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Archives for December 2009

Best Of The Blog - Harry Potter

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Producer Chris | 10:59 UK time, Thursday, 31 December 2009

Ohhhh it's New Year's Eve. Got anything nice planned? I do hope so.

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Here's today's best of the blog action and it's all about magic & wands. Back in the summer Edith got to spend a whole day on set with the 'Harry Potter' wizards. There are photos, videos, behind the scenes exclusives and loads more. Check them out here.

Here's today's What To Watch from James King.

leema.jpg4pm
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Madagascar

It's all about Chris Rock for me. His Marty the zebra is soooo much funnier than whiny Melman the giraffe and loudmouth Alex the lion. When a clearly out-there performance turns up in a kids' movie like this, it's something special.

Best Of The Blog - Paranormal Activity & Cup Drinking Fun

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Producer Chris | 10:42 UK time, Wednesday, 30 December 2009

Day 2 of our best of the blog highlights.

Oren Peli

Why not see what happened when we had a chat to the 2009 king of scares Oren Peli, director of 'Paranormal Activity'. He spoke about films that scare him, tips on how to be a good director and his favourite part of the movie. You'll notice that he doesn't look particularly scary as a person, so we made his photo a bit scarier. You can see it here.

Cup 1

We also had a fun game of guess who drank from a cup. You can have a look at the cups here, or see the answer here.

Before we go here's something you should watch on TV tonight as suggested by James King.

robot11.jpg9pm
´óÏó´«Ã½3
The Terminator

The orginal Arnie cyborg pic looks pretty dated now. But the power's still there, thanks mainly to the 3 stars - Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn and the future Governor Of California. From director James Cameron, currently wowing you with Avatar, from when he liked to make brilliantly bleak sci-fi. Love it.

Best Of The Blog: Twilight New Moon

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Producer Chris | 14:34 UK time, Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Well as we get towards the end of 2009, we thought we'd post a daily blog showing you something from the Movies Blog that you might have missed this year.

OMG! Twilight Time!

Let's start with 'Twilight New Moon', we celebrated it's launch with 9 Days To New Moon. We had all sorts of content including interviews with the stars & director, Greg James getting turned into Edward and an online illusion that let you see Edward everywhere. Check it all out here.

Also let's not forget our what to watch on TV tonight as chosen by James King.

colinf.jpg12.30am
Channel 4
And When Did You Last See Your Father?

Sometimes Colin Firth is rubbish (hello St Trinian's). Sometimes, he likes to try a bit. He's doing just that in And When Did You Last See Your Father?, a touching tale of a writer thinking back to his troubled teen relationship with his eccentric father.

James King Defends: The films of Rob Schneider

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Producer Chris | 10:15 UK time, Tuesday, 29 December 2009

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The Schneider has two types of movie roles:

1. Leading man.
2. Cameos in Adam Sandler films. As someone 'foreign'.

Those cameos have become ever more extravagant, pointless and, frankly, massively offensive. I'm obsessed. Now I'm not saying they're good in a Daniel Day-Lewis-is-undeniably-good-in-everything-he-does kind of way. I'm saying they intrigue me. In 1998's 'The Waterboy' he was simply a redneck football fan who shouted out 'You can do it!' from the bleachers (he's reprised it many times since).

By '07's 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry' he was an Asian priest complete with 'comedy' big teeth, huge glasses and accent off of the 1970s. Totally ridiculous. Weirdly compelling. Watching a Schneider cameo is like watching a monkey at the zoo. I'm fascinated by what the little fella's gonna get up to next.

Such performances raise genuine questions:

1. Does Sandler feel he has to put RS in ALL of his comedy pics? If so, does he get writers to deliberately include a 'foreign' character for him to play?

2. Does RS feel sad that, let's be honest, cropping up every year as a crazy Sheik (or something) in a Sandler film is pretty much all we know him for now?

3. Was RS annoyed that in 2009, Adam decided to make a more serious movie (the unfunny 'Funny People') so we didn't see him in anything big? Never mind, he's back with Sandler in next year's silly 'Grown Ups'. Phew.

Essentially, Schneider seems a bit sad. His mate is getting top billing so Rob has to make the maximum impact in the smallest possible time. Hence playing a 'wacky' Palestinian in 'You Don't Mess With The Zohan'. Watch Schneider's turns and you're watching a comedian's desperation at its most raw.

I once introduced Schneider at what was laughably called a 'celebrity screening' (ie. Jodie Marsh and a bloke who used to be in Hollyoaks) of 'Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo'. I took some persuading from the film company. Here's how the telephone conversation went:

The Film Company: Can you introduce Rob Schneider at a 'celebrity screening' (ie. Jodie Marsh and a bloke who used to be in Hollyoaks) of Deuce Bigalow?

Me: How dare you even ask me! That sounds so tacky. No, no - a thousand times no!

TFC: You'd also have to introduce Kelly Brook and Rachel Stevens.

Me: What time shall I get there?

When I met Schneider he was quiet, nervous and edgy. He went on stage, read off a crumpled bit of paper and did some unfunny gags. He was every bit as uncomfortable as I wanted him to be. The fact is, if you watch (say) Tom Cruise in a movie, you see a man 100% happy to be there. He oozes clear confidence. Great - but sometimes I want someone a bit more fuzzy. I don't understand the reason for Rob Schneider. But I like trying to work him out.

What To Watch - 28th Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 10:44 UK time, Monday, 28 December 2009

uncle.jpgUncle Buck
ITV3 - 9pm
John Candy was a very funny, fat man. Unfortunately he's now dead - a lesson there, as you're stuffing your face with festive cakes. But before the diet, why not enjoy one of Candy's finest? As the titular Buck, he's the ultimate slobby relative, put in charge of a teeny tiny weeny Macauley Culkin. Let the chaos ensue.

The Prophet - First Look Images

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Producer Chris | 10:15 UK time, Monday, 28 December 2009

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One of the films which has Oscar potential written all over it is 'The Prophet' which is out on the 22nd January. It's already won four awards and is France's official entry for foreign language film at the Oscars. It's basically the French Godfather. So if you're in the mood for a art-housey gangster flick, this could be the one for you next year. It's the story of 19 year old Malik who arrives in jail friendless and alone with no-one to protect him.

It's directed by Jacques Audiard, the bloke behind the much loved 'The Beat That My Heart Skipped', and the film was the winner of this year's Grand Prix at Cannes and Best Film at the London Film Festival. James King says, "Tres bon. Experience something special when A Prophet opens." Here are some pictures from it.


