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Batman Begins - 1 Disc Edition [2005]

starring: Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe

January 23, 2006
Okay, first of all, technically I saw the Batman movies the wrong way round, i.e. I saw The Dark Knight first, which is really incredible, a definite must-see for anyone. About a month later, I watched Batman Begins and I wanted to feel the same way, but I was left wanting more.

Don't get me wrong, it gives a brilliant insight into the character of Bruce Wayne, and a thoroughly satisfying origin of Batman, as well as several fantastic action sequences and some hilarious scenes of Batman beating up mob gangs (which I always find really funny for some reason).

However, I can also say, with confidence, that The Dark Knight has virtually no flaws whatsoever (apart from a slightly weak ending), whereas Batman Begins has ... Read More:

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Batman Begins [Blu-ray] [2005]

starring: Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Christian Bale, Gary Oldman
directed by: Christopher Nolan

July 14, 2008
I watch this movie before I watched the original Batman (I know I'm a bit behind), and I actually enjoyed the move better. The story follows a similar path to the first Spiderman film in that it's takes you back to where it all began. It works well and Christian Bale is awesome.

As a Blu-ray, the experience only gets better...

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Dawson's Creek: The Complete Collection

starring: James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Kerr Smith
directed by: Arvin Brown, Greg Prange

January 30, 2006
Bought this for a friend who loved the series. No complaints, she's glued to the TV since!

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Batman Begins - 2 Disc Edition [2005]

starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman
directed by: Christopher Nolan

October 21, 2005
This Batman film just shows that the who idea still works. Quite frankly, after the Michael Keaton/Val Kilmer/George Clooney efforts I was beginning to have my doubts.

Sure, there are one or two places where this film may be a bit slow, but on the whole I think that even those patches serve the purpose of explaining how Batman became Batman ... i.e. why the Bat bit. As always the gadgets are brilliant, the one liners excellently delivered and Batman's escapes truly unbelievable - in other words a proper Batman film!

Christian Bale is excellent as Batman, and Michael Caine just about perfect in the role as Alfred the butler - in fact, when I win the lottery and have to hire my own butler Michael Caine will be top of my list ... Read More:

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Thank You For Smoking [2005]

starring: Aaron Eckhart, Sam Elliott, Robert Duvall, Maria Bello, David Koechner
directed by: Jason Reitman

January 08, 2007
Jason Reitman should be pleased as punch with his superb directorial debut about a spokesman working for the American tobacco industry. The script simply bursts with wit, rich dialogue and snappy satirical shifts and it is anchored by a fabulous performance from the excellent Aaron Eckhart as Nick Naylor, a disarming spin doctor who defends his amoral employers against the most damning of odds.

I hugely enjoyed this film and it is piercingly funny in places, often cutting quite close to the bone. As morally ambiguous as Naylor is, Eckhart plays him with such consummate charm that you almost find yourself cheering him on, as he campaigns for people's right to smoke (incidentally, the film has some very insightful things to say about free speech ... Read More:

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Phone Booth [2003]

starring: Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Radha Mitchell, Katie Holmes
directed by: Joel Schumacher

August 11, 2003
This is perfect example of how to do an intelligent thriller - keep it simple. Find a simple plot device to hook your attention, and then let the characters drive the plot. In this case, it is literally one plot device, and one character - virtually everyone else is superfluous. There is a real beauty in this almost minimal simplicity.

The plot device is an absolute gem. Farrell is well cast as an arrogant, ambitious publicist, smart and hip, full of his own BS, a liar, who takes people for granted. In short, he is a deeply unlikeable person. He makes a phone call to a girl on a public payphone so his wife can't trace the number on his mobile. When he finishes the call, the phone rings, and he picks up. The voice on the end of the phone (Keifer Sutherland) ... Read More:

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Wonder Boys [2000]

starring: Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes
directed by: Curtis Hanson

September 03, 2001
This movie is better than the award winning American Beauty. Wonder Boys is one of those rare modern American movies that really stand out in the pile of relative trash that comes out of there. Along with 'Lost In Translation', this film helped to restore my faith in modern Hollywood. The Michael Douglas character is a gem; his performance shows Douglas aging gracefully and willingly, an accomplishment that only a couple of famous leading men have achieved in recent years.

Wonder Boys is a screwball comedy about a college professor/author who's pushed into maturity (and experiencing a mid-life crisis) by forces beyond his control. Grady Tripp (Douglas) has to face reality as his third wife leaves him and his mistress(Frances McDormand), announces that she's pregnant ... Read More:

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Dawson's Creek - Season 6

starring: James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Kerr Smith

January 30, 2006
Dawon's Creek was a great show and i think it was the first of its kind. You see The OC and One Tree Hill on tv now and really they both came from Dawson's Creek because this was the first great teenage drama.
The sixth series sees the appearance of a few new characters including Eddie (joey's other half) who i found to be a good character and a good boyfriend for her because he let her escape into a relationship which didn't have the problems of her relationships with pacey and dawson in it. Emma the british roommate was great - although her accent was bad at times, she was fun. Jen's boyfriend CJ and Jack's boyfriend David were great characters to add as well and saw them both in happy relationships.
This series also saw Audrey have a bigger storyline and one that i thought ... Read More:

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The Ice Storm [1998]

starring: Kevin Kline, Katie Holmes, Courtney Peldon, David Krumholtz, Michael Cumpsty
directed by: Ang Lee

June 15, 2006
This film is a must have for anyones collection. Wonderfully directed by Ang Lee this film depicts America in the 1970's and its sexual liberation. Sigourny Weaver and Kevin Kline play neighbours having an affair. Whilst their marriages are clearly on the ropes their children are mixed up too indulging in 'games' that are a little too grown up for them. The Ice Storm comes and with it an event that changes everyones lives and provides an opportunity to reflect on what they have all become. This is a film that tells a story in an adult way. It doesnt dumb it down to cater for the masses. Its moving, intense and above all powerful. Add this to your collection now!

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Dawson's Creek - Season 5

starring: James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, Kerr Smith

May 30, 2005
Many people complain about season five and it's apparent "amensia" to the Joey/Pacey relationship. These two had the longest, most intense, and most romantic relationship of the series, and though they broke it off in late season four, there should have been some acknoweldgement of their relationship here.

One good thing was that Pacey got back some confidence. It's refreshing to see him joking around again, after they put him in a downward spiral the end of the last season. Pacey (Josh Jackson) continues to outshine the title character in every way, with more charm and charisma, better lines, and better looks.

On another note, I think the writers did a very poor job this season. They tried to stress the "great" Dawson/Joey thing, about how their relationship was so "deep" and "complicated". ... Read More: