Weekend Movie List # 5

Lucifer_666 · Weekend Movie List # 5

Sorry about the lateness of the list this week

FRIDAY:

Dirty Dancing 2 Havana Nights BBC 1
Scarlet Street BBC 2

SATURDAY:

Virus BBC 1
Vampire Circus BBC 1
Carry on Spying BBC 2
Chicken Run BBC 2
Carry on Camping BBC 2
Stella Street: The Movie BBC 2
King Kong (1976) CH 4
Hide and Seek CH 4
Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry met LIoyd CH 4
For the Love of the Game CH 5
My Life CH 5
Grumpier old Men CH 5

SUNDAY:

Mistaken Identity BBC 1
Bend it Like Beckham BBC 2
A Hard day's Night BBC 2
Lucky Jim BBC 2
Queen of the Damned ITV
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers CH 4
Trading Places CH 4
Lower City CH 4
Life with Mikey CH 5
Edward Scissorhands CH 5
Fistful of Dollars CH 5
Dog Soldiers CH 5

Lucifer_666

I think its my choice of film this week??

I'm between two minds I haven't seen 'Hide and Seek' before but yet we haven't done an animated or claymation type of film before either which makes me want to pick 'Chicken Run'

decisions.... decisions

roddglenn

There's a few good choices there. Trading Places is a classic, Dog Soldiers is brilliant, Queen of the Damned isn't bad, Two Towers is arguably the best of the trilogy and Fistful of Dollars is a classic too.

Lucifer_666

I know bud Trading Places and A fistful was up there too to be honest....and I haven't seen Dog Soldiers....its good then??... I might watch that anyway.... I didn't particulaly like Queen of the Damned and The Two Towers is most definitely my favourite ....I loved Gollum in it and his split personality!!

The last two weeks we have gone for kind of suspense filled films which is why I'm really thinking of Chicken Run ....it is very different from what we have done before

However mate if your planning a review you can pick the film... I don't mind

roddglenn

I shall leave it up to you, fella.

Dog Soldiers is very good, so I'd certainly recommend that you have a watch of that at some point regardless.

Catnapper

Well I'll watch Chicken Run and Dog Soldiers......and maybe even review them both

Lucifer_666

Yep okay both we'll do ....sounds like a plan babe

Though I will watch Hide and Seek too

Catnapper

Oh that's the Robert De Niro one isn't it? I read about it in the paper......the reviewer says Dakota Fanning is excellent in it.....and very creepy

I think I'll tape that one too

Lucifer_666

Yep thats the one babe ...it looks good.... I have it taped too and Chicken Run

Catnapper

I've already got Chicken Run so I didn't need to tape it

Hide and Seek's already been taped and Dog Soldiers is next in line!

Lucifer_666

Yep I've the recorder set to get Dog soldiers now too

The Man Chump

I stayed up and watched it, but going back to work today, so my review may take a couple of days!

Catnapper

I only taped half of Hide and Seek

I must have got the times wrong.......let's hope I got all of Dog Soldiers....

Hope you had a good holiday Chump

Lucifer_666

Hi mate ..... no probs I'll try and get my review in earlier this week

I'd say you dread going back to work today? Was your holiday good anyway bud??

I think I managed to get all of Hide and seek Cat....that timing thing .....you know thats age creeping up on you babe

Catnapper

Oi you!!

It wasn't age......more like working the times out wrong

When I took the tape out the next day to label it I thought it hadn't used much tape, so I checked on the film's length. When I saw it was 2 hours long......I had an oh oh moment........correctly as it happened

.....I bet it was an excellent film too...

Lucifer_666

Sorry babe

Nevermind .....chances are you'll pick it up on a boot fair soon enough Princess

Catnapper

I forgive you......just!

I don't remember seeing it at carboots before but I'll have a good look for it from now on!

