Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (Movie Review)

Hey all,

After a long wait, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen hit Australian cinemas recently (24 June 2009) – a sequel to the hugely successful 2007 blockbuster.  Of course, both movies are based on the classic cult cartoon of the same name by Hasbro which originally aired in the mid to late 1980’s.

I’ll just say it now – I am a massive fan of the franchise.  But I should clarify that by saying I am a fan of the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon series, as well as my favourite film ever – Transformers: The Movie (1986).  I watched very little of Transformers once it branched off into Generation 2, Beast Wars etc – as they strayed too far from the original basic premise of the cartoon.  Even to this day, I would love someone to “start-over” from the end of season 3 of the cartoon series.

But that’s beside the point.  Needless to say, I loved the 2007 Transformers movie – effectively the “re-boot” of the franchise (on the big screen at least).  As with most movies, it had it’s problems (much like the 2009 follow-up, which I’ll get into later) – but the pure nostalgia of seeing Optimus and others on the big screen alone, made it a great movie in my eyes, yet still not as good as the original 1986 film.

Okay so I should move onto Revenge of the Fallen.  When we left the Transformers universe in the 2007 film, Optimus Prime had “destroyed” Megatron – whose dead robot carcus was plunged into the depths of the ocean – hopefully, never to be seen again (though we really knew that wouldn’t be the case).

The Autobots – Prime, Bumblebee, Jazz, Ironhide and Ratchet – had won their battle with the Decepticons – leaving Starscream, Bonecrusher, Devastator, Blackout, Scorpinok and others to lick their wounds.  At the end of the film, Optimus Prime sent a message out to all surviving Autobots in space, calling them to Earth.

And so we get to the 2009 film – where I’ll use point form to summarise the best and worst of the latest Transformers movie.

Things I liked:

• Addition of new Transformers – I was pleased to see new Transformers added to the cast.  I specifically enjoyed Jetfire (though I don’t believe he should have been written off towards the end), Wheelie, Soundwave (& Ravage), the Constructicons (and of course Devastator).  I thought the movie really needed new characters – so this was a great thing – but with more Transformers there are issues with character development (read below).
• Optimus Prime - What can I say, I love the guy.  The fact Peter Cullen voiced Prime once again was huge for the movie and I only hope it continues for as long as possible.
• The interplay/dialogue between Megatron and Starscream was a nice touch and a nod to the original G1 cartoon series (and movie).  This interplay is essential as it is a long-running issue between the two.
• Soundwave, as a satellite, worked for me – though I wanted to see him come to Earth and join in the battle towards the end, however it seemed the Decepticons outnumbered the Autobots as it was (which always appears to be the case, even going back to the G1 cartoon series).
• And, Frank Welker voicing Soundwave was awesome.  I can’t wait to see this movie again as I actually wasn’t aware it was Welker voicing Soundwave until after I saw it.
• I liked that the movie followed somewhat of a similar storyline to the 1986 movie (okay, rather loosely but elements of it were there – such as Optimus biting the dust, the Matrix etc).
• As stated above, Wheelie was a nice addition to this movie (similar to Frenzy from the first film).  Whilst I would have liked the character of Wheelie to resemble the character of the same name from the G1 cartoons, he was a good character and this is mainly due to the amount of time being invested in him throughout the movie.

Things I didn’t like:

• Under development of Transformers characters.  Most of the time, even being the Transformers fan I am, I didn’t know who I was watching – especially the Decepticons.  In various battle scenes, I honestly didn’t know who was fighting and/or who was being destroyed.  This was a big problem – I thought Michael Bay should have focused on a smaller group of Transformers so we could differentiate them as the movie went on.  Or at least, Bay should have given more screen time to the Transformers to develop their characters more.
• Specifically, I’ve only seen the movie once – but I can’t immediately picture Sideswipe, Jolt, The Doctor, Sideways, Grindor and many of the Constructicons.
• There wasn’t enough Ironhide and Ratchet in this movie.  Given they were major characters in the first film, they were barely shown here.
• The female Autobot Transformer, Arcee, was under-used.  Her addition to the case was a good idea but her minimum screen time (and subsequent death) was a mistake.  This character should have been a character to progress to the next film.
• When Optimus Prime died, I can’t recall any of the Autobots “grieving”.  That that I expected tears (although Bumblebee showed earlier in the movie that this is possible!) – but I would have thought some kind of Autobot  “round table discussion” would have been appropriate in the circumstances.  After all, they had just lost their fearless leader and appeared to be heavily outnumbered as it was.  I just would have liked some “distress” after Prime’s death.
• Devastator, from what we were shown, looked great.  But he should have been used (and shown) much more.  Specifically, there was not enough reaction from the Autobots when “Devastator” was formed.  Obviously, he is quite easily the biggest of all of the Transformers and I would have liked the Autobots to react to the fact that Devastator had showed up on the scene.
• For example, it would have been simple for one of the Autobots (even Wheelie or one the twins) to say “Oh $@#%, it’s Devastator!“.  And as a result, Optimus or another of the Autobots should have called in support from an Autobot such as Omega Supreme, Grimlock, Hot Rod or Metroplex, for example.  My preference would have been for Omega Supreme to show up and provide support against Devastator, given not only because he is my favourite Transformer after Optimus, but also because one of his forms is as a space ship/rocket and it would have been logical for him to arrive quickly.
• Speaking of Grimlock, why wasn’t he in this movie?  From what I understand, he would have to be the most popular Autobot Transformer amongst fans and surely there were calls for him to be included (maybe in place of the time wasted on Mudflap & Skids).  I only hope Grimlock finally makes an appearance in the third instalment, if there is to be one.
• Fallen should have been made a more formidable character, given he was above Megatron on the Decepticon pecking order.  In the end, he was killed off a bit too easily.
• Mudflap and Skids - the Autobot “twin cars” – were useless.  Absolutely innefectual no matter what way you look at it and only inserted for comedic value.  Not to mention the recent outcry surrounding the racial allegations about this two characters, but I’m not going there.
• The Matrix of Leadership was too “pointy” on each of its sides – and should have closer resembled the Autobot Matrix of Leadership from the original G1 Transformers movie.
• Too many humping jokes (including a scene featuring an Autobot, Wheelie, humping Mikaela’s leg).  Was there a need for two scenes of dogs humping each other?
• This time around, I didn’t enjoy the human characters as much as I did in the 2007 Transformers film.  There is little time invested in developing these characters, and nor does there need to be I suppose – because it’s meant to be a film about robots.
• Megan Fox, as Mikaela, was essentially a prop in this film and not a character (I refer to the “straddling of the motorbike” scene near the beginning).  I preferred Shia LaBeouf, as Sam, in the first movie – and just didn’t click with him in this one.  Sam’s parents were over-used – especially the scene at college involving Sam’s mother and the “cookies” – absolutely ridiculous.
• Of the human characters, John Turturro - playing Seymour Simmons (former Sector 7 agent) was probably the best used and speaking of human characters, there was no need for Sam’s college room-mate (Leo) at all in this movie.  Totally useless I’m afraid.

Having said all this, I’m not sure whether I’d rate Revenge of the Fallen above the 2007 original.  I’ll save this decision for once I’ve watched it a few more times, which I certainly plan to do. It seems there was quite a bit about the movie I didn’t like, but that’s the Transformers geek in me coming out a bit and I’m probably being over critical as a result.

My rating (after 1 viewing)– 4 / 5 stars

There were a number of inconsistencies in the film (which are highlighted nicely in this rather blunt review) which prevent me from saying it’s the best Transformers film I’ve seen.  At this stage, the original 1986 Transformers movie is still the best I’ve seen.

Thanks for reading and if you have any comments to add, please leave a message below.

Luke.

Rounds 1-8, 2009 – AFL Review

Rounds 1-8, 2009 – AFL Review

With a third of the home-and-away season completed, it’s time to have a closer look at each club and summarise their efforts thus far in 2009, as well as their prospects for the immediate future.  A second report will come after round 15 and a final report at the end of the season.  So, let’s begin – I’ll start at the top of the premiership ladder and work my way down.

