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The Blog with No Name - Movie Reviews and NewsThe Blog with No Name - Movie Reviews and NewsMusings about movies and the entertainment world. Reviews and commentary on current movies, classic movies, foreign films and more!
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Kubrick Week 2: Capsule Movie Review - Full Metal Jacket
2007-06-27 17:27:00 Directed by: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D’Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey Full Metal Jacket is Kubrick’s second war film. Unlike Paths of Glory however, Full Metal Jacket can’t be considered to be a truly anti-war film. Rather it’s a relatively objective portrayal of the Vietnam war and the soliders who fought in it. The first half of the movie concentrates on basic training, and features a stand out performance from R. Lee Ermey as Gny. Sgt. Hartman. This first half of the story focuses mainly on the characters of Pvt. Joker (who wants to become a combat reporter) and Pvt. Gomer Pile, a slow and fat recruit who repeatedly incurs the wrath of Hartman as well as the other soliders in training. The film then moves to Vietnam and loses some steam in the process. This makes Full Metal Jacket Kubrick’s most uneven film. While still thought provoking and entertaining, the second half of the film cannot match the greatness of the f... More About: Movie , Movie Review , Review
The Best Part of Rocky Balboa
2007-06-26 16:06:00 Great speech. No one motivates like Rocky ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBtO8Ay1MN k Bookmark to:Rocky Balboa' to Del.icio.us">Rocky Balboa' to Del.icio.us" alt="Add 'The Best Part of Rocky Balboa' to Del.icio.us" />Rocky Balboa' to digg">Rocky Balboa' to digg" alt="Add 'The Best Part of Rocky Balboa' to digg" />Rocky Balboa' to FURL">Rocky Balboa' to FURL" alt="Add 'The Best Part of Rocky Balboa' to FURL" />Rocky Balboa' to blinklist">Rocky Balboa' to blinklist" alt="Add 'The Best Part of Rocky Balboa' to blinklist" />Rocky Balboa' to reddit">Rocky Balboa' to reddit" alt="Add 'The Best Part of Rocky Balboa' to reddit" />Rocky Balboa' to Feed Me Links">Rocky Balboa' to Feed Me Links" alt="Add 'The Best Part of Rocky Balboa' to Feed Me Links" />Rocky Balboa' to Technorati">Rocky Balboa' to Technorati" alt="Add 'The Best Part of Rocky Balboa' to Technorati" />Rocky Balboa' to Yahoo My Web">Rocky Balboa' to Yahoo My Web" alt="Add 'The Best Part of Rocky...
Kubrick Week 2: The Secret of the Ooze
2007-06-25 14:14:00 Well, I didn’t get everything done I wanted to during Kubrick Week , so I’m giving myself another seven days. I’ll finish with capsule reviews of the rest of Kubrick’s filmography as well as some other stuff I’ve been working on. Bookmark to: More About: The Secret , Secret , Brick
First set pic of Indy from the new Indiana Jones
2007-06-23 10:13:00 This pic has made it’s rounds all over the internets already, but I thought I’d weigh in anyway. So, Harrison looks pretty good here! I’ve been pretty much against this production of this film from the beginning, but I can’t help but be a little excited to see the Man with the Hat again. The cast is shaping up really well too. Damn you Lucas and Spielberg! Bookmark to: More About: Indiana , Indiana Jones , Jones , Indy
Kubrick Week Day 6: Capsule Movie Review - The Shining
2007-06-22 20:04:00 Directed by: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall Kubrick’s only horror film is a creepy and effective adapatation of the novel by Stephen King. King was apparently very unhappy with the deviations that Kubrick chose to make from the original novel, but it is difficult to argue that any changes actually detract from the film. Famous for it’s innovative steady cam and tracking shots, The Shining demonstrates Kubrick’s ability to ramp up an intense sense of dread. Music and sound effects are also used to great effect to create an atmosphere of suspense and horror. The performances in the film range from understated to over the top. Jack Nicholson is excellent as Jack Torrance, a simmering, volatile man who is hired to stay - with his wife and daugther - at the isolated Overlook hotel over the winter as the hotel caretaker. Shelley Duvall’s character unfortunately comes off as annoying, which detracts from the film somewhat, but overall The ... More About: Movie , Movie Review , Review , Week
