vikingvampireparrot Reviews

March of the Penguins (2005)

Slightly Disappointing

[6/10 · 25 May 2007]

I am told I have a slightly odd obsession with penguins and so had been looking forward to seeing this for some time. It is good when a documentary manages to break into the mainstream and gets seen by large numbers of people.

Which is where March has its appeal. It is not a heavy handed documentary with lots of detail. Which may please some but I found slightly disappointing.

Morgan Freeman's narration is easy to listen to but I have to say is not the most captivating I've ever heard. And I felt that some parts were overly emotive and strayed too far from the boundaries of objectivity.

I was also dismayed at the 'dumbing down' of information, which I presume is to attract a younger audience. There is a great lack of any technical information, or much information at all that the relatively well informed adult would not already know or be able to find out in 5 minutes on the internet.

The epitome of this for me was the line that went something like 'the egg appeared' - come on, an egg does not 'appear'! However, visually the film is stunning and is worth watching for that alone.

I would say that this is worth a watch but not one to be added to the DVD collection as I can't imagine returning for a second viewing.

Crash (I) (2004)

Good Film, rather depressing and distinctly unsubtle!

[8/10 · 11 May 2007]

I had been looking forward to seeing Crash since before its Oscar win but my DVD rental people only decided to send it recently! It was worth the wait (although continued the trend of depressing films they keep sending...).

Crash tells the story of a group of people living in LA who are all either racist or the victims of racism and whose lives become intertwined in various way. My main quibble with how it dealt with the story was the incredibly bluntness of it all - to me it all seemed a bit over the top and impossible that so many people could be so racist - but I am in England not LA so things may well be very different there! This all made for some scenes which were incredibly uncomfortable to watch.

The plot is well structured with all the various story lines tying up together without being overly convoluted or spoon fed.

The acting on the whole was superb. Sandra Bullock and Matt Dillon deserve special mentions in my opinion for their portrayal of distinctly distasteful characters. One sore point for me was Brendan Fraser who irritated me slightly (although he does seem to do this in every film since I endured the horror that is Bedazzled).

Visually the film is quite impressive, depicting the nature of the subject matter well. The score is also supportive of the action on screen without being distracting.

This is a very good film that should be seen, but be prepared for some uncomfortable viewing.

American Dreamz (2006)

Poorly Done Satire

[5/10 · 11 May 2007]

Although I had been told by numerous people that this film was not worth bothering with the potential of the idea made me watch it anyway. Such a shame that I bothered, the idea of what it would be in my head was so much better.

Essentialy this is (meant to be) a satire about shows like Pop Idol and X-Factor. It shows the experience of 2 contenders on one of these reality TV shows and their journey to get as far in the competition as possible. Intertwined in this is an incredibly dumb president (wonder where they got that idea) and a terrorist attack.

Unfortunately it just doesn't work. American Dreamz cannot seem to make up its mind whether it is a satire or a straight comedy. It combines some clever satirical observations with obvious jokes and gags that look like they belong in the American Pie humour camp. Ultimately this means it succeeds as neither.

The performances can't really be blamed (Hugh Grant for one has his character nailed completely) it is the poor script that has to take responsibility.

It gets 5/10 purely because it did make me laugh in the odd place and there were some solid performances from the cast.

Good Bye Lenin! (2003)

Rather Dull

[3/10 · 23 April 2007]

Unfortunately I seem to be in the minority of people who really did not like this film. I watched it as it was lent to me by a friend who really likes it so I thought I would try it.

The plot is an interesting concept - a loving son tries to protect his mother from a possibly lethal shock by recreating East Berlin in their flat after the collapse of the wall. However, for me, it sits uneasily between comedy and drama - having neither enough humour for a comedy or feeling serious enough for a drama.

And despite the original plot idea not much seems to happen. There are several slightly inane subplots which seem to have no relevance to the rest of the story and do not aid it in the slightest.

Saying that, the acting is competent all round, if not outstanding and the conclusion is satisfying. But the pace is slow, the story unengaging and most of the characters not likable or charismatic in the slightest.

If you are fan of those movies where not much seems to happen then you will probably enjoy this - but I do not mean that I only like fast paced action movies by any means. Maybe I missed something as this seems to be a universally popular film!

The Matador (2005)

Not that entertaining

[6/10 · 19 April 2007]

I had really been looking forward to seeing the Matador as the synopsis sounded really entertaining. Unfortunately, it does not live up to its promise.

The Matador tells the story of Julian Noble (Brosnan), an ageing hit-man who is starting to become a little less 'hit' and a little more 'miss'. In a chance encounter he makes friends with Danny Wright (Kinnear), a small time business man. The film tells of this first meeting and the impact it has on both their lives and careers.

Unfortunately this interesting set up does not pay off. There are funny moments, granted, but the film often drags and is simply not as entertaining as it could have been. The acting cannot be blamed, this is fine all round, it is the lacklustre script which is at fault.

Painful to watch in places, an over-reliance on Brosnan to pull off lines that just don't work and a storyline which is just slightly too overblown and tries too hard to throw you off the scent of what is actually happening stop this from being a great film.

Maybe worth a watch but you get the feeling Brosnan is trying too hard to throw off his Bond persona.

Becoming Jane (2007)

Enjoyable Tale

[7/10 · 17 April 2007]

I knew very little about this film before I went to see it - I think the trailer was the sum total of what I had heard. Now, I know very little about Jane Austen or her life so am considering Becoming Jane simply as a film loosely based on/inspired by her life.

The film tells the story of a young woman, Jane, who refuses to marry purely for money and embarks on writing to support herself rather than relying on a husband.

The story is well told, with excellent performances all round (especially Anne Hathaway and the always brilliant James Cromwell). The pace is maybe a little slow at times and Jane herself can be rather annoying and contradictory but that simply shows the flaws of human nature rather than being a criticism of the film per se.

Visually the film was stunning. Brilliant scenery, excellent costumes. All used to great effect to enhance the film without ever becoming overpowering or distracting from the story.

Overall, this was an enjoyable film, if not up there with Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility in my opinion. Well worth a watch (unless you are going to be annoyed by every little inaccuracy) but probably not worth adding to the DVD collection.

The Constant Gardener (2005)

Depressing - but an excellent film

[8/10 · 5 April 2007]

I had been waiting to see The Constant Gardener for a long time - my DVD rental people managed to take about 8 months to send it! It is not the type of film I usually watch, I am not too keen on overly political films, but the reviews of it had been so good I thought it must be worth watching.

I was not wrong. The film tells the story of Justin Quayle, a diplomat working in Africa, who's wife (a human rights activist) is found murdered. The story follows Justin's quest to find out the true reason for his wife's death. During this time he finds out a lot more about himself, his wife and their relationship than he ever knew before. This story is told around the topic of human rights abuses in Africa. Without this central theme it would be just another 'love' story that would have passed everyone by, it is this combination of the human and political stories that makes this a superb film.

However, it is very heavy going and I found it incredibly depressing - seeing the state of the world and how we treat others sharing it. But that does not stop it being an excellent piece of cinema. Indeed, any film that helps bring this issues into the spotlight should be congratulated.

The story is told through Justin's eyes and relies on flashbacks to fill in some gaps and reinforce previous comments without them quite becoming an annoyance.

The acting is superb all round, I was particularly pleased to see Bill Nighy and Pete Postlethwaite putting in an appearance. Rachel Weisz again shows why she is one of the best and most diverse actresses of the time. And Ralph Fiennes is outstanding as the lead.

All in all this film should be seen by all those with a serious interest in film or political issues. But, be warned, it is not an easy journey and is possibly not suited to those looked for a straight thriller/love story.

Lord of War (2005)

Very good - poignant yet not too depressing or heavy going

[8/10 · 4 April 2007]

I had been waiting to see Lord of War for some time with slightly mixed feelings on the matter. I think Nic Cage is an excellent actor and was interested in finding out more about the subject matter but had heard mixed reviews and was concerned it could be very heavy going with a topic like that.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. The film is told with a serious tone (as it deserves) but there are elements of black humour in there and it never gets bogged down in the politics or morality.

Lord of War tells the story of Yuri Orlov, a Ukrainian immigrant who eventually becomes a major player in the international arms trade. As well as dealing with his business and the moral issues faced it also shows the impact his occupation has on the rest of his life, most tellingly his brother.

