TheWaterRat

I have never been a fan of the G.I. Joe characters, whether in comic book form or as toys. Primarily because G.I. Joe is a US produce that didn’t really make it in Italy where I grew up. So, I was a bit skeptical about watching the movie. I thought it was going to be an over the top, plasticky film made for kids. I was wrong.

Yes, it is an over the top, full blown fantasy of a movie but it is incredibly well done. The special effects are excellent and the pace is great. It’s a non-stopping streak of explosions, car chases and incredible photography, under water, in the desert and in the sky.

I am now a fan and can’t wait for the sequel. If you enjoy action packed movies like X-Men or Start Trek, you’ll love this one too.

I should probably add that watching Sienna Miller/Ana DeCobray and Rachel Nichols/Scarlett O’Hara wearing a series of very hot costumes through out the movie and fist and kick fighting against each other in one of the best sequences of the film, is by itself worth the price of the ticket.

I can’t honestly remember who the male actors in the movie are.

A few days ago I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie, directed by Guy Ritchie and interpreted by the sublime Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel MacAdams.
The film is wonderful and exactly what I was expecting: a fast moving, modernized tale with great attention to details, images and pace.
You’ll smile at the dialogues and hold your breath during the fights and the other action scenes (quite a few).
You’ll love the attention to detail given to the reconstruction of 1900 London and the masterful photography.
By the end of the movie you’ll want to be Holmes or Robert Downey Jr., not least for a chance of getting into Irene/Rachel MacAdams’ pants.
I bet and hope that there will be a sequel and I am already waiting for it.

I don’t like watching movies more than once. The rare times it happens, I am deeply disappointed. The surprise and the excitement are gone and I start to pick up on the smaller issues I may have missed the first time around.
It wasn’t the case, a few days ago, when I watched Hot Fuzz for the second time. It cracked me up. It’s brilliant, funny, perfectly paced and packed of wonderful gags.
Simon Pegg, who is also the writer, and Nick Frost are truly masterful. And so is the rest of the cast; I am a big fan of Olivia Colman.
Beautiful even if you are not too much into British comedy films.
Watch the trailer below and enjoy.

Last night I watched The Boat That Rocked. Rarely I have felt so much in a good mood as after seeing this movie. And when it was over, it wasn’t actually over. There are about 45 minuts of deleted scenes that are possibly better than the movie itself. As the director Richard Curtis explains, those scenes were deleted not because they weren’t good but because they are self-contained and could be eliminated from the movie without compromising the story. I laughed out loud for another 45 minutes.
I loved it all. It’s a great movie with great actors and a fantastic soundtrack. Philip Seymour Hoffman proves once again to be one of the biggest talents around. Kenneth Branagh does a fine job, but you need to watch the deleted scenes to appreciate his role fully.
Rhys Ifans and the rest of the crew are impeccable and wonderfully funny. It helps if you have had some first hand exposure to british culture, but you’ll enjoy this movie no matter what and it will put you in the mood for enjoying life more.
Below, I picked one of the deleted scenes instead of the official trailer because I am a sucker for beautiful women.
Don’t be a Twatt, Rock and Roll.

Useful links
Find out more about The Boat That Rocked here
Buy The Boat That Rocked DVD here for UK delivery and here for US delivery [Blu-ray]

A few days ago I went to see Public Enemies. I had not actually heard much about the movie before, but my expectations grew high when I saw what type of movie it was and found out about the actors: Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, Giovanni Ribisi and Marion Cotillard, just to name the most obvious ones. And the film didn’t disappoint. Like all movies with Johnny Depp, a strange sense of weirdness pervades the entire story. The plot of the movie is nothing special, but Michael Mann’s direction is great, alongside the photography.

Overall a beautiful movie, especially if you are a fan of Depp’s mesmerizing eyes.
The all thing masterly complemented by an awesome soundtrack.

Here’s a taster: Ten Million Slaves from Otis Taylor’s Banjo.

Useful Links
You can buy the Public Enemies DVD
here for UK delivery and here for US delivery
Find out more about Public Enemies here
Discover Otis Taylor here

If you are a fan of the original Star Trek series you’ll love this movie. The authors have taken some liberties with the story and the characters but its soul is intact. A very good modernization of the original. Great action and great cast.

Chris Pine IS James Tiberius Kirk (including his taste for alien women); he’s almost better than the original. Both Zoe Saldana and Zachary Quinto shine in their performances of Uhura and Spock. And you get the chance to see the original Spock, the great Leonard Nimoy, thanks to time travel trickery.

And, if like me, you are addicted to Simon Pegg, you’ll get a good fix here too.

