zondag 31 mei 2009

Evan Almighty

Evan Almighty is the sequel to Bruce Almighty, and in some early versions it was simply called "Bruce Almighty 2". Unfortunately it is nowhere as funny as the orginal movie which starred Jim Carrey. The only actor from the old movie that shows up (albeit very briefly) is Morgan Freeman. No Jennifer Aniston or Philippe Baker Hall, just Steve Carell as a modern-day Noah.

The plot is lifeless and not very funny, Steve Carell and Lauren Graham have no chemistry and Morgan Freeman obviously only showed up for the money. A missed opportunity, as I quite liked the orignal Bruce Almighty.


Favourite Quote from Evan Almighty:

God: Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

Short Summary : Buffalo newsman Evan Baxter is elected to Congress with the slogan, "Change the world." He lucks into a huge house in a new Virginia suburb. His Capitol office is also fantastic, but there's a catch: he's tapped by the powerful Congressman Long to co-sponsor a bill to allow development in national parks. In steps God, who appears to a disbelieving Evan and gently commands him to build an ark. Tools and wood arrive in Evan's yard, animal pairs follow, his beard and hair grow wildly, nomad's clothes and a staff appear. Long grows impatient, Evan starts building, his family leaves him, reporters gather, and drought grips D.C. Still, Evan believes. But will he change the world?

Revolutionary Road

After leaving the cinema my first thought was: 'I just watched Titanic all over again, only this time without any water'. And the more I think about it, the more I feel i'm right. Just like Titanic it stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as two young people in love. There is the same kind of tragedy, only the other way round (I hope I'm being cryptic enough). There's Kathy Bates again, there's romance and it goes on and on and on...which is not necesarilly a bad thing in case of Revolutionary Road (but it was in Titanic...come on, DIE...was my thought).

Those of us who thought we would see the life of a young bohemian couple going through the 7-year-itch with some famous events going on in the background (hence the title Revolutionary Road) were disappointed, as the Revolutionary Road refers only to the street the young couple lives on. Revolutionary, it ain't. Interesting? Well, the members of BeWelcome.org and Couchsurfing who chose this movie over "Frost/Nixon" were a bit divided about this one. If you are someone who loves Ingman Bergman's "Scenes from a Marriage", then you will love the scenes where all the hatred comes oozing to the surface. But if you (like me) have a natural problem with conflicts and fights, you will leave the cinema distraught. Maybe that is what director Sam Mendes really wanted.

It's 1955. Frank and April Wheeler, in the seventh year of their marriage, have fallen into a life that appears to most as being perfect. They live in the Connecticut suburbs with two young children. Frank commutes to New York City where he works in an office job while April stays at home as a housewife. But they're not happy. April has forgone her dream of becoming an actress, and Frank hates his job - one where he places little effort - although he has never figured out what his passion in life is.


Quote from Revolutionary Road:

April Wheeler: So now I'm crazy because I don't love you, right? Is that the point?
Frank Wheeler: No! Wrong! You're not crazy, and you do love me. That's the point, April.
April Wheeler: But I don't. I hate you. You were just some boy who made me laugh at a party once, and now I loathe the sight of you. In fact, if you come any closer, if you touch me or anything, I think I'll scream.
Frank Wheeler: Frank: Oh, come on, stop this April.
[He touches her for an instant and she screams at the top of her lungs before walking away. He chases after her]
Frank Wheeler: Fuck you, April! Fuck you and all your hateful, goddamn -
[He breaks a chair against a wall]
April Wheeler: What are you going to do now? Are you going to hit me? To show me how much you love me?
Frank Wheeler: Don't worry, I can't be bothered! You're not worth the trouble it would take to hit you! You're not worth the powder it would take to blow you up. You are an empty, empty, hollow shell of a woman. I mean, what the hell are you doing in my house if you hate me so much? Why the hell are you married to me? What the hell are you doing carrying my child? I mean, why didn't you just get rid of it when you had the chance? Because listen to me, listen to me, I got news for you - I wish to God that you had!
DVDPost - a review

I have just started my subscription to DVDPost, and it is working wonderful so far. For every new member that registers through me, I get points, which I'm more than willing to share with you

DVDPost ships you DVDs directly at home
With DVDpost, you choose online the movies you would like to watch and you receive them in no more than 24 hours by post. There are no late fees and you can keep your DVDs as long as you like. Shipment costs are free both ways and formulas start at 2,35 € per DVD, all inclusive. Moreover, rentals are guaranteed and your unused credits are automatically passed on to the next month.

Free shipment both ways
After suscribing, you choose your movies and they will be shipped to your mailbox within 1 working day. When you're done with the movies, put them back in the prepayed envelope and drop it in any red mailbox from the Post. As soon as DVDPost receives your DVDs, they will ship you the next available titles from your wishlist. Shipments are free in both ways and there are no hidden costs.

Over 19400 available titles
DVDPost have the largest catalog in Belgium. As a member, you can choose amongst 19352 titles, including new releases, cinema classics, musical concerts, TV series, documentaries and so on. Our site is 24h/24 open.

Costs
Their most popular formula is 8 DVDs a month for 22,95 euros (2.8 euros per rental). There are no additional or hidden costs.

If you want to try it, why don't you just contact me. For every subscription I get points. And I have no problem in sharing half the points with you.

zaterdag 30 mei 2009

Gadjo Dilo - The Crazy Stranger

One of the funniest movies to come out of Romania is undoubtedly Gadjo Dilo, translated into English as 'the Crazy Stranger'. The story is so crazy and the actors so "expressive" (you have to see it to believe it). And the music...oh la la, what beautiful music.

This is the third movie of Tony Gatlif's trilogy on the Rromani people. It was preceded by Les princes (1983) and Latcho Drom (1993). Latcho Drom (the Safe Journey) has of course a bigger following, but try this movie and let those gypsies bite you!


Stéphane, a young French man from Paris, travels to Romania. He is looking for the singer Nora Luca, whom his father had heard all the time before his death. Wandering along a frozen road, he meets old Izidor, a member of the Roma (Gypsy) and tells him of Nora Luca. Izidor seems to understand and takes him to his village. Stéphane believes that Izidor will take him to Nora Luca when the time has come. So, he lives in the Roma(Gypsy) village for several months. The other inhabitants dislike him at first (as he comes from those who call them thieves and attack their folks) but when they as they get to know him better, they grow to like him

Seven Pounds

I remember seeing Will Smith for the first time as a young boy in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, a sitcom that needed an actor with his kind of comic drive. And when you look at his later blockbusters, they are mostly comedies (Men in Black, Wild Wild West, Hancock) and action movies (Independence Day, I, Robot, I am Legend, Enemy of the State). But recently he has started to dive into the realm of drama and character movies. Ali was his first try, and more recently we had the Pursuit of Happyness and now 7 Pounds.

