Top 30 : Movie Assassinations

Another belter from Total Film. This time it's their top 30 movie slayings.  There's someclassic movie moments in there and predictably the genre most widely represented is our old friend the gangster/crime thriller. Capiche?

Have a looksee here:

Total Film : Top 30 Movie Assassinations

Top 50 : Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Ever

Total Film has come up trumps again for any list fans out there. This time they have turned their attention to the greatest Science Fiction movies of all time and after collecting the votes of thousands of readers the results can be found below.

Total Film : Top 50 Sci-Fi Films

No major surprises in the top 5, though some may perhaps disagree with the ordering. Any thoughts?

Movie News : Toy Story 4?

After the resounding success of Toy Story 3 it appeared that Pixar had neatly rounded off their flagship franchise. It was a movie trilogy that the good Doctor Kermode has repeatedly claimed to be the greatest movie trilogy of all time. It's a bold claim, but not a completely unfounded one. One certainly got the impression it was done and dusted though after watching Toy Story 3 as no major loose ends were left. There was definite closure regarding the movies' themes of the end of childhood and the unavoidable need to grow up and move on. Tears were shed, lumps stuck in throats and, in the case of the trash furnace scene towards the film's end, nerves were tested.

It is surprising to hear therefore that apparently:

"Speaking on BBC Breakfast News on Monday, Tom Hanks, who voices Woody, appeared to let slip that Pixar is working on a new Toy Story film. Asked if there might ever be a Toy Story 4, he replied: 'I think there will be. They're working on it now.' "

Source : Guardian Online : Toy Story 4

Pixar have Cars 2 out later this year, and fantasy adventure Brave out next. Could it be that the following year could see a return to Woody and the gang?  It could perhaps be a mistake on Hank's part, but the trustworthy Mr. Hanks is not typically one to knowingly mislead his fans. If the nicest man in Hollywood (TM) says there's a fourth one in the works, then who are we to doubt it.

I would imagine the new film might take place at the toy's new home as glimpsed at the end of Toy Story 3, and could perhaps see the return of arch villain Luxo. I am slightly wary of Pixar jeopardising what has been an extraordinarily successful movie franchise to date, and perhaps not quitting while they are ahead. That being said however, with the same team in place and with enough time to work on it, there's no reason why part 4 shouldn't be every bit as funny and poignant as its predecessors. We await further news with bated breath....

Movie Reviews : Season of the Witch

I recently reviewed the Nic Cage swords and sorcery movie Season of the Witch for the fine people at Flick Feast. It's a film that has a decent central idea and could have really been something dark and interesting but unfortunately it falls rather short..

"It seems churlish to criticise a film for its deficiencies when they are obviously caused by a tight budget, but Season of the Witch really suffers due to ideas above its financial station. Given a Michael Bay-esque mega budget, Dominic Sena could perhaps have produced an exciting and visually impressive movie. Unfortunately, with only the funds available to him, the director’s finished article looks over-stretched and struggles to keep your interest."

You can read the full review here:

Flick Feast : Season of the Witch

Movie Reviews : Howl

I recently reviewed Howl for the good people at Flick Feast:


It stands to reason that a film based on the most famous work of renowned Beat poet Allen Ginsberg is strikingly unconventional in its form and construction. Ginsberg was at the forefront of the Beat Generation that also brought us Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassidy and his sweeping free-verse style of poetry, packed full of sexual and surreal imagery, saw him established as one of the great modern day American Poets. Much like his famous poem, this film goes off on various tangents and follows several differing threads in unison.

You can read the full review here:


Flick Feast : Howl

Top 18 : Deadliest Stunts

Total Film recently published a list of the top 18 deadliest movie stunts. Some of the accompanying videos are truly spectacular. Check out the 232 foot fall by the stuntman on number 9. Mental.

You can see the full list here:

Total Film : Top 18 Deadliest Movie Stunts

Movie Reviews: Cross of Iron

I recently reviewed Sam Peckinpah's World War 2 classic Cross of Iron for Flick Feast:

Sam Peckinpah made a name for himself with ultra-violent movies about groups of tough guys in bloody conflicts and with gritty World War 2 adventure Cross of Iron he certainly stuck to his tried and tested formula. The director is best known for his classic Westerns such as Major Dundee and The Wild Bunch, and this, his only war film, is arguably unjustifiably overlooked. In recent years however, with young directors such as Quentin Tarantino expressing their admiration of the movie (the film provides the clear template for Tarantino’s own bombastic war movie Inglorious Basterds), Cross of Iron has experienced something of a resurgence.

You can read the full review here:

Flick Feast : Cross of Iron

Moview Reviews: Apocalypse Now

I was lucky enough recently to review the comprehensive new Apocalypse Now Blu-Ray for Flick Feast. The package itself is extremely impressive with both the original and redux versions on the film getting crisp new transfers and a whole host of extra features crammed in including the legendary Hearts of Darkness behind the scenes documentary. For any fan of the film it really is a must-have and for anyone who hasn't yet experienced Coppola's masterpiece you will  never see it in a better condition than this. Draw the curtains, turn out the lights and lose yourself in the unforgiving horror of war:

The film’s portrayal of the anarchic, almost lawless, nature of the Vietnam War is one of the major factors in making it stand out upon release. When the crew arrive at a remote outpost in the dead of night and in the middle of a blistering gun fight over control of a rickety wooden bridge, they are greeted by the sight of desperate soldiers begging the crew to take them onboard. When Willard goes ashore amidst a barrage of explosions and shell-shocked soldiers, the terrifying nature of the war is really hammered home. Apocalypse captures the insanity that can engulf men at war like no other film had done before it. Whereas most Vietnam films up to this point had shied away from the darker elements of the conflict, Coppola’s film was centred around it and pulled no punches. In the tradition of All Quiet On The Western Front and Paths Of Glory, it was a scathing critique of war itself.

You can read the full review here:

Flick Feast : Apocalypse Now

Movie Reviews : Passenger Side

I recently reviewed Passenger Side for Flick Feast. It's an enjoyable comedy that slipped under the radar on it's theatrical release. Adam Scott is on top form following on from memorable turns in Step Brothers and Knocked Up and roles in top US TV comedies Party Down and Parks and Recreation. He shows previously untapped depths here mind you mixing laid-back comedy with troubled brotherly love:

This heartfelt and funny American Indie film slipped under the radar on its theatrical release, but will hopefully find its home on DVD. Made by hotly tipped young filmmaker Matt Bissonnette, it charts a day in the company of two brothers who embark on a road trip across LA County in order to seek out one of their lost loves. Driving the car is Michael; a sarcastic and guarded writer who is guilt-tripped into chauffeuring his brother Tobey, a recovering drug addict, across town.


You can read the full review here:


Flick Feast : Passenger Side

Movie Reviews : The Be All And End All

I recently reviewed this touching comedy for Flick Feast:

The Be All And End All is a warm, funny and poignant tale about friendship and the pressures of teenage life. Robbie and Ziggy are two 15 year old Liverpudlian lads who like most boys their age, are fixated on losing their virginity. A family holiday with Robbie’s mum and dad almost garners result for Robbie, but a bout of sudden illness gets in his way. On the way home, Robbie collapses and is rushed to hospital, where it soon emerges he has a fatal heart condition and doesn’t have long let to live. As Robbie tries to come to terms with this overwhelming revelation, he decides his last wish is to not die a virgin and so he tasks Ziggy to make this dream come true and help him go out with a bang......


You can read the full review here:



Flick Feast : The Be All And End All