The two new releases of note both revolve around storytelling.  Vantage Point is a Rashomon- (very) lite affair concerning an assassination attempt and told from multiple perspectives that gets sillier as it goes along but still remains enjoyable if not quite the film one would expect of a cast which includes Forest Whitaker, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver and Dennis Quaid.

The other tall-tale comes in the form of Fade To Black.  The film sees Orson Welles (played by Danny Houston) arrive in Rome to film Black Magic only to become involved in a murder mystery and some political intrigue.  As this played in about two cinemas (if any) I have not yet had the chance to watch this but it's premise is ingenious enough to warrant a recommendation.

This week also seems two re-releases that although not linked in theme ('identity' maybe) both share a love of visuals and the gothic.  David Lynch's most mainstream film The Elephant Man has been given the 'Special Edition' treatment.  It is a masterpiece of cinema in both style and content that really deserves to seen by everyone.  The disc contains new interviews with both Lynch and star John Hurt - it's just a shame Anthony Hopkins is nowhere to be seen.

DVD of the Week is Dark City: The Director's Cut.  This is a brilliant package (although you should keep hold of your theatrical cut because it isn't included) that digs deep into this complex and endlessly re-watchable film.  With contributions from director Alex Proyas, writers Lem Dobbs and David Goyer, star Rufus Sewell and film critic Roger Ebert every base has been covered - great stuff.

Michael Haneke's US remake of his own Funny Games is good but not as good as the original, Bernardo Bertolucci's political epic 1900 is worth the bum numbing runtime but far from perfect and Heroes: Season 2 is great TV but doesn't quite have the addictive energy of Season 1.

So what else is there that is worth mentioning?

27 Dresses?  The Hottie And The Nottie?  Well the former is just as inane as it looks and I'll be avoiding the latter as it's body fetish hypocrisy promises a film just as, if not even more, repulsive than Good Luck Chuck.

So, if you want my advice all of these are worth renting first or just save yourself some cash and watch/tape Re-Animator (1985) on Channel 4, 02:50, Tuesday 29th July.

10,000 BC is terrible. Oh my word it is terrible. In fact, I imagine if I was eleven (the age group that I assume this must be aimed at) I would be saying exactly the same thing. Okay, so it makes no sense - not a problem, I don't care if man did or did not exist in along side certain creatures or what period agriculture / pyramids etc first appeared. Action and spectacle is what I am after and that is exactly what is not supplied in this mumbo-jumbo mess.

Drillbit Taylor certainly is not that bad but it definitely has it's own problems, the most pressing of which being the question of whom the film has actually been made for - anyone? It's too immature for adults and yet too grown up for the age group that would seem best suited (again about eleven). On a similar note it's a film about a bunch of kids who hire a bodyguard due to the rather nasty attention they have been getting from the school bully and yet invites the audience to laugh at many of the tortures those kids are put through. Then by the end it does nothing more than firmly cement the notion that violence is bad unless it's carried out by the right side. Conflicting, unfunny and slightly creepy stuff that is best avoided, or even better maybe, watched side by side with the likes of Mean Creek and Bully.

If you fancy a bit of horror this week then why not check out either All The Boys Love Mandy Lane or the Spanish hit The Orphanage (El Orfanato). In an earlier review (link) I described the latter as "an intelligent and unsettling movie, the kind of which European film makers have a real knack for but Hollywood just can’t seem to produce" but ...Mandy Lane is almost a pleasing exception to that rule. It's a curious throwback to the eighties slasher flick (minus the late nineties' all knowing smuggery that we have become used to) that ,unlike all the sanitized remakes appearing recently, is actually an effective film. You could say it's the harsh violence or the cruelty of the victims that makes it stand out but none of this would matter if it were not for director Jonathon Levine's (currently the talk of town for The Wackness) decision to shoot the film like an art movie about the beauty of youth or some such. If you'll forgive the pun this is a cut above the rest.

This week's unknown is Redacted. There's been plenty of talk about Brian De Palma's latest film and it's been split down the middle in terms of positive and negative comment but it seems that no matter what side of the fence a critic comes down on I can't help but get excited by an Iraq movie from the man who has given use decades of innovative and exciting movies - especially when even the bad ones are still worth watching.

