Film Reviews and other stuff

I know, i know! where the hell have i been? Just been plain lazy when it comes to updating my blog. Can’t really say i’ve been busy, because i haven’t. I have been drinking a lot lately and just 3 days ago i hit the 4th decade on this earth—yup i’m 30! How did it feel? no difference from 29 really. Got a party planned for a few weeks time and kind of nervous about people turning up and there being space and what to do etc etc.So in the last few weeks i’ve seen 2 films, but other than that i’ve not been that regularly as i would like to. I’ve also decided to quit the gym to concentrate on my exam studies and am surprised that i’m actually getting into it. sad, eh?!

So the films are:

Saw 3
Premise: Like the other films. This final chapter (allegedly) involves inventive ways to kill people very gruesomely created by the serial killer Jigsaw. In this 3rd film, more people are trapped and killed, Jigsaw and his accomplice have another agenda too.

Verdict: This film is SO GORY! one particular death machine is freakin’ horrible. I think this film tops Saw 2 and is as good as Saw 1. It also explains alot of inconsistencies with the earlier films.

Rating: 8/10

Borat
Premise: Based on the character created by Sascha Baren Cohen from the TV show, comes a potentially political, often very funny and offensive film, with one of the dodgiest fights you’ve seen in ages. Basically Borat goes to U S and A to learn about their culture and take back any teachings to Khazakstan. Some pieces of the film appear staged, but for the most it is basically Borat interviewing and offending Americans and getting them to say stuff they would not normally willingly say.

Verdict: I thought it was a bit hit and miss, though i tend to not like comedies the 1st time round and need to see it again later. It seems to be half documentary-half fiction plus a dollop of offensive comedy. I’m surprised this has done well in America as it basically takes the piss out of them unashamedly.

Verdict: 7/10

I have seen some rental DVD’s with my flatmate recently though. The 1st was the Jennifer Aniston chick flick “Friends with money” which was boring and the Nick Cage “comedy”- “The Weatherman” which was plain depressing and not funny at all.

OK what else to say? hmmm? can’t think, got to do some dictations and maybe some more studying.

I’ll try and write a bit sooner next time!

Time flies…

In less than 7 weeks time, I will start my 2nd job as an F2 (SHO) in Cardiology. Wow! the time has really flown by, and then i will be back into hospital medicine once again! Previously I understood i would be doing a respiratory post under a locum consultant, but now i am actually due to start cardiology under a potentially difficult boss. Hope it works out ok.

i’ve booked myself onto a 2 day course in early december called the manchester study day. It aims to develop ones knowledge and skills in the management of acutely ill patients. I’m kind of looking forward to it, especially now that i know i’m doing cardio next!

last week, we were given more info wrt job applications for ST1 posts. i’m worried i won’t get the type of job i’d like as there is so much competition, and all my peers are as good as if not better than me. I’ve also spoken to many senior doctors that have changed career because of numerous reasons. We have to be sure in Jan 2007 what job we’re doing for the rest of our lives or we could end up unhappy. No wonder loads of docs are buggering off abroad!

Ok, enough work chat. So what else has happened since my man ‘flu “trauma”?

Well i have moved back to Leam, where i have previously lived as a med student and 1st year doc. I’m living in a very nice flat ’slap bang’ in the hear of the town with a final year PhD student whom i met through a flatshare site. She seems quite cool and sane at the moment!

My car is much the same—nice, but bloody slow in it’s acceleration. I considered looking a 2nd hand cars e.g. Golf, etc, but have now decided to leave it for at least ST1 training level, when hopefully i have more dosh.

What else? at the moment now, i am busily watching 2 dvd sets that i have borrowed of my F1. They are ‘Boston Legal’—a quirky, semi serious drama in the mould of ‘Ally MacBeal’ and incidently by the same writer, starring William Shatner and James Spader, and various gorgeous looking actresses. The other dvd set is ‘Due South series 1′ which is interesting and quirky, but not as good as BL.

I’ll try and write a bit more regularly, but nothing really exciting happens in Psych or i’m just too damn lazy and/or knackered to write about my life at the mo’.

Laters dudes!

DVD Review- "Teachers"

I am in the process of doing a Teachers DVD marathon. I love this series and am revisiting it, on DVD, after having a ‘This Life’ marathon, which i loved and made me reminise about the old days, before uni. God, I’m old!

I am currently through the 3rd series, where Andrew Lincoln’s character, Simon, returns and it’s almost like the classic 1st series again.

Currently i am a bit pissed, it’s 5.30pm and i’m drinking to get rid off, some of the whisky in our house, and found the ‘Ex is Hex’ episode absolutely hysterical again. Jeez, I’m pissed!

It’s a shame that Channel 4 has decided not to make anymore episodes of Teachers. Apparently series 4 was not well received when it was initially broadcast, but i watched it and thought it was funnier than series 3. It’s a shame.After watching the ‘This Life’ DVD I checked the internet and apparently the BBC has decided to make a 10th anniversary edition to tie up all the loose ends—i am so looking forward to it!

Double Film Review- "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" and "Superman Returns"

Once again, I’ve been lazy with writing my reviews. Guess that will change when i start work again in less than 2 weeks, and thus i won’t have time to think or blog, or tirelessly watch dvd’s in marathon sessions like this week so far!

Anyway, last week I watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and this week I saw Superman Returns.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Premise: The sequel to the original which was quite cool and enjoyable pirate flick. The story involves Davy Jones and the further adventures of Jack Sparrow, Keira and Orlando and the human versions of R2D2 and C3PO.

Verdict: It was quite enjoyable, but i might have to see it again to be sure.

Nowadays, my expectations for films are so high, i never like a film the 1st time around, or it could be that i had seen the hype for the film before it came out.

To be honest the film is too long— at least a half hour could have been chopped out and it would have been much better. There were some cool stuff, such as the 3 way fight scene and all the comedy stuff with the R2D2/C3PO clones. Davy Jones was quite cool too, i thought he looked like Bill Nighy, though my sister didn’t think so, though she thought the film was better than the 1st. I’m not sure, yet. The 3rd film, probably called “POTC: At World’s End” will be out next next Summer. I’ll re-evaluate the 2nd film after watching the 3rd one.

Rating: 7/10 (let’s just wait and see what the next film is like!)

Superman Returns

Premise: Superman has been away for 5 years looking for Krypton and has returned back to Earth. That’s it!

Verdict: It was OK, but not brilliant.

The film uses Superman 1 & 2 as a foundation, and ignores 3 & 4. But I reckon Bryan Singer should have done what Batman Begins did, and restart the franchise all over again with a new origin story. The makers of this film assume the youth of today can be arsed to watch Superman 1 & 2 on dvd and then watch this film—i don’t reckon they would!

Moving on. There are some cool action scenes— a cool ‘plane about to crash, Hollywood is not thinking 9/11 anymore’ scene and some other stuff. There are many bits that hark back to the old films, such as using John Williams classic score and some scenes that also resemble the old films, especially the ending itself.

Rating: 7/10 (OK, not amazing, not shit)