Inkheart

Cast
Brendan Fraser
Andy Serkis
Eliza Bennett
Paul Bettany
Helen Mirren
Sienna Guillory
Jim Broadbent
Rafi Gavron
Jennifer Connelly
Screenwriter
David Lindsay-Abaire
Director
Iain Softley
Running Time
106 mins

Mo (Fraser) can summon characters from books by reading aloud. He is nagged by Dustfinger (Bettany), a fictional character who wants to go home, and hunted by Capricorn (Serkis), who wants to exploit Mo and his similarly-talented daughter Meggie (Bennett) to evil ends. [Empire]

It was alright.

Tom Brooks’ list of the top ten films of 2008

Ten
Cadillac Records. A tribute to America’s R&B legends, with Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters and Beyonce Knowles as Etta James, just two names in a powerful ensemble cast. Heartfelt, genuine and enjoyable.

Nine
Wall-E. Another excellent Pixar animation telling the story of an endearing robot. A romantic fantasy that makes some intelligent points about our consumerist culture.

Eight
Man On Wire. James Marsh’s documentary on Philip Petit and his high wire World Trade Center act. Well structured, with skilful reconstructions.

Seven
The Visitor. Written and directed by Tom McCarthy, this is a story of human relationships that deals with, among other things, immigration policy and the transcendent power of music.

Six
Wendy and Lucy. A portrait of American poverty with a knock-out performance from Michelle Williams as a young drifter strongly bonded to her dog.

Five
Waltz With Bashir. A highly original animation in which Tel Aviv filmmaker Ari Folman attempts to find out what happened to him as a young soldier during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

Four
Revolutionary Road. A young couple struggle to lead authentic lives as their marriage falls apart in suffocating 1950’s suburban America. Well acted by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, and well directed by Winslet’s husband Sam Mendes.

Three
The Wrestler. Mickey Rourke in what’s being called his comeback film, directed by Darren Aronofsky. The gritty story of a man trying to bring his life together who won’t give up on having one final smackdown.

Two
Milk. Sean Penn gives a masterful performance leading a strong ensemble to tell the story of the charismatic American gay rights activist Harvey Milk. Directed by Gus Van Sant.

One
Slumdog Millionaire. Danny Boyle’s wondrous celebration of underdog triumph and the enduring power of love in a vibrant Mumbai.

[Talking Movies]

Twilight

Cast
Kristen Stewart
Robert Pattinson
Ashley Greene
Peter Facinelli
Elizabeth Reaser
Jackson Rathbone
Nikki Reed
Kellan Lutz
Taylor Lautner
Screenwriters
Melissa Rosenberg
Mark Lord
Director
Catherine Hardwicke
Running Time
122 minutes

Bella Swan has always been a little bit different, never caring about fitting in with the trendy girls at her Phoenix high school. When her mother re-marries and sends Bella to live with her father in the rainy little town of Forks, Washington, she doesn't expect much of anything to change. Then she meets the mysterious and dazzlingly beautiful Edward Cullen, a boy unlike any she's ever met. Edward is a vampire, but he doesn't have fangs and his family is unique in that they choose not to drink human blood. Intelligent and witty, Edward sees straight into Bella's soul. Soon, they are swept up in a passionate, thrilling and unorthodox romance. To Edward, Bella is what he has waited 90 years for - a soul mate. But the closer they get, the more Edward must struggle to resist the primal pull of her scent, which could send him into an uncontrollable frenzy. But what will Edward & Bella do when a clan of new vampires comes to town and threaten to disrupt their way of life? (Summit Entertainment)

It's not really like a horror or action movie but more an indie drama. The setting is magnificent, tree covered mountains half shrouded in fog. It takes its time slowly building the story and introducing a lot of supporting human characters although having done that not a lot is done with them and after a certain point they vanish but I guess you needed them just to create that sense of place. The three predatory Vampires sub-plot seems contrived, sort of bolted on, it would have been more interesting to have the murders committed by one of the Vampire family. It was much better than I thought it would be, I was somewhat reluctant to see it although say Empire gives it 4 stars. In a way I justified it that adding to its revenue would if however slight increase the chances of a Buffy movie. The climatic fight was done really well, the special effects especially the destruction to the wooden floor were impressive. The wire work where the characters were jumping was a little obvious generally. Moving on a wire you travel in straight lines where as jumping you would follow a curved trajectory so that stood out. The speeded up running kind of worked, maybe 90% worked and 10% was Benny Hill but they always seemed to cut away before it got too bad. I haven't read the books so it's difficult to say really that another film could be that different if that's all there is to it, I don't see where it could go from here.

