My Movies: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Borat Sagdiyev is a journalist with Kasachstan Television, who has travelled to the United States to make a movie film.

There really are no sacred cows left untouched in this. Whether it be racism, sexism, homophobia, incest, or whatever, you name it, and it has been “dealt with” here. It shows up many in the American nation to be pretty thick.

While parts of it are funny, some it it is quite crass. It was funny-ish the first time I watched it, having watched it a second time I failed to laugh once.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan on IMDB

My Movies: Blood Diamond

Solomon Vendi is a mere fisherman in the African country of Searra Leonne, But when the RUF rebels attack his hometown dispersing his family and landing him in an illegal diamond mining operation, he is forced to enlist the help of a diamond smuggler in order to find his family.

A truly excelent film, which takes on issues such as the highly lucrative conflict diamond issue, as well as the use of children as soldiers. The film is set in 1999, at the height of the Searra Leonne civil war, which, and there are many, many high action scenes reflecting that. Some of it though is quite brutal, particularly an opening scene where rebels line up villagers to cut off their hands so they cannot vote.

A highly recommended film, although not for the faint hearted.

Blood Diamond on IMDB

My Movies: The Blair Witch Project

In 1994, three film students travel into the woods to investigate the legend that is the Blair Witch.  While the students were never seen again, their video footage turned up a year later.

Sometimes simplicity is king, and in the case of the Blair Witch Project this is definately the case.  With two cameras and no super-duper 5.1 Dolby surround crap, a film was made that could give you the heeby-jeebies the first time you see it.

There is a Blair Witch Project II but it is a load or garbage compared to the original.

The Blair Witch Project on IMDB

My Movies: Billy Elliot

11-year old Billy Elliot wants to take up ballet dancing, but he has in a world where boys are expected to do things like boxing before going down the coalmines, his chances of getting into a top dance school look slim.

Set in 1984, at the height of the British Coal Miners strikes, this is a “nothing is impossible” story that has been nominated for nearly 20 awards, nominations which are well deserved.

It really feels like the film was made around the time it is set. and the acting is excellent.  I would highly recommend it.

Billy Elliot on IMDB

My Movies: Blade Runner

It’s the year 2019, and four “replicants,” beings created to appear and act human, are at large.  The authorities call in Blade Runner (Replicant bounty hunter) Rick Decard to find and kill them.

Like the Riddley Scott directed Alien, this takes a good while to get going.  It is still worth a watch though, for it’s spectacular, (for it’s time) special effects and action towards the end of the film.

Blade Runner on IMDB 

My Movies: The Black Cauldron

Young assistant pig keeper Tarin must take an oracular pig into hiding after it is discovered an evil horned king wants to use him to find the powerful Black Cauldron

This is number 25 in the series of Disney animated movies.

No doubt scenes of skeletons and the like throughout the move is what earned it a PG rating.  It is not your typical disney animation as there are absoloutely no songs in it.

It is worth a viewing for it’s high quality animation, however it is also easily forgettable as it isn’t overly humerous or spectacular.

The Black Cauldron on IMDB

My Movies: Beverly Hills Cop

Detroit detective Axel Foley travels to Beverly Hills in pursuit of the man who killed his best friend, but receives less than a warm welcome from the local police.

There was a time in the 1980s when Eddie Murphy starred in some very funny films, and theBeverly Hills Cop series were no exception. The first of three films

Great for a laugh.

Beverly Hills Cop on IMDB

Beverly Hills Cop II

Since events of the first film, Axel Foley and Sargent Bogomil have become friends. When a group of international criminls try to kill Bogomil, Foley travels to Beverly Hills to find out their identity.

More of the same, still the high quality humour and action as in the first movie.

Beverly Hills Cop II on IMDB

Beverly Hills Cop III

Foley’s superior officer is shot dead when a raid on a warehouse goes wrong. An investigation into the crimina mastermind responsible leads Foley back to Beverly Hills to a childerens theme park.

The jokes were getting a little old by the time the third film was made. While laughs were a little thinner on the ground, it has it’s fair share of action to make up for it, with a big car chase in the opening minutes.

Beverly Hills Cop III on IMDB

My Movies: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Robert Ford grew up idolising outlaw Jesse James, but the more he got to know him, the less he found they had in common with each other.

The assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford tells the tale of the last few months of the life of the notorious American outlaw.  Robert Ford, who considered Jesse James his hero, longs to be a member of his gang, but as the story goes on, he becomes less and less enamoured with him.  Combine this with an ever increasingly paranoid James, who suspects just about anyone of being a member of the Pinkertons Detective Agency, who have been hired by the Railroad companies to hunt him down.

While this is a great piece of film-making, don’t expect yee-haw type of action.  This is more of a personal tale of Jesse James rather than a chronicle of his robberies.  It is quite long at two and a half hours and not one for the easily bored.

And heres a tip.  those of you who bought the two disc edition and would like to skip the trailers, pick “Republic of Ireland” rather than United Kingdom when the list of countries comes up at the start.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford on IMDB

My Movies: Ben-Hur

Jewish businessman Judah Ben-Hur and Roman Tribune Messala were childhood friends. But when Messala returns as Commaning officer of the Roman forces in Judea, their friendship comes to an abrupt end when he asks Ben-Hur to inform on his countrymen.

One of the greatest, if not the greatest movies ever made, it has everything from gooey love stories to sea battles and an epic chariot race. While the film isn’t necessarily about Christ, it does feature events of the Bible, such as the birth of Jesus, and his crucificition, as well as references to Ponteus Pilat being appointed as Governer of Judea.

Best watched on a Sunday afternoon following the Sunday feed.

If you haven’t seen this, then you must.

Ben-Hur on IMDB

My Movies: Beaches

After child actress CC Bloom helps lost rich kid Hillary Whitney find her hotel, both girls grow as penpals and eventually meet as adults.

A Touchstone/Disney DVD that isn’t riddled with trailers, what a relief.

How this film became so popular is quite surprising considering how medeocre it is. The child at the start is a better singer than Bette Middler, and half of the songs in the film aren’t even original.

An occasional viewing choice, but you seriously have to be in the mood, or feeling nostalgic.

For anyone who is interested, there is a sequel in book form, Beaches II: I’ll Be There, which continues the story from where the film, which was adapted from the novel of the same name by Iris Rainer Dart.

Beaches on IMDB