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gordonproj
After leaving the Royal Artillery in 1993 I revisited film once more and became a cinema projectionist, a profession I enjoyed until 2007.
Since then I have been acting, mostly in friend's short films, but more recently as a Supporting Actor in feature films such as "the Muppets: Most Wanted" and "Guardians of the Galaxy"
I like to support independent film too, having contributed to the online fundraising campaigns for films such as "The Expedition" and "Edge of faith"
I always look forward to new, challenging roles and I bring a Military-style work ethic with me on set when filming. (As well as a twisted sense of humour)
Reviews
The Terminal (2004)
Quite liked the film, against my better Judgement.
Ok, let's get right down to it. There is a lot wrong with this movie.
1.The concept is absurd.
2.Getting Tom Hanks to do Eastern European was dodgy (He only just has enough skill to allow you to suspend disbelief, ONLY JUST!)
3.Tom Hanks' motive for flying to New York was poor. You THINK you know what is in the peanut can, if it had been what you EXPECT it to be it would have made more sense, but when you find out what it ACTUALLY is you just think, "That's stupid!"
4. It's too long. Airports are boring places that you want to get out of, (onto your flight) as quickly as possible. At 2hrs 5mins running time, you MIGHT just want to get out of "The Terminal".
But, what's RIGHT about the movie?
1. Catherine Zeta Jones is unusually likeable. It is refreshing to see her in "vulnerable" mode. I, for one, have had enough of the "Ice Queen/Bitch" roles she keeps playing. She's so much more endearing when she is looking beautiful, (as she does in this) AS WELL as playing a sympathetic character.
2. The comedy elements (whether they are contrived or not) DO WORK! This film does make you laugh!
3. It's heart is in the right place. It may fall a long way short of being an "It's a wonderful life", but it IS a film with a heart.(And more sugary-sweet sentiment than a Disney cartoon, blearrgh!) If I had seen this movie in the countdown to Christmas I think I would have ignored all it's flaws and Implausibility and just taken it for what it is... ...Just a simple, silly, story. With a big heart. Family Fodder.
I, Robot (2004)
I, robot, do solemnly swear to try and KILL-WILL!
What happens when you start investigating the possibility of docile, domesticated robots turning aggressive?
Someone turns them on you!......As Will Smith discovers in I, Robot.
It's a pretty good Sci-fi romp. If you imagine a cross between Bad Boys (without Martin Lawrence) Blade Runner and the fifth element that's pretty much what you're getting. Please note that the example used is basically 2 parts = Stupid action movie, to 1 part = intelligent Sci-fi movie. So don't go expecting any Stephen Hawkins style scientific revelations... no... none.
DO, on the other hand, expect to see Will Smith unraveling a conspiracy to use robots for no good and blowing a fair few of said robots away with his rather conventional, "Nine". (Handgun, for those not familiar with the term)
I liked this film. I stayed awake during it, (quite an achievement seeing as I watched it on a press screening at 9am in the morning) I admired the special effects, enjoyed the action elements and ignored the flaws and the ripped-off bits. (Slow-mo bike dismount in air. Falling a great distance to land on single knee, crushing pavement... MATRIX...HELLO!)
It's Will Smith, It's futuristic, It's Sci-fi, It's special effects, it's cheesy in places but c'mon, you know what to expect! You know what you like!
...Go see it!
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Without doubt, the BEST ROCK MUSICAL ABOUT JESUS... EVER!
This film is just amazing. Considering it's from an Andrew Lloyd Webber (English) musical it's incomprehensible to think that it has not yet had a Region 2 DVD release. (Universal, sort it out!)
Released in 1973, the film is very much of it's time. The music is a combination of Orchestra VS rock band, complete with Wah-Wah guitar and fat-back drums. This is a potent combination alone, but then add in the voices of Carl Anderson as Judas and Ted Neeley as Jesus and you have the recipe for musical meltdown. Carl Anderson captures perfectly the ability to convey Judas' emotions whilst singing. Ted Neeley does this also, portraying a a sympathetic and ultimately, heavily troubled Christ.
I am not a religious person, which, whilst helping me to form an unbiased opinion of this movie, would normally have deterred me from ever watching it in the first place.
...I'm glad I did!
This is the sort of movie I can watch over and over again. The scenery and cinematography are breathtaking, the music and the vocal performances are first class and in an interesting, inventive twist, 20th century military hardware is used by the Roman army, adding a surreal, artistic emphasis.
This is one of those movies you should see at least once before you die.
It is also one of my favourite movies of all time.
Hannibal Brooks (1969)
It's WWII. our story opens with Oliver Reed and... an Elephant.
Yes, this film is nuts.
(WARNING BASIC PLOT OVERVIEW FOLLOWS:)
So let me get this straight, Oliver Reed is a Prisoner Of War, captured and contained by the Germans as the Second World War draws to a close. The German army , (being unusually considerate in this film) give him the job of mucking out the Elephant quarters in the nearby Zoo.
But when the allies bomb the Zoo during a raid, our hero goes on the run for the Swiss border and freedom... with... an Elephant.
It sounds bad, but actually, this is one of my favourite films. (In the UK at least) you will find that a year does not go by without this film being shown on terrestrial TV. This is how I saw it as a child and thought it was great. It is a strange film, difficult to see what market it was aimed at. It has Oliver Reed and Michael J Pollard in absurdly comic mode, playing the fool(s) in the midst of war. The audience tends to be spared the horrors of combat in favour of slapstick violence. (and this in a film by Michael "Death Wish" Winner !)
(Spoiler follows) In one seen (depicted on the US poster for the film) a group of German soldiers are quite casually dispatched when Hannibal, (Reed) makes his travelling companion, (Elephant) roll some freshly chopped timber down a hill and over them.
So if you are prepared for a little adventure with a big heart and it's tongue firmly placed in it's cheek, Give Hannibal Brooks a go. You might just like it. (But you might have a hard time finding it on video or DVD !)
Batoru rowaiaru II: Chinkonka (2003)
It's bigger, bloodier and sillier... and, why not?
This film is basically guts and gunfire entertainment from Japan.
(WARNING!- A BASIC PLOT OVERVIEW NOW FOLLOWS:) Picking up where "Battle Royale" left off, a new class of schoolchildren are forced to enter the BR 2 program in order to eliminate Nanahara Shuya, survivor of "Battle Royale", and now leader of a group of child terrorists comprised of survivors of the "Battle Royale" program, who have decided to wage war on the adult society that has rejected them.
Firstly, it should be noted that although this film may lead you to ponder topics such as:
The global circumstances that give rise to Terrorism. The traumatic effect of combat on children. The foreign policies of the United States. The breakdown of parent/child relationships within Japanese society.
These things are incidental and not what this film is for.
This film is about the good old "bang,bang you're dead", "No I'm not! you missed me!" playground antics we used to get up to as children, only here it's adults only entertainment. Put any kids you might have lying around the house to bed, hang up your film critic hat and hold onto your seat, because this film is about teen bloodshed and bodycount and there'll almost certainly be tears before bedtime! Yes there's a plot, but if you are going to try to take this film seriously you will come to a major hurdle in the first act, as soon as the class's teacher enters the arena to lay down the rules!
Kids - CHECK, Guns - CHECK,
LET BATTLE COMMENCE!....