Mark Whitfield's NonStop Blog

Star Trek

2009-05-29T11:12:00.004+01:00

FILM:
Star Trek
DATE:
15 / 05 / 2009
TIME:
19:30pm
LOCATION:
PRINTWORKS, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
5.0
COMMENTS:
I must be getting old as I can't quite see why all the reviews are so flattering. It was far too frenetic and comedic for my liking with no real heart. I was a big fan of the original series and appreciate the tension that could be created inside of 50 minutes. I think it probably OK for a younger crowd but most people in this office thought it was lukewarm. Is it me or did everybody in this look like they were acting? Not even a decent soundtrack. What's all the fuss about? The best film since the Wrath of Khan? Please! Surely Galaxy Quest is the best film since Khan and actually more like the original series.

Watchmen

2009-03-18T10:30:00.001Z

FILM:
Watchmen
DATE:
15 / 03/ 2009
TIME:
16:15pm
LOCATION:
PRINTWORKS, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
8.5
COMMENTS:
Very much a super heroes movie for adults, this film is entertaining throughout. Like Ironman, it doesn't captivate with great set pieces like The Matrix but instead has interesting characters and watchable performances. I haven't read the comic so the film is my first insight into this Watchmen story.

Slumdog Millionaire

2009-03-18T10:28:00.003Z

FILM:
Slumdog Millionaire
DATE:
07 / 03 / 2009
TIME:
08:30pm
LOCATION:
Middlebrook, BOLTON
FILM (out of 10):
7
COMMENTS:
A reasonably entertaining movie but not necessarily one I could watch again and again. I think director was right to get an oscar given the location, the editing and extras involved inmaking the film.

Gran Torino

2009-03-18T10:22:00.003Z

FILM:
Gran Torino
DATE:
04 / 03 / 2009
TIME:
12:30pm
LOCATION:
Trafford Centre, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
7
COMMENTS:
Entertaining movie with a 'tip of the hat' to all previous Dirty Harry movies in terms of Clint's gestures and facial expressions. If this is a Swan Song then it is probably the most appropriate punctuation mark on the Clint film portfolio.

Yes Man - 21/12/2008

2008-12-31T14:34:00.001Z

FILM:
Yes Man
DATE:
21 / 12 / 2008
TIME:
16:50pm
LOCATION:
PRINTWORKS, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
7.5
COMMENTS:
Probably not quite a return to form for Jim Carrey but pretty close at least for those familiar with the Carrey formula. On the face of it, people might think this is Liar Liar again but it is a little less over the top and more heart warming than that movie. Zooey Deschanel is very watchable as Carrey's new girlfriend and Terence Stamp is great as the guy preaching that YES is the new NO. Probably the best comedy of the year in a year pretty light in that department for my own cinema goings.

The Day The Earth Stood Still - 12 / 12 / 2008

2008-12-16T08:50:00.002Z

FILM:
The Day The Earth Stood Still
DATE:
12 / 12 / 2008
TIME:
19:30pm
LOCATION:
Trafford Centre, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
6.5
COMMENTS:
A master class in 'suspending suspense' and unnecessarily rewriting a classic sci-fi film that was near perfect. We seem to be at the peril of third millennium script writers (not GORT) who want to rubbish classic sci-fi, another example being the War of the Worlds re-make. I really wanted to like this movie as the original is a beautiful example of absolute power from inference, suggestion and minimalism and an eerie soundtrack. It lacks emotion from the human players (although Connelly does her best with a lousy script and backdrop) and just takes the names of the original characters without the quality of their portrayal. It seems to me that they spent all the money on the first 20 minutes which promised so much more than the rest of the film delivered. I would buy the original on DVD and watch that instead. It amuses how a 1951 film can offer so much more about a futuristic context than a film made in 2008. They lost the plot 'literally' on this one. The scriptwriters are no better the early 'Apprentice' candidates and I am 'beginning to believe' in my own capabilities as a story teller.

BlackRock Masters Tennis - 02/12/2008

2008-12-05T10:24:00.002Z

Tuesday 2nd December 2008
Evening
Cash v Edberg
Bahrami/Fleming v Gullikson/Jarryd
Black/Woodforde v Wilkinson/Leconte

