Red

Saw some wonderful stills from upcoming Red with Helen Mirren (and a whole bunch of other people) and I have to put it on my To-Watch list. Looks nice and I love Helen so I have to watch it. I like when I see movies with real actors and not just some busty girl who happens to be flavor of the month.

Way hotter that the silly plastic women of young Hollywood.

Love the dress she's wearing.

Repo! The Genetic Opera

God how silly… silly silly silly AND Paris Hilton is in it, what a waste of time. I don’t understand why anyone would put that thing in a movie. No this was not a very good movie, it didn’t suck but it was… If you like Avril Lavigne and think that stuff is punk then you might actually like this and you probably have three different hair colors and striped cut off socks as arm warmers. I like the idea, I enjoy musical and darker things but this wasn't really dark, everything just felt forced.

But get "Phantom of the opera" instead and don't waste your time with this one.

Best thing in the movie: Sarah Brightman

Harry Brown

I really liked this movie, perhaps the first part more than the second but still. Michael Caine is excellent like always and there is something special about vigilantes. I like that concept and I’ll do my best to find more vigilante movies (do you know of any let me know).

Street art

Right now I’m obsessing about street art. Why not have art on the streets? I rather look at an elephant walking a tightrope holding an umbrella than anorexic photoshopped girls in underwear when I’m in the city. When I was out walking I kept an eye out to see what I would do if I had the talent and there were lots of things I would like to do. At the moment the people in my neighborhood don’t deserve any art though.

It is amazing the things people think of, and manage to create. Before I looked around on the net I didn’t think much about it and now I’m more open and thinking more on what can be done here? I can’t do shit because I’m useless but in my head I am brilliant and create lots of beautiful art.

When I looked around the internet I came across a trailer for a movie about British street artist Banksy and it looks like fun, reminds me of skateboard films. Banksy is one of those artists you have seen lots of thing by you just don’t know it.

Franklyn

Franklyn is a very beautiful movie visually but story is thin I’m afraid but very pretty indeed and I’ll keep an eye out to see what Gerald McMorrow (cool name) will do next. I like movies that have put money on “the look” of it and they have created a certain vibe, but that basically all there is in this movie. Not enough work on the actual story. Lovely darkness in it, I think it could have been a little bit more of that.


Apparently Ewan McGregor was supposed to be in it, don’t think it would have made the movie better but perhaps I would have heard of the movie earlier.

Feels like you can show any picture from this movie without spoiling anything.

I love Eva Green, something about her, she has that cunning secretive look and I hope she gets to play Catwoman if Catwoman is to make a comeback. And she's not a bad actress either.

As I said, not that much of a story but it’s the guys first feature film so I understand but I wish there was more because it’s so pretty. If you appreciate beautiful costumes and comic vibes then you can watch this movie and read at the same time and just watch it since there’s not much of a plot.

Rec

Name: Rec
Country: Spain
Tea: None
Snack: None
Expectations: After watching the trailer I believe this movie to be scary and I’m not sure I should watch it before I go to bed. Oh, I have to go and lock the door!



We get to follow a Spanish TV crew on the show “While you were sleeping” as they follow the firemen. Despite the fact that it’s starting out slow and slightly dull… it manage to remain interesting, how? I don’t really know, maybe because I’m a sucker for reality shows?


It does get a little chaotic at times but the acting is good so I believe it. A few cheap things but all in all it’s interesting and at the end is pretty scary, I had to turn the sound down, things seem less scary when you turn the sound down. I found the last ten fifteen minutes of this really creepy and if more of the movie had been like that I would not have managed to watch all of it, I would have been too scared. It took me awhile to finish the movie because it was disturbing at the end and I need a break or two.

Parts of the end looked like a Marilyn Manson video but I won’t show any pictures or say anything, won’t spoil it if anyone wants to see it. Of course they made an American version of the movie because God forbid those poor souls should have to watch something with… subtitles! After looking at the trailer it looks like they copied it frame by frame, a few differences in the plot and I think I’ll see it just because. The american version is called Quarentine.

