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Film & TV on DVD - John Doe Film News & Reviews

 
Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

John Doe’s Infinitely Expanding Film Log Game

What Film Did You Watch Today?


classic movie audience, james dean, humphrey bogart, marilyn monroe, charlie chaplin, katherine hepburn, john wayne
The Ultimate Classic Movie Audience



Granted this is not the most original idea. Most good Film Forums have this exact prototype nestled somewhere amidst their oldest entries. Many have been running for years. Now JD wants one of his very own.

The concept is simple, much like John Doe’s earlier A-Z of Movie Favourites Game the results of feedback are a shared experience. This is a game where visitors offer their own cinephilic achievements and verdicts for speedy assessment.

For those unfamiliar with this monumentally fun cinema sport, A Film Log is a cooperative diary where our ebullient digital celluloid obsessions can be vented in a list. We comment on films viewed that day or week accompanied by a score from 1 to 10 on the J-Dometer.

(10) equaling a mind altering, spiritually awakening slice of filmmaking mastery that entertains and awes. Captivating and completely engrossing voyeurism that opens a portal to alternate realities.
(1) being akin to a donkey-punch against the entire history of moving pictures…the kind of film that inspires passionate hatred a decade later…condescending, inconsistent tirade fodder)



So last night JD watched:
In a lonely place, humphrey bogart, classic films, posters
Poster for In a Lonely Place
Nic Ray’s In A Lonely Place (8/10)

















lost highway, david lynch, dvd cover, patricia arquette, bill pullman
DVD Cover for Lost Highway
David Lynch’s Lost Highway (9/10)



















Your turn, what have you viewed recently in cinemas, on DVD or TV?
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Comments
98 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]
1. May 20th 2009 @ 00:19. Bryn Says:
On DVD: Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (the review of which I'm still writing) 4/10

At cinema: The Escapist 8/10 (I'll be reviewing that closer to its release date in June)
2. May 20th 2009 @ 02:36. Tracy Says:
Hi JD

I recently found and watched The Waiting Room (2007), a gritty British gem.

Tracy
3. May 20th 2009 @ 03:12. The Rusty Can Says:
Hi JD,

I recently saw X-Men Origins: Wolverine ~ 6.5/10 (mmm... Hugh Jackman...)
and
Angels and Demons ~ 6/10

Rusty.
4. May 20th 2009 @ 04:40. Mountain Fog Says:
Catch a Fire directed by Phillip Noyce. (7.5/10).

Set during apartheid South Africa era, based on the real life and times of Patrick Chammuso, an ordinary and hard working family man, who is subjected to torture and driven into the arms of the rising rebellion against the oppressive and brutal apartheid based regime.

Tim Robbins plays the big bad white guy, who gives an okay performance, but could have thickened his Soewff Effricaan ekkcent to make him seem more demonic.

Best part, seeing the real resistance fighter at the end of the film, Patrick Chammuso, and hear how he resisted murdering his oppressor (after Sth Africa elected Mandela), instead choosing to free himself through forgiveness. Interesting film.

More interestingly, it reminds one of how we all thought torture and big brother surveillance was objectionable, to the point of banning cricket with Sth Africa etc.

Now, it seems people will think up extraordinary scenarios to justify its use, or give it blanket support, because of the smoke and mirrors 'war on terror'.

We live in evil times, but not just because of extremist
Islamists, but because of the unholy alliance of corporations, media and government, all colluding to justify changes in law that more resemble the totalitarian monsters of WW2, than democracy, coupled with their support of distortions of fact and truth, in order to inflict their New World Order.

cheers

fog
5. May 20th 2009 @ 07:11. Lilla Says:
hi JD,

At the Movies : Star trek, already said all I could about that, xept the score and i reckon about a 8 or 9 (or 4 on the old 5 scale).

DVD's rewatches only : Babel and Celestine Prophecy. (DS9 Disc 6 Season 6)

I love Babel as it tells the story from the point of view of the weapon itself and how it touches the lives of so many people, which reveals todays system and its flaws and texture with such clarity it makes the statement louder than the gun shot itself.

The celestine prophecy well i did a post on it <<here>> for those really interested, but I'd give both of these a 9 too : not a good reviewer, as everything gets a 9 or 10, sort of good or bad and no inbetween these days for me I think. I guess time just gets short as you get older for all that grey stuff

As for DS9, not much I haven't already said to you there too..

Again, so nice ot have you back, hope the bears are coping witht he heat wave?

Lilla . .

6. May 20th 2009 @ 15:09. JohnDoe Says:
Great responses all, keep em coming,

Great to see your return Tracy!!

Thanks for the mini review Fog!

Appreciate the DS9 love Lilla, still exciting hey?

Rusty you are braver than I going Angels and Demoning after Wolvie lite!

Bryn, Was Brian Cox good in the Escapist?


Last Night JD watched some old favourites:

Salvador
Salvador: DVD Available in Australia

Oliver Stone's Salvador (8/10)

dark Passage
Dark Passage: DVD Available in Australia

Delmer Davis' Dark Passage (8/10)

quest for fire
Quest For Fire: DVD Available in Australia

Quest for Fire (8/10)
7. May 20th 2009 @ 22:47. Bryn Says:
JD, Brian gave a superb performance. You will love this movie. Harks back to 70s filmmaking. Fantastic narrative, and beautiful twist in its tail.
8. May 20th 2009 @ 23:11. JohnDoe Says:
Nice Bryn
Escapists make it to 'the list"
9. May 21st 2009 @ 02:33. Someone Says:
I just finished Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, I'd give it a solid 10/10.
10. May 21st 2009 @ 11:56. Damo Says:
I just saw Star Trek

To be fair 7/10.
The film was good and well paced. Hardly a wasted moment. Yet it left a few loose ends that really annoyed me. Overall a good film but not a classic. FX okay.

