Model Citizen

 

The amazing moment when Vader is revealed at long last

Luke: Father! Look everyone, it's little orphan Annie!

Vader: Luke, tell your sister you were right, it's a blooming hard knock life innit!"

 

A wonderful moment.

 

 

Like a lot of people's reviews I've read on this film, I'll echo one sentiment. I did'nt know they made movies like this! It's not often you can watch a movie and feel better for having done so, but this is one of those. Facing The Giants is a "Christian Film", it has at it's central core the belief that God can change lives and events. From different reviews I've read this point seems to be hotly debated, maybe because when He does it does'nt make the news...but more of than in a minute.

 

The story follows A High School football coach, Grant Taylor, who's life is just full of those little upsets that piled together can bring someone to their knees. His car is a piece of junk, he only earns enough to tick over, not enough to go out and buy another car or commit to that kind of a loan. His house smells terrible, something has died in the floorboards somewhere! The cooker is on the blink. His job is'nt going anywhere, the team are losing games and he might be replaced and lose his job. And to top it off he has some condition that is preventing him and his wife from having children. Some mountains he has in his life, probably easier to deal with in small doses but brought together are a tsunami for him and he is literally brought to his knees where he asks God for help. Grant is then used by God as a fulcrum for a revival in the high school as he makes a stand and brings Christian standards into the football code. The team has a complete turnaround and starts winning, enabling them to finally meet the biggest team in the State, the Giants. Before going further I must point out, that though this is a Hollywood quality film with high production values, the cast are not actors. Most of them are apparently members of the church where writer/director/star Alex Kendrick goes. Does this make a big difference? from my viewing I'd say no. It took me a bit of time to get used to the accents but after that you soon found that these 'real' people are acting very 'real'. You really feel for Grant and his wife. It's not common to see men cry on film, but in the situation he is in I think most would.

 

OK, the 'religious bit', is this film based in fantasy land? Is the sort of 'revival' shown remotley possible? Well as of writing this today I can tell you I personally know of 3 revivals happening in the world right now! I'm talking of an event where God has for some reason decided to show his power. There are such miraculous things happening that when you hear of them you can't help but wonder why they're not shown on the news every night...instead of getting no coverage at all. Anyway, the 3 I know of are Todd Bentley in Florida. There's Chandra Kant in India. There are so many miracles happening in india right now that only the 'big' ones are reported to the church. When i say big I'm referring to people who have had limbs grow back or have been raised from the dead! I kid you not. Then there's also Bishop Ricardo Pereira in Cuba. Things that have been happening there include such bizzare events as peoples teeth growing back again! These events dont even include what is happening in places like the Phillipines and China where it is now reported that approximatley 30'000 people come to Christ every month!

 

So, a good film? Real enough? Insiring? Yes, yes and yes. If you want to watch something that could genuinely lift your spirits as well as maybe just show you an answer to life then watch this movie. Me, I'm looking forward to getting the first film from this group "Flywheel" and also seeing there most recent one "Fireproof" too.

 

 

  A few years old now this film, but after watching it last night with the kids it deserves a mention.

If there was ever a story that could be disasterous it's this. The synopsis is this:

Knoxville, who I dont particularly rate as an actor, especially after he was one of those responsible for trying to ruin all that was good about The Dukes Of Hazzard. Anyway, he plays Steve, a bit of an office loser who as the film starts is listening to self help motivational tapes at work. The result is he goes to his boss to ask for more responsibility...which he gets in the form of having to fire the janitor, a very sweet old man called Stavvi. Steve just can't do this so instead offers him a job cutting grass at his home complex. What happens next happens quickly, as Stavvi is trying to cut the lawn with the clapped out mower, he leans down to fix it and has 3 of his fingers cut off by the blade. At the hospital, without insurance, Steve has to pay $28'000 if Stavvi is to keep his fingers. After an attempt to borrow money from his loser uncle, a gambler, his uncle hits upon an idea to solve all their money issues...rig the Special Olympics.

 

 

  As said, if ever there was a film with the potential to be completeley politically uncorrect, this film was it. That it managed to steer well clear of any type of sentiment like that is amazing, but what you see is one of the most warm hearted, endeering, funny and thought provoking movies I've seen in a long time.

As Steve goes under cover at the Special olympics as a mentally challenged man called Geoffey he very quickly learns that the other athletes, real mentally challenged people, not only deserve his respect and honesty but eventually deserve a lot more than he has on offer.

  I think what struck me about the film after was just how much fun was being had by those who would be thought of as simple,tenting in their bedroom, having water fights, wheras the more sophisticated people I know have a good time by drinking until they vomit, clubbing to music so loud you can't hear yourself shout and then sleep with who ever's available. Hmmm, yeah, fun, right.

Back to the film. Well, if you've not seen this. Thought this was going to be just about the worst taste film possible.Think again, it's well worth the few quid it can be bought from on Amazon and leaves a lastingly good impression.

Rated 4 out of 5

 

Last 3 films.

I've not seen any movies for ages. I've been watching American TV series for months and months. Veronica Mars 1 & 2, 24 series 6, all excellent and highly recommended.
So, before I make a start on Life on Mars 1 & 2 I thought I'd try and get through some of my movies that have been piling up.

The Science Of Sleep

 

 

????One of those films that I felt a little bit bad about not loving. I think it's supposed to be brilliant, but I was struggling to keep up with the "is he awake or is this a dream". The story is very basic about 2 neighbours Stephan and Stephanie who don't sort of fall in love. It all gets a bit weird. There are some funny moments but I had one of those apocryphal moments 10 seconds before it finished when i said, "oh no, they're not going to leave it there are they!?"

I'm afraid out of 5 I'd only give this 2 at most.

Die Hard 4

Superb. A really good action flick. It's based on computer hacking, which is'nt the most exciting cinema experience, but it's very, very good. Bruce still has it, even at 60+ or however old he is. The only bits that don't quite sit right are when he reverts to the original character, talking to himself or making that laugh. When he's in Sin City mode he's perfect.
4 out of 5

Miami Vice

NO NO NO! How can you make a movie of this series with absolutely no nod to the original. Not even the music. Come on, you've got to have the music! The only similarity I came up with was the quiet voices that leave you wondering "what did he say?". A real mish-mash of a movie, even without the Miami Vice name tag.
I'd give it a 1.

Somehow this film just passed through. I remember seeing the trailer last year but did'nt really see any reviews or comments on it. This usually means this is a turkey to be well avoided, but I saw it on sale (another bad omen) and decided to buy it for my boy. On the cover it says it's won an award for best CGI movie of 07?

The start is unusual, it makes no mention of origins, of how they came to be where they are or who they are. It starts in fact with the four Turtle brothers split, Leo is in South America, where he has been for just over a year acting as an unseen protector for a small village until he is tracked down by April. She tells Leo what the other brothers are doing, and none of them are doing that great, one doing IT support, one a kids party entertainer and Raphael a masked vigilante (unknown to all).

The main story refreshingly has nothing to do with Shredder, though the Foot Clan are involved. The story is pretty involved and a bit of a 3 way fight. You have an Eternal Champion figure who's family of 4 generals were turned to stone by his seeking immortality, he has lived through the ages ammasing wealth and power hoping to rectify his mistake. At the moment of his mistake he also unleashed 13 monsters into the world. April, along with Casey has been collecting the 4 stone statues, who the Champion reanimates, but still as stone warriors. They are tasked along with the Foot Clan to locate the 13 monsters and capture them, along the way they of course meet the Turtles.

There's enough in the story to keep you interested and guessing just what is happening. It's also voiced by some excellent actors including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patrick Stewart and Lawrence Fishburne.

As for the mentioned CGI?
It is well worthy of the award. I've not been impressed with a CGI film for a while now, but the level of detail and quality in this film really took me back. Maybe it's because I'm learning CGI myself, but the quality of textures and modelling really stood out. There's no corners cut either, when the rain comes and  you see the tiny splatters on the bodies fighting it really is very well done.
As a kids movie this is maybe the best all CGI boys film I've seen, as a film in general, it's still a lot of fun and as said, a visual treat.