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2010 Movie Preview

James King | 16:00 UK time, Sunday, 27 December 2009

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Did you miss James King's movie preview of 2010? If so you missed out on all these dates for your diary.


Radio 1 recommends for 2010...

The Road (8th January)

Viggo Mortensen broods big time in this bleak but brilliant tale of a father and son travelling a post-apocalyptic America. An Oscar nomination beckons (although you'll probably lose to Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, Viggo. Soz.)

Precious (29th January)

This packs some serious punch. Newcomer Gabby Sidibe is awesome as a the overweight and homeless teen, battling with her fiery mother in the New York projects. Look out for Mariah C too. I know... a good Mariah movie!


Youth In Revolt (5th February)
Michael Cera can't do the weedy-but-wonderful teen boy thing forever. But I'm happy for him to make hay whilst the sun shines. Here's another tender and fun story of a nerd looking for the girl of his dreams. Expect a suitably skinny jeans soundtrack.


Kick Ass (2nd April)
Director Matthew Vaughn's Superbad-meets-Spiderman comic book comedy. The trailer hit the internet last month and looks awesome - as does a back-on-form Nicholas Cage. It's been a looooong time, Nic.


Cemetery Junction (7th April)
Gervais and Merchant team up again for a shot at the big screen. It's a 70s-set Brit rom-com, focusing on 3 best mates and their suburban lives working for an insurance company. It's The Office meets Saturday Night Fever (there's one for the poster).


Streetdance (21st May)
Diversity and George Sampson hit the cinemas in this homegrown take on Step Up. The moves will be slick. The script, probably not.


Get Him To The Greek (11th June)
They were brilliant in Forgetting Sarah Marshall so I'm expecting big things when Jonah Hill and Russell Brand re-team for this comedy, playing the same characters as before. One's fat! The other's randy! I love that!


Scott Pilgrim vs The World (27th July)
Edgar Wright blends rom-com with comic book chic in this tale of a geeky boy (Michael Cera, obv) battling his exes. He knows what he's doing that Edgar Wright. Trust him with your life.


80s remakes
Clash Of The Titans (26th March), Nightmare On Elm Street (7th May), Footloose, Karate Kid (both 18th June), The A Team (30th July), Tron: Legacy (26th Dec)


Sequels
Iron Man 2 (30th April), Sex & The City 2 (28th May) , Shrek Forever After (2nd July), Eclipse (9th July), Toy Story 3 (23rd July), Little Fockers (30th July), Step Up 3 (6th August), Harry Potter & Deathly Hallows Pt 1 (19th Nov), Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (10th Dec)



Our fave stars...
Leo Di Caprio - Shutter Island (19th March), Inception (13th August)
Johnny Depp - Alice In Wonderland (5th April)
Jake Gyllenhaal - Prince Of Persia (28th May)
Zac Efron - Charlie St Cloud (25th June)
Adam Sandler - Grown Ups (16th July), The Zookeeper (22nd Oct)
Steve Carell - Dinner For Schmucks (20th August), Despicable Me (15th Oct)
Zooey Deschanel - Your Highness (1st October)
V-Hudge - Beastly (8th October)
Cameron Diaz - Knight & Day (30th June), The Green Hornet (Dec)
Miley Cyrus - The Last Song (30th April)
Leighton Meester - The Room Mate (29th Oct)
Kristen Bell - Burlesque (26th November), When In Rome (11th June)

What To Watch - 27th Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 10:42 UK time, Sunday, 27 December 2009

scorpion.jpgThe Scorpion King
ITV1 - 3.15pm
Back when he was still The Rock, Dwayne Johnson followed up his role in The Mummy 2 with his own spin-off. It's pretty fun actually AND he does that eyebrow thing. I love that.

Also be sure to check out James King's Movie Preview for 2010 on Radio 1 today from 1pm.

2009 Movie Review

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Producer Chris | 16:00 UK time, Saturday, 26 December 2009

If you missed out on listening to James King's 2009 Movie Review today, then what's wrong with you? Did you OD on Turkey is that it? Never mind though, you can listen to it again here.

James picked his 10 biggest films of the year and here they are for your consideration.


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At 10, it's yet another classic from the legends at Disney Pixar - only they could make a film about an old bloke who ties balloons to his home and flies to South America AND make it a classic. You gotta love it - it's UP.

UP was hilarious, thanks to some brilliant dialogue between crinkly Mr Fredrickson and young Russell, the hyperactive scout who accidentally finds himself onboard the floating house.

It was also action-packed, complete with...er...talking dogs.

But mainly UP made us blub big-time. This was a seriously emotional story about fulfilling your dreams, whatever your age.

Bruno2009.jpg9. Austria's biggest export since Arnie Schwarzeneggar sashayed his way onto the big screen this year, looking bang on trend his tight yellow lederhosen.

BRUNO was Sacha Baron-Cohen's follow-up to the massive Borat, following the fashionista's attempts to make it big in the States. He wasn't as a big as BoratÌý - but Bruno's outrageous behaviour told us plenty about America's obsession with fame.

HP09.jpg8. HARRY POTTER & THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE was the wizard's 6th movie outing and the biggest box-office pic of the year.

Things were getting seriously dark at Hogwarts in HP6 - Horace Slughorn returned, Professor Snape cut a deal and Voldemort grew ever stronger. Luckily there was plenty of snogging to lighten the mood.

By now the stars of Potter can do this stuff blindfolded and they've never looked more relaxed on the screen, even though the film had to cut loads from the huge book. Alan Rickman's slimy turn as Severus Snape was worth the price of admission alone.

twilight2009.jpg7. So onto the most hyped movie of the year. In fact, this wasn't just a film - it was part of a 'saga' - The Twilight Saga to be precise. Of course we're talking about NEW MOON.

So which side were you on? Team Edward or Team Jacob? It was definitely harder to love moody Ed this time around, as he left Bella all on her lonesome. The perfect moment for Jake and his pecs to move in. Just a pity he's a werewolf.

NEW MOON might not have been a work of art. But when it comes to teen angst and brooding tunes, nothing topped it. Alongside True Blood on the telly, New Moon made sure that '09 was the year of the bloodsucker.

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slumdogmillionaire2009.jpg6. At the Oscars this year it was all about a bloke from Lancashire and a guy who used to be in Skins. Danny Boyle and Dev Patel looked a bit out of place at Hollywood's most glamorous night but SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE still walked away with EIGHT Academy Awards.

What made it even better was that no-one had expected SLUMDOG to be this big. It was a gritty story, a lot of it set in the gutters of Mumbai, with a load of subtitles - not an obvious blockbuster. But it was the feelgood factor that won over audiences big-time.


