Toy Story 3, or how I cried like a big man baby

Ok, before we get to the me gurning part, let me explain, I saw the original Toy Story when it came out in 95. I'm sure a lot of you did. I was 10. These characters were new and awesome, and most importantly, real. Yes, they were toys, but they really did leap off the screen and you wholly believed that they were coming to life anytime a person wasn't in the room. And I got teary eyed at the emotional bits.

I saw them again in 1999 for the sequel which was just as good if not better than the first. I myself was older and wiser, but still young enough to play with toys, and beleive in the magic of the movie. And get a bit teary eyed at the emotional bits.

Today, at the cynical old age of 25, I honestly did not expect to be taken in once again by this world. I figured I'd laugh at the jokes but the emotion wouldn't hit me as hard this time and I wouldn't get teary eyed at the emotional bits. I was wrong.

I grew up with these characters. I know that sounds like such a cliche, but it's true. So at a certain point in the third movie, the 'incinerator moment' as it'll no doubt be remembered til the end of time, when the charcters seem to accept their impending doom and agree to ride it out together, I lost it. There's a point where Buzz looks at Jessie and, if memory serves, shakes his head as if to say "There's no point, so let's just all die together" and all the remaining charcters, even Woody, join hands that I flipped. And even though my rational thinking brain knew that Pixar would never ever do this, every inch the toys moved closer to the fire, I started to think that they would. I honestly think this is the best scene in the movie, the trilogy. Hell, maybe the last five years. And when they did get saved at the last second (in a cute gag involving the Pizza Planet three eyed aliens and 'The Claw') I think the whole cinema's buttocks unclenched and they realised they hadn't been breathing for the best part of 3 minutes.



It's a standout sequence, and everything after it...well, if you didn't at least let a single solitary tear roll down your cheek then you're a f*cking robot. Andy giving his toys to Bonnie, but specifically Woody was pretty heartbreaking. But again if memory serves, Woody waves to Andy as he drives off (I think it's the last shot of the movie) and it slayed me again.

All I can say is I'm glad I had my 3D glasses on. Sob.

Anyway, enough of this mushy stuff. How funny was Toy Story 3? Answer: very. To me it seemed much more laugh out loud funny than the previous two, with a particular highlight for me being Mr Tortilla. And of course Spanish Buzz. And Ken and Barbie.



The set pieces also seemed a lot more dynamic in this than the first two. Of course computer animation has come a long way in the 11 years since TS2. The opening action scene was tremendous and allowed Pixar to go big, and they accomplished this with aplomb. However, the smaller and more intimate action beats were just as good. The whole prison break was superbly staged, never once getting boring or obvious. And the aforementioned scene at the dump was technically perfect, and incredibly exciting.

I think what Toy Story has that sets it apart from many other animations, is it's heart. You know, I'm all for cynisicm in kid's movies. You know, having jokes that the adults will get but will go over the kids heads, but if I had to choose I'd rather watch this than any of the Shreks.

So, one of animations finest franchises is now done (hopefully, another would ruin an otherwise perfect ending) and we all have to move on - the theme of the movie really - so thank you Toy Story 3. I'll be seeing you soon on DVD.

My Great Unwatched Films Odyssey

Right, apparently I’m prided on being some sort of film buff. Apparently. But I haven’t watched films most people consider to be out and out classics. Or at least movies I really should have watched already in my 25 years on this earth. This is my attempt to rectify this.

First up, The Thing.



As it appears in countless scariest moments ever lists, I already knew of the big creature feature set pieces in the movie (head spider, stomach mouth) but what I didn’t know was really what the movie was about at all. Aside from, you know, a Thing. What struck me initially while watching it was the overwhelming oppressive feeling the film has, much like Alien. Although with The Thing a lot of it takes place in brightly lit environments, unlike Alien, yet it still feels bleak and inescapable.

Once the thing of the title starts to do its thing the film really hits its stride. I think one of the main strengths of the film is that the Thing of the title is an unseen menace. It imitates hosts and so we never see its true form. Is it an alien? A virus? Both?

"You've got to be f*cking kidding."

After the discovery of whatever the thing is, the film becomes a study in paranoia. As the Thing could be imitating any one of the crew of the outpost we are never sure who could turn at any moment. Where Alien had people fighting against something they could easily see, here all bets are off.

And it leads to one of the tensest scenes in the movie. The blood test. As Kurt Russell’s MacReady takes samples from all the remaining cast and performs a sort of scientific experiment on it. You really could cut the tension with a knife as each member is tested. In contrast to a lot of movie’s today, we, the audience also don’t know who if any of the characters are infected, so we’re just as on edge as they are. And because of that, this scene contains the biggest scare in the movie. I feel anyway. When MacReady tests one of the survivors blood and it jumps out of the Petri dish and forms a solid creature before landing on the floor.

Mistrust is basically the theme of the whole movie. And it’s best presented in the final scene between Childs and MacReady. After seemingly destroying the creature the movie skips to some time later, and we see Childs (who had disappeared earlier in the movie) and MacReady. Again, one of them could be the Thing imitating them. Or neither of them could be. The last line “Let’s just see what happens” is perhaps one of the greatest in film history. The film doesn't have a happy ending, more a downbeat nihilistic one. Ambiguity wins the day as such. A climax where everything gets resolved would not have felt right after the previous 2 hours of build up. And as such, the ending is perfect as well.

Also, I haven't even begun to mention the creature effects in this movie. It's stuff like this that reminds me why I hate CG (Until something like District 9 comes along and reminds me I love it too) but seeing as The Thing was made pre CGI, the practical effects, combined with some ingenious camera trickery, are nothing short of spectacular. Special mention goes to the head spider but perhaps the best and most disgusting effect is when the dog mutates. It's just plain nasty.



See?

Anyway, next on the UFO (that's Unwatched Films Odyssey), is The Big Lebowski.

Predators, Shrek and Red Dead Redemption

"Um...uh...er...nope, can't think of any...."



Basically, this sums up Predators. I can't think of any memorable quotes from it, wheras I could list at least a dozen from the original. The new movie is ok, in that it's entertaining enough and there's a good bit of violence, but it's not one I'll watch ever again. Unlike the original.

I think the problem is as much as the original 80's Predator is awesome, it's very much a tongue in cheek kind of movie. Yes, it's serious, but it never takes itself too seriously. I mean, there's a frickin' mid air arm wrestle for pete's sake. This new one, Predators, seems as if they thought they were making Citizen Kane. everything is far too serious, and there's no fun to be had.

Even when the predators eventually show up and start killing off the cast, there's no real joy in that either. Mainly because most of the cast are so bland it's difficult to feel anything when they get impaled/exploded/eviscerated. The original had fun characters; this one doesn't even really have characters, just cannon fodder. Which would be fine if these were just extras, but these guys carry the film. Adrien Brody is ok, playing the mysterious hard nosed bloke who will Do Anything To Survive, but everyone else in the main cast is so boring, it's criminal. The one character who stands out is Morpheus, but he's hardly in the damn thing!

A lot of people would forgive these faults if there was some decent action to compensate for them. But there's really not much of that either. In fact the best scene for me , action wise, was the scene with the Predator dog things. Every scene with an actual Predator was dull, aside from the fight with the yakusa. Admittedly, that was pretty cool.

Also, the twist with one character was lame. Lame beyond belief.

It's third in the Predator series, and also third best, behind the awesome original and the highly underrated Predator 2.

3 stars.

Shrek Forever Ever.



Going to be a short review this, because every Shrek movie is essentially the same, just with differnet surroundings. Shrek is feeling down about his married wioth kids life, makes a wish, and the rest of the movie is basically It's A Wonderful Life with a big green ogre. In 3D.

It's a fun way to spend 80 minutes, but nothing original erally. Although some of the 3D set pieces are pretty exciting.

3 and a half stars.

And now, onto Red Dead Redemption, probably the best game I've played so far this year. BIG HONKING SPOILERS IN THIS TOO, SO DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE WHOLE GAME



As a person who got bored with GTA IV quite quickly, I didn't think I'd make it all the way through Red Dead. Boy, was I wrong. The story really puled me through the whole thing, when I could have easily got bored with the whole 'go to person A, then ride to point B and kill person C' which a lot of the missions are.

But first, the techincal bit. Graphically the game is awesome. Riding through certain parts of the map were just breathtaking, with a standout for me being the Tall Trees section of the game as well as the coast of Mexico. And as a lot of time in-game is spent travelling, it was good that there was some lovely scenery to look at too. I'm not really very technically minded, but I think it's suffice to say, the game is pretty.

