My A to Z of DVDs - F

This time we have completed the F’s and that meant Oscar winners, Wrestling documentaries and one from the pound shop!!

A real mixed bag of film styles but generally high marks across the board, bar the Oscar winner so here we go.

Fiddler On The Roof – 7.5/10

‘Oh lord there are many many men’ – and there’s so many other classic one-liners that can be pulled out from Fiddler. The story of the battle of tradition vs allowing his daughters to follow their heart, set to a back drop of persecution of the Jews in Russia sets up a memorable and fun Musical with plenty of good songs. My issue is the length, it’s close to 3 hours and means that there’s a lot of ‘deadtime’ in the film. It would be excellent as a film that lasts around 2 hours and still allowed Tevye (played by Topol) to show his highs and lows. If you have never seen Fiddler then you must it is a classic with a strong story behind it that will have you humming the songs for days after

Field of Dreams – 8/10

What is not to like about this film – I am a huge fan. A random story that if you said it to someone it sounds quite crap but when you see the film it is quality. A man who builds a Baseball field after hearing voices, sees old classic players and then goes on a journey to find other key people, that in the end brings him closer to his dead father. Yes it does sound stupid, but it is good. Shoeless Joe Jackson, Terrance Mann, Doc Moonlight Graham are all good characters that enhance the film and are a good foil to Kevin Costner in the main role of Ray Kinsella. A feel-good film that shouldn’t work but does

Finding Nemo – 7/10    

When this first came out everyone loved it – the story, the animation and the characters. I was one of those people. The story of the clown fish with a bad fin who disobeys his constantly worried father, ends up getting taken which leads to a journey from his Dad to find him, overcoming obstacles as Nemo battles to get free of his fish tank, seems straightforward, and it is but it’s also quite a good watch along the way. The highlight is definitely the sea-turtles whilst riding on the EAC (East Australian Current) but I have to say I have watched the film a few too many times and so it’s just not that exciting or good anymore. It’s now a bit like chewing Gum for the eyes, watchable but that’s about it

Finding Neverland – 8.5/10

The story behind Peter Pan, how J.M.Barrie came up with the premise of it and who the characters were based on. If like me you are always intrigued as to how things came about and where the magic came from then you will like this film. A story that explores Barrie (played by Johnny Depp and not in a Tim Burton film) and his child-like ways by meeting and becoming part of a family with several young children. Who form the basis for the characters in Peter Pan. I normally don’t like Kate Winslet but she excellently plays the role of the children’s mother who falls ill and develops a strong rapport with Depps character. The film is funny, it’s serious and it’s sad. You connect with the characters and go along with their highs and lows. I recommend this one

First Do No Harm – 6.5/10  

This is a strange one. Bought from the pound shop it was a made for TV film based on a true story that explores how young children with Epilepsy were being let down by American doctors and not being allowed to be out on the ‘Ketogenic’ diet, which had proven results for controlling seizures. The film itself is quite an odd one – it moves quickly from one area to another and then back again so is a bit all over the place but the messaging and the families resolve to do the best for their son does come through. I wouldn’t recommend it but as films from the pound shop go its ok.

Forever Hardcore – 8/10

Forever Hardcore is the story of ECW through the eyes of the performers discussing the highs and lows of the company and significant milestones. It was put together by Jeremy Borash, now at TNA, and is what I would call the warts and all version where you properly get a feel for the locker room of the ‘little company that could’. Due to licensing it does lack any significant ECW action, which does make it a perfect foil to ‘The Rise and Fall of ECW’ produced by WWE who bought out the company , but is annoying at times as you want the footage to back up the words. It is a must for all wrestling fans though – if anything just for New Jack and his comments alone

Forrest Gump – 6/10

“Life is like a box of Chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get” unless of course like everyone you read the guide to see what chocolate is what. And I think that sums up my feeling about the whole film, which I know people will disagree with as some people adore this film. The problem is that once you have seen it a couple of times then actually you start to realise just how much they try and cram into the film and how random it is. A poor storyline and too much that isn’t joined up make it quite frustrating. There’s also the fact that I detest the character of Jenny, Forrest’s childhood sweetheart and love of his life. She is generally quite a nasty evil person who uses him and that annoys me and isn’t in keeping with the way the rest of the film is put together. It may have won Best Picture at the Oscars but I’m not quite sure how.