The less you know about this movie, the better. They already give away too much in the first 2 minutes of the movie, and it would have been so much more interesting if they hadn't explained why the main character was calling who he was calling. Maybe just plug your ears during the first 3 minutes and you'll have a great movie that will keep you guessing till the end. Otherwise, it is a very predictable (but well-played) movie that will slowly drag on till the end.

So, what can I tell you about the movie without spoiling the fun.
- First, it is too long. It would have been perfectly possible to cut 15 minutes and save some film.
- Secondly, Will Smith is excellent and so are all the supporting roles. Especially Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson shine as Emily and Ezra.
- Finally, if you like a good tense drama, and manage to stay in the dark till then end, you will love it. Otherwise you might be disappointed.

An IRS agent with a fateful secret embarks on an extraordinary journey by forever changing the lives of seven strangers.


Quote from 7 pounds :

Ben Thomas: [From trailer] In seven days, God created the world. And in seven seconds, I shattered mine.

Girl with a Pearl Earring

This weekend we watched Girl with a Pearl Earring, nicely cuddled up with my wife and a friend, while the fireplace was gently crackling. And I can tell you the setting of the movie was just as appealing: the beautiful paintings of Johannes Vermeer were brought to life by using similar techniques of colour, light and contrast.

The story itself was not particularly captivating, but the beautiful images created a unique atmosphere. In the end I would have liked to see this movie in the cinema, as the scenery would impress me even more on a big screen.

He had a vision no one saw as clearly as she. In a house where everything had its place, where every image had meaning, he gave her the power to see the light. She gave him a look that would last forever.....


Quote from Girl with a Pearl Earring:

Griet: [enters the room, where Maria Thins and Catharina sit quietly by the fireplace, and curtsies]
Catharina: Yes?
Griet: Madam, shall I wash the windows?
Catharina: [Scoffs] You don't need to ask me about such matters.
Griet: It's just...it may change the light.
[both Catharina and Maria Thins stare at Griet questioningly]

vrijdag 29 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 77

77. "Soylent Green is people!", "Soylent Green," 1973.

The Accidental Husband

We all agreed that this was not a very good movie. Romantic comedies are always a bit tricky, as they have to please both men and women. But I'm afraid this was just too lightweight to please any of them. And it's easy to see why.

First of all, Uma Thurman is not the best choice for a leading lady in a romcom. She is much better as a kick-ass killer (see Kill Bill) or a sexy femme fatale (Pulp Fiction). Furthermore, her character is not very likeable, she is neurotic, selfish, egocentric and a bit of a bore. To make matters worse, it seems the leading man falls in love with her because she knows how to play pool and drink beer...hardly very good reason, wouldn't you agree?

Secondly, her love-interest (role by Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a fire-fighter) is not very convincing either. He's actually a pretty nasty guy, if you ask me. I mean, what's wrong with Colin Firth? If I were a woman I'd rather chose him. Frankly he was the only one who truly loved the Uma Thurman character. Jeffrey is a TV-actor (Grey's Anatomy) and he really didn't have the same comedy power as for example Ben Stiller. I still think Something About Mary is the ultimate romantic comedy.

Thirdly, the story is unbelievable and too far fetched. Without giving away too much of the story, some Indian kid hacking a federal computer is too easy as a story line.

And finally, it's sad to see so many good actors being wasted: Colin Firth, Isabella Rossellini, Sam Shepard...

Sorry folks, try to find yourself a better comedy, i'm sure there are plenty out there.

Quotes from the Accidental Husband

Patrick: [with a mouth full of sample wedding cake] This cake is fantastic!
Emma: Shh. Please...
Patrick: You mix these two together, it tastes just like a ring-ding.
Emma: [Patrick shoves a fork of cake in her face] No. No, no.
Patrick: Ah!
Emma: No.
Patrick: Ah!
Emma: [she accepts the forkful of cake] it was yummy.
Patrick: It's super-duper.

Emma Lloyd has made a career out of her sensible, mature and responsible approach to relationships. She has a hit radio talk show, an impending book deal, and a loving relationship with her fiancé, Richard, a conventional sort-which is precisely what Emma is drawn to. Then Emma finds out that she is already married to a man she's never met before, a result of a misguided prank that leaves her bewildered and very confused. Worse than that, her plans for the future are now threatened. With her wedding just around the corner, Emma must find the mystery man and obtain an annulment. Emma tracks down her "accidental husband" - Patrick, a charming and handsome neighborhood fireman, with a big secret...

donderdag 28 mei 2009

Mes Stars et Moi

Kad Merad has been one of the most succesful French actors of the last 5 years. He played in the biggest success of 2008 (Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis), had critical acclaim with Faubourg 36 and also played in one of the best movies to come out of France ever : Les Choristes.
And now he plays together with three of the biggest actresses of France: Catherine Deneuve, Maria de Medeiros and Emanuélle Béart.

The story of 3 actresses who plot a revenge on a stalking fan, is very catchy and well executed. Some funny moments are mixed with drama and romance, and the movie delivers well. Unfortunately there is a small dip in the middle of the movie, and the risk is that you will lose interest. But if you stay alert till the end, you will be rewarded.

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 78

78. "Open the pod bay doors, HAL," "2001: A Space Odyssey," 1968.

woensdag 27 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 79


79. Striker: "Surely you can't be serious." Rumack: "I am serious ... and don't call me Shirley,"
"Airplane!", 1980.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

I am a huge fan of Guillermo del Toro's imaginative movies. His "El Laberinto del Fauno" is a masterpiece and I'm looking forward to seeing his adaptation of The Hobbit which will be released in 2011.
Here he reprises the story of Hellboy (also directed by him) and he opens his box of tricks to make a very enjoyable fantasy story. If you don't like action movies based on comic strips (and thus with a weak or shallow story) you should not even bother going to watch this movie. Everything you see on the screen is done with so much tongue-in-cheek and irony that you need to be huge cynic not to appreciate the fun this movie spreads around.

Quote:

Professor Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm: It is said that at the dawn of time, man, beast, and all magical beings lived under Aeglin, the Father Tree. But man had been created with a hole in his heart, a hole that no power, riches, or knowledge could fill. And in his infinite greed, man dreamed of expanding his dominion over the entire earth. The blood of many an elf, ogre, and goblin was spilled in their bloody war with man, and King Balor, the one-armed king of Elfland, watched in sorrow. But then one day, the master of the goblin blacksmiths offered to build for the king a golden mechanical army, seventy times seventy soldiers, that would never know hunger, and could not be stopped. Prince Nuada begged his father to agree. "Build me this army." And a magical crown was forged that would allow those of royal blood to command the Golden Army. "I am King Balor, leader of the Golden Army. Is there anyone here who disputes my right?" And in his throne room, no one challenged him.

In this continuation to the adventure of the demon superhero, an evil elf breaks an ancient pact between humans and creatures, as he declares war against humanity. He is on a mission to release The Golden Army, a deadly group of fighting machines that can destroy the human race. As Hell on Earth is ready to erupt, Hellboy and his crew set out to defeat the evil prince before The Golden Army can destroy humanity's existence.

dinsdag 26 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 80

80. "Yo, Adrian!", "Rocky," 1976.

The Changeling


Everybody from the Hospitality Exchange Movie Monday group who attended this movie agreed on one thing: It was a well-crafted story with good actors. Some felt however that the way the story was developed, lacked some drive. It is true that Clint Eastwood who directed this movie created a distance between the movie and the audience, and in the end there was no possibility for interaction with the characters.

Yes, we all sympathized with Angelina Jolie who lost her child, and her acting was very convincing, but the movie never left the routine and didn't try to inject some new blood in the "Missing"-style movie.

A good movie, sure, but nothing exceptional. And after great Eastwood movies like "Million Dollar Baby", "Mystic River" and "A Perfect World", we were hoping for something better.

Quote from Changeling:

Christine Collins: He's not my son.
Capt. J.J. Jones: Mrs. Collins...
Christine Collins: No, I don't know why he's saying that he is, but he's not Walter and there's been a mistake.
Capt. J.J. Jones: I thought we agreed to give him time to adjust.
Christine Collins: He's three inches shorter; I measured him on the chart.
Capt. J.J. Jones: Well, maybe your measurements are off. Look, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for all of this.
Christine Collins: He's circumcised and Walter isn't.
Capt. J.J. Jones: Mrs. Collins, your son was missing for five months, for at least part of that time in the company of an unidentified drifter. Who knows what such a disturbed individual might have done. He could have had him circumcised. He could have...
Christine Collins: ...made him shorter?

Inspired by actual events that occurred in 1920s-era Los Angeles, Clint Eastwood's "Changeling" tells the story of a woman driven to confront a corrupted LAPD after her abducted son is retrieved and she begins to suspect that the boy returned to her is not the same boy she gave birth to.

maandag 25 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 81

81. "Hello, gorgeous," "Funny Girl," 1968.

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

Simon Pegg has a very particular style of humour, quite dry and very British. His previous successful movie was called Shaun of the Dead and was a spoof of the George Romero's Zombie movies. This time he takes on "The Devil wears Prada" and manages to produce an entertaining movie that falls a bit short of expectations.
Some of the scenes are incredible funny, but others miss timing and stamina. Anyway, fans of British humour will have a good time, others might be a bit bored.

Sidney Young is a disillusioned intellectual who both adores and despises the world of celebrity, fame and glamour. His alternative magazine, Post Modern Review, pokes fun at the media obsessed stars and bucks trends, and so when Young is offered a job at the diametrically opposed conservative New York based Sharps magazine its something of a shock! It seems Sharps editor Clayton Harding is amused by Young's disruption of a post-BAFTA party with a pig posing as Babe. Thus begins Sidney's descent into success - his gradual move from derided outsider to confidante of starlet Sophie Maes - and a love affair with colleague Alison Olsen, that will either make him or break him

zondag 24 mei 2009

Win Lost - First Season

Competition already closed

BeCultural is having a Xmas Competition. The winner will receive the first season of LOST on DVD (7 DVDs, English & French audio, English, French and Dutch subtitles).

The competion will be open to all BeCultural readers in Belgium, Holland, France, Germany and the UK. Please send us a mail at becultural@yahoo.co.uk with the answer to the following 3 easy questions (and one tough subsidiary question).
Entries should reach us by January 6th.

Questions :

1. What is the number that plays such an important role in the LOST series?

2. Which Lost actor played an important role in Vantage Point?

3. Who plays the role of John Locke?

Subsidiary question : how many UNIQUE visitors will BeCultural have on Wednesday January 7th, 2009?

Please put "LOST" in the subject line

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

It seems Woody Allen can't do anything right anymore, at least not according to some critics. Personally I don't understand these people. Every year he delivers at least one good movie and it seems the critics are ready to destroy Allen even before they have seen his movies. They didn't like Cassandra's Dream. They hated Match Point. And they loath Vicky Christina Barcelona. Well, they are wrong.

True, Woody Allen hasn't made a masterpiece since 1999's The Sweet and Lowdown, but was he produces is still 10 times better than what most other directors deliver. I thorougly enjoyed Match Point. I thought Scoop was hilariously funny. I loved Cassandra's dream's mix of tragedy and humour and I like Vicky Cristina Barcelona for the light comedy.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona contains some very funny moments (Penelope Cruz' disturbed behaviour for example), beautiful shots of Barcelona, some good acting and nice music. Not a masterpiece, but a very enjoyable romp.

Quote from Vicky Cristina Barcelona:

Cristina: I'll go to your room, but you'll have to seduce me.

Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture

zaterdag 23 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 82

82. "Toga! Toga!", "National Lampoon's Animal House," 1978.

Righteous Kill

Oh dear, what went wrong here. After being together on the same set of 2 major landmarks ('Heat' and 'The Godfather part 2'), Pacino and De Niro star in what must be the disappointment of the year. A lacklustre thriller, a weak plot, some average acting, no suspense and a very predictable end...that is all they have to show for it. Sure, director Jon Avnet is to blame (he was also responsible for Richard Gere's weak thriller Red Corner. But still, when you have such good actors, you need to give them something more than a predictable script.

A missed opportunity, i'm afraid.

Quote from Righteous Kill

Turk: You don't become a cop because you want to serve and protect. You join the force because they let you carry a gun and a badge. You do it because you get respect.

