Order of the Phoenix

Recently two new parts of the Harry Potter series have been released the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and the fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
The fifth film took a darker turn as it starts with Harry still grieving over the death of, fellow Tri-Wizard competitor, Cedric at the end of the last film. As the longest book in the series I wondered how they would be able to fit it into a decent length that did not bore the audience. And, well, they managed to do it.
Although I did get bored reading the book 100 pages from the end and left it a year before I finished reading it, I did enjoy the film. Although it was darker it still had it's comic moments. As the cast got bigger, due to Dumbledore's Army, I felt that each of the cast members got the right amount of screen time. And with Harry, Ron and Hermione leading the film from it's dark opening to it's relieving yet still dark ending. As fans of the book and films have grown up with these characters it is good that they grown and become more evolved characters. This is a great film for all even if you don't read the books.
My rating: ***

Heroes, Hyde and the Sunset Strip...

Heroes
The critically acclaimed show started on Wednesday on BBC2 although this is not the UK premier it is the terrestrial premier, as it was shown on the Sci-fi channel earlier in the year. Heroes is about "ordinary people who have extraordinary abilities", for lack of a more explanatory phrase. The first two episodes introduce us to all the characters and leaves us with an explosion 5 weeks in the future. This is a great series and should be watched by all. It's influences are obvious (X-men, etc) but the characters live normal lives and are not (yet) Superheroes. I have seen the whole season and it is definitely worth watching, I know I'm going to be watching it again. And everyone who has seen it will already know the phrase "save the cheerleader save the world" and those who haven't will soon.
Heroes continues on Wednesday at 9 on BBC2.

Jekyll/Hyde
This Saturday saw the end of, what has been a pretty good and intriguing series, Jekyll. Last week we were left with Dr. Jackman and Hyde choosing to work together to find their family. This week we found out so much more about the tale of Jekyll and Hyde. Jackman's wife, as we learnt before was the cause of the reawakening of Hyde, turns out to be a clone made to find Hyde, as well as this Jackman learns that he is a descendant of Hyde and not Jekyll and that he received his "gift" from his mother who is also Mrs. Utterson. Oh yes, Hyde learnt how to shield Jackman from the pain he receives so that when Hyde is killed only Jackman survives. But the end of the show also left us with questions. Is Hyde really dead? Do Jackman's children have his "gift" also? Will there be a second season? We will just have to wait and see.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
The already cancelled show (in America) premiered in the UK on Thursday on More4, and well wow. What can I say. From the writer of the West Wing this new series is set behind the scenes of a comedy sketch show. In the first episode we are introduced to the main characters. Jordan, the President of the television company, Matt & Danny, two writers who were fired from Studio 60 4 years ago and "the Big Three" who are the three people on the Studio 60 set with the most influence. The show starts with an argument about a sketch and if it can be put on or not. The sketch is denied by the network and the Executive Producer has an on-air meltdown. So Jordan hires Matt and Danny to save the show. Despite their history the boys accept. This is a must see and should not be missed by anyone.
Studio 60 continues at on Thursday at 10 on More4.

Simpsonize Me

A bit off topic but I suppose it is to do with an upcoming movie, so what the hell. Simpsonize Me is a new creation brought together by Fox and Burger King, where you upload your photo to the Simpsonize Me website and it takes that photo and makes you into a Springfield resident. Although this is a long and agonising process, as you have to find the perfect photo and upload it at the right time because the server gets very busy at peek times, the finished piece is pretty good. Above is me as a Simpson.
If this does get on your nerves then you can make your own character with the Simpson's avatar on the official site.

End of an Era

A era in television as well as Roman history. The BBC and HBO collaboration, Rome has done very well for it's self, with an Emmy, a Golden Globe nomination and many other awards under it's toga it has been a success although earlier tonight this ended for good as after season 2 there will be no more.
The final episode showed the deaths of Mark Antony and Cleopatora as well as a jubilant coronation for Octavian Caesar. Rome has kept very close to actual Roman history with the lives of it's characters. Although there have been a few changes, one is that the child of Cleopatora and Caesar, Caesarion is actually that of Cleopatora and Titus Pullo, a solider and main character in the series. Lucius Vorenus is the other solider that the series follows and is the man who saves Caesarion from Octavian.
This series has been great quality television and will surely be missed. Lets just hope that the BBC and HBO decided to do another series like this, maybe with Greece. Figures crossed. Oh and if you haven't seen any of this program then, well I don't know what to say. Just try and find a way to watch it and you will understand what you have missed.

My rating: ***** & 1/2

Big Trouble All Over The Place...

Over the weekend I watched three films, not anything new just a couple of DVDs and a film on TV. I watched King Kong, Big Trouble In Little China and Heartbreakers.

King Kong
The all out blockbuster movie from Lord of the Rings Director Peter Jackson. Although I have not see the original and have no basis for comparison, I can still say that this is a really good film. It does have some down points, as it could have been shorter as they spend so much time on the boat and it takes about an hour before Kong is even thought about. Apart from that, like I said a really good film. And Andy Serkis gets to reprise his role as the computer animated guys, but this time is not a crazy ring obsessed freak but a gentle loving oversized Gorilla.
My Rating: *** & 1/2

Big Trouble in Little China
Another John Carpenter and Kurt Russel combination. This time Kurt Russel is Jack Burton, a truck driver who runs into dark Chinese magic (literally). With the help of an old friend and a tour bus driver he goes on a rescue mission to save his old friend's fiancee and Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall). And in the words of Jack Burton "It's all in the reflexes."
This is a great movie as Carpenter and Russel come together again, action packed and funny, this is perfect for anyone who can't decide to watch on a Saturday night.
My rating: ****


Heartbreakers
The film about a pair of con artists who are mother (Sigourney Weaver) and daughter (Jennifer Love Hewitt). As the daughter wants to go off on her own, the mother gets ready to give her her cut but not without the IRA having something to say about it. Now with no money the pair decide to pull off one last con and then split. This is not a great film but can be easily watched with a few really funny bits and some ok acting it is an easy film if not a bit predictable.
My Rating: **

Yippee kay-yay!

Die Hard 4.0 is the newest film in the Die Hard saga, it's been 19 years since the original film hit was released and with two other sequels this one just seemed like a way to continue the franchise and give Bruce Willis something to do. But these suspicions were quickly forgotten as I sat down to watch it today.
Die Hard 4.0 has keep the elements that made the original great, although there have been a few replacements as there always are in sequels. His new sidekick and personal hacker is Matt Farrell (Justin Long), the terrorist is now a computer hacker attacking America through the computer systems and his wife is replaced with his daughter, Lucy McClane (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and as the movie goes on you begin to see the tone and attitude of her father.
The terrorist (Timothy Olyphant) is now using the advanced technology of the USA against itself and creates panic amounts the country. And it is John Mclanes job to protect hacker Matt Farrell who aids McClane throughout the film. Die Hard 4.0 had a lot to live up to as it had come from a classic action trilogy and with this year begining the year of not so good sequels Die Hard 4.0 was looking like just another crappy action flick.
Bruce Willis does what he does best and becomes John McClane one more time and he does it so well. As well as Willis, Long and Winstead provide the right amount of normality to create a great action film. Olyphant as a web based terrorist is a perfect idea for Die hard as it enters the 21st Century. With these great actors comes a great director but on a different side of the camera as a super hacker by the name of Warlock is played by Kevin Smith (Clerks, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back). Although Smith is better behind the camera his appearance does not ruin the film.

So Die Hard 4.0 is one to watch and all fans of Die Hard or action films will not want to miss this.
My Rating: ****
Above photo is of the cast of Die Hard 4.0. (from left to right, Timothy Olyphant, Bruce Willis, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Justin Long.)

Irrelevant But Necessary

Although this post has got nothing to do with movie reviews I just felt I had to share it with the world. I have found the best Jessica Alba pics know to man and so now I stop talking nd let you enjoy.
Here's the link: Jessica Alba Super Sexy In GQ UK.
Well she is an actress I suspose that could count.
My rating - *****

Classics I've Never Seen

Well in the past week I have been catching up on films I had been told were good but had never seen, films I like to call classics I've never seen.

Manhunter
This is the original Hannibal Lecktor films staring William Petersen as a cop who must catch a serial killer before the next full moon, he's not a werewolf the killer just has a weird pattern that follows the lunar cycle. Manhunter is based on the book Red Dragon and is now out of the category "classic films I've never seen" and into "classic films everyone should see". The serial killer becomes known as the "tooth fairy" and as the film progresses you can see that he wants more than just a tooth. This is a film that should not be missed.
Manhunter is on tonight at 10 on ITV2.
My rating - *** & 3/4


Escape From New York
Well not exactly a "classic I've never seen" more like a "classic I saw ages ago and can't really remember what happens or it is about which is kinda like seeing it for the first time again", but a great film none the less. Manhattan Island has been converted into a prison island and as the President flies across the plane crashes and he is captured now only one man can save him, and that man is Snake Plissken (Kurt Russel). This is another team-up between Actor Kurt Russel and Director John Carpenter (one of my favourite directors), and once again it works. Russel and Carpenter seem to work perfectly together and this just makes the film that bit better.
Other films they have teamed up on are; The Thing, Escape From L.A. and Big Trouble in Little China
Escape From New York is on Monday night at 11 on ITV1.
My rating - ****

Clerks
Although this is not a "classic film I've never seen" I thought I would still include it as it is a great film from start to finish. The original Kevin Smith film and the birth of the View Askew universe as well as many unforgettable characters, Jay & Silent Bob, Dante and Randall. Just because this is in black & white do not hold that against it. Clerks is the story of 2 store clerks Dante and Randall and what they get up to during their day.
This is a great film but not for the easily disgusted. With it's perfect dialog and number of Star Wars references this started a hilarious set of films, that are still going today.
Clerks II was released last year and both are on DVD now.
My rating - ****

Saturday Night Shocks

Korean horror film The Host has been somewhat unheard of. Having passed me by in the cinemas I decided to pick it up on DVD and was so disappointed to see that I did miss it at the cinema as it was a marvelous film and the big screen would have done it much more justice than a small T.V.

After over 100 bottles of Formaldehyde are poured down the drain and into the Han River a large creature is formed and begins terrorising the area around the river. The films focus is on a small family and their battle to find the youngest member who had supposedly died but after receiving a phone call from her the family start the hunt. As there has been a quarantine of all who have come in contact with the creature the family must first get out of the quarantine before they can even begin the search.
Before you dismiss this film i must tell you it is not like other Asian horror you may have seen, it does not have any pale faced children in it and hopefully there will not be an American remake of it. With great performances from all the family, you start to care for this family and begin to hope they can bring their little girl home. As well as the CGI the political hints of the film make this a must see for all horror fans as well as anyone who likes a good film to watch on a Saturday night.

My rating - ****