The Inklings

Directed by: Matt Reeves
Written by: Drew Goddard
Starring: Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman.





This film is a very much "you re part of the sotry" experience. Filmed on a hand held camera, but please ignore any thoughts relating it to Blaire Witch Project. While that was an interesting experiment with the idea, badly followed through, this is clever, effective and evocative. The key to making a film on hand held look like amature work but still be good, is that it cannot actually be done by someone who doesn't know what they're doing.

I did find the beginning a little annoying with the erratic movement, but when you need it to be still to concentrate on something that's happening or to see the picture clearly, it is. The special effects are used perfectly and while the actors maybe annoying good looking New Yorkers, they are also capable.

It starts at someone's going away party for a new job in Japan, with the usual social goings on, people gossiping and angst and then things kick off. It's all from the perspective of the man with the camera and the small group of partygoers who stick together. You catch glimpses of something terrible that has happened to the city and you are one of them and all you can do is try and run for your life.

There are no explanations for exactly what has happened or why, as those are the answers you can only discover afterwards, if you manage to survive. It's genuinely scary and relaistic and with any of the greatest monster movies, you never really get a clear view of what it is. But you really don't need to.

This is how to make something look like a home video and still be something worth watching. The art of the movies is making something you've created look like it's just a part of reality.

Also the writer Drew Goddard had also penned some of the best episodes of Buffy in season 7 and several Angel ones too.

Directed by: Todd Haynes
Written by: Todd Haynes and Oren Moverman
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Ben Whishaw, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Marcus Carl Franklin & Heath Ledger.




A look at the many faces of Bob Dylan, acclaimed songwriter this is something like a stream of consciousness. The story flows and shifts through all six versions, accompanied by a first class soundtrack of his music.

It's a confusion of constant movement and a flow of many people passing through his life, some staying longer than others, but all of them seeming transitory in the long run, from lovers, friends and children. He comes across as someone dissilusioned with the labels and expectations of the music he makes, constantly trying to be honest and unrestrained by catagories and being frustrated at each failure to both break free and to make himself understood.

It's a compelling story of a singular talent. Go watch it and listen to some music.

Created by: Rob Thomas
Starring: Kristen Bell, Percy Daggs III, Teddy Dunn, Jason Dohring, Francis Capra, Enrico Colantoni & Michael Muhney





It is the murder mystery of Lilly Kane that is the main drive for this season, and the questions and answers that come from that spill out into many more mysteries and discoveries. All the characters are forced to change and are faced with unpleasant truths about themselves and the people they know and love. Loyalties are tested, made and broken and the truth brings as much pain as relief.

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Written by: George Lucas & Philip Kaufman (characters) & Jeffrey Boam (screenplay)
Starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Denholm Elliott & Alison Doody





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One of the classic Indiana Jones films it has all the ingrediants. High stakes, snappy dialogue, great chemistry between the two Jones, humour and great action. Harrison Ford is without doubt the best action hero here, charismatic, sarcastic and witty.

Sean Connery is a great foil and the two of them are a joy to watch onscreen, his sheltered scholarly character the opposite of his classic James Bond persona. It has everything you could want for this kind of film and along with Raiders of the Lost Ark is the standard all other films in this genre have to live up to.

Go watch it, enjoy.

Directed by: Jim Henson
Written by: Dennis Lee & Jim Henson
Starring: David Bowie & Jennifer Connelly





A classic film of fairy tale and magic from the Jim Henson company. A mix of live action and puppets this is superbly entertaining with great music and the kind of adventure all kids wish they could have before they grow up. You're never too old for this film, or any Jim Henson work.

There's a small cameo from Danny John-Jules, better known as the Cat from Red Dwarf as well in part of it.

Created by: Joss Whedon
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, Morena Baccarin, Sean Maher, Jewel Staite, Ron Glass & Summer Glau





A short lived series from the creator of Buffy and Angel it is set on a transport ship called Serenity, a Firefly class space ship and the series surrounds the crew of that ship, a motley group brought together through fate, luck and circumstance to form an unconventional but eventually united group of people. Widely acclaimed and loved as a special and unique series that from only 14 episodes, only 9 of which were originally aired and somewhat out of order, has generated a fan base full of devotion, love and unity.

It still remains the second best selling DVD from Amazon to this day, second only Star Wars and is still gaining new fans all the time. It spawned a film titled Serenity< which is something of a coda to the series, but each can be seen separately.

Full of wonderful writing, acting and creativity and a cast that are as much fans of the show as the rest of us, it something well worth checking out. A special series indeed that has been an inspiration to many people and has built of a community of caring and proactive individuals across the world.

Written & Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Forest Whitaker & John Tormey





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This is very quiet film, full of thought and the meaning of what it means to stand by a way of life, to have a code you are willing to dedicate your life to, and having to sacrifice that life to uphold it. It's full of beautiful dailogue. There are many layers of meaning here, from the characters, the way they understand and communicate with each other and the their individual perceptions of the world they all inhabit.

The Japanese story of Rashomon plays significant meaning in this film as well, I definitely suggest reading it along with watching the film, which has wonderful music as well.






The end is important in all things.

Written & Directed by: Judd Apatow
Starring: Seth Rogan, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd & Leslie Mann





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Written & Directed by: Adrienne Shelley
Starring: Kerri Russel, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Shelley, Jeremy Sisto & Andy Griffith





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This is an incredibly sweet story with lots of humour without any of the characters ever living in the illusion of happily ever after.

Written by: Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jom Broadbent, Timothy Dalton





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A similar style to the previous film by these guys Shawn of the Dead, this is a fast paced adventure with many nods to related films along the way. The people are deliberate caricatures of the many stereotypes of people found on police action films, but deliberately so and the film never takes itself seriously.

