Dan’s DVDS

This page is dedicated to the top films of 2006 as decided by me…

CARS

Every now and then a film is made that just makes me go ‘wow’. Cars was that film for me last year. I saw it the day before my birthday, not a coincidence, but something I had planned weeks in advance. A couple of things originally drew me to this film, first the amazing animation and I mean amazing. Without a doubt the best Disney Pixar film yet graphically and otherwise. The scene where they race around the bowl at the start looks quite simply breathtaking. The 2nd thing which drew me into the film was the Black Eyed Peas song ‘Pump It’ which played on the trailer- one of my favourite songs of last year.

The main character is Lightening McQueen , voiced by Owen Wilson, a race car that thinks he has it all and winning is everything. The film is about his trials and troubles which help convince him that above all friendship is more important than anything else. The animation is so clever, everything is constructed with cars, cities, towns, every background character looks fantastic and it is this attention to detail that makes this film that little bit special.

It’s safe to say it’s brought out the kid in me again, I want a Cars everything- my girlfriend bought me the Lightning McQueen stuffed toy and the PSP game! The amount of money they must have made from merchandise of this film must be massive.

In short- go watch it there is no was you will be disappointed. I rate this film 6/5

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SNAKES ON A PLANE

This film was one the most unexpected and best cinema experiences I have ever had. When I saw it advertised, like many people I laughed as the plot sounded so stupid. I mean the plot is the title. Then I got past that, and thought actuall this could be entertaining.

Entertainment, is exactly what it is. It won’t win any Oscars but it will keep you laughing and on the edge of your seat more than any film will all year. I made the snap decision to go see it on a Sunday night last summer at the Vue in Finchley and I loved it, as did everybody else in the cinema. The star turn was without a doubt Samuel Jackson who without him, this movie would probably have flopped, but he brings stardom and credibility to it. “I’ve had it with these motherfuckin snakes on this motherfuckin plane!”

The other star performance is Kenan from Kenan and Kel, he is absolutely hilarious and just cracks me up, he has a great role in the film and is awesome I hope he gets some more film roles. The snakes are damn scary and some of them which were computer generated were absolutely massive! Definitely the funniest film of last summer.

When you watch it, don’t expect anything plot-wise, just expect snakes on a plane, thats all. Then you will love this and be entertained the whole movie I guarantee. I rate this movie 5/5

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MIAMI VICE

I love the old Miami Vice, to when I heard there was a modern version coming out I was very excited to say the elast. But i was also nervous that they may mess it up if they don’t do it right. Overall my thoughts on the movie were that it was good, but could have been a lot better but at the same time i loved it. The theme Jay Z and Linkin Park is awesome and was made for this movie, stylish yet dangerous you could say. Onto the castings, whoever stepped into the role of Don Johnson to play Crockett had pretty big shoes to fill, and when i heard Colin Farell was to do it I wasn’t entirely convince but i’m glad to say he looked quality and had a certain edge about him. Jamie Foxx though stole the show as Tubbs, just a shame they made Crockett the centre of the story when it really should have been more equal especially considering Foxx’s ability.

Fortunately it was directed the ‘the man’ Michael mann who directed the TV series, he kept a lot of the production style the same, music at the right times, clever camera shots, and its bright, edgy and glamourous all at the same time. When I first saw the trailer it looked really weird because I was so used to the original, but I don’t know what I expected, after all this is set in 2006 not 1984. Stylistically I would say they got it spot on.

Whats not so good is the length, it probably drags out in the middle for about half an hour longer than they should have. Also the story isn’t particularly clever either. They could have done a lot more with it given the scope they had but instead they went for the usual police vs drug dealers more or less the exact same plot as in Bad Boys II an action comedy. I feel this film had so much potential but they just never quite realised it. No doubt they were under pressure to get it right, and they seemed to choose getting the style spot on over getting the plot spot on, which is fair enough when your imitating such a successful show. I was gripped though during it, i do recommend everyone see’s it, it was the most stylish film of last summer, some of the camera shots in the final shootout are amazing. Also in true Miami Vice style to main bad guy seems to slip the net.

I rate this movie 4/5