Editor of FILMdetail
The latest trailer for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
You can watch the HD version here.
(Random observation: I was at Warner Bros screening room yesterday and noticed this poster which described it as ‘HP6’)
> Official site
> Find out more about the book at Wikipedia
DVD PICKS
Yes Man (Warner): The big screen US adaptation of Danny Wallace‘s best-selling memoir seesĀ Jim Carrey star as a man who reluctantly signs up for a self-help program that challenges him to say ‘yes’ to everything and embrace life.
Directed byĀ Peyton Reed, it co-starsĀ Zooey DeschanelĀ andĀ Bradley Cooper.Ā
The extras on the regular DVD include:
The extras on the Blu-ray Disc include all on the regular DVD plus the following exclusive features:
* Listen to my interview with Danny Wallace from December *
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Momentum):Ā Germanyās official entry for the 2009 foreign-language OscarĀ explores the creation and actions ofĀ theĀ West GermanĀ terrorist group theĀ Red Army FactionĀ (RAF), which was the most active and prominent terrorist group in post-war West Germany.Ā
Directed byĀ Uli Edel, it starsĀ Moritz Bleibtreu,Ā Martina GedeckĀ andĀ Johanna WokalekĀ and is basedĀ on the best selling non-fiction book of the same name byĀ Stefan Aust.
Extras include:
*Ā Listen to my interview with producerĀ Bernd Eichinger about The Baader Meinhof ComplexĀ *
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ALSO OUT
After Henry – Series 3 (Network)
American Dad Volume 4 (Fox)
Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia (Fox)
Being Human (2 Entertain)
Columbus Day (DNC)
Dark Floors (Metrodome)
Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl (2 Entertain)
Fingerprints (Anchor Bay)
La Gueule Ouverte (Eureka/Masters of Cinema)
Lark Rise to Candleford Series 2 (2 Entertain)
Life’s A Trip (Metrodome)
Murder, She Wrote Season 9 (Universal Playback)
Poison Ivy 4: The Secret Society (EIV)
Stone (Severin)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (Fox)
The Myth (Cine Asia)
The Raccoons Season 2 (Fabulous Films)
Transporter 3 (Icon)
Ultra (Drakes Avenue Pictures)
Une Femme MariƩe (Eureka/Masters of Cinema)
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>Ā BuyĀ Yes ManĀ andĀ The Baader Meinhof ComplexĀ at Amazon UK
> Browse more DVD Releases atĀ Amazon UKĀ andĀ Play
>Ā Check the latest DVD prices at DVD Price Check
>Ā Take a look at the current UK cinema releasesĀ (W/C Friday 17th April)
Justin Lin is the director ofĀ Fast & Furious, the fourth film in the franchise which seesĀ Vin Diesel,Ā Paul Walker,Ā Michelle RodriguezĀ andĀ Jordana BrewsterĀ reprise their roles from the original 2001 film.
He made hisĀ solo directorial debut withĀ Better Luck TomorrowĀ inĀ 1997 and went on to direct films such asĀ AnnapolisĀ (2006) and the third Fast and Furious filmĀ Tokyo DriftĀ (2006).
I spoke with him in London recently about this latest Fast and Furious film and the how he went about shooting the car sequences.
Listen to the interview here:
[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Justin_Lin_on_Fast_and_Furious.mp3]You can download thisĀ interviewĀ as a podcast via iTunes byĀ clicking here
Fast & FuriousĀ is out now at UK cinemas
>Ā Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Justin Lin at the IMDb
> Official site for Fast and Furious
>Ā Find out more about the franchise at WikipediaĀ
[Image courtesy of Universal Studios Ā© 2009]
Hugh Jackman was on The Jonathan Ross Show last night talking about the new Wolverine film.
Here it is in two parts:
> Hugh Jackman at the IMDb
> Official site for Wolverine
The Onion News report on a hot new video game that ‘consists solely of shooting people point-blank in the face’.
NATIONAL RELEASES
I Love You Man (Paramount): Comedy about a newly engaged man (Paul Rudd) who realises he has no male friendsĀ and sets out to find a best man for his wedding. Although he didn’t work on it, this bears all the hallmarks of a Judd Apatow comedy as it stars two of his regular actors (Rudd and Jason Segel) and is directed by John Hamburg who worked on Undeclared. Some of it is a little predictable (e.g. pop culture references, geeky men getting in touch with their emotions) but the chemistry from the two leads works nicely and the laughs are fairly consistent throughout.Ā [London & Nationwide /Ā Cert 15]
Crank: High Voltage (Lionsgate): The sequel toĀ the 2006 action filmĀ CrankĀ sees Jason StathamĀ reprise his role asĀ Chev Chelios, a British hitman in LA who is forced to keep his adrenaline going after being poisoned. This one picks up straight after and Chelios has his heart stolen (!) by a gang of rougue Chinese medics andĀ must keep shocking himself with regular jolts of electricity to keep himself alive. Written and directed byĀ Mark NeveldineĀ andĀ Brian Taylor, it is as mindlessly enjoyable as the first one and a cut above the Transporter films.Ā [Nationwide / Cert 15]
In The Loop (Optimum Releasing): A spin off from theĀ BBC TV seriesĀ The Thick of It, this political satire seesĀ theĀ US presidentĀ andĀ Prime MinisterĀ want to declare another war andĀ follows the people behind the scenes who have to spin the message to the public. It starsĀ Tom Hollander,Ā James Gandolfini,Ā Chris Addison,Ā Peter Capaldi,Ā Gina McKee,Ā Steve CooganĀ and was written and directed byĀ Armando Iannucci.Ā [Odeons Camden & Kensington, Vue Shepherds Bush & Nationwide / Cert 15]
Not Easily Broken (Sony Pictures): The story of coupleĀ (Morris ChestnutĀ and Taraji P. Henson) whose marriage is tested after one of them is hurt in a car crash. Directed byĀ Bill DukeĀ fromĀ T.D. Jakes‘sĀ novelĀ Not Easily Broken.Ā [London & Nationwide / Cert PG]
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IN SELECTED RELEASE
Good (Lionsgate): A film adaptation of the play byĀ C. P. Taylor, which is the storyĀ of John Halder (Viggo Mortensen), aĀ GermanĀ literature professor in the 1930s, who slowly accepts the ideas of theĀ Nazi Party. It co-starsĀ Ā Jason IsaacsĀ andĀ Jodie WhittakerĀ and was directed byĀ Vicente Amorim.Ā [Curzon Mayfair & Key Cities / Cert 15]
In Search Of Beethoven (Seventh Art Productions):Ā The first truly comprehensive feature length cinema documentary ever made about Beethoven, with over 60 live performances. Directed byĀ Phil Grabsky. [All Saints Arts Ctre, Barbican, Phoenix & Key Cities / Cert U]Ā
Before I Forget (Peccadillo Pictures): A 2007 French film directed byĀ Jacques NolotĀ aboutĀ a 58-year-old manĀ battling his inner demons on the search for self-discovery.Ā [ICA Cinema & Key Cities]
>Ā Check out the UK cinema releases for April 2009
>Ā Our latest DVD picksĀ (W/C Monday 13th April)Ā
This clip of Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent has now got over 8 million views on YouTube.