Turk and Rooster, two aging NYPD detectives who have been longtime partners are faced with a serial killer who is murdering sociopathic criminals. They both have personal issues, and when they start working with a younger team, Perez and Riley, tensions between the pairs of partners is inevitable, especially since Turk is now living with Perez's ex-girlfriend, also a homicide detective

vrijdag 22 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 83

83. "Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make," "Dracula," 1931.

Mesrine - L'Instinct de mort - Part 1

The Death Instinct or Part 1 of Mesrine is a new movie starring Vincent Cassel and Gerard Depardieu about the French Public Enemy nr. 1 Jacques Mesrine. I had never heard about him, but after seeing the first part of this movie I felt I got a good overview of some aspects of his life. As a biopic this movie works well, showing how he went from fighting in Algeria to making it big in Canada. The action is fast-paced, the story interesting and although superficial it gives you a good explanation why Mesrine became the man France feared the most. The settings are also great, you really feel transported back to 1967.

A piece of advice: this movie is quite violent and stops abruptly, only to show a sign that the story will be continued in Part 2. The transition to Part 2 is not as good as it is in other movies like Kill Bill or The Lord of The Rings.


More info on Mesrine can be found on Wikipedia

donderdag 21 mei 2009

Death Race

Death race is a remake of the legendary B-movie Death Race 2000 (actually in the USA this movie is released under the name Death Race 3000, which is a bit silly as the settings clearly show this movie is set in 2012). And just like the original is this movie great fun. The original film starred David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone, and the general idea (Roman Gladiators in a modern setting) was kept.

So is this movie better? Yes, from an objective point of view it is way better. The actors are better, the special effects are a big improvement and the cinematography is extremely crisp. Apart from the B-style story board, there is not much comparison. But does it have soul? Well, there the answer is a bit more difficult. The original DR2K movie was so kitschy and camp, and the new version is much more commercial.

I would say: check both versions out if you want a rock 'n' roll movie night.

Quote from Death Race:

Jensen Ames: So what are you in for?
Case: They say I killed a cop.
Jensen Ames: Did you do it?
Case: Yeah.
Jensen Ames: Bad cop?
Case: Good cop... lousy husband.

Ex-con Jensen Ames is forced by the warden of a notorious prison to compete in our post-industrial world's most popular sport: a car race in which inmates must brutalize and kill one another on the road to victory

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 84

84. "Oh, no, it wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast," "King Kong," 1933.

woensdag 20 mei 2009

The Forbidden Kingdom

This movie will be appreciated by the young, by fans of Jet Li and/or Jackie Chan, and by those who are in need of a gentle kung fu fairytale. This is what Kung Fu Panda was all about, only this time with real live actors.

It's all quite gentle popcorn fun and you'll have a good time in the company of 2 of the best known martial arts actors, but in the end it is all about the choreography and the scenery. The movie lacks a bit of soul and tries to play it safe. Too bad, because it could have been just as epic as HERO. The best thing about the movie is the triangular relationship between the two masters and the student. Rent it one night when it's raining outside.

Quote from the Forbidden Kingdom:

Jason Tripitikas: You think you'll teach me the No Shadow Kick? Oh, and the Buddha Palm Technique. There's a guy in Virtua Fighter 2, who does the Buddha Palm Technique.
[Lu gives him a cup]
Jason Tripitikas: Thanks, Lu. And he does the Iron Elbow. And he does the One Finger Death Touch.
[the cup starts overflowing]
Jason Tripitikas: The cup's full. Stop! It's full!
Lu Yan: Exactly, how can you fill your cup if already full? How can you learn Kung Fu, you already know so much. No Shadow Kick, Buddha Palm! Empty your cup.
[Jason empties his cup]
Lu Yan: [looks at him in surprise] Hopeless. It is hopeless!

An American teenager who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics makes an extraordinary discovery in a Chinatown pawnshop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King. With the lost relic in hand, the teenager unexpectedly finds himself traveling back to ancient China to join a crew of warriors from martial arts lore on a dangerous quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 85

85. "My precious," "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," 2002.

dinsdag 19 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 86

86. "Attica! Attica!", "Dog Day Afternoon," 1975.

Eagle Eye

When I read reviews of this movie, I was surprised to read so many completely different views. Some thought it was a unimaginative flick, others praised it's pace and action-packed story. The members of BeWelcome who saw this movie were unanimous : Eagle Eye was not very original but extremely entertaining. Shia LaBeouf was quite convincing (much better than what he did in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and Michelle Monaghan showed that she is more than just a pretty face.

The mix of '24', 'Space Odyssee 2001', 'North by Northwest' and 'Nick of Time' worked very well, and you might leave the cinema with complete paranoia towards cell phones, security cameras and of course politician. Give Eagle Eye a chance, if you like conspiracy thrillers you will not be disappointed.

Quote from Eagle Eye:

Agent Thomas Morgan: [to field agent] If you're staring at me, it better be because I'm the suspect. If not, get back to work or I swear you're all demoted to something that involves touching shit with your hands!

Jerry and Rachel are two strangers thrown together by a mysterious phone call from a woman they have never met. Threatening their lives and family, she pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of increasingly dangerous situations, using the technology of everyday life to track and control their every move

maandag 18 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 87

87. "Sawyer, you're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!", "42nd Street," 1933.

Tropic Thunder

This movie had some mixed reviews, but personally I thought it was very hilarious. It's a crafty parody on movies like Platoon, Apocalypse Now and Hamburger Hill. And the numerous inside jokes made me laugh out loud. The cast is also well chosen, with Jack Black suffering from cold turkey, Ben Stiller playing a strange mixture of Rambo and MacGyver, and Tom Cruise as a wonderful caricature of a movie mogul. But the greatest surprise is Robert Downey Jr., who delivers a wonderful performance as 5 times Acadamy Award winner Kirk Lazarus.

On top of that the movie criticizes actors in general, the Oscars in particular and Hollywood bigtime...quite funny (and controversial) for a Hollywood Production.

Make sure you arrive on time at the movie, as it starts with a hilarious collection of fake movie trailers, highlighting some of the most famous movies that these 'actors' play in.

And stay on after the movie for some really funny R 'n' B moves by Tom Cruise.

Quote from Tropic Thunder:

Kirk Lazarus: Everybody knows you never go full retard.
Tugg Speedman: What do you mean?
Kirk Lazarus: Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,' look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. Autistic, sho'. Not retarded. You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded. Peter Sellers, "Being There." Infantile, yes. Retarded, no. You went full retard, man. Never go full retard. You don't buy that? Ask Sean Penn, 2001, "I Am Sam." Remember? Went full retard, went home empty handed...

Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying

zondag 17 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 88

88. "Listen to me, mister. You're my knight in shining armor. Don't you forget it. You're going to get back on that horse, and I'm going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we're gonna go, go, go!", "On Golden Pond," 1981.

Go Fast

One of my ex-students, Olivier Van Hoofstadt, made his second long-feature movie, Go Fast. His first movie was quite a big success, both at the box-office and from a critical point of view. It was called "Dikkenek" and was one of the funniest movies of 2006.

Now Olivier made an action movie in the style of Luc Besson. I mean that as a compliment, because you may hate Luc Besson's style but he delivers what he promises. And Van Hoofstadt also delivers what he sets out to do: a fast-paced action flick with car chases, interesting characters and story, and above all it gives a good insight in the cocaine and cannabis smuggling.

The only downside is the black/white version (the cops are good, the robbers are bad) and the lack of character development. But I guess most action movies suffer from the same problems. Anyway, this movie made by a Belgian director has all the ingredients to make it a success. Let's hope it gets the recoginition it deserves.

The tale of an undercover cop, native from Algeria and the suburbs - ethnical minority in France, as the Puerto Ricans in USA - who have to infiltrate a gang of big scale and highly dangerous cannabis traders. His friend, a cop like him at the BRI - Homicide Squad, is killed at the beginning of the movie and our hero wants to avenge his death

zaterdag 16 mei 2009

Pitt's Durden Is Best Film Character Ever

Brad Pitt's enigmatic Fight Club antihero Tyler Durden has been crowned the Greatest Movie Character of All Time.

Pitt's turn as Durden beat Star Wars' Darth Vader into second place to top the poll by Empire magazine.

Third spot was taken by Heath Ledger's The Joker in Batman movie The Dark Knight, while Star Wars' Han Solo came fourth, and serial killer Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs was in fifth place.

The top ten was rounded out by Indiana Jones, The Dude from The Big Lebowski, Pirates of the Caribbean's Jack Sparrow, Ellen Ripley from the Alien movies, and The Godfather icon Vito Corleone.

Mamma Mia!

Boy oh Boy, talk about kitsch :) This movie certainly wins the Oscar for "Best Good-Feeling Movie with Oscar-Nominated Actors making a complete Fool of themselves and attempting something closely resembling singing".

I mean : Julia Walters, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard... such great actors and they are running around, dancing like crazy on disco tunes, wearing funny wigs, wide trousers and platform shoes...

Can you believe I didn't even know that they would be singing? I thought the music of ABBA was merely a part of the gimmick, not the whole movie. In the end this film had such a positive attitude, full of crazy people doing crazy things, that i even appreciated the kitsch and all the antics. I give it 3 stars out of 5

Quote from Mamma Mia!

Father Alex: And a welcome to Donna, who's representing her side of the family.
Donna: And a welcome to... Sophie's dad... He's here.
Sophie: I know, I invited him.
Donna: How could you? I don't know which one it is... OH MY GOD... that's why they're here!
Sophie: I'm sorry, please forgive me!
Donna: I don't know... Can you forgive me?
Sophie: What? I don't care if you slept with hundreds of men. You're my mother and I love you.
Donna: Oh Sophie... And I haven't slept with hundreds of men...

Set on a colorful Greek island, the plot serves as a background for a wealth of great ABBA songs which are used in remarkably appropriate ways. A young woman about to be married discovers that any one of three men could be her father. She invites all three to the wedding without telling her mother, Donna, who was once the lead singer of Donna and the Dynamos. In the meantime, Donna has invited her backup singers, Rosie and Tanya

vrijdag 15 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 89

89. "Tell 'em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper," "Knute Rockne, All American," 1940.

Deception - Manipulation

On paper this looked like a great idea for a movie : a mysterious sex club, (Fuck Club instead of Fight Club?), two great actors, beautiful women, murder, mystery and lots of money...

But in the end this is just your average movie without much tension, and with a silly ending. It is director Marcel Langenegger's first movie, and that maybe explains why everything looks so steril and feels like 100 other movies. If you watch a good movie in the same style, then check out Body Heat or Sleuth.

Oh by the way, for some strange reason this movie is called "Manipulation" in Belgium :) Maybe they thought that "deception" was too true a title LOL

2 stars out of 5

Quote from Deception/Manipulation:

Jonathan McQuarry: [after having sex with a woman in The List] Can I ask you something? Why do you do this?
Wall Street Belle: For the same reason that men do it - the economics of the arrangement. It's intimacy without intricacy. I work past midnight almost every night.

An accountant is introduced to a mysterious sex club known as The List by his lawyer friend. But in this new world, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman's disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist.

donderdag 14 mei 2009

Blindness

Blindness


One of the best movies ever was made by Fernanco Meirelles : Cidade de Deus. He also made the gripping Constant Gardner, and now he has made an American movie called Blindness. The less you know about the story, the better, as it gets its strength from not 'seeing' what there is.

The movie is based on a novel by Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago, but you would not know it from watching the movie as it uses great cinematography to show us the total decay of a country hit by an epidemic. The actors are all good, the atmosphere is chilling and at certain moments really traumatic. Some people will like the ending, others not, but it is a movie that you will probably not forget immediately after leaving the theatre.

Quote from Blindness:

Doctor's Wife: The only thing more terrifying than blindness is being the only one who can see.



A city is ravaged by an epidemic of instant "white blindness". Those first afflicted are quarantined by the authorities in an abandoned mental hospital where the newly created "society of the blind" quickly breaks down. Criminals and the physically powerful prey upon the weak, hording the meager food rations and committing horrific acts

Best Movie Posters ever - Rosemary's Baby

#21: Rosemary's Baby

Premiere: "Taking a cue from the film itself, the poster for Roman Polanski's 1968 film makes an innocent object, a baby stroller, ominous. For a film where the concept was definitely more emphasized than stars John Cassavetes and Mia Farrow, Rosemary's Baby had a poster that upped the creep factor with its unusual use of dark green as a predominant color."

woensdag 13 mei 2009

Bangkok Dangerous

The views on this movie were very much divided. On the one hand most people thought the action sequences were well handled, never going over the top but still leaving enough eye-candy and funny twists to keep the audience captivated. But the romantic side aspect (using a story line borrowed from "The Killer") was redundant and quite frankly boring and uninteresting. The Pang Brothers who directed this film should have concentrated a bit more an the action and the not very original story line, and less on the melodramatic aspects that felt like a John Woo movie without the usual flair.

