"You'll shoot your eye out, kid."

Seasons Greetings!

Sorry for the recent lapse in blogging. I know my many, numerous, multitudes of readers were probably in a continual state of despair, thinking I had left, never to return. Fear not, brave blog-viewers! I was only in Las Vegas for a week and didn’t have a chance to watch many movies. I promise to make up for it over the holidays.

In fact, I managed to get in a great Christmas classic with some friends this past weekend. A Christmas Story is one of many holiday films I grew up watching. I was actually surprised to learn that several of my friends had never seen it before and it was a real treat to be with them for their first viewing. I’ve said many times that one of my greatest pleasures is to watch a really good film with a really good friend who’s never seen it before. And A Christmas Story is definitely one of those movies that really benefits from being watched with a roomful of friends.

Ralphie is a pretty typical 9-year old, getting ready for Christmas in December, 1940. And there’s nothing he wants more than an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle. A Christmas Story is told as seen through Ralphie’s eyes, with the adult voice-over giving explanation for this thoughts, plans and ideas. If you’ve ever seen the hit television show ‘The Wonder Years’ then you have an excellent idea of how the film works. In fact, A Christmas Story was the inspiration for The Wonder Years, so if you liked the TV show you’ll almost certainly enjoy the film.

"Let's face it, most of us are scoffers. But moments before
zero hour, it did not pay to take chances."

Originally released in 1983, the film was a low-budget affair based on a collection of short stories, written by screenwriter Jean Sheppard, titled ‘In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash’. It’s essentially a collection of clichés that most of us can identify with, both as children and parents: sticking your tongue to a frozen pole, getting bundled up for the cold weather, getting your mouth washed out with soap. It may not sound that interesting but somehow it comes across as very endearing. And you can’t argue with the fact that this low-budget collection of clichés has since become a Christmas classic in many homes.

The 2-disc Special Edition comes packed with bonus features. I don’t know if they are any good though because I haven’t watched any of them yet. I know, you’re shocked. Add it to my never-ending list of things to watch and report back to you on. The video is presented in a wonderful 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with the option to switch to full frame (though no one in their right mind would voluntarily choose that). I thought the picture was pretty good considering the film’s age. But I was also seated at the far edge of the viewing area so I can’t say for certain how pristine the picture may or may not have been. The audio is a bit of a disappointment though. Dolby 1.0 (mono) is the only option. It would have been nice to have some stereo effects for some of the musical bits and some 5.1 surround would have added wonderfully to Ralphie’s many day-dream sequences.

"It's a major award!"

A Christmas Story is a wonderful holiday film that everyone should see at least once. It’s great for the whole family. And it was a real joy to watch it with some good friends. Thanks Shauna, Chris, Amanda, Jason, Joleen, Dave, Barb and Anthony for watching it with me! Same time next year?

A Christmas Story gets 8 leg lamps (out of 10).
Have you been good this year? If so, click here for ‘A Christmas Story’ trivia.

"Just consider me the best cocktail party story you ever met."

I love finding a new, great movie. Especially when it’s a film that you’re not expecting to be great in the first place. I had that experience with The Matador this past weekend. I recall the trailer looked pretty funny and thought it might be interesting to check it out. While scanning the back of the DVD case I noticed that Pierce Brosnan received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the film. That should have tipped me off that this was more than just a run-of-the-mill comedy. As one IMDB user commented, “The Matador is killer comedy.”

Julian Noble (Brosnan) is an international hitman who lives a globetrotting lifestyle, ‘facilitating’ jobs around the world. Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear) is an unlucky salesman who is running out of hope that anything in life will go his way. Both men are in Mexico on business when they meet each other at a hotel lounge. I know what you’re thinking. The tagline of this film sums it up nicely; a hitman and a salesman walk into a bar…

"I’m a big fan of the “Everybody’s got
to pee” theory of assassination."

What appears to be a simple, little story turns out to be one of the most cleverly written and well-acted films I’ve seen in a long time. And it’s brilliantly funny. The unlikely duo of Noble and Wright is an intriguing and entertaining combination. Each new scene adds another element that continues to draw you in to their lives. If you feel like you’ve got one of the characters pegged and you understand where they are coming from, then the writer has you right where he wants you. And it’s not where you think it is.

This isn’t a caper film or a surprise-ending film, although there are some interesting twists throughout. This is a character film with terrific dialogue and a darn good story. There’s a lot of heart in this movie and it’s easily Brosnan’s best film to date. I loved his character and hated him at the same time. I cheered for him, mourned his losses, laughed at his misfortune and ultimately found myself on the same emotional roller-coaster that Julian Noble himself was going though. If you think you’ve seen every world-class-assassin character there is, think again. Even if you think you can imagine what this particular assassin might be like, think again. Noble is, at first, contemptuous, rude and insulting. The lonely lifestyle of a hired killer has made him abrasive and crude. But there’s more going on underneath all that bravado. You’ve never met anyone like Julian Noble and neither has Danny Wright.

"Oh, so now killing people is a good time?"

One of the many things that makes this film work as well as it does is its honesty. And that honesty comes through Danny Wright (Kinnear). He is the every-man who believes in the general goodness of people and is simply trying to make ends meet. He asks the questions we would ask if we ever met Julian. Danny sees Noble the way we would see him. It draws you into the film and takes a seemingly impossible situation and makes it real. I was nodding my head as much as I was laughing. The Matador is funny and real. I’m not sure how that works, but it does.

I will definitely be picking this one up on DVD. When I get a chance to check out some of the special features, I’ll try to remember to let you know. The picture and sound quality are top-notch. Although it’s mostly dialogue driven, The Matador doesn’t lack in roaring sound effects and music. Everything comes together nicely on this DVD transfer and I haven’t a single complaint.

"I need a break. There’s no retirement
home for assassins is there?
Archery at four? Riflery at five?"

The Matador is another one of those diamond-in-the-rough ‘indie’ films (Stratus Film Co.) that shines. Do yourself a favour and pick this one up. It’s a guaranteed good-time.

The Matador gets 9 Coronas (out of 10).
Click here to facilitate some trivia for ‘The Matador’.

Chapter Title Quiz - Answers!