> BBC News with more on the Scottish singerĀ
> Find out more about Britain’s Got Talent at Wikipedia
> Jazz FM on the version of Cry Me A River she recorded in 1999
Charlie BrookerĀ on Screenwipe with an amusing take on US news, especially Fox News.
> The now legendary Bill O’Reilly ‘We’ll do it live!’ remixes
> Stephen Colbert on Fox News’ Glen Beck
An amusing video from College Humor about comment flame wars set to We Didn’t Start The Fire by Billy Joel.
The original video from 1989 is here:
> More on the song at Wikipedia
> Find out more about flaming at Answers.com
The ICA Cinema in London is always a good place to catch up with films off the beaten track and they have two upcoming seasons of films.
The first contains some interesting releases from the past and present and the other has some about artists of the 20th century. Ā
Films We LoveĀ kicks off with the recentĀ Wendy and LucyĀ and continues with offerings fromĀ Powell and Pressburger.
ArthouseĀ continues our series of documenting 20th-century artists, with films featuring subjects as diverse as the sculptures ofĀ Louise Bourgeois Andy Warhol’s infamousĀ Campbellās soup cans.
There are also some special screenings such as:
To find out more check out their website:Ā www.ica.org.uk/film
TCM, which is 15 years old this month, have published a list of theĀ Most Influential Classic Movies.
Normally I’m a little sceptical about these kinds of lists, but this one is pretty hard to argue with.
I think a more challenging exercise might be to list films over the last 30 years that will have a similar status in future.
Off the top of my head I’d go for:Ā
But what about the last decade?
> Original post at TCM
> Total Film on influential moviesĀ
> Wikipedia on film in the 2000sĀ
Fifty Dead Men Walking is anĀ adaptation ofĀ Martin McGartlandās 1997 autobiography, about his time asĀ anĀ informantĀ within theĀ Provisional IRAĀ from 1988 til 1991.Ā
It starsĀ Jim SturgessĀ as McGartland,Ā Ben KingsleyĀ as his BritishĀ handlerĀ and was directed byĀ Kari Scogland.
I recently spoke with Kari in London about the film and you can listen to the interview here:
[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Kari_Scogland_on_Fifty_Dead_Men_Walking.mp3]You can download thisĀ interviewĀ as a podcast via iTunes byĀ clicking here
Fifty Dead Men Walking is out now at selected UK cinemas
>Ā Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Fifty Dead Men Walking andĀ Kari ScoglandĀ at theĀ IMDb
>Ā Find out more about Martin McGartlandĀ at Wikipedia
DVD PICKS
Gonzo (Optimum): AĀ new documentaryĀ directed byĀ Alex GibneyĀ whichĀ exploresĀ Hunter S. Thompsonās life and times as well as his landmark writings on music and politics with contributions from the likes ofĀ Tom Wolfe,Ā Ralph SteadmanĀ andĀ Jann Wenner.
Narrated byĀ Johnny Depp,Ā who played Hunter in the 1998 film version ofĀ Fear and Loathing and Las Vegas, it is an interesting portrait of a fascinating writer.Ā
The extras include:
* Listen to my interview with Alex Gibney from last year *
Ā
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The Red Riding Trilogy (Optimum): A highly impressiveĀ trilogy of films adapted byĀ Tony GrisoniĀ fromĀ David Peaceāscult novelsĀ set inĀ YorkshireĀ during the 1970s and 80s.
The three films are all two hours long and aired recently on Channel 4, boastingĀ an impressive cast including:Ā Mark Addy,Ā Sean Bean,Ā Jim Carter,Ā Warren Clarke,Ā Paddy Considine,Ā Andrew Garfield,Ā Rebecca Hall,Eddie MarsanĀ andĀ David Morrissey.
Produced byĀ Michael WinterbottomĀ andĀ Andrew Eatonās production company,Ā Revolution Films, each film has been directed by a separate director:Ā Julian JarroldĀ (Brideshead Revisited),Ā James MarshĀ (Man on Wire) andĀ Anand TuckerĀ (And When Did You Last See Your Father?).
The first is entitledĀ 1974Ā and explores the paranoia, mistrust and institutionalised police corruption in Yorkshire.
When a young journalist named Eddie Dunford (Andrew Garfield) becomes obsessed withĀ a police investigation into a series of child abductions, he uncovers aĀ complex maze of lies and deceit.
One of the characters he comes across is a local businessman named John Dawson (played byĀ Sean Bean) who, in this clip, advises Eddie to form a mutually beneficial relationship with him.
The second episode, directed by Marsh, set in and calledĀ 1980, sees theYorkshire RipperĀ terrorise the area for six long years, and with the local police failing to make any progress, the Home Office sends in Manchester officer Peter Hunter (Considine) to review the investigation.
Having previously made enemies in the Yorkshire force while investigating a shooting incident in 1974, Hunter finds himself increasingly isolated when his version of events challenges their official line on the āRipperā.
In the final instalment, directed by Tucker and set in and calledĀ 1983, another young girl has disappeared and Detective Chief Superintendent Maurice Jobson (Morrissey) recognises some alarming similarities to the abductions in 1974, forcing him to come to terms with the fact that he may have helped convict the wrong man.
When local solicitor John Piggott (Addy) is persuaded to fight this miscarriage of justice he finds himself slowly uncovering a catalogue of cover ups.
It is dark but compelling material and the kind of expensive, challenging drama that Channel 4 at their best can be capable of.
The extras include:Ā
1974
1980
1983
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ALSO OUT
A Love To Hide (Peccadillo Pictures)
Dead Wood (DNC Entertainment)
Doctor Who: The Cybermen (2 Entertain)
Hotel Babylon Series 3 (2 Entertain)
Ideal Series Four (2 Entertain)
Inkheart (EIV)
Lady in White – Directorās Cut (Optimum)
Max Payne (Fox)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars ā A Galaxy Divided (Warner)
The Lost World of Communism (2 Entertain)
The Omid Djalili Show Series 1 (2 Entertain)
The Thick of It: The Specials (2 Entertain)
Two and a Half Men Season 5 (Warner)
>Ā BuyĀ GonzoĀ andĀ The Red Riding TrilogyĀ at Amazon UK
> Browse more DVD Releases atĀ Amazon UKĀ andĀ Play
>Ā Check the latest DVD prices at DVD Price Check
>Ā Take a look at the current UK cinema releasesĀ (W/C Friday 10th April)
The late, great US comedian Bill Hicks on Easter.