Useful links
You can rent the movie at LoveFilm.com
You can buy the Star Trek DVD here
Find out more about the movie here

Great soul movie

Or, if you like it harder

Useful links
Find out more about The Commitments

I have been waiting to watch Watchmen for a while, both with eager anticipation and fear of disappointment. I am not sure why. I really found the trailers fascinating and unconventional, which I like. So, I was incredibly excited when, a couple of weeks ago, I finally rented the DVD and set to watch the movie. I was also ready for disappointment.

I needn’t worry. The movie is fantastic, a little masterpiece. I am also certain it’s not to everyone’s taste and this is why critics have given mixed reviews.

Watchmen is an adaptation of the comic book of the same name. It is directed by Zack Snyder, the director of 300. The two films are very different, but I bet that if you liked 300 you will love Watchmen too.

No point in me describing the movie as I am not good at that. I’ll say only the following:

The beginning of the movie is a bit slow, but you’ll understand why as you continue watching it and it makes sense. So, pay attention to the first part as it ties the movie together.

If you are a fan of Carla Gugino, like me, you’ll be disappointed not to see her beautifully naked as usual, but she doesn’t let you down nonetheless, even in her ‘old clothes’, and does what she knows how to do very well; i.e. she takes one from behind.

Her daughter in the movie, Malin Akerman, aka Laurie Jupiter / Silk Spectre II, makes up for her in the bed department.

Most remarkable is the character Walter Kovacs / Rorscharch, played by actor Jackie Earle Haley with great intensity. I wish I can see another movie with Rorscharch.

I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I have.

Useful links
More about the movie at IMDb
Buy or Rent the Watchmen movie here
Find out more about the Watchmen comic book and story here

I recently watched Inglourious Basterds, the new Tarantino film. I loved it. If you are a Tarantino fan you’ll love it too. If you are not, you may become one. It’s slightly less violent than his other movies but still incredibly truculent at times and true to Tarantino’s style. It’s like a live show where all the players and instruments harmonize together perfectly thanks to an impeccable direction.
The acting is exceptional. Brad Pitt confirms to be one of the best and most versatile actors around. But the big surprise is Christoph Waltz, playing the part of Nazi Col. Hans Landa. His interpretation is superb and memorable. I believe there’s a secret to that: he’s not actually acting; that’s the way he really is. You can see for yourself in this interview:

Another delight of the movie is Mélanie Laurent. Her skills matched only by her unconventional beauty that leaves you gasping for air everytime she’s on screen.

Go watch the movie with an open mind and lose yourself in it and its soundtrack.



Useful links
Find out more about Inglourious Basterds here
You can pre-order or rent Inglourious Basterds here

This movie is a masterpiece. Actors, dialogues, direction. I could never tire to watch it. My favourite film of all times. Michael Douglas is exceptional. Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey Jr. are his perfect sparring partners. Even Katie Holmes is hot in her red cowboy boots. And don’t forget Frances McDormand, what a woman!

Just watch it and lose yourself in it.

James Leer: Professor Tripp? Can I ask you a question?
Grady Tripp: Yeah, James.
James Leer: What are we going to do with… it?
Grady Tripp: I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure out how to tell the Chancellor I murdered her husband’s dog.
James Leer: You?
Grady Tripp: Trust me, James, when the family pet’s been assassinated, the owner doesn’t want to hear one of her students was the trigger man.
James Leer: Does she want to hear it was one of her professors?
Grady Tripp: …I’ve got tenure.

Antonia “Tony” Sloviak: Oh, that’s such a beautiful Greenhouse.
Grady Tripp: It’s Mrs. Gaskells, it’s her hobby.
Terry Crabtree: I thought YOU were Mrs. Gaskell’s hobby.
Grady Tripp: Piss off, will ya Crabs? I lost a wife today.
Terry Crabtree: You’ll find another one, you always do.

Vernon Hardapple: You drivin’ this car?
Grady Tripp: Excuse me?
Vernon Hardapple: This 1966 maroon Ford Galaxie 500. You drivin’ this car?
Grady Tripp: It’s mine.
Vernon Hardapple: Bullshit! It’s mine, motherfucka!
Grady Tripp: You must be mistaken.
Vernon Hardapple: Bullshit!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Terry Crabtree: Let me get this straight. Jerry Nathan owes you money, so as collateral he gives you his car.
Grady Tripp: Only I’m beginning to think that the car wasn’t exactly Jerry’s to give.
Terry Crabtree: Ah, so whose car was it?
Grady Tripp: My guess? Vernon Hardapple.
Terry Crabtree: The hood jumper?
Grady Tripp: He said a few things that lead me to believe that the car was his.
Terry Crabtree: Such as?
Grady Tripp: “That’s my car, motherfucker”.

Useful Links
More on Wonder Boys from IMDb
You can buy Wonder Boys on DVD here