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This weekend doesn't have too bad of a line-up. There's defs something for everyone. There's enough romance for us gals and enough action testosterone driven movies for the boys. Both J-Lo and Nic Cage will be starring in two movies showing this weekend J-Lo in Enough and Monster-in-Law and Cage in Matchstick Men and Face/Off. Sunday's line-up totally rocks - not sure what to watch and what to record. My absolutely have to see movie of the week: Face/Off.
THURSDAY, 28 AUGUST 2008
e-tv 20:00 Enough (***)
Starring: Jennifer Lopez Bill Campbell Tessa Allen Juliette Lewis Dan Futterman
Director: Michael Apted
I’m not sure why the critics slashed this movie to pieces as I quite liked it. It has a decent storyline to keep you interested with enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. I would defs recommend it.
Synopsis
An abused woman discovers that the dream man she married isn't who she thought he was. She and her daughter try to escape (aided by her previous boyfriend, played by Futterman), but he pursues her relentlessly. Fearing also for the safety of her daughter, she decides that there's only one way out of the marriage: kill him.
Trivia
The fighting technique learned by Slim is Krav Maga ("contact combat") the Israeli self defense technique.
The role played by Jennifer Lopez was originally intended for Sandra Bullock.
FRIDAY, 29 AUGUST 2008
SABC1 22:00 Exit Wounds (***)
Starring: Steven Seagal DMX Isaiah Washington Jill Hennessy Eva Mendes
Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Oh boy, here we go again – another SS movie, but having said that, this one is defs one of his better ones. It has a good storyline with enough action and suspense to keep the testosterone levels up and on the edge of your seat.
Synopsis
Orin Boyd is a Detroit cop who doesn't follow rules. After he saved the Vice President by violating every order he received he is transferred to one of the worst precincts in the city. There he quickly encounters some corrupt cops selling heroin to drug dealers. The problem is, it's very difficult to tell who is the bad guy and who you can trust.
Trivia
Steven Seagal hurt his knee during the car-jump-scene but kept shooting the movie.
During filming in Hamilton, a van was being towed along a street upside-down as part of a chase scene; stuntman Chris Lamon and another man were supposed to roll safely out, but Lamon apparently struck his head, and died six days later. Todd Schroeder suffered a concussion in the same incident. The scene was re-shot with the van moving slower and the stuntmen placed differently.
SABC3 20:00 Love Actually
Starring: Colin Firth, Sienna Guillory, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Keira Knightley
Director: Richard Curtis
Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England
e-tv 20:00 Volcano (***)
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Anne Heche, Gaby Hoffmann, Don Cheadle,
Director: Mick Jackson
This is a decent action movie with a decent storyline which I enjoyed thoroughly, the critics will defs disagree with me. I’ve seen far worse actions, so this one is just perfect for a Friday night.
Synopsis
After a seemingly minor earthquake one night in Los Angeles, a giant burst of lava is released from the La Brea Tar Pits, resulting in the birth of a new volcano under the city. City officials are reluctant to believe scientists who notice the early warning signs (the temperature of a lake rises 6 degrees in 12 hours) but they learn their lesson when lava begins to spill out into the streets and to destroy buildings and cars. Dedicated Emergency Management director Mike Roark rushes to the rescue, with help from a plucky seismologist.
Trivia
The ash was made mostly of ground newspaper.
Most of the fire trucks used in the movie were made by the Crown Corporation, a fire apparatus maker now closed down. The Crown fire trucks in the movie can be easily recognized by the double-vertical headlights.
e-tv 22:20 Species II (***)
Starring: Michael Madsen, Natasha Henstridge, Marg Helgenberger, Mykelti Williamson
Director: Peter Medak
Sorry guys, I double checked if this is not maybe a mistake, but alas it’s not. I can’t believe that they’ll schedule the same movie twice in a week in the same timeslot nogal, so I’m just going to repeat what I said last week. It’s not as good as the original, but it is watchable. It has a decent storyline with some amaing special effects – shame they really thought they could lock her up – obviously they never heard of the word ‘lust’ and what it could do to people ;-).
Synopsis
Mykelti Williamson and Justin Lazard are a pair of astronauts who make the first successful manned mission to Mars. Lazard's character gets infected by an alien and slowly begins to mutate. When they get back to Earth all he has on his mind is to have sex with Henstridge!
M-Net 20:30 300
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Vincent Regan
Director: Zack Snyder
I can’t wait for this movie as, believe it or not, I haven’t seen it yet. Not sure why, but anyhow, this is defs on my schedule to watch.
Synopsis
In 480 BC, the radiates ultimate pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his best fellow Spartans into an ancient epic battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. And their only hope is to neutralize the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes, at the narrow strait of Thermopylae. While in Sparta, Queen Gorgo attempts to rally support for her husband. But facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy.
