MOON Trailer

I saw this over at a friends place last night whilst there for dinner – looks awesome – a blend between 2001: A Space Odyssey & Sunshine. June 12th 2009 release.

Movie: The Chronicles of Narnia – Prince Caspian

Movie: Quantum of Solace

I REALLY want to like this movie straight out as a standalone movie, as I am a self professed James Bond fan, or connoisseur to follow thematically our erstwhile hero. However this movie demands you watch it back to back with its prequal, Casino Royale, because the two stories are so closely intertwined (set as they are 1 hour apart), you could be forgiven for thinking that suddenly you are not watching James Bond, but as Time Magazine has noted, Jason Bourne.

Quantum’s problem lies in two key areas. The first is that being so closely aligned with the first movie, character development is lacking, relying on Casino Royale to fill in the gaps and as a consequence because the characters are only fleetingly visited, you have to REALLY concentrate on the who, what, where, when. The lack of dialogue and meaningful discourse between Bond and his on screen counterparts is replaced by the second problem area. Action. Or more correctly, Action, Action, Action and MORE Action. Sure, this is a Bond film, but lining up the action scenes like a domino set and then letting fly becomes somewhat… repetitive and predicatble.

Much could have been gained by an extra 15 minutes of dialogue between action sequences to fill in the gaps more and spend time in developing Daniel Craigs character, detailing more of Quantum itself and letting the “mother hen” nature of the M/Bond relationship evolve in a more mature fashion. In saying that, I’ve since watched Quantum again and gotten so much more out of it upon a second viewing, watching it back to back with Casino Royale.

However in saying all this, Quantum’s biggest problem, character & action points aside is the existence of Casino Royale, which so comprehensively reinvigorated the franchise that it was going to be a tall order to top that. On its own, Quantum is a good movie, worthy of a spy come action thriller.

But as a James Bond movie, which can stand alongside Casino Royale?

No. Close, but no cigar.

Movie review: The Great Escape

Installment 3 of the “Classic” movie night.

We watched the digitally re-coloured version which added depth and dimension to this classic. A sad story, more so being based on fact but crafted in a fashion that put forth the example of British “proper” gentleman and no nonsense American men getting to the job of escaping and raising hell with their erstwhile German captors. A fine tribute to the strength and ingenuity of the human spirit.

Movie review: Aliens – Director’s Cut

Viewed as part installment 4 of our “classic” movie nights.

This was the directors cut, which had additional sequences which rounded off the story significantly. Still in my mind, genre defining for the sheer machismo bought to bear on the screen with the “Hooyah!” attitude of the marines intertwined with the sheer menace of H.R. Giger’s inspired Alien spawn species.

Visually stunning, with camera angles and the use of supporting limited screens in the hand held motion detectors and the hall way monitoring cameras’ letting the imagine fill in the gaps of what is just beyond your vision. Counter balancing this visual feast is the underlying plot – simple – aliens invading, go send in peeps with lots of guns and exterminate.

Mixing it up is Burkes tangent on representing the ubiquitous “Company” in the pursuit of getting one of the pesky little guys back to study. Terrifyingly plausible.

Movie Review: The King of Kong – A fistful of Quarters

As far as documentaries go, this is close to the pinnacle – a geek movie through and through, the stars are evenly divided into the “good” -the new comer in Steve Wiebe – and the “bad” – the reigning Donkey Kong champion in Billy Mitchell. In between there is a host of characters who range from sycophants and the jaded across to the true believers in both camps.

The universe of Kong is presided over by the Twin Galaxies staffers, headed up by Walter Day, who whilst volunteers, take their self appointed jobs so seriously as the reference standard in gaming referees, that you can’t help but be swept up in their enthusiasm and their dedication to do “what is right”.

All the elements of a good movie are here – plausible yet slightly “out there” plot, great characters, drama, humor, angst and at the heart – the battle of an “Average Joe” out to prove a point.

By the end of the movie you are literally cheering for the hero – Steve Wiebe – and booing at the flawed adonis in Billy Mitchell. Riveting stuff – makes me want to dust off my handheld Donkey Kong and see if I can clock it again….