The use of Bangkok was not very original but still interesting. You even get a glimpse of the famous Brussels' viaduct that was given to Bangkok by the Belgian government :)

2,5 stars out of 5

Quote from Bangkok Dangerous:

Joe: 1. Don't ask questions.
Joe: 2. Don't take an interest in people outside of work.
Joe: 3. Erase every trace.
Joe: 4. Know when it's time to get out.
A professional hit man, who picks someone of the street to do his errands, and after he is finished kills that person. His next assignment takes him to Bangkok, and as usual, he finds a street kid named Kong to help him. After Kong has a close call and learns who he is, asks him to train him and he does. He also meets a local girl who is deaf and spends time with her. However, has a hard keeping his other life from her, and it also appears, the person who hired him, breaks his rule of complete anonymity and tries to find him

The Baader-Meinhof Komplex

I was very much looking forward to this movie which tries to tell the story of the Roten Armee Fraktion / Red Army Fraction (RAF), the best-known terrorist organisation Germany has ever known. Sometimes also called the Baader-Meinhof Group (because of two of the three driving forces behind the group) they were responsible for bombings, robberies, kidnappings and assassinations in the late 1960s and '70s.

The movie is based on Stefan Aust's best-selling nonfiction book, and that is probably also the reason for the main weaknesses of the movie.

1. It is very hard to understand who this movie is for. It's not for those who don't know anything about this period in German history, as most scenes are not well connected to each other and don't explain the reasoning behind the terrorists' actions. Not surprisingly when you want to put 14 years into 140 minutes.
The movie also failed to captivate those (like me) who were (slightly) familiar with the story, as I felt I didn't learn anything new, except maybe the active role of Gudrun Ensslin. And those who know a lot about the story, will be frustrated at how simplified and one-sided most of the story is.

2. The acting is very good with some exceptions, but there is not a lot of character development (except for Ulrike Meinhof who is portrayed as a misguided, weak bundle of misery). And some characters are not even introduced, so it is hard to understand why they would go throw away their young lives.

3. There are some dull moments but most of the time I didn't lose attention because of the subject matter.

I'd give this movie 3 out of 5 because of the great acting, the interesting story (most of the time) and the social importance.

Germany in the 1970s: Murderous bomb attacks, the threat of terrorism and the fear of the enemy inside are rocking the very foundations of the yet fragile German democracy. The radicalised children of the Nazi generation lead by Andreas Baader, Ulrike Meinhof and Gudrun Ensslin are fighting a violent war against what they perceive as the new face of fascism: American imperialism supported by the German establishment, many of whom have a Nazi past. Their aim is to create a more human society but by employing inhuman means they not only spread terror and bloodshed, they also lose their own humanity. The man who understands them is also their hunter: the head of the German police force Horst Herold. And while he succeeds in his relentless pursuit of the young terrorists, he knows he's only dealing with the tip of the iceberg

dinsdag 12 mei 2009

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

After the disappointing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it was time to check out that other "archeologist meets adventurer" Rick O'Connell. And yes, what we feared is true : our heroes are getting tired and need the help of their sons...how predictable!

About the mummies : they are great, and the special effects are very imaginative. But the rest of the movie (the biggest part) is boring with weak jokes, bad dialogue and no motivation. Only when Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh do their martial arts stuff you get a glimpse of how good this movie could have been.

Quote from The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor:

Jonathan Carnahan: Ah! My ass is on fire! My ass is on fire! Spank my ass. Spank my ass!

2 stars out of 5

As the monarch roars back to life, our heroes find his quest for world domination has only intensified over the millennia. Striding the Far East with unimaginable supernatural powers, the Emperor Mummy will rouse his legion as an unstoppable, otherworldly force...unless the O'Connells can stop him first.

Best Movie Posters Ever - 7 Year Itch

#22: The Seven Year Itch

Premiere: "If the designers of the poster for the 1955 Marilyn Monroe vehicle had substituted, say, Jimmy Durante for Tom Ewell on the right, do you think anyone would have noticed? No way. Monroe's pose in this poster has become an enduring iconic image of the sex symbol. The film was the first collaboration between the film's director Billy Wilder and Saul Bass."

maandag 11 mei 2009

Mirrors

This remake of a Korean Movie (Into the Mirrors) by Alexandre Aja has an interesting concept: what if mirrors are actually showing two sides of the world : a real one and an alternative one.

Keifer Sutherland plays an ex-cop who gets obsessed with this idea of duality and pretty soon we have a full-scale thriller/horror movie with two very VERY brutal scenes. Not for the faint-hearted! All through the movie the atmosphere is very creepy, the acting is bad or non-existent, and there is a beautiful woman running around all the time with lots of cleavage. Yes, you guessed it, in the end she falls in a pool of water and gets to run around like a genuine Miss-Wet-T-Shirt. How original :)

The last 2 minutes are great, but remind me too much of another movie whose name I will not write here because it will spoil the fun.

In short : very creepy, sometimes over the top, totally unbelievable with bland actors...if you like this stuff, you'll enjoy it. Otherwise stay well away

2 stars out of 5

Quote from Mirrors:

Lorenzo Sapelli: It has been five years since the fire. They're still in a legal battle with the insurance company. Even cleaning up this mess is impossible. I wouldn't give faith about reopening. Besides, who'd ever want to shop here after everything that's happened? You know, the Meredith family acquired this building after St. Matthew's closed in 1952. It was the very first Mayflower to open on the east coast. The company wants up to patrol every couple of hours, but I do my rounds every three. That's more than enough. Anyway, you'll see. Not too much going on. It's pretty calm around here.

Ben Carson (Kiefer Sutherland) is an ex-cop dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome, who takes a job as a night watchman at an old luxury department store that was burned in a large fire. Soon after he begins his job, Ben is haunted by horrific visions in the large mirrors of the store at night.

Gomorra

We went to see this movie with 10 people from BeWelcome and other hospitality exchange networks, and I doubt anybody was left unmoved. The realistic way in which life in a part of Napels is portrayed shocked me. This is Europe. This is Italy. This is something I knew nothing off. Sure, I had heard about the maffia, and in American movies (The Godfather) and series (The Sopranos) it looks like it is a life-style, a glamorous way to do business.

But when you see Gomorra and realize that a whole part of Italian life is interwoven with this disease, you start to shiver. I mean, being a simple clothes designer might actually bring you into confrontation with the maffia.

A great picture, it feels like a documentary but with people you have to relate to, whether you want it or not. A must see.

4 stars out of 5

"Gomorra," a contemporary Neapolitan mob drama based on an expose of Italy's criminal underbelly by Roberto Saviano, published in the U.S. by Farrar, Strauss & Giraux. That non-fiction book is so hard-hitting that mob threats have forced Saviano into hiding

zondag 10 mei 2009

Babylon A.D.

Everybody who was present agreed: this movie sucked, big time...

It's a pity, because the concept was a good one (the proof is that a similar movie, The Children of Men, was a great success). But it was completely messed up by bad acting, a bad script, and a feeling of total disrespect for the audience. To give you just one example: there is a lot of product placement (advertisments) in the movie for Canon, Coca-Cola and Motorola. The director defends himself by saying that in the future our world will be swamped with commercial ads. While this is probably true, it does not explain why there are no "competitive" ads. You see Coca-Cola all the time, but never Pepsi. Everybody has Motorola, but nobody uses Nokia.

Another big disappointment is the fact that Matthieu Kassovitz, the director, started his career with a movie that attacked all this commercialization (La Haine). And now he delivers mediocre movies with no soul. A real shame.

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 90

90. "A martini. Shaken, not stirred," "Goldfinger," 1964.

zaterdag 9 mei 2009

Be Kind Rewind

Michel Gondry is well-known for his strange, creative and provocative movies. Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind or The Science of Sleep were both interesting. His new movie starts very slowly but once Jack Black erases all the videos and has to recreate them, the fun starts. He invents a new technique, called "sweding" a movie, which means remaking a movie in 20 minutes with basic materials and one video camera. The results are hilarious as he 'swedes' Rush Hour 2, Ghostbusters and Robocop.

This movie will probably not appeal to a large audience, but those who like Michel Gondry's other work or who like Jack Black will love it.

3,5 stars out of 5

quote from Be Kind Rewind:

Jerry: [sung, poorly, to the tune of the Ghostbusters theme song] When you're walkin' down the street...
Jerry: [singing] ... and you see a little ghost...
Jerry: [singing] ... whatcha gonna do about -
[more out of tune]
Jerry: Ghostbusters?
Mike: What? What is that?
Jerry: That's the Ghostbusters theme song.
Mike: No.
Jerry: I'm pretty sure it is.

Jerry is a junkyard worker who attempts to sabotage a power plant he suspects of causing his headaches. But he inadvertently causes his brain to become magnetized, leading to the unintentional destruction of all the movies in his friend's store. In order to keep the store's one loyal customer, an elderly lady with a tenuous grasp on reality, the pair re-create a long line of films including The Lion King, Rush Hour, Ghostbusters, When We Were Kings, Driving Miss Daisy, and Robocop, putting themselves and their townspeople into it. They become the biggest stars in their neighborhood

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 91

91. "Who's on first," "The Naughty Nineties," 1945.

vrijdag 8 mei 2009

Wall-E

Wall-E

One of the best animation films I have seen in a long time (the same quality as Ratatouille), and maybe one of the best "computer animated" films ever? It has a brilliant story, great animation, touching moments and all the funny references to Space Odyssey. I laughed, cried and cheered for Wall-E. A masterpiece, I give it 4 stars

Quote from Wall-E

Captain: Out there is our home - Home, AUTO! - and it's in trouble. I can't just sit here and do nothing. That's all I've ever done! That's all anyone on this blasted ship has ever done - nothing!
AUTO: On the Axiom, you will survive.
Captain: I don't want to survive, I want to live!
AUTO: I must follow my directive.
Captain: [he turns around in frustration, and then looks at pictures of past captains to notice AUTO is closer to the camera in progressing pictures]
Captain: [turns back] *I'm* the captain of this ship! We are going home *today!*
In a distant, but not so unrealistic future, where mankind has abandoned earth because it has become covered with trash from products sold by the powerful multi-national Buy N Large corporation, WALL-E, a garbage collecting robot has been left to clean up the mess. Mesmerized with trinkets of earth's history and show tunes, WALL-E is alone on Earth except for a sprightly pet cockroach

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 92

92. "Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac ... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!", "Caddyshack," 1980.

donderdag 7 mei 2009

Best Movie Posters ever - The Hitch-Hiker

#23: The Hitch-Hiker
The poster for 1953's The Hitch-Hiker blurs the line between advertisement and highway safety PSA. The Edmond O'Brien roadside nailbiter had a simple approach to selling its cheap thrills — a gun, a threatening tagline, and the simple, violent colors of red and black.

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 93

93. "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!", "Auntie Mame," 1958.

woensdag 6 mei 2009

Wanted

Sure, Wanted is pure trash. It is B-movie extravaganza with a weak plot, over-the-top action, wooden acting and unbelievable situations. But it is also non-stop theatre, great explosions, funny tongue-in-cheek moments and Angelina Jolie. And yes, even if it is a movie like many others, it does have its moments. I would not recommend this for a romantic evening out, but if you like to watch an action movie that delivers exactly what it promises, then you'll like this.

3 stars out of 5

Quote from Wanted:

Sloan: It a choice, Wesley, that each of us must face: to remain ordinary, pathetic, beat-down, coasting through a miserable existence, like sheep herded by fate - or you can take control of your own destiny and join us, releasing the caged wolf you have inside. Our purpose is to maintain stability in an unstable world - kill one, save a thousand. Within the fabric of this world, every life hangs by a thread. We are that thread - a fraternity of assassins with the weapons of fate. This is the decision that lies before you now: the sheep, or the wolf. The choice is yours

A young man finds out his long lost father is an assassin. And when his father is murdered, the son is recruited into his father's old organization and trained by a man named Sloan to follow in his dad's footsteps

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 94

94. "I feel the need -- the need for speed!", "Top Gun," 1986.

dinsdag 5 mei 2009

X-files: I want to believe


I have never been a die-hard fan of the X-files, but I remember the first two seasons fondly. I did get a bit frustrated later on, because it fell into the same trap like LOST: the mystery is being prolonged so much that you start losing interest. I also did not see the other X-file movie, so I was a bit surprised to learn that Mulder and Scully where together, had a son and Mulder was on the run from the FBI.