Lucifer_666

I kiss your feet at your mercy Princess

Perhaps now that they know you have forgotten to set your timer properly and missed it they might put it in their stock babe

Catnapper

That's more like it......a bit of adulation on a monday is much appreciated

I wouldn't be surprised if I found it at the weekend at a carboot.......these past few weeks I've found Mystery Men, The Relic and The Bone Collector, all films that we had for the movie club!

Lucifer_666

I'm telling you that crowd that sell you those films could be our guests here

and so they know what films you'll be looking to buy

The Man Chump

It's been a holiday of doing bits and bobs, But quite relaxing thanks guys!

The only thing that has spoilt it is that I have a mosie bit on my Nipple!!!!!

how did that happen!!!!!

Well rather odly i'm off work tomorrow he he, so i'm getting some golf and fishing in!

review coming up!

The Man Chump

Let me start by saying that this is not really my sort of film at all. I know that I chose the similar in a couple of ways "The Relic" a couple of weeks ago, but this film I avoided at the time it came out, because Werewolf films (bar maybe teen wolf) are cheesy and unrealistic, hang on maybe Teen wolf is cheesy and unrealistic as well, but I liked it!

So I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Dog Soldiers, although why it was called that Unless I missed something is tenuous at best!

The cast are not necessarily household names, although a peek onto imdb shows that they are mostly experienced actors: Sean Peartwee, who I always get a little confused with Jason Isaacs, was excellent as the sergeant of a troop of army misfits, who cant even remember basic bits of kit. Liam Cunningham is the posh special ops leader who is using the army troops as bait to lure in his catch(not bad but a little ott maybe). And Kevin Mckidd is the soldier turned down by the same special ops leader because he refused to kill a dog when ordered, who now finds himself in charge of the troop when his sergeant is injured badly.

The key to the success of this film is, that at no point does it try to take itself seriously. It is laced throughout with subtle (and sometimes cheesy) lines that mean that at no point does any of the pretty strong violence seem real. This really is a horror that can be watched with out ever feeling scared. My sort of horror. It is nearly a spoof in the way that it turn the obvious situations into a healthy slab of comedy. Take for instance the scene near the end where Spoon (Darren Morfitt) has run out of ammo and is realising that he really has very little time left on this planet, He starts throwing pots, pans bottles etc at the ware wolf and the as it gets closer and closer, he turns to it and says "I hope I give you the sh**ts." Another example of the bizarre enjoyment the director takes out of his silly lines in the worst of moments is where two people are trying to superglue the sergeant’s guts back in his body and he is writhing in pain and then sits bolt upwards and just says "sausages" as he looks down at his guts hanging out.

I must admit that Having also missed "The descent" by Marshall, I might actually give that a go as well. He shows here a deft touch for comedy and subtlety, the scene where the Sergeant is telling a story of how he had to pick up the pieces of his best friend in Iraq was excellently done and really well acted by Pertwee.

Neil Marshall has been labelled one of the "Splat Pack" By total film magazine, as one of a batch of directors who are making a new brand of stylish and increasingly violent horror films, Not normally my sort of film, I may though keep an eye on him, as this film I found to be surprisingly easy to watch!

As a side note, a sequel/prequel/happening at the same time in another area of the woods film is being made called "Dog soldiers- Fresh meat" which may completely spoil the idea of this film, but still Hollywood cant help but Americanise everything with a bit of originality can they......

Catnapper

Excellent Chump.....it's like reading one of Luc's reviews

I've nearly finished watching it so I'll post a review soon....

Lucifer_666

Catnapper

You're still the master of reviews Luc so don't look so shocked

roddglenn

I've been a big fan of Dog Soldiers since it first hit the cinema in 2002. I went to see it off the back of the trailer which started off like a real Army recruitment advert then threw you into the action.

The Dog Soldiers reference is based on 3 things - 1 the fact Cooper got binned from the SAS for refusing to kill the dog at the beginning and 2 for the references made to the werewolves not being dogs but pussies and 3 with reference to 'hunting dogs' also known as Dog Soldiers.

Neil Marshall manages to masterfully blend humour with violence, as Chump said. But, as Chump also mentioned there are also some really poignant and beautifully acted scenes like Pertwee's recounting of his friend's death in Iraq.

