My name is Joaquin ####ing Phoenix, I'm a ####ing Oscar winning actor but I'm going to throw away my entire ####ing career to be a ####ing two-bit hip-hop artist. I was ####ing amazing dude in Walk the Line as Johnny Cash. But I'm ####ing tired of getting my ####ing hair cut, #### it, let it ####ing grow and my beard dude, what the ####? I'll just let that ####ing grow too. I'm tired of acting, I'm tired of press junkets and interviews, so I was thinking, you know, #### my career, I'm going to make a mockumentary/documentary about myself and get my brother-in-law to direct and film it. #### yeah, that'll be really ####ing funny. Everyone will ####ing love me and even when they find out it was a ####ing hoax they'll still ####ing love me.
No Phoenix we won't, you have acted like a complete jerk and your film is mind-numbingly dull for all of its bloated 100-plus minutes. The previous paragraph is a close approximation / attempt at a humorous praody of what happens in the film. Honestly it's a total waste of celluloid and Phoenix should be ashamed of himself and this pathetic attempt at whatever the hell this is: self-deprecation / self-promotion?
Whatever it is - it's terrible.
At what point did Phoenix think that this was a good idea? At what point did he think it would be funny? Was there ever a point when, while spending months making this film, he realised that it was a total waste of time?
The press knew that it was a hoax. The fans knew it was a hoax. The general public, most of which probably didn't even care, knew it was a hoax. Phoenix has made a complete fool of himself and so has Casey Affleck for agreeing to participate in the whole charade.
In case you hadn't worked it out already, I'm Still Here is a mockumentary following the life of Joaquin Phoenix. It apparently shows him announcing his retirement from acting and attempting to become a hip-hop artist. Phoenix remained in character throughout, including during interviews, press junkets, and even real-life talk shows such as Letterman.
However I'm Still Here is not funny, it's not insightful, it's not interesting, it's not anything but a waste of money and time. If I'd seen this film at the cinema I'd have walked out. I'm glad that I saw it on DVD because I was able to fast-forward parts and eventually turn it off. I was glad that I was able to turn it off and I make no apology for doing so.
The film includes needlessly profane language, pointless nudity, drug use and other crude content. I'm going to have a hard time ever taking Phoenix seriously as an actor again when he inevitably picks up his career. He was excellent in Walk the Line, The Village, and even in less well known or loved films such as his most recent effort Two Lovers, or older films such as 8MM or Signs but I don't think I want to see him acting again. He's a fantastic singer as seen in Walk the Line but it's obvious that he doesn't really want to be a hip-hop artist. But if he really does want to throw away his acting career then making I'm Still Here was the perfect way to do it. What director, or actor, would want to work with him now? It's a simple as this, whatever Phoenix was trying to do: poke fun celebrity life, explore the relationship between the media, celebrities and the public, or just have a bit of a laugh, I think he has done it at our expense, and I think that is pretty much unforgivable.
Phoenix is clearly a gifted actor but he is squandering his talent with rubbish like this.
This review is rated 18 for use of (albeit sanitised and ####ed out) profane language - read with caution. The film should also have been rated 18 - watch with caution.
Catch Me If You Can is a brilliant movie. It manages to be serious, yet funny. I liked Leos acting very much- his face was precious in the "concurring" part! He is given good support from Amy Adams,Nathalie Baye and Christopher Walken. Tom Hanks is fabulous as Carl Hanratty! he makes a fantastic FBI Agent. Catch Me If You Can is a crime comedy- and is exactly what it says on the tin. HM x
Man on Fire is the story of John Creasy (Denzil Washington), a former C.I.A. operative who, now burned out, is seeking an end to his life throught a self induced alcoholic haze in which he tries to 'drown' the demons of his past life/actions and end his own life.
Redemption gradually comes in the form of a 'bread & butter' job that he reluctantly accepts to protect the young daughter of a supposedly well off mexican family.
Discovering a sense of hope, the self destructive phase begins to abate, until the time his charge is kidnapped, Creasy then has only one goal- that of pure revenge; of retribution, and the need to bring those responsible to task.
The film is poignant and gritty, well paced with a depth to the characters; it's one of my favourite films and well worth the purchase.
Overlooked but entertaining adaptation of Hiroyuki Kitakubo's Manga anime from 2000: 'Blood: The Last Vampire' (2009) sees immortal half-demon turned demon slayer; Saya (played with aplomb by Korean model-turned-actress Gianna) on a mission to face the boss of all demons; Onigen.
