Catching Up, Part 1

Ok, I’m trying this again.

Every now and then I come back and re-read some of my blog posts and although it might sound self-absorbed, I really like what I write. It makes me want to write more. I’m not sure what made me stop for so long (has it really been over 2 years since my last post?!) but I know that I want to start again.

So here we go. Again.

It would be impossible to try and bring you up to speed on all the movies I’ve watched in the last two years. Well, actually, it wouldn’t be impossible. Just time consuming. As most of my close friends know I have a bit of an obsession with keeping track of movies I’ve watched. And movies my friends have watched with me. And where we watched them. Ok, maybe it goes beyond a bit of an obsession. At any rate, I can tell you that I’ve watched almost 600 movies since my last blog post. I don’t recommend doing the math on that.

"Wait...How many movies is that? Fascinating."

Rather than try and re-cap 600 movies I’m just going to pick out a few from the past couple years; some good, some bad, some just memorable for one reason or another. You may have seen or heard of most of these already, but a good movie is worth reading about. Especially if it makes you go back and watch it again. I watch movies all the time and even I’m amazed at how much new stuff I can get out of a second or third (or seventh) viewing.

So it is with great pleasure that I present Part 1 (of 4) of my attempt to breathe new life into this blog. Let’s start catching up…


The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Shauna and I love documentaries. We don’t watch nearly as many as we would like, but The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters was a great find. While the subject matter may not appeal to everyone (grown men spending hours a day trying to get the high-score on an 80’s video game) the documentary itself is fascinating and highly entertaining. At times it’s hard to believe this is non-fiction. Some of the “characters” will make you shake your head in amazement and wonder. Highly recommended!



The World’s Fastest Indian

Another little gem. With Anthony Hopkins at the helm I expected this film to have greater mileage but I’m surprised by the number of people I’ve met who have never even heard of this movie. Produced by a New Zealand film company, The World’s Fastest Indian is the true story of Burt Munro, an aging New Zealander who dreams of racing his re-built, 1920 Indian motorcycle at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967. It’s a wonderful story that takes Burt around the world and into the lives of some very interesting people. When you finally get to the end of the film and consider that it all really happened, you’ll be amazed and delighted. Not to be missed!


WALL-E

I’m sure everyone is familiar with WALL-E by now. Another Pixar classic about a lonely, but oddly cute robot tasked with cleaning up the mess we all left behind. Both a commentary on society and a heart-warming love story, WALL-E is just another example of the brilliant minds at work behind the doors of Pixar Animation Studios. Have these guys made a bad movie yet? What I love most about WALL-E is that the first half of the film contains almost no dialogue (or humans for that matter) and yet it manages to weave an incredibly engaging and entertaining story. That’s impressive film-making. The music, cinematography, art direction and characters are worth visiting again if you haven’t seen this masterpiece recently.


Star Trek

I’m not a Trekkie, per se, but I am definitely a fan of several of the films (the even-numbered ones, of course) and was an avid watcher of The Next Generation many years ago. When I heard that J.J. Abrahms was going to attempt a re-boot of the original crew I was both sceptical and excited. Abrahms is responsible for ‘Lost’, one of the most addictive and fascinating television shows Shauna and I have ever seen. To think that the mind behind that show was going to take on the Star Trek universe was intriguing, to say the least. Fortunately for me (though not for all Trek fans) I was very impressed. Star Trek is an amazing re-boot and brings with it all that is good about Trek. I could go on and on, but I’ll just leave you with the best compliment I have about the film. Each actor, particularly those portraying Kirk, Spock and Bones (the Trek-Trinity, if you will), manages to remind viewers of the original characters without reminding them of the original actors. That’s saying a lot. Plus, it’s a great space adventure. What more do you want?


Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

If you are not familiar with Joss Whedon, please go watch Firefly and Serenity right now. I’ll wait here…

Done? Pretty impressive, right? Perhaps one of the best television shows ever made? My wife would certainly agree. And she’d be right to do so (she's so cool). Joss Whedon is a genius and after constant struggles with movie studios who value commercial success over artistic value and intelligence, Whedon decided to make a movie (of sorts) without the aid or intervention of any studios. The result is ‘Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog’, a short film in three parts that first debuted on the internet. For free. It has since gone on to achieve huge cult success in the geek world and is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray for your viewing (and singing) pleasure. Described as a “musical tragicomedy miniseries”, 'Dr. Horrible' tells the tale of a well-meaning super-villain trying to get into the Evil League of Evil and win the heart of girl-next-door, Penny. Give it a chance and you just might be pleasantly surprised. And if you really did just finish watching Firefly and Serenity then you’ll just love the first appearance of Captain Hammer.