As an action horror comedy it is first class. As a down in the dirt grunt movie it's also first class and anyone who's been in the forces, whether regular or reserve will be happy with the authentic feel of the early scenes and also the fantastic banter between the soldiers.

This film has some of my all time favourite quotable lines in it...

Wells: All right, then, time sync. I got zero-seven-thirty coming up in three... two... one... check.
Spoon: Oh, b*llocks, I don't believe this.
Wells: What is it now, Witherspoon?
Spoon: Left me watch at the barracks, Sarge.
Wells: Take a breather every once in a while, son, you'll live longer.
Terry: Nice work, Spoon, you tosser.
Joe: Took the words right out of my mouth.
Spoon: And you'll be taking my boot out your mouth in a minute, Joe, you baldy t***.

Wells: If we do happen to make contact, I expect nothing less than gratuitous violence from the lot of ya. Because we're firing blanks doesn't mean we have to be thinking nice thoughts. So you remember, you keep the fire down, right, you get stuck in and you kick their f***ing teeth out, or I guarantee you, Joe, they will be eating your b*llocks for breakfast, sunshine.

Cooper: Go on then Bruce, what scares you?
Bruce: The self-destructive nature of the human condition.
Spoon: You're just taking the piss now.
Cooper: What about you, Spoon?
Spoon: Castration.
Cooper: There's no argument there. Joe?
Joe: Only one thing guaranteed to put the shits up me: a penalty shoot-out.
Cooper: Figures. Terry?
Terry: Watching a penalty shoot-out... with Joe.
Bruce: What about you, Coop?
Cooper: Spiders. And women. And... spider-women.

Wells: We are now up against live, hostile targets. So, if Little Red Riding Hood should show up with a bazooka and a bad attitude, I expect you to chin the bitch.

Spoon: Know what this reminds me of? Rourke's Drift. 100 men of Harlech, making a desperate stand against 10,000 Zulu warriors. Outnumbered, surrounded, staring death in the face and not flinching for a moment. Balls of British steel.
Joe: You're bloody loving this, aren't you?

Megan: What happened?
Spoon: What happened? We were attacked by huge f**kin' howlin' things, that's what.

Lucifer_666

Lucifer_666

With all this werewolf and dog fighting talk..... I became a chicken and did a runner

I'm just aftrer reading that line back and it sounds really corny

Anyway my review

Having not seen many of or being the biggest fan of Wallace and Grommit ...I put this movie on hoping if nothing else that it would keep my attention throughout.....
I think when you watch Chicken Run the first thing that springs to mind immediately is just how much it resembles older WW2 prison films in particular 'The Great Escape' even down to the music playing in the background but it also manages to throw in numerous other movies to keep it very relevant to a new young audience.
The story basically centres around a collection of Chickens who are kept at the Tweedy Egg Farm.....Mr Tweedy is a hen pecked (pardon the pun lol) blunderer who has his suspicions throughout that there is more to the chickens than meets the eye and Mrs Tweedy who is extremely over bearing, greedy and dissatisfied with the lack of money generated by the chickens.....The couple treat the chickens like probably most farmers do in real life as money generators and patrol the area regularly to see who is not producing as they should in order to eliminate with the nearby axe. The most troublesome Chicken particualrly for Mr Tweedy is one called Ginger, she's the Chicken leader...the one that plans most of the escapes and implements them...she's also the one who keeps getting thrown into
the cooler.....or in this film.... the coal bunker lol. Ginger's new plan in the film is that she can get all her fellow chickens out by flying ...this was encouraged by the sudden appearance of a Rooster called Rocky Rhodes who everyone thinks can fly. More pressure to put this plan into motion occurs when it is discovered that the evil Tweedy couple are planning to convert from egg producing to the chicken Pie market and set up a machine. Of course its discovered Rocky can't actually fly and is really a circus 'cannon' act. As ever all ends well they manage to escape, Ginger and Rocky end up a couple and the Tweedy duo get their comeuppance in proper comedy style.
The animation or should I say claymation is exellently done and I have to hand it to Nick Park and Peter Lord.... for both this and the writing of the story which had a good few funny moments
They also managed to get some pretty good voice talent most notably Mel Gibson (Rocky) Miranda Richardson (Mrs Tweedy) Julia Sawalha (Ginger) and Jane Horrocks (Babs)
Part of me actually feels it was kind of a dangerous subject for the makers to go with for a comedy family film as it does sort of double as a kind of vegetarian film displaying the farmers as evil right from the beginning even though as I said before they are not that much difference in real life farmers and their treatment of their poultry

