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21 [2008]

starring: Jim Sturgess, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth
directed by: Robert Luketic

September 08, 2008
Jim Sturgess sits alongside Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and others in an adaptation of events in the 1990's that allowed MIT students to form an elaborate scheme to beat the casinos out of millions.

The real-life events are loosely similar. The head guy WAS a guy called Mikey. There was a fall-out and the top guy, who was not American but Russian, went on to run his own team, and remains active to this day. The beat downs in the film, are to what I have seen on documentaries and read about, are a little overstated for plot purposes. One pro poker player who was a part, at some point of the MIT team is Andy Bloch.

The film itself is well-acted by Sturgress. I personally found Ben Campbells rise to the top of the team ... Read More:

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The Matrix [1999]

starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster
directed by: Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski

November 29, 1999
I had always enjoyed watching this movie for all the reasons stated in other reviews, but last night I sat through an hour and fifty odd minutes of the director's cut of "Dark City" - released in 1998 and totally ignored by the majority of critics and film goers. In fact, The Director's Cut copy I had was given to me by a friend and, as far as I know, is not available in this country. The plot of this film is about a populace trapped in a perpetually dark city, which is closed down and re-tuned by the controllers. Memories are altered, people put into other slots in the society, and the entire landscape altered as part of the experiment. Essentially it's The Matrix, but without all the silly Kung Fu, shouting and shooting and the pseudo religious ... Read More:

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The Matrix/Matrix Reloaded/Matrix Revolutions [Blu-ray] [1999]

starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano
directed by: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

November 24, 2008
This trilogy is mind blowing. Its compelling to watch as you follow the story of THE ONE. I havnt been this gripped on a set of films ever and the issues it raises are incredible. I'd recommend it to anyone well except those people who ask questions all the way through the film because if you stop to ask questions you'll miss the next bit lol. A must see!!

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King Of New York - Special Edition [1990]

starring: Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, Wesley Snipes, David Caruso, Steve Buscemi
directed by: Abel Ferrara

September 22, 2008
This special edition 2 disc set finally offers R2 DVD viewers the chance to see a very good widescreen (16:9) print of Abel Ferrara's deliciously over the top gangsta movie which features the usual screen-grabbing appearance by Christopher Walken as the outa jailbird on a mission to regain and enlarge his former NY territory and try and run for mayor at the same time. Wiping out all that stands before him in outrageous (and some over the top) shootouts and slayings, he incites the local NYPD to try and even the score, culminating in one of the classic cinema car chases. Early appearances by David Caruso and Wesley Snipes, amongst others, are also suitably manic. This is essentially a cult movie and the steelbook case of this release labels it as such. The ... Read More:

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Matrix Trilogy 3-Disc Set: The Matrix, Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions [1999]

starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano
directed by: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

October 08, 2007
The Matrix Trilogy must be one of the most significant films of our time, and is likely to go down as an all time sci-fi classic along with the likes of Blade Runner. It is obviously laden with symbology fished from a variety of sources, but I wonder if the Watchowski brothers realised just exactly how powerful a metaphor for our reality they were creating.

The central premise that our lives are not 'real' but are steeped in illusion in order that our life force may be fed upon whilst we are enfenced unwittingly like cattle - this is a relevant and powerful message on many levels. It can easily be seen that this is true on a superficial level, with the rampant rise of ultra-aggressive capitalist consumerism, whereby everyone is 'sold a dream' ... Read More:

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21 [Blu-ray] [2008]

starring: Jim Sturgess, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth
directed by: Robert Luketic

September 08, 2008
The Matrix Trilogy must be one of the most significant films of our time, and is likely to go down as an all time sci-fi classic along with the likes of Blade Runner. It is obviously laden with symbology fished from a variety of sources, but I wonder if the Watchowski brothers realised just exactly how powerful a metaphor for our reality they were creating.

The central premise that our lives are not 'real' but are steeped in illusion in order that our life force may be fed upon whilst we are enfenced unwittingly like cattle - this is a relevant and powerful message on many levels. It can easily be seen that this is true on a superficial level, with the rampant rise of ultra-aggressive capitalist consumerism, whereby everyone is 'sold a dream' ... Read More:

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Tina - What's Love Got To Do With It [1993]

starring: Angela Bassett, Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly, Laurence Fishburne, Virginia Capers, Dororthy Thorton
directed by: Brian Gibson

June 15, 2006
Despite Angela Bassett bearing little resemblance to Tina Turner (and Fishbourne to Ike Turner for that matter) the movie works because of the outstanding performances of these two actors. So strong is Bassett's performance as Tina that this issue becomes irrelevant. Angela becomes Tina.

Based on the book "I, Tina", the film focusses on Tina's life story up to her amazing comeback in 1984. However, I've always wondered how much of the film is factual considering it was only based on the book.

There are several scenes which are violent and give us some understanding on how horrible life became for Tina while married to Ike. I admire her commitment to stay with the Turner Revue, and being a mother to four children (of which two were not ... Read More:

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Mystic River [2003]

starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden
directed by: Clint Eastwood

June 01, 2006
great film that is return to form for eastwood after the dreadful bloodwork.kevin bacon is magnificent as are sean penn and tim robbins

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Matrix Revolutions [2003]

starring: Mary Alice, Tanveer K. Atwal, Helmut Bakaitis, Kate Beahan, Francine Bell
directed by: Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski

November 01, 2004
a much better flick after the rubbish reloaded this is much more entertaining.the first hour is forgettable but after the hour mark thier is some decent action set pices that are actually quite exciting.

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Bobby [2006]

starring: Laurence Fishburne, William H. Macy, Sharon Stone, Anthony Hopkins, Lindsay Lohan

June 04, 2007
After watching Bobby for knocking on an hour you could be forgiven for thinking you are watching a soap opera -a classy extremely well cast soap opera mind- but a soap opera none the less. So far we have been introduced into the lives of several characters in and around the Ambassador Hotel Los Angeles interspersed with clips of Robert Kennedy giving speeches , interviews etc. If you are unaware of the background to the assassination of Robert Kennedy you will probably be scratching your head wondering where all this is going . It becomes much clearer by the film ending ( nice to know it was going somewhere) but many will have lost interest by then.
Which is a pity as the final twenty minutes where all the character threads tie together is quite riveting and as ... Read More: