craig-brown-1 Reviews

The Departed (2006)

better than expected

[8/10 · 20 January 2007]

I expected just another big star ensemble piece from this movie. I knew it would be well made and directed. I was confident of the cinematography and sound.

I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was and weeks later upon reflection I agree that this is one of the better gangster films made.

Regardless of what people say Nicholson does a great job as a gangster. The people who think he is too much of a caricature should get out more.

The cops in this movie are all excellently acted. The script is great and interesting and is a great portrayal of the characters. And most importantly there is that something special that permeates the whole feature.

Anyone who likes a good gangster flick will get this, so will the Scorsese fans and film illiterati.

If you are heading to the video store this week and haven't seen it yet - just get it.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Vrey enjoyable Saturday afternoon

[7/10 · 20 January 2007]

This film is both funny and well delivered, but it also has its darker side.

If you are looking for a light, funny flick this is a great way to kill 2 odd hours.

There is some satire in there but at the end of the day it' just a funny character in odd situation story laid over a road trip.

While I watched the denouement I cried my eyes out - I was in the right mood and it really is a funny punch line.

The lasting impression it has made in my life however is the introduction of paper plates to family gatherings.

Definitely worth renting.

Auto Focus (2002)

Hogan!!!

[7/10 · 20 January 2007]

I really liked this movie.

As usually low expectation allows this low key film to deliver the odds.

Dafoe is excellent as the socially unfit parasite that attatches to Crane's fame and the whole "video is a new technology" thing should be interesting to all the film geeks out there.

I wish the women were a bit better developed but at the end of the day they were not important to the script.

I wonder what it was like for Bill Shatner in the same time period, who was probably in a similar state carer wise.

If you liked Hogans Heroes you have to watch this. If you liked the 70's watch it. If you like the history of technology or porn you have to watch it.

Now, is there anyone left to recommend this to?

Clerks II (2006)

Kevin Smth is better than this

[4/10 · 20 January 2007]

When clerks came out I thought it was excellent. Mall rats was beyond me and Chasing Amy was amusing. Dogma was hell funny and J&SBSB was funny and worth the time and effort. Clerks 2 wasa waste of my time.

Clerks 2 is not the equal of Clerks. It's not even close.

You want it to be great because Kevin Smith is great and has done great stuff. He's witty and has a good perspective and can voice a character well. And obviously his best work is to come.

Clerk was excellent: It was indie, it was fresh and it was zeitgeist.

Clerks 2 is derivative (of Kevin's earlier work, and much more), old and tired. Clerks 2 is not even worth hiring as a weekly DVD. It might have been half decent in 1996.

In 1994 the characters as early 20's people searching for meaning were interesting, but the sequel to this movie wasn't clerks 2 - it was office space (99.) Those clerks characters got a job in a call centre. They didn't keep working fast food and convenience stores.

Kev - move on to new challenges. Real challenges too, not dumb ass superman franchises. You'll do yourself proud.

Mon idole (2002)

Unsatisfying as a Big Mac

[4/10 · 20 January 2007]

I channel surfed into he opening credits of this show so came in with no pre-conceived ideas.

Visually appealing, well directed and well acted the fundamental problem with this movie is that it has nothing to say.

It presents itself as a film with something to say but in the end fails to deliver anything substantial, which is frustrating as if it was a bit wittier it could stand up as a fair comedy.

As it is it thinks it's satire, but it's satire from a vacuous mind satirising something nobody cares about - the amorality of the rich entertainment elite.

Tales of the Gold Monkey: Tales of the Gold Monkey: Part 1 (1982) Season 1, Episode 1

We loved this as kids

[8/10 · 24 June 2005]

I remember my buddy Mike in particular hooked me and my buddies onto this series. And of course we were all instantly hooked. What's not to love about an adventure series with a flying plan, a dog with an eye-patch, and a bunch of evil Nazis. Did I mention the beautiful women and the sly Frenchman? Mike already had a fixation with planes and this set him off as a fan of those old flying boats (or was it floating plane?) This was a great movie at a great time. Computer games were a wonderous and exciting things (Defender and and Battlezone were at the local pub we had the occasional Saturday night dinner at.) Indiana Jones was thrilling us. Our local town cinema was even running the 20's (30s?) version of Buck Rogers on Saturday afternoons as a preview to the feature movie.

This TV series was a classic example of the innocence of those times and the adventures we dreamed about.