during the whole running time. The prisoner transfer scene is the best scene for me. The unpredictable nature of the joker means you never know what's going to happen next. Plus the bat mobile turns into the most awesome bat bike, takes on a HGV and there's a surprise reveal at the end as well.</span><br />
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<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Inception</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr Nolan's second entry and I'm sure he'd have 3 if the Dark Knight Rises had been released. It's not a surprise that the corridor sequence is my pick, easily the best action scene of 2010. This is the scene everyone was talking about almost as much as the ending! It goes to prove that you don't need hugely expensive CGI, just take two blokes, a rotating corridor and add gravity.... et voilà.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Matrix</span></strong><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone has bullet time in their film these days it's nothing special; computer games use it, TV shows use it, even bloody quiz shows like ITV's tTe Cube have it. But there was a time when this was truly special. The first time I saw the Matrix in the cinema I was blown away. The sequels definitely bought into the more is more idea, throwing too much money at the screen but for a brief time in 1999 bullet time was a beautiful thing to behold</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Lord of the Ring: The Two Towers</strong></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Some people think this is the weakest film of the trilogy, the point were the trilogy sags a bit but I don't agree. This is the film were the there's no set up or tying up of loose ends. It gets going straight away with Gandalf fighting the Balrog. It's the battle of helms deep where it all truly kicks off,with hacking and slashing of the highest variety. When Gandalf appears accompanied by Eomer riding down the hill, the sun shining behind them, it still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. For me is the stand-out moment of the trilogy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Bourne Ultimatum</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Once Paul Greengrass took over the reins of the Bourne films they really seemed to find their feet. That's not to say that the first film isn't good, but Supremacy and Ultimatum just move it on. Every action film since has tried to imitate the up close, quick cutting, brutal and realistic filming style. It all comes together perfectly in the chase across the rooftops in Morocco, culminating a vicious fight for survival at the end.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3e2yNLim_s/T7FrBjMqtEI/AAAAAAAAADA/F34GYFmRC1A/s1600/bourne%2520ultimatum%2520capture%25206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3e2yNLim_s/T7FrBjMqtEI/AAAAAAAAADA/F34GYFmRC1A/s400/bourne%2520ultimatum%2520capture%25206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Seven Samurai</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's to be said that hasn't already been said about the Seven Samurai? The original action film. It seems that every climactic battle ends in the rain these days, The Seven Samurai started it all. The final battle against the bandits in the rain soaked village is a thing of pure beauty. Kurosawa always made exceptional films, but even by his high standards this scene stands out. </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Hard Boiled</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What happened to John Woo? If you watch his Hollywood output, you'd say it's probably for the best that he's not made many films recently. Go back to his Hong Kong days and you realise it's genuinely a shame that he seems to have lost his touch. Hard Boiled is possibly the high watermark of his films, Chow Yun-fat, Tony Leung, and balletic gun play. It makes you wish his Hollywood films had half energy of this scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Tell No One</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This French film does have flaws. The plot is very far fetched and loses steam towards the end. The chase scene in the middle however is absolutely brilliant. There's a sense of urgency and threat that a lot of films struggle to attain. The CGI in some parts of the chase is poor but that's missing the point, this is genuinely an everyday schmo being pushed to the limit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Heat</b></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michael Mann hits all the high notes during the bank robbery scene, as the meticulously planned robbery goes to shit when the cops show up. The film is a slow build but it bursts into life as soon as the machine guns start firing. Few movie heists come close to the level of excitement reached in Heat.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Good the Bad and the Weird</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Korean homage to the good the bad and the ugly, finishes off with a barnstorming chase scene involving horses, a motorbike and the Japanese army as the titular good, bad and weird face off looking for the treasure. Funny and exhilarating in equal parts, this is a thrilling end to an excellent film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Bullit</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who doesn't wish they were Steve McQueen? Really what more is there to say?!?</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pmtdP98JWuI/T7Fz_N6NWNI/AAAAAAAAADs/odPdUuUS-0w/s1600/Steve-McQueen-Bullitt-Ford-Mustang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pmtdP98JWuI/T7Fz_N6NWNI/AAAAAAAAADs/odPdUuUS-0w/s400/Steve-McQueen-Bullitt-Ford-Mustang.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's you favourite? No doubt I've missed something off this list which I'll regret later, c'est la vie.</span>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-61841224624375080942012-04-20T16:50:00.001-07:002012-05-07T08:19:52.417-07:00Dreaded Spoilers.