To finish off I would like to make two statements - firstly, what with this being a film blog an' all, the DVD Of The Week is a TV sitcom. Secondly, that sitcom The Office: An American Workplace - Season 3 is better than the BBC/Gervais behemoth that inspired it. Season 1 was an interesting adaptation considering the narrower limits of US network TV, in Season 2 it became it's own animal (different but equal) and now it's just plain better. The cast have really hit their stride, as have the writers and it's just hilarious television.

If you haven't yet seen it - do so.

If you still think Gervais & Co did it better - wake up.

The Game Plan sees Dwayne Johnson (a.k.a. The Rock) play an egotistical American Football star who discovers that he has a daughter when she turns up on his doorstep.  Naturally it doesn't take much brain power to figure out if he changes his naughty ways and becomes a responsible and loving father but it might come as a surprise to learn that this is an enjoyable, if shallow, movie thanks largely to a very keen and willing cast.

If the kids want something a bit more substantial (or you just fancy being entertained) then The Spiderwick Chronicles will certainly meet your requirements.  The story revolves around twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace who move to a dusty old house in the country with their mum and older sister.  Soon the boys (both played by Freddie Highmore) find themselves in battle with a host of creatures that want to destroy the titular book.  With genuine scares and nastiness this film might not be suitable for very young children but the deft script (John Sayles had a finger in this one), well crafted thrills and emotional back story should certainly more than fill the 'family viewing' sized hole left by Dr Who's departure from the schedules.

Moving up the age bracket slightly leads us to the anime inspired Batman: Gotham Knight (also available in a double pack with Batman Begins) and the dance film Step Up 2: The Streets.  The former is a bridging exercise in the run up to the release of The Dark Knight (surely the most anticipated film this summer) whilst the later is more of the same damn popular formula that made Step Up a smash hit (again a double pack is available).

Those looking for a bit of drama would be well advised to avoid trash Brit-horror The Cottage and head straight for Things We Lost In The Fire which, whilst flawed, features (far too little) David Duchovny on top form in a supporting role that both anchors and lifts the intimate drama between Halle Berry and Benicio del Toro.

To finish with it's good news for fans on inventive and original cinema with the release of DVD of the Week I'm Not There.  Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan biopic is a dazzling display of both style and substance with six actors portraying the man variously described as a genius and a Judas.  The film is as contradictory and unpredictable as the man himself as it flicks between eras, styles and personae.  Love it or hate it (and many do, including Dylan fans) you can't deny that Haynes has a style like no one else and we are all the better for it.

...talking of style, this week also sees the release of a box set dedicated to the work of Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro.  The set contains both Delicatessen and The City Of Lost Children plus the short film The Bunker Of The Lost Gunshots - enjoy.

Of course I'm not talking about The Bucket List in which Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson get 'movie cancer' (i.e. the kind without real symptoms) and set out to do all the things they haven't done. Obviously you'll get ill watching it so I could suggest either French horror Frontiers (neo-nazi cannibals) or the new boxset of the complete Lonesome Dove to aid your recovery.

All this, however, is mere dust compared to DVD of the Week and quite possibly one of the greatest works in American film, There Will Be Blood.

What more can be said about this true original? I'll say that it deserves and rewards your time so grab a copy, turn off the lights and enjoy pure filmmaking.

"...the latest Jason Statham cock-er-ney cor blimey crime caper, The Bank Job which is being described as a five-star “belting British blockbuster” by Company magazine - hmm."

Well I've eaten my words, my hat and some humble pie because this is actually quite a good film. Statham and co. are a bunch or thieves tempted into a foolproof simple caper by Saffron Burrows (you would) that turns out to be anything but and draws them into a web of conspiracy and corruption populated by Meanwhile crimelords, drug gangs and the Government. Written by veteran wordsmiths Clement and La Frenais this really is a likable film that benefits from a uniformly good cast and a great sense of humour. The one down side are the harsher moments of violence that really seem out of place but besides that I have nothing bad to say about this film. In fact I was tempted to make it DVD of the Week but then I saw...

Futurama: The Beast With A Billion Backs which follows on from the hilarious Bender's Big Score. Like the previous film I must admit that I laughed my shiny metal butt off watching this and again it works much better than The Simpsons did at feature length, which I put down to the situation having a much wider scope for story (space travel etc) and the fact they are not trying to conquer the world via the big screen. Had The Simpsons Movie been released direct to DVD I doubt the makers would have felt the need to explain the Wolfcastle / Schwarzenegger joke for those not in the know. Anyway as with the best of the TV show it's a nicely absurd story that really hits high notes when the gags coem from the mercenary nature of Bender and the unthinking cruelty of Professor Farnsworth ...but even so it still ain't DVD of the Week.

...neither are Garage or Taxi To The Darkside (both unseen, both very interesting) or even Oz: Season 5, which sees HBO's deranged, slightly rubbish but highly enjoyable (not to mention camp) prison drama hit new levels of mentalness: which prisoners will be allowed to train seeing eye dogs? which Aryan will be thrown out of the gang for having the gums of black men? will Luke Perry still be bricked behind the canteen wall? Hilarious stuff.

DVD of the Week goes to the new three-disc edition of Peter Weir's beautiful Picnic at Hanging Rock. The film tells the story of the unexplained disappearance of a group of schoolgirls at the titular site and if ever you had to point to cinema as poetry I'm pretty sure you would be hard pressed to find a better example. The set contains both the original cut and the shorter Director's Cut, a two hour 'making of' and loads more.

The big one is Rambo.  It's dumb and very violent (very) but at about 80 mins manages to remain a very very guilty pleasure.  As I mentioned in my original review the bad guys are the Burmese army and there ain't so much jingoism so I'm not sure if that means it is any less reprehensible than part II and III (First Blood is untouchable) or if it has just swapped right wing chest beating for hypocritical 'killing for peace' to allow liberals like myself to enjoy the carnage - either way I doubt I'll bother watching it again.

Next up is Christina Ricci vehicle Penelope.  It's about a girl that is cursed with a pig's nose until she can find love.  I hope someone finds her inner beauty and and steals her heart so that she loses her pig nose - the message being that looks don't matter but when all is said and done no sane person is going to live with a freaky pig nose gal.  You know, I  know it and Hollywood knows that we know it (even if we pretend we don't).

Couple of films that I'll be looking out for are Lars Von Trier's latest The Boss Of It All in which a company hires an actor to pose as their boss and Thai reality TV horror Ghost Game (Laa Thaa Phii).

Guernsey residents might be interested to know that the WWII based Peter Sellers drama The Blockhouse is also out this week.  Released in 1974, the film tells the story of a group of forced labourers who take refuge in a storage bunker during the D-Day bombardment of the French coat only to find themselves sealed in.  Based on a true story (it is said that a couple of German soldiers emerged from such tunnels in 1951 after being similarly trapped) the film was shot in Guernsey in the Underground Hospital and at L'Ancresse.  I saw this at CineGuernsey's Liberation Day screening a couple of years back and can honestly say that although it is worth seeing, the 'grim' does not quite cover the overall feeling one is left with.

Semi-Pro is merely the latest Will Ferrell loveable loser movie. In short it's better than Talladega Nights, not as good as Anchorman and nowhere near Old School.

Film of the Week is Seth Gordon's documentary King of Kong. On the surface this is the story of some guys with a little too much time on his hands (says the guy writing a film blog) trying to become the world's top scoring Donkey Kong player but, look below this and you will find a story of intrigue, obsession and competition. Whilst it is fair to say that this is documentary film making at it's most narratively 'tuned' edge (and you suspect that some people may have been unfairly dealt with by the director) it is hard not to be dragged into this underdog movie. If I'm honest I've disparaged other films of this type for their constructed nature but I just couldn't help but be seduced.

Elsewhere we have gory thriller WAZ and the new Ryan Reynolds' rom-com Definitly Maybe plus Kidulthood being given the 'special edition' treatment ahead of the arrival of the sequel Adulthood... but of most interest is The Exonerated. This is a filmed version of Erik Jensen and Jessica Blank's play concerning people convicted for murder then... err... exonerated. Whilst this might not sound like a fun piece of entertainment it is well worth checking out for the basic, sparse presentation and a veritable feast of great actors.

Have a good week.