Transporter 3

Cast
Jason Statham
Natalya Rudakova
Robert Knepper
François Berléand
Justin Rodgers Hall
Eriq Ebouaney
Screenwriters
Luc Besson
Robert Mark Kamen
Director
Olivier Megaton
Running Time
104 minutes

Frank Martin has been pressured into transporting Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of Leonid Vasilev, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency for the Ukraine, from Marseilles through Stuttgart and Budapest until he ends up in Odessa on the Black Sea. Along the way, with the help of Inspector Tarconi, Frank has to contend with the people who strong armed him to take the job, agents sent by Vasilev to intercept him, and the general non-cooperation of his passenger. Despite Valentina’s cynical disposition and his resistance to get involved, Frank and Valentina fall for each other, while escaping from one life-threatening situation after another. (Lionsgate)

It has better CGI effects than the second which were often obvious and cartoony. Here they were much less so, you believed what was happening. The fight choreography wasn't as good as the first two films, it wasn't terrible just not as clever. There's a major problem with the female lead, you couldn't tell what she was saying a lot of the time. She's playing a character for whom english is not their first language and that's probably true of the actress as well. Large parts of the film are just her and Frank Martin in the car, so if that doesn't work, if it's not engaging in some way like funny, romantic or dramatic then it's just dull. Unfortunately she was just one dimensional and difficult to understand. The plot was fine but it wasn't really revealed to the audience and Frank until quite a long way in, reading the summary at metacritic told me more than I learnt from watching the film, although you can kind of guess the gist, for some reason they hold back the details and make it much more frustratingly vague than it needs to be.

March Comics

Newsarama has the new Marvel and DC solicitations for March.

This is the stuff I'm thinking about in addition to my regular pull list.


SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #1
Written by Andrew Kreisberg
Art by Pete Woods
Cover by Gary Frank
Variant cover by Ladrönn
Following the events of the “New Krypton” crossover, the Man of Steel has had to embrace his past to ensure humanity’s future. And while a devastating armed conflict with Earth may have been averted, keeping the peace will be Superman’s greatest challenge yet.
Hot new writer Andrew Kreisberg (BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL) and fan-favorite artist Pete Woods (ACTION COMICS, SUPERMAN: UP, UP AND AWAY!) lead Superman through a world of interstellar treachery and deadly machinations where the lives of two races hang in the balance!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ladrönn). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale March 4 • 1 of 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Not sure what's happening with the New Krypton story but I guess to find out I'm buying this.


THE REAL POWER OF THE DC UNIVERSE Poster
Art by Adam Hughes
Originally designed as a promotional piece for DC Comics at San Diego Comic-Con, this oversized poster featuring the Women of the DC Universe is now available for retail sale! Measuring an impressive 39”wide x
24”high,the poster shows Catwoman, Oracle,Zatanna,Black Canary,Power Girl, Wonder Woman,Supergirl,Batwoman, Vixen,Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn (collectively regarded as the REAL power of the DC Universe) in their bridal best, as depicted by acclaimed artist Adam Hughes.
Advance-solicited; on sale August 26, 2009 Poster * $8.99 US

It's not painted like other Hughes posters which gives me pause but I'm considering it.


DEADPOOL #8
Written by DANIEL WAY
Penciled by PACO MEDINA
Cover by JASON PEARSON
King Variant by TBA
“MAGNUM OPUS,” PART 1 OF 4
SPECIAL CROSSOVER WITH THUNDERBOLTS! Deadpool unleashes his most insane plan yet: a full-on assault against Norman Osborn! As Deadpool storms his way to the top of Avengers Tower, Osborn is forced to pull out all the stops to save his own skin — and that means deploying the brand new Thunderbolts! Plug your ears, kids — this is gonna be loud!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99

I've heard good stuff about this character recently and over time so I'll jump on.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

Cast
Keanu Reeves
Jennifer Connelly
Jaden Smith
Jon Hamm
John Cleese
Kathy Bates
Brandon T. Jackson
James Hong
Screenwriter
David Scarpa
Director
Scott Derrickson
Running Time
103m 29s

The Day the Earth Stood Still is 20th Century Fox’s contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic. Klaatu, an alien who arrives on our planet, triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor’s appearance, a woman and her young stepson get caught up in his mission – and come to understand the ramifications of Klaatu calling himself a “friend to the Earth.” (20th Century Fox)

It was kind of dopey and not very good. That I liked it at all was mostly Jennifer Connelly's presence, if you don't share my affection for her or any actor in the movie consider it 1 star. It was the first film I'd seen in a long time, I can't remember the last one, where I had not been able to read reviews beforehand because I suppose they didn't allow advance press screenings which should have told me something. At least it wasn't more than two hours long. The makers didn't really try to make it good, which is the really weird thing about it. It was not made intelligently, there's so much wrong with it it's difficult to really cover everything. [Spoilers] Klaatu came to deliver the bad news at the UN but he just didn't do it. With that amount of power and supposed intelligence why not, he said they were unable to stop him but he just gave up and only really told a few people about why he was there. The lie detector scene, the operator says he's going to ask him a series of questions to calibrate the machine. He asks one question to which he gets a yes/no response but the next two he doesn't and just carries on without the machine being properly calibrated. Then when he attacks the operator no one seems to be monitoring the room. When the power to all machines goes and the earth stands still, surely planes and helicopters would fall from the skies which would be the most spectacular thing to show but they don't and then they have supertankers stopped dead but they're ships on the water they would drift, it would take miles for them to stop moving. There's a stupidity there, no subtlety, no intelligence, no cleverness behind it. The kid thought they were dangerous and wanted the aliens to be killed but soon after he saw one destroy two helicopters he suddenly changed his mind, that's crazy! The US military name Gort which I can only think was to explain why he has a name in any planned toys. The product placement which undoubtedly is in lots of things but it jarred more here simply because there was nothing else to distract me. I don't remember Klaatu killing anyone in the first film I think his species were essentially pacifists who had placed the robots in ultimate charge of everything so it was really odd seeing him kill which undermines the whole point of us being the bad guys. John Cleese's character explains people change when faced with a crisis which is a pretty obvious point but apparently hadn't occurred to "superbeing" Klaatu. You see the robot when he emerges to defend Klaatu who is then taken away and it seems ages before you see it again when it's being attacked. There's no discussion of what to do or examining the robot it's just attacked by drone aircraft, led by some guy in army fatigues some place which seems to have no relation to anything else. There's no discussion of who shot Klaatu and no one seems too worried about firing the first shot in a intergalactic war. They could have just done a sequel to the original which ended with Klaatu giving a warning to the human race so it could have been "The Day The Earth Stood Still 2: Times Up" or remade it more closely and if it had been successful then done a sequel which would have been essentially a big fight. The original is far far better probably a 4 or 5 star sci-fi classic.

Changeling

Cast
Angelina Jolie
John Malkovich
Jeffrey Donovan
Colm Feore
Jason Butler Harner
Amy Ryan
Michael Kelly
Gattlin Griffith
Michelle Martin
Jan Devereaux
Erica Grant
Antonia Bennett
Kerri Randles
Frank Wood
Morgan Eastwood
Madison Hodges
Devon Conti
J. P. Bumstead
Screenwriter
J. Michael Straczynski
Director
Clint Eastwood
Running Time
141m 35s

Los Angeles, 1928: On a Saturday morning in a working-class suburb, Christine said goodbye to her son, Walter, and left for work. When she came home, she discovered he had vanished. A fruitless search ensues, and months later, a boy claiming to be the nine-year-old is returned. Dazed by the swirl of cops, reporters and her conflicted emotions, Christine allows him to stay overnight. But in her heart, she knows he is not Walter. As she pushes authorities to keep looking, she learns that in Prohibition-era L.A., women don't challenge the system and live to tell their story. Slandered as delusional and unfit, Christine finds an ally in activist Reverend Briegleb, who helps her fight the city to look for her missing boy. Based on the actual incident that rocked California's legal system, Changeling tells the shocking tale of a mother's quest to find her son, and those who won't stop until they silence her. (Universal Pictures)

Absolute masterpiece.