Kubrick Week Day 5: Capsule Review - A Clockwork Orange
2007-06-21 20:47:00 Directed by: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Malcom McDowell, Patrick Magee, Andrienne Corri, Miriam Karlin Kubrick’s adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ novel is probably his most infamous film. A Clockwork Orange stars Malcolm McDowell, as Alex, a psychopathic criminal hooligan that stalks the streets of a futuristic London. Theft, assault, rape and murder are all everyday offenses of Alex and his gang of “droogs.” When Alex is arrested and brainwashed into a proper citizen, Kubrick tackles issues of the duality of good and evil, the corruption of power, and the nature of human violence. Kubrick had A Clockwork Orange pulled from UK theatres after a string of violent crimes that were thought to be inspired by the film. Today the film stands up as one of Kubrick’s most ambitious and controversial films. Bookmark to:A Clockwork Orange' to Del.icio.us">A Clockwork Orange' to Del.icio.us" alt="Add 'Kubrick Week Day 5: Capsule Review - A Clockwork Orange' to Del.... More About: Brick
AFI likes Citizen Kane
2007-06-21 07:50:00 So, Citizen Kane has come out on top once again in AFI’s top 100 American films list - and rightfully so. There are films that I like more than Citizen Kane, but there is no better movie in American cinema. It’s got it all: the groundbreaking direction of Orson Welles (which anticipates film noir very nicely), the performances and the writing. I just can’t image AFI choosing anything else. I’m just glad that they dropped Dances with Wolves off the list. I like Costner as much as the next guy, but that has got to be the most overrated movie ever. It beat Goodfellas for the best picture Oscar. Goodfellas. Bookmark to: More About: Like
Kubrick Week Day 4: 2001 a Space Odyssey
2007-06-21 06:47:00 Directed by: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood 2001 a Space Odyssey is one of Stanley Kubrick’s most famous and acclaimed films. Kubrick won his only Academy Award for the special effects, which were revolutionary and groundbreaking for their time, and still stand up perfectly today. The film is truly epic - beginning with our prehistoric ancestors and vaulting into our future of a colonized space and the unknown reaches of our solar system. The human performances are subtle and understated, and the standout character is certainly the HAL 9000 - a monotone speaking artificial intelligence that controls the spaceship and appears to have a sinister agenda of it’s own. Like all of Kubrick’s films, 2001 features fantastic visuals. The pace of the film is slow and ponderous and nearly hypnotic - but never boring. Kubrick and co-screenwriter Arthur C. Clarke do a great job of creating an intelligent and compelling story that does not pander to the a... More About: Week , Brick , A Space Odyssey
Kubrick Week Day 4: Capsule Review - Barry Lyndon
2007-06-21 06:32:00 Director: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Ryan O’Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee, Hardy Kruger, Diana Koerner, Leon Vitali Barr y Lyndon is perhaps Kubrick’s best film. Adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel, Barry Lyndon satirically chronicles the social climbing rise to power of an poor Irish boy in 18th century England. Ryan O’Neal is excellent in the title role, and is supported by a fine cast and Kubrick’s impeccable direction. The true strength of Barry Lyndon is the visuals. It is certainly not only Kubrick’s best looking films, but also one of the best looking movies ever committed to celluloid. The set design and costume design is simply fantastic, and photography is without peer. Kubrick even had special lenses and cameras developed to shoot the film’s fantastic low light candle scenes, and to flatten the images. Still frames from Barry Lyndon could easily be mistaken for 18th century paintings. Bookmark to:Barry... More About: Review , Week , Brick
Zombie’s Halloween lacks suspense?
2007-06-20 21:27:00 Taking a break from Kubrick week for a moment: AICN has posted a early review from a test screening of Rob Zombie ’s upcoming Halloween remake. It’s relatively positive (7/10), and it sounds like parts of it are pretty cool, but this part kind of worries me: Cons: Lack of suspense. A huge element of what made the original ‘Halloween’ work was it’s suspense. In the remake, Michael is on screen for a majority of the film. You know where he is in almost every scene and you can guess at what he is about to do. What else is he gonna do? Bake a cake? The best part of Carpenter’s original Halloween was the unbelievable suspense and feelings of dread that it created, but I guess that isn’t really Zombie’s style. Bookmark to:Halloween lacks suspense?' to Del.icio.us">Halloween lacks suspense?' to Del.icio.us" alt="Add 'Zombie’s Halloween lacks suspense?' to Del.icio.us" />Halloween lacks suspense?' to digg">Halloween lacks suspense?... More About: Suspense , Lowe
Stanley Kubrick Week Day 2: Capsule Review - Paths of Glory
2007-06-18 22:21:00 Director: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphie, George Macready, Wayne Morris, Richard Anderson Paths of Glory is a bleak and sombre war film from early in Kubrick’s career, and set during the First World War. Kirk Douglas stars as Colonel Dax, a french officer who is ordered to send his men on a costly and deadly mission to take Ant Hill at any cost. The mission fails, and the Generals in charge attempt to cover up their mistake with the execution of some of Dax’s innocent soldiers. Kubrick’s innovative tracking shots of the trenches create some of the films most memorable scenes, and Kubricks usual visual flair is present in the wonderful black and white photography. Kubrick’s future wife also appears briefly at the end of the film as a singer. One of the greatest anti-war films of all time, Paths of Glory is a must watch for fans of Kubrick and fans of war films alike. Bookmark to: More About: Review , Week , Brick
Stanley Kubrick Week Capsule Review - The Killing
2007-06-17 21:37:00 Director: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards *****/***** One of Kubrick’s early films, The Kill ing is a tight and suspensful film noir that is truly one of the standouts of the genre. Sterling Hayden (one of the few actors who collaborated with Kubrick more than once) stars as Johnny Clay, an ex-con with a plan to steal $2 million from a race track. Clay assembles a crew of crooks and desperate men to pull off the heist, but slowly their plan begins to unravel. The film features fantastic black and white photography, an innovating structure, and all the hallmarks of great film-noir: hard boiled men, a reacherous femme fatale, and gritty story telling. Bookmark to:The Killing' to Del.icio.us">The Killing' to Del.icio.us" alt="Add 'Stanley Kubrick Week Capsule Review - The Killing' to Del.icio.us" />The Killing' to digg">The Killing' to digg" alt="Add 'Stanley Kubrick Week Capsule Review - The Killing' to digg" />The Killing' to FURL">Th...
Stanley Kubrick Week Begins!
2007-06-17 09:01:00 Stanley Kubrick is without a doubt my favourite director. In his honour, I’m going to devote this week entirely to Kubrick and his work. I’m going to do capsule reviews of each of his films (the ones that I have access to anyway), along with some other surprises. I’ll being later today with a capsule review of one of my favourite Kubrick films, which also happens to be one of my favourite film-noir: The Killing. Bookmark to: More About: Stanley , Week , Brick , Stanley Kubrick
Hammer Horror Capsule Review - Brides of Dracula
2007-06-17 07:37:00 Vampire hunter Van Helsing returns to Transylvania to destroy handsome bloodsucker Baron Meinster, who has designs on beautiful young schoolteacher Marianne. Director: Terence Fisher Cast: Peter Cushing, Martita Hunt, Yvonne Monlaur, Freda Jackson, David Peel ****/***** It’s the classic Hammer Horror setup: a young woman, travelling alone in Europe, is invited to stay in a remote castle by a mysterious baroness for sinister, vampire related reasons. The great Peter Cushing - a hammer regular - returns to play a drunked and understanbly paranoid Dr. Van Helsing (no relation to Hugh Jackman). While it doesn’t measure up to the classic Cushing/Christopher Lee collaborations, Brides of Dracula is an entertaining member of the Hammer stable of films. Bookmark to:Brides of Dracula' to Del.icio.us">Brides of Dracula' to Del.icio.us" alt="Add 'Hammer Horror Capsule Review - Brides of Dracula' to Del.icio.us" />Brides of Dracula' to digg">Brides of Dracula' to digg" alt="A...
