I get internet at home at the end of the month so you'll probably see me updating a lot more come May. I would have liked to have been a bit more prolific here recently since I started in the new office but I've actually been very busy (unsurprisingly I guess) :p

I'm away in America next week for the GAMA Trade Show in Las Vegas. I fly out this Friday (10th April) and land back in the UK again on Saturday 18th April. Then the following week I'm away in France from Friday 24th April to Monday 27th April for Salon du Jeu de Societe in Paris.

So it's busy bee time one way or another for me.

Not having internet at home, and not really knowing all that many people here as yet has seen me getting out to the cinema quite a bit or staying in watching loads of DVDs between unpacking a million boxes from my house move.

Myself and the office Intern went and saw 'Låt den rätte komma in' ('Let The Right One In) last night at the local Empire which had a single screening of it as a special. It's a subtitled Swedish horror/vampire film and is very good. It certainly won't be to everyone's taste as it's quite slow paced and quiet but the story is very good, very dark with a number of layers that when you reflect back on it you'll realise more and more things that are hinted at.

I've not read the original story the film is based on but from the sounds of things the film has toned down several aspects of the book - subjects such as paedophilia have been seriously toned down, but they are still hinted at and/or alluded to. Also the violence, whilst still quite shocking in some ways, is not as gruesome as the text in the book. But then you can expalin a lot mroe detail in the written word than you can capture in a few moments of celluloid.

The film certainly won't be to everyone's taste (he says repeating himself) but if you like Japanese style dark fantasy/horror films I'd certain reccomend hunting it down and giving it a go.

I'm certainly very pleased to have caught it and will be picking up a copy on dvd when it's released.

Apparently the film's proper release is taking place this Friday (10th April) so hopefully it'll be available on a cinema near you (well... you UK folks) then.

I decided to go and see Slumdog Millionaire this afternoon. It was already on my 'To See' list and after winning four Golden Globes earlier this week (Including Best Picture and Best Director) I thought today was as good as any as I could go in the afternoon and avoid the crowds that will inevitably now fill the screenings in the evenings and weekends.

Well for starters, Danny Boyle is back on form. He's Directed some of my favourite films over the years (Trainspotting and 28 Days Later being the big two for me) but his last outting, Sunshine, I was really disappointed in. Slumdog Millionaire is a fantastic return to power and quite rightly deserves the praise and attention it's getting - be it in the form of reviews, awards or the fact that it's already #35 in IMDB's Top 250 Films!

The story is of Jamal Malik who is born into the poverty of the slums in Mumbai (Bombay) with his older brother (Salim) and mother. Eighteen years later he is a contestant on the Indian version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' and the police and shows host suspect him of cheating his way to the top prize - the first time anyone on the show has won it, let alone an uneducated 'Slumdog'.

The film follows his life - which is seen through a series of short vignettes flashbacks - from a child to him becoming a contestant explaining how he came to know the answers of the various questions he has to answer on his way to becoming the shows possible first winner.

It tells a tale of poverty, gangland violence, betrayal, love and lost love.

I don't think many of the people who are seeing the film at the moment actually realise that it is kind of a very gritty, violent, gangster film in many places. It's certainly not all a safe, lighthearted romp through poverty and hardship to a happy ending. The trailer does alot to cover this up and I do think that some people maybe slightly surprised, or even shocked, at some of the scenes and footage in the film if they go in blind and expecting a different type of movie.

I won't go into detail of the film. That would spoil it for those of you who want to watch it at somepoint - and I would urge you to watch it at somepoint. Suffice to say that I loved this film. I thought it was really well done and am very pleased that it's getting a lot of recognition at present and will possibly be nominated for a number of Oscars on the 22nd when the shortlist is announced.

It is  a shame, in some ways, that it takes a British Director to help break Indian cinema out of Bollywood and onto our mainstream Multiplexes. Hopefully it will help open that door, and keep it open a while longer.

See this film.

I'm now off to buy the soundtrack...

School Report: A (Danny Boyle back at his best; Fantastic piece of cinema)

Just got back from the midnight showing of The Mist, which has only just been released here in the UK despite being released last September in the States! It seems like it won't be on for long either as the local cinema had two showings this week 11.40pm Friday and Saturday night!

Anyway, daver2323 suggested it so he, crookedmonkey, dredd_bob and myself headed through the late night mean streets of Finchley (ahem) to watch the film.