PNA.jpg5. The year's most talked about scary film was also the cheapest. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY only cost around 15 thousand dollars to make. It's since grossed 150 million.

So why did PARANORMAL ACTIVITY get so massive? Basically because it feels real. It's just a simple haunted house story and ad-libbing a lot of it AND recording it with an old-skool digicam made it look more believable. Even the glimpse of a door creaking a little bit becomes seriously brown-trouser scary.

Just the catering on 2012 probably cost more than this entire film - but it goes to show how making an impact isn't all to do with mega budgets.


StarTrek2009.jpg4. Sc-fi nerds had been dreaming of a new STAR TREK movie for a looooong time. This year, their dreams came true.

But this was no ordinary TREK film. Director JJ Abrams made the Starship Enterprise cool again by focusing on the early years of Kirk and Spock. He was also happy to mix huge space battle scenes with plenty of gags. How awesome was Simon Pegg as Scotty?

This was a STAR TREK movie for people who didn't hang out at Klingon conventions. Big, bold and just pipping the also brilliant DISTRICT 9 as Best Sci-Fi of the year.

500days2009.jpg3. 500 DAYS OF SUMMER wasn't one of the biggest of '09 but those who saw it fell in love with its fresh take on romantic comedy and deliciously dreamy soundtrack.

Joseph Gordon Levitt starred as Tom, the wide-eyed greetings card writer who falls instantly in love with new work colleague Summer, played by Zooey (Zoe) Deschanel. Problem is, she's just not that into him.

500 DAYS was a breath of fresh air, happier to show romance that goes pear-shaped than just all the old clichés. Zo and Joe could well have been this year's cutest couple. Bless.


inglourious_basterds2009.jpg2. The legend Quentin Tarantino was back on blistering form this year, spinning the Second World War as only he can in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

It was a revenge movie, a war movie, even a bit of a comedy film, all wrapped up in the style of a Western with a bit of David Bowie on the soundtrack. Off the hook - but totally awesome.

QT got a certain Brad Pitt on board for this story of a plot to assassinate Hitler - and he was pretty cool - but it was German star Christoph Waltz who stole the show as seriously creepy Colonel Hans Landa. Surely Oscar-worthy?


hangover2009.jpg1. Re-wind back to this time 2008 and no-one could have predicted how big THE HANGOVER would've been. This Summer, it was the only one making us laugh (Year One and Land Of The Lost bottled it faster than Camilla Dallerup on I'm A Celebrity...)

The plot was simple - 4 guys recovering from a stag night out in Vegas. But it was the chaos they found themselves in that spiralled into hilariously surreal territory. I'm still wondering why there was a chicken in their room when they woke up?

Bradley Cooper was the breakout star, now playing with the big boys on a remake of The A-Team and dating Renee Zellwegger (who hasn't?). My fave of the lads though was hapless Alan, sweetly played by beardy weirdo Zach Galafianakis. The guy was so wrong, half the time you didn't even know whether you should laugh. But laugh we did - big time. The Hangover 2 beckons and director Todd Phillips - who took a percentage of the gross for this unknown quantity - is rolling in big bucks thanks to a gamble that really paid off.

What To Watch - 26th Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 10:41 UK time, Saturday, 26 December 2009

penguins.jpg The March Of The Penguins
ITV1 - 4.40pm
'Oi Mum! Do we have to watch a blimmin' documentary about penguins?! It's Christmas for cryin' out loud. I wanna have a laugh. Oh... hang on. It's actually pretty good.' Of course it is. As I always say, there's no such a thing as a bad film narrated by Morgan Freeman.

Also be sure to check out James King's Movie Review of 2009 on Radio 1 today from 1pm.

What To Watch - 25th Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 10:39 UK time, Friday, 25 December 2009

incredibles.jpg The Incredibles
´óÏó´«Ã½1 - 3.10pm
It's the Beeb's big Christmas afternoon movie. Watch it while you're Nan's snoring loudly and your Grandad's burping sprouts. Oh also, Happy Christmas from all of us at team movies.

Friday Reviews 25th Dec 2009

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Producer Chris | 08:22 UK time, Friday, 25 December 2009

Right, firstly, Happy Christmas from all of us at Team Movies on Radio 1. Here's James King celebrating.

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It might be Christmas, but there are still movies being released, both of these are out on Boxing Day.

Sherlock Holmes
A kick-ass reboot of the Sherlock legend, with an hilarious/actually-quite-tough central performance from Robert Downey Jnr. Guy Ritchie directs with a less showy style than before (a good thing) and Jude Law is fun as sidekick Dr Watson (a surprising thing). A great, old-skool, detective caper that's less irritating than anyone could have ever predicted.
4 stars.

Nowhere Boy
Watch out for this fella Aaron Johnson. He's gonna be huge. Here he's playing a teenage John Lennon, chronicling the Beatles legend's troubled relationship with his mum and auntie when growing up. He's awesome. It's pretty awesome. Worth seeing.
4 stars.

Have a great holiday and New Year. More movie chatter in 2010!

What To Watch - 24th Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 10:36 UK time, Thursday, 24 December 2009

shrek.jpg Shrek 2
´óÏó´«Ã½1 - 5.45pm

The best Shrek movie. The green ogre meeting the in-laws for the first time is funny enough but Antonio Banderas' Puss-In-Boots is genius. You've seen it before. Watch it again.

What To Watch - 23rd Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 10:35 UK time, Wednesday, 23 December 2009

owenwilson.jpg Shanghai Noon
´óÏó´«Ã½3 - 8pm

From back in the day when Owen Wilson seemed like the most oddball, original leading man in years - ie. before Marley & Me - comes his hilarious hook-up with Jackie Chan, merging kung-fu with cowboys. Hilarious

The Road - Exclusive Clip

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Producer Chris | 10:29 UK time, Wednesday, 23 December 2009

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Perhaps not the most cheery film to be discussing around Christmas but 'The Road' is out on the 8th January and we've got this exclusive clip from it.

It's based on the award winning book by Cormac McCarthy, who also wrote 'No Country For Old Men' and it features Academy Award-nominee Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce. It's a post-apocalyptic tale of the survival of a father and young son.

James King says, "It's brilliantly bleak, tough and will make grown men cry." So go and blub like a gilr but then pretend it's because there is something in your eye.

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What To Watch - 22nd Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 10:33 UK time, Tuesday, 22 December 2009

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King Kong


ITV2 - 9pm


Get past the massive hour long set-up and you've got a huge, old-skool monster adventure from beardy wonder Peter Jackson. There's a heart there too. Even the bit where the giant monkey goes ice-skating in Central Park is forgiveable at this time of year.

