Devil: Has M Night had his Day?

"Going down?" the Devil logo leaves little to the imagination
Image courtesy of thepeoplesmovie.com

It's been a long time since The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. And I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that since then, M Night Shyamalan's repertoire hasn't exactly been fantastic when it comes to movies. I needn't divulge further on Signs, The Happening and his more recent fan-angering, franchise betraying piece, The Last Airbender. So with those under his belt, M Night really needed to step his game up with Devil, the first of his series of Night Chronicles. But did he manage it? Well, a clear answer isn't too easy to reach, and you should decide for yourself, but here are my thoughts on it.

First of all it must be known that this film isn't under Shyamalan's direction, the mantle has been handed to John Erick Dowdle, a name that you probably haven't heard of. He's responsible for the direction of Quarantine (The remake of [REC] - but we don't talk about that) and The Poughkeepsie Tapes (a notably unsettling video-camera style horror piece). Now I'm sure many will agree that some of the aspects going into this film aren't exactly real breadwinners. But honestly, I was surprised by this one. I didn't go into Devil assuming it would be outright poor, but at the same time I didn't think it would be half as enjoyable as I found it.

Is this the face of the Devil?
Image courtesy of starseeker.com

The story is another take on a much re-used basis, a group of seemingly unconnected people, trapped in a space, facing death if they don't escape. Wonderful. Now, this wouldn't normally bother me, but I wasn't overly keen on the idea after having been recently subjected to Blackout (another trapped-in-a-lift film). I was worried that I'd be presented with a host of flashbacks and failed escape attempts leading up to an overall Deus Ex-Machina style finish. Now don't get me wrong, you're always bound to get something like that, and with Devil, you do, but you don't get it quite so simply. Sure, you get the bog-standard elevator story at the center, but this time with the extra addition of a religious coating (sounds tasty, right?). There's a narrative running throughout the film, telling a story about how the Devil gathers people to punish them for their sins one by one, the people in this case being those in the elevator. I was worried about the religious aspect actually, I normally hate it when films play 'The God Card', but luckily Devil didn't do it to the point where it was cringeworthy (see Knowing). There is an aspect of God prospering over evil in the movie, but there wasn't too much focus on it, which I can tolerate. After all it wouldn't be right to produce a film called Devil and not have it connect to God in some way, shape or form. It's not like I wasn't expecting to deal with that.

So we have a group of people in an elevator, awaiting punishment from Satan, unbeknownst to them. He proceeds to pick them off one by one, playing them against one another as paranoia sets in and they begin to accuse each other of all sorts. All the while, Detective John Bowden tries to save them in any way he can from the security room in the same building, using a one-way radio and what he can see on a security camera, he is almost powerless to aid them from their seemingly inescapable fates. The film is pretty slow boiling to begin with and whilst some declared the plot as 'obvious from the start' on the way out of the theatre, I personally think it's enough to keep you guessing for a decent part of it, after all Shyamalan is involved... there was always bound to be a plot twist.

Accusations begin to fly in the elevator
Image courtesy of Imdb.com

Looking at the mechanics of the film, it's easy to assume that it could be quite a boring ride. But what Devil actually gives, is a genuinely uncomfortable watch, that with the use of some great camerawork will shake you up and disorientate you to the core. At some points, I began to feel just as claustrophobic as the characters stuck in the elevator would've, which was a great experience. There was also a fantastic use of darkness throughout the movie, plunging the room into shadow with nothing but the sound of screams and flesh tearing to fill it. It was arguably a cop out to do these scenes in the dark, but I think leaving something to the imagination is much better than spelling it out so obviously, plus the plot would've been given away if it happened in plain view. Oh, and- fear not, gore-lovers! There's some pretty nasty shots thrown in for you as well, broken necks and sliced jugulars anyone? I should also mention that the opening shots are great too, a birds eye view of New York City is filmed beautifully, and played upside down, again adding to the disorientating atmosphere of the movie.

The cast is composed of relatively unknown faces which I always like to see in films, as sometimes I find the big-names distracting in certain movies. The familiar faces and more memorable characters in the movie were played by Chris Messina (Away We Go, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Geoffrey Arend (500 Days of Summer) but the rest of the cast did an equally fine job too, really aiding the films overall feel. Once you put the acting talent in with the unsettling camera angles, it actually works quite well. There's hope for Dowdle's direction yet, it seems!

The Verdict

Sceptics will decry this movie before seeing it, labelling it as another Shyamalan failure but I think in this case they're wrong. Whilst this isn't a ground breaking piece of cinema, it's a nice little time-killer and is easy to sit back and enjoy. Plus it's M Night's best work in realistically, about 10 years. Although it wasn't really worth that much of a wait. A simple premise with caricature roles, a few cheap jumps, a twisting plot and some great cinematography in places, this is a paint-by-numbers thriller. It's nothing special, but if you have the hour and a half spare, it wouldn't kill you to check this one out. We look forward to the next instalment in The Night Chronicles but for now Devil has earned itself a comfortable 5/10, Shyamalan isn't quite dead yet, but he's no threat either...

Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D - Zombies Get a New Dimension

Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D Poster
Image courtesy of IGN.com

Just the other day, I took the plunge and headed out to see Resident Evil Afterlife 3D, I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for by shelling out on a ticket, and that is more or less what I got. I was somewhat surprised with the overall outcome, although with low expectations, things always seem better than what they really are. Here's my take on the latest from Paul W.S Anderson's  zombie series.

Set several years after the T-Virus outbreak, wiping out 99% of all humanity, Afterlife sees Milla Jovovich return to the screen as zombie-killing heroine Alice, as she heads for a survival colony in a place called Arcadia. Along the way she picks up a few other survivors who are also looking to reach salvation. We also see the return of Ali Larter (Resident Evil: Extinction) as Claire Redfield and Wentworth Miller (Prison Break) is introduced to the series, shockingly, playing a prisoner. They work together to reach Arcadia alongside a cast so politically correct it hurts, with the likes of a British woman, an African American, a Hispanic male and an Asian male, encountering several difficulties along the way, predominantly in the form of varying sizes of creatures.

'The Executioner'
Image courtesy of overallsite.com

As far as movie plots go, this one is poor at best. Totally unoriginal and uninspired, thoroughly predictable from the opening minutes and unfortunately the film has no sense of irony about it to redeem itself. It seems to take itself rather seriously, but doesn't particularly have the goods to the back itself up. Normally, I'd defend this kind of film, calling it 'just a bit of fun' but, this is the 4th in a series that has declined since it's first instalment (which was passable as being 'a bit of fun'). It should also be noted that this movie, and the others in the series are definitely ones for the fans of the video game. Afterlife in particular featured more references to Capcom's popular franchise than any of the other films, which as a fan of the games myself, was rather nice to see including The Executioner (left). Although it does limit the scope for audience appreciation quite considerably. As (whilst not being one to judge books by their covers) when I walked into the cinema it was easy to spot the avid videogamers from the casual cinemagoers, it was fairly obvious who was going to enjoy the movie more.

