Reanimated Residue: Entertainment

Australian Big Brother 2006: The Winner Revealed

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:25:01 GMT

After 100 days in the Australian Big Brother house at Dreamworld, the winner has finally been selected.

The weekend was both nerve-racking and eventful for the remaining four housemates - Camilla Halliwell, David Graham, Jamie Brooksby, and James "Max" Panabianco – enjoying a lavish lunch date with Big Brother, a secret visit from their loved-ones, and a double eviction on Sunday night. Late Saturday night the four shared their final dinner together in the house, relishing meatballs cooked by Max’s mother during her hush-hush foray into the house earlier that day.

Faced with the usual variety of controversy and critique, the popular reality TV show has survived yet another year to complete series six, with a total of twenty-three housemates having lived in the house over a three month period.

Sunday night saw the eviction of 20 year old “replacement” housemate, Max, and 26 year old gay farmer, David, of the original 15 housemates. Max exhibited extreme relief at his eviction, explaining he did not deserve to win after only three weeks in the house. The audience was introduced to David’s partner, Sharif, in an affectionate reunion between the couple on the big stage. The double eviction left Jamie and Camilla, both of the original 15, to spend their last night in the house together while Australia decided their fate. To celebrate, Big Brother treated the pair to champagne and an extravagant seafood banquet.

Camilla earned a reputation as the “biggest whinger” in the house, yet went on to survive 10 nominations over 15 eviction nights. She never won the Friday Night Games, only ever enjoying the spoils of the “Rewards Room” when invited by other housemates. Last Friday, Big Brother reminded Camilla that she had been “knocked out” in the first round of the games more than any other housemate in the history of Big Brother. She redeemed herself by making a teary-eyed, but brave, 15 meter “Leap of Faith”, earning a further $40,000 towards the prize money.

While in the house, Jamie formed a close relationship with 20 year old Katie, who was eliminated from the game in round 7. His trademark became the way he wore his baggy pants, hanging low to reveal his underwear, while his hair was central to his vanity. Evictee David commented that he would have got more “focus” out of Jamie if there were less mirrors in the house. Jamie made his mark on the house by presenting himself as a fun-loving, all-round selfless character.

Camilla and Jamie spent their final day in the house being pampered by Big Brother, with a selection of beauty products and clothing for the big night. Unlike past years, the two housemates entered the “games arena” to begin the finale. They were shown dramatic footage of world and local events occurring during their stay in the house. As previous evicted housemates entered the arena to accompany their final voyage, a number of video montages were presented which encompassed their time as part of the Big Brother experience. A particularly touching moment was the reunion of love-birds Jamie and Katie. Eventually the past housemates exited, leaving the duo to face the final announcement with only each other for support.

Voting complete, the time had finally arrived for host, Gretel Kileen, to open the envelope and reveal the eagerly awaited name within. The final results were extremely close with a split of three percent between winner and runner up. Camilla Halliwell, a 22 year old student and nightclub host, became the last evictee of the series. Left to spend several minutes alone in the house to contemplate his future as the ultimate winner of Australian Big Brother 2006, 22 year old fitness instructor, Jamie Brooksby, ran around the house repeating “Jamie’s goin’ nuts! Jamie’s goin’ nuts!” and “This is not a dream!” Then he looked in the mirror and adjusted his hair.

The original prize pool up for grabs was a cool one million dollars. However, after several fines during the series, and then winning a portion of the money back during the last Friday Night Games, the remaining prize totaled $511,000. Jamie had racked up fines worth $85,000. Continuing his reputation as a meaner and tougher Big Brother this year, the individual fines remained, and he received a total prize of $426,000.

This year the program has rated a mention in parliament with Prime Minister John Howard calling for an end to the show following an incident in which two housemates were removed from the house for breach of the rules. An investigation was conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and Queensland police but found no breach by Network Ten or the show’s producer, Southern Star Endemol. Head of production and development for Network Ten, Tim Clucas, said the show will “absolutely” return in the future.

Images courtesy Southern Star Endemol and Network Ten.

Australian Big Brother 6: Inappropriate Behavior Sees Housemates Expelled

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 06:55:50 GMT

Two housemates were unceremoniously evicted from the Australian Big Brother house on Saturday afternoon amid claims of inappropriate sexual activity.

John (Michael Bric, 21, of Melbourne, Vic) and Ashley (Michael Cox, 20, of Perth, WA) were removed from the Big Brother compound at Dreamworld, on the Queensland Gold Coast, by security guards early Saturday evening. The no-vote eviction followed an undisclosed incident in which a short statement on the official Big Brother website referred to the issue as a “serious matter”.

The producers of the high-ratings reality television show, now in its sixth season, provided no official reason for the removal of the housemates, stating they “will not be commenting any further”. The official website forums have been closed in light of events which were described to other housemates as “seriously breaching the BB rules”, when they were informed of the pair’s expulsion at 8:10 pm on Saturday, July 1, 2006.

Big Brother’s attempt to censor the incident has not stopped early morning viewers of the live online streaming video content from revealing on unofficial Big Brother fan-sites the possible reason for the untimely eviction of the two young men from the house.

It is claimed that on Saturday morning at 4:30 am, Ashley and John were seen to get into bed with 22-year-old female contestant Camilla Halliwell of Victoria. John allegedly held her down while Ashley proceeded to rub his penis in her face, in what has become known as a “turkey slap” after similar actions performed by housemates during previous series. Many viewers took screenshots which are now circulating on the Internet, and state Camilla was heard to say, “That’s not cool” as the two performed their lewd act.

The resulting uproar has even rated a mention in Parliament, with calls to have the show cancelled by Federal MP Trish Draper. Australian Media & Communications Minister Helen Coonan has declared the government would take no immediate action against Network Ten or show producers, while her spokeswoman was quoted in an interview with the Sunday Times, “As for Big Brother, it will still be subject to the existing content restrictions.”

Controversy surrounding the explicit content of the Big Brother adults only “Uncut” show has landed the Big Brother enterprise in hot water on several occasions in the past. Though the John/Ashley/Camilla incident was not aired on public television, last year’s Uncut program broadcast contestant Michael giving a massage to fellow housemate Gianna while rubbing his genitals on her. The episode caused sufficient public commotion that the lurid content of the show was toned down for the remainder of the series. However, this year, the Uncut show has again become an issue for parliament, when the show’s producers admitted upward of 75,000 minors tune in to the MA15+ rated program each week. The remaining weekly episodes of Uncut 2006 were axed after extensive political pressure, following the last installment on June 19.

Rumors are currently circulating that Ashley has been returned to “lockdown” with plans to have housemates vote on his return to the compound during a special to be aired on Tuesday night, July 4. Implementing the “strike” system has seen this incident bring John’s tally to three strikes, while this would be Ashley’s second strike. An attempt by Big Brother to reinstate Ashley as a housemate seems highly unlikely in light of the extensive media coverage surrounding this event, and the seriousness of allegations against him.

In recent developments it is reported that police have finally been supplied video footage to review the incident, as Senator Coonan expressed concern over the potential nature of the footage saying, “I think it is appropriate if we take urgent action and have a look at it.”

Edit 6th July: Thanking wackywheelz for providing a direct download link to the video of this incident so that readers can judge for themselves.

Images courtesy Big Brother, Southern Star Endemol, and Channel 10.

Fun Crap Found On The Net

Thu, 20 Oct 2005 06:30:43 GMT

You can always tell when you are bored while surfing the net ... little gems such as these following goodies become an appealing attraction to click on. If you decide to play with any of these please leave a comment with your results. lol.

Sounds just like me actually ....

Visit The Cyborg Name Decoder
and discover your own Cyborg Name.

PoizonMyst, you are worth exactly $1,378,990.00

Woohoo, that sounds shiny!

Discover how much you are worth at Human For Sale.

Go-Quiz has a heap of Quizzes, BlogToys & Personality Tests in which the HTML code is generated so that you can easily publish your results on your Live Journal or Webpage. Here's a couple I did ...

Which internet subculture do I belong to? [CLICK]
	You are a Trekkie!
It's a geek, Jim! You probably have a starfleet uniform and a tricorder. Bonus points if you speak klingon. One day you will walk down the aisle with your buttertroll trekkie partner, humming to the Yoyager theme.
More Quizzes at Go-Quiz.com

Yep, thats about rite! Hmmm ... I'm quite proud of this result.

THIS WAY UP
á

PoizonMyst has fragile contents which may break!

Apparently this is my warning label.

How to make a PoizonMyst

Ingredients:
5 parts intelligence
5 parts courage
1 part instinct

Method:
Combine in a tall glass half filled with crushed ice. Serve with a slice of lustfulness and a pinch of salt. Yum!