What is a classic is Ghost in th Shell 2: Innocence.

Brilliant 11/10 for an acquired taste.
Artwork and animation better than the first. The concept just as intelligent. It sticks in the mind long after you stop watching it.
11. May 22nd 2009 @ 01:44. D. Armenta Says:
Sunday: "An Unreasonable Man" (Ralph Nader doco) 9/10. Extremely well paced, great interviews, and a telling glimpse into the hectic everyday life of a fascinating, extremely hard-working man. Loved it!

Thursday: Re-viewed "Brazil" to compare to our present day situation in the U.S. Scared hell out of me.

9.5/10. I love "Brazil".
12. May 22nd 2009 @ 01:57. Cibbuano Says:
I just saw "The Corpse Grinders" and reviewed it... I wouldn't recommend that to anyone.

13. May 22nd 2009 @ 02:06. Damo Says:
DA

I love Brazil also.
14. May 22nd 2009 @ 15:13. JohnDoe Says:
Totally agree "Someone", Seven Samurai is near perfection.

So Star Trek was worth the cinema trip then Damo? Ghost in the Shell is all time favourite of mione too...the second was a worthy sequel and looked amazing.

Hi D,
I really want to see that Nader doco too.
As for Brazil I have the criterion collection with 3 alterante versions of the film and loads of extras..a tremendous mind melding experience of visual and intellectual dystopian nightamres.

Hi Cib, Corpse Grinders is another of those grindhouse films I never saw due to no "VHS" in Oz at the time....read your review and maybe I'm glad I didn't


Great to see what everyone is watching at the moment, please keep em coming.

15. May 22nd 2009 @ 15:47. JohnDoe Says:
Realized I haven't logged my latest screenings:

Over the last 2 days I have rewatched:

Syriana (8/10)

mean streets, martin scorsese, robert de niro, harvey keitel, crime films
Poster for Mean Streets

Mean Streets (9/10)

tigerland, colin farrell, joel schumacher, war films
Poster for Tigerland

Tigerland (7/10)

blood simple, coen brothers, crime films, noir
Poster for Blood Simple

Blood Simple (8/10)

16. May 22nd 2009 @ 23:43. Lara M Says:
Hi JD...I recently watched:

Trade - 8/10
A truly moving movie with a powerful message; good cinema-work and some pretty apt music.

Bottle Shock - 7-7.5/10
Inspiring and entertaining with some great lines by a couple of the characters.

The Bank Job - 7.5/10

~lara
17. May 23rd 2009 @ 01:43. Bryn Says:
JD, I'll be covering Mean Streets soon for Cult Projections,
Haven't seen that poster before, looks more like a blaxploitation flick! Would that be Corman's influence?

Haven't seen Tigerland yet either. That's one of Schumacher's grittier efforts, right?

And Blood Simple. Well. I have a special place for that in my heart.

Watched La Sconosciuta from Giuseppe Tornatore the other night. I'll cover that across the way too. 8/10
18. May 23rd 2009 @ 06:28. Mountain Fog Says:
Seven Samurai, is a ten for sure!

It's Hollywood clone, The Magnificent Seven, was likeable for all the big names in the cast, giving out good performances, but it was a complete lightweight when compared to its parent Seven Samurai.

Kurosawa was a true genius.

cheers

fog

P.S. I will post more as I view..

Last night,
The Beast with a Million Backs,
while a small fan of Futurama, it was just okay as entertainment, 6/10. I expected more of the creators, as it was a feature length version of the TV series.
19. May 23rd 2009 @ 08:35. Mountain Fog Says:
phh errr...I mean Beast With A BILLION BACKS...and to add to the bizarre nature of it all, I just turned on Channle 10 momentarily, and saw it was serialised...the very same film....oh well..proves I don't watch Futurama very often!

Monster Slayer... while some of the gore level is high and gory, in the old fashioned gushing blood and smashed in head live effects, no CGI here, it really is a wet blanket, not ever managing to raise a single heair on the nape of my neck, 1/10 for scare power, and 6/10 for gore.

cheers

fog
20. May 24th 2009 @ 06:23. Someone Says:
Creep - 6/10 - Decent, but very annoying in parts

Komodo vs Cobra - 2/10 for being unintentionally funny, 0/10 in terms of everything else.

The Host - 9/10 - Awesome Korean monster flick

21. May 26th 2009 @ 16:42. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Lara M,

The Bank Job surprised me, was expecting a very generic pic and instead got one with some flair and fine pacing.

Trade wore it's intentions a little too openly to make it anything but predictable, still it carried some weight, testament to the importance of its subject.


Hi Bryn,

i still find it hard to believe Schumacher directed Tigerland, its so far removed from his entire screenography. Dark, brutal and visually appropriate.

You know that's why i chose that Mean Streets poster


Hi Fog,

i am a Futurama geek boy and agree Beast was a little flat considering the expectations.

