Iron Man 2 (2010) - Rating: 3/5

Fun and enjoyable, though largely messy and meaningless. Too much to deal with, and not enough time. Too much focus on technology, gadgets, gimmicks, and future movie plugs (The Avenger movies) at the expense of character and plot. Should have trusted my gut instinct to wait this one out, expected it to turn out this way. All the headline actors underused. Reminded me of Transformers a bit. A corporate sell-out, caving to the stuidios. Some of the dialogue quite amusing and entertaining, peppered throughout the movie - you have to listen out for it - it's never consistent. Waiting for something to happen throughout the whole movie, but never materialises. Worth watching just for Downey Jr's performance, and the machine-porn.

Mood movie: The Bourne Ultimatum

Something energising for my rather lethargic state. Something with a bit of action that's done in a classy way, serious, dark, and cool.

Mood movie: The Dark Knight (2008)

Feeling pretty terrible, following all this 'Miriam/Marianne nonsense' and the various connotations they have for me...
Something angry, agressive, bleak, not very optimistic...

Debating whether to get Avatar on BluRay...

Released today!

http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/avatarbluray.php

Evidence enough!...

Randomly thinking of Cemetary Junction

I think I identify with that feeling of wanting to leave, saying you will, but never really doing so, staying where you are...
Just a thought that occurred to me now...

Mood movie: Star Trek - First Contact (1996)

8:56am
Working on my Jazz blog, compiling recordings and syncing them to Apple products (iPod and iPhone)!
Feel for a background movie that's 'out there', an energetic actioner, with a touch of sophistication!
Not really feeling listening to my own music so much...

Jerry Goldsmith's the Composer.

Empire of the Sun (1987) - Rating: 3.5/5

A family movie. Something that was 'agreeable' for the whole family, downloaded in iTunes.

Have seen huge chunks of it before, but never in it's entirety. What resonated most with me was the insinuations and expressions of 'madness' in Christian Bale's character. Before, I was engaged and captivated by the sheer spectacle of the movie. But this time around, I'm more aware of the sentimentality of the movie, as well as a few contrivances that stretch belief (compared to something like Roman Polanski's 'The Pianist').

The theme of lost innocence and a disturbed childhood dominate the perspective and narrative of the movie. And John Malkovich's character is truly a reprehensible, almost non-entity...

Wasn't captivated by it as I have been in the past. Not sure if that was because of the less-than-enthused company I was sharing, or having given more time under more analytical scrutiny.

Mood movie: The Bourne Supremacy

In the mood for something actiony, serious, and well-made!
A sense of alienation, a fight to survive, being independent..

Bond at the BFI today

Randomly, saw the character who played Jaws in Moonraker on BBC News today!
At the BFI today, apparently as a combined: celebration of Bond in the past, and a moderate concession for the indefinite suspension of an upcoming Daniel Craig Bond 23 owing to MGM's financial woes...

Read before that the Scott brothers were considering buying it (Ridley Scott and Tony Scott).

Saw on BBC News yesterday, the Bond girl from Man with the Golden Gun.

With respect to both these people: annoyingly self-promoting, over-stating their Bond fame. Jaws was pretty cool, had a Stephen Fry-esque quality about him, and a touch sleezy towards the youthful interviewer just trying to do her job. The latter all botoxed up, recounting stories of her past liaisons (that no one really gives a shite about). Really felt for the presenters who were doing their best to be polite, but you could see that had better things to attend to. They had that typically British 'Fuck off' quality about them that they're suppressing, owing to courtesy and decorum. Quite amusing actually!

Mood movie: The English Patient

Just watching snippets of Britain's Got Talent, in combination to an evening being interrupted by a rather unwelcome guest, induces a feeling of despair, frustration, introspection.

Want to have a movie in the background that's in tune with those sentiments... Was going to go for Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, but feel it's a bit too powerful, extreme, expressive of RAGE. Comparatively, I'm more inclined towards something that's a bit more reserved, artistically expressive (the sumptuous cinematography!).

9:52pm
Juliette Binoche is gorgeous!

10:23pm
Would like to think I identify with Count Umashi in some warped idealisation of myself!... He's a closeted guy, who has an esoteric knowledge, and passion for the desert, and desert culture (also for his knowledge of music, popular jazz in particular!). On the face of it, he's unfeeling, seemingly uninteresting compared to his more 'normal' companions... But he's made to look attractive: someone who's enigmatic, mysterious, knows about the world, full of hidden passion and desire. A dark, compelling figure, that has echoes of Jayne Eyre's Rochester.

