"Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today."

For the past few days I have been hopelessly addicted to ‘24’. I saw the last five or six episodes of Season Four a while back and when Shauna and I saw the first three seasons on DVD for a really great price, we couldn’t resist. Well, I couldn’t resist. As such, I haven’t been watching nearly as many movies as I would like. But here’s a brief look at what I have been watching.

I really liked Ladder 49 the first time I saw it, but it would have been difficult to put my finger on what it was that impressed me so much. After watching it for a second time I think I have it figured out. Aside from having spectacular visuals of some incredible fires, the film is an emotional roller coaster that takes the viewer through virtually every mountain and valley of Jack Morrison’s life as a firefighter, husband, father and friend. The thing I enjoyed most about this film was the way I reacted to each of Jack’s situations. I was excited and thrilled as he fought his first fire. I laughed and smiled when he met his future wife and hung out at the pub with his closest friends. I cheered when he saved a man’s life. I felt sorrow, joy, heartache, elation, frustration, pride, anger, delight, fear and regret. Some have argued that the film has no plot. First of all, there is a very distinct plot - it just happens to be segmented between numerous flashbacks of Jack’s life. And second of all, the purpose of the film is to show that life, Jack's struggles and victories. Ladder 49 was intended to be a celebration of the life of a firefighter and I think it accomplishes that exceptionally well. It certainly belongs right beside Backdraft as one of the quintessential ‘fire’ movies.

Anyone with a fascination for World War II, and that’s most of us, would appreciate Memphis Belle. Based on the true story of a B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ that flew 25 missions during the war, Memphis Belle portrays the final mission of the aircraft and her crew. The film was released in 1990 and seems to have suffered during the transfer to DVD. The video quality is a bit grainy in areas and certainly doesn’t have the nice crisp picture quality we’ve come to expect from today’s new releases. There were also a couple of scenes where I felt the acting was forced, but ultimately my fondness for this movie has little to do with any of these things. The story itself is enough to keep you entertained. The characters are diverse and much of the enjoyment comes from watching them interact with each other. It’s another one of those bizarre family bonds that can only form during the harshness of war. Sean Astin, Matthew Modine, Harry Connick Jr., Billy Zane, Eric Stoltz, Tate Donovan, David Strathairn and John Lithgow make for a remarkably star studded cast, though most of these actors didn’t become ‘big’ until years later. Memphis Belle is definitely worth a look.

My single most favourite comedy of all time has to be Groundhog Day. Which is ironic since I don’t think Groundhog Day is the funniest movie I’ve ever seen. I just love the concept of the film and Bill Murray’s performance is one of his best. For the three people out there who haven’t seen this gem yet, let me fill you in. Phil Connors (Murray) is a self centered weather man who is sent to Punxsatawny, Pennsilvania to film the annual Groundhog Day festival. His new producer Rita (Andie MacDowell) and cameraman Larry (Chris Elliot) accompany him. Phil’s alarm clock goes off at 6:00am, he does his report then immediately heads back home. Unfortunately, a blizzard prevents them from leaving and Phil must spend the rest of the day in Punxsatawny. The next morning his alarm goes off at 6:00am and Phil discovers that Groundhog Day is repeating itself. The exact same day continues to recur over and over, with Phil the only one aware. Imagine what you might do if you had the exact same day to relive countless times. Consider the possibilities available to you, knowing exactly what everyone was going to say and do, exactly when everything was going to happen. Groundhog Day does a remarkable job of taking us through virtually every one of those possibilities. It also raises countless philosophical questions, but that’s a blog for another day.

What do you get when you mix the sequel to an action blockbuster, director John Woo (Face/Off, Broken Arrow, Windtalkers) and mega-superstar Tom Cruise? You get a movie with a so-so plot and tons of incredible stunts, thrilling action scenes, really big explosions and stunning cinematography. Mission: Impossible 2 is supposed to be an action-filled thrill ride and that’s exactly what it is. Is it complex, deeply thematic and rife with drama and tension? No. Is it meant to be? Absolutely not. This is not a realistic depiction of spy work. But it is the kind of spy work that is incredibly entertaining and ultra-cool. If you want realism, turn on the news (and even then, good luck). If you want pure entertainment and thrill-a-minute action, turn on Mission: Impossible 2. If you happen to turn on the DVD with a good TV and home theatre system you’ll be even more impressed with the beautiful picture and amazing sound. This is a great flick!

Raising Arizona is probably one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Which is ironic since it’s not my most favourite comedy of all time. One of the Coen brothers’ first films, Raising Arizona is the story of H.I. and Edwina McDunnough and their simple desire to raise a child of their own. I’m not going to give any more details about the plot. The real humour of the film is in the dialogue and over-the-top chase scenes. If you’re familiar with the Coen Brothers you already know that this is no ordinary comedy. The characters are unlike any you’ve seen before and their actions and reactions are pure hilarity. Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter are arguably at their best in Raising Arizona. This is a comedy classic that is definitely a must-see.

Sound the alarm and click here for ‘Ladder 49’ trivia.
Bombs away! ‘Memphis Belle’ trivia is on target here.
I definitely see a shadow. Six more weeks of ‘Groundhog Day’ trivia.
‘Mission: Impossible 2’ trivia will self-destruct in 5 minutes.
Turn to the left and click here for ‘Raising Arizona’ trivia.

I used to think that was good?!?

For those of you who like to keep tabs on my DVD collection and Wishlist (and I know you all do!), you'll notice that Batman Forever is currently on that latter list. I used to own it on VHS and can remember watching it numerous times. As it turns out, I think I was either suffering from a mental condition or I was sniffing glue. Industrial strength glue. The kind they use on the space shuttle. Er...yeah.

I just happened to catch the first 10 minutes of Batman Forever on TV this evening and I can't believe how corny and ridiculous that movie really is. Especially since I have such fond memories of it. (Did I just end two sentences in a row with a preposition?) I guess I appreciated Jim Carrey's humor. And let's be honest, how can you go wrong with Nicole Kidman? But ultimately, this is just bad writing, worse set design and terrible everything else. I submit exhibit A, the opening lines of the film:

(As Batman prepares to enter the ridiculous Batmobile and save the world)
Alfred: Can I persuade you to take a sandwich, sir?
Batman: I'll get drive-thru.

I would submit exhibits B through Z, but I think it might make my blog explode.

Sorry 'Batman Forever'. We had some good times, but I've grown. I've changed. It's time we moved on. I think we both knew it wasn't going to last. It's not you, it's me. No wait...it's most definitely you. Drive-thru?! What were you thinking?!

"That was totally wicked!" (Review)

Every time a new Pixar movie comes out I think that it can’t possibly be better than the last one. When Toy Story 2 was released I thought it was just another Disney sequel money grab. After seeing it, however, I was convinced the sequel was actually better than the original. Then came A Bug’s Life. No way could it be better than the Toy Story franchise. Way. Monsters Inc. followed and again I was blown away by the unique story, incredible animation and hilarious dialogue. Finding Nemo was up next, proving that Pixar had once again upped the ante. And in fine Pixar tradition they’ve outdone themselves yet again with The Incredibles.

Mr. Incredible is just your average super hero, saving lives, rescuing cats and protecting the people of Metroville from countless villains. He’s one of many ‘supers’ living in a city where such heroes are almost commonplace. When a rescued citizen sues Mr. Incredible for saving him when he didn’t want to be saved it starts an avalanche of lawsuits that eventually forces the supers into hiding, giving up their powers in order to lead normal lives. Fifteen years later, Bob Parr, mild mannered insurance agent, is once again called into action and dons the suit of Mr. Incredible. But this time he’s got a wife and three super-kids to manage.