As promised, here are the answers for the DVD Chapter Title quiz that I posted a couple of weeks ago. Good job to everyone who sent in their guesses. Everyone did very well, which means that either the quiz was too easy or you're all nearly as obsessed with movies as I am. Probably a combination of the two.

If you don't remember your answers and want to know your score, send me an email and I'll let you know how you did. Otherwise you can have a look at the answers below to see how you faired in the DVD Chapter Title Quiz.

No. 1 - Braveheart
No. 2 - Dead Poets Society
No. 3 - Finding Nemo
No. 4 - Raiders of the Lost Ark
No. 5 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
No. 6 - Napoleon Dynamite
No. 7 - Saving Private Ryan
No. 8 - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
No. 9 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
No. 10 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail
No. 11 - Jurassic Park
No. 12 - Ghostbusters
No. 13 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off
No. 14 - Dances with Wolves
No. 15 - Die Hard

There was a 2-way tie for First Place between Christine Sheppard (my mom) and Anthony Packwood (not my mom). Should I arrange for a tie-breaker quiz? Hmmm...

"A minute ago this was the safest job in the world. Now it's turning into a bad day in Bosnia."

It was another movie-marathon weekend at the Ginn household and despite a very tight schedule we managed to watch several great caper/noir films. In fact November has been an above-average month for movie watching for me. I think it’s a combination of cold weather and Christmas; the cold weather makes me want to stay home and bask in the warmth of my glowing television and the approaching Christmas season makes me want to ensure my movie-watching skills are in top form before I receive a plethora of DVD-shaped presents.

Here’s a brief look at what I’ve been watching recently:

When you’re in the mood for a cheesy 80s martial arts movie, you can’t go wrong with Best of the Best. Starring James Earl Jones, Christopher Penn and pretty much no one else memorable, Best of the Best tells of the US National Karate Team’s match against the Korean team. I watched this film many times in my youth and every time I see it, I realize just how corny the 80s really were. However, the finale of the film stands the test of time and remains one of my favourite movie-endings. If you enjoy a good martial arts flick, or if you just want to see what I’ll be able to do when I get my black belt, check out Best of the Best.

Last Sunday I watched my first Christmas movie of the season, Die Hard 2: Die Harder. This is the delightfully charming tale of John McClane, a New York police officer who must dodge the merry Christmas crowds of a Washington airport while attempting to stop the holly, jolly antics of several terrorists intent on causing mischief on Christmas Eve. With cheerful gun fights, magically beautiful explosions and language that makes the child in all of us laugh with joy, Die Hard 2: Die Harder is an endearing Christmas classic that could even put a smile on old Scrooge’s face. If you’re looking for that one, special holiday film that the whole family can watch together, look no further than Die Hard 2: Die Harder. Yippy-kai-ay!

Pixar Animation Studios has done it again. With the success of Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, Toy Story and others, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that their latest feature-length film, Cars, would be equally entertaining. That being said, I was surprised. I don’t know why but for some reason I was expecting Cars to be a let-down. With every film they release, Pixar continues to set the bar higher and higher. Except for Dreamworks’ Shrek franchise no other studio has come close to producing the same quality films that Pixar has been creating since the beginning of computer animation. I think it’s that extremely high standard that has made me so sceptical of each new film they reveal. Well it’s time to start giving Pixar the benefit of the doubt; Cars is a fantastic film. Set in a world where all the characters are cars, all the restaurants are gas stations and the shoe stores are tire shops, Cars takes us on a wonderfully entertaining journey with Lightning McQueen, a world-class racing car who finds himself in a backwater town. I could reveal many aspects of the plot, characters, music and animation but it all boils down to one fact; if you enjoyed any of Pixar’s films, you’ll enjoy Cars. They make great movies. Period.

When you’re in the mood for a cheesy 80s martial arts movie, and you’ve already watched Best of the Best, you can’t go wrong with The Karate Kid. I’m sure it’s my own interest in karate that ultimately made me want to own it, but you certainly don’t need a black belt, or a white one for that matter, to enjoy this classic film. Daniel-san finds himself in trouble when the local karate experts start using him as their punching bag. The ever-wise Mr. Myagi agrees to train Daniel-san in the ways of karate in preparation for the big tournament where the young student hopes to finally prove himself. Oh who am I kidding? Is there anyone reading this who hasn't seen The Karate Kid? We all remember ‘Wax-on, wax-off’ and the unbeatable Crane-style kick. Despite a healthy portion of fromage, The Karate Kid is still a great movie and well worth another look.

We started off this past weekend’s movie marathon with Lucky Number Slevin. I wrote a full-length review of the film on this site a few weeks ago, which you can check out here. Slevin is a terrific little noir caper with some very interesting characters, portrayed by a host of well known actors: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Sir Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci, Josh Hartnett and Lucy Liu, to name a few. In fact virtually every piece of this film is a character, from the sets to the costumes to the music. It all comes together in one intriguing plot that twists and turns to a powerful finale. You’ll find a lot more detail in my full-length review, but suffice it to say that Lucky Lumber Slevin is an intelligent film that entertains on all levels.

The second film of our noir/caper movie marathon was Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. To try and sum up the plot of this film would be like trying to explain how a gas engine works; there’s a lot more going on than you realize and even though you have a general understanding of the process, it’s still very complex. But don’t let that turn you off this fantastic British film. Some very witty dialogue, quirky characters and comedy-of-errors plot will keep you interested from start to finish and will have you laughing out loud throughout. This film fit in perfectly with the theme of our movie-day and I strongly recommend it to anyone.

The last film of our movie-marathon was another Guy Ritchie creation, Snatch. Banking on the success of his pervious flick, Ritchie gives us another terrific, mostly-British film that focuses on an 84-carot diamond, illegal boxing promotion and a “pikey” (Brad Pitt) with the most unintelligible accent you’re likely to ever hear. With character names like Franky Four Fingers, Cousin Avi, Boris the Blade and Bullet Tooth Tony, Snatch is a crazy, twisted, delightful piece of filmmaking. It can be hard to follow exactly what’s going on at all times, but I think that’s part of the idea. You’ll find yourself swept up in the plot with your mind reeling from the bizarre turn of events that makes Snatch so much fun to watch. Excellent cinematography and great music round out this entertaining movie. It was a great wrap-up to our Caper-a-thon.

