Film 227/365, Day 242/365 – Striptease

Here’s a hint... the clue is in the title!  The story is fairly obvious however there are plenty of funny moments, most notably Burt Reynolds covered in baby oil in just a Cowboy hat and boots.  Oh and there is one more thing that you need to know... Demi Moore is the star of the show... she’s a stripper!  Enjoy!!!

Synopsis:  A mother loses custody of her daughter to her abusive ex-husband.  In an attempt to fund an appear and get her daughter back she takes a job stripping at the Eager Beaver!  Things are going fine until a Congressman becomes obsessed with her.

Film 226/365, Day 241/365 – Donkey Punch

Tense and edgy, but what was the point?  All in this film was quite well made, the acting wasn’t terrible but I still can’t quite say that I enjoyed it.  Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t bad, it just didn’t do anything outstanding.

Synopsis:  Three girls on holiday in Spain go on a boat trip with a group of guys.  Copious amounts of drugs, alcohol and sex end badly with one of the girls dead.  The group disagree on what to do next and it quickly spirals out of control.

Film 225/365, Day 241/365 – Lost in Space

I have two words for Lost in Space, Guilty Pleasure!  I know it’s not the best film but I can’t help but enjoy it.  If I’m going to be critical I would have removed the time travel stuff, I think being lost in space is enough without being lost in space and time.  Also can’t help but enjoy Matt LeBlanc in a serious role!!!

Synopsis:  The Earth is dying and the only hope of Humanity is the creation of a space gate to the distant world of Alpha Prime.  The Robinson family are going to travel through space to prepare the gate at Alpha Prime to enable to the human race to begin colonisation.

Film 224/365, Day 241/365 – The Muppets Take Manhattan

It’s not brilliant but then it is the Muppets so it’s hard not to like it.  There is plenty for all of the family to enjoy.  Plus there are countless guest appearances from all number of celebrities.

Synopsis:  Kermit is in New York trying desperately to get his musical onto Broadway so that the rest of the Muppets can join him.  First he’s going to have to find someone who is willing to produce the show.  Will Kermit make it in the city that never sleeps?

Film 223/365, Day 241/365 – Rocky IV

Dolph Lundgren and Sylvester Stallone meet long before The Expendables and long before all the surgery!  What you should expect from this film is lots of stereotypes, lots of rubbish boxing and cheesy lines.  It is by no means the worst film I’ve seen but it isn’t that good either.  The best bit is the training montage as it always is.

Synopsis:  Russian Boxer Ivan Drago comes to America to challenge the world champion Rocky Balboa.  Instead former champion Apollo Creed steps up to fight the Russian.  Apollo has been retired for five years and the fight doesn’t go quite as he planned.  Rocky must now go to Russia to avenge Apollo.

Film 222/365, Day 238/365 – Just Go With It

There are some absolutely hilarious moments in this film, some pretty stunning bodies and a very predictable story.  The funny stuff and bodies more than make up for the storyline which is cute but like I said very predictable.  Worth watching for the scene with Brooklyn Decker in her bikini alone.

Synopsis:  Danny is a renowned plastic surgeon who wears a wedding ring to help him pull girls!  When Danny thinks he has found the girl of his dreams he has to convince her that he is getting a divorce.  However she wants to meet his wife, so Danny convinces his assistant to pretend to be his wife and things quickly escalate out of control.

Film 221/365, Day 238/365 – The Adjustment Bureau

More than just your average Hollywood action film.  Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, The Adjustment Bureau adds some interesting ideas, an enjoyable story and a touch of romance.  It wasn’t exactly anything new, however it may well have been when Philip K. Dick wrote it, but was still very enjoyable.

Synopsis:  Having just lost the election for state senator David Norris meets a lady who quite literally turns his world upside down.  She leaves in a hurry without leaving him any details.  Days later they meet again on the bus, but soon David discovers that there are strange forces trying to keep them apart.

Film 220/365, Day 237/365 – The Wedding Singer

It’s funny, it’s silly and it’s packed full of awful 1980s clothing.  No really, it is a completely unashamed view of the 1980s.  It is a rom-com but Adam Sandler provides enough laughs to keep it interesting for everyone else.

Synopsis:  Robbie Hart is a wedding singer.  He loves weddings, that is until his fiancé leaves him standing at the altar.  Now he hates them and he hates love.  However he soon begins to rediscover his former self when he begins to fall for Julia, a waitress that he is helping to plan her wedding!

Film 219/365, Day 237/365 – Paul

Geek-tastic!  There are so many excellent geek jokes throughout for example when they enter a hillbilly bar and the music from Jabba’s Palace is playing.  It’s funny from start to finish, all of the characters are excellent and the story is very good.  I really enjoyed it, so, whether you are a fan of Pegg and Frost or not you really should see Paul.

Synopsis:  Graeme and Clive have finally gone on the holiday of a lifetime; they’ve been planning it since they were kids.  First they go to Comic Con in San Diego and then a tour of America’s famous UFO hot spots.  However things change when they meet Paul, an alien who has escaped from a secret military compound.

Film 218/365, Day 237/365 – Akira

Even if you're not a fan of anime, you've probably still heard of Akira. And if you haven’t seen it then you really, really should. Even by today's animation standards, it is still a spectacular film. It has a stunning soundtrack and a thoroughly engaging story that hooks you from the first moment.

Synopsis:  Tokyo was destroyed in 1988 during the Third World War.  Thirty-one years later Neo-Tokyo stands in its place.  It is now the home of biker gangs and anti-government protests.  During a fight between two rival biker gangs one of the gang members is hurt by a mysterious child and soon finds himself a test subject in a secret science experiment.

Film 217/365, Day 236/365 – The Inbetweeners

Very, very funny.  If you are a fan of the TV Series, and why wouldn’t you be, then you will love this.  It felt a little bit like Kevin and Perry Go Large but much funnier.  The thing with the Inbetweeners is that we’ve all known friends like them and it’s always funnier when it’s real.  It’s not as good as the Hangover, but not too far behind.

Synopsis:  Four friends celebrate finishing sixth form by going to Malia in Greece for the holiday of a lifetime and as they would say “You better bring your wellies, because you'll be knee-deep in clunge”.

Film 216/365, Day 234/365 – The Blues Brothers

One of the all time greats, The Blue Brothers will never get old.  The music is fantastic throughout with guest appearances from some of the greatest musicians the world has ever seen.  It also has some of the best one liners and the greatest car chase ever.  Awesome!

Synopsis:  Jake Blues gets out of jail to discover that the orphanage where he and his brother, Elwood Blues, grew up is about to close because they can’t pay their tax bill.  Then Jake gets a sign from God that they must put their old band back together to be able to make the money to save the orphanage.

Film 215/365, Day 229/365 – Tango and Cash

A good blend of action and humour, not to mention the awesome armoured truck.  The most shocking thing about Tango and Cash is that Stallone and Russell are actually quite good together.  It’s from the ‘80s so expect lots of fairly cheesy music throughout, and one of the worst English accents!!!

Synopsis:  Two successful cops, Ray Tango and Gabriel Cash, that don’t get along are framed and forced to work together to clear their names and stay alive.

Film 214/365, Day 228/365 – Batman

Dark and gritty whilst maintaining a classic comic feel.  Jack Nicholson is incredible as the Joker and Michael Keaton also shines as Bruce Wayne/Batman all in the fantastically gothic Gotham City from the mind of Tim Burton.  Brilliant from start to finish.

Synopsis:  Bruce Wayne’s parents are killed by a mugger when he is a child.  Once Bruce is all grown up he becomes the self-appointed protector of Gotham City, he becomes the Batman.  But a new hero brings about a new breed of criminal, enter the Joker.

Film 213/365, Day 228/365 – Pulp Fiction

Brilliant, it is now seventeen years old and it is still brilliant.  What a cast, what music and the characters are all excellent.  Not really a great deal more to say about it other than it’s great and if you haven’t seen it then this is definitely the next film you should watch.

