Skins 2

I'm not going to write a standard review of the second episode because I will get into a rant I won't be able to stop, so here instead are my notes from the show tonight.

-Another Fart Joke within 5 minutes!

-Guy from Heartbeat casted ... why? not the right type of actor to be in skins at all

-More okward dialog from Geek

-More Magic tricks ... please stop it

-Girl cast being completely left out of show, given next to no dialog.

-Alot of pointless scenes which add nothing but fill time

-Where is the drama? Second episode and still on okward dialog, something needs to happen to keep my interested.

-Doesn't seem like its going anywhere 

-Geek who likes the main girl (Effy) this screams of season one, needs something new

-Can instantly see where its all going

On E4 website for skins, they asked the public what they think of the show, 90% of the comments are from girls commenting only that they think the guys in it are 'hot' and well 'fit. Please don't let them turn it into another Hollyoaks. The world can do with out that at this time.

The Wrestler

I had heard nothing but good things about this film when walking into see it, and it didn't disappoint.

The opening montage tells you everything about the guy and his history with out showing it in film, a very clever piece of editing and film making, it would have lost something if they had decided to show you. The montage was a great character set up and sets the scene for the movie.

During watching the film it definitely tugs at your emotions, the acting and plot line were superb. The story of following this man who has only ever known wrestling to be a career, and he is slowly being pushed out it by his fading health, he has to find a new reason to live for.

You do really begin to feel sorry for this man who is trying really hard to keep his health up so he can continue doing the thing he loves but is holding on by his finger tips, he knows if he lets go he has nothing to fall onto as his daughter and family don't talk to him. He only feels loved and accepted  by the audience.

The look of the movie was also very interesting, although as some others pointed out the camera following from behind him alot, does get a little tiring after awhile. Also the score of the music in my view was superb, it really went a long way to add to the effect of the movie. When he is constantly being knocked back and that score kicks in, really does give you goose-bumps.

Definitely a movie to go see, I'm not sure however it would have had the same effect on me if I hadn't seen it in the cinema.

Have mercy, please ... no more :l

Heres my Corrie synopsis for the one hour episode that aired monday night.

The opening scene was Sally, Rosie and Sophie's mother arguing, alot of bickering between Rosie and Sophie. Audrey the mother of Gale, talks with Maria about returning to work. She doesn't want Maria to return in the foreseeable future. Maria doesn't take this well and thinks everyone is out to get her. 

Audries mother Blanche fills in the gaps by gossiping to Leanne that Peter is coming back today, also Gary's mother and Eddies wife confronts the pair about the stolen pipes from the builders yard.

-The hook on the first break was, Carla (Tony's wife) phoning the police on Maria's attack on Tony, against Tony's wishes.

The stricken widow, Maria goes to the police station crying wolf to the police detective. When Ken returns without Peter, Leanne learns he is now in a rehab clinic. After leaving the police station Maria sees the picture of a happy family and breaks down. 

Later in the pub the pair, Gary and Len talk about if they are in the clear from the robbery.

-The hook on the second break was, Maria sees Tony crossing the street and goes to run him over but breaks and manages to just knock him to the ground. She thus crashes into the front of Underworld.

Second Episode

The empty street suddenly comes to life with people pouring out to see the car crash. Tony is unable to get up and Maria is injured, Carla sees what has happened and screams attempted murder to the police. 

Ken decides to take his dog a walk along the river and in doing so the dog falls into the river, but is inturn rescued by a woman living on a boat. 

-Hook, she invites Ken onto the boat.

After getting to the hospital Maria learns her baby is doing just fine, Ken still on the boat after a number of bowls of soup later starts drinking wine with the woman and they talk of there family. Ken leaves out that he is married.

After returning home some hours later Ken's wife in-turn invites Ken to a bowl of soap. Ken lies about where he has been. David, Tina's boyfriend overhears her saying that she thinks he could be lying.

-Hook, Maria is visited by the police woman at home and is told she could face charges.

Character Status and such.

Sally, Rosie and Sophies mother

Rosie, Street 'slag' 

Sophie, Sister of Rosie and somewhat more innocent

Maria, Stricken street widow

Tony, Underworld owner and suspected murderer

Ken, Husband of Audrie

Gary, street lout and thief 

Martha, Boat owner, interested in Ken

Audrey, Salon owner, in random scenes with Maria?

Eddie, Scammer fakes injures, lier

Carla, Underworld boss, Tony's wife

 

Skins

Just downloaded the first in the new series of Skins, What have they done to it? I was watching it and cringing at the cheap laughs they were going for. They have tried far to hard this time for a comedy slant to it. They had two comedy stars, who have only stared in comedy appearing in the show within minutes. Why? This isn't Skins? Yes it shouldn't depress you and it should make you laugh.

But ... just it wasn't funny and they were clearly aiming for this. I mean the fart pun? Come on, are they being serious? Its like someone with a big red pen from Offcom has come along and rewrote the script deleting 90% of what made Skins unique.

I feel really let down by this first episode. It went far to much to the extremes in what they think teens lives are like, the geek who was doing my head in, Freddie from fall out boy skateboarding ... getting chased by the police on a bike who ends up in the back of a trashmaster - far to cheap of a pun and finally the one guy who actually made it believable, Cook was the only character who made the show real. We all have friends or know someone like him. 

