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Movies

News Alert: R.O.U.S.s Discovered

Rodent of Unusual Size
Rodent of Unusual Size

All Princess Bride (buy on iTunes) fans knew it was only a matter of time but the BBC are announcing the discovery of Rodents of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S.)

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Film Review

Film Review: Terminator Salvation

Terminator Salvation Logo
Terminator Salvation Logo

I was fairly law abiding growing up so the first 15 rated film I saw in the cinema was Terminator 2. That was 18 years ago now and there have only been two terminator films since then. Terminator 3 didn’t really make the grade although it wasn’t awful.

I was much more optimistic about this latest installment given its casting of Christian Bale as John Connor. I’ve been a fan of his for quite some time. Remembering his performances in American Psycho, The Machinist amd the 2 latest Batman movies.
What I hadn’t realised before I went was that it was directed by McG who I principally know as the director of the Charlies Angels films.

My overall impression was that it was a very loud film.  Lots of the sound effects were similar to those in the first Transformers film and it was a constant aural assault.  What I hadn’t expected was the number of  “Jump” moments, where I got frights.  There were wuite a few scenes wehre something unexpected happened and I jumped – not something i usually enjoy but it worked here.

I think it’s a film worth seeing.  Not as good as 2 but better than 3.

Categories
Film Review

Film Review: Star Trek (2009)

 

Star Trek Logo
Star Trek Logo

Last night I saw the latest Star Trek and I’d heartily recommend it.  

This new film is a fresh origin story for the original Star Trek series.  Kirk, Spock, Sulu, Uhuru, Chekov, even Captain Pike are all there, enough to keep fans going but not enough to put off anybody not in the know.

I’ve been a fan of JJ Abrams ever since I got into Alias (by the way, what is it with him and Big Red Balls Of Goo™)  and I enjoyed Lost until I lost track of it midway through season  2.  I haven’t seen Cloverfield but hadn’t heard good things about it so I wasn’t sure how this latest film would work out. 

I’m not easily impressed by big movies and  I’ve seen my fair share of stinkers (Superman Returns anyone?) but this one won me over.  I’m not really familiar with any of the cast, and maybe that helped. 

The cast is very strong, sticking to the important parts of the original crewmembers.  As a scotsman I have to say that Simon Pegg‘s Scottish accent didn’t grate as I was worried it might, and his scenes got good laughs in his local multiplex

The film even manages to make Kirk look cool.  He may have been one of the most action orientated captains of the Star Trek universe but I was never that impressed by him. 

The script is generally very strong and there is great scope for follow ons.  The film has a very clever conceit to get around fitting in with past Star Trek canon while still having all that rich background to draw on.

Shield Rating: 8/10