Just Friends (Movies) 17/2/06

There are so many movies in the cinemas that have been written and directed with one purpose... to win an award. (Gay cowboys, women working in a mining town, global oil markets, arms dealers and so on.)

This movie is not one of the above and as a result is funny and entertaining.

A boy and girl are best friends in high school. The guy wants to become more than friends but is a bit too fat to be considered boy friend material. (or so he thinks)

Years later he has slimmed down, got a great job and a big pile of self confidence and finds himself back in his home town for the first time since high school ended. His mission is to get the girl he couldn't get in high school.

The guy is one of the actors from the TV show "2 guys, a girl and a pizza shop". The girl is the new girlfriend for the main character of the movie "Road Trip". "Oz Striker" from "American Pie" also shows up as another grown up geek chasing the same girl.

The movie is filled with lots of crazy characters and moments.

Star Wars: Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi (DVD) 19/2/06

Originally this movie was going to be called "Revenge of the Jedi" because "Return of the Jedi" wasn't tough enough. They stuck with the name until just before the release then someone (probably George Lucas) realises that revenge is a big no-no in the Jedi handbook.

All three of the original movies were re-released in a DVD box set. The movies were remastered and extra scenes were added. Most of the added scenes are subtle and blend in well except for one. There is an extra scene at Jabba's palace which involves puppets singing, dancing and playing trumpets. Be warned... have your "Fast Forward" button ready.

The DVD box set also has an extra DVD on the making of Star Wars, Empire and Jedi. This is definitely worth a watch.

Star Wars: Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back (DVD) 11/2/06

The second film made and the fifth in the series. (God this would be confusing for the younger generations)

Once again, absolutely brilliant.

If you haven't seen this movie at all or in the last few years..... get out the DVD and watch it again.

Star Wars: Episode 4 - A New Hope (DVD) 10/2/06

Originally this movie was released as just plain old "Star Wars". At the time George Lucas had written the brief outline for three movies (episode 4 to 6). Years later the George prettied up the first three films and wrote and produced 3 prequels.

The film is absolutely brilliant. The remastering of the film and the extra computer generated scenery work well in this film.

Crackerjack (DVD) 3/2/06

Aussie comedian Mick Molloy is a young bloke called "Jack Simpson". To score some free car parking he joins an inner city lawn bowls club.

After six years of charging people to park in his car parks (and never entering the club) the bowls club falls on hard times.

Jack is called up to play in a lawn bowls tournament. He is a bit of a fish out of water and 40 years younger than the other members.

Very funny and worth a watch. The cast include veterin actor "Bill Hunter", political satirist "John Clarke" and female comedian "Judith Lucy".

Wild Things (TV) 28/1/06

If you only saw a few particular scenes from this movie you could very easily mistake it for soft porn and not much more.

Despite the over the top smutty-ness of the movies, script and story line are actually quite clever and entriguing. Denise Richards & Neve Campbell are school girls accusing their teacher (Matt Dillon) of sexual mis-conduct (to put it mildly). Kevin Bacon is the cop trying to crack the case.

I don't want to give the plot away. Let's just say that this isn't a court room drama.

Leonard Maltin (Movie Guide 2005) sums up the plot by saying "it has more twists and turns than a pretzel factory".

Definitely worth a watch. Probably not a movie for the church picnic.

Happy Gilmore (TV) 22/1/06

Happy Gilmore wants to be an ice hockey player. He has a excellent "slap shot" but is a really crappy skater and has one hell of a temper.

He hates golf but has such an excellent drive that he realises that he can make some money out of the game.

It's a "fish out of water" type comedy and is quite funny.

Adam Sandler is Happy Gilmore. (No one else could have played the part)

Good stuff. If you haven't seen it 17 time watch it again.

Recommended For: Almost anyone with a sense of humour
Nor Recommended For: Professional Golfers

Bewitched (Beach Cinema) 21/1/06

Why did I watch such a girly-girl movie? It was free and was shown on Surfers Paradise beach at sunset.

In the movie, a unoriginal TV producer come up with the idea of remaking the TV show Bewitched. The actor playing Darren is Will Farrell. He is a washed up movie star trying to stay famous.

He needs to find someone to play the TV show's witch Samantha. He finds Nicole Kidman's character who is actually a witch but has not acted in her life..... and so on.

Basically this is a chick flick. There are a few amusing moment which may keep the guys entertained.

It is a slightly original way of rehashing a TV show into a movie and not quite as painful to watch as I had expected.

Recommended For: Girls and Bewitched fans
Not Recommended For: People looking for a cinematic extravaganza

Trekkies (DVD) 21/1/06

Ever wonder what happens at Star Trek conventions? The producer of this feature length documentary aims to show the world what's behind those doors that most of would not dare enter.

Trekkies and Trekkers are two of the names for Star Trek fans. (I have a few others but they are not quite as nice) Throughout the doco we meet various devoted fans who express there love of Star Trek in many weird and crazy ways.

There is..... the woman who attended Jury duty in her star fleet uniform.... the star trek themed dental surgery.... the Klingons.... the annoying young man that really needs a life (you will know who I am talking about).... and of course the actors that played space adventurers over the year. (William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy to name a few)

This is very amusing and enough to motivate me never to go near one of these conventions.

Recommended For: Anyone that wants a bit of a laugh
Not Recommended For: People with a fear of red and yellow uniforms

Sideways (DVD) 20/1/06

Two friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church from "Ned and Stacey") and Miles (Paul Glamatti) head off to wine country for a week of wine tasting and good food prior to Jack's wedding on Saturday.

Well, that was the plan. They make it wine country but things get a bit off track after a few two many wine tastings.

Quite a bizarre movie with one character throwing morality out the window and another character obsessed (to a scary degree) by wine making/wine growing/wine drinking.

You will learn more about wine than you ever need to know or could possibly remember. You will laugh, possibly cry, say the words "Oh my god" and definitely be a bit disgusted by some of the scenes and behavior.

Recommended For: People who like a story with a difference
Not recommended For: The church picnic