Deathwatch: Blood, guts, and atmosphere …

You know, it’s not that often I sit meself down with a film, these days.

Well.

Not without company, that is.

But with Kevin D*, and everyone else being un-available, tonight … ?

I felt I had two options.

Either watch some of the stuff showing on TV, tonight.

Or catch one of the films I’ve had sitting around.

I’ll be honest … ?

I went for the latter.

After all …

I’ve had the 2002, Jamie Bell film, Deathwatch, sitting around for a while.

So, of course, thought, “Oh, what the heck … ?”

So quite happily decided that giving it a whirl may well be the thing …

I’m glad I did, actually …

»»·««

Deathwatch sees Jamie Bell as a young army Private with a company of British soldiers during World War 1.

A company that manages to get itself lost, whilst under fire, and stumbling into a German trench system they can’t find on any given map.

Not only is the trench system not locatable, it also seems to be very had to use the radio from.

And on top of that … ?

On top of that, the trench system itself seems to be actively killing off any and all who stumble into it: including several German squaddies the company find there.

Of the three survivors our heroes find … ?

Only one — Friedrich — survives …

And I’d love to say he meets a sticky end, but …

»»·««

Now …

Hmmm …

Now, I’m going to be thoroughly honest, here, and tell I’m I’m still a touch uncertain of Deathwatch.

It’s a very good Anglo-Czech production, although one I felt was outdone — performance and budget-wise — by the 2008 horror, Outpost: what’s more, Outpost had a much more Lovecraftian feel to it I felt appropriate to the genre.

Saying that … ?

Saying that, Deathwatch was and is a well made 94 minute’s worth of entertainment.

Nicely acted, and shoot, and with a spooky feel I felt had been inspired — to an extent — by the original Wickerman that made it a pleasant way of passing the time.

Go see Deathwatch.

Let me know what you think.

Deathwatch

Nice but not totally forgettable ★½☆☆☆

* Kevin, bless him, had been over his parent’s place, all day, giving his mum’s Windoze based laptop a going over. You can imagine what I said, can’t you … ?

Mr Nice: Herbs, Herbs and MI6 …

Hmmm …

You know, I think — think — Movie Night Adrian and I have just seen an interesting little indie flick, I really do …

Possibly …

Certainly one that’s going to cause a touch of …

Ooooh …

Lets call it debate, shall we … ?

Which, looking at it, now, is possibly a statement I may regret, at some point …

You see, a lot of that will depend exactly how you fell about … um …

Well …

Lets call them recreational substances, shall we … ?

You see, Adrian and I have just watched the 2010 Rhys Ivan film, Mr Nice, and I’m wondering where to start.

Possibly by telling you I’ve mixed feelings about it.

Definitely that I’d not heard of the film’s central character.

You see, Mr Nice is a biopic of former drug dealer and Oxford graduate, Howard Marks, following his life from graduation at Oxford in the late 1960s, follows the building of his cannabis smuggling operation, all the way through to his arrest and release in the 1990s.

»»•««

Actually, I’ve got to be honest, it did take us a while to get through Mr Nice.

After all, Adrian and me did get nattering about all sorts of things.

Did I tell you, for example, we’re kind of split down the proverbial middle about Matt Smith’s interpretation of the Doctor … ?

I quite like it: Adrian’s not especially impressed, to give you an example.

Amazing what the half time cuppa will throw up as a conversation, sometimes …

But at full time … ?

Hmmm …

Endless hours of fun, discussing thew blurry line between substance abuse and substance addiction, I know that: with both of us agreeing, generally, that it’s there …

Blurrily …

Somewhere …

Now, whether Howard Marks would agree … ?

Is something else, altogether, though: I do know that he and his site has been promoting the legalisation of cannabis for some time, now.

Having met a few folk who’ve — how to phrase this — stated their belief marijuana hasn’t helped their mental health, I’m not sure it’s something I’d generally agree with: although the counterargument that it can be taxed and controlled more easily, if legal, is one I’m very aware of.

I’m also aware that the two recreational substances responsible for causing the most damage … ?

Are tobacco and alcohol …

I’m thinking Mr Nice … ?

May or may not give fuel to that argument.

Howard Marks, on the other hand … ?

Well …

»»›•‹««

Mr Nice

Actor	Rôle
Rhys Ifans	Howard Marks
Chloë Sevigny	Judy Marks
David Thewlis	Jim McCann
Omid Djalili	Saleem Malik
Jamie Harris	Patrick Lane

Nice to have seen: ★½☆☆☆

Legion: Blood Guts, and entertaining speculation about Satan

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve got iTunes 10 open.

And — after seeing the video for Wall of Voodoo’s Mexican Radio on YouTube, the other — I’ve got hold of a copy Dark Continent, by the same band.

Can I be honest, here … ?

I love it … !

Definitely one to look up. If you can find it … !

‹‹‹◊›››

But that’s not what I was going to tell you about.

It’s Saturday, isn’t it?

Or just gone, at any rate: it’s just gone bedtime, so I’ll quickly sum up, before saving this and finishing it in the morning.

But Movie Night Adrian, Squeaky, Big Josh and I have all managed to see the 2010, Scott Stewart direct film, Legion.

And I think I’m definitely going to finish this, after posting tomorrow’s Teaser!

I’ll have a clearer head!

‹‹‹~›››

5th September, 2010.

You know, right now, I’m very tempted to tell you all sorts of things.

I really am.

At any rate, I don know that the BBC News channel’s getting very monotonous!

At least I can can relax a bit, now: I’ve just turned over to Radio 4, who are doing a documentary on the rather scandalous Miss World finals of 1970.

Scandalous!

Let’s move on shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

I’ve you’ve probably worked out — by now — Movie Night Adrian, Squeaky, Big Josh and I all managed to get over to my place, last night, to see the 2010 film, Legion.

Which is a bit of a weird beast.

Or possibly not …

Legion sees Paul Bettany as Michæl, an Archangel thrown out of Heaven for disobeying orders: orders that see Michael refusing to start off the process of Armageddon, and starting a search for a child who he believes will become the saviour of humanity.

As a result of that … ?

He ends up at an out-of-the-way diner. One run by Bob Hanson (Dennis Quaid), his son, Jeep (Lucas Black) and one that employs Charlie: a heavily pregnant waitress played by Adrianne Palicki.

‹‹‹~›››

Now I’ve got to admit, having looked around on the web, I find Legion got quite a lot of mixed reactions.

I think I can understand that.

Because, although it’s a film I personally enjoyed, I’m also very aware that Legion seems to go from all-guns-blazing action adventure to moody goth-horror-melodrama and back again. Complete with black clad angels and seemingly diabolic, angel possessed humans.

Oh, and deranged little old ladies.

Don’t ask!

I think there’s something else to possibly talk about, as well, actually.

From what I can gather, there’s quite a bit online — from various shades of evangelical christian — who throw accusations of heresy and blasphemy at Legion.

Personally … ?

I can’t see how.

I felt that Legion was — if not preachy — then certainly wearing its sources on its sleeve.

But on top of that … ?

One could also possibly argue that it leant towards the mildly satanic.

But not necessarily in the way you might think.

One thing I’ve been aware of — for some years — is that, in ancient Jewish tradition, Satan was never actually seen as a modern-day devil. From what I’ve been able to find out, Satan — or ha-satan, which translates as ‘the accuser’, if you prefer the original term — was never seen as evil, per se: he was seen as an angel, working for God, who had the responsibility of acting almost as a public prosecutor. One that pointed out the flaws and evils, both in humanity in general, and in individuals.

Which is something I think may give someone with a more modern view of these things some problem.

‹‹‹~›››

Overall, though … ?

Overall …

Hmmm …

I’m thinking Legion is — as I’ve already stated — is definitely an entertaining film, although I know Adrian was fairly luke-warm about it.

But I will ask you this, though.

I’d ask you to go and see Legion.

Go see it.

And then let me know what you think.

The A-Team: Boom Bang a Bang, You crazy FOOL!!!!!!!!

You know, I’ve got to confess, me and the movie night gang have had something of a night out, tonight.

