The Call Of The Wild: Dog of the Yukon (1997)

The Adventures of a dog called Buck

Starring Rutger Hauer and Richard Dreyfuss ( Narrator).

Written by Jack London ( Novel), Graham Ludlow ( Screenplay.)

Directed by Peter Svatek.

This is a case of a really good book being totally diluted.


Jack London's classic was beautifully written from the dog's perspective and was an incredible read.

Sadly everything that made the book great has been lost in this film adaptation. It just felt like I was watching a trailer for the actual book. The beauty of the book simply didn't come across and we are left with something that is threadbare. The narration was probably an honest attempt to see the movie through the ayes of Buck but it was quite irritating.

Not great.

6/10

Charade (1963)

A man is murdered and the hunt is on for his money.

Starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant

Written by Peter Stone ( Screenplay) and Mark Behm

Directed by Stanley Donen

I recorded this a few months ago but never really fancied watching it. I was expecting it to be a bit boring and old fashioned but it's actually a very good film.

It has a bit of everything. A bit of comedy, a bit of romance, some good action scenes and a great plot. I also really liked all the location filming. It also has a great soundtrack by Henry Mancini.


It keeps you guessing all the way to the end and is full of twists and turns. It's the first time I've watched a Cary Grant movie and he plays a good part and looks a bit like George Clooney. Audrey Hepburn is adorable and also plays a good part in this great film.


I love a movie with a great ending and this is one of them.



9/10

Imaginary Playmate ( 2006)

 

An imaginary friend turns bad.

Starring Dina Meyer, Rick Ravanello and Cassandra Sawsell

Written by Christine Gallagher

Directed by William Fruet.

This is an average low budget movie with a predictable and familiar plot to thousands of other haunted house movies. It's better than I thought it would be but it's still pretty average fair. Dina Meyer plays a good part but the rest of the cast could well have been stolen from any old soft porn movie that's ever been made. It's a bit of fun but also instantly forgettable and the ending was also predictable and could have been foretold after about ten minutes.


Nothing new here but it was okay. A decent story spoiled mainly by a low budget.

6.5/10

The Aviator ( 2004)

 

 

     The Story of Aviator Howard Hughes.

 

 

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Kate Beckinsale.

 

Written by John Logan.

Directed by Martin Scorsese.

 

I can see why this movie has won so many oscars. It has all the right ingredients. Great acting, great cinematography, great photography and it is undeniably and unreservedly a Martin Scorsese movie with all of his trademark style and artistry. It's one hell of a production which I'm sure had the Oscar Nominations Board purring and salivating non-stop round the clock.



It is fascinating and it is an interesting watch but for me it's too long and a little bit boring. Just because a movie wins lots of Oscars doesn't necessarily mean it's an exciting movie and this fits into that category. It reminded me of Citizen Kane and I'd go as far as saying that it's basically the same kind of thing produced for a more modern audience. And that movie was pretty boring too.



 

This is a film I can appreciate on many levels but it's lacking a decent hook and a good dollop of excitement.

 

7.5/10 for the acting and production values.

14 Films

Here are 14 films that I've since watched but haven't had time to review them


Trainspotting 10/10 Brilliant


The Adjustment Bureau ( An okay sci fi.)


Source Code


This Boys Life ( Second time I've seen it and it's a great movie.) 10/10


13 Rue Madeline.


Good Luck Chuck.


First Snow.


Abbot & Costello Meet Dr Jeckyll and Mister Hyde.


Abbot and Costello Meet The Keystone Cops


Abbot and Costello Meet The Mummy

Star Trek

Meet The Fockers

NonStop ( Liam Neeson) 7.5. Average action suspense.


Girl Interrupted ( Winona Ryder,Angelina Jolly.) Love this one. 10/10

White Heat (1949)

A cop goes undercover to bring down the mob.

Starring James Cagney and Virginia Mayo.

Written by Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts and suggested by a story by Virginia Kellogg.

Directed by Raoul Walsh.

This is the third mob movie I've watched in a row and probably my least favourite.

I know it's supposed to be a classic but I don't get it. If I'd have watched it when it first came out I may have appreciated a bit more but for me it was just an okay, fun romp of a movie.

It's got practically the same plot as Donnie Brasco but of course came out many years earlier. I'd go as far as to say it's like Donnie Brasco with action scenes added. The action scenes are pretty good and the film kept my interest all the way even though it's quite a long one. But it is very dated and doesn't really stand the test of time that well. Not for me anyway. The acting is dated and so is the whole production.

I wasn't too impressed with James Cagney's performance. I found him quite wooden and hammy. The scene where he loses it in the prison dining hall just made me giggle it was so bad. I'm sure I'm on my own here because reading some of the reviews on IMDB it's heralded as the the finest mob movie ever made. But that's just the way I feel. It was an okay movie but nothing special. I'd be interested in watching some of Cagney's over stuff though.

And why was it called White Heat? Can anybody tell me?

7/10

Donnie Brasco ( 1997 )

            An FBI undercover agent infiltrates the mob.

Starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino.

Written by Joseph D Pistone (Book), Richard Woodley (Book) and Paul Attanasio (Screenplay).

Directed by Mike Newell.

This is the second mob movie I've seen in a row and it's basically Goodfellas with a plot.

It perhaps lacks the overall polish and cinematography of Goodfellas but it makes up for it by having more plot and emotion. I didn't get to know each of the characters as much but that's probably because this is a shorter movie and based more on the relationship between the two leads as opposed to the the mob in general.

Al Pacino and Johnny Depp give good lead performances and their dynamic works well. It's my third Al Pacino film and probably my favourite. Likewise I've seen a few Johnny Depp films and this is the best performance I've seen. It's another side to him and it proves what a versatile actor he is as well as having the looks. And that's something you don't always see.

I still don't think Mob movies are really my thing but I'm enjoying catching a few and I have another one lined up. If anything I've learned a few things I didn't know before if the mob ever comes up in a pub quiz!

Just like Goodfellas this gets an 8 out of 10 but for different reasons. On a side note I was surprised to see who the director of this was considering the previous things he has directed. That's a weird one but he has done a good job.