the m0vie blog

Superman: Secret Origin (Review/Retrospective)

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Darren

March is Superman month here at the m0vie blog, what with the release of the animated adaptation of Grant Morrison’s superb All-Star Superman. We’ll be reviewing a Superman-related book/story arc every Wednesday this month, so check on back – and we might have a surprise or two along the way.

I have to admit that I quite enjoyed Geoff Johns’ run on Action Comics. Johns has been one of the most influential writers working at DC over the past couple of years, so it felt right to see him tackling Superman, after years of working on titles like The Flash and Green Lantern. It was an extra special treat because he brought Richard Donner with him for the introductory arc, which restored a sense of continuity between the comic book superhero and his cinematic iteration. You ask anybody to picture Superman, and I promise you that they will imagine Christopher Reeve with his cape flapping in the wind – it feels like the definitive version of the character. And I felt that Johns really tapped into that aspect of the icon. So, I have to admit that I was pretty excited when it was announced that Geoff Johns would be returning to tell the character’s origin story, his Secret Origin, if you will.

That's one super life he's lived...

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Filed under: Comics | Tagged: batman, Christopher Nolan, christopher reeve, clark kent, Comics, David Goyer, dc comics, deluxe edition, gary frank, geoff johns, graphic novel, green lantern: secret origin, review, richard donner, secret origin, superman, superman: secret origin, wonder woman | 5 Comments »

Jack L at the National Concert Hall

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Darren

If ever there was a natural-born showman, Jack Lukeman (aka Jack L) is he. Taking to the stage in the National Concert Hall to perform any number of classics, forgotten album tracks and even some new material, the performer managed a two-and-a-half hour set list which even included an impromptu version of The Stranglers’ Golden Brown performed during the intermission. Yes, that’s right, Jack L sang his way through his own intermission.

For those foreign visitors who might not be familiar with the artist, I’ve embedded a version of Georgie Boy below, the crowd-pleaser that he used as the final song in his encore last night. It’s powerful stuff, even when not backed by an orchestra.

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Filed under: Theatre | Tagged: art, david bowie, esb, Golden Brown, Jack L, Jack Lukeman, jameson dublin international film festival, music, National Concert Hall, Stranglers, Today FM, United States | 2 Comments »

Non-Review Review: Preludio

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

Preludio was an interesting second feature for Mexican director Eduardo Lucatero. After his debut with Corazón Marchito in 2007 – a relatively large-scale production for Mexican cinema – it seems strange for the director to move back to a film so minimalist. Preludio is a movie with one scene, two leads, five other actors (and not all of them are speaking roles), one set and one take. It sound like it has the making of an art house disaster, and yet the director manages to make it work.

Smoking buddies...

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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Ana Serradilla, arts, Eduardo Lucatero, film, Film-out, jameson dublin international film festival, kevin smith, Mexico, Movie, non-review review, Prelude (music), Preludio (movie), review | Leave a comment »

Non-Review Review: Á Bout Portant (Point Blank)

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

Point Blank is another one of those movies which snuck up on me a little during the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. I wasn’t expected to do anything more than kill a couple of hours with a French film, but was surprised at how energetic and engaging this little action movie is. In fact, it calls to mind some of Luc Besson’s earlier work, which is always a good sign.

A shot of adrenaline...

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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: á bout portant, film, films, french cinema, Hans Zimmer, jameson dublin international film festival, Klaus Badelt, luc besson, Movie, Movies, non-review review, paris, point blank, review, Samuel | Leave a comment »

Podge & Rodge for the Irish Cancer Society…

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Darren

I am big Podge & Rodge fan. I grew up on them, to be honest, with their own unique brand of toilet humour. So when I found out the pair were teaming up with the Irish Cancer Society to raise awareness of bowel cancer, I thought I’d post the video here. I think everyone respects and appreciates the work that the Irish Cancer Society do, and I remember – in college – that the production company behind Podge & Rodge were always eager to supply spot prizes for any fundraising table quiz we might put on. So, when they sent this on, I thought I’d share it.

A word of warning for any Americans stumbling across this video, Podge & Rodge are a… very Irish institution, and a very peculiar sense of humour. It’s the kinda thing that foreigners rarely get to see, so consider yourselves both warned and honoured. The clip is very not safe for work (only language, though).

Yes, they are a national treasure. In fact, there’s a whole bunch of iconic Irish puppets. Take, for example, the 2008 Irish entry to the Eurovision Song Contest:

Apparently those wacky Europeans didn’t react well to us making an even bigger mockery of their singing competition than normal. And in case any Americans reading this need an introduction to the Eurovision, this is fairly accurate parody of what a typical Irish entry to the Eurovision song contest looks like:

So ends our brief introduction to Irish Pop Culture 101.

Filed under: Movies | Tagged: bowel cancer, Celtic, dublin, ethnicity, Eurovision Song Contest, Ireland, Irish American, Irish Cancer Society, podge & rodge, podge and rodge, United States | 2 Comments »

February 2011 (JDIFF and For the Love of Film Noir) In Review…

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Darren

Hey, I’ve been shortlisted for two Irish Blog Awards, Best Pop Culture Blog and Best Arts and Culture Blog. I’m honoured and delighted to make the shortlist which is, as ever, populated with some of the best Irish talent around. Anyway, February was a busy month, what with the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival and the For The Love of Film Noir Blogathon going on. And I had my 1,000th post.

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Filed under: Months in Review | Tagged: Adjustment Bureau, arts, february, february in review, film, Film festival, For the Love of Film Noir, For the Love of Film Noir blogathon, For the Love of Film Noir: The Film Preservation Blogathon, irish blog awards, jameson dublin international film festival, liam neeson, Movie | 2 Comments »

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at the National Concert Hall

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

I was lucky enough to be in attendance for a gala performance of Rex Ingram’s 1921 classic The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at the National Concert Hall, complete with live accompaniment by the RTE Concert Orchestra – featuring a new soundtrack composed by Carl Davies. While the film is one of those classics I respect more than I enjoy, I have to give credit to the National Concert Hall for hosting the gala event.

An artist at work...

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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: arts, Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, jameson dublin international film festival, looney tunes, Movie, Movies, National Concert Hall, orchestra, Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Rex Ingram, Wizard of Oz | Leave a comment »

Non-Review Review: Incendies

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

Incendies looks absolutely beautiful. The cinematography on show is absolutely stunning. It’s a powerful exploration of the religious divide in Lebanon, and it packs quite a lot of punch. However, as a film, it never really works. It’s structure seems almost illogical, with information often being repeated or rendered redundant, and it works on a series of awkwardly-contrived coincidences which strain the viewer’s credibility (which is especially glaring when the film plays off real-life atrocities). It seems far too assured of its own merits, and could have done with some serious revision before release.

Scorched earth...

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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Academy Award, Denis Villeneuve, Dennis Velleneuve, film, hollywood, Incendies, lebanon, Lubna Azabal, Lubna Azabel, Maxim Gaudette, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, non-review review, review, Wajdi Mouawad | 5 Comments »

Non-Review Review: You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger is – we’re told at the start by the (now seemingly customary) narrator – “a tale told by an idiot, filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.” It doesn’t use the exact quote from Macbeth, but it references it pretty explicitly. However, this seems less like the genuine intention of Woody Allen and more like an excuse scribbled on the introduction to a term paper he couldn’t be bothered finishing, as if to declare to the world, “It’s okay if nothing is ever really resolved or developed and random stuff seems to occur for no reason – that’s the stylistic approach I’m adopting!” I don’t doubt that the movie’s inconclusive nature is undoubtedly intentional, but it’s inconsistency is still infuriating – perhaps more for the sections of the movie that do engage rather than those that meander. It’s not necessary a bad film – Allen is still a great storyteller, even when he doesn’t seem especially bothered – but it’s just not up there with Vicki Cristina Barcelona or even Match Point.

Growing old disgracefully...

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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: anna friel, anthony hopkins, comedy, film, fortune teller, Gemma Jones, josh brolin, Movie, Naomi Watts, non-review review, philip glenister, prophecy, review, Woody Allen, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger | Leave a comment »

Non-Review Review: The Adjustment Bureau

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

One of the joys of a film festival like the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is that you get to see films that take you by surprise. Sometimes they are small foreign dramas which will never get a major release here, and thus haven’t been discussed to death on-line or in-print, but occasionally it’s a movie premiere of a big upcoming release which will impress. The Adjustment Bureau is hitting screens around the world next Friday, but film fanatics in Dublin were treated to a sneak peek (the movie’s second public screening and the first in Europe). As a movie that I honestly wasn’t expecting too much of, based on the trailers in front of every major release since last August that seemingly couldn’t decide on the genre of the film, what did I make of it?