1^st – St. Kilda (8 wins, 0 losses – 195.32%)

Highlight: Being on top of the ladder after 8 rounds is the most obvious highlight – with 8 wins, no losses and a record setting percentage – they have demolished their opposition on an almost routine and repetitive basis each week – although they haven’t faced 4 of the current Top 8 sides yet this season.  Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Hayes and Goddard are all enjoying superb seasons.

Lowlight: None to speak of at this stage of the season.

Final 8 Prospects: A top 4 position is locked away – however with their current percentage and 10 games remaining in Melbourne – a top 2 spot would be their major objective.

2^nd – Geelong (8 wins, 0 losses – 161.64%)

Highlight: Geelong is enjoying a stellar season of its own – and if it wasn’t for St.Kilda’s sensational start to 2009 – I’d be writing about Geelong’s opening 8 rounds instead.  The Cats have rarely been challenged, apart from their opening round defeat of Hawthorn.  The form of Tom Hawkins has been pleasing.

Lowlight: Similarly to the Saints, there are no real significant lowlights – except for the injury scare to Gary Ablett a couple of weeks ago, however he is due back next round and will hopefully continue to play some blistering footy.

Final 8 Prospects: As with St.Kilda, they would be aiming at a top 2 spot at worst.  It would be considered a minor disaster if the Cats were to not finish top 2 after this start.

3^rd – Western Bulldogs (5 wins, 3 losses – 107.92%)

Highlight: An excellent start – with three consecutive wins – to open the season had the experts pencilling them in as legitimate premiership contenders.  Whilst it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing since then, the Dogs would be ecstatic with the form of Jason Akermanis – whilst midfielder Shaun Higgins has met most of the lofty expectations placed upon his young shoulders so far this season.

Lowlight: The Dogs have 5 wins – all against teams currently ranked 12^th to 16^th on the premiership ladder (even Bruce McAvaney would be pleased with that little nugget of a statistic).  Their defeats have come against St.Kilda, Carlton and West Coast – 3 teams that are up and about this year.  Are the Dogs “flat-track bullies” (pun intended) or are they the real deal?

Final 8 Prospects: They will play finals, with a likely finish anywhere between third of fifth.

4^th – Port Adelaide (5 wins, 3 losses – 104.67%)

Highlight: A win in the Showdown against Adelaide (round 6) would rank as the clubs best win of 2009; however wins against the Hawks and their last gasp win over the Tigers are also right up there.  Warren Tredrea, with 27 goals already this season, has been a revelation.

Lowlight: “Fremantle-like” inconsistency – up one week, down the next.  The return to the club of 2004 premiership player, Josh Carr, has not worked – resulting in him being dropped recently to find a bit of form.  Shaun Burgoyne needs to get back on the park and stay there for the Power to be any chance later this season.

Final 8 Prospects: Their finals chances are more than likely, however a current placing of 4^th flatters them somewhat.  A finish anywhere between fifth and eighth is my tip.

5^th – Brisbane (5 wins, 3 losses – 102.54%)

Highlight: The remarkable coaching debut of Michael Voss in 2009.  He has the players onside and he has even extracted a bunch of excellent games from Travis Johnstone, which is no mean feat.  2008 Draftee Daniel Rich looks like an absolute gem, whilst Power, Black and Brown are playing some good footy.

Lowlight: A 93-point loss to the Cats in round 5 threatened to derail their season, however three straight wins since that defeat have them sitting fifth, which very few would have predicted pre-season.  Like the Dogs, their wins have not come against any top sides – with their big test to come in round 9 against the Saints.

Final 8 Prospects: Very good, although they’ve already played five games at the Gabba, with just six more to come in the remaining 14 rounds.  A probable finish somewhere between sixth to eighth would be a good result.

6^th – Carlton (4 wins, 4 losses – 123.30%)

Highlight: A barnstorming start to 2009, with a much discussed belting of the Tigers in round 1, followed by a convincing win over the Lions in round 2.  Chris Judd has been in scintillating form and will certainly be in contention come Brownlow night later this year.  The continued development of Gibbs, Murphy and Kreuzer is a delight to watch.

