Hot Fuzz

With little available on the "New Releases" front at Video Busters, wifey and I went the weekly route. One of the choices was "Hot Fuzz".

"Hot Fuzz" stars Simon Pegg (in his best work since "MI3") as an over the top cop whose extreme dedication to the job has seen him wear out his welcome in London. His superiors decide to send him to a quiet little town that should settle him down and allow him to take it easy. Upon his arrival, he discovers it's even sleepier than he imagined. He takes to arresting underage drinkers and minor offenders to pass the time until he's advised the local cops like to take a more carefree approach. Soon though some out-of-nowhere murders start taking place and Angel (Pegg) has a mystery to solve that he's been waiting for. The action gets intense and Angel is in for the biggest battle of his life.

Quite different but really enjoyable. The film does get a bit weird, but you kind of see it coming, although it does get pretty zany near the end. Some interesting directing, quirky jokes and full-on-yet-humourous violent scenes make it unlike anything I'd seen before. Pegg is great as Angel and there's a strong supporting cast, most notably Nick Frost as Danny.

Well worth a watch.

The Promotion

Saw a poster up in a shop a while ago and thought this looked ok. Slightly concerned I'd never heard of it and pretty sure it was "straight to dvd", but with the premise and these guys, surely it was a "can't miss".... or was it?

"The Promotion" stars Seann William Scott (in his most challenging role since "Dude, where's my car") and John C Reilly (in his best work since "Never Been Kissed") as two rival assistant managers at a grocery store. The two are hoping to land a manager's job at the new store across town and start undermining each other to make themselves the best candidate. This is where it gets weird. I was hoping for non-stop pranks and capers, yet the film didn't go there and just placed Reilly's character, Richard, in a few akward moments where he was made to look stupid. You'd expect some non-stop shenanigans and then it turns out neither gets the job, but the film plays out quite like how it would in real life. Neither actor is given much of a leash and is played reasonably straight.

The film was ok (wifey actually really liked it), but I guess didn't turn out how I expected. I felt like a night of silly jokes but the film didn't deliver, although I kind of respect what the writer/director (Steve Conrad, who wrote "The Pursuit of Happyness") tried to do. The film tried to be a slightly more realistic of how one of the situations might play out and din't try too much to go for wacky, unrealistic pranks or to go the other way and pull to hard on the heart strings. Just ok, dragged a fair bit at times and didn't deliver what it could have.

The Crows

2009 marks my first year in a few years I haven't had Foxtel and hence the ability to watch all the Crows games. Here's how I've gone so far.

Rd 1- Crows v Collingwood
Had the ability to go to this one but thought we'd get flogged, so stayed home. Listened to bits on radio and sounds like we played well and had some nice promise shown by the young guys (Petrenko in particular).

Rd 2- Crows v Saints
Dean came over and watched the 7 coverage. We couldn't get into any flow and the Saints were very impressive (there's a phrase I don't think I've ever said before). Not much too like.

Rd 3- Crows v Dockers
Headed down to the local pub with the father-in-law to watch this destined to be classic. We were the only ones watching it. Frustrating at times, but plenty of promise. The best patch of young guys we've had since the mid-to-late 90's (Petrenko, Dangerfield, Walker, Vince). Added bonus was the $4.95 dinner I enjoyed.

Rd 4- Crows v Geelong
Watched at home on my Pat Malone. Geelong just killed us at the start of the term and we clawed our way back too late. Again some promise from the young guns, but Geelong way too polished. Robert Shirley again proved his lack of skill.

We play the Demons this week and considering the weather and late start, will probbaly go to the local again to support the boys and bend the old elbow.

36'ers

*I have no idea who this guy is


There's sad news unfolding that my beloved Adelaide 36'ers may not be allowed entry into the "new" NBL unless they can get a guaranteed $1million in the event they hit hardship. That seems mental and if one of the league's premier teams can't provide that backing then the whole league should just shut shop. It would suck to see the team go, but the league has become a bit of a joke and unless this new league brings major changes, maybe it's for the best. If last season was the end of the 36'ers, here's some of my favourite 36'ers memories

*Watching Game 2 of the 36'ers v Tigers in 1994 when Davis was out and we were considered goners on a tiny portable tv at Broken Gum

*Seeing Acie Earl's first game in Adelaide with the Kings. He was a beast, just a tad lazy though.

*Sapwell's 3 to take down the Hawk's in 1999. Gary and I were there



*Being there for the 2nd Championship win

*Being there for Game 1 of the year we beat the Pigs in Farley's first year. Farley had his way with Scotty McGregor several times.