All in all I would say the movie-marathon was a success. We laughed. We cried. Well ok, only Vince cried. But he tends to get choked up whenever he sees a Desert Eagle .50 on-screen. Many thanks to Dave, Vince and Chris, who share my obsession with movies and joined me for these wonderful films. I’m still trying to plan the Star Trek Ridiculathon but I find more and more that these movie-marathons are a lot harder to coordinate than you would think. I might have to quit my job and organize Ridiculathons full time. Now who would pay me…?

On the Scene!

Here’s a new quiz for my readers to try. Below are the chapter numbers and titles from 15 different DVDs. These are the titles you see when you go into the Scene Selection menu. Try to identify the movie from the chapter titles. I tried to pick many popular movies and it’s likely that you have seen most, if not all of these movies.

No cheating! Don’t use the internet to search these titles. Cheating on DVD quizzes is punishable by law and may result in a maximum $250,000 fine or 5 years in jail. Or maybe I’ve just seen too many of those FBI warnings…

Submit your guesses to this email. Contest closes at midnight on November 30th, 2006. There might even be a cool prize for the winner!

Good luck!

Number 1
Chapter 2 - Courage and a Free Heart
Chapter 10 - Are You Ready for a War
Chapter 13 - Negotiating with a Princess
Chapter 17 - The Pledge of the Bruce
Chapter 21 - Bleed with Me

Number 2
Chapter 4 - Unorthodox Methods
Chapter 7 - The Society Reconvenes
Chapter 13 - Aerodynamic Desk Set
Chapter 14 - Siezing the Moment
Chapter 22 - Taking a Stand

Number 3
Chapter 3 - First Day of School
Chapter 9 - The Tank Gang
Chapter 21 - Inside the Whale
Chapter 23 - The Aquascum

Number 4
Chapter 3 - The Golden Idol
Chapter 10 - To Cairo
Chapter 16 - The Map Room
Chapter 19 - Into the Well of Souls
Chapter 27 - The Nazis' Secret Island

Number 5
Chapter 10 - "The Deep Breath Before the Plunge"
Chapter 27 - The King of the Dead
Chapter 40 - The Black Ships
Chapter 55 - The End of All Things
Chapter 59 - The Grey Havens

Number 6
Chapter 5 - Glamour Shots by Deb
Chapter 6 - Rex Kwan Do
Chapter 15 - LaFawnduh
Chapter 20 - End Titles/A Wedding

Number 7
Chapter 6 - A Public Relations Mission
Chapter 10 - Fubar
Chapter 13 - A Big Mystery
Chapter 19 - The Bridge

Number 8
Chapter 3 - Short Negotiations
Chapter 18 - A Wager with Watto
Chapter 33 - The Queen's Gambit
Chapter 36 - "Wipe them out"
Chapter 42 - Capturing the Viceroy

Number 9
Chapter 5 - Welcome Aboard
Chapter 8 - Aztec Gold
Chapter 10 - Keep to the Code
Chapter 15 - The Curse is Lifted

Number 10
Chapter 2 - Coconuts
Chapter 9 - French Taunters
Chapter 13 - Scene 24
Chapter 19 - A Herring
Chapter 25 - The Castle Arrrghhh

Number 11
Chapter 3 - Hammond's Invitation
Chapter 4 - The Chaotician
Chapter 6 - Mr. DNA
Chapter 9 - Start the Tour!
Chapter 15 - The Perimeter Fence

Number 12
Chapter 7 - Fried Eggs and Zuul
Chapter 12 - "He slimed me"
Chapter 20 - Keymaster
Chapter 27 - Stay Puft Man

Number 13
Chapter 3 - Emancipation of Sloane
Chapter 4 - The Car - 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California
Chapter 11 - Cameron Goes Berserk
Chapter 12 - Kill the Car

Number 14
Chapter 3 - Fort Hayes
Chapter 7 - Contact with the Sioux
Chapter 11 - Invited to the Village
Chapter 14 - A Good Trade
Chapter 21 - Retrieving the Journal

Number 15
Chapter 3 - Nakatomi Plaza
Chapter 9 - The Old Elevator Trick
Chapter 21 - The FBI Arrives
Chapter 24 - Message for Holly

"I'll probably lose my citizenship for this."

When I saw the first Mission: Impossible film back in date I was very impressed. Like most people I was excited to see the motion picture version of what was already a very popular television series (two actually). I’ve always been a fan of big-budget, action adventure pictures and Mission: Impossible was very clearly one of those. We got to watch Ethan Hunt and his IMF team perform incredible stunts, ingenious planning and breathtaking action sequences. It wasn’t trying to be anything more than it was; a good, fun ride. I’m therefore a little confused why many people found the sequel, MI:2 to be such a disappointment. Certainly the new director, John Woo, had a much different style of telling what is basically the same story (IMF team must save world from imminent and lethal danger). But when it comes to a franchise like Mission: Impossible I think a different vision is needed. I recognized these differences in MI:2 but I still enjoyed it and thought it stayed true to the heart of Mission: Impossible.

All that is to bring you up to speed on how I felt about the third instalment, before I had even seen it. I was worried. I was worried because so many people seemed to react negatively to MI:2. Would their love of the first film prevent them from ever accepting any other MI movie that wasn’t exactly the same? I was worried because Tom Cruise was getting negative publicity due to his scientology and girlfriend “antics”. Would people base their opinion of MI:3 on Cruise’s personal life? The lives of celebrities have never really interested me that much. I’m certainly intrigued by the lifestyle but when it comes to enjoying a movie I’m really only concerned with the actor’s ability to portray a character. And despite his insanity Tom Cruise portrays an electric and entertaining Ethan Hunt which successfully carries over to the third MI film.

In short, Mission: Impossible III is fantastic.

"It's such a nice car..."

