New Feature Coming!
With the news that Clive Dunn has passed away it got me thinking about British sitcoms.
We’ve had some fantastic ones over the years; so for your reading pleasure this afternoon I am compiling my top 15 British sitcoms.
Maniac Trailer
Hi all, me again!
A new trailer for the remake of Maniac has just been released and it looks fantastic. If you love gore I would say give it a watch, it looks gruesome and intriguing to say the least. Elijah Wood stars and seems to be channeling Kevin from Sin City and I’m liking the look of it.
No official release date for the UK yet, but it’s hitting France on December 26th.
Check out the link below.
Skyfall Review
Alas I didn’t make it to see Skyfall in IMAX but I made it to the cinema and thank God for that.
I was (along with many others) initially sceptical when I heard that Sam Mendes was directing a Bond film. Although Road to Perdition had some action in it, Mendes is largely known for powerhouse dramas. But he definitely proved us all wrong with an action and drama laden Bond film. After the snoozefest that was Quantum of Solace a new injection of life was needed for Bond, and by hiring Mendes they did just that.
Unlike some of the convoluted plots that have weighed down numerous Bond outings, Skyfall is about revenge, friendship and resurrection. Throughout the film you feel as if Craig’s Bond has lived through every single prior film and is on his last legs. He blatantly states that his hobby is resurrection and it’s never felt as poignant as it does in Skyfall. Craig plays Bond with a sensitivity and humanism that audiences crave. We go on the journey with him and Skyfall twists and turns constantly.
We’re introduced to a wealth of new characters, we have Bond Girl Severine (a very sexy Berenice Marlohe) and practical and seductive Naomie Harris as Eve. The real Bond Girl though is Judi Dench’s M. She’s phenomenal from start to finish and her chemistry with Craig is fantastic. The Mother/Son relationship that they’ve developed comes full circle in Skyfall and makes the mission seem more personal than any of the previous. It’s great to see M go into the field with Bond and be deeply involved within the plot. The trailer revealed that Skyfall would focus on M’s past so no spoiler there about how integral she is to the plot. M has gone from being a figure behind a desk to the centre of the Bond franchise.
Amongst numerous issues with Quantum, the lack of a decent villain was tantamount to its failure. Thankfully with Skyfall there is no issue with the villain. Oscar winner Javier Bardem makes Silva an antagonising villain, he’s sinister, well prepared, heartless, deformed, yet at the same time he’s camp and funny. It seems that Silva is a throwback to the villains of the Golden age of Bond. He’s Goldfinger, Blofeld, Janus, Zorin etc rolled into one. His presence lights up the screen and his personal vendetta makes him a more watchable villain than those who wanted to hold the world ransom. Silva’s homoerotic tendencies are interesting to watch and he and Bond make for an interesting double act. His jealousy of Bond is clear and his disregard for human life is enthralling to watch.
As I mentioned before, Mendes can definitely direct action. Skyfall opens with a wonderful set piece in Istanbul, and then we’re transported to Shanghai for a stylised high rise fight scene, through to Macau, London and Scotland. Although there is a lot of dialogue and plot in Skyfall, it is intercut with these tremendous action sequences. Mendes is clearly a Bond fan and he treats the action and dialogue with respect and an almost ‘fan-boy’ excitement. Mendes is careful to give Skyfall a human element and the final “battle” as it were is a nod to just how much Bond has changed since 1962’s Dr No.
Along with the primary cast, Bond is supported by the new Q (a delightful Ben Whishaw), Tanner (Rory Kinnear), Kincade (a surprise from Albert Finney) and Ralph Fiennes as suit Gareth Mallory. Each of the characters are given time and Finney is the most delightful to watch with Bond. Humanity reigns throughout Skyfall and with Mendes’ soft touch he has brought the franchise back on track.
