Solaris (5)

I had heard that the remake of this film was worse than the original. If that is so, then I'm glad that I watched this original from 1972 because even that was not so good. I give it a 5 (I've seen it once, maybe I'll enjoy it more the next time).


After a scientists mysteriously kills himself, Kris is sent to the space station Solaris to find out what is going on. The station is a mess, and the other two scientists are behaving strangely. The ocean planet below is some sort of ocean intelligence that can change thoughts into reality, and it materialises Kris's wife who has been dead for a decade. She is confused about her identity - philosophical discussions about life, and what is means to be human ensue. A fever creates vivid fantasies which become mixed with alternate reality. Kris resigns to return to Earth... almost.


The film is very slow, with long shots and wide angles reminiscent of 2001 A Space Odyssey. There is a five minute segment of driving along Japanese highways (I read the signs) that might sound painful to watch, but it fits this film. Even the segments drained of colour are ok. The story descends into confusion of love and death, and contact with understandable alien intelligence, but that also fits this film. I don't really care about the philosophical questions, but it got me thinking. And it's a depressing film of death and life, but I'll remember it for a long time because of it's unusualness. This film does not give obvious answers, or any answers at all, there are no spectacular special effects or monsters, so don't expect your eyes to be entertained, it will tickle your brain instead.

By the way, the dubbing is very good for this Russian film, unlike in Daywatch. However, there were a few passages in the film when the dubbing stopped, and subtitles had be used - maybe these sections were restored.

Some Like It Hot (7)

Some Like It Hot has got to be one of the most well known movies, but I had never seen it before. This 1959 classic was a charmingly fun 7 (I enjoy watching it and wouldn't mind seeing it again).
Two musicians witness a gang-land killing after the Mozarella's Funeral Parlour is busted - it's an illegal bar in dry Chicago. The musicians escape by disguising themselves as woman and join a woman's musical group who are leaving cold snowy Chicago and going to sunny Florida. Bring on all the expected jokes and sticky situations like the "girls" party in the train. Joe "Josephine" falls for Sugar (Marilyn Monroe) and pretends to a be millionaire with his own yacht to win her. Meanwhile, Jerry "Daphne" must fend off the amorous advances of real millionaire. Just when things are are suitable confused and chaotic, the mob arrives - a quick get away with hearts intact, both physical and metaphorical, is required.

This film was pure slapstick comedy, with a light hearted romancing between Marilyn Monroe and the more serious musician Joe (Tony Curtis) which was funny as well as being oh-so-very-very-slightly touching. The other musician Jerry (Jack Lemmon) was played over the top to great effect and gave it all that extra manic urgency and wild energy. These two stumbling guys as girls was a laugh. And the cliched gangsters in the film were perfect - the spats, the toothpick, the tossing of the coin - to show that there was some menace, without being a menace at all. Finally, the obligatory Marilyn Monroe shot.

M (8)

Once you get past the ancient 1931 scratchy static poor quality and get into the German, this film begins to really shine. The story starts slow but builds up to suspenseful and moral tale of crime and justice. It would make for fantastic episode in any of today's great crime programs (bring back Prime Suspect!). This is an 8 (I was drawn in losing sense of time). Get over the quality, get into the era and get into this film.

In this film-noir a murder is snatching children off the city streets - his silhouette against the reward poster talking to girl starts the horror of another mother. The police clamp down on the city, searching illegal bars and disrupting the criminal underground who vow to hunt for the murder too. Eventually the murder is trapped in an office block by the criminals, who break in and snatch him away. The police capture one of the gang and through integration that could have come from any modern crime program today, they find where he has been taken. Meanwhile, the gang and the public are holding a mock court to decide the murder's fate. When doubt begin to creep in that perhaps he was not responsible, it raises the moral questions of mob justice, and who really should determine guilt, and the punishment.

Everything about the story would not be out of place in a film or program today - the police investigation with thorougher record checking and forensics, the public hysteria and fear accosting innocent people on the streets, and the underworld with the hide and seek in the building. Even the filming, as poor as the quality was, still was captivating with interesting shots and lighting, and drawn out suspenseful clips. The frightened, chest clutching fear of the trapped murder, to the methodical police and angry pubic were all portrayed and acted well.

Another aspect to enjoy is its age - see the Mickey "Rat" in the back of this confectionery store? And everyone smokes so much that sometimes the smoke completely obscures the people.

When is someone going to make a remake? They would have a hard time doing better than the original.

Ocean's Thirteen (5)

The first one was poor, the second was so bad that I'm still undergoing hypnotherapy to help repress the memories, luckily, this third film in the series is better, but only marginally. Set your mind to "disengage" for this film - it is at best a 5 (I watched, but I also watched my watch wondering when it would end).

Reuben has a heart attack after being forced out of a casino partnership by Mr Bank (Al Pacino). Ruben's gang lead by Mr Ocean (George Clooney) decide to get revenge on Mr Bank by making Mr Bank's new casino fail. How can you make a casino fail? Easy, make sure that everyone who plays there, wins, and before continuing to gamble away their winnings, make them cash out. By impossible computer hacking they break into the security system, by impossible physics they rigs games (and even put a computer killing magnetron in a cell phone!), and by impossible trickery they make sure that a secret guest reviewing the new casino has the worst experience imaginable. Then to really top off impossible things, they fake an earthquake by getting the Channel Tunnel digger to dig under the casino hotel (the real Chunnel digger is much more impressive than the one made up toy in this film). There's no surprise ending, they succeeded in breaking the bank.

I suspect that this was supposed to be a "stylish" film, but everything filmed in yellow does not make it stylish. Maybe having Hollywood big names and heartthrobs was supposed to make it stylish, but they all behaved the same - there were no interesting gang characters; it's as though there was only one. The plastics factory guy and Al Pacino, playing Al Pacino, where the most interesting, which was not very much. Some style was achieved with split screen shots, and little tricks like the dollar value of each player floating above their head during the climatic winning streak. One thing that puzzled and annoyed me was just how did they all manage to get into the insider jobs? Ultimately, it was a straight forward story of guys trying to be too cool carrying out some techno-wizardry - it's not a con job, it's an elaborate robbery. And this film robbed two hours from me that I kinda would like back.

Napoleon Dynamite (3)

As the main character, Napoleon Dynamite said, "This is pretty much the worst video ever made", and I'd have to agree. This bumbling pointless mess is only a 3 (I fast forwarded through the extra part bad parts).

Napoleon Dynamite is a gangly angry person with the social skills of computer geek (he'll probably become rich in real life) but at school, he is nerd picked upon. He helps his friend Pedro run for class president, and has to put with his uncle who has come to stay and his brother with his chat room girlfriend. (Still not sure if it really was girl though). At least the dance near the end had me smiling, but the rest of the film was tiresome bore of school and home life. The dysfunctional family of Little Miss Sunshine does it much better.

There's a lot of "straight on" filming, and with the mid 80's setting, it is just not pleasing to see. I wonder if the final ten minutes tacked on after the credits was a last minute attempt to save the movie - sadly, it didn't.

(I've been asked how I watch a film in fast forward; I can still read the subtitles understanding what's going on while fast forwarding at twice the speed, but only endure the pain for half the time. Phew.)

The Blue Planet, 8

Just simply stunning. This is one of the "must watch" documentaries that you, well, must watch! David Attenborough narrates an exploration of the world's oceans covering everything from poles to the equator and from the estuaries to the surf to the deep dark depths.

I missed this when it was broadcast on TV, but I can see why it was talked about in the office the next day. The eight episodes of one hour each cover a topic such as "Frozen Seas" (which showed life at the poles including polar bears, seals, penguins, birds, fish...) and "Coral Seas" (showing the vibrate, crowded, and shark infested warm waters of the tropics). I particularly enjoyed "The Deep" for the amazing and strange animals that lurk in in the almost unreachable depths. There are some extra episodes of "the making of" which are documentaries made the film crew about themselves and their gear, but as skillful as their diving and film abilities are, it doesn't compare to the main series.

It clearly dawns that life in the ocean is pretty much all about just two things - food and sex (same as all life really). Killer whales beaching themselves to snatch seal pubs, bait balls hunted from above and below, world wide migration for mating, poisons and camouflage, sea life is a constant struggle - though dolphins and few rare others seem to enjoy some playing too.

The filming is stunning, the science and facts presented are fascinating and the life in the oceans is more marvelling than imaginable. A brilliant 8 (I'll tell everyone that they must see it). It's not one to enjoy repeatedly, but the first time will astound anyone.

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (4)

Oh no. On this lazy long afternoon I wanted to enjoy some fun comedy, some humour and some interesting story. But I was way wrong to watch My Super Ex-Girlfriend. This was painful. I rate it only a 4 (I wish someone had told me so that I wouldn't see it).