> More on Bill Hicks at Wikipedia
> Guardian story on the possible biopic with Russell Crowe in the lead role
This short featurette onĀ Mad Max 2 (aka The Road Warrior in the US) details the insane risks the stuntmen took during filming.
It wasĀ presumably some kind of promotional thing shot on set in 1980.
> Mad Max 2 at the IMDb
> FAQ about the Mad Max movies
The above photo of the poster forĀ Crank 2Ā was taken by Twitter userĀ rionharmon.
I might be wrong, but I actually think the tagline its quite fitting for the ridiculous, over-the-top nature of the Crank movies.Ā
> Crank 2 at the IMDb
> A UK viral site for the film with a rather rude URL
NATIONAL RELEASES
Fast and Furious (Universal): The fourth film inĀ The Fast and the FuriousĀ film seriesĀ which is set between theĀ secondĀ andĀ thirdĀ films, five years after the events of the first film.Ā The plot connects with the original filmĀ from whichĀ Vin Diesel,Ā Paul Walker,Ā Michelle Rodriguez, andĀ Jordana BrewsterĀ reprise their roles.Ā It has already taken a ton of money in America after dominating the box office there last weekend and could very well claim the top spot here. Ā
17 Again (Entertainment): A body swap film which starsĀ Matthew PerryĀ as a thirtysomething man who gets the chance to be his 17 year old self (Zac Efron).Ā Directed by Burr Steers (who previously directedĀ Igby Goes DownĀ andĀ How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, as well as being the guy on the couch in Pulp Fiction Ā who gets shot by Samuel L Jackson), it is likely to play well to the High School Musical fanbase, but might suffer in what is a crowded week for family films with the Easter holidays.Ā
Race To Witch Mountain (Disney): AĀ re-imaginingĀ (i.e. loose remake) of the 1975 filmĀ Escape to Witch Mountain. Both versions of the film are based on the 1968 novelĀ Escape to Witch MountainĀ by authorĀ Alexander Key. This one starsĀ Dwayne ‘Formerly Known as The Rock’ Johnson,Ā Anna Sophia Robb,Ā Alexander LudwigĀ andĀ Carla Gugino. The iffy reviews probably won’t stop curious family audiences from checking it out, even if it doesn’t have any major stars in it.
Dragonball Evolution (Fox): AĀ live-actionĀ film adaptationĀ of theĀ Dragon BallĀ media franchiseĀ (so one to get the art-house crowd excited), the plot revolvesĀ around the adventures of the lead characterĀ GokuĀ (Justin Chatwin) and his nemesisĀ Lord PiccoloĀ (James Marsters). It is directed byĀ James WongĀ and produced byĀ Stephen Chow.
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IN SELECTED RELEASE
Fifty Dead Men Walking (Metrodome): AnĀ adaptation ofĀ Martin McGartland‘s 1997 autobiography of the same name, about his time asĀ anĀ informantĀ within theĀ Provisional IRAĀ from 1988 til 1991.Ā It starsĀ Jim SturgessĀ as McGartland,Ā Ben KingsleyĀ as his BritishĀ handlerĀ and was directed by Kari Scogland.
Let The Right One In (Momentum):Ā Set during the 1980s, this Swedish vampire film tells the story of a bullied 12-year-old boy named Oskar (KĆ„re Hedebrant) who develops a relationship with aĀ vampireĀ (Lina Leandersson). Directed byĀ Tomas Alfredson, it is based onĀ the novelĀ byĀ John Ajvide LindqvistĀ andĀ has garneredĀ widespread critical acclaim,Ā won awardsĀ and become something of a cult hit over the last few months.
* Listen to our interview with Tomas Alfredson about Let the Right One In *
Tony Manero (Network Releasing): AĀ ChileanĀ film directed byĀ Pablo LarraĆnĀ about a man obsessed withĀ John Travolta‘s character inĀ Saturday Night Fever. It wasĀ Chile’s submission to theĀ 81st Academy AwardsĀ for theĀ Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
The 400 Blows (BFI): A BFI reissue for this classicĀ 1959Ā film directed byĀ FranƧois Truffaut, which was a key part of theĀ French New Wave. The story is aboutĀ an ordinary adolescent inĀ Paris, who is thought by his parents and teachers to be a trouble maker.
Tera Mera Ki Rishta (Eros): A bollywood movie starringĀ Jimmy Shergill and Kulraj Randhawa.
> Check out the UK cinema releases for April 2009
>Ā Listen to our interview with Tomas Alfredson on Let the Right One In
>Ā Check out our latest DVD picksĀ (W/C Monday 6th April)Ā
Billy Bob Thornton was recentlyĀ on theĀ CBC Radio OneĀ programĀ Q, hosted byĀ Jian Ghomeshi.
He was there in a musical capacity with his band The Boxmasters and what followed was a now-legendary appearence to rank alongside George Best on Wogan, Sigur Ros on NPR, Oliver Reed on After Dark andĀ James Brown on CNN.
Best bit: when asked about his musical tastes and influences as a child, he starts going on about ‘Famous Monsters of Filmland’.
Later Thornton complained that Canadian audiences wouldn’t get up and move, saying that Canadians were likeĀ mashed potatoesĀ withoutĀ gravy, which perhaps isn’t the best way of boosting his Canadian record sales.
> Billy Bob Thornton at Wikipedia
> Official site for the Q show on CBC
Tomas Alfredson is the director of Let The Right One In, a new horror film based onĀ the novelĀ byĀ John Ajvide Lindqvist.
Set in Sweden during the 1980s, it tells the story of a bullied 12-year-old boy named Oskar (KĆ„re Hedebrant) who develops a relationship with aĀ vampireĀ (Lina Leandersson).
Over the last few months it has garnered widespread critical acclaim, won awards and become something of a cult hit.
I spoke with Tomas in London recently about the film and you can listen to the interview here:
[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Tomas_Alfredson_on_Let_The_Right_One_In.mp3]You can download thisĀ interviewĀ as a podcast via iTunes byĀ clicking here
Ā
Let The Right One InĀ is out at UK cinemas on Friday 10th April
>Ā Download this interview as an MP3 file
>Ā Official UK site
>Ā Tomas AlfredsonĀ at theĀ IMDb
>Ā Find out more about Let The Right One InĀ at Wikipedia
This is the original trailer for Apocalypse Now.
