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