2006 Screening Log

[castleinthesky]

Your rating system is totally out of date............and if you view movies at home, then they are too late to be used here in the 2006 viewing log. Movies in this log should only be movies released in the year that the log is posted.

And your own personal dislikes and likes should never enter into a review of a movie.

You are very off base.

First of all, this screening log, is for any movie you may watch in 2006. This is the way the screening logs have always been. Every single time.

Also, my personal dislikes were never added into a film, so again, you are pointless.

Also, you don't speak the truth, you speak bigotry.

[Just Myself]

Since when is speaking the truth rude?

When you do it arrogantly, like you have been in this thread. You're acting like your better than us because you're 'older' and 'wiser'. Age and wisdom has nothing to do with anything, and once you learn that you'll be fine.

JM

[Escapay]

A substitute teacher I once knew named Mrs. Zbornak once said, "Age is just a state of mind."

Escapay

[Loomis]

I was wondering for a while there why I stopped posting opinion on recent films here. After re-reading the last few pages, I'm not surprised I've been frightened off.

I'll just say I saw The Departed last week, and I may or may not have enjoyed it. That way, nobody will get offended or throw wordy projectiles at me.

[Loomis]

Ok, it seems to be safe to post again.

Saw two movies in the last week at the cinema.

The Prestige (2006) (Viewed 16 November 2006): I had anticipated this film given that it was directed by Christopher Nolan, and starred at least two of the leads from Batman Begins. Stylistically this is a great film, and I love the period setting. Nolan's oft-used non-linear technique provides - like a good magic trick - the right amount of misdirection to keep you on your toes. You don't have to be too savvy to pick up the 'illusion'/'twist' in this film, but like the magic tricks themselves, you'll be looking for something more complicated despite the answer being very simple. A incredibly well-made piece that also happens to be a great deal of fun. Rating: A from me!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006) (Viewed 18 November 2006): As a long-time horror movie fan, I had still spent a fair amount of time successfully avoiding many of the 'nasty for the sake of it' genre of films that have cropped up lately (such as the Saw and Hostel franchises). To me, a good horror film has to have an element of fun, and many of these films are simply trying to outdo each other in the 'gross-out' stakes. TCM: TB seems to want this crown badly as well. Although I have a soft-spot for the TCM franchise - with the original film still being one of the best made and most chilling examples of 1970s horror, or any horror for that matter - 2004's remake looked like a jeans commercial. That said, it still had a lot more to offer than this sick puppy. (By that, of course, I mean that Jessica Biel and her alternatively tight/wet/dirty outfits floating past the camera at breast/arse level are completely absent). The film is neither scary nor amusingly bad, but it is simply nasty. It takes pleasure in cutting its victims up, and in the process, much of the mystery of Leatherface is lost. I guess that is true of all prequels though. We know that the 'gross-out' genre is capable of more, and indeed, Slither has recently shown us how to have a good, funny and twisted time with the genre. TCM: TB is going for something completely different, but one has to wonder - is it time to hang up the chainsaw?

[Loomis]

The Black Dahlia (2006 - USA) (Viewed 24 November 2006): Having read the James Ellroy novel years ago, around the time of the theatrical release of LA Confidential, I was eagerly anticipating this one. I couldn't be more disappointed. The film was more of a pastiche of Brian de Palma's favourite moments from film noir, with very little in the way of strong story or character arc to push it through. Several scenes don't make sense and seem to be thrown in for the hell of things, especially the multiple sex scenes between Josh Hartnett and practically every woman he meets.

Character performances vary wildy, with alost nobody offering anything even remotely convincing. Scarlett Johansson struggles with the period dialogue, in fact everybody does including Oscar winning Hilary Swank, but it was also quite badly written as well. Ironically it is Mia Kirshner's performance of the dead girl - ironic, as we only ever see her through 'old' film footage and flashbacks - that comes across as the most convincing, and certainly has the most emotion resonance.

