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Cult Fiction - October 2006

Rat

October 31st 2006 09:35
Rat (2000)


Okay, so I got this film out for three reasons... 1. The front cover had a Rat on it, drinking out of a pint glass. 2. It sounded bizarre and quirky and funny. 3. Pete Postlethwaite was in it.

All three of these assumptions/statements turned out to be true, but only in varying degrees. Basically, this is about an Irish man named Hubert, whose lifestyle (consisting mainly of drinking and gambling) consists of such allegedly rat-like behaviour that he comes home one night to turn into just that; a rat. The ensuing power struggles between his family (mother wants to grow rich and famous off the story, son wants to kill it, daughter wants to protect it) is a curious hodge-podge of absurdist lunacy and straight-ahead drama.


My biggest disappointment with this film would have to be the absence of Pete Postlethwaite. He appears briefly at the beginning and is then not seen for quite some time. The rat doesn't even speak, which is fair enough in terms of the plot, but leaves a lot to be desired for in the entertainment stakes. Most of the film is carried by Imelda Staunton as the long-suffering, forever-nagging wife. Unfortunately she is a rather unsympathetic character.

There are a few genuine laughs to be had in this film, but the ridiculousness of it all wears thin after a while, and it's nowhere near as funny as it should be.
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Posted By: Luke - Category: Movies
   


Top 10 Classic Doctor Who stories

October 29th 2006 11:54
All the talk about the new Doctor Who series lately has made me a little nostalgic for the 'classic' episodes of Who. Don't get me wrong, I love new Who, but here are my personal Top 10 stories, in no particular order...


Genesis of the Daleks (1975), 4th Doctor
Generally considered to be one of the best Doctor Who stories of all time (voted number 1 by Doctor Who Magazine), I thought I'd get this out of the way first. 'Genesis of the Daleks' was the story that finally showed us the origins of the Daleks, and managed to completely reinvent the Doctor's deadliest enemies in the process. This story marked the first time that the fascist slantings of the Daleks were made a little more explicit... the Kaleds (the race from which the Daleks are created) are pretty much just Nazis. Davros, the deformed and wheelchair-bound mad scientist who creates the Daleks, is first introduced to us here and would go on to become the Doctor's second-most revisited villain (after The Master). This 6-part story features many great scenes and some killer cliffhangers too.



Kinda (1982), 5th Doctor
I like 'Kinda' because it's a different kind of story... one of the few examples of 80s Doctor Who to be adventurous enough to cover some new ground. Basically, the Doctor and his companions land on a jungle planet that is infested by an evil snake-like entity known as the Mara (shades of the tempting snake of the Old Testement here)... the Mara attacks from within, rising up through the subconscious and breaking down the confidence of it's victim (in this case, the Doctor's loud-mouthed companion Tegan) until they surrender themselves to it. Also on the planet are a native tribe known as the Kinda, and a survey team of humans who are conducting studies on them. Anyway, a mystical Kinda box gets opened by some of the humans and they go insane... making for some unpredictable and entertaining episodes of Doctor Who that are only let down by some dodgy 80s special-effects. Watch out for some well-known actors from The Bill in this one too.


The Curse of Fenric (1989), 7th Doctor
Prior to it's cancellation, 'Doctor Who' was actually in a kind of renaissance... pulling itself out of a slump that had lasted a few years. I don't know if it was due to the fact that the fans were finally catching up with the show creativity-wise, or if it was due to the influence of a new script-editor, but someone wised up and got with the program. 'The Curse of Fenric' is a great traditional-styled Doctor Who story about vikings, futuristic barnacle-ridden vampires, an all-powerful evil entity from the dawn of time and World War II. It also features the Doctor at his darkest and most manipulative and is probably one of the stories that most influenced the direction of the New Adventures (original Doctor Who novels published in the 90s after the show was cancelled)... whether this is bad or good is subjective, but it definitely made an impression at the time.


The Robots of Death (1977), 4th Doctor
A cool and creepy story of silky-voiced robots gone haywire and murderous, and a cracking whodunnit story too. I think I've probably watched this story more than any other. A classic.


Inferno (1970), 3rd Doctor
I've already written a seperate blog about this story, but it makes my Top 10 easily so I'll talk about it a little here too. This is one of the few Doctor Who stories to deal with a parrallel universe and even now it's depiction of the end of the world as a fiery molten hell still creeps the fuck out of me. I think a lot of my choices of 'best stories' have to do with how much I find them scary, and this one I find scary.


Caves of Androzani (1984), 5th Doctor
Of all the stories to depict the Doctor regenerating into another body, this one is easily the best. It features some unusually snazzy direction for 80s Doctor Who, has a great villain in the form of the tragic android-maker Sharaz Jek, and is one of the best showcases of the 5th Doctor's character. Peter Davison couldn't have asked for a better final story, these four action-packed episodes are pretty much all about the Doctor trying to save his friend... even to the extent of sacrificing his own life.


The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1977), 4th Doctor
Another story from Doctor Who's glory era of 1975 to 1977, the years when the show really went for broke in trying to scare it's audience. This one features the Doctor in a Sherlock Holmes outfit, investigating murders in Victorian East End London. Throw in some gangs of Chinese assassins, a giant rat, another great deformed villain (this one is a dying time traveller who pretends to be a Chinese God), some memorable guest characters and Mr. Sin - one of the creepiest creations to ever appear in Doctor Who, a little cyborg knife-wielding cyborg with the brain of a pig.


Tomb of the Cybermen (1967), 2nd Doctor
This story could very well have not made this list, had it not been rediscoverd in a vault in Hong Kong back in 1992. Along with about 110 other episodes of Doctor Who, this story was 'lost' by the BBC back in the 70s (they burnt them, thinking no one would be interested in ever seeing them again - a criminal act of wastefulness!). Anyway, this story goes a long way to mythologising the Cybermen, one of the Doctor's most revisted adversaries. In this story we're introduced to their adopted home planet, Telos, and also meet the CyberController for the first time. It also marks the first time we get to see humans being converted into Cybermen. The Cybermen got redsigned by the production team after every few stories, and apart from the Cybermen in the new series I think that the Cybermen featured in this story would have to be my favourite.


Remembrance of the Daleks (1988), 7th Doctor
Dalek war! New Imperial Daleks clash with traditional Daleks in 60s London and some new mystery gets injected into the character of the Doctor again. Both Dalek factions have come to 60s London to claim the Hand of Omega, an ancient Time Lord weapon that can manipulate stars. This story features some pretty good special effects for a classic Doctor Who story, and also features the Special Weapons Dalek - a super cool armoured Dalek that has a built-in cannon. This story has so much going for it... it's fun, it has action, it has a cool story and it made the 7th Doctor an interesting character after his initial four stories of gurning and pratfalling.


The Deadly Assassin (1976), 4th Doctor
The first Doctor Who story to show the Doctor's home planet in it's all glory. After hundreds of years of adventures and avoidance of Gallifrey, the Doctor finally returns home to answer a summons from the Time Lords. Here's three reasons why this story is so great...
1. The end of the first episode... what the hell is going on? In one shocking moment the Doctor reminds us that he is an alien and that we don't really know all that much about him. A great cliffhanger.
2. The Matrix... we're introduced to the Matrix, a massive computer powered by the minds of dead Time Lords. The Doctor travels into the Matrix and finds a surreal nightmare world where he must battle for survival against a mysterious assassin.
3. The return of the Master.... this is one of the few episodes were the Master is a less than ridiculous villain. Here we see what happens to Time Lords at the end of their 13 lives, the Master is in the final stages of his life and has become a decaying and degenerate skeletal figure. For once he isn't trying to conquer Earth - here he wants to gain access to the Eye of Harmony, the source of all Time Lord power, in the hopes that he can extend his lifespan. Unfortunately, the Master's quest for a new body would become his modus operandi for almost all of his subsequent revisits.

Anyway, that's my 10. There are plenty of other great stories but I just listed the ones that I've watched the most and gotten the most enjoyment from. Dig it.
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Posted By: Luke - Category: Doctor Who
   


Minority Report

October 26th 2006 11:44
Minority Report (2002)


So Speilberg thinks he can pull off a noirish serious sci-fi film? Well, no matter how much it might try... 'Blade Runner' this aint.

Like 'Blade Runner', this is based on a Philip K. Dick story. There is a fundamental science-fiction story underneath here, with some interesting things to say about pre-determinism and it's possibilities in the world of law enforcement. It reminded me a bit of 'Logan's Run', a film in which a law enforcer believes thoroughly in the system he serves - only to find himself on the run from it when it turns it's focus on him, and in doing so he learns of it's flaws. This is only on a purely thematic level though, 'Minority Report' seems to have something genuinely interesting to say at first, but it gets a little unsure of itself as it progresses.

Tom Cruise is fine in the lead role, but the supporting cast ranges from okay (Farrell, Von Sydow) to embarrassingly corny and over-the-top (Tim Blake Nelson). Spielberg seems to be unable to focus on his genre either, in some parts (especially regarding the characters) the film is over-simplistic, trite, and sanitised (witness Tom Cruise's character's drug 'addiction' – a very half-arsed approach to what could have been edgy material). Parts of the plot are horribly undeveloped too (the aforementioned drug, a futuristic substance called Naroin, which is never actually described) and the film in general suffers from too much variance in tone. This should've been a dark film, and it seems like Spielberg intended this most of the time, but in the end it's too afraid to go for broke and just too Hollywood.

It's not as bad as I make out, the plot is worthy of some merit (no doubt due to Philip K. Dick's influence), the effects are good and there are a few neat little details that kept my interest piqued. It's okay, but it could've been a lot better.
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Posted By: Luke - Category: Movies
   


Torchwood - New Television

October 25th 2006 08:25


Well, it kind of snuck up on me. Before I knew it, Torchwood had gone to air in the UK and two whole episodes had been broadcast! So, with some quick catching up last night, I'm now up to date and ready to comment on the show


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Torchwood
   


Milo Kerrigan - The Brownish Bomber

October 24th 2006 08:12

Introducing Milo Kerrigan - click to watch.
Milo's Holden Statesman ad - click to watch


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Massive coolness!
   


End of Days

October 23rd 2006 10:34
End of Days (1999)


I'd avoided this one for a long time. Some people told me it was great, others said it was horseshit. Eventually I yielded and decided to give it a go


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Extras, Last episode

October 22nd 2006 08:28


Watch it here - BBC website
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Posted By: Luke - Category: Television
   


Drowning Mona

October 20th 2006 12:01
Drowning Mona (2000)


I have to admit that this film didn't really appeal to me right from the start. I mean, an ensemble comedy/mystery, featuring fairly average talent (for the most part) - it just didn't grab me. But, it was on telly, and I had nothing better to do


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Movies
   


New Trailer - The Prestige

October 19th 2006 11:41

The Prestige trailer - click to watch.

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Posted By: Luke - Category: Trailers
   


Extras, Episode 5, Series 2

October 18th 2006 06:36


Watch it here - BBC website
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Posted By: Luke - Category: Television
   


Ghost Rider Trailer

October 17th 2006 13:24


Ghost Rider Trailer - click to check it out


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Trailers
   


Hitler: Rise of Evil

October 16th 2006 06:25
Hitler: Rise of Evil (2003)


This mini-series went to air a few years ago on Australian TV and was hyped up to the max. Unfortunately, I bought into this hype and was very excited when the first half came on the telly. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Such was the level of my disappointment in this mini-series that I want to make it known what this could of been, and - unfortunately - what it was


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Television
   


Trailer for new Tarantino film.

October 11th 2006 13:42
Spotted this over at Aint It Cool News.com...

Trailer for 'Planet Terror' - Robert Rodriguez's half of the film 'Grindhouse', the other half of which is by Quentin Tarantino


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Trailers
   


Thunderpants

October 11th 2006 06:11
Thunderpants (2002)


Lately it seems that 'kids' movies have really increased in quality (EG. 'Harry Potter', PIXAR's various releases, etc, etc.), even to such an extent that they're watchable by people over the age of 12 (Shock! Horror!) Yes, that's right - Disney live-action films can just fuck off. 'Thunderpants' is a brilliantly crude yet heart-warming British film seemingly aimed at the kiddos that I (significantly older than your average ‘kiddo’) found extremely enjoyable


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Movies
   


Galaxy Quest

October 10th 2006 08:09
Galaxy Quest (1999)


Galaxy Quest is, without a doubt, a parody of Star Trek and the like. But, despite what one might think, it's quite gentle in it's mocking, and anyone even mildly familiar with Star Trek (particularly the original series) will find it's cleverness and good humour infectious


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Movies
   


The Match

October 9th 2006 08:02
The Match (1999)


"The Match" is one of those 'quaint' U.K. films, set in the country, filled with an odd assortment of characters and making use of the 'man against the odds' formula


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Movies
   


Extras, Series 2, Episode 4

October 8th 2006 10:57
Extras, Series 2, Episode 4...


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Television
   


The Ladies Man

October 6th 2006 05:38
The Ladies Man (2000)


Yet another Saturday-Night-Live spinoff, this time something a little less recognisable for me; being unfamiliar with Tim Meadows (who wrote and starred in this film


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Movies
   


Signs

October 4th 2006 12:45
Signs (2002)


'Signs' is the third major/mainstream film by rising director M. Night Shymalan. Following on the heels of the worldwide box office smash 'The Sixth Sense' and the unique and inspiring film 'Unbreakable', 'Signs' was going to have to work hard to at least stand up to it's predecessors


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Movies
   


Extras, with Harry Potter

October 3rd 2006 06:56


Extras, series 2, episode 3 - watch the latest episode


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Television
   


Ghost World

October 2nd 2006 10:59
Ghost World (2002)


'Ghost World' is one of those odd-looking films that just scream out 'Cult!' Being based on a cult comic/graphic novel certainly helps, and featuring the talents of a unique and motley assortment of some of today's favourite character actors (and then-rising star Scarlett Johansson) will no doubt solidify it's reputation


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Posted By: Luke - Category: Movies
   


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