Alien Nation (1988)

[Movie 237 / Day 251]


Very similar to District 9 (or vice versa, more accurately). A spaceship has arrived over LA. In it are lots and lots of aliens, genetically modified to be good workers and enslaved. At the start of the movie, we are treated to a shot of a spaceship floating in the sky and it could have been an outtake from D9. We're told that the aliens (newcomers) are out of quarantine and integrating with the humans of LA. Then we get into the story.

James Caan plays a badass cop, Sykes, that stumbles upon the robbery of a newcomer convenience store by a pair of heavily armed aliens. As they exchange fire and wait for backup, Sykes' partner is shot and killed. This gives Sykes the excuse he needs to hate the newcomers (or slags, as he calls them) even more.

A few minutes later and a newcomer policeman, Samuel Francisco, is being promoted to Detective, the first to attain that rank. Sykes volunteers to be Francisco's partner, hoping it'll get him closer to the newcomers that murdered his partner.

During his investigation, his prejudices shrink as he gets to know and becomes friends with Francisco. Following leads takes them to the top of the newcomer tree and uncovers a drugs ring.

It's OK, but past the novel pairing of human/alien, it's a pretty standard buddy-cop movie with a pretty standard 'corruption in high places / drug ring' plot.

My rating: 5.7 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.1 / 10
Running time: 91 mins
IMDB link

All the President's Men (1976)

[Movie 235 / Day 248]


Follows Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Hoffman) as they uncover details of the Watergate scandal that cost Nixon the Presidency.

Well written and well acted, but I did find it a bit on the long side.

My rating: 7.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 8.0 / 10
Running time: 138 mins
IMDB link

The Full Monty (1997)

[Movie 219 / Day 234]


Sheffield, the late 90s. Many steelworks have been closed and consequently, many steelworkers are unemployed and struggling to find work. Carlyle and Addy are two such workers resorting to petty crime in order to scrape together enough money to survive. When the Chippendales arrive at the local men's club and the entire town's female population turn out to watch them perform, the two come up with a scheme to make some money by stripping - except, in order to add something extra to make up for the fact that they aren't Chippendales, they decide to show 'the full monty'.

Predicatably amusing scenes follow.

Stand out for me are Mark Addy and Tom Wilkinson, both of whom are pretty good. I found Robert Carlyle really annoyed me after a while, not least because his accent left a lot to be desired.

My rating: 6.9 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.3 / 10
Running time: 91 mins
IMDB link

The Core (2003)

[Movie 218 / Day 234]


Ridiculous action movie. The earth's core has 'stalled' and stopped spinning - with disastrous results for us. The only solution is to use an untested, newly invented type of metal to build a ship and use an untested, newly invented laser to drill a hole big enough for that ship to carry a bunch of scientists and a couple of astronauts down to the centre of the earth in order to set off a couple of nukes in order to jump-start it.

Average, but fun enough. I'm not sure if Film4 cut it for an advert or if I managed to miss a whole segment, but one of the scientists on the ship literally disappeared half way through the film.

My rating: 5.1 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.3 / 10
Running time: 135 mins
IMDB link

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)

[Movie 212 / Day 226]


A prime example of a franchise that's about 5 installments past it's best. Absolutely terrible.

My rating: 3.0 / 10
IMDB rating: 3.2 / 10
Running time: 84 mins
IMDB link

Being John Malkovich (1999)

[Movie 207 / Day 219]


One of those bizarre films that should be a bit rubbish but somehow seems to work. Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) is a failed puppeteer who is forced to get a job as a filing clerk in order to make some money. The company he goes to work for is based on the 7.5th floor of a local building. One day, he finds a mysterious doorway behind a filing cabinet. When he crawls through it, into a wierd tunnel, he finds himself transported into John Malkovich's head for 15 minutes before being spat out onto the side of the New Jersey turnpike.

He teams up with a woman that works on the same floor (Maxine - a woman he's trying desperately to have an affair with) in order to turn the discovery into a business proposition by selling tickets to be John Malkovich for 15 minutes. Enter his wife, Lotte (played by an extremely dowdy looking Cameron Diaz), who enters Malkovich's mind and decides that a) she should have been born a man, and b) she is also in love with Maxine. Maxine decides that she quite fancies Lotte, but only when she's inside Malkovich. Cue a bizarre love triangle. Unfortunately, Craig can't cope with that so he locks his wife in a cage and tricks Maxine into meeting Malkovich - but he's inside his head instead of Lotte. He then discovers he can control Malkovich by harnessing his puppeteering skills.

There is an explanation for the portal, and yes, it is odd.

Somehow it works though and is quite enjoyable.

My rating: 7.5 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.9 / 10
Running time: 112 mins
IMDB link

James and the Giant Peach (1996)

[Movie 206 / Day 219]


Based on Roald Dahl's classic childrens novel, James and the Giant Peach follows the story of a little boy whose parents are killed by a runaway rhinocerous. Packed off to live with his mean aunties, they force him to do chores around the house while giving him the bare minimum he needs to live. One day, while saving the life of a spider, a mysterious man appears and gives the boy a bag of magical worm things, telling him they will change his life. Unfortunately, he drops them and loses all but one.

The others get into the dead peach tree at the bottom of the garden and an enormous peach grows on it. To cut a long story short, he ends up hitching a ride to New York in said peach, along with some enormous insects.

It's OK; but the book was better.

My rating: 5.6 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.7 / 10
Running time: 79 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 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

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

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

The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

[Movie 164 / Day 175]


The first Studio Ghibli movie, Cagliostro nonetheless exhibits much of the same charm, wit and style as the later releases. Lupin is a master thief who, after stealing a carload of counterfeit money, decides to track down the counterfeiter and muscle in on the action.

He changes his mind when he realises the counterfeiter is the Count of Cagliostro and he's forcing a young princess to marry him in order to discover the location of a fabled treasure. From that moment on, his objective is to steal the princess away from the Count.

I liked it, although it's not as polished as the later Studio Ghibli fare.

My rating: 6.9 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.7 / 10
Running time: 110 mins
IMDB link

My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

[Movie 161 / Day 172]


Studio Ghibli have, over the last 30-odd years, produced some wonderfully endearing cartoons - and My Neighbour Totoro is one of the best.

Two young girls, Satsuki and Mei, move to a new house in the Japanese countryside with their university professor father. Their mother is in hospital for treatment of an unmentioned illness. The two girls spend their time exploring the new house and the woods around it. One day whilst Satsuki is at school, Mei encounters a little forest spirit and chases it into the woods to discover a much bigger forest spirit called Totoro (apparently a mispronounciation of the Japanese word for troll). This spirit takes the form of a big, furry, cuddly thing. Before long, both Mei and Satsuki are having various adventures with Totoro.

There really is very little plot, but it's brilliantly handled and the movie just seems to exude a quality that keeps you captivated.

Disney bought the international rights to the Studio Ghibli back catalogue a while back and then redubbed most (all?) of the films with American actors. I normally have a problem with dubbing because it normally detracts from a movie and can be downright irritating. Disney have done a superb job however, seemingly taking the time to find voices that fit the characters of the movies. Dakota Fanning (and her younger sister Elle) are very well cast as the sisters.

Makes me want to rewatch more Ghibli.

My rating: 8.2 / 10
IMDB rating: 8.1 / 10
Running time: 86 mins
IMDB link

The Warriors (1979)

[Movie 160 / Day 172]


The Warriors has an intriguing plot that has the potential for a decent movie. Set in a time when hundreds of gangs are running amok in New York, all vying for a piece of the city, Cyrus, the leader of one of the gangs calls a peaceful meeting for a delegation of 9 members of each of the hundred best known gangs in the city. He is hoping to unite them against the authorities (altogether, the gang's membership numbers 60,000 people - there are barely 20,000 police in the entire city).

Unfortunately, during the rally, somebody shoots Cyrus in the face - and then shouts out that it was the leader of the Warriors that did it. He's quickly captured and we don't see his fate beyond an angry crowd descending on him. The remaining eight Warriors escaped the meeting and are faced with travelling through the night to get back to their own 'turf', all the while being hunted by every other gang in NYC (not to mention the police).

This is supposed to be a hard edged, darkly violent movie. It's not particularly. In fact, it sucks quite a lot. The dialogue is hideously dated. The costumes make it look like a 90-minute trial run for a Village People comeback tour. The hairstyles are all kinds of amazing. The main antagonist sounds like his nuts haven't quite dropped.

It's still watchable though. And, unsurprisingly, a remake is currently in pre-production - apparently helmed by Tony Scott. Hopefully, he can capitalise on a decent storyline and make a properly action packed, suspense filled movie without quite so much additional cheese.

My rating: 5.1 / 10
IMDB rating: 7.6 / 10
Running time: 92 mins
IMDB link

Kiss of the Dragon (2001)

[Movie 159 / Day 172]


Fairly mediocre Jet Li actioner. He plays a Chinese agent, on loan to the French government for an operation in Paris. Unfortunately, the French policeman in charge is corrupt and sets Li up for a murder.

The plot is pretty simple. It's enjoyable enough though, with plenty of fight scenes with Jet Li bouncing around kicking and punching. Some of the editing leaves a bit to be desired, but I suppose that's not much of a shock from something like this.

My rating: 6.4 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.3 / 10
Running time: 98 mins
IMDB link