I've decided to make a short series of videos entitled 'My Favourites' (really fucking original, right?? Shush) to put on Youtube, they're basically a rip off of the Channel 4 adverts from a while back, well...not basically, they ARE. But yeah, I want to cover simple stuff:
Favourite song.
Favourite word.
Favourite image.
Favourite film.
Favourite drink.
Favourite 'FML' moment.
I like the simplicity of the concept, it gives scope for alot of honesty, in a short period of time. Let me know if you wouldn't mind being a part of this, the more the better.
I'll be putting the link for Youtube on soon, keep an eye out, yeah?
Charles <3
P.S. I didn't even volunteer to edit that fucking drama production. And it's shit. So Pheyh!
Friday, 13 March 2009
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Monday, 2 February 2009
Eden Review
This is a first attempt at writing a film review of my own, it is on the 2008 film 'Eden'.
Eden is a return to the kitchen sink realism that has been so easily dismissed in the film world of late. Consigned to lifeless or supposedly 'comic' portrayals such as 'Coronation Street' or 'Shameless' on television. Unlike these mediocre and unrealistic portrayals of real life, 'Eden' is a genuine and incredibly heart-wrenching masterpiece. It leaves a bruise on the heart that will ache for days after you see it.
Eden is a 2008 Irish film directed by Declan Recks, his first time directing a feature film, and it was adapted by Eugene O'Brien, from his own stage play.
Aidan Kelly and Eileen Walsh star as a married-with-two-kids couple who are learning that nearly ten years of marriage can be a long, and difficult affair. They are approaching their ten year anniversary, in the small unknown Irish village they live in, and in an attempt to breathe new vigor into their ailing marriage they agree to go out like they did when they were young.
In their little village, everyone knows everyone, as well as each other's secrets and business. The film deals incredibly well with issues such as the problems of social inbreeding that can occur within small villages like this one. Billy (Kelly) is having problems with among many other things, his sex life, and puts a good deal of blame on Breeda's (Walsh) shoulders. In turn this leads to Breeda feeling inadequate and unattractive, something which convinces her to join a local weight loss group. Breeda, in a moment of vulnerability, confides her problems to the local weight-watchers leader, and they are inevitably and eventually shared with the town.
A lot of the struggles the couple deal with are synonymous with peoples fears and problems of being and becoming middle aged. The biggest threat to the couple comes in the form of Imelda, a young attractive local girl, who obliviously becomes the imagined solution to Billy's...problem. What follows is the most beautiful and haunting account of if a couple can come together, and despite their problems make their marriage work.
What makes this film so haunting is it's honesty. There's no car explosions, or angry bald men yelling at a man named 'Ricky' in a horribly unrealistic Laaandan accent, or stepped on women throwing irons at their angry husbands. In the most engaging way possible the film forsakes what most would dub 'conventional drama' and takes a thoroughly modest and open approach to what are quite common and painful problems for many people.
I cannot express the effect this film had on me. With all of your heart you want it to work, for them to overcome their problems, the temptations, the guilt and blame. And the film's end will leave a profound, and lasting mark on your heart.
Eden is a return to the kitchen sink realism that has been so easily dismissed in the film world of late. Consigned to lifeless or supposedly 'comic' portrayals such as 'Coronation Street' or 'Shameless' on television. Unlike these mediocre and unrealistic portrayals of real life, 'Eden' is a genuine and incredibly heart-wrenching masterpiece. It leaves a bruise on the heart that will ache for days after you see it.
Eden is a 2008 Irish film directed by Declan Recks, his first time directing a feature film, and it was adapted by Eugene O'Brien, from his own stage play.
Aidan Kelly and Eileen Walsh star as a married-with-two-kids couple who are learning that nearly ten years of marriage can be a long, and difficult affair. They are approaching their ten year anniversary, in the small unknown Irish village they live in, and in an attempt to breathe new vigor into their ailing marriage they agree to go out like they did when they were young.
In their little village, everyone knows everyone, as well as each other's secrets and business. The film deals incredibly well with issues such as the problems of social inbreeding that can occur within small villages like this one. Billy (Kelly) is having problems with among many other things, his sex life, and puts a good deal of blame on Breeda's (Walsh) shoulders. In turn this leads to Breeda feeling inadequate and unattractive, something which convinces her to join a local weight loss group. Breeda, in a moment of vulnerability, confides her problems to the local weight-watchers leader, and they are inevitably and eventually shared with the town.
A lot of the struggles the couple deal with are synonymous with peoples fears and problems of being and becoming middle aged. The biggest threat to the couple comes in the form of Imelda, a young attractive local girl, who obliviously becomes the imagined solution to Billy's...problem. What follows is the most beautiful and haunting account of if a couple can come together, and despite their problems make their marriage work.
