Man on Wire

Finally caught up with the doco from a couple of years back Man on Wire. It's the story of Frenchman Philippe Petit who walked a wire between the twin towers in 1974.

An amazing story - but kind of sad because the WTC is no longer there. In a way, that makes his feat all the more remarkable.

Movie Memorabilia

I am a movie merchandiser's dream.

What will you find in my spare room?  A plush Falkor from the Neverending Story, Wizard of Oz figurines, Sex and the City 2 cocktail shaker, Woody and Buzz from Toy Story, Mumble from Happy Feet, an Alice in Wonderland glass, Desperately Seeking Susan poster etc...etc...

C3PO takes a ride on Falkor the luck dragon

I can pinpoint when this started. My parents bought me some ET writing paper and a plush toy. My obsession probably grew with various fast food related movie tie-ins over the years ...

Of my faves is a replica Back to The Future Delorean from Universal Studios in Hollywood. Complete with flux capacitor. It's around 15cm long and only cost $15 (see below)

My Delorean and Victor from The Corpse Bride

My other treasured items include - an R2D2 beanbag from Star Wars, Delinquents cup, Jurassic Park dinosaurs and Madonna lobby cards.

The Chocolate Factory debate

When I was in primary school I saw Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory and absolutely loved it. I wanted a golden ticket. I wanted an everlasting gobstopper. I wanted an Oompa Loompa (gee I'm starting to sound like Veruca Salt)! The movie was utter magic. And it still is...

I must have seen it 50 times. My well worn VHS copy was replaced by the DVD a couple of years back - and I've seen it for sale on Blu ray so it's only a matter of time before I upgrade again... Even another repeat on TV is hard to pass up. Gene Wilder just draws you in...

So when I heard a remake was on the cards I was gobstopper-smacked! Why? Sure it was made in 1971 - but the story is timeless. It doesn't matter if Charlie Bucket is wearing flares. But then I heard Tim Burton was behind the update and I got excited. I'm a huge Burton fan and I thought if there's a director who can make the Chocolate Factory even more magical - it's him.

So in 2005 the all new Charlie & The Chocolate Factory was released starring Johnny Depp. I was skeptical about him filling Wonka's shoes. But it seemed a logical choice - Depp is a longtime Burton collaborator who specialises in oddball characters. I was also happy about Freddie Highmore playing Charlie. That is - until I saw it!!!

I can't quite put my finger on where the latter falls down. It just does. There's no wow factor. The factory is cold, spartan and uninviting. The Oompa Loompas are a tad evil at times. And Wonka is just creepy.

The 2005 movie is closer to the Roald Dahl book than the original - but it doesn't work for me. And the  majority of my friends agree...

Who can take a sunrise
Sprinkle it in dew
Cover it in chocolate
and a miracle or two?

Willy Wonka circa 1971

Hitchcock Immortalised

Alfred Hitchcock is about to take up permanent residency in Walthamstow in the UK - well a life size statue of him will this weekend.

He's one of my all time fave directors. And not just because he had a leading lady called Melanie!!! The Birds, Psycho and Rear Window are must haves in any movie collection.

Sofia Corleone

Congrats to Sofia Coppola - winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for Somewhere. 

 

But to me she'll always be Mary Corleone!

Plan 9

Plan 9 From Outer Space has been dubbed the worst movie of all time. A black and white horror flick starring a recently deceased Bela Lugosi made for just $60,000 in the late 1950s. So when I sat down over the weekend to watch it for the first time my expectations were pretty low.

But I was pleasantly surprised. Sure the headstones wobble in the graveyard, the flying saucers have visible strings attached and continuity is patchy - but it's not that bad. It was directed by the infamous Edward D Wood Jnr. He made movies on the cheap, rarely did more than one take and didn't bother too much with the little details.

If you see Plan 9 From Outer Space going out cheap on DVD...or it's being screened on a cable channel late at night - do yourself a favour!

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie may be better known for her tribe of kids and famous boyfriend than making movies - but she has made some brilliant films. Salt is the latest in a long line of great Angelina pictures. There's a reason she's won an Oscar - she's a bloody good actress.

My Angelina top 5

1.Girl Interrupted

2.Changeling

3.A Mighty Heart

4.Gia

5.Lara Croft 2