Film 109/365, Day 119/365 – The Social Network

An intriguing insight into the creation of the world’s largest social network.  Whether you will come out of it liking Zuckerberg or any of the other parties involved is another question altogether, but you can’t help but admire the way Mark put the Facebook together so quickly.  Not the best film in the world but worth watching.

Synopsis:  You’ve probably heard of Facebook!  Well this is the story behind the creation of Facebook, following the creator Mark Zuckerberg as he deals with the running of the Facebook and two law suits, one claiming that he stole the idea and another from the CFO of Facebook.

Film 108/365, Day 119/365 – Dawn of the Dead

Packed with heart pounding action and zombie goodness.  This is the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead and whilst I do love the original, I can’t help but feel that this is as good as the original if not a little better.  Again Romero purists will probably not like the fast mobile zombies but I think it works very well in this instance.  If you like zombie films you have to watch this, no doubt about it.

Synopsis:  When there’s no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.  A motley group of survivors have found sanctuary from the zombies within the local mall.  They have everything they could ever want or need available to them from within the mall but is that enough?  Will they survive?  Will help ever come?  And who is the bigger threat the zombies or the fellow survivors?

Film 107/365, Day 119/365 – Apocalypse of the Dead

Woeful acting, cliched script and barely entertaining, which is a shame because I do love a good zombie film.  This however was not a good zombie film, first thing wrong was the howling and roaring zombies but that’s just a personal preference.  The acting throughout was awful which wasn’t helped at all by the script or direction.  On the plus side it’s not the royal wedding!

Synopsis:  Whilst transporting a prisoner from Percova, Serbia, a group of Interpol agents are caught in the middle of a deadly outbreak.  A strange virus that kills it’s host and then reanimates their body in order to spread the virus further.  Soon they find themselves barricaded inside a police station just trying to survive with no idea of what they are up against.  The prisoner however seems to know a lot more than anyone else.

Film 106/365, Day 117/365 – American Pie 2

More ridiculously funny and unbelievable situations than before.  Having learnt from the first film they have switched the focus away from the boring characters leaving Kevin and Oz with smaller roles, whilst focusing on Jim, Finch and Stiffler.  Which in my opinion was definitely the right thing to do, not to mention bringing back Jim’s dad.  A very suitable follow up to the first film.

Synopsis:  A year after the first film, the guys are back from college and are looking to rediscover their friendship and have a good time so as to stop them from drifting apart.  To do this they hire a house by the beach and set about having a great summer.  Surely nothing can go wrong unless of course you mistake superglue for lubricant!!!

Film 105/365, Day 110/365 – The Mask

Zany, bonkers and completely insane.  It’s Jim Carry at his comic best in a role that is the absolutely perfect foil for his style.  Again it’s one of those where if you like Jim Carrey, you will love The Mask.  However if you don’t then you won’t like it, but then I think there must be something wrong with you!

Synopsis:  Repressed bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss finds an old wooden mask that when he puts it on releases all of his inhibitions and transforms him into the cartoonesque Mask.  Under the influence of the Mask he robs a bank and makes an enemy of the local gang boss.  Even with the Mask’s power will Stanley be able to get out of the mess he’s now in?

Film 104/365, Day 109/365 – American Pie

Ridiculously funny and unbearably cringe-worthy!  With a great mix of characters there is more than enough for everyone no matter what type of character you like.  Although it has to be said that the surprise star is Eugene Levy as Jim’s dad!  Will I ever be able to each an apple pie again???

Synopsis:  Four high school friends make a pact to help one another lose their virginity before they go to college.  They have all identified their targets, almost, and now they need to come up with some fall proof ways to get the girls to fall for them and make their dreams come true!

Film 103/365, Day 107/365 – Conan the Destroyer

Good fantasy adventure with lots of swords and over the top music segments.  For the most part this is just a glorified montage of Arnie swinging a sword around and showing off his oiled up muscles.  Other than that is still an enjoyable fantasy film.  Good if you like fantasy films.

Synopsis: Conan is enlisted to take a princess on a quest to recover a mystical stone from a wizard which will enable them to steal a magical treasure.  To aid him in his quest he collects together an unusual group consisting of a thief, a wizard and an Amazon.  What he doesn’t is that the magical treasure could bring about the end of the world!

Film 102/365, Day 107/365 – The Bourne Ultimatum

Another fast paced action thriller.  Following on immediately after the last film this is the third part in the Bourne story, will there be another?  I hope so but only if the story is right.  It’s like James Bond hold the cheese!  Best to watch this after the first two as the three work together very much as one story.  So go, go and watch them all.

Synopsis: Jason Bourne is still trying to regain his memories and find out how he became who he is.  The CIA are a little less keen for him to remember and will stop at nothing to make him go away… permanently.  Will Jason finally get to the bottom of things?  Will he ever remember?

Film 101/365, Day 107/365 – Rocky

A real feel good underdog film.  What can you say about Rocky?  He’s the lovable loser who everyone wants to win, to get the girl and to turn his life around.   But it’s not just about that, there are plenty of montages to enjoy as Rocky focuses on training in preparation for the fight of his life.  Surely everyone has seen this film, haven’t they?