Which is a bit of a rarity, as Kevin D, Movie Night Adrian, Squeaky and I, usually don’t all have money at the same time, in order to head for Romford, to catch a movie.

Which was actually quite something, for a start.

But one thing Kevin had been raving about, was the film we all went to see, tonight.

And I can’t, for the life of me see why some critics call it ‘over the top’.

After all, it WAS The A-Team we went to see.

‹‹‹◊›››

29/8/2010

And I’ve got to admit, I think we actually managed to see a film, last night, that Movie Night Adrian actually was impressed enough to say “That was a good film”!

Bless him, he’s got a bit of a dicky knee, at the moment, after having a cartilege operation.

So the fact we all spent a little cash to go to Romford to see it … ?

Was very well worth it.

The A-Team — the Joe Carnahan directed remake of the 1980s TV series — sees Liam Neeson as Hannibal Smith, Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) as Face Peck, UFC fighter, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson as BA and Sharlto Copley — formerly of District 9 — playing the eponymous group of Special Forces soldiers, framed for ‘a crime they didn’t commit’.

Which, if you remember the TV series, was something we never actually see. And something the film attempts to address.

The plot follows the team from their initial meeting in Mexico, many years ago, to their joint service in the Iraq War.

And being set up, after being sent on a mission to recover some stolen printing plates.

Printing plates that would enable who-ever has them to forge millions of dollars-worth of dodgy notes.

‹‹‹◊›››

Now, I’ll happily admit that others have done a plot summary that’s better written.

But this is one film that I’m going to tell you to see.

I don’t know how many fans of the original series have caught it.

But I do know that I was very impressed with it.

The A-Team is an over the top romp of a Big Boys film: one that is beautifully crafted and put together, nicely acted — although I know Adrian wasn’t totally convinced by Liam Neeson as Hannibal, I also know I was impressed by all of the cast, Rampage Jackson in particular — and moves along at an impressive, non-stop rate of knots!

So I’ll leave you with this suggestion.

Go see The A-Team.

You won’t be seeing an emotionally meaningful art-house movie that questions the relationship between men and women, and offers perspective on their mutual place in the universe.

No.

You’ll be seeing a film that’s FUN!!

If you don’t … ? I can but paraphrase Bosco Albert “B.A.” Baracus: “You CRAZY, fool!!!!!!!!!”

‹‹‹◊›››

Children Of Men: Will the Last Person to Die …

… Turn out The Lights … ?

Which is possibly a bit of a bleak title for a post, but there we go.

Yes, I know, I know, in hot weather like this, you’d not expect people to be sitting indoors, watching a film …

But it’s Saturday.

And both Movie Night Adrian* and I were feeling both skint.

And bored.

And both fancied company: it’s just a shame that the rest of the Movie Night gang couldn’t make it, tonight, I think they’ve missed something that was worth watching.

The 2006, Alfonso Cuarón directed, film, Children of Men.

And I’ve got to admit that Children of Men is — if not a masterpiece — a film that got unfairly treated by the critics, at the time of is original release.

Based loosely on the P. D. James novel of the same name, Children of Men is set ini a post-apocalyptic 2027.

One where the actual apocalypse is less of a huge explosions, with aliens, mega-ships and invading spaceships, and more of a very invidious whimper.

Very invidious, actually.

Humanity stops having babies.

Reproducing.

Having children.

Nasty thought, isn’t it … ?

Which is just where the story starts …

After all, the UK of 2027 is a fascist dictatorship, living in fear of illegal immigrants, and saving up for the freely available Quietus suicide kits.

And the opening scenes of Children of Men sees Theo Faron — played by Clive Owen — find out that Baby Diego, the worlds youngest person has been stabbed to death. It goes downhill from there.

When he’s kidnapped by the activists — yes, that’s the word … ! — lead by his ex-wife, who manage to persuade him to get some false transit papers for a very young illegal immigrant called Kee, who needs to get to the much rumoured Human Project.

Kee … is pregnant.

In a world that hasn’t seen a baby born in 18 years …

•••••

You know, I’m thinking, here, of an old term that the late Alfred Hitchcock came up with: McGuffin.