Freedom Writers – 8.5/10

It’s the classic story of a teacher who goes into an inner-city school and turns around a group of no-hopers into smart kids with hope. It covers gangs, family struggles and people dropping out, but this one is based on a True story and uses writing as a way of the kids telling their story. The teacher – well played by Hilary Swank – fights the school to allow for investment and opportunity in the kids rather than just trying to get them through. What makes the film strong is the way that each story is told through the diary that each kid in the class keeps and you get to see their pain and how they cope with it. Add to that the perseverance and way in which the Diary of Anne Frank is utilised to keep the message of standing up for what’s right makes for a strong and emotive film. You feel an affinity to the characters and their individual battles.

Friday Night Lights – 6/10

What’s this? I own another film that’s about American Football and the story of a small town team trying to make good? Yes it’s true except this time and this film isn’t actually very good. It has all the hallmarks of my kind of film – small town team on a charge to the title, star player goes down injured leaving others the chance to shine, but it is a massive let-down. The reason? There’s just not a huge amount of character development and very little to connect with either the coach or the main players. I would have loved to have seen more about ‘Preacherman’ the quiet unassuming line-backer – why is he quiet? What’s his backstory? It lacks that certain something that’s a tried and tested formula. The film is one of the lesser-known ones – only really referred to due to a successful TV series that stemmed from it – and there’s good reason why it should remain lesser-known. It does have some highlights but not a film I would suggest seeing

Full Metal Jacket – 7.5/10

This is an excellent film with great acting, action and the different settings, from start-up training camp to in the middle of Vietnam seeing armed combat, make for an exciting film. From Private Pile being exposed first as a waste of space and then seeing the change in his actions before taking his own life (one of the most famous movie scenes him blowing his own brains out) to the way in which Cowboy takes control of the Platoon before being taken out by a sniper the film does cover a lot of ground. The main focus is Private Joker played excellently by Matthew Modine and his seemingly anti-War sceptical stance that sees him turn into a killer with a conscience. This all said it’s another film that is good, watchable, but no longer holds that extra something for me as I have seen it so many times! If you haven’t seen it then you should do

So that's it - I expect people to disagree on Forrest Gump and as always feel free to leave some comments

Cheers

My A to Z of DVDs - E

So it's been a while - I have still been watching but haven't posted - it is going slow but I will get there, and onto the E's of which there are only 4!!

Edward Scissorhands - 7/10
So it's a Tim Burton film which can mean only one thing - Johnny Depp in the lead role (clearly this was before he married Helena Bonham-Carter as she's nowhere to be seen)
Edward Scissorhands - the story of the unfinished creation of an inventor who is taken in, adored and then shunned. This film is surreal - from the Avon lady, to the way in which the character develops his affections for the daughter if the family that takes him in. It finishes very sweetly - and you can't help but follow it and hope there had been a proper happy ending on a watchable but not outstanding film

Eight Crazy Nights - 8/10
A very strange, very weird Adam Sandler animation that if you haven't seen I suggest you look it up and see what you think - it's deffo a Marmite kind of film. Focusing on Davey Stone who was once a good kid but now is the scurge of a small town, looked after by Whitey Duvall - a short little man who everyone takes advantage of - it is odd - with plenty of songs, and general ridiculousness. Stone hates Channukah due to his parents being killed and takes it out on everyone. The story is a strange one but it is heart-warming and does bring a tear to your eye when Stone finally breaks.

Escape to Victory - 6/10
Pele, Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles, John Wark...and Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine. How can you put all these people together and not come out with a Prisoner of War drama centered around Football and breakout. The film itself just isn't as good as I remember it as a kid but it is kind of fun. The story goes on a bit - it isn't a gripping prison of war film, but it is a good sports drama due to the caliber of footballer in it

E.T (The Extra-Terrestrial) - 7/10 
You know the story - random alien gets left on Earth finds Elliott and choas ensues for a while, he develops a system to 'phone home' and there's a dramatic ending with flying bikes after he is caught and they manage to escape. The film is a slow-builder, its quite slow and only really gets proper good towards the end, but it is worth waiting for as ET dies, but doesn't really. There's plenty of tears in the film and I did shed a few before they manage to escape the FBI and fly their bikes to the secret spot where ET finally gets home! It is enjoyable, Drew Barrymores performance is quite good for such a young child actress and the real star is the kid who performs ETs moves, a disabled actor who gets very little credit when he should get far more. A definate classic due to the ending.