One of the things that makes the Pixar films so successful is that they’re all so different. Each has its own unique setting and premise that makes each film’s plot that much more enjoyable. Toys, bugs, monsters, fish, superheroes and, coming soon, cars. Each film is an entirely new concept and I think that plays a huge role in ensuring each movie is unique and exciting. Like all the other Pixar films, The Incredibles has terrific animation, an intelligent and witty script and fantastic voice acting. Put all these elements together and you get another ‘incredible’ animated feature.

The Incredibles definitely has a James Bond meets Superman flavour to it. The music alone inspires thoughts of bravado and wit in the face of danger. It’s an uplifting soundtrack that really adds to the experience. And like any good spy or superhero flick, it’s filled with plenty of fast paced action, right off the pages of a comic book or Saturday morning cartoon. The high speed chase with Dash in the third act reminded me of the speeder bike scene from Return of the Jedi. It’s thrilling and a ton of fun.

The 2-disc DVD is presented in an Anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Being a computer generated film, The Incredibles looks amazing. The colors are sharp and vibrant with nary a defect to be found. No complaints about the video quality here. The sound is also extremely well done. The film makes good use of the Dolby Digital 5.1 track and it put my whole system through its paces. Whether it was the deep, booming thunder of a 6-story renegade robot or the crisp, jazzy tones of the film’s score, the sound was phenomenal throughout.

A second disc includes a number of special features including a new Pixar animated short, ‘Jack-Jack Attack’. This little bit of bonus material is hilarious and I highly recommend watching it right after you’ve seen the film. Toward the end of the main feature, Elastigirl checks her messages and receives a number of bizarre and panicked calls from the babysitter. ‘Jack-Jack Attack’ sheds more light on the situation and is created to match the main film’s dialogue exactly. It’s brilliantly entertaining. As for the other special features…um…I’ll have to get back to you on that.

Bottom line, if you like Pixar films, you’ll love The Incredibles. It’s a new story, a new setting and a ton of fun. It still amazes me that this franchise can create such terrific movies without reusing any of the same gags or ideas. The newest feature, Cars, is slated to premier this summer. If the past is any indication, this new film should be even better than the rest but with The Incredibles the bar has been set awfully high.

The Incredibles gets 8 ½ capes (out of 10)

** Yes, I finally had to resort to using half-points.**

It’s showtime! Click here for ‘The Incredibles’ trivia.

"This is a whole other game. And it's serious and it's dangerous. And it's not one you want to lose." (Review)

My friend Vince is somewhat obsessed with the American military, particularly the American intelligence network. Although he’s a proud Canadian, I know he’s a little upset that his chances of being a CIA spook are fairly limited. It made perfect sense, then, that one of his Christmas gifts to me would be a copy of Spy Game, one of the best CIA movies I’ve ever seen.

Robert Redford stars as Nathan Muir, a CIA agent responsible for the recruitment and training of field operative Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt). Stationed first in Europe, then the Middle East, Bishop and Muir conduct a number of covert operations ranging from mole hunts to assassinations. When Bishop goes 'off the reservation’ and attempts to rescue an asset from a Chinese prison, Muir is summoned by his CIA superiors to explain.

What first looks like a basic spy movie, and sounds like one due to the movie’s simple title, is really an in-depth, intriguing look at how spy games really work. The real cat and mouse action takes place within CIA headquarters as Muir attempts to both beguile his superiors and gain more information about Bishop’s location and motives. Robert Redford’s portrayal of the continually surprising Muir is what makes the film so enjoyable to watch. As the audience we are privy to a number of Muir’s trade secrets but he still manages to keep us guessing as the film progresses. It’s easy to see why Vince likes this film so much. It’s an informative and revealing look at how the CIA truly operates. Or rather, how it used to operate during Muir’s ‘old school’ days.

Spy Game combines plenty of fast-paced action and espionage with equal amounts of cunning subterfuge and misdirection. Aside from the film’s tense opening sequence, virtually all of Brad Pitt’s performances take place during flashbacks where his character is explained. These scenes incorporate most of the action while Robert Redford’s wily games take place mainly through dialogue alone. And it’s these clever verbal exchanges that make Spy Game the intelligent and entertaining movie that it is.

The picture itself looks quite good, although a number of the scenes are intended to look grainy and washed out, particularly the European sequences. Colors are crisp and the detail is sharp. I didn’t notice any problems with the video at all and was quite pleased with the 2.35:1 Anamorphic transfer. The DTS 5.1 track is a welcome bonus and I’m happy to say that the sound is fantastic. The surrounds are used quite frequently and help create the right ambience, whether you’re in a Chinese prison or flying over Vietnam in a helicopter. Overall the DVD presentation is very good.

Among the special features are a couple of commentaries, alternate versions, deleted scenes, a script-to-storyboard featurette and behind the scenes information. The most interesting feature is a section which displays the requirements for CIA acceptance. Do you have what it takes to be an operative? Of course, I haven’t actually watched all the special features and I really intend on doing that one day. Maybe I’ll designate one month to be Special Features Month and I’ll watch nothing but special features and blog about them here. Ooh, I bet you’re looking forward to that!
Spy Game is a well-directed film with great acting and a compelling script. If you’re a fan of the spy genre at all then this movie is a must-see. While it may not have the high tech gadgetry of the Bond films or the ultra-classified nature of a Treadstone operative, Spy Game is one of the most realistic depictions of the CIA. Of course, there’s no way to know for sure if Spy Game is completely accurate. We could get the folks down in Langley to tell us, but then they’d have to kill us.

Spy Game gets 8 levels of eyes-only classification (out of 10).

Find a secure line and then click here for ‘Spy Game’ trivia.

"Guys...where are we?"

I haven’t been watching many movies lately for one reason. Lost. I got the first season on DVD for Christmas (thanks Shauna!) and we decided to start watching it about a week ago. I don’t think I’ve really done anything else since…

I remember hearing all the hype about the show last year and figured it was just like any other new television series. Of all the new shows that come out every year one of them has to be the best and I just figured Lost was it. Nothing more than that. When it became available to buy on DVD, Shauna and I thought it would probably be worth owning, simply because of all the good things we had heard about it. Now, having seen the entire first season, I can see what all the hype was about. I think it is the single best television show I have seen in years. Perhaps ever.

The premise is seemingly simple. The pilot episode opens with a plane crash on a tropical island. The first frantic moments focus on the survivors attempting to make sense of what has happened and help those still stuck in the wreckage. The next frantic moments have the survivors exploring the island, looking for any way to find help. This was pretty much all I knew about the show before I started watching and I honestly thought that was all it was going to be about. Well, it’s not that kind of show. If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, come over and watch the first episode and you’ll quickly know what I mean.

This show must be watched. That’s the secret behind its incredible success. Lost has great characters, delivered by great performances, but a lot of other successful shows have that too. Lost has incredible production value, often looking like something you would see in a movie theatre instead of on a television network. But then, shows like CSI, Las Vegas and 24 also have pretty high production costs. In the end, the quality that sets Lost apart is that it must be watched. Not a single episode leaves you without several questions so intriguing that you’ll find yourself watching the next episode right away, if you have the DVD, or going insane waiting a whole week for the next one to air. Lost is rife with mystery, suspense, tension and plenty of ‘what the hell is going on’ moments.

That being said, I really can’t tell you anything more about it. You must watch it. I guess it stands to reason that there are some people out there who don’t like the show, but I’d say it’s a small minority. Chances are you’ll not only enjoy Lost, you’ll find yourself sucked in with the rest of us, unable to eat, sleep or breathe until you watch just five minutes more. And then five minutes more. And so on. And it’s not just the events on the island that will intrigue you. The show makes wonderful use of numerous flashbacks, showing the characters lives and events before the doomed flight of Oceanic 815. This combination keeps you guessing in both directions. Where did the characters come from? Who were they before the crash? What’s going to happen to them next?

There’s just too much going on in Lost to accurately put it into words. And there’s a lot more going on in the show than first meets the eyes. After learning something in Episode 18 you’ll want to go back and watch the first 17 episodes again to pick up on the subtle references contained therein. This is a well thought out, brilliantly written show. The plot is simple and yet more complex than you can possibly imagine.

My only gripe is that Season Two is already underway and I haven’t watched a single episode. I’m going to have to wait for it to come out on DVD sometime in the next year. When it does, I’ll have to book a week off work so I can catch up.

Get Lost.

"We're going to have to re-do every conversation we've ever had." (Review)

Well, the holidays are over and I’m thrilled to admit that my DVD collection has grown rather significantly. Shauna and I had to go to Ikea (I mean ‘got’ to go to Ikea) to buy new shelves in order to fit the 224 DVDs we now own. That means a lot of movie watching for the start of 2006 and, hopefully, many new reviews coming soon to a blog near you. Stay tuned!

To start off 2006 I thought I would write a review of one of my new DVDs, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I first saw this film a few days before Christmas when a good friend brought it over (thanks Vince!). I added it to my wishlist and was pleasantly surprised to unwrap it on Christmas morning. I watched it again that day with my wife’s family and one more time a couple days later with another good friend who is a huge Brad Pitt fan (I won't tell anyone, Chris). So, given that I’ve now watched it three times in just under two weeks you can probably figure out what I think of it.

Having never seen the original I can’t comment on any similarities or differences between the two. The 2005 version stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as Mr. & Mrs. Smith, a modern couple whose marriage appears to be on the rocks. We quickly learn that they are actually highly trained assassins working for competing organizations and are completely unaware of the other’s true occupation. That is until they are both hired to kill the same target and learn each other’s deadly secret. And what would any self-respecting assassin do if they discovered their spouse was working for the competition? Why try to kill them, of course.

Ok, so the plot is pretty light. But then the whole movie is pretty light. The great thing is that it works. I know Mr. & Mrs. Smith got some pretty poor reviews and didn’t do so well at the box office, but I think this might be another case of audiences expecting too much. This film isn’t trying to be deep or complex or dramatic or intelligent. It’s trying to be fun and action-packed and witty and relatively simple. And it succeeds.

The dialogue alone is almost worth watching, er, listening to. It’s like Moonlighting, but with fully automatic weapons and rocket launchers. Any fan of Brad Pitt will instantly love the film simply because it includes all his classic mannerisms and witty delivery. You can tell that Brad knows the film is supposed to be fun and he obviously had fun making it (no reference to his real-life relationship with Angelina Jolie here). Combined with great action sequences, an engaging soundtrack and top-notch special effects, Mr. & Mrs. Smith delivers.

The DVD is presented in Anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen video, which is perfect for exciting blockbusters like this one. As a lovely bonus, a DTS 5.1 track is included. The gunfire and explosions will put your home theatre to good work and you won’t be disappointed with the outcome. A movie with this much action deserves to look and sound big. The DVD lives up to the task.

Special features include an audio commentary, deleted scenes and a short making-of featurette. Not surprisingly, I haven’t watched any of them yet but I’ll get back to you on them just as soon as I can.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is fun to watch and ends up being a great ride. I could watch it again tonight and it’s that re-watch-ability that makes it so enjoyable. As long as you’re not expecting an in-depth, dramatic, ultra-realistic depiction of married assassins, you should enjoy the film as much as I did. And if you don’t like it, well, I have 223 other movies you could come watch instead. I don’t think I’ve mentioned yet this year how much I love watching movies with friends.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith gets 8 percussion grenades (out of 10).

Make sure your jacket isn’t ticking and click here for 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' trivia.

"A few days in space. What's the worst that could happen?" (Review)

Sometimes a blockbuster movie gets poor reviews and doesn’t do very well in the theatres. And sometimes that movie gets poor DVD reviews and doesn’t do well in the rental stores either. And sometimes I decide that the reviews are wrong and the movie might actually be great anyway. And sometimes the movie really is great and I’m happy I chose to watch it. Fantastic Four fits the description of those first three sentences. It does not even come close to bearing any resemblance whatsoever to the fourth sentence.

I guess it was inevitable that another comic book movie would be produced, especially considering the success of Batman Begins, the X-Men series and Spider-man. The difference between those films and the not-so-Fantastic Four is this: those other movies had good characters, great dialogue, interesting storylines and top notch direction. Not-even-close-to-being-Fantastic Four has weak characters, mundane dialogue (if you’ve seen the trailers, you’ve heard all the “good” lines already), a pointless storyline and who the heck is Tim Story? Oh wait, he directed Barbershop and Taxi. Well, I guess that explains that.

Five scientists jump on board an orbiting space station to study the effects of a cosmic storm, only to be bombarded by the intense radiation of the storm itself. In true superhero fashion the radiation fundamentally alters their DNA. Now they have super powers. The leader, Reed Richards, now has the ability to stretch himself to incredible lengths and is dubbed Mr. Fantastic (I guess Mr. Rubber-Arms just didn’t have the same ring to it). Sue Storm, Reed’s estranged girlfriend, can turn herself invisible and create force fields. Cleverly enough she is called The Invisible Girl. Johnny Storm, Sue’s brother, can light himself on fire. Ok, so anyone can do that but Johnny, a.k.a. The Human Torch, can do it without hurting himself and can reach temperatures approaching super nova. His role provides the only comic relief in the film and it’s not much. Ben Grimm is the only member of the foursome to have his appearance changed permanently. With orange rocks for skin and organs, Ben becomes The Thing (are these really the best names Stan Lee could come up with?). The fifth scientist, Victor Von Doom (can you see this one coming?), takes on a metallic appearance and can control electrical fields. Since his last name is Doom he has to be the bad guy and voila, we have Dr. Doom.

Throw all these characters together and you have, well, kind of a big mess actually. I can only assume that the comic book is much better written. The dialogue in the film is campy and corny. I groaned more than laughed through this one. And while the special effects are pretty cool, it’s really just a huge mish-mash of CGI effects. I think this film could have done very well as an animated adventure but perhaps The Incredibles was too much to compete with. As it is, it doesn’t appear that opposite-of-Fantastic Four is trying to compete with anything. It really feels like it’s relying solely on the popularity of the comic book to make it successful. I’m sure die hard fans of the series probably enjoyed the film but for the rest of us movie-goers it’s a waste of time.

Fantastic Four is presented in blah-blah-blah aspect ratio and includes a who-cares audio track. Seriously, this movie is not worth your time. A friend commented that he heard someone describe it as the worst movie ever. I don’t think it’s bad enough to garner that distinction, but it is pretty bad. I didn’t look to see if there were any special features. Like I want to go behind-the-scenes and learn how to make a crappy movie.

Bearing-no-resemblance-to-anything-Fantastic Four is over-hyped, over-done and not over soon enough. Again, if you’re a real comic book fan you might get something out of this. If not, avoid in-no-way-Fantastic Four at all costs.

Fantastic (not!) Four gets 4 Mr. Stars – I can think of uncreative names too – (out of 10).

Fundamentally altered trivia for ‘Fantastic Four’.

"But these go to eleven..."

A quick description of the rating system I use:

0 to 4 - "The horror...the horror..." These are horrible, awful, terrible movies. I would describe these kinds of movies as 'complete wastes of my time' or 'a sickening offense to my senses and my home theater system'. There haven't been any of these movies reviewed on this site yet and there probably won't be many in the future. There certainly aren't any of these movies in my personal collection.

5 to 6 - These are average-and-below movies. They have some high points but overall they don't have much going for them. There is a slim chance I might own a 5 or 6 movie in my collection, but rarely would this be by my own choosing. Some of these movies are worth seeing once, but mainly they aren't that great and certainly wouldn't be worth repeated viewings.

7 to 8 - These are above average movies. Though they might have some low points here and there, they are generally good movies and are definitely worth a look, depending on your genre preferences. Most of the movies in my collection are 7 or higher and I like to say that if it's a movie I own, then it's a good movie. I'll rewatch movies with a 7 or 8 rating and will recommend them to most people.

9 to 10 - "Impressive. Most impressive." These are the cream of the crop. These movies must be seen and, in my case, must be owned. Fantastic, brilliant, wonderful, delightful, hilarious, thrilling, dramatic, intelligent and sensational - these films are why I love watching movies.

So what's the difference between a 9 and a 10? They are both exceptional, but a 10 rated movie has to be among my favorite movies of all time. It's a short list, but I'm always hoping another 10 will come along. They are rare though. In the end the only major difference between a 9 and a 10 is my personal preference. The 9s are my favorites. The 10s are my absolute favorites. How's that for ambiguity?

"Just cause you wanna eat the burger, doesn't mean you wanna meet the cow." (Review)

I’m a Michael Bay fan. I think. Bay has directed The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and the Bad Boys films. Most people probably aren’t Michael Bay fans since most people I know didn’t really like Armageddon or Pearl Harbor. I really enjoyed both of them – enough to have them in my DVD collection. The Rock is another personal favourite and so I had high hopes for The Island. It stars Ewan MacGregor and includes Djimon Hounsou (Gladiator), Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings) and the always-entertaining Steve Buscemi. With so much great-actor-potential I was really hoping this would be another fun addition to my collection. Unfortunately, potential is the only thing this film has and rarely does it manage to live up to that potential.

Ewan MacGregor plays Lincoln Six Echo, a member of an apparent utopian society that is fiercely regulated and controlled. Told that he is one of the few survivors of a terrible plague that nearly wiped out mankind, Lincoln Six Echo is confined to a futuristic ‘commune’ where his meals are chosen for him and questions are discouraged. He is told that the last safe place on earth is a paradise island where members of the commune can go if they win the mysterious Lottery. A series of events leads Lincoln to discover the horrible truth about himself and the so-called “Island”.

It’s hard to describe the movie in great detail since much of it would be considered a “surprise”. I think it’s reasonable to assume that most viewers will figure out the overall concept early on, while the movie will fill in minor details toward the end. I had a pretty good idea what the film was about before I saw it and my guesses were accurate. However, I won’t spill the beans just in case you have no clue what is going on and want a little bit of a brain teaser.

Keep in mind that a ‘little bit’ is all you’ll get. While the film is full of great actors and has a fantastic story, it just doesn’t deliver. I don’t know if Michael Bay wanted the viewers to figure out the plot so quickly or if he wanted to keep us in suspense. No knowing that makes it hard to invest in the storyline at all. If it was supposed to be a secret, it was a poorly kept one and disappointed me in how easy it was to discover. If it wasn’t supposed to be a secret, why the lame attempts at secrecy? It’s like the movie isn’t sure where it’s supposed to be and that theme carries on throughout its entirety.

The unfortunate aspect is that due to the nature of the story, the characters are nearly impossible to invest in. Although the characters go through a number of risky action scenes and daring escapes, there was no tension. I just didn’t care about whether the characters survived or not. Not because they were boring or uninteresting, but simply because of who they are. The movie sets itself up in a way that very nearly convinces the audience that the characters are nothing more than props – and easily replaced props at that. In the end, the idea that Lincoln and his friends might die is not as tragic as it should be.

Despite the flaws in character and plot development, the action scenes and stunts are top notch. I could almost consider owning this film for the car chase scene alone. Bay went to great lengths to try and recreate the scenes with as little CGI as possible and it’s an effort that doesn’t go unnoticed. The only time I was really involved in watching The Island was during those fantastic stunts. But again, my enjoyment had nothing to do with the characters themselves or with the overall storyline. It was just great special effects and stunt coordination.

A few other high points include some very witty dialogue at certain points, a wonderfully entertaining scene where Lincoln meets his “sponsor” and, of course, Steve Buscemi. Buscemi’s character was the only one I really invested in and I know that has to do with the movie’s plot. It’s really hard to explain exactly why without giving anything away. You’ll just have to watch it to see for yourself.

The Island is presented in a 1.85:1 Anamorphic transfer and everything looks great. I didn’t notice any graininess or blurring. A Dolby Digital 5.1 track is included, but that’s pretty standard on DVDs nowadays. A DTS track would have been nice, especially for the numerous action scenes, but it still sounds good. There is a featurette that goes behind the scenes on many of the movies action scenes and stunts, which I would have been very interested to watch. Sadly I had to return the DVD before I had a chance to see it. Maybe if I found The Island previously-viewed at Blockbuster for less than $10 I would consider owning it for the action scenes alone. On the whole, though, it's just not that impressive.

One more observation before I sum up. There is more product placement in this film than I have ever seen before. I understand the reasons for product placement here and there in the production of a film. I realize it reduces costs and often the placement itself isn’t so obvious that it takes away from the movie. In the case of The Island, I almost felt like I was watching a two hour commercial. It was so obvious and blatant that it distracted me even more from an already so-so film. But if you do end up watching it, make a game out of it and see how many products you can count!

Having said all that, I realize that my review is likely to encourage most readers to want to see it just for their own curiosity. I will say that the premise of the film is a great idea, it just doesn’t get fleshed out as well as it could have been. The actors do a good job with what they are given, they just aren’t given all that much. And while the action scenes and stunts are incredible, I just didn’t care whether the main characters survived them or not. In the end, The Island is a film with a great set up, poor execution and an ultimate let down. Then again, I’ve never put much stock in film critics so there’s a chance you might really enjoy it. Stranger things have happened.

The Island gets 6 plain, white jumpsuits (out of 10).

You’ve won the Lottery! Click here for ‘The Island’ trivia!

"What up with thee?"

Despite the fact that I find Jim Carrey to be a very funny and entertaining actor, I only own one of his movies, and Bruce Almighty isn’t it. I’m not sure why that is. Maybe it’s because his movies don’t really have that blockbuster quality to them. Or maybe I don’t think I would re-watch them as often as I think. Or maybe every time I consider buying one of them, I’m distracted by some other new release. I don’t really know what the reason is. I enjoy all his movies – I just don’t own many of them. So when I wanted something light to watch a couple nights ago I had to dig into my roommates collection to find Bruce Almighty.

Bruce Nolan is a failing news reporter who thinks God is out to make his life miserable. After one too many complaints, God finally decides to do something about it. Figuring Bruce can do a better job God gives Bruce all his powers. Jim Carrey with all the powers of the divine creator of the universe – let the hilarity ensue. I like Bruce Almighty because it manages to talk about God and religion without getting too serious. It’s got a great message and it’s really, really funny. There are several scenes that make me giggle just thinking about them. If you want something light and fun you can’t go wrong with this flick. I encourage you to come on over and borrow it from my roommate.