Anyway, back to the movie: it is a long version of a normal TV episode, so if you like the X-files you will probably like this movie. The story was not very imaginative, the budget was low (and therefore no big spectacular chase scenes or dramatic explosions) and the chemistry between Mulder and Scully was not always present.

I give it 2,5 out 4 because it was entertaining and kept my attention

quote from X-Files: I want to Believe:

Dana Scully: What is it that you were praying for in there, sir?
Father Joe: For the salvation of my immortal soul.
Dana Scully: And you think God hears your prayers?
Father Joe: You think he hears yours?
Dana Scully: I didn't bugger 37 altar boys.
Fox Mulder: Hmmm, that's a pleasant way of putting it.
Dana Scully: I have another word I could use, if you'd like.
Fox Mulder: I'm sure you do.
Mulder and Scully are called back to duty by the FBI when a former priest claims to be receiving psychic visions pertaining to a kidnapped agen

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 95

95. "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary," "Dead Poets Society," 1989.

Quantum of Solace - James Bond 22

A new James Bond movie is always an event. And after the lacklustre movies of the previous years (Pierce Brosnan was not my favourite Bond), Casino Royale with Daniel Craig brought us a refreshing new James Bond.

Quantum of Solace is a sequel to Casino Royale, and begins where the previous movie stopped. Mr. White has been abducted by Bond and needs to be interrogated. A new movie almost always means a new director, which is a pity as the continuity is often broken, as is here the case. Where Casino Royale made a fresh start with less action and more emotions, Quantum goes into overdrive and gives us no place to rest until the (disappointing) end. The new Bond franchise has done away with many things I liked : Q, the gadgets, the superhuman Bond, the stunning Bond girls (this time Bond doesn't even get to kiss the girls) and the tongue-in-cheek humour. Instead we get a tough, ruthless Bond who has no problem in killing unharmed villains. A James Bond who doesn't even once say "My name is Bond, James Bond". Quite telling, actually.

Just a big warning : please find a seat at the back of the theatre. The action is so much in close-up that you'll be seasick if you find a place in the middle or front of the theatre.

Quote from Quantum of Solace:

Camille: You lost somebody?
James Bond: I did.
Camille: You catch who ever did it?
James Bond: No, not yet.
Camille: Tell me when you do, I'd like to know how it feels...

Seeking revenge for the death of his love, secret agent James Bond sets out to stop an environmentalist from taking control of a country's water supply

maandag 4 mei 2009

In Bruges

In Bruges is a very funny dark comedy that uses the setting of Bruges perfectly. A romantic (yet dead) city crawling with tourists is the perfect place to put two opposite characters against each other. The surreal events (dwarfs, prostitutes, drug dealers and murderers) result in a fun mix of comedy, drama, and suspense. I can imagine this is not everybody's cup of tea, but i give it 3,5 stars

Quote from In Bruges:

Chlo: There's never been a classic movie made in Bruges until now.
Ray: Of course there hasn't. It's a shithole.
Chlo: Bruges is my home town, Ray.
Ray: Well, it's still a shithole.
Chlo: It's not a shithole!
Ray: What? Even midgets have to take drugs to stick it.
Chlo: Okay. So, you've insulted my home town. You were doing really well, Raymond. Why don't you tell me some Belgium jokes while you're at it?
Ray: Don't know any Belgium jokes, and if I did I think I'd have the good sense not to... hang on. Is Belgium with all those child abuse murders lately? I do know a Belgium joke. What's Belgium famous for? Chocolates and child abuse, and they only invented the chocolates to get to the kids.
[Ray sees Chloe's shocked expression]
Ray: What?
Chlo: One of the girls they murdered was a friend of mine.
Ray: [after a long pause, feeling bad] I'm sorry, Chloe.
Chlo: One of the girls they murdered wasn't a friend of mine. I just wanted to make you feel bad. And it worked! Quite well.
Bruges, the most well-preserved medieval city in the whole of Belgium, is a welcoming destination for travellers from all over the world. But for hit men Ray and Ken, it could be their final destination; a difficult job has resulted in the pair being ordered right before Christmas by their London boss Harry to go and cool their heels in the storybook Flemish city for a couple of weeks. Very much out of place amidst the gothic architecture, canals, and cobbled streets, the two hit men fill their days living the lives of tourists. Ray, still haunted by the bloodshed in London, hates the place, while Ken, even as he keeps a fatherly eye on Ray's often profanely funny exploits, finds his mind and soul being expanded by the beauty and serenity of the city

Best Movie Posters ever - All About Eve

#24: All About Eve

Premiere: "The bouncy, kinetic design of 1950's All About Eve poster mirrors the movie's cocktail shaker wit. Erik Nitsche was the artist who came up with the arrow-filled image that, like the film, features an all-too brief cameo by Marilyn Monroe, here in the bottom left corner of the one-sheet."

LOFT

Flanders finally made its first real slick "hollywood" thriller. Loft is a well-written, crafty thriller with some nice twists. It is true that the movie does not have a lot of soul, you don't care so much for the main characters and there was maybe more to be made of the rivalry between the 5 friends. But in the end the movie delivers good fun, great acting and nicely shot scenes. I'm sure this will be remade in the USA.

Five close friends, all of them married, share a loft to meet their mistresses. One day they find the body of a young woman in the loft. Since there are only five keys to the loft, the five men begin to suspect each other of murder

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 76

"Hasta la vista, baby." - The Terminator 2: Judgement Day, 1991

Best Science Fiction Movie ever

The top 10 looks like this :
1. Blade Runner
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
3. Star Wars (A New Hope - Episode IV)
4. The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V)
5. Alien
6. Solaris (original by Tarkovsky)
7. Terminator 2
8. The Day the Earth Stood Still
9. War of the Worlds
10. The Matrix

any of your favourites missing ?

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 96

96. "Snap out of it!", "Moonstruck," 1987.

zondag 3 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 97

# 97. "My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," 1942

zaterdag 2 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 75

"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." - A streetcare named desire, 1951

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 98


# 98. "Nobody puts Baby in a corner," "Dirty Dancing," 1987

vrijdag 1 mei 2009

Top 100 Movie Quotes - 99


# 99. "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!", "The Wizard of Oz," 1939.