November 2005 Archives

In Her Shoes' ..
Runtime: 130m 19s - UK Rated: 12A
Tagline: Friends. Rivals. Sisters.

Plot Outline
Maggie (Cameron Diaz), the consummate party girl, clashes with her head-on-straight sister, Rose (Toni Collette). After much agony & painful encounters, the journey that brings them together comes in the form of a grandmother that they thought was dead.

Overall Impressions:
A fresh approach to an otherwise familiar formulaic chick flick. Quite heart-warming. What stood out as a massive plus to me is how it portrayed that the smallest comments, moments, actions in our lives can make us content & happy. In addition the interpretation of the same moments from different perspectives can be so similar yet so apart. Scriptwise it didn't blend the stories of the two sisters as well as it could have done & the latter portions of the film became lethargic, but certainly some interesting ideas floated around it all.

Alice in Wonderland turns 22!! Looking forward to the night out!
A Light In Some Ominous Night ... Surely'

last edit 30/11: --pictures added-->

No none of that bathroom polyfiller crap ... its just been a while since my last rant so i'll fill in some gaps ... for the last month or so'. Kinda like one of those flashbacks in a film but probably not as exciting. m0stly. Nyeh, I've had second thoughts. Forget the rant. I can do what I want. My Blog!!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' ..
Runtime: 156m 54s - UK Rated: 12A
Tagline: Dark And Difficult Times Lie Ahead.

Plot Outline
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire takes us deeper into the characters' minds and the darkness of the Wizarding World. At the Quidditch World Cup, Voldemort's followers gather and wreak havoc. Then, at Hogwarts, a legendary event takes place. The Triwizard Tournament! The Goblet of Fire judges who gets in and who doesn't. On the fateful night, three champions are selected. But then the Goblet spits out one other. Harry's. These two major events point to the return of Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore and the other teachers sense it, but it is inevitable.

Overall Impressions:
Well I was certainly in the right mood to watch this having just seen the other 3 & having no real expectations I did feel this one progressed as expected into the grandness, the bigger picture. A special mention to the Quidditch World Cup executed with total finesse. In my opinion however it wasn't perfect. I'm told that the source material is pretty much the same but it felt as though things didn't tie up neatly the way the others did. Without adding any spoilers I will mention the last half hour seemes too eventful, perhaps they were trying to cut the duration of the film, but it felt crammed. Fans of the book may disagree with me but as a film it seemed just a tad imbalanced. Impressive none-the-less.

I had a weekend where I watched the 3 Harry Potter films (first two Saturday, followed by 3rd on Sunday) - The plan was to then go watch the 16:10 showing of HP4 at the local Ambassadors cinema - Fate prevailed as I discovered that the tickets for this showing were fully sold out .. Alas, hope was retrieved in the form of tickets for the 20:30 showing & so I had some time to spare, with no better reason than this I ordered the Super Saver deal from Pizza Hut & wacked on Mission Impossible. What an under-rated film. Still lives up to thrill ....& then upon investigation I've found that the third instalment of the M:I franchise is progressing well & that the release is slated for Summer 2006. As the wise 'Cartman' would say: Sweeeeeeeeet

Broken Flowers' ..
Runtime: 105m 37s - UK Rated: 15
Tagline: Sometimes life brings some strange surprises.

Plot Outline
In the new film from acclaimed writer/director Jim Jarmusch, which won the Grand Prix at this year's Cannes International Film Festival, Bill Murray stars as Don Johnston (with a 'T'). The resolutely single Don has just been dumped by his latest lover, Sherry (Julie Delpy). Don yet again resigns himself to being alone and left to his own devices. Instead, he is compelled to reflect on his past when he receives by mail a mysterious pink letter. It is from an anonymous former lover and informs him that he has a 19-year-old son who may now be looking for his father. Don is urged to investigate this "mystery" by his closest friend and neighbor, Winston (Jeffrey Wright), an amateur sleuth and family man. Hesitant to travel at all, Don nonetheless embarks on a cross-country trek in search of clues from four former flames. Unannounced visits to each of these unique women hold new surprises for Don as he haphazardly confronts both his past and, consequently, his present.

Overall Impressions:
Not everybody's cup of tea, I think that can betold from the very offset, having said this I found this film flawless. It emphasised all the simple yet beautiful things that we miss in day to day life. It explored the journeys our thoughts take every day, yet we disregard, an eye opener of sorts if you're open & ready. Many will compare it to Lost in Translation, personally I see it more as a Jim Jarmusch film, even though some similarities are there like the pacing & quietness of the film, this director has a distinct unique flavour. - Highly respectable.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' ..
Runtime: 102m 36s - UK Rated: 15
Tagline: SeX. MurdEr. MyStery. Welcome to the party.

Plot Outline
Simple story. A petty thief (Robert Downey Jr.) posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who's been training him for his upcoming role.

Overall Impressions:
Tongue in Cheek, Very impressive narrative, editing & dialogue. Downey steals the show. Kilmer is functional as the gay detective. The rest of the credit has to go to the writing. Shane Black who previously brought us Lethal Weapon (The first two) is back in action. It reminds us of the flavour of film we seem to have lost over the years. The plot is however quite complex & may require a second viewing, not that this is necessarily a bad thing. Its one I've been keenly anticipating a long while - though stil a bit baffled by the plot outcome, I'm impressed.

He almost looks like Gordon, just missing Spectacles :)

Brothers Grimm, The' ..
Runtime: 118m 26s - UK Rated: 12A
Tagline: Eliminating Evil Since 1812

Plot Outline
Folklore collectors and con artists, Jake (Heath Lesger) and Will (Matt Damon) Grimm, travel from village to village pretending to protect townsfolk from enchanted creatures and performing exorcisms. They are put to the test, however, when they encounter a real magical curse in a haunted forest with real magical beings, requiring genuine courage.

Overall Impressions:
Incorporating fairy tales from Hansel & Gretel to Jack & the beanstalk to the Little Red Rising Cape Hood, this tale lets you know from the very offset that it is not to be taken in anyway seriously. You also expect it to be awful & in this it somehow works.

Not one you'll rush to the stores to buy, but certainly one you might catch on tv & not switch the channel for in its cheesy manner it has some rather entertaining aspects, though I felt it could be snipped by 20 minutes or so for more impact.

Performances were merely average, costumes & sets worth a mention, though the major saving factor was definitely the writing & dialogue by Ehren Kruger (not saying much this time for the direction of Terry Gilliam).

Lord of War' ..
Runtime: 121m 47s - UK Rated: 15
Tagline: Where There's A Will, There's A Weapon.

Plot Outline
This film charts the rise and fall of Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage), from his early days in the early 1980s in Little Odessa, selling guns to mobsters in his local neighbourhood, through to his ascension through the decade of excess and indulgence into the early 90s, where he forms a business partnership with an African warlord and his psychotic son amongst many others. The film also charts his relationship through the years with his younger brother (Jared Leto), his marriage to a famous model (Bridget Moynahan), his relentless pursuit by a determined federal agent (Ethan Hawke) and his inner demons that sway between his drive for success and the immorality of what he does.

Overall Impressions:
Brilliant. Based on actual events, without preaching this puts a lot of facts accross in a stylish light hearted fashion. Your journey with the main character is as real as could be. From a simple moment in which it hits him that this is what he wants to do for a living, through to the repurcussions. Cage's performance is superb. I noted he also has a hand in producing this one. Jared Leto keeps the tone in humour, Ethan Hawke is likable. Nicely tied job.

Andrew Niccol wrote & directed after writing The Truman Show & The Terminal also directing S1m0ne & Gattaca. Definitely one to watch out for. This one is going places.

I try not to cross over but just this once ...

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan turned 40 today. Friends and admirers of SRK sent flower bouquets to his Bandra bungalow and some of them even made telephone calls to greet the actor, a relative said. SRK is currently shooting for Karan Johar 's 'Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna' in New York and is scheduled to attend a party hosted by Karan, specially for him on his birthday in a hotel there, Bollywood sources said. Speaking to a news channel in New York today, SRK said, "I am happy to know that my birthday was being remembered and celebrated by people in India and everywhere." - "It's completion of four decades (of life)...sounds nice and good," SRK said, adding that life has been good to him so far. He added “I am not much into celebrating birthdays. Never been like that. Not even when I was very young,” The King Khan thanked everyone and said such celebrations make him feel more humble. "I'm touched," he said, adding that although he does not feel worthy for the respect and love showered by his fans, he would try to live up to their expectations. Also on this day that he turned 40 (Wednesday), SRK said he was planning to quit smoking for a healthier life. A self-proclaimed chain-smoker, SRK said, “I am planning to quit smoking for a healthier life as I enter another decade”. “I have just finished a hard day’s work, my leg is hurt. It feels good to be alive because of these pains, these aches. Lack of sleep makes me feel good, so it’s nice way to start another new decade in my life,” he told NDTV.