So that't the E - I have watched all the F's so they will be coming soon

As always comments are welcome

Cheers

My A to Z of DVDs - D

So onto the Ds and a real mixed bag here

Daddy Day Care - 6/10
Eddie Murphy in another 'after Beverley Hills Cop' role which means he's not very good in it. In short Daddy Day Care is about a guy who gets fired so starts a nursery and eventually makes it fun and brings him closer to his shy son. It's watchable because the kids do come out with some classic funny lines and the film overall is just quite harmless

Dead Poets Society - 8.5/10
"Carpe Diem Lads! Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary" - Dead Poets Society is an excellent film about trying to carve individualism into a strict regime that tries to enforce academic success only and explores the journeys the boys go on to get that individualism. This is a powerful film, and Walton Academy makes me imagine of what it might be like to be in Halls of Residence at Durham University. Robin Williams is exceptional in the role of Mr Keating and inspiring the students to be different. I did shed a tear when Neil gives his superb performance in disobeying his father to act in Midsummer Nights Dream before he is taken home and ultimately kills himself. And who can forget the final scene with the boys standing on their desks after Mr Keating is dismissed uttering the words "Oh Captain my Captain". If you haven't seen it then you must

Dennis The Menace - 4.5/10 
We all know the story of Dennis, his neighbour Mr Wilson etc. I guess the difference in this film is that it is done so that Dennis doesn't mean to be naughty it just kind of happens - he often tries to help Mr Wilson but ends up creating havoc. It's not very good it lacks much humour but I guess if you were a kid you would love it. For me though it misses the mark and just ends up a little boring

Dockers - 8.5/10
If ever you have doubted Adult Education and it's impact then watch this film which is written and developed by Sacked Liverpool Dockers telling their story. This film is real-life you can feel the emotion and issues coming across in it and can sense that the writers have lived it. The film tells the story of the Liverpool Dockers dispute through the eyes of the dockers themselves the impact it had on their family, the struggles amongst friends, and the way that they were let down by their own Trade Union, not on a local level but on a national level. It is good...but it could have been great. As someone with real interest in the topic I wanted more real footage linked in with the story and a little bit more edxplaining how the Scab was shunned by his family to highlight how emotional the dispute was. Casting Ricky Tomlinson playing the Scab is a stroke of genius and he has gone on record stating it was one of the hardest roles he had ever played due to his own Trade Union beliefs. If you haven't heard/seen anything about the Liverpool Dockers then do so

***Also in this DVD is a documentary called "Writing the Wrongs" which focuses on the Workers Educational Association (WEA) classes and scriptwriters, recalling their stories from the dispute and what it meant. It follows the script through from beginning to it's inception and shows how emotional it was including a scene where Jimmy McGovern, who has written a section explaining why the Scab character is in the right and one of the Docker writers are arguing over how that can feature as it shows something that should never have been - people turning on thier own. Definately see this***

Dodgeball - 5.5/10
I loved this film the first time I watched it - now not so much. The Dodgeball story is an adaptation of that classic underdog story coming good - but with a twist, this time it's about saving Average Joes Gym and saving a bunch of no-hopers. There isn't enough character exploration and development of the secondary characters though and the jokes just aren't that funny once you have heard them before. I know this film started a mini-trend of people tryng out Dodgeball etc which is fine but the film now misses the mark

Dogma - 8.5/10
Alan Rickman, Jay and Silent Bob, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris Rock to name but a few. Another Kevin Smith film and this is a classic. Top quality story that takes a tongue in cheek look at religion and its evils as well as all the complications surrounding it! The way Dogma is done, the set-up layout and characters within it make it not only funny but also very enjoyable. My DVD however broke just before the end (I now have 3 DVDs that won't work - Mallrats; Chasing Amy and now Dogma - all View Askew Kevin Smith films for some weird coincidence) which was incredibly frustrating but the film on the whole is one of the better ones that Film4 have been a part of

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story - 7.5/10
This is a Biopic of Bruce Lee - following his life, how he built p his reputation, what his driving force was and also exlores his demons that he was never able to shake. The film has a lot of action and shows the challenges that Lee faced both from inside his community and outside. He recovered from having his back broken to establish his way of martial arts that earnt him an enhanced reputation and broke out into the big screen. However it also shows how he was taken advantage of and dismissed by Hollywood in favour of other 'Western' actors. His work though in Hong Kong and other countries was huge and led to him being known for his work before his death of which the cause still remains a mystery to this day. The film is okay and has a lot of action in it and Lee is a very interesting character. It could have gone deeper though

Dumb and Dumber - 3/10 
I remember when this was first released and everyone raved about what a great film it was and how funny Jim Carrey was. Well I hated this film, it is just stupid, there is very little humour in it and it just gives off an air of desperation to try and get jokes! I know it's not meant to be taken seriously but it actually left me quite annoyed by just how bad it was

So that's all the Ds done - a good bunch (Dogma, Dockers and Dead Poets Society) in with some dross (Dumb and Dumber, Dennis the Menace)

Onto the Es which should be quite a quick one

Cheers

My A to Z of DVDs - C

So I have finally finished watching the Cs. Yet again there has been a trilogy and several true stories thrown in for good measure.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 7/10 
Not to be confused with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory which is the original, this is the Tim Burton remake. As with any Tim Burton film it's a bit odd, Johnny Depp is in the main role and Helena Bonham-Carter has a role. This is watchable, it's not as good as the original but the story means you do enjoy it. I do have some gripes with it though, the main one being the Oompa-Loompas. They have some great songs, but it is just one actor that's replicated. In the original it's fun due to how they look and how you can tell everyone is slightly different, this just seems a cheap alternative!! I guess this version is a bit of a love or hate for most people, for me it was ok but not a patch on the original

Child's Play - 5/10
So the Child's Play trilogy kicks off with a film that isn't actually very scary and more amusing than anything else. The story is poor but then the film is about a GoodGuy doll that has the soul of an evil murderer and is Ginger. He terrorises Andy his owner and tries to get into his body leading to lots of weird situations. Not very good

Child's Play 2 - 5.5/10
So the evil ginger Chucky is back - after being destroyed last time around. This time Andy is in a foster home and guess what Chucky has tracked him down. Chucky goes all out on the foster family killing both the parents, gets his teacher at school as well and in the end Andy again with some help kills off Chucky. Yet again it's a poor film it's not that scary and the formula is already a little tired

Child's Play 3 - 5.5/10 
So it's about 8 years later and Chucky is yet again magically re-created. This time Andy is at Military school so Chucky goes to track him down - though ends up with a new victim - little Tyler - to try and get his soul into his body. This is slightly more gruesome but stops being scary as the formula is exactly the same. Not really much more to it

**A word on the Trilogy** - This is a poor Horror trilogy I think you could easily condense it down into one proper horror film. There is also Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky - thank god I don't own them therefore don't have to watch them

Clerks - 5/10 
So I love Kevin Smith and his films - they make you laugh, have memorable characters and actually a strong social message behind them. Clerks however doesn't really follow the formula. The concentration on Dante and Randall is fine but there just isn't really much character to them. The film itself doesn't really go anywhere - maybe that's the point highlighting their mundane lives but it isn't really very watchable and misses the usual Kevin Smith humour. Maybe I lost concentration because the film is in black and white I don't know but Clerks misses the mark for me

Coach Carter - 8/10
Basketball coach comes in, takes a bunch of dropout misfits who aways lose and makes them into a successful team. Sounds like a tried and tested formula, but this is based on a true story and has a twist to it. The Coach does it through instilling the team with a work ethic, making them realise the importance of education and locking them out of the gym and not letting them play when they are undefeated because they haven't kept their end of the bargain in attending classes. It is a powerful film and the best I have seen Samuel L Jackson in for a long time. Most importantly you can't help but feel bought into the film and wanting something good to happen at the end of it and see what the kids made of themselves in the future. Really good and highly recommend it if you haven't seen it

Cool Runnings - 7.5/10
"I see pride, I see power..." Find me someone who doesn't love this film or find it highly amusing. "Jamaica we have a bobsleigh team" The film itself tracking the journey of Jamaica to the Winter Olympics is funny, feel good and at the end after they crash out really quite powerful. Now the film is said to be based on a true story but actually the only truth is that Jamaica took part out of nowhere in the Winter Olympics and did crash out. In real life teams accepted them and helped them out, there was no coach that cheated before. But this shouldn't take away from a funny and heart-warming film which has excellent performances in as well as some classic lines. If you want a smile put on your face then watch this

Cry Freedom - 7.5/10
Focusing on the story of the friendship between Steve Biko and a white Liberal journalist Donald Woods in a time of Apartheid in South Africa this film is a true story that never got told. Biko suffers police intimidation, brutality and 'banning' orders that prevent him from being with more than one person at a time yet still manages to inspire other Black South Africans around him to fight for equality. Woods, played excellently by Kevin Kline suffers the same treatment when trying to tell people about Bikos plight. After Biko is murdered by the police (passed off as him going on hunger strike) Woods also recieves a banning order and then the film focuses on his fight to escape South Africa to be able to tell Bikos story of his murder to the wider world. This is a good film but not a great film. It is very slow at the start and I personally would have liked to see more on how Biko came to his position as an inspirational leader of a people - however it really takes off after Biko is murdered and you do find yourself emotionally attached to the film hoping that the story gets told. I already am looking at buying Donald Woods book on Biko as you do find yourself really wanting to know that much more

So that is the Cs over and done with - hopefully I won't take as long to get through the Ds and as always if you agree or disagree with my views on the films then let me know...also if you feel there are any classics that I don't own that I should have (I'm already awaiting the Citizen Kane messages) then let me know

Cheers

My A to Z of DVDs - B

So we are onto and have finished the Bs - this has covered a trilogy, some history and some Disney


So here's what I thought:


Back to the Future - 6.5/10
Ok so this is where everyone starts hating me but I didn't really enjoy this - I have seen it several times and I guess now it's just a little bit boring! I love Doc Brown as a character but I'm afraid this film is a little over-hyped and for me isn't as good as everyone makes out. It's watchable don't get me wrong but not really much more


Back to the Future 2 - 5/10
Easily the worst of the Trilogy this sequel is actually just a muddled rehash of number 1 and does very little by way of story development - it's a bit like the TV remake of a classic film - just doesn't quite work! I found it frustrating and actually just quite annoying and a lazy way to make a film last. Deffo not a fan of this one


Back to the Future 3 - 7/10
This instalment of the Trilogy is good fun and it's different enough that it actually can stand alone as opposed to number 2. The Wild West theme is good as well as the end swerve with Doc and I have to say my favourite instalment of the Trilogy overall because you can see the changes actually occuring in the film


**A word on the Trilogy** - Everyone owns the Back to the Future Trilogy they don't know why but they do they are just films people have and they are classics from that era but as a whole the Trilogy isn't actually that good (maybe it was watching all 3 across 3 nights that did it)


Bad Santa - 6/10
Criminals, midgets, grandmas, department stores, weird kid and a sex scene with thephrase 'Fu*k me Santa'. Yep this film is warped in a big way!! I don't really know how to describe it - 2 criminals rob department stores every Christmas by being Santa and his Elf, one gets a mini-crisis of conscience but only after taking advantage of a weird kid who it's really hard not to feel so sorry for!! It is watchable - it makes very little sense but you do find yourself really hoping things turn out good for the strange kid and that keeps you watching. It is worth watching just to think what the hell was the writer on when putting this together


Baseketball - 6/10
I remember the first time I watched this film I thought it was well funny - Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the South Park creators, generally being themselves in a film about a strange game. The next time I watched it I realised that actually this film is a little stupid, not that funny really and is only watchable if you want to see something you don't have to concentrate on at all - very much a kind of Chewing Gum for the eyes film.


Beauty and the Beast - 9/10
I love this film - it is Disney at it's finest. The story, the characters, the songs and one of it's strengths is the depth of characters (you find yourself wanting to know what Mrs Potts; Chip; and Maurice are doing as well as the main characters). I also will admit this DVD cost me £40. It was one of those that you could only buy on Ebay and I got a bit carried away, Disney had deleted it from their library - they are re-releasing it this November. The soundtrack features on my Ipod and I haven't yet met anyone that dislikes the whole story. A Disney classic and one of my favourites