Ā
Note the lack of narration, the length, how it is edited and the fact that Marlon Brando and Robert Duvall are billed above Martin Sheen.
> Apocalypse Now at the IMDb
> Buy it on DVD at Amazon UK
DVD PICKS
Mike Leigh at the BBC (2 Entertain): Priced at nearly Ā£60 this box set of Mike Leigh’s early films at the BBC might seem an expensive luxury but, if you can afford it, is actually an excellent insight into a hugely significant part of his career.
Spanning nearly 30 years this collection showcases all of the writer-directorās surviving work from the BBC, including his contributions to the influential Play For Today series.
For the first time on DVD, this includes seven of his early films (some with new directorās commentaries) as well as two TV studio plays and five engaging short films.
Everything has been restored, and there is a raft of insightful extras.
A six-disc set, the films and features are:
Extras include:
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The Silence of Lorna (New Wave Films): The latest film from theĀ Belgian brothersĀ LucĀ andĀ Jean-Pierre Dardenne, who have been a regular fixture at Cannes in the last decade with their contemporary takes on modern European life.
Their best known films are: La Promesse (1996), Rosetta (1999), which won them their first Palme dāor; The Son (2002); and The Child (2005), which secured them a second Palme dāor.
Their new film seesĀ Kosovar actress Arta Dobroshi play Lorna, a young Albanian living in Belgium,Ā who becomes an accomplice to a local mobsterās plan.
Extras include:
ALSO OUT
Body Armour (Momentum)
Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo (Second Sight)
Breakdance: The Movie (Second Sight)
Criminal Minds Season 3 (Disney)
Demons Season 1 (Sony)
Electric Dreams (Second Sight)
Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special (2 Entertain)
Ghost Whisperer Season 3 (Disney)
Gossip Girl Season 2 Volume 1 (Warner)
Hansel & Gretel (Terracotta Distribution)
Mad Money (Lionsgate)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Paramount)
Quicksand (Glass Key)
Skins Series 3 (4DVD)
The High Life (2 Entertain)
The Signal (Optimum)
The Tale of Despereaux (Universal)
Twilight (E-1 Films)
Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter (Paramount)
Woman on the Run (Glass Key)
Tis Autumn, The Search for Jackie Paris (Drakes Avenue Pictures)
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>Ā BuyĀ Mike Leigh at the BBCĀ andĀ The Silence of LornaĀ at Amazon UK
> Browse more DVD Releases atĀ Amazon UKĀ andĀ Play
>Ā Check the latest DVD prices at DVD Price Check
>Ā Take a look at the current UK cinema releasesĀ (W/C Friday 3rd April)
Writer-directorĀ Kevin SmithĀ was recently interviewed by Lee Stranahan and he had two very interesting sections where they discussed the Internet.
In this part he discusses the dark side of the online world, including negative feedback and the painful experience of when his last film opened:
Ā
Here he talks about the positive aspects of the Internet and his first experiences of it back in the mid-90s:
[Link via /Film]
> Kevin Smith at the IMDb
> Hilarious video of Smith talking about his experiences working on Superman
This is the rare trailer for The Exorcist that used some ofĀ Lalo Schifrin’sĀ rejected score.
Ā
N.B. If you have a problem with strobe lighting then it is probably best not to watch this.
NATIONAL RELEASES
The Boat That Rocked (Universal): The new film from writer-directorĀ Richard CurtisĀ is set on board aĀ pirate radioĀ ship broadcasting to the UK in the 1960s.
Ā
It starsĀ Philip Seymour Hoffman,Ā Bill Nighy,Ā Rhys Ifans,Ā Emma Thompson,Ā Nick FrostĀ andĀ Kenneth BranaghĀ andĀ Gemma Arterton.
Although it is likely to attracted mixed reviews, the extensive marketing campaign and early opening on April 1st is likely to see it do well, even if probably won’t crack the top spot.Ā [Odeon Leicester Square & Nationwide]
Monsters Vs. Aliens (Paramount): The latest animated film from DreamWorks is about a woman (Reese Witherspoon) who, on her wedding day, is struck by a meteorite which causes her to grow into a giant.
The US government takes her away to a top-secret facility where it has impounded all monsters since the war, who have to save the earth when aliens attack.Ā An impressive supporting cast includesĀ Seth Rogen,Ā Hugh Laurie,Ā Will Arnett,Ā Rainn Wilson,Ā Kiefer SutherlandĀ andĀ Stephen Colbert.
A big budget effort, which will screen in 3-D on a lot of cinemas, this has already proved a hit in America and is likely to snag the top spot here too, especially given the family audiences around for the Easter holiday.Ā [Vue West End & Nationwide / Cert PG]
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IN SELECTED CINEMAS
Religulous (Momentum Pictures): A riotousĀ documentary directed by Larry Charles in which US comedianĀ Bill MaherĀ explores the subject of religion.
TravellingĀ to numerous religious places, such asĀ Jerusalem, theĀ VaticanĀ andĀ Salt Lake City, where they interview believers from a variety of backgrounds and groups including a former member ofĀ Jews for Jesus,Ā Christians,Ā Muslims, formerĀ MormonsĀ andĀ Hasidic Jews.Ā
Ā
Hilarious and refreshing, forget the predictable hand-wringing criticisms that it is smug and imbalanced and take it as a Borat-style experiment – albeit one that is as disturbing as it is funny.Ā [Odeon Panton Street & selected Key Cities / Cert 15]
* Listen to our interview with Larry Charles *
I Can’t Think Straight (Enlightenment Films): AnĀ Indian romance about aĀ London-based Jordanian woman who fall in love with another woman before her wedding.Ā Directed byĀ Shamim SarifĀ and starringĀ Lisa RayĀ andĀ Sheetal Sheth. [Apollo Piccadilly Circus / 12A]
Modern Life (Soda Pictures):Ā A look at several generations of farmers and several farmer families in contemporary France directed byĀ Raymond Depardon. [Gate, Cine Lumiere, Everyman, Renoir & Key Cities / Cert PG]
Waveriders (Element Pictures): A documentary aboutĀ the unlikely Irish roots of the worldwide surfing phenomenon and Irish/Hawaiian waterman, George Freet.Ā [London & Selected Key Cities / Cert PG]
The World UnseenĀ (Enlightenment Films): Writte and directed byĀ Shamim Sarif, thisĀ starsĀ Lisa RayĀ andĀ Sheetal ShethĀ as twoĀ Indian South AfricanĀ women who fall in love in a racist, sexist, and homophobic society.Ā [Apollo Piccadilly Circus / Cert 12A]
Cherry Blossoms (Dogwoof Pictures): A German film about a married coupleĀ (Hannelore ElsnerĀ and Elmar Wepper) who decide to to see more of life and visit their son who lives in Japan and Mount Fuji.Ā [ICA Cinema & Selected Key Cities]
> Listen to our interview with Larry Charles about Religulous
>Ā Check out our latest DVD picksĀ (W/C Monday 23rd March)Ā
The red band trailer for Bruno is now here.
