Transformed!

POSTIVES

1. The one person that really stole the show for me was Julie White who plays Shia’s mother Judy Witwicky. She is hilarious.

2. My one main beef with Transformers (1) was with the battle scenes. Who on Earth was fighting who? You had to wait until it was over to see who had the upper hand...or wheel...

3. I didn’t have to worry about that with “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”. They got the perspective right so that you could see what happened to who. Much improved.

4. The human moments within the film were more entertaining than the robot destiny stuff.

5. Shia Labeouf. His timing and quick delivery of his lines is just perfect!

6. Best robot: the little one from Megan’s garage.

7. The usual classic Michael Bay style filming, i.e slow motion camera work, going in low, coming up the actor’s body making them look ‘cool’. It’s been done before but this is a summer ‘fun’ film so I’ll let him off.

NEGATIVES

1. Megan Fox’s character. Her main motivation throughout the film was to get Shia’s character to declare his love for her. Where’s the strong independent woman??? Also, let’s face it, Megan could get any Tom, Dick or Harry! If she classes herself as a proper actor, then it doesn’t come across in this film. She is just there because she is pretty. I’m looking forward to seeing her act in a film.

2. Robot voices. Enough said.

3. I found the room-mate highly annoying.

The film in total was much much much better than the first film. I think I was actually bored in the first film. However the Transformers franchises has definitely transformed into a better film.

I'll give it a 8/10.

Bring on the next Shia film (which I believe is “New York, I love you”)!

Cold Souls

Taken from Apple- Movie Trailers:

Is your soul weighing you down? Paul Giamatti has found a solution! In the surreal comedy COLD SOULS, Paul Giamatti plays an actor named… Paul Giamatti. Stumbling upon an article in The New Yorker about a high-tech company that extracts, deep-freezes and stores people’s souls, Paul very well might have found the key to happiness for which he’s been searching. But, complications arise when he is the unfortunate victim of “soul-trafficking.” Giamatti’s journey takes him all the way to Russia in hopes of retrieving his stolen soul from an ambitious but talentless soap-opera actress. Balancing a tightrope between deadpan humor & pathos, and reality & fantasy, COLD SOULS is a true soul searching comedy. Also starring David Strathairn, Dana Korzun and Emily Watson.

Possibly to the similar vein at "Being John Malkovich", Cold Souls looks brilliant! Can't Wait!

Indiana Jones 5

I don’t know about anyone else, but I was disappointed with Indiana Jones 4. When did Indy get involved with Aliens??? Indy was all about the history and mythology with religion, not aliens. Why doesn’t he go to England and try and find Excalibur?

So what do I think of news that there will be an Indy V? Not a lot. Harrison is nearly 67! He’s passed the age of the whip cracking womaniser that we all know and love.

There is hope though, in the shape of Shia LaBeouf, who I think is brilliant. (Transformers 2 review, coming soon!). Out of all the new Hollywood stars at the moment, you can just tell that he’s going to be around for some time.

Now if they make Indy V more about Shia becoming the treasure hunter rather than Harrison, there’s hope for a more believable, fun film.

With Indy V just at the scripting stages, I’ll have to just wait and see...

Free Films!

Calling all movie lovers in the Manchester area!

For all of Summer, there will be a free outdoor cinema (weather permitting) in Spinningfields. Every Thursday at 9pm and tonight is "Withnail and I"!

http://www.spinningfieldsonline.net/app/whatson/spinningfields/film.cfm

Unfortunately due to the classic Mancunian weather, rain, I didn’t attend. Next week: Brekky at Tiff’s

"Anything"

As I have said in my "About Me", I love films and I hope to make lots in my life time. At the moment I have in my arsenal several short (and I mean really really short) film scripts.

Recently a friend of mine filmed one of these scripts in HD and it looked AMAZING. I feel like a proud parent even though I haven't seen the final film. It's a called "Anything" and its about a girl who has a daydream at work where the man of her dreams comes and lavishes her with gifts in a classic montage (you gotta love a montage!). Hopefully when it is completed I'll be able to tell you where you can see it.