Anyway, onto the story. It's pretty basic on the surface, John Marston's wife and son are being held against their will and will only be freed if John helps the government track down and kill his old gang buddies. See, John's all good now, and his old friends...not so much. The missions in between these are ranging in quality; for example, the West Dickens missions were beyond dull, but the Landon Ricketts ones were great.

But after playing as John Marston for at least 15 hours, when you finally get to the point of getting back to your family, it really does hit you emotionally. I don't think I've ever been so emotionally engaged by a game as I was with this one. But the game wasn't done with me yet. I figured once I'd got back to my family it would be game over. Not to be the case; I started doing farming missions with my son. 'Ok' thinks I 'we're doing some winding down missions to show I have a good life. Fair enough." We do some hunting missions, "Ok, we're forming a bond here between father and son. All well and good."

I had a feeling something bad was round the corner.

It was.

But the game took a turn I was not expecting. I thought that Edgar Ross and the government types would eventually betray me. However, I expected John to get out of it somehow. That he didn't, was a real sucker punch. That he got murdered by the people he'd been forced to help was just pure evil.

You know how I said I was emotionally engaged in the game? Well, I hated Edgar Ross now. And I mean hated.

So, after John is killed, you take on the role as his son, Jack, for the rest of the game. And killing Edgar Ross when you finally meet him was one of the most satisfying and strangely cathartic moments I have ever been witness to. Perfect ending to the game, all capped off with the freeze frame and title card. RED DEAD REDEMPTION. Awesome.



And during the credits, I have to admit, I once again got a little emotional with the choice of music Rockstar had selected. Which brings me to my next point; the soundtrack. In game score was terrific. Not constant music but only used where needed for dramatic effect, and some of the licensed songs used really did evoke feelings that I have never felt before playing a game. Casse and point, your first arrival in Mexico, and the song that plays as you ride to your destination is one of the finest moments in gaming I have ever experienced.

I doff my Stetson to you, Rockstar. Very well played.

The Bumper Family Size Finale Bonanza

Been a while since I blogged last, but never fear faithful readers, I haven't been watching less TV and movies, I just haven't been writing so much. Anyway, in the last couple of weeks a couple of TV shows have finished. Some just until til the next season comes on; some for good. Here's my views on the 4 I've watched recently. Oh, and from here on in there be spoilers.

Lost: The End

I say again, BIG FREAKING LOST FINALE SPOILERS.

IF YOU STILL READ THIS, DON'T COMPLAIN TO ME IF I SPOILED IT FOR YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.



After a couple of weeks to mull it over, I can honestly say that I am 100% happy with how Lost ended. I wasn't at first, but as I thought about it a lot since watching it, I think it ended the only way it could've really.

In the end, it wasn't about the island, and the revelation of all the mysteries the show ever had (which is why some people have hated it), but it was all about the characters. Specifically Jack. Ostensibly the main character of the show, that the series ended with him closing his eye, nicely bookending the entire series, the finale was really all about Jack, and his acceptance of his role. The man of science became the man of faith. Which was really the running theme to the whole series.

Jack did what he always wanted to do, save his fellow Lostaways (some of them anyway) and became protector of the island, for a short time at least. He had fulfilled his purpose and could move on.

The one exchange I loved in the whole episode was between Jack and Smoke Monster Locke, when Jack told him that everything original Locke had said was right, and that the Man in Black was disrespecting all of what John Locke was by wearing his face. It's shows a Jack that has had a complete 180 from the first time we met him. And there really is a beautiful symmetry to the whole thing.

And we got a cool fight between them too. Proper Matrix Revolutions one at that. Only, you know, not crap.

The revelation that the flash sideways universe wasn't in fact an alternate one created by the bomb going off, but in fact some sort of purgatory/in limbo place, was a tough one to wrap my head round. But ultimately I think it fits. It might be a little happy clappy for some people, but for me, and I know this is hardly deep analysis, but it just felt right. I can't find any better way to describe it than that. It's just quite comforting and a nice thought that these island folks waited for each other before moving on.

And who didn't get a kick out of seeing all the characters we've come to know and (possibly) love over the 6 years of Lost have their moment of realisation. And I'm man enough to admit, that Claire and Charlie reunion choked me up big time.

And Kate in the short dress didn't hurt either.

And yes, there are mysteries unsolved that'll be annoying for some (like Walt, that's the only one I'm annoyed about) but for me, the finale came back to being all about the characters, and for that Lost will always be in my top 10 TV shows.

24 Day 8 3.00pm-4.00pm



On to 24, which by this stage had gotten so ridiculous, the only reason you tune in is to see what Jack would do this week. However, for the end of one of the biggest shows of this century so far, the finale was somewhat understated. Not in a bad way, just not your usual 24 episode with gun fights, explosions and terrorist plots getting foiled in the nick of time.

The peace deal stuff had become fairly boring in the past few weeks. With President Taylor believing that the deal must be signed, as if a piece of paper would end all the world's problems. It was never a great idea to build a plot around but when the moment came where she decided whetgher or not to sign the treaty, it was rather tense, even though we knew she wouldn't. So kudos to all involved for making that scene what it was.

Again though, this finale comes down to Jack. Getting his revenge on the people who killed Renee was the driving force in the previous 6 or so episodes. The finale was about Jack hanging on to his humanity and not just becoming a killer. Although that point is arguable.

That the last conversation of the show was a heartfelt one between Jack and Chloe really made the ending quite emotional. More so than most episodes of 24. This season won't be remembered as one of the greats, but it was another improvement on season 7 which itself was a great improvement on 6.

The clock counting down to 0 was also a brilliant touch.

See you in the multiplexes Jack.

Supernatural - Swan Song



Sam and Dean. Dean and Sam. While I love Supernatural, I feel that the pacing of this season has been all over the place. I know the show only has a limited budget and can't really show all out Apocalypse week in week out, but something a bit grander and a bit more consistent would have been good. To use Buffy's second season as an example, Spike and Dru were continually hatching schemes over the course of the season but you still knew tehy were the big bad. However, in Supernatural's case, it was the Devil they were dealing with, so maybe he's not so much with the schemes. More of the click fingers, it's all over kind of thing.

Anyway, the finale, despite all my problems with this season as a whole, was great. Sam saying yes to Lucifer allowed for some great mirror image stuff between him and Sam, Bobby's delight at getting his legs back was also fun, as well as Castiel's "Hey, ass-butt!" That the Impala sort of saved the day was a nice touch as well, if a little melodramatic. Incidentally, before the sixth series was comissioned, this was going to be the last ever episode of the show, hence the "Swan Song" title. If it was I reckon I would have been pretty happy. That a sixth series is a go now means that Sam has returned, in some shape or form, and I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen in season 6.

Kudos for this season goes to Mark Pellegrino for his role as Lucifer, as well as Misha Collins for CAstiel, who I hope will return next year for at least a couple of episodes.

Oh, and also...is Chuck capital g, God? Certainly looks that way.

Doctor Who - The Big Bang



And onto the finale of the 11th Doctor's first series, and it was magnificient. Never once stopped for air until the whole thing was over. This new series has been a breath of fresh air in a series that wasn't really in danger of becoming stale, but probably needed a jolt of energy anyway.

Right from the off, when it was Amy revealed to be in the Pandorica, the timey wimey shenanigans were in effect. The scene at the start with the Doctor appearing to Rory were a pure comic delight, and if you ignore the slight paradox it creates (who let the Doctor out in the first place?), a great way of tying up the Doctor's imprisonment at the end of the last ep. And also, time travel stuff like that confuses a lot of people, and I love that. And am always reminded of Bill and Ted whenever someone does that thing that they did to get the screwdriver back ("Put it in Amy's coat pocket").

Another thing I loved was that there was no big bad to defeat in the episode and that it all revolved around saving the universe, not saving the universe and defeating the big bad. Nice refreshing change.

And, and, the thing we all specualted on for a while after the weeping angels episode; the bit where the Doctor comes back to speak to Amy is confirmed, as it's revealed he's crossing his own time stream. Hooray for all us nerds that spotted something was amiss when that episode aired.

Rebooting the universe, brilliant.

Rory as the lone Centurion was another lovely touch I felt. Rory watching over Amy in the Pandorica for 2000 years, and is then revealed to still be alive.

And also, the "Something old..." bit was pure genius, after the lovely conversation 11 had with little Amy as he was contemplating his own erasure from existence.

So much happened in this episode I can't actually remember it all. Just go watch it. However, if you're a Who fan, you've watched it already. Well, watch it again.

I'll be there Christmas Day on the Orient Express, watching our trio battle with an Egyptian goddess. In space. Will you?

In defence of Tom Cruise

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, over the past few years following an altercation for evermore known as the couch jumping incident, Mr Cruise has been the subject of ridicule, be it for his professions of love to the really quite annoying Katie Holmes (who does look as if she trapped in the marriage to be fair) as well as telling all and sundry about his Scientology beliefs, but people seem to have forgotten that he's a damn fine actor. I mean really if you look at the list of films he's been in over the last 15 years, you'd be hard pressed to find an absolute stinker. So, for your consumption I offer an analysis of these films from the last decade and a half to truly show that no matter what type of person Mr Cruise is like in real life, as an actor, he's pretty damn awesome.

Mission Impossible (1996)



In the movie going world, Bourne hadn't yet been made, and the Bond movies hadn't had their reboot yet and was still in the realm of the slightly silly. Mission Impossible fell somewhere in between the two, and in the movie ol' Tom is impeccable throughout. Betrayed and on the run, the movie (as many of Tom Cruises movies do) hangs togetehr though the strength of Ethan Hunt alone. No mean feat, whenever you consider how much is going on in the movie. But the whole running time, you're with Tom as he tries to wade through the confusion and double crosses. Never once is the audience in a position of superiority over the characters, and Ethan Hunt is played beautifully, conveying the confusion and realisations perfectly. If you want a specific scene to showcase just how good he is in it, find the restuarnt scene where Ethan is talking to the IMF agent who has set him up.

Jerry Maguire (1996)



Now, Jerry Maguire isn't a perfect film by any means, but it's the only film in which I really cared for one of Tom Cruise's charcters. Not to say that I don't in other movies, but at least in this one he's a 'real' person, not a secret agent or LeStat. There are some heartbreaking and heartwarming moments in Jerry Maguire that Cruise nails, quite frankly. And his comic timing in this has never been better. Well, maybe in one film which I'll get to later.

Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia (1999)

Two very very divisive films. Two possibly great films, if you can stick with them. Having said that I've only seen them both once each, however Frank Mackey is possibly one of the greatest douchebags of all time, yet gets his reconciliation with his father nd by the end you don't hate, when really you should. And Eyes Wide Shut is just a masterclass of acting. Do yourself a favour and rent it.

Vanilla Sky (2001)



A remake of the Spanish original, Vanilla Sky is nonetheless a triumph of a film. Once again, you're with the protagonist the whole way, working out basically what the hell is going on. You think he's a tool at the beginning, you want him to get together with Penelope Cruz though, you hate him but also feel bad for his when he gets disfigured, you rejoice when he gets the surgery, and you certainly want him to 'open his eyes' at the end of it all. Vanilla Sky is perhaps my favourite Tom Cruise performance as there's so much for him to do in the space of 2 and a bit hours, and he does it with aplomb. Best scene:



Great line, superbly delivered.

Minority Report (2002)



Watched this recently, still holds up after 8 years. Cruise wholly convinces as the grieving man on the run, while still able to make you feel genuine emotion for him in what could have become Total Recall 2 (another Phillip K Dick story; don't get me wrong, I love Total Recall but it ain't what you'd call subtle). I think this movie illustrates, best of all, Tom Cruise appeal: you never forget that it's Tom Cruise you're watching, but somehow you feel he could just as easily be a man on the street.

Collateral (2004)



You might think Tom Cruise would go over the top for his first major bad guy role, but no. He reigns it in as quiet killer, Vincent in Michael Mann's second best film. He's the epitome of a charming villian, the guy who'll kill you with a smile. He's a bastard to be sure, but a loveable one. At least he is when he's being driven around. The switch in the last half hour of the movie makes him full on chilling. And it's a true testament to the performance that you really do feel a tinge of sadness when he meets his end on the train. Not an explosive one, but rather a quiet contemplative one. He not redeemed, and certainly not likeable, but it's still quite emotional.

War of the Worlds (2005)



Perhaps his most convincing ordinary bloke role, it says something about the movie in that we care more about his character surviving with his daughter than the alien invasion, which was always meant to play second fiddle anyway. As the man just trying to stay alive, it's an acting tour-de-force especially in the scenes follwing the Tripods initial appearance, as well as the scenes with Tim Robbins. The post killing perfomance is pitch perfect.