With a narrative that spans the centuries, the movie is set around a U.S. occupation military base in 1970s Japan. Saya, an eternal loner and highly driven killing machine, strikes up an unlikely friendship with mild mannered, American student Alison (Alice McKee). Together, they contend with U.S. troops, Onigen's demon horde and shadowy, anti-demon concern 'The Council'.
Universally panned upon release, 'Blood: The Last Vampire', though not the best film ever made, certainly isn't as bad as most reviews suggest. Gianna makes for an impressive, sympathetic lead; equally at home with Samurai swords and swigging back bottles of blood, as she is with scenes of emotional vulnerability and pain. Gianna also does well with the English dialogue, though her acting range and personality comes through stronger in the film's few Japanese language scenes. Saya's nemesis; Demon queen Onigen, played with enigmatic grace and casual malevolence by the underrated Koyuki (best known to western audiences as Taka from 'The Last Samurai'), makes an appearance at the end in a surreal, well directed duel.
Now as far a Manga adaptations go, this is on a par with Christophe Gan's 'Crying Freeman' (1995) but suffers from not quite having the budget to pull off some its more ambitious sequences. The acting, save Gianna and Koyuki, isn't up to scratch either whilst director Chris Nahon's use of stop-motion animatronics is a double edged sword. On one hand, I can understand why he prefers the texture and tangibility of this technique over the often unreal transparency of CGI, but it still makes those parts of movie seem dated and at odds with the rest of the picture.
90 minutes go by quickly enough and 'Blood: The Last Vampire' is enjoyable, undemanding, B-style comic book fantasy. Worth a look if you like this sort of thing.
Farscape is the perfect sci-fi for me it has a great storyline to it, its funny & the characters are awesome. Each episode is like a mini sci-fi film.. I would highly recommend this to any sci-fi fan and especially people that enjoyed it when it was shown on Tv.
Farscape
The books are a joy and this series does them proud. Before them many had probably never even heard of Botswana. They certainly have now - the tiny South African country portrayed so evocatively and with such affection.
Jill Scott is perfect as Mms Precious Ramotswe, facing a snake in her truck, chickens in the office and a crop of intriguing cases. How can a dentist be alternatively so fine and so incompetent? Where is the husband, missing since finding religion? Who is vandalizing local shops? Who is the poisoner in a warring family? Why are hospital patients dying at exactly the same time on consecutive Friday afternoons?
Much else besides. Many laughs too, especially when Mma Makutsi is around - Anika Noni Rose hilarious as Mma Ramotswe's ultra conscientious, humourless assistant. Also excellent is Lucian Msamati as the kindly owner of Speedy Motors. Will he and Precious ever marry? There are obstacles.
Throughout there is heart, concern for fellow beings. There is, though, no shying from Life's darker side - the prevalence of AIDS, the return of someone Precious never again wished to see. Especially moving is Episode 3, C.C.H. Pounder guesting as a rich American in search of the son who disappeared ten years earlier.
Colourful, exuberant. All in all, a very real treat.
PRECIOUS INDEED
Produced for the relatively small budget of $24M the film went on to gross almost $80M at the box office which is extremely profitable for an albeit slightly pointless remake. Piranha 3D is actually the second time that the original 1978 film Piranha has been remade.
What's more is the lack of a big name star and the resultant, slightly underwhelming cast, headed by the relatively unknown Adam Scott, the under-used Kelly Brook (more 3D boobs please!). Elizabeth Shue and Ving Rhames don't get much screen time either, which is a shame as they could have brought more to the film than the other actors. In the plus column however there are a couple of nice tongue-in-cheek cameos by Richard Dreyfuss and Christopher Lloyd.
The direction by Alexandre Aja is certainly capable and the production values are decent. But it's Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger's script that really fails to conjure up any real excitement.
Of course the biggest selling point of the film is that it is in 3D, but for me at least this is also its biggest problem. I don't know what it looked like in the cinema with the proper 3D glasses - I imagine it was OK - but at home with the cardboard blue and red glasses it looked bloody awful - and bloody good in a horror way either - just terrible. Even in Blu-ray the 3D version lacks colour or clarity, sharpness and definition. Thankfully then the 2D version is a massive improvement with a sharp image and lots of bright colours, this is certainly my recommended version of the film.