Cloverfield. What have I got to say about this movie? On the positive side the film works a lot better on the small screen than it does at the cinema but unfortunately it is still not as good as some would have you believe. Whilst the concept of a monster movie as recorded by a citizen journalist is intriguing the film suffers from breaking the rules of the format (the camera man claims that he wants people to know 'how it all went down' but frequently ignores the 'great big once in a life time you ain't seen nothing like this event' in favour of the unconvincing domestic drama - in fact if you want to see this type of thing done really well check out Spanish horror film Rec. when it hits DVD in early August). I've said it before and I'll say it again - this is originality as defined by the self obsessed YouTube generation and maybe that is where it should have stayed.

Of the new releases that I have not yet had the pleasure of watching I am most intrigued by The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and River Queen. The first relates the story of a man who became paralysed everywhere apart from his left eye and used this one way of communicating to dictate a memoir and the second concerns a family in 1860's New Zealand who find themselves caught between opposing Maori and Colonial factions. Whilst both of these films sound slightly on the dour side of life they have both been highly praised for their bold visuals and compelling subjects.

Also released are the Eva Longoria starring Over Her Dead Body and Dan in Real Life (featuring Steve Carell) - the most interesting nuggets of info I can find about these two is that the former was, apparently, originally titled Ghost Bitch and the later features a nice performance from Juliette Binoche.

Another advantage offered by Movie Room Reviews is an alphabetically searchable database of all reviews.  This means that people looking for new or older releases can get details and advice before making their choice.  The site also offers a resource page on the best places on the web to get great DVD movie deals and discounts on buying, selling, or renting DVD movies.  Additionally, Movie Room Reviews will soon be offering great monthly DVD contests and giveaways to reward visitors.

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                                      Okay,so it's pretty much a random parody of a bunch of movies and shows including *gasp,could it be?* the movie 300. From what I've seen in the small,crowded theater that's just about as local as it gets, this movie is freakin' hilarious in every plossible way and well put together. If you haven't seen it yet,I'd grab it while it's on DVD now,unless you want Chuck Norris to Texas Ninja Kick you ten times to teach you not  to miss awesome movies like that. Although,this Unrated Pit of Death edition promises to give more to the movie and hours of Zeus-worthy bonus features.

                                                     As soon as I get the cash,I'm hunting down that movie and getting it even if it means fighting little creepy,pyschotic,6 year old killing machines.Trust me,those things are pretty blood thirsty.*shudders due to thinking of last Chistmas*

                                                  -TS

If you are looking for something a little more substantial then look no further than the Oscar winning Film of the Week, No Country For Old Men. This film is immense in both story and style and is easily the best film that the Coen Brothers have ever made, possibly even one of the greatest American films ever made. In case you hadn't spotted it yet - I love this film.

Moving on, this week also sees the release of Afghan literary adaptation The Kite Runner and the Michael Douglas starring The King Of California. I can't pass judgement on these as I have not yet seen them but I have heard great things and will hopefully be able to post reviews before the week is out.

There are a number of re-releases this week the most interesting of which is the restored version of Sam Peckinpah's Major Dundee. Starring Charlton Heston in the title role alongside Richard Harris and James Coburn (plus regulars Ben Johnson, Warren Oates and L.Q. Jones) and this is a rip-roaring western adventure that has some real balls. Following a mixed group of Union cavalry officers and Confederate P.O.W.s as they hunt down a band of Apache, this film has been various seen as a retelling of Moby Dick, a lecture on the divided nature of the United States and a commentary on the Vietnam War. Like all great film it fits nicely into all of those and yet refuses to be tied to a single one.

Not so much a re-release as simply a re-package is the new edition of The Godfather Trilogy. If you already have the boxset that was released a few years back then you pretty mush have what is here. The first two films have been given a 5.1 sound makeover, there are a few new extras (including one called The Godfather on the Red Carpet which seems a good indication of the quality) and the box has a subtle streak of red across it. Quite.

Finally, UCA are putting out a new line of double feature packs. Whilst we all know that these can always throw up some badly chosen duets (Wilde/Ned Kelly anyone?) they have actually included some great couplings. My favourites are East Rider/Two-Lane Blacktop and Adaptation/Being John Malkovich. The first set unites possibly one of the most overrated (but important) films of all time with Monte Hellman's low key, under seen car classic whilst the second offers up two surrealist modern classics.