Matt dumps his girlfriend, Jenny. But she's has a secret identity of being the super hero G-Girl, and she doesn't like getting dumped! She begins to harass Matt and new his girlfriend by doing things like putting his car in orbit. G-Girl's first boy friend has become her arch rival, Professor Bedlam, who teams with Matt to stop her.

If it all sounds like a very childish story you'd be exactly right. Except it's not a film for kids, there is too much sex and adult jokes. And it's not a film for teenagers, it's too cute and there's not enough gothic brooding or violence. I don't know who this film is for - not for me, and probably not for anyone. It's as though the actors and film crew had a spare weekend and decided to throw this rubbish together just so that they could have a launch party to go to on Sunday night.

New Zealand 2 (3)

You know those tacky tourist t-shirts that say something like "My Grandparents went to Fiji and all I got was this t-shirt"; The kind you reluctantly wear just once then stuff deep in the bottom of a drawer so that it can be forgotten? This TV program is like that, you forcefully watch it just once and then wish that you could forget it. "New Zealand 2" is only a 3 (I wish I hadn't seen it).

Two travellers record their trip around New Zealand in what is not much a promotional show (thank goodness) but more of a one hour video diary. Of course being part of a film production they get to spend more and have greater access to things that most travellers cant. They start out with the cliches, sheep, Lord of the Rings, before attending some events such as the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival (for some delicacies like huhu grubs, duck tongues, steamed fish eyes and mountain oysters), before finally exploring some scenery, especially the Milford Track.

The filming is poor (what is it with those blurry, grainy shots anyway!?), the banter hackneyed ("The city's nickname is windy Wellington, I'm calling it wet Wellington"), and it doesn't inspire me to visit. The only good news is, that they missed out my favourite place in all of NZ, and I'm not going to tell where it is!

3:10 to Yuma (9)

If you think that trip to the train in the morning commute is a tiresome chore, make sure that you stop all that you are doing and watch 3:10 To Yuma to see the difficultly Dan has. 3:10 To Yuma kept me more spellbound, more interested and more intrigued than any other film I have seen recently. It's a 9 (it was brilliant!). Don't be put off that this is western, it has a gripping plot, great acting and heart pounding action.

Dan (Christian Bale) is a struggling farmer who's son think that's he is a failure. But when Dan stumbles upon the chance to escort the ruthless killer Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to the nearby town for $200, he joins the escort party. The party is being chased by Ben's gang led by the homicidally insane Charlie (Ben Foster) to stop them from putting Ben on the 3:10 prison train to Yuma from Contention. Through troubles and attacks, the party is reduced one by one until they reach the town. There is the tense count down to catch the train and face the gang that is waiting - and steam train and throbbing sound effect for it add even more drama to the final confrontation.

Every character is interesting. Charlie, the psychopathic gang leader during Ben's absence is entertainingly over the top, Ben the cold murder warms, Dan struggles for his family and most of all for his son, and his son goes from seeing his dad as a failure to a hero. All others add to the layered plot - becoming a hero, looking up to parent, appreciating life's struggle, doing good, singled minded killing. The filming is majestic, the effects spot on. The only little thing that prevented me from giving it the top mark, was that it's a "classic western" - you know fairly well what will happen. Even though there are no mind shattering twists or shocks, it is very, very good and wildly entertaining.

A Good Year (7)

A last, an enjoyable film. If someone called it a "romance comedy", I would have been put off because calling it that is not quite right. There is the usual comedy, but with more warmth and wonderful photography to indulge in.

Max (Russell Crowe) is a flashy top stock broker full of power and brash, who goes to France to sell his uncles chateau that he has just inherited. He meets the locals - the winemaker and his family - and the not so locals - the young woman from America, Christie, claiming to his uncle's daughter. And he literally runs into the waitress, the stunningly gorgeous Fanny (Marion Cotillard), who after being run off the road she leaves him stuck humorously in a empty pool. Of course, Max falls for the place, the lifestyle and most of all, Fanny.

Crowe is not very good at comedy so he subdues it and thank goodness for that; any other person might have made too much of it and blown the warmth of the story. That plonker, that foppish floppy haired pillock Hugh Grant would have ruined this! Most everyone, from Max's uncle who is seen in flashbacks, to the winemaker to his dog is charming. The filming is wonderful with delicate lighting. Some odd scenes (what was that tennis match all about, for example) and simple "tie up all the loose ends" ending weaken. It's a nice, light film of funny romantic fantastic to enjoy, best with some wine. I rate it a 7 (it was good, I'd watch it again).

