The Silence (1963) - An interesting one from Bergman, about two sisters (who hate each other) and a child stopping at an unnamed European city on their way to home (presumably in Sweden).

It lives up to its title in a brilliant first half in which there's probably about 50 lines of dialogue in 50 min. But the terrific cinematography from Sven Nyvkist and the great acting tell you all you need to know.

The second half isnt as successful, with much more dialogue that isnt as half as interesting as the gestures and mood present in the first half.

Still, worth a watch for that great first half.

7/10


The Da Vinci Code - never read the book, so wasnt really sure what to expect. It's decidedly average, as are most of Ron Howard's movies, but it's not terrible.

Howard directs flatly as usual but this has more problems with its script than direction. The whole thing is ceaseless exposition, so much so that there isnt time to do anything else. It tries to build suspense, but hasnt got any time to spare to achieve that.

And I'm not sure how the plot came across in the book, but here I saw the main reveal(s) that come towards the end of the movie about a third of the way in.

Very average.

5/10


Persona (1966) - Another interesting one from Bergman that reminded me a lot of Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive and Fight Club thematically. But in between all that, it is a very talky, typically Bergmanesque movie which again highlights his limited approach, despite different subject matter than usual.

What makes it interesting is 2 fantastic acting perforamnces by Liv Ulmann and Bibi Anderson and more great cinematography from Sven Nyvkist.

7/10


Quai Des Orfevres (1947) - Another good movie from Clouzot, an atmospheric drama/thriller set in post war France. Main plot concerns a murder mystery, but thankfully that is not the main emphasis as it is a bit straightforward in that aspect. Instead, it conecentrates on making interesting characters and detailing the world those characters live in. Also has a couple of great performances to help in that regrd.

7/10


The Magnificent Seven (1960) - It's no Seven Samurai, but even as a standalone film, I found it to be above average at best. Some of the cast lets it down, as does a lack of spark in the script.

5.5/10 

...Da Vinci Code, tried to watch it the other night, I fell asleep sometime after what I guess was half way :) 

Tootsie - Above Average. The look and soundtrack date it pretty badly but its sharply written for the most part and giving free reign to Dustin Hoffman was a good idea. He doesnt always succeed, but hits most times, as do Bill Murray and Teri Garr in their supporting roles. However, its not nearly as successful in the drama elements, which there is a fair bit of. I did like the ending though, that was ingeniously done.

6/10



Renaissance (2006) - french made futuristic noir film with its main selling point being a unique blend of animation and live action. Actors have acted out the roles in real locations but then the whole thing's been manipulated digitally to give every object and character a flat 2d shaded look. Of course, being noir, it's all black and white with lots of shadows and stark contrast areas. Basically, think Sin City but even more comic book like in its visuals, literally looking like a 3d rendered comic book.

The style definitely lends to some impressive imagery, and although its never utilised to its fullest, its reasonably arresting. The movie itself is very pedestrian, and despite a name voice cast (including Daniel Craig and Ian Holm), the voice acting is a bit mediocre. The voices also don�t really match the chracters and that further detracts from an already redundant plotline.

But worth a watch for style.

5/10



Fanny and Alexander (1982) - probably Ingmar Bergman's most accessible movie, despite its length and bizarre supernatural tones. In fact, at times its very un-Bergman like in its examination of an upper class swedish family in the early 19th century, mainly through the eyes of two children (the title characters). Its incredibly disjointed, probably because 2 hrs were cut for the theatrical release but I don think that's an excuse in this case since there was plenty of time to cover the material anyway (the theatrical cut is 3 hrs). There are some brilliant scenes, but due to the way its been cut, some parts feel way too rushed while others seem to go on for too long. I'm tempted to check out the full version, but I think releasing it theatrically in its current form was unacceptable.

And despite the oscar for Sven Nyvkist, I think he's done much better in other bergman films.