The acting is excellent all round, there is not a performance that could be criticised. Cage plays his morally dubious character perfectly, managing to inspire sympathy without ever letting you forget that all his devils are his own creation.

The opening scene showing the 'life' of a bullet is an excellent opener and, stylistically, the highlight of the film. It sets the tone very well for what lies ahead.

This is a realistic film with a believable ending that has managed to avoid many of the clichés usually employed when dealing with immoral characters. I would recommend this to anyone who has the slightest interest in the topic or just wants to watch a well made, gripping film with an important central theme.

A Bittersweet Life (2005)

Enjoyable and Fast-Paced

[7/10 · 16 March 2007]

I first came across A Bittersweet Life browsing my DVD rental site. Although I am not familiar with the director or any of the actors the synopsis sounded interesting so I added it to my list. The story tells of Sun-Woo, a low level gangster working for Mr Kang. He is tasked with watching Mr Kang's young girlfriend while he is away as Kang is suspicious that she is unfaithful. What follows are the events unfolding from this task assigned to Sun-Woo.

There is a considerable amount of violence (as to be expected), which I found believable and not as exaggerated as it can be in some Asian films. But this does not lead to the lack of plot as in some others (Ong-bak for example), which makes this superior to many of its counterparts. The only weakness was the ending, which I found ambiguous and doesn't really conclude anything.

The acting is excellent all round and the movie flows at a nice rapid pace. I found it a little difficult to follow in places but I think this is due to having to concentrate on subtitles which always makes it a little more difficult to follow who is actually talking.

This film is well worth watching, although I am not convinced it will quite make it into my DVD collection. In my opinion it is far superior to Chan-Wook Park's trilogy (Sympathy and Lady I found frankly bland and Oldboy was ruined by the incredibly slow and strung out ending). Enjoyable and fun if not outstanding cinema.

The Illusionist (2006)

Interesting but not compelling

[6/10 · 15 March 2007]

I had been looking forward to seeing this film as I am an Ed Norton fan and thought the story sounded very intriguing. The Illusionist tells the story of a magician whose powers verge on the supernatural and his love for a woman destined to marry the cruel and corrupt Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). He tries to use his 'magic' to save her from this fate.

The plot itself is fairly simple, most of which is at least hinted at in the trailer. One disappointing part was the transparency of certain 'plot twists' which were so glaringly obvious I was convinced they couldn't happen, but they did. A lot of criticism has been levelled at the film for the ambiguity of whether Eisenheim was purely an illusionist or actually performed magic. I think this is slightly unfair as explaining the tricks performed would take away some of the films mystery, but ultimately I think the film concludes he was the former.

Norton is on form as always and the acting is good all round. There are no standout performances but no let downs either.

The pace of the film is quite slow, gradually introducing you to Eisenheim's character before commencing with the story being told. Visually the film is very good, the way it is shot suits the setting very well.

I found the ending a little hard to swallow - bit too happy ever after for my liking, think it would have been much more suitable to have a dark ending.

Overall this is a fairly entertaining film which is let down by the obvious plot twists, twee ending and slightly slow pace. Worth watching, especially for Ed Norton fans but not a standout piece of his work.

Casino Royale (2006)

Good for Bond

[5/10 · 22 February 2007]

I decided to go and watch this film even though I generally hate Bond as all my friends told me I would enjoy it. Hmmm, it was OK. As a Bond film it was very good, certainly the best I've seen but as simply a film it was just OK.

Casino Royale tells of Bond's first assignment, tracking down villain Le Chiffre via a high stakes poker game. Craig displays a very rebellious and disruptive Bond who clashes with his superiors considerably. Of course there is also the ever-present love interest along the way (an accountant this time, yay for us!).

Daniel Craig was adequate, not being a Bond fan I don't have much of an opinion on whether he is 'right' to play Bond but he seemed at lot less cheesy than the others I have seen. The highlight of the film was Eva Green, who is excellent in everything she is in - those eyes are amazing! And of course Judi Dench was as engaging as always! I found the music very overpowering, it was very 'Bond' and I feel it detracts from the story slightly, too overblown.

