Oh yeah, I also watched PLAYING BY HEART (1998) which was quite a trip. An all-star cast (Jolie, Quaid, Connery, Burstyn, Rowlands, Mohr, John Stewart) that did a great job, but I knew "something was up" fairly early on in the movie. But still a nice parallel-stories film. Somewhat of a tear-jerker, tho.

Why is it so embarrassing for guys to admit they liked a good tear-jerker? I know those types of movies are labeled as "Chick Flicks" and guys generally don't want anything to do with them, myself included. But I admit that when I have no choice and I watch them with the girls in the house I usually end up really liking them. So why can't us men admit we like them without throwing out a disclaimer or being embarrassed?

Okay, fine - I was blubbering like a baby! Happy now?

I don't think it's a true tear-jerker, tho. It had its moments, tho...

NINE INNINGS FROM GROUND ZERO
(First Viewing)

Short, well-made documentary showing how the NY Yankees vs. AZ Diamondbacks world series games, just a month after 9-11, provided welcome relief from the uncertainty New Yorkers, and the nation, felt about how to proceed with their lives. The Yankees, during the series, came to symbolize and re-strengthen everything that was, and is, New York and America.

A great documentary that gives an in-depth firsthand exclusive of how the city of New York and the country came to cope with the tragic events of 9/11 and how the game helped in their healing. I appreciate it more almost 6 years after the events as more time has passed and the wounds aren't so raw. Even though I wasn't a fan of the outcome, I will give Curt Schilling credit by not being a pompous a$$ and with his assessment of Yankee fans.

HALLOWEEN (2007) 1/2
(First Viewing)

On Halloween 1963, Haddenfield, 10-year-old Michael Myers (Daeg Farch), estranged and mentally unstable, is imprisoned in Smith's Grove Sanitarium under the care of Dr. Sam Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) for the murders of his mother's (Sheri Moon) boyfriend, his older sister, and her boyfriend. Now, 15 years later, he is accidentally released and now in search of his baby sister Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton) and Dr. Loomis must warn the residents of Haddenfield and get to Laurie before Michael does.

Rob Zombie outdoes himself again as he continues to impress me as a writer & director. A fantastic and brutal retelling of the origins of Michael Myers. For me personally Malcolm McDowell stole the show as Dr. Loomis because I've had an enormous amount of respect since I saw A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. However, most impressive was young Daeg Faerch who plays the 10-year-old version of Michael. His face and emotions did a wonderful job in helping to educate the audiences knowledge on this legendary character. And even though I haven't seen the entire franchise, this film had me begging for more. If you're a fan of Rob's or the franchise, you won't want to miss this.

RUSH HOUR 3
(First Viewing)

After an attempted assassination on Ambassador Han, Lee and Carter head to Paris to protect a French woman with knowledge of the Triads' secret leaders.
I can't believe it's been 6 years (RUSH HOUR 2) since I've last seen Chris Tucker in a film. And even though it was a welcomed return, the film was not. Probably the weakest of the trilogy with a runtime around 86 minutes, a weak script (especially with the jokes) and some shoty use of CGI/blue screens. However, Tucker and Chan mix and feed off of each other beautifully as they did in the first 2. Hopefully we won't have to wait another 6 years to see Chris on the silver screen again. I guess the world answered the question of it needed another RUSH HOUR film. The answer is of course no.

SNAKES ON A PLANE

Yes i know its been out for ages but i finally watched it last night!
I can honestly say i don't know how it became such a hit show!
It was'nt bad but it certainly was'nt great!
Mind you as a "scared of snakes" type of chap i was watching with one eye firmly wedged behind a cushion so i might have missed something along the way....

Funny, I liked Zombie's remake. People are crying as if Carpenter's original was perfect. Oh yeah? If so, then answer me:

*How could Myers, locked up for 15+ years, know how to drive a car? I didn't know they taught catonic kids some wheels.
*Why are the teenagers in their 20s?
*Why do you keep persisting that Mikey Myers always had his mask on? Remember that one shot when Nick Castle's face is crystal clear? This aint Jason Vorhees, people.

U TURN 1/2
(First Viewing)

When Bobby's car breaks down in the desert while on the run from some of the bookies who have already taken two of his fingers, he becomes trapped in the nearby small town where the people are stranger than anyone he's encountered. After becoming involved with a (unbeknownst to him) young married woman, her husband hires Bobby to kill her. Later, she hires Bobby to kill the husband.

I was disappointed with Sean Penn's character. Penn did a fine job acting, it was just his character was so soft. I wanted to root for the guy but he made it hard for me to being so spineless. Also, the ending was a little too much for me going back and forth between the 4 main characters. By the end I was pretty overwhelmed and just glad to get out of there.

KALIFORNIA 1/2
(First Viewing)

Brian Kessler, a journalist researching serial killers, and his photographer girlfriend Carrie set out on a cross-country tour of the sites of the killings. Sharing the ride and their expenses are Early Grayce, a paroled white trash criminal, and his girlfriend Adele. As the trip progresses, Early begins to appear more and more unstable, and Brian and Carrie begin to fear that they may have a real-life serial killer in the back seat of their car.

A great role for a young Brad Pitt to continue to jump start his career. He was the only retrieveable feature from the film. Seeing him as a poor, white trash, psychopathic killer is quite the change from the OCEAN'S trilogy. However, the script is ultimately flawed due to its inability to affect me on any personal level. Really the only character I had any sympathy for was Juliette Lewis' because she was so stupid and naive. However, when Pitt was killing people, it didn't matter to me and Pitt wasn't a very likeable villain either so I was screwed on both ends of the deal.

Was it his debut film? I remember seeing it long back but don't remember most of it.

Vertical Features Remake *
Greenaway explores "vertical" structures like trees, poles, buildings etc with this 40 min long movie. This is a slide show and not a movie in the conventional sense. The camera does not even zoom in/out here. Some clever tricks with editing and music have been tried out in the last segment (It features 4 remakes of the movie itself)

Gerry ****
A slow but great movie by Gus Van Sant, featuring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. Two friends go on a trail and get lost. Gus takes his own sweet time with his scenes, with extended tracking shots of the characters through their journey and good use of background music. Must watch.

No, he was in COOL WORLD & A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT in 1992 but it was one of his early films

I'm watching Demetrius and the Gladiators starring Victor Mature and Susan Hayward. It's a sequel to The Robe.

Mature is an underrated actor. He had a unique delivery and he made it all seem so simple.

I see that it is on here too. I always loved Victor Mature.
He also played Samson in Samson and Delilah, one of my favorites!!!

They use to have the 4:00 movie when I was a kid and I swear I remember seeing (and liking) a movie with VM and Betty Grable. Anyway, yea, I always liked him.

TIS

SHEESH!!

I stumbled upon VS's (Versus Network's) Rocky marathon tonight... caught the tail end of #2, then started watching #3... after the second commercial break, I said screw it, and plopped the DVD in (I have the boxed set of 5)... then ended up watching #4... then #5 (which apparently I'd never seen before ) What a night. Wow. As poor as they are, technically... I ALWAYS shed a tear at the end... so that makes them great.

(Thank goodness I had the DVDs, cuz it's still going on for another 45 mins on Versus lol)

...and it's nice to know I was watching a "Man's" network for once, besides Spike...

PS - "Versus" sounds like such a fighting theme... is that what men are know for??? Guess so. lol


PPS: R1 (*****), R2 (****), R3 (*****), R4 (***), R5 (**)

I think that it was a giant joke that everyone was in on... I mean, no one actually expected a good film going in. The premise is terrible, so you know. The film just sort of became an inside joke in so many different circles of friends before it even came out that everyone just sort of ran with it. And I think that's exactly what the studio wanted.

Children of Men *
Compared to several board members who rate this very high, I wasn't all that impressed by it. The thing I liked the most was the cinematography, converting London from a modern city to a shady, filthy, run down and war torn place. The premise is interesting, but the plot is not too gripping.

I agree svsg. I wasn't impressed with CHILDREN OF MEN either. Did you see LITTLE CHILDREN with Kate Winslet?

No Irish, do you recommend it?

If the mood strikes you. I did enjoy it and own the DVD

You actually bought a dvd, Irish?

2001 wasn't gripping either. Neither was METROPOLIS. Neither was THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH.

Sci-Fi isn't just a genre for thrillers or action pictures.

Watched The Queen last night. Helen Mirren was amazing. Don't know how much of it is actually factual, but it was done very well.

I remember waking up that morning to learn of Diana's death. I think her's and John-John's death were so surprising that I remember them as if they happened yesterday.

I saw HITCH (2005) over the weekend on TBS. It was a cute movie. That Eva Mendes is just beautiful.

Kevin James has really held his own with both Will Smith and, more recently, Adam Sandler. I guess he's gone from the KING OF QUEENS to the King Of Second Bananas.

There are worse jobs.

PB, Although I didn't love the movie, the scene where Will Smith is coaching Kevin James on how to dance is absolutely hilarious.

Yeah, it was.

Don't get me wrong. It wasn't a great movie, by any means. Just a "cute" movie. Probably a good "date" movie.

That Kevin James sure is nimble for such a big guy.

Agreed, I realized it as I was typing that 'gripping' was not the correct word, but again I am not able to find the right word to describe what was missing.

I second that emotion!

WIND CHILL
(First Viewing)

Two college students share a ride home for the holidays. When they break down on a deserted stretch of road, they're preyed upon by the ghosts of people who have died there.

George Clooney pissed his money away on this film being a producer. Most of the film took place in a car, which can get pretty crammy for 90 minutes. A haunted highway