Films: 12 Monkeys (Empire Top 500 #465)

12 Monkeys
Director: Terry Gilliam
Released: 1995
Popcorns: 4.5/5

In a future world devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the human population on the planet.

This was the first time I've ever watched 12 Monkeys, which I'm quite shocked about, because it really is my kind of film.
There's not really much I can say about this movie, other than the fact that it's bloody fantastic!  Bruce Willis an Brad Pitt both put on a great show.

As I said; not much I can say about this film, because it's quite a head f*ck, other than watch it if you already haven't.

Films: Cloverfield (Empire Top 500 #394)

Cloverfield
Director: Matt Reeves
Released: 2008
Popcorns: 1.5/5

Revolves around a monster attack in New York, as told from the point of view of a small group of people.

This was the second time I'd watched this film and the first time for Laura.  I was mildly entertained by it the first time around because I watched it in work, when I should have been working.  This time around, Laura wasn't feeling it and watching it on my 42inch screen made me wanna chuck my guts up with all the faux shakey camera work.

The script is awful and the camera man must say the other guy's name about 500 times in the film.  Also, the acting is atrocious.  Some of the set seemed a bit wrong too.  ie. the Statue of Liberty's head.  I swear it's supposed to be bigger than that. Aren't people supposed to be able to get inside the crown part?

The only thing that redeemed this film slightly is the monster design.  I'm a sucker for a monster movie and, although you could tell this was all CGI, they were fun and innovative.

So much more could have been done with this film and I do not think it should be in the top 500 films of all time.  Even more so for the fact that The Blair Witch Project is nowhere to be seen on this list and that film pretty much invented this style of film making.  Crap film. Enough said!

Films: Juno (Empire Top 500 # 463)

Juno
Director: Jason Reitman
Released: 2007
Popcorns: 4.5/5

Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.

This was the first film we sat down to watch from the top 500 list (doing this a bit out of order, but was just testing out the site with 12 Angry Men and it deserved a review).

Juno has a great, untaxing, storyline to it, with a good script to back it up.  This is the second time I'd seen this film and I think I enjoyed it more than the first, as I seemed to pick up a few more parts of the story that I missed first time round.

The acting in it is supurb.  Ellen Page and Michael Cera really work well together and seem to be at ease acting with each other.  The scene that properly chokes me up (yeah, I cried, what of it?) is the end scene where they're both playing the Moldy Peaches song Anyone Else But You. 

It's not the best rendition, but it's a very fitting end to a fine film.

Films: 12 Angry Men (Empire Top 500 # 72)

12 Angry Men
Director: Sidney Lumet
Released: 1957
Popcorns: 5/5

A dissenting juror in a murder trial slowly manages to convince the others that the case is not as obviously clear as it seemed in court.

Me and Laura have been inspired by others to watch the top 500 Empire films and this was one of them.
This is the first time I've ever watched this film and I can quite safely say that it is one of the best films I've ever seen.

As this is filmed mostly in one room (the establishing court room shot and final exit shot of the character's being the exceptions) the script had to hold its own and it is fantastic.  It keeps you hooked throughout with its sharpness, wit and even very moving dialogue.
The tension between the actors is electric and each of the juror's has their own unique personality and reason for their decision on the trail.  It's perfectly acted and perfectly shot.

Doing a bit of research after the film, I was sadden, but not shocked, to read that all but one of the jurors had since passed away. The remaining one is Juror #5, played by Jack Klugman, who has been acting up until 2005.

All in all, this is an excellent film and should be in everyone's DVD collection.

First Post

I guess the first post should be to let people know what's going to be in this blog.
It probably won't be updated very regularly, but when it is, it will be about books, films, music and other things I find interesting.
I may not get any readers, but that's not the point really.  It's just to document things that I will most likely forget the day after. haha!
If anyone is reading...enjoy!