Another downside was that the film was only 97 minutes long. But the issue I have isn't with the actual length of the movie, it's more down to the fact that about 80 of those 97 minutes were made up of slow motion footage. 11 years on since The Matrix and yet we still can't escape people smashing through plate glass windows at 25% of their original speed. So, in actuality the film is probably only about 15 minutes long. Admittedly, I feel a little guilty laying into the movie so much, zombie-flicks get something of a bad press as it is anyhow, and as a big fan of the flesh-eaters, I probably shouldn't encourage such slanderous behaviour. So, I'll focus on some of the positives of the film too. Every cloud, right?

Ali Larter and Milla Jovovich get all wet. No complaints.
Image courtesy of: fanboyz.net

Firstly, there's the visual aspect to the movie. Out of all the 3D films I've seen now, this was actually one of the best looking ones I've experienced. I appreciate that Avatar is allegedly the pinnacle of 3D, and whilst being visually stunning I much preferred watching it in regular old 2D. Whereas with Afterlife, I actually enjoyed the 3D gimmick. Slow-mo overkill aside, it was actually done quite well, and didn't overdo it too much when it came to the number one 3D movie convention of 'people-on-screen-pointing-things-at-the-camera'. Plus, watching a slow-motion bullet exit through the back of someone's head in the third dimension is a nice little something for the horror fans in the audience to enjoy. There was some great set design later on in the film too, with all-white set pieces, spliced with hints of red and black, the visual element really came to life in places. Secondly, there was the soundtrack, compiled by soundtrack connoisseurs 'tomandandy', there were some great scene setting sounds, which boded quite well alongside the imagery of hordes of zombies getting annihilated.

The Verdict

In fairness this has been the best 3D film since Avatar (Which I preferred in 2D anyway), not in way of story, but purely based on it's 3D visuals, what this film lacked elsewhere it made up in looking pretty slick in areas. But aside from it's somewhat impressive visuals, the film is pretty weak. To really enjoy it you'd need to leave your brains at the door upon entering it, but if you're a fan of the games, this one has some nods to them that should keep you appeased. The fight choreography is good, and I personally think that the leading girls make much better action heroines than Angelina Jolie ever has. But unfortunately that's simply not enough to save this film from itself. You know that something is seriously wrong when even a dripping wet, three-dimensional Milla Jovovich struggles to make it watchable. Afterlife is enjoyable in places, and it looks good, but it's a predictable, basic movie with nothing particularly special where story is concerned. Eye candy at best. 4/10.

Best of Foreign: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Män Hatar Som Kvinnor)

The Swedish Poster for the movie
Image courtesy of Obsessedwithfilm.com

The late Stieg Larsson's dark crime thriller had me gripped from start to finish. The film is the first installment in The Millenium Trilogy and is the story of Michael Blomvkist (Michael Nyqvist), a journalist for 'Millenium Magazine'. Renowned for his investigative skills, he is recruited by Henrik Vagner (Sven-Bertil Taube) the ex-CEO of a major capitalist corporation to track down a woman who vanished without a trace from her hometown Hedeby more than 40 years ago, who he believes was murdered by one of his family members. What follows is a mysterious and tense investigation into a web of deceit, religion and serial murder. During this time, Blomkvist meets the intriguing Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a skilled computer hacker and private investigator (hired to spy on Bolmkvist), with a background darker than the backroom of a soho strip club. They join forces and work together to solve the classic 'whodunnit' mystery of the missing woman, putting themselves in danger and growing closer along their journey deeper into the investigation. As Blomkvist becomes obsessed and isloated because of the case, they slowly unravel a series of clues, unearthing family secrets and solving a series of brutal murders along the way.

The film is atmospheric from the off, it's opening scene alone should be enough to keep you wanting more. The score has moments of beauty, and whilst it's played over some of the occasionally stunning, sometimes unsettling and eerie imagery, it makes for a powerhouse of an experience. It's directed by Niels Arden Oplev and he has definitely made his mark with the help of his talented cast Noomi Rapace (below) is particularly impressive as the titular Lisbeth. I should probably mention that the movie is in Swedish with English subtitles though they are no issue whatsoever, but if you are one of those people that somehow can't read subs and watch a film simultaneously (shame on you), the DVD release does come with an English audio dub, so you really don't have any excuse for not watching this one. Although I sampled the audio dub version, and simply couldn't bare it.

Manhandled: Noomi Rapace as the sexually abused Lisbeth
Image courtesy of beamesonfilm.blogspot.com

I only have a few real gripes with the film, one being that some scenes feel a little rushed and abrupt, in particular the final scenes after the investigation. But the rest of the film has clearly had so much care put into it, that I can excuse the final segment after the resolution for being a tad shallow. Plus at 180 minutes long and with so much covered in that time, the film can feel quite lengthy, much longer added and it could've potentially started to outstay it's welcome, but the timing was more or less just right in the end. The other gripe being the film's title, which I will explain in due course.

One of the things that intrigues me the most about this film is it's background. It's original Swedish title is  Män Hatar Som Kvinnor which literally translates into Men Who Hate Women, a title with a lot more relevance and history than it's much more marketable English version. Larsson was witness to a gang rape when he was just fifteen years old and he openly confessed that he didn't do anything to help. He pays homage to the victim in the story, naming his empowered female protagonist Lisbeth after her. This event in his life carries much more weight than just a name though, rape is a commonplace topic in the film, alongside Nazism, journalism and moral corruption in society (all issues occurring in Sweden which Larsson felt strongly about) and I think that going into the movie knowing this makes everything seem so much more true to life. The way he deals with the abusal of women throughout the story is crushingly brutal in places, but remains within reason and doesn't draw too much away from the story with shocking imagery (this is no Irreversible, but it isn't one for the naive either). That is why Män Hatar Som Kvinnor is for me, a far superior title. And thus comes my second issue with the film. The 'dragon tattoo' as mentioned in the title is an utterly irrelevant plot point in the film, I haven't read the book admittedly, so I don't know just how relevant it is to the original story, but in this adaption it's meaning is minimal, shown briefly in two scenes, with nothing more said on it, when I'm assuming it has more meaning than that. I also feel that this makes Lisbeth the focal point to the film, despite her coming across as more of a supporting role next to Mikael. This says one word to me... 'marketing', I mean, who'd want to see a movie with a foreign title? sigh.

Harriet, the missing woman, but who killed her?
Image courtesy of Guardian.co.uk

The Verdict

Title issues aside, the film is a treat to watch. With interesting characters and history and some very dark imagery, Män Hatar Som Kvinnor will have you gripped from the word go, and has a very strong impact, thus earning itself a solid 8/10. It has a fantastic mystery plot which will keep you guessing until it's climatic finish, but take heed, with brutal murders and sexual violence, this isn't your average episode of Murder She Wrote. Stieg Larsson's story is believable and with Oplev's directing it really comes to life, so if you're bored of Britain and have had enough of Hollywood, then I recommend you check out this Swedish thriller as soon as possible.

Spotlight - Best of British: Shane Meadows

The best thing to come out of the Midlands since... Noddy Holder?
Image courtesy of: filmmovement.com

One of our personal favourite directors over here at MGNC is none other than the infamously gritty British director, everyone's favourite skinhead since Phil and Grant Mitchell, yes, you've guessed it, it's Prime Minister of Grit Britain Shane Meadows.

The man is responsible for bringing us some of the most humane, fantastically written films about the lives of the working class, whilst simultaneously showcasing some of the crème de la crème of British acting talent (Joseph Gilgun deserves better than Emmerdale). Arguably the East Midlands equivalent of Martin Scorsese, his films are known for intimately showing us the breakdowns and the psychology of people and they are all undoubtedly brilliant.

We're taking this opportunity to enlighten you about this directorial great, because we have an ever-so-slight inkling that Meadows Fever is about to take over the country once more. As you should all be aware, the TV series This Is England '86 (follow up to his most well known masterpiece This Is England, obviously) has aired tonight on Channel 4. And in conjunction with this release, Film4 are starting The Shane Meadows Season from September the 8th showcasing some of his finest materials along with some never before seen short films about Shane's world.

Enjoy! We will.

The Warriors: The Real Gangs of New York

Here's one from the vault for you, a solidly iconic cult classic, The Warriors. Coming straight out of 1979, the film is set in New York City at a time where waves of somewhat fruitfully dressed gangs rule the streets, vying for the herald of being the best on the streets.

The Warriors Poster
Image courtesy of unionroom.com

The film follows the story of The Warriors, the charismatic, leather vest wearing, street fighters and their night on the run from every other gang in the city. They've been framed for the murder of Cyrus, leader of the most powerful gang in New York (The Gramercy Riffs). Whilst presenting an idea of a truce between gangs, making one community of fighters to run the city, above the law Cyrus is shot dead by 'The Rogues' leader, Luther, played by David Patrick Kelly the undisputed master of the ad-lib ("Come out to play-ay" anyone?). After the shooting, chaos undoubtedly ensues. The Warriors become the focus of the ultimate trophy hunt and for the duration of the movie, we see their fight for survival on the cold-blooded gangland streets, contending with all manner of foes - skinheads, baseball players, the police, rollerskaters and more. Between scenes there are the occasional wonderful little commentary segments issued by a nameless, typically 'jive-talking' pirate radio broadcaster, giving all the gangsters out there the low down on the streets, these parts give a great excuse to slip some fantastic music into the movie, Nowhere To Run by Arnold McCuller being one of the real highlights, and perfectly fitting for the gang on the run of course.

"Fuckin' A!" Ajax, played by James Remar
Image courtesy of quotableactionhero.blogspot.com

The cast are incredibly fitting in their roles delivering each and every one-liner with an air of perfection. My particular favourite being James Remar as Ajax (left), with such crackers as "I'll shove that bat up your ass and turn you into a Popsicle" and "I'm sick of runnin' from these wimps!" he fits the tough-guy persona fantastically and he can still be seen today as Harry Morgan in hit series Dexter. But James aside, the film marked a pinnacle in most of their careers. With occasional TV appearances and the odd film here and there, The Warriors marked the only real defining moment in many of their careers. Whilst being a great shame, there's something nice about knowing that they peaked at such a high point, and for a lot of them they will always be remembered as their colourful alter egos. 

Iconic Imagery: The Baseball Furies
Image courtesy of thebbps.com

The setting and soundtrack are fantastic; grey, decrepit, run down streets, subways laden with graffiti and gang symbols, these images coupled with some absolutely divine synth music make a wonderful partnership, strengthening the films artistic merit tenfold. The era and setting is clear as day but the film has aged fantastically considering it's not long turned 41 years since its release. It's one of the most iconic films to come out of the late 70's, and is most definitely worth a watch. If you were looking at picking up a copy of Kaya Scodelario's new movie Shank this is much more worth your time and money if it's gangs that you want to see in action. It's only 92 minutes so it's a short watch, but more or less every second is worthwhile, there's some great shots which is a treat for the eyes and the costume design is phenomenal, make sure you look out for The Hi-Hats and hallowe'en costume favourites The Baseball Furies (right). 

The Verdict

Don't let it's age put you off, this film is like a fine wine. I was in awe after the first time I saw it, and that feeling has never expired. From the stark opening shot of the Coney Island amusement park lit up at night, right up to the final scenes with 'In The City' by Joe Walsh echoing above, The Warriors is an action packed joyride from start to finish. It's one for the boys, full of wise cracks, broken backs and a great soundtrack, but the female film fans shouldn't disregard it either. A cracking movie, and well worth a look 7/10.

How It Should Have Ended: I Am Legend

Spoiler Alert: The following article contains detailed plot description which can and will spoil your viewing experience if you haven't already seen the film before. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville alongside his faithful companion Sam
Image courtesy of slashfilm.com

Frances Lawrence's adaptation of the novel of the same name is a good film, I'm sure any one who sees it will happily agree, but it is of course not without it's flaws. It's the third film conversion of the book, alongside The Last Man on Earth (1964) and Omega Man (1971) which are both worth a watch too if the idea of a post-apocalyptic world is your bag.

The film follows Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville, a man immune to a virus that has wiped out civilisation and it follows his lonely battle to survive and find a cure, it looks at how he deals with the trials and tribulations that are associated with being the apparent last man on earth. Smith's performance is powerful and emotional, the story is tense and exciting and the premise is quite interesting too. I won't go into too much detail, but after some very intense chase scenes and the saddening loss of his companion German Shepherd 'Sam', amongst some very artistic and beautiful cinematography, the film reaches a climax where Doctor Robert is confronted with the infected people he has been eluding all this time (also known as 'Darkseekers') and has to make some snap last minute decisions to determine the fate of the other surivivors he has met, and in turn that of the world.

