Lions for Lambs (2007)

Robert Redford lectures his students and the audience in this commentary on the "War on Terror".

2.5 stars

Quel maledetto treno blindato (1978) aka "Inglorious Bastards"

Explosive war film, good fun but nothing too challenging.

3 stars

Cars (2006)

This is Pixar never really getting out of first gear. Lacking in va-va-voom.

Janck 2.5 stars





Third time lucky (thanks for the two previous scratched discs Lovefilm), but pleasantly surprised. Pixar manage to pull off another triumph, and actually feels like it was made for kids for once. Guilty pleasure.


Mitch 3.5 stars

Suspiria (1977)

Cult Seventies schlocker. I kept waiting for something scary, or even something good, to happen but it never really did. Nice use of Technicolor though in it's final cinema outing.

2 stars

The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)

As a fan of the TV series, this is very short on belly-laughs and comes across a touch self-indulgent. The potential was there, but the result is fairly so-so. Stick to the TV series.



3 stars

Haute tension (2003) aka "Switchblade Romance"

Oooh la la. This is how horror movies should be, nasty and stylish in equal measures, director Alexandre Aja leads the way in the recent spate of throwback slasher movies.

4.5 stars

Smokin' Aces (2006)

Actually quite enjoyed this; guns and action with at least an attempt at a plot. Lots of big name actors; I recognised at least 3 from L O S T. (One of which was a cameo from Matthew Fox). Entertaining hitmen tale.


3.5 stars

Capote (2005)

Finally got round to watching this (sorry Janck, you can have the DVD back now). I'd heard much about Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance from a few years back, but the real star is the cinematography. And sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.


4 stars

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Mitch : More enjoyable Summer blockbuster fare from Marvel. At least filmmakers are learning to pursue the darker, character-driven facets of such comic book transitions. Lessons have been learned from the previously offensively neon and corny mid-nineties Batman movies.

3.5 stars

Janck : The worst last half an hour of "film" I've seen in a while.. Why bother with separate cover art for the DVD when they could have used that of the videogame.

2 stars

Fargo (1996)

Not quite the Cohen Brothers best work, but pretty darned tootin' close to it.

4.5 stars

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Indian rail trip about three brothers who somehow lost their way but undertake a spiritual journey to learn more about themselves and each other. Let's make an agreement and give this:


4 stars

The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)

There is nothing uplifting here, although that's to be expected when the British army is occupying Ireland in 1920 and independence is being threatened. The film is very heavy going and uncompromising at times. Several very good performances throughout, although Cillian Murphy's is the standout. Palme D'Or winner in 2006.


3.5 stars

Death Sentence (2007)

Another average vigilante movie. The problem with this genre is that it is too formulaic, and the bounds of reality have to be stretched in order to feel the central's character's sense of revenge. Unfortunately, I never quite bought into it.


3 stars

El Orfanato (2007) aka "The Orphanage"

Goose bumps and ghosts make this a chilling tale, but not one without compassion. I'd recommend watching it now before the Hollywood remake..

Janck 4 stars



Very well directed 'ghost story' made for grown-ups. Some nice moments of tension compliment this style of storytelling. Recommended.

Mitch 4 stars

Juno (2008)

Mitch : Plenty of high-school-teen-slang-speak litters this now Oscar winning screenplay. Penned by an ex-stripper, (but surely everyone must know that piece of trivia by now?) the script remains subtly funny throughout. Ellen Page deserves the plaudits, although 'heartwarming' and 'feelgood' make this movie 'nice' but not 'brilliant'.
3.5 stars


Janck : Echo the 'nice' but not 'brilliant' sentiment.
3.5 stars

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Another fine turn from Gosling (fast becoming an actor whoose projects I look out for..), the movie takes a while to get going but with it's touching moments manages to become an endearing piece of film.

3.5 stars

Zwartboek (2006) aka "Black Book"

War, what is it good for? Movies, if the recent flavour of this blog is anything to go by.. Paul "Starship Troopers Showgirls Total Recall RoboCop Basic Instinct" Verhoeven delivers an accomplished and enjoyable war movie set in Nazi occupied Holland.

3.5 stars