26.point.1

Wall-e

// July 21st, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Reviews

I’m a tough guy, someone who isn’t often phased by the emotional stuff of life. In fact it’s fair to say that I believe that seriously important people in my life could drop dead and I wouldn’t really be that emotional about it - yes, I’d care, but not to the extent I’d shed a tear.

The only time that I ever get wet eyes is in movies, I’m a bit weird like that, can’t explain it, it’s just the way that it is.

And with Wall-e, I didn’t leave the cinema dry eyed… It’s amazing from start to end. The first 10 minute set up of who Wall-e is is absolutely stunning, I smiled and laughed and thought “yes” and then smiled and laughed some more for the whole ten minutes - while children around me laughed at the slapstick, I was flabbergasted at the attention to detail and the feeling of “human” that Pixar has chosen to pump into the tiny robot - when he rocks himself to sleep I had one of the biggest smiles in recent time on my face.

And then the rest of the film happens and the smile just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

Brilliant from start to finish - and yes, emotional too. I weeped for Wall-e.

Watch it kids, it’s better than the Lion King!

Doctor Who Season 4… Part 2

// May 11th, 2008 // No Comments » // Reviews

So, having now watched half of season 4 of Doctor Who I can honestly say that not only has Catherine Tate totally screwed with my preconception of her as an actress, but she’s also turned out to be the best companion of the new Doctors (both Eccleston and Tenant).

The episodes of season 4 have all been really good too (with the exception of last nights “The Doctors Daughter” which against all odds was shit) - only having a few crap scenes in 6 episodes is quite good going on previous series.

The inclusion of Rose again last week was cool too.

So, I’m happy with the Doctor - all is good. And now I shall offer my prediction for the coming weeks … or at least the arc of the season.

I’m thinking that “the thing on Donna’s Back” as mentioned in the episode about Versuvias is actually Rose, and I’m fairly sure that Rose is going to end up being the seasons “big-bad” eventually being the Doctors destroyer - leading to another regeneration and the year off that we’ve been promised next year.

That’s my bet anyway…

Speed Racer

// May 11th, 2008 // No Comments » // Reviews

A little while ago now I saw the trailer for this movie and vowed that I would never set foot in a cinema to see it. It looked like everything that I would hate about a movie - it’s about cars, and it looked to be aimed squarely at the 5-8 year old boy demographic of the market.

Fortunate for me then that I had nothing else to do yesterday and so found myself sat in my local multiplex with a box of popcorn, a coke and an expectation that I was about to be bored to death for 2 hours.

So…

Speed Racer is AMAZING! From the first to the last frame of the movie it exudes a kind of class that it’s extremely rare in my opinion to find on film.

The movie is NOT about motor racing, it’s about the dynamic of family and is both an emotional rollercoaster as well as being a visually stunning assault on the senses. Combined I can honestly say that it’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen - possibly even better than Juno.

Everyone in it is brilliant, even the youngest Racer brother Spridle who in the first few seconds I thought I would end up hating, is himself excellent - along with ChimpChimp his trusty monkey sidekick. Lost’s Matthew Fox is very good as RacerRex/Rex Racer, Goodman is awesome as Pops Racer and Susan Sarandon brings real emotion to her slightly underutilised role of Mom Racer.

There is nothing more to say except put all pre-conceptions and expectations about Speed Racer aside and go watch it - it is awesome beyond words.

11/10

Iron Man

// May 11th, 2008 // No Comments » // Reviews

It’s one of those things really - you wait years and years for a decent super hero movie and then 3 come along at the same time… Yes, Iron Man, followed hot on his heals by The Incredible Hulk, and then The Dark Knight. This summer is going to be brilliant for anyone who loves the comic book genre. But how did the first man out of the blocks fare?

Well, I’m amazingly happy to say that I absolutely loved Iron Man - and absolutely loved Robert Downey Jnr as Tony Stark. Back when Spiderman came out I was completely surprised how Toby Maguire owned the role - he WAS Peter Parker, this is repeated again with this role and I can’t in my head ever seeing anyone playing this role.

As for the movie itself, it’s an action fest from start to finish - never more than 5 minutes between an action set peice or major plot point reveal - and each one is glorious.

I can’t praise Iron Man enough as a super hero movie. It’s got everything. Just hope that Hulk and Batman (especially Batman) can live up to what Iron Man has given us so early in the year.

