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

I love reading all your reviews Mos!

Your sooooooo in the wrong job.

(I've taken note of that one for tonight)

'Manson Girl' (aka 'Manson, My Name Is Evil') (2009)

This is the 'story' of Leslie Van Houten, one of the convicted Manson girls and how one of the jurors in her trial became infatuated with her. The Manson Family story is one of the most fascinating real life stories in the whole of history. I've read and watched everything to do with Manson and the murders and the trial and there have been some really bad movies but this ranks right alongside the worst. Why make this film? It brings nothing new. There is enough in the story about the juror Perry to make a ten minute film, not near 90 mins. It tells us nothing about Leslie and most of what it does tell and show us is inaccurate, particularly the trial and the short scenes intending to build the background were as flimsy as can be. I was really looking forward to this but to say I was disappointed is a massive understatement. A few people have said it's a comedy! It's not. It doesn't even have the right look about it. It gets two out of ten for a cracking soundtrack!

2/10

'1408'

This was nearly brilliant, but ultimately it failed.
It's an adaptation of a short story by Stephen King about a writer (John Cusack) specialising in paranormal activity who stays in room 1408 of a hotel despite sever warnings from the hotel manager (Samuel L.Jackson)
After a bit of faffing around to establish that the writer is a writer, he gets checked in to room 1408 and is sceptical about the stories he has been told but he soon changes his tune when the radio alarm starts playing The Carpenters and then starts counting down from 60 minutes. The manager had previously told him that nobody had lasted more than an hour in the room. There begins the terror as there are a few good jumpy moments but then it loses it's way as it seems like the room isn't a room anymore it turns into some crazy dream world and then there's a bit when he thinks he's escaped but really hasn't that just didn't add up to me due to the time that would have passed before he realises. So, on the whole, not bad but could have been much better.

6/10

I loved 500 Days of Summer... That's a solid 8/10 for me.

I have Shutter Island on the way from Love Film. Looking forward to seeing that.

Have you heard Greg James talking about The Human Centipede, Mossy?

He says it's truly disgusting. I'm presuming you'll be watching this?

I wasn't going to get Shutter Island but reading your other posts I think I might now

Had to send back the George Clooney film - after all that wait it didnae work in the DVD.

So son put on Hulk instead

There is a good Korean film out at the moment called Mother or something like that.

About a son who is accused of murder and the mother sets out to prove him innocent. She is the only one who believes him but apparently its brilliant.

Cant remember the name though but its on limited release at the moment,.

it is Mother

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216496/plotsummary

Its had good reviews

I've been reading a lot about that film 'Mother' recently and I quite fancy it. By most accounts it's really good.

And 'The Human Centipede' it's finally out. I heard about this and saw the trailer about 6 months ago. I want to see it just out of curiousity. It's had some scathing reviews though, but I still wanna!

'I Love You Phillip Morris' (2009)

Jim Carrey plays Steven Jay Russell who turned from a straight laced god loving police officer into a gay conman and jailbreaker extraordinaire. Most of this was done for the love of his life, surprise surprise, Phillip Morris (Ewan Macgregor) who he meets in jail and instantly falls head over heels for. It's an interesting story (Based on tru events) and Jim Carrey is great in it. You can like him, be amazed by him, and feel sorry for him which is testament to his talent. I wasn't really buying Ewan Macgregor though, his on/off texan accent and dodgy campness got on my nerves a bit. It plays out OK though, with a couple of unexpected turns in it and it's definately different from most films you'll have seen before.

6/10

'Session 9' (2001)

This was a cool film. I liked it. A team of workers are clearing asbestos from an old mental hospital. They are working to a tight deadline and some tensions are developing in the group because of this. One of the workers finds some old tapes of interviews with a former patient and these reveal some secrets. Meanwhile, as one of the workers fails to turn up one morning, paranoia develops amongst the others as more secrets are revealed and the plot develops to a most satisfying ending.
This really was well done. Believable characters, and a well rounded story and like I said, great ending. Well worth an hour and a half of your time.