This is all well and good, and the scene itself is fantastic. It climaxes with Smith's character extracting an effective serum from a woman that was used for experimenting on as the Alpha Male Darkseeker (below) is smashing the plexiglass window separating them from ending their lasting hunt for him, he hands the vial of blood to Anna and Ethan, his fellow survivors and buys them the time they need to escape by pulling the pin on a grenade, taking his own life and those of the Darkseekers in the building with him. Perfect. An example of legendary martyrdom in favour of humanity. Silence, fade to white. This is where the credits should have rolled and where I always hit the stop button on my DVD. But the credits don't come yet.

The Alpha Male Darkseeker
Image courtesy of Screenviewer.blogspot.com

What follows is an unnecessary additional scene, showing Anna and Ethan arriving at a very suburban survival colony, laden with American flags and soldiers. I don't mean to seem nationalist, but I have a major dislike for these 'God Bless America' type endings that come with certain films. I didn't feel nearly half as much empathy for the survival of Anna and Ethan as I did for Dr. Robert, and I feel that the film should have ended with his death, closing his legend. The image of someone continuing what he started straight afterwards felt unnecessary and was actually a bit of an anti-climax after his heroic death, and being force-fed this idea of survival was uncomfortable. I would have preferred it to be left to the imagination whether he managed to save the world or not, I really don't think the film needed a drastically short extra addition and a 'happily ever after' scene. 28 Days Later got right what I Am Legend did not, and unfortunately the alternate ending doesn't live up to much either, injecting the wild and feral Darkseekers with emotions and humanity was the same mistake that ruined Land of the Dead for me too. Call me a depressive but sometimes I don't want to see happily ever after, life isn't always that easy so films shouldn't have to be to compensate!

Do you have any suggestions or thoughts on the ending of this movie? Don't hesitate to comment with your opinions. And be sure to look out for our next 'How It Should Have Ended' coming soon!

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: How To Make the Perfect Comic Book Movie

Entering this film I'll admit, that whilst being thoroughly excited I was also a little worried... several questions were buzzing around my mind, ones like; How loyal an adaption will this be? Can Michael Cera break the chains of bumbling, awkward nice-guy? Will the characters look and act like they should? Will this popcorn last the entire movie? In due course, they were all answered, and the results were more or less all positive, minus the popcorn.

Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Scott and Ramona
Image Courtesy of Screened.com

I had a few initial shakes before the movie started, people seemed to find the Orange advert starring wild-eyed 'funny' man Jack Black far too hilarious... were they going to truly appreciate the subtleties and cult jokes in the movie they were about to see? But in time I discovered that this is one of the great aspects of the movie, there's enough in there to suffice your average movie goer, your retro-loving geek and your hardcore comic book fan. There was laughter across the room throughout, at both the all-rounders and the in-jokes, it was great to know I wasn't the only one who went into the movie already a fan of its comic book history, a huge relief after the fanservice overkill that was Watchmen.

Aesthetically, the film was perfect. Locations were spot on to their original designs, the colours and special effects were vivid and fantastic, costumes were superb. Edgar Wright and the team on board have created an excellent homage to Brian Lee O'Malley's comic, putting to shame some of the big budget Marvel movies *cough* The Fantastic Four *cough*. Sure at times the ordering of events wasn't exact, some of the lines were plucked from their frames and applied to other scenes and there were a few little segments that I wanted to see in there but didn't, but on the whole the conversion was brilliant, it wasn't ever going to be a perfect clone but what we've been given is a solid accompaniment and homage.

Alison Pill as Kim Pine
Original image courtesy of rioyanez.com

For me personally, the best quality about Scott Pilgrim was without a doubt the characters. The cast played out the roles exactly how I imagined them after my numerous readings of the books, Michael Cera was born to be Scott Pilgrim, he had a subtle swagger and great presence, his bumbling side only slipping through every so often. And there were some notably great performances from Kieran Culkin (Wallace Wells), Anna Kendrick (Stacey Pilgrim) and Jason Shwartzman (Gideon Graves). Undoubtedly though, the girls on screen stole the limelight. Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ramona Flowers) has stuck another fantastic title to her ever growing résumé and Brie Larson as sexy, sultry, superbitch rockstar Envy Adams was just fantastic but my personal favourite of all the girls in Scott's life was Alison Pill (right) as the bitter-ex and official new found love of my life (sorry Sarah), Kim Pine. Though she had little screen time, she was fantastic in the role, crabby, frowning and perfect at cueing in the Sex Bob-omb songs. I look forward to seeing some more of her and the rest of the brilliant cast in any deleted scenes later in the ever inevitable DVD and BluRay release.

The Verdict

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is without a doubt one of my favourite films of the year and I simply cannot do it justice with a simple review, if you haven't already seen it then get out there and do so, and if you get a chance then give the comics a go too. With geeks, games, girls, great music and seminal visuals, Scott Pilgrim is a cultural treat for the 'indie' generation 8/10.

Piranha 3D: Sun, Sea, Sex & Spoofs

Where have we seen that poster before?
Image courtesy of filmshaft.com

The year is 1978, Grease is the word that you heard, Superman saved the world, and just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water... everyone's favourite great white shark swam back onto screens in Jaws 2. But there was another fish-film swimming around at the time, a comedy parody by the name of Piranha. Capitalising on the success of the ocean-peril movie, Joe Dante (dir. Gremlins, Small Soldiers) directed the comedy horror about a school of murderous fish, unleashed downriver and wreaking havoc on all in their path. So far so spoof, right? Well 32 years have since passed, and in that time Piranha has seen a sequel, a mid 90's remake and now, thanks to Alexandre Aja (dir. The Hills Have Eyes, Haute Tension) the B-movie franchise has been granted a place in the modern day gimmick leagues, with a 3D revamp of the series, coincidentally titled Piranha 3D.

Right, let's get down to the nitty gritty. The problem that I have found people to have with films like Piranha 3D, is that the trailers do not explicitly imply that they're comedy horrors. Sure, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that Piranha 3D isn't going to be on par with [REC] but unfortunately people do make these mistakes. I've heard The Bride of Chucky get slated for not being scary before (I mean... come on people). The film itself surprised me, I wasn't expecting any miracles but it did exceed my pre-conceptions. The 3D gimmick was pretty much unnecessary (as is the same with most films that have '3D' in the title), but there were a few nice moments, the rippling water effects were aesthetically pleasing at times, but there wasn't much more than that... unless three dimensional mammary glands are your thing? They may well be for all I know. There's no 2D alternative for this one, but it doesn't feel like there's enough in there really showcasing the gimmick to not deliver a 2D version. Plus there were moments where it was a tad confusing as to what was going on, namely during some of the shots of the piranhas feasting on their victims.

