Category Archives: DVD – Video – Movie Rental

Kill Bill (Volume 1)

Kill Bill Volume 1When you finally start to understand the plot of Kill Bill (Volume I) you will see that Uma Thurman wakes from a coma and is determined to seek revenge on those (namely Bill and his crew) who put her there. For me, Quentin Tarantino usually means more violence than I am prepared to stomach but in Kill Bill (Volume I) it’s almost comic book (the blood spewing from the severed arms will – sadly – amuse me for quite a while). The acting is excellent (Uma is brilliant and was Lucy Liu). The staging of the fight sequences is unlike anything I have ever seen before and, although I am still trying to figure some of it out, I am pleased I rented it and not a little disappointed that I didn’t see it in the cinema.

I wasn’t expecting to like it, but I loved it.

On this day…

2005: Lost
2003: Disappointing Frustrating
2002: On The Town

S.W.A.T (Again)

SWATSo last night I saw S.W.A.T on DVD. PY had not seen it although I had watched it back in December on a plane to the US. It was as good as I remembered and I don’t think they cut too much from the version I saw on the plane. Always worth watching Colin Farrell in – almost – anything.

On this day…

No other posts on this day.

Nicholas Nickleby

Nicholas Nickleby DVDI am not sure if it was all the time spent wandering the streets of London earlier, but PY and I decided to rent a movie this evening and, given that it was already in the house thanks to LoveFilm.com (formerly dvdsontap) we watched Douglas McGrath’s adaptation of Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby.

I didn’t know the story and really didn’t know what to expect. I imagined a period drama and, in truth, I only added it to our rental list to see how Charlie Hunnam performed in a role that was so different from some of his previous work. I was very pleasantly surprised indeed.

The story may – or may not – be faithful to the book but as a story of a young man who must look after his family following his father’s death it was very well done. Hunnam was better than I expected, Christopher Plummer as the Uncle was fantastic and Jim Broadbent was wonderful as Squeers the schoolmaster. Juliet Stevenson was also brilliant as his wife, Mrs. Squeers.

What surprised me most was how well the comedy worked. Parts of the story are very bleak but Dickens used comedy as well as tragedy to make his points and it comes out very well. It’s not belly-laugh humour but the wit is straight to the point.

And, being a DVD, I always try and look at the extras. Douglas McGrath’s Director’s commentary shows how much thought goes into the parts of the film that pass you by.

Recommended as a great period drama that plays well today.

On this day…

2005: Looking Good In The High Street
2004: Borough Market: Southwark’s Great Food Home
2004: Paying A Quick Visit

The Trench

Paul Nicholls in the 1999 movie, The TrenchI just watched The Trench, William Boyd’s 1999 Somme story set, entirely, in a 1916 trench in the hours before the Battle of the Somme. Although some may consider this film a little limited, I found it quite moving. Some reviews imply it’s a little stereotypical in its characterisation but the ensemble works well and there are some good performances. Paul Nicholls stars and is rather good – despite the somewhat limited role. While the end is entirely known it’s still a worthwhile ninety minutes. I found myself relieved that I wasn’t put in that position, it surely is one of the most tragic moments in British war history. You may know the end but it’s a thought-provoking film.

Buy The Trench on DVD from Amazon

On this day…

2005: 1700 Tracks And Counting
2004: links for 2004-11-12
2003: More Time Shifts
2001: Privacy Policy

Gangs Of New York

Gangs Of New York 2002Earlier tonight, and once again thanks to the joys of dvdsontap, PY and I watched Martin Scorsese’s 19th century epic, Gangs of New York on DVD. Apparently, Daniel Day-Lewis came out of a kind of retirement to film it.

The film tells us America was not quite the happy melting-pot of modern thinking. It’s an interesting mix of epic cinema and predicable story as DiCaprio looks to avenge his father’s death and falls for Cameron Diaz in the process, while all around the poor (literally) fight for survival against the corruption of the power holders. The sights of the coffins brought back from the Civil War remind us of another part of America’s past. If the movie is to be believed, Irish immigrants were marched off one ship to another where they acquire uniforms and the promise of ‘three meals a day’ on their way to a death further south.

Gangs of New York looks stunning but fails to deliver. Day-Lewis has a Munchausen moustache which is more absurd in pictures than it is in character, but still provides an amusing diversion. The movie is long, but apparently not as long as it was meant to be. A difficult film to decide upon.

On this day…

2005: Blog Madness
2004: A Box That Does It All
2004: Eleven Years In The Big Smoke

The Quiet American

Thanks to the joy of dvdsontap, I have just watched Michael Caine in The Quiet American, the adaption of Graham Greene’s novel about an American spy, Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser).

Pyle is a US agent who is backing an anti-communist force in Vietnam and befriends British journalist Thomas Fowler (Caine) before ending up part of a love triange with local Vietnamese girl, Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen).

Caine was superb as the Siagon-based reporter – an understated performance that steals the show. The movie is well produced and the atmosphere of the Far-East brilliantly portrayed. I would never have gone to the movies to see this but I am so glad that I added it to the DVD list.

On this day…

2002: Let’s (Not) Go Out

Not Another Teen Movie

This is Chris Evans from Not Another Teen MovieWhen we returned from Pride in the Park 2003, wet and exhausted but having had a thoroughly fantastic day, PY and I set about eating and watching a movie on Sky Box Office (more Pride in the Park at The Independent and at
BBC News
).

We chose Not Another Teen Movie, simply because we thought it wouldn’t actually tax us and therefore we could just enjoy it. Well, it’s not a great movie, there’s plenty of toilet humour and it’s not that well acted. But it certainly taxed us. We spent the whole 90 minutes or so trying to guess all the references to other teen movies (and I spent just about as much time lusting after the lead actor, who has the unfortunate name of Chris Evans – if you’re British you’ll understand why it’s unfortunate). Even Molly Ringwald got a look in!

Verdict: As a night in it’s much more fun to play guess the movie than try to follow this film. A fun film for sure!

On this day…

2007: Read The Manual
2005: My Idea Changed
2004: Administrative Apologies
2003: Buffalo Soldiers
2003: Another Russian Birthday
2002: How do you say Happy Birthday in Russian?
2002: Marry Me

40 Days and 40 Nights

Josh Harnett in 40 Days and 40 NightsLast night PY and I watched Josh Hartnett in 40 Days and 40 Nights – thanks to the delights of Sky Box Office. It was a well-made film and I enjoyed it as a movie that can be watched on an evening when you want to say in a watch a film that doesn’t make you think too hard.

The premise is that Matt is tired of his sex life and the way it seems to run his life. So, he gives up sex for lent and, of course, meets somebody in that time. It was OK but I think it was supposed to be either satirical or out-and-out funny (I believe there’s a difference). Yet I didn’t really laugh. Which is a shame because it’s OK.

Verdict: Watch when you don’t want to use any brain cells. Watch if you want to see Josh Hartnett with no shirt on!

On this day…

2005: Fans Vote On Qualifying Rules
2003: Consumers Around Your Product
2003: No More Netscape
2002: London Life Underground
2002: 50 things
2002: I say “medieval” – You say “medireview”