Easy Virtue

Cast
Ben Barnes
Jessica Biel
Kristin Scott-Thomas
Colin Firth
Screenwriter
Stephan Elliott
Director
Stephan Elliott
Running Time
97 mins

A young Englishman who falls foul of his parents when he impetuously marries a glamorous American divorcee in the South of France. His mother takes an instant dislike to her new daughter-in-law, and a battle of wits ensues.(Variety)

Meticulously crafted from beginning to end, I enjoyed it but it lacked something and I'm not sure what.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Cast
Zac Efron
Vanessa Hudgens
Ashley Tisdale
Lucas Grabeel
Corbin Bleu
Monique Coleman
Screenwriter
Peter Barsocchini
Director
Kenny Ortega
Running Time
112 minutes

Disney's High School Musical phenomenon leaps onto the big screen in High School Musical 3: Senior Year, in which America's favorite high school students hit senior year. Amidst a basketball championship, prom and a spring musical featuring all of the Wildcats, Troy and Gabriella vow to make every moment last as their lifelong college dreams put the future of their relationship in question. A crew of sophomore Wildcats joins in the fun as the film's incredible new music and exciting dance numbers take maximum advantage of the big screen. (Walt Disney Pictures)

I enjoyed it a lot. I haven't seen the first two, it kind of makes me want to and probably you would get more from it having seen them. There's a strong beginning and end but it coasts a little in between. There are some casting problems, Hudgens is eclipsed by Efron who is a much stronger performer and Tisdale doesn't have the looks to make the male students reaction to her credible.

February Comics

Newsarama has the new Marvel and DC solicitations for February.

This is the stuff I'm thinking about in addition to my regular pull list.


DAREDEVIL #116
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Art by DAVID AJA
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Nearly two years ago, the Kingpin left America to try to build a new life and find a new purpose for himself. Is that new life now coming to the attention of old enemies? And how does this connect to Matt Murdock and his troubles in New York with Lady Bullseye? Find out in this prelude to the new epic – RETURN OF THE KING. Reteaming four-time award-winning best writer Ed Brubaker with groundbreaking artist David Aja for the first time since their work on the cult sensation IMMORTAL IRON FIST!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

Maybe this but can Aja cope with a monthly schedule, he didn't do so well on Iron Fist.

Quantum of Solace

Cast
Daniel Craig
Judi Dench
Olga Kurylenko
Jeffrey Wright
Giancarlo Giannini
Gemma Arterton
Mathieu Amalric
Screenwriters
Paul Haggis
Neal Purvis
Robert Wade
Director
Marc Forster
Running Time
105 minutes

Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal. Pursuing his determination to uncover the truth, Bond and M interrogate Mr White who reveals the organization which blackmailed Vesper is far more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined. Forensic intelligence links Dominic Greene, a ruthless business man, to the mysterious organization. On a mission that leads him to Austria, Italy and South America, Bond discovers that Greene, conspiring to take total control of one of the world’s most important natural resources, is forging a deal with the exiled General Medrano. In a minefield of treachery, murder and deceit, Bond allies with old friends in a battle to uncover the truth. As he gets closer to finding the man responsible for the betrayal of Vesper, 007 must keep one step ahead of the CIA, the terrorists and even M, to unravel Greene’s sinister plan and stop his organization. (Sony Pictures)

It was quite good. The action scenes are done in an impressionistic style, I often couldn't tell what was happening and which one of the figures was Bond. It does set up the Quantum organisation nicely for further films.

Ghost Town

Cast
Ricky Gervais
Téa Leoni
Greg Kinnear
Screenwriters
David Koepp
John Kamps
Director
David Koepp
Running Time
102 minutes


Bertram Pincus is a man whose skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts. Even worse, they all want something from him, particutarly Frank Herlihy who pesters him into breaking up the impending marriage of his widow Gwen. That puts Pincus squarely in the middle of a triangle with spirited results. (Paramount Pictures/Dreamworks Pictures)

It's good and pretty funny but it falters when the romance element comes in fully. Possibly a hesitancy on the part of the makers or my not buying Gervais' character having those feelings. Also all the ghost stuff is a tired cliche by this point.

TV worth watching

True Blood


Thanks to a Japanese scientist's invention of synthetic blood, vampires have progressed from legendary monsters to fellow citizens overnight. And while humans have been safely removed from the menu, many remain apprehensive about these creatures "coming out of the coffin." Religious leaders and government officials around the world have chosen their sides, but in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, the jury is still out.

Local waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), however, knows how it feels to be an outcast. "Cursed" with the ability to listen in on people's thoughts, she's also open-minded about the integration of vampires — particularly when it comes to Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a handsome 173-year-old living up the road. But as Sookie is drawn into a series of mysteries surrounding Bill's arrival in Bon Temps, that tolerance will be put to the test.

A sexy, scary new drama from 'Six Feet Under' creator Alan Ball, 'True Blood' delves into the meticulously-crafted world of novelist Charlaine Harris. Described by the Emmy®-winning Ball as "popcorn for smart people" and featuring a colorful cast of local misfits, 'True Blood' promises an intense ride. (HBO)


This is the show I most look forward to each week. Only 7 episodes in, of the first seasons twelve but I'm loving it. I haven't read the books but I really hope it goes somewhere. I saw all of Deadwood recently and as great as it was there was a kind of aimlessness to it.


Dexter


DEXTER stars Michael C. Hall (two-time Emmy® and Golden Globe®-nominee) as a complicated and conflicted blood-spatter expert for the Miami police department who moonlights as a serial killer. The show was nominated this year for five Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. The series also received a prestigious 2008 Peabody Award and was twice named one of AFI’s top ten television programs. DEXTER is SHOWTIME’s highest rated drama and was the network’s highest rated show in 2007. (Showtime)


Still a terrific show, the amount of storylines the supporting characters get seem to fluctuate from season to season which is a pity and the title sequence as brilliant as it is can be seen too often, I wish they had come up with a different one for each season.


The Sarah Jane Adventures


Saving the world … with a little help from her friends

"I saw amazing things out there in space. But there is strangeness to be found wherever you turn. Life on Earth can be an adventure too … you just need to know where to look!" — Sarah Jane Smith

The Sarah Jane Adventures features Sarah Jane Smith, a companion of the Third and Fouth incarnations of Doctor Who from the Doctor's original series. Elisabeth Sladen reprises her role and is back in action, discovering alien plots to take over the world, or simply helping lost extraterrestrials get home. (Sci-Fi)


Very enjoyable kids sci-fi show. Spin-off of Doctor Who from which they recycle alien costumes. I maybe like this series more.

Burn After Reading

Cast
Brad Pitt
George Clooney
Frances McDormand
John Malkovich
Tilda Swinton
Screenwriters
Joel Coen
Ethan Coen
Directors
Ethan Coen
Joel Coen
Running Time
95m 43s

An ousted CIA official's memoir accidentally falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees intent on exploiting their find. (Focus Features)

A few laughs especially in the final third and a general zany tone. It was fine but not really a success. The message that the brothers were trying to send is revealed by the choice of credit music.

January Comics

Newsarama has the new Marvel and DC solicitations for January.

This is the stuff I'm thinking about in addition to my regular pull list.


BLACK LIGHTNING: YEAR ONE #1-2
Written by Jen Van Meter
Art and cover by Cully Hamner
Jefferson Pierce returns to his old stomping grounds – the infamous Suicide Slum of Metropolis – in order to bring some hope to the residents of his downtrodden former neighborhood. He’ll quickly learn, though, that a lawless place sometimes requires a lawless vigilante to drag it into the light. Acclaimed writer Jen Van Meter (CINNAMON, OUTSIDERS) and kinetic artist Cully Hamner (BLUE BEETLE, RED) combine forces to retell the electrifying origin of DC’s most honorable hero, the bold and brave Justice Leaguer known as Black Lightning!
Issue #1 on sale January 7; issue #2 on sale January 21 • 1 and 2 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

I seem to be gravitating more to DC of late, the JSA and supporting JLA characters in particular interest me.


THE SPIRIT SPECIAL #1
Written by Will Eisner
Art and cover by Will Eisner
With Frank Miller’s highly anticipated movie adaptation of The Spirit coming in December, DC Comics presents THE SPIRIT SPECIAL, the perfect introduction to Will Eisner’s greatest creation! This low-priced special includes four classic stories: 1947’s “Sign of the Octopus,” 1949’s “Black Alley,” and “Sand Saref” and “Bring in Sand Saref,” both from 1950.
On sale January 7 • 32 pgs, FC, $2.99 US

A good opportunity to check out the original.

How To Lose Friends & Alienate People

Cast
Simon Pegg
Kirsten Dunst
Jeff Bridges
Gillian Anderson
Megan Fox
Danny Huston
Screenwriter
Peter Straughan
Director
Robert B. Weide
Running Time
110 minutes

In this hilariously funny fish-out-of-water tale, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People tracks the outrageous escapades of Sidney Young, a smalltime, bumbling, British celebrity journalist who is hired by an upscale magazine in New York City. In spectacular fashion Sidney enters high society and burns bridges with bosses, peers and superstars. The film is based on Toby Young's memoir of the same name. (MGM)

It was just about OK, I did consider giving it 3 stars but I think a lot that I liked about it was the cast rather than the film itself.