After Life (5)

This was weird, not in a bad way, but in an interesting way - just like unexpectedly seeing a familiar cow and experiencing deja vu (deja moo?), it's both a little weird and interesting in some way. In this Japanese drama that is almost like a documentary, why things happen is not explained, they just do, and they just do for all eternity.

Seemingly ordinary people check in a dilapidated hotel, except that they are newly dead. And they are counselled by other dead people to select their most meaningfully memory. The memory is to be re-enacted to become the person's only memory for ever. It is simply an extraordinarily strange situation that is accepted. Shiori is reading World Encyclopedia because, as she says, "Time I've got plenty of". It is revealed in a delightful matter of fact way, why the counsellors are there. And Takashi, one of the counsellors, discovers that his old life in involved with one of the guests and finds his happy memory, much to Shiori's disappointment.

Listening to ordinary people choose their best moment of course makes you think of your own. The middle section of the film, the filming of the memories was boring - simply shots and noise of the crew filming in sound stages - I even started to do something else (writing). But it was the gentle reveals in the last third, why there were workers, Takashi's memory and Shiori wanting to keep all memory, that made this better film. I'm glad I watched it, but I wont see it again - 5 (it was ok but but sometimes borderline poor). It's Japanese title is "Wandafuru raifu" (wonderful life) but don't worry, if rusty Japanese won't suffice, subtitles come to the rescue.

Oh, by the way, the best death transition story I've ever seen - The Grim Fandango (10).

Natural Splendours 6 (1)

For films that are this bad I usually can't tell you what the plot is because I stop watching them. Sadly, for this film, I can explain the plot in full details even though I gave up after only 30 seconds and began reading instead. While my neurons began committing suicide in self defence, I fast forwarded to some random points to get a few screen shots.

This is simply mediocre landscape photos set to classic music. It's not film, there's no motion or movement, it's a photo slide show! Yes, the camera pans and zooms on the photos, but it's still just photos! My screen saver, Slickr, does exactly the same thing but with millions of photos from the internet! And just to make it as bad as possible, the music is tinny lo-fi with clunky transitions. I imagine that perhaps this is the sort thing that some boss who doesn't use the front reception might put on the front reception thinking that it is a good idea. Imagine the boss's surprise when less than an hour later, the receptionist leaves via the front door, screaming, without even pausing to open it!

I shudder to think that is that this is number six... does that mean the world has been inflicted with least five others? Why god why!?!

Like Minds (6)

Use a little forensic psychology and macabre from Silence Of The Lambs, mix in some religious secret society from The Da Vinci Code, and finally sprinkle in some stiff acting, and you have Like Minds.

Alex is arrested for murdering his boarding schoolmate Nigel. Through his interviews with forensic psychologist, the story is told in flashbacks. Nigel has a freaky interest in things dead and loves only one more than taxidermy - study of the Templars. In the flashbacks we learn that Nigel has set Alex up... or has it been all the other way around? There is the expected big reveal at the end.

The story was good, I wanted to know what happened. But there was nobody I cared for. Alex and Nigel are the most interesting but they are gruesomely cold. The police and the forensic psychologist are weak, and the boys' parents are not nice either. Maybe a remake with some warmth, Alex and his friends, or the cops, would make it much more watchable. I rate it a 6 (it was watchable, but I could have been easily distracted).

Transformers (5)

In a lack-of-sleep induced stupor, on a screen that has fewer pixel than my phone, and in a torture chair that medieval maniacs would have loved, I saw this - it was on a long flight. I missed the plot and didn't know what was going on but the CG looked impressive and fun, so I've now watched it again.

No wonder I missed the plot - there isn't one! Some alien robots fight another band of alien robots for an ancient artifact that a kid's grandfather found. Ummm, that's it. There's secret military research, a love interest and humorous parents thrown into the mix but even with them, the story is thinner than a carbon nanotube or two. The thing that made it watchable was the CG; very impressive, the people who produced it are very skillful and created some amazing sequences. The explosive fights between the robots was good, though a shame about the lame dialogue.

But overall, this is a film for young boys who enjoy fast cars, robot fights, guns and explosions. For me, it didn't deem a second watch. I'll give it a 5 (I don't mind seeing it, I also wouldn't mind missing it).

There are a lot of similarities, even same location at one point, between this film and another (which I must write up), that's because it was the same director. But this is the weaker one by far.