The chase scene at the start is probably the most impressive part of the film, even if it does get slightly ridiculous in places. One thing it suffers from is feeling the need to treat the viewer like an idiot, spelling things out too much (like how much money's in the pot) rather than encouraging people to think about it for themselves (lazy people's cinema!).

If you like Bond and are open-minded you should definitely go and see this. If you are a die hard Bond fan who loves the cheesiness you may want to give it a miss. For the non-Bond fans it is a perfectly watchable film but nothing amazing - I didn't get bored but I doubt I'll watch it again.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)

Disappointing from a stellar cast.

[5/10 · 21 February 2007]

I didn't pick this film to watch but when I read the synopsis and cast list I was quite interested in it and thought it would be a good watch.

However, I did not enjoy this film at all. It tries to tread the line between drama and comedy and this just did not work for me at all. It does not fall into either camp and fails on both counts.

At no point during the film did I care about any of the characters. All were deeply flawed yes, but this does not usually stop me caring about them in films. They all seemed very cold and detached, as if they did not care what was going on either.

I have not read the book and do not know much about Chuck Barris so this is simply a review of the film itself and not the actual events behind it.

If you have a specific interest in Barris then it is probably worth watching but otherwise I would not recommend this for purely entertainment value.

Hannibal Rising (2007)

Not quite a worthy prequel but still entertaining

[7/10 · 20 February 2007]

The speed with which both the novel and film for the Lecter prequel have been rolled off did concern me somewhat when approaching Hannibal Rising. This film does not match the intelligence of Silence and Dragon or the 'horror' in Hannibal. However, that does not make it a bad film.

Hannibal Rising tells of Lecter's early life - the destruction of his family, his adolescence and his revenge. The story itself is quite simple, there are no really shocks or surprises for the viewer, everyone knows what to expect when they enter the cinema and that's what they get. It is all in how the story is told rather than the story itself.

And I think it is told quite well. The flashbacks I felt were overdone somewhat but other than that the style and pace of the story were well suited to the topic - the pace being quite slow but that is how Lecter likes to play things so it seems appropriate.

Gaspard Ulliel is never going to encapsulate Lecter the way Anthony Hopkins does but he does a good attempt as portraying how he would have been when so much younger and not quite as refined or controlled. Criticisms have been levelled at the film saying it is like a slasher film rather than the reserved and clever Hannibal we are used to but surely you would assume such things come with age. His eyes and smile in particular are very sinister and show the pleasure that he is experiencing as he exacts his revenge. Gaspard also does a passable imitation of how Anthony made Hannibal sound - especially when using words he considers vulgar.

Li Gong's portrayal of Lady Murasaki was very enjoyable, the struggle she feels trying to reconcile her love for Lecter with her disgust at his deeds is well displayed but yet controlled.

It was also good (and a surprise) to see Kevin McKidd appearing in this film, he is an excellent actor and I am constantly surprised he does not get more starring roles.

The main criticism of the film is that it does feel very much like filling in the missing pieces - it does not tell us much we did not already know about Lecter. And the story itself is quite slight and straightforward which may leave some disappointed.

Hannibal Rising is well worth watching to complete the Lecter story - but lets hope they stop here, I don't think there is room for any more Hannibal films (especially with the discrepancy between the endings in Hannibal the book and Hannibal the film).

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Decent attempt but must try harder

[6/10 · 7 February 2007]

I came to The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe with some trepidation as I adore the BBC series that was done some years ago and did not think it could easily be topped by simply introducing some CGI. I was right.

However, in it's defence, it was better than I was led to believe it would be by other peoples responses to it. I think that if I had come to it fresh or just from reading the book I would have got on with it a bit better.

One of the main problems I had with the film was the children themselves. Now I always found Peter and Susan vaguely annoying in the book/TV series for being too 'goody-goody' so I wasn't surprised at my dislike for them. But Edmund had always been my favourite character by far and I found him detestable in this. And not simply in the way you are supposed as he is a traitor etc because, as I said, I liked his character in the book. Lucy I found a little too wide-eyed and vacant but she grew on me throughout the film. I think I just found her a little too young for the role, it made it a little unbelievable.