Prey

Name: Prey
Country: South Africa
Tea: None
Snack: None
Expectations: None, don’t remember much from the trailer either. But since it’s from South Africa I assume there’s a lion in it.

I don’t know… angry lions in Africa aren’t as scary as an angry shark in New England. Lions eating tourist that invade their space is just animals being animals, I’m with the lions on this one. You see the lion right away so it’s not like a lurking menace in the deep so there’s no mystery of the unknown. It would be scarier if there were attacks in the dark and we did not get to see the “monster” but now it’s just a holiday gone wrong.


Cell phones have messed up horror/thrillers because everyone have a phone so you have to have a scene where they break the phone, lose the phone, the batteries are running low or they have no signal (seems to be the most common one used).

It’s hard to get scared when you see the “monster” and think they are cut. They remind me of my kitties, so cut!


It wasn’t a very good movie as far as I recall but “The Ghost and the Darkness” was better than this one, different kind of movies yes but at least there was some suspense in that one.

What kind of idiots goes out in a car on a safari without lots and lots of water? And why drive like that?

Best part of the movie: The giraff and Mr. Crawfords house. It's a really nice house I have to say.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

(Pretty poster)

Okay fourth film in the challenge, Germany, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari silent film from 1920, about 50 minutes long so it will be perfect before bedtime. And knock on wood, silent films are never scary so…

Tea: None
Snack: None (because you should snack all the time, and I’m still stuffed since dinner)

Not a good start, 44 seconds and what does somnambulist mean? Sounds like it has something to do with sleep… ah, sleepwalker, okay now I can continue to watch the movie.

(Funny picture, had to show it)

I liked it, silent films are usually very charming and this was no exception. It reminded me of Tim Burton, apparently the light and shadows were painted directly on the set, background ect and I think that could be one of the things that gives it a Burton vibe.

(Very Burton to me with the curles on the wall. The shadow on the wall is a door, pretty neat)

Apparently they did a remake of the movie 2005 and it seems that they couldn’t come up with anything on their own and shot the thing using green screen and used footage from the original film. Be inspired by all means, I can understand that the original movie gets people excited but use that inspiration and do something of you own.

(2005 version)

(Original version from 1920)

Best thing in the movie: Lil Dagover who reminds me of my mom back in the day, without the Leno chin but I don't remember that from the movie, bad ligh hopefully.

Black Water

So, third movie is from Australia and it’s called Black Water, “This movie is based to true event”, that always makes me suspicious. But I guess it doesn’t have to be a lie, if a person gets killed by a crocodile (which I’m pretty sure has happened) you can base a story on that, everything is fabricated but it is based on the story were a person was killed by a crocodile. But I don’t get why? I don’t think it adds anything to the story by claiming it is based on truth; it doesn’t get scarier so why bother? Thoughts on this one anyone?

Snacks: Raisins (waiting for dinner)

Three people head off for holiday… um, why would you want to spend Christmas break with your sister and her boyfriend? Sounds really boring and third wheel to me.

I just hate scene when people are trying to get out of the water, Jaws flashbacks from when I was six I guess. I get stressed out watching it and want to yell at the screen. Don’t these people watch animal shows? I can hear Sir David Attenborough sighing, “Crocs can jump you stupid fools!”

Like with all horror movies you questions people’s actions, I’m sure I would be of no use if there was a scary crocodile in the water (unless you think crying and pissing oneself is helpful) but it looks so silly when people don’t act the way you want them to in these situations. Like in Friday the 13th when all hell breaks loose and the girl decides to make coffee… maybe that’s what you would do because you are scared senseless but it looks so stupid.

Got to take a break, dinner and my dog is expecting his dinner too and then a walk. I’m glad I didn’t watch a movie with some killer who kills people who walk their dogs; I think I’m safe from crocodiles in the snow…

What’s with movies that make you want to eat? I just want to stuff my face with something but I’m not hungry.

Not that scary but horror movies rarely are and I’m not sure I would really call this horror. Yes, it was absolutely uncomfortable to watch each time anyone was close to water but scary as a movie? No. There were some things I don’t believe are normal crocodile behavior but the crocodile isn’t really a monster, more just a crocodile.

The girl is cute, she reminds me of someone… maybe if Scarlett Johansson and Naomi Watts had a baby?

Best thing in the movie: The cute little frill-necked lizard that hurries across the road, so cute!

Dead Snow

I need a break from all the garden work… I rather be out raking and digging than looking up how to sow stuff and whatnot on the net (all garden stuff is posted here). So movie time it is. Norwegian horror, how bad can it be? The last and only Norwegian movie I’ve seen was Cold Prey and thinking back I don’t remember hating it but apparently I didn’t when I watched it. So second movie in my little challenge is Dead Snow from Norway. Undead Nazi...

Tea: Raspberry (because it’s the only one left)
Snack: Falun rågrut (crisp bread)

Yellow Bastard Production, that’s a funny name. Movie starts with “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Grieg and we see lovely scenery of Norwegian wilderness. I’m expecting lusekoftor within a minute… No, no lusekofta but the movie is far from over so hopefully there will be one and a pair of skis before it’s over.

Some Guy: Why do we even play this game?
Some Other Guy: Because Hollywood has told us it’s super fun.

So true, they are always playing Twister in American movies and TV shows. I never have and it doesn’t look like that much fun.

(Nice little cottage though)

I think I’ve figured out who’s going to die first… (Update: I was way off)

They like to have snow scene, either a guy on a scooter, sled, whatever and “cool” music… “Cool” music always sounds stupid to me since it’s so obvious that they want the scene to “cool” and it never is when it’s force, looks more like a low budget coke commercial.

(Looks like a nice place for a tea party, without the undead Nazis of course)

There are a few issues I have with the plot and I won’t spoil it if anyone wants to see the film but, surely someone who read the script would have commented on it.

(If this was an american movie I think this guy would look different in that version)

I don’t know how old they are supposed to be but one of them act like he’s a really dull 40 year old and they are all boring losers. I don’t get the feeling it is always intended to be funny but it is; it’s like a campy movie without the campy.

After 49 minutes it is getting a little dull. I find it hard to remember people’s names. In Sweden we don’t use names unless the person we are talking about isn’t there, we don’t tell Anna, “Anna you have to call him.” And I’m guessing it’s the same in Norway so they don’t use people’s names as often and it makes it harder to remember them, at least that’s my theory at the time (it’s way past midnight and my head is weird so…).

Leading Actor

The Oscars are only a few days away and every year we try to guess who’s going to win and see who with can get most of the right (I never win…) Print a ballot and play the game too, only eight days left! I haven’t seen any of the nominated movies, at least I don’t think so.

Leading Actor
Jeff Bridges “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner “The Hurt Locker”

Morgan Freeman has an Oscar, support in “Million Dollar Baby” but this is the fifth time Jeff is nominated so… I think he should get one. I don’t think I’ve seen Jeremy in anything, oh I lied, I’ve seen him in “North Country” anyway, based on what I have seen from these people Morgan is the best actor but I think it’s Jeffs turn.

Crazy Heart trailer

I Sell the Dead

Friday and first movie in my little horror challenge is “I Sell The Dead”, I read something about this movie and I had to look it up and I liked the trailer but for some reason it went straight to DVD here in Sweden.

Tea: Raspberry
Snack: Sponge cake

The intro, where nothing happens just an illustrated background that goes on and on for 2 minutes and 25 seconds, eaten all of the sponge cake…

Fun film and a very pretty one, I really like the atmosphere and I will keep an eye on director Glenn McQuaid and see what he will do next, there are rumors about a sort of sequel and he's making "I Sell the Dead" into a comic.

For everyone who likes darker movies, not much horror more humor. I started to think of Mel Brooks "Young Frankenstein" but with a little more gore (not much though).

