Wildly Anticipated

More info is finally leaking onto the interwebs about Spike Jonze's forthcoming adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are. It seems to have been in development forever, and there have been concerns that Jonze has had to fight the studio to be able to get his particular vision on the screen. Adapting a much loved book is always going to be tricky ( and WTWTA is one of the most perfectly crafted Children's books of all time, part of the childhood's of generaion after generation) let alone one that consists of less text than the average cereal packet. However I always felt if anyone could pull it off, it was Spike Jonze. Check out these pictures that appeared on Slashfilm, and I suspect you'll agree with me. It looks as if it could be something akin to a live-action My Neighbour Totoro, and believe me my friends, praise doens't come higher than that. Can't wait!

I watched the Watchmen

So, Watchmen came out, opened big but then negative word-of-mouth seemed to set in and caused a big drop-off and that's likely to be even bigger on the second weekend. It seems largely that the mainstream audience(non-fans of the book) hate it but fans of the source material are divided. Some love it, some hate it but everyone seems to have an opinion.

As for me? Normally I emerge from a cinema, blinking into the light my opinion fully formed- I will turn to my viewing companion and declare "that was awesome!"", "that was awful" or "that was OK". After Watchmen, I just didn't know. Both the 'for' and 'against' columns had plenty of entries. For everything that was done really well, another thing really annoyed me. A real blend of the 'ace' and the 'arse' Now, having had time to mull it over and hear the opinions of others, I have come to realize that the things that i enjoyed generally come directly from the source material, whereas the things I hated were largely down to Snyder- the way he directs violence really rubs me the wrong way.

At the end of the day though it was far from the disaster I feared. The film is a genuine love-letter to the book, and many of the little details are just perfect. It is one of the most faithful adaptations of any material ever, arguably to the point where it's impenetrable to those unfamiliar with the material. It's made by a director with all the subtlety of a breeze block, but you can't fault him for commitment. When it's released on DVD (and shiny shiny Blu-ray) I'll watch it again and maybe I'll be able to forgive the things that annoyed me so much.

For the curious here's a (completely inexhaustive ) round up of the good and the bad (in my opinion)
Ace: set designs, the performances of Rorschach, Night Owl, the Comedian and Dr Manhattan, most of the soundtrack, the opening titles, the effects (mostly), all the little references for the fans

Arse: the action, the slow-mo, the new ending, the performances of Ozymandias, the guy who plays Nixon and most of the bit-parts, Ozy's pet cat-thing, the virtually pornographic depiction of violence, the rest of the soundtrack and that sex scene.

Will I watch Watchmen?

I'm so conflicted about the upcoming release of Watchmen. A lot of movie fans online are reacting like it's the second coming (the first presumably being The Dark Knight) but I'm not so sure. I wasn't eagerly anticipating it as I had never read the graphic novel and I hate the previous films of the Director Zak Snyder (300 and the Dawn Of The Dead remake). I've now read the comic, and it is indeed very good and if you watch the trailer having read the book it's undoubtedly very impressive. However I'm a long way from convinced that Snyder can direct a film with such an intricate plot and so much dialogue. Not only that but if the action is too 300-style with over use of slow-mo and other annoying techniques, then I will be annoyed. Some early word has suggested it's actually too faithful to the book.

Then again that trailer does look deeply cool. So, Mr Snyder I am prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt. Whether I can bring myself to risk seeing it at the cinema remains to be seen.

There are no Crimes behind enemy lines

Fans of Quentin Tarantino, prepare to soil yourselves. For the day has arrived- the teaser trailer for Inglorious Basterds QT's much-talked up WWII movie- is here. And it is aweeeeesome. Most eagerly awaited live-action film of 2009 hands down.


Watch it here

Dod gud.

I love zombies, obviously. You should know that by now. So naturally I am looking forward to Dead Snow (aka 'DOD SNO') the first zombie movie that I know of to hail from....um... Norway. two words for you; Zombie Nazis. If you're not sold instantly, there's no hope for you. Even though the English trailer reveals these are running zombies ( a pet peeve of the true Zombie enthusiast) my enthusiasm cannot be dampened. The tagline? "Ein.... Zwei.... Die!" Pure genius. Cannot wait.

Ha ha ha ha ha....

...Ha Ha ha de ha!!! This is the sound of my laughing at all the fanboys crying into their Batman mouse mats because The Dark Knight didn't get nominated for best Picture at the Oscars. Well duh. I enjoyed the film, don't get me wrong. I thought it was awesome first time I saw it, admittedly the impact decreased on the second viewing. However some people seriously overreacted to the film. Anytime anybody dare criticise it, they were shot down in flames. Anyone who spoke out was accused of just doing it to try and stand out.

So basically people- relax and just get over it. You've got the film you wanted and be happy with that. It's already made a fortune and mainly positive records. But some people just quite like it, and that's OK. Hell- some people don't like it at all. That's their opinion. It doesn't make them wrong. Now it's time to move on. Look to the films of the future and enjoy speculating about (the inevitable) Batman 3 (then probably bitch about it when it comes out).

More to the point, I never thought it would get nominated. at the end of the day it's a comic book movie. And there's nothing wrong with that, but it's not the kind of film that wins Oscars. Anyone who thinks it should be rewarded simply because it broke box office records is also missing the point. The people who are now claiming that "The Oscars are over!" following this 'snub' are probably the kind of people who wouldn't be interested normally anyway. So when the results don't match their personal views, they have a tantrum. Well news flash- all awards are based on the opinions of others. And sometimes they won't match your own. That's the way it is. Anyway... everyone knows Wall-E should have been up for best picture. And that's not my opinion. That's a FACT!

Full list of nominations here

ice ice baby....

Regardless of what you think of the finished films (and I enjoy them personally) you'd have to be missing some vital organs not to enjoy the teaser trailers for the Ice Age movies. Featuring the lovable and unlucky saber-tooth squirrel Scrat, the trailers stand alone as animated shorts that bring to mind the classic Chuck Jones old school of animation. My point here being that the Ice Age 3 trailer is now online, and you should watch it. It's a hoot. Link

toon times

If you wanted proof of how animation is becoming more important in Hollywood, then you might look to the number of live-action directors are getting involved. Last week John Boorman, best known for directing Deliverance released information on his first foray into the medium, a new CG adaptation of the Wizard Of Oz. It's occurred to me before that an animated version of that particular book could work, so I'm looking forward to finding out more. It's going to be more faithful to the book than the old musical version and the concept art is just gorgeous, so consider me thoroughly interested.

Meanwhile, Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy 2 director Guillermo Del Toro will be writing and producing a dark stop-motion take on Pinocchio (he'll be too busy with the Hobbit to direct) and Danny Boyle (28 Days Later director) has just co-founded an animation studio named Treat studios. It's certainly an interesting time to be an animation fan.

Panda Power

The general noise from critics about Kung-Fu Panda was that it was surprisingly good. Personally I was won over as soon as I heard the title, but then I am basically an overgrown kid. I finally got to see it this week (on beautiful shiny Blu-ray) and I loved it. Unless something unexpected happens, I expect it to battle Wall-E for the best animated film Oscar next year (and most probably lose). Gorgeous as it looks though, my favourite thing about it is the beautifully stylish 2d animated segments that open and close the film. I personally could have watched a whole film like that, but unfortunately that would have been too risky a prospect for the studio. Thank god Pixar have insisted that Disney bring back 2d animations. Maybe if they succeed, it will see other studios following.

Everybody loves a bit of Bondage.

The new James Bond flick Quantum Of Solace opened first here in the UK last Friday, so I've seen it before the majority of my readers (who hail mainly from the US of A) will have had a chance to. You've likely seen the trailer and I can confirm that despite some indifference form the critics, this movie kicks substantial amounts of arse. Daniel Craig has now completely made the role his own, easily putting him up with Connery as the best of the Bonds to date. What makes the new rebooted Bonds even more interesting is how they balance the classic elements you expect from Bond while bringing it up to date and making it more relevant. Basically, I recommend QOS without hesitation- it's quite ridiculously exciting and I can't wait to watch it again.

I'm clearly not the only one who thinks so because Quantum broke all box-office records here in the UK, scooping the highest ever opening day on Friday with a massive £4 million (about $8 million US). Bond is obviously a British icon and 007 fever has swept the nation. Just as an interesting comparison it has made almost as much* as High School Musical 3 already despite having been out half the time and HSM being a big hit with the kiddies. It'll be interesting to see how it fares when is opens Stateside in a couple of weeks.


* This is only going on the weekend-so it may have surpassed it by now!

Fear(s) of The Dark is an animated anthology based around a horror theme, that has come out of nowhere to suddenly be one of my most eagerly awaited movies of the rest of the year. It's due a UK cinema release in the next couple of weeks, but probably on a very limited release, so it may not come anywhere near me. Fear(s) consists of a number of sequences animated by different directors in different styles, and it looks ace. I like anthologies, and it's really refreshing to see a non-anime animation for adults that isn't a comedy. Thanks to more than a decade of The Simpsons, South Park and other shows, I think that only the really closed-minded still believes that animation is a medium only for children, but the idea that animation can tackle more than the funny? It's an area where the Japanese are streets ahead, but here in the west (or more accurately the English speaking world) this is the next barrier for art of animation to overcome.

You can see the trailer for Fear(s)..... here

The Master of animation returns..... and no I don't mean me!

I was surprised to find out the new film by animation Master, Hayao Miyazaki has just been released in Japan. I knew it was coming, but I hadn't realised it would be so soon. Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea is the latest production from the Spirited Away director has unsurprisingly opened an number 1 in the box office charts. Now it has been released it has instantly become my most wanted film and I am impatiently awaiting the release of the English language version of the film. Even though I know next to nothing about it- I haven't seen a clip or more than about two pictures from the movie. But Miyazaki made it- so it will be excellent, of this there can be no doubt!

George Romero, the director of the classic Dead trilogy (and the not classic but fun Land Of the Dead) has returned with a new zombie film that is arriving on Region 2 DVD (and shiny Blu-ray) this week. As a zombie fan, I had to check it out. Not a sequel to the earlier films (despite the name), this one goes back to the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse (the sequels to Night Of The Living Dead all take place some time after the event) but shows in through the eyes (well cameras) of some film students- yep it's a zombie flick Cloverfield style (although they were almost certainly in development at the same time, so it's no rip-off). Much as it pains me to say so, unfortunately George Romero's Diary Of the Dead is a dud. Yes dear reader, it fails in almost every respect- the acting is awful, the 'scares' aren't scary, and while it's interesting seeing the Don Of The Dead trying to keep things fresh, the overall effect is like watching your Dad dance at a wedding*. It would be a great shame if this proved to be his last Dead film. Here's hoping he'll make at least one more that will be able to stand up next to the classics. But based on the evidence here, I'm not holding my breath.



*not my dad, your dad

It's not fashionable to like M. Night Shyamalan. Pretty much from Unbreakable on, it's been the done thing for crtics and audiences alike to call him a one-trick pony, complain about his love of twist-endings and mock him for his apparent arrogance. But while he does seem to be rather full of himself (and he needs to stop writing himself roles into his films) I have to say that I've always rated his films. The Sixth Sense is a classic, Unbreakable is underrated, and despite being flawed I was still impressed by Signs and The Village. I am even one of only about seven people on earth who actually rate Lady In The Water. So I'm pretty eager to see his new flick The Happening which is now in cinemas. It'll probably flop, as most people seem to have made up their mind before seeing it (or even knowing anything about it) but I saw the 'Red Band' (uncut) Trailer today and to be honest it creeped me out. When a trailer makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up ( and only a trailer!) then it promises a pretty spooky film. It's just a shame most people probably won't even give it a second look.


EDIT// Upon watching the film, I TAKE IT ALL BACK! This film is a masterpiece.... OF SUCK! Avoid it like the plague!

Film buffs and collectors the world over are like asking themselves the same question. Now the pesky High Definition Format War is over, is it time to upgrade to Blu-ray? For most people it's probably worth waiting a little longer. For starters, if you don't have an HD compatible TV there's no point, as you wont be able to watch films in HD anyway. If it's time to get a new TV then it's worth getting one with HD compatibility, but if you don't have one already then buying a new set, as well as a Blu-ray player is going to set you back loads of money. Which brings me to the next point- you won't find many BR players below £250, meaning that the most economical way of getting Blu-ray is currently to get a PS3 (as it's a similar price, and also lets you play the latest games). The discs are mightily expensive too, whereas DVD's have really gone down in price. BR players play DVD's too (and up scaled on HDTV's making them look better than ever), so there's no real need to rebuy your collection (unless you're a real film geek who has to have the best of everything). In time, both hardware and discs will go down in price, so the sensible option is really to wait. But then again, they do look awesome. Watching something like Sweeney Todd in HD is fantastic and you really can see the difference. So should you upgrade yet? Common sense would say probably not. But my inner Film Geek and Gadget Freak would say... "Hell yeah!" It's completely unnecessary, but boy is it pretty!

The summer blockbuster season may have kicked off with Iron Man, but for most people the main event is Indy 4 (who said Sex and the City? Get out of my sight!) which is out this week! I'm getting the impression that crictial word isn't exactly great but I'm trying to avoid any reveiws. the thing is that for months I was convinced it was a bad idea, I may have even blogged on it. But then I saw the trailer and the hype started, and I got all excited. I can't help but wonder if I'm heading for a big disappointment. Not sure when I'll be able to see it, either. But know this- if it sucks, George Lucas I'm holding you personally responsible!

In case you haven't heard Gremlins are back! Not in the long-awaited (but non existant) Gremlins 3, but in a UK tv commercial for British Telecom. What's more they're the original rubbery 80's/early 90's version not some rubbishy CG update. Even features the original theme music. Just makes me pine for what could have been- surely a third movie would have made mucho moolah! For those who haven't seen the ad you can check it out here. And if you think that's odd, the legendary Jackie Chan has cropped up on British TV's in adverts for Woolworths.

Could this be the best movie Title ever? Brüno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable In The Presence Of A Gay Foreigner In A Mesh T-Shirt. It's the next film from Borat genius Sacha Baron Cohen, in case you don't know. Check this linky out for more info....

If you're even slightly interested in Japanese animation, or indeed cult cinema in general, chances are you have seen the classic 1988 movie Akira. The interweb is abuzz once again, as for about the third time plans are afoot to make a live-action Hollywood adaptation. This time however the plans are to turn the somewhat epic multiple-volume comic series that spawned the movie into two movies, one of which may hit screens as early as next year. Although in theory this sounds better than previous adaptations (one of which was to be helmed by Stephen Norrington, director of two of the worst films of all time Blade, and The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen) but it's still a bad idea. I've always been sceptical about attempts to bring this film to live action- the action will be moved from Neo Tokyo to 'New Manhattan', and rumours suggest Leonardo DiCaprio may play the lead Kaneda (note to casting directors: he's waaay too old to be playing a teenager). It's too early to get too worried though.As I said before, this is at least the third attempt to bring this adaptation to the big screen, so who's to say that this time will be any more successful? This is one of those projects which seems to be permanently stuck in development hell. Fingers crossed that it remains there.

I was pleased to see Beowulf open in the US at number one in the box office. Not in this occasion because I think it looks good (although I do) but more as to what it represents. If Hollywood thinks there is a market for animation that is aimed at an adult audience and covers more adult themes (although sadly Beowulf was apparently turned from an original intended R-rating to a PG-13) then hopefully we'll see more. As an animation lover, I want to see animation films that tackle stories more challenging than a delightful caper about a talking squirrel. At least every once in a while. However as a cynic I do think that the days of seeing this happen in mainstream Hollywood are a long way off, if indeed they ever happen at all. Anyway I look forward to getting to check it out for myself. As a side note there's been debate over whether Beowulf should be allowed to compete for the Best Animated Film Oscar, as some people don't think it's really animation. Well it sure doesn't look like live-action to me!

Only about six months behind every other blogger on the block, but I can finally report my opinion of the third Pirates flick (having finally seen it). A lot of people really slated it (maybe even more than the first sequel) but I wasn't going to let that cloud my judgement.

However I have to say, that as with Spiderman 3, I enjoyed it and don't get quite why it received such a pounding. It's probably because the original film (Curse Of The Black Pearl) was so universally loved- that it couldn't live up to the expectations. If you didn't see number 3 on the big screen then I say go rent it, don't listen to the cynics. Admittedly the sequels have tried to introduce an overall epic mythology to the saga that seems a bit unnecessary, and as usual Orlando Bloom is a charisma vacuum but still- ignore the flaws and it's an undemanding Brain-off popcorn flick. (Some people have claimed At Worlds End is comfusing and tough to follow, but it really didn't seem that way to me. Perhaps those people are a bit 'special'). Naturally Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow is the most memorable part of the film- but it's a close-run thing between him and the monkey- who has a much bigger part this time around. You probably shouldn't watch it if you thought number two was rubbish though- this ain't gonna change your mind.

This week I got round to seeing Death Proof- Quentin Tarantino's half of the would-be double-bill Grindhouse. Infamously, after it tanked at the box-office stateside, it was cruelly torn apart and released separately outside of the US (and on DVD in America), provoking a lot of complaining from cinephiles across the world, put out that they missed out n the chance to see the full deal because the American audience didn't seem to get it. However in some ways I was only too happy to watch QT's half on it's own- partly because I personally prefer Tarantino to Robert Rodriguez (director of the other half), but partly because if these films exist in extended full cuts then that's the way I want to see them first. And so, on impulse I resorted to importing the US DVD, while it was still playing on the big screen over here.

And I'm glad I did. It's another great flick from the King Of Nerds, and really quite and unusual concoction that stands up perfectly well on it's own. The car chases are exhilarating and it's very funny. The little quirks in the editing and filming techniques (designed to emulate old style exploitation cinema) is the icing on the cake. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, this is really worth a watch. Having now seen the trailer for RR's Grindhouse feature Planet Terror, I'm going to have to buy that now too. It looks like a riot, and it's a zombie movie, so I don't really think I have a choice....

Pretty high up the list of 'things that I never thought I'd see' would be a Hollywood re-make of the Japanese cult movie Battle Royale. However while checking out some trailers online earlier, I saw a list of 'Future Films'- and there, to my surprise sat the US version of that very film. Surely this had to be a joke?

But there's no doubt, It's listed on IMDB as in development and everything! On closer investigation I learned that work on the remake had been cast into doubt by the tragic real-life events at Virgina Tech. For the uninitiated, the plot sees a class of 15 year old high-school kids, dumped on an island, given weapons and told to kill each other dead, as some kind of far-out way of dealing with juvenile delinquency. You might wonder why they don't just refuse but if they don't cooperate (or try to escape) they have the explosive collars they've all been fitted with detonated. It sounds pretty sick, but it's actually a pretty smart movie that actually manages to actually provide a fairly accurate portrayal of teenagers (apart from all the killing). Considering the touchy nature of the subject, the original movie's never actually been released in America- what chance does a remake stand of getting past the development stage- unless it's so watered down so as to be unrecognisable. Not that that would be any great surprise, given the 'quality' of earlier Hollywood remakes of Japanese flicks.

But ignoring all that if you get the chance, check out the original but whatver you do give the sequel a miss- it's so bad the original director died halfway through production, just to get out of it....

Hitting UK cinemas this week is Run Fatboy Run , a film that I'm chomping at the bit to see, but which bizarrely I wasn't even aware of little more than a month ago. It's particularly bizarre because not only do I like to keep on top of what films are coming out ( I read movie magazines and websites avidly) but also it stars and is co written by Hot Fuzz and Shaun Of The Dead star Simon Pegg. So how it managed to stay under my radar until I saw the trailer in front of The Simpsons Movie, is beyond me. It's a bit of an odd thing- it's set in London and features a largely British cast but is directed by David Schwimmer (a.k.a. Ross from Friends). But it looks like a hoot and it stars Pegg, ace comedian Dylan Moran and Hank Azaria who voices about half of the cast in The Simpsons. So it's sure to be worth a look, hopefully I'll be able to update you soon!

While I'm here- watch out for changes here at Monkey Pirate Zombie- some of which will affect this very blog.... but in a good way, promise! Watch this space...

Animation fans should check out the trailer for Beowulf- it looks like it's going to be worth seeing. I became intrigued by the idea when I discovered that Robert Zemeckis was producing this as his third CG motion-capture effort in a row- following the saccharine Polar Express and the utterly ace Monster House. I was certainly interested to see them tackle a more dramatic, serious story. Then I found out my favourite author the god-like Neil Gaiman was writing the script.. and my anticipation glands went into overdrive. And the trailer gives plenty of other reasons to check it out- the excellent Brit actor Ray Winston gets a rare leading role, and there's even a flash of cgi booby in the international trailer- you sure don't get that from Pixar! In all seriousness, it's great to see someone using animation to tell a more grown-up story as we in the west are almost completely lacking in quality animation for adults (outside of the usual comedies). There's so much more potential in animation than merely fart jokes and swearing (although those things are great, obviously). Anyway take a look-see at the trailer here.

P.S.- if you need another reason to watch it- it has a dragon in it. Has to be good right? (Lets just ignore Eragon, Dungeons and Dragons, Reign of Fire and the other countless bad movies with dragons in... )

And so, for me at least summer blockbuster season is over for another year. There's no other big flicks that need to be seen on a big screen as far as I can see in the immediate future. The Bourne franchise bores me, so no Ultimatum for me, and much as the Rush Hour movies may be a guilty pleasure for me, I can't imagine I won't be able to wait until the 3rd one shows up on DVD. And how did this years efforts shape up. Firstly I have to confess I actually managed to miss out on Pirates 3, and I've already made clear my feeling on Spidey (and I'm sticking by it!). Which leads me to my main point.. The Simpsons Movie! There was never any doubt really in my mind that it would deliver, but that didn't stop it being a joy behind. If you've held out because you don't think you need to see on a big screen, or you're one of those types who insists the Simpsons has lost it's spark, I urge you to go see it. You won't be disappointed, and it's a unique opportunity to see the characters on a big screen, surrounded by people of all ages laughing and enjoying themselves. What with this, Spider-man 3 and Transformers, my DVD shelf is going to need to be reinforced come Christmas time..

Spare a thought for the poor peeps in charge of promoting Evan Almighty in the UK. As if the tide (more watery puns coming up) of negative publicity about it's colossal budget and tiny box-office gross wasn't bad enough... the damp squib flood-based comedy arrives in a country which is half still under water after record breaking rainfall and flooding. Well good luck there guys, bet it'll go down a storm!

It's about a week now until the Simpsons Movie finally hits cinemas. I'm so keen to see it, that it just about edges out Transformers as my most eargerly awaited film of the moment. It's really cool the way they've managed to keep plot points secret and I can't wait to see what they have in store. I'm not one of those people who insist the Simpsons has lost it. It's still the funniest and smartest adult animation to come out of the US, and anyone who 's thinking 'Family Guy' should be ashamed of themselves... Homer's still the Daddy! I have faith that the team won't let me down, in fact don't be surprised if this turns out to be the family's finest hour!

Brilliant UK animation studio Aardman Animations has recently come clean on their current slate of titles- the first I've heard since they announced a distribution deal with Sony. Mixing their traditional claymation style with Flushed Away-style CG, we can look forward to a selection of tiles, including a (non Wallace and Gromit) new film from the genius Nick Park. Although mentioned in the announcement as almost an afterthought, I was particularly excited by the prospect of Aardman co-founder Peter Lord's project- Pirates! Not just for the obvious reasons either- it's based by on a series of books by Gideon Defoe- once of which was the ace comedic novel Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists, a book I greatly enjoyed. In fact a couple of times I found myself thinking "this would make an awesome movie!". The fact that it'll be animated, and by one of the World's greatest animation studios (Part of the 'Holy trinity' that also includes Pixar and Japan's Studio Ghibli), well that's just icing on the cake. It would have been really expensive to make live action, that's for sure!

In other animation news the Web's greatest animator Weebl (aka Jonti Picking, Creator of Weebl and Bob) has got a doozy of a commission, creating animation for Seasame Steet! Well done Weebl! I've thought for a long time global stardom (beyond the web) beckoned for him, and it looks like it's on it's way. Why not celebrate by watching his latest strange creation Cat Face? He's got a big Cat Face dont you know?