Overall then Piranha 3D is a mixed bag of good and bad elements. But if you enjoy a horror monster movie you could certainly do a lot worse than to give this one a go.
Well I'll start off with Full Circle, a brilliant story though I wish they hadn't beheaded K.9 within 2 episodes, as K.9 is my favourite character, I think the design of the Marsh creatures is good. This story introduces new companion Adric who is alright I suppose. Now with State of Decay, I don't think it is a good story, I didn't like the idea of Vampires, I also disliked the fact that K.9 was left in the Tardis for the majority of the story, I thought that was unfair because the Doctor in this story says K.9 needs to stay on guard, but in past episodes no-one has guarded the Tardis, K.9 went along with everyone else, overall not a good story. Warriors Gate a really good story in my opinion, complicated at points but otherwise really good, however this story sees the departure of Romana 2 & K.9, however I'm glad K.9 is given a full role throughout, however I didn't want K.9 to leave I didn't want him being messed up with the time winds, because I thought when he was he'd be left in the Tardis again but no he was back in action. It was sad to see Romana leave but I suppose if K.9 was going, then Romana must too. However I think overall Warriors Gate is a good story Adric's future looks good as a companion, so the majority of The E-Space Trilogy is good as a whole apart from the sad departures. I strongly recommend this to any Who fan who hasn't got it yet.
In Full Circle it introduces a new Companion Adric, who stows away aboard the Tardis, so he appears in State of Decay also. Warriors Gate sees the departure of Romana 2 and K.9.
You need to read the book first on this one so that you get a clearer picture of the story line as it is quite involved with so many characters from so many different backgrounds. Be warned though that the book is over 1000 pages so not for the faint-hearted!
Never the less the DVD is brilliant and the acting superb especially from Ian McShane, the bad guy in the whole thing. The plot is extremely interwoven so you have to pay close attention to the plot which is why reading the book first is a good idea.
The movie doesn't always stick to the format of the book and the ending is quite different but never the less, an excellent book and movie. Enjoy!
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This is my 2nd Davina dvd and it really keeps you interested and Davina is so friendly and her joking it makes the workout more relaxing fun. Yes its hard work when you push yourself but totally worth it. I've seen the difference already and can not wait to try the new DVD. Thanks Davina and keep up the good work.
Fun and encouraging!!
Just about everyone remembers a little something of the Apollo moon landings of July 1969 through to December 1972. In fact, most folk probably know the names of the Apollo 11 crew who were involved in Man's first steps on another heavenly body - Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins. But what about the background to Apollo and the important missions that led up to the point where those immortal words, "Houston, Tranquility Base here - the Eagle has landed", were spoken? And what about the lunar landing missions that followed those first steps in the Sea of Tranquility?
Well, this 12-episode HBO mini-series is an easy and entertaining way of delving in to the whole manned-lunar landing adventure. You will quickly be introduced to the forerunner programs of Apollo - Mercury and Gemini. This is where astronauts learned about surviving and operating in space. There follows the build up during the Apollo program to the point where Man finally places his near-indelible footprints in the lunar regolith, and does so reapeatedly in 6 separate missions! The final 3 lunar landing missions included the amazing Lunar Rover - a two-man electric vehicle built for exploring further distances from the Lunar Module. Episode 5 covers the engineers of Grumman and the challenges they faced in building the fragile Lunar Module which would carry the lunar astronauts over the final miles to lunar touchdown.
My favourite episode (Episode 7) covers Apollo 12, a mission that took all that had been learned up to that point and wove it into a precision landing on the edge of a crater that contained an unmanned exploratory lunar craft, Surveyor 3, which itself had safely touched down in April 1967. The crew of Apollo 12, three close Navy pilot buddies - Pete Conrad, Dick Gordon and Al Bean - seemed to have had an absolute ball exploring the Ocean of Storms in November 1969, despite having had their Saturn V launch vehicle struck by lightning shortly after lift-off in to a grey, rain-sodden Florida sky.
The mini-series was produced shortly after the blockbuster 'Apollo 13' movie, and draws heavily on similar production techniques, standards, and special effects. To that end, you won't see a repeat of that dramatic mission from the viewpoint of Jim Lovell and his crew. Instead, this time, you get far more of the dramatics being played out in Mission Control and the news corporations covering the "successful failure" that could have so easily claimed the lives of the three astronauts.