. Then again maybe I'm over analysing it

Some of my favourite scenes in the film where when they would plan their meetings and then convert everything really quickly back to looking innocent before Mr Tweedy comes suspiciously to look and becomes increasing doubtful of his own senses as the film progresses

Chicken Run in my opinion is not up there with Shrek now but was most definitely an enjoyable watch....it had clever ideas, good characters and amusing moments....ultimately a fun flick!!
Before I finish I just have to mention all the taglines which I liked too here's a few...

This Ain't No Chick Flick!
Escape or Die Frying
The Cluck Stops Here
It's Chicken Impossible.
Escape or Die Frying

Catnapper

Everybody's posted reviews except me......and it's only tuesday

It's great reading how different people interpret films......so kudos to Chump, Rod and Luc for some excellent FilmFlicking fun reviews!

Lucifer_666

Welcome to my world babe

thats usually me!!!!

Oh and thanks

roddglenn

Great review, Luc. The way that the film captures a wartime spirit and its parallels with The Great Escape does make it a very enjoyable film, but I agree that it is not quite up there with Shrek or The Incredibles. But a great Sunday afternoon film.

Lucifer_666

Thanks mate ...and yep I liked the way it resembled The Great Escape too......in particular the tunnel sequences at the beginning

I love the Incredibles too....I love the little kid on the tricycle....remember

roddglenn

Ahhh yeah his expression was brilliant!

Lucifer_666

Catnapper

Dog Soldiers

I must say it wasn't the type of film I'd watch either Chump......especially when the announcer said before the film that there was gore from the outset

I thought I'd be skimming through a lot of the film but I'm proud to say I watched it all!

The action kicked off almost immediately with the killing of 2 campers in Scotland by a mysterious creature......the scene where she gave him a silver knife seemed a bit strange at first till I realised.....werewolves, silver knife.....

Then the film switched to Wales where there was an army exercise going on. Liam Cunningham was good as the posh, sneering officer Captain Ryan.......though when he shot the dog I wanted to tear him limb from limb myself

Kevin McKidd was the potential special forces recruit turned down by Ryan cause he wouldn't shoot the dog.....so showing he didn't have the killer instinct required by Ryan.

Cue the army exercise in Scotland where Sgt H G Wells (Sean Pertwee) is in charge of a group of soldiers who come across Ryan again and a pack of werewolves.......the action after that is neverending and considering it's a low budget British horror with a small cast it pulls way above its weight in terms of excitement, tension and sheer entertainment.

The cast is excellent and you genuinely believe they're soldiers with all the camaraderie and fighting to the death scenes. Having a woman in the cast could have altered the feel of the film but Emma Cleasby as Megan is well cast and adds to the story well. The action scenes are spectacular and you're rooting for the soldiers to get out alive.

Like Rod said there are some great lines......
"Come and have a go if you're hard enough".......as one soldier taunts the werewolves

When Spoon's faced by a werewolf....
Cooper - "Don't....stare......back....
Spoon - "I.......can't......help....it."

Cooper - "We need a decoy. Something fast and loud."
Spoon - "What? You what?"

And when one soldier throws a bone (?) and shouts "Fetch" to a werewolf

It's a great little film with some interesting facts.......it was filmed in Luxemborg not Scotland.