"Hang on! There's more to come."

Stay tuned for Part 2! Coming soon, I promise.

"You have to show a movie at a party. It's a Hollywood law."

Shauna and I love to watch the American Film Institute (AFI) specials that air once a year or so. Each year the AFI creates a “Top 100 Best of” movie list of various topics. Top 100 Best film quotes or Top 100 Best film songs. A couple of years ago they aired ‘AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies’, a list of the 100 best American movies. A fairly ambitious and potentially controversial undertaking, if you ask me. I was surprised by how many ‘older’ films were on the list, but that’s really a subject for a later blog. What I was interested to note was that Singin’ in the Rain was number 10 on the list. I recalled that the title song had been ranked number 3 in ‘AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Songs’ list, and perhaps not surprisingly, was listed right at the top of ‘AFI’s 100 Years of Musicals’. Clearly it’s a very popular film.

I had seen the famous Singin’ in the Rain dance sequence with Gene Kelly, I knew the song, I accepted that it was a famous, popular piece of filmmaking. What I hadn’t ever done was actually sit down and watch it. At least, not until this past Sunday. And while I may not agree with a lot of the choices in AFI’s 100 Years... 100 Movies list, I can certainly understand why Singin’ in the Rain is near the top.

At this point it’s pretty much impossible to say anything about the film that hasn’t already been said a thousand times before. The story is clever and interesting, especially for a film buff like me who loves learning about how movies are made. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, Singin’ in the Rain is set during the era of filmmaking when “talking movies” were brand new. ‘The Jazz Singer’, the first “talkie”, has just been released and Monumental Pictures wants to get on the bandwagon. The only problem is that their leading lady in silent films has a terrible voice and could be the ruin of the studio. I won’t go into any more details but the storyline is clever, intriguing and highly entertaining.
The dialogue is witty and hilarious at times, which surprised me since we’re talking about a film that was released 23 years before I was even born. I’ve seen several ‘older’ films with dated dialogue that is now campy, cliché and in some cases down-right absurd. Singin’ in the Rain somehow manages to stay fresh and funny 56 years later.

Saying that the music is great is kind of like saying that the Empire State Building is tall. I’m reminded of a quote from Fawtly Towers, “Next contestant, Mrs. Sybil Fawlty from Torquay. Specialist subject – the bleeding obvious.” I was surprised by how many familiar tunes there were, including “Make ‘Em Laugh”, “Gotta Dance” and the non-Viagra version of “Good Morning”.

Saying that the dancing is great is kind of like saying that the dancing is great. Actually, it’s exactly like saying that. The dancing is great. I know it makes me sound old but they just don’t make movies like that anymore. I really enjoyed the dance numbers with all their extravagant sets and incredible choreography. Many of the scenes with Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor were almost hypnotic. Though I did find myself wondering if their routines would get them past the judges on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’.

The Two-disc Special Edition DVD is a great package that contains the theatrical release in glorious Dolby Digital 5.1 and un-glorious Full Frame 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio. What does that mean? Well, if you have an older, non-HD TV it means the picture will look normal. If you have a new HD TV, it means you will have black bars at the sides of the frame. Unless you decide to zoom the picture or something, which you should never do because it ruins the original aspect ratio. Unless you are afraid of burn-in, in which case you should consider using the zoom like I was forced to do. In any case I don’t think anyone is going to complain much about the picture quality of a 56-year old film. Except me. Full frame? Really?

The second disc is packed with special features the likes of which I’ve never seen before. Because I haven’t watched them yet.

Bottom line, if you are a fan of movies and you have never seen Singin’ in the Rain I highly recommend it. It is a classic in every sense of the word and rightly deserves its number 10 spot on AFI’s list. If this film doesn’t make you smile then I say to you the same thing my wife says to me when I fail to cry at sad movies; “You have no heart.”

“You know you've reached rock bottom when you're told you have character flaws by a man who hanged his predecessor in a military coup.”

Have I mentioned recently how much I love movies?

Shauna and I subscribe to a DVD rental company called Zip.ca, which allows you to rent DVDs through the mail. I’ll try to remember to post a blog about the site sometime so you can all check it out. The upshot is that we’ve had a chance to watch a lot of movies that you either can’t find at Blockbuster or you choose not to rent because the New Releases wall is just too tempting to pass up. Here’s a quick summary of some of the flicks we’ve had a chance to watch using Zip.

Joyeux Noel

I’ve wanted to see this movie for some time after seeing the trailer over 2 years ago. We were never able to find it at Blockbuster however. Fortunately Zip.ca carries about 20 times as many titles so it was a piece of cake to get this one delivered right to our door. It tells the true story of German, French and Scottish soldiers who celebrated Christmas together in the trenches during World War I. Told from all three sides and pieced together from letters recovered after the war, Joyeux Noel is both hear-warming and eye-opening. Shauna and I were delighted by this little gem and highly recommend it. Some may find it a little cliché, but the fact that these events really took place will hopefully transform cliché into hope.

Charlie Wilson’s War

Another war movie, sort of. Again based on a true story, Charlie Wilson’s War recounts the efforts of Senator Charlie Wilson, womanizer, party animal and casual drug user, as he conspires to make a difference in the Soviet War in Afghanistan. Starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman (one of our favourites), this film shows an interesting side of war and politics. The ultimate message is what really intrigued me, however. I won’t spoil it for you but anyone who is familiar with the history of the Soviet/Afghanistan war and how it relates to recent violence in Afghanistan will already have a good idea of what I’m talking about. Although Tom Hanks’ character is a little hard to like at the outset, he changes your mind with his actions. A great example of how our lives can either be defined by how we live or by what we do. Highly recommended.

Lars and the Real Girl

This is a quirky little film about a man struggling with loss, love and fitting in. Lars lives in his brother’s garage and has a very difficult time interacting with people. Then one day he knocks on his brother and sister-in-law’s door and announces he has a visitor. They are delighted until they realize his visitor is a lifelike sex-doll name Bianca, ordered from the Internet. Lars intentions are a complete surprise however, as the town folk discover that he’s trying to find a meaningful relationship while reconciling the loss of his mother. This movie is definitely not what you expect as Lars’ friends and family go the extra mile to accept Bianca into their lives while trying to help Lars find what he’s looking for. Shauna and I really enjoyed this look at the human psyche and the unique ways in which Lars finds healing.

There Will Be Blood

Nominated for Best Picture this year, There Will Be Blood appears to be about the early days of oil drilling at the turn of the century. There’s a lot more going on here, however. The greed fuelled search for oil is merely a backdrop for a film which is a true character story. Daniel Day Lewis gives an incredible performance in this dramatic and chilling story which, I’m told, is based on true events, or at least on real people. The characters’ motivations are the real heart of this story. The truth is somewhere beneath the surface and the constant struggle for power, money and fame ensure that, in the end, there will be blood. This is one of those “deep” movies that will keep you thinking and contains as many themes as you’re willing to consider. Definitely recommended.

American Gangster

Two of my favourite actors, Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington, star in this dramatic story of an African American gangster who takes over the drug trade in New York during the 1970s and the police detective determined to bring him down. Another character film, American Gangster is a little slow but filled with drama and intensity. It’s definitely not the action film that the trailers suggest. It is, however, a good story filled with some great acting. I appreciate films that manage to effectively show the perceived advantages of being a gangster as well as the very real, very grim reality of the consequence of such a life. I’m not sure if I would add this film to my collection or not, which is usually my stamp of approval for any film, but it was certainly worth watching once. If you’re a fan of either Denzel or Russell you probably can’t go wrong with this one.

Raging Bull

This is another title that I added to my ‘Ziplist’ as part of a collection of older, classic movies that I’ve never seen. Raging Bull was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar in 1980 and gave Robert De Niro his first Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. While on the surface this appears to be simply a “boxing movie” (as my wife calls them), the story is much deeper and focuses on the character of Jake La Motta and the struggles he has both in, and out of the ring. I can totally appreciate the impressive performance that De Niro gives in this film, but I’m not convinced that Raging Bull has stood the test of time. Special and visual effects aside, I think if this movie were released today it would get criticized for its writing and somewhat oversimplified story points. Many consider Raging Bull to be one of the most powerful movies, ever, but I have to disagree. Perhaps it was groundbreaking and powerful back in 1980, but this is one of those classics that has lost some of its steam over the years. I’m glad I saw it, but I really don’t see what all the fuss was about.

The Grifters

I actually don’t have much to say about The Grifters. It wasn’t at all what I thought it was going to be about. Although the story does involve con-men (and women) this is definitely not a “caper film” like I’m used to. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad film, but I just wasn’t able to buy into the characters enough to be that concerned with the events that unfold. If anyone wants to help me re-write that last sentence I’m all ears. Overall I found The Grifters a little boring and strange. Maybe my expectations got the best of me. It happens.

"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."

Wow. I can’t believe it’s been over a year since my last post.

Well, ok. Actually, I CAN believe that. I think I just gave up for a while there. I don’t really know what has inspired me to add another entry today, but here it is. Will this be the beginning of an epic Blog comeback? Only time will tell…

Regardless of the reason for getting back on the blog-wagon, I have some great things to blog about. First and foremost, I have officially entered the world of BLU RAY!!

I got a Playstation 3 for my birthday. I am not a console gamer, by any means and this is not a console gaming blog. But there are two very important reasons why owning a Playstation 3 is critical to any DVD buff.

1) It is the most cost effective and up-to-date Blu Ray player on the market. It acts as an up-converting DVD player, so your old DVDs will look great. But Blu Ray Discs (BD) look spectacular.

2) Rock Band. Ok, I know that’s not a movie but it’s worth mentioning. I’m not a musician, but now I can feel like one in the privacy of my basement.

Back to the Blu Ray thing. For the 4 of you who have not yet heard of Blu Ray it is the latest and greatest in home movie technology. Blu Ray discs can hold a LOT more information than a standard DVD. The upshot of that is movies can be stored on a Blu Ray disc at a significantly higher resolution and with uncompressed sound. This results in a stunning picture with a high level of detail and crystal clear audio.

“But my movies look good enough as they are,” you might say. Well, that may be so. Perhaps you are able to engage completely in the movies you have on DVD. It’s possible that you fully enjoy your standard definition DVD movies on your 27”, non-HD TV. Maybe you don’t need high definition Blu Ray to enjoy film.


No. That’s wrong. Trust me. There’s a small chance I’m just overly excited about Blu Ray and am unable to offer an unbiased, objective analysis of Blu Ray versus Standard DVD. But probably not.

Ok, now that we’ve settled that, go out and buy a PS3, an HDMI cable and a shiny new HD TV. Come back when you’ve got it all set up.

Done? Good. Let’s continue.

Now that you’ve got that new PS3 you’re probably wondering which Blu Ray disc to buy first. Don’t worry. I can help with that too.


Iron Man. Go buy it. Watch it. Love it.

I knew I was going to like this movie, but I had no idea how much I was going to like it. Shauna often tells me stories of how she used to watch Batman on VHS over and over again. I can recall seeing Batman in the theatre about 5 or 6 times and then wanting to watch it every day on video as well. That’s how I feel about Iron Man. It took me a while to identify the exact, special quality that makes this film so exciting for me. Was it the story? Was it the writing? The special effects? Robert Downey Jr.’s incredible performance?

I was having a hard time figuring it out because there are so many other movies I love that have those exact same qualities but are somehow different. So what was it?

I want to be Iron Man.

This movie makes me feel like I’m back in junior high again and I all want is to be Tony Stark and have my own Iron Man suit. It’s just so cool.

I could talk all day about the story (terrific), the writing (fantastic) and the witty, sharp performance given by Downey (did I say incredible already?). But ultimately the biggest draw for me is that this movie is loads of fun and makes me feel like I’m 12 years old again. I could watch it over and over again because each time I get to feel a little bit like Tony Stark. I get to fly over Malibu and dogfight with jets and take out the bad guys with mere flick of the wrist. I get to be Iron Man.

Maybe all of that sounds immature and childish.

It should. That’s kind of the point. Sometimes we complain about immaturity and sometimes we long to relive our youth when our imaginations ran wild and we didn’t care what others thought. I hope Iron Man makes you feel like the latter.

“Looks sort of like a burnt pork-chop, if you ask me.”

So, if you walk into HMV one of these days (because you’re looking to buy me a present) you’re likely to see Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima on the New Release wall. Both of them are 2-disc Special Editions and both of them are currently listed at $29.99. If you look a little closer you’ll see something called the ‘Battle for Iwo Jima’ box set. This set includes both of the titles I just mentioned, as well as a two-hour documentary on the battle itself called ‘Heroes of Iwo Jima’. It is currently listed at $49.99.

That’s right, you can buy both Special Editions for $60 or you can buy both Special Editions and a cool documentary for $50. I think I know who is going to spend the $60. It will be the same lady who was ahead of me in line one day. Her conversation with the teller went something like this:

Teller: Ma’am, oddly enough the DVD you are purchasing costs $22.99 on its own, but if you buy another DVD from the same section your total cost will be only $19.99.

Lady: Hmmm. No thanks, I want to save my money and I only want this DVD.

Teller: Um, I don’t think you understand. You will be saving money if you go grab another DVD. It will be three dollars less.

Lady: It sounds like a good deal but I’m not interested.

Teller: …

Me: Uh, ma’am, if you go grab another DVD, that DVD will be free and the DVD you are purchasing will be three dollars cheaper.

Lady: No thank you.

That woman does not deserve to own DVDs. Or money, for that matter.

Anyway, now that my little rant is done, allow me to tell you a bit about Flags of our Fathers which I had a chance to watch last night.

"Everybody saw that damn picture and made up their own story about it."

It’s pretty good. It’s almost what I expected it to be. For many parts it’s ‘Saving Private Ryan’ on a different piece of land. It has really big explosions.

I won’t go into plot details, partly because I hate writing about plot details, but mostly because I loathe writing about plot details. ‘Flags’ is about that famous picture, but it’s still not what I was expecting. In fact, I didn’t really know the truth about that picture until watching the film and I have to admit that I was surprised. The details surrounding the photo itself and the War Bond Drive afterwards are sobering. It was one thing to see it in a movie, another thing altogether to realize that it actually happened.

Apparently that photo is the most reproduced photo in history. Having the facts behind it makes that statement all the more intriguing. You’ll just have to see it for yourself and although it sounds cliché I have to admit that heroes are definitely something we create ourselves.

"This isn't just any island to them. This isn't Tarawa, Guam, Tinian, or Saipan. This is Japanese soil, sacred ground. Twelve thousand Japanese defenders in eight square miles, they will not leave politely, gentlemen! It's up to us to convince them."

Anyway, the film is pretty good. It’s not great but it definitely has a very interesting story to tell. Or rather a very interesting truth. It wasn’t at all what I expected or thought I knew.

The battle scenes are top notch. They use the same style as those in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ which is startling in its authenticity. If you like a good war scene you certainly can’t go wrong with ‘Flags’.

I’m really looking forward to seeing ‘Letters from Iwo Jima’ now. The Japanese are a faceless enemy in ‘Flags’ and, from what I’ve heard, it’s the complete opposite in ‘Letters’. The two films certainly go hand-in-hand and watching one can only enhance the other.

Unless you know something I didn’t know, you’ll never look at that photo the same way again.

“Yeah, it’s a dumb movie thing, but what do you want me to do, lie about it?”

I like films that break the 4th wall and do it well. For the uninformed, “breaking the 4th wall” refers to those moments when a character in the film directly addresses the audience in some way. This is not to be confused with narrating, which is simply a means of progressing or explaining the story (for the most part. I’ll get to that later). Breaking the 4th wall is deliberate and direct communication with the audience. Ferris Bueller does this a lot. He looks directly into the camera and tells us how to fake out parents and that you can never go too far.

I think I enjoy these moments so much because it’s the film’s way of saying “Hey, I know I’m a movie and I’m not going to take myself too seriously, so just sit back and enjoy.” One of the most annoying comments I hear about films is “It was too unrealistic”. Really? You want the film to be more realistic?! Isn’t the point of going to a film to escape reality for a short time (or a ridiculously long time)? People say “There’s no way that character could have survived that!” Are you serious?! You’d prefer a film where the main character dies in the first 15 minutes? You’d stand up and say “Well, that was certainly short and pointless, but at least it was real.”?!?

"For example..."

Ok, I’m kind of going off on a tangent here, but the point is that I like it when a movie recognizes those situations and takes a brief moment to simply remind us that we’re watching a movie, not real life. If you want real life, leave the theatre (or basement, in my case). Having said all that I can appreciate that we may not necessarily want reality, but we don’t want to be treated like idiots either. It’s perfectly acceptable for James Bond to be able to survive a jump out of a 3 story building as it explodes while simultaneously shooting four bad guys and landing in the driver’s seat of an Aston Martin convertible, uninjured. It’s not acceptable for Bond to simply fly out of harm’s way or turn invisible (without the aid of Q, of course). Both situations are totally unrealistic, but the former fits within the world we’ve been presented.

