Film Review: THE LAST EXORCISM (2010)

Director: Daniel Stamm
Writers: Huck Botko, Andrew Gurland
Running Time: 87 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Drama/Horror/Thriller
UK Release Date: 3^rd September 2010

Watched on Sky+ Monday 16^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember when this came out there was a lot of talk about it… I didn’t particularly listen to it as it was a film that wasn’t particularly high on my ‘to see’ list at the time. Well, time passes and this one eventually came up on TV so I thought I’d give it a look anyway. I have a very open mind when it comes to horror, particularly horror that relies on religious beliefs for its fear-factor. This faux-documentary is a case in point and I’ll tell you what I thought after this very brief summary.

Cotton Marcus is a minister who performs ‘exorcisms’; what I mean is he pretends to perform exorcisms. He sees it as delivering a service to people who are in need of some reassurance that god’s on their side. Having decided to give up this ‘work’ he brings in a documentary team to film his last exorcism and expose the tricks he’s used over the years. They pick a letter at random and they’re off to find the Sweetzer farm in a remote part of the countryside. Marcus is more than convincing and the ‘possessed’ teenage daughter, Nell, is more than willing to have her demon exorcised. Unfortunately that’s not the end of the story; could it be that she’s really possessed… or is she just another teenage girl with problems? Well I’ll leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Scary Movies Division) will be taking away my ‘exorcism’ license.

Pretty well made, although the ‘shakey-cam’ demons are in the works and I happen to know this does put people off this style of film. Despite this, all the performances were pretty good, particularly Patrick Fabian as Cotton Marcus and Ashley Bell as Nell Sweetzer. I must also give honourable mentions to; Iris Bahr as Iris Reisen, Louis Herthum as Louis Sweetzer, Caleb Landry Jones as Caleb Sweetzer and Tony Bentley as Pastor Manley.

Although it’s pretty well made and well acted I did find it hard to be convinced by the whole thing. It does get a little compelling towards the end but then it goes and blows it at the death I’m afraid. It’s a shame because so much work went into giving us well-rounded characters and setting up a potentially decent ending. I guess if you buy into the whole possession and exorcism thing then it might appeal, if you don’t, well, I’d watch it, but turn off five minutes before the end… Trust me, it blows it big time!... NOT Recommended.

My Score: 4.8/10

IMDb Score: 5.7/10 (based on 19,739 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1320244/

MetaScore: 63/100: (Based on 31 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 73/100 (based on 144 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 32/100 (based on 68,124 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_exorcism/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Shanna Marcus: Cotton is quite a character. He's what you would call a performer, a showman... He's a natural creative. For example, we have a local theater here, and Cotton writes plays, and he's making these little mini movies now. He's built props for them, special effects. Oh my goodness. I mean, he entertains like nobody's business. And, you know, it starts here with us, but of course it carries on into his professional life.

Cotton Marcus: I do not believe in actual demons, no. No. But when I was doing exorcisms, you know, I acted like I did. It's not like I saw any demons come out of anybody.
Iris Reisen: So for the last something-odd years, you've just been a fraud?
Cotton Marcus: That's your word, not mine. I wouldn't say that. I would say that for the last couple of years, what I've been doing is doing what I've always been doing, which is delivering a service for a person who needs it in a way that they need it. I'm not saying I'm a doctor, but I am saying that I helped people from what ailed them. And what ailed them sometimes was the thought in their brain that they were possessed by a devil, and if I helped make that thought go away and they felt better, so be it.

Cotton Marcus: The Sweetzer farm, please.
Caleb Sweetzer: Right. Well, you're going the wrong direction. You want to make a U-turn, actually.
Cotton Marcus: Okay.
Caleb Sweetzer: You want to take this road and go straight. You'll see things you've already seen before. Keep on going. You're gonna hit the highway. Okay? And then I want you to go back where you came from.

