JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH - Adventure/Action (2008) ***REVIEW***

A scientist teams up with his nephew and a mountain guide in Iceland to search for his long lost brother in a fabled land said to be at the centre of the earth, which incidently is based on the famous Jules Verne novel of the same name.

'Journey To The Centre Of The Earth' was an awesome adventure film and had everything you could dream of or want in a movie of this genre. The scenery was heart-stopping as was the portrayal of the mythical land known as the centre of the earth. Brendan Fraser delivers another great performance and seems to do extremely well featuring in Adventure/Action films, this one is no exception and even though i don't particularly like him as an actor he does do an extremely good job in this movie. The story and plot are great even though at times rather predictable and the whole movie delivers an action packed adventure in which viewers can marvel at vast detailed and mythical landscapes and be part of some sweet actions scenes. The CGI was fairly good, although i suspect it would have been better in 3-D as that is what it was initially designed for. A great family movie that anyone can enjoy in my book.

Pros - Awesome scenery, which at times will distract you from the story, cast, plot lines etc which is not entirely bad, it is amazing and the detail to the landscape and indeed the small world they are in is immense. Good acting all-round with another great adventure performance from Brendan Fraser. I actually enjoyed this a lot more than some of his previous movies, 'The Mummy' series for example perhaps because the action was slightly more subdued and the adventure took over which left room for a lot more character development and story. A pretty great movie in which most people will enjoy.

Cons - If you are watching this in 3-D then it will be a great experience and journey, if however you are not some of the CGI and action scenes will seem rather dated in terms of the quality of CGI and might feel as if you are watching a game and not a movie. However apart from this everything seems to go just dandy, no problems at all for me watching this and thoroughly enjoyed it throughout. A definite watch!

4.5/5 Jandals = Awesome entertainment!





Watch the trailer for 'Journey To The Centre Of The Earth' Here

THE ROCKER - Comedy/Music (2008) ***REVIEW***

A drummer who is initially kicked out of his band gets a second chance at fame by joining his nephews band.

Wow, this movie was so 'lol' and i mean literally laughing out loud! From the first scene to the last Rainn Wilson who played 'Fish' keeps on delivering the laughs and he delivers them extremely well. In fact he delivers a great well-rounded comedic performance with some really funny and also gross moments. The movie also progresses throughout really well with a great plot that doesn't get boring and just keeps chugging along. The music for me was the worst part, it was very high-school musical, cheesy teen emo-pop music style and the lead singer sounded too pitch perfect which in turn failed to give it a slightly gritty, real feeling. It was also cool to see a drummer take the limelight for a change, lead guitarists and singers have had too much of the pie lately in music films, so was refreshing to see a drummer show off and someone who wasn't Jack Black was also slightly refreshing. This movie is definetly a watcher, kept me laughing throughout, never got boring and was a refreshing take on the usual music themed movies. Give it a go and I'm sure you'll love it!

Pros - Awesome comedic acting from Rainn Wilson some of the funniest and refreshing I've seen in a while. The rest of the cast also puts on a good show and Josh Gad turns out a surprisingly funny performance. The plot was great and seemed to flow extremely well throughout the movie perhaps not the depth in well known actors but this didn't make one bit of difference, in fact this may have even made it better. A great and funny flick, go see!

Cons - The music was a bit over the top cheesy for me, the lead singer got irritating after a while with his boy band perfect voice but apart from this everything else seemed great and refreshing. This movie gets a big thumbs up for me, i enjoyed the entirety of this film and highly recommend it for a good laugh!

4/5 Jandals = A great movie that even rivals 'School Of Rock'!



Watch the trailer for 'The Rocker' Here

TROPIC THUNDER - Comedy/Action/War (2008) ***REVIEW***

A group of unsuspecting actors are forced into a real life war in which they must act out the soldiers they are pretending to be, although not all of them think it is just an act.

I really wanted to like this movie, before i saw it i read through articles and most if not all were rather positive, calling it the funniest movie of 2008, intelligent, comedic genius and so on and so forth but it just didn't do it for me. Ok so it was rather funny, has some pretty cool action scenes that would rival any hardcore action flick and a star-studded cast with some awesome surprises! But that was it, it was just ok. Perhaps i was expecting too much based on reviews and other peoples opinions about how good it was. The concept of the movie is rather funny in itself, Ben Stiller is still churning out his usual mix of comedy and acted ignorance and Jack Black could have played a bigger role in the film in my opinion. It was entertaining, plenty of satire, irony and slap stick comedy and was not a waste of time at all, in fact i would recommend this film as it will entertain you and make you laugh, the satire and piss-takes of Hollywood are ok but tend to get old really fast after the first half hour. The film is very ok, don't see how it won so much acclaim, but for me this movie didn't do anything. It starts of good, and doesn't seem to get much better or worse for that matter, a rather mediocre film for whats its worth, especially considering all the hype it has received.

Pros - Some good satire, irony and parodies intertwined with a star-studded cast, explosive action scenes and some pretty good comedy. A surprise appearance from a famous actor, i wont tell but see if you can spot him, took me right until the end until i realised it was actually him! A fairly average movie based on the hype it has, but non the less a fair and safe flick that you will no doubt enjoy either at the cinema or home.

