This is a very long film – I’d strongly suggest seeing it somewhere that a) has no kids, and b) has an intermission. After about 2 hours I was getting fidgetty, and starting to mutter “get on with it”. To be honest I wasn’t greatly impressed with the film. Nothing wrong with it – very clever in many ways – but ok rather than superb. The cinematics were very good though – loved the scenary, special effects, and the casting was spot on. It’s hard to see how they good have made the film better, given the book they were working from, but it just overstayed somewhat, and defintely dragged in places.
Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Rings. This is a very long film – I’d strongly suggest seeing it somewhere that a) has no kids, and b) has an intermission. After about 2 hours I was getting fidgetty, and starting to mutter “get on with it”. To be honest I wasn’t greatly impressed with the film. Nothing wrong with it – very clever in many ways – but ok rather than superb. The cinematics were very good though – loved the scenary, special effects, and the casting was spot on. It’s hard to see how they good have made the film better, given the book they were working from, but it just overstayed somewhat, and defintely dragged in places.
Jak and daxter on the playstation 2 – what a fantastic game!! I’m loving it – highly addictive, superb pitch of difficulty (puzzles get progressively harder – almost none are manageable at first attempt, but all of them are possible after several attempts, and can usually be beaten before you get naffed off / check the Internet), and awesome graphics. Well worth obtaining if you have a PS2 (nice and cheap from dvdcrave.com in Oz – see link on left)
Tomb Raider was actually better then I was expecting, because everyone had slated it so much. First of all the DVD is packed full of extras, which we like, and the sound (dolby digital) is reasonable too. It seemed to be heavily biased towards the bass, and the dialogue didn’t really seem to be loud enough to hear (unless you wanted to be knocked off your seat by the explosions). That might just be my set-up. As far as the film goes, it’s pleasingly enough on the eye. Angelina Jolie does a fair job of Lara Croft, but the ’emotional’ scenes (of which there are many) fail to engage, and the sub-‘plots’ (I use the term loosely) are just plain obtuse. One’s left not caring enough to try to work out who’s thinking what, or who has just changed sides (or not). Worse perhaps, it’s often only clear that a figure on screen is not a major character when they get killed by some ancient creature or mechanism. Awesome CGI though – especially love the stone creatures in the Cambodian temple, and it must be said the sets and scenery are breath-taking.
Miss Congeniality is a real “Ronseal” film – it does exactly what it says on the box. No plot surprises (not even a hint of a twist) no gratuituous ‘dressing-room’ scenes (which would have been oh-so-easy), no mental energy required. Sandra Bullock really shines though as FBI Special Agent Hart, who has to enter a beauty pageant as Miss New Jersey. She doesn’t really convince as the hard-as-nails one-of-the-lads tomboy, but has the fish-out-of-water slighty accident prone woman discovering herself down pat. I actually really enjoyed it though – very very funny in places, extremely camp throughout, and no-one in takes themselves seriously at all (which is always fun to see). Have to say a quick word about Michael Caine (who trains her up) – absolutely fantastic, and in some danger of stealing the film. Finally the DVD – only watched it in stereo, and the sound was fine, picture quality and so on excellent. The extras rock too. Lots of lots of them, and well worth a scan. I unfortunatly didn’t have time to watch them, but there seemed to be a lot to choose from.
Other excitements – started to knock down a wall in our new house – converting the bathroom and toilet into one. That’s a new experience for me (and a vvery messy one).
Seen a couple of films recently – Tomb Raider and Miss Congeniality.
Tomb Raider was actually better then I was expecting, because everyone had slated it so much. First of all the DVD is packed full of extras, which we like, and the sound (dolby digital) is reasonable too. It seemed to be heavily biased towards the bass, and the dialogue didn’t really seem to be loud enough to hear (unless you wanted to be knocked off your seat by the explosions). That might just be my set-up. As far as the film goes, it’s pleasingly enough on the eye. Angelina Jolie does a fair job of Lara Croft, but the ’emotional’ scenes (of which there are many) fail to engage, and the sub-‘plots’ (I use the term loosely) are just plain obtuse. One’s left not caring enough to try to work out who’s thinking what, or who has just changed sides (or not). Worse perhaps, it’s often only clear that a figure on screen is not a major character when they get killed by some ancient creature or mechanism. Awesome CGI though – especially love the stone creatures in the Cambodian temple, and it must be said the sets and scenery are breath-taking.
Miss Congeniality is a real “Ronseal” film – it does exactly what it says on the box. No plot surprises (not even a hint of a twist) no gratuituous ‘dressing-room’ scenes (which would have been oh-so-easy), no mental energy required. Sandra Bullock really shines though as FBI Special Agent Hart, who has to enter a beauty pageant as Miss New Jersey. She doesn’t really convince as the hard-as-nails one-of-the-lads tomboy, but has the fish-out-of-water slighty accident prone woman discovering herself down pat. I actually really enjoyed it though – very very funny in places, extremely camp throughout, and no-one in takes themselves seriously at all (which is always fun to see). Have to say a quick word about Michael Caine (who trains her up) – absolutely fantastic, and in some danger of stealing the film. Finally the DVD – only watched it in stereo, and the sound was fine, picture quality and so on excellent. The extras rock too. Lots of lots of them, and well worth a scan. I unfortunatly didn’t have time to watch them, but there seemed to be a lot to choose from.
Went to the gym again yesterday – did 15 minutes of running on the treadmill, followed by 5 minutes of rowing, with a couple of weights mixed in. Felt good actually – going to try and go climbing tommorow, and then the gym again on Friday, combined with some crunches at home on the alernate nights.
Few bits and pieces. Firstly, two series well worth watching – Smallville (Channel 4, Sundays, about 18.30) about Superman as a teenager.. and secondly Enterprise (Sky 1, Mondays @ 20.00 and repeated Sundays @ 16.00) the prequal to Str Trek TOS.
Other news – well started going to the gym again.. getting off to a slow start – went last Monday and this Monday. 15 mins of ergo (travelling around 3k3 both times). Hoping to go more often, but once a week is better that not at all!!
Just time for a quick plug – just moved my eutony domains to 123reg.co.uk, a very cheap and excellent company, it would seem! (see ad at far bottom left)
Top film; brainless (but loveable) fun, classic rogue-turned-good tale. Acting was superb, as you’d expect from Mel and Helen Hunt, and as long as you didn’t think too closely about that plot you’re fine. It’s also the first film I’ve seen in Dolby Digital 5.1. The set-up isn’t tuned properly (moving house in about 10 days – not worth setting up properly), but it was still great. This film was very understated in it’s use of the effect, which made it so much the better when they did go full-on (gotta love those rain storms – plus the big voices-in-the-head scenes are just great). Oh yes, and the extras are reasonable. Nothing too special (some interviews, the original trailers, plus a making off documentary which I half watched.) There’s also a director’s commentary, which I didn’t have time to listen to, but in other films I’ve seen this is a great addition.