Synopsis:  Four stories of violence and redemption are interwoven to create this cult film.  Two hit men on a routine assignment, a boxer and a mob boss who have unfinished business, a man who takes his bosses wife out on a date and two robbers who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Film 212/365, Day 226/365 – Spread

It’s OK!  There are some pretty funny bits at the beginning but after that not so much.  The sound quality wasn’t brilliant, spent a lot of time turning it up for the talking and down every time the music started up again, so it became increasingly difficult to hear what they’re saying which made me think that what they were saying was that important after all.

Synopsis:  Nikki is young and good looking and as a result he doesn’t need to pay for anything, that’s what his girlfriends are for.  They look after all of his needs and in return he takes care of their needs!  But when Nikki meets Heather, a female version of him, everything changes.  But can he give it all up and even if he does will she?

Film 211/365, Day 226/365 – The Italian Job

It just doesn’t get more British than this.  It’s packed with classic, sarcastic British humour and fantastic car chases.  And enough vehicles get destroyed to make Top Gear jealous.  Michael Caine is brilliant as he delivers some of his most memorable lines.  You’re not really British if you haven’t seen this film (and the American version doesn’t count)!

Synopsis:  Charlie Crocker has just got out of jail and already he is planning his biggest heist yet!  He plans to steal four million dollars worth of gold from Turin in broad daylight and in the middle of rush hour traffic.

Film 210/365, Day 225/365 – The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

Better than the second but not as good as the first, this is the third and final film in the trilogy.  It’s very much more of the same with murders, conspiracies and socially awkward Lisbeth.  There are some very unusual decisions throughout mostly in the court room but also with the editor of Millennium pulling the magazine when threatened, surely it’s not the first time someone has threatened them!

Synopsis:  Following the events from the second movie Lisbeth is in hospital recovering from her injuries.  She’s been charged with attempting to kill her father and the same people that tried to keep her quite when she was twelve have no interest in letting her talk now.

Film 209/365, Day 224/365 – Rango

Funny and cute.  Rango really is quite a funny film, especially the mariachi band that follows him around constantly signing of his immanent doom.  The animation is very good and all of the voices are perfectly suited for the characters, especially Johnny Depp as Rango who was brilliant.

Synopsis:  Rango is a domestic chameleon until an accident leaves him deserted in the middle of the desert.  Now he has to adapt to survive so he calls on all of his acting skills and reinvents himself as a tough Wild West drifter.  Soon he too begins to believe his own stories.

Film 208/365, Day 223/365 – Coming to America

Let me talk you on a journey, a journey back in time, back when Eddie Murphy was funny!  This is definitely one of Eddie Murphy’s best films, admittedly it’s not as good as Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop but it is in the next group of films.  There are lots of funny gags and rather amusing hairdos and clothing styles from the ‘80s (but that wasn’t intentional at the time but is still funny).

Synopsis:  An African prince goes to America to find the woman of his dreams, but whilst there he decides to hide his heritage and try to find a woman that will love him for him and not his wealth.

Film 207/365, Day 222/365 – Street Fighter II

Simply awesome!  This is not a sequel, nor does it have Jean Claude Van Damme in, it is the Japanese Anime based on the video game of the same name.  What it is however is one of the best Anime films of all time.  With an absolutely mind blowing soundtrack and incredible fights throughout I think even those not familiar with Anime will enjoy this.  Just brilliant, watch it!

Synopsis:  A terrorist organisation known as Shadowlaw is searching the globe for the world’s best fighters so that they can brainwash them and use them to carry out their evil agenda.  Top of their list is Ryu, a fighter of unparalleled potential, but he is proving very hard to find.

Film 206/365, Day 221/365 – Ninja Scroll

Ninja Scroll is an excellent Japanese Anime movie with some brilliant fights. There are lots of interesting characters and a whole group of fantastically bizarre ninja with mystical powers and abilities.  The animation throughout is great and the story whilst not being brilliant does more than enough to set up each of the fights.  Great Anime.

Synopsis:  Jubei, a ninja for hire, stumbles into the middle of a battle between a group of demon ninja and a government spy.  Soon he has no choice but to fight in order to stay alive.  He will also discover that some business he thought he had taken care of long ago has come back to haunt him.

