It's been something of a movie weekend. After a couple of disappointments recently - we must be the only people who enjoyed the Spider-Man sequel less than the original and King Arthur was decidedly average - I'm happy to report that we were delighted both times.
On Friday night One Woman took ourselves off to see The Bourne Supremacy, which was great fun. The film sucked us both in and didn't let us go until we emerged into the Docklands night a couple of hours later. It's a really relentless watch, with the story barely pausing from the moment it gets underway. Great stuff. I really hope they go on and do the third books as well.
The only complaint I have about the evening was the feeling in the cinema. Normally, we go to the UCI Filmworks out on the Greenwich peninsula, but I fancies having a drink, so we went to the UGC West India Quay. My, but the people there were stressed. There was an edgy tension about the crown that made queuing at the concessions stand and waiting for the film to start positively unpleasant. I don't think we'll go there on a Friday night again.
On Saturday we treated ourselves to the 2 DVD edition of Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World. Over two hours of 19th Century seagoing glory. Barely a hint of land. BArely any women, and certainly no romance. A barrel-chested English hero with a passion for the sea and a love of classical music. How could I not enjoy it?
And they did it without Americanizing it. Will wonders never cease?
August 23, 2004 10:17 PM | Reply
I hated every minute of the overblown crappy-effects Spiderman sequel. And agree with you about the Bourne Supremacy - if only a certain Mr Bond would leave off the gadgets and the quips and take some notes of the humanising side of espionage they tried to portray in that film. Although it had the Lovely Joan Allen in it, a film can't really fail with her involvement.
Can I recommend ignoring the terrible reviews and seeing The Village? If you don't sit there expecting Blair Witch or looking for the twist, it's a great movie - he's way back on form after the terrible crop circles shambles (the only film I've ever been moved to complain to the manager about - he said I was latest in a long line).
Re: West India Quay - it can be awful on a Friday night, true, but if you go any other night of the week, it's one of the best cinemas I know of. I particularly like watching the kids' features without a single kid in the auditorium.