Ā
It is released in the UK and US on July 10th.
> Bruno at the IMDb
> Find out more about the character at Wikipedia
A decent work print of Wolverine has been leaked and is now doing the rounds on various file sharing sites.
For those not familiar with the film, it isĀ aĀ prequelĀ to theĀ X-MenĀ trilogy, focusing on theĀ mutantĀ WolverineĀ (Hugh Jackman), is directed byĀ Gavin HoodĀ and due for worldwide release on May 1st.
Part of me thought that this was some kind of April Fool’s Joke but if you go to one of the most (in)famous torrent sites – you know, the one from Sweden – then you will see that the most popular torrent is indeed the new X-Men prequel.
Here is a screen grab of what happens when you do a search:
Drew McWeeny at Hitfix reports:
20th Century Fox is about to have an interesting practical test on one of their biggest summer films.Ā
Ā “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”Ā leaked online today in what appears to be a near-finished DVD quality rip, marred only by a few unfinished FX shots.Ā
As soon as files go up, they’re coming right back down as Fox legal chases pirates around the web, but that toothpaste is out of the tube, gentlemen.Ā Ā Ā
He also got this statement from 20th Century Fox:
“Last night, a stolen, incomplete and early version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine was posted illegally on a website.
It was without many effects, had missing and unedited scenes and temporary sound and music.
We immediately contacted the appropriate legal authorities and had it removed.
We forensically mark our content so we can identify sources that make it available or download it.
The source of the initial leak and any subsequent postings will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law ā the courts have handed down significant criminal sentences for such acts in the past.
The FBI and the MPAA also are actively investigating this crime.
We are encouraged by the support of fansites condemning this illegal posting and pointing out that such theft undermines the enormous efforts of the filmmakers and actors, and above all, hurts the fans of the film.”
There is no doubt that this is a big deal.Ā
Although there have been leaks before on films like Hostel 2 and Sicko, whilst those films opened at cinemas, I can’t really remember a summer blockbuster leaking like this online.Ā
One can only assume that it came from someone who had access to a digital copy of the whole film.
Someone at an organisation involved in post production? Maybe a disgruntled employee somewhere in the production food chain? Perhaps a superhacker who got access to a secure FTP site?
Given the high profile nature of the production I imagine Tom Rothman andĀ Jim GianopulosĀ will be paying a lot of time and money to get to the bottom of it.
Obviously, it is an embarrassing security issue for a major studio on a tent-pole production but they will also be concerned about how it impacts the opening box office.
I may be wrong, but I don’t think it will have as much of an impact as some think.
For a film like this, with millions spent on marketing before it opens on thousands of screens around the globe, a big opening is essentially guarenteed.
DVD screeners of Oscar season movies have been pirated for several years now and the box office impact of that is debatable.
However, this episode certainly gives Fox a good excuse if Wolverine doesn’t have a good opening.
But what if it doesn’t? What exactly does a high profile torrent leak actually mean in practical terms? And can we really reach a conclusion based on one film?Ā
My gut feeling is that torrent sites are a bit too fiddly and complicated for the mass online audience.Ā
But then again, maybe it will have an impact.
Time will tell.
> Wolverine at the IMDb
> More about filesharingĀ and the X-Men series at Wikipedia
> A wacky conspiracy theory over at Hollywood Elsewhere
WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL 2009
WEDNESDAY 8th APRIL 2009
THURSDAY 16th APRIL 2009
WEDNESDAY 29th APRIL 2009
Keep a look out every Friday for a breakdown of the weekly releases with more detail on each film.
If you have any questions about this monthās cinema releases or any upcoming titles then justĀ email me or leave a comment below.
>Ā Get local showtimes via Google Movies (just enter your local postcode)
>Ā Find out about films showing near you at MyFilms
Hollywood stars have a long tradition of filming commercials for Japanese TV but these spots Nicolas Cage cut forĀ Sankyo are really quite something.
Ā
For those who don’t know, Sankyo is a maker of Pachinko – a Japanese pin ball/slot machine game.
> Nicolas Cage at the IMDb
> A 2007 Washington Post article on Hollywood stars doing Japanese TV ads
The renowned French composerĀ Maurice JarreĀ died recentlyĀ in Los Angeles at the age of 84.
He is best known for hisĀ scoresĀ to the films of David Lean, such as Lawrence of ArabiaĀ (1962),Ā Doctor ZhivagoĀ (1965), andĀ A Passage to IndiaĀ (1984), all three of which won himĀ Academy Awards.
Other notable scores of his includeĀ WitnessĀ (1985),Ā Dead Poets SocietyĀ (1989) andĀ GhostĀ (1990).
His last public appearance was in February at the Berlin Film Festival, where he won a lifetime award.
Here is a medley of his film work:
> BBC report on his death
> Maurice Jarre at the IMDb
DVD PICKS
Waltz With Bashir (Artificial Eye): One of the most remarkable films to be released in the last yearĀ deals withĀ the memory of Israeli soldiers involved in the invasion of Lebanon in the early 1980s andĀ theĀ 1982Ā Sabra and Shatila massacre.Ā
Directed byĀ Ari Folman, it examines his own experiences on that mission and the struggle to remember what happened when he interviews various army colleagues from the time.
The strange title is taken from a scene with one of Folmanās interviewees, who remembers taking a machine gun and dancing an āinsane waltzā amid enemy fire, with posters ofĀ Bashir GemayelĀ lining the walls behind him.
GemayelĀ was the Lebanese president who whoseĀ assassinationĀ helped trigger the massacre.Ā The most unusual and startling aspect of the film is that it is animated, an unconventional approach for what is essentially a documentary.
Although very different in theme and tone toĀ Creature ComfortsĀ it appears to adopt the same device in which real conversations are animated and stylised.Ā
A hugely ambitious film, it took four years to complete and is and international co-production betweenĀ Israel,Ā GermanyĀ andĀ France.