8 Bad Movie Cliches
2007-06-16 09:16:00 John over at TheMovie Blog.com has posted a great list of 8 things he’s sick of seeing in the movies.. All great (and annoying) cliches, but this one’s my favourite: 3 - No spunk after the hump THE CLICHE: Ok, I don’t mean to sound vulgar or anything (I usually leave that to Doug) but we’ve all seen this a hundred times in movies and we all collectively say under our breath “yeah right”. A couple at some sort of public function or fancy dinner quickly ducks behind a wall, or into another room for a quicky. They go at it practically fully clothed and when they’re “done” they just take a couple of deep breaths, run their fingers through their hair and then return to join the other guests as if nothing happened. THE REALITY: Sex makes a mess… I’ll just leave it at that. Bookmark to:
Opening this Week
2007-06-15 07:09:00 First up in the new crop of films in wide release for this week is Nancy Drew, the big screen adaptation of the classic girl detective novels starring Emma Roberts in the title role. I’m not sure how this one will do at the box office - the trailer for this looked kind of crappy, and I’m not sure how much appeal the books hold with today’s youth. DOA: Dead or Alive is one movie this week I can pretty much guarantee will totally blow. It’s based on a best selling video game so, yeah. No Uwe Boll though, so that’s a plus. The big blockbuster fo the week is Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. I have high hopes for this, as it’s based on the best FF story ever. Hopefully it’s a little better than the first FF borefest. Of the films in limited release this week, I’m most looking forward to Fido. It looks like Zombies meet Pleasantville. Will this be the zombie film that finally has the scene that trumps Zombie vs. Shark? We&#... More About: Opening , Week
William Hurt joins Hulk Cast
2007-06-13 19:22:00 Comingsoon.net is reporting that William Hurt is joining the cast for Marvel’s upcoming Hulk sequel. It looks like Hurt will be playing Hulk nemesis Thunderbolt Ross. I thought Sam Elliott did a good job as Ross in Ang Lee’s (vastly underrated) Hulk, but I’m interested to see what Hurt will bring to the table. So far it looks like the Hulk sequel might actually have a better cast than the first movie! I wish they’d give Ang Lee another crack at it though. Bookmark to: More About: Cast , Liam
Trailer: 30 Days of Night
2007-06-12 00:35:00 Another cool looking trailer - this one for 30 Days of Night starring Josh Hartnett. I haven’t read the graphic novel, but we need more Vampire movies that aren’t associated in any way with Anne Rice is her Euro-trash vampire garbage. Cool premise too - Vampire living in the Arctic Circle. Colour me intrigued. Bookmark to:30 Days of Night' to Del.icio.us">30 Days of Night' to Del.icio.us" alt="Add 'Trail er : 30 Days of Night' to Del.icio.us" />30 Days of Night' to digg">30 Days of Night' to digg" alt="Add 'Trailer: 30 Days of Night' to digg" />30 Days of Night' to FURL">30 Days of Night' to FURL" alt="Add 'Trailer: 30 Days of Night' to FURL" />30 Days of Night' to blinklist">30 Days of Night' to blinklist" alt="Add 'Trailer: 30 Days of Night' to blinklist" />30 Days of Night' to reddit">30 Days of Night' to reddit" alt="Add 'Trailer: 30 Days of Night' to reddit" />30 Days of Night' to Feed Me Links">30 Days of Night' to Feed Me Links" alt="Add 'T... More About: TRAI
Trailer: I am Legend
2007-06-11 19:20:00 I really like the look of this trailer for I am Legend starring Will Smith. This will be the third adaptation of the novel (the first was The Last Man on Earth, and the second was the classic Heston flick: The Omega Man). I’m not the biggest Smith fan in the world, but I think he’s pretty good and what he does, and the big epic shots of the post-apocalyptic New York look fantastic. Bookmark to:I am Legend' to Del.icio.us">I am Legend' to Del.icio.us" alt="Add 'Trail er : I am Legend' to Del.icio.us" />I am Legend' to digg">I am Legend' to digg" alt="Add 'Trailer: I am Legend' to digg" />I am Legend' to FURL">I am Legend' to FURL" alt="Add 'Trailer: I am Legend' to FURL" />I am Legend' to blinklist">I am Legend' to blinklist" alt="Add 'Trailer: I am Legend' to blinklist" />I am Legend' to reddit">I am Legend' to reddit" alt="Add 'Trailer: I am Legend' to reddit" />I am Legend' to Feed Me Links">I am Legend' to Feed Me Links" alt="Add 'Trailer: I am ... More About: I Am Legend , TRAI
Capsule Movie Review - The Asphalt Jungle