Monster Slayer....I like my deep trash but this sounds yawn worthy

Hi Someone,
God your brave going Komodo vs Cobra...everything it advertised I assume.

Chalk me up as a fan of The Host, tremendous manipulation of a dead genre. Love those water entries.
22. May 26th 2009 @ 16:57. JohnDoe Says:
I haven't been by in a couple of days, since last time I have rewatched:

George Clooney's Goodnight and Good Luck (9/10)

Star Trek First Contact 8/10 - The best of the Trek films IMO

Robert Alderich's Attack (8.5/10)

Adaptation (8/10)
23. May 27th 2009 @ 03:41. Matt Shea Says:
Okay JD, in the last couple of weeks or so for me its been:

The Great Waldo Pepper: 6.5 outta 10

Dirty Pretty Things: 6/10

Quiet Chaos: 7/10

Star Trek: 8/10
24. May 27th 2009 @ 08:39. Bryn Says:
JD,
Star Trek (last night) 4/5
Dying Breed (this morning) 3/5
25. May 27th 2009 @ 09:32. Morgan Bell Says:
Star Trek 8/10
Angels & Demons 2/10
The Other Boleyn Girl 7/10
Saw IV 5/10
The Reader 10/10
Revolutionary Road 9/10
Slumdog Millionaire 8/10
House Of Sand (Brazilian) 6/10
Waking Up In Reno 1/10
Marley & Me 7/10
Girlfight 7/10
Wanted 9/10
Im Not There 6/10

26. May 28th 2009 @ 17:41. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Morgan,

I absolutely loved Girlfight, thought it was a gem worthy of much praise...amazing performances and subtle scripting...more than i was expecting.





Still just rewatching at the moment, in teh last few days:

Bugsy, warren beatty, annette benning, harvey keitel, gangster movies, barry levinson
Bugsy on DVD in Australia

Barry Levinson's Bugsy (7/10)

while the city sleeps, fritz lang, clasic movies, serial killer films
While The City Sleeps

Fritz Lang's While The City Sleeps (8/10)

bolt, disney, john travolta, animated films
Bolt on DVD in the USA

Bolt (7/10)

heist, david mamet, gene hackman, danny de vito, crime films
Heist on DVD in Australia

David Mamet's Heist (7/10)

thomas crown affair, steve mcqueen, fate dunaway, norman jewison, crime films
The original Thomas Crown Affair

Norman Jewison'sThe Thomas Crown Affair (7/10)
27. May 29th 2009 @ 01:42. Lilla Says:
Wow, JD, I think Quest For Fire was one of the best films ever . .probably because it had no words, or subtitles. *lol* and up to final season of DS9, finally.. and the Sisko is back.

Yes!

Also just rewatched Ice Age 1 and 2
28. June 6th 2009 @ 07:56. Lara M Says:
Burn After Reading - 5/10 ...only 'cos I like the cast...
The River Wild -7/10
Wanted -7/10
Marley & Me -7/10
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -5/10
29. June 8th 2009 @ 08:43. Michaelie Says:
Nothing.

I haven't seen a single thing in aaaaagggess!

Now that I've nearly been kicked off my blog, I'll have to try to find the time to watch and write... and then you'll know!

Mich
30. June 8th 2009 @ 23:00. Bryn Says:
Sydney Film Festival movies:
Paranormal Activity 9/10
Zift 6/10
Three Monkeys 6/10
Overlord 6/10
Van Diemen's Land 7/10
Humpday 7/10
Black Dynamite 7/10
Pontypool 7/10
31. June 9th 2009 @ 09:17. Morgan Bell Says:
Suddenly 30 8/10
Gran Torino 7/10
Valkyrie 7/10
Master & Commander 5/10
Saw V 4/10

i bought a Jackie Chan box set for $12, theres 5 films in it from the 70s and 80s . . . im REALLY looking forward to re-watching some of his stuff, i used to watch them as the late night movie when i was in high school, loved them for the fight scene choreography and the crazy english dubbing
32. June 26th 2009 @ 00:01. JohnDoe Says:
Awesome to see such a wide variety of viewing taking place.



Michaelie, I had a big film drought myself upon arrival. It hurt so bad...my sympathy



Jackie Chan boxset, nice one Morgan.....those early films are his best.
33. June 26th 2009 @ 00:06. JohnDoe Says:
I've had a nice little run of catching up with obvious things I missed at the cinemas:

Choke (7/10)
Benjamin Buttons (6/10)
Gran Torino (6/10)
Caprica (8/10)
Milk (7/10)
34. June 26th 2009 @ 00:17. JohnDoe Says:
Oh I forgot I also rewatched:

Little Murders (8/10)
Buffalo Soldiers (8/10)
Pan's Labyrinth (9/10)
Ferris Bueller's day Off (8/10)
Clerks (8/10)
Goodnight and Good Luck (9/10)
The Good Thief (8/10)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (7/10)
Miller's Crossing (9/10)
Royal tenenbaums (9/10)
Bee Movie (7/10)
Fargo (7/10)
The Fog of war (9/10)
Kingdom (7/10)
walk The Line (7/10)
Romancing The Stone (7/10)
Kiss Kiss bang, bang (8/10)
Identity (7/10)
35. June 26th 2009 @ 11:00. Lilla Says:
hi JD,

Okay this weeks rainy day/school holiday lineup has been;

The Fifth Element
Anger Mangement
Twilight
Bulletproof Monk

Lilla ..
36. June 26th 2009 @ 12:01. Michaelie Says:
Just rewatched:

Lust, Caution 7/10
The Departed 8/10
The Lion King 7/10

37. June 26th 2009 @ 13:34. Morgan Bell Says:
i love Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, JD . . . Val Kilmers character is very witty

recently ive seen:

Broken Flowers 9/10
Changeling 7/10
38. June 26th 2009 @ 23:21. Tracy Says:
Gosh, everyone has busy with films!