When Wells asks Cooper to knock him out, the actor playing Cooper actually hit Sean Pertwee on the nose......but SP didn't feel it cause he was really drunk at the time

Simon Pegg was offered arole in the film but turned it down to do Shaun of the Dead.

There are lots of film references in Dog Soldiers too.......apparently the dvd has some great audio commentaries on it and you learn all the references that cropped up in the film......and the actors describe how they had a brilliant time making the film! 10/10

The Man Chump

Well we are all done. And really early too, Good stuff, Well done for getting all the way through the film Cat. I actually thought about what you would think of the Dog scene when I was watching it, knowing how much you little you doggy!

Those were the three things I picked up on for the dog related links as well Rod, but none of them by themselves are enough to claim the title of the film in my eyes, Maybe "Big hairy mean wolf things" would be a better title!

Lucifer_666

Another great review babe

And I'm not finished mate I still have to watch Dog soldiers and I will probably review it too ....after all your brilliant reviews saying you all loved it I can't but now watch it

The Man Chump

Looking forward to it!

Catnapper

Hey, I just noticed on imdb that there's a Dog Soldiers:Fresh Meat movie due for release next year......so far only Liam Cunningham is down in the cast list as Captain Ryan......but how can he feature in another movie after what happened in the original film? Here's the plot for the new film:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435633/plotsummary

I loved the first film but I'm not too sure about this one

Chump - You know me so well

I didn't like when he shot the dog so when that sheepdog cropped up later on in the film I was hoping it didn't get shot too!

roddglenn

Brilliant review, Cat - really glad you liked it and were able to get through it all. And I agree that the straight to DVD sequel might be a bit lame and made solely to cater for the US market.

lol Chump - like your alternative title!

Catnapper

Thanks Rod

I'm surprising myself by watching gory films I normally steer well clear of! The only part I thought was really gross was when opening the car door and all that blood and guts came pouring out

I'm glad I watched it all though!

I forgot to mention the end part when it showed the newspaper.......brilliant and a fun end to the film!

roddglenn

Yes, that did make a bit of a sickening splat! Yeah the ending was very good too, going all a bit Fortean Times

Catnapper

Until I watched that scene I used to like tomato soup......I've gone off it now!

What do you make of the Dog Soldiers: Fresh Meat movie? I don't think it'll be as good as the original....

roddglenn

I agree - it doesn't look like its up to much. Looks like they've taken the very basic premis and then twisted it for the US market. I'll still watch it at some point, but I'm not expecting much from it.

Catnapper

Yeah they'll probably extend it to a trilogy and totally spoil the whole Dog Soldiers idea. Why can't they leave well alone?

I'm curious to see who else will be in it......the original cast were brilliant.

roddglenn

I think they're getting mainly American actors for it (and probably unknowns too). Hollywood always feels compelled to Americanise anything that has been a commercial success from another country. They can't just enjoy the original version - they have to try to make a fast buck off the back of it too.

Catnapper

They couldn't help but Americanise your book

Who would you like to play the parts if your book was made into a film?

Lucifer_666

I'll have to check my diary to see if I'm available Rodd

Catnapper

You could be King Paul Luc......he's involved in lots of the action

Lucifer_666

He sounds like my kind of guy babe

roddglenn

lol King Luc...yes it has a ring to it!

I had James Gandolfini as a possible option for him. He might be up for it now that Sopranos has finished!

Lucifer_666

Funny I have been told I kind of look a bit like a mixture between Gandolfini and Phil Mitchell in Eastenders Rodd .....so you might be on to a winner here

roddglenn

lol I got likened to Phil Mitchell once too - we could be the Mitchell brothers then. O'rite, Bruv?

Catnapper

I hope you both don't get into fights like the Mitchell Bros do....

Lucifer_666

Well the Mitchell brothers always fought over a woman didn't they?......so............erm .........what research were you and Rodd (oh I mean my bruv

) doing again for his book Cat???

roddglenn

lol nothing'll come between us, bruv

Catnapper

Not even me.....

Hope you both don't go around saying "What's goin on ere then" and having punchups in the Queen Vic...

roddglenn

Nah we're both civilised men...well...ish

Lucifer_666

Well Rodd could be the half civilised one while I'm the one who loses his cool all the time and punches people in the Queen Vic

Yeah Bruv' ....we're family!!

Catnapper

We are family.......I've got all my sisters and me.....oh sorry, I got carried away there!

Whose turn is it to pick the movie......is it you Luc?

Lucifer_666

No I picked it last week so I think its you cat??

I'll put up the list later

Catnapper

Ok then I'll pick this week's........but I wasn't hinting for you to put the list up

Lucifer_666

Putting pressure on me (shakes head) how dare you!!

Catnapper

*batting eyelashes* I wouldn't put pressure on you

........so,

.......when are you putting the list up

Lucifer_666

God I hate pushy women

Catnapper

did it work though?!!

Lucifer_666

Hey ...it always does

Lucifer_666

I have to say like the rest of you all I really enjoyed Dog soldiers too....and I do think it is a testiment on what can be achieved with a limited budget... for the first half of the movie they show very little of werewolves at all but I feel it worked better due to that...very much in the same vain as the Predator and Alien movies did only later showing the enemy in its full glory. I mention those movies in particular because Dog Soldiers had its similarities with them... For a start the army unit with all different characters and skills is sent into an overgrowth...trees all around them....being taken out one by one by an unknown....much Like Predator. And secondly when they reach the cottage it becomes very much 'a barricade themselves in' game which was reminescent of Aliens it even had antagonist Cpt. Ryan who was much like the Burke character....Of course in all three films they discover they are in the situation due to being lied to aswell.
I did find the acting top notch too and I know some have mentioned Sean Pertwee during the scene where he is telling about his friend and I did find his acting exellent too there though I thought he was exellent throughout......I loved the scenes where he's attacked and his guts are clearly visible and he starts arguing with Cooper that they won't fit back in lol. Is it just me too that thinks of Pertwee as a kind of 'Russelll Crowed up Sean Bean'?

Either way he plays his part well as the gritty but caring Sarg. and in a way I'm surprised the actor doesn't get more bigger roles?
Liam Cunningham also plays the Ryan role very well too and I'm not just saying that as a fellow Irishman either

...I thought he brought quite a bit of tension and I think he looks, when he wants to, like a hard nut with an edge.
Kevin McKidd I had only known from the BBC series 'Rome' but I really liked him in this too though I don't know whether he has the leading man look though I see he's been selected to play 'Thor' in the upcoming movie of the Marvel Character and to be fair he has the look of the Thunder God.
Emma Cleasby was good aswell as Megan.. I had never heard of her before but she was a pretty lass and she added that extra dimension
to the group and story....though in saying that some gratuitous sex or nudity wouldn't have gone amiss either....

Summing up the film was a good wee horror with engaging characters and a plot and environment that kept you interested throughout.... it was nicely directed by Neil Marshall who I felt made some good choices in the editing of the earlier werewolf scenes by not showing too much too soon...which helped build an unease in the first half. And when he did finally display the Howlers they looked pretty fierce and mean creatures which was all good......

As for the 'Dog Soldiers' film title....there is a sequence where Cooper is speaking to Ryan in the cottage and Ryan says to him 'If he had to been able to do what was necessary (kill the dog) he would have been on his team' and Cooper clearly turns around and replies...'that he'd rather be with these dogs (referring to his unit) then to serve under Ryan..... after reading your discussions before it rang to me then thats what the title could be about....perhaps Cooper mean't they were UnderDOGS compared to Ryan's elite group or maybe it was just a quick reference to his unit being like a pack of dogs either way I feel the Dog Soldiers were indeed the trapped unit themselves....

Catnapper

Excellent review as usual Luc and very insightful

I forgot about the "rather be with these dogs" line.......well spotted on it being a possible link to the Dog Soldiers title!

roddglenn

Great review, Luc and yes well spotted on another link to the title.

Lucifer_666

Aw shucks

thanks guys