In the meanwhile I'll let you look at one of my early creations.

Robin Hood

Oh dear Lord! Russell Crowe is going to play the legendary Robin Hood character in the next Ridley Scott film set for release next year.

Have a look at the cast list. Hardly ANY of the actors are actually British.

That’s the one thing I don't get with these kinds of films. It’s made in England, it’s about England but, what the hey, let’s get anyone but Englishmen to act in it!?

I get the whole pulling in the punters idea with having Russell as the lead. I get it, you need to make money. And I’m sure they will all put on a good accent, but why can't Ridley just get some home grown talent??? Where’s the harm???

I'll have to hold off judgment until May next year to find out. But I'm sure Ridley will probably make a brilliant film, as per usual.

Something to get excited about...

CLASH OF THE TITANS!!!! 2010

Growing up my favourite film was the 1981 Clash of the Titans film. Its such an exciting film. Generally I'm not a big fan of remakes but looking at the cast list, the 2010 Clash of the Titans remake will be a brilliant film. According to IMDB it is due for release in the UK on the 26th March 2010.

Sam Worthington ... Perseus
Alexa Davalos ... Andromeda
Liam Neeson ... Zeus
Jason Flemyng ... Calibos (rumored)
Ralph Fiennes ... Hades
Mads Mikkelsen ... Draco
Gemma Arterton ... Io (I've actually worked with Gemma once on a film called "Three and Out". She is very nice!)
Nicholas Hoult ... (rumored)
Hans Matheson ... Ixas
Danny Huston ... Poseidon

Can't beat a good Greek yarn!

New Moon

I got very excited this week because I got to see the new trailer for New Moon. The second in the Twilight saga. If you haven't heard of Twilight, where have you been???

It is about the relationship of Bella and Edward. Edward (played by the striking Rob Pattinson) just happens to be a vampire who doesn't feed on Human blood but on Animals. Problem then is, he really wants Bella's blood because it smells tasty...

I would suggest that anyone who hasn’t seen Twilight should read the books before seeing the film because the books are generally better. Read the books then watch the Twilight film and THEN watch the trailer for New Moon. The books are by Stephenie Meyer (www.stepheniemeyer.com/)and they are really for teenagers but I'm in my 20's and LOVE'EM!

For more info on it, heres the imdb link: www.imdb.com/title/tt1259571/

TERMINATOR SALVATION

Finally, last night I got to watch Terminator Salvation. I was all set not to like it because I heard that it received some negative reviews...Well this one is a positive one!

I’ll start though with some negatives.

1. Christian Bale’s voice! What on earth is up with that? In the film he was very gruff and almost whistled while he talked.

2. Some of the special effects with the landscape screamed Green Screen but you can’t hold that against a film set in the future.

3. Kate Conner a.k.a Bryce Dallas Howard was far too pretty for the type of future that she was in. I felt more drawn to Moon Goodbloods character, Blair, in regards to her hair, makeup and costume.

Now what I loved about it.

1. SAM WORTHINGTON! Simple. For a new guy on the Hollywood scene he makes a great impression as Marcus Wright. Although his Australian accent does pop up every now and again.

2. Anton Yetchin. Another one to keep an eye on. You’ll have seen him in the new must see Star Trek film as the brilliant Chekov.

3. Costumes where gritty.

4. They didn’t forget to put the der der derduhdun der der derduhdun at the beginning.

5. There are two surprises... I’ll say nothing more.

6. Even though other reviews have said that the plot was muddled and not easy to understand. I found it very easy to understand and I think it fits into the whole Terminator saga well. But that just my opinion.

7. The film salutes to Terminator 1 and the Great Escape.

8. Don’t forget the classic line “I’ll be back”

Some newbies to the Terminator Saga may not get alot of what's going on in regards to the plot and back story, so in that respects Terminator Salavtion is probably most suited for the die hards (which I am one of!)

Not epic or as great as the first two Terminator films, but a good one!

Eight positives/ three negatives.

I’ll give it a 7/10