Ving Rhames in a very Braindead moment
Image courtesy of dreadcentral.com

3D gimmick aside though, the film could've done a lot worse when it came to casting. Offically the fish-film veteran Richard Dreyfuss (Jaws, Close Encounters) makes an appearance, alongside familiar face Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction, Dawn of the Dead) and the horror movie poster boy himself, Eli Roth. And on top of this there's the un-aged Christopher 'Emmet Brown' Lloyd who plays more or less the same character from his Back To The Future days, but he still does it with that same finesse that he did back then. There's also a very twitchy Jerry O'Connell (Sliders, Stand By Me) in there. Also stepping up to the plate, there's the pride of Britain, the beacon of intelligence and the pinnacle of acting talent, Miss Kelly Brook (she has boobs, not that the film would dare exploit that... ahem). Though I wouldn't bother making yourself too acquainted with the cast, there's not too much in the way of character development before a large percentage of them get slaughtered by hungry fish in a selection of hilarious and in some cases relatively brutal ways.

The Verdict

Overall, the film is great for a laugh and although I was too busy in convulsions of laughter to notice them, there were a few jumpy moments taking their toll on people around me (if you must attempt to be scared by this film). So if you like cheap laughs, overly excessive gore, breasts and killer fish then this is definitely one for you. Though with the 3D movie price-tag looming, you can be excused for missing out on this one. 5/10.

Free Films? Yes please.

I'm sure there are more than enough of you intrepid cinema fans out there who are always looking for a new film to watch, right? I know I'm absolutely correct, 'cause I've been doing exactly the same for a very long time now. So I figured that I'd share with you some great sources of cinema without having to risk getting in trouble and destroying the film industry by downloading movies, can't be bad now can it?

YouTube Logo
Courtesy of firepowerministry.org

1) YouTube Movies (http://www.youtube.com/movies)

When someone mentions YouTube it is understandable that you'd be unable to shake the thought of bizarre rants from internet junkies, videos of monkeys defecating on one another, the most ridiculous community of commenters and all sorts of other user-content. But one thing that people often neglect is the Movies section of the ever popular video site. Presenting us with several categories to choose from (from Bollywood to Horror) there is a wide array of free-to-watch films on offer after only a few clicks! Now selection of films is predominantly weak*, but with enough looking there are some real gems on offer such as Night of The Living Dead and Animal Farm. Plus there are some great documentaries too, a particular favourite of mine being Bob Dylan - 1966 World Tour: The Home Movies. 


2) National Newspapers

One of the Elvis movies on offer.
Original image courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

One for the Brits, though I'm sure there are plenty of similar offers overseas. It's always worth checking the national newspapers for any decent film giveaways. Most of them only require taking a token into somewhere like Tesco or WHSmith and some will just give you the movie flat out free in the supplementary magazine or when you pay for the paper. If you're a Daily Mail reader they're in their second week of free Elvis movies, which I've been making sure I get a copy of despite my hatred for the paper. Though there's plenty of other papers giving similar offers at different times, through this method I have picked up copies of the Buena Vista Social Club, Brassed Off, Take The Money and Run and Highlander to name but a few of the wide variety of films you can pick up if you look around. So check out the national papers for anything that might tickle your fancy!

ShowFilmFirst
Image courtesy of cultureseekers.org

3) ShowFilmFirst (http://www.showfilmfirst.com/)

Websites like SeeFilmFirst are a fantastic way to get hold of tickets to advanced screenings of movies before everybody else. They offer their members chances to get absolutely free tickets to films at cinemas up and down the country, and as far as I know there are similar services offered to the US. They operate on a members-only basis, and after a quick sign up they will e-mail you screening codes for prereleases that are being screened at cinemas in your local area. You then head onto the website, enter your code and book your tickets. Codes can also be claimed from magazines and other websites too, and with past screenings of Alice In Wonderland and recent Mark Kermode DVD pick Legion then there's a chance you'll have some great opportunities to see some really great films before they hit the mainstream. The site also offer competitions, a review section, a VIP membership option and a preview guide. All in all it's a great, user-friendly system with some real worthwhile opportunities and is well worth a look at for you avid cinema goers!


So there you have it, my three top choices for ways to get hold of cinema new and old, when you can't afford a movie ticket or a new DVD. I'd recommend checking out all of the above at some point in the very near future, and it will barely cost you anything, which in these times of recessions, credit crunches and everything else, a film might be just what you need to lighten your spirits, enjoy!



*by weak, I mean absolutely bloody terrible.

One to Watch: This Is England '86

In 2007 we as a nation were treated to a fantastic piece of British cinema in the form of This Is England. An intimate look at 'Skinhead' culture in 1983, by none other than seminal Midland's director Shane Meadows. The film is a rites of passage story of Shaun (allegedly loosely based on Meadows himself), played by Thomas Turgoose (Somer's Town, Eden Lake). It was renowned for it's very close, realistic and intimate look at violence, racism, culture and the passionate, emotional lives of the people in Britain during the early 80's. The movie was a popular hit for the Brit-film scene and garnered a great reputation throughout the country, leaving lots of us eager for more. Well, now we won't have to wait much longer...

The Gang return 3 years on, just in time for the World Cup in Mexico '86
Image courtesy of shanemeadows.co.uk

3 years later comes 'This Is England '86'. It's a four part follow-up TV series to accompany the film, directed partially by Shane Meadows and partially by Tom Harper (MisFits) allowing us to once more look into the lives of Woody, Shaun, Lol (plus a few new additions) and all of the other wonderfully colourful and well written characters. There have also been promises made that the series will not be a carbon copy of the film, but it will in fact be quite different, with it's subject matter changing and moving on with the times- three years have passed, people have changed and I'm sure it will be absolutely riveting to watch. Hopefully with that should come promising new storylines and character backgrounds and hopefully plenty of laughs, tears and everything in between. (Plus the soundtrack should be pretty damn good too - Ed).

Though I for one can't wait to see the fantastic Stephen Graham (Snatch, The Damned United) reprising his role as National Front fanatic 'Combo', it'll be interesting to see how he has changed since the film, and I'm fairly confident he'll be responsible for causing his fair share of drama, which I'm incredibly excited about. So, UK viewers - look out for 'This Is England 86' coming sometime in September to Channel 4, it's definitely my one to watch for the coming month.

And if you're wanting more to keep you occupied until the series' release, then head on over to show's official webpage and check out trailers, information, behind-the-scenes footage and more! Just click the link to be taken straight there.

All's Quiet on the Western Front.

Just a quick apology for the complete lack of posts over the past week or so. We at MGNC have been busy with other commitments, but hopefully we'll be back on track in the coming days!

Apologies for any readers' inconvenience, we won't do it again, we're really sorry.
Don't hate us, we still love you.