Tron: Legacy Pics

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Producer Chris | 09:34 UK time, Tuesday, 22 December 2009

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So although it's not out till December 2010, there is a heck of a lot of buzz about 'Tron: Legacy'. Earlier this year Disney put some and now they've sent us the first images from the film, and it's looking quite lovely, but mainly dark, and a bit blue.

It's going to be coming out in 3D and is attempting to create a "movie like no other". So it'll be next years Avatar then. The basic plot is that of a boy looking into his father's disappearance, who finds himself in the digital world of Tron. They then try to escape. Other stuff happens. There's some danger. There's some conflict. There's some resolution. It ends.

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What Do You Mean You've Not Seen... It's A Wonderful Life.

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James King | 12:47 UK time, Monday, 21 December 2009

It's A Wonderful Life You might have heard your folks talk about it - now it's time for you to wallow in the simple Yuletide magic of It's A Wonderful Life. Well, it's the ONLY time to be honest. This feel good festive classic just isn't the same post-December 25th.

Yes it's in that old black and white stuff, but that's half the fun. Watching It's A Wonderful Life is all about cosy, cosy Christmas nostalgia. Get ready to blub.

The story is about George Bailey (James Stewart - the original Tom Hanks), a mild-mannered building society clerk who's considering suicide on Christmas Eve. Why? Because he's been too nice, that's why. Over the years it's always been him that's sacrificed his dreams for the benefit of others. Now, he's skint and he's had enough.

Luckily, his issues are heard by his guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers). Although, to be honest, he's only a guardian angel second class - not the greatest. If he can convince George that his life is worthwhile then he can get his wings.

Watching Slumdog Millionaire earlier this year, it was It's A Wonderful Life that I thought of first. Okay, there are obvious differences - It's A Wonderful Life was made 50 years before Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? even began. But both are ultimately about feel good, even if they put you through the mill a bit to get you there. Relying heavily on flashbacks, they're both about people who you wouldn't normally bat an eyelid at but who each have their own unique qualities.

And that's the punch of the movie - everyday folk realising that (without sounding like a shampoo ad) they're worth it. Look up 'heart-warming' in the dictionary and you'll see the final scene of It's A Wonderful Life pictured right there. I'm welling up just thinking about it. If you want the cinematic equivalent of a mulled wine and a warm mince pie, this is it.

Tuck in.

What To Watch - 21st Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 10:30 UK time, Monday, 21 December 2009

muppet_christmas_carol.jpg The Muppet Christmas Carol
Five - 4.25pm
Now I love the new Christmas Carol, with Jim Carrey hamming big time as the measly Scrooge. But thinking about it, the Muppets do it better. There's something about a green frog that can get away with this kind of cheese better than anything else. Michael Caine - legend - singing 'It Feels Like Christmas' is pretty much as festive as you're ever going to get. Fact.

Iron Man 2 Trailer

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Producer Chris | 08:36 UK time, Monday, 21 December 2009

Robert Downy Jnr.
Mickey Rourke.
Iron Man 2.
New Trailer.
OMG.
That is all.

Ironman1.jpg ironman4.jpg ironman5.jpg ironman2.jpg

What To Watch - 20th Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 09:29 UK time, Sunday, 20 December 2009

santa.jpg
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation


ITV1 - 12.30pm


A big, cheesy, hilariously stoooopid 80s Christmas classic. Chevy Chase as the ultimate sad Dad, Clark Griswald, dreams of giving his family the perfect Crimbo. Yeah..... that ain't gonna happen, Clarky.

Alvin & The Chipmunks The Squeakquel Pics

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Producer Chris | 07:26 UK time, Sunday, 20 December 2009

Alvin & The Chipmunks Harry Potter

Watch out, 'cos here they come. The Chipmunks are back. The original film was the second highest grossing movie never to make it to number 1 in the US box office. It still has Jason () Lee and David () Cross in it as the actors alongside Alvin, Simon & Theodore. Not only that but there are new lady chipmunks and more squeeky songs, including a rather splendid squeek to Beyonce's Single Ladies. It's out tomorrow and accord to James King a decent film to take the younger members of the family to. If you want you can check out the You don't have to or anything, it's not like we're forcing you.

Alvin & The Chipmunks Girls Alvin & The Chipmunks Festive

What To Watch - 19th Dec 09

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Producer Chris | 11:08 UK time, Saturday, 19 December 2009

From now till the 1st Jan there are loads of cracking films on the TV. So we're going to recommend a different one every day. Here's the first one.

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Igby Goes Down

ITV1 - 1.35am

If Gossip Girl is all about the glamour girls of Manhattan, then Igby is the male geek version of the East Coast posh kids. Kieran Culkin is awesome as the troubled teen, searching amongst the New York cool crowd for a direction in his life. Black, black comedy.

Edith chats to Jude Law about Sherlock Holmes

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Producer Chris | 07:00 UK time, Saturday, 19 December 2009

sherlockhats.jpg

We can't wait to see 'Sherlock Holmes' mainly because of all the nice hats we seem to be seeing in the photos for it. Edith Bowman got to sit in a room with Jude Law and have a chat about the film, she didn't ask about the hats though. Pity that. They're really nice hats.

Also in case you missed it we had a world exclusive clip from the film which you can see here, and if you want to make more sense of all this hat chat, look here.


Friday Reviews - Avatar & More

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James King | 14:43 UK time, Friday, 18 December 2009

Avatar Tan

Avatar
Big, big sci-fi from Titanic man James Cameron, telling the tale of soldier boy Jake Sully, sent to the wild planet of Pandora to integrate with aliens. How does he do it? By using his own avatar - a cloned body that looks like the planet's 10ft blue natives - that he controls with his mind. The action is awesome and huge but then so is the cheese. Think Starship Troopers meets Pocahontas. Luckily the eye-bleeding brilliance of the FX ties it all up.
4 stars

St Trinian's 2: The Legend Of Fritton's Gold
I can only presume that the directors of this have some serious dirt on Colin Firth. I can't think of any other reason why he'd agree to come back for a second helping of this cack. And as for Sarah Harding as new girl Roxy.... Wow, what can I say? Sarah! What have you done? I can never listen to 'Biology' again.
1 star.

Nine
Big, brassy musical from the fella who made Chicago. It's so sparkly it's like Claire's Accessories just exploded. But that's pretty much all it is - the plot of a director (Daniel Day-Lewis) looking back on his lady-filled life never really gets you caring. So watch it for the amazing glitz and the breathtaking roll call of big names - Penny Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Fergie - not for something that grabs your heartstrings.
4 stars.

Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Alvin and his toothy mates head back to school whilst their mentor Dave (Jason Lee) is ill. They hadn't reckoned on a female chipmunk band, The Chipettes, stealing their thunder at the local bandslam though. Don't get me wrong - rodents singing stuff still makes me laugh (Katy Perry's 'Hot n Cold' in this one) but the gags are seriously woeful. For toddlers. With no taste.
2 stars.

Family Guy Something, Something, Something, Dark Side World Exclusive

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Producer Chris | 08:00 UK time, Friday, 18 December 2009

Family Guy World Exclusive

Freaking hell! The Family Guy Star Wars spin off doesn't stop, and we are delighted about this (yay!) After the brilliant 'Blue Harvest' they are releasing 'Something, Something, Something, Darkside' on Blu-ray and DVD on the 28th December as they parody 'The Empire Strikes Back' through animation, laughs and Stewie as Darth Vader.

We've got this WORLD EXCLUSIVE clip from the film that hasn't been seen anywhere outside of the Family Guy HQ, think of it as our early Christmas present to you. May the farce be with you.

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Han Solo Family Guy Family Guy Star Wars

Sherlock Holmes World Exclusive

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Producer Chris | 12:32 UK time, Thursday, 17 December 2009

Sherlock Holmes World Exclusive

We've been super sleuths like Sherlock Holmes and managed to find a world exclusive clip from the new film. We didn't even have to wear a deerstalker style hat to find it or anything.

'Sherlock Holmes' is out on Boxing Day starring movies blog favourite Robert Downey Jnr, Jude Law and it's directed by Guy 'bloomin' hell guv' Ritchie. Enjoy... and why not let us know what you think?

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Sherlock Holmes Hats

Youth In Revolt - Michael Cera is back.

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Producer Chris | 13:57 UK time, Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Youth In Revolt 1Michael Cera from 'Juno' and 'Superbad' is back on the 5th Feb with his new film 'Youth In Revolt' finally breaking from his mould of playing a kooky character whose searching out girls... a nerdy Stiffler if you will.

It's based on the book of the same name and is about the adventures of some bloke called Nick who meets the girl of his dreams while on a family holiday. Excitingly Michael Cera creates an alter ego which is the opposite of every character he normally plays, finally giving us a chance to see another side to him.
and if you fancy more Michael Cera goodness be sure to search out the rather brilliant 'Arrested Development' TV series.

Youth In Revolt 2 Youth In Revolt 3

Robin Hood Is Back

Producer Chris | 11:27 UK time, Wednesday, 16 December 2009

robinhood.jpg

Guess what? Russell Crowe has been a busy boy, he's not alone, so has Gladiator director Ridley Scott and Cate blooming Blanchett. They've all been busy making movie-films, but there's one in particular that they've been busy making together, can you guess what it is? The picture above has probably given it away.

No it's not a remake of the classic kids show Maid Marian And Her Merry Men, it's a new big screen version of Robin Hood and they've just released the trailer for it. We like it for these 4 reasons.

1. We love watching horses, especially when they run through the sea.
2. Russell Crowe being all shouty and stuff.
3. People walking through forests is always exciting, especially in a trailer.
4. Good bow and arrow action.

But will it be as good as the Disney one with the fox?

James King chats to Avatar star Sam Worthington

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Producer Chris | 10:04 UK time, Tuesday, 15 December 2009

Remember the other day when James King had a chat with James Cameron? The meeting of the two James' as we call it in the movies blog office. Well, he also met with the star of 'Avatar' Sam Worthington and this is what happened.

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James King Types: The Next Big Things

James King | 11:24 UK time, Monday, 14 December 2009

nowhereboybig.jpg
So I've seen a few performance recently that really blew me away and I wanted to tell you about them. Remember the names - these guys are gonna be all over 2010.

Aaron Johnson
Now this 19 year old's already a bit of tabloid fodder thanks to his shacking up with director Sam Taylor-Wood, the respected artist/director who's 23 years his senior. She also directed him in Nowhere Boy, the awesome tale of a teen John Lennon that's out Boxing Day. I'm especially looking forward to him in Kick Ass though, Matthew Vaughn's Superbad-meets-Spiderman comic book tale that hits in April.

Gabby Sidibe
Her film Precious will blow you away. It's seriously gritty - about an overweight, hard-up teen trying to get away from her abusive mum and sort out her schooling - but Gabby's got an amazing spirit. She's downbeat yet determined, hardly surprising considering her real life tough Harlem upbringing. The movie also stars Mariah Carey (with slight 'tache) as her social worker and a mind-boggling turn from Mo'nique as her slobby mother. It's out 29th January and is a shoe-in for Oscar nods.

Zander Newton
Teen Vogue reckon this 17 year old is the new Robert Pattinson - think pretty boy with acres of intensity. His film Iron Cross, out 1st March, is certainly putting him in the spotlight as it's tipped as this year's The Reader. Expect awards a-plenty. The pic tells the story of a retired NYPD cop, reminiscing back to his time as a teen in wartorn Germany, remembering the attrocities he saw and the girl he loved. It'll knock you sideways.

12 DVDs To Christmas

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James King | 07:37 UK time, Sunday, 13 December 2009

Young Victoria

Your Nan who loves Strictly Come Dancing:
Inglourious Basterds. Nah, I'm only kidding (although it's a great movie). Maybe Granny would prefer something like The Young Victoria, starring that nice Emily Blunt as our longest serving monarch. Oh, now those were the days. Such lovely outfits. Not like today. Kids going out wearing next-to-nothing, they are. They'll catch their death of cold. 3 out of 5.


Marley & Me

Your boss who's a bit of a scrooge:
Marley & Me. Just because it's so horrible. If you're boss is a bit of a tight wad, why buy them something they might actually like? Janiston and Owen Wilson star, lost in a sea of smugness. 1 out of 5.

Your niece or nephew who are just so annoying;
Coraline. It's just one of the many freaky kids' movies from this year (hello Where The Wild Things Are and Up), a dark and chilling - but ultimately beautiful - look at childhood that's sure to shut up the little brats. Try and get the 3-D version. 5 out of 5.

The Hangover

Whoever you get in the Secret Santa:
The Hangover is the funniest film of the year. Fact. Who's not gonna laugh at Mike Tyson drumming along to the 'In The Air Tonight'? Bradley Cooper stars. 4 out of 5.

