Movies 2009
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Top five films of 2009
Avatar– Its 2154 and humans are mining a mineral on the distant planet Pandora. The Na’vi, who are the indigenous people, are resisting the humans who threatening their planet and their existence. Let the Right one in – Great story about a young boy who falls in love with a girl who just happens to… Continue reading
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Avatar
Its 2154 and humans are mining a mineral on the distant planet Pandora. The Na’vi, who are the indigenous people, are resisting the humans who threatening their planet and their existence. The Avatars are genetically engineered Na’vi bodies controlled by the humans in an attempt to ineract with the Na’vi. This is an Amazing film,… Continue reading
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Looking For Eric
Eric Bishop is a right mess, twice divorced, and stuck with two idle teenage stepsons from his second failed marriage. The grownup daughter from his first has just made him a grandad, and it is only when he agrees to mind the baby every afternoon before handing it over to his first wife Lily, that… Continue reading
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Terminator Salvation and others
I’ve seen three films recently all of which will get a similar review. This one, State of Play and Inglorius Basterds all get nearly the same score as they are “alright”. I can always rate a film well if I find myself thinking about them the next day but with these I stopped thinking about… Continue reading
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The Waiting Room
Two complete strangers, Anna and Stephen, are brought together by chance by an elderly man who waits for his wife on a station platform. Is it love at first sight, and what about their current relationships? Annas having an affair with her best friends husband who also happens to be her neighbour and Stephen is… Continue reading
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Doubt
Father Flynn (Hoffman), is trying to upend the school’s strict customs, which have long been guarded by Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep), a fierce disciplinarian. A Sister shares with Sister Aloysius her suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to a student, without a shred of proof or evidence, Sister Aloysius begins a… Continue reading
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2012
This is full on, CGI loaded, Disaster Porn. Neutrinos from the sun are heating up the Earth’s core causing “Crustal displacement” which can’t be good for anyone. What follows is pretty much complete destruction of the world as we know it. Don’t expect anything from it, its ridiculous, just go with the flow and you… Continue reading
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New Town Killers
Two private bankers, Alistair and Jamie, who have the world at their feet get their kicks from playing a 12 hour game of hunt, hide and seek with people from the margins of society. Their next target is Sean Macdonalda parentless teenager who lives with his sister on a housing estate on the outskirts of… Continue reading
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Anything for Her (Pour elle)
I do love a bit of French cinema and this didn’t dissapoint. Julien and Lisa are at home with their young son Oscar when the police storm the apartment and arrest Lisa for the brutal murder of her boss. Three years later the Lisa loses an appeal and is facing 20 years in prison, losing… Continue reading
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District Nine
K and I went out for dinner and a movie on Wednesday. We had been looking forward to seeing this film and we definitely weren’t disappointed. Twenty years ago, a spaceship arrives above Johannesburg the aliens don’t attack, instead they are refugees, all one million of them and they are housed in a shanty town… Continue reading
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Knowing
The story in this film is pretty good. A piece of paper written fifty years ago listing seemingly random numbers ends up in the hands of John Koestler (Cage), who realises that the numbers represent dates and casualties from major disasters over the last fifty years and there are still more numbers listed… Its a… Continue reading
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Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Two friends, Vicky and Cristina, are holidaying in Barcelona when Juan, an artist who they don’t know, invites them to fly to Oviedo, I would like to invite you both to spend the weekend. We’ll eat well, we’ll drink wine, we’ll make love.. This would be any mans dream weekend and Cristina who is spontaneous,… Continue reading
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In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Wilson ends up alone and penniless as New Year’s Eve rapidly approaches, and vows to lock his doors and climb into bed – until best friend talks him into posting a Craigslist personal ad. In seemingly no time at all, the message leads Wilson to Vivian, a young woman who is determined to be with… Continue reading
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Let the Right One In
This wonderful Swedish film is described as a horror film. Its actually a story of a young boys first love with a girl who just happens to be a vampire. Beautifully shot, the story is told very subtly, none of the Hollywood in your face music, jumps or black leather. Really well acted by the… Continue reading
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Public Enemies
Set during the Great Depression, this the true story of FBI’s attempt to stop criminals John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and Pretty Boy Floyd. The story centres on John Dillinger (Depp), No jail could hold him, he committed dozens of bank robberies and was regarded as a modern day Robin Hood. A lot of effort… Continue reading
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Milk
The Story of Harvey Milk who in 1977 was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. He served 11 months in office, campaigning for gay rights and other causes until he was assassinated in 1978. This is an excellent film, more of a docudrama really but still really good.… Continue reading
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Star Trek
This is an excellent story about the lives of James T. Kirk and Spock, before they unite aboard the USS Enterprise. It really focuses on Spock, his early life and his feud with Nero, the Romulan from the future who threatens the United Federation of Planets. The film is superb, it looks fantastic, the story… Continue reading
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The Day the Earth Stood Still
Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) plays an alien sent down to earth to assess whether humanity can reverse the environmental damage it has inflicted on planet Earth. This film was savaged by the critics but that could be because they were comparing it to the original. Some of the characters are a bit odd and its the… Continue reading
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Gran Torino
War veteran and recent widower, Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) fills his days with diy and beer. His neighbours have moved, replaced by Hmong immigrants who he despises. Resentful of virtually everything and everyone, Walt is a right grumpy bugger. Until the night his teenage neighbour, Thao, pressured by a gang tries to steal his Gran Torino.… Continue reading
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Wolverine
This film tells the story of Wolverines’s life before Xmen, his violent past, and his time with Team X, before his skeleton was bonded with the indestructible metal adamantium. This is a right good, solid, action movie with loads of action and special effects. Hugh Jackman is excellent and so is Liev Schrieber who plays… Continue reading
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Body of Lies
Not a bad film, in fact its quite tense in some places but the story is confusing and complicated. I found myself thinking “skip to the end” about halfway through. The best thing about this film is Mark Strong playing Hani Salaam, the head of the Jordanian Intelligence, his performance is really compelling. Girls will… Continue reading
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Duplicity
Really really boring film about two corporate spies trying to rip off the corporations they are working for. Really boring characters you don’t care about, its got lots of whats meant to be sharp witty dialogue but its just so boring. The director, who wrote the Bourne series, should just stick to writing. It was… Continue reading
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The Visitor
This is the story of a rather lonely chap, Walter, a widower, who returns to New York to discover a couple, Tarek and Zaineb, living in his apartment. They are both illigal immagrants who have rented the aprtment from a con man. Realising they have nowhere to go, Walter allows them to stay. Over the… Continue reading
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Man on Wire
This excellent documentary is about Philippe Petit’s 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of New York’s World Trade Centre. Apart from the totally terrifying walk that Phillipe did (8 times) they didn’t even have permission to do it they sneaked in using fake Id and strung up the wire overnight. This account from a… Continue reading
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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The story of a man born in his eighties and ages backwards. Who, although on one hand gains all the trappings of youth as he gets older, he also gets to watch all those he loves grow older without him. We both really enjoyed this film, K had a right good cry. At 2 hrs… Continue reading
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I’ve Loved You So Long
I do love a french film. the women always look dead elegant, the houses are gorgeous, wonderful characters and the story is always told in a much more subtle manner. This is an excellent film. Juliette, who has just finished a long prison sentence for murder goes to live with her sister, Léa’s family, including… Continue reading
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Wall-e
In the 22nd century, Earth is covered in rubbish and humans have left the planet and are living in huge starliners, leaving behind compactor robots (Wall-e) to clear up the mess. After 700 years only one remains active and he meets and falls in love with a probe robot (Eve) who has been sent to… Continue reading
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Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire is told a series of flashbacks. 18-year-old Jamil is being interrogated , and is forced to explain how he came to know the answers that have put him one question away from winning “who wants to be a millionaire” Each flashback is a story from his childhood of how he survived life in… Continue reading
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Far North
I know what you’ll think as you are perusing the DVD rentals, oh Sean Bean’s in it, and so is Michelle Yeoh. Hhmm it must be quite good, Do not be deceived by the cast, this film is the most boring piece of tosh I have seen for a long time. Don’t watch it! 0/10 Continue reading
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The Diving Bell & the Butterfly
This film is based on the memoirs of Jean-Dominique Bauby who, at just 42, suffered a severe stroke which left him completely paralysed apart from his left eyelid. Over time he and his speech therapist developed a system by which he could communicate by blinking as she recites a list of most-used letters gradually creating… Continue reading