How Tasty ... Mix up your very own batch of ME!
This one is my Personality cocktail.

Am I cool or uncool? [CLICK]

You are a Square!

You are a total dork. The pocket protecter and thick-lensed glasses give it away. Try watching some popular TV.. Get yourself some fashion sense already! On the plus side, no wait hang on, there is no plus side! Nerdsville, population YOU!

Cool quizzes at Go-Quiz.com

Talk about stereotyping! lmao.
I thought that being a nerd was fashionable these days.
Obviously I was mistaken ... I don't wear glasses anyway.

Your Icecream Flavour is...Neopolitan!

You aren't satisfied with just one flavor. They say variety is the spice of life and this shines through in your Ice cream of choice! Just don't eat all the chocolate and leave the strawberry and vanilla behind!

Sounds just about rite ...
but yep, I would leave the Strawberry behind.
What is your Icecream Flavour?
Find out at Go Quiz

Now wasn't that fun?

Movie Reviews

Tue, 02 Aug 2005 04:17:59 GMT

Having been compelled to borrow Spanglish after viewing the trailer, I was expecting a light feel-good comedy, but this movie was way more than that. The themes were compelling, heartfelt, and sometimes even dissolute. The producers havent danced around morality with this one, and that makes for a refreshing change - presenting an accurate portrayal which could very well occur in real life.

I loved Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, which is why I was excited to discover a new film in a similar vein - House of the Flying Daggers. Brilliant Choreography, high action martial arts, and groovy gravity-defying special effects which are always fun when applied to this genre. Ive certainly attained a new respect for the versatility of bamboo. The adventure twists and turns, complemented by a beautiful romantic story, enough to rival the gorgeous landscape cinematography. captivating, inspiring, exciting, stylish.

Touching the Void is the true story of two young mountaineers who set out to conquer the never before climbed, 21,000ft Siula Grande in the Peruvian Alps. Both experienced, the men chose the high risk 'Alpine Style' for their climb - A quick climb, completely unsupported with minimum supplies - leaving not much room for error - but when one of them breaks his leg on decent, they discover friendship, sacrifice, survival, and human endurance to its extreme. This movie is beautifully shot - presented as both documentary and reconstructive footage. It is brutally honest, powerful, scarey, and inspiring. I also recommend watching the two mini-docos also on the DVD, What Happened Next and Return to Siula Grande which, in itself, motivates discussion concerning the ethics of the Director in taking a traumatised individual back to his nemesis, without the accompaniment of a counsellor.

"Why did you borrow this?" I asked my hubby, a patronising eyebrow raised ... "Cause I like his music and we've seen everything else anyway." he replied. None the less it was a few weeks before we decided to watch the film biography of Ray. At 2am one morning, we thought it might work as a sedative for our insomnia - two and a half hours later we were still transfixed on the screen. An hour after that we were still up discussing the issues raised about Ray's life. A fascinating insight into the legendary entertainer, Ray Charles.

Movie Reviews

Sat, 23 Jul 2005 08:01:00 GMT

I havent chosen a fav this week - these movies are all great in their own right for totally different reasons - too hard to choose a fav.

In the tradition of classic golden oldie superhero movies of the 1940s, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, is a superb sci-fi epic. One courageous hero and his annoying love interest, against thousands of monolithic robots and a villainous, idealistic, wizard-of-oz scientist with a God complex. A bit of everything in this one - ninja action, an airforce of submersible aeroplanes, a jurassic park garden of eden - this movie was not intended to be of realistic and practical application, but rather more like a heroic comic book journey.

Ive never seen the original version, but I dont care. The whole point of science fiction is to celebrate future technologies - embrase it! All those so-called 'real' sci-fi fans, who have conceited attachments to older versions - always despising remakes - are really quite hypocritical in my opinion. This said, at face value, I found War of the Worlds very entertaining. If you simply follow the adventure of human survival, rather than trying to resolve holes in the plot (which is probably more to do with the original story and the intention with which is was penned), then you will most likely enjoy this film. The special fx were outstanding throughout the film, but the arrival of the 'tripods' in the opening scenes were particularly realistic.

I cant emerse myself in sci-fi all the time so A Man's Gotta Do was a refreshing change in the realm of movies depicting dysfunctional families. A quality plot and script, with a superior cast portraying the unique Australian character with true flair. Truely hilarious, with some clever unexpected twists.