But astronauts did perish during the Apollo program. The crew of the first planned Apollo earth-orbit mission - Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee - lost their lives in a fire during a launch pad test a month before their intended launch date. This set in motion a detailed and lengthy investigation that eventually led to changes in the design of the Apollo Command Module spacecraft, such that it probably saved the Apollo program and ensured the success of the final lunar missions. Episode 2 of the mini-series covers this poignant event.
This mini-series is largely based on Andrew Chaikin's book, 'A Man On The Moon' which I believe is probably the best single-volume book detailing the efforts of putting explorers on the moon. Consequently, when one throws in the technical accuracy of the sets, the special effects, and Tom Hank's personal enthusiasm for the early space programs, this mini-series is an engrossing way of learning so much more about what is, so far, one of Man's greatest adventures in exploration. I doubt you will be disappointed watching it.
Man's amazing adventure in executing President Kennedy's bold vision of sending astronauts to explore the moon.
This film is amazing! the best of them all! it has a great storyline and had me hooked since the first second of it starting. The extra features are also good! I truly recommend this to any person any age!
Childrens (and Adults!)
If you enjoyed the 'League of Gentlemen' they you will love Pyschoville - the writing team from 'League...' have really refined their skills to create a series which manages to be bother funnier and darker than its predecessor. What puts this a step above 'League...' is the fact that 'Psychoville' has an ongoing narrative which threads all the different plot-lines together; allowing for the characters to develop and allowing you to invest in the characters and storyline rather than just viewing them as a series of unrelated sketches.
Stand-out episodes include an episode acting as an homage to Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rope'; recording the whole episde in one take as with the film.
All in all very funny but VERY disturbing. Well worth a buy!
The lives of five seemingly unrelated characters become intertwined when they all receive the same chilling message. A black comedy from the makers of 'The League of Gentlemen'
A fabulous story that tells of the struggles that man can face due to our fellow mans greed. This is one of the most heart wrenching movies that I have ever seen and it is acted to perfection. The girl who plays Manon does an exceptional part and you can really tell the hatred in her eyes as she learns of the deceit.
Highly recommend for all of mankind to watch.
Army of the Dead is a strange combination of Mars Attacks and Indiana Jones. Is it a horror is it a sci-fi - it is hard to tell as there is nothing adventurous or frightening about it and it is as scary as a child in a skeleton costume on Halloween. If you are hoping with an 18 rating this movie will be scary, exciting and frightful, you would be wrong.
The CGI of the skeletons looks as though they would be more fitting in a computer game rather than on film. The skeletons stabbing the people look ridiculous; there is something not quite right on screen. When a skeleton stabs a couple and a girl is dragged into the cupboard, there is a distortion within the screen that knocks all hopes of anything working well together.
In much the same way the characters within the scenes do not fit together, the music accompanying the battle scenes as the hour mark approaches is out of sync with the movie; it is pointless, adds nothing to the story and actually distracts from the plot as the dialogue is overlapped with the music. This style would likely suit a war movie, some "march to the battle" style flick. At some points where the movie may actually startle with the sudden appearance of skeletons, the music drowns it out.
You will have certainly have seen much better movies involving skeletons over the last few years. Since this movie neither fits with a genre of sci-fi, horror or supernatural aspects, it is actually hard to enjoy, as there are far more down points as there are enjoyable ones.
In 1590 a powerful conquistador ordered his most fierce soldiers to find the legendary lost city of gold; these men were never seen again. 400 years later, an archaeology professor leads a tour into the latent curse and when confronted by the militia of skeleton warriors, the group battle to the death - but how do you kill an army that's been dead for 400 years?
Title: An Education
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina
Director: Lone Scherfig
DVD released 15th March 2010
An Education is my favourite poignant film of 2010.
Carey Mulligan takes on her first lead role and stuns as the young Jenny in 60s England, supported to great effect by the always dependable duo of Peter Sarsgaard and Alfred Molina. An Education is a fine film, played perfectly by its cast directed by Lone Scherfig and written by Nick Hornby for the screen, adapted from Lynn Barber's memoirs.
An Education is a touching and mesmerising coming-of-age story about a teenage girl living in 1960s suburban London who meets a charming and wealthy man, nearly twice her age, who sweeps her into a whirlwind romance. Scherfig's direction is excellent, he has a light touch and directs his actors with care and precision. The result is compelling, sad and uplifting. An Education received three Oscar nominations and should have won at least one of them. Highly recommended.
Title: Bad Lieutenant
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Fairuza Balk
Director: Werner Herzog
DVD released 26th September 2010
Bad Lieutenant is my favourite weird film of 2010.
Nicolas Cage is Terence McDonagh, a cop turned-rogue who likes to snort coke and drop acid, shag lots of women including prostitutes, swear at old ladies and in general act like an arsehole. It's both brilliant and extremely strange and also in many ways flawed. Cage plays McDonagh with gusto and commitment and as always he does something a little bit different - always willing to take a risk.
Bad Lieutenant has some brilliant moments of dialogue and action. It's maxed out on swearing, shagging and drugs. It's an enjoyable film with a storyline that is very adult. Bad Lieutenant has a real sense of devil-may-care filmmaking about it.
Title: Cemetery Junction
Starring: Christian Cooke, Tom Hughes, Ricky Gervais, Felicity Jones, Ralph Fiennes
Directors: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
DVD released 30th August 2010
Cemetery Junction is my favourite coming-of-age film of 2010.
Set in 1970s suburban England it follows the story of three young working-class friends with different dreams and ambitions each trying, in his own way, to grow up in the aftermath of the swinging sixties.
Cemetery Junction is an extremely assured debut for Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. They are clearly natural filmmakers and are now showcasing their seemingly innate ability and indeed flair for writing, direction and most importantly pacing and character development on the big screen. Cemetery Junction is a British made film that can more than hold its own with Hollywood films.
Cemetery Junction is a delightfully character-driven piece with stories that are firmly rooted in the truths of everyday lives. It's imbued with laughter and tears and it's not afraid to tackle tough themes.
Title: Inception
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Director: Christopher Nolan
DVD released, 6th December 2010
Inception is my favourite reality and mind-bending film of 2010.
Inception is a cut above the rest in terms of elaborate and complex storytelling. It's a entertaining Matrix-esque action film, packed full of top-notch stars with a number of high-energy running gun battles and car chases as well as some excellent special effects that help Nolan to realise his alternative worlds of his protagonists' dreams that all happens at breakneck pace.
In terms of Hollywood blockbusters, this is one of the most artistic you are likely to see. It's also one of the most mentally challenging films in recent memory. It also packs in plenty of exciting action scenes that will get your blood pumping. Inception will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Title: The Karate Kid
Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Han Wen Wen
Director: Harald Zwart
DVD released 15 November 2010
The Karate Kid is my favourite sports film of 2010.
Jaden Smith's acting is very impressive and his physical performance is quite outstanding. Jackie Chan, he of course, the old master and delivers a knockout performance which is, by turns, fun, humorous and heartfelt.
The direction is solid, and although it may lack a few of the flourishes of John G. Avildsen's original film it is still very impressive. The film truly soars at the end with a climatic wushu tournament and one hell of a killer kung fu move which easily rivals - hell I'm going to say it - outdoes the Larusso's Crane kick. Wow.
The Karate Kid will have you punching the air in delight just like you did when Larusso proved that he was 'the best around' back in the 80s. It takes the original premise, improves on the production values and cranks up the kung-fu action to the max.
Here are reviews of my TOP FIVE favourite genre films of 2010.
An Education
Bad Lieutenant
Cemetery Junction
Inception
Karate Kid
Based on the story of a comic book (and staying true enough to that comic book spirit), 'V for Vendetta' is truly a film with a message. And this message is broadcast on more than just a fictional level, much as its classic counterpart, Orwell's 1984. Although there are unavoidable similarities, 'V for Vendetta' attains status of its own, largely through the dialogue of the main character, V, and through the acting of Hugo Weaving (V) and Natalie Portman (Evey). Truly masterful thespianism.
This film will provoke thought, tension and even laughter and I feel it is a must for anyone to see.
Set in a 1984-esque Britain in the present day, V, a freedom figher in a Guy Fawkes mask and cloak, attempts to make the public realise the error of the government's ways and instil a revolution.
friends is the sort of t.v show that the whole family can enjoy. It's funny and enjoyable it's the sort of t.v show that you can come home to from a long day at school/work and have a laugh at the the comedy. i very much enjoy friends when it's on the telly and now with the box set i can watch whatever episode/season i want and when i want. i have enjoyed watching friends and i have now found a way to watch it whenever i want just to sit down and have a laugh.
Brilliant, It really makes me want to return again after two previous visits. This shows the 'real' china, beauty, hardship and wonder especially the wine growing area in the desert.
I love it and will watch it over and over again.
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