Peter Burton's daily log, covering Peter's personal interests, e.g. jazz, travel and general grumpiness plus (occasionally) the business of Isomatic and its associate companies.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Film: The Edge Of Love
This evening we saw the film
The Edge Of Love at the Guildford Odeon. We rate it 6/10 on the basis that the story line is very weak. Acting and cinematography are fine; I was particularly impressed by Sienna Miller because one would never have thought she is from New York, USA.
Labels: Film
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Priceless at the Guildford Odeon
This evening we went to Guildfords Odeon cinema to see the film
Priceless. This is a rom-com / chick-flick with a good story line and good acting. Selina liked it very much. I would have liked the sex scenes to have been more explicit. Audrey Tautou looked good but Selina has better knees.
Labels: Film
Saturday, May 03, 2008
In Bruges at the Guildford Odeon
This evening at Guildford's Odeon cinema we saw the so-called black comedy
In Bruges. It is well-known that the subject is two hit-men in hiding but there is much more to it than that. Selina thought there was too much violence for it to be a comedy. The picture shows Colin Farrell with the beautiful Clémence Poésy. Ralph Fiennes was brilliant as the hit-mens' evil boss.
Labels: Film
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Flashbacks of a Fool
This evening we saw
Flashbacks of a Fool at the Ambassadors cinema in Woking. This is an unusual film with a rather sad story. Good screenplay and excellent acting by the mainly British cast. Recommended.
Labels: Film
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Rolling Stones; Shine a Light
This evening we saw the Rolling Stones concert film
Shine a Light at Guildford's Odeon cinema. Unsurprisingly it was VERY loud and the Stones are as old as us, probably older in the case of Charlie Watts. Keith Jagger and Keith Richards just look older because of their ravaged faces. Nevertheless, they are amazingly slim and fit.
Guests were Jack White (OK), Buddy Guy (fine voice) and Christina Aguilera (just shouting). Overall the film is not worth the entrance fee.
Labels: Film
Saturday, April 05, 2008
27 Dresses at the Ambassadors Cinema
This evening we saw the chick-flick
27 Dresses at the Ambassadors Cinema in Woking. It was billed as a rom-com, which I suppose is accurate. OK for its genre.
Labels: Film
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Vantage Point
This evening we saw the film
Vantage Point at the Guildford Odeon. Much action was packed into just 90 minutes, with the same sequence repeated 6 times from different 'Vantage Points'. Even though it had a 12A certificate, Selina found it too violent.
Labels: Film
Saturday, March 08, 2008
The Other Boleyn Girl
This evening we saw
The Other Boleyn Girl at the Guildford Odeon. This was a well-made film with good acting performances (especially Natalie Portman) so worth seeing on the basis of an enjoyable evening out. History buffs might not like the artistic licence taken with the known facts. Also some aspects were not explained.
Labels: Film
Saturday, March 01, 2008
The Bank Job
This evening we went to the Ambassadors Cinema in Woking to see
The Bank Job. Based on a true story, supressed at the time, this was a gripping variant of an old theme. Good writing by the famous team of Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais and fine acting from the all-British cast. We recommend this film.
N.B. Why are the Oscars awarded to crap American films when there are such good ones coming from Britain, China, France and Germany. Is it another case of 'The World Series' when supposedly international awards are just for the USA.
Labels: Film, Grumpy
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Burford Bridge; Lust, Caution
For our 42nd wedding anniversary today we had lunch at the
Burford Bridge Hotel. The food was excellent, as was the service and the view (pictured). The Mercure Group has kept up the fine tradition inherited from the previous owners.
In the evening we saw
Lust, Caution at the David Lean cinema in Croydon's Clocktower arts centre. This is a truly great film by Ang Lee, with a believable plot that keeps the suspense going to the very end. Wei Tang is a fine young actress, switching effortlessly from poor innocent student with no make-up and baggy clothes to the painted seductress in beautiful Silk Cheongsams. The sex (and there is plenty of it) is very hot and features a wide range of positions. Don't miss it !
