DOLLHOUSE - SEASON 2

USA: Various Directors, 2009-2010 (Created by Joss Whedon)

So Joss Whedon's ill-fated Dollhouse show finally comes to an end. I certainly enjoyed it for the most part and will not doubt return to re-watch the show in the years to come as a companion-piece to Whedon's superior SF show FIREFLY. In terms of quality I would say Season 2 mirrored Season 1 in both its number of average episodes and top-quality instalments. If there is to be no more seasons perhaps Whedon can further explore his post-apocalyptic vision as presented in Season 2 finale Epitaph Two with a direct-to-DVD film?

Score: 8/10

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(*) MONSTERS, INC. *****

USA: Pete Docter, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich, 2001

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THE HANGOVER ***½

USA/Germany: Todd Phillips, 2009

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LOST - SEASON 1 (10/10)

USA: Various Directors, 2004-2005 (Created by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof)

I first watched LOST when Channel 4 (or was it E4?) aired the two-part Pilot some years back. I remember being impressed by the high production values and could believe it was the most expensive TV Show Pilot ever produced. However, after watching the Pilot and perhaps one other episode I just couldn't make the commitment required due to the scheduling at the time - I think the first season aired in UK at 11pm on a Thursday night. In some respects this was probably a blessing because if I had watched the show at that time I think the non-linear plot structure heavily favoured by LOST and some of the performances from the cast would have drove me mad. Fortunately, in the intervening years and in no small part due to the influence of my girlfirend my tolerance for these sorts of plot contrivances and overwrought melodrama has improved.

Sitting down to watch the first Season of LOST over the past couple of months has been a revelation. I can't recall a US TV Drama I have enjoyed more in recent memory other than THE SOPRANOS. All the ingredients worked for me with particular highlights being the cinematography, the location and an excellent central performance by actor Matthew Fox. That's not to say that the first Season is without flaws but I'm more than willing to overlook some rather perfunctory exposition, uneven characterisation and illogical plot twists in view of the sheer ambition of the show overall. Credit must go to the writers who successfully weave a rich narrative arc, evoking the past and present lives of a large number of characters producing the effect of utterly compulsive drama.

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(*) TOY STORY 2 *****

USA: John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, Lee Unkrich, 1999

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DR. TERRIBLE'S HOUSE OF HORRIBLE - SERIES 1: SCREAM SATAN SCREAM! (TV) ****

UK: Matt Lipsey, 2001

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(*) TOY STORY *****

USA: John Lasseter, 1995

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DR. TERRIBLE'S HOUSE OF HORRIBLE - SERIES 1: VOODOO FEET OF DEATH (TV) **½

UK: Matt Lipsey, 2001

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DR. TERRIBLE'S HOUSE OF HORRIBLE - SERIES 1: LESBIAN VAMPIRE LOVERS OF LUST (TV) ****

UK: Matt Lipsey, 2001

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DR. TERRIBLE'S HOUSE OF HORRIBLE - SERIES 1: CURSE OF THE BLOOD OF THE LIZARD OF DOOM (TV) **½

UK: Matt Lipsey, 2001

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DR. TERRIBLE'S HOUSE OF HORRIBLE - SERIES 1: FRENZY OF TONGS (TV) ***

UK: Matt Lipsey, 2001

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THE INVENTION OF LYING *½

USA: Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson, 2009

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(*) WATCHMEN: ULTIMATE CUT ****

USA: Zack Snyder, 2009

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This unique extended version of the film is comprised of both the director's cut of WATCHMEN and the animated TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER.

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS ***½

USA: Phil Lord and Chris Miller, 2009

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DR. TERRIBLE'S HOUSE OF HORRIBLE - SERIES 1: AND NOW THE FEARING... (TV) ***½

UK: Matt Lipsey, 2001

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CHANGELING ****

USA: Clint Eastwood, 2008

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SUNSHINE CLEANING ****½

USA: Christine Jeffs, 2008

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THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

I recently finished the much lauded crime novel THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. To get straight to the point - no novel is going to live up to the hype which has surrounded this 'literary sensation' but it is a damn fine book. To be fair the main flaw is in its two main narrative stands. I found them frequently disparate and never completely unified in a truly meaningful way. Moreover, I found the libel case which bookends the novel a bore. Actually, editing maybe my biggest fault with the novel, it is simply too baggy in places and reads like a draft in need of some trimming. However, after the first 100-200 pages I was hooked and whilst I may not have identified with any of the characters (Salander is more interesting in terms of her mysterious history) I was gripped by the plot's finale revolving around Harriet's disappearance. Another highlight resides in the effective conceit of using photography as a means to piece together events in order to tell a story - this reminded me of Stephen Poliakoff's sublime miniseries SHOOTING THE PAST. I am eager to read the next novel in the trilogy and watch the film upon its UK theatrical release in March. For the time being though I am going to go away and read something else as I want to savour this trilogy despite my urge to simply burn through all three books!

