Children Of Men (2006) Its 2027 in a world where infertility means there's no-one under 18, and a cynical ex activist(Clive Owen) is charged with getting a pregnant girl onto a boat at the British coast. Owen is superb in this role backed up by newcomer Clare Hope-Ashitey as the girl. The grim fascistic England is very well portrayed as are the action scenes, many filmed on a hand held camera. Good support from Michael Caine, Pam Ferris, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julianne Moore, Peter Mullan & Oona Pallea. 7.5/10
The Good Shepherd (2006) Directed by Robert De Niro, this is the story of the origins of the CIA from the late 30s to the early 60s seen through the eyes of an operative played by Matt Damon. Absorbing despite its 2hr 45 min length, Damon does a good job making his rather dour and humourless character, human. Shows the agency in good and bad lights. Also starring Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin, William Hurt,Tammy Blanchard,Billy Crudup, Michael Gambon, John Sessions & Martina Gedeck. There's also a film debut for Eddie Redmayne playing Damon's son, even though in real life he's only ten years younger than him! 7/10
Leon[aka The Professional](1994)
Luc Besson's English language debut is a class act,combining the pace and punch of a top American thriller with a European sense of style and characterisation.Besson regular Jean Reno takes the lead role as Leon,a milk drinking,plant loving cleaner(hitman),a role especially written for him by the director.Following the brutal slaying of his neighbours,Leon reluctantly takes in the family's lone survivor,a 12 year old girl named Matilda,played superbly by Natalie Portman.In exchange for cleaning his flat and learning him to read and write,Leon teaches Matilda the art of assassination so she can take revenge on the corrupt DEA agent played by a gloriously over the top Gary Oldman,who killed her family.Inventive and exciting,with striking visuals,a sharpe sense of humour and a trio knockout performances,Leon provides a unique and involving central relationship and jaw dropping action scenes, especially the long and spectacularly dramatic climax.Also featuring a great turn from Danny Aiello.
9.5/10
Some excellent films listed above, it's good to see my fellow babeshow perverts appreciate quality cinema like I do.
Terminator 2 Judgement Day: Extended Special Edition, now this is how you do sequel did me up there as being one of best film sequels along with Empire Strikes Back. This film was more of a action then the first one but it still kept what made Terminator so great something the sequels after this have all failed to do, action, horror and even heartache.
On the blu ray version you get three versions of the film which is great at no extra charge the extended special edition which I watched you have to type in a code to watch it which was a bit odd.
Arine as always great, Linda Hamilton was fantastic seeing character change and so different from the first film into a kick ass character, Robert Patrick as the T-1000 fantastic peformance not only in his acting but movement too I liked the bit at start of film when he looks at the silver mannequin and look he gives it or when he waves his finger at Sarah when she runs out of ammo.
The relationship between the T-800 and John, he was like a father figure to John. Extended Special Edition fleshes out the film much better and gives you a final ending which they should have left the terminator films end there. The nuclear holocaust that Sarah dreams about was really graphic and horrific which is how a terminator film should be.
The bit at hospital where the T-1000 copies that guard and kills him wasn't CGI they identical twin brothers and at the end where the T-1000 mimics Sarah many people thought it was CGI Linda Hamilton but it was her identical twin sister playing the role. Have to give this film a high mark haven't got a bad thing to say about it and THX symbol forms like the T-1000 lol 9.8/10.
https://youtu.be/UN_VgVEZD0k
I have several versions of this film on different formats but the extended blu ray version is definitely the best.
The Huntsman: Winter's War - 6/10.
Not bad, but could have been better..would have got 7 if it wasn't for the accents.
The Martian - 9/10.
Matt Damon puts in a great performance as the astronaut left behind. Just when you think he's got things set, problem, but he never gives up.
Fantastic stuff. It's one of those films that may be over two hours long, but doesn't feel like it.
Ulysses(1955)
Mario Camerini directed this Italian film starring Kirk Douglas as Ulysses.Thanks to superb locations,Camerini's great framing and Italian wrestler Oscar Andriani as an impressive Cyclops,this is an effective and fairly faithful to Homer's Odyssey.
7.5/10
Infamous(2006) Toby Jones stars as writer Truman Capote covering the time when he wrote In Cold Blood & interviewed the killers who were the subject. A film which captures Capote's sharp wit and story telling skills and is humourous without becoming tasteless. The characterisation of Capote and the killer Perry Smith( played by Daniel Craig) is excellent as are Jones' & Craig's performances too. A nice turn from Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee. A distinguished support cast includes Jeff Daniels,Peter Bogdanovich,Hope Davis,Juliet Stevenson & Sigourney Weaver. Would be interesting to compare it with multi award winning Capote( with Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the title role) made the previous year. In Cold Blood itself was made into an excellent film in 1967. 7.5/10
The Fugitive(1947)
Henry Fonda puts in a frantic and superb performance as an innocent priest,on the run from a Central American police state where religion is outlawed.Director John Ford's award winning film is a brilliant adaptation of Graham Greene's classic novel,The Power And The Glory..Also starring Ford regular,Ward Bond.
7.5/10