Mission Impossible 3 (2006)



The best of the trilogy? Undoubtedly. Admittedly, a lot of this has to do with Phillip Seymour Hoffman's brilliant turn as the villain of the piece, but as we're following Ethan Hunt, it's still Tom's movie and he carries it well. Again, as proof of his great acting, the scene in which PSH is going to kill Ethan's wife is probably the best.

And now the funniest performance of Tom's career:



Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder.

And I am thorughly looking forward to Knight and Day, cause it looks like a great fun actioner with Tom Criuse playing a cross between Ethan Hunt and Vincent. And it looks awesome.



Also, he does most of his own stunts and is a bit of a mad man. And for that I think he brilliant.

Anyway, the defence rests.

Oh, and Mission Impossible 2 stinks. But that would have hurt my argument.

My favourite New Who moments

So, here's be my list of my favourite moments of the RTD era of Doctor Who. Please add to them/agree/disagree.

9 into 10
I loved the Ninth Doctor, I really did. And was quite sad to see him go. So much, in fact, that I hated David Tennant already even after him only having about 20 seconds of screen time. “Barcelona.” Shove off, new guy. But when I watch it now, it makes me smile a huge smile. And as a big emotional, but understated (as much as a regeneration can be anyway), moment you can’t do much better than this.



Ten makes his first ‘real’ appearance.
After being bedridden for most of his first full episode (The Christmas Invasion) Ten walks out of the TARDIS, just in time to save the day. It’s cheesy but it works. And that’s the moment when most of us knew Ten was going to be alright. The Lion King bit helped too though.



The end of The Girl in the Fireplace
Pretty much all of this episode is concerned with why these clockwork droid things are obsessed with Madame de Pompadour. And it’s only at the very end that the viewer is shown why. The ship itself is called the SS Madame de Pompadour. I still don’t fully understand it (I’d need to watch the episode again) but I always remember thinking that was a really beautiful moment.



The beach scene in Doomsday
This episode was never really about the Daleks versus Cybermen. This is what it was really all about. Everything from Rose nearly being sucked into the Void to Ten not getting to finish his sentence before disappearing is terrific viewing. It’s television designed to make you cry. And it does. NOTE: this isn't the actual real clip. It's a fan edited one omitting Donna at the end, but you get the jist.



Opening the roof in Gridlock
An episode that doesn’t get a huge amount of love (possibly due to Father Dougal being made up to look like a cat) but it does have another great moment. All of the released cars ascending through the roof and singing a hymn of thanks, ostensibly to the Doctor. It’s sounds really corny but in the context of the episode it’s a really powerful and moving scene.



The fake out in The Family of Blood
A terrific two parter this, filled with plenty of scary moments (the scarecrows) as well as emotional ones (The Doctor/John Smith after some DNA jiggery pokery, seeing visions of his future with Joan). But my favourite moment is when the Doctor, supposedly still as John Smith, going to The Family’s ship and pretending to be a bumbling fool. When he reveals himself as actually being The Doctor you can’t help but smile, and think “You guys are so screwed.” I also love the Doctor’s rage denouement, trapping each family member for an eternity.



The conversation with the DVD in Blink.
A slice of pure wibbly wobbly timey wimey genius. And it’s great because people that understand it just get it first time, and we can hold that knowledge over those that can’t wrap their heads round it. See also; Back to the Future 2. “The angels have the phone box. I’ve got that on a t-shirt.”



Working out what the Face of Boe’s message meant.
Brilliant, wasn’t it?



Martha saving the world in The Last of the Time Lords
Martha really got the short shrift in the world of Doctor Who I feel. She was basically the rebound companion for most of the series, in both the eyes of a lot of viewers as well as the Doctor. However, she did get her greatest moment in her last episode as a regular companion. After scouring the world for a year during the Master’s reign she tells everyone the plan that will help the Doctor become his normal self again (hard to explain that without using the word ‘regenerate’). It’s a brilliant moment, and a favourite of mine, as it’s not something blowing up something that fixes the problem but prayer (of a sort), and I really dug that.



Doctor and Donna meeting again in Partners in Crime
It’s funny; plain and simple. After having just missed each other at various points in the episode when they see each other it’s comedy gold. And it sold me on Donna (who I hadn’t been sure of before this) right there and then.



Oh, and the mime goes something like this: I came here, trouble, read about it, internet, I thought, trouble = you! And this place is weird! Pills! So I hid. Back there. Crept along. Looked. You. Cos they...And then they get caught out.

