The Ring 2 (DVD) 29/12/05

A few years back Hollywood came out with a movie called "The Ring" starring Naomi Watts as the main character. The movie was based on some Japanese movies of the same name. (Possible pronounced Ringo)

There was this video tape. It contained about a minute of disturbing images and anyone who watched it had seven days to live. (unless they could get someone else to watch it) During those seven days they would have hallucinations and other weird shit happen to them.

The first movie is freaky and by the end they freaky shit is sorted out.

It comes back in another form for the second movie and of course is harder to kill/sort out/stop. Naomi and her son (his hair cut is one of the scariest things in the movie) are the main targets and have a tough time of it.

Very freaky, very suspenseful and not everyone's taste.

Recommended For: Horror Movie Freaks looking for an alternative to Freddie.
Not Recommended For: People Prone to nightmares

The Mask of Zorro (TV) 26/12/05

Despite my pre-conception of this movie it was actually very entertaining. This is the original movie not the sequel "Legend of Zorro" that is in the cinemas at the moment.

Anthony Hopkins in the original Zorro who becomes a legend across the land. As age (and the movies bad guy) catches up with the hero he has to give up the famous mask.

Antonio Banderas is basically a young punk with some scores to settle. With the help of old Zorro he becomes the new Zorro and kicks some butt.

As you would expect this is an action/adventure movie with lots of sword fighting, horse riding and explosions. Suprisingly there is more to the movie than this and I found that the story was well told and entertaining.

Recommended For: Those looking for a bit of an adventure
Not Recommended For: People looking for a unique and unpredictable cinema experience

The Grinch (TV) 24/12/05

You just have to watch a Christmas movie or two to get into the spirit of the season.

Jim Carrey (and his many faces and many dances) stars a "The Grinch" in this movie based on the book by Dr Seuss called "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". (Yes it is a kiddies movie)

The little town of Whoville is celebrating Christmas in their usual lavish and over-the-top way and "The Grinch" is an outcast of the town who lives in the hill above the town and (you guessed it) hates Christmas.

The Whoville residents are cartoonist with oversized noses and outlandish dress sense. A little girl who is searching for true meaning of Christmas and decides to try an befriend old-mate Grinch and the fun begins.

Ron Howard (red head from Happy Days) is the director but you could very easily think this was the work of Tim Burton on a happy day.

The message of the movie is that Christmas is not about how many present you buy or receive but spending time with your family and so on. The ironic thing was that this was shown on TV on Christmas Eve after all of the shopping had been done.

Recommended For: Anyone who is a child at heart
Not Recommended For: Grumpy old men that have spent the last few weeks going "Bar Humbug".

King Kong (Movies) 24/12/05

The main reason for deciding to go the cinemas and watch King Kong was it was stinking hot and three and a half hours in the air con sounded good.

The movie stars Naomi Watts (played Jet Girl in the movie Tank Girl and is also an Aussie) and Jack Black (also has a band called Tenacious D) and some other people who I should know.

It is an epic adventure to an inviting place called "Skull Island" (unexplored island trapped in the past) where they run into old mate King Kong and lots of other prehistoric and oversized beasties.

The movie contains a lot of drama, comedy and action. Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings Trilogy) directed the movie and once again draws you into this imaginary world with style, great camera work and effects so well done that you just believe that the managed to train a oversized gorilla to star in the movie.

The movie is 200 minutes long and there are sections where the movie could be trimmed back a bit.

Recommended For: People wanting to watch an epic movie
Not Recommended For: People scared of bugs

The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve (TV) 23/12/05

Some movies skip the cinema and go straight to DVD. I think this one was a "straight to TV" movies..... you can try to find a copy on DVD but I don't like your chances.

Despite the movies title it wasn't good enough for Christmas Eve viewing.

The guy has 12 days to sort out his life by doing the right things on Christmas Eve. If he gets it wrong he is killed and starts the day again.

Basically this is just a Christmas version of "Ground Hog Day" but all the great things about GHD have been removed.
It's not funny
You know how it going to end after the first day
You know there are 12 days to work it out.

Absolutely painful to watch. You will spend the whole movie yelling out "Work it out you dumb ass"

Recommended for: People suffering insomnia
Not Recommended for: Everyone Else

The Birthday Girl (TV) 17/12/05

This is quite an original concept for a movie. A young English fellow decides that the solution to his relationship problems is to order a Russian mail-order (or internet order) bride.

If this was a romantic comedy... they would have a few problems with the language barrier then discover their love for each other and live happily ever after..... and the sequel would involve the young English fellow going to Russia to meet the parents.

Lets just say it isn't a Rom Com and the plot takes a different more bizarre and thrilling path.

Nicole Kidman plays the Russian Mail Order Bride and I have no idea who plays the young English bloke.

Very different from your usual Hollywood blockbuster that Nicole has starred in.

Recommended For: Anyone considering a mail-order bride
Not Recommended For: Movie for a first date

Broken Arrow (TV) 16/12/05

The original title of this film was to be "John and Christian Blow Shit Up". They decided not to use this title as it would have given away too much of the plot.

A "Broken Arrow" is a lost nuclear weapon. The fact that we have a term for this event is scary enough.

Basic Plot - John Travolta & Christian Slater are military pilots. (That John Travolta sure loves his planes) They are flying a stealth bomber and one of them decides to steal the nukes. The other character spends to movie chasing the "Broken Arrow". They manage to blow up numerous helicopters, trucks, trains, underground mines and anything else that gets in their way. There was a boat in the movie but this suprisingly didn't get blow up.

It will keep you entertained for an hour and a half but don't expect Academy Award winning acting / directing / script.

Recommended For: People that like explosions
Not Recommended For: People looking for a chick flick

House of Flying Daggers (DVD) 15/12/05

There certainly are a lot of flying daggers... as well as flying arrows, flying soldiers (virtually flying) , flying spears, flying swords and various other items flying through the air as if guided by remote control.

The Flying Daggers are the bad guys. The government troops are the good guys. An over-confident guy called "Wind" (good) and a blind dancer called "Mei" (possibly bad) set out to find the "House of the Flying Daggers". Not as easy as it sounds.

Obviously this is a martial arts movie. Think "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" with a little bit less unrealistic flying through the air.

The film is visually stunning. Lots of huge fight scenes, a soppy love triangle, excellent slow motion sequences. The movie slows down in parts but this just lets you catch your breath.

Recommended For: Fans of the martial arts genre
Not Recommended For: Anyone who doesn't like the sight of blood

Dodgeball (DVD) - 11/12/05

First One... Here we go.

Any movie that has a character that thinks he is a pirate and spends the movie saying "Yarrr" is a winner in my book.

Very funny but suited to a certain sense of humour (mine thankfully).

The story of a band of misfits trying to save their gym which owes $50,000 by entering a dodgeball competition with the prize money of (you guessed it) $50,000.

Check out the alternative ending (with the director's commentary). The proposed ending would have annoyed a few film goers / DVD watchers.

Recommended for: Fans of "Obscure Sports Monthly"
Not Recommended for: Present for Great Grandmother

The idea - write something about each movie I watch

I really do watch a lot of movies over the course of a year. They range from really dull to bloody good.

So the idea is to Blog the movies I watch and give some vague and not too thorough description of each one.

I might develop a rating system eventually but for now I am just making it up as I go.