After watching the HBO special, From the Earth to the Moon, Shauna and I have been hooked on anything to do with the Apollo space program. A friend at work managed to get me a copy of For All Mankind, which is all original, real footage filmed by the astronauts themselves during the 10 manned spaceflights to the moon. Narrated by a number of the Apollo veterans, For All Mankind portrays a voyage from earth to the moon and back, combining footage from all ten flights. This is a film for those people who are really interested in this subject matter. Although it’s considered a documentary there isn’t much this film teaches you. But it’s not meant to. This is for those people who already know all about the various astronauts and missions and equipment. It’s so those people can watch and say “so that’s what it looked like, felt like, sounded like, etc”. For All Mankind is a fantastic view into the real life of an Apollo astronaut. If you’ve seen Apollo 13 or From the Earth to the Moon and you want to know what it all truly looked like, check out For All Mankind.

Film #2 in the unofficial ‘Nicholas Cage Action Trilogy’, Con Air is everything you could want in a guy’s movie. Prison breaks, explosions, attack helicopters, corny clichés, fast cars, destruction, mayhem, chaos and Steve Buscemi. If you had anything to complain about regarding Con Air then the movie simply wasn’t meant for you. Is it over the top? Absolutely. Is it meant to be? You betcha. Con Air is a thrill-a-minute action flick that also manages to include a number of great performances. John Malkovich is perfectly evil as Cyrus ‘The Virus’, Nicholas Cage is everything you’d expect from an all-American Army Ranger who’s there to “save the day”, and Steve Buscemi is probably the only actor who can portray a frighteningly creepy mass murder who makes us smile right up to the last frame. And, of course, John Cusack does a great job. But John Cusack always does a great job. My only grudge is that the current DVD release is non-anamorphic. That simply won’t do. Buena Vista needs to get its act together and release a special edition with an updated video transfer. Then I can enjoy the running-away-from-the-giant-fireball-in-slow-motion scenes even more.

Divine trivia for 'Bruce Almighty'.
Flight, this is Capcom 7. You are go for trivia.
High-flying trivia for the criminally insane.

"I'm not fighting anyone or anything, anymore." (Review)

The Last Castle is another one of those movies that I don’t remember hearing much about while it was in the theatres. Once it was released on DVD and I had a chance to watch it, I was impressed enough to add it to my collection. The plot of the film is quite interesting and the action is entertaining, but the biggest reasons for watching, and owning, this film are the fantastic performances given by James Gandolfini and Robert Redford.

General Erwin (Redford) has pleaded guilty in a recent court martial, for disobeying orders during the Gulf War, which resulted in the deaths of eight of his men. Sentenced to ten years, Erwin is transferred to the Castle, a maximum security military prison, where Colonel Winter (Gandolfini) runs a very tight ship. Erwin quickly realizes that his fellow inmates, all former marines, have been suffering more than would be expected under the ruthless rule of Winter. The inmates decide to take over the prison with the intention of forcing the Colonel to resign.

As with most movies, a healthy dose of suspended disbelief is required if you’re going to make it all the way through The Last Castle. That’s not to say that it’s over the top or far fetched, just that a few of the sequences are pretty incredible. But we don’t watch movies to see the normal, every day stories, do we? No, we watch movies so we can have a look at some extraordinary people in extraordinary situations. The Last Castle certainly delivers on that order. The planning and intelligence used by General Irwin and his supporters is what makes this film so much fun to watch. We’ve seen prison escape movies before, but rarely do we get to watch a film where the inmates are attempting to make their own prison a better place.

Aside from some great drama and action in the prison yard, we’re given two great performances by Gandolfini and Redford. Their characters square off in a battle of wits against each other and it’s this tension that really gives the movie its appeal. This is one of Gandolfini’s best performances. Winter’s behaviour and mannerisms border on the insane but you can’t deny his flawless record in maintaining control of his prison. Redford depicts General Irwin as a man who is done fighting and just wants to serve his time and go home. However, like any soldier faced with an unjust situation, he must put aside his own desires and once again lead men into battle. Redford’s portrayal of Irwin’s evolution from General to prisoner to leader is very well done. And no, other than the way I worded that last sentence, this movie bears no resemblance to Gladiator.

The DVD is presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic video with extremely crisp colors and sharp images. I’m still amazed at times to see how much detail there is in the human face. From the tense interactions between the two main characters to the explosive climax in the prison yard, The Last Castle looks fantastic. Added to the mix is a wonderful DTS 5.1 audio track. I think it should be a new DVD rule that directors are not allowed to have explosions in their movies unless the DVD has a DTS track. I don’t want to just watch the explosion – I want to feel like I’m standing right next to it! Well, except for the flames and flying shrapnel and all that. Overall, this film looks and sounds terrific.

So, if you have any interest in military affairs, prison settings, explosions, Robert Redford or James Gandolfini, you’ll probably really enjoy The Last Castle. After all, the film did win the Taurus Award for Best Fire Stunt. What more do you want?

The Last Castle gets 7 flags (out of 10).

Trivia for The Last Castle has been confined to solitary. Find it here.

"Seeing is believing...but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see." (Review)

My wife had two really big reasons for picking up The Polar Express on DVD last weekend; 1) Josh Groban performs the title song ‘Believe’, and 2) the title song ‘Believe’ is performed by Josh Groban. I thought number 2 was supposed to be the fact that Tom Hanks features very prominently in the picture, but apparently even a two-time Academy Award winner can’t compete with ‘Joshie’ (as Shauna calls him). Unfortunately for my wife, this is not a review of Mr. Groban. I’m pleased to let the rest of you know this is a review of the movie.

The Polar Express is an endearing and, hopefully, enduring Christmas story about a little boy who is having doubts in Santa Clause, elves, the North Pole and generally Christmas itself. On December 24th a magnificent train pulls up outside his house where the conductor informs him that their destination is in fact, the North Pole. It’s all-aboard the Polar Express where the Hero Boy (credited as such) experiences a number of exciting adventures, meets numerous interesting characters and ultimately has to decide for himself whether he really believes or not.

The Polar Express was created entirely with computer graphic animation. Impressively, Tom Hanks performs the motion capture for virtually every character in the film and provides the voice talent for most of them as well. The animation alone is worth a look at this film. It’s important to remember that the film is based on the children’s book, written by Chris Van Allsburg, and the animation is based on the illustrations within. I’ve read a couple of reviews for The Polar Express where the writers thought the character animation was somewhat creepy – almost real but too cartoony. What those critics failed to understand is that the animation is intended to look like that – an accurate CG representation of the artistic drawings in the book. Funny how some people expect an animated children’s book to look more “realistic” than the illustrations themselves.

In addition to looking beautiful, the motion capture is breathtaking. There were several moments where Shauna and I said to each other “That is SO Tom Hanks”. And these were moments where there was no dialogue. The technology for capturing facial movement and expression is incredible and really brings the film to life. I bet Tom had a lot of fun making this movie.

Overall the story is just what you would expect from a children’s Christmas tale. It’s very light-hearted and with few, if any, dull moments. The story jumps from scene to scene, keeping the audience engaged and interested. I felt there were maybe one too many ‘roller coaster’ type scenes, but these are the kinds of things that kids would love to watch over and over, so I can’t complain too much. There are plenty of gags to keep adults entertained and the wonderful message of believing is here, as it should be in any Christmas movie. While primarily focused on Santa Clause, there are some not-so-subtle references to belief in something more. The title quote for this blog sums it up quite nicely.

The DVD is presented in Anamorphic 2.35:1 video which is perfect for showing off the brilliant colors and detail. As with any computer animated film it’s difficult to find anything wrong with the video. There’s none of that pesky graininess that can sometimes plague live-action films (though not so much with newer releases), nor is there any blurring or color separation. This is one of those films that is just as wonderful to look at as it is to watch. Wait…er, you know what I mean. The audio is presented via a Dolby Digital 5.1 track and there were actually a couple of moments where both Shauna and I thought a DTS track would have been much better. One the things that DTS seems to do better than Dolby is allowing voices to be heard distinctly during musical pieces. It was hard to understand some of the lyrics during the more lively musical numbers and I believe a DTS track would have solved that little problem. Otherwise, the sound is more than sufficient – the train sounds like a train, the people sound like people and the thunderous, cracking, disastrous frozen lake scene sounds like you’re on a thunderous, cracking, disastrous frozen lake.