Synopsis: Apollo Creed, the reigning heavyweight boxing champion of the world, needs an opponent.  His original opponent has broken a bone and cannot fight and with only five weeks to train he can’t find a professional to take his place.  Enter Rocky Balboa, the Italian Stallion, an amateur boxer selected by Apollo because of his nickname finally has his shot at the top prize.

Film 100/365, Day 106/365 – Taken

Non-stop action where Liam Neeson is the daddy!  Taken tells us a few things, firstly don’t let teenage children go travelling by themselves, secondly if you are going to kidnap people you never really know who their daddy is.  Because get it wrong and he is going to stop at nothing to kick your arse!  Excellent action film.

Synopsis: Former CIA Agent Brian Mills retired so he could spend time with his daughter.  No long after her seventeenth birthday he reluctantly allows here to go to Europe.  Once there she is abducted by an Albanian crime syndicate.  Brian will get her back no matter what the cost.

Film 99/365, Day 106/365 – Donnie Darko

Dark and enthralling.  Jack Gyllenhaal is fantastic as the troubled Donnie who succumbs to Frank’s directions.  The story is absolutely captivating and whilst it is not a happy story it is definitely worth watching.  I can’t believe that this is the first time I have seen it, some ten years after it’s release.  Watch it.

Synopsis: Donnie Darko has some issues!  One night he is woken from his sleep and invited to follow Frank.  Frank is a giant Gothic looking rabbit who claims to be from the future and he has a message for Donnie, the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds.

Film 98/365, Day 106/365 – No Country for Old Men

I’ve never really enjoyed the Coen brothers work but was willing to give this one a chance and I was really enjoying it… right up until the last thirty minutes.  Once more the Coen brothers have wasted my time.  Can I have an ending please?  I'm disappointed because it was all going so well and then they blew it.  The acting was all very good but my main problem is with the story telling.

Synopsis: A Texas welder discovers a drug deal that has gone wrong and all members of the deal have been killed.  There is also a case full of money which he takes.  Unfortunately for him the case has a tracker in it and there are some very nasty people who want it back.

Film 97/365, Day 106/365 – Skyline

Could and should have been much better.  I was very excited when I saw the trailer for Skyline back in November last year, needless to say I am quite disappointed.  It had all of the special effects and overwhelming grandeur of something that should have been much better.  Unfortunately, it would appear, when the world ends idiots and arseholes will be the last to go.  Not the worst film I’ve seen but should have been much better.

Synopsis: A number of strange blue lights fall out of the sky in Los Angeles.  People are inexplicably drawn to the lights almost like moths to a flame.  It is only then that it is too late and they are pulled into the sky and into an alien space ship.  Skyline follows a group of people trying to stay alive.

Film 96/365, Day 106/365 – Splice

Very strange and creepy!  Splice is a very dark and sinister tale showing just how far people are willing to go in the pursuit of answers.  Whilst it was well a told and compelling story I found it hard to connect with the scientists as they continue to make mistake after mistake.  It is worth watching but be prepared to be weirded out!

Synopsis: When two scientists are told that they cannot take their gene splicing experiments further by introduce human DNA they do it anyway!  The result is an odd creature that continues to develop long after it is born.  They continue to hide and monitor this new species that is aging at a very advanced rate but are they really ready for what they will discover?

Film 95/365, Day 105/365 – Superbad

I am McLovin!  If only this film had been just about McLovin and Officers Slater and Michaels then I think I would have rated it much higher and whilst the story of Seth and Evan is nicely told with some funny moments it holds nothing to McLovin.  It is a funny film but like I said it could have been better.

Synopsis: Two best friends, Seth and Evan, have spent the whole of their school life together.  Unfortunately they haven’t got into the same College and now must face the prospect of being apart.  So one last big night out is calling and luckily their friend Fogell has got a new fake ID that he is itching to use.  It should be a night to remember!

Film 94/365, Day 104/365 – Kung Fu Hustle

Bizarre and brilliant.  Some of the Kung Fu is very good if not completely over the top, the Kung Fu masters are not at all what you would expect them to be like which is brilliant in itself, especially the vest and sandal wearing ‘Beast’.  If you want some absurd comedy in your Kung Fu film then look no further than Kung Fu Hustle.

Synopsis: Sing gave up on being a hero a long time ago.  Now he just wants to be bad, and to achieve this he wants to join the infamous Axe Gang of Shanghai.  The only problem however is that Sing isn’t very good at being bad and he may turn out to be the only thing that can stop the axe gang.  Maybe he could still become the hero he always wanted to be?

Film 93/365, Day 100/365 – The Bourne Supremacy

It kicks off not long after the first film and doesn’t hold back on the action or intrigue.  Matt Damon once again is excellent in the role of Jason Bourne and the cinematography is fantastic showing us enough of what Bourne is going through without laying it on a plate for us.  Also there is a brilliant car chase towards the end to look forward too.  As good as the first Bourne film.

