gor41

Bio: My philosophy for the three ages of movie watching:

Stage 1 - an innocent time where all films offer wonder and

entertainment. You pay little or no attention to movie reviews and choose

according to favourite actors, publicity etc. Watch about 1 movie per week or

total less than 500. Your 'normal' person may never move beyond this.

Stage 2 - an unappealing but necessary stage to reach stage three.

Cynicism and snobbery are foremost. Films chosen purely on reviews. Abhorrence

of anything considered 'main stream Hollywood popcorn entertainment'. Required

to sit through a lot of dull pretentious 'art' / foreign films you don't really

understand. Frequency of viewing can vary widely but over 2000 views to move on

to ....

Stage 3 Film Utopia - Enlightened time where your vast experience of all

types of film means you can make balanced judgments for your self and accept all

types of film even if they get slated in reviews.

Recent Ratings

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86 _83%

Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009) - Rated 26 Jun 2009

Touching tale of 'believing in the dream' and male bonding with a great 'odd couple' relationship at its heart. Beats Metallica's similar documentary because the leads are far more likeable and endearing.

77 _52%

I've Loved You So Long (2008) - Rated 20 Jun 2009

Taught, believable study of a woman's struggle to reintegrate into society and her family after a tragedy which saw her jailed for 15 years. Thomas and Zylberstein work well together as estranged sisters. Slow but beautifully crafted.

67 _21%

Transsiberian (2008) - Rated 18 Jun 2009

Serviceable thriller but Harrelson is miscast and it doesn't push any boundaries.

68 _24%

Trade (2007) - Rated 18 Jun 2009

Grim if now somewhat over familiar people trafficking 'issue' drama. Predictable plot is jolted with one fine scene on a cliff top. Kevin Kline is passable. A noble cause to highlight but not terribly entertaining.

74 _42%

Tropic Thunder (2008) - Rated 17 Jun 2009

Enjoyable Vietnam spoof with hilarious moments and a standout turn from Downey Jr. I was slightly uneasy about the context but it does clearly spoof Hollywood films about the war rather than the war itself. In fact it does rather tie itself up in meta textual knots at times.

82 _68%

The Class (2008) - Rated 16 Jun 2009

Interesting insight into the classroom dynamics in a french inner city middle school. I found myself inevitably contrasting values and the attitude of the teenagers towards learning and the teacher with the english state system. Their teenagers may be surly but they at least engaged and seemed to value knowledge.

89 _88%

The Big Lebowski (1998) - Rated 11 Jun 2009

Infused with a screwball energy like no other, this scatological fable says little but has great fun doing it.

85 _79%

Barton Fink (1991) - Rated 07 Jun 2009

Slow paced gem with career defining performances from Turturro and Goodman. Cracking script full of memorable one-liners is complimented by a wonderful atmosphere at the hotel generated by well crafted sets and a haunting score.

63 _10%

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - Rated 05 Jun 2009

Predictable, childish and pointless it may be but this old fan still enjoyed it.

68 _24%

A Christmas Tale (2008) - Rated 02 Jun 2009

French family drama with strong performances but rather too much abstract philosophizing and strange continental angst for me.