Finally got around to seeing Brokeback Mountain. I didn't find the first 30 minutes totally convincing but in the end it was incredibly powerful. The loneliness and emptyness is absolutely haunting. Their complete failure to snatch any real happiness out of life was painful to watch and rang completely true.
By the way if you like the backcountry scenery it ain't Wyoming. In fact it isn't even the United States. The entire film was shot in southern Alberta.
I liked Crash but find it difficult to believe serious film fans could believe it is in the same class with either Brokeback or Capote. I have no idea why the two best films of the year were about gay men.
Like Beefueled Man I found the male-male sex bits a little hard to watch, but the human story was riveting.

So why didnt she just slowly rise to the surface and confirm her existence, instead of putting all of her friends through days of heartache and misery in mourning her first? attention seeking bit£h!

Anyway, enough of X3.

Friday saw me swashing my buckles and splicing my mainbrace at the showing of Pirates 2. I must admit I went into it not expecting much, as sequels are rarely as good as the first, this one nearly lived up to my expectations.

Keira Knightley is average, but still pouting too much. Orlando Bloom (Orlomdo Bland as Mark Kermode of radio 5 has christened him) is awful, I really think that finally the director has worked out that he cannot act, and such, his part in this film is reduced to action shots where no real acting is required. The story is much more complicated than the first, with three or four sub-plots going at the same time and it can get a tad confusing. Along with this they have kept almost every single survivor of the first film (including some that I thought had died, the bloke from 'the office' and his mate, I mean, why bring them back ???). This means that you have people in on the plot who dont really need to be there.

However, this all pales into insignificance when you just sit back and enjoy the performance of Johnny Depp. He just looks like he's having fun, which is essential. The scriptwriters have realised that he made the first film what it was, and as such we get much more of him. He moves through every scene with the confidence of an actor who knows that even if he's just in the background, everyone is just watching him.

The action scenes move along at a fast pace, the waterwheel swordfight is a particularly spectacular set piece, and there are few, if any dull moments. Bill Nighy as the baddie does well, but you have to see the CGI effects on his tentacled face to believe them, absolutely amazing. The film ends in a way that reminded me of Empire Strikes Back, dark and brooding with a plotline twist, but with the promise of a linked storyline to the third film which ensures that you will have to go to see it.

Overall it falls below the first one, but only just, and I'm already looking the third installment, Garrgghhhh.

Nice tits though (cf: The Jacket)

Really, I thought they had a bit of the Patsy Kensits about them (See Viz if you dont get this one) when she popped them out in that film where they were all stuck in that hole in the ground, think it was imaginatively called 'The Hole'

just seen Nicholas Cage in con air again

has this guy ever made a bad film yet

my personal favourite would have to be face off

Captain Corelli's Mandolin?

Vampires Kiss - one of the 5 worst films ever made.

Just watched War of the Worlds - what a load of carp, every time I see a Spielberg film I'm disappointed. Big hopes for City of God tomorrow, not heard a bad word said about it.

lord of war is superb

The other four?

Last Tango in Paris is one of the worst films I've ever seen. Apart from Maria Schneider's breasts, which were phenomenal . But after an hour or so of gazing at them I got bored even of that, and walked out of the cinema - the only time I've ever done that.

Watched Stealth recently. Glossy, cheesy looking fighter plane movie which should be dreadful yet suprisingly is not too bad. Better plot than expected, good action, I can live with that. Think of it as the movie that Team America could have been based on though sadly they fight in Tajikstan and North Korea with no mention of Durkadurkastan.

Just watched Cars (Disney/Pixar)...absolutely fantastic!..great family movie, but still enough in it for the Big Kids amongst us. Some really great characters, who all get there chance to shine. Must see.

I watched a film called 'the moguls' this weekend and was quite impressed, it was the obligatory second film to fill the evening. The story is a guy who feels he has never done anything remarkable with his life, and is well known for his wild ideas, comes up with his best yet. He organises a syndicate in his mid west small town, to make a porn film

Now there is no sex involved so dont get your hopes up, what you do get is Jeff Bridges playing a great part, a supporting cast full of people you know from other movies, some laughs, some sadness. and a great happy ending in the end. Perfect film for an evening in with your partner, a nice meal and a couple of bottles of wine

The other 'main' film was Syriana starring George Clooney and Matt Damon, the biggest load of goat testes I have had the displeasure to sit through in a long while, worse than X3 and Superman combined!

My Girlfriend told me that Clooney was nominated for an Oscar for his contribution to the film, in that case, why wasnt he nominated for every other bloody film he's ever been in ? He is always the same character, the only thing he did here was put on a bit of weight and grow a beard for the part, then wander around being the same person he always is - I mean please, if thats what you need to do to get an oscar nomination then I nominate most of the male members of the F*cking Caravan Club !