Movie Reviews

Sat, 16 Jul 2005 12:44:50 GMT

I'm not a religious person per se, but I am interested in the history and philosophy of different religions. I also dont mind the odd movie based on the subject and movies about the end of the world, which is why I chose The Second Coming. This was originally a two part TV mini-series and is presented as such on DVD. It was a fairly original idea about the modern day resurrection of christ, and I was certainly kept captivated up until the very end. I dont want to give too much away, for those who may be interested in watching the movie, but I wasnt so happy with the ending ... well I was, in that I agree with the plot of the ending ... I just I think it could have been more spectacular.

I believe Vampire Clan has the masked intention of teaching kids not to get too caught up in a trend. Based on a true events, this movie recounts the story of a teen 'vampire' cult involved in the murder of a girls parents. The cover and description imply a usual horror film ... designed to attract kids who would likely think it cool and rebellious to drink each other's blood and participate in other black occult activites ... only to be surprised that this movie does not give the fashion a positive spin at all. Personally I think the cult leader was simply insane in that he truely beleived he had the powers of an immortal vampire. The others in the group were only going along with a popular trend, unwittingly perpetuating his sickness to its gruesome conclusion. Ultimately, they were just foolish kids, way in over their heads ... evidenced by the way in which they were eventually captured.

I was prepared to be bored out of my skull with Spartacus ... only I found myself enraptured, for the whole of almost three hours, by this tale about slaves fighting for their freedom in ancient Rome. This movie was made in the traditional style, dont expect anything out of the ordinary when it comes to film making techniques ... but the action and drama was well balanced, and the script was first-class, so this is my choice.

Big Brother Uncut Vs Football

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 11:37:19 GMT

I havent made an entry for a while, so Im doing a massive update of all my online journals today.
First off, I will say that Ive finished my Certficate IV Workplace Trainer and Assessor course, and am now awaiting the results. If I do say so myself, Im sure I kicked arse yet again, as I did with the other modules, so Im not all that nervous about it ... though Im glad its over and done with. After putting it off for many months, it only took one night to complete. Procrastination may be fun - but the nagging mind which accompanies it, is not.

One thing Id like to discuss in this journal is the Big Brother Uncut scandal which has hit the media, and is now being investigated by the ABA (my personal experience of the ABA is very sceptical ... however I spose thats another journal story really). Personally I think this whole business is ridiculous. The program airs in an adult time slot - and if children are watching it, either their parents are not concerned by the content, or are being negligent of their kids TV watching habits. Personally Im not concerned by the content ... Id much rather my children are watching people doing natural loving things, than watching your average macho violent football match (which, incidentally, goes to air unrated). Im not saying we should let kids watch XXX porn, but a few full frontal naked bodies, and two people making out in a bath, is far from falling into that classification.
I dont think it is right that BB was forced to apologise and change the format of the Uncut program. The show is promoted as Adults Only ... it has an MA rating ... Gretal gives numerous warnings prior to any risqué material - what more warning do people need? Footy on the other hand, is enjoyed by thousands of Aussies, adults and children alike, every week - without ratings, without warnings, and matches are often broadcast live. When a biff occurs, the camera swings straight to it and focuses on the action till the last punch ... then it gets repeated several times over on nightly news sports reports. Are these sports people really the role models we should be encouraging our children to follow? It seems as soon as a few young adults are seen to be having a bit of natural innocent fun, jealousy filters in and there is major outcry.
Of course this weird bias, towards sex as inappropriate, is quite prevalent in many areas of our entertainment. Just look at the regular debate regarding over-the-counter computer games ... the prevalence of violent games is enormous, but I think the closest we've ever come to sex in computer games is The Sims series.
Im also getting increasingly concerned about advertsing for adult programs such as Law and Order SVU, and other such series, during early evening time slots. The other day while watching The Simpsons, my kids became rather scared by a Law and Order promo which claimed Vampires were real. There was alittle bit of blood in the ad, but mostly it was the narration which scraed them. They didnt understand what the message was - and didnt seem to believe me when I tried to explain the content of the advert. This irresponsible promotion of adult programs during children's TV timeslots is increasing, and is disturbing. I cant believe Ive not heard anything about this elsewhere ... surely other parents are experiencing the same problems when these adverts are aired ... why does the ABA allow it to continue? It cant be that Im the only one complaining about this.
All this imbalance between sex and violence is unfortunate ... no wonder kids are growing up with bullying at school, and the problem of street violence is escalating. Im not against a bit of action and horror ... a bit of violence in a movie or TV show can be entertaining in films for adults, but it has become so acceptable that we now have people lobbying shows like Uncut, while Friday Night Footy goes on without a whisper or even a rating. Why do we continue to reinforce and condone these primal violent activities? Maybe a little bit of primal love on the small screen could go a long way.