I just saw:
Mary and Max - 7/10
Sunshine Cleaning - 7/10
39. June 27th 2009 @ 03:13. Bryn Says:
Hey JD, we need to skype again soon,
Further Festival flicks I saw:
Che (parts one and two) 7/10
Shadow Play 8/10
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired 7/10
Cold Souls 8/10
Bronson 8/10
Dead Snow 6/10
Accidents Happen 4/10
The Girlfriend Experience 8/10
Wake in Fright 9/10

I didn't like Choke at all. I can't believe you give Clerks an 8?! Gran Torino only a 6? I haven't seen it yet though ...
40. July 1st 2009 @ 12:50. Lara M Says:
Since my last comment...
Le fils de l'épicier (The Grocer's Son) 7/10
Die Fälscher (The Counterfeiters) 7.5-8/10
We Own The Night 7/10
88 Minutes 7/10
Vicki Cristina Barcelona 5/10 -- the narrator is annoying but that isn't the only reason for the mediocre rating...
Narnia -- Prince Caspian 7.5/10
41. July 3rd 2009 @ 11:24. The Rusty Can Says:
Hey JD,
Since last time, I've watched:
Transformers 7/10 - cool FX
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 7/10 - ditto
Just Sex and Nothing Else 7/10 - hilarious
Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder 6/10 - great intro, but the rest was pretty disappointing.
42. July 3rd 2009 @ 11:26. Morgan Bell Says:
Heat 5/10
Man On The Moon 8/10
43. July 4th 2009 @ 01:46. Someone Says:
Silence of the Lambs (10/10)
Hannibal (9/10)
Identity (8/10)
1408 (9/10)
Transformers 2 (6/10)
The Thing (10/10)
Alien (10/10)
Aliens (9/10)
44. July 4th 2009 @ 02:37. Bryn Says:
Morgan, only 5 for Heat??
45. July 15th 2009 @ 22:01. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Bryn,

Gran Torino is a well enough made film and certainly achieves some measure of originality but the script repeats itself and a lot that is accomplished visually is spelt out with dialogue. No room for thought and because of that it becomes predicable quickly once you know the angle the story is taking. It did have an appropriately lethargic fell which was interesting.

To achieve a seven outof 10 or higher I have to want to see the movie again be it again for infinite reasons from story and plot to acting and camera choice. Gran Torino is a one screening only kind of deal.


46. July 15th 2009 @ 22:08. JohnDoe Says:
Let The Right One In (9/10)
The Grifters (8/10)
Howard Hawkes The Thing from another World (8/10)
Fritz Lang's Clash By Night (8/10)
Special (8/10)
William Wyler's The Collector (original terence Stamp version) (9/10)
Don Siegel's Charley Varrick (8/10)
Chinatown (9/10)
Spiderwick (7/10)
twilight Zone Season 4

47. August 21st 2009 @ 21:58. JohnDoe Says:
Zoo (8/10)
Friends of Eddie Coyle (9/10)
Time Crimes (9/10)
Agatha Christiies Evil Under the Sun (7/10)
Zack and Miri make a Porno (6/10)
Kung Fu Panda (7/10)
Oliver Stone's W (6/10)

48. August 22nd 2009 @ 01:55. Bryn Says:
Aha, you finally got to see Timecrimes. I wanna buy that on DVD.
I couldn't bring myself to watch another Kevin Smith movie.

The September Issue (8/10)
Coraline (7/10)
Public Enemies (6/10)
District 9 (9/10)
Up (7/10)

49. August 24th 2009 @ 07:33. Someone Says:
District 9 (9/10)

Amen to that... excellent movie.

The Warriors (9/10)
Highlander (7/10 for tacky goodness)
50. August 27th 2009 @ 19:15. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Someone,

Count me among the District 9 fanbase...just did a review for it on this site.

As for The Warriors, I had to shed a tear because there was a recent screening with the cast in attendance at Coney Island and I was unable to make it due to budgetary restraints...Love that film!
51. August 27th 2009 @ 20:07. JohnDoe Says:
District 9 (9/10)
Inside (8/10)
The Signal (7/10)
Princess and the Warrior (8/10)
Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia (8/10)
Twin Peaks Season 1 (8/10)
Futurama: Beast with a Billion Backs (7/10)
52. August 28th 2009 @ 00:03. Bryn Says:
I need to own Bring Me the Head ...
53. August 28th 2009 @ 00:21. JohnDoe Says:
the picture quality of the DVD is superb!
54. September 10th 2009 @ 23:32. Someone Says:
Inglorious Basterds (10/10)
The Uninvited (6/10)
The Hurt Locker (8/10)
Predator (9/10)
An American Werewolf in London (10/10)
30 Days of Night (9/10)