Cons - The bad part about this movie was how mediocre it was, it didn't wow me like i thought it would even though i really tried to like it. The acting from most of the lead cast was just ok also, Ben Stiller is doing the same routine, nothing new here, its getting a bit old for me but fans of Stiller will enjoy his performance. The blend of satire, parody and slap stick just doesn't glue, it tries to be smart and intelligent by mocking the very people that financed and made it but somehow doesn't pull it off. A fairly unbalanced film, but will non the less provide some good laughs and some 'ewww' moments and indeed some 'did he just say retard' moments. A fairly average flick, still entertaining though, just don't expect a piece of brilliance.

3/5 Jandals = Nothing particularly special but still rather entertaining

Watch the trailer for 'Tropic Thunder' Here

NEW ZEALANDS FINEST 5!

New Zealand (Aotearoa) does fairly well for a country of around 4 million in terms of movies. Making them, shooting them here and producing top rate actors, actresses and directors, we have a fairly good piece of the Hollywood pie. It was therefore extremely difficult to compile a list of 5 top films that were made or produced here in New Zealand without cutting out a lot of awesome films that often fly under the radar of the mainstream. Although this was the case, i have managed to whittle the films i have seen down to 5 of my favourite movies made right here in little old Aotearoa. Enjoy!

#5 - The Last Samurai (2003)

Much of 'The Last Samurai' was shot right here in New Zealand with a few other scenes shot back in California. And although not based on anything Kiwi, directed by a Kiwi or included any notable performances by a Kiwi it still showcased to the world how beautiful a country New Zealand is and how untouched and raw much of the land is here in Aotearoa. The film was fairly decent too, although it did have Mr. Scientology Cruise as its lead actor.

Watch the trailer for 'The Last Samurai' Here

#4 - Whale Rider (2002)

An awesome film made and produced in New Zealand that has received world-wide acclaim for its moving and amazing story, not to mention the awesome acting produced by (the then young) Keisha Castle-Hughes. The story revolves around Paikea and her struggle to fulfil her mythical destiny while at the same time her Grandfather refuses to accept that this challenge and destiny should not befall upon his Granddaughter. Its a great movie if you get the chance to see it, and again shows off the beautiful East Coast of New Zealand and the amazing untouched beaches and coastlines that surround Aotearoa.

Watch the trailer for 'Whale Rider' Here

#3 - Bad Taste (1987)

I first watched this film in High School during science class when i was about 14, awesome movie and the first film that Peter Jackson directed. Its a Comedy/Sci-Fi/Action Splatter film so is bound to get plenty of strange reactions from people, its just so over the top that it becomes hilarious! Everything is overdone including the cheesy acting and special effects but it all combines to make something, in my opinion, magical. Its basically based around aliens invading a small made up New Zealand town to harvest humans to turn them into fast-food for their home planet! Go hire this if you get the chance, and although it may be hard to track down if you do manage to find it you wont be disappointed! Oh and the entire film was improvised!

Watch the trailer for 'Bad Taste' Here

#2 - Once Were Warriors (1994)

This is a truly moving story, extremely disturbing in parts and unfortunately (or not?) shows the dark and real side of many New Zealand families and indeed communities. It is definitely not a film for the faint hearted, much of this movie make you feel as if you have been hit yourself in many parts and often leaves you feeling slightly sick in the stomach for the characters involved. It centres around a New Zealand Maori family struggling to make ends meet who are constantly beaten by their violent father and husband and are then made to feel like outcasts in the society and community in which they live. An amazing and touching film, reveals the secrets of what life is like for many in Aotearoa and indeed in many other places. Definitely see this, a local and international winner.

Watch the trailer for 'Once Were Warriors' Here

#1 - The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)

One film to rule them all? Finally the finest New Zealand film (films) i have seen, the entire Lord Of The Rings trilogy comprised of 'The Fellowship Of The Ring', 'The Two Towers' and 'The Return Of The King'. All epic movies directed by the amazing Peter Jackson. The LOTR trilogy are not only at the top of my favorite New Zealand films but are some of my favorite films of all time! Adventure, drama, action awesome CGI and battles any King would be proud of, these films really have it all, and for a fantasy nerd like myself it really cant get any better. If you are one of the few who are yet to see these amazing films, go and see them! Its awesome stuff!

Watch the trailer for 'The Lord Of The Rings' trilogy Here

Well there you have it, my opinion of what the best New Zealand films are! Be sure to comment if you have any additions, there are many fine films made here in New Zealand and for a tiny country with a small population New Zealand continues to lead the film industry in many areas of production and special effects. Way to go Aotearoa, Kia Kaha!

STEP BROTHERS - Comedy/Drama (2008) ***REVIEW***

2 middle aged guys who are over reliant on their parents are made to get along when their single parents get married and are forced to move in with each other.

