The_Duke_of_Dunstable Reviews

The Fourth Kind (2009)

Avoid at all costs

[1/10 · 18 April 2010]

This is by way of being the worst bit of absolute trite I have had the blessing of seeing in later years. It pretends to be based on actual events and claims to have authentic footage and audio in it, sometimes parallel with the acted parts. It doesn't grip you and you don't believe a single letter of it.

Milla Jovovic comes up to her usual performance, although I will grant she is even more irritating in this one than usual, caused by her persistence to talk in some extremely annoying whisper throughout the movie.

The plot sucks, the dialog is simply stunningly clichéd and far fetched and since the project apparently could not afford any FX it means that every time something alien happens the image is distorted and blurred.

This is an hour and a half of your life you will regret spending on this stuck up excrement. Either that, or you will be pleased to have been favoured to watch bad writing, filming and acting at it's very "best".

Over Her Dead Body (2008)

Glimpses of superb talent

[5/10 · 16 January 2009]

I wasn't overly impressed by this movie, mostly because of the script. Hollywood is not very imaginative when it comes to think outside the box, thus all films follow the magic and boring formula of "a beginning, a middle and an end". And when Hollywood decides to go wild and add something else to that concept, it usually ends up spoiling the movie. They did it in this flick. I'm not about to reveal anything but it has to do with Jason Biggs character.

Still, the movie has it's moments. All ghost movies has that in common that there comes a time when a medium or similar relates what the ghost is saying to a loved one who can't see it. We saw it done better in "Ghost" with Demi More, Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg, and more recently in much funnier movie "Ghosttown", with Ricky Gervais. This movie has that scene too, but the disappointing script passes over it too quickly and with not much result for the plot.

The highlight of the movie is the acting of two leads; Paul Rudd and the surprisingly funny Lake Bell.

I've long had a growing admiration for Rudd, who has developed a style similar to that of Chevy Chase at his best. If ever a serious production of sequels to the Fletch movies gets a green light, the casting agent would do wisely in considering Rudd.

Lake Bell is rather new to me, and I was severely impressed by her comedy talent. She could easily be pictured in over-the-top comedy things and take on a female lead over Jim Carreys character in "Dumb & dumber" or Ben Stillers in "There's something about Mary". The Farrelly brothers could have a new star in her.

In conclusion, this film was watchable. "Ghosttown" is a better movie in all considerations, but Rudd and Bell are a joy.

Le divorce (2003)

Speechless. Bewildered. Angry.

[1/10 · 17 January 2005]

Having seen this film, my first sensation was that of total blankness. Then came a sense of bewilderment, soon followed by anger. What does this film want to say? What message does it want to convey? What was the story about, actually? The plot is, if it exists, complex, incomprehensible, juvenile and messy. The director seems to want to weave the characters destinies together, but fails miserably, causing the viewer to feel bereft of any useful information necessary to understand anything of the story. The acting is not bad, but that doesn't help to keep this utter garbage above surface. Watching this is two hours of your life that you will never get back. Avoid it at all costs.

Life, the Universe and Douglas Adams (2005 Video)

Nice, funny and emotional story of the life of a genius.

[8/10 · 4 July 2002]

The story of Douglas, told in a light, humorous way and with nice animations in a Pythonesque manner. Interviews with collegues, friends and family and archive footage of his various lectures at universities all over the world, and some photos from his appearance with Pink Floyd om October 28, 1994. It is a fine piece of documentary, very emotional to the hard core, die hard Douglas Adams fan.

Rockstar (2000 Music Video)

Ordinary home video but very nice song.

[7/10 · 5 April 2002]

Basically a home video shot by a loving father featuring his daughter miming to a song. The video was made by Douglas to demonstrate what you can do with the new stuff from Apple. His friend Margo Buchanan sang the song, which is excellent, catching and, in the light of Douglas' death only a year later, a bit sad. Cool touch by Douglas, also, to have John Cleese in it as well, but he doesn't do anything funny. Unless you consider John's huge beer belly funny.

All in all, a nice home video with an excellent song.

You will need QuickTime to see it.

Rockstar (2000 Music Video)

Home made music video by Douglas Adams

[7/10 · 3 April 2002]

In November 1999 Apple brought together a bunch of people under its AppleMaster program and taught them to use their new digital video editing stuff – the new iMac DV with Firewire ports and bundled iMovie software. Among them were Douglas Adams, Gregory Hines and Michael Nesmith.

"Rockstar" was filmed partly in Douglas Adams home in Santa Barbara, and partly at the Santa Barbara Zoo. It features his daughter Polly miming to a song performed by Douglas friend Margo Buchanan, who also wrote the song with Miles Waters and her husband Wix. Guitarist on the track is Robbie McIntosh.

The segment with John Cleese was filmed in the Apple building lounge.