The two-disc edition comes with a second disc of bonus features, which I haven’t had a chance to watch yet. Surprise, surprise. However, the bonus disc does seem to be chock full of all the kinds of stuff I’m interested in seeing, including a featurette on the motion capture technology used to re-create Tom Hanks’ many performances. Several other ‘making-of’ features are included, as well as Josh Groban’s live performance of ‘Believe’ at the Greek theatre (which Shauna will probably watch even though she already owns Josh Groban’s entire performance ‘Live at the Greek’). There are even a couple of games for the kiddies to play with.

The Polar Express is a great Christmas story that is a delight to watch and I’m sure would be enjoyed by any child out there. That alone is enough to make it a great choice for one of your own movie nights. Tom Hanks’ superb performance, wonderful music, and incredible visual effects are just the icing on the cake, but help to make this film a sure Christmas classic. Try not to be too serious and I’m sure you’ll love The Polar Express.

The Polar Express gets 8 jingle-bells (out of 10).

Merry Christmas to all, and to all some good trivia.

"We were like 'woaahh', and I was like 'woah!' and you were like 'woooaahhh'." (Review)

Last night I was in the mood for something relaxing, fun, entertaining and good looking. But Shauna was out so I had to settle for a movie instead. Fortunately, Finding Nemo fits that description to a tee. It’s easy to watch, a lot of fun, very entertaining, and man does this movie ever look good. This is one of the reasons we got a big screen, high definition television. The picture is just beautiful. Combined with a delightful story, this is definitely one of Pixar's best.

For those poor, unfortunate souls who have not yet seen Finding Nemo, allow me to fill you in. This is the fifth feature film to come out of Pixar Animation Studios. Tragic events leave Marlin, a clown fish, as the single father of his only son, Nemo. Marlin’s past has made him overly protective of Nemo and when his son is suddenly captured by scuba divers during a school trip Marlin must embark upon a journey across the ocean to save him. Along the way he meets Dory, a helpful fish who suffers from short term memory loss and the two continue Marlin’s quest together. Meanwhile, Nemo finds himself the latest addition to a dentist’s aquarium where his new friends enlist his help to try and escape.

Being a Disney/Pixar film, Finding Nemo appeals to both children and adults alike. There’s enough color and flash and movement to keep the most ADD child occupied (well, at least for a couple of minutes) and there’s plenty of humour for us grown ups too. If you’ve seen any of the other Pixar films (Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Monsters Inc.) you understand what I mean. Despite a couple of potentially scary moments, Finding Nemo remains enduring throughout. This one will put a smile on your face and keep it there all the way through the credits. Ooh, good chance for a segue here…

Movie credits. You should sit through them from time to time. For any movie. A lot of work goes into making a film and I personally think it’s bit of a “thank you” to the creators. Plus, there is usually some great music to accompany those scrolling names, and in the case of Finding Nemo, a few little ‘treats’ thrown in. Nothing like the outtakes that were presented during the credits of Toy Story or Toy Story 2, however, the credits in Nemo did provide a small laugh or two. Check them out. No seriously, check them out. (Strongbad reference for all you Home Star Runner fans out there).

Did I mention this movie looks good? Finding Nemo is presented in 1.78:1 Anamorphic video and includes an optional Full Frame format. By now you all know that Full Frame movies are a big no-no, right? Good. Moving on. It’s worth saying one more time – this movie looks fantastic. The colors are incredibly vibrant, as one would expect from a movie set in a coral reef. The image is sharp, clean and filled with detail. You can really tell how much work the animators went to in order to create a realistic depiction of the big blue sea. At one point I paused the picture and noticed that the image frozen on my screen could easily pass for an actual photo of Sydney harbour. This is definitely a reference quality DVD. Sadly, there is no DTS option but the Dolby Digital 5.1 track does a satisfying job of filling the room with all the sounds of the sea.

The Collector’s Edition comes with an entire extra disk of special features, true to Pixar form. I watched most of these some time ago and from I recall they are only slightly above average. I’m sure there’s a lot of great stuff in there if you’re a big Pixar/Disney fan. That’s the thing about Special Features – they really only cater to those who are really, really interested in that particular film or genre or setting. At any rate, it’s nice to see Pixar including an extra disc for that kind of thing. It leaves more room on the first disc for a high bit video transfer, which results in an awesome looking film (wait, did I already mention this movie looks good?).

I have yet to see Pixar make a bad movie. On the contrary, it seems like all their movies are excellent. In 2006 we will be treated to the 7th feature film, Cars. You can check out the current trailer here. In the meantime, I highly recommend watching Finding Nemo again. Especially if that means you’ll come over to my house to watch it. I love watching movies with friends. You probably didn’t know that about me.

Finding Nemo gets 9 bubbles (out of 10).

Unfathomable trivia for Finding Nemo.

"SANTA!!! Oh my god! Santa's coming!! I know him! I know him!"

On the weekend I hosted a Christmas Movie Day. We watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Hosting a movie day has a couple of great perks. First and foremost is the fact that you get to watch a lot of really fun movies with a lot of really fun people. Despite having to think creatively in order to have enough room to fit everyone into my basement, it was awesome to have that many people around to watch some very funny movies. The other great perk about hosting a movie day is that you can convince your wife to go buy a new DVD for the party even though you agreed not to buy any more before Christmas.

First up was Jim Carrey in Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It had been quite a while since I’d seen this one and it was one of the DVDs I ordered through my Columbia House promotion so I was really looking forward to watching it. This is a holiday classic for sure. I think Ron Howard did a great job in expanding on the story of the Grinch and the Whos while still keeping to Dr. Seuss’ original storyline. Jim Carrey ensures there are plenty of great laughs – this is one of those roles he was born to play.

Next up was Will Farrell as Buddy in one of my new Christmas favourites, Elf. Considering some of the roles that Will Farrell has played in the past (Anchorman, Old School, Zoolander) it’s nice to see him in a comedy that is still suitable for the whole family. There are a lot of laughs in this film, as well as a great Christmas story that ends the way any good holiday classic should end, happily. I think everyone enjoyed this film, even the grumpy guy (I won’t mention any names, but his initials are Scott Fallows) who thought the film got too “Christmasy” toward the end. That’s ok though. We’ve always known Scott was a cotton-headed ninny-muggins.

Since I have such a loving and devoted wife, we were able to finish our evening with Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the DVD that had just been purchased several hours earlier. While Elf is a great family classic, Christmas Vacation is probably better for families that don’t include children under the age of 10 or 11. It is National Lampoon after all. But no Christmas would be complete without Clark Griswold and his obsession with having a big, traditional family Christmas. For some of us it was a chance to point and laugh, for others it was a disturbing reminder of their own childhood. Ah, good times.

Maybe next year I’ll have a bigger house and can invite all my friends for Christmas Movie Fest 2006. As it is, I don’t think I could have squeezed any more people into my basement. So many thanks to Shauna, Dave, Barbara, Scott, Laura, Vince, Brian, Anne, Chris and Amber! I had a blast and hope you did too!

Merry Christmas

If you so much as utter one syllable, I'll hunt you down and gut you like a fish! If you want Grinch trivia, click here.

Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite trivia?

Click here for 23,000 light-bulbs of Christmas Vacation trivia.