My picks of today: Volcano, Exit Wounds
Movies that might be worth watching: Love Actually, 300
SATURDAY, 30 AUGUST
SABC1 22:00 Clara’s Heart
Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Ontkean, Kathleen Quinlan, Neil Patrick Harris,
Director: Robert Mulligan
David is a teenager whose parents are in a deteriorating marriage after their infant daughter dies. Clara is a chambermaid at a Jamaican resort who's hired to be a housekeeper. She and David develop a close bond, opening his eyes and heart to new experiences, and eventually leading to a disturbing secret in Clara's past.
SABC2 20:00 Something’s Gotta Give (****)
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Amanda Peet, Frances McDormand
Director: Nancy Meyers
I just loved this movie. It’s extremely funny and enjoyable and with a cast like JN and DK how can you go wrong? I’d highly recommend this movie.
Synopsis
Harry Sanborn (Nicholson) is an aged music industry exec with a fondness for younger women like Marin (Peet), his latest trophy girlfriend. Things get a little awkward when Harry suffers a heart attack at the home of Marin's mother Erica (Keaton). Left in the care of Erica and his doctor (Reeves), a love triangle starts to take shape.
Trivia
Twentieth Century Fox declined making the film citing that the leads were too old.
Jack Nicholson actually sings the song "La Vie En Rose" during the ending credits.
SABC3 20:00 Matchstick Men
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman, Bruce Altman
Director: Ridley Scott
This movie is defs on my schedule to watch as I haven’t seen it yet.
Synopsis
A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly
SABC3 22:15 China Moon (***)
Starring: Ed Harris, Madeleine Stowe, Charles Dance, Benicio Del Toro
Director: John Bailey
This is a good murder/mystery/drama which is defs worth the watch.
Synopsis
Detective Kyle Bodine falls for Rachel Munro who is trapped in a violent marriage. After shooting her husband, Kyle reluctantly agrees to help hide the body, but Kyle's partner is showing an unusual flair for finding clues.
e-tv 20:00 The Medallion (***)
Starring: Jackie Chan, Lee Evans, Claire Forlani, Julian Sands, John Rhys-Davies
Director: Gordon Chan
It’s a Jackie Chan movie, so expect lots of unthinkable stunts, light hearted action combined with fun and a decent storyline. It’t not a bad movie, but it’s not good either ie watchable if you don’t want to use your braincells.
Synopsis
Eddie, an indomitable Hong Kong cop, is transformed into an immortal warrior with superhuman powers after a fatal accident involving a mysterious medallion. Eddie enlists the help of British Interpol agent Nicole to determine the secret of the medallion and face down the evil Snakehead who wants to use its magical powers for his own nefarious plans.
Trivia
According to tour guides at Dublin Castle in Ireland, Jackie Chan hopped onto the throne during filming of The Medallion (2003). This made him the first person to sit on the throne since King George V.
e-tv 21:50 The Tailor of Panama (**1/2)
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Radcliffe
Director: John Boorman
If memory serves me right, I think PB made this movie just after James Bond. I really expected more (maybe my expectations were too high), but this movie is terribly boring but it is worth a watch if you can sit through it. If you look at the cast you wouldn’t say that.
Synopsis
John LeCarre's spy thriller is brought to the big screen. A British spy is banished to Panama after having an affair with an ambassador's mistress. Once there he makes connection with a local tailor with a nefarious past and connections to all of the top political and gangster figures in Panama. The tailor also has a wife, who works for the Panamanian president and a huge debt. The mission is to learn what the President intends to do with the Panama Canal. But what the two do is concoct a tremendous fictional tale about former mercenaries who are ready to topple the current government and are willing to work with Britain and the US to do so.
Trivia
Daniel Radcliffe's feature film debut.
M-Net 20:30 Monster-in-Law (***)
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes, Adam Scott, Monet Mazur
Director: Robert Luketic
I loved this movie. It’s a cute, funny romcom with some heartfelt moments. Wanda is absolutely brilliant, she’s hilarious in all her scenes.
Synopsis
The love life of Charlotte is reduced to an endless string of disastrous blind dates, until she meets the perfect man, Kevin. Unfortunately, his merciless mother will do anything to destroy their relationship.
Trivia
Mark Ruffalo was originally offered the male lead, but declined.
Jane Fonda's first film in 15 years.
All of the photos of Viola Fields on her table with famous people are real pictures of Jane Fonda with Oprah Winfrey, Ted Turner, Jon Voight and Gloria Steinem. The only "doctored" item is the cover of Time Magazine, which Fonda was set to appear on the cover of, however the Pope's Death in 2005 took the headline and subsequently, the cover.
M-net 22:15 In & Out (***)
Starring: Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Tom Selleck, Matt Dillon Debbie Reynolds
Director: Frank Oz
This is quite a good movie – I didn’t think it was that funny, but it has a good story which will keep you entertained right until the end.
Synopsis
A mid-western teacher questions his sexuality after a former student makes a comment about him at the Academy Awards.
Trivia
The Oscar statuette used in the film is 'Kevin Kline (I)''s. He won it in 1988 for Best Supporting Actor in A Fish Called Wanda
Matt Dillon's outing of his teacher in his acceptance speech is based upon Tom Hanks' real-life acceptance speech at The 66th Annual Academy Awards (1994) (TV) for his Oscar for Philadelphia (1993), in which he thanked a gay teacher.
SUNDAY, 31 AUGUST
SABC1 20:00 The Negotiator (***½)
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, Ron Rifkin, Paul Giamatti
Director: F. Gary Gray
This is a good drama/action/suspense movie. It has a good storyline combined with good acting performances both from SLJ and KS. When they ‘share’ the screen together you know you are in greatness.
Synopsis
In the midst of an elaborate conspiracy, an expert negotiator is driven to the edge when he's framed for the murder of his partner, as well as embezzling money from his department's pension fund. His only chance to prove his innocence is to take hostages himself, acquire the services of another expert negotiator, and find out who's running the conspiracy before it's too late.
Trivia
The movie was originally written to star Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Spacey. Spacey was supposed to be the hostage-taker and Stallone playing opposite him. When Stallone turned down the part, Spacey decided he wanted the other part and had his original part recast. (Samuel L. Jackson got the role.)
SABC3 21:00 Deep Blue Sea (***)
Starring: Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J, Michael Rapaport, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Renny Harlin
Not sure why the critics slashed this movie to pieces. If you can get your mind around the far fetchedness of this movie, then you’ll enjoy it. It’s a decent action, with enough suspense combined with humour to keep you on the edge of your seat right until the end.
Synopsis
Searching for a cure to Alzheimer's disease a group of scientists on an isolated research facility become the bait as a trio of intelligent sharks fight back.
Trivia
The seaplane used in this film is the same one used in Six Days Seven Nights (1998).
The orange colored mini-sub visible in the wet-entry area was the same mini-sub seen in the end of Sphere (1998), also starring Samuel L. Jackson.
e-tv 20:00 Face/Off (****)
Starring: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola, Gina Gershon, Dominique Swain
Director: John Woo
This movie is by far my favourite action movie of all time. I must have seen this movie a gazillion times but still just can’t get enough of JT and NC – they are absolutely brilliant in this movie and to put the cherry on top John Woo’s the director. What more can a gal ask for. I just can’t get enough of “ooooeeee you good lookin’ “ or “I’m ready for the big time baby”. It has some amazing special/visual effects, cool stunts and a storyline filled with suspense that will put you on a rollercoaster ride right until the end.
Synopsis
Sean Archer has been chasing Castor Troy to avenge his son's death by the hands of the psychotic terrorist for six years. Now that he killed Castor, Sean must find a biological bomb by assuming the identity of Castor Troy by taking his face and being brought in prison. But Troy, who awakes from his coma, takes Archer's face in order to take revenge on him. Now, Troy turns Archer's life upside down by assuming his identity. Will Archer break free from his prison and get his face back, or will Troy have the last laugh?
Trivia
The choir in one of the scenes is a non-profit charity choir based in LA.
Originally Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were in mind to play the lead roles, but when John Woo was brought in to direct, he decided that John Travolta and Nicolas Cage would be more suited to the roles.
The scene of Adam listening to "Over the Rainbow" on his portable headphones was John Woo's idea and not part of the original script. Touchstone Pictures refused to finance the extra scene and John Woo had to use his own money to make that happen. He was later paid back as the film turned out to be profitable.
M-Net 20:00 Fracture (****)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davidtz
Director: Gregory Hoblit
This is one of the best psychological suspense thrillers I’ve seen in a long time. AH is just plain scary as the cold hearted, meticulous Ted Crawford – he gave me chills down my spine. I’d highly recommend watching it if you haven’t seen it yet.
Synopsis
Ted Crawford shoots his unfaithful wife, confesses to the police - orally and in writing - but then pleads not guilty and opts to defend himself in court. The young DA assigned to the case, Willy Beachum, has had a successful career with a 97% conviction rate. Beachum however is actually on his way to a lucrative position in a big private law firm, but his desire to win keeps him on the case. What ensues is a battle of wits between the two as Crawford systematically destroys his opponents case.
Trivia
After the arraigning judge refers to Willy Beachum as 007 he sleeps with Nikki Gardner. Rosamund Pike who played Nikki also portrayed Miranda Frost in Die Another Day (2002). In that movie Miranda slept with 007.
My Picks for Today: Face/Off, Fracture , The Negotiator
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