Movie Reviews

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 10:12:56 GMT

Its been a while, so Ive got quite a list to update. Im not going to pick a fav this time, so you'll just have to judge my likes and dislikes from what I say about each flick. So its on with the movie reviews.

The One was fun and an interesting theory. I would have liked it more if some of the fight scenes weren't so cheezy tho. I like a bit of martial arts action, but when a dude lifts up 2 motor cycles and doesnt fall flat on his face, or doesnt even try to balance his weight when doing so ... well, I had to laugh at how B-Grade it suddenly looked. Twas a shame really, because most of the other sfx were pretty impressive. The scene at the end, where he fights himself, is also very well done. This movie also has one filth soundtrack!

Ive tried to watch The Bourne Supremacy numerous times now. I do really like the story, I was just really tired ... so my viewing of this film has been in several bits and pieces ... I may have still missed about 15 minutes worth somewhere towards the end. Anyway, as I said, I enjoy this story ... the idea of a super spy dude, who gets amnesia, yet remembers all the tactics taught to him, is quite intriguing. I spose thats the power of brain washing. There were some nice little one liners, some effective action, & an intelligent plot. Will they ever leave the poor fella alone? Is it any wonder he gets so

Lots of action, lots of gore ... but what was the damn story about? I'd bin looking forward to watching King Arthur for a while, but in the end I was disappointed. I am quite intrigued by the legendary folk tale, but this movie was nothing more than blood and guts. The scenery & battles were believable enough, but I felt an actual plot got left behind.

When I was a kid, waking for my early morning weekend dose of the legendary supermarionation The Thunderbirds was a must for a kid sci-fi freak. The live action 'remake' movie of this early TV series is great fun. My favourite character had to be Lady Penelope and all her pink gadgets. The sets were brilliant ... just like the original, only now they were real. Love the music and love the thunderbird ships. Mostly I ignored the kid (whoever he was), cause parts involving him had that teeny movie feel ... but thats to be expected from a film intended for a youthful audience. Other than that, I was impressed with the results. Thunderbirds are GO!

Three Blind Mice is an internet horror story. Quite implausible actually, but I spose it could happen. Edward Furlong, is an impressive little actor, but this movie doesnt really do him much justice. Im usually a big fan of computer/internet movies, but I dunno ... I sorta liked it ... but I really doubted its validity in reality. I think the moral of the story was an attempt to scare ppl about risks when using the internet. I spose for ppl who are ignorant about what information they should and should not share with the world, it could be useful ... but then those ppl probably wouldnt hire this film anyway, because its quite computer tech in nature. Parts of the plot were alittle hard to follow ... I still dont really know who was tied up in the crime being commited, and why .... but the life of a net addict was pretty well portrayed - I should know.

Uprising was originally a TV series, now made into a DVD movie. I was quite impressed with the overall setting and acting in this film, but it was a task to get through. Based on actual events which held back the Nazi incursion of Poland for almost a month in 1943, it is the story of Jewish underground insurrection in the slum district of Warsaw. As with most movies centred around this theme, it was quite dreary and depressing ah so be it ... it was hardly a era of celebration.

Im a big fan of Johnny Depp mmmmm ... so of course, I hired Finding Neverland as soon as it was available - for the kids of course. Actually, the kids were alittle bored by it. I was expecting a sequel, or something, to the Peter Pan story. I was quite surprised to discover it was based on Sir James Matthew Barrie, the author of the fable, and the family who became his muse. Oh, it was a beautiful and compelling tale - I dunno how much of it was true ... but I had to shed a tear or two towards the end. Imaginative and moving ... a must see for mum and dad ... but not so much for the little ones.