"They don't make mistakes. They don't do random."

Some movies do better on a smaller screen. I think The Bourne Supremacy is one of them. Now before you go thinking that I wish I had a smaller TV allow me to explain. The director, Paul Greengrass, decided to use a hand held camera for many of his action shots in order to give a more realistic, gritty look to the film. A hand held does make things look more intense and chaotic. The only problem with that is that things look more intense…and chaotic. A couple of the action scenes in particular start to become so disjointed that it is almost impossible to tell exactly what is going on. That’s a shame when it comes to a movie with Jason Bourne because his moves are so cool you want to be able to see everything that he’s doing. There is a way to minimize this unfortunate aspect – a smaller screen. And by smaller I mean smaller than a theater. Turns out a screen size of about 51 inches is just perfect. I’m happy to say that Bourne looks just as cool as he did in the first film. I really hope they make a third.

Lately it seems like Shauna and I have been on a real World War II kick. I think it’s from having watched the Band of Brothers HBO series a little while ago. Now we’re fascinated with the war. It seemed only natural, especially after watching The Pianist, that we’d be interested in seeing some of the aftermath. Nuremberg does a great job of describing the events that surrounded the war trials of Hermann Goring and 20 other German officers and leaders. Originally presented as a television mini-series, Nuremberg runs just over 3 hours long. But it doesn’t seem that long at all. This is an intense, provocative look at the attitudes of all parties involved in the war. Alec Baldwin and Brian Cox both deliver incredible performances. This one is definitely worth a look if you have any interest in WWII.

Christopher Reeve is Superman. It seems fitting that his legacy as the man of steel lives on after all the he went through. The movie is now more than just a comic book flick – it’s nostalgia for a superhero. The extended edition provides a great deal of back story for Kal-El. In fact, it’s almost an hour before we even first see Christopher Reeve as Superman. But it works really well. By the time Superman saves Lois Lane and carries the helicopter back to the top of the building I was cheering because of how much build up there had been. The extended edition gives you a much better look at what is really going on in Superman’s mind. I think it’s the sense of some vulnerability that makes him that much more, well, super. The film was first released in 1978 and I have to admit it does look dated. There’s a fair amount of cheesiness throughout but the one thing that remains unaffected by the film’s age is Superman himself. Christopher Reeve is so cool. And while I’m really looking forward to Kevin Spacey as Lex Luther in the upcoming Superman Returns, I don’t envy Brandon Routh. He’s got a big cape to fill.

Classified trivia for ‘The Bourne Supremacy’.
Never forget. Trivia for ‘Nuremberg’.
Invincible trivia for ‘Superman’.

"This is the second time he's done this to me. There will not be a third." (Review)

I love this movie.

I sat for several minutes trying to come up with a clever way to start this particular review. I pondered referencing some of Peter Weir’s other movies (Gallipoli, Witness, Dead Poet’s Society) and using them as examples of his genius. I considered discussing Russell Crowe’s brilliance as an actor and referencing some of his other movies (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, L.A. Confidential). But in the end the only phrase that continued to repeat itself through my mind as I thought about Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was this: I love this movie.

At this point I usually attempt to give a brief description of the movie’s plot. In the case of Master and Commander, however, the things I love about the film have very little to do with the plot. It’s the realistic portrayal of life aboard a British frigate during the Napoleonic wars that makes the movie so intriguing for me. Like most men and boys, I have always been fascinated with tall ships. I love the way they look, with their numerous sails and masts and gallants. I’m astounded by their ability to remain at sea for months at a time. Even the command structure, the rank and roles of the men and officers on board intrigues me. Master and Commander is a movie I love because it understands my fascination with tall ships and it delivers an incredibly accurate and convincing world of life at sea.

The HMS Surprise, under the command of Captain “Lucky” Jack Aubrey, has orders to pursue the French privateer ‘Acheron’ and “sink, burn or take her a prize.” Both ships play a cunning game of cat-and-mouse, stalking each other off the coast of South America. The film is actually based on two of Patrick O’Brian’s many novels. I’ve tried reading the first one, Master and Commander, but found the pacing to be confusing and tiresome. I would like to give it another try sometime, but for now I’ll stick with the film. However, like the books, the film is not only about life at sea but focuses on the relationship between Captain Jack and his best friend, and ship’s surgeon, Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany). The two have an interesting friendship that plays itself out well during the voyage.

After seeing films like Master and Commander and The Lord of the Rings I’m convinced that the success of a film has a lot to do with the little things. What these films have in common is that the directors were concerned enough to ensure that every detail was looked after. All the props and costumes for these films were made completely from scratch. For Master and Commander, even the ropes on the ship were hand made to ensure that each line matched exactly the kind of rope that would have been used during that time period. The language that the sailors use is completely authentic as are the actions and commands of the officers on board. You could almost believe that Peter Weir simply went back in time and took a few cameras with him.

One of the main reasons I love this film as much as I do can be summed up with three little words – Digital. Theatre. Sound. The DTS 5.1 track on this DVD is simply amazing. You can hear every creak of wood, every footfall, every ruffling of the sails in the wind. During a particularly exciting scene in the gun cabin you’d be convinced that there were people actually running around upstairs in my house. The explosions and cannon fire are thunderous. The room is filled with the sounds of flying splinters, splashing water, tearing sails and musket fire. Winner of the 2004 Oscar for Best Sound Editing, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World just sounds awesome.

The picture quality is equally top notch. The 2.35:1 Anamorphic video transfer is perfect for displaying the vast openness of the sea as well as providing incredible detail during the chaotic and frenzied battle sequences. This is one of those films that really benefits from a large screen, especially considering that the film won the 2004 Oscar for Best Cinematography. It just looks awesome.

It’s worth mentioning that although Master and Commander did not win any other Oscars, it was nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Makeup, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Director and Best Picture. Including the two Oscars it did win, that’s 10 nominations in total. Despite all this, the movie never hit #1 a single week during its 26 week run. I still don’t understand why some brilliant movies fail do to very well in the theatre. I wonder if it’s because the majority of movie go-ers are teenagers who would rather see something like I Still Know That You Screamed Last Summer During That Scary American Pie Movie. But that’s a whole other rant.

The Collector’s Edition of Master and Commander comes with two discs, the second chock full of special features, which I have watched. The making-of featurette is very informative and entertaining. After watching the special features for this film, Jaws and The Abyss, I’ve gained a tremendous amount of respect for any director who can successfully pull off a ‘water’ movie. Steven Spielberg summed it up best by simply stating that “filming on water is a logistical nightmare”. The special features for Master and Commander do a great job of showing exactly how Peter Weir managed to get the job done and keep his sanity. Also included are numerous deleted scenes, production featurettes, multi-angle studies of various scenes, art galleries and trailers. It’s a bonus disc that’s packed to the gills.

Three cheers for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World! If you have not seen this film, you should be keel hauled and then hung from the main mast until six bells. Unless boats and the sea are not your thing, in which case you can feel free to abandon ship.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World gets 10 fore topmast staysails (out of 10).

Beat to quarters, and click here for Master and Commander trivia.

"If you ever loved me, don't rob me of my hate. It's all I have left." (Review)

I have to say I was quite pleased to see that this film won my little poll. I rented The Count of Monte Cristo a couple of years ago based on a trailer I saw while browsing through Blockbuster. I think it was one of those nights when no one else was home and I was just looking for something fun and simple. I figured that since it hadn’t done very well in the theatres there likely wasn’t much to it. A few hours later I was very pleased to see that I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Based on Alexandre Dumas’ novel of the same name, The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of Edmond Dantes (James Caviezel). Napoleon is imprisoned on the Isle of Elba in 1815 and Edmond is soon to marry his sweetheart and become captain of his own vessel. Edmond makes a daring attempt to find aid for his former captain, so he and his closest friend, Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce), land on Elba and seek assistance from Napoleon’s captors. His troubles begin during their brief stay on Elba. Dantes returns home and is framed as a Napoleonic conspirator by Mondego and two others. He is sentenced to life imprisonment inside the Chateau d’If and nearly gives up on life itself before meeting a fellow inmate (Richard Harris) who reveals to him the location of the legendary treasure of Sparta, located on the island of Monte Cristo. Edmond vows to find a way out of prison and use the treasure to exact revenge on those who wronged him.

I haven’t read the novel but I’m sure much of the 117 chapter book has been left out. That being said, there is still a lot going on in this movie and it manages to keep a good pace without oversimplifying anything. The director, Kevin Reynolds (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Waterworld), ensures that the audience is both informed and entertained throughout. A plot that involves treason, conspiracy, betrayal, imprisonment, friendship, escape, treasure, disguise, romance and revenge may seem like too much for one movie. This is not the case with The Count of Monte Cristo. Each detail of Edmond’s incredible ordeal is portrayed with clarity and allure.

Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ, Frequency) does an incredible job as Edmond Dantes. His character goes through a series of changes throughout the film and Caviezel manages to accurately depict each change with feeling and realism. There are almost four different personalities at work here – innocent and unaware Edmond who is framed and sent to prison, desperate and forlorn Edmond who suffers in prison, intelligent and cunning Edmond who escapes from prison and, of course, the sophisticated and debonair Count of Monte Cristo. It’s the ultimate underdog story and Caviezel’s performance makes you cheer for him. Guy Pearce (Momento, L.A. Confidential) does a great job as Mondego, delivering many of the film’s terrific lines – “Because you’re the son of a clerk, and I’m not supposed to want to be you!” Richard Harris (Gladiator, Harry Potter) is great, as always, and Michael Wincott (The Doors, Robin Hood) gives a brief but memorable performance.

Being a period piece, the locations and sets are both beautiful and dark – from the hopeless dungeons of Chateau d’If to the elaborate and colourful mansion of Monte Cristo. The costumes are equally detailed and provide a level of realism that lets you truly believe that the characters are living in 19th century France. It’s unfortunate that the film didn’t do as well as it could have, especially considering the cost of creating such incredible sets and clothing.

The writing is as beautiful as the scenery. There are so many fantastic lines in this film I’m tempted to list most of them here. I’ll try to restrain myself and let you experience them for yourself. I would like to read the book to see how much dialogue was taken directly from Dumas’ writing. Jay Wolpert created the screenplay from the novel. Who is Jay Wolpert? Well he just happens to be the same writer who developed many of the terrific lines from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. It’s clear to see why the dialogue alone is worth watching The Count of Monte Cristo.

The film has been transferred to DVD in 1.85:1 Anamorphic video and boy does it look good. The colors are vibrant and crisp with very few artefacts and little blurring. Sadly there is no DTS track, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio does a superb job nonetheless. The combination of both audio and video make the scene where Monte Cristo makes his first appearance simply breathtaking.

Sets, costumes, actors, video and sound aside, it’s the story that makes this film so enjoyable. This is the first, and possibly only time I’ve ever been inspired to read 19th century French literature because of a movie. After a little research though, I discovered that Dumas is responsible for another familiar tale, The Three Musketeers. I’m sure some of my readers are already aware of this, but it was news to me. I’m definitely going to start reading his stuff. If this film is any indication, I’m sure I’m going to thoroughly enjoy reading The Count of Monte Cristo.

The Count of Monte Cristo gets 9 rapiers (out of 10).

Swashbuckling trivia for ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’.

And the winner is...

The votes are in! All five of them! And that’s including myself and my wife. That’s right, other than Shauna and I, only three other people actually voted in my little poll from last week. I guess writing a popular blog is more difficult than I thought. No worries though. I mainly write this blog for my own pleasure, so it’s all good.

In the end I voted for The Count of Monte Cristo and Shauna voted for Spellbound. There was one vote for The Pianist and two more for The Count. So, as promised, I will write a full review of the film in the next day or so and post it here. In the meantime here are a few summaries of some of the films I’ve been watching lately. I hope all four of my readers enjoy them.

Colin Farrell stars in this engaging little drama about the Vietnam War. Tigerland focuses on a group of recruits who are training to fight and are only a few weeks away from being shipped overseas. Don’t be misled, however, this is not an action flick. Farrell portrays Roland Bozz, a particularly disgruntled soldier with a knack for getting into trouble. He is regarded as the guy to talk to if you want to get out of the army. And getting out of the army is something Bozz believes in more than almost anything. Tigerland is a commentary piece that does a great job at showing how psychologically violent the war was even before the soldiers got there. I think it’s one of Farrell’s best.

What do you get when you have Ron Howard directing Tom Hanks, Ed Harris and Gary Sinise in a film about the Apollo Space program, during one of the most potentially catastrophic missions in the history of space flight? You get a film that is highly informative, intensely gripping and incredibly entertaining. I’ve read the book, written by Jim Lovell, and I’ve watched the fantastic HBO special on the Apollo Program, From the Earth to the Moon, and Apollo 13 is an exceptionally realistic portrayal of the events that took place in space in April of 1970. Well acted and beautifully shot, Apollo 13 is a masterpiece. You have no excuse for not having seen this film.

I don’t watch as many documentaries as I would like. Spellbound is a delightful film that focuses on eight teenagers as they prepare for, and compete in the 1999 National Spelling Bee. It’s an intriguing look at the students and their parents and the variety of methods used to train, encourage and win. I think almost any parent would find this documentary especially fascinating. It’s incredible what lengths some students, and parents, will go to in order to ‘bee’ the best. Toward the end Shauna and I found it difficult to watch simply because we couldn’t bear to see anyone spell a word wrong. It’s not often that a documentary can pull you in and make you care as much as this one does.

I don’t why it took so long for me to finally see The Pianist. I knew that it was going to be heavy – any movie that realistically depicts the holocaust during the second world war is bound to be heavy – so maybe I avoided it for that reason. I think I sometimes forget that a movie can be very dramatic and hard-to-watch and still remain highly entertaining. The Pianist is definitely one of those movies. I’m not sure I would own this, as it’s not the kind of movie that lends itself to multiple viewings, but it’s certainly an important film to see. Adrien Brody does a fantastic job and it’s easy to see why he won the 2003 Best Actor Oscar. The Pianist isn’t easy to sit through, but it’s one that really should be watched. I guess I should probably get around to seeing Schindler’s List one of these days. I’ve been avoiding that one for too long.

This film wasn’t on my Poll, but I did watch it recently so I thought I’d include it here. I got hooked on the Harry Potter books shortly after the 6th one came out and almost everyone I knew was reading it. While working a teen camp this summer a number of the counsellors actually decided to abandon their campers completely and read Harry Potter for the whole week. Well maybe it wasn’t quite that bad, but I guess I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Turns out the hype is quite justified. Shortly after reading the first book I went on to read five more and then promptly went out and bought the DVDs. While there is quite a bit missing from the book the films do a great job of bringing Hogwarts to life. I think it is brilliantly cast and the look and feel of the movie is just as I imagined it while reading the novels. I can’t wait for Goblet of Fire to come out on DVD!

AWOL trivia for 'Tigerland'.
Houston, we have some trivia.
Ebony and ivory trivia for 'The Pianist'.
Muggles, click here for Harry Potter trivia.

I was all excited about using T-R-I-V-I-A for Spellbound, but apparently there isn't any.