*Going to my first game in years this year to see Julius Hodge, only to discover when inside he was holding out and would not play for them again.

*Being there for KB and Darnell's first game.

*Mocking Phil Smyth's substitutuon patterns

*Watching the many rookies who got garbage time only and were never seen again eg Blake Truslove

Spirit of Tasmania

On Wednesday night I got aboard the "Spirit of Tasmania". For those not aware, it's a large ship that travels from Devonport to Melbourne. It allows you to bring your car and due to the time it takes (11hrs), you can even get a cabin.

I got to the loading area near 5:30pm and surprisingly found a queue already formed. Considering I didn't have much else to do, I decided to join the queue. I sat in the car for just an hour or so, passing the time by listening to some podcasts and filling out a Tourism survey that was annoyingly long. Once aboard the boat I put my stuff down in the cabin, had a wander, then sat down for dinner. It was a "no seconds buffet" and the menu was interesting. I settled on a piece of fish, some pasta and a roast dinner.

After dinner I headed back to my room, realised there wasn't much to do there (2 bunk beds, toilet and a shower in an area half the size of my bedroom), so headed back upstairs. There was a theaterette showing "Marley and Me", which didn't interest me at all, so I listened to some podcasts out on deck, then headed inside to watch "Spicks and Specks" with 2 other people. The rest of the ship (maybe 100 people in 2 different areas) was watching "Australia's Got Talent". What a shock. While watching, a lady in a towel come running out demanding a medic, then another man in a shirt and towel came looking for her, also asking for a medic. I don't know what they got up to in that tiny bathroom. With that episode behind us, I pulled up a comfy chair and did some reading and snacking, then back to my dog's box for more reading and podcasts.

Was awoken at 6:05am by the PA system to be ready for a 6:50 disembarkment. I got my stuff together and headed for one of the lifts. I waited there for about 50mins so that was good. My deck was the last called to go to our cars and we were held up by some clown they couldn't locate who's car was blocking the first lot getting out. Once I got to my car it was another 30min wait until we got to leave.

Overall more entertaining and not as uncomfortable as I imagined and an insight into what it must have been like on the "Titanic".

24: The Game

Besides reflection, Easter is a time to do the stuff you normally don't get the time to do, especially when you're bored. So on Friday I pulled out "24: The Game", a gift Tara brought me for my birthday two and a half years ago that I'd only played a few times due to difficulty playing, time and lack of enthusiasm for the game. To my excitement, the game is actually really cool and after the first two levels there is plenty of variety to the game- location and task wise. It took me a while to work out basic things, like using cover and not just walking into open rooms, and now it's much more fun to play. As soon as I get better at not shooting hostages I should have the game down pat. I'm stuck on a level where I walk into a room with 4 guys with machine guns and one of them has a hostage I need to question. So far my hostage keeps getting shot by me in the head, so I've got some work to do. It's been an unexpected fun surprise this Easter and I look forward to completing it and then possibly looking into other popular games with the kids these days.

Forcey's Easter Message

Another year, another Easter.

To many, Easter is their second favourite holiday of the year, because you get a super-long weekend, and get to eat loads of chocolate guilt free. It's a chance to go away, or do home renovations, or kick back at home and relax. For some, it's tough, especially Good Friday, with there being no footy to watch, with shops being closed and the newspapers being only a few pages long. Even some fast food joints like KFC are closed.

Mnay want to see Easter overhauled. A seemingly growing proportion of the community are annoyed that they have this stuff enforced on them when they're not even Christian. Rising amounts of people from other faiths even find the Easter period offensive, and we hear more and more stories each year of places like schools and nursing homes being asked to remove any symbols that refer to the Christian themes of Easter or Christmas eg http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25313469-661,00.html

I come from a biased position because I've been a Christian for most of my life, but to me we as a community will allow this breaking down of our traditions at our own peril. The old phrase "if you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything" seems extremely apt in this situation, especially in today's world. In today's Australia I think we have the incorrect notion that all that is great about this country is summed up by us sending a bunch of underprepared men to the first world war. I am not at all underappreciative for the work done by our soldiers back then and ever since, but believe we've forgotten the greatness of this country is largely due to the foundations laid over 200 years ago. From the early days of being founded, to settlement, Australia was covered in prayer and many of the founding Christian fathers dedicated this land to God. Our constitution is based upon Biblical teachings and principles and is largely responsible for our democracy. Many also don't realise Australia came within a whisker of being founded by explorers from other religions that would not have allowed us to enjoy the freedom we have today.