Steve Coogan - Manchester Apollo - 06/11/2008

2008-11-24T08:56:00.001Z

Ken Dodd - You Must Be Joking - 15/11/2008

2008-11-24T08:53:00.001Z

Quantum Of Solace - 31/10/2008

2008-11-04T09:36:00.004Z

FILM:
Quantum Of Solace
DATE:
31 / 10 / 2008
TIME:
20:30pm
LOCATION:
Trafford Centre, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
5
COMMENTS:
The Bond franchise was reinvented with the last outing but a little trashed in this latest episode. Rather jerky, uninspiring action set pieces in the 'pretend this is good action' category. Bond is a little more unrealistic in his dispatching of the bad guys especially in a sequence in the lift were he takes out 3 or 4 of M's men who are assigned to take bring him in. He does it in 3 seconds flat...not likely...given the men involved... result... no tension... no realism. Compare this to his more realistic, hard fought fights of the first movie. This reduces the movie to those old flicks where bullets fly and the hero doesn't get hit. The first movie took the feel of a Bourne movie whereas this movie tended to copy it somewhat. Bond says to Felix at one point, 'How long have I got?' to escape... Felix '30 seconds'... straight out of the Bourne Ultimatum. This goes for the car chase sequences and one of the fights, only in this film there is less polish and style and just too much chopping and editing. It also contains 1 or 2 sequences where it seemed the director couldn't be bothered putting in the action, especially in a scene at the Opera (did they not make enough money from the first movie?). When you think about it, no book to go by and a different director and it's no wonder the movie seems to be clutching at straws for ideas. Craig is good as well as his co-stars but the editing and direction is poor. I can wait a long time for the next Bond unlike the Casino outing which left me wanting more very soon. More could be said but this review is already longer than all the others such is my disappointment.

2008-10-16T09:45:00.001+01:00

FILM:
Taken
DATE:
05 / 10 / 2008
TIME:
18:30pm
LOCATION:
PrintWorks, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
7
COMMENTS:
Entertaining enough for 90 minutes but although his movie attempts to mimic the Bourne formula in terms of pace and style, it rarely gets upto those dizzy heights. This mainly because there are far too many moments of convienience to propagate the plotline and the Hero rarely seems too tested and takes on a little too much at times. Liam brings the movie up a notch on the acting front once the story gets going which helps and it has one or 2 moments which are memorable at least. Not bad but not a classic.

Tropic Thunder

2008-09-29T09:14:00.002+01:00

FILM:
Tropic Thunder
DATE:
26 / 09 / 2008
TIME:
16:15pm
LOCATION:
PrintWorks, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
7
COMMENTS:
Pretty much as predicted, the least renowned actor for comedy Robert Downey Jnr steals the show as a white australian actor playing a black soldier (I think he also has the most amusing trailer at the beginning of the movie). This is a pretty good comedy but you always feel there is a better movie trying to get out. Somebody commented that the stretch marks could be seen with Stiller doing most of the jobs on set and I think they may have a point but this one has more laughs per 30 minutes than your average (or above average) Ferrell movie.

Step Brothers

2008-09-12T08:46:00.001+01:00

FILM:
Step Brothers
DATE:
07 / 09 / 2008
TIME:
16:30pm
LOCATION:
Trafford Centre, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
5
COMMENTS:
Maybe it was just me but this seemed like 2 guys who think they are so good at getting laughs that they don't need a script. About as random and as pointless as it gets really. Anyone trying that hard to get laughs will always get some results but given the length of the movie, far too few results recorded. I've never walked out of a cinema movie (apart from when the fire bell went off during the last new Star Wars movie) but I came as close as is possible with this one. If you laugh just looking at the face of Will Ferrell, this one's for you. There are plenty of close-ups.

HellBoy 2

2008-09-12T08:44:00.001+01:00

FILM:
Hellboy 2
DATE:
22 / 08 / 2008
TIME:
20:00pm
LOCATION:
Printworks, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
6
COMMENTS:
Missed the first movie but watched the second because I was hearing good things. Some decent effects and I like the bit in Ireland with the Giants Causeway. I appreciate that this superhero is played more for laughs but given that, he doesn't have alot to say for himself in the whole movie and he doesn't have many funny lines. The overall plot is interesting with the Golden Army of robots coming back to wreak havoc but the fun moments are not as sweet. Not too bad but I was hoping for a little more.

The Dark Knight - 27 / 07 / 2008

2008-07-30T09:02:00.002+01:00

FILM:
The Dark Knight
DATE:
27 / 07 / 2008
TIME:
06:30pm
LOCATION:
Trafford Centre, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
7.5
COMMENTS:
Quite good but the sum of the parts of this movie, is less than the whole. The same dark atmospheric feeling is maintained as for the first movie but the set pieces don't blow you away and the fighting is a little 'clunk-click'. Heath Ledgers performance is good but Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne is not on screen enough for such a good actor. I didn't leave the cinema liking this one quite as much (a close call mind) as the first but still thought is was reasonable. A long movie, a friend of mine felt it got better as it went along. The predominant memory after 3 days away is The Joker.