I have to ask myself why all the great cinema of the last 12 months has featured foreign language films: 'Tell No-one', 'The Lives of Others' and now 'Lust, Caution'. I suppose English Language cinema is just catering for the mass audience, AKA the great unwashed.
Labels: Eating out, Film
Sunday, January 20, 2008
No Country For Old Men
On Saturday evening we saw
No
Country For Old Men at theGuildford Odeon cinema. We chose
this film as it was a Cohen Brothers production and they have produced
great films in the past, e.g. 'Millers Crossing' and 'Fargo'. I am
sorry to report that 'No Country' was a great disappointment; it had no ending but just meandered into nothingness. We do not recommend this film.
Labels: Film
Saturday, January 05, 2008
The Kite Runner
This evening we went to the Guildford Odeon to see
The Kite Runner. This film received very high marks (many 10s) from the amateur reviewers at IMDB.com so we had high expectations. Yes it is a great film but we did think the balance was uneven with too much of the boyhood period and not enough of the adult's return to Afganistan during the Taliban era.
Labels: Film
Saturday, December 22, 2007
St Trinians at the Guildford Odeon
This evening we went to see
St Trinians at Guildford's Odeon cinema. This film received the complete range of marks (1 to 10) from the amateur reviewers at IMDB.com so you will need to make up your own minds. Our view is that this humour is rather dated but Tamsin Egerton looks great in stockings.
Labels: Film
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Hitman; Olga Kurylenko
On Saturday evening we went to see
Hitman at the Guildford Odeon. This film was unbelievable, unfathomable and uninteresting. The only reason to see it is to view Olga Kurylenko. Heterosexual women should avoid the film and read no further.
Anyone who has met my wife Selina will know that legs are my thing; Olga's are superb. She wears very short skirts / dresses / underwear throughout the film but the best moment is the long lingering view of her, front and back, wearing nothing but very skimpy knickers.
Labels: Film
Saturday, December 08, 2007
The 40 Year Old Virgin
On Friday evening we stayed in and watched television again ! Two nights in one week must be a record for recent times. We watched our own video recording of
The 40 Year Old Virgin from a previous evening's TV programmes. We laughed a lot at the crude humour in this comedy. The first picture shows the scene where the hero's workmates persuade him to have his chest waxed. Each time the Chinese woman rips the hairs from his chest he hurls a stream of abuse at her. The look on her face is a joy to behold. The second picture is a main character played by Catherine Keener. I spent most of the film wondering where I had seen her before. The answers are:
1) very recently in 'Into the Wild'
2) a while back in a Seinfeld episode called 'The Letter', which we must now watch again.
Labels: Film
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Schindler's List
After our day out in Dorset / Hampshire we decided to stay in on Saturday evening, so looked through our VHS cassettes of old films. We watched Schindler's List, one of the great films of all time. However many times we see it, we never fail to be gripped by it.
Labels: Film
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Into The Wild at the Kingston Odeon
On Saturday evening we went to Kingston's Odeon Cinema to see
Into The Wild as it was not showing locally. It received rave amateur reviews on IMDB.com so we were more than hopeful. However, we found the film rather disappointing; perhaps it appeals more to the US market. In urban UK there is less desire to live in the wild, with all the horror that it involves. The scene we found particularly sickening was the hero's feverish butchering of the moose (or was it a caribou) before the flies laid their eggs in the fresh meat and ruined it. I had a strong desire to vomit !
Labels: Film
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Elizabeth at the Guildford Odeon
On Saturday evening we saw
Elizabeth: The Golden Age at Guildford's Odeon cinema. Historically inaccurate but very moving.
Labels: Film
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Stardust at the cinema
On Saturday evening we saw
Stardust at Guidford's Odeon cinema. Fantasy is not my favourite film genre but this was good of its kind, with many great actors. Selina liked it !
Labels: Film
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Mr Brooks at the Ambassadors cinema
On Saturday evening we saw the film
Mr Brooks at the Ambassadors cinema in Woking. This was a different approach to the serial killer genre that was worth watching for that reason alone. Kevin Costner and Demi Moore have limited acting skills but their parts suited them, particularly Moore with her 'wooden' role for a wooden actress. Not the greatest film of the year but by no means the worst.