Lowlight: Essendon knew they were coming in round 3 – and took the opportunity to puncture a couple of tyres on the Blues bandwagon – which led to Carlton losing three of its next four games.  Brendan Fevola, seemingly, is never going to be a true leader – and the death of Richard Pratt must also be mentioned as a lowlight for the club.

Final 8 Prospects: If the Blues can start winning the close games, they will be there come finals time.  However the loss to Essendon in round 3, not to mention the last second loss to the Hawks in round 6, may yet cost them a finals position – however I’ll stick my neck out and predict a finish in the bottom half of the eight for Carlton.

7^th – Hawthorn (4 wins, 4 losses – 97.17%)

Highlight: The highlight is winning four games out of eight – with the Hawks yet to field anything close to their premiership winning outfit of 2008.  The play of Brad Sewell in a more attacking role has been a standout, whilst Cyril Rioli continues to show his class in one of the few positives for Hawthorn so far.  Roughead also deserves a mention for his efforts this season.

Lowlight: Just ask the club – injuries, injuries and more injuries – although I’m growing a little tired of that excuse.  Franklin doesn’t look great, let’s be honest, but he is doing enough to stay out on the park.  I wouldn’t call it a premiership hangover just yet, but it’s awfully close.

Final 8 Prospects: It would be a shock if they missed finals; however I expect them to slip into the bottom half of the final eight.

8^th – Essendon (4 wins, 4 losses – 96.67%)

Highlight: The Anzac Day classic against Collingwood, their memorable wins over Carlton in round 3 and Hawthorn in round 6 and most recently, pushing St.Kilda all the way in round 8.  The form of Brent Stanton and Jobe Watson is encouraging, but it is the emergence of David Zaharakis, Heath Hocking and a rejuvenated Paddy Ryder that would be exciting Bombers fans the most.  The non-appearance of Jason Laycock has also been a highlight for Essendon supporters.

Lowlight: The severe, long-term knee injury to David Hille was a devastating blow and will keep the ruckman out until 2010.  Scotty Lucas is struggling and is now trying to find some form in a Bendigo Bombers side that is getting flogged most weeks.

Final 8 Prospects: Surprisingly, the Bombers have a shot at finals in what is shaping as a very even season.  10 or 11 wins will most likely get you into finals and with a reasonable fixture, the Dons are every chance to snare one of the last couple of finals places if they continue to play their adventurous, exciting brand of footy.

9^th – Sydney (4 wins, 4 losses – 94.64%)

Highlight: Outside of another classic against the Eagles in round 8, the highlights for the Swans have been few and far between.  Credit where it’s due – wins against the Hawks and Blues were handy – but they seem to be lacking the edge they had in 2005/06.  No individual players have stood out from the pack this season.

Lowlight: Losing to Fremantle would be a lowlight.  Barry Hall has been down in form and Michael O’Loughlin has been out of the line-up for most of the season.  The Swans have not really done anything to indicate they will be thereabouts come finals time.

Final 8 Prospects: I’m calling it now – they won’t make it.  They’re not good enough to climb much higher than their current position, but they are also not bad enough to drop much further.  In the current landscape of new clubs entering the competition very soon, finishing 9^th on the ladder has never been as undesirable as it will be in ’09 and ’10.

10^th – West Coast (3 wins, 5 losses – 93.32%)

Highlight: The Coasters would most likely view three wins from eight games as a positive start to their 2009 campaign – and I would agree.  Apart from their thumping against the Saints, their losses have been admirable, plus they’ve beaten a couple of pretty good clubs in the Dogs and the Power (both at Subiaco, however).  Dean Cox continues to dominate in the ruck whilst their other top contributors have included Selwood and Priddis.

Lowlight: Their performance against the Saints in round 3 was as bad a showing as you will ever see.  Daniel Kerr has been mostly ineffectual and appears lost in a midfield that does not include Judd and Cousins.

Final 8 Prospects: The Eagles will not play finals in 2009, however with some more games pumped into their promising youngsters – playing finals is not out of the question over the next couple of years, especially if their first round draft selection, Nick Naitanui, can get onto the field for 5-10 games before their season is done.