Oh my ... Tom Cruise looks so unnaturally old in Collateral that I was beginning to think someone was slapping him in the head with a chalk duster throughout the making of this film - I know he's getting old, but my god, that hair is not real. Nevertheless, he plays a great bad guy, and the movie moves along at a great pace once we get past the boring cab ride which is the beginning. I enjoyed the catch 22 situations which the taxi driver was forced to endure ... and his seemingly final solution of totalling the cab was a great idea. Poor fella really gets caught up in it tho when he realises who the assasins next target is. Maybe he should have just walked away right then and there ... but no, he had to attempt the obvious ... and this is where the film really fell apart for me. It was one of those scenes which has you yelling at the screen "Why dont you just call the police, you idiot!!". But no, they never do, do they? Always gotta frustrate the audience with illogical sequences which was a shame really, because it was such a good movie up to that point.

Using my Scifi-fans club account at Deviant Art, I started a forum thread about Favourite Sci-fi Movies. Most I had heard of, but to my surprise there were a couple of recent movies I had never heard of. The Butterfly Effect was one of those films, and came highly recommended. I loved it ... my hubby didnt. I was told the alternate ending was better than the one finally released with the film, but no, I have to disagree ... the original package is perfect. I found it rather amusing that everyones life was so much better off without him This movie is a supernatural psychological time travel thriller, kind of like Final Destination meets Back to the Future I spose you could say. Can't wait to see the sequel due out in 2007 - Is he going to be born again? Will he ever get the girl? Will he kill everyone off in the process? He should probably remain dead ... but Hollywood just cant seem to let a lead character role meet a tragic end, can it?

And finally I have to say I loved the fictional depiction of Howard Hughes' early life in The Aviator. This film is well cast, and superbly acted. Ive seen numerous reviews that say the film focused too much on the man's mental illness than on his brilliance. Personally, I think they are one and the same - his paranoias were undeniably a huge part of his life - while his innovations were almost motivated by this intensity and his mind was seemingly always on the go. Cate Blanchett does a magnificent job in the role of Katherine Hepburn, and DiCaprio is completely lost behind the mask he has successfully portrayed as Hughes. Following the film, which is historically inaccurate to some degree but still based on true events, I was so intrigued by whatever it was that inflicted this poor fellow, that I was compelled to do alittle research into his life. He was never really treated psychologically when alive, seems his entourage attempted to protect him from this disgrace, but it would be obvious to assume from all accounts that he had Obsessive/Compulsive disorder - which would also explain his grand obsession, and success, with his aeroplanes and also in perfecting his movie productions (even to the point where he developed a prototype of the pushup bra for his leading lady in The Outlaw). An intriguing movie, and an even more spectacular life story ... even though the facts and time frames are a little jumbled in relation to reality ... I still recommend this as a must see.

Movie Reviews

Sat, 11 Jun 2005 02:58:08 GMT

This week I was on a real winner ... so much so that I cant pick a fav ... they were all so good for different reasons.

First up, Ill go wif National Treasure. Not a mind straining experience, but that can be a good thing sometimes ... just to be lightly entertained. Sure, we've seen the stunts dun a thousand times before, but it's the plot and script which really wins you over. It was great to see a movie that entailed so much research into the history of Freemasons and the Knights Templar - still a major part of American politics today.

When I saw the title of Australian Rules I asked my hubby, why on Earth did you borrow a sport movie? It starts off quite comically, a coach wif the common Aussie speach impediment of "If I arcsed yous once, I arcsed yous a thousand times." ... but it's not long before the serious overtures of this little country town begin to reveal themselves. An incredibly realistic drama, wif the towns obsession wif the sport of Aussie Rules used simply as a catalist to expose their true sentiments towards each other, this is a gripping exploration into racism, friendship, and community values.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a masterpiece in all sense of the word. At times it's like McGyver meets Edward Scissorhands. Everything about this film was both disturbing and beautiful at once. The scenery was impecible, the plot compelling, the characters provocative, and the credits (of all things) are pure artwork in their own right. This is not your typical family movie, certainly not filled with singing rabbits & happy little elves - far from it! Featuring an all-star cast, who play their roles with exceptional excellence, this movie is a must see event.

Movie Reviews

Sun, 05 Jun 2005 17:09:11 GMT

As soon as I heard Elektra was out on DVD I wanted to see it. I love Jennifer Garner in Alias & thought she would portray a tough-chick superhero well, which she did. However the movie was a little bland compared to most 'Marvel' productions, lacking in well, I'm not sure really ... I just know I wasnt completely satisfied. Never-the-less, it was fun entertainment with some good action.