The Incredible Hulk - 28 / 06 / 2008

2008-07-16T09:27:00.002+01:00

FILM:
The Incredible Hulk
DATE:
28 / 06 / 2008
TIME:
19:50pm
LOCATION:
Trafford Centre, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
7.0
COMMENTS:
So fast-paced that there is no time for drama and tension. It left me appreciating Bill Bixby and his interpretation of David Banner, warmer and more intellectual. Some parts of the set pieces are quite good and make up for the lack lustre acting of this movie. It's no Iron Man but it's better than the Fantastic Four and of course, Daredevil but that goes without saying.

The Forbidden Kingdom - 13 / 07 / 2008

2008-07-16T09:23:00.001+01:00

FILM:
The Forbidden Kingdom
DATE:
13 / 07 / 2008
TIME:
18:45pm
LOCATION:
The Printworks, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
7
COMMENTS:
If I'm going to watch another fantasy movie after the Lord of the Rings trilogy then it might as well be a martials arts based, far eastern one. Throw in Jackie Chan and Jet Li and you can't go wrong (most of the time). First time on screen together and they have a fair fight of it until that is, they realise they are seeking the same conclusion to the movie. Enjoyable for the duration and some laughs of course. Pretty reasonable.

Speed Racer

2008-06-27T09:50:00.001+01:00

FILM:
Speed Racer
DATE:
25 / 05 / 2008
TIME:
17:15pm
LOCATION:
AMC, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
6.5
COMMENTS:
As you might expect, this is no Matrix. If you have seen the trailer then it’s pretty much more of the same but doesn’t really have any great set pieces to speak of since all the animation is CGI and tends to merge into one hazy, colorful memory by the next day. OK but not great.

Iron Man - 01/05/2008

2008-05-07T09:47:00.003+01:00

FILM:
Iron Man
DATE:
01 / 05 / 2008
TIME:
19:00pm
LOCATION:
PrintWorks, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
8.0
COMMENTS:
A more thoughtful super hero outing making the Fantastic Four look lame by comparison. This is also reflected by the fact the cast is 2 (or 3) notches up on that film also. Robert Downey Jr. is excellent as Iron Man and is joined by Jeff Bridges as his nemesis and Gwyneth Paltrow as his secretary and love interest. Interestingly in this movie, none of the set pieces quite match the gusto of say Spiderman 2 and yet unlike most hero movies, watching the in-betweens is just as much fun with all players giving it their all. The effects when Downey changes into his iron man costume are excellent and just as entertaining as when he flies off to the next set-piece.

MediaCity:UK Salford Quays Webcam - April 30th 2008

2008-05-01T09:02:00.003+01:00

Attended EBUG 2008 in Vienna - 22/04/08

2008-05-01T08:57:00.003+01:00

Emerald Casino Resort, Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng

2008-04-10T15:39:00.003+01:00

Emerald Casino Resort, Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, originally uploaded by NonStop Mark.

Attended the Southern African Tandem User Group (SATUG) between 18th and 21st February 2008 and stayed at the Emerald Casino Resort, Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng.

http://www.mawhitfield.com/holidays/satug2008web/index.html

MediaCity:UK Salford Quays WebCam : April 2008

2008-04-10T15:37:00.002+01:00

MediaCity:UK Salford Quays WebCam : April 2008, originally uploaded by NonStop Mark.

MediaCity:UK Salford Quays WebCam : April 2008

MediaCity:UK Salford Quays : April 2008 : The boats come in on MediaCity:UK. The Trafford Centre and Chill Factor slope in the background.

www.mawhitfield.co.uk/mcuk.htm

www.linkedin.com/in/markwhitfield

No Country For Old Men

2008-04-08T20:39:00.002+01:00

FILM:
No County For Old Men
DATE:
20 / 03 / 2008
TIME:
17:15pm
LOCATION:
Trafford Centre, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
8.0
COMMENTS:
A slow-paced, gripping film which has you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what’s coming next whilst making you a little fearful of it at the same time. Both the central character (Josh Brolin) and his pursuer (Javier Bardem) are both good especially Javier who creates a a rather scary persona who absolutely steals the movie and has you feeling sorry for his victims. I scored it an 8 as the ending leaves you a little short changed and Tommy-Lee is always a few frames too late to catch up with either character and so does not really get involved in the main plot.

Be Kind Rewind

2008-04-08T20:37:00.001+01:00

FILM:
Be Kind Rewind
DATE:
14 / 03 / 2008
TIME:
20:30pm
LOCATION:
Trafford Centre, MANCHESTER
FILM (out of 10):
6.5
COMMENTS:
This film neither hits as a comedy or as a touching tale of a small video shop trying to survive in the modern era. It’s a movie of 3 parts; a zany beginning which gives Jack Black a moment to do his usual mad cap antics, a middle section which is the duo doing classic modern films on a budget and the last third which is supposed to be a heartfelt ending. Since it doesn’t major in either department, by the time the ending comes your left feeling rather confused. Likeable but not memorable.