Back in May it premiered toĀ huge acclaimĀ atĀ CannesĀ and was one of the front runners to win theĀ Palme dāOr.Ā Much of that praise was richly deserved because this is an arresting and highly original film.
It deserves particular credit for taking a highly politicised and contentious event and yet somehow makes a wider point about the futility of war whose relevance is not just confined to the cauldron of the Middle East.
Another aspect which makes this story so intriguing is that the Israeli troops were not guilty of the massacre itself, but of standing by and letting Lebanese miltiaĀ murderĀ PalestinianĀ refugees.Ā
It is the memory of, or rather the inability to remember,Ā this event that lies at the core of the story. Has Folman unconsciously blocked out the memory? Does guilt cloud any rational perspective?Ā
The raw power of the source material is enhanced by some extraordinary imagery, with a remarkable and inventive use of colour for certain sections, especially those involving the sea.
Added to this is Folmanās narration which has an almost hypnotic effect when set alongside the visuals, almost as if the audience is experiencing a dream whilst watching the film itself.Ā
The film won 6Ā Israeli Film AcademyĀ awards (including Best Picture) and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars.
It might seem like a strange film to make about such a serious subject but itās surreal approach only makes the horrors of war seem all too real.Ā Ā
The DVD and Blu-ray discs include the following extras:
DVD
Blu-ray Disc
* Listen to our interview with director Ari Folman here *
Not Quite Hollywood (Optimum): A highly entertainingĀ documentary exploring the world of Australian exploitation cinema that began in the early 1970s.Ā
Directed byĀ Mark HartleyĀ it shows how a new generation of maverick filmmakers capitalised on the relaxing of censorship laws to create wilder films on smaller budgets.
Whilst more refined directors likeĀ Peter WeirĀ achieved worldwide acclaim with films likeĀ Picnic At Hanging Rock, more maverick directors and actors created a crazier breed of exploitation movie.Ā
The film explores howĀ films likeĀ Alvin Purple,Ā Barry McKenzie Holds His Own,Ā Dead-End Drive In,Ā Long Weekend,Ā Mad Max,Ā The Man from Hong Kong,Ā Patrick,Ā Razorback,Ā Roadgames,Ā StorkĀ andĀ Turkey ShootĀ all contributed to a new era of Aussie cinema.Ā Ā
Extras on the disc inlcude:
* Listen to our interview with Mark Hartley here *Ā
Blindness (Pathe): TheĀ film adaptationĀ of the 1995Ā novelĀ byĀ JosĆ© SaramagoĀ explores a society suffering an epidemic of blindness.
Directed byĀ Fernando MeirellesĀ it starsĀ Julianne Moore,Ā Mark RuffaloĀ ,Ā Danny GloverĀ andĀ Gael Garcia BernalĀ as a group of people struggling to survive amidst the chaos that ensues.
Whilst at times the film may be too bleak for some viewers, it is a much better film that its mixed reception at Cannes last year might have believe, with fine performances from the leads and some excellent visuals.
The extras include:
* Listen to our interview with Fernando Meirelles about the film here *
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ALSO OUT
10 Days to War (2 Entertain)
A Time To Love and A Time To Die (Masters of Cinema)
Blood on the Sun (Network)
Body of Lies (Warner)
Changeling (Universal)
Derek (BFI)
Dexter – Season 2 (Paramount)
Driftwood (Anchor Bay)
Flawless (Metrodome)
Flesh and Fury (Eureka)
Free Agents (C4 DVD)
Henry Poole is Here (Sony)
Lakeview Terrace (Sony)
Manhunt (Metrodome)
Mistresses – Series 2 (2 Entertain)
Muriel ou le Temps dāun retour (Eureka)
My Best Friend’s Girl (Lionsgate)
Nighthawks / Strip Jack Naked (BFI)
Of Time and the City (BFI)
Patti Smith Dream of Life (BFI)
Rivals (Optimum)
Salaam Bombay (Arrow)
Splinter (Icon)
The Express (Universal)
The Secret Life of Bees (Fox)
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (Eureka)
The Wild Geese – Special Edition (Arrow)
Unnatural Causes (Sony)
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> BuyĀ Waltz With Bashir,Ā Not Quite HollywoodĀ andĀ BlindnessĀ at Amazon UK
> Browse more DVD Releases atĀ Amazon UKĀ andĀ Play
>Ā Check the latest DVD prices at DVD Price Check
>Ā Take a look at the current UK cinema releasesĀ (W/C Friday 27th March)
Larry Charles is the director of Religulous, a new documentary in which US comedian Bill Maher explores the subject of religion.
It sees themĀ travel to numerous religious places, such asĀ Jerusalem, theĀ VaticanĀ andĀ Salt Lake City, where they interview believers from a variety of backgrounds and groups including a former member ofĀ Jews for Jesus,Ā Christians,Ā Muslims, formerĀ MormonsĀ andĀ Hasidic Jews.
Previously, he was writer on TV shows such as Seinfeld and Mad About You and more recently has directed episodes ofĀ Curb Your EnthusiasmĀ and the Borat movie.Ā
I spoke with Larry last October at the London Film festival where we discussed Religulous and the ideas behind it.
You can listen here:
[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Larry_Charles_on_Religulous.mp3]You can download thisĀ interviewĀ as a podcast via iTunes byĀ clicking here
ReligulousĀ is out at UK cinemas on Friday 3rd April
> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Official UK site
> Larry Charles at the IMDb
> Find out more about world religion at Wikipedia
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This is the original the cast of The Goonies reuniting for the DVD commentary with director Richard Donner a few years ago.
From left to right:Ā Jonathan Ke Quan (Richard āDataā Wang),Ā Sean Astin (Michael āMikeyā Walsh),Ā Martha Plimpton (Stefanie ‘Stef’ Steinbrenner),Ā Corey Feldman (Clark ‘Mouth’ Devereaux),Ā Kerri Green (Andrea āAndyā Carmichael), Richard Donner (Director), Jeff Cohen (Lawrence āChunkā Cohen) and Josh Brolin (Brandon āBrandā Walsh).
[Link via Buzzfeed]
> The Goonies at IMDb
> More about the 20th anniversary of the film in 2005
NATIONAL RELEASES
The Damned United (S0ny Pictures): The film adaptation ofĀ David Peace‘sĀ bestselling novelĀ about Brian Clough and his turbulent spellĀ as manager ofĀ Leeds UnitedĀ seesĀ Michael SheenĀ in the central role.
Adapted by Peter MorganĀ and directedĀ Tom HooperĀ (best known for his TV miniseries work on Longford and John Adams) it lacks the dark, interior qualities that made the book so riveting but features some excellent performances.
