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Shaun of the Dead

movieMoll — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:33:15 +0000

Equal parts comedy and zombie movie, “Shaun of the Dead” serves up laughs and frights and sends up zombie movies without becoming a caricature. Londoner Shaun’s life is in disarray. He’s lost his girlfriend, still sharing a flat with his waster friend Ed, hanging out at the same pub every night and has an unresolved relationship with his mother and stepfather. To make matters worse, his neighborhood is soon overrun with walking dead who feed on the living. For the first time in his life, Shaun decides to stand up and be a man. For those inclined to look for hidden meanings, the movie’s a social commentary on how our society has become oblivious and zombie-like. For the rest of us, the movie’s a lot of fun. (99 min.)

Rated R - 2004

Director:
Edgar Wright

Starring:
Simon Pegg
Kate Ashfield
Nick Frost
Lucy Davis
Dylan Moran
Nicola Cunningham

Writer:
Simon Pegg
Edgar Wright

Shaun of the Dead

GroovyMovieGuy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:27:12 +0000

It’s a comedy and a horror film not a spoof film, according to creators during DVD extras. But does the title remind you of anything, like “Dawn of the Dead”? Whatever your take, “Shaun of the Dead” certainly is comedic and it’s got all the gore of a good horror film with zombies to boot.
The mundane Shaun (Simon Pegg) and his slacker buddy Ed (Nick Frost) become men of action when zombies take over London’s suburbs. A shovel and cricket bat become their weapons of choice to put down the undead.
Although it’s zombie-like slow for the first 15 minutes, “Shaun of the Dead” picks up speed and gallows humor as Shaun and Ed try to save the day. Nicola Cunningham as Shaun’s ditzy and unassuming mother, Mary, is a delight as well as a light diversion from the carnage all around. (99 min.)

Rated R - 2004

Director:
Edgar Wright

Starring:
Simon Pegg
Kate Ashfield
Nick Frost
Lucy Davis
Dylan Moran
Nicola Cunningham

Writesr:
Simon Pegg
Edgar Wright

Green for Danger

movieMoll — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:48:44 +0000

This British gem is a true whodunit in the tradition of Agatha Christie. There’s a murder in the operating room of a WWII hospital and our roster of suspects includes two doctors and four nurses. The plot has a few twists and a second murder before Scotland Yard Inspector Cockrill, played with charm and wit by Alastair Sim, ferrets out the culprit. (91 min.)

1947

Starring:
Alastair Sim
Trevor Howard
Sally Gray
Leo Genn
Judy Campbell
Megs Jenkins
Moore marriott
Ronald Adam

Director:
Sidney Gilliat

Writers:
Christianna Brand (novel)
Sidney Gilliat (screenplay)

Green for Danger

GroovyMovieGuy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:45:34 +0000

A real whodunit, see if you can figure out who’s the real killer. Dark, moody and set in WWII era Britain, this movie with a twist or two will keep mystery fans intriqued to the end. Well worth watching — just watch closely. (91 minutes)
A DVD bonus feature, “An Interview with Geoff Brown,” has a lot of interesting information about the original novel becoming a movie.

1947

Starring:
Sally Gray
Trevor Howard
Rosamund John
Alastair Sim
Leo Genn
Judy Campbell
Megs Jenkins
Moore Marriott
Henry Edwards
Ronald Adam
George Woodbridge
Frank Ling
Wendy Thompson
John Rae

Director:
Sidney Gilliat

Writers:
Christinna Brand (novel)
Sidney Gilliat (screenplay)
Claude Guerney (screenplay)

Keeping Mum

movieMoll — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:34:00 +0000

God moves in mysterious ways in the household of Vicar Walter Goodfellow (Rowan Atkinson). His wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) is bored and seeking excitement with her American golf pro (Patrick Swayze), his teen daughter is walking on the wild side and his young son is tortured by school bullies. Their saving grace arrives in the somewhat sinister form of their new housekeeper, Grace (Maggie Smith), who makes problems disappear. Smith is in top form in this delicious dark comedy — not to be missed. (103 min.)

Rated R - 2005

Starring:
Maggie Smith
Rowan Atkinson
Kristin Scott Thomas
Emilia Fox
James Booth
Liz Smith
Tamsin Egerton

Director:
Niall Johnson

Writers:
Richard Russo (story and screenplay)
Niall Johnson (screenplay)

Keeping Mum

GroovyMovieGuy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:31:20 +0000

It’s quirky. It’s British. It’s a dark comedy. Bad people die — well some — at the hands of the good. Subtle humor, tension and a neighbor’s dog that needs an early slice of heaven because, as I’ve heard, all dogs go to heaven.
Maggie Smith once again proves she’s one of the silver screen all-time greats. Patrick Swayze does a fine job playing a macho American golf pro who’s a sleazy woman’s man but I still don’t hate him. Rowan Atkinson has me rooting for the milquetoast minister he portrays who finally gets his groove on.
The DVD bonus features have deleted scenes that were appropriately deleted. There’s a making of the movie segment that’s slightly interesting, but you have to be a cinephile to really care. Watch the great movie, skip the rest unless you have time to kill.

Rated R - 2005

Starring:
Rowan Atkinson
Kristin Scott Thomas
Maggie Smith
Patrick Swayze
Tamsin Egerson
Toby Parkes
Liz Smith
Emilia Fox
James Booth
Patrick Moncton
Rowley Irlam

Director:
Niall Johnson

Writers:
Richard Russo (story and screenplay)
Niall Johnson (screenplay)