Susan Hated Literature

Dir: Paul Greengrass
Writ: Tony Gilroy ; Scott Z. Burns ; George Nolfi & Tony Gilroy
Based on the book by Robert Ludlum

• Matt Damon … Jason Bourne
• Julia Stiles … Nicky Parsons
• David Strathairn … CIA Deputy Director Noah Vosen
• Scott Glenn … CIA Director Ezra Kramer
• Paddy Considine … Simon Ross
• Albert Finney … Dr. Albert Hirsch
• Joan Allen … Pamela Landy

Bourne is back. Or maybe it’d be more accurate to say taht he never really went away, as this film picks up even before the second in the series, The Bourne Supremacy, has finished. So it is worth your while making sure you’ve seen that before you take a look at this one. That being said it isn’t vital, you’ll pick up on a main plot soon enough, and while what you miss out on does add to the film it isn’t totally necessary as there is plenty of back story floating around in this film.

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As in The Bourne Identity
Dir: Doug Liman
Writ: William Blake Herron & Tony Gilroy
Starring

• Matt Damon … Jason Bourne
• Franka Potente … Marie Helena Kreutz
• Chris Cooper … Alexander Conklin
• Clive Owen … The Professor
• Brian Cox … Ward Abbott
• Gabriel Mann … Danny Zorn
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje … Nykwana Wombosi

And The Bourne Supremacy
Dir: Paul Greengrass
Writ: Tony Gilroy
Staring:

• Matt Damon … Jason Bourne
• Franka Potente … Marie
• Brian Cox … Ward Abbott
• Julia Stiles … Nicky
• Karl Urban … Kirill
• Gabriel Mann … Danny Zorn
• Joan Allen … Pamela Landy

Both based on the novels by Robert Ludlum. No spoilers.

I remember really enjoying The Bourne Identity when I watched it first. But for some reason I never saw the sequel, but with the third out now in the cinemas I thought this is an ideal opportunity to catch up. And when I spotted the dvd set of the pair was only 18 euro I nabbed it.

I haven’t watched any of the extras yet, so can’t comment on those, but I really enjoyed the films. The are the perfect blend of reality and fantasy violence.

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Created/Writer: Chris Fedak & Josh Schwartz
Dir: McG

1. Zachary Levi … Chuck Bartowski
2. Adam Baldwin … John Casey
3. Yvonne Strzechowski … Sarah Kent
4. Joshua Gomez … Morgan
5. Sarah Lancaster … Ellie Bartowski
6. Ryan McPartlin … Captain Awesome
7. Don Abernathy … Traveler

So having been alerted to the fact that pre-air tv programmes have slipped through onto the wonder that is the internet, and, having heard that Adam Baldwin was in this one, how could I not dl it for a gander? You can see the trailer on the NBC site, and there will be spoilers if you read on.

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or Das Leben der Anderen
Dir & Writ: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

• Martina Gedeck - Christa-Maria Sieland
• Ulrich Mühe - Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler
• Sebastian Koch - Georg Dreyman
• Ulrich Tukur - Oberstleutnant Anton Grubitz
• Thomas Thieme - Minister Bruno Hempf

In 1984 in East Germany the secret police, or Stasi were everywhere, watching everything. This film details the activities of one officer, Wiesler, as he monitored a popular playwright. Wiesler doesn’t believe that Dreyman could possibly be as pro the party as he makes out. Too arrogant. So he suggests keeping him under surveillance, just in case. His superior officer doesn’t agree, at first, but then Minister Bruno Hempf mentions that perhaps he isn’t such a fan, and that perhaps Dreyman isn’t a favourite. It turns out that Hempf is more than interested in Dreyman’s girlfriend, the actress Christa-Maria Sieland, and so would like nothing better than to remove his rival by having him arrested and taken away.

But Dreyman writes plays that are acceptable and even in favour of the Party. Of course he is the “artistic” sort, and so is suspect, but he has received state honours and has found much favour with the government.

Not all his friends and colleagues are so lucky. And a close friend, the director Jerska, is driven to suicide after being “blackballed” for several years. This prompts Dreyman into action. He begins to research the suicide rates in East Germany and discovers that statistics about suicides are no longer collected by the state, presumably because the figures are so high. So he decides to write an article for publication in the West. By this stage however his every move is being watched, and listened to. Weisler has more than enough evidence to have him brought in, yet he doesn’t.

This really is a fantastic film. I wasn’t too sure at first. I had heard of it before I went to see it, but didn’t really know what it was about. I’m so glad that it was on at just the right time though. It is perfectly written, perfectly acted and just an all round great film.

I don’t want to say too much and risk ruining anything, but if you get a chance I would highly recommend you go see this film. It is both depressing and uplifting at the same time. A much grimmer depiction of spying than anything you’ll see Bond get up to, this works as both a political commentary on what East Germany must have been like, but also as a look at a man who suddenly seems to discover his humanity and emotion. A beautiful film.

IMDb | Consider Phlebas | A T-Dog Tale | The New Culture Forum

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Dir: Robert de Niro
Writ: Eric Roth

• Matt Damon - Edward Bell Wilson
• Angelina Jolie - Clover/Margaret Ann Russell
• Alec Baldwin - Sam Murach
• Tammy Blanchard - Laura

This is the story of Edward Wilson, a man who has believed in the United States of America all his life, who has always done what he thinks is right, a spy, a husband, a father. The story of the emergence of the CIA, of the Cold War, of Castro and Cuba, of relationships and love and loyalty and family. Of secrets and lies, or truth and betrayal.

Surely with all that going on it should have been a good, film?
Not so much. My god! was I ever bored sitting through this. The character of Edward Wilson was not a verbose one, which is fine, if you get across that there is something going on underneath the quiet. Not here. Damon came across as merely dumbstruck. There was never any real indication of his abilities as a spy, just a lot of him standing there, silent.

And at 167 minutes long, you really should have someone that the audience can engage with. Whether to root for, or despise, or just be interested in. I didn’t care about any of what was going on. The only thing that maybe worked, was the sense that in the end it was all worthless. The Cold War, the espionage, which side you were on — it all meant nothing. But that wasn’t pushed enough either. Instead it came across as a boring, boring film. Occasionally while watching I did think to myself, oh that’s a nice shot, but nice shots don’t make a film. And neither do attempts to mean something. Your film has to either entertain, or have meaning. This had neither.

IMDb | Film School Rejects | Blogalism | Mellow-Drama

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Dir: Martin Campbell
Writ: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis based on the novel by Ian Fleming

• Daniel Craig - James Bond
• Eva Green - Vesper Lynd
• Mads Mikkelsen - Le Chiffre
• Judi Dench - M

Before I saw this film I said that I would enjoy it, I just decided, spur of the moment type of thing that I would like it. And I’m glad to report that I didn’t have to lie to myself, because I did enjoy it. It isn’t perfect, it is too long and a little lacking in plot. It isn’t isn’t really a Bond film, although of course technically it is. But it doesn’t have the same gadgets and big bad in the same way as the other Bond films.

Instead we get a Bond who is brand new to the world of being a 00 agent.

Craig makes a great Bond, he isn’t really good-looking, but then again I’ve never thought that any of the previous Bonds were good looking either, and I really don’t get the Sean Connery kerfuffle. What Craig has though is presence. He is an excellent actor and really carries off the coldness of Bond. I’d love to see him play an evil bad guy.

There is some great dialogue, some great action scenes, a wonderful car crash and plenty of violence.

Although perhaps I’m a little too cynical because Show Spoilers ▼

All in all a good film, but not really one you’d want to watch twice. Let’s hope that Craig doesn’t do too many Bond flicks because it’d be a waste of his talent.

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And the Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins
Author: T.Ryle Dwyer
ISBN: 1856354695
DDC: 941.5082
See also: Library Thing; Google Scholar; The Bureau of Military History

Michael Collins is frequently cited as the originator of modern urban terrorism. The British characterised his Squad as ‘the murder gang’ and had they knowingly captured members of of the Squad they would almost certainly have exectued them.

Irish history is full of revolutionaries and failed rebellions, of informers giving information to the English, and spies infiltrating Irish organisations. Michael Collins recognised the importance of the intelligence network and so in 1919 he formulated a plan to blind the eyes of Dublin Castle by ensuring that the police force were as terrorised and demoralised as possible.

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