Sheen does a fantastic job in the title role, bringing the same kind of charm and authenticity that featured in his previous portrayals of Tony Blair and David Frost.
There are also some excellent supporting turns fromĀ Colm MeaneyĀ asĀ Don RevieĀ andĀ Jim BroadbentĀ as Sam Longson.
It is unusual for Sony to do a British film like this but they have done an excellent job in marketing as a film as something football and non-football fans can enjoy.
Given the competition this week, it stands a chance of claiming the top spot given the good reviews and positive word of mouth. Ā Ā
Knowing (E1 Films): The current number 1 film at the US box office starsĀ Nicolas CageĀ as a scientist who comes across a set of numbers that appear to predict disasters.
Directed byĀ Alex Proyas, it mixes drama, action and sci-fi and whilst plodding for the most part, does actually contain three excellent set-pieces and an ending that may surprise people with its ambition.Ā
E1 Films were a little reluctant to screen it for critics and actually released it early on Wednesday to bump up the opening weekend’s figures.
Given that Cage is still quite a big draw in the action genre (despite his incessant frowning in films like this) it should crack the top two and depending on how well The Damned United does, looks like the marginal favourite to claim the top spot. Ā Ā
The Haunting in Connecticut (Entertainment): Another horror film hits UK cinemas and this one is aboutĀ the allegedly true story (which almost certainly means its total bollocks) of the Snedeker family’s encounter with theĀ paranormalĀ inĀ Southington, Connecticut.
This is one of those films with plenty of posters and billboards and virtually no real buzz.
Ā
Given that the most well-known actors in it areĀ Virginia MadsenĀ andĀ Elias Koteas, Entertainment will be hoping that horror fans will be up for it and that all those billboards have had some impact.Ā
I’m guessing that it will have a short cinema life and will make most of its money on DVD. [CertĀ 15 /Ā Vue West End & Nationwide]
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IN SELECTED RELEASE
Two Lovers (Lionsgate): Ā AĀ romanticĀ drama film, very loosely based onĀ Dostoevsky‘sĀ “White Nights”Ā Ā which starsĀ Joaquin PhoenixĀ as a troubled young man living inĀ Brighton BeachĀ in New York, who falls in love with two very different womenĀ (Gwyneth PaltrowĀ andĀ Vinessa Shaw).
Directed byĀ James Gray, who has made films such asĀ The YardsĀ andĀ We Own the Night, it is a pleasingly old fashioned and charming film with Phoenix excellent in the central role (easily his best since Walk The Line in 2005) and good work from Paltrow and Shaw.
The technical work (notice the lack of sets) and cinematography byĀ Joaquin Baca-Asay are all first rate and although it is getting a limited release, is well worth seeking out.Ā [Cert 15 /Ā Apollo Picc Circus, C’World Haymarket, Curzon Mayfair & KeyĀ Cities]
Genova (Metrodome): Another film from the festival circuit last year is the story ofĀ twoĀ AmericanĀ girls and theirĀ BritishĀ father (Colin Firth) who move toĀ ItalyĀ after their mother dies.
Directed by the prolificĀ MichaelĀ Winterbottom, it also starsĀ Catherine KeenerĀ andĀ Hope Davis.
It was filmed in the titular city ofĀ GenoaĀ (Genova inĀ Italian) during the summer of 2007. [Cert 15 /Ā Curzon Soho, Ritzy Clapham, Odeon Swiss Cottage, Barbican & Key Cities]
TheĀ Life Before Her Eyes (Paramount): A thriller directed byĀ Vadim PerelmanĀ adapted from theĀ Laura KasischkeĀ novel of the same name starringĀ Uma ThurmanĀ andĀ Evan Rachel Wood.Ā [CertĀ 12A /Ā Key Cities]
Traitor (Momentum Pictures): A political thriller about anĀ FBI agent (Guy Pearce) who heads up the investigation into a dangerous international conspiracy, which seems to lead back to a former U.S. Special Operations officer, Samir Horn (Don Cheadle).Ā [CertĀ 12AĀ /Ā Empire Leicester Square & Key Cities]
Tyson (Revolver Entertainment):Ā A dcoumentary aboutĀ boxerĀ Mike TysonĀ directed byĀ James TobackĀ and produced byĀ Nicholas Jarecki. [Cert 15 /Ā Curzon Soho, Ritzy & selected Key Cities]
Aa Dekhen Zara (Eros): A Bollywood romanticĀ sci-fiĀ action thriller (yes, you did read that right), starringĀ Neil MukeshĀ andĀ Bipasha Basu.Ā [C’Worlds Feltham, Ilford, S’bury Ave., Odeon Greenwich, Vue O2 & Key Cities]
Afghan Star (Roast Beef Prod):Ā A documentary exploring how contestants on Pop Idol in Afghanistan risk their lives to appear on the show.Ā [ICA Cinema]
Martyrs (Optimum Releasing): AĀ FrenchĀ mystery–horror filmĀ written and directed byĀ Pascal Laugier.Ā [ICA Cinema]
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>Ā See what other films came out in March 2009
>Ā Check out our latest DVD picksĀ (W/C Monday 23rd March)
This is the UK trailer for Religulous, Bill Maher’s documentary about religion.Ā
It opens here on Friday 3rd April.
The writers of South Park have had some thoughts on the recent bailouts.
> Interesting Rolling Stone article by Matt Taibi on the bailout
> More on the global economic crisis at Wikipedia
Last night I went a long to my local cinema to catch Knowing , a new film starring Nicolas Cage as a scientist who comes across a set of numbers that appear to predict disasters.
Directed by Alex Proyas, it mixes drama, action and sci-fi whilst sprinkling them with well-worn clichƩs.
That said there are some highly effective moments that stand out from the routine nature of the overall story.
It also marks another entry into the puzzling career of Cage, still an A-list star who in recent years has mixed quality projects (Adaptation., Lord of War) with some real junk (The Wicker Man, Next) and the blockbuster success of the National Treasure franchise.
However, I have to confess I was intrigued to see Knowing, not because of its star but because it was (in the UK at least) one of those films that was ‘shielded’ from critics before its release.
What happens with most releases is that the distributor arranges for different types of critics to see it at different times.
Print, TV, radio and online outlets all get invited to preview screenings in advance of running their review or feature on the film.
The last screening is is usually for the national press in the week of release, although if a film company is wary of critics not liking a film, they will not even screen it for them.
For example, in recent years the Saw films have not been screened at all before their UK release, partly because the distributors know that critics will hate them and they don’t want bad reviews affecting the opening weekend gross.
