Sin City: A town in which ‘the unexpected’ happens to be the status quo. The truly all-star cast in this surreal, cartoonish depiction of a super-violent underworld brings the whole thing to life. Sin City translates enjoyably twisted storylines from the 2d graphic novel format, to an artistic collage of blood, guns and mayhem. The darkness, starkness, and harshness provide the backdrop for characters such as Mickey Rourke’s ‘Marv’ who’s the top one for me: “I’ll stare the bastard in the face as he screams to God, and I’ll laugh harder when he whimpers like a baby. And when his eyes go dead, the hell I send him to will seem like heaven after what I’ve done to him.” And that’s just one of many lines that tries to take your mind into the dark and sinful nature of us all. Quentin Tarantino assisted with the directing, so my only negative is why there wasn’t his trademark, fantastic soundtrack to go with everything else.

Kung-Fu Hustle is very suprisingly, the best all-round film i have watched since Kill Bill. Of course it has excellent action - including some uniquely spectacular moves. Of course it has a mythical story of the small guys fighting the big guys. But what marks this fly-kicking extravaganza apart from the rest is that it’s laugh-out-loud funny. Also, maybe it was just me, but the underlying exploration of Kung-Fu philosophy was beneficially deep. This film has everything. It is easily one of my favourite all-time movies, and even trumps The Matrix for ‘moments of wow!’ The visuals are splendid and the soundtrack - especially in the Harp scene - is amazing. I need more of this.

Favourite line: “You may know kung fu…but you’re still a fairy”

I’m not sure whether this is Quentin Tarantino’s (what a cool name!) unofficial blog or not, but if it is, i’ve a few questions to ask:

Dear Quentin Tarantino,

One question that popped into my head, as soon as i had watched the fantastic Kill Bill vol 1 was: Did you create a feminist fantasy world deliberately, as a rebuttal to your critics, and/or to show that regardless of main character’s gender, Tarantino still makes kick-ass classics?

A lady friend studied film & production at University, and along with many other people who know you no better than i do, was always criticising you for being a misogynist. I figure talented male directors will always get that a la Hitchcock, Kubrick, Stone, Scorsese - as Oliver Stone said in an interview with the Guardian a couple of years ago: He’s been called everything but a film maker. As with the Passion of Christ recently, it seems if people don’t like the message they prefer to shoot the messenger rather than remember it’s poetry/art. Anyway, i digressed!

My final question is sort of related to the first one: Was ‘Kill Bill’ - from the conception of the story - about strong women, or did that come about due to a “Now THIS would be a cool idea…” moment that metamorphosed the story? If it was the latter, did it come from Uma or yourself?

Finally, just to let you know (as if you didn’t already) Kill Bill was like a glass of water to a thirsty man. It revitalised the creative, fairytale-loving kid in me and i am very grateful. Keep the drinks flowing barman…

Regards,

nosa

Bill Murray is magnificent in this tenderly shot comedy, primarily situated in and around a swanky, Tokyo hotel. As Bob Harris, his interactions with the equally brilliant Scarlett Johansson are only bettered by his i-can’t-understand-a-word-you-are-saying face. The semi-sexual (or is that pseudo-platonic?) story of an actor in mid-life crisis and an introspective young wife, both exploring their identities in the Orient, is bound to be one of my better film experiences for the year. The soundtrack is brilliant and the cinematography sublime. The BAFTA’s (or British Academy Awards as they now seem to be known) were definitely deserved. And the Oscar’s will be too - you heard it here first…

…do you? Check out the Kill Bill 2 trailer.

Life’s funny.
To a kid, time always drags.
Suddenly you’re fifty.
All that’s left of your childhood fits in a rusty box.

Doesn’t this excerpt from the beginning of “Way of the Gun” make you want to go out and buy 10 copies(?)

Bar Patron: Hey, hey. Yeah you, get up. What are you retarded, get off the fucking car.

Raving Bitch: Hey dickless get off the fucking car. Hey fuck suck get your slippery fucking ass of the car. Listen to me, get off the fucking car with your fucking ass.

Parker: Shut that cunts mouth or I’ll come over there and fuck-start her head.

Raving Bitch: You’re gonna wish you never got up this fucking morning asshole, because my boyfriend’s gonna fuck you up, and then after that while he’s fucking up your fucking gay uncle over there I’m gonna cut off your cock and mail it to your mother. You fucking faggot bitch. You gaylord fucking bitch. How do you like that? You like that a lot you fucking faggot? You like to ass fuck? Fontanella fucking baby head. You like to fuck baby head?

Bar Patron: Go ahead

Raving Bitch: You like to fuck boys. He’s gonna fuck you in the ass, how do you like that he’s not even gay but he’ll do it just…

Bar Patron: Honey honey. She’s got a big mouth but she’s not kidding. I’m gonna whip you silly and I’m gonna fuck you stupid. You wanna do the man dance? First dance is yours.

No? What if i told you that the loud/foul-mouthed ‘Raving Bitch’ recieves the most delicious slap…

Tarentino is back…with my favourite of all his films. Maybe due to his conspicuous absence, but either way, watching Uma as ‘The Bride’ in Kill Bill was one of the most enjoyable films since…Battle Royale the week before…but you get my drift. Tarantino is the Kubrick of my generation, meaning when he makes an image…I understand and recognise it. Talk of writer’s block must make him chuckle, as KB also contains one of the best crafted storylines that have been around this year. Can’t wait for the sequel/2nd-half…

Play “What Film?” with the concise film review guys.

Here are some to whet your appetite (hover over link for answer):

Quick brown Fox jumps
Math genius mops up
Poet sings, prostitute dies

Finally…for those who haven’t got one correct yet:

Smith shadow’s boxer

Actually…i’m quite enjoying this…i think i’ll make it a regular occurence…