Bullets 'n' Babes

degeneration wrote:This is just a general query about the show... the "previously on 24 bits", do they cut into the real time of the show? So if there is say 3 mins of "Previously", does the show actually start at xx:03? If you get what I mean... If so, that could also possibly explain some of the apparent "ignoring the real time" things.

I'm pretty sure that's how it works degeneration. I think things are going on while we are being "reminded" of the situation, which explains how CTU managed to get the guy with broken fingers into their medical room so quickly.

It was another top season for me, although I do agree that the real-time facter is somewhat neglected. That's why the first season is the best to me. If the writers can go back to a more refined (and less ambitious) plot then they may just top the first season...

Well, all I can say is that I'm really looking forward to the 5th seasons and all those after that. I just hope that the no Muslims will be the bad guys again. They were the bad guys in two of the four seasons, so I feel that's enough now.

Somehow got the feeling the "bad guys" will be Chinese!! Looking forward to S5 now as well! Hope they stop it after that, as I don't want it becoming too ridiculous, cause unless they've got an amazing story, S4 was too action and event packed to really be topped in a realistic way.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - 4/5

Ironically, though this was the shortest film of the series so far, for me it was more satisfying than the first two. It was darker, the children are clearly growing into their roles - and JK Rowling's novel script wasnt so rigidly stuck to (AFAIK) so it felt less like a school play.
Having said that, big chunks of the book seemed to be missing - wasnt Voldermort in Book 3?
Standout scenes included the Quidditch game in the rain, and the werewolf chase.

Also some dialogue should be credited to Shakespeare - the song ("Hubble, Bubble Toil and Trouble.." etc) is made up mostly of lines from the 3 Witches opening speech in Macbeth

I preferred Richard Harris as Dumbledore - wierdly I think its because of his voice. I know the character is a watered down Gandalf, but Michael Gambon is far too serious sounding IMO whereas the late Harris had a perfect voice capturing his whimsical, kindly nature.

In the books, Hermione is described as bushy haired and buck toothed. No denying Emma Watson is good, but she looks far too cute (did that sound dodgy?)

Grim, Voldemort was not in Book 3. He was mentioned but does not make an appearance in any shape or form.

IIRC, Book 3 is the only book in the series not to feature Voldemort.

The film was great but like you say, there are massive chunks of the book missing. PoA is my favourite HP book, the twists were absolutely incredible. I couldn't sleep properly for weeks because I was so psyched.

LOL at your sig
Itd be interesting to see how they adapt Book 4, how they approach things like Harry's crush on Cho or the break up of Harry and Ron.

Gladiator - 3.5/5
Gave it another go. I have only watched it once before in the theatre and back then I remember how bored I was. I really couldn't stand the film, especially due to the shaky cinematography during the fights.
However, I listened to the soundtrack recently again and really liked it (Hans Zimmer, maybe that's why...). Gave the film another go and thought it really was better than 2/5.

Unleashed 4/5

The action was top notch, really enjoyed it from that point of view. Was really good to have a stronger than usual story with it too, and good acting from the likes of Hoskins.

But there were faults. First, Freeman and his step-daughter being far too nice and trusting.

Second, continuity! What the hell happened to the 4 guys outside with guns at the end!

Lastly, if they hadn't mentioned Glasgow in the film I could have glazed over this... but come on... brown bags, cockney accents, not a single Scot...


Memory not serving me well, I may have already posted all this here!!!

The 4 guys went searching elsewhere for Jet. They all split up I assume.

Maybe, but Hoskins had told them all to "wait here" when he left them, IIRC.

The Cricket - 5+/5

YEEEEESSSSS!
Really exciting stuff. Well played Kevin Pietersen. The whole team outplayed Oz through most of the series (last 4 matches) IMO and deserved to win!

Congrats England!

The Cricket 0/5

Why?

BECAUSE IT'S CRICKET!!!

We Scots don't get it at all.

