Page 1 of Personal DVD Viewing LOG w/e Sunday 30th Jan.

Total Recall - Was it a dream or the memory implant? I'm still not sure after watching it again but it is still an enjoyable action film with a 'what is reality?' sub-plot. :)
Commentary - Half good and half terrible with Paul Verhoeven explaining how the film was made and the different interpretations of the story; Arnie, on the other hand, provides a commentary for the blind so if you can't see the TV then you have the visual aspects of the film spelt out to you. How Verhoeven got through the recording without telling Arnie to shut up is beyond me! :/

The Isle - I was expecting a decent horror movie but found it to be a rather dull and disappointing movie with the boredom interspersed with two rather gut-wrenching (literally in one case) scenes involving fish hooks. The movie is beautifully shot but I found that none of the characters had any redeeming features which made it difficult to feel anything for them. :/

Into the Mirror - A very good mystery/horror which works on the premise that a person has two halves to them - one in the reflection and one they can feel. The effects are also excellent. :)

The X-Files Season 5 - Gets off to a great start with Redux and Redux 2 having an Oliver Stone feel to them and continues to impress with some great episodes. :D

Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere - Although not as good as Phoenix Nights, this 'unofficial' DVD is laugh-out-loud stuff. :D

Garden State - One of the best films of 2004, Zack Braff has written a wonderful script and provides an ideal lead opposite Natalie Portman who continues to impress with her acting when not reciting George Lucas' awful dialogue. :D
Zack Braff and Natalie Portman commentary - funny and informative, this is a very good commentary which explains how the film was made and what fun it was. :)
Crew commentary - after listening to Zack Braff and Natalie Portman's commentary, this strikes me as unnecessary with much of the information either repeated from the other commentary or uninteresting. :(

Antz - I really enjoy this movie which is beautifully animated and has a great cast. The voice acting is top class with Woody Allen playing Woody Allen! :)

Dog Day Afternoon - The true story of Sonny Woytzek is brought to screen in this superb movie with great performances from Al Pacino and John Cazale. :D

Heat - Michael Mann's best movie to date with De Niro and Pacino on top form and a rare Val Kilmer movie that isn't rubbish! Can't wait for the special edition which is due out next month. :D 8)

Open Water - Although many people hated this movie, I found it compelling viewing; the movie plays on the fears of abandonment and sharks. It portrays how insignificant the human race really is in the grand scale of things and the scene in the thunderstorm near the end is superbly done. :D
Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis commentary - this provides an interesting insight into how the movie was filmed and what they went through to make the movie. :)
Laura Lau and Chris Kentis commentary - rarely overlaps the other commentary and is mostly interesting and entertaining. :)


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"Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cosy, doesn`t try it on."
Billy Connolly

My Top 20 Horror Movies ---- My DVD Collection

Just got in ahead of me this week wossname ;)

Greystoke The Legend of Tarzan Lord of the Apes - The best Tarzan movie to date although far from perfect. Lambert plays the part well but simply isn`t big enough for Tarzan and while it sticks closer to the book than any previous version is misses out on a lot of the fun being a little to serious and worthy. Still at least it hasn`t got the Weissmuller yodel. Would have liked to have seen some of Andie MacDowell`s scenes with her voice rather than Glenn Close`s as an extra on the DVD but no such luck. :)

Death Wish - Not just mindless violence as some would have you believe the first film is a faithfull adaptation of the book by Brian Garfield. Bronson only kills his first mugger half way through the film (although he goes through a few in the second half) and in a nice realistic and un-Hollywood touch never kills those responsible for his wifes murder. I also like the ending that sets it up for the sequel that didn`t appear until eight years later. :)

Dracula - Following on from last weeks Curse of Frankenstein comes Hammers version of another great horror novel. This is much more fun than Frankenstein with Cushing on fine form again as Van Helsing and Lee making a commanding Dracula. :)

The Bourne Identity - I used to hate Matt Damon but I`m becoming a fan and this is one of the reasons. Great spy movie with a superb car chase (best use of a Mini on film since the original Italian Job) and some very brutal fights for a 12 certificate plus no computer generated effects. :D 8)

The Shadow Riders - Uninspired direction by Anrew V McLaglen spoils this TV movie western but Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott are great as a pair of brothers who fought on opposite sides in the Cival War. :/

The Sweeney Season 2 - `Faces` - Good solid episode with Colin Welland as a heavy. :) `Supersnout`- Another good episode with Bill Maynard standing in for Garfield Morgan as the Chief. :) `Big Brother` - Very good episode with everyone assuming Regan beat up a prisoner who collapses after being questioned. :D `Hit and Run`- Carter`s wife is killed in a case of mistaken identitiy and we see that Dennis Waterman has a limited range as an actor. Good performance from guest star Patrick Troughton though. :)

And as for Total Recall - It`s a dream and this aspect would no doubt have been played up a lot more had the original choice of Director, David Cronenberg, made the film.


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`.....be nice until it`s time to not be nice`

This item was edited on Monday, 31st January 2005, 11:37

The Braff/Portman commentary on Garden State was very enjoyable, but it has destroyed my perception of her as a wholesome, innocent young lady. Not that it`s a bad thing ;)

I don`t know how you find the time to watch all those films though. I barely have time for one or two per week nowadays.

Quote:
I don`t know how you find the time to watch all those films I decided to take a year out following my MA so I am spending pretty much all my time watching DVDs (time well spent).

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"Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cosy, doesn`t try it on."
Billy Connolly

My Top 20 Horror Movies ---- My DVD Collection

...sometimes struggle to remember what week this is...

Get Shorty - Special Edition - nice Director`s commentary on this. Don`t normally watch these all the way through but this was fact-packed. Great movie too of course!

Geronimo - an interesting twist on the Injun`s are baddies angle. No cliche left unturned but Adam West appears here as a `caring` white man - maybe that`s what encouraged him to don the cape a few years later!

Texasville - was that this week or last? ...can`t remember. Ok movie with a great opening sequence...

Home Alone 4 - watched with very low expectations but was pleasantly surprised (with the kids)

The Bowie Collection - some good, some bad, some plain ugly ...but a nice rip down memory lane.

Battle of the Planets - Disc 1 - Just as good as I remember it...but this is the sanitised version that has no killing and the addition of a whacky robot. Full of action though...

That`s it! 8)

The West Wing Season 3 (R1) - Way behind with the West Wing, as I left the country and missed it on terrestrial TV, then waited for the R1 discs, for the extra features. A good season this, great writing as ever, and leaves me waiting impatiently for Season 4 and the election run up!

Seinfeld Season 1 (R1) - My favourite US comedy series. Interesting to see these early episodes. Good discs, with lots of extras, which I haven`t got round to watching yet.

and that was the week that was.

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