With the 3rd film hitting cinemas this very week, I decided time was right to rewatch the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie. This was the first time I watched it since my initial cinema viewing, nigh upon a year ago- I guess maybe the negative press might have has some effect. But I don't care what anyone says, I really enjoyed it second time round; without the big expectations I just appreciated it for what it was- a big fun popcorn movie made into something more by Johnny Depp's fantastic performance. And it features a genuine monkey pirate zombie! I expect number 3 will be more of the same, but doubtless the critics are already sharpening their knives!

I just don't get it. Why when something gets popular as is well regarded, why do people have to turn on it and start slagging it off? It happens all the time and we're seeing it again with Spider-Man 3 which is being slated in some quarters. And why? Largely the comic book fans (who have been largely pleased with the franchise thus far) are whingeing because some things are changed from the comic books. To them I say get over it, movies are different from comics and have different requirements to make things work. Don't forget there's a lot of people who never read the comics (myself included) for who the movies are spider-man and the film makers had responsibility to those people as well. Just enjoy the comics as comics, and the movies as movies in their own right. The other criticisms are mainly that they cram too much and that there are lot of plot-holes and unrealistic parts. Personally I think they did a great job to squeeze 3 villains into the film. And as for plot-holes and the like? When you're watching a film about a man who can do whatever a spider can, you're on shaky ground if you start saying things are unrealistic. Well duh. Its' escapism pure and simple. In case you couldn't guess I though the film was awesome. The action is truly phenomenal and the skill with which the Peter Parker sections are handled are what separate it from lesser super-franchises. So don't let what anyone else says put you off. It get the full Mopizo recommendation.( Five Monkeys) And if you disagree, you're entitled to your opinion (even if it's wrong).

Following the end of the deal with Dreamworks, Aardman animation have signed a 3 year deal with Sony to distribute their films. For fans it doesn't matter who is distributing the flicks, as long as A) they give them a decent release and (more importantly) B) they don't interfere with the way they do things. Seeing as Aardman a savvy bunch and could probably pick and choose who they did business with, I'm confident they would have gone for the best option.

Speaking of Aardman, the studio's first forray into CGI animation hit DVD in the UK this week. Having feared the worse I finally saw Aardman's Flushed Away. Despite being made on computer rather than by claymation, it holds on to the studio's trademark charm and wit. Some people weren't exactly bowled over by it, but it's my pick of 2006's bumper crop of animated movies. Aardman on an off day is still better than anything else out there. Besides, any movie with Jean Reno playing a frog (called Le Frog) can't be bad right? Sir Ian Mackellen puts in a stonking performance as the bad guy (bad toad?) too. Can't wait to see what Aardman does next.

Over the past few days a certain situation keeps arising. I find myself surrounded by people discussing the movie 300 in somewhat reverential tones. When I mention that I have not seen it and have no intention to do so I am met with stares and cries like I've just admitted than on occasion I rather like eating babies. Am I the only male in the land who doesn't want to see it? The trailer left me completely cold and there's nothing about it that appeals to me. So there. And while we're at it I didn't like Sin City either (although that did have have an awesome trailer), another admittance that makes me a Pariah in some circles.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theatres has launched it's offical website. Check it out if only to see the awesome picture (that presumably they are going to be using for the poster) showing the team rendered in a proper movie poster stylee. And the new trailer is up there too.

A new animated project is underway. Not part of any existing series, it'll be a surprise when it's done. More details soonish. In other news, have you seen the first full length trailer for the Simpsons movie? Very exciting!

Hot Fuzz, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg's follow up to Shaun Of The Dead (and my most eagerly anticipated film of the last year) is making serious moolah at cinemas here in the UK. And it's only fair as it's a thoroughly fantastic flick. Whereas Shaun managed to be both hugely funny and a successful horror film (people who think it's a parody are missing the point) Hot Fuzz does the same for the explosive action police buddy movie.... and relocates it to the sleepy English countryside. Some reviews said it was too long, but in fact the huge build up to the ridiculously action packed climax only goes to make it more satisfying . And until then it's a who's-who of UK acting and comedy talent, all brilliantly filmed in Wright's fantastic style. It all goes to show there's more to the UK film industry than rom-coms and period dramas. It'll be interesting to see how it'll travel, but US audiences will get the chance to see when it hits there next month.