Film: Pumping Iron (1977)

DVD: OAR - Full Screen


"That was easy."
"Easy? You do one."

Review: This is an excellent documentary of the 1975 Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding contest between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno in South Africa. The first half of the film follows the confident Arnold training in Venice Beach and young challenger, Lou, training in New York. Arnold is hilarious and really showcases the talent that allowed him to become a movie star, businessman and Governor. It was great watching Arnold play mind games with his fellow competitors.

"You drink skim milk, don't you?
"No, I don't drink no milk."
"You don't drink any milk at all?"
"No milk, no. Milk is for babies. When you grow up, you have to drink beer."

"You look at your arms like you're admiring, right? You're admiring what you're gonna show them. And then you go... Boom! Like you're saying, Take a look at this hunk of man."

"If he comes in his best shape and he's equally as good as I am, or if, let's say, he's a few percent better than I am. I spend with him one night. I go down stairs and book us together in a room, you know, to help him for tomorrow's contest. And that night he will never forget. I will mix him up. He will come so ready to South Africa, so strong. But by the time the night is over, the next morning he will be ready to lose. I mean, I will just talk him into that, it's no problem to do. So it doesn't matter if he comes in shape, or out of shape. If he comes out of shape, at least it's less hassle for me, you know. And if he's in shape... Fine, I hope he is."

5 out of 5 Stars

Film: Mission Impossible 3 (2006)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


"I've been trying to bring Davian down since the day that I got here. And do you know what I've got for it?"
"It's never been confirmed that the Toxin Five theft was Davian..."
"Mr. Musgrave, please don't interrupt me when I'm asking rhetorical questions."

Review: It is rare that the third film in a series is the best, but that's the case here. While the first film had some great sequences, I thought it was just average overall. The second film was ridiculously over the top and one of Tom Cruise's worst films. The third film is a great mix of acting, special effects, stunts and simple but effective story-telling.

"That look in your eyes is a pain in my ass, you know that, right?"

"I have the Rabbit's Foot, but I can't make it to the roof!"
"What the hell d'you mean you can't make it to the roof? Where are you?"
"Look up! Look up! Look up!"

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: The General's Daughter (1999)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


"Why was she murdered?"
"Well, possible motives for murder are profit, revenge, jealousy, to conceal a crime, to avoid humiliation and disgrace, or plain old homicidal mania. Right there in the manual."

Review: This is a beautifully shot thriller of a military investigator trying to solve the murder of the General's daughter on a Southern Military Base. John Travolta is entertaining with his charming, but tough character.

"Oh, my. This was one squared-away soldier. Equally prepared for a military ball or the next war in the jungle."

"Do you think I'm involved in this?"
"One way or another, yes, I do."
"Then wouldn't it behoove me to retain the services of an attorney? I know a good one."
"Two problems there. First, the obvious. There are no good ones. Second, you're not a civilian, Colonel. You're in the Army. You have no rights to an attorney. You have no right to remain silent. And if you don't cooperate, I may have to put you in jail, and that would make me feel bad."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Thelma & Louise (1991)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


"You shoot off a guy's head with his pants down, believe me, Texas ain't the place you want to get caught."

Review: I know a movie is really good when I enjoy it even though I don't normally care for the lead actors or actresses. This is another great road movie with a classic ending. Beautiful Cinematography.

"You finally got laid properly, I'm so proud."

"Please! I have a wife and kids."
"Oh, really. Well, you're lucky. You be sweet to them, especially your wife. My husband wasn't sweet to me. Look how I turned out."

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Up in Smoke (1978)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


"Hey, how am I driving, man?"
"I think we're parked."

Review: I cried myself laughing the first time I saw this movie. It is a good stoner movie without much of a plot, just sequences. The first thirty minutes are the best.

"Man, what is in this shit, man?"
"Mostly Maui Waui, man, but it's got some Labrador in it."
"What's Labrador?"
"It's dog shit."
"What?"
"Yeah, my dog ate my stash, man."
"Yeah?"
"I had it on the table and the little motherfucker ate it, man. Then I had to follow him around with a little baggie for three days, man, before I got it back. Really blew the dog's mind, ya know?"
"You mean we're smokin' dog shit, man?"
"Get's ya high, don't it?"

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars

TV: Coupling - 2nd Season

DVD: Widescreen - Enhanced 16x9


"This could be your lucky-night."
"Well, maybe we should just take things a bit slower, relationship-wise."
"Oh, relationship-wise. Yeah, we should takes things very slow..."
"Good."
"But let's get stuck right in to the rampant sex, shall we, that's much easier."

Review: Another good season of Coupling. One of this show's unique strengths is when it replays scenes from a different character's perspective to add comedic value. The last episode was excellent farce of confused identity and deceit.

"You thought the BBC was trying to embarrass you with sex scenes?"
"I swear. I thought the TV was plotting against me. I'd be in my bedroom watching a film and it's just a couple having dinner or detectives solving a crime. It's all perfectly innocent and as soon as my dad comes up the stairs, suddenly it's all baby oil and nipples. Every time."

"Parents have no business talking about sex, it's not their area."
"It's disgusting. It's like when you find your dad's magazines."
"Or your parents doing it."
"Oh, I've been there."
"Or your mother making enormous sculptures of erections and filling the house with them. That's what I hate."

"I hate having sex at home. I've got a listening flatmate."
"Nooo, I hate those. Do you have to be really quiet for her?"
"No, I have to be really loud. We're very competitive."

"Does size really make a difference? You know what woman always say..."
"Ouch?"

"I'm talking about the BIG mistake. The one all women should be trained to avoid. She has ruled out, at any point in the future, the possibility of a threesome. How can a relationship survive without hope?"
"I mean no disrespect, but what would you know about relationships?"
"A relationship is a loving bond between two people and a threesome can take the edge off that."

"You can program any man's libido by careful use of the word, naked. Just slip it subtlety into the conversation every now and then. It's a scientific fact that if you say the word, naked, three times to any man, he has to cross his legs."

4 out of 5 Stars

TV: Coupling - 1st Season (2000)

DVD: Widescreen - Enhanced 16x9


"You know what 'I'll cook' says? It says, 'Let's have sex.'"
"No, that would be, 'Come and spend the night with me.'"
"'Come and spend the night with me' says, 'Let's have sex'. 'I'll cook' says, 'Let's have sex and I'll cater.'"

Review: A raunchier version of "Friends" from merry olde England.

"See, it's different when you're a straight bloke. Right? When we finally get our hands on the gear, let me tell you, it's not a drill. You know, Gays, they've got their own practice kit, but you don't get any practice women. We're supposed to fly those babies the first time we get in 'em."

"I wish you would have mentioned this lesbian obsession when we were going out. At least then we could have had some threesomes."
"We could have had threesomes?"
"A couple of my girlfriends suggested it. I didn't think you would be interested."
"We could have had threesomes?"
"Well, there is no point going on about it now. Is there? It's too late."

"This isn't fair, I was going to have Patrick. Now you're having Patrick. And she's had Patrick lots of times. I'll be the only one who hasn't been Patricked."
"You're also the only one who hasn't been Steved."
"Oh, Jane. Steve's nice but Patrick is enormous."

"I love the word naked, it's brilliant, isn't it? Naked. When I was a kid I used to write the word naked hundreds of times on a bit of paper and rub my face in it. It's better than sex."
"Every morning I wake up glad I'm not you."

"I am actually going to propose any second. As soon as I know what her answer is... So I can assure you she's doing maximum stuff with me."
"Susan has commitment sex with Steve."
"Exactly!"
"Where as she had full sex with Patrick."
"She has full sex with me!!! More than full sex."

"I am naked and, indeed, pornographic in Patrick's video cupboard."
"I turned down my cupboard opportunity. Now, when I eventually sleep with Patrick, I'll be older. I could have stayed forever young in the cupboard of Patrick's love. I going to have to do him really soon before my bottom takes over my entire body."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Miami Vice (2006)

DVD: Anamorphic


"What do you like to drink?"
"I'm a fiend for mojitos."
"I know a place. I'll take you to the best place for mojitos."
"Where is that?"
"Bodeguita del Medio."
"In the Keys?"
"Havana."

Review: A visually beautiful movie with a slick plot, but not much depth. A pair of Miami cops go deep undercover to figure out a South American drug lord's operation. It is a darker version of the 80's TV show.

"Why do I get the feeling everyone knows we're here 15 blocks out?"
"Cause everyone knows we're here 15 blocks out."

"Shoot me, she dies. Shoot me, go ahead. Fuck it, we can all go. That's cool."
"That's not what happens. What will happen is... what will happen is I will put a round at twenty-seven hundred feet per second into the medulla at the base of your brain. And you will be dead from the neck down before your body knows it. Your finger won't even twitch. Only you get dead. So tell me, sport, do you believe that?"

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Lock Up (1989)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


"All I know is I've only got six months left on my sentence."
"In Gateway, six months can be a lifetime. Anything can happen. This is hard time, Frank. You have no rights here unless I give them to you. You feel no pleasure unless I tell you you can. This is hell, and I'm going to give you the guided tour."

Review: Sylvester Stallone is finishing the last six months of his sentence, but he has just been transferred to the prison of a revengeful warden. I like how they were able to squeeze into a prison movie, the required happy musical montage of the prisoners rebuilding a car. It is an entertaining 80's movie.

"Move it, Ace. That's my spot... Uh-uh, that's my spot, too."
"Any spot in here that isn't yours?"
"Nope, they're all mine. You wanna use it, you gotta pay."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: The Rules of Attraction (2002)

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Film: Children of Men (2006)

DVD: Anamorphic


"The world was stunned today by the death of Diego Ricardo, the youngest person on the planet. The youngest person on earth was 18 years, 4 months, 20 days, 16 hours, and 8 minutes old."

Review: This is an excellent Sci-Fi film set in the near future where humans have stopped being able to reproduce and civilization starts to fall apart as a result. Clive Owens was great as usual as a burnt out who is asked to help transport an illegal immigrant across Britain by his ex-wife. Visceral sequences filled with super long takes really makes this future world come alive.

"I liked her. What happened?"
"She, uh, decide to Renounce."
"Renouncers? Are those the ones that kneel down for a month for salvation?"
"No. They're the Repenters. The Renouncers flagellate themselves for the forgiveness of humanity."
"Oh, right. Dating ain't what it used to be, is it, amigo?"

"Y'know that ringing in your ears? That 'eeeeeeeeee'? That's the sound of the ear cells dying, like their swan song. Once it's gone you'll never hear that frequency again. Enjoy it while it lasts."

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: City Heat (1984)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


"It wouldn't break my heart at all to scrape the street clean of your ilk. You know what an 'ilk' is, don't you, Dub?"
"A big deer."
"Yeah. Now, if I catch you loitering around my precinct again I'm going to shoot me an ilk. You understand?"

Review: This is a fun prohibition-era cops and robbers movie with Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds bouncing off each other as a police detective and private eye.

"Oh, I've been doing it all wrong. I've been hiding. You just walk down the middle of the street, huh?"

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars