Toy Story 3

The Perfect Trilogy

Loved it: Taken from IMDB

“I attended a special screening for Toy Story 3. I went in with HIGH expectations. I LOVED the first two Toy Stories movies. Toy Story is a beloved franchise that almost everyone that I know loves the first two films. Now how about the 3rd film? Well all I could say is that it lived up to my unbelievably HIGH expectations and then some. This is such a good film. It has the laughs, magic and best of all the entertainment. The new characters in the movie feel like they were in the previous two films, they were that engaging and really worked well in the movie. The best part of the movie has to be the ending, I almost cried and was moved to just about to tears. I truly believe that this is one of the best Trilogies of all time. It might even rival the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.This movie has a real chance to become the First Animated Film to win Best Picture. I surely would not be surprised. 10/10 An Amazing End to a Fantastic Series Go Watch It.”

couldn’t agree more.

Hater: Taken from IMDB

“Bad, really really bad animation, in fact, absolutely crumby TACKY animation. Maybe Mr. Pixar should take a look at Max Fleischer's "Popeye" cartoons, hand drawn in the 1930's with the most basic analog technology. Am tired of melancholic Israeli peacenik crap (e.g., "Shrek Goes Fourth"). You, Pixar, live in a war zone not of your own choosing, so suck it up. It ain't your fault millions of Arabs have a Third-Reich death wish for you (c.f., Haj Amin Al-Husseini, the mufti of Jerusalem). This is nothing more than a 3rd rate documentary dressed up in 4th rate low-budget computer animation. The only reason international festivals and the Oscars fawned over and award this slop is because it conforms to their anti-Fleischer liberal bias. Nothing like a toy scrapping the ground in abject guilt to get a rise from the Church Ladies.”

There are bad reviews in there that may have a point (more about that later) but this bad review was just too funny not to quote! All of this for a kids film!

What I thought:

I have been saying it over and over again in my head but Toy Story 3 is the completion of what is the perfectly executed trilogy! Let’s take some of the best trilogies, Star Wars people still pick a favourite and most hated the ewoks! Lord of the Rings, most people thought Return of the King was just a tad to long and Orlando Bloom gets worse the more you watch them. Even things like Back to the future are let down by a lack lustre third entry.

Toy Story has done something not done before, every movie stands alone in all its CG glory as a testament to Pixars work. Nothing encompasses the companies’ ethos more, that it picked up where Disney left off with such awe inspiring family films. The fact that my son cried out “WOODY!” when he was in trouble proved it to me. I have never known them to sit still that long or to cry out when a character was in trouble! The thing is, it was just as harrowing for me as it was them. I grew up with these characters, the first film came out in 1995, and I was 11 years old! Toy Story 3 deals with what everyone knew would come, Andy would grow up and have no need for toys anymore and it’s heartbreaking.

The complaints about the film centre around on how scary and dark the film is in places, I would agree. Saying that my boys loved it, not once did they indicate they were scared. Its central theme can be scary but then when did children worry about a “central theme” personally I think these complaints have come from over sensitive parents.

So there you have it 2010 continues in such a great way, looking forward to Scott Pilgrim Now.

The Buzz 11/08/10

Stallone to make another "exepndable" movie!!

Everything but the kitchen sink stopping the next bond film.

Andrew Dominik ("Chopper," "The Assassination of Jesse James"), remaking Tell No One

Some more Mad Max: Fury Road breadcrumbs

The Buzz 10/08/10

The "Stath" remakes the mechanic.

The man behind Kick Ass is unhappy with comic book movies? ah?

Torchwood Rebooted?

yay, cloverfield sequel!