Now with Bond back on track, we must wonder what’s in store for him. It’s all change at the end of Skyfall and I can’t help but wonder who will direct/write the next instalment. Quantum proved that a sequel is not workable within the Bond canon so I hope for a witty and gritty stand-alone film. Christopher Nolan is a popular suggestion for the new Bond and I think that would be impressive to see.
In the meantime everyone should enjoy Skyfall and revel in the fact that Bond is back home where he belongs.
World War Z
Just seen the first teaser footage for World War Z starring Brad Pitt. Action wise the film looks pretty intense and interesting, but with only 34 seconds of footage it all looks quite standard. This film seems to have taken forever to come out, and hopefully it will be worth the wait.
Throughout the 34 seconds we see Pitt acting as the hero, several desperate cries from his children and a hoard of zombie creatures. The CGI looks standard, but there are some fantastic overhead shots that should look fantastic on the big screen.
Check out the trailer below and let me know your thoughts.
Skyfall
Off to see Skyfall in IMAX tomorrow. I expect good things.
Sinister Review
A tad belated and apologies for the radio silence. Here is my mini review of Sinister.
A creepy found footage opening sets the tone for Sinister. Throughout the film there is a variety of good scares and Ethan Hawke is watchable as the struggling crime writer.
Sinister falls down in it’s 3rd act im a similar way to Insidious. The film starts with the idea of serial killings but quickly descends into the supernatural. Although the supernatural ‘Mr Boogie’ is an addquate villain, part of me wanted it to be a real life serial killer.
The film drags in places but it’s one to watch for some good scares. Unfortunatel it’s not memorable
Sinister
Preparing to see Sinister on Saturday. Will I be terrified or tickled?…
Why women love chick flicks
Some freely admit it, others pretend they don’t love them; but in my mind there’s nothing better than a good chick flick. Whether it’s a genuinely good film, or some trashy romance that you’d be embarrassed to get caught watching – there’s something for everyone.
So what is it about them that we love?
– Fairytale endings
Some chick flicks have the perfect ending where everyone ends up together, the hero sweeps the heroine off her feet and all’s well in the world. The fairytale ending is the ultimate feel good experience after a long day or something emo like that. We watch ones like this to feel better and to enjoy the cheesy fiction of it all.
– Sad endings
Every now and then the best chick flicks are the ones with the sad ending. Think of The Notebook, Moulin Rouge, Titanic, Beaches and so on – sad endings that we watch again and again. Maybe it’s the catharsis of it all, but a sad ending is exactly what we need. Whether we need an excuse to cry or just fancy a good weepy where we can relate to the characters, the sad ending is an essential part of the chick flick canon.
– Romantic stars
From hot romantic men to sexy damsels, chick flicks are littered with incredibly good looking stars and that’s part of why we love them. It’s entertaining to watch impossibly beautiful people go through the trials and tribulations of love. Then there are the romantic ideals we have ourselves and how we see these people act reassures us. True we sometimes compare real life to the movies, but every now and then it’s good to indulge.
– The good and the bad
Some chick flicks are universally recognised as good films, take Beaches, Titanic, Dirty Dancing, Steel Magnolias and so on. On the other hand there are the so bad they’re good ones – He’s Just Not That Into You, A Walk to Remember, Legally Blonde. The contrast of these films just goes to show how much girly films are needed in everyday life. We all like to be swept off our feet and indulge in these romantic notions from time to time, we need them to balance everything.
So what’s your favourite chick flick and does it land in the good pile or the so bad they’re good?
A Good Day to Die Hard
I’ve just seen the first trailer for A Good Day to Die Hard, the fifth installment of the McClane franchise. Lots of guns, violence and Bruce being Bruce but this seems to have lost all the charm of the original trilogy (the 4th just doesn’t count in my opinion).
Check it out for yourselves
My Top 10 Guilty Pleasure Movies
1. Titanic
James Cameron’s epic is usually on most people’s most hated films but I can’t place why I love it so much. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of childhood but it’s one of those films that I’ve never got bored of. True it’s overlong and embarrassingly romantic, but the doomed ocean liner adventure never fails to entertain me. Only one to watch all the way through once or twice a year, but I always enjoy it.
2. Con Air
Nicholas Cage’s hair aside, Con Air is one of those films that’s so stupid it’s brilliant. The premise is stupid yet genius and with a cast including
John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi and John Cusack it’s one hell of an entertaining film. The action is overblown and the dialogue is cheesy and laughable, but Con Air is easy action watching at its best. All the actors know that this isn’t a serious film so they go with it and make one of the best action films of the past twenty years.
3. Commando
My first Arnie movie entry of this list, Commando takes camp and cheese to a whole new level. From the guns that seem to never run out of bullets to a villain who looks like a reject from a dominatrix club it’s a pitch perfect film. The sight of Arnie in a speedo is something I never wanted to see, but with a ludicrous plot, big guns and lines like “don’t wake my friend, he’s dead tired”, this guilty pleasure just gets better.
4. Snakes on a Plane
Hilarious from beginning to end, Snakes on a Plane is a movie that’s meant to be awful, and I can’t help but watch it and love it every now and then. Samuel L Jackson plays his usual character, Kenan Thompson is as stereotypical as they come, and there’s a cliché at every turn. The best thing about a guilty pleasure is just how much you can enjoy something so bad, and with this film that’s a lot. I certainly wasn’t tired of those motherfucking snakes on the motherfucking plane
5. Taken
Who knew Liam Neeson could do action. Taken is xenophobic and stupid but it’s a fantastic action film to enjoy. Liam Neeson’s particular set of skills are thrilling to watch, and although the script is clunky and implausible it’s a great film. With an 18 rating, there was plenty of violence to keep me entertained; this does make me worry for the sequel which has been downgraded to a 12a. Taken is a great guilty pleasure because of the gratuitous violence, I think the imaginatively titled sequel Taken 2 won’t live up to its predecessor.
6. Bend it like Beckham
Into girly movie territory, Bend it like Beckham plays out exactly how you think it will and I love it. Keira Knightley attempts football, Jonathan Rhys Meyers stares intently so on. The film may be stereotypical but it’s funny and enjoyable to watch from beginning to end. I think it’s one of my guilty pleasures because it’s a great film to snuggle up to if you’re alone in the house and want to indulge in some by the book entertainment.
7. Moulin rouge
My favourite musical and possibly the cheesiest and campest film ever made, Baz Luhrmann’s vivid film is disgustingly romantic but that’s why I love it. I think I used to watch this film every week when I was young and it is an embarrassing one to admit you like it. But there are songs and dancing, death, Jim Broadbent singing Like a Virgin, what more could you want from a film? It might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s a by the book musical that always makes me smile and cry.
8. Underworld
Kate Beckinsale in tight black leather = yummy. Big guns, action, vampires, werewolves = ultimate guilty pleasure. The first Underworld is an enjoyable, standard action film with Kate Beckinsale on her usual cold form. But the reason I love it is because of how overblown it is and it doesn’t make any apologies for it. Whoever thought of casting Bill Nighy as a baddie vampire deserves the Nobel Prize as he’s the perfect blend of sinister and camp.
9. Twilight Saga
I’ll say this outright, the Twilight Saga films are awful beyond anything. They’re over the top, painfully cheesy, they ruined vampires and brought Kristen Stewart into the mainstream, but they’re so bad they’re entertaining. I would never admit publically to enjoying them, but I laugh at every scene, mock throughout and genuinely have a good time watching them. It’s a shame that in other films Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are actually quite good, but they are the people from Twilight and that’s how it will be. Thankfully the saga comes to an end this year, but the hilarity will always continue for me.
10. True Lies
Another Arnie classic, True Lies is stupid, badly acted and hilarious. With a cast including Arnie, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold and Bill Paxton, what isn’t to love in this action film? True Lies is one of those films that when someone asks you what you fancy watching, you always want to say it but don’t for fear of embarrassment. The plot is hilarious and the final set piece with the plane (and a young Eliza Dushku) is laughable. True Lies is Arnie at his camp best.
Ipod Quandry
Odd realisation walking to the station after work. I walked past a busker playing sax but I couldn’t hear him because of my Ipod. Has the Ipod killed the busker?
Having a think whilst on the red sofa
The man is not me as I’m a girl
Multitasking
Writing whilst watching clever aren’t I. Now if I could invent a convincing killer for my book that would be great.
Coming soon… My top 10 guilty pleasure movies
Guilty pleasure Sunday
This Sunday’s guilty pleasure is Titanic – no judgements. Bill Paxton is amazing and it’s a great film to have on in the background on a rainy day.
My Top 10 TV Shows
As promised, below are my top 10 TV shows in no particular order. Some classis like Breaking Bad, The Wire etc aren’t on there as I’ve only watched a few episodes and didn’t’ think it was right.
1. Lost
Before the plot got convoluted and that ending, Lost was one of the most exciting shows ever put on TV. Its premise was simple- Castaway the 
TV show. What it became was an amalgamation of sci fi, drama, romance, horror and much more. Whilst the show was full of questions (many of which went unanswered), it was essentially about people and there were plenty of interesting characters in the Lostverse. Whether you liked Sawyer, Hurley, Jin, Richard or even Kate and Jack, there was something for everyone. Lost changed the landscape of TV, if it weren’t for the disastrous final season (Who the hell was Walt?!) then it would hold its own amongst the great TV shows.
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy is a guilty pleasure beyond any doubt, but it was also one of the most exciting shows aimed at the teenage demographic. From its episodic appeal, through to the drama, romance and big bads there was rarely a duff episode. Although its later series flagged in places, with Joss Whedon at the helm he delivered 7 spectacular seasons. The King of Ensemble Casting (just look at how well The Avengers worked), Whedon was able to make you care about each character beyond any doubt. We followed Buffy from high school through to the end and it was one hell of a ride.
3. Castle
Although this show seems to be mainly a cult pleasure in the UK, it’s currently one of my favourite shows. There’s nothing original about it – mystery writer teams up with New York cop to solve crimes – but it’s done with such humour and tenderness that I can’t help but love it. Season 1 was a bit shaky, but in Season 2 it came into its own with the development of the central relationship. Nathan Fillion has always been watchable, but with his character Richard Castle he’s created a TV hero.
4. Desperate housewives
Although some say it was too cliché and went on for too long, in my opinion out of its 8 seasons there was only one season that didn’t work – 5. The characters were engaging, and the important thing is that they had fun with it. Whether it was amnesia, murder, suicide there was always something happening on Wisteria Lane. Desperate Housewives was easy to watch and when it needed to it would pack one hell of an emotional punch. The show ended perfectly and its final episode reminded me of what made the show so great.
5. The X Files
Quite possibly the greatest sci-fi series ever (quiet Star Trek fans), The X Files did the impossible and made sci-fi engaging for everyone. The central relationship was nurtured beautifully by creator Chris Carter and the mix of conspiracy and “monster of the week” episodes made it a delight to watch. The X Files started when I was quite young and I’ll be honest it did frighten me at times – psycho doll, how creepy is that – but it always thrilled. It did lose steam after Mulder left, but it was still a step above most shows out there.
6. Twin Peaks
David Lynch’s influential TV show was one I discovered a couple of years ago and I was hooked. Although it was cancelled and left on the most annoying cliff-hanger ever, it was a quality show that made you think. The question of “who killed Laura Palmer” was a great hook and with everything happening in the town, the overlay of drama was thrilling to watch. No one can forget the dwarf in the red room, and even now when I think of it I want some cherry pie.
7. Supernatural
Despite this series losing its way somewhat, its first 5 seasons were some of the best I’ve seen. The show follows two brothers who hunt the things hiding in the dark. It was a combination of witty dialogue, implausibly attractive people, classic rock and horror that made each episode better than the next. Although it’s now weighed down by the “big bad”, there is still some of the charm that made its first 5 seasons so charming. I would recommend watching Supernatural if you like a good scare and you want to laugh. Hopefully its recent falter will get everything back on track, but it still stands as a fantastic TV show.
8. Grey’s anatomy
Now I know what you’re all thinking, but I have a soft spot for Grey’s Anatomy. It’s cheesy, overly dramatic and everyone is stupidly attractive, but Shonda Rhimes created a world of likeable characters. Grey’s is essentially ER with more sex and more humour. It hasn’t been a perfect TV show with some series not hitting the mark, but with stunning season finales, engaging characters and interesting medical drama, it’s definitely up there for me. With season 9 set to start soon, I’ll update you on my thoughts.
9. True blood
With the vampire craze showing no signs of abating, I had avoided most things vampire related – except for Twilight because it’s that bad it’s hilarious – but after some surgery I couldn’t think of anything to watch so I figured I would give it a go. To say I was surprised is an understatement, the show is witty, it never takes itself too seriously and there’s plenty of sex and violence to go round. I think the reason it works is that the seasons are shorter and it feels different to the usual vampire drivel.
10. Arrested development
The only sitcom on my list but it beat out Dexter (which I’m working through and may end up on this list one day) due to the fact that Arrested Development is that rare gem – an American comedy that is actually funny. You recognise everyone in it and although the family are laughably abhorrent to each other, Arrested Development didn’t get dull for a second. Cancelled after only a few seasons, I cannot wait to see the new episodes and movie that they’re going to come out with. With Arrested Development there was no canned laughter, no overly PC talk, it made you laugh and surely that’s the point.
The Evolution of TV
Over recent years have any of you noticed how TV has become more popular than films?
When I come home after work I seem to prefer watching a couple of episodes of something rather than a whole movie. TV shows have become an entirely different medium to what they were 10 years ago.
I think Lost might have started this back in 04. No one had ever seen a show that expensive and captivating (ignoring the last season, what happened there Lindelof?). At the same time Desperate Housewives turned up and since then we’ve had House, Breaking Bad, True Blood, Homeland, Grey’s Anatomy and much more. Now we see major Hollywood stars on the small screen; think of Steve Buscemi in Boardwalk Empire.
I think the economic crisis might have something to do with this. Sounds preachy but here me out. We all ran out of money so it’s logical to think that more effort is being put into TV which is essentially free for viewers. Accessibility is what studios were looking for and TV is the way to capture people’s attention, imagination and money.
TV shows are now more like mini films each week and this trend looks like it’s going to continue. I love the cinema but it definitely isn’t cheap.
Coming this afternoon… My top 10 TV Shows
Doctor Sleep
Just been reading about Stephen King’s sequel to The Shining sounds pretty interesting. Link to follow later.
Before the wonders of Stephen King I must have my bandages removed!
Castle Season 5
Just seen the promo for Season 5 of Castle.
Is it sad that I’m ridiculously excited to see it?
My Red Sofa
No where near as classy as my Gravatar but a damn comfy sofa. I’m 6 days post surgery and have been nesting here…. When it comes to going back to work, will I make it?
Britain Taking Over
As I sit on my comfy red sofa (I am employed but recovering from surgery) I’ve started thinking about how the British are taking over Hollywood.
Think about it Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill, RPattz, Christian Bale and so on are all massive stars and seem to be getting bigger. So where has the young American talent gone?
There used to be a time when Hollywood was dominated by American talent. Now the British, Canadians, Australians etc are surpassing them. Is this change for the good?
