Archive for the ‘Movie Reviews’ Category

Oh dear… Johnny Knoxville and the boys are back with a 3rd Jackass movie… Jackass 3D!

Yip, do yourself a flavour and take a look at the trailer for the latest installment of Jackass feature length movies.
This edition definitely looks like its gonna blow the last two away… and they are doing what they do best… being insanely ridiculous! The trailer says its out on 15th October 2010 but I imagine thats probably the release date in the States which is usually a lot earlier than the rest of the world.

Just take a look at the trailer…. wait for the very last scene with Wee-Man… you'll quite literally piss yourself!

I can't wait for it!

LOVE IT! Gonna be brilliant!

- Marky Mark

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Mugabe and The White African is to be shown on the More4 channel at 10pm on Tuesday 18th May… trust me, you DO NOT want to miss this…

A few months ago when I ran the ticket give aways for Invictus, I also gave away two tickets to see Mugabe and The White African with thanks to the HMVCurzon in Wimbledon. I'd seen Invictus already so I decided since "The Fellow" had Zimbo roots, I'd take him along to see Mugabe and The White African as it seemed quite interesting. To be truthfully honest, I wasn't expecting much since it wasn't a big release that I'd heard much about and more of a documentary style film. Lets just say I went in there expecting to have a bit of an educational lesson of the ongoings in Zimbabwe… 90mins later I exited the cinema feeling totally rocked and emotionally charged on a level that no other film had ever managed to achieve, I wasn't the only one, "The Fellow" felt exactly the same way, we also experienced something quite strange at the end of the film, not only could we hear people sobbing behind us at various points of the film, but after the film had ended and the lights came on, not one person stood up to walk out for about 5 mins, everyone just sat there silent. Personally I sat there with a million things going through my head, trying to come to some reasonable explanation to what I'd just seen and come to terms that what I'd seen, was not Hollywood fiction, but 100% pure reality… I was rocked!

The synopsis of the film does the film absolutely no justice, but then again, trying find words to explain what the film contains would even be quite difficult for myself since the film will quite honestly leave you speechless…

This is the synopsis taken from the films website at www.mugabeandthewhiteafrican.com

"Michael Campbell is one of the few hundred white farmers left in Zimbabwe since President Robert Mugabe began his violent land seizure program in 2000. Since then the country has descended into chaos, the economy brought to its knees by the reallocation of formerly white-owned farms to ZANU-PF friends and officials with no knowledge, experience or interest in farming. Mike, like hundreds of white farmers before him, has suffered years of multiple land invasions and violence at his farm. 

In 2008, Mike, 75 years old and a grandfather – unable to call upon the protection of any Zimbabwean authorities and unable to even rely on the support of his fellow white farmers, all facing the same brutal intimidation – took the unprecedented step of challenging Robert Mugabe before the SADC (South African Development Community) international court, charging him and his government with racial discrimination and of violations of Human Rights.  

This film is an intimate account of one family's astonishing bravery in the face of brutality, in a fight to protect their property, their livelihood and their country. The outcome of the court case potentially determining not just the future that lies ahead for Mike and his family, but the future of millions of ordinary Zimbabweans who continue to suffer at the hands of a dictator who, in setting his own countrymen against each other, has demonstrated that he cares only for power. 

On the brink of losing everything, Mike and his family (wife Angela, daughter Laura and her husband Ben Freeth) stand united by their courage, their faith and their hope. Mike knows the personal risk to himself and his family that this case brings. Whatever the verdict by the court, this audacious and unprecedented stand may yet cost them their lives. 

This is the only documentary feature film to have come out of Zimbabwe in recent years, where a total press ban still exists. Much of the footage was shot covertly. To have been caught filming would have lead to imprisonment. Mugabe and the White African is perhaps the outside world’s only real glimpse of what it is like to live inside Mugabe's Zimbabwe."

Check out the trailer below

It is not often that you will ever hear me beg, but for shit sakes! please make sure you see this… then after you have, come back and leave a comment of what you thought of the film… 

More 4 channel on Freeview or Sky at 10pm… click here for further details 

Please Share on Facebook or Retweet using the buttons at the top of the article to spread the word…. Thanks!

[Thanks Alan]

- Marky Mark

If you digged this post, Vote for PharSide in the 2010 SA Blog Awards

Invictus, the movie starring Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar  and Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela was released on 11 December 2009, however it was only released on this date in the US and South Africa…

Since then the film has been receiving rave reviews in the US and especially South Africa which is no surprise really. However, the film is only scheduled for release in Australia on 21 January 2010 leaving the UK more or less last in line, due for release only on 5 February 2010.

Now my point is this, did whoever decides on these release dates not quite do their homework correctly, because had they done so properly, they may have just noticed that the UK aswell as Australia are massive havens for expat South African's who would quite honestly go to great lengths in the height of anticipation, wanting to see such a largely spoken about film about such a historic event in South African history, which each and every South African inside or outside of South Africa can relate to. If this was some kind of marketing idea to increase the hype, then a maximum of two weeks would have been more than sufficient between release dates to build momentum for the film. The reason being, is that we don't live in the dark ages anymore without the internet, email, blogs or even the telephone for that matter, news travels fast these days. While the film was still being edited its popularity amongst South African's was already sky rocketing.

In my opinion, the gap between release dates is far too long, the longer the wait the more open it becomes to pirate copies leaking out onto the net in the form of, probably the most hated word in the film industry… Torrents…  I highly doubt that I'd be able to find many, if any anxious South Africans in the UK just itching to see the movie that they've been hearing so much about from all their mates back home, who would wait until February to watch the movie at a cinema than watch a good quality torrent download given the oppitunity. Rumour has it that there are already near DVD quality copies available for download bouncing around the net. As soon as one person gets their hands on a copy or a link since over here you can download a 1GB file in about 20mins, I reckon its gonna spread through the Saffa community at a pace twice the speed of swine flu, which is a bit of a shame really, but what can you do, people are hungry for it at the end of the day.

I cannot wait to see it on the big screen and if you notice a sudden drop in Saffa population in London bars during the evening of the 5th Feb, there's only one place you'll find them… at your local Odeon

It is an unbelievably awesome movie that really strikes a chord in your heart and serves up a nice dosage of the emotions that every South African felt on that day… when The Springboks won the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final.

If you aren't fully aware of how much went on behind the scenes of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, then the following video should bring you up to speed, make sure you have a tissue ready as this video alone can strike the same chords as mentioned earlier

Check out the Invictus Trailer below

- Marky Mark

If you digged this post, Vote for PharSide in the 2010 SA Blog Awards

As it says on the cover, Michael Jackson as you've never seen him before…. it truely is

This evening we popped up to the Wimbledon Odeon to see Michael Jackson's This Is It on IMAX and if you are planning on seeing it, then be prepared to be blown away, but if you aren't planning to see then I suggest you change your mind because this is not to be missed.

The movie chronicles the rehearsal process at The Staples Center in Los Angeles ahead of the planned 50 date concerts at the O2 Arena in London. It was intended to be put together for Michael personal collection.

While you watch this you tend to put aside all the contraversy that surrounded Michael's life and see him in a completely different light. You come to realise for yourself that he was a child trapped in an old person's body. The dance routines are unbelievable in the sense that you cannot come to terms with the fact that this is a 50 year old man up there, moving around the stage as if he were 20 something and in many cases keeping up with his backup dancers who seem to be 20 something. You see that he still has it all in him regardless of what you may have seen of a frail person in the media previously. You see a side of Michael that shows that he has got it all together, how he displays a seriousness and professionalism with his work. You see how he knows exactly what he wants to do, how he's going to do it and exactly how he wants it to be perceived by the audience, an absolute genius.

Near the end there is a heartfelt moment that will no doubt strike a chord in your heart which displays the type of person that he was and what he wanted to give to the world, it is at this moment that you realise for yourself of what the world has lost, something truely remarkable.

Personally through this I have a new found respect for the man.

Check out the trailer below, this is something you have to see!

- Marky Mark

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'Invictus' trailer has been released starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar

A couple days ago an article was posted regarding Clint Eastwood's new movie 'Invictus' due to hit cinemas on 11th December.

The official trailer has now been released and its looking very promising with a huge buzz on the net at the moment.. Oscar material are two words that keep coming up. Check out the trailor for yourself now.

- Marky Mark

If you digged this post, Vote for PharSide in the 2010 SA Blog Awards

Directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, Invictus showing in cinemas in December

Clint Eastwood has directed a movie which tells the tale of how Nelson Mandela and former Springbok captain, Francois Pienaar joined forces in 1995 to bring the nation together during the Rugby World Cup. Apparently it is set to become the biggest South African based film of all time. It was filmed in South Africa around March this year and stars Morgan Freeman as the great man himself, Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar. I'm really looking forward to seeing this, especially to check how well Matt Damon does with a Saffa accent, Leo di Caprio did pretty well in Blood Diamond in my opinion. The film is due to hit cinemas on 11th December which is just over a month away and a promo poster for it was released last week. Matt Damon spent alot of time in South Africa training to be a rugby player coached by none other than former Springbok wing, Chester Williams who you'll remember played in the 95 World Cup. Morgan Freeman was cast from the very start for obvious reasons, because without even seeing the movie yet, you just know that he will portray Madiba perfectly. The film was originally going to be called 'The Human Factor' but has since been changed to 'Invictus'. It is based on the book "Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation" by John Carlin. The plot summary from the IMDB is as follows:

The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.

Alot of us will remember that day like it was yesterday, for some it was as memorable as the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, it was the day that South Africa became the World Cup champions of Rugby for the first time, although thinking about it, its actually already 14 years ago, can you believe it, time has flown, there's been three Rugby World Cups since then, and just to remind all non-saffa's incase you've forgotten, we won it again around this time two years ago The Rugby World Cup 1995 became a significant part of South African history, not just for South African rugby, but also as a vehicle that brought the entire nation together standing united as one. It was a time where the entire nation became completely colourblind and fully supported our boys to that very final whistle being blown at the end of that unforgettable final. There is no doubt in my mind that the main man Mr. Eastwood has managed to encapsulate all that into this story. I've been amazed at how many people have never really known what went on behind the scenes with Madiba and the Boks at the time, and this is going to be a sure way of exposing all that. Below is a Youtube video of a short documentary for ESPN, funny enough narrated by Morgan Freeman, which should give you an idea of what went on, its a definate watch and very interesting view which brings back alot of memories. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4vlFQA-t9w

- Marky Mark

If you digged this post, Vote for PharSide in the 2010 SA Blog Awards