Now before I go into the film I'd just like to say that I generally am not a fan of Stephen King - his books nor the film/tv adaptations based upon them. Sure there's been one or two over the years (The Green Mile is a fantastic film) but generallly, no. The Mist is based upon one of his novels so I wasn't sure although the Director, Frank Darabont, was also the man behind The Green Mile so worth a shot I guess.

Damn right it was worth a shot.

I think The Mist may be the best film I've seen all year at the cinema so far. I'm going to sleep on that but my current top two are Iron Man and Cloverfield and The Mist certainly beats Cloverfield for me and is giving Iron Man a good run for its money.

I loved it. The creatures were awesome and the film was eerie. Certainly beat the lacklustre 'Hancock' that dredd_bob, larva and myself saw this morning.

Dave and me (geeks as we are) spoke about what roleplaying game it'd be - he reckoned Cthulhu "The Stars Are Right". I reckoned Torg, with the film being the initial cosm-invasion.

I won't say much more about it right now (especially as it's now almost 3am and I have to be up in 6 hours to get ready to go and see Kung Fu Panda with the guys - yes, this weekend is fairly cinema-heavy) but the other thing that impressed all of us was the incredibly bleak ending. It's great to see the rare bleak endings that American films seem so adverse to providing us.

Brilliant movie.

I can't quite remember who told me that Crank was a good film. Plenty of action and surprisingly entertaining.

Well they were wrong.

The actors, generally speaking, aren't bad - especially given the material they hsave to work with. You can that one or two of them might actually have good careers ahead of them given a good enough film. The scriptwriter and director deserve shooting though.

It has a few amusing moments but generally speaking it's a complete waste of time. The best bit about it was the Indian Jade and myself had whilst watching it!!!

School Report: E- (Only watch if you have good food/company to distract you

School Report: C (Mirrormask has been called 'The Labyrinth for the 21st Century'. I wish it was.)
(Special Commendation: Special Effects & Design: A)

This morning I went and saw The Da Vinci Code with weaselbitch at the local moving picture establishment.

I was intrigued to see the film even though I thought the book was a real disappointment and a waste of trees and time (you can see my book review here: Saturday 9th July 2005). I've said for a while that I thought it would be a better film than it was a book (which is something I will rarely say as books give you so much more that is not captured on celluoid) so was interested to see the film despite all my opinions on Mr Browns lucklustre novel.

I've also been surprised that the film has been fairly universally panned in the press. I've not seen a positive review of it as yet and many places have called it this years dullest film. I, strangely enough, now find myself defending Mr Browns novel. For starters I guess they haven't read the book. The book is hardly an action thriller. It's a 590+ page book that covers the event of ONE day. The book is slow, the book doesn't give the reader anything real to think about - just leading them from one encounter or discovery of a bit information to another. THE DA VINCI CODE WAS NEVER GOING TO BE A FAST PACED FILM!

I also find myself flowing against public opinion once again.

Public Opinion on the book: Loved It
Angus Opinion on the book: " the book is actually about as controversial and ground breaking as a book as Busted is to Punk rock."

Public Opinion on the film: (So far) Found it boring
Angus Opinion on the film: Far better than the book and actually pretty enjoyable

Yes that's right folks. I, Angus, Hater of All Things Brown "LIKED" the film adaptation.

And it is an adaptation. They have changed a number of things from the book (as with almost all adaptations) some of which are for the better others of which are not. Maybe because at it's core The Da Vinci Code seems to have been written for the big screen as well as airport lounges. Maybe it's because I prefer wasting a couple of hours at the cinema than several nights reading a bland piece of fiction. In anycase I enjoyed the film.

Yes, it is slow paced. But, as I mentioned before, anyone who has read the book should be expecting this. The ideas and settings suit the big screen and have been very well handled by Ron Howard (yes, he of Happy Days fame). Tom Hanks does a fine job as Robert Langdon - won't be getting any Oscar nominations for it, but he portrays him well and once again comes across as a good actor - Audrey Tautou (whom I've loved since Amelie) is still sexy and lends Sophie Neveu an added element of charm and sex appeal, Ian McKellen is brilliant as Sir Leigh Teabing and Paul Bettany is an excellent Silas (the albino monk).

It was odd seeing Alfred Molina playing Bishop Aringarosa as whenever he came on sceen I just kept thinking about Doctor Octopus! Jean Reno (who was excellent in Leon/The Professional - depending on which continent you live on) put in a disappointing performance as Captain Fache. I can't really put my finger on it but he just didn't come across as well as he did in the books. This is probably partially because of some changes they made in his storyline.