Yeah, so I think I went off on another tangent there. What was my point?

Oh yeah, the fourth wall.

‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ breaks the fourth wall. A lot. And it’s perfect. I found the movie all the more entertaining because it keeps reminding us that it’s just a movie. Relax. Chill out. This is not reality. This is movie. Suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the ride.

I was supposed to come back to the narrating bit. The main character in ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ narrates a lot and actually does break the fourth wall through his narrating, despite the fact that I said narrating is not to be confused with breaking the fourth wall. Did you get all that? If you’re at all confused, just watch ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ and then watch ‘Stranger Than Fiction’. One breaks the fourth wall. One narrates. Well, they both narrate but ‘Stranger Than Fiction’ is the example of narrating I’m referring to here. Er, there. Somewhere.

Anyway, the point is, I really liked ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ and ‘Stranger Than Fiction’. You should come over and watch them with me.

Also, James Bond films are fun.

How’s that for a review?

"Failure is not an option!"

I love my friends and family.

Thank you all so much for the very supportive comments. You've definitely inspired me to get back on the blog-wagon. I think I'm going to take all your advice and find new ways to post my reviews, perhaps keep them a little shorter and continue to find my own voice. So stay tuned! You'll be able to live vicariously through my movie-obsession in no time.

I also have to pat myself on the back for managing to title this entry, and the last one (sort of), with Apollo 13 quotes. It just seems to fit the phase my blog is going though.

"Gentlemen, I believe this is going to be our finest hour."

"Blog...we have a problem."

Here I am again, trying to determine what killed my blog. I still love movies as much as ever but I somehow lost the desire to blog about them. It would be great if I could somehow find that inspiration again.

I doubt anyone is even checking this blog anymore, but on the off-chance someone stops by, please leave a comment and give some advice on what I could do to re-kindle the fire. As I go back through old blog posts I am really proud of how my writing evolved and I think the movie reviews are quite good. I want to start doing that again. But how?

Sigh. One day, blog. One day.

I'm mostly no longer blogging....mostly

It would appear that I've been lacking in motivation to keep my blog up to date and I'm still not sure why that is. Hopefully I'll get back into high gear again one day, but for now it sure looks like I'm more excited about watching movies than I am about writing about them.

Which is too bad, because I've been watching a lot of really great movies lately. I'm particularly excited about the James Bond films. I picked up the James Bond Ultimate Edition Volumes 1 through 4 and have been watching the films in chronological order. I realized that I actually haven't seen most of the early films. I can certainly see why so many people agree that Sean Connery is the only "real" Bond. However, I grew up watching Roger Moore so it will be interesting to go back and re-watch those again. A good friend of mine and I are actually planning the James Bond Obscene-a-thon for sometime in the summer. That's right, all 20 James Bond films in a single weekend. I can't wait!

I recently hosted a Star Trek Ridiculathan which was enjoyed by myself, Vince and Chris. I was a little disappointed in the video quality of Generations but that's probably only because I'm a movie-snob. I would seek professional help but it would really cut into my movie-watching time.

The Oscars are on Sunday and I've actually managed to watch a few of the Best Picture nominees. The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine were both excellent. I really hope Martin Scorcese finally wins a well-deserved Oscar for his work. It's hard to believe that such an iconic filmmaker has never won a single Oscar. Babel also came out on DVD this week and I look forward to finally seeing it.

Well, that's all for now. I would still love to hear from anyone who has some thoughts on why blogging can become such a drudgery, or better yet, some suggestions on how to make it more enjoyable and regular. I'd love to have an up-to-date blog with many readers; how do I do that?

Anyway, thanks for stopping by. Give me a call if you want to watch a flick together. It's truly one of my favourite things.

What happened?

Well it's been over a month since my last blog entry and I can't help but notice that my entries prior to that were somewhat sporadic. What happened? When did blogging about movies start feeling like a chore? I've been thinking about that a lot lately and quite frankly I don't have a good answer.