Say Anything

One you haven’t seen

Lovers: Taken from IMDB
“I rented this movie solely based on the excellent reviews that it has gotten everywhere. I missed it during its theatrical release (as so many others did) and had the hardest time finding a copy of it at our local video rental stores. Not because it wasn't popular but b/c, according to the clerks, people kept stealing or "losing" their copies...especially around Valentines Day. When I finally got my hands on a copy I was blown away. I had thought this was going to be just another in a long link of Pretty in Pinkish movies with predictable characters and a bad case of puppy love, but what I got was a surprisingly refreshing, unconventional story with a complicated and well-developed emotional depth flawlessly captured by the actors and Cameron Crowe.”

Say Anything is even today quite unconventional so yeh good points made I think.

Haters: Taken from IMDB
“I barely made it through this film. After reading such a great review of it, I was expecting something decent if not great. Instead I found it to be one of those films that feels like it goes on forever. I didn't feel anything for the characters, good or bad, there was no chemistry between the love interests. There is only a very general plot, but you sit there asking yourself "what on earth has happened in the last 2 hours? Nothing." It simply misses the mark at every opportunity. Save yourself from two hours of monotony and misery and pick something else to watch.”

Well a fairly scathing review with no points what so ever, that’s helpful.

What I thought:
Well firstly it was impossible for me not to like this film as I’m a big fan of John Cusack ever since Grosse Pointe Blanke. Say Anything shows you the early signs of a very talented actor, not a conventional character actor and plays his characters very similar to the last but its works. With charm and comic timing it’s entertaining to watch him do his thing.

This film is still a very original film today, it throws away conventions and gives you a character that is very sure of himself, very much in love the whole way through and always knows what to say. The confusion in a round about way comes from the female lead and who can blame her with a corrupt father! That’s the other surprise, I mean how many teen movies have you seen where the father gets sent down for fraud!

In a time when the teen movie genre has become about getting laid or getting the girl it’s nice to watch earlier ones like this or the Breakfast club, where the point was just growing up.

The Buzz 09/08/10

An entourage movie?

Lady Ga Ga takes on Hollywood...

Green Lantern gets a trilogy?

and dont you just wish the saw movies would F*CK OFF!!!

The Buzz 08/08/10

Jackass is back, have you missed them?


Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg just keep getting good reviews for "The Other Guys


The "other" Spiderman movie?

Dinner for Schmucks sneaky peaky!

The Buzz 07/08/10

Tom Cruise gets a pay cut

"Life in a Day" gets LOTS of entries!

"Anchorman" helmer Adam McKay's next flick!

J.J. Abrams to produce Bong Joon-ho's ("The Host")next film

The History of WW2 in Films and TV

The number of people to have lost their lives during WW2 varies between 62 million and anywhere up to 72 million people. The truth is we will never really know the exact figure, much like people born after that time will never really understand the sacrifice made or the atrocities that occurred.

I believe that one of most important and indeed one of the best ways of educating people in what happened is through our media, or more specifically TV and Film. There are literally hundreds of films and TV programmes that portray WW2 and events surrounding it. Some of them are true stories like Band of Brothers or Schindlers List; others take a few liberties like Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards, all of them have one thing in common; delivering a message of some sort, even dead snow; the Nazi zombies are a personification of peoples fear of the SS and Hitler's Henchmen.

My aim with this is to go through a history of what was one of the costliest conflicts known to man. To mark out the events that made the War, the feel of pre-war Europe, the Germans advance and Blitzkrieg, The Allies turning the tide and the aftermath and show them as they are portrayed by our films and TV. Are these films historically accurate, does this TV series truly capture what it was like? These are just some of the questions I’ll tackle on my way. This is only the introduction and these updates will be sporadic to say the least, due to researching as i go and the time it takes obtaining the more obscure things to watch.

I hope you find it as interesting as I did researching it.

Peter Bee (Beeonfilm)

Revolutionary Road

One long argument.

Lover: Taken from IMDB

“Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio were the incentive of my going to see this film, and I could not be more convinced of their talent than I am after the two-hour brilliance.

This film is reality in its purest, yet magnificently artistic form – the anger that is portrayed repetitively and in various occasions reminded me of the wrath I myself occasionally experience, from the overture of an argument to its climax; the screaming, the furious need to verbally and physically harm, punch, kick, no matter how much affection is felt towards the recipient. Even during the scenes that are meant to be tranquil, there is anxiety and tension hidden in their smiles, a sort of counterfeit politeness that should never be present in a happy relationship.

It is all a depiction of two genuine lives that have the potential of existing in complete harmony, yet cannot because of the stereotypical environment and situation they find themselves in. They both crave change, an alteration in their monotonous state of being, but because of the lengthy period of time that they have spent in such a circumstance, their mentality is differently modified. April (Kate Winslet) finds unreserved determination to leave to Paris and although her character seems at times erratic, we gradually come to understand that she is in fact the stronger personality of the two; she truly finds change favorable, whereas Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) seems to find the idea of change more flattering than change itself.

Each choice a person makes can change a life, and that life is not always theirs. This film shows us just how wrong something right can be, as well as how right something wrong can be.”

A good point of view if I cared about the characters one iota!

Hater: Taken from IMDB

“Wow what a bad movie. We went into this movie with very high hopes and it was a total bomb. Complete waste of money. It was nothing but arguing, adultery, smoking, drinking, fighting....ugh...and all between a housewife and a working husband in the 50s/60s.

This movie could have easily turned around in the ended on a positive note with the trip to Paris, but no. It ended with death and tears and questions still remaining.

Leonardo and Kate worked well together. They are great actors ...but...the plot and the story line in this movie was slow, depressing, and not worth the time or money.”

I’m with this one, the acting was great and very convincing but the material just wasn’t there!

What I Thought

After hearing good things I was really looking forward to the reunion of Leo and Kate but it is rather disappointing. Sam Mendes other films that aim for the same place like American Beauty had characters you invest in and care for, this fails on that on so many levels. The couple in question are supposed to be blissfully married but you know the whole way through that it all ends in tears, there’s no surprise here! This couple are awful together and watching their relationship degrade has no entertainment value in the slightest.

They spend half the movie shouting at each other, I found myself feeling sorry for the kids and there only on the screen about 5 mins! It could have and should have been more. Leo has grown into an actor of supreme presence and “our” Kate is as comfortable in this as any other role. Its just the story that trudges along like some troll with forgettable dialogue that bring this film down to what is essentially a “how not to be married” self help tape.

The Buzz 06/08/10

Tarantino to reboot the shadow?

Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace to appear in Luc Bessons next sci-fi Lockout.

"Tron Legacy" director Joseph Kosinski has been a busy boy at Disney...

hmm G.I Joe sequel? i havent even seen the rist one yet so who am i to judge...

The Buzz 05/08/10

What the hell! how can you possibly do a biopic about a 16 year old!!! not just any 16 year old but Justin bloody Bieber!

The Other Guys, movie review for Will Farrells new buddy cop movie

The Actors Revolt! and quite right to! bad form terribly bad form!

The Expendables, a great nostalgic trip to the cinema or a waste of time?

3D Cinema – Next Generation or Flash in the Pan?

Since the 1950s, 3D films have been hailed as a bit of a gimmick, albeit a gimmick that causes nausea and headache in some individuals - until now that is. With the introduction of digital technology, film making techniques are advancing at an astounding rate and the release of films such as James Cameron’s 3D epic Avatar and Dreamworks 3D animation Monsters vs Aliens is heralding a new age of 3D viewing.

The visual effect of 3D films is created by projecting two images onto the cinema screen at the same time. To the naked eye the image on the screen appears blurred but when watched through special glasses the image appears to come alive in three dimensions (3D). Originally the two images were shown through two separate projectors onto one screen, but this created many problems for projectionists and the viewers alike. 3D films are no longer shown from two projectors. Instead, films
are provided to cinemas on a hard drive with an adapter that separates the two images to be shown through the one projector. Even the glasses have improved, with modern polarised specs replacing the old cardboard version.