At the helm is first-time film director J. J. Abrams, the same man responsible for directing the hit television series Lost and Alias. In fact it was while Cruise was watching episodes of Alias that he decided to give Abrams a call and offer him the chance to direct M:i:III. Impressively, Abrams manages to deliver a film that is both exciting and dark. All the impressive stunts, technology and planning are still there (in fact there’s arguably more than in the first two films combined) but the tone of the film is what is so intriguing. It’s sinister, frantic and emotional. All these elements combine to create an exhausting ride that both entertains and astounds.

I won’t go into any major details regarding the plot. Hunt and his team of IMF agents must once again go into action trying to stop a villain from obtaining something called the ‘rabbit’s foot’. Only this time Hunt is engaged to be married and has given up field work in exchange for training new agents. This gives him a new emotional side that plays havoc with his decision to once again accept the mission. The opening scene itself shows Hunt captured and forced to watch the villain threaten to execute his fiancé. The tension that is established at the outset only builds through to the movie’s conclusion. There is a lot going on in M:i:III but it all comes together nicely.

"Well I'm assuming the rabbit's foot is some sort of a codename for a deadly weapon. Or it could just be some very expensive bunny appendage."

I have to agree with one of the points mentioned in many other reviews of this film; more Philip Seymour Hoffman. Hoffman is the perfect villain. He plays Owen Davian, an international arms dealer whose vicious nature is only exceeded by his calm detachment. He’s not threatening Hunt when he says he’s going to find, torture and kill his fiancé; he’s stating a fact. Hoffman is magnificent at pulling off the cold-blooded ruthlessness of Davian and it is a disappointment that we don’t get to see more. Not surprisingly this film is all about Cruise.

I contemplated discussing Cruise’s involvement as producer and how his seemingly self-absorbed nature has impacted the film, but you can read all about that in the so-called entertainment magazines. I’m just interested in the movie itself and I have to admit that I was impressed and thoroughly entertained. Say what you want about Cruise, he knows how to make an incredible action flick.

The DVD transfer is presented in 2.35:1 Anamophic widescreen and looks pretty stunning, especially during the action scenes (which is a good 80% of the film). My only complaint is that the contrast seemed a bit too dark. It certainly matches the mood of the film but there were times where I would have preferred a little more detail. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack thunders. A DTS track would have been incredible but I wasn’t disappointed. Any movie that makes your wife have to travel 2 stories in order to tell you she can’t hear her own music is a good movie. Sorry Shauna.

"I need you to trust me."

The 2-Disc collector’s edition comes packed with special features, most of which I have actually watched. There is some very interesting material in here, if you’re interested in that kind of thing. Several featurettes cover the making of the film and focus on everything from the stunts to the story and the characters. Anyone with an interest in filmmaking won’t be disappointed. I was especially intrigued to learn that Cruise insisted on performing all his own stunts. If you’ve seen the film then you know how impressive that is. All in all the DVD package is well worth the money (especially if you got $10 off at Future Shop by picking it up on release day).

The latest news is that Tom Cruise is no longer associated with Paramount Pictures, which means he’s no longer associated with the Mission: Impossible franchise. I think that’s too bad. This third film is a perfect fit with the first two and makes for a sensational trilogy. I don’t know what the future holds for the IMF team but it won’t include Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, a proven action hero.

Mission: Impossible III gets 8 ½ self-destructing messages (out of 10).
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to click here for M:i:III trivia.

"You've got to pick a pocket or two, boys."

I’m a big fan of blockbuster movies. Many of the films in my DVD collection are big-budget productions with lots of special effects, high-profile actors and incredible stunts. There’s just nothing like a really good explosion. So it might seem odd that I’m also a big fan of musicals. While they may not contain many special effects or explosive stunts musicals are just as entertaining. And this weekend I found time to watch two classic musicals that everyone should see at least once: My Fair Lady and Oliver!

I first saw Oliver! when I was in grade 9 or 10. My memory is a little fuzzy but I seem to recall watching it over several English classes. My English teacher at the time, Mr. Albrecht, remains one of my favourite teachers ever. Think of Mr. Keating from Dead Poets Society but with an attitude. Mr. Albrecht would often expose us to different forms and interpretations of literature from Shakespearean plays to music and film. Sadly he passed away last year but I’ll always be thankful for the ways in which he made me appreciate English as more than just a language.

I remember that I instantly liked Oliver! We had already read the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (not Edmund Wells, the well-known Dutch author) and I have to admit that I found it very slow. I think I was probably still a little too young to fully recognize the value of good literature but when I saw the same story in musical form I immediately gained new appreciation for the story. One of the reasons I enjoyed it was simply because it was something to watch rather than read; I’ve always been more of a visual learner. But ultimately it was the music that made me a fan. (Imagine that, a musical that’s enjoyable because of the music!)

It was the combination of catchy tunes, witty lyrics and impressive choreography that made Oliver! so entertaining. There should really be another word to describe “musicals” since their appeal comes from so much more than just the music. There’s more than one clever message in Oliver! and if you listen to the lyrics carefully and take note of the character’s performance you’ll see what I mean. You’ll smile during Fagan’s brilliant delivery of “I’m Reviewing the Situation” and not just because the music is pleasant. There’s a battle raging inside Fagan’s mind and heart and it’s delightfully funny and poignant to see those feelings revealed through smart lyrics and the cadence and rhythm of the song.

"It's clear... we're... going to get along!"

Oliver! was first released in 1968 and it continues to be one of the most entertaining musicals I’ve ever seen. If you’ve never seen it, or even if you have, I strongly urge you to give it a spin in your DVD player. Or come over and give it a spin in mine and we can sing along together with “Food, Glorious Food”, “I’d Do Anything”, “Consider Yourself at Home” and all the other fantastic songs.

Four years earlier, in 1964, one of the most famous and acclaimed musicals of all time was first released; My Fair Lady. I saw this film for the first time with Shauna and her mom several years ago. Everything I said about Oliver! applies to My Fair Lady. Great music, fantastic lyrics and stunning choreography. I instantly liked it and it wasn’t until last night, when we had a chance to see it again with Chris & Amanda, that I realized it is better than I remembered.