Nell Sweetzer: Reverend, how about a blowing job?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.thelastexorcism.com/index.html
Trailer:

Film Review: SUCKER PUNCH (2011)

Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: Zack Snyder (story/screenplay), Steve Shibuya (screenplay)
Running Time: 110 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
UK Release Date: 1^st April 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 15^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Although I may not be the target audience for this film, I decided to give it a viewing because of the very mixed press it got at the time of release. I must say I did find it interesting, but ultimately it left me with far more questions than answers. I’m usually pretty good at following the most complicated of plots, but this one was all over the place and, what makes matters worse, never really resolved itself by the end. But more of my thoughts after this very brief summary… That’s if I can think of a way of putting it that makes any sense.

Having lost her mother and having been framed for the murder of her kid sister, Babydoll is put into a mental asylum by her evil stepfather. Here she finds her only escape is into a fantasy that she invents. In this fantasy all the inmates (all girls by the way) work in an upmarket bordello (whore house to those that aren’t familiar with the term). The girls are to put on shows for clients in a little theatre and they are supervised in this by Vera. The other girls are; Sweet Pea, Rocket, Blondie and Amber, and they all have their own reasons for wanting to leave (apart from the obvious – of course). In one of her flights of fancy, Babydoll is told by Wise Man that the High Roller is coming for her in five days and she must find five items in order to escape. These are; a map, fire, a knife, a key and a fifth object that he cannot (or will not) tell her. And so the girls begin their quest to retrieve these objects and each time one is being retrieved, Babydoll dances and another fantasy is played out. Will they get all the objects in time for Babydoll to make her escape? Well, I guess that would be a bit of a spoiler and so I’ll leave it there before the Spoiler Police catch on to my rouse.

There is some really spectacular CGI in this film and the fighting sequences are all very well done. It’s a shame the narrative couldn’t live up to the visuals though. As far as performances go, well everyone did a pretty good job without anyone really standing out. So honourable mentions must go to; Emily Browning as Babydoll, Abbie Cornish as Sweet Pea, Jena Malone as Rocket, Vanessa Hudgens as Blondie, Jamie Chung as Amber, Carla Gugino as Dr. Vera Gorski, Oscar Isaac as Blue Jones, Jon Hamm as High Roller/Doctor and Scott Glenn as Wise Man.

I finished watching this film with the feeling that I had just watched a bunch of music video’s patched together with a very flimsy storyline. Admittedly, they were very spectacular music videos with some spectacular effects, but I didn’t feel it made for a film. There was no way I could form any connection to any of the characters because there was no time. The action comes thick and fast and, although there’s a lot of talking in between, little of it serves to explain what’s happening or even why. Over all, great to look at, but with little substance… I guess those that get their kicks from watching scantily clad young women with big guns will like it, but it really didn’t do a great deal for me I’m afraid.

My Score: 5.7/10

IMDb Score: 6.1/10 (based on 99,643 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0978764/

MetaScore: 33/100: (Based on 29 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 23/100 (based on 196 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 47/100 (based on 83,935 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sucker-punch-2010/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Sweet Pea: There are armed guards everywhere! And if Blue finds out, we're dead!
Rocket: We're already dead.

Wiseman: Don't ever write a check with your mouth you can't cash with your ass. Oh, and one more thing... don't wake the mother.

Dr. Vera Gorski: I want you to dance.
[Bjork's "Army of Me" playing over speakers]
Dr. Vera Gorski: ...
[Music stops]
Dr. Vera Gorski: If you do not dance you have no purpose. And we don't keep things here that have no purpose. You see, your fight for survival starts right now. You don't want to be judged? You won't be. You don't think you're strong enough? You are. You're afraid. Don't be. You have all the weapons you need. Now fight.

Sweet Pea: And finally. This question. The mystery of whose story it will be, of who draws the curtain. Who is it that chooses our steps in a dance? Who drives us mad, flashes us with whips, crowns us with victory when we survive the impossible? Who is it that tells all these things?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://suckerpunchmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/
Trailer:

Film Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (2011)

Director: Francis Lawrence
Writers: Richard LaGravenese (screenplay), Sara Gruen (novel)
Running Time: 116 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Drama/Romance
UK Release Date: 4^th May 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 15^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is not the type of film I would usually choose watch, but I decided that since it got a reasonable response from the critics when it came out, I’d give it a look. I guess you have to broaden your horizons every now and then and so here we are with a romantic drama (it made a change). I must admit I did find it all a little too predictable and a little cliché; however, there were one or two good points which I’ll discuss after this very brief summary.

When Jacob, the son of Polish immigrants, finds himself destitute after an accident involving his parents, he sets off to find a place in the world. It is the early 1930’s and the world is in an economic depression which makes it very difficult. Fortunately Jacob jumps on a circus train where he finds work. The owner of the circus, August, is a hard man, but when he discovers that Jacob is a trained vet, he takes him in. Jacob soon finds he is attracted to August’s wife, Marlena, who has an act in the show. After one of her horses has to be put down August must find a new big attraction, and he finds it in the shape of Rosie, an elephant. It is this point that August reveals the cruel and sadistic side and this is also the point that Jacob’s attraction to Marlena begins to grow. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Circus Division) will have me mucking out the elephant (again).

A very well made film with great attention to detail. The cinematography was good, without being particularly spectacular, although I did like the warm feel to the colour palate that was used. As far as performances go, well, the stand-out for me was Christoph Waltz as August; he is really getting some meaty ‘bad-guy’ parts, and (so far) he’s always delivered. Reese Witherspoon did a decent job as Marlena, as did Robert Pattinson as Jacob; it was nice to see him with a little colour in his cheeks! Honourable mentions go to; Paul Schneider as Charlie, Jim Norton as Camel and Hal Holbrook as Old Jacob.

As I said at the beginning, this film does suffer a little from cliché and predictability, although I did like the way Christoph Waltz played the character of August. At times you could almost feel sympathy for him before he’d turn it on its head and show his true colours. The romance did get in the way of a decent drama, but then again I guess that’s what the paying public wanted. For me, it confirmed that romantic dramas aren’t really my thing although it was pretty well made and Christoph Waltz was very good.

My Score: 6.9/10

IMDb Score: 6.9/10 (based on 37,502 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1067583/

MetaScore: 52/100: (Based on 35 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 61/100 (based on 185 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 71/100 (based on 60,395 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/water_for_elephants/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Jacob: I don't know if I picked that circus. But something told me that circus picked me.

August: You do right by me, I'll show you a life most suckers can't even dream of.

August: As long as we can walk, we play.

Jacob: I'm not running away, I'm coming home.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: DR. STRANGELOVE… (1964)

A.K.A.: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writers (Screenplay): Stanley Kubrick, Terry Southern and Peter George (also book ‘Red Alert’)
Running Time: 95 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

Genre: Comedy/War/Thriller
USA Release Date: 29^th January 1964

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 14^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I remember watching many years ago. I recall that I wasn’t all that impressed with it then, but then again, I was probably a bit young to appreciate it. Now a tad older (& wiser) I felt I could do it a bit more justice and boy was I right! I have to say it’s one of the best satirical comedies I’ve seen in many a year and a film that will easily make it into my top 100! More of my thoughts after this very brief summary.

When an American General loses his marbles and orders a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union, it’s up to a few men in a room in the Pentagon to sort it out. They are aided by the crazy scientist, Dr. Strangelove, who has some interesting ideas about the survival of the human race after a nuclear war. But I’m getting ahead of myself; the General in question, Jack Ripper, has an executive officer at the base, the British airman, Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake, who spends most of the film trying to get the release codes out of the General. We also have the pleasure of meeting the crew of one of the B52 bombers, piloted by Maj. ‘King’ Kong. This crew don’t know their orders might be bogus and are determined to carry them out to the letter. Meanwhile, back in the pentagon, the President, Merkin Muffley, is trying all diplomatic routes in order to avoid a nuclear war! His Generals, particularly Gen. ‘Buck’ Turgidson, want to take the upper hand and attack the Soviets, but Muffley invites the Soviet Ambassador into the war room and this stifles the General. I won’t tell how it ends up or the Spoiler Police will be dropping me from a plane (again), but needless to say there are a few surprises to come.

Although the effects are not of the quality we expect today, a pretty good job was done considering the technology in the early 1960’s. The film was all very well shot, Kubrick had a great eye and I can see the early echoes of the latter scenes in ‘Full Metal Jacket’ in certain scenes here. Performance-wise, well nobody put a foot wrong, but I must give special praise to Peter Sellers who was superb in all three of his roles; Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley and, of course, Dr. Strangelove. Also worthy of note; George C. Scott as Gen. ‘Buck’ Turgidson, Sterling Hayden as Brig. Gen. Jack Ripper, Keenan Wynn as Col. 'Bat' Guano, Slim Pickens as Maj. ‘King’ Kong, Peter Bull as Russian Ambassador Alexi de Sadesky, James Earl Jones as Lt. Lothar Zogg and finally, Tracy Reed as Miss Scott.

Darkly satirical throughout, I really love the way this film never lets up and portrays the military as the bad guys. Surprisingly the politicians, the President in particular, comes off pretty well in the end. One slight niggle (for me) was that the film was shot in a 4:3 ratio and I’m afraid that did make it look a little dated. I can forgive the fact that it was made in black & white given where, and when, it was made. Over all though, a genuinely entertaining film that has several highs and one that have absolutely no problem in deeming… HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My Score: 9.4/10

IMDb Score: 8.6/10 (based on 196,848 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/

MetaScore: 96/100: (Based on 11 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 100/100 (based on 60 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 94/100 (based on 117,100 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dr_strangelove/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Narrator: For more than a year, ominous rumours had been privately circulating among high-level Western leaders that the Soviet Union had been at work on what was darkly hinted to be the ultimate weapon: a doomsday device. Intelligence sources traced the site of the top secret Russian project to the perpetually fog-shrouded wasteland below the Arctic peaks of the Zhokhov Islands. What they were building or why it should be located in such a remote and desolate place no one could say.

General "Buck" Turgidson: Mr. President, about, uh, 35 minutes ago, General Jack Ripper, the commanding general of, uh, Burpelson Air Force Base, issued an order to the 34 B-52's of his Wing, which were airborne at the time as part of a special exercise we were holding called Operation Drop-Kick. Now, it appears that the order called for the planes to, uh, attack their targets inside Russia. The, uh, planes are fully armed with nuclear weapons with an average load of, um, 40 megatons each. Now, the central display of Russia will indicate the position of the planes. The triangles are their primary targets; the squares are their secondary targets. The aircraft will begin penetrating Russian radar cover within, uh, 25 minutes.
President Merkin Muffley: General Turgidson, I find this very difficult to understand. I was under the impression that I was the only one in authority to order the use of nuclear weapons.
General "Buck" Turgidson: That's right, sir, you are the only person authorized to do so. And although I, uh, hate to judge before all the facts are in, it's beginning to look like, uh, General Ripper exceeded his authority.

Major T. J. "King" Kong: Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones. You sure you got today's codes?

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Colonel... that Coca-Cola machine. I want you to shoot the lock off it. There may be some change in there.
Colonel "Bat" Guano: That's private property.
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Colonel! Can you possibly imagine what is going to happen to you, your frame, outlook, way of life, and everything, when they learn that you have obstructed a telephone call to the President of the United States? Can you imagine? Shoot it off! Shoot! With a gun! That's what the bullets are for, you twit!
Colonel "Bat" Guano: Okay. I'm gonna get your money for ya. But if you don't get the President of the United States on that phone, you know what's gonna happen to you?
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: What?
Colonel "Bat" Guano: You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company.

[Strangelove's plan for post-nuclear war survival involves living underground with a 10:1 female-to-male ratio]
General "Buck" Turgidson: Doctor, you mentioned the ratio of ten women to each man. Now, wouldn't that necessitate the abandonment of the so-called monogamous sexual relationship, I mean, as far as men were concerned?
Dr. Strangelove: Regrettably, yes. But it is, you know, a sacrifice required for the future of the human race. I hasten to add that since each man will be required to do prodigious... service along these lines, the women will have to be selected for their sexual characteristics which will have to be of a highly stimulating nature.
Ambassador de Sadesky: I must confess, you have an astonishingly good idea there, Doctor.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: WALLACE & GROMIT: THE WRONG TROUSERS (1993)

A.K.A.: WALLACE AND GROMIT IN THE WRONG TROUSERS

Director: Nick Park
Writers: Nick Park, Bob Baker and Brian Sibley (additional contributions)
Running Time: 30 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): U

Genre: Animation/Short/Comedy
UK Release Date: 26^th December 1993 (TV Premiere).