A DVD to tell someone you'd like a kiss under the mistletoe;
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is one of the forgotten gems of the '09. If you love music, going out and... someone at college who you daren't tell, get them this movie. It'll do all the work for you. Michael Cera and Kat Dennings star. 5 out of 5.

To appear that you know all about movies:
The Class. One of the films of the year, this French movie (Oooooh, subtitles!?) won the Palm d'Or at 2008's Cannes Film Festival and was Oscar nominated earlier in '09. Classy. Its documentary-style look at a teacher's struggle with his students will send shivers down your spine. 5 out of 5.

Spock

To guarantee a great family night in during the holiday season:
Star Trek is an old-skool adventure epic. Even better, it's the Trek film for non-Trekkers. This is just great, big, mainstream sci-fi fun - enjoy it with the rellies this Crimbo. 5 out of 5.

To scare the living daylights out of you and your mates:
Drag Me To Hell. The title kinda gives it away - but this is also really, creepily funny. Horror is scary. Horror that also makes you nervously giggle is scarier. Alison Lohmann stars. 4 out of 5.

Twilight

When you're snuggled up to that special someone on the sofa:
Twilight. What's better than a great romance? A great tragic romance. Ed and Bella might fancy the pants off each other - but the vampire world doesn't make anything easy. Cuddle up and wallow in the passion. 4 out of 5.Ìý



For your dad who's got a crush on Penelope Cruz:
Oh, the dads love a bit of Penny don't they?! Must be that Latin spirit. He can enjoy her at her fieriest in the sexy rom-com Vicky Christina Barcelona. She won an Oscar for it and everything. 4 out of 5.

Benjamin ButtonFor your mum who's got a crush on Brad Pitt:

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. Brad ages backwards in this epic romance. The FX are pretty special but it's more than just CGI - here's a cautionary tale about our love of youth. Prepare to blub. 4 out of 5.

The one TV box set that you have to buy for yourself:
True Blood, Season 1. It's 'Twilight for grown-ups' apparently (can't grown-ups like Twilight then?) and it's seriously sassy and sexy. More than just a vampire show. 5 out of 5.

But what do you think? Are these the best choices? Have I forgotten anything? Any you think would make good gifts? Stick a message in the comments box and Edith might talk about it next week on the show.

James King chats to Avatar director James Cameron

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Producer Chris | 08:04 UK time, Saturday, 12 December 2009

James King got to have a chat to the director of Titanic and Avatar James Cameron. Why not watch it. You don't even need 3D glasses.

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Weekend Watch - 11th December 2009

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Producer Chris | 16:47 UK time, Friday, 11 December 2009

Want to know what to watch this weekend on TV? Well here's some movies which are worth a look... and one which you might want to avoid.

David Brent as Austin Powers
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Friday, Fiver, 9pm
The toothy spy's best outing, a perfect blend of bad, un-PC jokes and....er... well, that's it. You'll also notice the fella on the right isn't actually Mike Myers as Austin but Ricky Gervais, as David Brent, as Austin. Complicated much?



BeyonceDreamgirls
Friday, Film4, 9pm

Watch Beyonce having her thunder well and truly stolen by the awesome Jennifer Hudson in this big, brassy, bouffant tale of a 60s girl band making it big. It's the kind of film you imagine X-Factor's Brian Friedman really liking.




Prison CellThe Shawshank Redemption
Saturday, Channel 4, 9.30pm
'Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free' etc etc. You've seen it before (I hope) but this bromance remains one of the most uplifting, beautifully told films ever. And you can NEVER go wrong with a Morgan Freeman voiceover.




Ali GAli G Indahouse
Saturday, ITV1, 11.35pm
Before Sacha Baron-Cohen realised that spoof documentaries were funnier, he tried his hand at a normal movie. It wasn't that funny. That said, I have got Ali G & Shaggy 'Me Julie' on my generic MP3 player.





Elf Elf
Sunday, Channel 4, 5:45pm

Amazing, amazing, amazing. It's funny, of course. But at Yuletide, you gotta have some sugary moments too. Will Ferrell manages to combine the both perfectly. It's Buddy brilliant (see what I did there? Genius).





Explosion Epic Movie
Sunday, Channel 4, 9.30pm

Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer could well be the least talented film-makers in Hollywood. And they didn't even make Marley & Me. Their attempts at spoofs over the years have included Date Movie, Disaster Movie and Meet The Spartans. Dislike them for it.

Friday Review: 11th December 2009

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James King | 14:24 UK time, Friday, 11 December 2009

December Preview

Where The Wild Things Are
This is awesome. Director Spike Jonze hasn't pandered to the kids in adapting this classic children's book - it's as weird, dreamy and screwed up as his Being John Malkovich. That might freak out the littl'uns but think of this more as an arthouse movie for grown-ups - The Tweenies meets Radiohead.
4 stars.

The Stepfather
Big time cheesy thriller starring Gossip Girl's Penn Badgely as a son suspicious of his mum's new boyfriend. You gotta love just how seriously everyone seems to be taking this sleaze - it almost makes it so bad it's good. Almost.
2 stars.

Carriers
It was made in 2007 but is only just coming out. Yes, it's THAT good. A pre-Star Trek Chris Pine stars in this futuristic thriller, where a mystery virus has wiped out most of the population. With his small gang of friends and family, he's trying to make it to the clean-air of the coast. Chris isn't bad, all crazy eyes and wild mood swings - but this is way too downbeat to really make an impact.
2 stars.

Nowhere Boy = AMAZING

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Edith Bowman | 08:37 UK time, Thursday, 10 December 2009

Nowhere Boy

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend a special charity premiere of 'Nowhere Boy'. All I knew was that it was about John Lennon's teenage years and it was artist Sam Taylor Wood's directorial debut . I deliberately didn't do any research on the film as I just wanted to experience it without any outside influence.

Everyone knows at least one Beatles song and I grew up with them as a kind of soundtrack, due to my Dad being such a huge fan. It's a very emotional film, you're laughing one minute then sobbing the next. Not many films can throw you around like that. There are also some incredible performances - Aaron Johnson (who is going to be in the new superhero film Kick Ass next year) is perfect as the young John. The film looks gorgeous and it surprised me - I didn't realise how much of a hard time Lennon had as a kid. If you see one movie over the next few months, please go and see 'Nowhere Boy'. For now, why not check out the trailer below.


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Where The Wild Things Are - Exclusive video & chat with Spike Jonze

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Producer Chris | 08:07 UK time, Wednesday, 9 December 2009

Let The Wild Rumpus Start
Where The Wild Things Are is out on Friday, and last week James King had a chat with director Spike Jonze about his take on this classic children's book. Want to know if Spike could resist the temptation to jump inside one of the big fluffy wild things costumes? Listen and find out.

Also, we got our monster paws on this exclusive clip from the film, as Max meets the wild things for the first time. You'll notice James 'Tony Soprano' Gandolfini doing the voices of one of the wild things. We think he's an ace wild thing voice. Bada Bing.

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What's Going On In The World Of Movies

James King | 10:16 UK time, Tuesday, 8 December 2009

Cheerio SleepRight, some things that I've noticed happening in the movie world.

1. 3-D ain't going anywhere. With Avatar around the corner and making sure that many a fleapit cinema is converting to 3-D technology to rake in the extra coin, the next couple of years already have a couple of three dimensional big hitters in the works. First, there's Jackass 3-D. As this is basically a circus freakshow anyway, the marriage with gimmicky 3-D seems perfect. Wee Man in 3-D! It's what the world's been waiting for!

Then, it's Zombieland 2 in 3-D. Again, a splatter movie seems like a logical place for 3-D, although the first hardly suffered for lack of it. All of this is proving, however, that 3-D isn't just for kids' movies anymore. Just give me an Isla Fisher rom-com in 3-D next and I'll be happy.


2. Paul Greengrass isn't making another Jason Bourne movie. The result being that Matt Damon - who teams up with Greengrass for new thriller Green Zone next year - won't be doing one either. I'm pleased about this. Those Bourne movies rock my world but can't we just let a good thing lie? Johnny Depp, signing on for Pirates 4, take note.

3. Oren Peli - the kind gent behind my sleepless nights thanks to his Paranormal Activity - has got Hollywood big boys Paramount (the ones with the mountain) on board for his next flick, Area 51. The title tells you pretty much what it's about. I hear that his lo-fi style isn't going to radically change, despite a bigger budget, but as this is a bloke who spent 2 1/2 years trying to get Paranormal noticed, it must be nice for him to have the suits on board a bit earlier this time. I'll try and get as much kip in now to prepare myself.

Who Did Own A Guitar Like This.

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Producer Chris | 14:40 UK time, Monday, 7 December 2009

Yesterday we asked you which uber cool director of moviefilms owned a guitar. Well we can now tell you it belonged to 'Where The Wild Things Are', 'Adaptation' and 'Being John Malkovich' director Spike Jonze.

Guitar Answer

James' conversation with him will go online on Wednesday and 'Where The Wild Things Are' is out on the 11th December.

James King Types: 2009 Movies

James King | 12:13 UK time, Monday, 7 December 2009

Hangover BootEnd of year lists are as festive and traditional as mince pies, mistletoe and Jo Whiley having a really long holiday. With a couple of my fave films of '09 out on DVD this week - The Hangover' and Inglourious Basterds - it's time to start thinking.

The joy of The Hangover was that no-one had any expectations. In a Summer full of sequels and big guns that made such a change. Oh yeah - it was also pant-wettingly funny (Mike Tyson drumming to 'In The Air Tonight' is my musical highlight of the year). The inevitable sequel can never capture that kind of surprise again.

Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious' (to quote the TV ads) also surprised. After the indulgently thin Death Proof he was back with some meat on the bone, giving a new spin on the well-worked Second World War genre with some beautifully subtle moments amongst the excess. Chilling performance of the year, for me, was from Christoph Waltz as Colonel Hans Landa. Again, another unknown actor to most audiences.

In fact, a lot of the year's best have shown that the old guard might need to up their game in 2010. Paranormal Activity avoided stars altogether whilst (500) Days Of Summer went for the quirky - Joe Gordon Levitt and **sigh** Zooey Deschanel - over 'A' listers. Star Trek showed that a brand was more important than any star. Slumdog Millionaire, meanwhile, nabbed a fistful of Oscars from under the reshaped noses of the Hollywood elite. Nice one, Danny (like I know him...)

Btw, my movie Best of '09 is on Boxing Day (1 to 4pm) on R1. Comment on your fave pics of the year below and maybe we'll give 'em a mention on-air.

Right, I'm off to make that list. JK

Who Would Own A Guitar Like This?

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Producer Chris | 12:11 UK time, Sunday, 6 December 2009

On Thursday night I went along to a swanky hotel with Radio 1's James King as he had a chat with a rather cool film director about a rather cool film he's made.

The actual chat will be online on Wednesday, but we thought you might like a little guess as to who it could be. To help you guess here is a picture of his guitar which he left lying around on the floor of his hotel room, next to a chair that looks a lot like a throne.

Whose Guitar Is This?

I'll give you the answer on Monday afternoon.

Martin Freeman interview

Edith Bowman | 09:30 UK time, Sunday, 6 December 2009

Martin Freeman and Edith

I know it's hard not to instantly think, "it's Tim from the office," but Martin Freeman is a lovely and very busy man. Not only does he do the occasional radio show but he seems to be always working. He came in to R1 HQ last week in a very Christmassy coat (it had a fur collar) to talk about his new film Nativity, which he stars alongside Ashley Jensen (she went to the same college as me) and a guy called Mark Wooton. Remember that name, Mark Wooton, he is a very very funny man.

Sometimes guests come in and you actually lose track of time, chatting away and just having a lovely time. Martin was definitely one of those people and Nativity is a really sweet Christmassy movie with great kids in it and it'll make you chuckle.

Hear part 1 of the interview:

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Hear part 2 of the interview:

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Exclusive Clip from Quentin Tarantino

Producer Chris | 07:46 UK time, Sunday, 6 December 2009

IBG Pipe Quentin Tarantino's new film Inglorious Basterds is out on DVD & Blu-Ray tomorrow and we've got this online exclusive of scene from the film. It features QT's iconic staging, some superb British accents and a wonderful cameo from Mike (Austin Powers) Myers.

In other QT news he's been talking about Kill Bill 3 recently, which will still star Uma Thurman and take place ten years after Kill Bill 2 but it'll be called 'Volume 3 of the story of the Bride'. But enough of that, on with the clip.

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New Karate Kid Photos

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Producer Chris | 07:38 UK time, Saturday, 5 December 2009

Remember The Karate Kid? You know...wax on wax off, catching a fly with some chopsticks all that stuff? Well it's being remade, this time starring the 11 year old Jaden Smith, son of Will and Jackie Chan.

What do you think? This has the potential to be brilliant, but do we really need a remake of The Karate Kid? What's next a remake of ET?