Now to the other characters. Good job with the beavers, they were spot on. Mr Tumnus seems to have been transformed from a likable if initially misguided character into a creepy slightly paedophilic figure which disturbed me somewhat. The wolves I found too 'cute', nowhere near as scary as in the TV series (yes, OK, they were more realistic (especially since some real!) but not terrifying like they should be). Dwarfs, ghouls, fawns etc all OK, didn't stand out as particularly good or bad.

Tilda Swinton spot on as the white witch. Could not have thought of anyone better to cast in this role. She always has a menacing, slightly psychotic air which is perfect. Not convinced on Liam Neeson as Aslan, I thought a deeper, more authoritative voice would have been better but I got used to it.

Now I don't know how long the TV series was but this film felt far too condensed – it's a long time since I read the book but I got the feeling there was a lot missing, I just can't quite place what.

I also disliked the battle scenes, they seem to have fallen into the CGI trap of 'lets show what we can do and how impressive it can be' rather than showing specific parts of the battle with key characters in detail. There was a little bit of close-up but nowhere near enough to show the true intensity of a battle.

One thing I did like is that I found that they kept the whole Christian thing quite low key (I know others didn't think this from the posts on the message boards but I did). I never spotted this in the books as a child and when I learnt it as an adult it disappointed me greatly as I am not Christian and do not agree with Christianity. It ruined the books for me to a degree when I thought back over them and I thought they did a good job stopping it from taking over the film.

Here's hoping they manage to improve on what they've done so far and make Prince Caspian better – hopefully the children will have grown into their roles more improving that side and I'm praying (excuse the irony!) that they avoid the 'just throw CGI at them' approach for the battles.

Overall, well worth watching if you haven't seen the TV series, otherwise you may want to avoid if that lies close to your heart!

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Didn't think it was possible to top Shaun of the Dead, but they've done it!

[10/10 · 6 February 2007]

Hot Fuzz marks the long awaited return of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's partnership to the big screen. Shaun of the Dead left them with a very hard act to follow but Hot Fuzz easily achieves expectations and possibly even exceeds its predecessor. And the team stay close to their roots with plenty of in jokes and sly nods to other films to keep their core fan base happy. And of course there is the inevitable who's who of British comedy showing up in various roles throughout the film, most memorably Bill Bailey. Although I have to say I was sad to see that Dylan Moran and Jessica Stevenson were absent.

The film tells the story of Nicholas Angel, an overachieving supercop from London who is making the rest of his department look bad through his diligent dedication to the job. Cue him being shipped off to a quiet Gloucestershire village, Sandford. Angel does not fit in with the local constabulary, who prefer to eat cake and drink excessively rather than do any police work. When lots of 'accidents' start happening around the village they are dismissive of Angel's claims that there is more to them than meets the eye and leave him to investigate and piece together the details on his own.

The story works well, slowly piecing together what's going on and there are various twists and turns along the way, if nothing too extravagant. The action set-pieces also work well, carefully treading that thin line between comic and just plain ridiculous. There are one-liners aplenty, as to be expected, and this will be another endlessly quoted film I'm sure (not that I can remember any at this point in time, I'm useless like that!). There is also an inspired take on THAT fence jumping scene from Shaun of the Dead.

Some brilliant characters are introduced in Hot Fuzz. Olivia Colman's character PC Doris has to be one of the highlights, every time she speaks it raises a laugh. It is also good to see Simon Pegg playing a different character from his usual geeky, lovable layabout. Nick Frost again proves his worth as PC Danny, who is more concerned with cop movies than actual police work. Other classics are the proper Gloucestershire copper who needs translating into English, the sly Andy's detectives and a recurring swan…………..

All-in-all hats off to Simon, Edgar and team for managing to keep the standard up with their second film, especially with it not being as obvious a target for them as the zombie movie. I wasn't sure how it was going to work them tackling this genre but they have done an excellent job. Let's hope they continue their magic with other themes, maybe a revenge movie? Or a Western?

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Cracking Historical Adventure

[10/10 · 31 August 2006]

I can't believe this film has such a low rating! OK, so it is rather Americanised but if you look past some of the twee stuff it is a great adventure romp.

The cast are generally good - OK so the characters are at times slight caricatures of themselves but it all works together without becoming ridiculous. Christian Slater as Will Scarlett has to be the highlight of the cast for me and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio makes a great Maid Marion.

The director's cut is a particular treat with the extra scenes of the Sheriff and Mortiana adding to the darker side of the film and explaining some other parts of the film.

This is a great fun, family film that should go down as a classic as it is great fun. Historical accuracy is not the be all and end all and this film does not take itself seriously enough for it to matter.

Plunkett & Macleane (1999)

Excellent Historical Action Adventure

[10/10 · 31 August 2006]

Plunkett & Macleane falls into my favourite genre of film (historical action adventure with comedy) which is probably why I rate it so highly.

The action centres around a highwayman (Plunkett) and a layabout 'gentleman' who gets entangled with him and his schemes (Macleane). This leads to all sorts of escapades and adventures which are all tinged with comedy. There is also, of course, a love interest.

The rest of the cast is made up of a number of vibrant, larger than life characters who add to the atmosphere of the film and show the excesses of the wealthy at this time.

This is an enjoyable film with a fairly simple but worthwhile plot that provides plenty of entertainment.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Brilliant - want no. 3 NOW

[10/10 · 31 August 2006]

Dead Man's Chest is a great film. Now, admittedly, it is not up to Curse of the Black Pearl standard but it is still a 10/10 film in its own right. Maybe if we were talking out of 100 Curse's edge could be shown in the rating.

I think the main place that DMC falls down is that it is TOO funny. CoBP was very dark - Sparrow had been written as a straight character and then was played comically. In contrast, Sparrow has been written as a comedic role in DMC and this makes him a bit OTT on the funny stakes and it does feel a tiny bit forced at times. But essentially this is more of the same adventure and fantasy.

However, this is still an excellent film with brilliant performances all round - the development of Will and Norrington stand out as the main growth/change in character.

The ending is frustrating - but only because you want to see what happens in part 3. Here's hoping it carries on in the same fashion and keeps the high standard.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

Entertaining, complex action film

[10/10 · 31 August 2006]

I admit, when I first saw the trailer for this film it was Mr Depp that caught my eye. But, after watching the film, I was intrigued by most of the actors in it and have since looked up much of their back catalogues (Mr Bandera, Mr Rourke, Ms Hayek, Mr Trejo, Mr Dafoe, Ms Mendes).

I thought the acting was good all round with all of the characters being completely believable. The fact that it has a complex plot (albeit with some small holes) was a bonus to me as I like to watch an action film you have to actually think about and pay attention to.

The music for Once Upon a Time in Mexico was also very good, I must get around to buying that soundtrack.... It's a traditional, Mexican sounding score that fits well with the feel of the film.

There are good laughs scattered throughout the film (enough to enhance it, not so many as to turn it into a farce) and all-in-all it is a very enjoyable action adventure with a good plot and performances.

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)

Does What It Says on the Tin

[7/10 · 31 August 2006]

My Super Ex-Girlfriend was a thoroughly enjoyable, easy watching summer comedy. I was worried that it was gonna be a case of all the good bits in the trailer but there were laughs throughout the film.

It's not quite up there in the top league of recent comedies (which for me would be Wedding Crashers and Dodgeball) but this does not stop it being a good film. There were even some plot twists that I wasn't expecting.

The acting is good from all concerned, with Uma Thurman doing a very good turn as the psychotic girlfriend concerned. Eddie Izzard also surprises by not being too OTT. Anna Faris is generally good if possibly sometimes over relying on Scary Movie style facial expressions (you know the ones, where you worry her eyes may pop out).

Overall good fun, well worth watching, better than the summers other 'ex' film, The Break-Up (sorry Vince).

The Libertine (2004)

Excellent in all respects

[10/10 · 30 August 2006]

This film completely captivated me from beginning to end. I came out of the cinema wanting to go straight back in and see it again. I had been waiting 18months for this film and had even gone to our rubbish cinema as the main one was not showing it.

The opening monologue is fascinating and really makes you wonder what terrible deeds lie ahead - but you know he's lying - you will like him, because Depp can make any character likable! I think the use of natural lighting added to the films appeal, it helped to show how dark and dirty life was at those times.