Score 9/10

(*) THE DESCENT ****½

UK: Neil Marshall, 2005

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(*) STARGATE: DIRECTOR'S CUT ***½

France/USA: Roland Emmerich, 1994

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DVD COLLECTION ??

Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible - Series 1

Director: Matt Lipsey
DVD Release: 4/8/2003
Region: 2 (UK)
Label: 2 Entertain Video

JENNIFER'S BODY ***

USA: Karyn Kusama, 2009

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NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST ****

USA: Peter Sollett, 2008

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X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE **½

USA: Gavin Hood, 2009

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DARK WHISPERS IN MY EAR

I used the rest of my i-Tunes voucher today by picking up the audio book of Susan Hill's chiller THE WOMAN IN BLACK.

(*) STAR TREK ****

USA/Germany: J. J. Abrams, 2009

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TALKING BOOKS

Having been given a voucher for i-Tunes over Christmas I thought I'd use it to pick-up an audio book. I went for Harlan Coben's TELL NO ONE.

BURTON ON BURTON

Finished my first book of 2010 and it was the revised edition of BURTON ON BURTON from the Faber and Faber Directors series.

Whilst I can't claim to be the biggest fan of Tim Burton, I did plough through this career length interview and have now got an interest in seeking out more of his work.

Score: 7/10

MY TOP 10 FILMS OF 2009

This list is based on the films I saw from Jan 1st to Dec 31st in 2009. The only criteria I adhered to is that the films must have been released theatrically or straight to DVD in the UK during 2009.

1. UP (dir. Pete Docter and Bob Peterson)
2. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (dir. Tomas Alfredson)
3. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (dir. Danny Boyle)
4. DISTRICT 9 (dir. Neill Blomkamp)
5. AVATAR (dir. James Cameron)
6. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (dir. David Fincher)
7. FROST/NIXON (dir. Ron Howard)
8. TRICK 'R TREAT (dir. Michael Dougherty)
9. BOLT (dir. Byron Howard and Chris Williams)
10. WATCHMEN (dir. Zack Snyder)

Honourable mentions must go to the following films that could quite easily of found themselves in my list: TRANSSIBERIAN, TIMECRIMES, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, MARTYRS, THE HURT LOCKER, THE READER, STAR TREK, AWAY WE GO, STATE OF PLAY and TERMINATOR SALVATION.

Other notable works I enjoyed watching at the cinema this year were the Halloween re-release of AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, the natural history documentaries UNDER THE SEA 3-D [IMAX], PLANET EARTH: SHALLOW SEAS 4-D EXPERIENCE [SEA LIFE 4-D] and on the small screen, the darkly gripping television mini-series the RED RIDING TRILOGY.

I should also point out I've yet to see critically acclaimed films such as ANTICHRIST, BROKEN EMBRACES, THE CLASS, CORALINE, AN EDUCATION, MESRINE, A SERIOUS MAN, SUNSHINE CLEANING, THIRST and THE WHITE RIBBON.

As for worst films of the year, I didn't really hate any of the new releases I saw in 2009 but then again I never saw TRANSFORMERS 2: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN. From the 45-odd films I did see from among the UK new releases in 2009, I was left most disappointed by the likes of RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, THE INTERNATIONAL and THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES. However, this is mainly due to the fact I had allowed my expectations to be raised based on positive reviews, leaving me subsequently disappointed by these, in my opinion, decidedly average films. If I had to identify one film as my 'worst' then it would have to be Frank Henenlotter's BAD BIOLOGY which came out on DVD in 2009 following a limited release at festivals. Whilst I acknowledge this film is meant to be an offensive, deranged, cult oddity from the filmmaker behind BASKET CASE, it is quite simply awful.