Larry Fessenden and Dominic Monaghan

Horror movie challenge

I came up with a challenge, watch ten horror movies from ten different countries. I’m into horror right now so horror it is. Don’t think I know that many foreign horror movies (a few Asians)…

1. I Sell The Dead (USA)
2. Black Water (Australia)
3. Dead Snow (Norway)
4. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Germany)
5. High Tension (france)
6. Surviving Evil (UK/South Africa)
7. Prey (South Africa)
8. Rec (Spain)
9. Sauna (Finland)
10. Körkarlen (Sweden)

Mansfield Park X 2

Managed to read the book and see the movie (2009). No matter which of the two you pick first the second will be a surprise because they’ve changed a lot from the book. If I had seen the movie first I would have expected the book to be better… not that the movie was good. They have changed big things like a no to yes, I hope I don’t give too much away here… The leading lady, Fanny Price is two different people. The movie is actually based not only on the book but also on Jane Austens letters which give Fanny a lot more spunk than she has in the book.

If you can only pick one way to experience Mansfield Park I would pick the movie simply because it’s faster to watch it than to read it.

On to Emma soon in my little Jane Austen experience and I loved that Sarah gave away a copy of “Pride and Prejudice” so I said I would steal that idea and I did. I have a spanking new copy of Emma (but I think someone sat on the package though…). All you need to do is to leave a comment and by the end of the month (or when there is more than one comment, which is more likely the case) I will pick a name and see who wins.

UPDATE: Due to Sarahs nice little promo the last day to sign up will be February 28 and Mars 1 I will pick a winner. And I hope it inspires more people to give away books.

Movies

I saw more than 209 movies in 2009 (since 1 June) some might say I have a problem but I would like to call it a hobby.

Worthy of your time: The acting in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” is very impressive, you rarely see acting like that today. And Elizabeth Taylor is a gorgeous looking woman. I got a crush on her and she have a lot of fun costumes in Cleopatra but I found the movie a little too long and tedious for my liking, but if you want to look at some amazing costumes get some tea and popcorn and watch it.

I’m a sucker for Baz Luhrmann so I had no problem with Australia and it’s a pretty movie visually but I understand why some people hate it so it might not be for everyone.

I didn’t have any expectations what so ever when I sat down and watched “The Wrestler” but it was a pleasant surprise, Mickey Rourke is wonderful and there’s a rumor that Nicolas Cage was at one point supposed to have the leading role and man what suck fest it would have been so good that that didn’t work out.

Maybe it’s more for hardcore movie fans but Metropolis was wonderful, it felt very modern despite being a silent film from 1927. Beautiful but again, not for everyone.

Singin’ in the Rain, easy to like, fun and perfect for a rainy day. Makes you want to sing and dance. And if you like that you will probably like Gypsy too, which also makes you want to sing and dance but also take you clothes of so be careful.

Not sure if I got a director’s cut version or what but at times “Once upon a Time in the West” didn’t make sense but the first half is movie history and a must for everyone who’s interested in movies.

Loved “Rebel Without a Cause”, it was great and I have to get it on DVD. Wonderful movie and again it felt very modern, it could have been done yesterday. I do find it weird that no one has attempted to do a remake, I’m not saying they should (absolutely not) but with such a good story it is surprising that they haven’t, especially when you think about the remakes that have been done over the years.

“The Fall”, a movie I hadn’t heard anything about but after seeing a still from it I knew I had to see it, I like pretty movies and this movie wasn’t only pretty it was good too. Lee Pace was super cute, is he single? Anyway… I liked it and it’s a movie I can see over and over again.

Whenever something sticks out from the standard American movies I get happy. “This is England”, the opening scene and my first thought, “This would never been okayed by an American company”, there’s a charm here. I can’t really put my finger on what it was that I liked about it but I enjoyed it.

“Sunshine Cleaning”, charming and enjoyable. It feels like, if you liked “Little Miss Sunshine” you will like this movie too.

“A Very Long Engagement” isn’t as good as “Amelie” but it’s good and beautiful like usual when Jean-Pierre Jeunet is involved.

Sid & Nancy

It’s London and the year is 1977, year of punk and Sex Pistols. I want to be impressed, I want to say that I was glued to the screen but I’m not impressed at all, even Gary managed to disappoint me at times.

(I like this shot)

Gary at the time is 28 and he’s playing 20 year old Sid Vicious, he’s good but not in every scene. Gary is the best thing in this movie and it’s fun to see him in the silly underwear. He apparently ended up in hospital because he lost too much weight when he prepared for the role.

