Sunday 7th February 2010

The September Issue

Director: R.J Cutler

Year: 2009

Stars: Anna Wintour, Anna Carrington

I had read some positive reviews of this, so when I saw it was on TV I figured it was worth a watch. Now I'm not exactly the biggest fan of the fashion industry, but elements of it do intrigue me and if a documentary's well-made, it can make almost any subject seem interesting, regardless of how relevant it is to your life.

The September Issue, for the most part, manages to do this. It follows the editor of Vogue magazine, Anna Wintour, and her in-house stylist Anna Carrington as they prepare the September issue of Vogue.

The film manages to give a pretty good insight into what working for the fashion industry must be like. It's harder to get to know the main protagonists, but from what I saw I have no desire to work in fashion. But then, I never did.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Sunday 7th February 2010

Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World

Director: Tom Ellery, Bradley Raymond

Year: 1998

Stars: Irene Bedard, Judy Khun, Billy Zane, Donal Gibson

I wasn't expecting a lot from this. Mostly I just wanted something easy to watch on a Sunday afternoon.

The film follows Pocahontas as she meets John Rolfe, and follows him to England to try and stop the King from taking back Jamestown.

It's a good thing I wasn't expecting too much really. This isn't a truly terrible film, but it's not good either. It's like watching a 2-hour long very average children's animation that should be on at 3.30 in the afternoon.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Saturday 6th February 2010

Music and Lyrics

Director: Marc Lawrence
Year: 2007
Stars: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore

This was a bit of a random choice. I saw it was on TV and thought it sounded like something fun to watch - I didn't know much about it other than that it was a romantic comedy.

Hugh Grant is Alex Fletcher, a man who was a popstar in the 80s but has since become a has-been. When he gets asked to write a song for the pop singer of the moment, he ends up asking Sophie Fisher (Barrymore) for help with the lyrics.

The film is good fun mostly because it's very tongue-in-cheek. Whilst the romance elements are mostly played straight, the music industry is very much taken with a pinch of salt. This, combined with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore playing roles they have both played before, and can play well, makes for a fun film. Not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but an enjoyable Saturday night in.

Rating: 4 out of 5

January 2010 films

January 2010 has been quite a diverse month for films. There have been cartoons (often left over from Christmas), 3D movies at the cinema, romances, thrillers and war movies amongst others. Thankfully, almost all the movies have scored highly, only a couple standing out as particularly bad.

• Aladdin (1992) - 4 stars
  
• Black Book (2006) - 4 stars
  
• Dr Zhivago (1965) - 4 stars
  
• Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) - 4 stars
  
• The Road (2009) - 4 stars
  
• Children of Men (2006) - 5 stars
  
• Up in the Air (2009) - 4 stars
  
• King Arthur (2004) - 1.5 stars
  
• Avatar (2009) - 4 stars
  
• Death Defying Acts (2007) - 2.5 stars
  
• The Holiday (2006) - 3 stars
  
• Happy Feet (2006) - 4 stars
  
• Sherlock Holmes (2009) - 2 stars
  
• Bridge to Terabithia (2007) - 4 stars

The amount of 4 star movies means that picking a Film of the Month should be really hard. Depending upon your mood and taste in films, I would happily recommend any of the 4 star movies (and you could pick from children's movies, cartoons, 3D action, romance, thrillers, classics or war movies). However, one film stands out as the Film of the Month, and that means it comes very highly recommended. That film is Children of Men - for it's well-thought out, frightening plot and the ability it has to make me happily watch it over and over again.

Film not to waste your time on is easier. Whilst Sherlock Holmes is just boring and Death Defying Acts has nothing memorable about it, King Arthur is simply awful. The plot is terrible, the facts are wrong and the whole film is an excuse for some badly thought out battles. I'm not sure if the fact that Clive Owen stars in both my Film of the Month and My Film not to waste your time on is ironic or not...

Film of the Month: Children of Men
Film not to waste your time on: King Arthur

Sunday 31st January 2010

Aladdin

Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Year: 1992
Stars: Robin Williams, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman (voices)

I've probably seen this before. I know I didn't see it when it was released, but it's incredibly likely that I've seen it on DVD at a friend's house at some point. I didn't really remember it though, and when I saw that it was premiering on terrestrial TV I figured I'd watch it - it looked like it might be quite good, after all.

The plot follows Aladdin, a "street urchin" who is worthy enough to acquire a magical lamp that contains a genie who will grant you three wishes (Robin Williams). As with all good Disney movies, there is a terrifying baddie (Jafar), cute animals and a number of musical moments.

Once again, this is great Disney. Aladdin is a really enjoyable film with a great plot, some brilliant songs and some incredibly cute, loveable animals. A great way to spend a couple of hours, whatever your age.

Rating: 4 out of 5