Haywire - Just far too slow paced, pretty poor acting considering the decent cast assembled. Avoid.

Man on a Ledge - Similar kind of film to Phonebooth but much better on pretty much every level. Good to see Jamie Bell getting decent roles in Hollywood. Worth a look if thrillers are your kind of thing.

Anyone interested in going to see Star Wars, The Phantom Menace? 3D?

There are so many things wrong with that statement. I might go see it if I can just play £2 and watch the pod racing scene, then leave.

Really? I love The Phantom Menace, & all the Star wars films...

Saw 'Chronicle' yesterday......Wasn't expecting very much, but was actually a good film.

Nice twist on the whole 'superhero/superpowers' set-up and was well filmed and acted.

There potentially 50 one hour tv episodes to get through if he ever gets round to it..

Anyone seen The Help?
Brilliant, brilliant film. Some great acting performances from quite a few people involved. Really hope it picks up some of the bigger accolades (it's already gotten a few smaller ones).

I [ialmost[/i agree. But here's the thing. The movie business has no loyalty and long-term thinking is mostly out of the question. Leaving aside the issue of whether Stone planned a trilogy from the start or chose to make further installments during or shortly after [iPlatoon[/i neither he, nor the studios, could - in any way - guarantee such being filmed before or during the production of [iPlatoon[/i.

Consider George Lucas and [iStar Wars[/i. He may claim he always intented to make three or six or even nine [iStar Wars[/i movies (there's considerable debate over this) - but the fact is there wasn't a studio in Hollywood that was prepared to green-light [iThe Empire Strikes Back[/i before [iStar Wars[/i was released. Indeed, many - including Lucas' closest friends - were skeptical [iStar Wars[/i would make a penny.

So, given that there was every likelihood Oliver Stone wouldn't or couldn't make sequels to [iPlatoon [/i he should have addressed the issues I raised in [iPlatoon[/i. Even if only in some modest way which he could explore further - given the opportunity - in future instalments.

George Lucas got lucky with Star Wars. The timing was right and against all odds he managed to come up with a reasonable story (I have heard stuff about what he originally intended and it's cringeworthy straight to VHS crud that would have been laughed at if anyone could remember it).
It made money and that allowed other creative heavywheights to make major contributions to Empire and Return (although nobody seemed capable of preventing the Ewoks). He also didn't direct the sequals.
No question, the three films were/are entertaining, but they are kids films that adults can enjoy as well - we're not talking Citizen Kane here.
Everything, and I mean everything, Lucas has done since has proved he got really lucky with Star Wars. The rest of his creative output is truly diabolical and I really believe the guy has compeltely lost grip on reality. I watched him on the Daily Show when I was in the US talking about the film he's just made about the Tuskegee airman (previously only known as comedy waxworks in Night at the Museum 2). His interview had even Jon Stewart lost for words at one point when he actually stated that this film was the only all black cast ever in a Hollywood movie. The interesting thing about the film was that it was advertised on TV relentlessly while I was over there - in the beginning it was "a historical epic about a group of forgotten airmen who won the war (yes, they won WW2)", a week later the orchestral music was replaced by a rap soundtrack and the trailers resembled Bad Boyz 2 f*** up the Luftwaffe -yo b!tche$!

He's a sad, chinless billionaire merchandising expert who unfortunately keeps making 2 hour excrutiating cartoon adverts for his toys.

But what do I really think?

Can't disagree. I'm a fan of Star Wars but I can't stand Lucas. I'm glad you didn't mention Willow or his involvment in the last Indianna Jones film.

Saw the Sam Mendes [iRevolutionary Road[/i tother night and thought it was interesting. Winslett was excellent (and I'd love too) but I do find it difficult to take Di Caprio seriously in a grown-up, adult role.

I really liked that film, enjoyed both leads. De Caprio has matured in the last 5 years and will hopefully only get better.


On the Star Wars films, I adored the original trilogy and even tolerated the more recent three films, to an extent. However I won't be going to the cinema again to see them, I don't see there is anything to gain.

I saw The Woman in Black last night and it was quite enjoyable. A good British Chiller that had all the Hammer hallmarks. Plot Line was a little predictable and could have avoided the gushy ending but genuinely creepy and jumpy in parts.

....and I'm a child of the 70s and part of the Star Wars generation and agree entirely with all the comments about Lucas.

How much more can he try and tart up the same films on different formats. We loved the characters from the originals, not the surround sound or the THX.