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is advance warning if you haven't seen any of the following films <b>Ringu (or the Ring remake), Sixth Sense, Planet of the Apes, the Empire Strikes Back, and Next <u style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">do not read on.</span></u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There may potentially be spoilers in the text below which may ruin you viewing of said films. If this were to happen to you I'd be fairly disappointed. This isn't like one of those warnings in a horror film <i>"don't go down (fill in blank with cellar, road, haunted house etc.)"</i> but they still go because otherwise the film would end and well what have you paid 8 quid to watch? This is an actual warning: this is a discussion of spoilers do not read on if you've not seen the above films. As far as good ideas go trying to reduce the readership of a blog by advising certain people not to read it may be considered a bad idea. Next week I'll write one just for blonde haired short sighted dwarfs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The release of the Cabin in the Woods makes me wonder is the spoiler not one of the most inhumane acts that can be inflicted on another person. If we think we're a civilised people surely we should be beyond the point at which we can ruin someone else's enjoyment of a film purely because of the incessant need to keep yapping, only stopping occasionally for air.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the Internet age it has potentially become even harder to avoid spoilers, we suffer from information overload. Type any film in to Google and you'll get plot descriptions, explanations, homages, spoilers and every other possible detail you could care to imagine. I don't just mean film reviews, in the age of Wikipedia you'll find out every detail of every film you can care to imagine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This reminds of the bother one of my favourite film reviewers got himself into over a slip of the tongue. In an introduction to Ringu on Channel 4's extreme cinema season he said "...evil crawls out of the television - literally!" A clever description of the films big moment? Not to the people who hadn't seen it! Of course he regretted it this wasn't malicious but it just goes to show that it's so easy to drop a spoiler!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://adambroome.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/kermode_s.jpg?w=450" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://adambroome.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/kermode_s.jpg?w=450" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Since spoiling the Ring Mark Kermode leaves the house prepared for "fans"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This reminds me of how the Six</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">th Sense was ruined for one of my friends by some loose lipped idiot in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">French</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> class. "He's Dead all along" was the S-bomb dropped in the middle of repeating random French phrases which would never help any one on holiday in France, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Je mal a la tete </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one such example. This wasn't an accidental spoiler but one delivered with glee with the aim of ruining the film for as many innocent bystanders as possible. That's truly the worst sort of spoiler, an accidental slip of the tongue is one thing but to wilfully ruin a film for people you know is truly unacceptable. I won't mention his name but someone should be allowed to follow him around ruining every moment of his life with spoilers.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.everythingaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/planet-of-the-apes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.everythingaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/planet-of-the-apes.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover artist: "Is this giving away too much?"<br />
Colleague: "Nah"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However is there a point at which you can give away a twist or surprise from a film? Perhaps there's a time limit by which time if you haven't seen a film it's your fault. Can a film enter the common consciousness, so famous that almost everyone knows the ending, twist or surprise.?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does this rule apply to the Empire Strikes Back? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surely everyone knows Luke is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vader's</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> offspring; what a b</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ad ass he chopped his own son's hand off (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it's a shame </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hayden</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christensen</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> makes him such a whiny shit in the new films). Is the film old enough and famous enough that even people who don't know the films know the ending?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The makers of the Planet of the Apes seem to care so little about the ending they give it away on the cover, really on the cover!! Maybe you need to wait till the Simpson's do a parody musical then you're allowed to say what you like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is there such a thing as a good spoiler? Perhaps you could make it an altruistic act, only wasting your time watching a film rather than many wasting theirs a spoiler in a communist kinda way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've seen the whole of the truly awful Nic Cage film, Next. Never mind the absolutely shit twist ending I had enough problems with the</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> basic premise of it. So Nic can see into the future allowing him to see the outcomes of the different </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">decisions</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> he