Death Race

Cast
Jason Statham
Ian McShane
Natalie Martinez
Jacob Vargas
Max Ryan
Tyrese Gibson
Joan Allen
Screenwriter
Paul W.S. Anderson
Director
Paul W.S. Anderson
Running Time
104m 41s

Terminal Island: The very near future. The world’s hunger for extreme sports and reality competitions has grown into reality TV bloodlust. Now, the most extreme racing competition has emerged and its contestants are murderous prisoners. Tricked-out cars, caged thugs and smoking-hot navigators combine to create a juggernaut series with bigger rating than the Super Bowl. The rules of the Death Race are simple: win five events, and you’re set free. Lose and you’re road kill splashed across the internet. (Universal Pictures)

I enjoyed it and had a fun time. A few negative things, it wasn't always clear what was happening in the races, it's less bloody than it should be and there were some face slappingly awful music choices.

Jar City

Cast
Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson
Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir
Björn Hlynur Haraldsson
Ólafía Hrönn Jónsdóttir
Atli Rafn Sigurðsson
Screenwriter
Baltasar Kormakur
Director
Baltasar Kormakur
Running Time
95 minutes

While a desperate, young father tries to find out what led to the death of his five-year-old girl, Inspector Erlendur investigates the murder of an elderly loner in a run-down basement flat. The inspector and his crew don't have much to go by in the investigation, but a photograph of a young girl's grave gives them a lead. They discover that many years ago, the victim was accused, though not convicted, of horrible crimes. Did the old man's past come back to haunt him? As Erlendur reopens this very cold case, he follows a trail of unusual forensic evidence, uncovering secrets that are much larger than the murder of one old man--with clues knit into the genetic bloodline of an entire country. (Blueeyes Productions)

The investigation was interesting and the lead cop was engaging and charismatic. It was different to see something set in Iceland. There were scary bits, funny bits and exciting bits. Overall I really enjoyed it the only problem I have is the motives of the killer which were convoluted and really unlikely.

The Duchess

Cast
Keira Knightley
Ralph Fiennes
Dominic Cooper
Hayley Atwell
Screenwriters
Jeffrey Hatcher
Anders Thomas Jensen
Saul Dibb
Director
Saul Dibb
Running Time
110 minutes

Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer, was the original “It Girl.” Like her direct ancestor Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink and outwit most of the aristocratic men who surrounded her. She helped usher in sweeping changes to England as a leader of the forward-thinking Whig Party. But even as her power and popularity grew, she was haunted by the fact that the only man in England she seemingly could not seduce was her very own husband, the Duke. And when she tried to find her own way to be true to her heart and loyal to her duty, the resulting controversies and convoluted liaisons would leave all of London talking. (Paramount Vantage)

It was very well done but I wasn't as moved by it as I guess the makers intended because although she suffered it was a genteel suffering. The ordinary folk had hard lives too living in servitude without the trappings of luxury she enjoyed, which tempered my sympathy for her.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Cast
David Thewlis
Vera Farmiga
Rupert Friend
Richard Johnson
Sheila Hancock
Jim Norton
Asa Butterfield
Jack Scanlon
Screenwriter
Mark Herman
Director
Mark Herman
Running Time
94 minutes

When his father (Thewlis) is made commandant of a concentration camp, eight year-old Bruno (Butterfield) finds himself listless and alone. Then, after an exploration, he meets a strange boy who seems to be wearing pyjamas, sat behind a wire fence. A meeting that will have terrible repercussions...

I thought it was good. Having the Germans speak english with english accents seemed odd.

December Comics

Newsarama has the new Marvel and DC solicitations for December.

This is the stuff I'm thinking about in addition to my regular pull list.

THOR: GOD-SIZED #1
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE, DAN BRERETON & MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
His name was Skurge, and men and god alike knew him as Executioner...and the legend of his life and death reverberate across the walls of Heaven itself. In Asgard, though...no one can quite remember WHAT happened to him. How did he live? How did he die? And why does everyone in Asgard remember it differently? There's trickery at hand so vile even Loki joins Thor in trying to unravel it. Some comics are giant-sized. Some are king-sized. Only THIS comic can be called GOD-SIZED! By Matt Fraction (THOR: AGES OF THUNDER) and a roster of all-star artists including Doug Braithwaite (SECRET INVASION: THOR), Dan Brereton (IMMORTAL IRON FIST ANNUAL) and Marko Djurdjevic (THOR #7-8)!
64 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

For the Dan Brereton art.


