FilmJournal.net is a new blogging site aimed at film lovers, haters and those that just pop along to the cinema now and again! If you want to share your film-related thoughts, why not set up your own blog here - it's quick and easy and open to anyone. Already a member? LOGIN HERE.
Cal's Heroes of the East is a regularly updated blog about the kind of movies that often get overlooked or even totally ignored amid more mainstream fare. His focus on Asian cinema and martial arts, with the odd diversion into other areas, means that he has carved out a unique area for himself on FilmJournal that's consistently informative and entertaining.
Jonathan English | 121 mins | Blu-ray | 16:9 | UK, USA & Germany / English | 15 / R In medieval times, a group of filmmakers set out to prove you can make a Hollywood-quality historical action epic with independent funding in Britain, while in the present day a ragtag group of seven samurai— sorry, gunslingers— sorry, warriors, defend a ...
100 Films in a Year 28-01-2012 01:00
I agree re: waiting. Not only do you go in with better adjusted expectations, but it feels less of a let down if it isn't any good than if you've taken the time, effort, and not inconsiderable sum of money to bother going to the cinema for it. That said, I think Proper Critics are (generally speaking) pretty hard on summer fare. There are except...
Posted by badblokebob 27-01-2012 23:39
Kur Cronenbergu ben nje film te ri (ritmi zakonisht eshte nje here ne dy vjet), une behem shend e verë sepse ai ka nje te mire : nuk del asnjehere huq, gjithmone filmat e tij jane ose te mire, ose shume shume te mire. I fundit fare-fare, "Eastern Promises" ishte i vetmi qe me kish zhgenjyer. Dhe me kujtohet fare mire arsyeja : Cronenbergu ne ate...
STALKER 26-01-2012 14:14
Giuseppe Verdi - Don Carlo Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich 2012 | Asher Fisch, Jürgen Rose, René Pape, Jonas Kaufmann, Boaz Daniel, Eric Halfvarson, Steven Humes, Anja Harteros, Anna Smirnova, Laura Tatulescu, Francesco Petrozzi, Evgeniya Sotnikova, Tim Kuypers, Goran Juric, Levente Molnár, Christian Rieger, Christoph Stephinger, Rüdiger T...
OperaJournal 24-01-2012 18:58
Three writers and an army of eighteen producers, hardly the foundation of a cohesive movie, so you can guess how this one turns out. I still can't get my head around eighteen producers, how the hell do you make a movie with that many hands in the mix? Must have been like making a film by consensus or committee. The frustrating thing about this movi...
Musings of the Ghost Of 82 24-01-2012 18:36
Here are some lobby cards from the German film Bonditis from my collection, plus a couple of stills from the set. Bonditis is a German film (shot in Switzerland) about a man named Frank Born (Gerd Baltus), who is suffering from dreams that he is in fact a top secret spy named James Bond. I'm not sure how the filmmakers managed to avoid the la...
Retro Ramblings 24-01-2012 14:45
Conceived originally as a sequel to the 1933 film 'King Kong', 'King Kong Vs. Frankenstein' was the invention of Willis O'Brien, stop motion animator on the original film who came up with the idea to get his career back on his feet much like Carl Denham, by bringing back the Mighty Kong to the big screen. The plot roughly went like this... T...
All of this has Happened Before 23-01-2012 11:29
I finally saw The Artist last week, having been super-keen to watch it since the reports of its frenziedly positive reception in Cannes last spring; I suppose it goes without saying that I was a bit disappointed. It certainly looked the part, but I was expecting more invention. Ironically, it may all-too-accurately reflect the rather flat, intertit...
gratia artis 18-01-2012 16:08
2010, US/Canada, Directed by Eli Craig Colour, Running Time: 85 minutes Review Source: Blu-ray, Region B, Sony; Image: 1080i 50fps 2.39:1, Audio: DTS HD MA (Review also over at the new Grim Cellar) Starting off in what appears to be familiar territory, a bunch of 'college kids' (a couple of them incredibly pleasurable to look at) head of...
