shawshank redemption

i know this isn't an official movie group review but i really want to document this event i have experienced.

on the 4th june 2009 at approx 10:30pm i had just finished watching shawshank redemption. A film based on the short story by steven king.

the best films to me are the ones where u go into the film feeling happy and you leave the film feeling twice as happy, throughout the film experincing as many emotions as possible excitement,sadness,anger,shock shawshank contains all of this and more.

This is the second time a steven king story has done this to me. the first one being stand by me one of my all time greatest films.

the character that stood out the most was the old librarian brooks. To see him try to survive in the real world after 50 years confinement was really touching. Maybe because i work with elderly that it hit close to home.

A big shootout to mick for giving me this movie easily the 2nd best king film of all time

T2 -Jim's review

I've long had a theory that when done right, robot movies have more potential for action than other movies. the basis of this theory is that robots can do do a lot more damge to each other than humans. If i was ever to right a thesis on this, terminator 2 would be my major reference point. This movie is quite simply, the best movie of all time. No movie before or since has had more action. No other movie has ever had the hero empty a machine gun clip into the antagonists' face, and still allow for the battle to go on.

But this is no popcorn fluff blockbuster. This movie has a point, emotion, and real storytelling. And the special effects are truly amazing ( in this critics opinion, it contains the most realistic looking cg shot of all time. ) For the sadly uninitiated, the story revolves around one John Conner, a small boy who is targeted by a future race of robots because he will one day become a major pain in their collective arse. enter the t-1000 played by robert patrick in the role which had defined his career. he is sent back in time to kill John. Enter the t-800, played by arnie in the role which no one remembers him for, who is sent back in time to protect john. and so begins the most action packed 2 hours you will ever see. cameron is the man, and we can only wish he never sold this franchise, for it is now forever tainted by 3, 4, and whatever else is still to come. Its a crime this group took so long to view this is an official format, (but so appropriate that this blog would not exist without this film). i give this 11 gibbons out of 10, and its the best movie ever made.

Terminator 2 Judgement Day: Nathan's Review

Well here's my first review and I gotta say I dont think I could've picked a better one to start with. Terminator 2 is an absolute classic in every sense of the word. From that opening theme song that revvs you up every time to the amazing SFX from the late great Stan Winston that, in my opinion, look as good as they did the day the movie came out. A great (if not debate causing) storyline, adrenaline filled soundtrack by Brad Fiedel and James Camerons best ever direction (second possibly to Aliens). This is one of those once in a decade or so movies that I could watch over and over and never get tired of. If you havent seen this movie something is seriously wrong.

I give it: Gibbons?! out of 10

movie night this friday at Jim's

just a reminder that movie night is on this friday (19/6/09) at Jim's house. not sure what where watching yet. a sausage sizzle and a bottle of jim will be provided on the night, but you must say the password to gain access to these items (the password is 'word')

transformers - Jim's Review

Usually i see summer blockbusters as cheap fluff for the masses, but its hard to say that about transformers. It is simply put, the best film in recent memory. Telling the story of Sam and his hot criminal girlfriend Mikala, and of course thier new friends of whom need no introduction, it rolls fgrom set peice to set piece, each trying its hardest to out do the last. it succeeds with this. The action is among the best cinema has ever offered us, and thanks to the remarkable cg effects it looks flawless. you have to give the fx team (and Bay) credit for the detail they have put into the robot characters.

Unfortunately for Bay he seems to have forogotten that his film contained human characters as well. There are about 17 differnt sub plots in this film, and almost as many unrequired characters. Most of these characters are given so little characterization they resemble robots themselves. The black analyst, the sector 7 knob and the blonde bimbo are all prime examples of the films lack of characterization. The actors should be given credit for making what theyb did with so little.

With this overloading of unfufilled charcters comes an overloading of screen time, making the film seem an hour too long by the time the credits roll.The script writers should also be shot for forgetting about barricade.

But looking for cinematic brilliance in a Bay movie is like wearing a metallica shirt to the opera. So apart from these short pitfalls, the film still succeeds at what it tried to be: a summer blockbuster. so in the end, its 4.5 out of 5 for me...

point break - lloyd review

It was a freezing cold wintery night perfect conditions for treds first movie 'point break' as a movie group member. So there we were all rugged up in the heated lounge room looking at guys surfing in perfect califonian weather.

The film is about a rookie cop Johnny utah (keanu reeves ) and surfing gypsie bodhi (patrick swayze) who meet when johnny is working undercover to find a gang of bank robbers who are apparently surfers. During the movie Johnny is sucked in to the surfing lifestyle thanx to bodhi and his surf tribe which ultamatly johnny struggles to mix work with surfing as he relises bodhi is the head bank robber.

The relationship between bodhi and johnny needed more depth in my opinon if you've seen the australian film 'bra boys' you know what Im talking about. The suspence wasn't that great. you pretty much pick bodhi out as the bad guy straight away. But the characters are great with alot of good one liners through out the film "I caught my first tube this morning, sir"

It was well directed kathryn bigelow and veteren cinematogropher david peterman (cocoon,mib) providing some beautiful pictures onscreen.

overall a great movie to watch on a sunday afternoon

Point Broke - Jim's review

How good can a movie be when it's saving grace is that it stars Gary Busey? That's the question posed when reviewing Tred's first movie night choice Point Break, the 90's 'classic starring a healthy Patrick swayze and a pre neo Keanu Reeves. As this review will no doubt be read by a maximum of ten people, most of which would have watched the film with me, i wont bore you with the polt details. All you really need to know is that as an 90's popcorn action/buddy cop movie it works, and would find a welcome home alongside tango and cash and the lethal weapons nicely. For me its a solid 2.5 out of 5. Worth watching to see Busey steel the show from the real stars.

As for the night itself, a good time had by all. slate was good, topped off with a pie run. surfs up!