I had to smile at a couple of scenes (mainly street scenes in Paris) as the director must have done some homework because some of the location he uses (that aren't mentioned in the book) are actually fairly important in Templar history. One in particular near Notre Dame :p

Overall I was surprised by the film. Despite my views on the novel - and the fact that I feel they changed a few of the good bits in the transition - I found myself enjoying the film and would certainly recommend it to people as long as they like slower paced more thinking films.

I can't believe I've actually said good things about this! If you've ever thought about reading the book - don't. Go and watch the film instead. If you want a proper book dealing with the Templars and conspiracy theories go and read the excellent Focaults Pendulum by Umberto Eco instead. That is something that deserves the title of 'Masterpiece'.

School Report: B (Ron Howard somehow made a bland book into an interesting film)

I'm not a big fan of comedies. Especially American comedies. Mainly because a lot of comedies are just totally inane and I just don't find them funny at all. I appreciate good comedy - or at least comedy that I feel is good. This is one thing where I am elitist in film. I thought American Pie was awful and even despite bribes you'd never get me to go and see 'Dude Where's My Car!" or any of it's ilk.

So it is rather strange that I watched, let alone brought, The 40 Year Old Virgin.

The reason? Well, a number of friends whose opinions I trust on the subject (including some of you guys and gals on LJ who saw the film last year) raved about it so much I decided I would actually give it a go.

Boy am I glad I did.

The 40 Year Old Virgin is probably one of the best films - let alone comedy films - I've seen in ages. I found myself laughing loads and the situations and script are intelligently (ok so intelligently might be the wrong word here) handled. You can tell that the screenwriters and the director approached this looking for a higher standard of adult humour than many of their counterparts who seem to be just out for cheap laughs.

The lead character, Andy, is a complete geek. Which is even mroe entertaining as I'm sure I've met several 'Andys' in my time within the games and comics worlds. Andy paints miniatures, reads comics, collects action figures and plays computer games. He is a geek. Maybe this is an extra reason why I found the film so amusing, I don't know.

Anyway, if you haven't seen this film go and rent a copy. You shouldn't be disappointed. It's hilarious (although it does suffer from a typical "not sure how to end this" Hollywood ending which is a shame).

School Report: A- (You know you're gay)

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Trish: I'm throwing myself at you and all you can think about are fucking toys.
Andy Stitzer: They're not fucking toys! This is Ironman, okay?
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Jay: Dude, it's not a big deal that you like to fuck guys. I'm cool, I got friends who fuck guys... in jail.
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Andy Stitzer: [painting his toy figure] I'm gonna make your silver pants blue!
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Well, less of a review and more of a statement of personal feeling.

The Brothers Grimm is possibly one of the worst films I've seen in a very long time. I know it got slated by critics as well as many of my friends when it came out at teh cinema but I wanted to see it as I am a big fan of Terry Gilliams work (especially Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen).

Big mistake.

I'm not sure if I can say anything redeeming about it at all.

The script was in the most part dreadful, as was the acting, and even the set designs and special effects were found wanting in my opinion.

I guess my redemption can be that I didn't pay much for it on ex-rental DVD and I should be able to make a few quid of that back when I put it up for sale on ebay or somewhere.

School Report: E (and that's probably being generous)

(EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I actually ended up fast forwarding through various bits of it. Yes, I felt it was 'that' good...)

Every time I visit the States I try and catch at least one film at the cinema. Usually these films are weeks, if not months in some cases, away from their UK general release. Things seem to have tightened up this year though. Pretty much all of the films here (at least the ones I'm interested in) are already on big screens in the UK already. We're even ahead in some cases as Lucky Number Slevin still has not been released Stateside and is still being trailered as a forthcoming release.

With this in mind I decided to go and see 'V For Vendetta' which was released on both sides of the pond last Friday and which a number of you have already seen and commented on in your LJs. Whereas some of the reviews in the media seem to have been pretty negative from your reviews and comments on your LJs the vast majority of you guys and gals who have seen the film have really enjoyed it.

Anyway, I asked at the front desk and scouted the internet and it seemed that a cinema here in LA called The Arclight (on Sunset and Vine) was one of the best places to see it. It turns out that The Arclight is actually one of the best - if not THE best - cinemas in LA so I made a good choice. V For Vendetta was showing in several screens but also in their 'Dome' screen. The Dome screen was originally built back in 1963 and the current screen is 32 x 86 feet! It is a lovely screen and you even get a compare before the film welcoming you to the screen and remidning people to switch phones, etc off, as well as a bit about the movies background and the actors within it. Fine stuff.