Have a good week.

Next up (and Film of the Week any other week) is Before The Devil Knows You're Dead.  As an old man (84 years young) it is nice to see that director Sidney Lumet is still making films with the same energy as he was decades ago.  This tale of two brothers setting out to rob their parents' jewellery store is a fierce character driven drama starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke.  Of course, as always, things don't go to plan but the fractured structure, plus some great work by Marisa Tomei and Albert Finney ensures that the film stays nicely ahead of the audience.

Also out this week are the Andrzej Wajda War Trilogy, Wim Wenders' Alice In The Cities, under-seen youth drama On The Edge and the brilliantly soundtracked Radio On; all of which are worth checking out (sorry for the lack of detail but I'm writing this against a cinema appointment deadline) as is, allegedly cos I ain't seen it yet, bestiality documentary Zoo.

...gotta run, happy viewing, I'm off to watch Cassandra's Dream and I'll bore you all about it tomorrow.

Bee Movie is damn funny. Of course that is the judgement of a big Jerry Seinfeld fan. There is some charming animation and plenty of slap stick etc, but it enjoyment really does rest on whether or not you are amused by the man himself. I do. If, on the other hand, you find his humour to be monotonous then you might not take so kindly to this film.

The Film of the Week is definitely Lindsay Anderson's O' Lucky Man! Malcolm McDowell reprises the role of Mick Travis (If...) in this epic comedy about a coffee salesman that is certainly not to everyone's taste. Personally, I think it is laugh out loud funny, Alan Price's soundtrack is great and its the best work that Arthur Lowe (Dad's Army) has ever done. Part social commentary, part existential comedy O' Lucky Man! is a truly adventurous bit of cinema that deserves re-discovery and is finally viewable in its complete form.

The Deal is a low key drama about the relationship between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown from the same team that made The Queen. Like the later film, The Deal, convinces largely through the portrayal of those involved, Michael Sheen utterly convinces as Blair (as he did in The Queen) and David Morrisey is fantastic in the role of Gordon Brown. This is an interesting film that is well worth checking out and fans will be pleased to know that there is a third instalment on the way focusing on the relationship between Blair and George Bush.

Finally, two bits of TV for you. Based on the Evelyn Waugh trilogy, Sword of Honour is a grand bit of drama starring Daniel Craig. Some might not like it's unashamed celebration of 'doing the right thing' and keeping a stiff upper lip but the story is utterly captivating and the performances and general production are solid.

Michael Crichton's The Andromeda Strain was brilliantly filmed by Robert Wise in 1971 and now there is a new TV miniseries. This could be great but the words 'loosely based' are being bandied about so it could be a big disappointment.

Next up is the utterly lamentable AVP2 or, if you prefer, Aliens Versus Predator: Requiem. Just as a 'rose by any other name would smell as sweet' it doesn't really matter what you call this utter clanger of a movie. It succeeds on absolutely zero levels and can't even get basic human biology right. It is pure drivel and a further tarnishing of one great action movie and four slices of genius (okay three slices but you get the point and Alien 3 is better than most people remember). You can choose between the regular or 'Ultimate Combat' edition but heaven knows why you would want either.

Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a Willy Wonka-ish swirl of colour and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is notable solely for giving the excellent John C. Reilly a starring role. Either way you feel like you've seen them done before and done better - although both are still quite enjoyable.

This week's new releases of old films include the excellent Les Yeux Sans Visage (Eyes Without A Face) which is a fine slice of surgery-based, creepy as heck, horror. The black and white photography is sublime and the performances are universally great in this cinematic classic.

Also out this week are some brilliant low price Film Four DVDs including Local Hero, The Straight Story, Ghost Dog, Bully, Welcome To Sarajevo, Cypher, American Buffalo and Career Girls - all of which are great films but non of which quite match up to Steven Soderbergh's outstanding revenge thriller The Limey. Mixing Get Carter and Point Blank, the film sees Terence Stamp on top form as the English gangster who travels to Los Angeles to find those who might be responsible for his daughter's death. The Limey is a film that requires your brain to be switched on and deserves repeat viewing, as well as a much, much higher profile. It's the Film of the Week, anything less would be crazy.