The cast are all outstanding (even Johnny Vegas, who I had my doubts about!) and they make this a wonderful ensemble piece.

The ending was incredibly moving and really made you feel for this man who lived life to excess and inevitably paid the price.

Empire of the Wolves (2005)

Good film with interesting twists and developments

[7/10 · 30 August 2006]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I was slightly worried at first that subtitles were a bit ambitious for hungover Sunday viewing but it was fairly easy to keep up.

The two plot lines seem completely separate at first and they are nicely tied together later in the film. This works very well at giving two sides of an event without resorting to flashbacks or spoon-feeding the viewer.

You do have to think and pay attention to this film but it is not overly cryptic - I think I understood everything I needed to at the end. Some minor details might be a little blurry but these are not integral to the plot.

Some racial stereotypes aside this is a very well thought out and captivating film.

King Arthur (2004)

At last, a King Arthur that might have lived!

[10/10 · 25 August 2006]

Just to clarify, at the start, I am not saying this is the true story of King Arthur. I think that is something no-one will ever know. But, at least this is a story that could (historical inaccuracies etc aside) have happened. There is no magic or wizardry to bring the story down to pure fantasy.

This is a brilliant historical film which gives a wonderfully intimate view of life and warfare in the dark ages. Not everyone is Christian and married to have children (shock horror)and not everyone believes in the cause they are fighting for. There are huge grey areas on morality which many films try to dismiss that are shown here.

The battle scenes are gritty and show individual characters fights rather than just one overblown CG experience to show 'what they can do nowadays'.

Yes, there are faults (like everyones perfect, pearly white teeth!) but these are present in every film, especially historical ones.

I had been looking forward to this film for a long time before its release and was worried I would be sorely disappointed but it was everything I had hoped it would be.

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

Brilliant Drama - if you have any interest in vampires you must watch this!

[10/10 · 25 August 2006]

Interview with the Vampire is the epitome of modern vampire films (modern included to exclude Dracula, Nosferatu etc which would create a controversial debate!).

Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles are the most important supernatural works of the last thirty years and must have inspired many of the new vampire/supernatural films that focus on character/action/drama rather than portraying them as fear objects in horrors.

This film is a drama, not a horror, and anyone expecting a horror with chases or human victims to feel sorry for will be sadly disappointed. Yes, there is blood and feeding but it is the vampires you feel for.

The three leads are incredible, Kirsten Dunst deserves special praise due to her age and anyone who says Tom Cruise can't act should see this film. Brad Pitt's Louis is just as whiney and annoying as he should be, but you understand this given the circumstances of his turning.

It thoroughly involves you in the vampire world and displays how lonely and isolating it can be (yes, I know it's not real but you get the point).

Here's hoping they film some more of Rice's novels (hopefully more in this vein than the slightly OTT Queen of the Damned) - I want to see Blood and Gold! (Memnoch would be brilliant but not sure if it could be pulled off)

Domino (2005)

Brilliant - Everything I Wanted!

[9/10 · 25 August 2006]

When I first saw the trailer for this film I couldn't wait to watch it. Now (controversial I know) I think Keira Knightley is brilliant, I have loved all of her films (well, except Bend it Like Beckham or the Hole, but come on, she was young!) and the idea of her playing a bounty hunter, a character with some real attitude, was exciting.

I must confess I do not know much about the real Domino Harvey or her life so am not basing any of my view on this (especially as the film starts of by saying 'this is based on a true story - sort of').

The shooting style of choppy cuts etc I think only adds to the urban feel of the film and is not out of place at all. The constant reminders of 'my name is....I am a....' are repetitive but I think serve to remind the viewer that this was her life, her job, not just a coincidental part of her life.

The only bit I felt was slightly out of place was the vagrant/group hallucination after they crash on mescaline - I thought it was slightly out of place in such a 'reality' based film (I thought the same of Val Kilmer in True Romance).

There are some brilliant one-liners (have you had a nose job?) and humour which lighten the film and stop it become too involved in just action.

The most positive thing I can say about this film is every time I watch it it leaves me wanting to be a bounty hunter! (which doesn't say much for my state of mind maybe but it's good for the film!)