55. September 10th 2009 @ 23:46. JohnDoe Says:
The Hurt Locker is on my list Someone, Im a big Kathryn Bigelow fan (Strange Days, Near Dark)

As for me the last few Ive seen are:

The International 7/10
RedBelt 8/10
Hell and High water 7/10
The Bedford Incident 8/10
The Informers 7/10
Birdman of Alcatraz 8/10
Domino Principle 8/10
Pick Up On South Street 9/10
Anatomy of a Murder 8/10
Flight of the Navigator 7/10
State of Grace 8/10
56. September 30th 2009 @ 22:01. Daishin Says:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 9.5/10
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 10/10 for being a deep movie at times and slapstick at the other you still have to commend this movie for its great chase seen. What makes it so great is that it's done from the perspective of Butch and the Kid while you never see what the pursuers look like. They're always these little figures on the horizon or plain that still manage to be terrifying.
The General 9/10 Really one of the best silent films i've ever seen.
The Playhouse 10/10 not a full length movie but rather a short 20-30 minute thing by Keaton as well.
Cops 8/10 One more short by Keaton.
Surrogates 6/10
57. October 1st 2009 @ 16:59. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Daishin,

You have watched some quality recently I see....Cuckoo's Nest never loses its power and jack was never better than as Randle P McMurphy.

Butch and Sundance has so many great moments ('Ask him to stay") but it is that finale that lifts it above others in the genre for me.

As for Keaton, his knowledge of physical comedy and indeed filmmaking itself was so hyper advanced that watching his work in 2009 still retains a feeling of originality that hasn't been matched since. Like Chaplin.

Surrogates looked silly to me and I must admit that Mostow' directorial record frightens me away....couldn't be anyworse than I Robot though...

Welcome to the site, look forward to reading more of your comments in the future.
58. October 1st 2009 @ 17:36. JohnDoe Says:
A few i have watched in the last 2 weeks:

William Wyler's Detective Story (8/10)
Cornel Wilde's The Naked Prey (9/10)
Jennifer Lynch's Surveillance (6/10) - I did enjoy its eccentric performances
Otto Preminger's Bunny Lake is Missing (8/10)
Neil Simon's The Cheap Detective (7/10)
The Seven Up's (8/10)
Futurama - Wild Green Yonder (7/10)
Stanley Kramer's Inherit the Wind (8/10)
Sidney Lumet's 12 Angry Men

59. October 1st 2009 @ 20:15. Daishin Says:
9 (Shane Acker) 4/10
Extract (Mike Judge) 8.5/10
500 Days of Summer 8.5/10
Moon 10/10
60. October 1st 2009 @ 20:45. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Daishin,

That's a shame about not enjoying "9"...i'm really looking forward to it, but have certainly read mixed reviews. The visuals alone should keep me nicely sedated, I hope.

61. October 1st 2009 @ 20:47. Daishin Says:
When you see it we can talk more about it, but yeah the visual effects were pretty good.
62. October 3rd 2009 @ 02:56. Daishin Says:
Zombieland 9/10
63. October 7th 2009 @ 20:24. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Daishin,

I'm looking very forward to Zombieland...


Now to what I have been watching:

Midnight Meat Train (7/10)
Otto Preminger's Advise and Consent (8/10)
William Wyler's The Collector (8/10)
64. October 8th 2009 @ 01:49. Mountain Fog Says:
Hi JD,
this week, I've watched Disgrace, which is a powerful experience indeed, and deserves a 9 and then Mary and Max, another amazing experience, which broke new ground in claymation, it deserves a 9.5

You can read my reviews on 20/20, if you have the time or inclination, (I will quite understand if you don't have the time so no worries there).

cheers old top,

fog
65. October 9th 2009 @ 23:16. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Mountain Fog

Great review you did of "Disgrace" and "Mary and Max"...looking forward to seeing both of them.
66. October 9th 2009 @ 23:18. JohnDoe Says:
From Here to Eternity (9/10)
Sword of Doom (8/10)
Race the Devil (7/10)
Blast of Silence (9/10)
67. November 3rd 2009 @ 02:27. Daishin Says:
Paranormal Activities 10/10
Where the Wild Things Are 8/10
The Invention of Lying 7/10
This is It 9.5/10
68. November 6th 2009 @ 17:12. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Daishin,

Another lover of 'paranormal Activity" I see....I have to make sure I see it soon....and "Where the Wild Things Are"...I just haven't been able to find time for a cinema visit in months.




As for myself, a few of my latest viewings have been horror related in the Halloween month of October..

Helter Skelter (1976 version) (7/10)
Martyrs (8/10)
Frontier(s) (7/10)
Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door (7/10)
An American Crime (8/10)
Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde (Spencer Tracy Version) (8/10)

69. November 8th 2009 @ 02:49. Daishin Says:
A Serious Man 10/10
The Men Who Stare At Goats 8.5/10
70. November 9th 2009 @ 13:41. Mountain Fog Says:
Hi JD,

need to boot up my ram and put in a few more;

Angels and Demons...(1/10);
and I'm being gnereous! I have come to loathe poor Tom Hanks.

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus (3/10);
mainly for the CGI mindscape scenes in the mirror, I hated the fact the audio was way over the top loud, annoyed by senselessly overexaggerated sound effects and the break down of logic mid way through...five souls... gets more thna that but still needs one more...huh? You will understand when you see it..