could make. Okay, so what does he do whilst he's imagining the future? Does he </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">stand</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> still with a gormless look on his face, and how does he view the numerous paths he could take? I have a enough problem watching the the football whilst listening to my wife never mind various visions of the future. Ignoring all this the ending occurs, stuff blows up, the bad guys win and the world ends then we realise that Nic was just thinking about what could happen and now he'll do something different! At this point I was crippled with blind panic "oh god it's going to carry on again and I've got another 30 odd minutes of tosh to sit through." Luckily this wasn't the case but am I doing a public service by telling everyone the ending so no one else has to experience this colossal waste of time? Although part of me thinks I sat through it why shouldn't you but it's moral question I struggle with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In truth I don't think spoilers are ever acceptable. Watching good and bad films are part of life, it give us perspective, a point of comparison. After you've seen a poor film, you appreciate the next brilliant film you watch a little more. As Thomas Sowell once said </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I've always been offended by the song that says, 'Everything is beautiful in it's own way.' If everything is beautiful then the word 'beautiful' has no meaning. if everything was purple, there would be no word 'purple' in the language as it would not distinguish one thing from another."</i> It's just as true with films</span><br />
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</div>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-47635902770744652722012-04-18T15:18:00.003-07:002012-04-21T05:38:46.873-07:00Does James Cameron hate the movie going public?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James Cameron has made some of the highest grossing films of all time; that's not open to debate a quick look at Wikipedia's highest-grossing films list proves this. I'm sure you're all Internet savvy enough to find this out yourself but to save you the hassle the screen shot below confirms this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But perhaps all this proves is that the majority of the movie going public are idiots and James Cameron has gotten rich off the back of that. Avatar is a very very bland film with the most unoriginal plot imaginable, Dances with Smurfs or Fern Gulley 2: this time it personal pretty much sum it up. Titanic also has such a bland and unoriginal plot you could sleep through the film wake up with 5 minutes to go and you'd know what's gone on. Does this make him evil? Possibly not, unless you subscribe to the ideal that money is the root of all evil. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">So what does make him evil?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>3D Bloody 3D</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not content releasing a rubbish film with Avatar he insisted on pushing his new 3D stereoscopic camera like it was the coming of a new dawn. Better than sliced bread? Better Jesus? Not really, not even better than 2D, but we've had to put up with a slew of 3D films including some truly horrendous 3D retrofits. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm talking to you Clash of the Titans, with your ridiculous floating Liam Neeson head. That's how crazy he's made the world even the shittest films are chasing the 3D dollar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Forcing us to wear dark glasses over our normal glasses whilst in a darkened room reducing the vibrancy of the picture just so we can see the odd thing come out of the screen at us...... really that's all the benefit we get, f</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">loating stuff and things waved in our face. Not only that we're make to pay extra for the bloody glasses that reduce our enjoyment of the film. We should be getting a bloody discount not paying for the privilege.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not happy with inflicting 3D on us he also gave us the worst Oscar acceptance speech EVER. "I'm King of the World," is that not the most arrogant big headed thing you've ever heard? I'm king of the world, really? Whats he think he's done bloody cured cancer, saved some orphans, no?.............. Just directed a film that some teenage girls saw 20 times and then some octogenarians at the academy thought was better than LA Confidential. That makes you king of the world? Maybe the king of the world title people are just phoning it in these days we'll be giving it to the tramp who plays the accordion at the end of my street, or a monkey playing the drums next.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Future King of the World?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Titanic again?</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Why is Titanic in cinemas again? I can't for the live of me figure it out, if you have any idea please put it in the comments at the bottom I'd love to know. Maybe Mr Cameron has a payment due on that sub he's use to explore the Mariana Trench? Perhaps he's gonna explore the moon or the sun next? Announce</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> himself king of the moon?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Encouraging the Proliferation of Shit Films</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally the most recent heinous act? What else could he have done, drowning rabbits, stealing sweets from children, is he the cause of global warming? No worse than all that he's encouraging Arnie to make another terminator film, read the full story <a href="http://here./">here.</a> Why would another terminator film be a good idea? Ignoring the fact that 3 and 4 were god awful films with</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> pretty much no redeeming features, particularly number 4 with the charisma vacuum that is Sam Worthington in the lead, and a plot filled with so many holes you could put James Cameron's sub through it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above all this another terminator film with Arnie makes no sense, he's 64 years old, why would Skynet make an unstoppable killing machine that ages? I'd love to see the Skynet<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragons'_Den_(UK)" target="_blank"> Dragons Den</a> episode where someone tried to get funding for that idea. "Well I've got an idea it's an unstoppable killing machine that can travel back in time only problem is he ages" robot Theo would be out before he could come up with some unfunny remark. The Skynet folks seem to have put a lot of effort into the T-800 you'd think they'd iron out the kinks first. He's unstoppable until his hip goes and then he'll be unstoppable again once he's had his hip replacement but he's on a waiting list. What could James Cameron possible gain from this? Clearly he just hates everyone in the world....... that includes you.</span><br />
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<br />Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-86641772154501201912012-04-16T13:52:00.003-07:002012-05-12T04:18:26.375-07:00High/Low Expectations and my irrational dislike of Julia Roberts<div><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's strange how differing expectations can change the way we perceive good or bad films, regardless of how good or bad they actually are. We all bring our own prejudices, experience's and bias to every film we watch. The things we've been told we should like by people we respect or think talk bollocks, all go towards forming our opinion of every single film we watch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For example I hate to watch Julia Roberts in any film; is my judgement clouded
by my thoughts on Pretty Woman, her connection to Steven Soderberg films or is it
just that huge joker grin which creeps me out? Really though, why the hell is
grin so big, does she dislodge her jaw and eat rats whole, or a bloody deer
when she's back in her trailer? I can name her films and why I don't like them,
Erin Brockovich (won an Oscar and the academy rarely reward good films), the Oceans
films (it's like everyone has one eye glued shut with conjunctivitis they're
winking at the audience so much), Eat Pray Vomit (as one critic put it) etc
etc. Do I look for reasons to dislike her films or do I genuinely dislike most
of them (there are some exceptions Charlie Wilson's War for example).</span> <span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bhanks.encblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/042910-julia-roberts-mouth3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://bhanks.encblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/042910-julia-roberts-mouth3.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting ready to devour a child?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This brings me back to why this train of thought entered my brain. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Prometheus</span></a> will be bursting its way onto our screens in June, a prequel to the greatest sci-fi horror film of all time; Alien. The original quadrilogy finished with two distinctly lame films culminating in a hideously deformed, massive headed, walking on two legs, creepy but more weird than scary type alien. Now Ridley Scott is back on board, with a huge budget to make a prequel and explain away all those questions about where those pesky aliens came from. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first Alien was creepy, had shocks and one of my favourite scenes in any film ever. It made me realise that I can be utterly entranced with a film to the point at which I want to see every film I possible can to capture those same feelings again (I was very impressionable when I saw Alien). I also remember the sense of disappointment Alien 3 and Resurrection produced in me, do I really want to experience that again? Maybe I don't want to know how it all started maybe I'm okay with the idea that the aliens like killing shit and seem to have a vendetta against Sigourney Weaver and her desire to have family or any semblance of a normal life. That they are without reason, simply killing machines who like to creep around in vents picking off the crew one at a time. This isn't me prejudging the film but can any film live up to my expectations? Is there any way I'm not going to be disappointed?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However this works both ways. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I have such low expectations that no film could be as poor as I'm expecting. A good example of this is the recent </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0413168/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">huge action</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> film Reel Steel. On paper it looks like an awful film; fighting robots, absent father with a desperate need for money and a rich auntie. Against all my expectations I enjoyed this film but is that because I expected nothing or was it a decent film? Is it any better than films I've hated because I expected something from them (A Very Long Engagement, Kill Bill, The Darjeeling Ltd etc). Would I really put Reel Steel above these films? Of course not. Is there any way to stop myself building films up? Probably not..............</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">............... but I still can't wait for Prometheus!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which film have you most looked forward to that's let you down?</span></div>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-81179287980480631992012-04-14T13:55:00.001-07:002012-05-14T11:37:58.792-07:00We all love Pixar<h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all love Pixar films. Anyone who says they don't is a liar, an idiot or they have no soul. Just an empty, black, vacuous hole where there heart should be or............. they've sold their soul to the devil in exchange for riches and power (I'm thinking Michael Bay). But like children, we always love one more than the others. Even if we say we don't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So which Pixar film to you love above the others? This is my list from 1 to 5 none of this working our way backwards to built up tension.