Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

[Movie 200 / Day 212]


The first Woody Allen movie I've seen didn't really impress me. Vicky Cristina Barcelona is the story of two best friends who spend the summer months in Barcelona and fall in love, out of love etc.

Whilst there was nothing badly wrong with the story, I just disliked the dialogue (which seemed to range from stilted to totally unnatural at times) and I plain hated the narrator (who sounded extremely wooden and frankly, bored witless). Amazingly, it seems that many people are of the opinion that Penelope Cruz looks beautiful in this movie. To me, she looked at best manic and at worst witch-like; and I found her voice grating in the extreme.

My rating: 5.9 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.4 / 10
Running time: 96 mins
IMDB link

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

[Movie 199 / Day 211]


Yet another Hollywood remake, in The Day the Earth Stood Still an alien comes to Earth in order to save the planet - by eradicating humans.

I was surprisingly pleased by the movie. The story isn't particularly special, but the acting wasn't at all bad (even Keanu, although I guess it helped that his character essentially had one expression throughout) and some of the special effects were very good.

As is so often the case when I watch a movie I expect is going to really suck, it turned out to be better than I thought.

My rating: 6.1 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.6 / 10
Running time: 104 mins
IMDB link

Thunderpants (2002)

[Movie 198 / Day 211]


Smash has a problem. He was born with two stomachs, which apparently makes it impossible to stop farting. I'm not sure why having two stomachs would give rise to that problem, but there you go. Consequently, his dad leaves their family and he is constantly bullied at school. He befriends Alan, a boy genius with no sense of smell and together, they try to achieve Smash's dream of becoming an astronaut by harnessing the power of flatulence.

It's a ridiculous premise, but one that most kids would find amusing - except it's filmed in such a style that it's difficult for kids to get into it. It has a very muted palette and lots of repetition (ie, the characters only have one outfit each, every car is a green Mini, etc). For adults, the jokes are all pretty lame.

It's not terrible, but it also has very few redeeming features.

My rating: 2.9 / 10
IMDB rating: 2.9 / 10
Running time: 87 mins
IMDB link

Porco Rosso (1992)

[Movie 197 / Day 210]


Another magical Studio Ghibli movie, Porco Rosso is about set in the '20s in a world populated with pirates and bounty hunters, all flying and fighting in seaplanes. Porco Rosso is a man living under a curse that has turned him into a pig - the greatest pilot in the Adriatic, striking fear into the pirates. So much so that they group together and hire an American pilot to bring the pig down.

I love the style and world of Porco Rosso and the storyline is good stuff - although it seems to be aimed at an older market than most Studio Ghibli productions.

My rating: 7.4 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.8 / 10
Running time: 94 mins
IMDB link

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

[Movie 196 / Day 210]


Another Hollywood remake, Pelham 123 is the story of a gang (led by Ryder, manically played by Travolta) who hold a subway train to ransom, while the guy in the control room, Garber (Denzel Washington), tries to talk him down from killing hostages.

It's not a bad movie, a fairly average actioner; the problem is the trailer. It literally gives away every plot point in the movie and as such, removes all tension. Whoever was responsible for that should be fired as it ruins the movie. You just don't really care about any given situation in the movie as the trailer has already spoilt how it's going to turn out. Amazing.

My rating: 6.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.9 / 10
Running time: 121 mins
IMDB link

Body of Lies (2008)

[Movie 195 / Day 209]


A political thriller set in the Middle East. DiCaprio plays a CIA agent working undercover to try and track down a terrorist cell responsible for a spate of bombings. Crowe is his boss. They don't like each other that much.

Well acted but I found it a bit slow.

My rating: 6.8 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.2 / 10
Running time: 128 mins
IMDB link

Spy Kids 3: Game Over (2003)

[Movie 194 / Day 209]


The third and, mercifully, final installment of the Spy Kids trilogy is less a film, more an excuse to cram as many dodgy CGI 3D shots as possible into 90 minutes. The effects are bad, the plot is worse.

My rating: 3.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 4.1 / 10
Running time: 84 mins
IMDB link

Gattaca (1997)

[Movie 193 / Day 208]


Set in a future where genetically modified (valid) babies are the norm and naturally conceived (invalid) babies are seen and treated as second class citizens, Gattaca tells the story of one such invalid who cheats the system to realise his dreams and travel into space.