Bedknobs and Broomsticks - 7.5/10
In my opinion this is one of Disneys most under-rated films. It is really good fun youfind yourself singing along to the songs (though there are a few that are quite annoying and don't need to be in there). Angela Lansbury plays her role excellently as the not-so talented witch but my favourite character is little Paul who is the youngest and has some classic lines especially when no-one listens to him about his book containing the words 'traguna macoities tracorum satis de' (bet you havethe song in your head now). There are similarities to Mary Poppins - same father character etc, but it is a good well put together film and the backdrop of the War gives it that grounded feel of real-life combining with fantasy


Beyond the Mat - 8/10
This Wrestling Documentary is very well done. It focuses not only on the big WWF but also ECW and follows old wrestlers around the Independent circuit. It shows you both character development and the human side to wrestlers as well as some of the darker sides to the personal lives of wrestlers like Jake the Snake! The features on Mick Foley and Terry Funk are excellent and this DVD is definately reccomended even if you aren't a wrestling fan


Big Daddy - 8.5/10
"But after my nap I always watch the Kangaroo song" "No sit still, LAY" Big Daddy is quality - no it doesn't have the most dynamic plot but it is a feel-good film that also manages to make you feel quite upset, with some awesome activities thrown into the film itself. It is a typical Adam Sandler film with some quality one-liners, and the way that Julian/Frankenstein is portrayed puts a smile on your face. I overwatched this film in my first year of Uni but it remains really good fun. If you haven't seen it you really should


Big Momma's House - 6.5/10
I used to like this film and there are glimpses of fun in it but the more I see it the less I like it. It is a stupid concept and whilst meant to be a comedy too much of the film remains unamusing and just a little bit stuoid. It's another that falls into the Chewing Gum for the eyes category you can watch it when you want to go to sleep because you just don't need to concentrate


Boyz N the Hood - 9.5/10
Increase the Peace!! This film has it all - the real life drama, the transition from youth to adult; and the gritty way it approaches it. I challenge anyone not to cry during it but the story represents what for many is real life. It pulls no punches in apporaching it showing the different way that people react comparing the lives of Trey, Ricky and Doughboy. I think this is Cuba Gooding Jr's best film by far and also shows Ice Cubes acting ability. The star though is Laurence Fishbourne and his portrayal of Furious Styles is inspiring and should have warranted an Oscar nomination. When you finish watching this film you do get that WOW feeling and this remains one of my favourite movies of all time


Brother Bear - 7.5/10
So yeah another Disney film. Brother Bear is one of the lesser known films and the story is a bit bizarre - man ignores totem, spirits turn him into a bear, finds a little bear who it turns out he killed the little bears mother, the day is saved at the end. It sounds naff and it is a little but it also has some really good songs from Tina Turner and Phil Collins and follows the classic Disney formula which is what I love


Brotherhood of Murder - 6.5/10
I bought this from the Poundshop, don't know why but it looked interesting. It's based on a true story about The Order, a White Supremacist group in America. The story is fu*ked up there's no other way to describe it. The film isn't put together very well and it is quite bitty, it actually was a drama made for TV in America. I found myself doing more reading after watching it about The Order and what they and their leader Bob Mathews were all about and carried out. Murders, robberies and a fanatic cult. It does make you wonder what the hell goes on in some people's heads but there you go. Not a great film but it did leave you thinking about some of the problems in society with people like this roaming the earth


Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - 7/10
Based on the the last 2 chapters of the book by Dee Brown about an Indian History of the American West, which is a bestseller, this is an HBO adaptation. The film itself is a really interesting insight into what happened to the American Indians and the way they were screwed over by the US Government and how they were manipulated. The film is good in places and drags in other places and I would have liked more on Chief Sitting Bull and a closer look at his story but it is watchable and a good introduction for people to start learning the history and abuses that the American Indians faced.


So that's the Bs done! Two of my favourite films featured in this and it's going to be a nightmae waiting so long to watch them again but staying true to it I am now moving onto the Cs which also encompasses a trilogy and a Disney film thrown in a well


Hope you enjoyed the A to Z of DVDs beginning with B (and I am sure many of you will disagree about Back to the Future)

The Labour Leadership Race

So I have finally decided to say what I think on the Leadership race that I would love to say has been active; intriguing and about the challenges we face in the Labour party.

Realistically it's been a bit boring; quite predictable and gone on for too long.

So let's get straight to it - the main thing the contest has lacked is an alternative viewpoint, Diane Abbott has tried and thrown out the same few lines each time but the contest would have been better had John McDonnell been on the ballot paper. He wouldn't have won but his presence would have made the contest far more honest!

Ed Balls has, well, just started bothering now and looked quite disinterested early on - had he made more of an effort I think he would have done better, some of his housing policies are good but too little too late

Andy Burnham - well there's not really much to say. I like his policy against parachuting candidates in to safe-seats it has always annoyed me when people with no link to an area are suddenly given the MP role there, but that's about all I do agree with Burnham on

Diane Abbott - I was going to vote for her when all the candidates declared, and then she has failed to do that much. She can be proud of the fact she has stood by her principles but hasn't really shown anything else that would make her right to be Labour leader

And so onto the 2 main contenders:

Those who know me know that I cannot stand David Milband - when I joined the Labour party it was to be a member of the Labour party not a Central party. His agenda is one of win the centre, and everything that comes out of his mouth just irritates me. The best way to describe him is 'Diet-Blair'. He is the closest to Blair and Mandleson and the New Labour rhetoric and that's not why I am a member of Labour. I have said it before if he wins I will leave the party because it will be a clear sign that the direction and agenda of the party is not one that I can support. Today summed it up for me when he spoke of how he was pleased to have the endorsment of The Times - proud to have the support of an anti-Union paper?? That is not the kind of person I want to lead my party!!

And so Ed Miliband...now I'm not stupid enough to believe the way he has tried to wash his hands of every decision the party has taken in recent years, because he was makin some of those. But what I have seen is someone willing to admit the mistakes and also set out policies that I think the Labour party should be following. The Living Wage being the main one.

As someone who believes in Trade Unionism, and a member of the GMB I did vote for Ed Miliband because I can see him leading a party with Trade Unions at the centre of it - not sitting on the sidelines! A party that actually fights on beliefs rather than concentrating on winning over middle-England and screwing those that created it! And a party that concentrates less on the 'in-crowd' and more on people!

So that's it my ballot paper was #1 Ed Miliband #2 Ed Balls # 3 Diane Abbott and #4 Andy Burnham

But what I have seen hasn't been the most exciting or dynamic leadership contest in years - and also hasn't had much disagreement amongst candidates (except the odd twitter sniping amongst campaign teams...but it is an election and I'd have been worried if supporters weren't going at each other)

So that's it - I would have liked some bigger idealogical debates but I hope to be a Labour party member after the result is announced...if I'm not then you know the wrong (or should I say right) candidate has been elected

My A to Z of DVDs - A

So I recently decided that I need to watch all of the DVDs I own before I would let myself buy any new ones - I have a lot of DVDs and some I just haven't watched so I figured a) its good for my bank balance b) I know exactly which of my DVDs I like.

I should point out before beginning I'm more of a Disney/easy watching film person than a Movie buff - but I know what I like and I like what I know...I will happily take recommendations of films to buy in that letter if you think they are must see!! So... 

Here are my ratings for my DVDs beginning with A (and yes I do watch them in Alphabetical order)

A Few Good Men - 8/10
A Few Good Men is a good gritty film. Yes it has all the cliches a courtroom drama should have - rookie lawyer takes on case that it doesn't look like they will win; government cover-up etc - but it is pulled off very well and Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson both play their roles brilliantly (Demi Moore not so however). It builds it up and the slight twist at the end does leave you without that uber Hollywood ending but to me that's a good thing.

A Knights Tale - 8/10
This film is easy to watch and good fun. It has good modern comedic references with Jousting thrown in - as a kid I used to love reading about Knights etc. The story - Commoner becoming a Knight through decieit, found out then saved - ok its corny but good fun corny. The love story within it is a distraction and ending is pure cheese - I woulda liked to see him connect with his dad at the end not the girl but it's a class film made even better by Mark Addy; Alan Tudyk and Paul Bettany in their roles as Heath Ledgers support team. Also any film with 'Golden Years' by Bowie as a feature is quality lol

Ali - 7/10 
I'm a fan of Muhammad Ali and this film kind of touches in parts on him and his life - it lacks something - I'm also a Malcolm X fan and they scrape on that relationship but race past it rather than anything else. It's an ok watch - the action is good and Will Smith does play the role well but for a topic I have a real interest in there's some depth missing and some liberal truth telling about Bundini. The chemistry between Jon Voight, playing Howard Cosell and Will Smith is a highlight though

Animal Farm - 1/10 
This is a live-action/Digital animation version of the classic George Orwell book re-created by Hallmark Entertainment and it is dreadful. Pete Postlewaite stars and people like Kelsey Grammar - Frasier or Sideshow Bob to you and me - provide voices to something so dreadful I can't describe. I think it's one of those DVD I bought for like £1 by the till somewhere and it's a waste of £1 - anyone want it cos it may well be going in the bin

American Beauty - 6.5/10 
American Beauty is brilliant, in parts - Kevin Spacey is fantastic in his mid-life crisis role - and there is something likeable about the film, but for me it's all just a bit too weird and doesn't go anywhere. I find myself wanting it to go in a different direction to how it does each time. I guess you could say it has the desired effect as you can get into the film but the ending is weird and it's just quite a frustrating watch

An Inconvenient Truth - 3/10  
Al Gores eco-documentary about Global Warming and how we save the planet is the type of thing you think yeah I should watch it and see. And it's the type of thing that you should watch and then change behaviours. But it is filmed as a glorified lecture. Now I wasn't a great student at Uni and lectures aren't a way to engage me so pretty quickly I lost interest - the mini-clips in between were ok but overall it misses the mark, plus in typical US fashion there's a little bit too much of 'Isn't Al Gore a hero'. Luckily it's another DVD I think I got as a freebie linked into environmental campaigns rather than having to spend any cash on it

Annie - 7/10 
This is a film I used to watch as a kid (having an older sister there wasn't much choice) but it's also a film I like. It's good fun has some quality songs in it (my Ipod has plenty of songs from the musicals on it) and you can't help but like seeing the relationships develop across it. It doesn't score higer though as if I'm honest it's a little too long and some of the songs aren't very good...but that's covered of by how good both 'Maybe' and 'Tomorrow' are. If you haven't seen it make sure you do - word of warning though make sure you get the 1981 version and not more modern updates

Any Given Sunday - 9/10
"I'm Willie Beamen; I'm Steamin'" Any Given Sunday is class, as someone who is a huge American Football fan this movie has it all - the onfield struggles; the owners possible relocation; and the players egos and highlights of the medical issues they go through. An excellent story where you are able to follow 5 or 6 different characters through it scores very highly from me and you don't have to be a fan of NFL to enjoy

Arsenal: "It's Up for Grabs Now" - 6/10 
I'm not an Arsenal fan but yes I do own this DVD and there's a reason why. My Grandad was a season ticket holder lifelong fan etc and as a 6 year old at the time of the game, it's something I remember and was shown the video of it numerous times by him as he talked me through that last minute goal by Michael Thomas. The DVD is essentially the match with some added extras which is why it doesn't score so highly but it does have good memories for me. Funnily enough for those who remember the game (which inspired the book and film Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby) my lasting memory was Kevin Richardson laying injured just before the end of the game.

Ash Wednesday - 7/10
I think I was given this as a stocking filler or something like that - I know I didn't buy it and up to this point had never watched it. It's actually quite good a film about Irish Gangs in New York. The main character is an ex-enforcer for his fathers gang that ran the district and his younger brother reappears after being assumed dead (in a gang payback) causing issues. Theres various sub-plots that involve the local Catholic Priest etc and it's a well put together film with, in my eyes, an excellent ending. It could be so much more though as you feel they often just skim over certain parts that could have been further explored. Elijah Wood being in the film is also a drawback - he adds very little in a quite large role. I would recommend checking it out though

So that's the 'A' DVDs...as I said I own quite a few DVDs so this is going to be a long process - I'm currently on the 'B's so expect an update soon

Happy viewing

Welcome

Hey everyone and welcome to my new blog

So recently I have been thinking and seeing things that I want to comment on...I figured rather than just thinking them or having debates with others I might as well write them down and throw them out there.

So from anything and everything from politics, to Wrestling (mainly TNA), and some Welling United expect to read it here and probably disagree with it

My writing style isn't exactly a polished one - I often just write as I speak and try and avoid long complex phrases - I mean why say something in 10 words when you can use one simple one!!

So I hope you enjoy reading and get involved

Cheers

Richard 'Bubble' Budden