The two unseen releases this week are Chinese war drama Assembly and slasher film Five Across The Eyes. The former is the story of a Chinese soldier trying to find comrades that were declared missing in action during a battle that he may have prolonged unnecessarily. Word is that this is a stunning piece of cinema akin to the excellent Korean movie Brotherhood. Five Across The Eyes manages to be entirely unoriginal in having a group of girls cause a road accident and then get pursued by the person they crashed into. It has received some pretty bad reviews but has had some great nods from various Horror publications and has an excellent poster...so if that is your thing then this seems pretty promising.

Last, but by no means least, (in fact it has to be DVD of the Week) is Bonnie and Clyde: 40th Anniversary Edition. Arthur Penn's film charting the tale of depression-era bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow is a masterpiece of American cinema and should be viewed by all. Star Warren Beatty also produced and in doing so paved the way for the era of American cinema known as New Hollywood. This is revolutionary stuff that still strikes a cord four decades later.

4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days is a critically acclaimed, Palme d'Or winning Romanian drama about illegal abortions during the Ceausescu regime - which sounds about as much fun as actually being there and yet the reviews seem to be universally great as the film apparently works as a piece of pure cinema and not just the 'issues' movie that it could have been in less confident hands.

To lighten the mood a bit we have Waitress and I'm a Cyborg; two very different but equally quirky love stories.  Now I realise that the word 'quirky' can be a turn off but these two films prove that it can work wonders when done right.  The former is the story of pie obsessed waitress (the cooking not eating variety) who gets pregnant whilst having an affair with her doctor.  It is an odd film but well worth checking out for the excellent cast (incl. Firefly's Nathan Fillion) and upbeat philosophy.  I'm A Cyborg is the latest barrel of weirdness from Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) and centres on a girl who believes herself to be a cyborg (hence the title) and the schizophrenic who befriends her.  Like the director's previous titles this is stuff that you are either into or not and if you are into it, as I am, then you are in for a treat.

Linking this week's new releases to re-releases is Sleuth, a film about which it is polite to say as little as possible so as not to ruin it for those that have not yet had the pleasure.  I haven't yet seen the new Michael Caine / Jude Law version (released this week) but I can tell you that the Laurence Olivier / Michael Caine version (re-released this week) is a cracking piece of work and so I am half intrigued to see what screenwriter Harold Pinter and director Kenneth Branagh have done with it and half dreading the presence of Jude Law (a great British actor cursed with never having made a truly classic film - also see Richard Burton).

This week's other re-releases include the beautiful Lancelot du Lac and a special edition of the very special Assault On Precinct 13, but the best one surely has to be the Sergei Eisenstein: Vol 2 - Historical Epics boxset.  This collection of the soviet director's best works (i.e Alexander Nevsky, Ivan The Terrible and Ivan The Terrible Part 2: The Boyars Plot) shows a master film-maker at the top of his game - if you like film then you are duty bound to watch these and cower in their towering intellect and audacity.

Finally, there is the documentary Zizek.  If you do not know who Slavoj Zizek is, find a copy of The Pervert's Guide To Cinema (clips can be seen here) and you will be smitten enough to check out this documentary.

first the worst,

second the best,

third the one with Vincent Price

It might not rhyme but it is accurate....

Lions For Lambs is a pretty boring affair in which various people sit around and tell us that the war in Iraq is bad and has been handled badly. Director Robert Redford gives himself the most worthy (and therefore most patronising / boring) role as a college professor arguing a gifted but apathetic student into caring, Tom Cruise is a senator intent on giving the correct story (spin et al) to Meryl Streep's TV journalist and Michael Pena and Derek Luke are two soldiers on the front line. Although the names of the actors might tempt some into giving this a look it really is a film that should be resisted. The real problem is that it preaches to the converted. This is the liberal side of Hollywood making films to feel good about itself and in doing so, Redford manages to inspire the opposite of what his professor advocates as it becomes apparent that being smug will only inspire people to switch off.