Good Friday means a variety of things to a vareity of people. Some observe the day as a "special day". Some are respectful of the Easter message by eating fish on Fridays. To some, it's annoying. To Christians, it is along with Christmas Day a day we take time to remember afresh the love of God demonstrated by sending his son Jesus to the world to die for our sins so we could be reconciled to him. To any who enjoy the Easter weekend without embracing the message, I'd encourage you to consider two things this year

1/ What would the country look like without the strong Christian heritage we have? Think about our schooling system, our charity and welfare assistance organinsations and our hospitals whose roots are in the Gospel message. Without this message, these organisations wouldn't have been inspired and our country would likely be crippled.

2/ Did Jesus walk the earth? Was he who he said he was? Did he die on a cross and then rise again after 3 days? Historically there's no doubt he existed, the questions is was he a fraud or really God in person sent to give us new life. The story can be read in the Bible from Matthew 26, or you can read online at biblegateway.com

I'd encourage you to consider this sometime over the long weekend and work out what Easter really means for you. Have a great Easter.

The Queen

"The Queen" is a story about the Queen. More specifically, it focuses around how she and Buckingham Palace handled the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana.

The film begins with the introduction of the new Prime Minister Tony Blair (well played by Michael Sheen) to Her Majesty (brilliantly played by Helen Mirren, in her finest work since "Teaching Mrs Tingle"). In a surprise to me, this occured just before Princess Di was killed, bringing the two figureheads into close relationship very quickly. The two have differing opinions on how to handle the aftermath of the tragedy and Blair soon finds himself needing to be very forceful to avoid the Royal Family becoming a target of scorn. Blair manages to convince the Queen, reluctantly, to make an appearance and a speech in order to save their reputation.

The film cleverly intertwines real-life footage of the events, most notably where the actors are "CGI'd" into original footage. The insight into the Royal Family is fascinating, and more so to the Queen (eg she drives a little jeep around the property). The cast is great, most notably the forementioned plus James Cromwell as Prince Philip and Helen McCrory as Cherie Blair. I wasn't expecting much of the film, but really enjoyed the way it was done plus the walk down memory lane. It brought up lots of surprises eg that Diana was only 36 when she died and that the Queen knew how to drive a jeep and use a mobile phone.

Well worth seeing.

Shooting Dogs

Another wifey pick, another African movie. If I had a dollar for............

"Shooting Dogs" is not a movie about people that go around shooting dogs but the genocide that occured in Rwanda in 1994. The film is set around a small Catholic school that becomes a shelter for many seeking refuge. Based at the school are a British teacher (Hugh Dancy, in his most powerful role since "Basic Instinct 2"), a priest (John Hurt, in his finest work since "Mr Forbrush And The Penguins"), some European tourists, the Rwandans and a small team of UN soldiers. The reason for the war is the desire of the Hutus to rid the land of Tutsis. The situation across the land becomes horrific with thousands being killed daily. The group at the school has their hope taken away bit by bit, beginning with the news the UN will not attack oncoming soldiers unless in their own self defense and the evacuation of any Westerner who might be of some help to their cause. Will they escape? See it to find out.

I didn't go in with much expectation but this was a really powerful film. John Hurt as the priest was excellent and the glue for the film. The story was strong but besides Hurt the cast was pretty weak, especially Darcy with his annoying little head shakes and all. A remarkable story of a people that were tragically deserted by the larger world. In all 800,000 were killed in just 100 days. Well worth seeing and one of the people films on an African story you'll see.

Knocked Up

This week we started another "Quickflix" trial, and Tara loaded up our want list. The first dvd to arrive was "Knocked Up". Here's my IMDB.com review.

"Knocked Up" starts Seth Rogen (in his best work since a guest appearance in "Dawson's Creek") and Katherine Heigl (in her finest role since she played Sarah in "Under Siege 2) as Ben and Alsion, two people who hook up in a night club and have a one night stand. Ben is a loser stoner, Sarah an up and coming entertainment reporter. The next morning Sarah realises what a loser Ben is and quickly tries to end it quickly....until she discovers she's pregnant. Sarah then decides to track Ben down and get him to be a part of this unexpected surprise. She soon learns although he's a complete loser who spends his time hitting the pipe and watching movies with ladies with no clothes on, he's sweet too. Sarah has to work out though if she wants to shack up with him and become a family or to have the child and try to continue on her career path and hopefully meet someone fancier.

It's pretty rude and crude, with lots of sweet "ohhhhhh" moments to balance it out.... sorta. Some potential jokes were left hanging, while others where done to death. Ben's housemates provided plenty of laughs and really stole most of the great scenes. Jason Segel as Jason was probably my favourite character in the movie. Pretty funny overall, but plenty of akward, uncomfortable moments.