One of the most eagerly awaited 3D releases in recent times has been James Cameron’s Avatar.Cameron himself waited 10 years to make the film, stating in 1999 that the technology was not yet available for him to make it. After 10 years of waiting, the technological advances had been made and the film finally went into production and was released in 2D, 3D and 4D. Despite costing over $237 million to produce, it was hailed as a huge success at the box office, becoming the first film to gross more than $2 billion.

Another film that recently took up the 3D mantle is Pixar’s Up, the story of an old man and a young ‘Wilderness Explorer’ who take to the skies in a house held in the air by helium balloons.The film was presented in Disney Digital 3D and went on to gross over $731 million at the box office, making it Pixar’s second most commercially successful film after Finding Nemo. With every other film that is released at the box office now being made in 3D and with the success that they are obviously enjoying, it’s hard to image this time around that 3D films will, as in the
past, simply be a gimmick. The 3D specs are cool, the films are being released in droves and the improvements in technology mean that we do not feel sick any more when watching the screen. We even have 3D technology moving into our homes with the release of 3D televisions, but do we really want to sit in our living rooms wearing 3D glasses just to watch our evening viewing? What if a guest arrives and you haven’t got any spares? With no real way to watch 3D without the glasses, we may
not be quite ready to embrace 3D viewing completely.

What is the next step with 3D? It must be viewing without having to wear the glasses. Research is ongoing and before too long this hurdle will almost certainly be successfully jumped.

If you want to watch any of the 3D films mentioned in this article you can rent them online via Lovefilm. Discount Codes are very often available online and one way to find them is to search for‘Lovefilm Discount Vouchers’. This should bring up an array of sites that will offer money off vouchers
for your 3D film rental.

Winslet “bares” all

Loved it: Taken from IMDB

“But the actors are what drag the audience into this story. David Kross is amazing as the young Michael who has to play a range of virginal innocent to wizened and bitter. It's the key role in the film, and we're all lucky he was found to play this role. And the ever confounding Kate Winslet. What an amazing career for this young actress! Running through a list of her credits, she has some of the best performances of the last decade: "Holy Smoke," "Eternal Sunshine…," "Iris," "Finding Neverland," "Little Children." But here she does something very different. Playing what amounts to a monster, we see that they too are human. Not many actresses could bring this off, but it may be her greatest accomplishment to date. Ralph Fiennes brings a continuity to the work David Kross begins, and there's a brief appearance by Lena Olin who commands the dignity the role deserves. “


very true and well rounded opinion.

Hated it: Taken from IMDB

“Just went to see this film. I was amazed to see how bad/clumsy the entire movie was. Obviously I wasn't the only one to think so according to the poor rating at Rotentomatos.com. Is the Oscar so easily influenced by Harvey Weinstein? That's an insult to all cinema fans! As for Winslet's performance, sure she bares and wears make-up. But so what? I was not impressed by her performance here at all. Her turn in Revolutinary Road was far more impressive. I love Kate Winslet, but I'd rather see her winning the Oscar for a better movie. She is still young and I am sure it will happen soon.Oscar should be given based on performance. Not based on campaigning or a sentiment for never winning. That said, Best actress this year should go to Meryl Streep for Doubt.”

Not quite sure if this guy is more upset about the reader or the academy awards

What I thought:

Firstly she don’t half like taking her kit of does our Kate! It’s become like a calling card for her! Since Titanic all of her more rewarding roles have involved stripping off! The Reader is yet another one, its steamy sessions with a young Michael showing once again that old Winslet is up to old tricks, however they are done tastefully and do make you understand young Michael infatuation with Hannah. Those scenes aside the Reader is a very good film, a little bit depressing but throws some very good questions at the audience.

Maybe not Oscar winning but then I haven’t seen doubt yet…

A Team Review!!!

Please check out the link on the right...

I pity the fool that takes this film seriously!

Went to a screening of A Team last night and I for one loved it! The important thing is to remember not to take it too seriously.

There will be more from me when my review goes up at the smell of napalm…