Over all it was just one nasty cheap pun after another. Channel 4, sort it out. Go back to what made Skins great! ... not a comedy!

Skins was always about the lives of teenage people, and the issues they face. Not toilet humor. Just wasn't believable at all, hopefully they will relise this and turn it around.

Silent German film....what was it called again?

Anyways apart from forgetting the name, the film to me started of really well. I actually sat there and thought there is something to be said about the magic of silent cinema, the score also started of really well which added to this feeling. 

But after getting a long long way into the film and not having seen any horror what so ever, apart from a few shots of Dracula walking about like he had cramp in his hands, there was nothing to cement it as a horror movie. It didn't do a good job of keeping you reeled into the film at all. I found there was alot of prolonged unnecessary shots and scenes which just dragged. 

Then to make things worse the score just went down hill so fast after a good start. Some of it was laugh out loud bad. 

I can appreciate some of the shots, like the ship scene where the camera goes flying past it, that whole montage seemed really modern. Also the the act were he is trying to get home before Dracula really did build up some suspense, if only to be ruined by Dracula just strolling through the middle of the town holding a coffin.

It could be a good film if they had just condensed it alot more, cut a good chunk of the film out and make it into a shorter more horror based film. I didn't even see someone get bitten and killed badly in the film. Maybe I just tuned out after act 90.

Over all I wouldn't see this film again if you paid me, but again with all films like these I can at-least appreciate it.

Crash

Certainly a thought provoking movie that does actually raise alot of questions. The movie highlights a number of peoples stories in the city of L.A. and how race and stature effects how you a treated. The movie confronts head on the miss conceptions of every race and pushes them right into the forefront.

The movie certainly does a good job in showing how no matter what your race in the end we all have the same goals and dreams, and how we all depend upon one another. 

Certainly a movie to see before you die, the combination of how brave this movie is and the level of acting, combined with the gorgeous cinematography of the film definitely pushes it into my top ten films of all time.

28 Days Later..

After watching this a few days ago, I can say for sure this is a brilliantly made film. What I noticed watching it for the 4/5th time is, it doesn't actually play to much on the horror of people killing people, but more the story of the survivors and them coming to terms with a new world and the struggle to survive. You don't actually see a lot of the 'zombies' in the film until the end, which does seem somewhat unique for a horror, was a brave idea leaving the gore till the end in a horror. But it works brilliantly

From the start of the movie you can tell its a British horror, just the whole feel and look of the film just feels gritty and fresh. The story grabs you from the outset, it shows you a virus breaking out then cuts directly to '28 Days Later' again a brave thing leaving all that time out. The idea of waking up in a world were a deadly virus has killed millions and who are left will want to kill you and you have no idea, just seems well 'so cool' 

The movie gives you alot of character depth and enough gore to keep the horror label of the film intact. The fact that it isn't fast passed in the gore makes it more of a thrill to watch because you don't know when its going to kick back off again. If it was all horror from start to finish you would just become numb to the horror.

Overall its a brilliantly crafted piece of work, the depth of story and characters is really good to see in a horror for once and they made it feel real, your sitting watching it and the reality of it doesn't seem as alien to you as other horror's. If you haven't seen it, where have you been and why not? 

Coronation Street

Michelle is distraught after Steve is busted on his long running affair with waitress Becky. Michelle finally sees the extent of the affair and moves out. Joe is caught out on how much financial trouble he really is in, but can he keep the wool over Gail’s eyes for much longer? When trying to get back with Becky Steve finds Becky to be with another man.
Tyrone and his fiancée hit the wall as they have to cancel their honeymoon to Paris, will a caravan suffice?
Becky is torn on which man is for her after getting back with Jason, Steve is confronted by Michelle’s son.

Battleship.... Can't remember the name of the ship :l

When sat in the class just before the film was about to start, to be honest I was getting myself comfy because the idea of sitting watching a silent russian movie didn't appeal to me at all. I thought it was going to be torture.

But getting somewhat into the film, I found it actually an enjoyable watch. I found myself drawn into it, and with out any speaking I found this surprising. It defiantly stands on its own from films of that time, the use of angles and just the whole way it was shot look familiar to the way films look today. This is what grabbed me when watching it.

Murdo pointed out that it didn't focus on individual characters after they first ones where killed of, looking back on it it seems so obvious but during watching it, I can't say I noticed. Maybe because after awhile I stopped looking at is as a movie as so much as a propaganda short. This did somewhat make me look at it differently, but still can't take away that fact the film did break ground on how to make and shoot films, and it will always hold its own for this point.

Slumdog

Went into Danny Boils film not expecting much, the trailer really didn't sell the film to me at all, but after about 10 minutes into the movie I was really enjoying it, it had humor, conflict and the classic underdog plot-line. I also really liked how the whole movie looked, I forgot it was a Danny Boil film and was expecting them to burst into dance at any moment before I went to see it.

I really liked how the whole movie fitted together also, although at first I found the constant asking a question then going back to explain it a-bit repetitive at first, but gradually began to get used to it. The acting through out was brilliant and I really enjoyed the film. A Must Watch!