Movies
Over xmas week I saw quite a few films...
Sweeny Todd, a great work of art and the sort of quality I expect from Tim Burton... far greater than that of his recent works. His love affair with Depp and Helena (well, shes more than just an affair I know) has paid off in spectacular fashion and both put in amazing performances. Its strange watching a film thats almost entirely lyrical, especially one so blood thirsty but more fun than I was expecting to have in the cinema. Made the soundtrack (or entire film audio on CD) an instant purchase!
I Am Legend, wont rant on about this as it should have been so much more... simply I wasnt impressed, thought the CG was bloody awful and would have looked cheap in 1999's The Mummy. The only characters I cared about were Sam (a flippin dog) and Hank (those who have watched it will understand). The flashbacks were annoying mainly because you got the jist of where that was going early on then forced to have it played out slowly throughout the film. It was a nice idea tho Days/Weeks Later did it better... but mostly served up as a plateful of yawn. Six billion people on Earth when the infection hit? I hope Im one of the 1st to die cos if the reality is half as tedious as the film...
National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Not much to be said other than its better than the original... but still a poor mans Indiana all the same. Greatly amusing to see the 'american' perception of us brits... that and the security at Buck Palace is a doddle to bypass, but fun all the same, Cage puts on his fairly typical performance of late... so just dont expect too much yeh?
Enchanted was amazing, one of the best Disney movies made, great for any1 with half a sense of humour and able to not take things too seriously. My only gripes stem from the scene where Giselle drinks from the fish tank which made no sense as she only appeared crazy due to her perception on reality differing from that of the fantasy world, I somehow doubt drinking water with fish in every gulp is a regular occurance for her regardless of where she comes from. Oh and yeah... dragon, wrong wrong wrong... far too animated, should have opted for something more Reign of Fire esque. But otherwise brilliant and Amy Adams is a cutie.
Alien V Predator : Requiem actually manages to salvage everything WS Anderson did wrong, seriously... it takes the aspects of both aliens and predator and splatters it everywhere. Ok, so fans of either can pull it apart for all its worth but it is fairly solid and no1 not even children or pregnant women are spared the brutality. The only thing more badass than the 'Cleaner' Predator (two cannons dammit!) is the Pred-Alien which looks bitchin... a less 'sequel' demanding ending would have been preferable to say maybe tying it in with the Alien storyline, but I guess the cash cow has to be milked for all its worth. Cant win em all alas.
And finally No Country for Old Men, cant really explain much about this other than its got so much presence... its powerful and disturbing, yet runs at such a mellow pace its almost relaxing. One of my fave Coen works and would happily watch over again. Its not for everyone... but any1 who appreciates a movie with more substance should love it.
Still looking forward to Cloverfield and Hellboy II: The Golden Army, the Orphanage and now Wall*E... aside from a tonne of other things.