Labels: Film
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Film Michael Clayton
On Saturday evening we went to Guildford's Odeon cinema to see the film
Michael Clayton. It took so long to get going, with nothing but confusion for the first half-hour, that I was falling asleep. Just after Selina poked me awake, the plot began and the film was OK, but not brilliant, after that. We did enjoy the way that lawyers were shown as generally evil, the one exception being considered a madman by his law firm.
Labels: Film
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Knocked Up at Guildford's cinema
On Saturday evening we saw
Knocked Up at Guildford's Odeon Cinema. This is a slightly-better-than-average comedy, particularly funny for us as one of the characters is reminiscent of someone we know. Aspects of behaviour that are very serious in real life can be amusing on screen.
Labels: Film
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Little Children; Film at Cranleigh Arts Centre
On Wednesday evening we went to
Cranleigh Arts Centre to see the film
Little Children. The quality of the videotape used by the centre was very poor but the film was excellent. The story was original and the acting was worthy of the awards it won and more. I despair of the UK film-going public that fill the cinemas for 'blockbusters' but relegate a film like this to just one week in mainstream cinema before it is relegated to art houses.
Labels: Film
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Atonement
On Saturday evening we saw the much-heralded film
Atonement. Brilliant cinematography and acting combined with a clever plot. Well worth seeing. To say any more about the plot would give too much away.
Labels: Film
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Film 'If Only' on ITV3
On Friday evening we did something unusual; stayed at home and watched a film on television. It was a British romantic comedy called
If Only, AKA 'The Man With Rain in His Shoes'. This is a light-weight film that we rather enjoyed. Victor gets the chance to go back in time to stop the failure of his relationship with Sylvia, who he still loves. We were amazed to see Penelope Cruz appear as a barmaid, with me shouting "forget Sylvia", this is the one for you !
Labels: Film
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Breach at the cinema
On Saturday evening we saw the film
Breach at Guildford's Odeon cinema. Based on the true story of the USA's greatest traitor, it shows how he was eventually caught with the help of a young FBI man who was hoping to be promoted to agent. The essence of the film was in portraying the characters of the main people involved. It did this very well except that we still failed to understand the relationship between the traitor and his wife. As they are both portrayed as devout Roman Catholics, it was inevitably difficult for us as a confirmed irreligious couple. We wondered how the RC church will take to yet another film that draws attention to Opus Dei, implying that it is an evil influence.
On Sunday morning we browsed
Chasing The Frog, which compared the film with the truth. We have a better understanding now. It might be best to see the film before going frog chasing.
Labels: Film
Sunday, August 19, 2007
The Bourne Ultimatum
On Saturday evening we saw
The Bourne Ultimatum at the Guildford Odeon. This was the first time we had seen a Jason Bourne film, although I did read one of Robert Ludlum's books featuring the same character. The film was an all-action blockbuster, the type that fills the biggest auditorium in the cinema complex. Good acting, good cinematography and a just-believable plot. We rated this OK.
Labels: Film
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Film 'The Black Dahlia' at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
On Saturday evening we went to the
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre to see the film
The Black Dahlia. We would categorise this as 'film noir' in the retrospective murder / mystery / thriller category, if that does not sound too pompous. At the superficial level it succeeds but it is best not to question the plot too deeply if you just want entertainment. Otherwise you will be left with 'why, why, why'.
Labels: Film
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Tell No One (Ne Le Dis A Personne) at Croydon
On Saturday evening we went to
The David Lean cinema at Croydon's Clocktower Arts centre to see the French film
Tell No One. Great plot in true Hitchcock style with twists and turns that kept me awake at night going over them in my mind. We need to see it again to clear up a few points. Everyone who likes mysteries should go and see this film.
Croydon is not the ideal venue unless you happen to live there. It is very vehicle-unfriendly with many access restrictions and car parks that cost more than you are ever likely to have in your pocket, so have credit card at the ready. The only car park close to the venue was closed.
Labels: Film
Saturday, June 30, 2007
La Vie En Rose
On Friday evening we went to Guildford's Odeon cinema to see the film
La Vie En Rose. This was a biopic of the legendary Edith Piaf; a sad story with some marvellous songs. Too much flashback and forth in our view.
Labels: Film
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Magicians at the Ambassadors Cinema, Woking
On Saturday evening As we could see nothing of interest in Guildford we went to the Ambassadors Cinema in Woking to see
Magicians. This very British comedy received a very extreme mix of views from the amateur critics at IMDB.com so we needed to see for ourselves. We found it hilarious, laughing out loud at some of the bawdy and/or black humour. For me the funniest moments were the response by a waitress to a lewd suggestion from a lecherous magician and the description by a homosexual of the horror of a woman's approaching private parts. Use of the guillotine on a female assistant in a magician's trick features heavily throughout the film. If all this is your style of humour then go and see this film; otherwise avoid it.
Labels: Film
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Zodiac at the Cinema
On Friday evening we went to Guildford's Odeon cinema to see the film
Zodiac. This was a taken-from-real-life serial killer film with a rather different approach from the norm. It was so gripping that we never realised how long it was until it was over and we saw the time was 00:30. The picture shows the amateur sleuth meeting the detective in charge of the case over coffee. Very convincing performances from the cast, quite scary at times, worth watching once.
Labels: Film
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Next, a very strange film
On Friday evening we saw the film
Next at the Guildford Odeon. This is a premonition-style story with plenty of 'is this real or imaginary' sequences. Near the end, one member of the audience shouted out "Does anyone like this film ? I want my money back !" We thought it was better than that, with performances from Nicholas Cage, Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel that suspended disbelief. The ending was less than satisfactory.
Labels: Film
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Fracture at the Guildford Odeon
On Friday evening we went to Guildford's Odeon cinema to see the film
Fracture, Starring Anthony Hopkins. There were one or two flaws in the plot but it held our interest throughout and the acting was excellent. Of the two twists at the end; one was predictable and the other was a complete surprise. Worth seeing.
Labels: Film
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The Lives of Others
On the recommendation of that fine jazz pianist Alan Dandy, we went to Guildford's Odeon cinema to see
The Lives of Others. We found the story of East Germany prior to the wall coming down rivetting from beginning to end. The actor who was largely responsible for this is Ulrich Mühe, originally from East Germany himself. He captures the essence of the cold ruthless Stasi Hauptmann (pictured) who is merely the tool of his superiors and the evil politicians that rule them. Definitely worth a visit to the cinema for this one.
Labels: Film
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Sci-Fi film Sunshine
On Saturday evening we saw
Sunshine at Guildford's Odeon cinema. Classic science fiction, very difficult to follow the plot. One big surprise, otherwise predictable.
Labels: Film
Saturday, March 10, 2007
The Good German
This evening we saw
The Good German at Guildford's Odeon cinema. This appears to pay homage to films of the 1940's, shot in monochrome with a Casablanca-like ending. Cate Blanchett was superb (yet again), George Clooney was OK and the supporting cast were convincing. Worth seeing.
Ignore Cosmo Landesman's criticism in the Sunday Times; he knows nothing !
Labels: Film
Sunday, March 04, 2007
The Illusionist
On Saturday evening we saw
The Illusionist at Guildford's Odeon cinema. This is a truly great film on several levels:
1) Historicaly interesting
2) Gripping, with some surprises
3) Beautiful cinematography
4) Fine performances by the actors
5) Different !
We are having such a run of good films that if we were to revisit some earlier posts we might now be more critical. The most recent disappointing films were both in October 2006, making it 4 months of good cinema.
Labels: Film
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Queen, as portrayed by Helen Mirren
On Saturday evening we went to Guildford's Odeon cinema to see the film
The Queen. Helen Mirren's performance is as deserving of an Oscar as is that of Judi Dench in 'Notes on a Scandal'. The supporting cast also deserves praise, particularly Michael Sheen as Tony Blair and Mark Blazely as Alastair Campbell. The voices were so perfect that closing ones eyes gave an image of the real person.