Shrek The Third (3)

What a shame, what a disappointment. I enjoyed the first, the second wasn't bad but this third was exceedingly contrived including the jokes, the music and the story. I can only rate it a 3 (I had force myself to watch it).

Shrek does not want to be the next king of Far Far Away, so he along with Puss and Donkey go off to the find in line, Arther. Yes, they mangled some King Aurthur with Lancelot and Merlin into the plot. Prince Charming wants to be king so he rounds all the other storybook baddies and captures Shrek to kill him. Fiona and her princess friends are on the rescue mission! It has the moral message at the end "don't judge yourself"

This is best watched with your young kids so that at least you could enjoy them enjoying it. Probably the only thing that impressed was the animation - simply stunning. Unfortunately, few jokes made me smile, and often the music jarred. It would be hard, though not inconceivable, to make a forth that is even worse.

Pygmalion (6)

I really don't know what impulse made me choose this ancient film from 1938, but it's supposedly such a famous story and film that I probably reasoned that I should. Maybe something like when you decide to something out of the ordinary, like go to an opera for the very first time, just to see what it is like. (Though, I've never been to an opera.) I give this a 6 (it wasn't bad, it was ok).

The story of Eliza Doolittle, a Coventry flower girl, being trained in speech and manner by Professor Henry Higgins to win a bet that she could be transformed into a "lady", has been told many many times before, and since. The most interesting portion is what happens after she's succeeded - return to the street, marry off, stay with Higgins?

The film quality is very poor in parts, the sounds is clear (has it been dubbed?) but most interesting to me was the language. It was probably hammed up for the film, but included many gems such as:
"Yes, you squashed cabbage leaf, you disgrace to the noble architecture of these noble columns, you incarnate insult to the English language, I can pass you off as the Queen of Sheba"
"You might marry you know. You're not bad looking. Quite a pleasure to look at you sometimes. Course now you've been crying you look as ugly as the very devil. When you're quite alright and yourself, you're what I'd call quite attractive - that is, to people of marrying mind you understand."

Evan Almighty (4)

What to do at the end of the week when when you are dead tired, eyes are itchy with sleep and your brain is frazzled? Cosy up on the couch and get a simple silly film to watch. Evan Almighty was almost exactly what I was looking for. Just a bit too simple.

Evan Baxter is a new congressman about to sign a bill destroying lots of wild land, but he has also been asked by god to build an ark. As his beard and hair grow and the animals following him become more and more troublesome, the film becomes a mildly fun family flick with humour. Evan completes his ark with some forgettable people, oh his family, and after inviting all the animals on board, gets to ride it along with the neighbours when a local dam collapses. Morgan Freeman gets to play god in this film, again.


I chuckled a few times, enjoyed the animal effects and the flood effect too. But in the end, I felt like I just eaten McDonald's, filling but ultimately unsatisfying. I can only rate this a 4 (I'd rather miss it).

1408 (7)

Finally, at last, a Steven King adaption that is enjoyable! Unlike others I have seen, this a not a second-rate production with second rate actors. Even the music was very good - pulsing cellos, synthesiser beat, stringy tension and blasting brass - you have got to listen during the end credits.

Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is a jaded author who doesn't believe in ghosts and such, yet he writes books about haunted places. He has never experienced anything spooky (just like any sane person who lives in reality) until he stays in room 1408 in the Dolphin hotel. Trapped inside the "evil room" torments him with shock and the death of his daughter. He has been warned by hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson) that nobody survives more than hour before killing themselves, yet he does, so why does everyone kill themselves in a hour? Because the friendly staff can help you checkout? Think of day for underground pigs.

There is the mandatory false ending, but Steven King followed his formula - "the good guy doesn't usually win, but sometimes neither does the bad guy" - so you know that there is more to come. While the story is as expected, Samuel Jackson and the music really added to the film, and some effects and filming angles are pretty cool too. Another 7 (I'm glad I watched it).

Oh and by the way, if anyone knows where I can get such a fantastic heating and air conditioning system, let know since I'd love one for my house.

Rush Hour 3 (5)

As expected, this film has a plot as believable as a politician's promise, action sequences as contrived as a Disney animatronic show, stereotypes as cliche as cheese toasties and people as gorgeous as statues of Roman gods and goddesses. If it had only those features, it would have rated a 4. But it was the humour that makes it a 5 (I don't mind if I see it, I also don't mind if it miss it). The "Who's on first" and "translation by nun" were pretty funny, just a shame that it wasn't maintained to the end.

Lee and Carter go to Paris and track down a list of the Triad bosses. Inevitably there are stunning woman along the way who either fall in love them, or want to kill them. Inevitably the bad guys wear white (but oddly don't live in a hollowed out volcano like they should). And inevitably, this taking place in Paris, the last climatic fight takes place on the Eiffel Tower - on it, through it, under it, all over it.

Chris Tucker as Carter has the funny lines, and Jackie Chan as Lee has all the martial arts and stunts. If you feel like vegging out, turning off and kicking back, maybe, just maybe, this will do.

Across the Universe (7)

Across the Universe is a trippy, hippy film. I'm glad that I had no idea of what it was otherwise I probably would not have seen it. As soon as the characters began singing, which is right from the very start, I thought "Uh oh, a musical". Delightfully, it turned out to be a musical of Beatles songs which is not about the Beatles. Instead it tells a simple, shallow story of story of boy-meets-girl, but it goes off a weird little psychedelic side trips.

In the 1960's, Jude (of course) goes to America to find his father and meets Lucy (again, of course). He ends up living with her, Sadie and Prudence (of course of course) and others in New York. There's not much of story, some politics, some travelling, and love and war, but the rendition of songs are brilliant. I've never heard them so good. The gospel version of "Let it be" sent shivers down my spine.
And then there are the dreamy hallucinogenic film sequences, like the hospital and water scenes (the animation and live action circus scene was very weak).

Don't watch this for an in depth story, don't watch it for a critic of the Vietnam war, just watch it for the music and stunning trippy scenes. It is art but like most art, it is not perfect - it has it's flaws. Next time I see it, some wine, and a little help from my friends, would be in order.

Storm of the Century (6)

Though I've read a few of his books, I'm not really a Stephen King fan; they are well written, I just find them a little slow and not resolving well. And so it was with this film. It was well produced, had good makeup and effects, well acted, and filmed, just a little too long (three one and half hour episodes) and having an unsatisfying end.

During a huge snow storm Little Tall Island of Maine (where else?) is visited my a mysterious man, Andre Linoge. Linoge is locked up by the island cop, Mike Anderson, for the murder of a old women. However he seems to have mysterious powers - he knows every ones dark little secrets and with his silver wolfs head cane, can make people kill one another or commit suicide. He is visiting for a purpose, "Give me what I want, and I'll go away". Ultimately a town meeting hears his demand, and gives in.

The demonic powers of Linoge, and struggle by Anderson and the islanders and were interesting, but not quite interesting enough. I stopped watching to sleep, then the next day stopped again to cook a meal - the film was barley gripping. I watched it somewhat interested and if it was on again, I may, just may, watch it once more. If it was shorter, I might have rated is a 7 but no, the best I can give is only a 6 (I might watch it again).

Night of the Sunflowers (7)

This is a great Spanish film (La Noche de los girasoles) set in a tiny isolated farming village. It beings peacefully but really starts with an attempted rape. The film time jumps between characters and their intertwined lives to reveal the story in an intriguing non-linear fashion.

The accidental murder of the rape suspect leave everyone scared and in moral difficulty, of which a crocked cops takes advantage of. More characters and plot development are introduced by chapter titles, "The Man on the Road", "Mad Amos" etc. The cavers, the cops, the farmers and Beni are all characters with great depth.

At first, things seem to work out but inevitably, it all begins to unravel. This is not some Hollywood murder story with a car chase and gun fight. It is an intelligent downfall of people in a tough situation that will keep you guessing and entertained.

Most definately a 7 (I'm glad I watched it).

Daywatch (1)

I can't tell you what this film was about because I couldn't bear to watch it all - something about the Light Ones fighting the Dark Ones, and involving vampires and an ancient piece of chalk that makes things written with it come true.

This is a Russian film that has been very poorly dubbed in English with a Russian accent. The vocal emotion hardly ever matches the scene; it's like they were just reading the script. Plus sometimes the English is a little "odd". I would have preferred it to be in Russian with subtitles so that the actors would be able to provide better voices. That would have at least doubled the film rating, to a 2.

There is a lot of good camerawork, some crazy costumes, and event some interesting effects - racing a car across the face of a building, bullet time destruction of a building. Sadly, these were not able to keep me watching the film so it is only rated a 1 (it was so bad, I stopped watching it). I wonder if it is a big hit in Russia?