(Nice little pants on a skinny Gary. Do you think that chick looks like she's 20?)

Courtney Love auditioned for the part as Nancy and I think she should have got it. I think she would have done a great job, she wouldn’t have to act that much, just pretend her name is Nancy; she’d be outstanding! She instead got the part of Gretchen and has like two three line and looks surprised most of the time (and is barely recognizable, she has had A LOT of surgery done, and her daughter Francis looks just like her).

(Courtney looking fresh as a daisy like usual)

Instead of Courtnet we have Chloe Webb as Nancy and who goes, “Ahhhhg” a lot. Nancy was only 20 when she died and Chloe is 30 but she looks at least 50. Her voice/accent is… At first I thought she was British and doing an awful American accent but apparently she’s an American.

(A nice shot of Chloe Webb)

Johnny Rotten wasn’t at all impressed with this movie, called it “the Peter Pan version” and I would too if I had such a lame actor portray me and the lip-sync is horrible.

Sid & Nancy at imdb

Best thing in the movie: Gary, dressed in black… Hm, I think I’ll buy a lot of black clothes this winter.

Upcoming movies

The Nines: Written and directed by John August, he’s written a few scripts for Tim Burton so I feel it’s my duty to see what he’s up to on his own. I don’t know much about the movie; I want to be surprised so I’ll keep it that way.

Disturbia: I saw the trailer and it looked like fun so… There are a few things in the trailer that I liked, I hope I wasn’t fooled. Not a fan of that Shia guy but, I’ll live through it I’m sure.

Oldboy: It’s on top 250 so I have to watch it but I think it looks interesting so hopefully it won’t be one of those movies were you suffer for a 120 minutes.

The Order

The Order: A young priest goes to Rome to investigate the mysterious death of his mentor and head of Order. As always when people go to Rome to investigate things within the church all hell breaks loose with a bunch of weird societies, demons and whatnot, you know the drill. There is no reason what so ever to see this movie unless you are a Heath fan and want to see all of his movies. There is no suspense, no nothing…

Best thing in the movie: Heath all dressed in black. Note to self, buy a new black coat this fall.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon The movie starts as a documentary where we get to follow Leslie Vernon who’s preparing himself to début as the new psycho killer in a world where the likes of Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers are real people and events. The film crew with Taylor Gentry in the lead tags along Leslie in his daily life and the preparations for the event that will make him a legend.

Maybe Jason Voorhees brings a crossword with him to the bathroom, maybe he has dinner in front of the TV watching The Simpsons but we don’t want to see that, we want to see what he does best, chasing and killing people with his machete while wearing his stylish mask. But in this movie we get to see the mass murderer in the makings life and it is a sad life with cardio exercise and living with his pet turtles. He makes lame jokes with the film crew and it reminds me of a sad interview with Ron Jeremy (who also has a pet turtle) and his attempt to be a standup comedian except then I felt for poor Ron but here the actor is not good enough for me to feel any kind of pity for him.

The movie makes a sudden turn at the end, from lame comedy to what seems to be an attempt to be an action/horror but it’s impossible to take it serious when we know that the “monster” lives with his pet turtles Church and Zoe. More of one genre and less of the other would have been nice because the mixture of the two is a complete failure.

There are a few interesting events when there’s a hint of chemistry between Leslie and Taylor similar to that of Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter but unfortunately they remain only hints and perhaps I was the only one that felt them. I liked the idea of the journalist getting to close to her subject and have a hard time to stay neutral but…

If you listen to the dialog and have seen at least one horror movie before I doubt there will be any surprises in this movie. Apparently it’s supposed to be a fun satire of the genre but I didn’t get it.

Checklist

· Spooky abandoned house
· Stoned teenagers
· Blonde virgin
· Cars that doesn’t start
· Creepy mask
· Things we’ve seen before

The best thing in the movie: Leslies mask and Zelda Rubinstein

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Didn’t get the story, or the other two short stories in the book. Now I’m afraid that the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s will be dull too. But the movie looks incredible stylish, it could be a spread in any fashion magazine. Very pretty indeed, and it looks better than the book so, I’ll keep my fingers crossed.