New Moon

I have been looking forward to seeing this film for a while. Could director Chris Weitz build on what Catherine Hardwicke started? Answer being, a really decent film.

I can't really say I was wowed by New Moon. I think that's for personal reasons. The Robert Patterson fever has calmed down. New Moon sticks pretty rigidly to the book. There are a few differences but no where near as many as Catherine put in. I think for this fact and apart from a few cringe corny romantic lines, New Moon makes for a better film. I don't imagine fans being disappointed.

A lot of flesh...you can't get away from the flesh....

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Gutted! And a tad angry. This film is confused and lacking in pace. I was really bored. The only really interesting part of it was the costumes/ set design and the young Andrew Garfield.

It is just really sad that after Batman, Heath did this and THIS is his last ever film.

My advice is don't watch it! Keep the image of the Joker as the last great role of Heath Ledger.

Evoking emotion

At this moment I am staying on a farm in Dunedin, New Zealand. As a way to show New Zealand culture, my hosts put on "Once Were Warriors" a 1994 film by Lee Tamahori and starring Temuera Morrison, who some will recognise as Jango Fett in the Star Wars movie.

'Once Were Warriors" is about domestic abuse in a Maori household and how the woman comes to deal with it and get a future away from the abuse.

To say I wasn't moved is an understatement. I finished watching it about 5 minutes ago and I still feel as though I may burst into tears again. The fighting is brutal and very very scary. It's heartbreaking but its hase love in there. Love in the strangest, self harming way.

New Zealand film industry is strong with the guts to tell powerful stories without the political correctness of America.

This is a film that you have to dedicate all your mind and (I know it sounds kinda slushy) soul to, to really appreciate it. Watch it!

2012

WOW! Roland Emmerich has done it again with his Doomsday foretelling. And this time I am very much likely to believe him because yyyyeeeeaaaarrrrssss ago I remember watching a BBC documentary about it!

2012 is about the sun sparking a huge solar flare that heats up the Earth from the inside out and makes the crust and poles shift.

Like any Emmerich film, the film looks at the lives of several different people:

• Joe Bloggs - in this case John Cusack and family



• The Scientist who foretells all of it and is the 'good egg'- Chiwetel Ejiofor who Brits will recognise from Love Actually. Yet another brilliant Brit actor nicking the American parts from American actors (makes me so chuffed!)



• The President of America- Danny Glover



• The Arse- which is split into two characters, there is the Russian business man and Oliver Platt who never fails to not make me smile even when he is being a pillock!



• and a whole host of randoms, that get the "oooooohhhh shit!" camera angle when the shit really does hit the fan.

After seeing a lot of films recently (sorry I haven't reviewed all of them) it was really nice to get so involved in this one. At times I couldn't help myself by saying out loud "RUN! run now!!!!" or squealing at other parts.

Scientifically speaking some situations are highly improbable (bit with the volcano...) but with Roland you are just there for the ride, and he delivers, he really does!

The Vintner's Luck

This is a story about wine making in France during the 19th Century. A common peasant who works on a chateau vineyard works his way to the top to become a Vintner with the help of a angel.

The film is directed by New Zealand director Niki Caro (Whale Rider). Based on a book by Elizabeth Knox, 'The Vintner's Luck' is a look at the life of Sorban (played by Jérémie Renier) and his love of and Angel, his wife and a Baroness.

The make up for Jeremie Renier as he grows old is brilliant. You can even see the sun spots appearing on his skin. However the same care to detail was not conveyed onto his wife (Keisha Castle-Hughes) who does not seem to age and at some points her children look older than she does!

My favourite scene was where the Baroness is smelling and describing Sorban's hands. How Niki Caro filmed it was very erotic for such an innocent act.

Although the Vintner's Luck seems to have continued 'bad reviews', I have to say that I found it (like any good wine) slow in maturing and after being out of the cinema now for several hours, I am still thinking about it and drinking quite a bit of wine. The acting from the two main male characters and the Baroness is brilliant. The pace of the film can be slow at times but isn't it the same with any life span portrait?

Avatar

Just watched the full length trailer for Avatar which has the release date 18th December Worldwide. It looks so impressive and I can't wait to see it. I very much doubt I will be disappointed. Check out the website: http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/

Taking of Cinema Paradiso

http://abritishgirlskiwiadventure.blogspot.com/2009/11/cinema-paradiso-wanaka.html

Follow this link to see my review of the awesome cinema in Wanaka, NZ and Tony Scott's film, 'The Taking of Pelham 123'.

Try watching this and NOT get excited!