h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, it looks like the only thing we can go and see together this weekend, so Looper it may well have to be. Ferretbadger - did they explain why the older him didn't remember this happening when he was younger - or does that part involve suspension of disbelief?

>>Ferretbadger - did they explain why the older him didn't remember this happening when he was younger - or does that part involve suspension of disbelief?<<

Spoilers below:
















They do explain it, and his older self does remember the actions of his younger self. It's a rather critical plot point. There are other bits that require belief suspension but it's nothing world-breaking (unlike, say, Total Recall/boot).

I also watched Martha Marcy May Marlene. Extraordinary film. That Elizabeth Olsen is going to be a huge, huge star. She is terrific.

FB

I watched Cabin In The Woods at a movie night yesterday. A good horror comedy, and worth watching if you have watched a lot of typical American slasher movies. We also watched American Gangster but turned it off after half an hour.

Watched a French film called Untouchable (Les Intouchables) this afternoon and it was absolutely wonderful. Really funny, touching at times and well-acted. The soundtrack was also to die for: beautiful work by Ludovico Einaudi.

Might be a pain to see (I had to travel from Leeds to Manchester to see it) but absolutely worth it if you can.

Bruce Willis - just what the Dr ordered - off to see Loopers this morning.

Due to a programme change I ended up seeing The Campaign instead. "American political satire" in a nutshell. Seeing the list of stars I would have initially rejected this due to top star billing given to Will Ferrell whom I've never forgiven for his complete hash of Darren from Bewitched. However, Dan Aykroyd was listed so I went to see it. There's a hilarious scene when Dad asks his family at dinner to confess their past sins to "wipe the slate clean". That's not to be missed - it gets funnier and funnier. I think I was the only one in the audience who laughed when the other candidate punched a baby instead of kissing it, and laughed out loud when he later slapped the dog from The Artist (and got more bad press than when he punched the baby). My sense of humour must be really sick

The rest of the film had some amusing scenes and I'd say the cameos by John Lithgow, Brian Cox (and Dan Aykroyd, who wasn't in it much) added to the enjoyment for me. Another highlight: the scene-stealing Asian housekeeper and her Southern-drawl accent.

I can't recommend this to anyone paying full price but when it hits the DVD bargain bucket it'll be worth it.

Off sick with Osh. So:

Master and Commander - the Far Side of the World. Don't really like Russell Crowe much but he totally nailed Jack Aubrey. And Paul Bettany is always worth watching. Excellent film, wish they'd make them all.

Apollo 13 - I can't remember how many times I've seen this film, but even the first time I knew the ending, and it really doesn't matter - the tension is still there, when everybody is waiting through the radio silence. And I always blub at the end. I'm not surprised Capt Lovell never flew in space again, if I was Mrs Lovell I wouldn't have wanted to let him out of my sight, ever.

Enchanted - Starts with a cartoon (always catches us out) but the transformation to reality is brilliantly done. I love Amy Adams singing with the vermin of New York as she gets them to tidy the flat. Osh recognised Wormtail and was very pleased with himself.

The Day of the Triffids (2009 TV mini-series) - I still really like this. The triffids are terrifying but it's still, like the book, more about what happens when society collapses, and it's one of the few adaptations where I can forgive the makers for the changes they made. Osh and I decided the early scenes - where the streets are filled with frightened and frightening blind people - were like a zombie movie, and he asked to watch Shaun of the Dead (which he's never seen) this afternoon.

Mol

Get well soon Osh

I've seen Looper this morning (finally) though I missed a chunk slipping out to the loo only to find both Ladies full and queuing going onI had picked the exact time another screening was kicking out.

I found the time travel bits and I swear I glimpsed some possible futures but I was satisfied with the ending (for once) and there was enough Bruce Willis to more than satisfy me until his next film

Can't wait for Skyfall - I've heard it's the best Bond film *ever*

Watched The Pirates in an Adventure with Scientist last night. Lots
of laugh out loud moments, truly enjoyable.
Bought a manga film to watch with the kids called Tekkonkinkreet.
Glad I watched it first, not suitable for 3yr olds.
Superb film though, brilliant visuals and decent dubbing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWj77NUjLI4

I watched Pirates again last night. And had loads of crazy stop motion dreams afterwards! Ha ha.

FB

Oh yeah and I went to see SKyfall yesterday. It was bloody marvellous.

FB

Saw Skyfall this afternoon and, as FB says, it was marvellous. On the few occasions it veered into cheesy, it quickly regained its footing. Javier Bardem is immense, one of the best performances I've ever witnessed in a Bond film.

This evening me and a few friends went to an open air screening of Coraline in Bradford city centre. It was part of the city animation festival and they had a giant inflatable screen right by the city hall. The whole experience was wonderful, the film was outstanding (I've never seen it before) and it was just a great night. Cold though.

Did you notice a lot of product placement in the Skyfall movie?

Yes. An awful lot.

Saw Skyfall on Sunday. I enjoyed it - great opening sequence, fabulous baddie, and a plot taken from Home Alone.

I didn't notice much product placement during the actual movie, though it was preceded by a lot of related ads.

I've noticed an awful lot of pre-movie hype for Skyfall - I didn't watch it but I wouldn't have bet against a Skyfall themed episode of Countryfile last week
It's all rather put me off it frankly - although the good reviews here have helped a little.

Just back from Skyfall - I echo all the above points. a rather pared down and - for the better - Bond, a more human figure than we have been used to and a plot that didn't deviate from a single premise, twists and revelations there were few, rather the working out of a wrinkle to a single conclusion. I liked it.

A friend pointed out all Craig's Bonds are prequels (re)-introducing tropes we had grown used to. From 00's to..well I shan't say...

But a very accomplished and solid film didn't really put a foot wrong, though I agree with Mark Kermode about there being one single quip too many.

Mirror Mirror. Excellent stuff. Princess Bridey in tone and with a Bollywood closing song. Sadly it wasn't Sean Bean that kept appearing with his shirt off but you can't have everything.

Mol

Finally caught Iron Sky...great film on a low budget...personally puts a lot of big budget Hollywood films to shame.