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Reviews
Misfits (2009)
Fantastic Television
I must admit that not once did I think of 'Heroes' when watching this programme, although now the point has been raised I can see why people would compare the two. What this programme does is show what a fertile ground British TV still is as not only is it very well cast, but the writing, direction and production design match anything that out US friends can do. Along with Skins and The Inbetweeners Channel 4 have now got another great programme that is 'yoof' but also appeals to an older audience. It is very dark, very twisted and quite often very very funny.
Initially I found Robert Sheehan's character 'Nathan' to be really irritating to the point that I thought he would ruin the programme, but as the show progresses he really is the heart of the whole thing and by the end of it I realised he was far and away the best thing in it !
Sheehan is certainly a face for the future, so too Lauren Socha who as 'Kelly' again initially seems like a real 'Chav' before blossoming into a very rounded character who you can sympathise with. Following her work in the Arctic Monkey's 'Scummy Man' promo she could also be one to watch.
If this was US produced I dare say we'd have had a minimum of 12 episodes to season 1, but the six we do get are excellent.
It would be a real crime if this doesn't reappear for a Second Series by the end of the year.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Not brilliant......
I'm pleased that I didn't bother to go and see this at the cinema, although it was fine to watch on a big screen at home. Hugh Jackman is perfect again as Wolverine but what really let's this movie down is it's director and some shockingly bad f/x shots. Some of the camera angles and zooms just made me want to scream, the visuals are all over the place and it became really distracting when trying to keep interest in the film. Some of the f/x shots make 'Die Another Day' look like a masterpiece and it really cheapened the look of a film already suffering from a lack of pace and a dull, predictable story. A real case of a the wrong director being chosen.
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Generation Kill is better
Whilst not a bad film, I was severely disappointed with The Hurt Locker. In the UK, Empire magazine rated this a 5 Star movie, normally a sign of a quality product. But for once I feel mislead. Having watched and thoroughly enjoyed the television mini series Generation Kill, I felt that no new ground was being broken in this film. I'd expected it to be more tense, to be more visually arresting but I found myself completely uninvolved in the story, even when you're being thrown the red herring about the death of Beckham. Maybe that says more about me than the movie, but with the exception of Jeremy Renner I can find nothing to recommend this movie.
Casino Royale (2006)
Bond - Year Zero - An excellent return to form.
I first knew that Daniel Craig would make a great James Bond when he appeared on stage to present an award at the British Film Awards a couple of years ago.....I don't know what it was really: his body language or just his prescence on screen. I turned to my wife and said 'He'd make a really good James Bond' and I was right ! Casino Royale IS a new beginning for 007, with Eon pretending that the previous 20 Bond movies didn't exist and setting this film in a kind of 'Year Zero'. It really works well. It's beautifully crafted in all departments with some stunts that really make you go 'WOW !' My biggest disappointment ? The Chris Cornell theme song. Not since Rita Coolidge sang 'All Time High' over Octopussy have I been so annoyed with the choice of artist and song. Give Robbie Williams a shot or The Pet Shop Boys....better yet Depeche Mode. Yes, the title sequence is superb, but GOD that song is awful ! It's a really good idea that Bond 22 will continue from where Casino Royale finishes and with this in mind....
Could the organisation that MI6 are after really be 'The Union' ? Will 'Le Gerant' be the main villain in Bond 22 ? If you've never read Raymond Benson's Bond novels then you should check them out. I always had a problem relating the character he wrote Bond to be with any of the actors who have portrayed him on the screen.
Now Daniel Craig IS Bond.
It's great to have him back.