The film culminates in a jumbled mess of an ending, with every Scooby Doo cliche of a 'killer reveal' thrown in to boot. In fact, Scooby Doo was less cartoony than some of the performances on display in the final scenes, especially that of Fiona Shaw, the wealthy mother of Swank's character.

I will say this for the film: after watching it, I went and bought some dinner roles. That was largely because of the nice meals Johansson was cooking through the film, one of which gets tossed aside in a violent lovemaking scene. The rolls are quite yummy and that is about the best I can say about this film.

Rating: C-

[Loomis]

Casino Royale (2006) (Viewed 9 December 2006): I'll start by saying that I am a big James Bond fan. I have the original run of DVDs - all of them - and I even have Never Say Never Again. For me, having been born an Australian male, Sean Connery is the ultimate Bond. That said, after seeing Casino Royale, I'm very tempted to declare it the 'best Bond ever'.

Daniel Craig does a fine turn as the restrained, yet still debonair, character. While I question the need to tell the origin story at this late stage, it is incredibly effective. From the monochromatic opening, to one of the best chase sequences on-foot EVER (I swear that the chasee was part acrobatic monkey), it is interesting that much of the tension comes from the card game, and not more overblown action sequences. The fact that it was co-written by respected screenwriter Paul Haggis (Crash) really makes a difference. I mean, the basic plot is still silly, but that is more the novel it is based on than the screenplay. There are little moments in this that show Craig as a fine actor, and not just a fine Bond. Perhaps the only criticism that I would make is that the film drags on a bit in the third act, snd some of the romantic moments don't quite ring true.

It may be too early to declare him the best Bond ever (although George Lazenby is up there for me!), but this is certainly one of the best action/spy films ever, Bond or otherwise. Rating: A

[The Little Merman]

I just came back from Nancy Meyer's delightful The Holiday (2006). In short, you'd have to be Ebenezer Scrooge himself not to at least enjoy this seasonal treat-- full review on my blog.

***½ (B+)

*tlm

[castleinthesky]

I've gotten pretty far behind in my reviews, so in short, I'll just be grading these following films, however, I hope to continue with reviews starting the next movie.

The Fountain A-

Babel A

United 93 A-

Stranger than Fiction B

Flushed Away C-

Transamerica B+

The Thin Red Line A

Hoping to see in near future (along with reviews): Happy Feet, Casino Royale, The Queen, Apocalypto

Golden Globes Tomorrow!

[castleinthesky]

Last Day of 2006, and I will finish up this topic with my final fims I've seen this first time this year.

Like the last post, I have been boggled down in writing other things, and I do not feel like writing lengthy reviews.

Apocalypto C+
Mel Gibson make a film in which many anticipated. This film's graphics were the only redeeming part of the film. The plot was pointless and an anti-climatic end to the film ruined the whole thing.

Borat C+
Blah! It may get highly rated, but I didn't see the greatness of this film. It had it's funny points, and the satire was the best part of this film.

Thank You For Smoking B-
Not much to say here, except it was over-satirical. I wouldn't mind Aaron Eckart being nominated for Best Actor though.

An Inconvenient Truth C
This is supposedly the best documentary of the year, yet it was very boring and reptitive. On an educational standpoint this film gets an A, but on an entertainment standpoint this is average at best.

V for Vendetta D+
The plot was average. The acting was average. The cinematography was terrible. This film is one to forget.

Tokyo Godfathers B
Another great Japanese anime.

Happy Feet B-
This movie had superb graphics. If a film was based off animation alone to win Best Animated Feature, this would win. However, the film is rated off the overall film, in which this film could have been much better in voice acting and plot. This film seemed to have 3 endings. Filled with pop culture references this film definately would contend with Shrek for that award. I may actually buy this on DVD, just for the graphics alone.

An I unfortuanately was not able to see Casino Royale before it went out in my area on Christmas Eve!

To see in theatres: Blood Diamond, Dreamgirls, Children of Men

To see on video: Over the Hedge, Snakes on a Plane