The switch in Midnight
An episode which is a master class in racking up the tension. And the moment it reaches its peak? After the entity possessing Sky has copied everyone in the shuttle, then spoke at the same time as them, then just the Doctor, and then when the switch comes it’s an incredible moment and sends shivers down my spine.



The fake regeneration:
The biggest shock new Who has ever pulled. No-one, and I mean no-one, expected it. And the massive TO BE CONTINUED made it the most infuriating moment on this list. We had to wait a week to see what would happen. A whole bloody week. The collective sigh of relief the following week was when Ten didn’t regenerate into Robert Carlisle, Jimmy Nesbitt or Richard E Grant.



He will knock 4 times
Actually, maybe this was the biggest shock of new Who. Poor old Wilf. Lovely Wilf. Poor old lovely Wilf. The person who caused Ten’s demise, (and not the Master like we all thought) and he does it through helping someone else. Gut wrenching, as Ten thought he had escaped the prophecy, only for Wilf to tap-tap-tap-tap on the glass. But of course the Doctor had to save him. That’s who he is; the person who would give his life to save one of us ‘ordinary’ people. Beautifully acted and one of the saddest moments in new Who.



“I don’t want to go”Not ashamed to admit this…I was so incredibly close to tears watching this. Ten, alone, in the TARDIS, scared witless and not really ready to regenerate. The visits to previous companions just before this really ramped up the emotion, as well as the fact that the line had a double meaning as we had all known for a while that David Tenant was leaving and that the line probably was half Doctor, half Tennant. As the end of Ten’s life as well as the RTD era, I think it was pretty much perfection.

"Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to exit the doughnut!"

To get the full Iron Man 2 feeling, you should really read this review while listening to this.



Anyway, the movie itself. I was pretty excited for it to be honest, having loved the first, and number 2 did not disappoint.

As much as people say they go for the action, I went to see this for RDJ. He is literally perfect in the role, a smarmy smug A-hole but yet you can't help but like him. My favourite scenes in the movie were the ones in which a lot of characters are talking at once and then Tony comes in with a great one liner. My favourite being the scene in the bar at the Monte Carlo track, with Tony, Pepper, Hammer and the reporter from the first movie ("Yeah, she did a spread last year for me. Wrote an article too" or something like that. Genius.)

As brilliant as RDJ was, the other actors weren't too shabby either. Sam Rockwell was great as the almost Tony Stark but not quite chacrter, Justin Hammer. Although he was just a smug smarmy A-hole. Don Cheadle was pretty good as War Machine is this, taking over from the other guy in the first movie (don't remember his name); he's pretty much playing the straight man, but has a good couple of moments both in and out of the suit. I also liked that Jon Faverau's role as Tony's bodyguard was bumped up as I think Faverau's funny in anything he does. And to be fair if I were the director of the movie I'd probably try and put myself into a scene with ScarJo if I could, so fair play to him. On to Scarlett; well, she was really a bit pointless in this movie, and is just basically serving as a springboard to the forthcoming Avengers movie. However, her one big action scene has a great pay off gag at the end (pepper spray). And she's hawt, which didn't hurt. Gwyneth Paltrows role in Iron Man 2 wasn't as great as in the first but she still had some great comedy sparring scenes with Tony.



And Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury was just Samuel L Jackson playing every role he's played in the past ten years. He's sort of become a parody of himself, but it's SAmuel L jackson, he's so damn cool he just about gets away with it.

And now on to the action: a lot of people complaing that there wasn't enough. Rubbish. Those people are the ones who can't watch five minutes of a movie without something blowing up. Go watch Transformers 2 then. Obviously the Monte Carlo bit was a highlight, with the suitcase suit, which was awesome.



See?

The final fight was pretty cool, with the drones chasing Tony and War Machine unwittingly chasing him as well. A different spin on a chase scene which was nice. However the fight with Whiplash was pretty dull and a rehash of the first movie climactic battle too.

Whiplash in the previous 2 hours however was great. Mickey Rourke giving him just enough quirkiness while never losing the menace or turning into a pantomime villian even when he was wielding his skipping ropes of death.

Overall though, it's my favourite movie so far this year. And if you didn't stay for the post credits scene, Here it is. The geeks among you will know what it's about. Everyone else will be all WTF?