Synopsis: Jason Bourne still hasn’t recovered his memory but is happy travelling the world with his girlfriend Marie.  But then he is framed for a double murder and then if that’s not enough they try to kill him but kill Marie instead.  So now, as you’d imagine, he is really pissed off and will stop at nothing to get some answers.

Film 92/365, Day 99/365 – The Bourne Identity

Plenty of action and intrigue from start to finish and beyond.  Matt Damon is excellent as Jason Bourne.  The film has such a brilliant feel of realism throughout, even in the fight scenes and especially the absence of dialog when other films would try to fill the silence.  Great start to the Bourne films.

Synopsis: A man is found at sea by a fishing trawler.  He has no memory of who he is and how he got there.  The only link to his past is a small implant that has a bank name and account number, in Switzerland.  Soon he will discover that whoever put him in the sea will want him to stay there.

Film 91/365, Day 96/365 – Constantine

A dark and mysterious thriller, Constantine actually has a very good story and uses some fantastic special effects.  Keanu Reeves is actually very good as John Constantine although the best character is Satan played by Peter Stormare who sadly doesn’t appear until the end but is well worth the wait.  Definitely worth watching.

Synopsis: Constantine is damned, damned for the life he took, his own.  Technically dead for several minutes he now spends his time trying to make amends by using his gifts to stop demons from crossing into the human world.  When Detective Angela Dodson comes to Constantine for his help even he can’t quite imagine the extent of the situation.

Film 90/365, Day 95/365 – The Transporter

Packed full of explosive action and stunts, you cannot go too far wrong with The Transporter if you are looking for something fun that isn’t too taxing.  Jason Statham is brilliant as retired Special Forces operator Frank Martin.  The fights scenes are awesome and wouldn’t look out of place in a kung fu masterpiece.  Good enough to watch anytime.

Synopsis: Frank Martin is a Transporter available to hire, no matter what the job.  Just tell the size and weight of the package, how far it’s to be transported and by when.  Then providing you can afford his fee consider it done.  Then when one such job results in his beloved car being blown up, Frank goes back for compensation and he’s going to get it!

Film 89/365, Day 93/365 – Solomon Kane

Solomon Kane is a West Country Van Helsing! I kid you not, set in the south west region of England with demons, wizards and monsters, Solomon Kane kicks ass and speaks with a West Country accent! It is hilarious, probably when it shouldn’t be. So if you like action and demons… and the West Country accent then you should definitely watch this film.

Synopsis: Solomon Kane discovers he is destined for hell when the Reaper comes to claim his soul. After a short fight he barely escapes and quickly renounces violence in a hope to atone for his evil doings. Then a dying father tells Solomon that if he saves his daughter from bandits he will be spared his fate no matter what force is required.

Film 88/365, Day 92/365 – The Karate Kid

Packed full of action and with a good story line the Karate Kid was a very enjoyable film whether you’ve seen the original or not.  Jackie Chan was excellent and once Jaden Smith stopped being annoying he was actually very good.  My one problem with the film and it's a fairly big one… he learns kung fu and not karate, it’s in China, the home of kung fu…  Call it something different!!!

Synopsis: A mother is relocated to China for work, taking her twelve year old son with her.  Once there her son, Dre, is targeted by the school bullies and members of the fighting dragon’s house of kung fu.  One day the handy man Mr Han breaks up a fight and protects him from the bullies and to cut a long story short agrees to teach him kung fu.

Film 87/365, Day 91/365 – Ghost Ship

There is always something very creepy about ghost children! And why is it there are few things more chilling than door closing and opening themselves? I thought Ghost Ship was actually quite good even if I did see the twist coming very early on.  If you enjoy a good horror/thriller then you might be pleasantly surprised.

Synopsis: A deep sea salvage crew return from a long job and are meet almost instantly with another job.  A large ship has been sighted out in the Bering Sea and with a job this big they jump at it.  Soon enough they find the ship and discover that it is a passanger ship that has been missing since the 1960’s.

Review of March 2011

Three months down and nine to go and here is how it's going.

In March I managed to claw one film back and now I am only four behind.

Here is how I am doing with watching new to old films.

I managed to watch twelve new films in March taking the total new films to 38.

This is how the rating of the films has been going, most films this month were quite good with most received a rating between three and five stars.

And finally here is the percentage of my time that I have spent watching films so far this year
.

Many more film stars have seen there names gather at the bottom of each review.  Now there is a leader with four films.

• Bruce Willis

Behind Bruce there are a number all with three films.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Dan Aykroyd
• Jason Bateman

And now I realy should get back to watching some films.

Film 86/365, Day 90/365 – Demolition Man

A good standard action film with a bit of sci-fi thrown in.  Stallone and Snipes are both very good and Bullock isn’t that annoying!  As the demolition man you know he’s going to blow a lot of stuff up which makes for a good action film.  I do have one question however, what are the three sea shells for???

Synopsis: John Spartan is convicted of killing forty people whilst arresting crime lord Simon Phoenix.  His sentence is to be cryogenically frozen until he is no longer a threat to society.  Thirty years later Phoenix, who was also frozen, escapes during a parole hearing and continues his murderous rampage.  Spartan is then thawed out to capture once more.