As far as I understand, the UK distributor (E1 Films) of Knowing wasn’t keen on screening it before the national press show and I can see why as it is the sort of film that most critics here will dislike (I may be wrong but check the national papers tomorrow and see if I was right or not).
As E1 didn’t respond to my emails about it, I was thinking of just leaving it out of my regular weekly radio review.
However, they actually released it nationwide yesterday on a Wednesday so I decided to go along and check it out with a paying audience.
Some critics, who have the privilege of seeing films for free (lest we forget), resent this but I usually get a kick out of paying to see a film in a cinema that isn’t one of the London screening rooms I spend a lot of time in.
The thing I like most is that you get to see how a film actually plays with a paying audience, who probably see 2 or 3 films a month rather than critics who often squeeze in about 5 or 6 a week.
My excitement though, was tempered a little bit by one of my pet hates with mutiplex cinemas – poor projection.
It was a little blurry and although not bad enough for people to complain, was still not up to scratch.
Generally speaking screenings for critics have a dedicated projectionist who knows what he is doing whilst multiplexes (in trying to cut costs) have the opposite.
I remember seeing Oceans Thirteen in the multiplex cinema at the 02 arena complex in Greenwich and being shocked at how bad the image on screen was.
Sadly, cinemas get away with this because I’m guessing most audiences can’t tell when it is bad enough to complain.
On my way in I took a glance at the poster in the foyer and was struck by how closely it resembled the artwork for Steven Spielberg’s 2005 War of the Worlds remake:
Anyway, the film started and most of it consists of Cage (playing a recently widowed scientist) and his young son trying to figure out what a set of numbers scribbled down on a piece of paper 50 years ago actually mean.
A lot of the time Cage wears the perpetual frown that has become a hallmark of his recent performances and the whole thing mostly plays like a vintage X-Files episode on steroids.
There were some ironic laughs from the audience at some of the lamer moments, especially the pedestrian dialogue, but I think they were mostly in to it.
Despite a plodding narrative, the set pieces – especially ones involving various forms of transport – and the epic climax are very well handled indeed.
Overall, it doesn’t really work but there are some interesting themes and some strong visual ideas that you might not expect in a film like this.
That said, the lead actors (Cage and Rose Byrne) are let down by a script that seems to see dialogue as incidental to the bigger issues of the film.
So, you may ask, why were E1 Films reluctant to screen to most UK critics?
I think that they felt by opening it on a Wednesday they could not only bump up the opening week’s gross by getting in two extra day’s business (and the cinema I was in was surprisingly busy) but also steal a march on the anticipated weak reviews.
It is a strategy that Fox recently adopted for Marley and Me, another film critics reviled but still proved a hit with audiences. Does this mean that critics don’t matter?
My take is that critics do matter to varying degrees, but it also depends on the film.
Major studio blockbusters are almost critic proof as they have enormous marketing budgets but films on a slightly smaller scale like Knowing, with an estimated budget of $50 million, are vulnerable to bad word of mouth.
If critics universally pan a movie at this level then it will, generally speaking, affect the opening and overall box office prospects. For films released during Oscar season, decent reviews and buzz are almost essential to launching them successfully.
Then of course, there are films that got great reviews (The Insider and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) and still struggle to make an impact at the box office.
There is a much quoted maxim in Hollywood coined by writer William Goldman that says:
“Nobody knows anything”
But I don’t think that’s quite true.
After all, if you know that nobody knows anything, then you actually do know something (even if it is just the fact that nobody else knows anything).
In the case of films like Knowing, studios get wary of screening them for critics precisely because they do ‘know’ how it will go down.
> Knowing at the IMDb
> Reviews for Knowing at Metacritic
[Image copyright Ā© Summit Entertainment / E1 Films]
This is the trailer for Where The Wild Things Are, theĀ film adaptationĀ of theĀ Maurice SendakĀ children’s book directed by Spike Jonze.
It opens in the US on October 16th but the UK release date is TBC.
China has blocked YouTube after footage of soldiers beating monks and other Tibetans appeared on the site.
BBC News report:
The date and location of the footage, posted by a Tibetan exile group, cannot be ascertained.
A Chinese government spokesman would not confirm whether YouTube had indeed been blocked.
China has a history of blocking websites which carry messages it views as politically unacceptable.
In most of China, YouTube has suddenly become inaccessible.
The site has been carrying a graphic video released by Tibetan exiles, which shows hundreds of uniformed Chinese troops swarming through a Tibetan monastery – a group of troops beat a man with batons.
Here is a Reuters report featuring the footage that got the Chinese government upset:
> Find out more about the dispute between China and Tibet at Wikipedia
> BBC News on how Pakistan blocked YouTube last year
DVD PICKS
After the splendid featureĀ Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitĀ (2005), they have returned to the short form and this story sees Wallace and Gromit starting a newĀ bakeryĀ business amidst the backdrop ofĀ bakers who have been mysteriously disappearing.Ā
The extras include:
Directed by Tony Richardson, it was aĀ key film of the British New Wave in the 1960s and also stars Michael Redgrave.Ā
This BFI re-release has several interesting extras which include:
The highlights include Jeffrey Archer appearing on Mastermind, Neil Kinnock being sent on a Mission Impossible, Prince Edwardās attempts at guiding the yearās Royal Variety Show and Pavarotti giving a star turn at The Last Night of the Yobs.Ā
There are no extras.
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ALSO OUT
Amusement (EIV)
An Empress and The Warriors (Cine Asia)
At War With the Army (Network)
Bell-Bottom George (Sony)
Bleach Series 3 (Manga)
Blood Brothers (Metrodome)
Choke (Fox)
Get Cracking (Sony)
Green Street 2: Stand Your Ground (Lionsgate)
In Sickness and In Health Series 3 (2 Entertain)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (Lionsgate)
OSS-117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (ICA)
Quantum of Solace (Fox/MGM)
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (BFI)
Southern Gothic (DNC Entertainment)
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (Momentum)
The Secret Millionaire Series 1 (4DVD)
Tripods Series 1 & 2 (2 Entertain)
Yellowstone (2 Entertain)
Zack and Miri Make A Porno (EIV)
> BuyĀ Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death,Ā The Loneliness of the Long Distance RunnerĀ andĀ Spitting Image ā Series 5Ā at Amazon UK
> Browse more DVD Releases atĀ Amazon UKĀ andĀ Play
>Ā Check the latest DVD prices at DVD Price Check
> Take a look at the current UK cinema releases (W/C Friday 20th March)
Here is Jonathan Ross persuading Vin Diesel to inhale helium.
> Vin Diesel at the IMDb
> The Jonathan Ross Show at the BBC