Watched on Sky+ Monday 9^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Having been hooked on the work of the Aardman studio since their first short ‘A Grand Day Out’ (1989), I was intrigued to see their second short at Christmas in 1993. Of course I’ve seen it many times since, but I thought I’d share my views on this excellent piece of work. It should come as no surprise that I like it (a lot) and it rates, along with ‘A Grand Day Out’, among my favourite animated films. I’ll give you a short critique after this brief summary.

It’s Gromit’s birthday and he’s feeling under-appreciated. Wallace has not only bought him a collar and lead, but also some ‘Techno-Trousers’ from NASA. Programmable so Gromit can go for walkies any time… Of course, Gromit isn’t exactly enthralled by the idea. On top of that, times are hard and Wallace has decided to let out a room. Unfortunately the tenant, a penguin, decides Gromit’s room is more to his taste and has also endeared himself to Wallace. Suspecting there’s something suspicious about this stranger, Gromit follows him and he discovers there is much more to this penguin than meets the eye… I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police will have me strapped into the wrong trousers (again).

Again brilliantly animated with all the little subtle touches that make Aardman films so great! Of course Peter Sallis does his usual excellent job of voicing Wallace. The plot is more complicated than the first film and it shows the ambition of the studio to progress. Some of the ideas are really crazy, but they work so well in this medium. For me, not quite as good as ‘A Grand Day Out’, but a very close second… HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My Score: 9.2/10

IMDb Score: 8.5/10 (based on 27,036 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0108598/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 100/100 (based on 25 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 89/100 (based on 19,727 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wallace_and_gromit_the_wrong_trousers/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Wallace: Cracking toast, Gromit!

Wallace: They're techno-trousers, ex-NASA, fantastic for walkies!

Wallace: It's the wrong trousers Gromit, and they've gone wrong!

Wallace: No more lodgers - more trouble than they're worth!

[last lines]
Wallace: Ah, but I do like a bit of gorgonzola!

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Aardman Site: http://www.aardman.com/
Trailer (fan made):

Film Review: LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (2006)

Directors: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Writer: Michael Arndt
Running time: 101 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Drama
UK Release date: 8^th September 2006

Watched on DVD Monday 9^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I bought this DVD several years ago by mistake and it has lurked at the back of my collection ever since. Having heard several good things about it I decided to take the plunge and give it a look. I was pleasantly surprised; it wasn’t the usual ‘dysfunctional family’ cliché ridden rubbish I was expecting. No, it was so much better than that and I must say I even enjoyed it! I will give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

There are six main characters; first there’s seven year old Olive Hoover who has won a place in the finals of the ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ beauty contest. Then we have the mother, Sheryl, harassed as all mothers are in these films and Richard, the father, he has business problems that are causing friction with Sheryl. The fifteen year old son, Dwayne, hasn’t spoken for nine months; he has decided that until he achieves he ultimate goal of becoming a fighter pilot, we will not speak. The grandpa, Edwin, who swears, takes drugs and really doesn’t much care what the others think of him, apart from Olive (of course). Finally, there’s Sheryl’s brother, Frank, who has just attempted suicide and cannot be left alone. This unlikely collection has to get Olive the 700 miles to the beauty contest in a broken VW Camper van in just two days. What could possibly go wrong?... Well, I’ll leave it there or the Spoiler Police will be having me towed (again).

Now I’m not usually a fan of comedies, but the humour in this one is so dark that I actually enjoyed it! Very well made with some great dialogue and some characters that I could actually relate to (makes a change!). All the performances were great; the young Abigail Breslin did a great job as Olive Hoover and I really loved Alan Arkin as Grandpa Edwin Hoover, he really nailed it! Greg Kinnear as Richard Hoover and Toni Collette as Sheryl Hoover both did a good job. I thought Paul Dano as Dwayne also did a good job and Steve Carell showed what a good actor he can be as Frank Ginsberg.