INCOGNITO #1
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Art & Cover by SEAN PHILLIPS
From the creators of Criminal and Sleeper comes the most insane and evil super-villain comic you’ve ever read!
What if you were an ex-super villain hiding out in Witness Protection... but all you could think about were the days when the rules didn’t apply to you? Could you stand the toil of an average life after years of leaving destruction in your wake? And what if you couldn’t stand it? What would you do then?
INCOGNITO – a twisted mash-up of noir and super-heroics – by best-selling creators Ed Brubaker (The Death of Captain America) and Sean Phillips(Marvel Zombies) with Val Staples on colors.
And continuing Criminal’s single issue tradition, each issue of Incognito has more pages of story content, as well as articles on pulp and noir and behind the scenes looks!
32 PGS./Mature Content/No Ads ...$3.50

Given how good Criminal is how could I not get this.

ROCKNROLLA

Cast
Gerard Butler
Tom Wilkinson
Idris Elba
Mark Strong
Thandie Newton
Jeremy Piven
Ludacris
Tom Hardy
Karel Roden
Toby Kebbell
Gemma Arterton
Screenwriter
Guy Ritchie
Director
Guy Ritchie
Running Time
114 minutes

After a botched land deal, One Two (Butler) and Mumbles (Elba) steal the money they need to pay back fixer Lenny Cole (Wilkinson), with the help of accountant Stella (Newton). But their plans are complicated by a Russian oligarch and his prized painting...

Really good, suprisingly so.

The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor

Cast
Brendan Fraser
Jet Li
Michelle Yeoh
Maria Bello
John Hannah
Luke Ford
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang
Albert Kwan
Isabella Leong
Screenwriters
Miles Millar
Alfred Gough
Director
Rob Cohen
Running Time
111m 44s

Explorer Rick O'Connell is back to combat the resurrected Han Emperor in an epic that races from the catacombs of ancient China high into the frigid Himalayas. Rick is joined in this all-new adventure by son Alex, wife Evelyn and her brother, Jonathan. And this time, the O'Connells must stop a mummy awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse who threatens to plunge the world into his merciless, unending service. (Universal Pictures)

It was almost alright but it would have been better if Rachel Weisz had still been there. I personally have a problem with Maria Bello, although I don't really have a good reason. It was weird to have her replaced especially by someone I have a problem with. Near the beginning a group of people enter a tomb some white and some chinese now the tomb is booby trapped but only the chinese people die and later a drop of blood from someone pure of heart is needed and it's taken from a white person, now I realise probably the first films had this sort of thing going on and a thousand others besides and maybe it has no greater meaning than thoughtlessness on the part of the makers but I mention it because although the film was action packed, it was pretty uninvolving and my mind wandered and pondered the meaning of such stuff during those scenes. I saw the first two again on TV recently and it's the range of characters not least Rachel Weisz' which really was part of the charm of those. Losing one of them and having someone, in a way, non-descript replace them hurt the whole film. Overall it wasn't particularly good or bad in any way.

Get Smart

Cast
Steve Carell
Alan Arkin
Anne Hathaway
Terence Stamp
Ken Davitian
Dwayne Johnson
Screenwriters
Tom J. Astle
Matt Ember
Director
Peter Segal
Running Time
110 minutes

When the headquarters of secret U.S. spy agency CONTROL is attacked and the identities of its agents compromised, the Chief has no choice but to promote his ever-eager analyst Maxwell Smart, who has always dreamt of working in the field alongside his idol, stalwart superstar Agent 23. Smart is partnered instead with the only other agent whose identity has not been compromised: the lovely-but-lethal veteran Agent 99. As Smart and 99 get closer to unraveling KAOS' master plan--and each other--they discover that key KAOS operative Siegfried and his sidekick, Shtarker, are scheming to cash in with their network of terror. With no field experience and little time, Smart--armed with nothing but a few spy-tech gadgets and his unbridled enthusiasm--must defeat KAOS if he is to save the day. (Warner Bros. Studios)

Almost entirely unfunny. A total mess. Genuine stinker.