Now whilst it has been many years since I last read V For Vendetta I can honestly say this was a very good translation of the comic. Sure it's been updated and tweaked in places, but times have changed since the 80's and as with many films it had to appeal to more of a mass market that the comic ever had too. It manages to make these changes and still maintain much of the original source material.

V's voice was a little disconcerting from behind the mask initially but I soon got used to it. The acting, on the whole was good, and certain scenes managed to get the laughs that they were intended to (he says without giving any spilers away :p). I really enjoyed the film and, more importantly, so did most of the rest of the cinema. I was a bit unsure how some people would take to the subject matter (after all the film is about terrorism from a terrorists point of view) but I needn't have worried. Hopefully many of the viewers will walk away enjoying the film but also thinking about the meaning behind the film and how it relates, in part, to their own governments today.

School Report: B+/A- (Almost positive this will achieve a high rank in my end of year Top Ten)

I can honestly say that's the busiest I've seen a cinema during a weekday afternoon for some time. It wasn't packed but there must have been a good 30-40 people in there.

So, what was the Oscar nominated abd George Clooney directorial debut "Good Night, and Good Luck" like?

The film is about Edward Murrow, a broadcaster at CBS and his attempts to bring down Joseph McCarthy in anti-Communist paranoia ridden 1950's America. Murrow was aided in this by his Producer Fred Freindly (played by Clooney) and their team of researchers. The film itself is shot in black and white and features alot of archive footage from the time of both McCarthy and a number of the people he accused during his 'purge'.

The acting is good and the film was also quite interesting as it explored a very small slice of the overall period. It was very centered on Murrow (not unsurprisingly) and specifically on the case at hand. In some ways it is more of a documentary-drama than a film and I'm certian many on my friends list wouldn't enjoy it. Indeed I'd only really suggest going to see it if you are a major film buff or have an interest in the historical events that the film portrays.

David Strathairn does a very good job in his roll as Edward Murrow and should be highlighted above the rest of the cast (although everyone was pretty good). I'd also like to highlight Frank Langella's performance as William Paley - the head of CBS.

It has come as no surprise to me (I googled him when I got home) that Edward Murrow died of lung cancer in 1965 as the character was portrayed as smoking pretty much throughout the entire film - as were most of the characters but I guess those were the times!

I'm surprised the film has been nominated for six Oscars as whilst good I don't feel it was a great film. Indeed it probably won't even reach my Top 10 or even 15 by years end. In short, think twice about going to see it as you mya find it hard going and a bit boring as it is a film which I'd guess needs an acquired taste. School Report: C

I saw 'Lucky Number Slevin' at the cinema on Saturday morning. The trailers had intrigued me and it looked my kind of film. It certainly didn't disappoint.

Scottish Director Paul McGuigan managed to assemble a very good cast including Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Lucy Lui and Ben Kingsley for the film and they all pretty much come up trumps. If anything the weakest performance from the aforementioned is actually Ben Kingsley!

I will admit I kinda fell for Lucy Lui pretty much from her first on-screen appearence. This is unusual as I've never really been taken by her in that way before. I think a lot of it had to do with her characters personality - she was scatty and enthusiastic which I guess I kind of go for. I just adored her in the role of Lindsey.

The basic premise of the film is that Slevin (Josh Hartnett) travels to New York to visit a friend (Nick) to get away from loosing his job and catching his girlfriend shagging someone else. On route to his mates house he gets mugged (and nose broken) and then arrives to find no one at home. He lets himself in, has shower, and then gets interrupted by nieghbour Lindsey (Lucy Lui). He then gets accosted by two heavy's who mistake him for Nick and haul him away to speak to The Boss (Morgan Freeman). Nick owed money to someone than owed money to The Boss and The Boss is now calling that debt in. Unfortunately for Slevin The Boss' main rival (The Rabbi played by Ben Kingsley) is also owed money by Nick and once he gets back to Nick's flat he is almost immediately confronted by The Rabbi's men and taken to have a chat. In the midst of all of this is Mr. Gookat (Bruce Willis) a master assassin who seems to be manipulating things behind the scene.

I enjoyed this film and would reccommend it to anyone who likes filsm in the vein of Momento and to an extent Pulp Fiction. Lucky Number Slevin resides somewhere in the middle ground of those two.