10:41pm
"For the heart is an organ of Fire".

10:48pm
First wedding Anniversary: PAPER?....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_anniversary

10:52pm
Anna Karenina

11:18pm
A fantastic movie! Love the way there seem to be no boundaries of race. Ironic for it's depiction of a Fascist war in the background, where there's no prejudices at all amongst the main characters (for most of the narrative), and their attitude to other cultures.

11:25pm
Remember when I first watched this, I most identified with Kip.
Physically different, wanting someone to find him, having a dangerous occupation, and sleeping with Juliette Binoche!

Back to the 80s

Perused the front page of The Times Newspaper today, whilst at the barbers today getting my No.2 haircut!...
Above the headline suggests Hollywood going back to the 80s this year with:
- Tron
- The Karate Kid
- The A Team

Thought that was quite interesting...

BBC Film 24 today

Meet the Joneses - more interesting than I thought.
Orson Welles and Me - 'charming'
Agora (with Rachel Weisz) out this week, looks fascinating!

Ghost Writer - looked poo but came recommended... So more intrigued to check it out.

City of Life and Death + I am Love

Ones to watch!

Nouvelle Vague

Talking of Jaques D'Azur - King of Cannes from Empire Magazine!...

Cemetary Junction (2010) - Rating 3/5

Opening the movie with Vaughn Williams, a character is mocked for his taste in 'poncy', 'gay' music. He's advised he should listen to cool and hip stuff, and suggests some Elton John! This is the opening of Cemetary Junction, which has a touch of Guy Richie about it in my view.

Enjoyable. Directorially impressive, considering it's a debut. Style and setting detailed and convincing, especially with the soundtrack that feels relevant (70s). Visually very absorbing.

But not without flaws, drawbacks.

Dialogue peppered with trademark Gervais, consistently funny and subversive. But not enough to lift the story. The story feels very British. Too British in fact: nice, neat, reserved, very linear. Acting was quite weak from the lead trio: stereotypes - a bit annoying after a while. Echoes of Nicholous Hoult's 'Tony' in Skins; the polished pretty-boy with high pretensions; and the English Jack Black, for example, seem forced. Felt there were moments that were trying to be profoundly emotional, but ultimately failed to engage. Emily Watson, and Ralph Fiennes feel under-used, and I felt a little disappointed. The most engaging actor for me was Matthew Goode, the protegé of Ralph Fiennes. Brings a real energy to the movie, a sense of menacing potential, disguised behind that British veneer. Apart from a few dramatic set-pieces (the singing at the Winner's Ball, the village prison 'confrontation scene', and the final Rebel without a Cause punch) it's quite predictable, highly contrived to the extent it's almost cartoonish unrealistic. Emily Watson's stance in the end feels very out of character, and not very believable. Even the title doesn't leave too much to the imagination: a series of choices on a journey that could potentially have morbid life consequences. Not very challenging cinema.

A polished short story, that's stylistically absorbing (visually and music-wise), nice, neat and predictable, peppered with Ricky Gervais-isms. Not really material for a feature-length movie, but more Sunday afternoon entertainment on the BBC that's mostly quite enjoyable, and cringe-worthy uncomfortable (some of the jokes, and a lot of the acting from the lead trio).

Thinking of How to Train Your Dragon...

I was just thinking about the Christopher Mintz (Red Mist, McLovin') character in How to Train Your Dragon. He's the bone-headed Dragon geek who knows all the theory, like he's memorised all the Trump Cards on all the species of Dragon.

But in contrast to the protagonist, all that information and knowledge amounts to nothing... 'Hiccup' (the protagonist) doesn't know anything about the theory of dragons. But he acquires a more intuitive knowledge through interaction, and engagement, honing 'skills' and 'practices' based on that. This ultimately proves to be more useful, and superior in the overall scheme of things.

Perhaps the movie is a wider metaphor for the way we learn: we shouldn't just accept what we've been told, but to make more intuitive judgements based on what we feel and see. This, it seems, is the more fulfilling and rewarding path - according to the narrative.

Leaving Las Vegas (1995) - Rating: 4/5

One of my all-time favourite movies.

One I enjoy most watching in solitude...