I did find it very funny and entertaining and the uncredited cameos they manage to get are impressive, and when you know who they are, very appropriately placed. I found the ending to get a little too much over the top, but otherwise a well done, nicely edited and directed film. It gives you hope that British cinema isn't just disappearing into the wilderness.

Directed by: Kevin Mcdonald
Written by: Jeremy Brock (film) Giles Foden (novel)
Starring: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson & Simon McBurney





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A powerful and intense film that gradually builds until, much like the characters, you suddenly find youself in a place you really don't want to be, but can't find a way to escape from. Based on the events of the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s. It's played superbly by the cast, especially Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy.

It's something that people should be made to remember as similar events are still taking place today while the west sits in ignorant comfort of the fear and horror that so many have to experience and die from.

It's not an easy watch, especially nearer the end of the film, but for anyone who cares about these things it's something that should be seen, to get an idea of what it's really like. It's not pretty, but it's true.

SerenityThe Future is Worth Fighting For by Keith R.A DeCandido
Published: 2005 Pocket Star





Novelisation of the film that gives you the basic story, plus a few extra character thoughts along the way. Not bad, but go see the film and make your own ideas.

Aliens R Us The Other in Science Fiction Cinema by Ziauddin Sardar
Published: 2002 Pluto Press





An intelligent and interesting look at some of the new science fiction in cinema and how it can both defy and uphold many positive and negative stereotypes on gender, xenophobia and the understanding of your fellow human beings.

A great read for any film students and sci-fi fans to gain a new perspective on work such as Independence Day, The Matrix and some classic Star Trek characters and creations, as well as work in anime. It certainly made me look at things in a new light, and makes you realise that despite the wonderful effects, Independence Day is really not a very positive film for anyone.

Seven Seasons of Buffy introduction by Drew Goddard
Published: 2003 BenBella Books





An interesting collection of Essays on the final years of Buffy. There are 22 essays by a wide selection of writers covering just about every aspect of the show. If you're a fan then it's something you may find interesting. Possibly you wont agree with everything that they propose, but either way they'll make you think of things you may not have thought of before.

Wild West Women Travellers, Adventurers and Rebels by Rosemary Neering
Published: 2004 Whitecap Books





A collection of histories of women who came to the west, from America, from Europe and from Canada and found something in the wilderness that set them free in a way no other place could. They had hard lives in comparison to today and but they lived, not just existed and left behind them stories of their achievements that are still remembered and still inspire.

Their lives are the kind of thing I want to experience, to learn and feel part of that wilderness and have your survival be down to your own skills and knowledge. The true freedom of being wholly reliant unto your self.

Written by: Ivan & Sam Raimi
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Starring: Bruce Campbell





The third in the Evil Dead series of films this can easily be seen on it's own. I found it hilarious, action packed and hugely entertaining, the kind of film I'd love to make sometime, or star in. *g*

It centres around Ash who has landed in a medieval based time period and must become the reluctant and decidedly unheroic hero in order to find his way home after defeating the evil that brought him there.

It's over the top, but with special effects that are very clever and imaginative. If you like Bruce Campbell and some cheesy comedy horror then this will be for you.

This is a very sweet and somewhat sad sounding Album. Lots of piano and nice vocals, it's good background music and easy listening.

Written by: Rodney Patrick Vaccaro (play & screenplay)
Directed by: Paul A. Kaufman
Starring: Joanne Whalley, Sean Patrick Flanery, Alexa Vega, Cotter Smith.





I've been a fan of Sean Patrick Flanery since The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, he was my first crush on TV and looking him up again brought to this quietly lovely little film. Shot on location in Toronto, which was a lovely surprise, it's engaging, charming and bitter sweet.

It's a simple story of people's lives crossing paths, for however brief a time and the feelings that can evoke. It's not overstated, as Tom is given a place by Ruby and her daughter Pug and the sweet way they all naturally slip into each other's lives.

The end is a refreshing change from traditional Hollywood schmaltz, though it leaves a sad pain behind for how you wish it would work out. The land and farm that most of the story takes place on is also a peaceful part of the country, full of life and happiness.

It's the kind of place that reminds me of my childhood and the fun and freedom of being able to run barefoot through fields and streams. It's the kind of place I would always love to return to and which always has a part of me longing for it.

Without huge overstatement the emotions are intense and deep and will leave a bittersweet memory behind. Something that touches your heart gently; but the pain lasts longer.

The only things I maybe didn't like quite as much was the soaring romantic style music at one point, which is more personal taste, it always seems to be such a cliche and I find it annoying. Otherwise I'm glad I bought this! It's the kind of film and story that I'd like to tell.

I really love these paintings and I think they're really beautiful.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Written by: Christopher Bram (novel) Bill Condon (screenplay)
Directed by: Bill Condon
Starring: Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave





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This is a lovely sad story about James Whale, the director of Frankenstein and Bride of... The interplay between the three main characters, Whale, Boon and Hannah is lively and amusing and watching Clay slowly relaxing in Whale's company, yet every now and then scared off by the gay talk is sweet and angry and kind of sad.

They are strange sort of friends, more than aquaintances. Two lost people finding each other at the right time, releasing something inside them for the better of both of them. Brendan Fraser is good in a non comedic role, I hope he gets to play more dramatic characters as he is very good. McKellen is wonderful as always, amusing, flirting and desperate all at once.

It's an awful thing to have such a creative and talented mind, only to have it eaten away in front of you, to feel it dying piece by piece. The way no one should have to go.

There is a wonderful review of it on imdb here which perfectly describes this film. There are moments of outright laughter and pain and it's all worthwhile.