The Grim Cellar 11-01-2012 19:47
First up I want to say that FilmJournal has been good to me; it introduced me to the world of blogging and all the pleasure that comes with it. The thing is, when you're a dedicated film nut it can seem a lonely pastime. Friends and acquaintances often look at you with a mixture of pity and suspicion. Enjoying the movies is one thing, but actually...
Riding the High Country 15-12-2011 22:57
Christophe Honoré, France, 2011, 139 mins, 2.35:1 Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Ludivine Sagnier, Louis Garrel, Milos Forman, Paul Schneider, Rasha Bukvic, Michel Delpech, Omar Ben Sellen French Theatrical Release: 24 August 2011, Le Pacte Review by Noel Megahey Returning for his latest film to the director’s now familiar style ...
Ciné-vu 08-11-2011 18:34
Yep, 3 stars is fair- I saw this on rental last year and quite enjoyed it. Like you, after hearing the reviews I hadn't expected much, and it is far, far superior to other tosh like Skyfall. Sometimes I think its best to watch DVD rentals after the hype and fallout from cinema bad reviews has passed by. I think I enjoy films more. I've got to revie...
Posted by ghost of 82 27-01-2012 20:51
I think the Star Wars advertising done these days has just evolved from what begun in the late 70s. Lucas made a deal to have all the commercial tie ins and toy rights. Since Star Wars is at the front of people's minds these days thanks to the prequels and animated series I guess it's advertising and the market being advertised to that has itself c...
Posted by oldboy 26-01-2012 13:49
Q: What does a screen door and a blonde have in common? A: The more you bang it the looser it gets. [Editor's note: see again my comment above, possibly replacing all instances of the word "bad" with "tasteless".]...
Posted by Palawan Hotel 25-01-2012 22:57
You are right of course. But I can't help being gobsmacked by it all. Deep down Star Wars was kind of special to me as a kid, and it seems odd that I seem to respect it more than it's creator does. I drove home tonight past three huge billboards for Vodaphone with Yoda plastered all over them. The world, frankly, has gone mad, far as I can see. The...
Posted by ghostof82 23-01-2012 18:20
You might not want to visit Japan where you can see Darth Vader advertising cell phones and storm troopers on the front of art and culture magazines. I don't know if there is much left to diminish brand-wise. I think Lucas clearly sees it as a multi billion dollar business and runs it as such. I find it hard to believe they don't have the budg...
Posted by oldboy 23-01-2012 11:35
FYI, the actual house that was the HQ for the Nazi spy ring was not on 92nd Street, but on 93rd Street...No. 53, to be exact. That house doesn't exist any more...although 51 is there, and 55, too. I believe it was demolished and am trying to get more info on that. Apparently, someone thought "92nd Street" sounded better than "93rd Street," although...
Posted by Geprge Haber 22-01-2012 18:05
What?! Haven't the prequel trilogy, and the Droids cartoon series, and the two Ewok films, and the various Clone Wars series, and the forthcoming live-action series and the tie-in merchandise and fast food deals and the endless video iterations and 3D re-release taught you your lesson yet? It's a business. Lucas likes making money, over and a...
Posted by Matthew McKinnon again 22-01-2012 17:06
Thinking ahead to when 48 or 60fps films start appearing, I'm already imagining the complaints from viewers who miss the 'authenticity' of motion blur, slightly coarser editing and overly dimensional images. Cue letters to Sight & Sound bemoaning the good old days of 24fps, ad nauseam....
Posted by Matthew McKinnon again 18-01-2012 14:48
Regarding a faster frame rate: Peter Jackson is shooting The Hobbit at 48fps, and when he announced it the implication was some cinemas (no idea what kind of number/percentage) are capable of projecting at faster frame rates already. If Cameron announces he's definitely doing the same with Avatar sequels ahead of Hobbit Part 1's release, the weight...
Posted by badblokebob 17-01-2012 00:50
I fear they will bring Bay back to top this one. Oh Primus no! I too share your complaint about the action being too fast and the camera racing by. Even on the big screen sitting further back it moves too fast and fills too much of the screen. You'd think Bay would pull the camera back a little to give some perspective and see how big these rob...
Posted by oldboy 16-01-2012 19:42