As a mother to three kids, I had mixed feelings about Cheaper By The Dozen. I laughed heartily at much of the chaos, & wasn't overly disturbed by the lack of discipline, but I was concerned about the fact that the children were so selfish (which kids often are) not to let their parents follow their dreams by helping out alittle around the house - especially in such a large family. In my house, the kids get alot of freedoms, but they also understand that mum & dad have a right to a life too, & that families must sometimes make sacrifices for each other. If they cant accept that, then ultimately, they must do wot is decided as best for the family by the adults ... not the other way round.

So my choice out of these 3 movies goes to Blade: Trinity. The first 2 in this trilogy were outstanding. Fast-paced slick action, and No. 3 doesnt disappoint in this arena. I also love the sarcasm and charisma of both Blade & the King character. I do hav sum complaints tho ... the scientific theorems, justifying Dracula's birth 6000 years ago, were lacking in comparison to the concepts which we are used to having presented to us in the first 2 films. To offer up all this information about his existence & then basically say "we dont know how he came to be born, all we know is, he was the first" is a bit of a cop out. I think the writers could have done much better here. My other grumble is that, in some of the final scenes we see 'Abigail' going at it hard wif sum wicked fight moves, while Blade is just walking around (like the cool dude that he is) blasting his 'big gun' at any approaching nasty vamps. I spose Snipes is getting pretty old these days tho, so he could be forgiven here. However, in the end, his final battle with Dracula is certainly mean & well worth the journey.

Movie Reviews

Mon, 23 May 2005 13:21:25 GMT

If you like looking at girls tits, then Species III is for you. There are so many questionable scientific hypotheses in this film, it makes you wonder which mad scientist provided the research material for this production. In fact, unless ur going ewww at all the puss, you'll find urself laughing at how much money can be spent making a B-Grade flik. Watch out, some parts hinted at the possiblity of a number 4.

The actors in Closer were really forced to perform in this one. This movie was all about the acting. It was a provocative plot, lotsa drama & lust, but to tell you the truth, I found it a bit tedious & smelly.

Wicker Park has an intriguing plot which unfolds in the second half of the movie ... while the ending makes you go awe. In an attempt to fool people into actually watching this film, both the title & genre are misleading. It's got nothing to do with witches, & even less to do with psychological thrills.

Sorry bummed out this week ... at all titles ... cant be on a winner all the time.

Movie Reviews

Sat, 14 May 2005 10:05:28 GMT

OMG I wont be laying claim to renting these next two atrocities ... it was all my hubby's fault. 1st up Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. From wot I understand, this film has not bin too popular with the movie viewing audience ... gee I got no idea why that would be

Grab me one of those in-flight sick bags from the seat in front, I think Im gonna if I ever have to watch Soul Plane again. I hav to admit sum bits made me snort slightly, but truthfully this one crashed & burned in my eyes. Gotta say, I wouldnt wanna try & get anything past those two ladies at the airport security gates. There should be sum jobs available at Qantas soon, mayb they could fill out an application.

So I'm left with 21 Grams as my movie for this week. This was truly realistic, depressing, & compelling. Twist of fates & twist of plot, it all gels together in the end. It was quite slow moving & I thought I was gonna get lost part way thru, but I was quickly intrigued & anxious to know how it was all gonna tie together. I felt empathy for the plight of each charcter, & was completely satisfied by the conclusion.

May 7th - Movie Reviews

Sat, 07 May 2005 13:35:47 GMT

50 First Dates reminded me of Groundhog Day. I liked this. It was light & predictable, but sumtimes u dun wanna think too much, u just wanna be entertained. Its surprising to find out the condition Drew's character is inflicted wif, actually exists. A pleasant romance flick with a twist.

Apparently a comedy, I was pretty bored by Without A Paddle. I barely managed a mild giggle at this movie. Sum mediocre acting ... a bit of slap-stik ... a few one liners ... all predictable & seen so many times before. A real disappointment.

Finally I LMAO at Meet The Fockers. Robert De Niro's character reminded me of my Dad. So righteous & intimidating ... until he meets the Focker parents. Wouldnt it be lovely to be so rich that people think your just eccentric? Glad there was at least one movie I watched this week which deserved a twas focking funny.

April 25th to May 2nd - Movie Reviews

Sat, 07 May 2005 10:46:58 GMT

The second half of my Movie Reviews "Catch-Up" from my DA journal.

MOVIE REVIEWS - May 2nd

I really needed a laugh this week so when my hubby bought home Envy from the Vid shop, I was pretty eager to watch it. I quite like Christopher Walken, and this is an unusual role for him - u like him, u hate him, then u like him again. Theres sum great one liners and tangled situations, which eventually end up in a scene which unexpectedly makes you say awwwwe. Funny stuff ... worth a watch.

So my hubby also bought home a heap of Horror movies, which Im neva too keen on, but still torture myself by watchin em. Gothika was no different. Not so much ur typical horror movie wif blood and guts everywhere, but it certainly had me scared and jumpy. I was impressed by the original story line, and how the supernatural was realistically introduced. I spent the entire movie questioning everyones motives. Twas a fab murder mystery wif a horror twist.

Another horror The Locals was suprisingly good. If you ever get to see any New Zealand horror movies, youll quickly discover they are usually quite B grade, hillarious, and full of second class horror makeup effects. In comparison to wot I normally expect, this movie was great. A fairly original plot idea, you are left in suspense til the very end. I vow to neva travel during the night again.

Four movies this time ... & u know I luv my Sci-fi ... so its no surprise that PayCheck is my fav flick this week. Wow! Wouldnt u guess it - in the future they will wipe our memories so they can steal our neat ideas? Not only that, but we will foolishly agree to this hapening, and we wont think anyone would possibly try to take advantage of that technology!! "No never!" I hear you scream .... Well, what do u see in your crystal ball?

MOVIE REVIEWS - April 25th

Ok so I'll do Sixteen Candles first. Its an old coming of age flick, which I saw as a teenager and watched again this week cause it was on TV. I always liked those 'brat pak' movies tho ... and this ones got sum pretty funny skits in it too.

CatWoman was a top flick ... I had to get Mr Puddy Cat and cuddle up wif him to watch this one. I loved it ... makes me wanna be a Cat Woman too lol ... I wasnt as convinced by the SFX tho ... not quite as realistic as say, Spiderman ... sumtimes she did things a just would not be able to do. Still, overall it was a good flick wif a good plot, twas nice to see how Cat Woman came to be born.

U gotta love Jackie Chan - he is so quick, both with his fighting skills, and his wit. So Around The World In 80 Days was just excellent! It had a bit of everything, which I suppose is to be expected when encountering so many different cultures around the world. I love playing spot the celebrity in cameo role, and this one had plenty of em. I was so tired when I started watching this flick at 2am, but there was no way I coulda possibly fallen asleep. It was both captivating and hilarious. The CG effects were really clever too. This is my choice for this week.

April 10th to 21st - Movie Reviews

Sat, 07 May 2005 10:06:56 GMT

I often review movies on DA, that I have watched during the week while procrastinating from what I really should be doing at the time. This post is a "Catch-Up" of the movies I hav reviewed thus far, with more to be added to this blog category in the future. As MSN Spaces seems to only allow a certain amount of characters in a blog post, I have had to split this "Catch-Up" post in two parts - April 10th to 21st, and April 25th to May 2nd.

MOVIE REVIEWS - April 21st

I've had Freaky Friday for a while but only just managed to get around to watching it this week. This remake is not quite as beleivable as the Jody Foster original - alittle light and predictable, but still quite funny.

I love sci-fi, and The Returner was of unexpected high quality - some of the effects are really stunning. This Japanese made film is accurately dubbed but unfortunately does not do justice to the performance ability of the actors. This givs the movie a bit of a B-Grade feel - which is always fun. The main actors are also rather hunky, which is always nice.

My favourite this week has to be The Village. Here I was expecting sum grusome horror movie, to be pleasantly surprised by an unusual Quaker-type society with sum serious social issues. I think its fabulous the way it has the ability to make you feel just as scared as the misled children about ... well ... nothing.

MOVIE REVIEWS - April 10th

So I'll start with ... Open Water - which, though the movie making skills of the production team were less than desirable, still managed to get the message across. Think I'd rather go skiing ... but then theres always those avalanches. I think I'll just stay home.

I also saw League of Extraordinary Gentlemen which is quite slick, but isnt as good as Van Helsing. However, the dude who played the Immortal is much easier on the eye than Hugh Jackman. mmmm tasty.

Ummm ... 28 Days Later ... Yeh this one rocked ... kinda like a zombie movie with drama and an actual plot. I'm a bit of a fan of post-apocalyptic movies, so this one gets the from me this week.