8/10

Im TRYING to watch Death At A Funeral (English Version) for the last 2 evenings but i keep falling asleep as usual.

Have you seen it yet? I have only got to the part where your man confesses he was having an affair with the Dad all these years.

Its so funny tho so far, i will get to the end one day

Watched 500 Days of Summer the other night and really enjoyed it

Best described as a Lads Rom Com with brilliant soundtrack

Once - 2006 - Director John Carney.

Former Dublin busker Glen Hansard plays a Dublin busker who meets a Czech Immigrant who helps him record his demo and plays piano on the demo.

Lovely simple story set in Dublin. Glen Hansard is a former busker done good in Ireland and basically him and his girlfriend play themselves.

Its a lovely film and if you get a chance to watch it do.

Seen this PSD, and loved it. I went and bought it as well, and I own the soundtrack, it's quality. It's a nice and easy film, no big dramas, just feel good stuff.

'Perriers Bounty' (2009)

I didn't really like this film. Basic story is that Michael (Cillian Murphy) owes Perrier (Brendan Gleeson) some money. He doesn't have it and some gangsters are sent round to sort it out. The rest of the film Michael is messing around hiding and occassionally trying to get the money. So, highly unoriginal plot, basic charcters despite having a good cast, and just really quite boring. One plus point is Jim Broabent who plays Michaels father really well.

4/10

'A Prophet' (2009)

I'd been putting off watching this one for ages. I'm sure it's suffered from every man and his dog singing about how brilliant it is so it was guaranteed to not be as good as I'd hoped. Malik is the main chap in this one, he's in the jail and knows nobody. It's a dangerous looking jail run by Corsican gangsters and soon Malik is being forced into doing a major job for the top man. From there on in he gets deeper and deeper involved and soon learns the way of things enough to want his own piece of the action.
The film is quite real, and although the term gritty is overused, it's suitable for this film. There's some brutal violence as you'd expect in a prison film yet it's big on character development, so much so that it last an overlong 15o mins or so when I think they could have cut out at least a half hour. That said it went in quick and I enjoyed it.

7/10

This is England (2006)

Directed by Shane Meadows. This was on Channel 4 last night and was well worth the watch.

12 year old Sean, the main character is unhappy after being bullied at school. His father has been killed in the Falklands and his mother is presumably unemployed.

He is adopted by a local skinhead gang, led by Woody, who feel sorry for him. After becoming their ‘mascot’ with new haircut and clothes he enjoys the freedom and life of drink and drugs.

However the skinhead gang fractures after Combo, an older skin returns after a three year prison sentence. Combo has seriously right wing views and the lesser politicised skins including Woody and others depart the group

Sean stays with Combo, and the film explores the roots of the skinhead culture; the links to Ska, and the sub culture of the unemployed inner city of the early 1980s.

The film comes to a violent end but Channel 4 are showing the second series This is England 1986.

Brilliant soundtrack.


6/10

So Many Films, i gotta watch

But i'd give The Prophet 10/10 Boss

'Ripleys Game' (2002)

John Malkovich plays Tom Ripley, a fascinating character devoid of any real conscience yet likeable at the same time. I've not seen 'The Talented Mr Ripley' or read any of the books but I liked this story, although implausible at times it was still enjoyable to watch. John Malkovich plays it really well and he is supported well by Ray Winstone and Dougray Scott. Ripley is approached by Reeves (Ray Winstone) as he needs help to kill a business rival of his. Ripley suggets he recruits a local picture framer (Dougray Scott) who has lukemia to do it, which he actually does (that's the implausible bit) Once it's done though he's approached again by Reeves with more work and this incurs more problems for all of them which will eventually come to a head. So, a good story, Malkovich is great but some of the more tense scenes in it fall a bit flat. In saying that, I enjoyed the ending too so I'd say it's worth watching!

7/10