11^th – Collingwood (3 wins, 5 losses – 92.92%)

Highlight: There has been very little to write home about for the Pies in 2009.  The highlights are honestly hard to find.  Scott Pendlebury has been the one beacon of light for the club in 2009 – averaging close to 30 disposals per contest.

Lowlight: Where to begin?  I was a first hand witness to their defeat to Carlton in round 8 and I would suggest it’s one of the worst showings I’ve seen from a Magpies team in many years.  Sorry Pies fans, but names like O’Bree, Wood, Toovey, Leigh Brown and Corrie don’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of the opposition.  All spuds of the highest order.

As for the Malthouse vs Buckley coaching debate that continues to rage – I would say the pendulum has now tipped into Buckley’s favour – given Malthouse declared post-match that he felt they were still in with a chance with 5 minutes left in the final quarter.  Was he watching the Carlton game or the 2002 Grand Final?

Final 8 Prospects: I don’t exactly know how they’ll do it, but I’m not counting the Pies out just yet.  If they can get their best 22 on the park, that would be a good start.  And get Leigh Brown out of that side right now!

12^th – Adelaide (3 wins, 5 losses – 83.40%)

Highlight: From this point on, I may forget about the highlights because it’s like extracting teeth for some of these clubs. Perhaps the only highlight for the Crows so far would be their round 1 surprise victory over the Pies.  Patrick Dangerfield looks like a promising type.

Lowlight: The Crows are yet to be blown right out of the water (their largest defeat is 48 points to the Cats), however their five losses have been by an average losing margin of almost 35 points.  The “old guard” of McLeod, Goodwin, Edwards and Thompson aren’t having the same impact they once did, which is a worry for Neil Craig.

Final 8 Prospects: From what I’ve seen, the Crows are gone.  Their lack of a true key forward target is an ongoing problem.

13^th – North Melbourne (3 wins, 5 losses – 77.64%)

Highlight: There have been very few highlights for the Kangaroos; however youngster Jack Ziebell is showing some very encouraging signs as a real player of the future.

Lowlight: The devastating arm injury suffered by Brent Harvey was a cruel blow to a side needing everything going for it right about now.  And as mentioned in a previous report, their newly designed “clash strips” are rather woeful.  What was wrong with that mostly royal blue jumper they used to wear sometimes?

Final 8 Prospects: Zilch – there’s nothing more to say.

14^th – Fremantle (3 wins, 5 losses – 77.04%)

Highlight: Three consecutive wins in rounds 5, 6 and 7 against decent opposition has been the highlight of 2009 for the Dockers.  Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands have been very good so far this season.  Chris Tarrant has looked rejuvenated in his role down back.

Lowlight: Fremantle looked dead and buried (with Mark Harvey a quintessential dead man walking) following the 83-point demolition at the hands of the Saints in round 4, but they somehow lifted themselves off the canvas to string a few wins together after that loss.  But that’s what this club does – they suck you in, make you tip them, and spit you straight back out again.  Anyone who tipped the Dockers on Friday night must be livid, but if I remember correctly, I think I warned you…

Final 8 Prospects: They’ve been playing better footy but finals are not a realistic goal in ’09.

15^th – Richmond (1 win, 7 losses – 79.17%)

Highlight: Their one victory – against the Kangaroos in round 5 – is the obvious choice.  It’s also been positive to see Ben Cousins get through consecutive games recently.

Lowlight: The opening round 83-point loss to Carlton was the most devastating of blows for a Richmond side that had, on the not so quiet, been considered a “finals fancy” in 2009.  I was at that game – and I’ve never seen a collective group of supporters go from excited and confident, to deflated and pessimistic, so quickly.  The defeat sent the club, and the media, into frenzy.  When you add the circus following the coaching career of Terry Wallace into the mix, not to mention the whole Ben Cousins saga and Richardson’s serious injury, 2009 has been a shocker no matter which way you look at it.

Final 8 Prospects: Yes, I’m sorry but it’s already curtains for the Tigers in 2009.  In fact you could argue it was curtains after round 1 – when the Richmond faithful realised that Joel Bowden racking up 40 uncontested possessions in the backline isn’t really taking them anywhere anytime soon… but it works wonders if you have Bowden in your DreamTeam!