Before i start, i must just say that i am quite a fan of Will Ferrell, every comedy actor has their own style, and for me he is a master of awkwardness and makes me laugh just with his body language. I am therefore slightly biased before even seeing this film, i was expecting something extremely funny as many of his earlier films have been (Anchorman, Stranger Than Fiction etc) and was highly pleased and had a great laugh with this film. Will and John make a great and unique team and pull of loads of funny gags. 'Step Brothers' also has a rather good story line and plot which only adds to the awesome comedy served up by the step brothers and really glues everything together into a highly polished film which will keep you in stitches from start to finish. Had a great laugh watching this, if your not a fan of Will then its probably one to avoid, i know plenty who despise him and find him annoying, if you are one of these then you wont find this funny one bit. If however you are a fan or have never even heard of him watch this flick, you wont be disappointed and for me is one of the greatest comedies of 2008!

Pros - Achieved what it set out to do, make people laugh! Plenty of moments where you will find it hard to control your laughter and may even shed a tear or two, i did in one part anyway because i laughed so hard. This movie also has a good sub-plot playing out with the rest of the family members which adds to this already great movie. Just see it, its a great laugh and well-worth the ticket price!

Cons - If your not a fan of Will or John then you will find this movie painful, it is mostly them throughout so the film does rely heavily on these two main actors to provide most of the laughs. Apart from this everything else was sweet, laughs galore with plenty of bonuses provided from other members of the cast and an interesting storyline. Go and see, but be prepared to laugh and possibly not be able to stop!

4/5 Jandals = Painfully funny! You will either love it or hate it

Watch the trailer for 'Step Brothers' Here

COLLEGE - Comedy (2008) ***REVIEW***

The story surrounds 3 High School seniors who visit a prospective college and venture to experience the wild and rough ways of college students.

Well i had no expectations before watching this and i am so glad i didn't. The same old story, kids go hang with college guys and girls, party, get drunk and try and get laid. American Pie started this whole genre of teen movies and 1 American Pie was just about enough for me. Nothing surprising in 'College', usual teen movie, involves girls, beer, guys, nudity and sex and that's about it little or no real story and utterly boring to watch. Give this a definite miss, unless of course you are a strange person who actually likes watching these 'movies' if they could even be classed as such.

Pros - Nudity and sex is about the only thing that would keep anyone watching this which is probably why these movies are often so popular amongst pubescent teenage boys. That's about it, and that is being generous, nothing here apart from empty space and a good waste of 1 and a half hours.

Cons - Lots of stuff, but because its expected it doesn't come as such a surprise. The story is predictable and dull, acting was bad at best and it really does feel as if you are killing brain-cells by enduring the length of the film. Its a teen movie, don't expect anything and hopefully you wont hate the movie, just feel like you wasted your time. Of course though if your a 15 year old boy, you will probably find this film slightly entertaining. Also seems to rip-off Superbad quite abit, appart from the being good part.

1/5 Jandals = If you listen closely, you will hear your brain-cells dying





Watch the trailer for 'College' Here

GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (HOTARU NO HAKA) - Anime/Drama/War (1988) ***REVIEW***

A tear-jerking tale of a brother and sister who struggle to stay happy and alive in Japan during WWII.

I have seen this anime several times, each time different somehow but every time just as sad to watch. Just came back from my friends place where we watched this on DVD it is still such a sad and moving film that its hard to believe you are watching animation. The amount of emotion and drama this anime produces rivals that of any live action film and will leave most people with tears in their eyes throughout. It is simply a masterpiece! The animation is breath taking for something produced in 1988, the plot, score, atmosphere and character performances are all excellent. This movie is truly touching, watch this if you want to know how lucky many of us are to live in such times and to see the purity of love portrayed through the two main characters Seita and Setsuko. A highly recommended film to watch, guaranteed to make any grown man shed a tear or two.

Pros - Awesome emotional drama that will keep you watching, fully engaged and concerned about the main characters. This simply left me speechless as to how to describe how it made me feel, it is so sad yet at the same time it is an amazing story of love between a brother and sister during such a hard and testing time. Just go and see it, even if your not a fan of anime it wont matter, this is a must see movie for anyone.

Cons - I honestly couldn't think of any, and for me this film didn't have any, nothing bored me, everything moved me and there is absolutely nothing i can think of that is in anyway negative about this film. It is just an amazing film, pure and simple. Go and see this, it may even change a part of your life it is that great! I loved it and I'm sure if you see it you will find it hard not to. This film is extremely sad though so perhaps if you don't like really sad movies don't see this. This is a shattering film, absolutely amazing in every way.

5/5 Jandals = One thing you should do before you die, see this film!

Watch the trailer for 'Grave Of The Fireflies' Here

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT - Action/Crime (2008) ***REVIEW***

Batman and members of the local law enforcement are heckled and harassed by the elusive Joker who proves to be more troublesome than first expected. It soon leads to chaos in Gotham and pushes everyone to the end of their tether.

Ok, so i am quite late in reviewing this flick, its not saying i don't like Batman comics or the films I've just never been a huge fan of them. I wont go and see a film just because it gets a lot of hype from Hollywood or because everyone thinks its popular, in fact most treasures i have found have been straight to DVD productions and leave no trace of advertising or hype. In saying this though i rather enjoyed the 2.5 hour film 'The Dark Knight', it was surely entertaining, in some parts dark and unlike any other comic to movie adaption i have ever seen before. For me this is what made this movie, it wad dark, gritty and in some parts really creepy thanks to an awesome performance from the late Heath Ledger as the Joker. Apart from the obvious kick ass scenes, chases, explosions and an in depth and fully-rounded plot the best thing i like about this movie was that it seemed so different and more real somehow than any other comic to film adaption (Spiderman, X-Men, Iron Man etc) i had seen. Which in a way made this movie more suitable for late teens and 20's rather than younger people. A really good film that you probably wont regret, not a must see at the movies but go if you get the chance!

Pros - Action, explosions, grittiness and creepiness from the Joker. Great acting all-round with a well known cast which probably cost a lot and it shows :P. The best part as said earlier was the ways in which this movie came across as dark and real, unlike any other comic movies i have seen. This in my mind was the redeeming factor in making this film a stand-out and completely unique, thus a must see for anyone fan or not! Plus Heath Ledgers acting was amazing! A must see even if only for this reason.

Cons - One thing i noticed was the length of the film, 2 and a half hours is quite a lot for some and in parts i admit i felt a tad bored where i felt i was watching a re-run of CSI rather than a super-hero movie. Luckily the movie timed the action sequences and explosive scenes just right so that you didn't completely fall asleep throughout the movie. That is probably all i disliked about 'The Dark Knight'. It was a tad long in my book, and towards the end just wanted it to hurry up and finish! Apart from this, 'The Dark Knight' is top class film definitely worth seeing either at the cinema or at home!

4/5 Jandals = Thankfully lived up to the hype!





Watch the trailer for 'The Dark Knight' Here

BABYLON A.D. - Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure (2008) ***REVIEW***

Babylon A.D. is the tale of of hired mercenary who takes the dangerous job of transporting and protecting a woman from Russia to America. Although a simple task on the surface, he does not know the importance of the mission and indeed the importance of the woman to all of man-kind, until its too late.

This movie was great at the start, went ok through the middle then completely flipped and took a nose dive. There were some great action scenes, fans of Vin Diesel will be absolutely satisfied with some 'OMG did that just happen' moments from him and some fairly good character development for him and the other main cast members. The annoying thing is this movie could have been so much better, i just wanted it to end differently when the movie finished. Plenty of loose ends left untied as the end credits role which is the main reason why i didn't particularly like this movie. Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable throughout the majority of the film, but the ending leaves you feeling robbed of 90 minutes and robbed of what could have been a much better film.

Pros - Much of the film was completely fine, good acting, good cast and some kick ass action scenes and bad guy beatings. The CGI was also awesome for a film with a budget of $60 M. Awesome film for about an hour, then be prepared to be disappointed. Michelle Yeoh and Melanie Thierry provide the audience with something else if you get sick of Vin Diesel and pull of a great performance, particularaly from Melanie who plays the other lead role of Aurora.

Cons - The ending, i wont tell you what happens but it seems to finish extremely fast, somewhat like they were trying to just get it finished for the sake of it. Unfortunately the ending does let the rest of the movie down and will leave you slightly annoyed that they didn't clear things up a bit better towards the end. Good movie for some actions scenes and a bit of a unique story but the ending leaves it, for me, a movie not worth the cinema ticket or indeed the price of a rental.

2/5 Jandals = Good if you like films with little or no plot

Watch the trailer for 'Babylon A.D. Here

DRAGON WARS - Action/Fantasy (2007) ***REVIEW***

Mythical creatures are foretold to return and destroy the planet based on Korean myths.

I really felt like i wasted my time watching this movie, i even feel I'm wasting my time writing a review for a film like this. In fact now that i think about it, this would be closer to a warning than a review, a warning to not see this film, ever, ever, even if its free!

Where do i start! The acting was atrocious, the plot was as thin as a McDonald's serviette, the storyline throughout was boring and seemed to go nowhere at all. Worst of all the 'action' scenes and CGI were horrible, the CGI was ok if it was in a game perhaps but not what i would expect from a film with a $75 million USD budget! This film was an all-round waste of time, i wouldn't be writing this if it were not for the reason, to warn anybody thinking of watching this to not!

Pros - Nothing, this film was absolute rubbish! Ive seen better acting and plot in porn movies.

Cons - Just about everything that could go wrong with a film went wrong in this one, perhaps one, and the only redeeming feature of this film was that i actually had a laugh, not because it was funny, but because it was funny realising how absolutely rubbish it was (perhaps i was just trying to make myself feel better for wasting time but i did have a laugh AT this movie). Rubbish all-round. This film will take some beating to claim the #1 worst movie i have ever seen! Never see this, unless of course you enjoy wasting your time and hard-earned money.

0.5/5 Jandals = I'd give it 0 but i felt sorry for it

Watch the trailer for 'Dragon Wars' Here

TOP 10 MOVIE VILLAINS!

A fellow reviewer recently did a top 10 list of movie villains, pretty darn good too! Check it out if you have a spare few mins, well worth it!