Minor qualms about a slight repetitive use of some of the soundtrack themes, and the cutting/editing used contributed to a slightly synthetic feel... Maybe the Director was going for an alcoholic's objective view?... As I say, minor quibbles from perfection in my view.

Personally, a mood movie for how I think I feel a lot of the time, and identify with as something that seems formulaic of the (few) serious relationships I have been in - though a touch less melodramatic and not as interesting!

Morbidly poetic, brutal and unrelenting in its imagery.

Definitely not one to watch with the family...

Love the soundtrack by the way.

Random notes and thoughts:

Mike Figgis

The writer of the novel comitting suicide shortly after...

Novel acting as a suicide note

That girl in Hot Shots and Rain Man...

That dude in Men in Tights!

Manila (2009) - A curiosity...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_(2009_film)

Good Morning Vietnam - Rating: 3/5

Leaving Las Vegas was dismissed for this as a background movie for doing stuff...

Quite amusing one-liners.

Forest Whitaker.

Bruno Kirby (Basketball Diaries, When Harry Met Sally, Godfather II) - Died 2006

That bloke in Tim Burton's Batman...

And Robin Williams, a little bit annoying, narcissistic...

An okay soundtrack...

Noteworthy Simpsons Episodes!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa's_Got_a_Brand_New_Badge

Where The Sopranos are parodied!

(Season 13, Episode 22)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canine_Mutiny

Where 'Jammin' is sung by Chief Wiggum at the end!

(Season 8, Episode 20)

BAFTAs and Oscars 2010 - In retrospect

I was a bit gutted that I missed watching the ceremonies. Recorded them on a SKY Box that recently expired, so never got a chance to see them. Hoping for a chance to recap/study/keep up to date with the Winners and Losers of both affairs at some point!

The Red Violin (1998)

An old friend recommended this to me some years ago...

Had mixed views about it then. Hated the 'fake playing' in it, as I do in most movies (Michelle Pfiefer's character in 'What Lies Beneath' comes most prominently to mind, posing as a Julliard Cellist. Yeah, right). The Bond girl in The Living Daylights was quite convincing though - thought that was quite effective!

Randomly listening to Maxim Vengerov's interpretation of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major today, and was curious as to whether it might have been played in the movie... Am curious to know if any tracks of the classical repertoire were used, or whether it was a complete movie Original Soundtrack.

Remember the movie itself being interesting, intriguing, but nothing special or spectacular.

Bulletproof Monk (2003) - Rating: 1.5/5

Forced to watch whilst munching lunch... Whilst me and my sister differ in movie taste, I have more recently been the one imposing episodes of Sopranos during mealtimes as a happy medium or compromise. Would have loved to have put something new on that we haven't seen before (Serpico, Bonnie and Clyde, In the Line of Fire, Master and Commander, and Casino are on my immediate next to watch list with company) - but I know that those rare occasions for other people to be receptive to that come few and far between, if at all...

Since she's taken the prerogative to put this on (before I prepped some food), she was obviously feeling more for it. And who am I to take that away, selfishly to accommodate my taste?

Reluctantly sat through it.

Something I liked and enjoyed several years ago, but in comparison to my recent diet of movies, doesn't rest too well with the palate... Briefly looked up Empire's quite damning verdict of it on my iPhone. Whilst I was quite amused with the use of the phrase 'mystical bollocks', and agree with much of what was said, I thought the reviewer rather unkind in his conclusion, and lacking any sense of appreciation for the effort (for there was some sort of effort) put into the movie!

Sure enough, it's no Shakespeare and the dialogue is pretty self-explanatory. It's obviously capitalising on the Crouching Tiger/Matrix wave, with its use of Chow Yun Fat, the ridiculous wire-work, the suited-up baddies chasing down the goodies. That's not necessarily a bad thing though is it?... (Consider Zhang Yimou's trilogy: Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Curse of the Golden Flower; or Christian Bale's Equilibrium, and Jet Li's The One). The fantasy element is highly contrived, the set-pieces ridiculously unrealistic, it's truly cinema at it's most unchallenging - but it was meant to be that way. Whilst alluding to The Karate Kid, and Yoda, the film doesn't aspire to be more than what it is, and has no pretentions to that end. Given these limitations and constraints from the offset, one has to consider that it's essentially a Hollywood-style martial arts action movie. And typical to the genre, must by default have a poo story (there are obvious exceptions to this rule).

To see Sean William Scott kung-fu kicking Nazis and underground mob youths (convincingly, I might add!), is surprisingly enjoyable, though gratuitously mind-numbing. It was sure to appeal to that niche market.

As someone who is a fan of the martial arts genre, the movie is a guilty pleasure (for all the wrong reasons), but recognise whole heartedly that from a wider perspective, it's a bit of an insult to the art of cinema, and a negligible contribution to the genre.

Jennifer Conelly: Study Notes

From The Film Encyclopedia, 5th Edition, Ephraim Katz, (page 292).

Actress

1. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)*

2. Phenomena

3. Seven Minutes in Heaven (1985)

4. Labyrinth (1986)*

5. Etoile (1988) - Italian

6. Some Girls (1988)

7. The Hot Spot (1990)

8. Career Opportunities (1991)

9. The Rocketeer (1991)

10. Of Love and Shadows (1994) - Argentinian

11. Higher Learning (1995)

12. Far Harbour (1996)

13. Mulholland Falls (1996)

14. Inventing the Abbots (1997)

15. Dark City (1998)*

16. Pollock (2000)

17. Requiem for a Dream (2000)*

18. Waking the Dead (2000)

19. A Beautiful Mind (2001)*

20. House of Sand and Fog (2003)*

21. Hulk (2003)

22. Dark Water (2005)

From IMDB:

23. Little Children (2006)

24. Blood Diamond (2006)

25. Reservation Road (2007)

26. The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

27. Inkheart (2008)

28. He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

29. 9 (2009)

30. Creation (2009)

31. What's Wrong with Virginia (2010)

32. Salvation Boulevard (2011)

In development:

33. American Pastoral

Naomi Watts: Study Notes

From The Film Encyclopedia, 5th Edition, Ephrain Katz (page 1476).

Actress in United States

1. Matinee (1993)

2. Tank Girl (1995)

3. Persons Unknown (1996)

4. Dangerous Beauty (1998)

5. Down (2001)

6. Mulholland Drive (2001)*

7. Rabbits (2002)

8. The Ring (2002)*

9. 21 Grams (2003)

10. The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004)

11. I Heart Huckabees (2004)

12. We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004) - also Produced

13. Ellie Parker (2005)*

14. The Ring Two (2005)

15. Stay (2005)

In Australia and abroad:

16. For Love Alone (1986)

17. Flirting (1991)

18. The Custodian (1993)

19. Gross Misconduct (1993)

20. Wide Sargasso Sea (1993)*

21. Under the Light house Dancing (1997)

22. Babe: Pig in the City (1998) - Video image

23. Strange Planet (1999)

24. Undertaking Betty (2002) - UK

25. Le Divorce (2003)* - France

26. Ned Kelly (2003)

27. King Kong (2005) - New Zealand

From IMDB:

28. Inland Empire: A Woman in Trouble (2006) - Voice

29. The Painted Veil (2006)

30. Eastern Promises (2007)

31. Funny Games (2007)

32. The International (2009)

33. Mother and Child (2009)

34. Fair Game (2010)

35. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010)

36. Untitled Comedy (2010)

37. Dream House (2011)

In Development:

38. My Name is Jody Williams

39. We Are All the Same

40. The Birds

Notes and thoughts:

Just trying to track down a chronological order is quite a difficult task! Flitting back and forth... Perhaps indicative of a lifestyle that's equally scattered, unsettled...

Ang Lee: Study Notes

From The Film Encyclopedia, 5th Edition, Ephraim Katz (Page 832)

Director in Taiwan

1. Pushing Hands/Tui Shou (1992) - Produced, wrote Screenplay

2. The Wedding Banquet (1993) - Produced wrote Screenplay

3. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) - also wrote the Screenplay

[Projects in the US and abroad]

7. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) - also Produced

Director in US and abroad

4. Sense and Sensibility (1995)

5. The Ice Storm (1997) - also Produced

6. Ride with the Devil (1999)

8. Tortilla Soup (2001) - wrote the Screenplay ONLY

9. Hulk (2003)

10. One Last Ride (2003) - Executive Produced ONLY

11. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

From IMDB:

12. Lust, Caution/Se, Je (2007)

13. Taking Woodstock (2009)

14. Life of Pi (2011)

15. A Little Game

An Education (2009) - Rating: 3.5/5

Immediate notes and thoughts:

An Easter Sunday, family dinner movie, following a rather (surprisingly) amusing episode of Have I Got News for You (on BBC iPlayer).

Screenplay written by Nick Horny (High Fidelity, About a Boy). Recognise some familiar caricatures and stereotypes, as well as the characteristic monologues to the audience (kept to a noticeable minimum).

Quite engaging from the start to the middle. Lulls mid-way, descends into something quite cheesy, ending anti-climactically. Perhaps deliberately unsatisfying?...

Not sure if I like it... Whether it expresses: real life is actually quite boring, conventional, but ultimately more rewarding than the fantastical alternative, and that's the beauty of the movie; or it's just a neat and convenient way to resolve a highly intriguing setup, which therefore diminishes and takes something away from the experience.

Reminds me of how I felt watching Crazy Heart: the central performances really make the movie.

I like how there was so much potential and temptation to dramatise vulgarity; but the Directorial prerogative veered far from that. Instead, focused on naivity and a loss of innocence. Emma Thompson was great in it, she always lends some sort of authority and gravitas to whatever she's in - probably the second most stand-out performance of the movie in the two scenes that she's given! I also like the period setting, which was seemingly perfect. Like the way other characters are held in contrast to Carey Mulligan's. Feel like everyone's a foil for her character, and we feel for her, understand and get to know her intimately.

The novelty of Duffy's screeching in the end credits wore off in the first few seconds, and probably the only thing about the movie - for all it's time and period setting - that was slightly misplaced... Something happy-Frenchie, or happy-Englishie of the time period might have worked more appropriately in my view.

Clint Eastwood: Study Notes

From 'The Film Encyclopedia', 5th Edition - Ephraim Katz, (Page 420).

As Actor:

1. Francis in the Navy (1955)

2. Lady Godiva (1955)

3. Revenge of the Creature (1955)

4. Tarantula (1955)

5. The First Travelling Saleslady (1956)

6. Never Say Goodbye (1956)

7. Star in the Dust (1956)

8. Escapade in Japan (1957)

9. Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)

10. Lafayette Escadrille (1958)

11. A Fistful of Dollars / Per un Pugno di Dollari (1964)***

12. For a Few Dollars More / Qualche Dollari in piu (1965)***

13. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)***

14. The Witches / Le Streghe - De Sica episode - (1967)

15. Coogan's Bluff (1968)

16. Hang 'Em High (1968)

17. Paint Your Wagon (1969)

18. Where Eagles Dare 1969)

19. Kelly's Heroes (1970)

20. Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970)

21. The Beguiled (1971)

22. Dirty Harry (1971)

23. Play Misty for Me (1971) - also Directed

24. Joe Kidd (1972)

25. Breezy (1973) - Director ONLY

26. High Plains Drifter (1973) - also Directed

27. Magnum Force (1973)

28. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

29. The Eiger Sanction (1975) - also Directed

30. The Outlaw - Josey Wales (1976) - also Directed

31. The Gauntlet (1977)

32. Every which way but Loose (1978)

33. Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

34. Any which way you Can (1980) - also Directed

35. Bronco Billy (1980) - also Directed

36. Firefox (1982) - also Directed and Produced

37. Honkytonk Man (1982) - also Directed and Produced

38. Sudden Impact (1983) - also Directed and Produced

39. City Heat (1984)

40. Tightrope (1984) - also Co-Produced

41. Pale Rider (1985) - also Directed and Produced

42. Heartbreak Ridge (1986) - also Directed and Produced

43. Bird (1988) - Director and Producer ONLY

44. The Dead Pool (1988)

45. Pink Cadillac (1989)

46. Thelonius Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1989) [Doc] Executive Producer ONLY

47. The Rookie (1990) - also Directed

48. White Hunter, Black Heart (1990) - also Directed and Produced

49. Unforgiven (1992) - also Directed and Produced

50. In the Line of Fire (1993)

51. A Perfect World (1993) - also Directed

52. Casper (1994) Cameo

53. The Bridges of Madison County (1995) - also Directed, Produced and Composed

54. The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995) - Co-Producer ONLY

55. Absolute Power (1997) - also Directed, Produced, and Composed

56. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) - Director and Producer ONLY

57. True Crime (1998) - also Directed, Produced and Composed

58. Space Cowboys (2000) - also Directed, Produced, and Composed

59. Blood Work (2002) - also Directed and Produced

60. Mystic River (2003) - Director, Producer, and Composer ONLY

61. Million Dollar Baby (2004) - also Directed, Produced, and Composed

62. Flags of Our Fathers (2006) - Director and Producer ONLY

From IMDB:

63. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) - Director ONLY

64. Changeling (2008) - Director ONLY

65. Gran Torino (2008) - also Directed

66. Invictus (2009) - Director

67. Hereafter (2010) - Director

68. Hoover (2012) - Director

Mood movie: Peter Jackson's 'King Kong'

In the mood for some immersive high-fantasy, with a touch of class (with Adrian Brody and Naomi Watts!). Also considering Star Trek: Insurrection, but feel it's a bit tame for how I'm feeling, and Lord of the Rings being way too heavy.

Randomly, I read somewhere that a possible failure for Ang Lee's Hulk was in the characterisation of CGI technology in use. Would be interested to make, or even read someone else's comparison between the two 'characters' of Hulk and King Kong, accounting for one's success over another.

Jesus Christ! (in Film)

A random curiosity...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions_of_Jesus#Film

Notes on Empire's: 'The Palme d'Or deserving films that were robbed'

Article written by Helen O'Hara

Flash feature that will no doubt be taken down in a few days time!

1. 2006 - People to look up: Pedro Almodovar, Ken Loach

2. 2004 - [Already seen 'Oldboy' and Michael Moore's 'Farenheit 9/11']

3. 2003 - Gus Van Sant's 'Elephant'

4. 1998 - A strong year for cinema. Dogme films?

5. 1995 - A great year for French cinema.

6. 1982 - a draw? Werner Herzog.

7. 1973 - Marco Ferreri. Jerry Schatzberg, Alan Bridge

8. 1966 - Draw 'Signore & Signori' and 'Un Homme Une Femme'

9. 1963 - Gary Cooper award?

10. 1951 - Another tie.

Don Cheadle's replacement of Terence Howard in Iron Man2?

Was just wondering about that...

Thought they made a good team in the first one!

From Wikipedia:

Don Cheadle portrays James Rhodes in the 2010 sequel Iron Man 2. After a contract dispute involving Terrence Howard, the part of Rhodes was recast and Cheadle was selected for the role.^[1] The War Machine armor will be featured in the sequel and the armor itself was revealed in footage shown at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con. Rhodes is seen wearing the armor near the end of the film's first trailer. The teaser poster shows it's equipped with dual arm-mounted belt-fed 9mm caseless submachine guns.

The paragraph highlights a 'contract dispute involving Howard'. That's still pretty vague, and would still be curious to know more...

Jobs for people who love movies?...

Tarrantino - video store and cinema

Pacino - briefly in a cinema

Bogdanovich - writer

Brian Cox - stage hand

Volunteering at festivals?...

Movies for Good Friday...

I'm not particularly a huge celebrant of the occasion... But it seems that one has to pander and conform to 'expectation' for the sake of diplomacy (ie. my Mum is quite particular about what you should and shouldn't watch and do on this day!).

Determined not to compromise completely.

'Acceptable' movies to watch for today... Hmm...

Themes that pertain to the big J himself (not including movies that include his mention by excessive use of expletives), something that might include self-sacrifice, good deeds and benevolence; with a heroic and epic sensibility in a sad sort of way - and preferably non-violent... Considering watching 'The Blind Side' at the cinema today as a family thing...

The Passion of Christ (obviously)

The Last Temptation of Christ

Gran Torino

Gladiator

Spartacus

Ben Hur

Armageddon?

Jesus Christ Superstar?

(Funny how all the movies mentioned thus far have an element of violence in them)

10:01am

Did a little bit of research for what's on today on the SKY website...

'The Robe' seems quite promising (Channel 4, at 1pm).

"Yeah, you'd better run" - from what movie?...

Have spent the past one and half hours pondering this question and busting searches on Google!

Felt like a Natalie Portman line...

Have been reassured that it's such a generic line, it could be used in several hundred movies!...

But just occurred to me, the one that I had in mind was Katie Holmes' Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins, just before she tasers the leather-clad stalker. I suppose it would be uber-sad to post an exact time that this moment transpires?... (Upon next viewing, I shall have it in mind!)

Jay Baruchel - an Apatow protege...

Him off Superbad and upcoming Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Trailer for The Expendables looks insane!

http://www.kungfucinema.com/macho-trailer-for-the-expendables-14308

Out 20th August in the UK!