Movie: Invictus

I'm not usually a big fan of rugby. Or rugby films. But of course, this movie, which details the 1995 Rugby World Cup, is not a rugby movie. It is a movie about one of the most inspiring and impressive human being ever; Nelson Mandela.

Matt Damon has the role of the rugby captain of the national team, and in a scene of the movie, he asks how it is possible to be locked into a small cell for 30 years, and come out with a mind of forgiveness.

Although the rugby parts of the movie is a bit confusing at least, the movie works. It does of course have a good director (Clint Eastwood) and star actors. And some of the amazement from Mandela's story rubs off on the movie...

Invictus (2009)

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Funny Quotes of the Week 104

"I think people should be free to engage in any sexual practices they choose; they should draw the line at goats though." (Elton John)

"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it." (Oscar Wilde)

"I'm glad I'm not bisexual. I couldn't stand being rejected by men as well as women." (Bernard Manning)

Movie: Rio Bravo

"Rio Bravo" is in a way the ultimate western. It is the story of one single sheriff (with a few underdog helpers) who faces the full force of a criminal gang that want have control of the small town. John Chance (John Wayne) has arrested a murderer belonging to this guy, and must just hope to survive until the federal marshalls arrive to restore order.

The actors are brilliant in this movie and it is quite nice to sit down and watch a movie where you don't have to be concerned with figuring out why people do the things they do - here, they simply either are good or they are evil. Simple as that.

Of course, that's also part of the problem for me. I tend to dislike cowboys-and-indians-movies as I tend to support the Indians over the cowboys. Here, the good-and-bad division does not have racial undertones, luckily, but still its overly simplistic.

But it's good fun, anyway...

Rio Bravo (1959)

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Funny Quotes of the Week 103

"My best birth control now is just to leave the lights on." (Joan Rivers)

"There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up." (Oscar Wilde)

"If you cannot say what you are going to say in twenty minutes, you ought to go away and write a book about it." (Lord Bramazon)

Movie: Duck Soup

Movies age at different speeds. There are movies from the 1930s that still feel fresh today, and there are movies from the 1980s that seem like they're from another world completely. I've even seen a movie (the Norwegian movie Selkvinnen) which felt incredibly old when it was first screened, but which does not feel as bad 60 years on.

Duck Soup has aged unevenly. While most of the slapstick and story is quite embarrassing today, much of the word games is still wonderfully funny. It is also a very short film (66 minutes), which means that its perfectly okay to endure the story just to get to hear some of the dialogue. So even though it's certainly not a good movie in a general sense, it's still worth watching, especially for Groucho Marx' insults...

Duck Soup (1933)

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Movie: Knerten

Anne Cath. Vestly was the queen of Norwegian children's literature in the 1970s. I have no idea of how many of her books I read (or were read to me), although the number of her books still in the bookshelf at home, may give an idea.

"Lillebror" ("Little Brother") is the main character in one of her successful series of books. Lillebror's family moves from the city to the country, and leaves all of Lillebror's friends behind. But Lillebror finds "Knerten" is a pine twig, who can talk (although mainly to Lillebror). He becomes a very helpful figure in Lillebror's life, as he is trying to get to know new people in the new place.

This is a children's story, but it also has added humour for the adults. It is also very charming. And it is set in the 1960s or 1970s, and that's an added bonus. And the special effects are well handled.

I knew I had to see the movie, as the books were such a big part of my childhood. I didn't have high hopes, however. But this turned out to be a good adaptation of the books.

Knerten (2009)

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Funny Quotes of the Week 102

"What's the three words you never want to hear while making love? Honey, I'm home." (Ken Hammond)

"The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about." (Oscar Wilde)

"Sex is one of the most wholesome, beautiful and natural experiences that money can buy." (Steve Martin)

Movie: Le Fil

Malik is a Tunisian guy who returns to Tunis after living in France. He moves back in with his mother (played by Claudia Cardinale) and her "servant", Bilal. Malik is a handsome guy, Bilal is even more so, and this movie is screened at a gay film festival, so you may expect there to be a romance...

But Malik is planning to marry a (lesbian) colleague and to get a child.

So why the name of the movie (The String)? Because Malik has had this idea from childhood that there is a string stuck to him, and every evening he has to unwind it or he will be stuck in a big knot of string. Such an idea can certainly not be put into movie without a purpose - does it suggest that Malik doesn't want any attachment - that he is afraid to commit and that he would rather have one-time sex with guys he meet in the dark parts of town?

There is some thinking to do after seeing this movie. But it is also funny and with believable characters.

Le Fil (2009)

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Movie: Les Amours Imaginaires

"Heartbeats" and "Love, Imagined" are two English titles of this Canadian movie by Xavier Dolan. Xavier Dolan himself plays the role of Francis. His best friend is Marie (Monia Chokri). Together, they are reasonably happy but yearning for love. Along comes Nicolas (Niels Schneider), an unbelievable beautiful guy, full of charm, who wants to be friends with both of them. And they fall in love.

How does it feel going through life as a gorgeous guy? How do people react? What responsibility do you have for their behaviour, and what effect does your gorgeousness have on your relationships with others?

This movie makes me think of a very different movie; Death in Venice (Morte a Venezia), wherein Tadzio knows that he can get Gustav von Aschenbach to his knees (metaphorically speaking, no pun intended) just with a little smile. Of course, Tadzio can't resist the temptation to smile - and can we blame him? Should we?

Although not altogether pleasant, this is a very interesting movie.

Les Amours Imaginaires (2010)

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Funny Quotes of the Week 101

"You don't appreciate a lot of stuff in school until you get older. Little things like being spanked every day by a middle aged woman: Stuff you pay good money for in later life." (Emo Philips)

"The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself." (Oscar Wilde)

"The most terrifying words in the English langauge are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." (Ronald Reagan)

Movie: Newcastle

Let me start with what made me put up with watching the whole movie: it's a movie about a group of young, handsome guys who are surfing most of the movie, when they are not enjoying baths in the buff. Not only that, but they're even quite nice people some of them. The story about the two brothers who are trying to come to grips with their lives, is not entirely uninteresting.

But other than the skin and the beauty? Well, of course I shouldn't be too harsh, as I don't really understand all that it is said (they speak Australian). But to me, the story seems a bit simple. And I'm not in to surfing (as a sport). And I saw the movie on a PC screen. And the movie was edited for nudity and language. And although I don't hear myself saying this very often: didn't they take off their clothes a bit too often? As in: "sorry, we have no real story here, could you please undress a little"?

If you love surfing more than I do, maybe you'll even love the movie...

Newcastle (2008)

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Movie: War of the Worlds

HG Wells' legendary story has fascinated readers for more than a hundred years. It was an early example of science fiction, of disaster novels. It was great. At least compared to this movie.

I've seen a DVD cover with the blur "Steven Spielberg at his best" written on it. I do not agree. Spielberg has created great movies. This is not one of them.

So what's wrong with it? Nothing - particularly if you are easily entertained by things falling down or exploding for almost two hours. If you want something more out of a movie, I don't think you'll find it here. Okay, there is a little plot of a father desperately trying to find his children's mother so that they can all be a big, happy family again, but that's sort of unimportant.

Okay, I admit that I was tired when I saw this movie. I may even have fallen asleep once or twice. But I can't remember being all that tired before the movie started. Therefore, I sort of blame the movie for that as well...

If you don't want to listen to me - by all means try to enjoy the movie...

War of the Worlds (2005)

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