Review the last film you watched

**friscofrankie** · 16-01-2007, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Little Chuchok

Worlds Fastest Indian is a great movie.CMn, you would enjoy it.Might even make you buy a faster bike!!

Burt Munros 1960's land speed record still stands.

I liked this movie. Great story, no spectacular cinematography, special effects, car chases, conspiracies or dead bodies; just a good story. well told. Anthony Hopkins did first rate rendition of the man and his personality. Coulda spent more time filming the bikes and cars at Bonneville but that's just the motorhead in me.

I bought the DVD. The documentary with the real Burt Munroe is worth the price. The interview where he sits and fiddles with the polished con-rod, and you hear the exact same phrases come out of his mouth that Hopkins spoke, were icing on an already very tasty cake.

**ChiangMai noon** · 18-01-2007, 10:54 AM

A History of Violence 2005

Thhis David Cronenburg movie starring Vigo Mortenson, Maria Bello and Ed Harris is a well made tale of one man's struggle to build a new life for himself somewhere in middle America. (can't remember where, but it looked like a pleasant little town).

The movie starts with a bang and plenty of gore when small diner owner Tom Stall (Mortenson) shows that he has a hidden talent for killing people and keeping cool under pressure when his diner and staff are in some serious shit with 2 murdering hoodlums.

The story progresses and Stall, who has become an all American hero is recognised on tv by an old hard done by mob contact played in chilling manner by Ed Harris.
Can Stall keep his family together and retain the trust of his loving and slightly ordinary family.

Mortenson's performance is totally convincing even if some of the later assasination scenes are a bit OTT and we get an all too brief glimpse of Bello's flange as she waltzes out of the bathroom, dreessing gown nicely ajar.

The gore is kept to a minimum but Cronenburg throws in some pretty gnarly scenes... my particular favourite sees Stall leaving a thug with a broken neck and face all twitching on the ground.

If anything, the running tiome is a little short and a bit more background information would have worked nicely for me. The ending was satisfying and there was hardly a wasted scene in the entire movie.

Cerainly worth the watch and I'll give this one 4.5 from 5.

**AntRobertson** · 18-01-2007, 11:16 AM

THE WICKERMAN (2006)

A remake of the 1973 cult-classic starring Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward.

Nicolas Cage reprises the role of Woodward as the cop called to a mysterious Island populated by even more mysterious inhabitants to investigate the disapperance of a child. All very mysterious.

In short, shit. Utter, utter shit. So shitty not even worth the permanent rendering on a DVD thereby making it unuseable for other, more worthy, films and/or music.

So shitty that is does the term "shit" an injustice - in fact "shit" has just launched legal proceedings for libel and slander and to have its reference removed from the film.

Crapastically crap. On the crap scale it receives a hereto unheard of -10 for constipation.

**ChiangMai noon** · 18-01-2007, 11:19 AM

The World's Fastest Indian (2006) Anthony Hopkins, Anthony Hopkins and Anthony Hopkins

Everyone else seems to have liked this one. My geek mate gave it a 5 from 5 and LC and FF rated it highly. For me it was little more than so so and painfully long.
The movie is based on the real life exploits of an old codger (Burt Monro) from Invercargill, New Zealand and his trusty, souped up 1920 Indian motorcycle. The story is basically a road trip detailing Burt's first visit to the hallowed salt flats in Bonnington, home of the land speed records.

I am willing to believe that Hopkins' performance is a very realistic portrayal of Monroe, pedestrian, ordinary slightly clueless and lovable geezer, unfortunately the performance leaves you feeling slightly sleepy and unengaged. By the time he eventually arrives at the salt plains following 90 minutes of not a lot really other than cliche riddled, bundling charm that seems endearing to everyone he meets, i was looking forward to getting out of the house.

We are assured that Burt's 1967 record still stands and that he returned to Bonneville another 9 times. I just hpope that some of his trips had a little more incident.

2 out of 5.

**ChiangMai noon** · 18-01-2007, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

A remake of the 1973 cult-classic starring Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward.

Nicolas Cage reprises the role of Woodward as the cop called to a mysterious Island populated by even more mysterious inhabitants to investigate the disapperanc

cheers Ant, I was looking for another movie to watch.
BTW Do people from Invercargill speak with a Shropshire accent?

**Wallace** · 18-01-2007, 11:30 AM

I went to watch Perfume at the weekend.

I read the book back in the '80s or whenever it came out. I loved the book, it brought out in astonishing detail the sense of smell. The narrative was wonderful and you really got the idea of 18th century France and the stench of decay.

I had heard they were making a movie about it and wondered how they could get across the ever-present descriptions of smell. I would say overall, it's a good effort, but, as is often the case, can never do the original story justice. The acting is good, with the newcomer Ben Wishaw sticking his nose right into the plot and carrying it off reasonably well. He looks scary, which is about right. The supporting cast of Alan Rickman and Dustin Hoffman are fair choices. I think Hoffman comes off best. Rickman plays his usual straight guy, and I find some of his sneering rather irritating. But he's just about right for the part.

Perhaps the best bits are the scenery shots. The photograhy is beautiful and the locations really well chosen. However, at times I did get the impression I was looking at a 21st century caricature of rural peasant life. That aside, it's worth seeing, and the largest orgy scene in cinematic history is worth a laugh at least.