Film 205/365, Day 220/365 – Swordfish

If you enjoy a good twist, a little bit of deception and some excellent action then Swordfish is the film for you.  Ok, so there are some bits which are obviously not real, like the virus Hugh Jackman’s character is creating being shown as a 3D object where as it would really be just lines of text, which wouldn’t look as good on the big screen.  Still I like and it’s definitely one that I would watch again and again.  Great opening scene.

Synopsis:  A hacker who is attempting to put his life together so that he can rescue his daughter from her mother and step-father / porn tycoon is given an opportunity to make enough money to make it all possible.  All he’s got to do is help a renegade counter-terrorism organisation steal billions of dollars of dirty government money.

Film 204/365, Day 217/365 – Tamara Drewe

Charming, funny and very entertaining.  Tamara Drewe is what you have come to expect from the quirky brilliant English comedies, it has a great script, a wonderful range of characters and some brilliant dark and funny moments.  Although I still can’t believe Tamara would get together with that seedy old bastard...  Great film.

Synopsis:  Tamara Drewe left Ewedown when she was a teenager.  After her mother passed away leaving her the family home she is forced to return complete with her new nose.  Now she is turning heads all over the village.

Film 203/365, Day 216/365 – Mortal Kombat

Expect fight after fight; expect no complex story lines, just plenty of fights to an awesome dance music soundtrack from beginning to end.  The effects aren’t anything to get excited about.  Christopher Lambert however is pretty funny and there are lots of fights.  Finish him!

Synopsis:  Based on the best selling video game, Mortal Kombat, the best fighters of Earth are selected to defend the realm in a contest called Mortal Kombat where they will be required to fight to the death against the best fighters from the Outworlders.  Under the guidance of Raiden, the lightning God, Lui Kang, Johnny Cage and Sonia Blade are our best hope of survival.

Film 202/365, Day 216/365 – Femme Fatale

A twisty turvy thriller from Brian De Palma.  The story isn’t bad, it does enough to keep you watching, but not quite enough to really grab you.  The single best thing about this film is Rebecca Romijn, ding dong!!!  If I was rating Rebecca it would be five stars, this film however only gets three.  Not bad, but not brilliant.

Synopsis:  Laurie, a diamond thief that double crossed the team she was working with, is mistaken for a lady who has just lost her husband and child.  She assumes the identity of the lady and disappears to America.  Seven years later she is forced to return to France her old team are still looking for her. 

Film 201/365, Day 214/365 – A Knight’s Tale

Good fun if not a little silly.  A Knight’s Tale is a nice easy film to watch, plenty to laugh at, the jousting is very good and there’s a love story if you like that sort of thing.  For me however the real star of this film is Paul Bettany as the legendary story teller Geoffrey Chaucer before he is famous, when he often gambled away the very clothes off his back but still has an exceptional mastery of the English language.

Synopsis:  When young William Thatcher’s master dies before completing a jousting contest he steps in a takes his place.  Desperate to continue in the role his creates a fake identity and sets about becoming a jouster with hopes of one day becoming a famous knight. 

Film 200/365, Day 212/365 – The Dark Knight

A fantastic way to follow on from Batman Begins.  The Dark Knight has everything that made the first film excellent but this time we have a villain worthy of the Batman.  Three years ago today I was sat in the Vue at 08:50 in the number one screen with a cup of tea and ten other people to watch The Dark Knight, that was the first film the last time I tried to watch 365 films in 365 days.  Heath Ledger was well worth his Oscar in my opinion.  Brilliant.

Synopsis:  Batman is starting to get to the criminals, they are getting nervous and turn to an unpredictable psychopath known as the Joker to help them get rid of the Batman.  And with a new District Attorney called Harvey Dent the criminals look like they have nowhere to hide.

Film 199/365, Day 212/365 – Batman Begins

Excellent action and a great way to restart the Batman franchise after the abhorrent Batman and Robin.  Christian Bale is excellent as the conflicted Bruce Wayne and Christopher Nolan has given Batman a very real feel.  Batman Begins is a dark and exciting journey.

Synopsis:  When the man that murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents is released from prison Bruce gives up on justice and Gotham City and goes in search of another answer.  On the other side of the world he discovers another way under the tutelage of Ra’s Al Ghul.  When he returns to Gotham City it will never be the same.