Extremely well acted, especially by Jude Law (who plays a crippled 'valid' who sells his DNA to Ethan Hawke's 'invalid') and Alan Arkin.

Sci-fi with a brain. It's brilliant.

My rating: 8.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.8 / 10
Running time: 106 mins
IMDB link

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)

[Movie 192 / Day 208]


The fourth of the 'classic' Pink Panther movies saw Sellers and Lom teaming up with director Blake Edwards for more madcap japes. Inspector Clouseau is now Chief Inspector Clouseau and former-Chief Inspector Dreyfus is as mental as ever and still after Clouseau's blood.

Amusing at times, but has dated horribly in places, and isn't a patch on the earlier installments.

My rating: 6.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.1 / 10
Running time: 103 mins
IMDB link

Charlie's Angels (2000)

[Movie 191 / Day 207]


Another big screen treatment of an old TV series, Charlie's Angels is based around the premise of three secret agent type girls that work for a reclusive millionaire. Has an impressive number of recognisable faces in it, but for all that, it's a bit rubbish. It almost seems more soft porn than action at times, especially with Drew Barrymore who seems to revel in letting her tits swing in the breeze in some scenes. Slightly made up for by Cameron Diaz dancing in her underpants (Spiderman underpants, no less) and wearing a tight, white cat-suit.

My rating: 5.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.5 / 10
Running time: 98 mins
IMDB link

My Favourite Martian (1999)

[Movie 190 / Day 207]


A Martian lands in America and befriends a TV reporter. Supposedly a big-screen remake of some old TV series, it's gentle family humour. And a bit rubbish. It does prove that Elizabeth Hurley can't act, however.

My rating: 4.6 / 10
IMDB rating: 4.5 / 10
Running time: 94 mins
IMDB link

Milk (2008)

[Movie 189 / Day 206]


Harvey Milk was America's first openly gay elected official. This is his story, how he came to lead the gay rights movement in 70s America, and how he came to be assassinated while in office.

It's a good film, well acted and written. However, it only really gets going halfway through when he finally gets elected on his fifth attempt. It also features far more of Sean Penn kissing other men than I ever wanted to see. I mean, the film is all about the gay movement; did the point need that much emphasis?

My rating: 7.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 8.0 / 10
Running time: 128 mins
IMDB link

Lesbian Vampire Killers (2009)

[Movie 188 / Day 205]


Fletch has just been fired. Jimmy has just been dumped. So they decide to go on holiday together. Unfortunately, neither has any money. So they decide to go hiking. They end up in a village that is living under an ancient curse involving lesbian vampires.

Kind of similar to Sean of the Dead, being a comedy horror starring two of Britain's rising comedians. The humour is very British, which may explain why I liked it and IMDB didn't much. It's very much a brain-off kind of movie, but it is funny, and worth a watch. But then, you can probably tell from the title if it's your kind of movie!

My rating: 7.1 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.4 / 10
Running time: 88 mins
IMDB link

Knowing (2009)

[Movie 187 / Day 205]


Nicolas Cage seems to be making a return to form with this sci-fi thriller. He plays an MIT professor whose son receives a letter recovered from a time capsule during a ceremony at his high school. This letter contains nothing but a string of numbers. One night, John (Cage) figures out that the strings of numbers contain dates of major catastrophies around the globe, complete with the number of people that are going to die.

At the time he figures that out, there are three dates remaining on the list. He tries to prevent the tragedies, but in doing so, comes to suspect that his son is somehow involved and that greater forces are at play.

Some of the special effects are very good, but the twist ending felt a bit contrived. Overall though, it was enjoyable - let's hope this spells the end of Nic's string of mediocre action flicks!

My rating: 6.8 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.6 / 10
Running time: 121 mins
IMDB link

Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002)

[Movie 186 / Day 205]


More of the same in this crappy sequel. The Spy Kids are now an official offshoot of the secret government spy operation the grown ups work for. Of course they are.

Even in this smouldering pile of poo, Steve Buscemi is good.

