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

apologies TC, I knew I'd read some remarks on "Pompeii" but didn't have time to trawl through the backlog so just posted my own review. I've now read your posting and am pleased you were spared Keifer Sutherland's godawful accent. "Carrie Anne Moss, (just Trinity in Roman costume)." means nothing to me though.

GB

No need to apologise. The films come out at different times in different countries and sometimes there are months in between.

Trinity was the girl in the Matrix films. Very distinctive, but that means she can't play anything else. Sort of like that other Carrie - Princess Lea. Her face doesn't fit anywhere else either.

There's no guarantee that an actor can only play one role -- sometimes type-casting can be revoked [Hugh Jackman has demonstrated with "Les Miserables" and "Prisoners" that he can do other roles than Wolverine].

The movies I saw this week were not that great: "Maleficent" on Monday, and "A million ways to die in the West."

In "Maleficent," Disney seriously shot itself in the foot. Truly hard to enjoy on any level -- at least the 1960 "Sleeping beauty" had gorgeous animation and a Tchaikovsky soundtrack to give it gravitas. Angelina Jolie's title character has some depth, but very little to make you appreciate her even once you understand her better. No one else in the cast has any depth at all.

"A million ways to die in the west" has stunning cinematography and good music. Some of the jokes are fine, while others misfire. There's a dream sequence that reminds me of a Dali painting near the end. The Indians are the most sympathetic characters in the whole movie. Why couldn't the movie have centered around them more? This is a dark comedy with a few wacky touches. It could have been better. Maybe Seth Macfarlane should have cast someone funnier as the lead? Just sayin'!

+1 for those who enjoyed X Men: DOFP.

Completely agree with the comment up thread:

"Apart from that thoroughly enjoyed it - in terms of narrative it did two things very well: first it acknowledged all the history of the previous films in the series with flashbacks and quotes and secondly being a time travel movie it stuck two fingers up at Brett Ratner and just ret-conned out all the rubbish bits."

I also loved Quicksilver showing his stuff.

The only downside for me was that I have a soft spot for the original cast (though I like James McAvoy and who doesn't love Jennifer Lawrence?) so I would have liked to have seen more of them. I understand a Rogue sub-plot was cut. It would also have been good to have seen more of the new mutants Bishop, Blink, Sunspot and Warpath, who were all very good. I liked that Ellen Page (Kitty) and Shawn Ashmore (Bobby/Iceman) had decent-sized parts, though as I said, I would have liked to have seen more of them.

Without spoiling anything, I loved the last scene before the end credits.

Thanks.

Went to see Rio-2 this afternoon. Well animated with some good humour but at least half an hour too long for the target audience...

On Tuesday I went to see "The Fault in Our Stars." There were some sublime moments. The two leads acted beautifully. Willem Dafoe played the unlikeable alcoholic writer well, too.

The emotions seemed authentic.

I think I can report here that it is extremely unlikely that I will ever see Postman Pat - The Movie.

PP.

I probably won't be *able* to see "Postman Pat," as the June 27 introduction of it in my country will be "limited." This means New York City and Los Angeles usually. Fine, I have more than enough choices where I am.

The clip of the Postman Pat movie that I saw on TV looked absolutely terrifying. Even if my kids were still the right age for Postman Pat I don't think I'd take them. Nod used to hide behind a cushion during Scooby Doo so I don't think she would have been able to cope with ranks of robotic Pats with scary eyes.

Mol

The last enjoyable British animated film I saw was "Pirates -- band of Misfits." The subtitle was changed for the American audience.

Edge of Tomorrow.

Enjoyable fluff. Rips along at a fair old pace too quick for any inconsistancies to jar. Just don't think about the plot post hoc. And the ending is *terrible* - I can't believe that's what they went with.

But am evening not wholly wasted: got to see Tom Cruise die multiple times.

2.5/5.

I saw it 'cos it was free otherwise I might not have bothered.

Yes, I can imagine that seeing Tom cruise die so many times would be a treat . I haven't decided whether to see it yet. Emily Blunt rarely gives a boring performance, and Tom still has a few good performances left in him; I just don't know if this is one of them. There isn't time in this life to see every worthy movie that comes along,* so I make tough decisions quite often.



*Yes, I could resolve to see more movies, but I have an ambitious pile of books to read, tons of music recordings to listen to, and some real life activities that can't wait....]

I have to say, the last few films I've seen Tom Cruise in have been very good. And pretty much all the films I've seen him n have at least been decent.

I saw "How to train your dragon II." Is it just me, or did those Vikings sound Scottish>

There's a second one!?!?! I love the first!

Hiccup's mother is in this one. The strange Scottish accents are the only discordant element, unless you don't like enormous alpha dragons .

No Spoilers!

Since people I trust have spoken so well of "Edge of Tomorrow," I think I will go see it tonight.

And the verdict?