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That's about the only thing they've got in common, Bregt 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars couldn't be more different - go watch 2001 and you'll see

Yeah, to be extra comfortable while watching this cinematic masterpiece!

I don't know. Maybe because we don't take any British-comment seriously anyway?

I spent some time watching Psycho this evening - I just fancied reminding myself of Bernard Herrmann's hypnotic score as heard in the movie. I'd forgotten just how much of the movie is wonderfully supported by Herrmann's.

I'm listening to the cue "Temptation" at the moment. I find it amazing that Herrmann can do so much with so little in terms of the actual material he uses in this one cue. He sets up such a strong rhythm at the beginning of the cue - really simple: small, concentrated cells of music, only motifs really. Then begins to pass these 'round the various sections of strings, introducing a bit of variation.

Then just as the listener (and viewer) settles down to this, Herrmann knocks everything off balance by dropping notes, changing the rhythm, etc.

PSYCHO is incredible. Quite a lot of it's disturbing feel comes from the fact that we never actually SEE ***SPOILER**** Norman Bates talking in his 'mother's' voice. **** END SPOILER ****

Primer (2004)
MILD SPOILERS:
Apparently a critical success and prize winner, this little, cheap indie film did exquisitely well!

The story of a couple of technical entrepeneurs stumbling upon an invention that allows them to travel back through time is well-filmed, but ultimately unsatisfying though. The director in first instance cleverly keeps away from overexplaining what happens (well in line with the characters who are not fully aware why things work the way they work). This allows for an active, engrossing initial viewing of the first half of the film.

Sadly, he overextends himself with "not showing/explaining", while a great number of timelines start to evolve, all still told in a single linear fashion. It's not enganging, it's not fun to watch, it's not even very interesting, especially where -out of noweher- subplots emerge that really have nothing to do with anything, and aren't even interesting (the guy with the shotgun at the party, which makes a certain timeline suddenly and without any dramatic build-up, a Big Deal, is utterly pointless!)

The climax is not so much a climax as it is a "Yeah, OK, sure, whatever" moment.
It's not particularly witty, nor indeed very comprehensible.
What doesn't help either is that the continuous look of pained awe on both leads' faces becomes grating after a time, as is the "naturalistic" dialogue, which really doesn't come off very natural at all.

Kudos to all involved on making a little film on so little money which looks and feels absolutely fantastic, with GREAT photography, and on an initially interetsing idea, but at the end of the day, this just isn't a very interesting film.

2.5 out of 5

There is some sort of droning soundtrack thing going on in the background. but it's so bland there's nothing to comment on or rate.


Transformers

Last year's ultimate popcorn flick. Some annoying puerile "hip" and "funny" dialogue (both between the human protagonists and the robotic ones), as well as some superfluous cutesy scenes involving Bumblebee trying to bring the youngsters together, but the action scenes -however loud and FAST (a bit too fast at times: I have a hard time believing that 6 tons of steel could do kung-fu moves like that)- sure bring home the bacon! Shia Leboeuf is slightly neuotic, but highly amusing. I look forward to his appearance in Indy 4 in a few months!

And it may be my age (I caught the original Transformer cartoon series on Saturday morning TV during their first run), but Optimus rumbling "Autobots, move out" did bring a bit of a tingle to my spine, tear to my eye and smile to my lips.

4 out of 5 for sheer entertainment.

Jablonsky's thunderous score perfectly accompanies the action on screen. More's the fun!
again: 4 out of 5 for sheer entertainment.

Transformers was probably one of my favourite movies last year, along with The Bourne Ultimatum and Ocean's Thirteen.

ULTIMATE POPCORN!

I was going to avoid it but I might just rent it out soon, I really have to be in the right mood to watch that kind of fluff!

I quite like PRIMER. (And STAR TREK II for that matter!)

The weekend's viewing:
- Orson Welles' MR ARKADIN is a superb film, particularly in the new edit from Criterion.
- THE KINGDOM, by Michael Mann protege Peter Berg, is quite a nice piece of work.
- THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD by my fellow countryman Andrew Dominik is one of the finer recent films. It takes its time nice and gradually, building up to the title event very gradually and following the repercussion of the event through to their final consequences for Robert Ford.
- GONE BABY GONE, Ben Affleck's first film as director, is a commendable effort. Starring the finer actor of the family (Casey Affleck), this film offers another grim tale of life in modern Boston, a city also the location for MYSTIC RIVER and THE DEPARTED.

I recently saw Paul Thomas Anderson's "There will be blood" and it is a very good film in a lot of different aspects. Daniel Day Lewis performance is again more than amazing.....

I hated, hated, hated this when I saw it. I guess one day I'll watch it again when it's on tv.

I heard so much varying comments on that one, comments that suggest that it's utter bore-fest up to totally brilliant. I wonder what it really is as i have yet to seen it myself.

^ Not.a.single.word.about.the.score?!?

Oh, haha, it was awesome!
The piano was amazing. I'm ordering this one today.