4/5

**AntRobertson** · 18-01-2007, 11:32 AM

cheers Ant, I was looking for another movie to watch.

Errrm, you may want to read the remainder of my review then

BTW Do people from Invercargill speak with a Shropshire accent?

Not unless the Shropshire accent sounds exactly like the Kiwi accent with the addition of an incessant rolling of the R's?

**peterpan** · 18-01-2007, 11:52 AM

Yesterday I went to see Happy Feet, I must admit the plot was all a bit over my head. Hardly understood any of it and my kids got bored after 60 mins, I tried to explain it all to them but seeing as I didn't get it myself, this was too much of a task for my limited intellect.
That aside it was a quite boring movie I must say.
If you seen one penguin, you seen em all I always say.

**peterpan** · 18-01-2007, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

The World's Fastest Indian (2006) Anthony Hopkins, Anthony Hopkins and Anthony Hopkins

Everyone else seems to have liked this one. My geek mate gave it a 5 from 5 and LC and FF rated it highly. For me it was little more than so so and painfully long.
The movie is based on the real life exploits of an old codger (Burt Monro) from Invercargill, New Zealand and his trusty, souped up 1920 Indian motorcycle. The story is basically a road trip detailing Burt's first visit to the hallowed salt flats in Bonnington, home of the land speed records.

I am willing to believe that Hopkins' performance is a very realistic portrayal of Monroe, pedestrian, ordinary slightly clueless and lovable geezer, unfortunately the performance leaves you feeling slightly sleepy and unengaged. By the time he eventually arrives at the salt plains following 90 minutes of not a lot really other than cliche riddled, bundling charm that seems endearing to everyone he meets, i was looking forward to getting out of the house.

We are assured that Burt's 1967 record still stands and that he returned to Bonneville another 9 times. I just hpope that some of his trips had a little more incident.

2 out of 5.

Well, He at least he buried his pecker (got his end away) etc. I understand thats more than wot you get.

**ChiangMai noon** · 18-01-2007, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by peterpan

He at least he buried his pecker

It's implied at least.
He wakes up with her but I doubt wether he was capable of arousal.

Originally Posted by peterpan

I understand thats more than wot you get

bloody cheek

**Wallace** · 18-01-2007, 12:02 PM

Brilliant movie, though. It helps if you love bikes, I think.

**ChiangMai noon** · 18-01-2007, 12:03 PM

I like bikes but thought it very pedestrian indeed.

would have liked to have seen how he managed to sopup it up from the original 57 mp/h.

**Wallace** · 18-01-2007, 12:06 PM

Perhaps, but the movie was so much more about the man. I thought Hopkins was outstanding.

**ChiangMai noon** · 18-01-2007, 12:09 PM

^
Not denying that.
Said that in the review, just found it all a bit dull really.
Well received by most people though, no accounting for taste.

I shall next review "the descent".... one of the best reviewed movies of 2006 and one of the worst I have seen.

Definitely not a keeper, for me anyway.

**peterpan** · 18-01-2007, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

Originally Posted by peterpan

He at least he buried his pecker

It's implied at least.
He wakes up with her but I doubt wether he was capable of arousal.

Originally Posted by peterpan

I understand thats more than wot you get

bloody cheek

He's a Kiwi mate! and they are ALWAYs capable of getting a wood, even in an advanced state of physical decay.

A kiwi eats, roots, shoots and leaves.

**Little Chuchok** · 18-01-2007, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

cheers Ant, I was looking for another movie to watch.

Errrm, you may want to read the remainder of my review then

BTW Do people from Invercargill speak with a Shropshire accent?

Not unless the Shropshire accent sounds exactly like the Kiwi accent with the addition of an incessant rolling of the R's?

Yep,those southern south islanders really roll their R's.dunno what CNn was on,'cause it sounded a pretty good accent to me.

**ChiangMai noon** · 18-01-2007, 12:27 PM

excellent if you are from Oswestry.

**Little Chuchok** · 18-01-2007, 12:29 PM

Wear the fox hat?

**friscofrankie** · 18-01-2007, 12:58 PM

I've seen both "History of Violence" and "The World's Fastest Indian"

History was a decent story, a bit over the top violence and unrealistic depiction of gangsters more fantasy than reality; still an entertaining yarn. I enjoyed it; doesn't really bear re-watching IMO.

Bloodbath type violence and super-psycho crooks are actually quite rare in reality. They do make for easy fiction though. Think the movie started with a grade "A" premise, turned into a "B" flick. While a decently fun flick, the movie leave you feeling somehow short-changed.

The Fastest Indian is not OTT in any way. A realistic portrayal of a unique and interesting individual. Our own depraved Chiangmai Kiwi did, in fact, mention the authenticity of accent in the movie, seems the folks from that area have unique manner of speech captured fairly well in the movie.
That the movie was written & directed by someone who knew the man, took the time to know his friends, acquaintances and locale; someone that admired him, shows through in the movie. Great story about a quietly great man.

Dunno man, from my view "Fastest Indian" was much better story telling than "History" Both were entertaining in their own way.

I'd rate History a 3.5, Indian a 4.5
Each his own I guess.

**Little Chuchok** · 18-01-2007, 01:04 PM