School Report: B+

I was lucky enough to see Munich today. I wanted to catch this film as soon as I heard about it as it's an event I studied briefly at school in my history classes dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Munich is based upon a true story of 11 Israeli athletes who were captured in the Olympic Village in Munich at the 1972 games held there. They were subsequently killed along with all bar two of their captors. The film focuses on an undercover Israeli clean-up squad that was formed to take out Arabs and Palestinians supposedly connected to the planning and financing of the Munich killings.

The film is pretty long (164 mins) but certainly held my interest throughout - but then it is my kind of film. A political thriller never goes too far wrong in my books :p The cast was generally very good and Eric Bana certainly impressed in the lead role of Avner (I was very dubious about Bana after seeing The Hulk). I also didn't realise at the time but the guy who plays Steve (the South African) is Daniel Craig who is our future James Bond and was also the lead in the brilliant Layer Cake. I still don't know what he'll be like as Bond though - guess we'll have to wait and see.

Anyway, Munich certainly deserves the Oscar nominations it's received. The story is gripping and the characaters and events are well portrayed, as are the ideological conflicts and other world events that are happening to both those involved and the world at large at that time. I won't say much more for now as hopefully many of you will actually catch the film too.

School Report: B+/A-

Now I haven't really seen a good review for this film and most of my friends list who have seen it pretty much slated it too. As such I went to the cinema this evening expecting very little.

Thus I was quite surprised when i actually enjoyed the film. I thought the special effects and set designs were very good. Kate looked fantastic and, generally, the acting wasn't too bad. The plot was fairly good in places and sucked in others with large holes.

I have found that when I see films that I'm expecting little from I am pleasently surprised. Underworld: Evolution certainly isn't an all-time great but it was an enjoyable 90+ minutes that kept my attention. I must say (again) how much I did like the special effects and also the way they handled the story. The film carries on directly from the place the first film finished.

I think it'll have a B- on the School Report card though. This is probably generous and tainted by the fact that my expectations were very low. I would be surprised if it'll end up on my Top Ten of 2006 but I wouldn't be surprised to see it in my DVD collection eventually.

Also, I finished reading 'Memoirs of a Geisha' last night (very good book) which probably means I'll be heading to see the film tomorrow afternoon. Also 'Munich' is released on Friday so I'll probably try and catch that early Saturday morning as it's one I've also been waiting for.

B-Movie was fab in it's 80's cheesey special. Glad I made it! :D

It was really good to catch up with a whole host of people - although I did spend most of the night chatting to Dom and Elaine and also Andy R!

Boogied on down to a few tracks but mainly seemed to chat/drink/smoke. Who can resist Alice Cooper's "Poison" though? I certainly never could!

Also F**KING KYLIE! She almost did it to me again tonight!

Last time B-Movie held an 80's night the first notes struck up to what I *thought* was Dead or Alives "You Spin Me Round" which is one of my most favourite 80's tracks. I bounce lots and exclaim to everyone that this is MY FSVOURITE 80's track and dive on to the dance floor only to discover a few seconds later it's Kylie's "Locomotion". Much embarassament (and a speedy retreat from said dancefloor) ensued. It *almost* happened again tonight. The tune started up and I though *Cool!!! :p* but held back any pronouncement or dancefloor invasion until I amde sure. And sure enough it was Locomotion again...grrr.... at least I didn't make a fool of myself this time. Stock, Aiken and Waterman have a lot to answer for.....

Anyway, fabbo night.

Also got home, switched on LJ, and found that a really old friend has friended me and has actually had an LJ for a few years! How on earth did I miss her??? Glad she's here though (Hi Izzy!) as I'd lost contact to her due to various email/phone changes.

The day was good afterall.

Oh yeah - I should add a PS. I saw Sam Mendes "Jarhead" today. It's a film about the Marines in the first Gulf War (ok, the first Gulf War of the 90's....). Apparently it didn't do very well in the States upon release and I can see why. It does not glorify the marines or the war at all and is a very good film - although that should be expected of Mr Mendes and several of the cast. It's a very different type of war film (it's not an "action" flick for starters) and I really enjoyed it and it had a really good soundtrack (School Report: B). May go and see Brokeback Mountain tomorrow but more likely to stay at home and try and get some work done. The last couple of days have not been productive one way or another....

Anyhow, goodnight fine readers. Till tomorrow......