Chris' Talk

The Spirit

The sheer silliness of this comic book movie makes it very hard to like. Frank Millers directorial debut could have been a stylish, classy romp in the style of 'Sin City', but unfortunately leaves the bitter aftertaste of 'Batman and Robin'. While it's still got some visual flair and it's odd moment of creative originality, the utter silliness of the script is pretty unforgiveable. Given the pedigree of director Frank Miller, I guess I expected more, but then reminded myself, the man is a graphic novel legend and definitely not a great director.

Swing Vote

While the premise is totally absurd, the execution of this 'old-school' comedy is kinda refreshing. The ever charismatic Kevin Costner is great as the loser who becomes responsible for the fate of a nation. A wonderfully eclectic support cast are great and it's nice to see Dennis Hopper again. As political comedy goes, there are plenty of jabs at the American media and the lengths a candidate will go to for victory. Well worth a watch, if only for the faux promotional ads the candidates direct at Bud (Costner). Not comedy gold, but perhaps more overlooked than it should be.

Yes Man

Jim Carrey returns to his face-pulling schtick in this rather loveable comedy with a powerful little message. Best of all, he manages to reel in the face-pulling to a point where it's tolerable and actually funny. Not only that, but a brilliant support cast and a witty script make for a very fun night in. I agree that the premise is a bit silly, but you can't help but be enamoured with the relationship that develops between Carrey and the adorable Zooey Deschanel. My main man Rhys Darby is yet another reason to see this very loveable comedy. 'Yes' from me.

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane

Bog standard teen horror flick with absolutely nothing really worthy of note. The cast of unknowns are all very pretty and die in a predictaby methodical manner, with some unintentionally humorous results. Aside from a half-decent twist toward the end, the rest is just something to chuck in the DVD player on a mindless afternoon. That said, it's not that it's a bad movie at all. Just a decent addition to an already very tired genre. You can't help but think that an original idea colud have gone a long way on this one.

Futurama: Bender's Game

Not nearly as fun or imaginative as it's predecessors, but still a fun feature length outing with everyones favorite Star Trekkers. Dungeons and Dragons geeks (like myself) will find many nice little 'in-jokes' to smirk at, but I can't help but feel that such a vast and varied world was not mined for laughs nearly as much as it could have been. Although it was nice to see the adorable 'Nibbler' have more to do, it was ultimately just okay and the brilliance of 'Benders Big Score' really stands out. Can't wait for 'Into The Wild Green Yonder'.

Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter and Under the Hood

Very clever little collection of extras that could quite easily be cut back into the main 'Watchmen' movie. Those familiar with the graphic novel will know the Black Freighter 'story within a story', and how it cleverly mirrors the sentiments of the characters in 'Watchmen' It's anime style and dark sensibilities lend to the main plot well and I would not be surprised to find a directors cut in the near future featuring this woven into the main plot. 'Under The Hood' is a great little documentary looking at the forming of the Minutemen, featuring actual members. A great companion piece to an excellent film.

Burn After Reading

The Coens follow-up to the immensely successful 'No Country...' is a fairly downbeat comedic affair with some touches of the Coens trademark genius. Darkly funny with an ensemble cast of Coen regulars that do not fail to dissapoint. The chemistry between the cast shines off the screen and it's their interaction that makes this fun. Even when the plot starts to drag and the twists become a tad tiresome, it's the quirky cast that keep your attention. Solid work from a pair of film legends. More please Joel and Ethan.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Painful little kids movie that grates away at your adult sensibilities with cute talking animals. Some impressive animal training and CGI do little to atone for a fairly lazy, rehashed plot and lacklustre dialogue. The voice acting can't be faulted, but with so few memorable lines, it's hard for the likes of Drew Barrymore and George Lopez to do anything special. Although it must be said, I could happily listen to Cheech Marins voice acting in almost anything. Overall a fairly dissapointing flick that should remain a punishment for those who have chosen to breed.

The Dark Crystal

The brilliance of Jim Henson and Frank Oz shines in this innovative fantasy tale. Clearly dated since 1982, but the sheer imagination of characters and settings is still amazing. Truly deserving of 'classic' status, the attention to detail is noteworthy. It must be said that some of the darker characters may be a bit too terrifying for younger audiences, as I clearly remember being terrified as a child. Quite similar to 'Labyrinth' in many respects. Well worth a look, but remember, this was made in 1982 and it looks it at times.

