190 ... Pretty Woman

190 ... Pretty Woman

That's right, Pretty Woman ... And no, I hadn't seen it, thought I was too cool for school to watch this chick flick.

"A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets... only to fall in love."

It's a bit contrived and corny, but I found it easy to like.

Liked the scenes at the opera (la traviata) and when she returns to shop on Rodeo Drive.

I thought I'd hate this film ... I didn't, I really liked it (doh). And it's got The Big O's tunes.

AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 7.5

Links ... IMDB (7.7), The Big O (Black & White Night) video, Blonde Episodes Blog

191 ... The Producers (1968)

191 ... The Producers (1968)

Never seen this film before (oh, what a sheltered life you've led MrC) about a failing theatre producer and accountant trying to make a fortune by producing a sure fire flop and running away with their investors money. Although it's deemed a classic and I'd heard good things, it didn't really float my boat. I think mainly due to this film ageing quite a lot.

It just took too long to really get going, and ages to get to the best bit - 'Springtime for Hitler'. That is a great set piece and together with the character L.S.D. make the film worth watching.

AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 6

Links ... IMDB (7.7), Wikipedia

192 ... Romeo + Juliet

192 ... Romeo + Juliet

Hhhmmm ... Olde English Shakespeare original dialogue set in a modern day Verona, after 10 minutes my thoughts were 'how long before I turn this off?'.

But I stuck with it and it turned out to be a pretty good film, once you get your head round it. Pete Postlethwaite is great.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but I thought surprisingly good.

Benvolio: Why, Romeo, art thou mad?
Romeo: Not mad, but bound more than a mad man is. Shut up in prison, kept without my food, whipped and tormented.

AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 7

Links ... IMDB (6.9), Wikipedia

193 ... To Kill A Mockingbird

193... To Kill A Mockingbird

Yes, you guessed it, another classic film I hadn't seen (proves my idea of watching them all was right I suppose).

Bit of pressure here to like this film, as loads of friends list this as one of their favourite films or books.

It didn't let them down. Set in 1930's Southern United States it's a brilliant story and a great film, about a single parent lawyer, Atticus Finch, defending an innocent black man (the symbolic mockingbird), Tom Robinson, accused of rape by a poor "white trash" girl, Mayella Ewell, whose racist father Bob has abused her.

It's a Black & White film, with no surround sound and no special effects, but I really enjoyed it - both the acting and the morality.

I know it's a story from a while ago but I think we'd be in a better place if there were a few more Atticus Finch's around today.

It also took me back to being a kid (before children's telly was invented !) and watching old films in the school holidays ! Highly recommended.

AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 8.5


Links .... IMDB (8.5), Wikipedia, The Independent 50 year review

194 ... Mad Max

194 ... Mad Max

To say I love cinema ... another film I'd never seen.

This was the original Australian version.

Good stuff, made me want to watch the sequels.

AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 7.5


Links .... IMDB (6.9), Wikipedia, Mad Max Online

195 ... Glengarry Glen Ross

195 ... Glengarry Glen Ross

Not seen before, this is a theatre play converted to film about a small group of estate agents.
Al Pacino's is easily the best performance with a fantastic rant, and Alec Baldwin's 10 minute performance is much better than normal, but the story didn't hold attention for the whole film. It did improve the last 20 minutes, and the f word couter is right up there with the best.

Worth watching for Al Pacino.

AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 6
TJ (T J Hooker) rating n/a
CK (Captain Kirt) rating n/a

Links .... IMDB Wikipedia

196 ... Sense and Sensibility

196 ... Sense and Sensibility

Now here's a film I would never have watched and a story by Jane Austen that I would never have read. Judging by the gap between this and the last film you can see I have been putting this one off.

A girly period drama, full of luvvies I thought as I settled down to be bored ... but as the film went on I found myself enjoying it more and more and by the end I realised I had really enjoyed it.

Great characters, story, locations and acting.

Emma Thompson is great and Alan Rickman is quality.

I now greatly esteem this film !

AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 7.5
TJ (T J Hooker) rating n/a
CK (Captain Kirt) rating n/a

Links .... IMDB Wikipedia

Trailer ...

Please add your comments ....

197 ... Enter The Dragon

197 ... Enter The Dragon

This was the first kung fu film to be made by a major hollywood studio. I had only seen a couple of short bits of this film years ago, and wasn't really keen - looked very 70s and slow, so not really looking forward to this one.

But it's great ! Story is Bruce Lee's character avenging his sisters death and defeating an evil drug dealing, prostitute selling villain, by entering a martial arts competion !
Really enjoyed it, good action and fighting, good story and some good characters (especially Williams). I did think some parts were a bit James Bond ish in places, but that's not a bad thing.

I would say this is one of the best films so far, and happy I now have it in my collection !

Watched on HD DVD. Picture quality only OK, due to the original film - but best you can get and loads of extras.

AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 8
TJ (T J Hooker) rating n/a
CK (Captain Kirt) rating n/a

Links .... IMDB Wikipedia

Please add your comments ....

198 ... Rebel Without A Cause

198 ... Rebel Without A Cause

Yes, I'm back ! It's been 15 months since my last review, so here goes ! Not long now to fit in the other 197 ....
Another film I hadn't seen before. Whenever I see a film like this, made in the 1940's, 50's & 60's with that Technicolor colour and grain about them, I think of films shown on TV on Saturday and Sunday afternoons years ago at my Nan's, before we'd set off to the match !

I was expecting good things from this film, after reading all the reviews, etc. The stories about a teenager, James Dean, moving to a new town and rebelling against his parents, trying to help a friend, getting a girlfriend and facing up to school bullies and knives. So although 50 years old still looking at similar problems to today.
It took me a while to get into, but my interest increased as the film went on and the story developed and subjects that were taboo in the 50's are hinted at (dealing with being gay, father & daughter feelings).

In its day it was probably ahead of it's time. It's still good, relevant and parts of it have been used and copied in other films or shows, but the film itself does feel a bit dated.

AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 7.5
TJ (T J Hooker) rating ??
CK (Captain Kirt) rating ??
Mr Matrix rating 8

Links .... IMDB Wikipedia

Please add your comments ....

199 ... The Killer

199 ... The Killer

Here's another film I would not have watched if not for this project (so it's having the desired effect), and also one I had not heard of from Hong Kong, directed by John Woo.

The film is in Chinese, with English subtitles and is about an assassin who undertakes hits for the mob and is subsequently pursued by a police detective. During a hit, the assassin meets a woman, who loses her sight in the gun fight.
He decides to take care of the woman from then on, with the law and the mob tracking him down.

To say this film is violent is an understatement ... Some of the action sequences are good, but the editing is a bit choppy and reminded me of old Kung-fu movies.

And without giving the plot away, what was "Runt" and "Shrimphead" all about !!?


AFO (A Film Odyssey) rating 6.5
TJ (T J Hooker) rating 6.5
CK (Captain Kirt) rating ??

Links .... IMDB Wikipedia LoveHKFilm

Please add your comments ....