"I wouldn't live with you if the world were flooded with piss and you lived in a tree!"
- Parenthood (1990)
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Movie Song of the Day
"Stand By Me" From Stand By Me (1986)
Stand By Me
I love both the song and the movie. Together, they make the perfect pair.
Stand By Me
I love both the song and the movie. Together, they make the perfect pair.
Review: Sherlock Holmes (2009)
According to Guinness World Records, the character of Sherlock Holmes has been portrayed more times in film than any other film character - ever. No small feat. Think of the masses of horror movie sequels, and the Bond films. If wikipedia is anything to go by, then Sherlock Holmes has in fact been portrayed by 75 different actors in 211 different films. Amazing, and that's only film. There have also been several television shows revolving around the character of Holmes (The best one, in my opinion, being the 2010 BBC series "Sherlock"), and many books written about him. Taking everything into consideration, Holmes is probably one of the most well known characters ever, and he's been well known for over a century.
Based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is set in London, 1891. Title character Holmes, and his sidekick, Dr. Watson, are on the case of Lord Henry Blackwood. Blackwood was put to death for the use of black magic, but has seemingly risen from the dead, and returned to finish what he started - to control a new order. Together, Holmes and Watson try to stop Blackwood, all the while trying to find ways around their own, somewhat personal, obstacles.
The Dialogue in Sherlock is very witty; very well thought out, and clever. The story itself, I thought, was a little bit confusing, but nevertheless entertaining. I especially enjoyed the film's visuals. The way the filmmaker's managed to recreate 1891 London is incredible. Everything looks very real, so real that one might think they actually travelled back in time to film Sherlock.
I love Robert Downey Jr. As far as I'm concerned, onscreen, Downey can do no wrong, and this is again proven with his portrayal of Holmes. He's the standout in a film full of great performances. Jude Law was very well cast as Watson, Holmes' faithful sidekick, and he and Downey work very well together. Rachel McAdams, who plays Irene Adler, Holmes' love interest, is also good in the film, though I didn't enjoy her performance as much as her two costars'.
Based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is set in London, 1891. Title character Holmes, and his sidekick, Dr. Watson, are on the case of Lord Henry Blackwood. Blackwood was put to death for the use of black magic, but has seemingly risen from the dead, and returned to finish what he started - to control a new order. Together, Holmes and Watson try to stop Blackwood, all the while trying to find ways around their own, somewhat personal, obstacles.
"Death... Is only the beginning."
The Dialogue in Sherlock is very witty; very well thought out, and clever. The story itself, I thought, was a little bit confusing, but nevertheless entertaining. I especially enjoyed the film's visuals. The way the filmmaker's managed to recreate 1891 London is incredible. Everything looks very real, so real that one might think they actually travelled back in time to film Sherlock.
I love Robert Downey Jr. As far as I'm concerned, onscreen, Downey can do no wrong, and this is again proven with his portrayal of Holmes. He's the standout in a film full of great performances. Jude Law was very well cast as Watson, Holmes' faithful sidekick, and he and Downey work very well together. Rachel McAdams, who plays Irene Adler, Holmes' love interest, is also good in the film, though I didn't enjoy her performance as much as her two costars'.
"It's a matter of professional integrity! No girl wants to marry a doctor who can't tell if a man's dead or not!"
I enjoyed this adaptation of Doyle's work. So much so, I watched it twice. 8/10
Triva: While filming one of the fight scenes, Robert Maillet, Dredger, accidentially knocked out Robert Downey Jr. This may have been avoided if Downey hadn't decided to do all of his own stunts.
Monday, 1 November 2010
Review: Footloose (1984)
Released in 1984, Footloose was perhaps the year's biggest surprise in terms of success. Going on to sell over 8 million dollars worth of film tickets (Impressive for 1984), Footloose became the seventh highest grossing film of the year, something, after seeing the movie, I just don't understand.
Footloose is set in the small town of Beaumont, located somewhere in middle-America. What sets this town apart from those similar to it is one thing: It has a ban, a genuine law, against dancing. When newbie Ren arrives in town, frustrated by all the restictions, he goes about organizing the first prom the town has seen in five years, which raises issues with Beaumont's highly religious residents.
I really wanted to like this movie. The 80's is probably my favourite movie decade, and Footloose is considered to be one of its biggest successes, but I couldn't tell you why. This movie did nothing for me. In fact, I found it rather boring. It was a real disappointment.
The only thing about Footloose that I liked, with the exception of its cast, was its soundtrack. Now, that was good; full of 80's hits, including the title song "Footloose". In fact, the only scenes in the movie that I did like featured the songs from the soundtrack.
Footloose is set in the small town of Beaumont, located somewhere in middle-America. What sets this town apart from those similar to it is one thing: It has a ban, a genuine law, against dancing. When newbie Ren arrives in town, frustrated by all the restictions, he goes about organizing the first prom the town has seen in five years, which raises issues with Beaumont's highly religious residents.
"If our Lord wasn't testing us, how would you account for the proliferation, these days, of this obscene rock and roll music, with its gospel of easy sexuality and relaxed morality?"
The only thing about Footloose that I liked, with the exception of its cast, was its soundtrack. Now, that was good; full of 80's hits, including the title song "Footloose". In fact, the only scenes in the movie that I did like featured the songs from the soundtrack.
"Hey, hey! What's this I see? I thought this was a party. LET'S DANCE!"
Despite my dislike of the movie, I did appreciate its cast. It was full of familiar faces. Kevin Bacon was very likable as Ren, the role that made him a star. Sarah Jessica Parker, who was far better than the leading female, provided a lot of the film's comedy (If you could call it that). Diane Wiest, who's been excellent in every movie I've seen her in, was a standout in a small role. I must, too, mention Chris Penn (Yep, that's Sean's brother), who's memorable as Ren's best friend, Willard.
I'm not quite sure how to rate Footloose. If I go by the story, which I liked about as much as Halloween II (2009), then I'd have to give it a 1/10. But, if I were to go by the acting and dance sequences, I'd probably give it a 4/10. Ugh... What to do? Footloose really was rather silly... 3/10
Trivia: Actor Chris Penn, who plays Willard in Footloose, did not know how to dance. To aid him in this, the filmmakers scripted a scene with Ren (Bacon) teaching Willard how to dance.
Movie Quote of the Day
"Years ago, my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."
- Harvey (1950)
- Harvey (1950)
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