Robert Zemeckis' Beowulf (script)
"The way the script is written, there is no way in bloody this will be a PG-13 film. This is definitely going to be a hard R. That would be the only way to do this thing justice. This is Conan the Barbarian r-rated full of gruesome macho violence, boasting, and lots of sex. At least that is the way it is written. This flick is about a kick ass balls to the wall barbarian. This ain't Toy Story so I can't wait when this thing hits in the summer of 2007 along with The Transformers..." (full review)

Good Night, and Good Luck (script)
"Despite the expansive historical backdrop, the screenplay stays focused on the immediacy of the newsroom and the reporters therein. We only catch glimpses of the outside world, largely through newsreel footage. There are no impassioned speeches in front of Congress or subplots involving McCarthy's machinations. Good Night, and Good Luck is an intimate story about a team of reporters who end up both reporting and, inexorably, becoming a part of one of the biggest stories of their careers..." (full review)

Brokeback Mountain
"This is a long, slow moving love story. I like the fact that this story arcs over many many years. A friend mentioned to me that the relationship was not explicit enough. For me the story was more about love, relationships and friendship. The real surprise was Heath Ledger. I love this understated moving performance. Their relationship, like all others is full of questions, confusion, and doubt. A-..." (full review)

A History of Violence
"This is a very, very good film, Viggo is OK, Maria Bello is great naturally, Ed Harris is quite menacing, and William Hurt has a scene that is quite brilliant, the Crowd was clapping and laughing the whole time! It is a 'clean', exceptionally well crafted piece of work. Please remember that this is a David Cronenberg production, so there are a few moments that will certainly shock you. That is ok, go along for the ride A-..." (full review)

Elizabethtown
"So why didn't I like "Elizabethtown"? Well "Orlando Bloom" for start. Just did not like the man in this role, really thought he failed to pull it off. Kirsten Dunst's character is annoying as hell when you first meet her, and for some it will stay that way that entire movie. It is way, way too long (it will likely be cut before hitting the theatres), and the film feels like it has two endings. There are some decent laughs every once and a while, and naturally it is a well produced film. However, as time passes along since the screening, the less I like it. This is coming from someone who loved "Almost Famous". C..." (full review)

Wolf Creek
"This movie is a masterpiece; a dark and twisted piece of art based on true events that left me rattled and distraught in the end. An instant classic, Wolf Creek sits high up on a pedestal with other classic films of the same genre..." (full review)

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
"This film never has a dull moment and moves pretty quickly. Defying the recent perception that old style animation may be a thing of the past, "Wallace and Gromit" proves that as long as the story is sharp, well-written, and well-animated, it doesn't matter what medium is used to tell the story. In my humble opinion, this is the best film of the year so far..." (full review)

Carlito's Way: Rise to Power
"If you're looking for a action packed, gunslinging gangsta this is not the film .On the other hand if you're seeking a decent twist filled hood-drama this isn't as bad as I thought it would be and is not a bad rental at all..." (full review)

The Baxter
"Reflecting back on the screenplay for the film I admire Showalter that much more. To flip-flop a romantic comedy is quite tricky considering you're lead character is still the geek that should get the girl, or shouldn't he? That's the dilemma as there are parts of the film that miss its own point- but Showalter quickly recovers from these apparent plot holes with a swift kick in the face ..." (full review)


Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit by 'Joejoesan'

The announcement of a Wallace & Gromit movie was obviously great news for the fans. But could the producers come up with a story that would entertain for 85 minutes instead of the usual 25? I'm personally a big fan of Wallace & Gromit. The first two shorts, A Grand Day Out and The Wrong Trousers, were brilliant. A Close Shave wasn't as good as the first two, but was still great fun to watch. I liked Chicken Run too, but I thought the movie was somewhat overrated. Still I had lots of confidence in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Luckily, creator Nick Park didn't let us down.

In this movie our heroes run a small firm called Anti-Pesto specialized in removing hungry rabbits from the local gardens. And business is good, because everybody in the village is preparing for the big Vegetable Contest organized by Baroness Tottington. Being an inventor Wallace comes up with the idea of brainwashing the rabbits so they loose their appetite in the giant carrots the people are trying to grow. So hopefully the animals will not visit their gardens anymore. But the experiment goes wrong and instead Wallace creates a real monster: the Were-Rabbit!

Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit starts with a bang and luckily the story keeps up the high pace. There are some great action scenes (for instance the one in which Gromit chases the Were-Rabbit in his car and a real 'dogfight' at the end of the movie). Also, all the gadgets that Wallace invents are great to look at. Visually the movie makes a big impact. But there are also a lot of entertaining characters. The excellent Ralph Fiennes plays evil Victor Quartermaine, a hunter who ruthlessly wants to shoot the Were-Rabbit and in the process marry Baroness Tottington. Unfortunately, the Baroness ( a witty performance by Helena Bonham Carter) has the hots for Wallace. But the character that I love most is the panicking Reverend Clement Hedges (voiced by theatre actor Nicholas Smith). I laughed my socks off watching him trying to convince the church goers that there indeed is a monster on the lose.

The story is also well written. There are lots of little surprises and there's even a big twist. Because if you know that somebody turns into a Were-Rabbit everytime there is a full moon, then of course you want to know who that person is. Not difficult to find out I suppose, and this element plays a big part at the end of the movie when all the cliches of the Jekyll & Hyde theme are made fun of.

Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a great film in which Nick Park has found a way to extend the world of his famous duo and at the same time preserve the atmosphere of the three shorts. People don't have to know about the previous movies to enjoy this one. Go see it!


Serenity by 'AndrewR'

Any TV-cum-movie is in for a tough time trying to generate an audience outwith the initial fanbase. That said, Whedon rips through the exposition in the first five minutes with some skillful visual trickery and editing that should leave fans satisfied and newcomers comfortable.

Then there is action, bucketloads of it. And tears, and laughter, and absolutely brown-pant scarey moments. This film has it all, but what it has at its centre is the emotions of the characters, not vast amounts of special effects. I won't spoil the plot, but it does centre on River and her psychic abilities. That said, everyone of the nine initial characters of the TV incarnation Firefly receives adequate screentime, save perhaps for Book and Inara. The actors are on fine form, notably Summer Glau and Nathan Fillion, and Alan Tudyk's comedy timing is the best I have seen.

The special effects are amazing, and I'm not just talking CGI. I was one of the few who complained that the opening sequence of Episode 3 was too static. Here, when Serenity is in a firefight, we are caught up in the thick of it. The CG blurs, zooms, pans,twists, sometimes missing the action - just as it did on the show - but it works better on the cinema screen - you feel immediately involved in what is happening. The make-up artists jobs on the scary-as-hell Reavers is fine as well.

Ultimately though, the success of this film will lie on the writing of Joss Whedon, and it is very well conceived idea, both on page and on screen. I have to wait three months before I see it again, and I already want a sequel. This is one ship I shope keeps on flying.