6.5/10



Hidden (2006) - Michael Haneke's latest film is extremely pretentious and self consciously arty, but its also very intriguing and very well made. Fuelled by another great performance from Daniel Auteiul, it is slow moving but very effective in its build up of suspense as a family starts receiving strange videotapes of them being under surveillance by someone. That it then ends in such a bizarre, left field and ultimately inconclusive manner might be off putting to some, but its definitely a well orchestrated experience. The almost too clever style employed is a nice touch, depsite being a bit too cute, and the script it is well written for the most part, cleverly diverting you one way when the movie is clearly about something else alltogether.

7.5/10 

Nitin, just wanted to point out the characters in Renaissance were not live actors, it's 100% rendered 3D (with probably a fair ammount of motion capture of course).
The original voice acting (in french) was also really horrible, was hoping they would fix that up when making an english version...
I agree with your review otherwise, mostly worth it for checking out the style. 

really? pretty good mo-cap then. I thought the movement looked quite fluid. Although the complete digital nature does explain how they pulled off certain shots which I assumed were CG, but wasnt sure. 

The Brothers Grimm - nicely shot, but otherwise it's a trainwreck from start to finish. Quite possibly the worst directed film I've come across. Absolutely terrible.

1.5/10 

Flatmate rented the video, I watched from 15 minutes or so on, wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. I think the director still had an overall sense on what was happening, the action scenes were mostly believable etc.. I like some small details every now and then. The policemen talked french. The gunshots were not that sound library muffled sound... Some things were ??? like what happened to the main character's wound?
Ian McKellen rocked too, even though he was written as a bit cliche at times but anyway.

Yeah, the main turnpoint was indeed obvious and was even hinted at with stupid HINT HERE dialogue... And some other turn points too were to be seen somewhat before... But I guess those are ok.

All in all, above average. Mostly because the script actually contained a plot and different characters and had some historic cool stuff, and also the direction was fluid. 

I would be willing to believe it is more carefully factual than the book; I read it to see what all the firestorm was about and I am amazed by what people are willing to believe. The history in the book is polemical, not actual.

A few things that come to mind, in the book an obelisk structure that is now part of a cathedral is described as proof of the existence of a mystery religion inside the early Church because it represents a penis (penises and vaginas are mystically significant in this supposed cult). The actual function of this structure is a sundial used to calculate the return of Passover.

Other things are just illogical. The first century Biblical scriptures are presented as being completely refuted in substance because Gnostic text written centuries later contradict them. Brown's hero is presented as an Empiricist but that just flies out the window with this evidence. It never occurs to him that this text could be invalid or both text are invalid. Don't let a little logic get in the way. That would just take all the fun out of saying, 'Fuck your God!'

Of course you can argue that it is just fiction, but Brown claims everything is accurate in fact in the first page where most authors normally put a disclaimer.
There are people (including in a post here written a few years back) who believe the Da Vinci Code to be nothing less than a revelation.

But enough of that. The movie may be much better. A few are, like The Godfather, for instance. 

After the travesty of Die Another Day it was inevitable that the franchise would have to be taken in a new direction, but I would never have expected it could be done as well as Casino Royale. The story nolonger plays second fiddle to the gadgets, Bond is nolonger a pantomime action hero and the product placement nolonger dictates the action.

Daniel Craig may not have a jet black mane of hair on his chest, but he looks perfectly comfortable in a dinner jacket AND looks as if he's seriously considering killing you [a licence to kill would be pretty useless otherwise, right?]. Everything from his cold, emotionless blue eyes to the thuggish swagger suggest that an incredibly painful death will become you if you get in his way. Gadgets are a last resort for this Bond.

My only complaint would be that the next film probably won't arrive for at least two years. 

actually had a trailer that made me wanting to watch it, very unusual for a trailer these days.

Also, spiderman 3's latest trailer and The Prestige also look impressive. 

High Sierra (1941) - pre-Maltese Falcon Humphrey Bogart film made by Raoul Walsh and its a bit too corny and melodramatic to be effective. Ida Lupino and Bogart stand tall no matter what comes heir way, but the script is a bit too silly at times.

6/10


Huff Season 1 - overall decent show with Hank Azaria playing Craig Huffstodt, a psychiatrist whose life changes after one of his patients kills themselves during a session. Part drama, part comedy and it doesnt quite know which it wants to be and ends up hedging bets each way.

Hits and misses in both areas quite frequently, with the hits being very effective but the misses also missing by quite a margin.

What it does have going for it is layered characters. Most the main characters, even if they first appear to be one dimensional, are well rounded by the end of the season. There are some great performances to help this with Blythe Danner being a standout as Huff's mother and Paget Brewster also doing well as his wife.

Olive Platt makes the most of his role as Huff's best friend/lawyer, his character providing the show with most its highlights and also its lowlights. Azaria is serviceable in the main role.

Scripting varies form very good to mediocre, with the variation occuring too frequently for my liking.


7/10 

Maria Full of Grace (2004) - pretty good movie about the harsh economics of the drug trade, and the economy in general, in Colombia with the title character accepting a job as a drug mule to America. The movie does well to avoid overt moralising or launching an anti drug tirade and simply focuses on its chracters and their plight.

The acting is very good and there are some truly horrible scenes, but the script suffers from underwritten supporting chracters. The focus on the title character leaves a lot of the rest of the cast underdeveloped, and themovie would have benefited if they were fleshed out a bit more rather than just be there to help the story along.

7/10


The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - hmm, it definitely gets the look right. Unlike the overglossy look that most modern horror films have, Tobe Hooper really captures the ugliness that is needed to tell a story like this. The visuals have a raw, nihilistic and bleak feel which is just not there in current horror films.

However, apart from that aspect, I found it to have most of the same problems that most of today's horror films have. The only time it almost works is in the last 10 min, but that's too far in.

4/10 

If you didn't enjoy the book, you probably won't enjoy the movie. However, I'd recommend you read Holy Blood, Holy Grail, on which Da Vinci Code is based. Much more in-depth, and more entertaining, even if the writing style is excruciatingly boring. 

hidden history/conspiracy works both fiction and non fiction. Ecco's Focault's Pendulum and Philip Dick's last trilogy of novels explored some of the same areas as the Da Vinci Code and they are among my favorite novels. I even liked Angels & Demons as a thriller though the culprit is pretty easy to guess within the first paragraph he is introduced.

I thought with DC, Dan Brown was being deceptive; it is too new age-y and feminist for my blood.

I'll give HB,HG a look next time I'm at the local Barnes&Nobels. I go at least once a month to read Computer Arts from cover to cover('cause I'm cheap ;)). 

...I recommend that everyone push their way through Foucault's Pendulum at some stage. Hard work in places, but well worth it. 

and comparing him to dan brown is like comparing grahame greene to john grisham.

anyway, two more :

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2006) - Tommy Lee Jones directs and stars in this surrealy bizarre western that is suposedly inspired by Sam Peckinpah's surrealy bizarre movie Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. He plays Pete Prker, best riend to an illegan mexican immigrant who gets killed by a border patrolman, played very well by Barry Pepper. Taking the matter into his own hands, Pete takes Pepper's character and the body of Melquiades Estrada on a strange little journey back to Estrada's hometown in Mexico, with the aim of burying him in his home.

There's a few too many conicidences in the script, but otherwise it's pretty well written and goes in really unexpected directions. Tommy Lee Jones is nice and understated behind the camera, everyhting is thee to see, but its not always highlighted which is a good thing.

7.5/10


The Prestige - If you're going to go down the style over substance path this is the way to do it.

Christopher Nolan's classy tale of two rival magicians almost revels in its own structure and is backed up by some very good acting, even if it only scratches the surface in terms of its themes. The main twist is a bit too easy to spot too early into the movie, but its so well made and the writing is so exceptional in its attention to the little details, that it doesnt really matter.

Whilst is very good as is, I think a greater film could have been made if it wasnt so concerned with having twists but instead increased the focus on the nature of its main characters and its overriding theme of duality. Still, for the way he's chosen to gowith, Nolan does extremely well in the direction department and its highly recommended.

7.5/10 

and I thought my caveats like 'as a thriller' , and the criticism I gave of The Da Vinci Code were enough to make it clear, I was in no way stating Dan Brown is in Umberto Ecco's league. 

so Nitin doesn't have to sift through the index to find the thread later this week end 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/

The trailer is a visual feast, like El Greco applied to the talkies. 

:)

yeah 300 could be either really reaaly bad or really really good 

Arrested Development Season 3 - still funnier than most things on tv, but season 3 is a level below season 2 and well below the standard of season 1. It's a lot more patchy and goes for a lot more cheap jokes, not all of which work, but some of the middle episodes in the series come together really well. Pity it was cancelled, but 3 quality series is still 50 epidsodes of classy comedy.

7.5/10


Dressed to Kill (1980) - you can call it a ripoff or you can call it a homage, but Brian de Palma's doppelganger imitation of Psycho, right down to the narrative structure, is nowhere near the same league.

There are some really well directed set pieces, but that's offset by some terrible acting (especially by Nancy Allen) and some even worse dialogue. De Palma utilises his favorite trick (which I dont want to mention) a bit too many times, lessening any impact the ending actually had. This is very very good during its wordless sequences where the camera and music are handled amazingly well, but gets derailed almost everytime certain characters open their mouth.

5.5/10


The Legend of Zorro - very very average in all areas. Generic plot, generic characters, very generic action scenes, and far too overlong for what it is.

4/10


Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1971) - Sam Peckinpah's bleak, surreal and bizarre film about a low life mexican who has to obtain the head of a man named Alfredo Garcia to collect a bounty that could lead him and his prostitute lover to a better life.

Its basically a road movie of sorts, mixed with a western and its very nihilistic in its view of the world and the human condition. I found it to have a few pacing problems, with too much time being spent early on in establishing the main character and not enough time spent on the second half when he starts to mentally deteriorate after a few nasty incidents.

Warren Oates puts in a commanding performance as the main character Bennie and Peckinpah is a bit more restrained than usual in his direction, which works in some scenes but not in others which lack a bit of energy.

7/10 

Season 3 -- There is a scene when a certain exceptional actress wearing funny hats in the show is revealed to be an imbecile; the reaction
of the law enforcement types listening in caused me to explode with laughter. The season is uneven at best but there are some real comic moments of genius in the mix. 

agreed.

That was a classic moment. 

This is the second Bond movie that I've seen--the other was one with Sean Connery. I wasn't disappointed with this one, although it was a bit predictable in places.

Daniel Craig seemed to be a good Bond. The torture scene everyone keeps talking about somehow didn't get to me, though.

Recommended. 

Entourage Season 2 - more of the same, although it's slightly better than season 1 because there's a few more interesting events occurring. That means its an easy watch which is reasonably entertaining but because of the extremely one dimesnional characters and the shallower than a 5 day old rain puddle shallowness, it is also instantly forgettable. Jeremy Piven cotinues to provide the only interesting character in the show, hollywood agent Ari Gold.

7/10


Miami Vice - A miscalculated misfire from Michael Mann. Its infused with plenty of style and Dion Beebes' cinematography is pretty good, if not upto his previous work with Mann on Collateral. However, Mann imbues the movie with more gravitas than the material can handle, and the whole thing pretty much collapses under its own weight.

The script is poor and the pacing is all over the place, with early scenes being far too chaotic and the middle section being far too limp. Jamie Foxx does well individually but has zero spark with Colin Farell while Gong Li does reasonably well with a poorly written role.

Even the action scenes, which to be fair are still far better than the tripe most movies try and pass off as action scenes, are not as good as in Mann's other films.

5.5/10


Silent Hill - Christophe Gans's first movie, Brotherhood of the Wolf, was a glorious mess but this one is just an absolute mess.

Based on the popular horror game franchise, the production design is excellent and the visuals are impressive, if a little too CGI, with some truly grotesque and hellish scenery. But as far as a sense of dread or suspense goes, they are nonexistent. It might be flashy but it is definitely not scary.

It is also scripted like a video game, characters literally going from one room or level to another whilst avoiding obstacles and monsters, which when given the 2 hour + runtime becomes extremely tedious.

On a side note, quite a few reviews upon release complained about it being almost incomprehensible. I didnt find it to be like that, in fact by the time it's over it makes as much as sense as most David Lynch films.