Check out the Top 10 Movie Villains on The Stormtrooper Effect Here

THE STRANGERS - Thriller/Horror (2008) ***REVIEW***

The true story of a couple who are terrorized by three unknowns in a country holiday home on their weekend away, but it gets much... much worse.

The fact that this story is based on true events is sufficient enough to provide enough creepiness and make you feel just that little more on edge and because it is based on true events it differs in many aspects from a lot of other Hollywood thriller/horror flicks. I was expecting a lot before seeing this, Liv Tyler was the stand-out amongst the cast and did a decent job in my opinion. There were a few jumps and plenty of tense moments where you don't know what to expect next. The starting was rather stunted though, but it did provide good character development to make you feel enough for the characters involved. I liked it in some aspects, it provided enough creepiness and jumps to keep me watching but that's all it did, the acting and dialogue was rather plain and the plot rather predictable (it was based on a true story so this cant really be helped), an alright movie but for me it only scrapes through and just gets away with making you feel like you got your moneys worth.

Pros - Good thrills, jumps, blood and creepy stalker people make this movie a good one to watch if you don't expect anything else. The fact that its based on a true story make it just that little bit more realistic and adds an essence of scariness not easily achieved from any other made up story.

Cons - Rather boring at times, plenty of silent times when the suspense builds up and seems to just disappear. Somehow i just didn't feel satisfied when the movie finished, not much plot twists and much of the film was extremely predictable but i guess that's good in a way when you just want to watch a movie and get some jumps and thrills without thinking. Average flick, just don't bother seeing it at the cinema, it is though worth renting on DVD when it comes out.

3/5 Jandals = Some good thrills, just wait for the DVD though

Watch the trailer for 'The Strangers' Here

TAKEN - Action/Crime/Drama (2008) ***REVIEW***

Well, where to start! 'Taken' is about a retired government spy who uses his extensive experience and skills gained whilst working for the government to track down the people responsible for the kidnapping of his daughter... in a nutshell.

This movie was simply awesome for an action flick, my heart raced throughout the entirety of this movie, stopping briefly to go to the toilet. Plenty of cliche bits and pieces to keep any action fan boy amused and entertained, the story was awesome, the acting, particularly from Liam Neeson was brilliant and portrayed his character with surgical precision (if that makes sense), i just loved this film. The movie is engrossing and you really feel what the main characters are going through and towards the end are genuinely concerned by what happens (well I was). I don't know why it gets rubbish reviews, sure there are certain parts where its terribly cheesy and cliche, other parts the action scenes seem slightly non-human, but that's what a good action flick is all about. Definitely go see this, it wont change your life but it will keep you blardy entertained!

Pros - Absolutely awesome action scenes! Engrossing story and characters with excellent character building from the start. It really will keep you on the edge of your seat, with your heart pounding and leaving you scared to blink in case you miss something! Pretty much everything else you would expect from an action movie but more, it actually has a good story, good acting and plenty of drama, thrill and crime chucked in for good measure.

Cons - Umm, nothing. This movie for me did all it set out to do and more! and because of this i cant really find anything wrong with it worth mentioning, if you don't like action films don't watch this, if you don't like cliche action stuff don't watch this, that's about it really. You have to see this film, worth double what you will pay to see it!

5/5 Jandals = Think the Bourne trilogy... without Damon and with class!

Watch the trailer for 'Taken' Here

HOLIDAY? YES!

Hi folks, been ages since i last blogged, my Mum visited me for the weekend so didn't really have time, but have now found time to update my blog as its looking fairly crusty and cob webby.

Haven't really watched much movies lately too, will be sure to catch up on that though :P Hope everyone is having a good week and has a great day tomorrow! Ciao

ANNOUNCEMENT! VIDEOS NOW ADDED

Hi everyone again, no i don't have withdrawal symptoms lol, just a quick announcement to say that I have now added video trailers to ALL film reviews and will be doing so for all future film reviews. Thanks to Emma and Jazz for helping me with the link things :P


Everyone have a great day! :D

MOVIE REVIEW REQUEST!

Hey everyone, hope you're all having a great week, weather has been good here so everything is sweet, although its planned to rain on Friday/Saturday which sucks. Anyway Just dropping by to say i had a friend from high school ask me to write a review for the upcoming horror movie 'Quarantine' which is due for release on the 20th November at Hoyts NZ.

I thought this was great, not getting paid or anything but its coolness someone asked me to write a review, hehe :P so thanks Jimmy from high school, will be sure to see the movie as soon as its released, it looks awesome as anyway!

Watch the trailer for 'Quarantine' Here

DECEPTION - Thriller/Drama/Romance (2008) ***REVIEW***

Deception is the story of an accountant who is introduced into a high class, secret sex club by his new 'cool' friend. However, with his new 'hobby' of going around and meeting up with women for 'services' he becomes a suspect in a murder case and gets involved in a multi-million dollar raid.

Before writing this i went and searched for reviews relating to Deception and to my surprise most of them turned out to be bad, most said the acting was bad, it was full of plot holes, slow and predictable and not nearly enough thrilling for a thriller. I however found this to be a great movie, sure it had small parts where it went a bit slow, most movies have this and is used to build character and develop relationships with the characters in the story which i thought it did excellently. It was thrilling enough for me, but not too much so that it couldn't involve other aspects of romance and drama and dare say it, comedy, like a fine meal it had balance in the key elements of the dish, much the same as this film had balance in its key aspects.

This movie did go from great to awesomeness! I never got bored throughout, and some parts were darn creepy thanks to fine acting from Hugh Jackman (X-Men etc) and Ewen McGregor (Star Wars etc), there was plenty of mystery and thrill with a sweet twist at the end (don't worry i wont ruin it :P), overall it was an awesome film, definitely go see it! Sorry for the long description, but this movie deserves it! :P

Pros - Awesome acting from Hugh Jackman and although hes not in for allot of the middle the parts where he is he excels perfectly. Thrilling, intense, romantic, oh and plenty of fan-service for those interested in the nudity and sex parts of this film (which were pretty cool) :P Great from start to finish, good character development and some sweet twists throughout!

Cons - Not much i could think of, fans of Hugh might be slightly disappointed as he leaves the film for most of the middle part, but this is crucial for the story, the other parts however he rocks! A few predictable moments, but not so much that it doesn't make you think, a nice easy movie to watch with plenty of thrills and intense story that will get you immersed into the film! Go and see this the first chance you get, you wont be disappointed!

4/5 Jandals = 99% guaranteed viewing pleasure!

Watch the trailer for 'Deception' Here

MEET DAVE - Comedy (2008) ***REVIEW***

Aliens have come to earth, and when i say aliens i mean miniature humans (yes how imaginative) controlling a normal human body (think nano-technology). Their mission to earth is of great importance, yet something of greater importance arises which changes everything. Love. (ooh how cheesy).


The film is a comedy, and unfortunately that's about all it offers (and not much at that). There were plenty of times where i felt it dragged and not much happened. The laughs are quite good at times and Eddie Murphy, acting as a robot, does pull it off somewhat, even though the acting is stale at times (he is a robot after all). Overall it only offered a couple of laughs, not nearly enough for a full blown comedy film, some parts were extremely slow and the acting was like old bread at times (Eddie was much better in Doolittle, Norbit etc) .

Pros - Some fairly good laughs provided mostly from Dave Ming Cheng (Eddie Murphy) a couple at best. The idea of little aliens inside a robot of human form is pretty cool idea, but a good idea does not necessarily make a good film.

Cons - Maybe its just me but i didn't find this movie that funny, it is supposed to be a comedy after all and apart from the scarce moments of humour there were in this film there wasn't much else going on except for the ending. It picks up fairly well but after the learning to live like a human stage it goes from bad to worse. Not recommended watching, perhaps a good movie to rent the kids during the holidays or something but that's about it.

2/5 Jandals = You will feel sorry for the cast after watching this.

Watch the trailer for 'Meet Dave' Here

THANKYOU TO MY WONDERFUL GIRLFRIEND!

Thought i should thank my wonderful girlfriend for putting up with my neglect over the last few days, lol. I have probably spent too much time playing around with this blog than on her, so i apologise and will try to spend more time with you :)

A BIG thank you for putting up with my blogging stuff, lol. I promise I'll watch a soppy romantic comedy next time we watch a movie, instead of trying to coerce you into watching a horror :P

No news back yet surrounding the Star Wars marathon, will talk to some friends later in the week, I think though everyone is a bit busy studying for exams and stuff at the moment so maybe will organise it for after exams or something, lol.

Hope everyone has a great day and take care!

STAR WARS MOVIE MARATHON?

Hmm, so there were brief talks last night surrounding the idea of a Star Wars movie marathon covering the entire 6 films.

Early days yet... Perhaps it will happen, perhaps it wont, but I'm pretty sure it would be a laugh. And although i would love to, i don't think i am qualified enough to cast a critical eye over this splendid work, i would be biased anyway because i love Star Wars! lol.

We will see anyhow, future talks will reveal more. But from what i have estimated it would take around 12 or so hours to get through the 6 movies, plus another 1 hour or so for good measure. Any willing participants? Hehe ^-"

NEW CHANGES!

Well i have just finished changing my blog from a 1 banner to 2 banners on either side of the main post area. I think it looks ok :) I changed it mostly so i had more space rather than have a load of things just down one side, now the posts in the middle will be kept warm and snug flanked on both sides hehe. If you have any comments or suggestions about the new layout don't hesitate to leave a comment, after all, I know crapola all about blogs/website design. But first and foremost this blog is for the benefit of others so if it is hindering or annoying more than benefiting then tell me and i can try to change things around so it looks nicer etc.

Just realised also that this post is not film related! *gasps!* But in a way, it is about a film review blog so its kind of related in a strange way. Everyone have a great day tomorrow, I shall now go back to messing around with all the settings and trying to get it to look at least a little bit nice.