Nathan & Alex

Best of British: The Waiting Room

The Waiting Room (2007)
Image courtesty of Amazon.co.uk

For the first of our reviews on British made movies, my girlfriend Sarah and I sat down and chose to watch 'one for the couples', and we both found love in 'The Waiting Room', the cinematic debut by television director Roger Goldby about the chance meeting of two people and the impact it has on their lives. Call me soft, but I thought the film was absolutely wonderful, at heart I'm a romantic, so a tale of love at first sight done well will do more than enough to keep my attention. The film follows the lives of Stephen and Anna and gives us an intimate look at what goes on behind closed doors. Anna is a single mother having having an affair with her next door neighbour's husband, he's infatuated with her but she is ultimately lonely in life. Stephen lives with his girlfriend and works at a care home for the elderly, everything seems sweet between them until his girlfriend suggests the idea of having children and with his uncertainty about the idea comes the cracks in their relationship. Then one otherwise normal day, Stephen and Anna are brought together in the waiting room of a train station and instantly make a powerful connection, from this moment onwards we are shown how this meeting effects their lives and the people involved with them. Still interested? I definitely was.

At approximately 101 minutes long, the film was an absolute treat to watch and didn't outstay it's welcome, although I couldn't shake the vibe it felt a little more like I was watching a TV series as opposed to film, but this wasn't a big problem and it shouldn't be for anyone else watching it either. Ralf Little (The Royle Family, 24 Hour Party People) plays the role of Stephen, the troubled  but loveable nice-guy, something which he does very well. There are some very touching scenes involving him and his care-patients, some of which, thanks to some beautifully 'real' writing, tugged at my heartstrings and admittedly I did shed a tear on a few occasions. For me though, the show was stolen by Anne-Marie Duff (Shameless, Nowhere Boy) in the role of Anna. She, in my opinion is an incredibly underrated British actress who I am yet to tire of watching. She's beautiful on screen, and always gives an incredibly natural and emotional performance. Her and Ralf form an excellent pairing, really aiding the film's sense of reality and even moreso, giving the viewer hope that the fabled 'love at first sight' really can happen in a world where life doesn't seem to deal you the best of hands all of the time.

Ralf Little and Anne-Marie Duff cross paths in 'The Waiting Room'
Image courtesy of Guardian.co.uk

The film has an incredibly warm feel to it, set under the bright skies and cool temperatures of the English Autumn, the colors on show are vivid and very comforting. When combined with stylish shots and a truly beautiful overlaying score written by Edmund Butt, the film's atmosphere is completely enveloping. With the right balance between subtle humour, heartwarming dialogue and thoroughly touching moments it's a must see for anybody who isn't afraid of love and it's many complexities. Plus it is proof that you don't have to turn to big budget hollywood hits filled with impossible gestures for romance, this is just as real if not moreso than some of the big RomCom names out there. Us Brits do romance very well, and this movie is all you'd need to convince anyone of that.

The Verdict

I'm giving 'The Waiting Room' a 6/10. It was a thoroughly pleasurable experience to watch, well written dialogue and fantastic acting all round, although more interaction between Little and Duff would've been much appreciated and that 'TV Show' vibe did niggle at me. The soundtrack is perfect for the film, and the setting is just right too, creating a really authentic 'feel-good' atmosphere. Definitely a must-see for any of you old romantics out there. So if you're interested in this delightful story of love, loss and everything in between then take my advice; Take a night off, buy a bottle of wine and a copy of 'The Waiting Room', then settle down on the sofa with your other half and simply enjoy this superb film, it has a much more general appeal to both genders unlike some of the key players in romance, so men needn't be afraid of watching this either. It's a perfect couple's retreat for the evening.

The Last Action Heroes? I think not.

'The Expendables' is, for many people out there, the balls-to-the-wall action flick that the world has been waiting for. The unholy union of some of cinema's hardest henchmen, heroes and notorious movie bad guys, doing what they know how to do. From the very first moment I heard news of this film's production, I've been pining to see it - and honestly, I think it was worth the wait.

Directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, the film follows a group of bizarrely named mercenaries ('Hale Caesar' ...I kid you not.) doing the CIA's undercover dirty work for substantial sums of money. After the opening scenes they get sent over to a place called Vilena to overthrow the malicious powers that be. Save the country, get the girls, settle the scores, get paid. So far so Segal, right? Well yeah, you'd be absolutely correct in saying that- but I'm in no way insinuating that its a bad thing. Surely by now, anybody with half an ounce of sense is not going to expect written miracles from this film or any other in it's genre, and they'd be right saying that too, and again,  I don't think that's a bad thing. So fine, this is nothing new or ground breaking and it's more than likely not going to stand up to the iconic films of years gone by, but one thing's for certain, the film is bloody good fun.

Mickey Rourke tattoos Sylvester Stallone
Image courtesy of releasehour.com

What this movie lacks in intricate plotlines, script and CGI (the severed limbs let the film down), it makes up for in sheer manliness. Motorbikes, tattoo parlours, auto-shops, guns, explosions, knives and Charisma Carpenter. Everything about The Expendables suggests screams of "Man Movie!" cried from the tops of the highest mountains, whilst punching the sky with almighty force. Even the soundtrack is predominantly made up of steroid injected instrumental pieces, and with the occasional glimmer of classic rock of course (there's a nice and scenic flight segment with 'Mississippi Queen' playing over the top). This amidst the angered expressions, gun fire and explosions makes for a great addition to the high energy atmosphere of the film, psyching you up for the next glut of carnage around the corner.

Charisma 'Eye opening Google search' Carpenter
Image courtesy of bangmarrykill.com

The film's main selling point isn't the soundtrack though, it is of course the no less than stellar cast. Featuring some of the biggest names in action movies both new and old, we're treated to a truly muscular collaboration of actors from all walks of cinema. For a taste of nostalgia we are given Sylvester Stallone (who appears to be melting with age), Dolph Lundgren (a man who hasn't developed any further English language skills with age), Jet Li (a man who simply doesn't age) and Mickey Rourke (...ahem.). There are also brief cameos from action connoisseurs Bruce Willis and the Guv'nor himself, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger - who with the help of Sly totally obliterates the fourth wall. And as for the new age of real life action men, we're treated to a knife-wielding show from the Cockney thug himself Jason Statham. And in the blue corner... representing the sportsmen-turned-actors front, UFC legend Randy 'The Natural' Couture features alongside the WWE's very own 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin (I grew up on wrestling, so I really loved seeing him on the big screen despite his slightly stilted acting ability). The Dark Knight's mobster Eric Roberts also appears playing out the a role that isn't exactly alien to him, as a suited, money-driven, fiendish, power-behind-the-drama, he's right at home. And if that isn't enough, then fittingly named Charisma Carpenter brings the sex appeal, with help from little known Mexican actress, Giselle Itié. Overall the casting choice for this film is nigh on perfect for the subject matter, whilst there were a few pivotal figures missing (Van Damme anyone?) the line up we're given is no less than phenomenal at showing us how they do what they do best- dealing out huge amounts of collateral damage, racking up the bodycount and flexing their arms. Luckily there's no scenes where they all stand together, I don't think any size of wide-angle shot could fit in the combined mass of those biceps.