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Wall - E</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could watch Wall-E a million times and every time it would make me smile from ear to ear. I may be grumpy most of the time but, like Singing in the Rain, no film makes me smile as much as this one does. Wall-E displays more character and heart in a few bleeps, than pretty much ever character in Shrek combined.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The opening half an hour is a beautiful homage to the silent films of yesteryear, with bits of slapstick side by side with pathos, as Wall-E shows us he doesn't want to be alone. All this and there are only about three bits of dialogue in the first 30 minutes. Despite being a robot, Wall-E has an every man appeal to him. Man,woman or defective robot they all love him and would follow him to the end of the universe. My favourite scene is the dance sequence below. Despite involving a completely inappropriate use of a fire extinguisher, I am fire warden for my department, I can't help but be bowled over by this scene every time I see it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I went to the cinema to see this film, a little girl was bawling her eyes out when Wall-E gets squashed at the end. She was utterly inconsolable to the idea that Wall-E may not survive to the credits. It's lucky for me she was, as it meant no one heard me sobbing like I'd been kicked in the nuts during the same scene!! With nods to Silent Running and even 2001, it's a bona fide classic. Computer define Pixar perfection........ Wall-E</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Possibly the most perfect of all cinematic trilogies, there is virtually no misstep in any of these films. Since I gave my nephew Toy Story 3 on DVD he's practically had it on a continuous loop, much to the annoyance of his parents, but hey at least it's better than Pepper Pig!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">It would be perfectly acceptable to put all three films as numbers 2-4, but that would make my life much too easy. Which child hasn't imagined that their toys come to life when they turn their back, but Woody and co are more than just toys. They're fully rounded characters, who make up the sort of family we all wish we were a part of. I remember how impressive it was to see Toy Story, being bowled over by the idea that this was all computer animated. That's passed now, even rubbish animated films look impressive, but few come close to emulating Toy Story's characters or storyline. And as above had me damn near to tears during the furnace scene below! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We'll all miss Woody and Buzz cause we've grown up with them, but at least they ended up in good home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finding Nemo says more about family values than any other film that you'd care to mention. The story of a clown fish wanting to protect his only son from the outside world, is a story most people can relate to, even if it does take place a thousand leagues under the sea. More than that, it shows that a family doesn't have to be related by blood, but a common idea to look out for each other. This is shown perfectly by Dory becoming an amnesiac surrogate mother to Nemo. As with nearly ever Pixar film there is a bit that brings a lump to my throat, in this one it's when Marlin thinks Nemo is dead. Seems Pixar's main modus operandi is to make grown men cry! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favourite scenes are whenever the seagulls appear to a cacophony of MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE. I still do this every time I see seagulls at Whitby, much to my wife's annoyance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many children's films start with the main characters wife having a miscarriage, then dieing in the space of a few minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are few scenes in animated or live action films that are more beautifully crafted than this. No other studio would make a film out of what seems such an unsellable plot. Old man who's wife dies, in a psychotic moment attaches balloons to his house and kidnaps a small boy! As usual they nail it, making us care about the grumpy old man, whilst simultaneously perfectly capturing what dogs would say if they could talk...........SQUIRREL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Monsters Inc</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who hasn't been afraid of what might be under their bed, or in their closet? Why else do creep into our parents beds in the middle of the night, because we're afraid. Well don't worry they're not doing it to scare us, they just need electricity. Plus, if their all as huggable as Mike then there's nothing to be afraid of. Even though it's more than 10 years old, the animation looks a bit dated, the characters are still just as memorable. Who wouldn't be won over by the utterly adorable Boo, or want the evil Randall get his comeuppance. So all together now "Put that thing back were it came from oh so help me.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And that's that. It's not to say that the other films aren't good (excluding cars which we all know is shit) just everyone has their favourites and these are mine..... so far</span>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112128161596156210.post-6148497655176248152012-04-13T07:59:00.002-07:002012-05-14T11:14:52.446-07:00Murderous Children, Battleships and the British Education System<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Well this is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">blog</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> number 2 and I still have something to say, which is surprising as I usually consider myself the strong silent </span><strike style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">handsome</strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> type! Actually it's more a case of better to be thought a fool than removing all doubt as the old saying goes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The blog title may give the impression that I'm going to talk about battleship, but its slightly misleading. I have no intention of paying to see battleship at the cinema, or giving Hasbro the misguided idea that what they've produced is anything but an abomination against humanity. Some people may say that this is unfair, maybe despite the soulless money making excuse of an idea it may confound your expectations. It maybe a a barn storming, navy based action film with a brilliant story line and stunning special effects. To these people I say stop and think about what you've just said. Remember that your talking about a film based on battleships, really BATTLESHIPS. This means either playing devils advocate, in which case I say piss off, or you've been lobotomised. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inception proved that a special effects film, an event film, a film everyone talked about and discussed and dissected and then watched again on DVD can be intelligent, despite having a budget that runs into the hundred millions. People don't need to be treated like idiots; if given a complicated story line they will follow it, as long as it's worth following. Don't pass off your deficiencies as a film maker on the stupidity of the audience. The cinema going public are used to awesome special effects, but films like these think we just want to see them in slow motion. For instance look at Transformers 2. I still believe that that film would only be 90mins long if they ran all the slow mo bits at normal speed. More than all this the main reason I don't want to see this film is I had the misfortune of catching the IMAX trailer before Mi:4. This trailer was introduced by the director Peter Berg himself. I can honestly say I never want to meet him or see any film he makes if that's what he calls an introduction!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Give me the money</span></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'll never let you go" shortly before she lets him go!</span> possibly she's just embarrassed she's slept with him? </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I get onto reviewing a film that I've </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">actually seen, let cover Titanic 3D or more money for old rope. Genuinely I don't feel 3D immerses you more in a film in the slightest. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toy Story 3 and Up would've been awesome in 2D or </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">black</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and white for that matter. Avatar however would still be shit in 2D, 1D or any other dimension you can think of! To put what I can only describe as an </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">extremely</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> average film into 3D seems like a cash in by any stretch of the imagination. The only thing 3D seems to do well is small floaty things and lets be honest, there's only so many of them you can have in a film. It's fair to say that I won't be going to see this at the cinema however one of my work colleagues did. Yes, he did seem to like it despite me pointing out to him why he's wrong. What amazed me more, was that someone behind him in the cinema genuinely seemed surprised that the ship sank! Throughout the film she made startled remarks about the iceberg, the ship splitting and the actually sinking. This goes some way to disproving my above point about cinema goers not being as stupid as Peter Berg/Hasbro think we are. Maybe this cinema goer would enjoy battleship. Is this really the state of the British education system, in the centenary year of the titanic setting sail someone really doesn't know what happened? Does she watch Saving Private Ryan and ask who won the war? Maybe she'd be amazed to know that people have been to the moon? Then again Mel Gibson doesn't seem to know his history, and that's never stopped him making "historical epics."</span><br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/HungerGamesPoster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="File:HungerGamesPoster.jpg" border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/HungerGamesPoster.jpg" width="208" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/" target="_blank">The Hunger Games</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only new release I've seen this week has been the brilliant Hunger Games. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Set in the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fictional country of Panem in a post apocalyptic future. The hunger games take place every year to ensure the residents of the 12 districts of Panem don't get any ideas about rising up again, as they did </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pre apocalypse. In each district one boy and on girl aged 12-18 are randomly chosen to take part in a fight to the death. The fantastic Jennifer </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lawrence</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Winters Bone)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> plays Katniss, master archer, head of her family and in her last year of possible selection for the hunger games. For her sister Primrose this is her first year in the pot, and unfortunately her number is up. Katniss however volunteers to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">take</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> her place and so sets in motion events that will change her life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've never read the books and so had no preconceived ideas of how things should go. The pre publicity implying this could be the new twilight is unfair in the extreme. This film is more mature and grown up, with a genuinely strong female lead. Not a mopey Bella, staring into the distance looking confused, whilst the boys duke it out. The film does take some time to get going, but there is a genuine sense of apprehension as it builds towards the start of the games. The uncomfortable idea of children butchering each other in the name of entertainment is dealt with well. It would've been very easy for the reality TV aspects of the show to be grating, it's credit to Stanley Tucci that these bits fit in perfectly with the film. There is a sense of satire and a nod towards our own obsession with reality TV, and the cult of celebrity that arises from these shows. The importance of sponsors and getting the public to like you, is a essential as knocking the shit out of the nearest teenager. The only misstep for me is the bizarre, Jean Paul Gautier esque clothing of the Capitol city residents which don't sit quite right. I understand the need for them to look different from to the residents of the 12 districts, it just seems a step to far and at times a distraction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a 12A, the violence has been toned down and the blood clearly removed from some scenes (the cornucopia scene for one). I personally don't have a problem with this, if this is the route the studio wanted to go down to secure a bigger market so be it. That's the world we live in. In some ways perhaps it would be best to show the true effects of violence, uncensored to show that there is no "good" or "bad" violence, just violence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ambiguity of Katniss' feelings towards Peeta is played in a way that we never figure out if she genuinely cares for him, or is simply trying to make herself seem popular. This puts her in charge of the pairs interactions. It is down to the way Lawrence portrays Katniss that we never lose our affection for her character, even though we think she maybe using Peeta.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall I'd recommend the Hunger Games, and I'll be looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well this is it. It's been a while since I've put my opinions down in writing for any one to read. Let me get this clear my spelling is atrocious and I'm not hugely interested in how many people agree or disagree with me..... In all probability most people will be indifferent!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The angry man thing, well my wife has a theory that I get slightly too angry about films and stuff I really can't control. I guess maybe one of these days, I'll get so angry that the time space continum may fracture allowing me to change all the things that annoy me. Until that happens, I'll have to air my grievances in blog format or "graffiti with punctuation." Which is from a film that I didn't hugely enjoy, but there will be more of that below(in case you don't know it's Contagion which the picture below sort of gives away.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The films I'll talk about will not necessarily be new releases (though some will). As I have a full time job, and my boss insists I attend work if I'm to be payed, I don't quite have the time to watch every new film. The joys of the 21st century mean, my lovefilm account keeps me up to date with almost every film I could ever want to see. So I do get round to watching most films eventually!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Contagion</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So first film I've seen this week? As mentioned above <b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598778/">Contagion</a>,</b> supposedly one of the last films Steven Soderbergh will make. Contagion is about the spread of a deadly airborne disease, and the immediate aftermath on the average Joe, the military, the CDC, bloggers, teenagers in love, adulterous wives, WHO (the medical people not the band all though they would be one of the risk groups for an airborne respiratory disease due to their advancing years), the Chinese, drug companies, monkey mortality in labs and well you get the idea EVERYONE. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having watched it I won't lie, if this is one of his last films I shan't miss him. I've never been a massive fan of his work; I quite like Out of Sight and Syriana but the Oceans films are just that little bit too smug for their own good, and don't get me started on Solaris. 'Oh I'm married to gorgeous George but cause I'm a bit of a dippy cow I'm gonna kill myse<em>lf'</em> which is basically the gist of Solaris. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I personally found Contagion to be a little to cold and distant. It's all presented pretty matter of fact and I don't deny that it all seems very plausible but if I'm honest, I cared more about the lab monkeys than any of the actual characters. For all it mattered to me, the whole of civilisation could have perished by the end and I wouldn't have cared one jot. Yes people overreact or don't react enough, yes drug companies are evil and bloggers talk shit (present company excluded my word is the gospel!) but give us someone to root for. Even a doughy Matt Damon couldn't save it and I always root for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWTzyU5MFgM&noredirect=1" target="_blank">Matt Damon</a>. On top of this when it finally ends they tell you what happens on day 1. Why do that? The only saving grace of the film is that this could happen and no one knows how ................. it could be you or him or her but in contagion, most likely from bat shit landing in a pig pen in a foreign country! This sort of stuff would never start in the US! I preferred the ambiguity of not knowing how it started. That's life, we can't explain everything even if we think we can, but apparently Steve can explain it. Basically I wouldn't recommend it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There ends my first blog, I hope anyone who actually reads it enjoys, maybe I'll do a few more</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Angry Man</span><br />
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<br /></div>Angry man film bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778440317089653823noreply@blogger.com0