I Am Legend is the latest version of Richard Matheson's horror classic of the same name. Will Smith plays the lone survivor of a plague that has killed millions and turned plenty into nasty vampire-like creatures. This film received very mixed reviews upon release but I thought it was one of the stronger films of the summer. Smith was convincing in the 'is he mad or just plain paranoid?' main role and the film threw up quite a few questions about the nature of isolation and modern living. Unfortunately, it fell down as it headed towards the conclusion due to a rushed ending and seemingly missing a reel or two. If you are going to grab a copy on DVD I would suggest the two disc Special Edition. Not only does it feature an alternative and much more satisfactory (although not perfect) ending but it also contains four 'animated comics' that are worth checking out.

Released to coincide with I Am Legend is The Last Man On Earth. This is the first film version of I Am Legend and although it would be kind to describe it as 'not great', it does feature Vincent Price in the main role giving a performance that comes pretty close to nailing Matheson's tortured weary protagonist (although it should be noted that Matheson himself disagrees entirely).

From such a high point it's a long way down to St Trinian's, a girl-power remake of the slightly amusing originals. Russell Brand is in it, as is Rupert Everett ... and that should be all you need to know. In truth I ain't seen it but from the trailer alone I feel that I am qualified to wonder what exactly has happened to Colin Firth's career?

The Lookout is ideal rental viewing. It is an intriguing noir tale featuring Joseph Gordon Levitt as the brain damaged janitor who gets involved in a plot to rob the bank which he cleans. It is a well acted film that rises above the norm through a sparse script, fully formed characters and a deliciously tough finale. The acting is great and the story compelling.

To finish off is a bit of great television that slipped through the net when Channel 4 screened it a while back. Kidnapped: Season1 follows Lucian Knapp, an ex-F.B.I. kidnap specialist (do I need to say the word 'maverick'?), who is called in by a wealthy family when their son is held for ransom. The drama unfolds amidst a string of double-crosses, red herrings and clashes with the authorities - and it is engrossing stuff, so it's just a pity that no one watched it.

In the U.S., following a poor rating performance on the third episode it was announced that the show would only air for thirteen episodes and not the usual twenty two (which explains why it does not suffer from the flabbiness of some U.S. shows), it was then rescheduled and given the kiss of death when the last few episodes where made 'online exclusives'. Even Channel 4 lost heart, they showed it at 9pm then moved it back to 11pm then started showing it in batches of two just to finish it quickly.

This show is a genuine mystery. It is intelligent and exciting television featuring some great actors (Linus Roache, Delroy Lindo, Ricky Jay, Timothy Hutton and Jeremy Sisto) and yet it was cancelled before it was even given a chance...

The rest of the week's films are a mixed bag of both subject matter and quality. Breach is an absorbing cat and mouse thriller (based on a true story) in which Ryan Phillippe's F.B.I. rookie is assigned to monitor his new boss, played by the always solid Chris Cooper. This is a film with brains that draws you in via a calculated script (check out the cold cinematography) and compelling characters.

Three new releases have to be filed under 'not yet seen'. Technically speaking, video game adaptation Hitman is actually in the 'will not see' bin and Black Sheep (zombie sheep comedy horror) is on the pile marked 'seen 30 minutes and decided life was far too short'. Far more intriguing is The Nines. Ryan Reynolds (file under 'he who should play Fletch') plays three different people (a writer, an actor and a video game designer) in three separate stories... or are they? ...or is he? etc. I've no real idea what it is about but it has had some very mixed reviews and that usually means that the film will at least be interesting.

Those looking for something with a few more years behind it could do no better than having a look at This Sporting Life (re-released this week). A 'kitchen sink' drama from the golden age of such things, it stars Richard Harris as the rugby player who doesn't know the meaning of the word discipline. There is plenty to admire in this bruising drama (especially Harris' performance) but for sheer cinematic exhilaration look no further than Lindsay Anderson's superb decision to place the camera on the field of play.

Last up, but by no means least, is the documentary In The Shadow Of The Moon. With testimony from many of those who took part, this is an engrossing look at the history of the Apollo moon landings. Awe-inspiring stuff.

Enjoy

The story is a rip-off of Battle Royale and The Running Man (both of which can be traced back to The Most Dangerous Game) that follows a group of dangerous convicts who are purchased from various corrupt jails and forced to fight to the death on a small island for the pleasure of an internet audience.

It is hard to decide what is least likeable; the rampant misogyny, the crude stereotypes and jingoism, the unpleasant violence or even the basic assumption that the viewers are as thick as Austin's neck... but what really takes the proverbial is that the film wants us to enjoy the slick violence that it portrays and condemn the evil TV producer who is broadcasting it without the slightest notion that these are conflicting ideas. Either the filmmakers are dumb or they think we are - and seen as this cretinous piece of 'entertainment' has got an average of 6/10 on IMDB I am afraid it might be the later.

If you do enjoy this film you might want (or even need) to check out Michael Haneke's Funny Games - I know it's in foreign but don't worry because an English language version will be in cinemas soon.

In case you feel dumber for even knowing that The Condemned exists you might want to check out some of the following new releases...

Rendition is one of the better 'Iraq' films to come out of Hollywood in the past couple of years. It might not really address any actual issues in a satisfactory way for those wanting a thick slice of politics but, as a piece of drama, it ticks the requisite boxes. The acting is solid and the story pulls you along to a sound finale.

Keeping things on a war footing is the excellent documentary Why We Fight. Starting with President Eisenhower's warning about the dangers of living within an industrial military complex the film looks at how the good old U.S. of A. promptly ignored him and the effect that has had on the state of the nation. This might sound rather dry and depressing but it is utterly compelling and contains numerous interviews with the likes of John McCain and Gore Vidal. This edition also contains plenty of extra features including extended interviews and a Q&A session with the director.

This week's 'ain't seen it but boy am I interested' release is another documentary. Back To Normandy is the latest film by Nicolas Philibert, director of the wonderful Etre et Avoir (a portrait of a small French primary school). In 1975 Philibert was involved with the production of a film called I, Pierre Rivière which told the true story of a man who murdered his family. The film was made with non-actors and Back To Normandy delves into the lives of those that took part. I, Pierre Rivière is also released on DVD.

Finally this week, special mention has to go to I Am Omega which is a zero budget movie about the lone survivor of a plague who has to battle zombies and his own isolation which the more cynical among us might assume is a rip-off of I Am Legend or The Omega Man.

The production company behind I Am Omega (The Asylum) is also responsible for Transmorphers, The Da Vinci Treasure, AVH: Aliens Vs Hunter and the unapologetically titled Snakes On A Train - all of which, I am sure, have much more integrity than The Condemned.

(Hmm - there appears to be some confusion as to the DVD release date of I Am Omega. Some sources say 24th March others say 14th April. Either way the point remains that even a cheap knock-off of a blockbuster has more to offer the world than The Condemned.)

GCI extravaganza Beowulf hits the sehelves in both regular and Director's Cut editions. Now I was going to do a review of this film but did not actually finish watching it which does not mean that it was awful it just means that I did not find it engaging, although I am sure that if I had seen it on a big screen I would have been much more impressed. What I can say about it is that it is more violent than I thought it would be and there are some allusions to sexual acts that feel completely out of place. One thing that did bug me is the fact that all the characters look like the actors who supply their voices with the exception of Beowulf himself who despite being played by Ray Winstone looks like Sean Bean.

No one in their right mind will be pleased by the release of Good Luck Chuck, a film (apparently a comedy) so vile and sexist that I can barely bring myself to mention it but on the other hand it did some good box office so maybe I am alone in my thoughts on that one.

This week's unseen is Nick Broomfield's Battle For Haditha. This has been described as a powerful piece of film making and, according to the blurb, 'concerns the investigation of the massacre of 24 men, women and children in Haditha, Iraq allegedly shot by 4 U.S. Marines in retaliation for the death of a U.S. Marine killed by a roadside bomb.' Controversial stuff indeed from the former documentary maker. Hold back on buying the DVD because it is being screened on Channel 4 at 9pm tomorrow night (Monday 17th March).

Finally there is Runaway Train. Based on a concept by Akira Kurosawa it follows a jail break that results in a pair of convicts being trapped on a... wait for it... runaway train. Simple stuff but brilliantly executed with some fine over the top acting from Jon Voight and Eric Roberts. Train/action junkies might also enjoy John Frankenheimer's The Train and the little seen Emperor of the North from Robert Aldrich - is it just me or did it just get very nerdy in here?

***STOP PRESS***

It would appear that the excellent vampire survival horror 30 Days of Night will be available for rental only from Thursday (20 March). Follow this LINK for the review and I'll mention it again when the retail release happens.