I want to fly and run till it hurts

The first film of 2009 for my dad was Australia. I was a little worried about this. He's never seen a Baz Luhrmann film before and he doesn't really like films with any kind of magic element.

But it turns out he did quite like it. He thought it was a funny, sweet film, full of old-fashioned cliches, and had a wee bit of a fairytale ending. He has read that it was hoped that it would boost the Australian tourist industry - "if it does that, then I'm a Dutchman" (he was thinking more of the way that it showed Australian men of the time, rather than I presume the scenery, but then I haven't seen it, so I don't know).

His friend didn't like it all. "Just not my kind of film, pal".

Here in the streets of American nights

This week's film review had an interesting beginning, given that my dad couldn't remember the name of the film he had gone to see (we don't worry too much about the names of the films we see, just whether or not we like them or not is the important thing). Once he told me that Colin Farrell was in it, we managed to work out that he had gone to see Pride and Glory. His verdict this time? "Pretty brutal, but our kind of film. Never seen a film with so much swearing in my life. It was eff this, mother eff that. Bit gratuitous. But I enjoyed the film. The acting was quite good, Jon Voight was good."

Apparently the film "got a turkey in the Daily Mail", but never let it be said that my dad takes notice of everything he reads in the Daily Mail. Unless it is about Russell Brand.

He has a powerful weapon, he charges a million a shot

My dad went to see Quantum of Solace on Friday. I wasn't expecting him to like it (he went because his mate wanted to); he hasn't liked a Bond film since Sean Connery gave up, and even then we'll be talking about 1960s Bond rather than Never Say Never Again.

My suspicions were correct. He spent the first 10 minutes trying to work out what was going on (apparently seeing Casino Royale recently would help), and the rest of the time he was just a bit bored. "It doesn't have much of a plot, and how come he can take on 4 bodyguards in a lift and win with ease, yet he has trouble just after with one person, who isn't quite as brawny" (I suggested he might be tired after all the business in the lift".

Bottom line is he just doesn't think Daniel Craig is a very good actor. However, he was most impressed with Judi Dench and Tim Piggot Smith, so all was not lost.

I'm hoping he sees something he likes soon.

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right

The latest film review from my dad is for Stone of Destiny, about the theft of the Stone of Scone in the 1950s. His verdict?

"It was OK; quite parochial. I didn't fall asleep mind you. It was a wee bit amateurish, well maybe not amateurish, maybe just not that substantial a plot. It got a bit Keystone Kops in places".

Hmm. One of the users on IMDB said "Don't let the critics put you off a worthwhile film". Not sure my dad agrees.

Why don't you come back, please hurry.

So, my dad went to see Brideshead Revisited last Friday. I am not quite sure why, as he didn't watch the original TV series as far as I know.

His film review? "It was good, aye. Quite well done. I can't remember who the actors were, but it was an enjoyable movie. A good period drama I suppose. It wasn't overdone".

Praise indeed.