The Karate Kid 2The Karate Kid 3 The Karate Kid 1 The Karate Kid 4

Weekend Watch

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Producer Chris | 14:38 UK time, Friday, 4 December 2009

James King is ill this week, which means there'll be no Friday Reviews, but never fear, we still have our list of good films that are on the telebox for you to watch if you're not bothering to go out and about in the cold.

Also this is a good time to point out how difficult it is for us to get certain images to use on this blog, so instead what we've done for a lot of these is just searched in the worlds worst photo archive at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ for things somewhat related to the film. Hence why for The History Boys it's a photo of the Natural History Museum.


History The History Boys
Friday 11:35pm ´óÏó´«Ã½2
James Corden has a lot more to him than just being the funny fat bloke off Gavin and Stacey, he's a decent actor too, and his is just one of many good performances in this under-rated British play adaptation. Watch out for Dominic 'Mamma Mia' Cooper too...


Small image of LACrash
Friday 9:00pm More4

This film is set across 2 days in LA (pictured left) and pretty much has it all - brilliant cast, a series of cleverly inter-weaving plots, and some superb dialogue that makes you want to give up your day job, move to LA (pictured left) & become a screenwriter.




Mr SpielbergET
Saturday 5.05pm ITV2

ET phones home, to tell you that there isn't a better 80s retro family movie classic on the telly this weekend. If you haven't seen this movie, why not? If you have, watch it again, cos it's brilliant. That's why Steven looks so smug in his photo.




Ray Ray
Saturday 11:00pm ITV1

Jamie Foxx beat the likes of Jonny Depp, Leo DiCaprio and Clint Eastwood to win the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the legendary Ray Charles, and you can see why. He totally owns this film and it's one to watch for his performance alone.




Dark Night Batman Begins
Sunday 8:30pm ITV1
The Dark Knight was such a massive movie (so big that it's taken over the image of Batman Begins), that it's easy to forget the one Christopher Nolan made this before it. It's where his vision started - the dark gothic feel, the brooding Christian Bale and the big name supporting cast of Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine.



Smile Happy-Go-Lucky
Sunday 9:00pm Channel 4

Mike Leigh's likeable London drama which features the happiest, smilest person ever put into film. She never stops smiling....sometimes I wish she would. I give it 20 minutes before you think the same.

Who Drank From This? The Answer

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Producer Chris | 16:00 UK time, Thursday, 3 December 2009

So earlier today we asked you who drank from two cups... if you missed seeing the cups then you can see them here.

We now have the answer... so click on read the rest of the entry to find out who drank from the cups.....

Read the rest of this entry

Who Drank From This?

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Producer Chris | 09:13 UK time, Thursday, 3 December 2009

Hello,

It's Thursday. Check your calendars. I'm not telling lies. Recently we've had some movie stars come into Radio 1. One thing that links us normal people with movie stars is that we all like to use cups to drink from. We kept the cups the movie stars used, so thought we'd ask you, Who Drank From This? Seriously. That's what we're doing.

Here's the first cup. It had tea with milk and 1 sugar in it. Which movie star drank from this?
Cup 1

And here's the second cup, this one just had water in it. Which movie star drank from this?
Cup 2

We'll stick the answer online at 4pm... and possibly a clue a little later. Depends how generous we feel.

Good luck.

The Hangover - Exclusive Clip

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Producer Chris | 09:47 UK time, Wednesday, 2 December 2009

The Hangover

We've managed to get our grubby web-based paws on an exclusive clip from one of our favourite films of the year The Hangover. If you missed it at the cinema, then what is wrong with you? This is a deleted scene from the film which is going to be out on DVD & Blu-Ray from the 7th December.

Enjoy.


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Quentin Tarantino's Playlist

Producer Chris | 10:58 UK time, Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Quentin's Music

Back in August James King gave Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds 5 stars in his review. If you missed it in the cinema over the summer then you needn't worry as it's out on DVD & Blu-Ray on the 7th Dec.

We've managed to get our hands on a load of the tunes that Quentin listented to whilst in production for the film, ranging from Bowie to Britney. Instead of keeping it to ourselves, we thought we'd share it with you, our lovely internet based friends.

So here it is, some of the songs QT was listening to while making the movie.

Wu Tang Clan - The Rules

"One of the songs that I used to play a lot just to pump me up."

Katie Tunstall - Hold On

"...I actually made it a point not to bring an mp3 player...so I just kinda had what I had and I would just supplement it from time to time by a quick stop at this music store...But one of the CDs that I had was the Katie Tunstall CD Jurassic Fantastic and so I was listening to the song Hold On a lot."

Britney Spears - My Prerogative

"This was a little bit of an anthem to me when I was filming in Germany"

Bob Dylan - Political World

"I'm a huge huge Bob Dylan fan... one of the songs that I would play just a whole lot and played in the car on the way to work from time to time was the first track from his album Oh Mercy, Political World which once you get into your head you can't get it out."

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours

"I really like singing songwriters. I was writing my scripts and I actually fell in love with this song but I think the whole planet earth ended up falling in love with it, but I have to say I fell in love with it earlier than most and I actually in particularly like the acoustic version that first came out..."

Barbara Streisand - Stoney End

"I would only ever hear this randomly when they would play it on an oldies radio station and you go man I love that song and that's a great song."

Robin McNamara - Lay a Little Loving on Me

"Another song in the same oldies but goodies seventies kinda vibe. It's one of those ones you cannot play it once it's like its gotta play at least twenty times before you get sick of it."

Maroon 5 - Wake Up Call

"I love the story of the song. I actually remember before I even knew what it was I was in the Philippines on a radio show and said, 'Hey what's the song where the guy comes home and somebody's with his wife and he attacks the guy?' And they go oh that's Wake Up Call."

Douglas Quintet - Mendocino

"One of the things that I got when I was doing my new movie was this box set from a Texas blues group from the sixties called Sir Douglas Quintet. They are a really cool."

David Bowie - Putting out the Fire

"When listening to this all of a sudden it occurred to me that not only would it be good to use in the film but even the lyrics of the song mirror the character of . So much so, that I had to find a way to use it with Shosanna. It could even play in like interior monologue and would actually describe her story very well. I think its hands down the big musical set piece in the movie, it's one of the big things in the film and I am very proud that Mr Bowie let me use the song in the film."

Roy Orbison - There Won't Be Many Coming Home

"...one of the only songs on this whole list that actually has a bit of a war theme to it. I never quite put it in a war perspective because some friends of mine did a special video tape where they took all the murders ever done in the Friday the 13th movies and cut them together to this song ... so every time I hear that song I just think of Jason"

Steve Pulse - Waterfalls

"One of the songs that I listened to when I was doing a lot of writing"

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