Don't worry, there are still the odd one or two people like me who live in England and hate cricket!

Sorry IM/Mark.

Don't you think its just being dragged out a little bit too much on TV now? My colleagues at work are big fans of the game and it has been on TV all day - every channel showing the same sort of thing.

It just gets so dull when things are repeated & overused on TV for the sake of it. So England won the "ashes"? So what? What's the big deal? I don't get it? I mean, I'm all for people celebrating if they get enjoyment out of it & I'm not putting cricket down as a sport, but to me & in my opinion it is just so dull!

They havent won it back from Australia for 18 years and our team has failed dismally against them in Test series up till now?..
Fair enough, I know what you mean - it gets counter productive hearing it all the time.

Chinatown - 4/5
Jack Nicholson rules...

American Pie 2 3.5/5

Was gonna give it a 4 but it was quite as funny on repeat viewings. Still some hysterical stuff in there though. Wold have got 4 if the obligatory breast scene was a bit better (i.e. in the niceness of the breasts factor). Still at least Stifler was still Stifler, unlike in Pie 3.

Danny the Dog - 5/5

Right now, I'm thinking that this is the greatest film of all time. Quite simple, a masterpiece.

I've yet to see the film, but I doubt that's true! I'll guess it'll be entertaining at most, but not a masterpiece.

Just my opinion, but I can't think of a better film I've seen this year. I enjoyed this more than Sin City, which I thought was great, but not the gift from God so many people made it out to be.

The Bow - 4.5/5
I have been a huge fan of Kim ki-duk for a while now, and every time i see a new one of his films, i become an even bigger fan. I absolutly love this man's style of poetic visual storytelling.
'The Bow' is now tied with 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' as my 2nd favorite KKD film, surpassed only by the masterpiece that is 3-Iron.

Transporter 2 - 3.5/5
Deffinetly better then the first. The fights in this are absolutly hilarious, great stunt work. Some of the things that happen during the action scenes are even more hilarious. I must note that something happens in this film involving the removal of a car bomb that has to be THE MOST absurd, ridiculous event in action film history.
..But it does not take itself seriously and is great fun to watch

With Unleashed and now this...I think its safe to say we'll be seeing more of Louis Leterrier in the future.

Recon,

On a Kim Ki-duk related note. What did you think of Bad Guy and The Isle?

Cheers.

Gone With The Wind (1939): 4.5-5/5

Absolutely amazing First thing is its loooong (as long as one of the LOTR EE's) but that didnt matter, it didnt feel like it.
I didnt think I'd like it as I'm not used to seeing old classics, but its' a great story, as the title card says "Margaret Mitchell's Story of the Old South" (US Civil War).

I'm pretty sure I got the new remastered/restored version from cd-wow rentals - the picture quality is jaw dropping. Seriously, it looks like it was shot yesterday with rich and vibrant colours. Its that good.

How Clark Gable didnt win the Best Actor Oscar for this film I'll never know. My sympathies also seemed to go one way then the other for Scarlett (Vivien Leigh, who sure looks lovely here), one minute a spoilt rich brat (IMO) who messes about with mens feelings, then a compassionate person. Perhaps playboy Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) is an anti-hero too.
The film is extremely emotional in places.

Originally, he didnt want to play the part, because Scarlett doesnt always love him. He once said "Thats the only picture I ever did in which the girl wasnt sure she wanted me the minute she saw me".

BiscLimpkit wrote:On a Kim Ki-duk related note. What did you think of Bad Guy and The Isle?

I have really enjoyed all of his films, but if i had to rate them it would probably be something like..

1. 3-Iron (Masterpiece, IMO)
2. The Bow & Spring, Summer (Too close to call)
3. Samaritan Girl
4. The Coast Guard
5. Address Unknown (One of the most depressing films ever)
6. The Isle
7. Bad Guy

I do really like 'The Isle' and 'Bad Guy', but compared to Kim's other works they are slightly inferior, IMO.