Labels: Film
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Film; Music and Lyrics
This evening we went to Guildford's Odeon cinema to see the film
Music and Lyrics. We were inspired by seeing Hugh Grant in the two Bridget Jones films, which were only funny when he was on screen. This latest film is in the same mould. The supporting cast are, well, supporting. Hugh Grant is a very good actor; playing the funny man in most films but still being capable of more serious roles, e.g 'Bitter Moon', 'An Awfully Big Adventure', 'About a Boy' and 'Sirens'.
Labels: Film
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Notes on a Scandal
On Saturday evening we went to the Guildford Odeon cinema to see
Notes on a Scandal. A fine, thought-provoking, film with great acting by Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighy, etc. We emerged from the cinema asking ourselves:
Is sex between a female teacher and her pupil a crime or just a misdemeanour ?
Why should the pupil's mother show such violent outrage ?
Labels: Film
Sunday, January 14, 2007
The Last King Of Scotland
On Saturday evening we saw
The Last King Of Scotland at Guildford's Odeon cinema. A great film, if somewhat gruesome. Forest Whitaker deserves an Oscar for his convincing portrayal of Idi Amin. The instant changes between charmer and madman helped us understand this terrible part of history.
Labels: Film
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Apocalypto at the Guildford Odeon
On Saturday evening we went to Guildford's Odeon cinema to see
Apocalypto. A very gory film but stunning scenery and very different from the average film of today. Full marks for trying something different.
Labels: Film
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Flags of Our Fathers
On Saturday evening we asw
Flags of Our Fathers at Guildford's Odeon cinema. A different approach to the horrors of war with excellent direction by Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg.
Labels: Film
Sunday, December 17, 2006
The Holiday at Guildford's cinema
On Saturday evening we finally got to see
The Holiday. This chick-flick rom-com received a poor review from Cosmo Landesman in the Sunday Times but Selina and I both enjoyed it. Moral; ignore film critics (and car reviewers), their taste is not that of the punters. wikipedia.org states that Cosmo Landesman was once married to Julie Burchill, who left him for a female intern. What does this say about his taste in women ?
Labels: Film
Sunday, December 10, 2006
The Spy who came in from the cold
On Saturday evening we went to Guildford Odeon cinema to see 'The Holiday' to be told that the next performance was fully booked. It must be very popular !
We left it for next week, went home and watched a video recording of
The Spy who came in from the cold. Excellent film with a great cast of actors, showing the less glamourous side of spying.
Labels: Film
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Stranger than Fiction at the Guildford Odeon
On Saturday evening we saw
Stranger than Fiction at the Guildford Odeon cinema. Unusual story, fine acting performances, well worth watching.
Labels: Film
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Casino Royale at the Guildford Odeon
On Saturday Evening we saw
Casino Royale at Guildford's Odeon cinema. At last the producers have returned to the essence of Ian Fleming's books. Believable plot and a tough-guy Bond, i.e. not a 'pretty boy'. He should really have a facial scar. We enjoyed the film and vote Daniel Craig the best Bond since Sean Connery. Perhaps he will surpass Connery if he carries on.
Labels: Film
Sunday, November 12, 2006
'Breaking and Entering' at the Guildford Odeon cinema
On Saturday evening we saw the film
Breaking and Entering at the Guildford Odeon. We enjoyed this film, which has a good main plot and superb acting, especially from Juliette Binoche. She is completely convincing in her role as a Bosnian refugee. We work with a Bosnian and we recognised the accent. Our only criticisms are (a) the sub-plots are not fully explained, as if the film was cut before release and (b) I would have preferred the sex scene between Jude Law and Ms Binoche to be in focus.
Labels: Film
Sunday, October 08, 2006
The Devil Wears Prada at the Guildford Odeon Cinema
On Saturday evening we saw
The Devil Wears Prada at the Guildford Odeon Cinema. A 'chick-flick' but still a great film, mainly due to the usual superb performance by Meryl Streep. She must be the greatest film actress currently working. Anne Hathaway was good too !
Labels: Film
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This evening we saw the film The Edge Of Love at the Guildford Odeon. We rate it 6/10 on the basis that the story line is very weak. Acting and cinematography are fine; I was particularly impressed by Sienna Miller because one would never have thought she is from New York, USA.