What makes this film so haunting is it's honesty. There's no car explosions, or angry bald men yelling at a man named 'Ricky' in a horribly unrealistic Laaandan accent, or stepped on women throwing irons at their angry husbands. In the most engaging way possible the film forsakes what most would dub 'conventional drama' and takes a thoroughly modest and open approach to what are quite common and painful problems for many people.
I cannot express the effect this film had on me. With all of your heart you want it to work, for them to overcome their problems, the temptations, the guilt and blame. And the film's end will leave a profound, and lasting mark on your heart.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Scrubs Episode 1 - Short Review
Again, like my Princess Mononoke review, this was written for college and therefore had to adhere to certain template, layout and content rules. Which is why it is the way it is. Hopefully I'll have a review written solely because I fucking want to write it up sometime soon. It's also worth mentioning that I had to pretty much review one episode, which is why I spend a lot of time dwelling on the pilot episode.
Scrubs is a fun and partially accurate look at life within a hospital. It’s main character is JD (Zach Braff) is supported by a strong and varied mix of supporting roles. Scrubs achieves that rare thing in television shows of being able to side-splittingly funny whilst also throwing in some truly heart-wrenching dramatic conventions.
JD starts off his day lying awake on his bed, worrying frantically about his big day starting at the local hospital, Sacred Heart.
You immediately warm to him as he goofs off in front of the mirror, whilst the show’s only bad point, and his voiceover explains his apprehension and excitement at the coming day.
Unfortunately for JD, his view of being a Doctor is shattered as he steps into a busy, frightening and decidedly un-glamorous world. He finds reassurance in the kind and gentle Dr Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins) who puts his fears to rest and seems to be there to help him. He also encounters Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) who is a brash and renegade Doctor. Also introduced is Turk, the frat-boy best friend and roomate, Carla (Judy Reyes), the experienced, no-nonsense nurse, Elliot (Sarah Chalke), the bookish and mousey love interest and finally the Janitor (Neil Flynn) who takes an unexplained, yet hilarious and instantaneous dislike to JD.
As I previously stated Scrubs has managed a rare thing in the comedy television genre, which only ‘House, M.D.’ has managed to pull off. I’m talking of course of the ability to combine excellent humour, razor-shape medical accuracy and strong drama storylines without making a hash of it, something many comedy shows do. A prime example is ‘8 Simple Rules’ that fails so badly at mixing comedy and drama they may well have not bothered. There are also serious hospital shows, such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Holby City’, now whilst these shows have their own merits, they can not do something which is truly hard to pull off, the mixing off such contrasting genres.
The only problem with Scrubs, from a technical point of view is the amount of voice-over dialogue, the show ‘House, M.D.’ has no voice over and yet manages to get the story and point across with heartbreaking quality. Whilst it does help give a personal insight into JD’s mind, I can’t help but feel I’m slightly being force fed the storyline with a giant spoon, by an angry German nanny who insists on making aeroplane noises whilst shoving the metaphorical spoon and it’s contents into your fucking EAR CANA…sorry, I appear to have got off topic.
ANYWAY.
I think Scrubs strongest point is the characters and their relationships with each other. Nearly all the characters have comic relationships, be it rivalries, sexual tension or dangerously un-politically correct quasi-racist remarks. And yet there is a depth, or more, a different side to all these relationships, ones of caring, mutual respect and love. And it is the blend of these two sides of the relationships that allow ‘Scrubs’ to work quite as well as it does.
To summarise, I think Scrubs is an excellent, charming and heart warming take on hospital dramas, a genre that is nothing new, yet Scrubs has the wonderful ability to make itself seem fresh and invigorating. Successfully merging two very contrasting genres with seamless quality
P.S. '8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter' is possibly THE most terrible show ever made. WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?
I WANT SOME SKITTLES.
Hancock - Short Review
Again, originally written for a college project, so yeah, I would love some tea and a couple of Hobnobs right now.
Hancock is something of a new take on superhero films of recent times. Hancock’s (Will Smith) drunken and rebellious acts of public service and crime fighting soon earn him the honour of being the most hated man in L.A. until he meets P.R. consultant and all-round good egg, Ray Embry (Jason Bateman). After saving his life, Ray soon embarks on a quest to turn Hancock into a model superhero and change the public‘s opinion, despite his wife’s (Charlize Theron) strong reservations.
The film has a wonderful opening sequence in which Hancock is awoken from a drunken stupor by a young child, alerting him to high speed chase/gun battle currently happening. Hancock eventually rouses himself into action and flies off to help, alcohol in hand, smashing through birds, signs and almost a plane on his way.