2007-06-02 01:16:00 A major heist goes off as planned, until bad luck and double crosses cause everything to unravel. Directed by John Huston Genres Crime, Film-Noir, Drama Cast Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, James Whitmore, Sam Jaffe, John McIntire, Marc Lawrence, Barry Kelley, Anthony Caruso, Teresa Celli, Marilyn Monroe, William ‘Wee Willie’ Davis, Dorothy Tree, Brad Dexter, John Maxwell ****/***** From director John Huston is the awesome and atmospheric film noir. Sterling Hayden (Dr. Strangelove) stars as a hard as nails ex-con who gets wrapped up in a jewelry heist. The A sphalt Jungle also marks an early role for a young Marilyn Monroe. Bookmark to: More About: Movie , Movie Review , Review
On the Lot
2007-06-01 00:59:00 I’m enjoying On the Lot so far. It’s a little too Idolesque for my taste, but I can deal. That said, I can’t understand how Carolina and Phil could be voted out, while Jess (with her terrible light bulb short) and Kenny (with his equally terrible Wack Alley Cab nightmare) are allowed to stay. Get it together America! Bookmark to:
Capsule Movie Review - Sin City
2007-05-30 07:31:00 A film that explores the dark and miserable southern town Basin City and tells the story of three different people, all caught up in the violent corruption of the city. Directed by Robert Rodriguez Genres Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller Cast Jessica Alba, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Powers Boothe, Cara D. Briggs, Jude Ciccolella, Jeffrey J. Dashnaw, Rosario Dawson, Jesse De Luna, Benicio Del Toro, Jason Douglas, Michael Clarke Duncan *****/***** Guns, dames and castrations abound in director Robert Rodriguez’s (Planet Terror, Once Upon a Time in Mexico) stylish and totally faithful adaptation of Frank Miller’s comic-book series. Specifically, the film adapts four of Miller’s short stories: it begins with “The Customer is Always Right”, a short little ditty (featuring a surprisingly well cast Josh Hartnett) that sets the tone for the awesome, hyper-charged neo-noir that is to come. Sin City then moves on to tell the first part of “That Yellow Ba... More About: Movie , Movie Review , Review
Movie Review - George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead
2007-05-22 18:25:00 The living dead have taken over the world, and the last humans live in a walled city to protect themselves as they come to grips with the situation. Directed by George A. Romero Genres Action, Horror, Thriller Cast Simon Baker, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper, Asia Argento, Robert Joy, Eugene Clark, Joanne Boland, Tony Nappo, Jennifer Baxter, Boyd Banks, Jasmin Geljo, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, Tony Munch, Shawn Roberts, Pedro Miguel Arce Land of the Dead marks the return of the legendary horror director George A. Romero to the genre he created in 1969 with the original Night of the Living Dead. Romero had a lot to live up to with this film. Night’s first sequel, Dawn of the Dead is one of the greatest horror films ever made, and its follow-up Day of the Dead, is an underrated film that has yet to be matched for stomach turning gore. What makes Romero’s zombie films special however is the director’s clever use of social satire, the most famous example of which is the cri... More About: Movie , Movie Review , Review
Ye Ol’ Links
2007-05-10 23:35:00 New Transformers Photos! (ComingSoon.net) Tim Roth is the Abomination? (ComingSoon.net) No Depp in Pirates 4? (The Movie Blog) ‘Spider-Man 3′ Busts Box-Office Records With Amazing Opening Weekend (VH1) Deuce Bigalow Director to Helm Shrek 4 (AWN) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y1Uyn82US 8 Bookmark to: More About: Links
Review - 28 Days Later
More articles from this author:2007-05-09 18:00:00 In honour of the upcoming release of 28 Weeks Late r, here is a review I did a while ago for Danny Boyle’s original film 28 Days Later: In a Nutshell: Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary. Directed by Danny Boyle Genres Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller Cast Alex Palmer, Bindu De Stoppani, Jukka Hiltunen, David Schneider, Cillian Murphy, Toby Sedgwick, Naomie Harris, Noah Huntley, Christopher Dunne, Emma Hitching, Alexander Delamere, Kim McGarrity, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, Justin Hackney The latest effort from Danny Boyle, the director that brought you �Trainspotting�, is 28 Days Later, a stylish zombie horror that manages to stay true to the roots of the genre, while at the same time propelling it forward. The result is one of the best zombie films of the past decade, and indeed, a film that transcends the genre, and is a legitimately good movie in its own right. The story opens with a gaggle o... More About: Review 1, 2 |
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