My rating: 4.8 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.4 / 10
Running time: 100 mins
IMDB link

Dragnet (1987)

[Movie 185 / Day 204]


Average 80s spoof of the detective series. Aykroyd is good as the strait-laced Joe Friday and plays off Hanks' average guy Detective Streeback well. Some of the jokes are hilarious, but the plot is distinctly average.

My rating: 5.8 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.6 / 10
Running time: 106 mins
IMDB link

The International (2009)

[Movie 184 / Day 203]


Clive Owen plays an Interpol investigator, trying to pin down an elusive global enemy - a corrupt bank. At every turn, he seems defeated by the banks almost infinite resources; but, like a terrier after a gravy coated rat, he never gives up.

It's OK, but nothing more. Standout moment is the shootout in the Guggenheim museum (which took place in a life-size replica built for the purpose).

My rating: 6.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.7 / 10
Running time: 118 mins
IMDB link

Spy Kids (2001)

[Movie 183 / Day 202]


Carmen and Juni are two ordinary kids living ordinary lives. Until they discover that their parents are ex-super spies who have just been captured on one last mission! Quick as a flash, they're off the rescue, as spy kids! What japes.

A bit rubbish.

My rating: 5.1 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.7 / 10
Running time: 88 mins
IMDB link

Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)

[Movie 182 / Day 201]


A collection of sketches, loosely tied together by the premise of being adverts and intermissions during a spoof film.

Some of them are hilarious, some are terrible. Most are mediocre.

My rating: 5.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.7 / 10
Running time: 85 mins
IMDB link

Hotel for Dogs (2009)

[Movie 181 / Day 201]


A couple of orphans, placed in a foster home they hate and constantly getting into trouble, hide their dog in an old condemned hotel. Before long, they are housing tens of stray dogs in the hotel and attempting to avoid detection by the city authorities.

Very obvious plot and a happy ending that is signalled within the first 15 minutes of the film. Kids liked it though.

My rating: 4.9 / 10
IMDB rating: 4.5 / 10
Running time: 100 mins
IMDB link

Man on Fire (2004)

[Movie 180 / Day 198]


Creasy is an alcoholic, washed up ex-government agent that ends up in Mexico, an alcoholic and working as a child's bodyguard protecting her from kidnap. When the worst happens and she is kidnapped, Creasy decides to do whatever it takes to get her back and starts hunting down the people responsible, killing them all.

It's pretty good, Denzel Washington is ace as Creasy and Dakota Fanning isn't bad as the kidnapped child.

My rating: 7.7 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.7 / 10
Running time: 146 mins
IMDB link

Duplicity (2009)

[Movie 179 / Day 196]


Julia Roberts and Clive Owen are ex-CIA/MI6 agents who now work for rival multinational companies, helping to safeguard their industrial secrets. What their employers don't know is they are also working together to steal $40million worth of information.

It's a fairly typical kind of plot and Owen and Roberts are both good, although their on-screen chemistry isn't as hot as it could have been.

The film excelled in building the tension in the closing scenes, and then threw in a couple of twists for good measure (one of which, the payoff to the entire film, was really nicely done).

I liked it a lot.

My rating: 7.7 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.6 / 10
Running time: 125 mins
IMDB link

Brüno (2009)

[Movie 178 / Day 196]


Very funny in places; but Sacha Baron Cohen just went a little too far with the number of explicit gay jokes (and some are VERY explicit) in his movie for me - at times more embarassing to watch than amusing. I've never been to the cinema and seen so many people actually hiding their eyes before.

My rating: 5.9 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.2 / 10
Running time: 81 mins
IMDB link

Bronson (2009)

[Movie 177 / Day 194]


The story of Michael Peterson, aka Charles Bronson, aka Britain's most notorious prisoner.

It's interesting and Tom Hardy gives an absolutely brilliant portrayal of Bronson. Unfortunately, it's let down by the crazy editing and inter-cutting of a narrative given by Bronson on a stage in his own mind, complete with full clown style make-up and slightly insane monologues. It could have worked, but it made the film feel disjointed and quite difficult to follow at times.

Nowhere near as good as it could have been and missed out massive chunks of the man's life - ie, his days as a circus strongman, or his association with bare knuckle fighter Lenny McLean. Even worse, a significant chunk of the film is pure fantasy and never happened. Why they would want to fabricate parts of the story when they had so many interesting true events to call on is beyond me.

My rating: 5.6 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.7 / 10
Running time: 92 mins
IMDB link

The Iron Giant (1999)

[Movie 176 / Day 193]


Based on Ted Hughes' childrens book, The Iron Giant is the story of a massive robot falling to earth from outer space in 1950s America. As it roams around the countryside, a comic-book obsessed young boy (Hogarth) goes looking for it. Whilst he watches it grabs hold of part of an electricity substation and receives a huge electric shock. Hogarth runs over and throws a big switch, saving the Iron Giant.

After that, the two become friends; Hogarth helping the Giant to hide in a local scrap yard whilst avoiding the suspicions of both his mother and an overzealous government agent who has been sent to investigate the strange sightings.

The animation is a beautiful mix of traditional hand drawn and computer generated and the voice work is very well cast.

One of my favourite animated movies.

My rating: 7.8 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.9 / 10
Running time: 86 mins
IMDB link

Frost/Nixon (2008)

[Movie 175 / Day 192]


Based on a play, Frost/Nixon tells the story behind the post-Watergate interview of former president Richard Nixon by chat show host David Frost.

The acting is outstanding and, even though the outcome is fairly well known, it's still gripping.

My rating: 8.1 / 10
IMDB rating: 8.0 / 10
Running time: 122 mins
IMDB link

Bedtime Stories (2008)

[Movie 174 / Day 192]


Typical Adam Sandler family movie. Slightly amusing, very obvious.

My rating: 5.8 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.2 / 10
Running time: 99 mins
IMDB link

High School Musical (2006)

[Movie 173 / Day 190]


Gay.

My rating: 3.2 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.1 / 10
Running time: 98 mins
IMDB link

Role Models (2008)

[Movie 172 / Day 189]


Danny and Wheeler are two friends and colleagues who manage to get themselves sentenced to 150 hours of community service, which takes the form of mentoring a couple of kids. Although they only do it to escape a prison sentence, they end up becoming better people, naturally.

Paul Rudd is a brilliant comedic actor, as is Seann William Scott (although they both seem to play more or less the same character in every film they're in); together they're pretty funny.

Far better than I was expecting.

My rating: 7.2 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.3 / 10
Running time: 101 mins
IMDB link

Carpool (1996)

[Movie 170 / Day 187]


An opportunistic thief takes a businessman hostage and steals his car; inadvertantly kidnapping 4 kids in the process. The thief has a heart though, and all comes good in the end.

Bland, full of obvious jokes and stereotypes; pretty mediocre overall.

My rating: 4.4 / 10
IMDB rating: 4.5 / 10
Running time: 89 mins
IMDB link

Crocodile Dundee II (1988)

[Movie 169 / Day 185]


Average sequel to an average comedy. Attempting to cash in on the success of Crocodile Dundee, the sequel is much more of the same - only this time, it starts in New York before moving back to Australia.

By now, Mick and Sue are living happily together; although Mick has picked up a habit of gazing whistfully into the middle distance and dreaming of his beloved outback. Before long, Sue is kidnapped by a South American drug czar and it's up to Mick to somehow get them to Australia in order to play lots of pranks on them.

My rating: 5.2 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.0 / 10
Running time: 108 mins
IMDB link

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

[Movie 168 / Day 183]


In the 80s, it seemed Eddie Murphy could do no wrong. After mining such comedy gold as 48 Hrs, Trading Places and the original Beverly Hills Cop, he starred in his first sequel.

Clearly written to cash in on the original and Murphy's rising star, Beverly Hills Cop II is more of the same - motormouth cop Axel Foley once again leaves his native Detroit in order to assist the BHPD in solving a crime.

Comedy, and a bit of action, ensues.

My rating: 6.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.0 / 10
Running time: 100 mins
IMDB link

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

[Movie 168 / Day 182]


Michael J. 'Crocodile' Dundee is an Australian bushman. Sue Charlton is an American journalist. She follows him for a few days to research a story. She falls in love with him and his zany 80's comedic ways.

Average romantic comedy.

My rating: 6.2 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.4 / 10
Running time: 93 mins
IMDB link