Why The Bourne Legacy didn’t work
2012 has been a good year for action films. From The Avengers to The Dark Knight Rises, cinema goers were treated to punchy dialogue, interesting plots and great action, it seemed like nothing could stop the new dawn of action; that is until I had the unpleasant experience of watching The Bourne Legacy.
I’ve seen worse films i.e. Skyline (avoid like the plague), but as a fan of the Bourne trilogy, Tony Gilroy’s fourth outing fell flat and was almost offensive. I wasn’t alone in this view, many people I know who saw the film felt let down and the critic reviews were spotty at best. Now with the announcement of a sequel – or a fifth in the series if you’re looking at it that way – this means that once again Aaron Cross will invade our screens.
On hearing this news it got me thinking about what was wrong with the movie. All the components were there, but it missed the mark by a mile.
Lack of plot
The original Bourne trilogy is as much about plot as it is about action. Who is Jason Bourne? What is Treadstone, Blackbriar etc? With The Bourne Legacy there were none of these questions, from the get-go the audience knew what Outcome was and we knew who Aaron Cross was. Instead of a man searching for his identity we were left with Jeremy Renner (who I usually think is a brilliant actor), looking for medication, with a few action scenes thrown in.
Convoluted Dialogue
The beauty of the Bourne Trilogy was that although it was fuelled by dialogue, it wasn’t difficult to follow if you paid attention. The reverse is true for Legacy where many of the conversations were uninteresting and at times seemed to lack any point. When making a sequel to an existing franchise, you have to take in to account people who might not have seen it. Cameron did it with Terminator 2, Die Hard 2 worked, Iron Man 2, The X Files movie and so on. All of these films can stand alone if they need to without treating the audience like an idiot. I saw Legacy with someone who hadn’t seen the other films and the film made little to no sense to her.
Action
To say the action felt different in Legacy is an understatement. In The Bourne Identity, everything Bourne uses can be bought in generic shops, this made him a believable character. The action was extreme throughout the trilogy but the camera was always with him, so we were always right there on his shoulder – jumping from building to building, next to him in the Mini Cooper chase scene – in Legacy he is firmly on the screen. Some of the action sequences in Legacy are good, but you’re removed from them and Cross is kept at arm’s length.
If you’ve not seen the movie, this bit is in the trailer as well. There is a moment when Aaron jumps down between two buildings, initially this looks impressive but upon reflection it is lacking the hard hitting, realistic crash of Bourne. We never land with Cross, we don’t run with him, we’re reduced to an audience and nothing more.
Acting
Usually I like watching Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz on screen, but they both seem oddly out of place in Legacy. We both know that they can do action adventure, they’re both talented actors, but the script of Legacy is so weak that it’s hard to connect with them on any level. Weisz is given a one dimensional character with little backstory, and Renner is given an ex-soldier with brain injuries looking for brain meds. We know that both actors can give more; this may be why Legacy was a disappointment.
Bourne vs Cross
Paul Greengrass joked that a fourth Bourne film should be called The Bourne Redundancy, well that’s exactly what got made. There were many sceptics who believed that you couldn’t have a Bourne film without Jason Bourne and I was one of them. Then I saw the trailer and I thought I would give it a go – you may have noticed that I was disappointed.
To have a Bourne film without Jason Bourne is redundant, unnecessary and screams cash in. Whilst Matt Damon brought Ludlum’s anti-hero to life, Cross sits flat and is one of the least interesting characters to infect the screen for years. They both have the same roots, but Bourne succeeds in the ability to analyse his character and make the decision to become David Webb again, with Cross there is no development, and no emotion.
When Moby’s Extreme Ways starts to play at the end of Legacy, instead of the feeling of catharsis that came from the original trilogy, I was just glad it was over.
Hello world!
Hello all,
After much procrastination (mainly from me) I’ve decided to begin a blog/site to discuss films, tv and much more. I’m highly opinionated and hope you enjoy my features and thoughts.
Coming soon… Why The Bourne Legacy didn’t work.
xx RedSofa
FromTheRedSofa 