The camera work is excellent throughout, in the beginning it is constantly swaying and shaking slightly, really highlighting Hancock’s alcoholism, along with excellent shot composition and special effects. This film is incredibly well shot and made…apart from the weird eye close ups. It doesn’t convey intense emotion. It conveys absolutely fuck all and was a terrible choice. And I’ll probably be ripping it off in my next terrible student film. Which I might make about pie. OR JELLY.
Hancock spends the first half of the film being a lovable and comical rogue, threatening to break off his foot in an old woman’s ass, insulting whole swaths of people at one time and launching a young bully into orbit. The first half of the film has several ’Youtube’ clips showing Hancock throwing a whale into a boat and barging into an ice cream van for an ice cream, naked the whole time. It is full of comic gags and lines, reminding me very much of ‘Rush Hour'and ‘Bad Boys’, both films that fall firmly, and comfortably, in the comedy genre.
Hancock eventually decides to let Ray take a chance at re-shaping his public image, just as a warrant is issued for his arrest. Ray convinces him to go to prison, stating that when the city falls into chaos it will beg for him to come back. It is at this point the film starts to stumble. Up to this point the film is an engaging and comical extravaganza, with Hancock being a lovable and hilarious character. Unfortunately Ray has re-habilitated Hancock into a much more generic superhero, with laughable suit to match.
From here the film takes a much more serious turn. Hancock turns into a brooding and serious superhero, leaving behind any hilarity and lovability he had when the film began. It is this which is most disappointing about the film, from the ad campaign for Hancock all the way up to the middle of the film it has been a comical and fresh take on superhero films. However, Peter Berg (director) couldn’t help but try and steer the film into a dramatic quasi-love story and a-generic-as-you-like Superman/Batman/ Spiderman film, featuring a tortured, dark, yet good-at-heart superhero. The film becomes about the kind of superhero it openly mocks earlier in the film. I was half-expecting him to slide down a rope, or some fucking…ass string or whatever the Hell it is that Peter Parker has, at the end of the film and kiss the girl from behind his mask, or something.
In conclusion, I would say this is a well made and very solid film, however the apparent lack of definite genre does leave the viewer slightly stunned and confused as to how to react to the film. It has some truly hilarious moments, but these are all negated by the film maker’s decision to turn it into another generic superhero film.
P.S. YES, I'M VERY FUCKING AWARE IT'S SPIDER GUNK THAT COMES FROM HIS WRISTS, OK?! I'M ALSO *INTENSELY* FUCKING AWARE HANCOCK DOESN'T WEAR A MASK.
JEESUS H. CHRIST, SOME PEOPLE.
Princess Mononoke - Short Review
Just to clarify, this review is for the English audio dubbed version, not the Japanese dubbed or subtitled version. I'm also pretty unimpressed with it, but hey, you gotta start somewhere.
Princess Mononoke tells the story of two young people, San (Claire Danes) who is desperately trying to save the forest and all it’s spirits and Gods from human destruction, and Prince Ashitaka (Billy Crudup) who is exiled from his hidden village in order to find a cure for a curse put upon him.
This film is breathtaking, not only in it’s visuals but in it’s story. The breadth and scope the story has is truly astonishing, not to mention a lot of relevant social commentary.
After saving his hidden and remote village from a Boar God-turned-Demon that injured him with a curse, he is forced to accept exile and leave the village forever. He is told to go west, in an attempt to find what caused the God to turn evil and, in doing so, save himself.
Along the way he comes across San, who is the adopted human daughter of the Wolf God, Moro. The forest Gods are fighting a ferocious battle with the humans, who are attempting to cut down the forest and mine it. Naturally, the Gods take offence to this. In the midst of all of this Ashitaka and San begin to fall in love, and in between trying to stop the fighting, they also seek a way to be together.
The film does very well in actually not dwelling on the love story here, deciding to focus more on the role of the two protagonists in the war surrounding and engulfing them, as they desperately try and find a way to bring peace and harmony to all creatures in the forest. But you can't help but get sucked into the will they/won't they aspect of it, you really do hope it works out.
This film is so intriguing in that it is one of the most successful anime films of all time, it grossed over $157million dollars because of it’s domestic release, and it really helped but anime films in the international cinema spotlight. The casting in the film is also a matter of interest, John DiMaggio, Jadda Pinket Smith and Minnie Driver star in roles in the film.
Princess Mononoke combines amazing visuals with a story and characters I have never come across before in a film, whilst also making an excellent social commentary about the dangers to the environment and earth of mining and de-forestation, and the consequences of such activities. It makes a nice change from ‘animated’ films of today that are in fact, mostly, if not all, CGI. With so many ‘Final Fantasy’ and ‘Ghost In A Shell’ like movies coming from Japan, it’s nice to see a film that is completely animated, and it’s easy to see why they chose to do so. Although being released before CGI became a viable option for animated films, it's easy to see that to do so would have ruined the majesty and gasp-inducing visuals it has. Animation just has more...heart.
