You are probably watching the wealest of the bunch, the beginning of the 2nd season, and I meant to warn you the xhange in scenerio means there is a lot of exposition, but it really worth sticking with, esp. as you see Stringer Bell's character get fleshed out for some very sardonic plot developments that occur in season three. Yeah, season four which concentrates on the juveniles and schools system is my favorite as well. Season three has some pretty good story arcs with a new character Cutty, and a project called Hamsterdam, a new rival and more ruthless gang (which btw, is so much based on an actual gang the writers didn't even bother to change the name of the chief), there is a lot to savor in the up coming episodes.

My favorite character in the entire series, Chris Paltrow, what do you think Preach?

Honorable mention, Bugs, Bodie, and the politician Clyde Davis. Points off for picking the most politically correct choice (who played his hand like a fool in season five). ;) 

if it turns out Omar is your favorite. 

will make my through all of it then.

also, review later but Slumdog Millionaire is a cracker of a film, if a little contrived. 

By Bugs, I mean Bubbles. His huge saucer eyes make me tend to think of the wrong nickname for him. He has a really good story arc in season five with rock icon Steve Earl playing the part of his confidant and friend. 

...Omar did get all the good lines. Chris was good, but I'd have to go with Bubs by a nose, he had the strongest "big story" and a fantastic performance to bring the character alive. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0962774/

wow, this could be my new favorite movie. Extremely slow, focusing on the beauty in the eye of the beholder, the beauty in the world around you. A bit on the surrealistic side. The only grief i have so far is with the ending, and i have to rewatch the whole thing to see if it's actually that awesome :D

It doesn't seem to have a story at all ;)

German sync sucked a bit, too. And all the stupid people in the cinema who didn't get the movie. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0962774/

wow, this could be my new favorite movie. Extremely slow, focusing on the beauty in the eye of the beholder, the beauty in the world around you. A bit on the surrealistic side. The only grief i have so far is with the ending, and i have to rewatch the whole thing to see if it's actually that awesome :D

It doesn't seem to have a story at all ;)

German sync sucked a bit, too. And all the stupid people in the cinema who didn't get the movie. 

 

i wasn't really satfisfied with the music :( 

You Only Live Once (1934) - extremely average early crime drama from Fritz Lang and starring Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sidney. The characterisations are weak and the plotting and pacing leave a lot to be desired. Lang seems to be directing on autopilot with only the occasional inspired flourish in an otherwise dull film.

5/10


Savage Grace (2008) - there is some strong acting, particularly from the ever reliable Julianne Moore, but Tom Kalin's movie about the true story of the dysfunctional, incestuous relationship between heiress Barbabra Daly Baekeland and her gay son Antony is a real mess narratively.

It tries to cover too much ground in an effort to show the relationship at various stages of the individuals' lives and ends up focusing far too much on particular events rather than the characters themselves. And when you have characters that behave as selfishly and lamentably as those in this film, the lack of focus on them only amplifies the audience's disconnection towards them.


The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) - I like Oscar Wilde but I'm not quite sure what to make of Anthony Asquith's incredibly stagey and artificial film version of arguably his most famous work. The technique is obviously very deliberate as it suits the content of Wilde's material down to a tee, but somewhere along the line the superficial stuffiness of the whole thing just started to bother me.

5/10


Le Jour se Leve (1939) - another one of the Marcel Carne/Jean Gabin collaborations which falters a bit towards the end but is otherwise quite a competent and atmospheric film with an intricate narrative and well etched and explored characters. There's also some neat little details in the plotting which are very cleverly implemented.

7/10


Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - Danny Boyle's latest is a contrived but excellently executed piece of work, aided tremendously by its very impressive visual style and soundtrack. Boyle also manages to capture India from the inside, which is not an easy thing to do, and also incorporates aspects of bollywood without having them clash with the film's more western elements. The script could have used a bit more polish, particularly some of the dialogue, but on the whole this is extremely high quality entertainment.

7.5-8/10 

BBC miniseries misfire.
Too lightly made. Too "humorous". Overacted. Too quick. The makeup looks so fake. And then some acts as if they don't care what is happening (even when dying).

The new Miss Marple has somewhat similar problems. Always when something important there is a comical music highlighting it, and it destroys the small semblance of feeling and anticipation that has been built despite of the candy environments.

What's gone wrong? Fingersmith was excellent compared to Oliver Twist.

Yet Dickens is the genre's granddaddy, it should be done with utmost care.

I haven't read the book btw but I already have some predictions having seen the first episode, based on how much the work has been copied - my standard BBC historical miniseries stands. 

And the verbs are missing.
"my standard BBC historical miniseries plot analysis stands" it should be. 

You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0960144/
Watched that yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Super silly and well executed humor and a nice story about Isreal and Palastine. I don't get why it's rated so low, but hey, it's the internet/imdb. Disco disco! 

Never saw, ever - that's right - (not to you but to whoever makes reputations aka his) - the reason for dicken's acclaim.

He's nothing. He's 19thC bourgeoisie wuth a conscience. Woohoo.

Hate to be so contemptuous but seems justifiable here.

Those who dive into 19thC should, in my view, forget the language and start hardcore into the relevance (and every damn film will be with subtitles, rather than actors speaking in "old" english accents) - and that relevance can leave "dickens" behind and launch straight into dostoevsky.

pukes over those middle class spewers. 

maybe what I meant was

at the end of the day I may be as banal, horrible, white-walled, carpeted, clean, middle-class-guilty, sad, white... etc... kid rock is the devil's slut, and I have many ways of brain disintegration lined up 

I'll defend him, although I'll also defend dostoevsky.

btw, just saw the new Bourned film. FFS, if you're going to spend so much money on action scenes, why edit them into oblivion? 

FUN FILM FACT OF THE DAY - 7th January 2009
_________________________

I am the only person in history to have watched all 6 American Pie movies. Even Eugene Levy refused to watch either American Pie 6 - Beta House or what many consider the nadir of the series, American Pie 5 - The Naked Mile.

Full reviews of all films to follow, with detailed deconstruction of the many themes explored and the powerful yet nuanced symbolism used. 

there's six of them :) 

Haha, that's my response too. There are 6 American Pie movies?! 

just checked imdb to see if there's a 7th and couldnt find anything, but eugene levy is starring in Night at the Museum 2 : Battle of the Smithsonian :) 

I salute your decision to plunge in those shallow depths.

BTW, I have a request, I caught about fifteen minutes of American Pie: Band Camp on TBS a while back, and I recall the female lead was a major little hot tamale. If you could report back on the
existence/absence of any nude scenes with her (and preferably with the minute/seconds) I would be much obliged. She may not be Helen, but even B movie, 3rd string celebrity skin provides a cheap thrill. 

sorry, no dice. Band Camp is definitely the American Pie with the least boobs in it. She's a hottie though, you're right there. 

That nearly breaks my heart. I really hate it when a pretty girl gets discovered before she has done the proper amount of work in the trenches of soft porn b-movies. One of my great disappointments was with the actress who played Candy on Two and a Half Men, Alan's second wife. One of the most vivacious red heads I have ever seen. I looked up her profile on IMDB only to find out Two&1/2 Men was her first gig straight out of college. [Capt Kirk shakes fist, screams to the sky] Charlie Sheen!!!!!! 

....nitin had seen this, and hoping he had:

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - Danny Boyle's latest is a contrived but excellently executed piece of work, aided tremendously by its very impressive visual style and soundtrack. Boyle also manages to capture India from the inside, which is not an easy thing to do, and also incorporates aspects of bollywood without having them clash with the film's more western elements. The script could have used a bit more polish, particularly some of the dialogue, but on the whole this is extremely high quality entertainment.

7.5-8/10

I tend to concur, particularly with the positives of that review. Just got semi-dragged out to see it and was rather well entertained. I did find the ending rather soppy (not just the very final bit) and I also thought that some of the cinematography could have been improved. Although the latter is partly because there was some noticably good cinematography, a high point in several places but not all.

Definitely agree with the excellent soundtrack, and managing to add a contemporary feel to an Indian film without it clashing horribly (a bit like fusion cooking - easy to make a pointless mess, but great when it actually works). I also liked the subtle portrayal of modernisation, and the increasingly converging storyline (although perhaps that's what you find contrived).

Good stuff. 

7.5-8 / 10

I make that approx 7.75 / 10


Nitin you need to start marking out of 40 then ;)