Jan 11 2007

Favourite flicks of 2006

Published by Fence under Moving Pictures

Well, I did the books so now I’m turning my attention to the films. And in no particular order my top films of 2006 are:

  • The Departed[1]
    Violent and great. But must be call “The Depaaahrted” for proper effect. Both DiCaprio & Damon were great, but the whole supporting cast were fantastic.
  • Pan’s Labyrinth[2]
    I loved this film. Visually stunning, and with a great story as well. Brilliant.
  • Little Miss Sunshine[3]
    Just wonderful. Funny and touching and so watchable. And another film with a great child actor, Pan’s Labyrinth being the other.
  • United 93[4]
    This may be here because of subject matter rather then purely the film, but I still think it deserves a mention. Gripping both because of the drama/tension raised, but also because of what you know happened.
  • Severance[5]
    Because who doesn’t love a silly gore-filled comedy. Not quite in the same league as Shaun of the Dead but I loved it all the same.
  • Superman Returns[6]
    Not perfect, but pretty damn close. Let down by having Bosworth play Lois Lane, but I thought that Routh was perfection as Supes.
  • The Wind That Shakes The Barley[7]
    This is one that’ll feature in quite a few history classes over the coming years I’d guess. The Irish civil war in all its violence and brutality.
  • El Lobo[8]
    Another Spanish language film, this time set in the 1970’s, and involving terrorism. Didn’t know anything about it before going it, but thought it was a very good film.
  • Junebug[9]
    This was just lovely. Yes, it is a quirky independent film but don’t hold that against it.
  • The Proposition[10]
    Nick Cave writes a film, we’re all expecting darkness, and that is certainly present. Very violent and harsh, but a great film.
  • Mirrormask[11]
    It may be a little similar plotwise to films like Labyrinth but this is still a great film in its own right. Great visuals.
  • Merry Christmas aka Joyeux Noel[12]
    This came out in 2005, but I didn’t see it til Jan 2006, so it still makes my list. Set in the trenches of World War I this is a story based on the true-life unofficial truce between the opposing sides of that war, and it makes for a great film.

Linknotes:
  1. full review of The Departed ↩
  2. my review of Pans Labyrinth ↩
  3. full review of Little Miss Sunshine ↩
  4. review of United 93 ↩
  5. full review of Severance ↩
  6. review of Superman Returns ↩
  7. My review of TWTSTB ↩
  8. My review of El Lobo ↩
  9. review of Junebug ↩
  10. My review of The Proposition ↩
  11. review of Mirrormask ↩
  12. my review of Merry Christmas ↩
Tags: El Lobo, favfilms2006, Favourite films, Junebug, Little Miss Sunshine, Merry Christmas, Mirrormask, Pan's Labyrinth, Severance, Shaun of the Dead, Superman Returns, The Departed, The Proposition, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, United 93

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Jul 20 2006

Superman Returns

Published by Fence under Moving Pictures

Dir: Bryan Singer
Writ: Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris, Bryan Singer, Jerry Siegel (characters)

  • Brandon Routh - Superman
  • Kate Bosworth - Lois Lane
  • Kevin Spacey - Lex Luthor
  • James Marsden - Richard White
  • Parker Posey - Kitty Kowalski
  • Tristan Lake Leabu - Jason White

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.usSuperman has never really been a superhero that I was a fan of. Sure, he is faster than a speeding bullet and has saved the world on numerous times, but I’ve just never had a grá for him. So I wasn’t all that fussed about this film, apart from the fact that is took Singer away from X-Men. But I figured, big block-buster movie, might as well take a look.

And I’m glad I did, because despite the fact that it has many flaws this is still a highly enjoyable film with plenty to recommend it. Of course, the central problem with any Superman film is that you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that by the end of the film all will be well. A fact that makes it a little hard to build tension over Supes being in trouble, but this film actually manages to make you feel slightly concerned for the man of steel.

I have to say that Routh does a great job at looking all heroic. And all bumbly as Clark, but Clark isn’t really all that central to the story. This is all about Superman. Superman and Lois Lane.

Lois’s character is a bit bland. She gets in trouble, gets saved. Has issues. But nothing overly intriguing. Although plus points must be awarded for not having a pointlessly annoying kid. Jason, her son, is in some respects another “item to be saved” but unlike in Poseidon he doesn’t do any stupid pointless wandering or looking about and gain more trouble for himself. Spacey does the job as Lex Luthor, but doesn’t have much character. And like many a superhero villian his plan makes no real sense. However Parker, playing Kitty does a lot with her limited screen time.

I’m also thinking that we should get a petition together to try and find James Marsden a role where he isn’t involved in some sort of a love triangle.

All in all, well worth seeing, and despite being 154 minutes long it doesn’t drag, although it probably could’ve stood to be trimmed a little.

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Tags: 9 Stars, awwww, Brandon Routh, Bryan Singer, Dan Harris, highly enjoyable, James Marsden, Jerry Siegel, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Michael Dougherty, Parker Posey, sff, superheroes, Superman Returns, Tristan Lake Leabu

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