TV extravaganza

Been a slow couple of weeks for film watching as I have decided it was time to dust off some of those TV boxsets sitting on the shelf and watch them, partially cause I am getting a bit pissed off at the state of the current film industry (I may rant on this soon, be warned) and partially because the new series's where starting and I wanted a quick recap, so I have been through season 2 and 3 of what was the best comedy on TV Arrested Development, series 1 of extra's the only british tv show I watch and am slightly over half way through season 2 of Lost as season 3 starts next week in the states and I will be watching via my magic teleportation machine ;-)

Flight Of the Phoenix

I don't know why I do it to myself, I had no interest in it, knew it would be shit but still had to watch. Then I am sitting there going this is shit, I should switch it off, but no, I need to know how it will finish even though it was obvious after 10 minutes and then it ends as expected and I hate myself for going through it. But I know that the next piece of shit that premiere's on Sky that I'll be doing the same again. Thumbs Down

Shopgirl

Serious Steve Martin which is better than kids movie Steve Martin but not as good as comedy 70's Steve Martin. Wants to be Lost In Translation but falls short, worth watching for the genius that is Jason Schwartzman. Thumbs Up

The Hills Have Eyes

Not really a fan of the original and this is only slightly better most in the second half where it starts to move away from the original and goes its own way, some great gore though. Thumbs in the Middle

Firewall

Shitty Harrison Ford thriller made funny if you know anything about computers, I am getting tired of films were your supposed to care for people who I think are arseholes, fuck you, I am glad your wife got kidnapped. Thumbs down

London

Good if you are obsessed with Jessica Biel like I am, bad if you like good films, I like Jason Stathem I just don't want to watch him take drugs for an hour and a half while wearing a bad wig. Thumbs Down

Forbidden Planet

Classic sci-fi, that has lost it's impact from having all its ideas nicked since, I am looking at you Star Trek. Thumbs Up

Rounders

Gave this another go after not really getting into it before and know that I know a lot more about poker and the various variations and lingo and really enjoyed it this time, though for Matt Damon's character supposedly being so good some of his play aint great. Thumbs Up

also gave Hostel another watch and liked it more this time, but it is no where near as gory as it thinks or wants to be.

New DVD's

Rounders - really wanted to see it so I bought it

Dirty Dozen - great men on a mission flick that they just don't make any more unless Tarantino gets off his arse and makes inglorious bastards

Wild At Heart - probably the most accessible of the lynch films that don't make sense at times

Wild Bunch - classic violent western

Broken Flowers - the review is back in the past there someone

New Cd's

The Datsuns - Smoke and Mirrors - couple of ropey songs to start but gets really good after that

Deep Breath and...

Lets begin, yet again I didn't keep up, the list seems to just catch up on me. I will try better

Get Rich Or Die Tryin

50 cent tries to act and much like his rappin its a pile of shit. Its the usual my life is tough in the ghetto so I'll sell drugs till my rappin can get me out. Thumbs Down

The Castle

Great wee Australian comedy with Eric "the Hulk" Bana in a small part. Has loads of really silly but quotable dialog. Thumbs Up

Explorers

One of those films that isn't as good as you remembered when you were a kid still good fun but not the best thing ever I probably thought it was when I was a kid. Thumbs in the Middle

Hostel

I still haven't made my mind up on this the first half is some sort of silly sex comedy before the second half of horror kicked in. There are some really cool moments here and there that made me want to rewatch. So Thumbs in the Middle for now

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

British revenge thriller that turned out to be more of a character study than I was hoping and became dull because of it. Thumbs in The Middle

The Polar Express

Too much style over substance, the motion controlled realistic animation was good and all but the story and characters were annoying. Thumbs Down

Dark Water

American remake of one of my favourite Jap-horrors. It suffers from not being as creepy as the original which could freak you out by showing you a puddle, this of course americanizes it and uses tonnes of water which then of course loses the effect. Thumbs in the Middle

Derailed

Annoying confidence scam film which is annoying cause its the same bloody scam they use every time so as soon as to characters meet you know exactly what is going to happen, which only leaves how stylishly they can do it. Not very is the answer, but some of the acting is good. Thumbs in the Middle

Green Street

American film about british football hooligans, which of course made it hilarious. Stanstead is heathrow, everyone talks in cockney rhyming slang and all fights consist 90% of headbutts. Thumbs Down

Toy Story

Do I need say anything, genius. Most underrated joke, the shark wearing Woody's hat going "I'm sheriff Woody, howdy howdy howdy", don't know why makes me laugh every time. Two Thumbs Up

The Card Player

Dario Argento giallo that doesn't live up to his classics but is still better then some of his more recent stuff, the killer didn't make too much sense though. Thumbs in the Middle

D.O.A.

Fifties noir about a guy that has been poisoned and attempts to find out who murdered him before he dies. Lots of double identities and all the usual noir tricks, so it's pretty good. If like an old flat mate I had you don't watch anything in black or white or made before 1975 you can watch the Dennis Quiad, Meg Ryan remake which isn't nearly as good. Thumbs Up

The Cave

Should have buried the film in a cave so no one would have too watch it. Thumbs Down

New DVD's

Simpsons Season 7 - I am still back on season 3 so should get round to this about 2010

Domino - There's a review a few months back somewhere, guilty pleasure

Elizabethtown - Again there is a review somewhere back there, really like the second half could live without the first

Arrested Development season 3 - The last 13 episodes of one of the best american comedies of recent years

Lost season 2 - best american drama of recent years

New CD's

Pearl Jam - Lost Dogs - B-sides and rarities collection, there is some good stuff on here

Pearl Jam - Live at Benaroya Hall - Live acoustic set that has some great covers in it

Pearl Jam - Live in Dublin 2006 - Official bootleg of the gig I was at, is almost as good as being there.

Ryan Adams - Gold - seeing him later in the year so thought it was a good Idea to get some of his stuff

Audioslave - Revelations - bit audioslave by the numbers but there a couple of really good tunes

Mother Love Bone - apple - Only got it yesterday so haven't listened, Stone and Jeff's band before the band that is Pearl Jam

Temple Of the Dog - Temple Of the Dog - Again only got it yesterday so haven't listened, Stone Mike and Jeff from Pearl Jam with Matt Cameron who would end up in Pearl Jam but would be in SoundGarden first with Chris Cornell who does lead vocal here but would eventually end up in Audioslave, Eddie Vedder makes a cameo on one song as well. did you get that there will be a quiz next week.