DVD review entries

Bullitt – I never knew you had to watch movies in a certain order

Despite being aged one and twenty years. I’ve managed (and so had John) to go through life without watching Bullitt once. We rectified that on Sunday and settled down to watch it. We got through most of it not really knowing what was going on. The humungous lack of dialogue seemed to be the problem. And when the tension was building up there would be some excellent music until someone just switched it off. And the exciting parts were accompanied with silence. John was bored, but I quite enjoyed it. I liked the way how Bullitt’s girlfriend found how shockingly violent people could be back then and the psychological side of being a cop was lightly explored.

Its only when you reflect on the period it was made that you understand why it was good great: 1968 was a very long time ago, and John and I could only imagine how it could have looked when it first came out. The style was quite revolutionary, and I guess if we just watched movies from the 60s, this one would stand out. The editing was apparantly quite a new style and the movie got a few awards in general. But in the days where funky editing is done in normal dramatic TV shows like 24, CSI etc etc, this 1968’s movie didn’t really stand out anymore.

I do appreciate that the style of the things we watched today probably spawned from Bullitt. My only regret is that, I didn’t watch it earlier – before 24 & co. ever came out. That’s why I only think of it as a good movie and not a great one. I never realised til now that there was a specific order of watching movies…

: 16 Jan 2007 23:18 |  Tags: DVD Movies Review |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Spooks Series 3

Goodbye Tom, goodbye Zoe, goodbye… goodb… oh no Danny nooooooooo!

Yes the trio, the team, the three who were there at Spook's inception are now all gone. The series starts off with the answering the cliff hanger of season 2. Tom has to prove his innocence, and enter Adam (or as Sas would call him "Eye Candy") to help him. Adam is a natural authoritive leader. And you know he's going to replace Tom – Not directly, but his job role. Tom ends up becoming very conscious of the job, and by the second episode, he's had enough and goes back to being a civilian.

The episode I didn't get was the one where Danny had a real problem tasked with killing a scientist that manufactured bio-weapons. I found it out of place in this series, and isn't it their job?!

Ruth character develops and you find out more about her and therefore don't think she's a weirdo anymore. And Adam takes control and shows his suave style.

The best episode (6) is the one where Zoe leaves. The story was very well written, and the way that the story is only told through the court room was very well done. And as regards to Danny leaving, well let's not go there… too painful…

Generally, Spooks is great and cool, this was a hoot.

: 17 Jan 2006 23:25 |  Tags: BBC DVD Review TV |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Spooks Series 2

Tom, Zoe and Danny return for more save the world antics. This series covers a lot of story line. The peak of the strong relationship between Tom and Harry continues for the first few episodes, but signs of strain show towards the end of the series, ending with Tom shooting Harry! Tom starts his "becoming weird" phase after his private life takes a beating etc. as does Zoe's. Ruth joins the team (you know the weird one who talks funny), and there's plenty of good action and stories. Quite a sad ending to the season and the original trio.

: 16 Jan 2006 00:42 |  Tags: DVD Review TV |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

24 Series 3

Well, this has actually taken me close to 1 year to watch! After putting it down in March I finished it in the December holidays. There's nothing like 24, it grips you to watch "just one more" four times over every time. It always goes through so countless twists and turns, that every n_th_ hour you watch, renders the last n-1 hours' work redundant.

Day 3 is about the release of a deadly virus on American soil. Follow Jack Bauer on the 3rd longest day of his life! Jack Bauer deals with Mexican drug lords and ghosts of his past. And President Palmer has to deal with his wife! (again) Can't give any more away!

Approx 1006 mins with 5.1 audio. Just don't try watching with deleted scenes, enabled – man is it annoying!
Bring on days 4 and 5!

Great Heroes: Jack Bauer, Gael, Tony Almeida, Ryan Chappell
The most annoying characters: Kim Bauer, Chlöe
The biggest beeeeeeches: Sherie Palmer, Nina Myers

: 06 Jan 2006 00:44 |  Tags: 24 DVD Review TV |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Spooks Series 1

Action packed goodness every boy needs! Spooks is drama that shows typical problems that a modern MI5 team encounters in a very in your face way (and hidden from public knowledge). Its not very full of any happy moments, its just sort of gritty in a british way. I always wondered what my mates Beyts and Berwin were on about. Dude its sooo great! – It is really quite good – even if you did find Tom (Matthew MacFadyen) annoying, you'll grow to respect Tom Quinn.
The (smallish) 6 episodes gets the ball rolling, the television series and the stories (and for a tenner on amazon its not too bad).

I started on Series 4 actually, but you can see the signs of "high staff turnover" already by the second episode. You know there's something wrong with a profession or company that has high staff turnouver! Good fun. Oh and as always, at the end of every series:
Noooooooooooooooooooo! Ellie! Maisy! Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

: 06 Jan 2006 00:31 |  Tags: BBC DVD Review TV |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The Closet

This was a very funny and clever french comedy. A story about an office accountant who pretends that he's gay in order to save his job. The inspired story shows how, by exploiting political correctness, his whole life changes. Hard to explain without giving too much away. But worth a watch at least once in your life.

Definately a fun movie to watch whilst recovering from Lotte's lovely home-made Belgian Waffles and fine red wine.

French with English Subtitles

: 20 Nov 2005 17:48 |  Tags: DVD Review |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Cool Runnings

I borrowed this disc off Paul. Such a cool fun movie: Puts a nice smile on yer face. Tells a small political story of Jamaicans trying to break into Winter Olympic sports.

WARNING: This film may cause you to speak in the fakest and lamest attempt at a Jamaican accent for a whole week. (Mentioning no names…)

: 03 Nov 2005 23:39 |  Tags: DVD Review |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Man on Fire

John Creasy (Denzel Washington) an ex-US-agent rediscovers life and himself when he ditches his former past and is hired as a bodyguard to protect Pita a girl from a wealthy family in Mexico City. In an environment where kidnapping occurs 4 times a day, Pita is taken. Creasy makes it his business to revenge the loss of Pita against anyone involved.

I think it was quite alright, its a film with hard gritty action. I didn't think much of the visual effects. But nevertheless, the "man finding himself" story was interesting.

: 02 Nov 2005 00:18 |  Tags: DVD Review |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

House of Flying Daggers

Erm this film ran out of steam. Wasn't particularly arty. The first hour took ages. Then you finally realised it was a soppy love story. And it got better in the 2nd hour, things picked up (music, action, story). Coulda been good, but was missing something.

: 16 Sep 2005 22:21 |  Tags: DVD Review |  Comments (5) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Hero

Good movie, very different from many chinese films I've seen before. This one differs in that its not promoting the power of the sword. Tells the passion and plans of Emperor Qin (who united the states to create China), and how his ideals had made him a target for those who suffered under his rule. Definately worth watching – the visuals are amazing.

Btw I dont' think Jet Li was the Hero, "Broken Sword" was, he's the dude.

: 16 Sep 2005 19:48 |  Tags: DVD Review |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem