H’mm – February before I made a diary entry.. Not good!
Nothing really to report – most exciting thing that happened recently is the announcement of Harry Potter 5 (Order of the Phoenix), which is being released on 21st June.
Yes, I’ve already ordered it!

PS Happy New Year.

A very odd game, with a lovely concept that’s let down by it’s implementation.
You control a mosquito who lives in a japanese family’s house, and the idea is that you have to suck blood from the various family members, in order to stock up for the winter.
Of course, they’re not too happy, and if they see you will enter into ‘battle mode’, where upon you have to calm them down by hitting various points on their body.
There’s three main problems with the game – the first is that the graphics are fairly poor, nowehere up to scratch for the PS2. The second is that the controls are just too hard and unresponsive – this is supposed to be an insect! The last one is just personal taste regarding the barely concealed sexual overtones – fancy sucking some blood from a teenage girl having a bath, or perhaps from her upper thigh while she lies on her bed in hot-pants? Perhaps I’m just prudish, but I could’ve done without that.
Probably a game to miss.

This is a fun, if bizaare, game where you have to manipulate the controller in time with the beat in order to conduct the virtual orchestra properly.
In practice this means tapping the ‘x’ button with the correct strength at the correct time, and it’s a bit tricky! But there’s lots of well known pieces, and it’s actually quite compelling!

I absolutely LOVED this film – Best action film I’ve seen for *ages* – equal in calibre to Spiderman, and has to be one of the best Star Trek films.

It’s been a while since I’ve come out of a film raving about it – but it had it all… I laughed, I cried (well nearly anyway. I’ll leave it as saying that we suffer a major loss in the film), I held my breath.. well you get the idea.
Really was edge of seat stuff – but with all the old characters we know and love. There was a certain finality to it, however, and the rumour is that this is the last TNG outing.
But anyway, I loved it, hugely enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone. Well, actually it helps if you’re into Star Trek!

Seen at Ster Century, Leeds

This was a great film – I’m a fan of this ilk of film (Monsters Inc, Toy Story, …), and this was no dissapointment.
Unashamably one for the kids, but with enough depth to keep adults attention too. A must purchase for those with young’uns.

Another fun film, although this failed to really meet up to my expectations. I didn’t find it particularly funny, where I was hoping to, but I guess it was quite insightful. A few things didn’t really hang together well to me, and I think the relationship between Jess and Joe was neither explained nor explored adequately. Oh yes, and the plot was incredibly predictable – could set your watch by the key events (heroine starts on journey, heroine meets mentor, heroine has crisis and temporarily abandons journey, etc).
Perfectly watchable though – good Saturday night entertainment.

I was pleasantly surprised by this film – watched it at my mum’s over Christmas, and was expecting to be a bit bored.
But actually it’s a very funny engaging film.. even Hugh Grant is quite acceptable in it. Well worth renting out of an evening if you fancy a film.

Superb film – go see! Superb DVD – go buy!
This film has everything; humour, a good plot, gross jokes (to keep the little ‘uns happy), adult subtext, the usual emotional rollercoaster. Got it out the other day for another viewing, and holds up wonderfully. Seriously – go buy!

Another Bond film.
Again I went into this film with high expectations, and came out mildly disappointed. Oh, all the elements were there, and the stunts and action were all very good. I warm greatly to Brosnan’s Bond, and yet he’s also starting to irritate me as Bond. He lacks the flamboyance of Moore and Connery, although I do think he’s an excellent Bond.
But anyway, the film. I feel a bit ashamed at how long it took me to see the ‘twist’ coming regarding the chief antagonist, and I was taken completely by surprised by the identity of the mole (as was Bond!), although other friends feel it was obvious.
The helicopter bit at the end didn’t work either, although the cars in paddy field did make me chuckle.
Acceptable, but could have done better.

I just love the whole Harry Potter thing (book 5 has been pre-ordered already), and this film was again everything I hoped it would be in many ways.
I’m grieved by the continued underplaying of Snape – he simply doesn’t come across as hating Harry’s guts! Lucius Malfoy is absolutely perfect – as others have said I’m surprised he didn’t melt the film stock! 🙂
Branagh was just great as Lockhart, and Tom Riddle was also very pleasing. I did like the diary sequences – nice use of sepia with just Harry in colour.
I also loved the forbidden forest sequence – I was really on the edge of my seat as they were rescued from the spiders, and subsequently escaped them (even though I knew what would happen). Whomping willow was good too.
My only real complaint was the duelling – I found it to be extremely slow and ponderous… and taking it in turns to cast spells while the other person waits to see what you’re doing??? pur-lease!
But, all said and done I just can’t wait for Prisoner and Goblet – and Order of the Phoenix (book) on 21st June!!!