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Bowling for Columbine	RANK=500
Category : Not Sure Description : I knew what to expect from Mike Moore, and he delivers once again in superb style. This film is a documentary about Mike's search for why the United States has so many more gun related murders than any other country in the world... perhaps 10 times higher than what one might expect for a country of their population. Personally I have always been in favour of strict gun control. Mike has his own agenda. It turns out that Mike really is a proverbial "card-carrying member of the National Rifle Association", and he was winning sharp shooting prizes before he entered his teens. Yet at the same time, Mike has built a small career out of investigating injustice and pursuing unpunished wrongdoers, dabbling in political satire and slapstick along the way. Bowling for Columbine follows this trend, although thankfully in this most serious of subjects the only slapstick is in animated cartoon form, providing some black humour at a time when it is most needed. He presents both sides of all issues. He addresses many of the usual reasons cited for shootings and, suprisingly, he dismisses all of them in a convincing manner. Mike has his own non-gun explanation for firearm murders, based on fear and media beat-ups. Amongst several notorious interviewees is Marilyn Manson, who corroborates Mike's theory to some extent. Mike's personal touch to this documentary is the apparent internal conflict he has between his early exposure and (perhaps) allegiance to the NRA, contrasted against the criticism the NRA and its leader have recieved in the aftermath of school shootings. Throughout the film I had the feeling that there was no chance of Mike concluding that the NRA was wrong in any way. How the documentary ends is something I leave to you to find out, since this film is definitely worth seeing if you're at all interested in the gun control issue. I'm a lot less concerned about this issue than I used to be, and I basically took this opportunity to have a laugh at just how gun crazy the U.S. culture is. I can tell you I wasn't the only one in the cinema doing exactly that.	Viewing Status #viewings=1 First seen in 1/2003

Broken Arrow	RANK=426
Category : Action Description : Nuclear warheads are stolen. Christian Slater has to fight John Travolta to get `em back. Nice stunts.	Viewing Status #viewings=2 First seen in /1996

Buckaroo Bonzai	RANK=4
Category : SciFi Description : Some stupid 70s Hero vs. Aliens movie. All I can remember is Buckaroo preparing to take off in an alien's ship as a stoaway by clamping around himself two big half-pod things hanging from the ceiling.	Viewing Status #viewings=1 First seen in /1987

A Bug's Life	RANK=935
Category : Comedy Description : Of the two big Insect movies of 1998, A Bug's Life was by far the best. Most importantly, the characters are distinct and detailed. The ones that are to be liked are indeed very likeable. Great character humour and puns. I can't remember what the plot is about, but trust me it's fantastic. It's a jolly little adventure brought to you by Disney and their CGI buddies at Pixar. Many have tried, but Pixar is the only one .	Viewing Status #viewings=1 First seen in 12/1998

The Burbs	RANK=113
Category : Comedy Description : Tom Hanks in a nutty and somewhat crap movie about two guys that totally overeact when some strange hermit-like people move in to their street. Xenophobic undertones and funny script/slapstick make it bearable. They ate Walter! Aaaagh!	Viewing Status #viewings=2 First seen in /1989

Cast Away	RANK=813
Category : Adventure Description : Superb. Gripping personal drama of a FedEx logistics guy who must try to survive on a small tropical island after his plane crashes into the Pacific ocean. He has no modern tools or materials, no replacement clothes or shoes, no gadgets, no food. Were it not for the few items that wash ashore in FedEx boxes from the plane crash, he may not have survived more than a few days. Tom Hanks gives an ironclad performace as Chuck, the FedEx guy. While he is on the island there is not a single shot that doesn't include him in the frame, and usually close by. There is no music, just the ambient island sounds to help the sense of isolation. Hanks is great at showing the inner turmoil, sadness, and madness that the isolation brings. Give me some more time and I might be able to find something wrong with this movie, but right now I can't.	Viewing Status #viewings=1 First seen in 1/2001

Catch Me If You Can	RANK=330
Category : Not Sure Description : Light and tasty. It is based on a true story, which also helps to avoid a formulaic plot. Set in the late 1960s, Frank Amigdale junior is shocked at the sudden divorce of his parents, which he may attribute to his father's business misfortunes. At the age of 16 he sets off to make money using fraud and deception, perhaps in some attempt to buy back the expensive house, car and gifts that his family had previously lost to the tax collectors. Quite honestly, this movie is about Frank's ability to bullshit his way through any situation. There is also some attempt to develop a relationship between Frank and the FBI cop who eventually captures him. For most of the movie it jumps between two time frames, both before and after he was caught. The acting is all fairly laid back and casual. Cristopher Walken did well, as did DiC. There are surprise appearances from former X-Files actors. The airline pilot that disembarks from a taxi full of hosties was also the retired ace pilot in "Space Above and Beyond" and also appeared in an X-File. The FBI agent's final boss was also a rogue agent and informant of Mulder in the X-Files. At one point Franky naively pays for the services of a high-class prostitute, and I thought I recognised her from somehere else, but I can't quite place her. Martin Sheen's role was unusual for him, but not badly executed. Tom Hanks is typically understated.	Viewing Status #viewings=1 First seen in 1/2003

Cats and Dogs	RANK=239
Category : Comedy Description : A harmless bit of fluff that will suit both cat and dog fanatics alike. This is a parody of spy thrillers taken to the level of pets. Cats and dogs are today locked in a secret battle for the exclusive attention of humans. The dog's secret weapon is a man developing an antidote against allergies to dog hair, which would ensure ultimate victory of dog over cat. Yes, it sounds silly, and it is. It's a kid's movie really. That's the only way of rationalising the dull and cliche'-riddled script. There are some top moments, but the remainder is tedious. There are also moments when it plucks a few heartstrings, but should a comedy be doing that? This is yet another poor movie that you can have a hilarious time watching if you don't take it seriously.	Viewing Status #viewings=1 First seen in 10/2001

The Cell	RANK=509
Category : SciFi Description : This is the kind of movie that reaches into your brain and fucks you up just a little bit. It's rather disturbing in places, with some body mutilation involved. The special effects are spectacular. From the opening scene you know it's going to be great cinematography. A research institute develops a technique that makes one mind host another, allowing (for example) a psychiatrist to help a boy while he is in a coma. However a serial killer kidnaps a young woman and places her in an automated death trap (the Cell) and falls into a coma before the cops find out where she is kept. Well you can put 2 and 2 together now. Very surreal.	Viewing Status #viewings=1 First seen in 12/2000

Charlie's Angels (2000)	RANK=139
Category : Action Description : I never saw the originals. Cameron Diaz looks very pretty. Drew Barrymore looks a bit frumpy and slutty. Lucy Liu doesn't do anything for me at all. They can all kick arse though. :-) It's kindof funny in a demented Clueless happy sort of way. Fight scenes are OK.	Viewing Status #viewings=1 First seen in 11/2000

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