As road trip movies go, I must say that this is the best one I’ve seen in quite a long time. The mix of characters and the way they interact works pretty well and I found the film quite engaging (I even laughed a few times!). Yes, some of the situations they got themselves into were a tad far-fetched, but I can forgive that (this time) because the characters actually had some substance. Would I watch it again? Yes I would and so I have no problem in deeming this one… Recommended.

My score: 8.2/10.

IMDb Score: 7.9/10 (based on 194,846 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0449059/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 91/100 (based on 205 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 90/100 (based on 379,546 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/little_miss_sunshine/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Sheryl: [after Frank tried to commit suicide] I'm so glad you're still here.
Frank: Well, that makes one of us.

Richard: There's two kinds of people in this world, there's winners and there's losers. Okay, you know what the difference is? Winners don't give up.

Grandpa: Are you gettin' any?
Richard: Dad!
Grandpa: You can tell me, Dwayne. Are you gettin' any?
Richard: Come on, please.
Grandpa: [Dwayne shakes his head] No? Jesus. You're what? Fifteen? My God, man!
Richard: Dad!
Grandpa: You should be gettin' that young stuff.
Richard: Dad!
Grandpa: That young stuff is the best stuff in the whole world.
Richard: Hey! Hey! Dad! That's enough! Stop it!
Grandpa: Will you kindly not interrupt me, Richard! See, right now you're jailbait, they're jailbait. It's perfect. I mean, you hit 18, man! You're talkin' about three to five.

[Dwayne looks around van; writes frantically on notepad... ]
Frank: [reading notepad] "Where's Olive?"...
Sheryl: Oh!

Olive: What are you guys talking about?
Grandpa: [thinks for a moment] Politics.
Olive: Oh.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: WALLACE & GROMIT: A GRAND DAY OUT (1989)

A.K.A.: A GRAND DAY OUT WITH WALLACE AND GROMIT

Writer/Director: Nick Park
Running Time: 23 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): U

Genre: Animation/Short/Adventure
UK Release Date(s): 1989 (British Short Film Festival) & 24^th December 1990 (TV Premiere).

Watched on Sky+ Monday 9^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have seen this short film many times before and so I thought it was about time I gave my thoughts on it. It comes up regularly on TV here in the UK and so everyone here has plenty of opportunity to see it. I have loved it since I first saw it back in 1990. Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

Wallace and Gromit have run out of cheese and it’s a bank holiday. They have been planning their holidays and so decide to combine their need for cheese with a little day trip… to the moon! Of course, everybody knows the moon is made of cheese. Designing and building a spaceship is no problem to this duo and soon they’re on their way… I won’t say any more or the Spoiler Police (Moon Division) will be impounding my spaceship (again).

Although the Aardman animation (or ‘claymation’ if you prefer) has improved over the years, I still really love the look and feel of this short. The voice of Peter Sallis as Wallace is perfect… I couldn’t imagine anyone else voicing the part. I find the comic timing works to a tea and the storyline is both wacky and brilliant. There are very few things that make me laugh out loud, but there are several jokes in this film that still crack me up even 22 years later! Long may the BBC keep showing it! For me… VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My Score: 9.5/10

IMDb Score: 7.8/10 (based on 12,962 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0104361/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 100/100 (based on 19 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 36/100 ‘Want to See’ (based on 12,098 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wallace_and_gromit_a_grand_day_out/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Wallace: No cheese, Gromit! Not a bit in the house!

Wallace: Gromit, that's it! Cheese! We'll go somewhere where there's cheese!
[Looks at "Cheese Holidays" magazine, then out window]
Wallace: Everybody knows the moon is made of cheese...

[Wallace and Gromit are on their spaceship, about to leave Earth]
Wallace: No crackers Gromit! We've forgotten the crackers!

[eating the moon]
Wallace: It's like no cheese I've ever tasted...

[a machine malfunctions]
Wallace: Well, what's wrong with this stupid...?
[it breaks down]
Wallace: [stunned slightly] Oh

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Aardman Site: http://www.aardman.com/
Clip: