3DD!3

I didn’t expect this with CREATION, but I don’t have anything bad to say about the movie. Great direction, an excellent cast (Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany and that little girl too) a beautifully captured story about a family, love, losses and about a life strung between science and faith. All this tinged by touching background music by Christopher Young.

It took me right back to the old days. A classic Chan film, just the way I like it, and this one has two Jackies. And the jokes with the switches are just perfect.

Singing the same old song. But this time probably for the last time (that’s why 5 stars). The last episode recaps are luckily accompanied by the cool voice of Michael Emerson – the baddy, which adds to their atmosphere. However I can’t help thinking that these episodes are just a summary for the less equipped viewers who didn’t get it or for those too lazy to bother to watch the first season. It will at least make the waiting of the hardcore fans a bit more bearable. Ah, yes, and I wanted to say something about the beginning of episode six! I haven’t seen such an excellent start for ages. Answers, questions and the monster rock more than ever. Now there’s a reason...

What have we here? I Am Legend without Will Smith and all of those mutated oddities that he was trying to cure. At least, that’s how this extraordinary documentary starts. It is actually quite nice that instead of endlessly concentrating on WHY we are not going to be here forever it concentrates on what will happen WHEN we cease to exist. Everything is reported so innocently and matter-of-factly that it almost took away any ambition to accomplish anything. When you realize how futile our efforts to leave something behind us is, the smile freezes on your face. Really. With surgical precision, scientists, biologists and other experts come out with facts about the future and the past. Of course, it mainly focuses on the USA, so we can see the destruction of New York, San Francisco, Chicago and are left unaware what will become of Nový Jičín ;-). Well OK there is Paris, Rome and a couple of other cities outside the USA. The interesting thing is (you would have thought that it would burst much sooner), that of all modern human structures, the one that would last the longest is the Hoover Dam (that’s right, where the Allspark is hidden) and it’s one of the last things that we see disappear. Just a shame that a rich producer didn’t chip in and invest in the special effects by ILM, that would make it the documentary of the century (although maybe ... as we learned, we won’t even be around that long). P.S.: And in space, not even aliens can hear you scream. Sniff.

Heath Ledger was resurrected to steal this his last movie. Against all odds, Gilliam successfully managed to bring the picture to a successful conclusion. Not completely first-class, but very good all the same. His imagination works on overdrive and I can’t help thinking that Parnassus is actually personification of Gilliam himself who time and again makes a bet with the devil about whether he will be able to finish his next story. The special effects, although not completely perfect, are spectacular and depict stuff I personally like to see in movies (temple carved into stone in the shape of Buddha sitting on some elephants, jellyfish flying in space, well who could resist that?). They nicely contrast with quite realistically depicted period London full of drunks and Russian mafia ;-). Heath’s stand-ins are incorporated really well into the movie and don’t interrupt its flow in any way. Even though “flow" is not exactly the right word because here and there it falls apart in Gilliam’s hands. Who knows if he really had managed shoot all of the scenes with Ledger that he needed. Don't believe everything you read. Especially “The Mirror".

Haha! At last a Holmes to be proud of. He may still be a bit mainstream, but he’s darn nice. It’s funny to see that this rather madcap version, overflowing with snappy-lines is the most faithful to Doyle that I have ever seen. Downey rocks again, but he’s not alone. I’m not very keen on Jude Law, but his Watson is an equal to Holmes, and likewise Mark Strong is a respectable adversary (although underexploited). The story steeped in mystery is interesting enough to keep the viewer’s attention, but it’s clear that this is mostly about fights and snappy lines which are both first-class. And it gets even better when Zimmer’s catchy melodies play during the action sequences. If Holmes hadn’t run out of breath sometime in the middle, I would have given it five, but as it is it scores just a grubby 4. In the merry month of May, From my home I started, Left the girls of Tuam, Nearly broken hearted, Saluted father dear, Kissed my darlin' mother, Drank a pint of beer, My grief and tears to smother, Then off to reap the corn, And leave where I was born, I cut a stout blackthorn, To banish ghost and goblin, In a brand new pair of brogues, I rattled o'er the bogs, And frightened all the dogs, On the rocky road to Dublin. One, two, three, four five, Hunt the hare and turn her Down the rocky road And all the ways to Dublin, Whack-fol-lol-de-ra. In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary, Started by daylight, Next mornin' light and airy, Took a drop of the pure, To keep my heart from sinkin', That's an Irishman's cure, Whenever he's on for drinking. To see the lasses smile, Laughing all the while, At my curious style, 'Twould set your heart a-bubblin'. They ax'd if I was hired, The wages I required, Till I was almost tired, Of the rocky road to Dublin. One, two, three, four five, Hunt the hare and turn her Down the rocky road And all the ways to Dublin, Whack-fol-lol-de-ra. In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity, To be so soon deprived, A view of that fine city. Then I took a stroll, All among the quality, My bundle it was stole, In a neat locality; Something crossed my mind, Then I looked behind; No bundle could I find, Upon my stick a wobblin'. Enquirin' for the rogue, They said my Connacht brogue, Wasn't much in vogue, On the rocky road to Dublin. One, two, three, four five, Hunt the hare and turn her Down the rocky road And all the ways to Dublin, Whack-fol-lol-de-ra. From there I got away, My spirits never failin' Landed on the quay As the ship was sailin'; Captain at me roared, Said that no room had he, When I jumped aboard, A cabin found for Paddy, Down among the pigs I played some funny rigs, Danced some hearty jigs, The water round me bubblin', When off Holyhead, I wished myself was dead, Or better far instead, On the rocky road to Dublin. One, two, three, four five, Hunt the hare and turn her Down the rocky road And all the ways to Dublin, Whack-fol-lol-de-ra. The boys of Liverpool, When we safely landed, Called myself a fool; I could no longer stand it; Blood began to boil, Temper I was losin', Poor ould Erin's isle They began abusin', "Hurrah my soul," sez I, My shillelagh I let fly; Some Galway boys were by, Saw I was a hobble in, Then with a loud hurray, They joined in the affray. We quickly cleared the way, For the rocky road to Dublin. One, two, three, four five, Hunt the hare and turn her Down the rocky road And all the ways to Dublin, Whack-fol-lol-de-ra.

Another series of my youth that I still remember to this day. The episode where Earl becomes a tree or something used to give me nightmares. Those were the times. “Honey, I'm home!”

Buck reminds me of a rabbit that my dad used to call Big Boss. Uninspiring animation, but the gags carry this thing forward. The scene when he’s armored up like the Predator is perfect and the post-credits icing on the cake made me give this 4. Long live the Blender.

Michael Douglas. He makes this special. Otherwise it’s just a classic story about how the apprentice made it to the top and challenges his master to a duel. But this time the setting is speculation on the stock market. Charlie Sheen is also great here. "Greed ... has marked the upward surge of mankind…"

2 strangers, 1 conversation, 1 city. Before Sunrise is not for everyone but if you get caught up in it, it won't let you go. I don't want to get into the details - it's better if you see it for yourself. When you witness the perfect chemistry between the main characters, when you stroll with them through summertime Vienna. Then perhaps Celine and Jesse's story will become something more for you. Something you will want to remember. P.S.: Yes, I know I'm a hopeless romantic. ;-)