Is this the end of 'Down in Front'? I certainly hope not, but it does look like I need to figure out why blogging started to feel like a "must do" instead of a "get to". Perhaps a change in my review-style is needed? Maybe fewer, full-length reviews and shorter, more frequent blog entries on movie-related topics would be better? It's something I need to figure out and I would love your input on the subject.

Despite my lack of blogging material I have been watching plenty of movies and enjoying them more than ever. The DVD collection is growing to obscene proportions and I'm ok with that. More importantly, and critically, my wife is ok with that. Thanks Shauna, I love you more than movies!

Some of you may have noticed that the link to my collection and wishlist has not been working. I have now switched to a new site (www.dvdspot.com) and I must say that it is very impressive. The link to the right should be working now and I encourage you to take a look. The statistics page is very interesting. You can use the tabs along the top of the page to see which movies I own, which ones I want to own (hint, hint), which ones I've been watching and occasionally which one I'm going to be watching next! It's a DVD collector's dream come true!

In the mean time I'll be thinking hard about this blogging thing. I don't want my blog to die as so many tend to do. Hopefully you'll be hearing from me again soon and hopefully I'll hear from you with some thoughts or suggestions.

Cheers!

"If somebody built it, somebody can unbuild it."

Happy New Year!

I think I’ve finally recovered from the holidays and although there were a few sleepless nights (sick dog), overall it was a pretty good Christmas break. I hope all my readers had a very Merry Christmas and are enjoying a wonderful New Year!

The Christmas holiday was particularly good to me as far as DVDs go. The collection continues to grow, nearly keeping pace with my obsession for good movies. One of the first that I watched in 2007 was The Score, starring Robert De Niro and Edward Norton. This is a great little caper film with some terrific acting and several entertaining twists.

Nick Wells (De Niro) is an aging jazz club owner and a professional thief. Priding himself on never taking a long-shot Wells is thorough and precise in his “business” and is strongly considering retirement. All that changes when he meets Brian (Norton), a mentally challenged janitor at the Montreal Customs house. Only Brian isn’t who he seems either and it isn’t long before the two team up to steal a priceless sceptre from the nearly impregnable customs house. Working with Wells' fence, played by Marlon Brando, the trio must get in, get out and get rich. It’s the classic caper formula and it works well in the case of The Score.

"It takes discipline because this whole game is one big long shot and if you don't have the discipline to stay away from the fliers or from the gambles or whatever else you wanna call a stupid move then, my friend, I'm afraid to say, one day you will go down. It's inevitable."

It may come as a surprise to some readers to learn this list of high profile actors (you can add Angela Bassett to the list, as Nick’s girlfriend) was directed by Frank Oz. You know, Miss. Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Grover, Yoda. That Frank Oz. Although this certainly isn’t the first time that he’s sat in the director’s chair. The Stepford Wives, What About Bob?, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Little Shop of Horrors are just a few of his other accomplishments. It should come as no surprise then to learn that Oz does a great job in bringing The Score together into a terrific heist film with some worthwhile acting and dialogue.

The single-disc DVD presents the film in an Anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen format, which is always a good thing. The transfer itself was quite good though I did notice a few scenes that appeared grainy. It’s hard to tell if that’s because of the transfer or because of the filters used during the scenes. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is equally impressive. It won’t blow you out of your seat or anything but it does a nice job of setting the mood and presenting clear dialogue and effects. No complaints here.

"I like your place. You got good taste."

As for bonus features (and yes, I’ve actually watched most of them), there’s not much to tell. A “making-of” featurette is included but it’s really just 10 minutes of promotional material for the film. You know the stuff; actors talking about how great their characters are, the director talking about how great the film is, writers talking about how great the dialogue is, etc. There’s virtually nothing in there about how the film was actually made. A few deleted and extended scenes are also provided, including a rare look at De Niro and Brando improvising a scene several times. Most viewers would probably find this tedious but I was interested to get a glimpse two incredibly accomplished actors doing their thing. A theatrical trailer and director commentary round out the rest of the bonus material.

"When was it you started thinking you were better than me?"

If you enjoy a good heist film then you certainly can’t go wrong with The Score. Norton’s performance is worth it alone and there are enough gimmicks and twists to keep any caper fan happy. It should also be noted that The Score was Marlon Brando’s last, complete film. It’s definitely worth a look.

The Score gets 8 surveillance cameras (out of 10).
Stick to the plan and click here for ‘The Score’ trivia.

"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!