9/10

twitter questions…

// April 29th, 2008 // No Comments » // Reviews

I can’t see any reason why people such as “Insurance_Jobs”, “alcoholabuse”, “prostatecancers” and “christianwebsit” are following me on twitter. I presume it’s all some long winded attempt at being able to spam me in some way… but I have to say I’m not sure how…

All very confusing.

In Bruges

// April 20th, 2008 // No Comments » // Reviews

Quite frankly the most politically incorrect and absolutely brilliant adult comedy of the last 12 months. All three leading men - Fienes, Gleeson and Farrel - are absolutely awesome, especially the latter who having spent the last few years doing hollywood crap makes his character completely believable and delivers him with comic genius, his dulcet Irish tones saying the words “midget”, “retarded” and over and over again “fuck” coudl easily have made me cry with laughter. Brilliant. 9/10

Doctor Who Season 4…

// April 5th, 2008 // No Comments » // Reviews

Well, season 4 in it’s new carnation anyway…

So, Catherine Tate returns as Donna and it’s 50 minutes of shit. Utter bollocks. Yes, there is a vaguely funny bit in the middle when the Doctor is reunited with Donna - but beyond that, utter crap. Nothing makes it stand out in any other way.

That is to say until 3 minutes before the end when a huge surprise is dropped… ROSE TYLER! There! On our screens… and then she disapears like a ghost… will she be this seasons badwolf I wonder…

2/10

Step Up 2 The Streets

// March 22nd, 2008 // No Comments » // Reviews

This movie is all about 2 things - if you discount the navel. If you include “the navel” then it’s about 3 things - Noise, Movement and the Navel.

Which isn’t to say that the movie is bad, in fact I actually really liked it - especially the navel. The navel of Briana Evigan.

So, the movie could really have absolutely no story whatsoever as the one it does have is so paper thin that tissue paper is slightly weightier. But the music, the dancing, and “the navel” all serve to make this movie something quite emotionally brilliant.

Loved it. Well, more than I thought I would anyway.

8/10

Jimmy Eat World

// February 26th, 2008 // No Comments » // Reviews

At the Leeds University Refectory - 22nd February 2008.

Jimmy Eat World are one of my all time favourite bands. Can’t say plainer than that, since their rerelease “Jimmy Eat World” album back at the start of the decade they have no put a foot wrong - “Futures” was an amazing collection of tracks and “Chase the Light” again delivered anthems that I relate to on a day to day level. So, getting to see these guys for the second time in a year was an amazing opertunity.

So, that they came to Leeds and they managed to almost… ALMOST… make the Leeds Refectory sound half decent is indeed much real praise for them, as it is globally recognised that the Leeds Refectory is the worst music venue in the world. There are huts in deepest Africa that are both cooler, and have better acoustics than the shithole that is the Leeds Uni Refectory. And did I mention the big stupid pillars that obscure the views of anyone on the stage?

But JEW were brilliant, they hit a few duff notes if I’m honest, and played a few too many tracks that weren’t from “Chase the Light” - it was the “Chase the Light tour” after all… But apart from these small things, they played a blinding set! The crown was mostly rocking along (with the exception of Ryan) and even James had a godo time. Great night. Shit Venue.

Juno

// February 8th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Reviews

As you can probably tell by a cursory glance over this page I’m not someone who is prone to thinking things are “okay”… Or at least when I do, I’m not really in the habit of writing about them. This is because I’m all about the passion - and “okay” isn’t really passion worthy. So, you probably expect grand sweeping statements of love or loathing… However, the following statements only go a small way to describe how I feel about Juno, as to put into words the pure brilliance of this movie is impossible.

Juno is the best film of the last 10 years.

Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme.

Juno is the best film of the last 5 years.

Sounds a little better.

Actually, to be honest I’m not sure what the timescale is, but Juno is the best film that I’ve seen in living memory - it’s like a combination of every great movie I’ve seen in recent times, and is completely reminiscent of none of them.

As a side note, I’m completely in love with Ellen Page - it’s a horrid fact and true. If only she existed in a body 10 years older and had really low standards then I might have found the most perfect woman in the world…

But this isn’t about one woman, it’s about a movie which manages to hit every note pitch perfectly - it’s funny, it’s heartwarming, it’s surprising, it’s glorious. Not once from start to finish does it (or ANY of the fantastic cast) put a foot wrong as it tells the kooky love story of the crazy Juno, her family, friends and the life inside her.

If this were Desert Island Discs and I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life, it would be this one. This movie is absolutely perfect in every way possible - including the soundtrack, which is amazing too.

10/10 (11 if it was possible)