THE 5 KINDS OF MOVIE GOERS

We all love films, watching them at home or taking a trip to the cinema and we all react and act differently, even if ever so slightly, when watching movies. So i made a list of all the different kinds of movie goers i have encountered in my movie watching's, either at the cinema or a DVD with friends. I could only think of around 5 different kinds of which i had encountered, if you know of any other types leave a comment with your suggestion. So here are the 5 different kinds of movie goers in no particular order!

Mr/Mrs Silence - I have encountered a few of these, both at the movies and when watching a DVD with friends, they must have absolute silence throughout the entirety of the film, and any attempt to make a joke or ask a quick question is met with a fierce 'shhhh!' or even worse a blank stare blatantly ignoring your simple request.

Mr/Mrs Emotional - These are generally girls but i did cry once during the screening of Titanic when i was younger although nobody saw anything (i hope). These types are usually ok if they cry or sob quietly in a corner or something, unfortunately i have had the pleasure of being stuck in a cinema with 1 who was persistently sobbing and then wiping their tears and blowing their nose into a tissue. I didn't say anything as its rather mean telling someone to shut up when they are crying, complaining on here is more beneficial for both parties :)

Mr/Mrs Didn't Come To Watch The Film, But Irritate You Instead - These are possibly one of the worst kinds, usually made up of young teenage boys shining lasers everywhere or throwing popcorn/daggers from the back rows. Very rarely have i seen these types get kicked out or yelled at, most likely due to the fact that they use the darkness of the cinema along with the high ground to make positively identifying them tricky! Luckily most good movies have an age rating to filter out these annoyances!

Mr/Mrs Unimportant Phone Call/Txt - Another irritating type this one, have only ever met one from memory and he got stared at and told off by probably have the cinema! The calls are rarely about anything significant 'did you feed the cat?' type of thing and they usually talk extremely loud! Txting is also annoying, although not quite as bad, but the constant 'clicking' does get old fast while your trying to watch a movie.

Mr/Mrs Psychic - These people are either truly psychic, lucky or have watched the film before. Most often they ruin surprises, if they are loud enough, for most the cinema audience, if your watching a DVD with someone like this, keep calm and perhaps slip some laxatives into their coke so they can spend the rest of the movie in the toilet. These are possibly the worst of all movie goer types in that they can ruin an entire movie by bleating out the ending, or who dies or gets married etc etc.

I probably missed some out but luckily i have only encountered this many different kinds. The worst for me is a toss-up between annoying teenage boys throwing stuff at the back of your head, and morons ruining perfectly good movies by loudly saying the ending or other such vital information!

HELL RIDE - Action/Adventure/Thriller (2008) ***REVIEW***

A revenge tale full of blood, violence, nudity, sex and bikes! Everything a fan of Tarantino would want and more. The story revolves around opposing biker gangs, the Victors and the Six Six Six's, in a revenge tale that sets out to settle some deadly unfinished business.


This was an awesome film from start to finish, full of everything imaginable to keep you watching in awe. I love pretty much all other Tarantino films, and even though this one is not directed or written by him it still shows his gritty style and realism which many find irresistible and others despise. The cast was top rate, a great performance from Dennis Hopper and also the small yet crucial part of the 'Deuce' played by David Carradine (Bill from Kill Bill). If your not into violence, blood, bad language and extreme nudity then avoid this film at all costs! For everyone else this is a must see movie one worthy of anyone's DVD collection!


Pros - Gritty realism, awesome cheesy lines, sex, beer, bikes and some great actors and acting! Visually stunning with great scenery and settings, lighting and special effects for plenty of blood during the various gun fights. A wide variety of bikes also, so any bike enthusiasts would also greatly enjoy this flick. Excellent!


Cons - Sometimes the dialogue can become a bit lame and cheesy, some will find this distracting and irrelevant, others will find it adds to the charm of a Tarantino style film. For me i loved it, of course its extremely cheesy, but it does provide some laughs throughout. Not much else to fault with this movie, great entertainment value and not once did i get bored! Don't miss this movie, if you get the chance, definitely see it!

4/5 Jandals = we're not worthy! we're not worthy!

See the trailer for 'Hell Ride' Here

THE MUMMY - TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR - Action/Adventure (2008) ***REVIEW***

The Mummy, Chinese style! This time the setting is post-war China and the team sets out to put back down yet another mummy who so happens to be Jet Li. I'm not a big fan of Brendan Fraser, in fact i despise many of the movies that he stars in, but the Tomb of the Dragon Emperor becomes bearable somewhat as Jet Li stars in it and as we all know he kicks ass! The film is ok in many aspects, lacking perhaps in unpredictability. The CGI was awesome, and some of the fight scenes were epic! (think Lord Of The Rings but not quite as epic). Pretty ok movie, not much to dislike about it but at the same time its not brilliant enough to stand out.

Pros - Awesome CGI and action scenes, plenty of cheesy humour to give the odd laugh which is nice amongst all the fighting/mummy slaying going on. Acting was good, even though i don't like Brendan Fraser his acting was good and the same can be said for Jet Li who, for me, made the movie that little bit better than the previous one.

Cons - For the most part the whole movie was rather predictable, quite like the previous two mummy films. Brendan Fraser's hair was irritating, don't ask me why it just reminds me of Peter Andre! But aside from that not much else to dislike, a safe and easy choice but i would wait until the DVD release before watching it, or take the kids to see it during the holidays.

3/5 Jandals = it was ok... wait for the DVD though☺

Watch the trailer for 'The Mummy - Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor' Here

THE TOP 5 BEST MOVIE SNACKS!

Personally i have to have something to drink or eat while watching a movie, don't know why but I'm pretty sure most people do this, but what are the ultimate best snacks to eat while at the cinema or watching a DVD at home? That is why thefilmkiwi has compiled a list of the 5 best movie snacks to eat/drink/consume while watching a good film! Of course, these are just my ideas of what is best, others might prefer to eat a curry while watching their favourite film, i on the other hand don't.

So here it goes, starting with the 5th best movie snack!

#5 - Potato Chips/Crisps

Delicious and nutritious (maybe), they are the perfect budget snack for watching a DVD at home and are not only tasty but do a reasonable job of filling you up somewhat. Unfortunately not ideal for the cinema as they may provoke an attack from behind with snifters/popcorn/half-eaten ice creams etc, as the constant crunching and crinkling of the packet does tend to irritate people.

#4 - Lollies (most varieties)

4th on the list is lollies, sweet and full of energy (sugar) enough to put you through the same movie twice or thrice or keep you awake long enough to sit through a soppy chick flick romantic comedy. They do however provide little in the way of sustenance and often leave you wanting more, there just never seems to be enough in a bag of starburst jelly babies or fruit bursts! They also make substantial noise, and although not as much as chips still tend to become annoying if your hand cant quite find the opening of the bag frequently.

#3 - Jumbo Coke

No, not Sprite, Fanta, L&P or Diet Coke... only Coke! Coke holds a special place in my heart, has got me through many late night last minute essays and provided me with hours and hours of endless fun! Oh and it has to be Jumbo, and although it will make you go to the toilet several hundred times during the movie this can be countered with equal amounts of absorbent foods or extensive training. Coke makes it to 3 nicely in the middle, after all we need some form of liquid to soak up the wide array of sugary/salty snacks we consume throughout the film! Great for the cinema or a quiet bottle at home.

#2 - Popcorn

Yes popcorn! Everyone's favorite (usually), I don't however like it that much for some reason, possibly something emotionally scaring happened to me as a child with popcorn, i don't know, i just don't like it. My view is probably shared by most workers in the cinema who spend the majority of their time vacuuming and sweeping vast amounts of popcorn from floors and chairs. It is however an international favourite and liked by most movie goers which is why it made it to number 2, i don't mind it, it tastes ok sometimes soaked in butter and various other fatty toppings but i don't like it enough for it to get to 1!

#1 BEST MOVIE SNACK! - Lollipops!

Yes, i know lollipops you say, how could they possibly beat out popcorn? Ill tell you why, and the reason is simple simon! Hand-less consumption. If its one thing i don't like while watching movies, its moving around constantly placing things into my mouth, grabbing at things in the dark and knocking things over (maybe I'm just lazy but its true). Lollipops however provide a variety of flavours, they are sweet and provide energy via vast amounts of sugar. They are #1 because all you do is put it in and suck (stop thinking dirty!) and that's it! No need for waving your arms about grabbing food and putting it in your mouth, they are also the most cost effective with only 3 or 4 needed for the duration of the movie. Lollipops ARE the #1 movie snack!

Well there it is, now you all know exactly what to buy next time you go to the cinema or plan a DVD at home! Lollipops win out, but don't forget the Jumbo coke which funnily enough provides a nice arm rest extension. ☺

THE MUTANT CHRONICLES - Sci-Fi/Horror (2008) ****REVIEW***

The film is set about 700 years from now in a dark world in constant conflict, until war uncovers a secret hidden underground... MUTANTS that is!

Ok this film wasn't going to win any awards, i don't think it tries to, but it does make for fun and entertaining watching! Its kind of a cross between X-Men, 300 and Sin City mainly due to the atmosphere and lighting portrayed throughout the movie, highlighted red splattered blood in front of a bleak grey back drop is rather eye-catching! The action and gore are fairly good, plenty of blood for those who love it and enough of a story to make sitting through the whole thing bearable. Definitely a movie worth watching for fun, gore and action value, perfect watching for a Friday night with friends, although don't expect too much thought provoking material, its mostly eye-candy throughout. Blood, gore and zombie mutants!

Pros - Cool action and fight scenes with plenty of blood and gore, not too over the top though. One thing in particular that i liked about this film was the lighting and atmosphere which was very similar to that of 300 and Sin City, and although below par compared to these two films, it was refreshing to see, as many films don't employ this type of lighting and effect.

Cons - A lot of the acting was rather stunted from the lesser known actors and actresses some lines were rather cheesy and predictable, but this can only be expected for a film such as this. Good plot and acting would get in the way of all the blood and gore which to be honest would be the only reason go to see this flick! Don't expect an award winner, just fun entertainment and you wont be disappointed!

3.5/5 Jandals = cool if you don't expect too much.

See the trailer for 'The Mutant Chronicles' Here