Rex Harrison stars as Professor Henry Higgins, a linguistics genius who can tell where anyone was born, within 6 miles, just from hearing their voice. Audrey Hepburn gives one of her most memorable performances as Eliza Doolittle, a lowly flower girl with a thick cockney accent who becomes the subject of a wager. The misogynistic professor predicts that after only 6 months of teaching he can pass Eliza off as a member of high society. What seems like a simple plot is the foundation for a highly entertaining and incredibly funny musical that was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and went on to win 8 of them, including Best Picture.

My Fair Lady is one of the most intelligent and clever musicals that I have ever seen. Even if you’re not a big fan of musicals this one is worth a try. I defy anyone to watch Harrison’s performance of “Why Can’t a Woman be more like a Man” and not laugh out loud. It’s one of those pieces that gets just gets funnier with time. And the music itself remains enjoyable even after 42 years. Again, I challenge anyone to watch “With a Little Bit of Luck” and not tap their feet to the catchy tune and delightful harmonies.

"Women are irrational, that's all there is to that! Their heads are full of cotton, hay, and rags. They're nothing but exasperating, irritating, vacillating, calculating, agitating, maddening and infuriating hags!"

While films like Mission: Impossible 3, Lord of the Rings and X-Men will continue to amaze and entertain with their fantastic effects and big budget productions it’s important to take a look back at the classics. Will Lord of the Rings be as incredible in 40 years? I think it will be and I certainly hope it will be. But there is no doubt that Oliver! and My Fair Lady are still incredible. They have stood the test of time very well and I hope you’ll give them a chance or a second glance.

Please sir, I want some more ‘Oliver!’ trivia. Click here.
Where the devil is the ‘My Fair Lady’ trivia? Oh, here it is.

Before you surf off to another site, leave a comment and let us all know what are some of your favourite classic films. Cheers!

"A Kansas City Shuffle is when everybody looks right, you go left."

This past weekend was filled with more movie-watching goodness. I managed to squeeze 5 films in somehow. From my personal collection I watched X-Men: The Last Stand, Dead Poets Society and Ronin. And I decided to go out and rent a couple: Annapolis, which had very little potential and managed to cash in on none of it, and Lucky Number Slevin which turned out to be way better than I thought it was going to be. Today I get to write a review for one of those movies that just rocks!

Lucky Number Slevin tells the tale of Slevin Kelevra (Josh Hartnett) who is just the wrong guy, in the wrong place at the wrong time. After losing his job, his girlfriend and his apartment in the same day, things actually manage to get worse. He is mistaken for a friend of his who happens to owe a lot of money to the town’s two biggest crime lords: The Boss (Morgan Freeman) and The Rabbi (Sir Ben Kingsley). He is forced in to taking on a hitman contract against the son of The Rabbi and must also come up with $33,000 to pay off his missing friend’s gambling debt. With an eager neighbour (Lucy Liu) helping out and a ruthless assassin (Bruce Willis) following his every move, Slevin’s day goes from worse to abysmal.

"Sense is something you have when you have a choice."

At first glance Lucky Number Slevin looks like any other gangster movie. If anything though, the inclusion of so many high profile actors in one movie should tell you that a lot more is going on than meets the eye. This is one of those great caper films that only gives you enough information in each scene to whet your appetite for the next. The storyline unfolds in a clever and curious manner with flashbacks and jump-forwards filling in the gaps. I was not only entertained by some witty acting, but was also enthralled with the ingenious plot. Maybe I’m hyping it up too much but ultimately Lucky Number Slevin turned out to be far, far more engaging and entertaining that I thought it would. And I had high hopes to start with.

The cinematography and sets are just as curious as the plot. It’s all carefully arranged and decorated to keep your mind stimulated while trying to figure out what is really going on. And while I did figure out a few things early on I was still plenty surprised by a number of different twists and turns throughout the film. Unlike Inside Man, which I reviewed last month, Lucky Number Slevin manages to remain engaging and entertaining through to its finale. This is definitely a film that I could watch again and again.

"I was thinking that if you're still alive when I get
back from work tonight... maybe we could go
out to dinner or something?"

One of the most refreshing parts of the film was the various characters, played by actors that have seldom been seen in these rolls. Josh Hartnett portrays Slevin in a cool, relaxed and very witty manner. His interactions with the other characters are well scripted and delightfully executed. Lucy Liu is equally as clever and provides for some sharp dialogue with Slevin. Stanley Tucci even makes an appearance with a surprising and wonderfully acted finish. Morgan Freeman is probably the most startling in his role as a ruthless, yet intelligent mob boss. His manner reflects the charming and cheerful Freeman we’re used to in other films, but the heart of this character is unquestionably cold-blooded. His final confrontation with Sir Ben Kingsley’s Rabbi is chilling and revealing. And Bruce Willis does what he does best; being Bruce Willis. This is a good thing.

The picture quality of the single-disc DVD was phenomenal. Several times I was actually slightly distracted from the storyline by the clean, crisp colors and definition. This is one of those DVDs that makes you wonder how much better HD could actually look. Of course, having said that, I’ve actually seen HD and trust me, it truly is better than you can imagine. I was also impressed with the sound. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track produces a perfect balance between dialogue, music and sound effects. If you’ve ever seen the final gunfight in Open Range then you have an idea of how startling and impressive the sound effects are in Lucky Number Slevin.

"My name’s Goodkat. You can call me Mr. Goodkat."

Bonus features include two commentaries with director, Paul McGuigan, a couple of the actors and the writer. Deleted scenes and a short making-of featurette round out a fairly slim special feature offering with the standard trailer thrown in. I’m hoping this film will gain a good following like The Usual Suspects (no, I’m not comparing that phenomenal film to this quite-good film) and a 2-disc Special Edition will be available in the future. As usual, I haven’t had a chance to watch any of the bonus material. I keep saying that I’ll get back to you when I do watch it, but we both know that’s not likely. Do you really want to read a review on a movie’s commentary track?

I’ve read a couple of reviews that were very negative towards Lucky Number Slevin. I guess, like some movies, this is one that will either appeal to you greatly or will leave a bad taste in your mouth. But since you have great respect for me (you’re reading my blog aren’t you?) then you’ll obviously love Lucky Number Slevin and will be sending me numerous emails proclaiming my genius as a DVD reviewer and offering to name your next child after me in honour of my excellent taste in films.

Lucky Number Slevin gets 8 ½ broken noses (out of 10).
Look right, then go left and find ‘Lucky Number Slevin’ trivia here.

"Spiders? Why couldn't it be 'follow the butterflies'?"

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of hosting the Third Official Ridiculathon of 2006: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Chamber of Ridiculousness. In one day, myself and some fellow movie fanatics watched all four Harry Potter films. While it was not the longest Ridiculathon I have ever had, it was still over 10 hours of movie-watching, not including breaks. So many thanks and congratulations to Chris, Amanda and Anne, who all made it through the entire day! And a special nod goes out to Laura and Brian who were each able to join us for one of the films.

"It's Levi-OOO-sa, not Levio-SA."

While the Harry Potter books are some of the most entertaining I have ever read the films themselves are actually not as impressive as they could be. I enjoyed watching them, especially in the Ridiculathon format, but I have to admit that they can seem somewhat lacking at times. I’m not sure if that’s because the books themselves are so full of character development and plot or if the films are geared toward a younger audience. Either way they are very entertaining but I think there is potential in the franchise that is going unrealized.

"Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary
member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five time winner
of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award."

The fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is helmed by yet another director, David Yates. I am not familiar with any of his work but am hoping that his direction manages to finally realize the full potential of J.K. Rowling’s sensational imagination. The film is currently in post-production and will be released sometime in 2007. Of course, that means I won’t see until it is released on DVD sometime later that year or early in 2008.

My only major complaint about the films so far is Harry Potter himself. I still cannot understand why he doesn’t even open his mouth when the Goblet of Fire produces his name. Despite all the accusatory looks and Dumbledore’s near fury at reading Potter’s name, Harry quietly makes his way to the room with the other 3 champions, not saying a word. Why on earth wouldn’t he immediately state “I didn’t put my name in!”? He doesn’t even try to leave the competition. He doesn’t say a word while Barty Crouch and the others are discussing whether he should compete or not. I simply don’t understand it. There are too many times where Harry decides to keep his mouth shut rather than divulge the truth. Add that to Radcliffe’s poor acting skills and you get a frustrating film version of a beloved character. He certainly looks like the Harry Potter described in the books, but I find his attitude and lack of maturity quite annoying.

"Something wicked this way comes."

On a more positive note I am more than thrilled with Alan Rickman’s portrayal of Severus Snape. I swear the character was created just for him. I can think of no other actor who could hope to pull off the same sinister and mysterious quality that defines Snape. And although Rickman is notorious for playing the bad guy, I refuse to admit that Snape is actually bad. Yes, I’ve read the Half Blood Prince, but I think there is more going on here than meets the eye. Mark my words, Snape will be justified in book seven.

The Ridiculathon itself was very enjoyable. We started the day off at approximately 10:00am and finished sometime around 10:30pm. Everyone was prepared with plenty of snacks and my lovely wife provided a delicious lunch. It was comfortable, it was loud, and it was a blast. And if you missed it, have no fear. When the fifth movie is released on DVD you can be sure that another Ridiculathon will be planned and ready.

"As from this moment, The Triwizard Tournament has begun!"

Next up, the Fourth Official Ridiculathon of 2006: Star Trek: The Search for More Ridiculousity. Stay tuned for details!

A Year in Reviews

Well it’s been a whole year since I first started this little blog. Although my postings have been somewhat sporadic lately I am pleased that I’ve managed to stick with it for this long. And I’m very, very happy that some of you have found it to be interesting and entertaining to read. I hope you’ll keep coming back for another year.

As a way of looking back I thought I would take a quick look at some of the movies I’ve watched in the last year. So here are 12 movies I saw; one for each month. These are the ones I consider the best that I saw that month. Enjoy and please share your comments with me; I love hearing from all of you!

So get comfy. This could get lengthy (which is how I like my movies).

October 2005

One of the first films I mentioned when I began my blog was Batman Begins. It was definitely one of the best movies I saw that month. It was refreshing and exciting to see the Batman franchise brought back to life, especially after the catastrophe of Batman & Robin. Christopher Nolan’s dark, new vision of the caped crusader created a world that I hadn’t really seen since Tim Burton’s original. I remember gasping when one of the thugs is violently pulled inside a storage container, his scream cut short, and then silence. This was the Batman I remember reading about in the comics.

November 2005

It turns out I watched a lot of great movies in November. High Fidelity, The Pianist and Leon stand out among the rest. But I have to mention The Count of Monte Cristo, if for no other reason than I’ve watched it four times in the last year and a half. I just love this movie. The story and characters are so intriguing and the acting is incredibly well done. Everything about this film is entertaining and engaging. I even used a clip of it during this summer’s AYC (Anglican Youth Camp) as an illustration of God’s unending belief in us. That one clip caught the interest of a number of teens who then wanted to see the film for themselves. It also inspired me to read the book (given as a fantastic gift from my wife). Any film that can produce that kind of interest is well worth a look. And another. And another.

December 2005

While I had to suffer through Fantastic Four during the holiday season, I’ve got to give kudos to Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I watched it three times over the course of the Christmas week. This is just one of those fun movies that has great action and lots of laughs. Brad Pitt is in his element in this kind of movie. The action sequences are incredible, as long as you’re willing to suspend your disbelief (which is a fundamental requirement of movie-lovers) and the story is extremely entertaining. The image of Brad Pitt careening over a ditch in the back of an out-of-control car while holding his finger up and yelling “We need to talk!” is unforgettable.

January 2006

January was all about 24, Lost, and the Band of Brothers Ridiculathon (the first Ridiculathon of 2006). However, I did manage to watch a few movies (including The Count of Monte Cristo) and The Incredibles stands out in my memory. Pixar creates beautiful, hilarious, thrilling films and I think The Incredibles is one of their best. Everything from the soundtrack to the story and the animation was masterfully done. I recently watched the special features and commentary from the film and am blown away by how difficult it is to achieve some of those effects. I haven’t seen the most recent Pixar creation, Cars, but I’ve heard it doesn’t quite stand up to the studios past films. I can believe that; The Incredibles set the bar very, very high. Watch it again, soon. It’s better than you remember.

February 2006

The Star Wars Ridiculathon (the second of 2006) made its debut in February. But the one film that stuck out most for me that month was Serenity. It is based on the short-lived television series, Firefly, which I have never seen, but am keen to see. The film is a sci-fi / comedy / action / western / thriller, and it has some of the best writing and dialogue. The quips and comebacks used by the characters are what make this film so entertaining, and the story itself is pretty good too. I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I was just expecting a mindless action romp but it turns out there is a fair degree of intelligence in this little gem. I highly recommend it and suggest you all pool your money to buy my the complete Firefly television series on DVD. Only $29.99 at HMV!

March 2006

Joaquin Phoenix is fast becoming one of my favourite actors and Walk the Line is a big reason for that. Shauna and I are big fans of the ‘music-related’ movies, especially those based on real-life musicians like Cole Porter (De-Lovely) and Bobby Darin (Beyond the Sea). Apparently Johnny Cash himself, before his death, had selected Phoenix to portray him in the story of his rise to fame, struggle with drugs and tumultuous relationship with June Carter. When I first saw the film in March I was blown away by the incredible acting, and singing, talent of Joaquin Phoenix. It’s almost haunting to see how closely he resembles Cash in his performance. Great music, incredible acting and an engaging real-life story make this a definite must-see.

April 2006

It’s difficult to only pick one movie from this month. Somehow I found the time to watch 23 movies in April and Shauna and I saw several that were very, very good. Rent, King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia are just a few of the movies we managed to squeeze in. However, this was also the month in which I saw Scarface for the first time ever. I have always appreciated Al Pacino’s acting talent and I thought I should finally see one of his debut roles (and his most famous). While it’s certainly not the best film I have ever seen I will admit that Pacino does an incredible job in bringing Tony Montagna to life. I think some viewers underestimate just how much work was involved in simply getting the accent right. Pacino makes it seem second nature. And the thematic elements of Scarface have become some of the most well known, and used, in film making. Say hello to my little friend and give Scarface a viewing.

May 2006

With summer on the horizon my movie watching started to take a dive. But it’s not hard to pick my favourite from May. Russell Crowe is another favourite actor of mine and his performance in the Ron Howard film, Cinderella Man, was more proof of his ability. It’s not just a “boxing movie”, as my wife describes it. First, it’s a true story and brings to light the struggle and reality of America during the Great Depression. Second, it’s a brilliantly directed film with wonderful cinematography and writing. And thirdly, it’s a really, really good boxing movie. The movie doesn’t pull any punches (sorry, couldn’t resist) about its clichéd plot (read: happy ending) but the telling of that plot is what makes it so entertaining. I strongly recommend it.

June 2006

The low-point of the year, as far as movie watching is concerned. I only found time for 9 movies in June. I’ll never forgive myself. On the plus side it makes it very easy for me to pick my favourite from that month. The Red Violin is a diamond-in-the-rough film that Shauna and I discovered a few years ago. We both instantly fell in love with it and I’ve been hunting the globe for the perfect DVD release ever since (so far there have been problems with all 3 different versions I’ve tried). This is the beautiful story of a violin as it travels over the world and through the lives of a variety of different people. It’s a story of life, love, music, passion, violence, greed and perfection. You’ve never seen a film quite like The Red Violin and I urge you to see it if you haven’t already. This is the kind of film that could be written about and spoken of for hours and days and years.

July 2006

While watching the Band of Brothers series a while back I gained an appreciation for Ron Livingston. His performance in the WWII mini-series was phenomenal. Neither Shauna nor I had ever seen Office Space, which stars Livingston, so we decided to give it a blind buy. I’m very glad to say that our decision was not fruitless as Office Space is the definitive comedy about office politics, cubicles, staplers and life in general. This little cult classic features some very memorable characters and is a must-see for anyone who has ever worked in a Dilbert-like environment. The printer-smashing scene is one of my favourites; great music.

August 2006

My birthday month saw an unofficial Ridiculathon (#3 of 2006) with some friends (8 films in 2 days), one of whom had never seen any of the Indiana Jones films (I won’t mention any names, but his initials are Chris Siegle. Oops!). It was also my chance to work AYC and make the teens watch some of my favourite movie moments. But my favourite of the month was probably Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Quite simply, it’s a classic. Paul Newman and Robert Redford are the classic film duo in one of the last classic westerns of cinema. Like Scarface, if you have any interest in films you owe it to yourself to see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. You won’t regret it.

September 2006

Last month was the start of Lost: Season 2 for Shauna and I, so I’m amazed I was able to watch any movies at all. In addition to catching Mr. & Mrs. Smith again I was fortunate enough to discover Inside Man. While my review of the film indicated that the ending may have been a bit of a let down, the film itself is very well done and one that I will remember for a long time. If you like heist films then you’ll love Inside Man. Whether or not you discover the “mystery” early on like I did, you’ll still enjoy seeing how the robbery takes place. There are a lot of intelligent ideas in this film and the acting is top notch. Clive Owen gives a great performance as the heist leader while Denzel Washington is his usual brilliant self as the detective attempting to stop it all. A great film with some intense moments.

Well, there you go. A 12 film year-in-review. I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts with you and I hope you’ve taken the opportunity to see a few films this year that you’ve never seen before. Now hit that ‘add comment’ button and share with us some of your favourites from the past 12 months.

[sung] "Unhappy... unhappy... very, very, very, very..."

Ever since Ferris Bueller’s Day Off I’ve been a fan of Mathew Broderick. He created a character that has become an icon for my generation and anyone else who experienced any part of the 80s. When I heard that he and Nathan Lane were starring in the Broadway production of The Producers I was sorry that I would never get a chance to see it. And finally when the stage production was turned into a film version both Shauna and I were thrilled that we would finally get a chance to see one of our favourite 80s actors in a hit musical.

Ferris Bueller, where have you gone? Bueller? Bueller?

The first 10 minutes of the film were painful. Not painful like Reservoir Dogs or Saving Private Ryan, where the agony you feel is part of the director’s intention. No, the pain in The Producers was a result of the stilted, forced acting of Mr. Broderick. It wasn’t funny and it wasn’t intelligent; it was silly and nearly unbearable to witness. Shauna and I had to literally turn the whole thing off after about an hour. Maybe the film gets better in it’s second half but I’ll never know. Don’t make me go back there!

In its defence, a friend of mine and her husband (shout out to Amanda & Chris) watched the original Mel Brooks version of the film and they said the Broderick character was portrayed almost exactly the same. So it’s possible that Broderick’s acting is not the problem; it’s the character that is so darn annoying.

I can’t justify giving a full review of this film since I didn’t watch the whole thing and therefore I won’t be giving it a score. Suffice it to say that there’s a chance you’ll either really enjoy the film or you’ll want to hang yourself before it’s half over.

A couple of the musical numbers were quite well done, specifically “I want to be a Producer”. There, I said something nice about it.

"Buses, Kojak, or I'll give you two of the longest days of your life."

It seems like there’s been a bit of a dry spell lately in terms of really incredible movies. Now I know that a number of big blockbusters premiered this year (Pirates of the Caribbean, Superman Returns, X3, etc) but it still feels like it’s been a really long time since we’ve been given another Usual Suspects or Fight Club type of movie. You know, the kind of movie that really gets you thinking and messes with your head. The kind of movie that finishes with you going “Wow…what just happened? That was AWESOME!” I was hoping to have that kind of experience with Inside Man, and I’m glad to say that I did…almost.

Inside Man starts off like some of the best ‘mind-bending’ movies I’ve seen. Clive Owen opens the film with a simply monologue to the audience. “My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and never repeat myself.” He goes on to inform the audience about the perfect bank heist he has planned. We are quickly taken to the job in question and within 20 minutes the police are already on the scene with hostage negotiators and SWAT. For the next hour or so the film is an exceptional roller coaster ride of clever tactics, flash-forwards and suspicious characters. I was giddy with excitement that I had finally found another intelligent caper film to compete with Kaiser Soze and Tyler Durden. The last 40 minutes of the film managed to dispel those thoughts, however. But we’ll get to that in a minute.

"The What is easy: recently I planned and set in motion events
to execute the perfect bank robbery; that's also the When."

A word must be said about the director. Spike Lee is known for his more dramatic, often controversial films such as ‘Malcolm X’, ‘Jungle Fever’ and ‘Summer of Sam’. There is no denying that he is a remarkably intelligent director and has a unique way of bringing characters to life on the screen. ‘25th Hour’, starring Edward Norton, is an excellent example of how diverse and different a director is Spike Lee. ‘Inside Man’ is apparently Lee’s attempt to make a more “mainstream” action/suspense film. And although the majority of the plot and action are relatively straightforward, there are certainly a number of Spike Lee-isms sprinkled throughout. References to racism and police brutality are readily apparent. However, aside from the political comments Lee may be making, the film itself is brilliantly directed. The pacing is perfect; fast enough to keep you in the action, but also disconnected enough to provide that sense of confusion and wonder we often enjoy in a good caper film.

An impressive roster of actors provides some very interesting and well acted characters. Clive Owen, Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer and Willem Defoe all give the high calibre performances we’ve come to expect from such big names. And in most cases the characters are quite dissimilar to the roles normally associated with these actors. Storyline aside it was very entertaining to watch these actors do their thing. The tension between Owen and Washington’s characters is especially exciting during the second act of the film.

"As for the Why: beyond the obvious financial motivation,
it's exceedingly simple... because I can."

I should also briefly mention that the plan itself, the actual bank heist, is brilliant. I’m not going to give away any of the details since that’s what makes the movie so enjoyable. But if you like caper films with really clever and unique ways of getting the job done, you’re sure to enjoy Inside Man. At least for the first two acts.

And that brings us to the third act. The movie sets itself up as a clever, brain-twisting piece but seems to fall flat in the end. I’m not sure if my expectations were too high, but it just felt like Spike Lee was creating something very intricate only to have the resolution be far too simplistic. I picked up on a subtle piece of information early on in the film and was eagerly anticipating the moment where my theory would be proven wrong or realize that I had made the wrong assumptions. It turns out I was exactly correct, so the final “reveal” was not very exciting for me. My wife, Shauna, watched the film as well and later admitted that she did not pick up on the same theory I did, but that the reveal was still not that exciting. The film as a whole was quite good and the story is definitely well written, but something in the end felt like a bit of a let down. I guess I’m still waiting for the next big ‘mind-bender’.

"Which leaves us only with the How;
and therein, as the Bard tells us, lies the rub."

Visually ‘Inside Man’ looks as good as any of the mainstream movies coming out on DVD recently. Though with the introduction of HD DVD and Blu Ray, Standard Definition DVDs are going to start getting lower marks. Overall I did not notice any visual artefacts or inconsistencies. The sound was definitely noticeable though, but in a very good way. The opening title-song was not only very catchy, but used the surrounds heavily and got my subwoofer thumping. A number of specific scenes also used the surround to great effect. It’s hard to explain but if you love good audio in a film then you should definitely check this one out.

I’m sure there were some bonus features somewhere on the DVD, but since it was a rental and already overdue, I had to take it back before I could have a closer look. So instead I’ll take a guess. Hmmm, I bet there are some deleted scenes, a making-of featurette and oh, I dunno, a theatrical trailer. I never really understood the point of including a trailer with the full-length film itself. It’s sort of like opening a can of coke you just bought only to hear a tiny, electronic advertisement in the can say ‘Buy coke!’ Um…I just did. Shut up and let me drink it.

"You got everybody marching to your beat,
including me, and i'm through buying it!"

Overall, Inside Man was definitely entertaining and a very well done film. I still haven’t decided if the let-down in the end was due to my high expectations or if the film was trying to be something it ended up not being. I urge my readers to give this one a look and let me know your thoughts. Ultimately I can’t really advise you to buy it since I can’t decide for myself. Probably not, I guess, since I would only be reminded of what it could have been. But then again I do seem to have a weak spot for DVDs. 285 weak spots, so far.

‘Inside Man’ gets 8 jumpsuits (out of 10).
Click here for ‘Inside Man’ trivia and I’ll release one of the hostages.