Did I see anything I liked... yeah..

Capitalism: A Love Story: (8.5/10)
If you hate Moore, still see this, as you find out in an netertaining way, who screwed who etc in the meltdown. Some say too simplified, but, any moore detail and it'd bore people.

Case 39 (7/10)
A few thrills, but not a consistantly thrilling ride, however, a lot will think it plenty enough.

Scream: and I saw this again, but it doesn't scare/wear well the second time around, even when you've forgotten the ending, as I had done! But, I am a bit jaded I guess. Now I have to review it... oh well...

cheers

fog

71. November 9th 2009 @ 16:55. JohnDoe Says:
Hi daishin,

You list 2 more there i really want to see.


Hi Fog,

Angels and Demons holds no appeal to me, the books are good fluff material but the films are horrendous.

As a Gilliam lover I will eventually check out The Imaginarium, but don't expect a masterpiece.

Michael Moore's films are entertaining, not usually informative but i will see Capitalism, just as i have seen all his other movies.

Case 39 looked very average to me..i read your review but it failed to convince me to brave the annoying as a moaning cat Renee Zellwegger.

Scream was an ok comedy, never saw it as a scary movie in anyway though and because of what it inspired i tend to despise the film now.



72. November 9th 2009 @ 16:59. JohnDoe Says:
My Turn,

i have been watching Carnivale (9/10) again..just finished season 1 and am half way through Season 2...its kind of an obsession right now.

I did find time to watch David Mamet's Homicide (8/10) too.
73. November 22nd 2009 @ 17:22. Daishin Says:
An Education 9.5/10 Fantastic acting by Carrey Mulligan in this. Me and my dad were looking forward to seeing this and it didn't disappoint. The only place we'd seen her before was in the Doctor Who episode Blink.

Nightwatch 9/10 It's just amazing. Hard to describe but amazing. Also if you like it you should definitely check out the series by the same name by Sergei Lukyanenko.

Pirate Radio 8/10 Clever little british comedy that was as heartfelt as it was funny. I saw this the same night that i saw An Education which was ironic because they both happened in the same period and both made comments about how boring Britain was at the time. Philip Seymour Hoffman is amazing in it. Rhys Darby has his own special little parts in it too.

New Moon 1/10 Gross and ugh and nasty and i hate it. The story is just so bad. The only reason i gave it any points at all was because the acting was okay. Which is to say they didn't look at the camera.

The Box 8/10 Was a lot better than the preview lets it on to be. A little predictable when people started mentioning Mars expeditions and then people begin to have nosebleeds though.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (not to say i haven't seen that movie hundreds of times but since i watched it again i figured "why not") 9.5/10

What Lies Beneath 8.5/10 Quite a step above other paranormal thrillers. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, one of his lesser known films.
74. November 24th 2009 @ 22:32. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Daishin,

I really want to see 'An Education", I don't like much of Hornby's stuff other than 'High Fidelity' but this one sounds good and your positive review means it moves up my must see list.

I own Nightwatch and Daywatch, both are great vampire flicks. I have been meaning to read the novels for a while now just haven't got round to it.

Pirate Radio holds no attraction for me other than the cast, but we already discussed that one

New Moon, no chance!

Though i am a fan of Donnie darko, Richard Kelly let me down with 'Southland Tales" and like that one the casting for "The Box" is intolerable. i may take a chance on DVd but i do love the original 'Button, Button" Twilight Zone episode that it remakes.

Hedwig rules, seen it many times.

"What Lies Beneath" was a wasted opportunity for me
tries so hard to be Hitchcock lite that the whole thing was a predictable and boring ride...no surprises and in the end a bland thriller, over cooked and under marinated.



75. November 24th 2009 @ 23:39. JohnDoe Says:
In the last week I have watched:

Electra Glide in Blue (8/10)
Executive Action (8/10)
Monsters versus Aliens (8/10)
Man From Earth (8/10)
Evil Dead (8/10)
Evil Dead 2 (8/10)
Flying High - Airplane (8/10)
Boondock Saints (7/10)


76. November 28th 2009 @ 14:34. Daishin Says:
Gozu 9/10 I was hesitant to give it such a high rating because I didn't understand what was going on half the time but whatever was done in that movie was done really really well. Takashi Miike made a horror movie that was more than just gory horror but it actually had elements of a good horror movie. Like the long extended quiet scenes where the protagonist (or anyone else really) is about to open the door because he heard noises on the other side. Thankfully Miike doesn't spoil it by making there be a cat or anything.

The Fantastic Mister Fox 10/10 DDDDDDDDDDDDD
It was just so funny. The voice acting was amazing. If you think you've seen good voice acting in a puppet movie it probably didn't compare to this at all. Of course that's a necessary aspect in Wes Andersen movies as a lot of the humor is derived from how the thing is said and not necessarily what is said, although after it's said like that it becomes funny in itself because you imagine that person saying it like that.
77. January 2nd 2010 @ 19:17. Daishin Says:
The Lives of Others 10/10
Avatar 8.5/10
Signs 9.5/10
I'm Not Scared 9/10
Shadow of the Vampire 9.5/10
78. January 8th 2010 @ 21:41. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Daishin,

Some great ones there. The Lives of Others and Shadow of the vampire are subhlime.

I hated Signs, tried so hard to impress and fails...cool idea though which is why it annoyed me that the restrained approach should have worked.

haven't seen Avatar yet. But I did see 500 Days of Summer and loved it.


