Knocked Up in Munich....

It's actually the other way around. In my opinion one of the funniest Apatow productions is Knocked Up. I bought it the other day and realised that the first time I saw it, I had missed a very funny link to a recent 'peach' by Spielberg....Munich. The guys discuss how it was great to see the Jews kicking ass back. And if anyone gets laid tonight it's because of Eric Bana. Absolute Genious....please watch and enjoy. It got me thinking about Munich and low and behold it was on BBC 2 last night. What a movie. And based on true events too. I just loved the realism in the bombings and the gun shots, there was no Hollywood crap it was absolute genious movie making. I also need to give a shout out to Janusz Kaminski (Spielbergs Director of Photography), since Schindler's List this guy has been working alongside the master and gives the movies even more to enjoy. Thank you Janusz...you're a genious too.

And by the way, RIP John Hughes.

Next Saturday Night We're Sending You.....

After a back and forth discussion on the latest Indy movie. I felt it necessary to look at another Trilogy with Spielberg's name on it....BACK TO THE FUTURE. Ok he didn't direct it but if it wasn't for him....'we never would've fallen in love'...I mean it wouldn't have been made. Kudos to the Bobs for writing and directing it, tho. I'll never forget the moment I was in the cinema and realised....HE'S SITTING NEXT TO HIS DAD....NO WAY!!!! Everybody wants to travel thru time and these guys totally made it possible. Thank you BOB's & STEVE.

What are your memories of BTTF? And what did you make of the sequels?

DISCUSS INDY - VERY DANGEROUS.....YOU GO FIRST

It's been a wee while since I've posted anything - sorry. I gave my brother a loan of the Indy 'Trilogy' note the quotes there as it's no longer a trilogy. One of the greastest Trilogies of all time....agreed? Agreed! Then almost 20 years later, possibly the most anticipated comeback of all time...excluding Episode 1 (but we'll get to that soon) and I'll never forget it. I was so disappointed. I felt like crying. There were a couple of bits that made me go 'YES INDY'S back!'. Like when Indy sees Marion, his face changes in the best way. Or later when Mutt throws him the snake to get out if the quicksand. I did like that. And I have to say the bit with the hat at the end was pretty good. But all in all I was pretty distraught. They had completely changed the rules about Indy, eg Starting with a story that has nothing to do with the main body of the film, but linked somehow. I always felt like I was one step ahead and it didn't seem like Michael Kahn had edited it. And.....ALIENS? Is Indy not about ancient artifacts and in the ground? Not Spacemen. Sorry George I mean Inter Dimensional Beings. WHAT? DEMENTIAL YOU MEAN. I bought the DVD anyway as you do, and discovered that (no surprise) it was all George Lucas' idea. Don't get me wrong, I love the man, he changed my life. But he did short change us with Star Wars I, II & III. Now Indy. Spielberg was done with it and said he definately didn't want to do aliens. Sadly, even tho there were a couple of funnies in this one, I kinda wish they'd just said.....'NAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Let's not make this pile of Crap!'. Sorry Guys.

Watch this and then rent or buy and enjoy!!!!

Gibson on Spielberg

I don't know if any of you picked up last months 20th Anniversary of Empire Magazine edited by Steven Spielberg. There was a section with pictures of actors in there best loved roles e.g. Jodie Foster on a chair & Sir Anthony Hopkins behind glass. It was a great article. Well there one shot of Mel Gibson (pictured left looking slightly like a combination of George Lucas & Francis Ford Coppola) wearing a normal suit with half of face painted blue. Obviously from Braveheart...well as he was interviewed he talked about his early memories of Spielberg's work, his first being Duel and him being extremely impressed with it. He then talked about Empire of the Sun and his admiration of this amazing film. He added that he never understood how it never received the respect it should have. And he's totally right I watched Empire of the Sun the other night.That film is amazing, friends believe me. As the young Christian Bale played in the defunkt bomber I imagined Spielberg loving that scene, 'cause he loves that era and those planes. Watch Empire of the Sun folks - you will enjoy it and Christian Bale is brilliant in it opposite some big names, John Malkovich (also flippin' brilliant) to name but one. Also quite unexpectatedly a young Ben Stiller makes a couple of brief appearances.

Back to our man Mel....I wonder if Spielberg was annoyed with Gibson for making The Passion of the Christ. Obviously Spielberg is a Jew and Gibson a Catholic. Gibson came under some attack from the Jewish community for making that movie. Does anybody know if Steven and Mel are buddies? I know some people have produced letters allegedly written by Spielberg to Gibson, but quite frankly I don't believe it. I think it would be awesome to see these guys work together.

The MAN can make mistakes too!!!!

Not that I watched Duel to pick out the mistakes Spielberg makes during a shoot (which are very few by the way), but I did watch the making of Duel before I watched the film the other night and Spielberg points out where he was sitting in the back seat of the car in one shot (depending on your aspect ratio mind you). This was a relief as a few weeks back while making a short film we noticed the boom in shot in the final edit (again depending on your aspect ratio). i also noticed during Duel while Dennis Weaver sits in the cafe the camera creeps round towards him and there is a mega shadow cast from the camera in the seat in front of Weaver. These things being noted.....what a first movie....even if it was for TV. It was brilliant, the tension was incredible, the acting was outstanding and what's more the directing was phenomenal. I loved it. And like at the end of Jaws I was so relieved that the truck took the plunge. It has to be noted that this film took 13 DAYS to film. Outstanding Mr Spielberg....next Sugarland Express!!!!!

This weekend at some point I'm going to watch Duel and get back to you with a review.