The Tourist (2010)

Dishing out all these recent high scores has left The Chief with somewhat of a headache. With this in mind I have decided to take a brief hiatus from the animated countdown before returning to the final two positions by taking in a Hollywood, popcorn(y) trash pic. If it is good I may have to keep up with the high scores... Not to spoil anything but I needn't have worried.

In 7 words or less: Depp/Jolie discover they have zero chemistry

Best bits? There are bits. Not sure if any of them are 'best'.

Did it make you think thoughts? Depp, oh Johnny Depp. What have you done? I realise that most actors have a stinker every now and then but this will leave a nasty smell for a long time to come. The plot on display here is ludicrous and not in an 'oh well, at least it's a good rolickin adventue' type of ludicrous. Some chopper told me this is a comedy. Due to it's awefullness it is a comedy but I'm sure all involved set out to make a thriller and not the next installment of Police Academy (Police Academy - Good franchise or not? answers on a postcard, or tweet) As I stated at the top of the review, The Depper and 'Lips' Jolie have zero chemistry and sleep walk through their roles. Add in the useless Paul Bettany and you're left with a failure of cataclysmic proportions. Oh yeah, the twist is horrifically predictable and groan-inducing at the same time.

Would you watch it again? No, in fact this movie is losing percentage points even as I write this review.

Rating (out of 100%): One of the strap lines was, 'From the writer of The Usual Suspects'. Really? Wow! What a fall from grace. I give this a tragically trudging 20%

What I really need now is a movie that will reaffirm my faith in the usually dependable Johnny Depp. Hhhmm, yes, there you are sitting on the bookshelf you wonderfully magnificent dvd you. Into the player you go. Johnny, all is forgiven. Review to follow. I'm already smiling thinking about what I have in store over the next hour and a half. Looks like the animated countdown will have to wait a little longer.

The Lives Of Others (2006)

In 7 words or less: Stasi agent makes good

Best bits? The bit where they put all the bugging devices in Dreyman's house, the tension in scenes when you think someone is going to say something subversive and get arrested. The drab colourless apartment and offices of Wiesler compared to the lively, colourful and joyful lives the artists strive to live out, even though they are living under intense repression. The cloying atmosphere brought to mind the recent production of 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy', lots of dreary greys and browns, the lens peering at the characters through thick wafts of cigarette smoke and hard spirits being downed in every scene. The performance of Wiesler, who doesn't say much, but reveals his changing attitude over the course of the film in a subtle and engaging way.

Did it make you think thoughts? Yes, how boring and annoying it would have been to live under the watch of the Stasi in the 80's. Makes me glad that wall came down in the end. I was also constantly unsure of who was going to be caught and what would happen. This film keeps you guessing, and the ending is dramatic and poignant.

Would you watch it again? Sure would, great film with plenty worth revisiting.

Rating (out of 100%): 89% Ruddy good watch, didn't know much about this subject so it's a fascinating insight into the lives of East German activists in the 80's, as well as a great character drama. Weisler and Dreyman are complete opposites politically and socially but form a bond that changes each of their lives without ever meeting. Skillfully played out, gripping and emotive.

The Box (2009)

In 7 words or less: Button = £1,000,000 + Death.

Best bits? Based of a short story by Richard Matheson, originally published in Playboy magazine. The setup is basic. The moral implications are not. A deformed stranger comes delivers a button to your doorstep and tells you that if you press it you will receive one million dollars, but someone you don't know will die. If you're not a dick, obviously you wouldn't press the button, but, sadly Norma and Arthur do just that; and for a couple with no immediate money troubles, that was a pretty stupid thing to do.

When the deformed Arlington comes to collect the box, he informs them that the box will now be reset and the test will be offered to a new person, delivering the ominous line (surely the best of the film) "You can be sure that the box will go to someone you don't know..."

Things soon spiral out of control for the Lewis' and they are embroiled in poo storm of their own making. Involving Mars, Higher Beings, Water Portals, Eternal Damnation and more buttons.

The movie is shot beautifully, and throughout build up does a great job of building tension, helped with my favourite score from 2009. Honking like a 50s mystery or more accurately, It Came From The Desert (the Amiga 500 game about the giant ants).

Cameron Diaz makes a strong performance here, and to my ears, does a decent job at a Texas accent.

Did it make you think thoughts? I have a feeling that Richard Kelly feels under pressure to repeat the mind bending success of Donnie Darko, which might lead to him making convoluted sci-fi story lines which try to re create the philosophical science blend that worked so well in this movie. When you are watching this film, you can clearly pin point the moment it turns the corner into something overly confusing, then it screeches back on track about 30 minutes later and continues as the strong film it started.

Would you watch it again? I originally watched this when I had the flu, which made it extra psychedelic. So I bought the Blu Ray for a re-watch. It looks great and there's a couple of interesting features on there (none that attempt to explain the middle section, although I haven't trailed through the commentary from Kelly). It's an obviously flawed movie, but in the best possible way; Interesting & poignant.

Rating (out of 100%): 72% As my life partner said. It's better to make an interesting, confusing film than a bad one. I agree. A story to make you think and for a bit, scratch your head, and then think again. Now. If everyone would just stop pressing that bloody button....

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)

The Chief animation season has arrived at number 3 in the 'Top non cgi animated' countdown and it's one I predict many have not seen. I urge the loyal readers to check it out though. Also, the poll has now opened on what the top 2 films might be. Think you know? Tell The Slump!

In 7 words or less: Batman battles Gotham psychos

Best bits? Where to start? This is full of top notch comic book balls-to-wall action. However, we also get a great story and a clever well thought out script. Non-Batman fans may not know the villainy of The Black Mask but check out this clip. Great stuff.





Did it make you think thoughts? This was originally a comic book storyline from 2005 but on reflection, writer Judd Winick wasn't happy with it and so when Warner approached him about turning it into a movie he came onboard and made some changes to the original to improve it. It mainly focuses on a new vigilante arriving in Gotham using The Joker's old guise of The Red Hood. Being a comic book nut, I was familiar with all the characters but for the uninitiated I can imagine it might be a little confusing. Stick with it though as it is a real scorcher. I was pretty amazed by the amount of story, action, banter and emotion that was crammed in here.

We get a Joker origin recap, three or four villains, sidekicks, flashbacks and loads of dynamic action scenes. I did wonder what certificate this was though. There are beatings, shootings, and people being set on fire. Also the opening flashback scene of The Joker beating the second incarnation of Robin to death with a crowbar was mildly disturbing. The film also made me take a deeper look at the Batman/Joker relationship. At one point B-man visits The Joker in Arkham Asylum and after getting some unsatisfactory answers from the king of comedy he slams him up against the wall while grabbing him around the throat to which The Joker asks - 'So, are you finally going to do it?' It's an interesting quandary. Why does the Batman keep his arch nemesis, who is responsible for countless innocent deaths, around? Why not just finish him off? It's kind of like some weird symbiotic relationship where one needs the other. This is especially explored in the emotionally charged film ending scene. I rate this version of The Joker behind Jack's 1989 (Tim Burton) interpretation but way above the massively overrated Heath Ledger/Christopher Nolan take. This animated version bubbles with menace, homicidal evil and a you-can-never-win attitude.

Would you watch it again? I first saw this about two months ago and have watched it three already. There is your answer.

Rating (out of 100%): Definitely not one for the younger kids out there but the big kids (The Chief) will lap this up for all it's Bat goodness. I give this a bat bustin' 92%

Pearl Jam Twenty (2011)

In 7 words or less: Glossy doc on PJ's twentieth anniversary

Best bits? Eddie Vedder when he used to climb the stage rigging like a nutter, and throw himself into the crowd from 20-30ft. Seeing the guys as they are now compared to the youthful fresh faced archive footage. When they get booed by a Texas crowd playing Bu$hleaguer. Pearl Jam playing The Who's 'Baba O'Reilly' at Lollapalooza was a personal favourite.

Did it make you think thoughts? Yes, it made me feel old! I've always thought of 'Yield' as a later album in their career and it was released in '98! Ouch. But what an awesome band, uncompromising and original. A very interesting story of a band that came out of the tragedy of the young death of their singer and formed an unlikely alliance with like minded friends/associates to produce some amazing songs/albums/performances and one of the few who survived the overwhelming attention and hype of the Seattle rock scene of the late 80's/early 90's. It's easy to forget how young they were, which makes you realise why a lot of their peers succumbed to the pressures/excesses of fame, success and music biz exploitation. This has a very personal touch as director Cameron Crowe is both a fan and former music journalist who followed their career closely. It's made up of hundreds of hours of archive/rare footage plus lovely looking interviews and profiles of the band as they are now.

Would you watch it again? I probably would, have always been a fan and there a lots of great moments.

Rating (out of 100%): A lovingly crafted doc, with lots of personal touches and candid interviews with the band members and associates, expertly crafted by a talented director, it uses the archive video to maximum effect. There is so much detail and countless sources of footage that it avoids the tedium that sometimes creeps in to other rockumentaries. 91%

Akira (1988)

The Party rolls on as The Chief hits the number 4 spot in his 'Top 5 animated countdown'. Feast your eyes on the fantabulous Akira!

In 7 words or less: The West finally accepts Anime.

Best bits? The look and feel of this film really set the tone for what is to come. The colours are vibrant and a neon soaked (Neo) Tokyo takes centre stage. The scene near the beginning where two biker gangs confront each other is aces. The bikes tails lights shimmer and glow leaving awesome light trails. The action comes thick and fast and benefits from smooth, fluid animation which is the real winner here.

Did it make you think thoughts? The title here is somewhat misleading. Akira doesn't actually show up until about 1hr 40mins in and even then his inclusion is minimal. The story instead focuses on Tetsuo Shima, a young orphaned boy with seemingly no hope and no future. Emotions run high as we follow Tetsuo's rise to god hood and subsequent fall. I watched this as a kid and didn't really 'get' it. Now many, well not too many, years later I'm still a little bit in the dark. What the secret covert black-ops government military scientific research team is doing isn't 100% clear but that doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment factor. The film does attempt to confront sociological issues such as post-war military dominance, a corrupt political system and the effects these have on a downtrodden working class although they are somewhat eclipsed by the main storyline and don't really get a chance to fully develop. Worryingly, a 2-part live action remake is in the works starring Keira Knightley, Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter. hhmm. Not sure about that.

Would you watch it again? The running time of over 2 hours means it won't see repeated views that often but yes I will definitely revisit Akira

Rating (out of 100%): You generally either like manga style animation or you don't. I do, but sometimes find the inherent weirdness off putting. Akira doesn't venture too far into crazy flying cats and giant pokemon territory but does appeal to the Western sensibilities of violence, action, explosions and secret government experiments. I therefore give Akira a violent, action-packed, explosiony 91%