My personal favourite moment aside from the Willis and Arnie scene though, came at the very end of the film. The opening chords of Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back in Town' blare out around the room as the credits begin to roll. Quite possibly one of the most fitting uses of a song for a movie that I've ever seen. The thing is though, I don't think it's a question of whether these boys are back, in fact, I don't think they ever went away.

The Verdict

I'd give the film a 6/10 for its fantastic cast and fun feel. I love a film that doesn't take itself too seriously, and this is one of them, with talks of weapons and one liners what dialogue we are given is enjoyable although at times I found it a tad difficult to decipher some of the things being said by Sly and Lundgren. But I didn't pay to see this for the dialogue, I paid for action and got my money's worth. If you don't manage to catch this at the cinema then a copy of the DVD during a lad's night in would definitely go down a treat, as this isn't really one for the girls. Overall it's a fun, adrenalin filled ride, but unfortunately it won't cater to everyone's tastes. But for you anarchy junkies out there, it's better than The A-Team and it should be just enough to tide you over until Machete...

Que Cera, Cera

Michael Cera is a name that everybody knows, popular Canadian actor, and frontman of the new-age band of awkward-actors (alongside Jesse Eisenberg on guitar, Kat Dennings on bass, Kristen Stewart on drums and their bearded tour manager Zach 'The one from the Hangover' Galifianikis )*.

 'vs. The World' star, Michael Cera
Image Courtesy of movies.yahoo.com

Since first coming into his own as George Michael Bluth in the underrated American comedy Arrested Development in 2003, Cera has since come leaps and bounds into the hearts of his fans. With the axing of the show in 2006 things could've arguably been looking pretty bleak for an actor like Cera, but a year on and after appearing as socially awkward teen Evan in Superbad, his movie stream is yet to stop running. Soon after Superbad he graced our screens yet again in Juno where he played socially awkward teen Paulie Bleeker. He then followed this performance up, with Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist where he played socially awkward teen, Nick. I'm sure you can see a pattern emerging here without me having to talk about Year One (...Thank God).

It's safe to say that over the years Cera has mastered the art of playing mild-mannered characters with an air of sanity and humanity about them. Now don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of Michael's, I think that using his stuttery-voice-cracking shtick he makes a great comedy actor (although for some it can get tiresome) and on occasion he can be equally as good at some of the more serious scenes he is expected to perform in, take Juno for example. But what I'm here to consider today is how well he will play out his lead role of Scott Pilgrim in the cinematic adaptation of cult comic book series Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

The internet has been abuzz lately with discussions about whether he's cut out for the role of Scott, a 23 year old Canadian slacker and bass player in the band Sex Bob-Omb (and the video game references don't stop there). He matches the nationality, definitely looks the part and is only a year off of the written age, so what's the problem? Realistically, there shouldn't be one. Speaking as a fan of the graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O'Malley, I can see there are definite similarities between the two. Scott Pilgrim has the same air of real-world sentiment about him that Cera's acting style does, they're both based on the idea of an almost normal guy trying constantly to grapple and cope in a world surrounded by sarcasm and bawdiness. So, surely this is the perfect role for Canada's boy-wonder? You may say yes, but for the sceptics, this is where the cracks start to show.

Edgar Wright and Michael Cera
Image courtesy of Wired.com

Cera is rather relentlessly the nice-guy, winning the hearts of his female (and male) fans far and wide, with his 'cute' characteristics. Scott Pilgrim on the other hand, is more than just that. Aside from the similarities between Cera and himself, Scott is a prolific fighter, something of a ladies man and a wannabe rock-star. He has an arrogant machismo about him alongside all his other traits, something that judging by the some of the footage I've seen so far, Cera doesn't quite seem to be pulling off. I'm not one to pass early judgement though and I believe everyone deserves a fair trial, so I'll wait and see the movie for myself before preaching anything set in stone. Truthfully, I'm not sceptical about it though, I have faith in Michael and even more so in director and Brit-comedy legend Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz). If between them they can work out a middle ground between Cera's portrayal of Youth in Revolt's bad-boy François Dillinger and his usual bumbling Everyman persona, then we're most definitely in for a treat and quite possibly the perfect silver screen rendition of a comic book character. I'm a huge fan of the series, so this performance could really have an effect on how I (and many others) perceive the Canadian actor we all know and love, so let's hope he pulls it off.

Unfortunately I have to wait until the 25th for the UK release, damn.

*Disclaimer: This is not a real band, just a metaphor for the purpose of comparison, shame.

Review with a Vampire (Slayer)

Sarah Michelle Gellar as 'Buffy'
Image courtesy of Vampires.com

Vampires. Most definitely one of the world's most iconic fiendish horror stars, without argument. Since 'Nosferatu' first graced our screens back in 1922, through the leather clad bikers in 87's 'The Lost Boys' and right up to 2008's Swedish romanticised frightfest 'Let The Right One In', our eyes have never been neglected as far as images of blood-sucking, neck-biting beasts are concerned. They're a staple character in cult media, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

But with time, things change. And in this day and age of the highly sex-driven adult vampires of 'True Blood' and the diamond-skinned, emotional and brooding palefaces of Stephanie 'disregard vampiric lore' Meyer's 'Twilight' setting teenage girl's hearts aflutter, it's not hard for the nu-age vampire fan to overlook one of the late 90's best TV gems. Surely you've guessed it by now, it is of course none other than one of Joss Whedon's finest televisual outputs, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'.


It's hard to believe that it's been almost 14 years since Sarah Michelle Gellar and her Scooby Doo style group of teenage friends graced our screens in the 7 season run of the creature feature that many of us know and love. But even today, the program has aged fantastically and although it only garners a 6 am slot on 'SyFy' for us UK viewers, it's still a real corker of a series. One which I'd solidly recommend to anyone, vampire fan or not. I'm yet to find anyone who doesn't get suckered in to the love/hate relationship between Buffy and spin-off star Angel, or anyone who doesn't fall in love with James Marsters ever charismatic performance in the role of Spike.

'The Gentlemen'
Image courtesy of bbc.co.uk

But for me, the main reason I've fallen in love with the 'Buffyverse' (as the fans call it), is of course the vast array of freaks and villains that our intrepid slayer and her gang of monster hunters have to contend with from the truly terrifying to the downright cheesy, Whedon has created a compendium of brilliant baddies up for the slaying. But it doesn't just stop at vampires, Buffy encounters a whole host of adversaries over her time appointed as Slayer, including demons, spirits and the undead, some of which stand up quite well as legitimately scary co-stars, such as the suited-booted-and-shrivelled 'Gentlemen' (left) from fan-favourite episode 'Hush' (Season 4, Episode 10). Another notable favourite villain of mine is the demonic Peter Stringfellow, 'Der Kindestod' (below) who spends his time haunting hospitals and killing children like all good demons should do. He can be found in the episode 'Killed by Death' (Season 2, Episode 18). And as for some of the more cheesy creatures, look no further than the Creature from the Black Lagoon inspired 'Gill Monsters' from 'Go Fish' (Season 2, Episode 20), not the greatest of episodes - but look out for an appearance from a young Wentworth Miller before breaking out of prison was his bag. They're just a few examples of many of course, so other than a few wild cards here and there, the standard of monster is really quite high for any of you monster maniacs out there.

Peter Stringfellow and Der Kindestod - Spot the difference.

Even though at times it follows a very paint-by-numbers format, with each episode featuring a beast of the week, coupled with an overall story arc, the show seems to just flow. With each episode running at around 40 to 45 minutes a pop, it never outstays it's welcome, and with an alt-rock soundtrack that's straight out of the 90's there's very little not to love for viewers both new and old. So if you're tired of Twilight's deadpan teens and tragic warping of what vampires really are, then make sure you check out Buffy as soon as possible. I speak for both myself and Alex when I say that it's a TV favourite here at MGNC, and I'm sure that given half a chance it will be one of yours too. And if that's not enough to sell you, they even did a musical episode too, y'know.

This Week On Eastenders

Steve Macfadden is an utterly faultless thespian, let's just get this fact out of the way first. Since 1990, Phil Mitchell has waddled around our screens on BBC1 with his gravelly (no, not so much gravelly - it's more akin to a fully operational quarry in his throat) voice causing ruckuses throughout Walford in a whirlwind of alcohol abuse and womanising.

Steve Macfadden as Phil 'Crack-whore' Mitchell (copyright BBC)

It'd be no surprise for a casual viewer to turn on Eastenders at the moment and finding Steve doing what he does best (I hope to God it's not method acting; for then I fear for the Macfadden man dem); which is basically acting drunk in the wake of the loss of his children. But, alas, the scriptwriters clearly wanted to challenge his acting prowess and have written in a crack addiction for Phil to cope with (surely fathering Ben would have that effect on most people? - Ed) - making Phil Mitchell and his accomplice Rainie Cross the Doherty & Winehouse of Albert Square.

After merely three days on crack cocaine, the Mitchellite's flat already looks like a leftover set from Danny Boyle's Trainspotting (what is it about drawn brown curtains and creating an instant nicotine-stained addict mis-en-scene?) and viewers have already forgotten about Lucas-gate. But what else has been happening in Walford-the-place-to-be? Well, there's Janine and Ryan getting engaged and a sleazy mysterioso trying to buy the Vic - not the most action-packed week on the Square, but I'm sure next week will entertain with an episode set entirely within Phil's David Lynch-esque subconcious during a bad trip - Inception meets Requiem for a Dream with a cockney vibe.

Bat-Fans!

We here at MacGuffin and Cheese are huge Batman fans. We love DC's caped crusader and colourful villains just as much as the next guy, from comic book to TV to cinema, there's little about the Bat that we don't like, but for now let's focus on the cinema.

Now we've always been fans of the Batman movies that have now since passed (despite the fact they aren't necessarily critically acclaimed). And now Christopher Nolan has brought to us a take on Batman that people are much more accepting of since the days of Tim Burton. We're very thankful for that, but one thing that Nolan's Batman and more specifically Ledger's Joker have spawned is something of a dismal community of homages and Halloween costumes. Until now, that is.

Our luck has finally changed! After every man and his dog's YouTube videos of Joker impressions, we've finally been given something worth watching. 'Tell Gordon Hello' is a fan-made video created by Morgan Rodner and Casey Schendel of Start Picture Productions. It's just over 10 minutes long and features a fantastic portrayal of the Joker, in talks with a hostage. It's an incredibly well produced piece of work, with spot-on camera work, a very will written script and top drawer make-up. A must-see piece for amateur movie makers and Batman fans alike, go check it out now!

You can find the video on the official website for the film, alongside details on the project and the filmmakers either by clicking the following link: http://tellgordonhello.com/

You are cordially invited to...

(Image Courtesy of Oscars.org)

The 'MacAdamey' Awards 2010

Over the coming months we will be bringing to you our reviews of some of the biggest hitters in cinema, showcasing our picks from the winners of 'Best Picture' at the Oscars! We will be looking at the winners from a range of ceremonies since the presitgious first show in 1929 all the way up to the 82nd awards show of 2010, and with some careful planning this should lead us nicely in to the 83rd Academy Awards of 2011. So make sure you keep tuning back in to see our look at some of the films heralded as the best of the best, including familiar titles such as 'No Country For Old Men', 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'The Apartment', and some of the first ever winners which you may be yet to see, such as 'Wings' and 'Cavalcade'. So, keep your eyes peeled for our reviews and criticisms, and in some cases we'll even look at whether the winners really did deserve their awards...

Coming Soon!

Greetings Travellers...

Welcome to MacGuffin & Cheese.

We're an up and coming blog dedicated to bringing you reviews, news and so much more about films, television and books both new and old. Our mission is to bring to you interesting, entertaining and informative posts detailing our recommendations and what's hot or not in the media we love to consume so much.

We'll be presenting a wide array of articles and posts to you on a regular basis, including:

> Genre-themed days, weeks and months, where we will showcase some of the biggest hitters and unsung heroes of the all the areas available to us, look out for 'Action April' and our 'Christmas Countdown' and many more in the near future!

> Director devotions, looking closely at our favourite directors and their iconic works, including Kubrick, Tarantino, Del Toro to name but a few.

> Posthumous Praise, our monthly segment, devoted to some of the greatest actors and actresses of all time, who are sadly no longer with us, including Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando and Heath Ledger.

> Indie Sundays, our weekly look at some of the best in independent cinema that may slip under your radar, because the mainstream isn't everything after all!

> Literature Lives, giving you in-depth looks at some of the biggest names in written masterpieces, alongside creatively written reviews on their works and well-researched but consumable information on some of the books that we believe everyone should read.

> ...And much much more over the coming months, so watch this space!

You can navigate the site using the tabs at the top of the page, and if you have any queries then don't hesitate to get in touch, all our details can be found on the 'Contact Us' area of the site.

Thanks for reading, take a look around and make sure you come back soon!