What really wins me over in this film is the Gods, Demons and monsters. The sheer breath-taking imagination that has gone into these characters is truly overwhelming. It’s just not something you see enough of in films anymore, it puts del Toro, Neville Page and H.R. Giger to shame.
In conclusion, this is a classic and imaginative film, something not often seen anymore, however I do not think films of this genre will ever be as popular in the West as Disney films, which is a shame, as I would show Studio Ghibli films to my children over a Disney film any day.
Empire magazine, here I come, huh?
P.S. This is the part of the review I have written for Jay:
What the Hell is with those naked, white-ass dickbags in the trees?..Running around.
Second, I don't wanna see no bitch-ass midget riding a camel around a fucking forest or some shit, with his bitch-ass sword, and his bitch-ass bow and arrows. How about that deer God pulls out a 9mm and starts capping some mothers? Huh? JEEESUZ.
Princess Mononoke tells the story of two young people, San (Claire Danes) who is desperately trying to save the forest and all it’s spirits and Gods from human destruction, and Prince Ashitaka (Billy Crudup) who is exiled from his hidden village in order to find a cure for a curse put upon him.
This film is breathtaking, not only in it’s visuals but in it’s story. The breadth and scope the story has is truly astonishing, not to mention a lot of relevant social commentary.
After saving his hidden and remote village from a Boar God-turned-Demon that injured him with a curse, he is forced to accept exile and leave the village forever. He is told to go west, in an attempt to find what caused the God to turn evil and, in doing so, save himself.
Along the way he comes across San, who is the adopted human daughter of the Wolf God, Moro. The forest Gods are fighting a ferocious battle with the humans, who are attempting to cut down the forest and mine it. Naturally, the Gods take offence to this. In the midst of all of this Ashitaka and San begin to fall in love, and in between trying to stop the fighting, they also seek a way to be together.
The film does very well in actually not dwelling on the love story here, deciding to focus more on the role of the two protagonists in the war surrounding and engulfing them, as they desperately try and find a way to bring peace and harmony to all creatures in the forest. But you can't help but get sucked into the will they/won't they aspect of it, you really do hope it works out.
This film is so intriguing in that it is one of the most successful anime films of all time, it grossed over $157million dollars because of it’s domestic release, and it really helped but anime films in the international cinema spotlight. The casting in the film is also a matter of interest, John DiMaggio, Jadda Pinket Smith and Minnie Driver star in roles in the film.
Princess Mononoke combines amazing visuals with a story and characters I have never come across before in a film, whilst also making an excellent social commentary about the dangers to the environment and earth of mining and de-forestation, and the consequences of such activities. It makes a nice change from ‘animated’ films of today that are in fact, mostly, if not all, CGI. With so many ‘Final Fantasy’ and ‘Ghost In A Shell’ like movies coming from Japan, it’s nice to see a film that is completely animated, and it’s easy to see why they chose to do so. Although being released before CGI became a viable option for animated films, it's easy to see that to do so would have ruined the majesty and gasp-inducing visuals it has. Animation just has more...heart.
What really wins me over in this film is the Gods, Demons and monsters. The sheer breath-taking imagination that has gone into these characters is truly overwhelming. It’s just not something you see enough of in films anymore, it puts del Toro, Neville Page and H.R. Giger to shame.
In conclusion, this is a classic and imaginative film, something not often seen anymore, however I do not think films of this genre will ever be as popular in the West as Disney films, which is a shame, as I would show Studio Ghibli films to my children over a Disney film any day.
Empire magazine, here I come, huh?
P.S. This is the part of the review I have written for Jay:
What the Hell is with those naked, white-ass dickbags in the trees?..Running around.
Second, I don't wanna see no bitch-ass midget riding a camel around a fucking forest or some shit, with his bitch-ass sword, and his bitch-ass bow and arrows. How about that deer God pulls out a 9mm and starts capping some mothers? Huh? JEEESUZ.
I have a cough, side effects include stupid urges to make a blog. Mainly about films. But some other stuff, too. Maybe.
Haaaaaaa, so blogs. I've tried them a few times but I've got to be honest they did not go...well. So I figured mostly, being a moving image student, I will put up my thoughts on films I see and...feel the need to voice my opinion on them in the horrifying oblivion that is the internet. There may be a few achingly unfunny musing and thoughts when I get bored of yelling about how terrible/awesome a particular film was, and some comments on games. Because I'm a nerd.
I WANT JELLY.
I WANT JELLY.
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