The film is disjointed, jumping all over the globe taking in international delaings with the oil trade, it hints at CIA involvement with assassinations in order to affect world policy, at terrorist links and at big business at its very worst. All of which I am sure is not far from the thruth, but please, at least give us a character that we can bond with. Even Matt Damon, who I really rate as an actor, when he suffers an immense personal tradgedy, one which no person would ever want to go through, wanders round the film for the next half hour with a look on his face like a four year old who has just been told that Ceebeebies wont be on today!!!

Im not saying dont rent this film, im just saying prepare yourself for a disappointment if you do.

Next week im off to see Miami Vice, review will follow.

Totally disagree. It's a film about an American Football team, but it's not about American Football at all. It's about the empty existences of small-town america who need something to focus on, in this case the football team. It is a great film, one of the delights of the last cinematic year.

The best film of last year was Crash, which deservedly won the Oscar.

Just watched Capote the other day - Phillip Seymour Hoffman turned in the finest performance I've seen from any actor in recent times.

Also watched Syriana - lot of p*sh. And Firewall - 2 hours of nonsense, though strangely half-enjoyable nonsense.

I should work for Empire, with my descriptive reviews.

4 Brothers is average, held my attention but not much more. I like Mark Wahlberg, but one of his lesser efforts.

i just finished watching Final Destination 3. I have to say i have quite enjoyed the series of FD films. The inventive deaths are enough to satisfy the gore hungry im sure.

Has anyone used the interactive disc feature to decide the fate of the characters? Im wondering if its worth playing with or not.

Glad you enjoyed Friday Night Lights. Obviously you dont need a thorough understanding of American Football to enjoy it. I cant say that i have had the urge to watch it again tho.

The Wedding Crashers was quality, Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn were great together. Isla Fisher was also very good in her role as the neurotic, slight bunny-boiler of a girlfriend.

I though Sin City was an excellent adaptation too. I didn't fancy it on the shelf but within a couple of minutes I was hooked. Mickey Rourke was outstanding and the charms of Jessica Alba didn't go unnoticed by old hardbody!

Haha, Zeus - you know your stuff! Your descriptions of Pirates 2 and Miami Vice were spot on back in February, and you were the first person to mention Bad Santa. For anyone that hasn't seen it, Bad Santa was my comedy highlight of last year. So, so funny!!!

Best bit's when he's got a mouth full of salad and he shouts at a 5-year kid "i'm on my eff lunch break" - haha, I'm laughing just thinking about it! I'm away to fire it on.

Team America is quality, p*ssed myself when her strings told his mouth to ssshhh!!! Napoleon Dynamite is the biggest lot of tosh ever - I watched it when it first came out and I still think back to the hour and a half of my life I'll never get back.

truman show was on the other day....like that a lot.

Crash getting rave reviews here. Must try. Would loved...erm liked to have reported on Munich & Lucky Number Slevin, but erm, something else came up

For a maniacally mugging moron, Carrey has been in a couple of good movies. Truman Show and Cable Guy.

I hear he's going to star in a remake of Man Bites Dog.

OK, that's a lie. But one can hope... one can hope...

and remember, if I don't see ya......

Can I ask how you were in Cannes, as that would be awesome?

...
John C. Reilly in CRIMINAL: very good film.
CARS: great last half hour makes up for an average film.
STORMBREAKER: interesting, and good for a Brit flick, bit silly in places.
AZUMI: Japanese comic book adaptation. Overlong and a bit pretentious, though a brilliant first fifteen minutes, with one of the biggest shocks Ive ever had while watching a movie.

Agreed. It was awesome. I also liked Cage in Matchstick Men, although he has also made a few stinkers in the past...

I thank you

After seeing Jeff Bridges in 'The Moguls' the other night, I was inspired to dust off an old video which I havent seen in a long time 'The Big Lebowski'

I had forgotten just how funny it was. Jeff Bridges as 'The Dude', supported by John Goodman as Walter and Steve Buscemi as Donny. The story is one of kidnap, mistaken identity, Nihilism and most importantly Bowling.

Its one of those films where the dialogue between the main characters is so natural and so funny that you miss half of the jokes the first time round. Bridges has so many great lines that he just has a field day, but I do think it has the highest swear count I have ever heard, so not one for the kids !

Favourite Lines:

The Dude (on being forced into a limousine whilst carrying a vodka) 'Hey man, be careful, theres a beverage at risk here'

and

Walter 'Nihilists! F*ck me. I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos.'

Big Lebowski, superb. See it, enjoy it, buy a bottle of kahlua.

White russians all round.

The Big L is one of my all time favourite films, along with Donnie Darko & Fear and loathing in Las Vegas.

Anyone who hasnt seen it should be shot.

Shut the eff up Donny.....