A McGuffin, in this sense, is the plot device that drives the story along: and, in Children of Men, Kee and her child, in a world that hasn’t seen the birth of a baby in some 18 years is a pretty major one.

Seeing both her — and Clive Owen — chased by armed police and troops, hoping to catch an escaped foogie and the cop killer that’s with her. Chased by left wing activists hoping to use the child as a symbol of resistance to the dictatorship in charge of the UK.

And — at the film’s climax — seeing just two of the three fugitives catching a ship they’d been praying for.

•••••

Phew … !

Now, I’m going to make a confession, here …

I didn’t exactly take to Children of Men, the first time I saw it.

Admittedly, though, I did have it on, whilst I was still actively in the pub quiz game, writing two to three quizzes a week.

As background noise, as much as anything else.

That really didn’t do Children of Men much in the way of justice.

On re-watching it … ?

I’m thinking that Children of Men is …

Well …

If Children of Men isn’t a thoughtfully made, acted and written little gem of a realistic Sci-fi post-apocalypse, then I’m a lobster.

And lobsters don’t blog.

∯∰∯

* Adrian, though, will quite happily admit he spent yesterday demonstrating the ancient martial art of quarter-staffing, has the bruises to prove it, and is hoping attractive women will want to tell him how bunch he’s been. Or rub some form of lotion into the bruises … Ummm … Adrian, does that cover it … ?

Who Said What …

You know, I’ve got to admit, last night’s Flesh and Stone post was just a little … rushed … wasn’t it … ?

Wasn’t it … ?

It was …

Something I think I can remedy, now, by telling you a little more slowly what I thought of it.

I liked it!

Does that sound a touch gushy?

Possibly …

But I’ll confess, I did have my doubts about Matt Smith, when I originally heard about him being cast as the 11th actor to play the part, but confirms what I thought when I saw him being interviewed in the special edition of Dr Who Confidential, last year.

°°°°°

Flesh and Stone follows on from last week’s The Time of Angels, and, at one point in the plot, sees Amy, surrounded by Weeping Angels, having to walk out of a seriously wooded forest.

Of — I kid ye not — bionic trees*.

With her eyes shut …

Nasty!

I don’t know that I can add too much more, here, except to tell you to check out the wikipedia entry for Flesh and Stone, and to have a look at the Life, Doctor Who and Com-Bom blog posts about it … !!

But this episode is building on the Time Crack story arc.

And has me wondering if the 11th Doctor’s even more asexual than Arthur Dent … !

•••••

To other things …

Shall we … ?

I’ve got to admit, part of the reason myself and Allison were rushed, was simply the fact that we’ve now officially had two movie nights in a row!

Friday saw Dr Kevin Allison, Movie Night Adrian and I at my place for the DVD version of James Cameron’s Avatar.

Last night, however, saw us all heading up to Movie Night Adrian’s to watch the Roland Emmerich directed catastrophe film that is 2012.

Adrian does manage to pick some quite nice salted popcorn …

But 2012, though …

Hmmm …

2012 …

Now, I’ve got to admit, I went into this, with little or no preconceptions. I think.

But I did know that usually, a blockbuster movie has got be fairly special, to grab my attention.

After all, the original summer blockbuster that was Star Wars does hold something of a special place in people of my age’s hearts.

Avatar, while it may have more or less weight than Star Wars, is both engaging, entertaining, and very well paced: you wouldn’t notice the 2 hours and 42 minutes running time, unless you were specifically watching for it.

2012, on the other hand … 2012 is quite as much of a grabber …

The film sees Dr Adrian Helmsley, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, discover that solar flares are catastrophically heating Earths’s core to levels that will kill the entire human race in numerous horrible ways, and — along with various world governments — to save as many people as possible, in the on-coming floods.

Now, don’t get me wrong.

2012 isn’t a bad film. And is watchable.

I know that Movie Night Adrian and Allison were impressed with it: I do know Allison liked Emmerich’s Independence Day, something I’ll quite happily agree with. Independence Day was a great romp of a fun movie!

But 2012, though … ?

I’m still not totally convinced.

I think, of the two, I’d be spending me money on Avatar

* Now, that I thought was neat little idea!