Pineapple Express

God help me, I'm starting to like Seth Rogen's work. This stoner-buddy action/comedy is full of great laughs and some surprisingly good action sequences. Unfortunately the two genres don't mix well together and feel a bit forced. Rogen is hilarious and James Franco does a fine job, playing against type. Perhaps a bit more overhyped than it deserves to be, but still a fun ride. Don't miss the special features on the DVD for even more laughs and some impressive outtakes.

Adulthood

This brilliant sequel to 'Kidulthood' is equally shocking and more real than you might like. The same group of characters reprise their roles with some interesting outcomes. Writer Noel Clarke pulls an amazing trick in this film, by drawing us to give moral support to the thoroughly despicable murderer from the first film. The cast are good throughout and the brutality of the storytelling certainly leaves you thinking. I would highly recommend seeing 'Kidulthood' first to get the full effect of this brilliant sequel.

Kidulthood

Brutal, raw and shocking drama about modern day high school kids and the terrors that surround their lives. A scarily authentic cast bring the stark realities of this story to life quite wonderfully. Englands teen culture truly appears to be a dark and depressing environment. The sheer multitude of issues raised is eye opening as everything from teen suicide, pregnance, drugs and violence is portrayed in an all too real way. Highly recommended if you have the stomach for it.

Hamlet 2

The very funny Steve Coogan does a fine job in a fairly silly role as a struggling drama teacher who attemps to stage a sequel to Hamlet. While it can't help but draw comparisons to the likes of 'Mr Hollands Opus' and 'Dangerous Minds', the charisma of Coogan make such comparisons a minor issue. The 'Americanisation' of Coogans character causes the comedy value to suffer a bit, but I defy you to see this and not be singing 'Rock me sexy Jesus' in your head the next day.

Stuck

Stephen Rea and Mena Suvari prove that they haven't fallen off the face of the planet in this very quirky film by Stuart Gordon. Apparently 'based on a true story', the premise is bazarre to say the least and tends to lean more toward black comedy due to its over the top nature. Still it manages to build some intensity and the performances are tolerable. Ultimately its pure quirkiness manages to hold your attention and while the ending is a bit OTT, you can't help but wonder which bit of this tale was true.

Son of Rambow

Delightful little British flick, highlighting the friendship between two very different boys and their hilarious attemps to remake 'Rambo'. The childish will to suspend disbelief and escape into a world of imagination is beautifully realised. Equally funny and touching. What it lacks in depth, it certainly makes up for in pure lighthearted fun and the genuine performances from the two lead boys is highly commendable. All that and some very cool early 80's set pieces make this a very delightful little gem.

Maniac Cop 2

With a movie like this you pretty much know what to expect, only in this case the bad slasher genre actually produced something good! Yeah it's thin on plot and about as dumb as a bag of rocks, but it actually manages to create some tension, hold your attention and root for more bloodshed as the bodycount rises. I guess you could call it a guilty pleasure, but if anyone doubts the pedigree of this cult genre classic, I got two words for you...... Bruce Campbell, nuff said.

The Adventures of Milo and Otis (Koneko Monogatari) (A Kitten's Story)

Very loveable family tale of the friendship between a pug nosed puppy and a curious ginger kitten. Ultimately cutesy and more amusing than funny, but still enjoyable mostly thanks to Dudley Moores thoughtful narration. Perhaps a little dated since 1986 and the techniques of the Japanese creators must come into question since cats don't swim and dogs don't fly (but both happen on screen). So if the idea of watching a pair of ridiculously cute creatures doesn't make you completely nauseous, track this one down.

Nothing Is Private (Towelhead)

This confronting, sometimes uncomfortable story of a 13 year old Arab-American girl is a bit of a difficult watch at times, but well worth a watch. Clever casting and brave narrative make an awkward tale quite riveting and yet shocking at the same time. Many unlikeable characters are well fleshed out, and while you can't help but feel for young Jasira's plight, her method of manipulation makes for some interesting moral dilemmas. Clever and brave, just not for everyone.