79. January 8th 2010 @ 21:50. JohnDoe Says:
As for JD, some rewatches and some first time screenings.

Inglorious Basterds (9/10)
Murder by Decree (8/10)
500 Days of Summer (8/10)
Paranormal Activity (8/10)
District 9 (9/10)
Star Trek (8/10)
Black Water (7/10)
The Valachi Papers (7/10)
Downhill Racer (8/10)
Southern Comfort (7/10)
RedBelt (8/10)
Ice Age 3 (5/10)
Dust To Glory - Doco on the baja 1000 (8/10)
On Any Sunday (Steve Mcqueen Dirt Bike doco) (8/10)
80. February 18th 2010 @ 06:59. Daishin Says:
There Will be Blood 10/10
Jerry Maguire 8.5/10
Zodiac (Downey Jr. one) 9/10
Metropolis 9/10
In the Loop 8.5/10
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou 10/10
M 10/10
Apocalypse Now 9.5/10
Dracula (1931) 8/10
Good Burger 11/10!!!
Audition 9.5/10
Flame and Citron 9/10
Little Miss Sunshine 10/10
The Oscar Nominated Short Animated:
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty 6/10
French Roast 6/10
The Lady and the Reaper 9/10
Logorama 8/10
A Matter of Loaf and Death 9/10
Shutter Island 9/10
Crazy Heart 8/10
The Hurt Locker 9/10
Some Like it Hot 9/10
81. March 3rd 2010 @ 18:01. JohnDoe Says:
Some mighty fine films in that list Daishin,...Good Burger buzzed you that much??
82. March 3rd 2010 @ 18:33. JohnDoe Says:
Been a while between log entries so I some titles may slip my mind, but here are the ones I remember watching recently:

In The Loop 8/10
Hurt Locker 8/10
The Hangover 6/10
The Informant 7/10
Surrogates 5/10
Thirst 8/10
Bronson 8/10
Ben X 8/10
Give Em Hell Malone 7/10
A Prayer for the Dying 7/10
Renaissance 8/10
Logan's Run 7/10
Monsters ball 8/10
Gorky Park 7/10
Chaplin 8/10
White Lightning 6/10
House of a Thousand Corpses 7/10
House of Bamboo 8/10
Up 8/10
This Gun for Hire 9/10
Public Enemies 6/10
Deliver us From Evil 9/10
Le Professional 7/10
Silent Partner 8/10
Across 110th street 8/10
Cockfighter 8/10
Electra Glide in Blue 8/10
83. March 4th 2010 @ 00:19. Bryn Says:
Yeah, how powerful and upsetting is Deliver Us From Evil, that's still one of my most highly voted for reviews.

You gave Thirst an 8??? I was bitterly disappointed by that movie.

The Hurt Locker 8/10
The Wolfman 5/10
Alice in Wonderland 5/10
The Hangover 7/10
Scrubbers 5/10

There's others, but I can't remember what they are ... I'll come back.
84. March 4th 2010 @ 20:19. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Bryn,

Deliver Us From Evil certainly takes a few days to wash off and process.

I really enjoyed Thirst, fun ride with some really smart reinvention of classic vamp folklore...sure it could have taken itself seriously but the farcical comedy reminded of a Vampire Kiss decent into frenzied confusion. The central relationship also entertained with its exploitative tone as did the none to subtle sub text.


Last Night i was sick on the couch and watched:

Zombieland (7/10)
Prime Cut (7/10)
Day of the Locust (9/10)
85. March 4th 2010 @ 20:23. Daishin Says:
Well it's hard for me to give Good Burger a good and honest number because i watched it religiously when i was younger. Rewatching it now i can see how silly it is and some of the lines are predictable or stupid, but emotionally i still got really excited.
86. March 4th 2010 @ 20:49. JohnDoe Says:
Oh the sentimental favourite hey Daishin, now I understand.

Same thing happens to me with Pump Up The Volume among many others...
87. April 17th 2010 @ 02:13. Daishin Says:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 9.5/10
8 1/2 9.5/10 (one of the few movies i've actually wanted to rewatch immediately afterward)
Howl's Moving Castle 8/10

Going to see Kickass tonight!

Kickass 8.5/10
Dark City 9.5/10
Hot Tub Time Machine 8/10
Dawn of the Dead (2004) 9/10
Annie Hall 9.5/10
The Happiness of the Katakuris.... How do you give it a rating? it's so weird but so great...
The Inglorious Bastards (1977) 7.5/10
Iron Man 2 7/10
Joy Ride 7.5/10
88. June 2nd 2010 @ 18:49. JohnDoe Says:
Some good ones there Daishin,

Its been awhile since I posted on here, so Im sure some have been forgotten but here we go:

A Serious Man (8/10)
Men Who Stare at Goats (7/10)
Dark Country (6/10)
Tao of Steve (7/10)
Surrogates (4/10)
Kill (9/10)
Bitchslap (5/10)
Long Good Friday (9/10)
Black Dynamite (7/10)
Heavens Gate (8/10)
Up Periscope (6/10)
The Spanish Prisoner (8/10)
Eight legged Freaks (7/10)
89. June 5th 2010 @ 02:54. Daishin Says:
Get Him to the Greek 9/10
Date Night 7/10
Prince of Persia -1/10
90. June 5th 2010 @ 22:03. JohnDoe Says:
Wow, "Get him to the Greek" looked exceptionally average from the trailer, evidently may be worth a glimpse.

What was the 1 for on "Prince of Persia"? Maybe one of Gemma's Attertons, or Jake's pecs?
91. June 5th 2010 @ 22:11. Daishin Says:
Well Get Him to the Greek is done in the same style of humor as Forgetting Sarah Marshal but with more drugs, so if you found that an average movie then maybe you'll not dig this one so much. And the 1 (actually a negative one) was because NOTHING IN THE MOVIE MADE SENSE. There were soooo many flaws in the plot and downright stupid things characters did. The action scenes were downright hard to follow and the dialogue was pathetic.
92. July 29th 2010 @ 19:24. JohnDoe Says:
The Crazies (Remake) - 6/10
Smokin' Aces 2 - 5/10
Boondock Saints 2 - 5/10
Beetlejuice - 8/10
Very Bad Things - 7/10
Beautiful Creatures - 7/10
Under Suspicion - 4/10
Dreamscape - 6/10
Runaway (Michael Crichton) - 6/10
Panic in the Streets - 7/10
The Rookie (Clint Eastwood) - 6/10
My name is Bruce - 6/10
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - 7/10
Fat City - 9/10
Cutters Way - 8/10
Felon - 7/10
Experiment in Terror - 8/10
Them (Ils) - 7/10
The Detective (Sinatra) - 7/10
Fletch - 7/10
Inception - 9/10
Dark Country 6.5/10
Homeboy (Mickey Rourke and Christopher Walken) - 6.5/10
93. August 19th 2010 @ 02:31. Anonymous Says:
The Men Who Stare at Goats 8/10
Wonderful World 7/10
Raising Arizona 7/10
Being John Malkovich 9/10
Moon 9/10
Firefly the Complete Series 9/10
Serenity 8.5/10
Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog 9/10
Big 8/10
The X-Files: Fight the Future 8/10
Whatever Works 8/10
Robin Hood: Men in Tights 6/10
Factotum 8/10
Paper Heart 8/10
Scott Pilgrim 9.5/10
K-PAX 8.5/10
Broken Flowers 9/10
The Dead Zone 8.5/10
Good Will Hunting 8/10
Con Air 5/10
Delicatessen 9/10
Pandorum 8/10
Phantasm 6.5/10
Following 8/10
The Machinist 8.5/10
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 8.5/10
The Seventh Seal 9/10
Altered 8/10
Antichrist 9/10
94. August 19th 2010 @ 02:32. Daishin Says:
woops i was logged out, that's my list
95. August 28th 2010 @ 20:14. JohnDoe Says:
Been watching some crap recently, not sure why must be a glutton for punishment. Or so exhausted brain dead is all i can manage.

Sherlock Holmes (6/10)
Daybreakers (6/10)
The Losers (5/10)
The Wolfman (remake) (6/10)
Hung season 1 (7/10)
True Blood Season 3 (8/10)
Last of Sheila (7/10)
The Specials (6/10)
Blood Alley (5/10)
Con Air (4/10)
2012 (2/10)
The Most Dangerous game (8./10
P2 (5/10)
Fletch Lives (6/10)
Survival Quest (5/10)
Law Abiding Citizen (3/10)
Suspect Zero (5/10)
True Lies (8/10)

96. September 25th 2010 @ 23:31. ShaunK Says:
I think I'll need to make this film log my home page

saw - Wall Street 2 6/10
revisited - Last Tango in Paris 6/10
revisited - Underworld USA 8/10
revisited - The Fountain 8.5/10
saw - Born To Be Bad 6.5/10
saw - Night Of The Hunter 9/10
saw - Knock On Any Door 9.5/10
revisited - The Live By Night 8/10
saw - Death On The Fourposter 7/10
and finally saw - 'The Red House' a flawed horror film from the 40's but deliciously dark 7.5/10

97. September 27th 2010 @ 19:12. JohnDoe Says:
Looks liek some good ones there Shaun,

I assume that's the Nic ray Born to be Bad not the Cary Grant one?

Knock on any Door is a great one for sure... not my favourite Bogey but still great work.

Havent heard of Death on the Fourposter?

Red House I remember seeing on Bill Collins Saturday night show, it scared me a 6 year old but I havent seen it since.


Thanks for posting these, will make it much easier to keep up with what you are watching.
98. September 27th 2010 @ 19:20. JohnDoe Says:
As for me, here are the ones I can remember over the last couple of weeks -

The Road (8/10)
Cop Out (4/10)
Ssssssss (5/10)
Centurion (7/10)
Harry Brown (6/10)
Mesrine part 1 - (7/10)
The Rat Pack with Don Cheadle - (7/10)
Carriers (5/10)
White Squall (7/10)
Top Secret (7/10)
The Dream Team (6/10)
Champion - danny Trejo - (7/10)
The Goods with jeremy Piven (5/10)
The Burrowers (6/10)
Fat Man and Little Boy (6/10)
GI Joe (4/10)
Mulholland Falls (6/10)
Requiem for a heavyweight (8/10)
Leviathan (6/10)
First Power (6/10)
Red Riding Trilogy (8/10)
Wilderness (6/10)
The Street with No Name (8/10)
The Expendables (6/10)

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