16^th – Melbourne (1 wins, 7 losses – 74.05%)

Highlight: A few highlights for the Demons – obviously their sole win for 2009 against the Tigers in round 4 – but also the form of Aaron Davey as well as youngster Cale Morton.  Melbourne has gone very close to snaring another win recently, falling short by just over a kick against the Eagles (round 7) and Dogs (round 8).

Lowlight: A couple of 50+ point defeats and some poor attendances are the main lowlights for the Dees.  Memo to AFL: Twilight matches on a Sunday against an interstate club on a wet and freezing Melbourne day will usually result in poor crowd figures.

Final 8 Prospects: Like the Tigers, there is no chance for the Demons this year.  The Demons must stick with their youth policy – but I like their list (more than Richmond’s playing list if I’m being honest) and can see some light at the end of the tunnel for a team that has missed finals for the last couple of years.

Thanks for reading.  Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Cheers,

Luke.

Round 2, 2009 – AFL Review

Adelaide (69) lost to St.Kilda (101), AAMI Stadium

In the first of three match-ups between Round 1 winners, the Crows and the Saints opened proceedings in Round 2 at AAMI Stadium. Adelaide overcame Collingwood last week to cause the upset of the round, whilst the Saints had some trouble early but eventually accounted for a lacklustre Swans outfit.

With Adelaide the hot tip here, especially with the match being on their home turf, the Crows were expected to get over the line. However it was the Saints who had the better of the contest, gaining the ascendancy early and never really letting it slip – applying tenacious pressure all over the ground to record their third consecutive victory at AAMI (impressive stat!).

Another prolific ball-getting performance from Dal Santo and improved output from Nick Riewoldt were the catalysts for the Saints, who remain undefeated after 2 rounds – with a third straight win likely as they face the Eagles in Melbourne next week.

The Crows long-term search for a Tony Modra replacement continues; with no-one seemingly ready to assume the “go-to” role in the forward 50.

Geelong (105) defeated Richmond (85), Skilled Stadium

This was a much talked about game, for all of the wrong reasons. After marginally getting the better of the Hawks in Round 1, most experts predicted that the Cats would trounce the struggling Tigers at Skilled on Saturday afternoon. After all, the Tigers copped an 83 point hammering last week at the hands of the Blues in what could only be labelled an inept performance, so a follow-up encounter with the best team over the past 2 or 3 seasons would not have been their first preference.

And early on at least, it looked as though the Cats were predictably going to have their way with a struggling Tigers side, building a 26 point lead by the first change. Only a brave person would have suggested the Tigers would outscore the Cats over the final three quarters, but that is exactly what they did.

With the influence of Ablett, Bartel and Corey being kept in check somewhat by the Tigers, they amazingly clawed their way into the lead in the final term – before Steve Johnson stepped up with a bag of final quarter goals to swing the momentum back over the Cats way.

Geelong held on for a second consecutive win, but they must be concerned by an early trend that has seen them outscored in the second half of both matches to begin 2009. Their goal kicking also remains a concern, having kicked 30 goals and 36 behinds so far this season. At least the 8 premiership points are safely tucked away – whilst I’m sure the kicking inaccuracy will resolve itself over the season.

Unlike last week, the Tigers will take something from the improved performance but they must find a way to win soon or else their finals hopes will be all but gone.

Collingwood (117) defeated Melbourne (64), MCG

At least one of these clubs was going to have its first win of 2009, with both coming off defeats in the opening round.

Collingwood, quite rightly, went into this match as favourites even after their surprise Round 1 loss to the Crows – whilst the Demons were solid for three quarters last week before falling away against the Roos.

Melbourne looked impressive early, particularly in the first quarter as they jumped out of the blocks to catch the Pies off guard. But it was to be short lived, with Collingwood kicking 5 goals to 2 in the second term to take a 7 point lead into the half time break.

After the break, it was all Collingwood – as they showed the kind of form most were expecting from them last week. The Pies, led by Anthony, Didak and Cloke in the goal stakes, kicked 9 majors to just 3 for the Demons in the second half to run out easy winners by 53 points. Josh Fraser was excellent for Collingwood, as were the ever reliable pair of Dane Swan and Tarkyn Lockyer.

Carlton (119) defeated Brisbane (100), Etihad Stadium

Much has been written and spoken of the Blues in the last week, ever since their dismantling of the Tigers in Round 1 – with the punters going as far as backing Carlton into the third line of betting for the 2009 Premiership. Whilst I’d usually be the first to try and talk up the Blues, I honestly don’t think we’re sitting only behind the Cats and Hawks as flag favourites. I’d safely suggest the Saints and the Pies would be better chances at this point.

The Lions clawed their way to a win in Round 1 over a surprisingly gallant West Coast side, and they would have been very eager to burst the Blues bubble in front of an adoring Carlton home crowd in Melbourne.

An even opening quarter was followed by a Carlton landslide in the second term, with the Blues showing the kind of form that will may see them contend for a Premiership this year in the seasons to follow. Carlton kicked 9 goals to 1 for the period, to open an imposing 41 point break at half-time.

The Lions showed tremendous character in the second half, doing the bulk of the scoring to bring the deficit back to just a couple of kicks.

It took some late goal-kicking brilliance from Fevola and some more than handy contributions from Betts and Murphy to seal the match. The Blues won a lively contest by 19 points.

Sydney (143) defeated Hawthorn (105), ANZ Stadium

Even with up to 10 names missing from the 2008 Premiership winning line-up, the Hawks were relatively warm favourites against Sydney. The Swans looked woeful last week, whilst Hawthorn pushed the Cats to the limit – so the favouritism was understandable.

Hawthorn started strongly, with 5 goals to 3 in the first term however it was evident from the outset that the Swans had their heads in the game this week. This was made clear by a second term resurgence which saw the teams essentially locked together at the half.

The second half belonged to Sydney, as the more experienced and battle-hardened bodies of the Swans wore down the largely inexperienced Hawks side.

The Swans dominated the disposal count and showed terrific efficiency in averaging just 11 disposals per goal scored on the night. The Hawks are now 0-2 – and with a match-up against the Kangaroos to come in Round 3, there is no clear sign that things will get better in a hurry, especially given their injury situation.

Essendon (109) defeated Fremantle (71), Etihad Stadium

With both of these sides struggling in Round 1, this match asked the hard question of tipsters everywhere… And that question was: which side is least likely to stink?

We all know Fremantle’s tendency to “put the queue in the rack” away from the comforts of Subiaco – however even that theory was proven incorrect last week, as they were smacked by the Dogs at home. And sorry Bomber fans, but I can’t see a lot to be excited about down at Windy Hill, either.

To the credit of both sides, there at least appears to be a considerable youth movement in the works – with the knowledge that finals footy is most likely out of the question in 2009. The “youth movement” is arguably less evident at Windy Hill – with Lloyd, Lucas and Fletcher nearing the end of their respective careers. Even David Hille and Adam McPhee are approaching 30. Jason Laycock is also on the Essendon playing list. Yes, I know he is only 24, but it’s still a negative.

Whilst they may have had the elder legs of the two clubs, it may just have been the previously mentioned experience and wiser heads that saw the Dons home against the Dockers. It could also be that the Dockers are terrible. Take your pick!

Western Bulldogs (80) defeated North Melbourne (65), MCG

The wet weather hit Melbourne on Sunday meaning the first half of this match between the Dogs and the Roos was played out in difficult conditions for the players. Another match featuring winners from Round 1, the winner of this contest would find themselves well placed, admittedly very early in the season still.

The Dogs were out of the blocks the fastest, holding onto a slight lead at the first change, despite both clubs wasting several opportunities around goal. The poor conditions again hampered play in the second term, with only a further 3 goals being added to the scoreboard in a low-scoring and hard fought contest.

The game opened up in the third term as the weather improved – as the Dogs jumped out to almost a 5 goal lead and looked in control. However a typically gritty comeback from Roos (I believe I’m contracted to mention the “Shinboner spirit” somewhere here?) in the final term saw them climb within just 2 points – only for the Dogs to seal the game with a couple of late goals to secure an important victory.

Brad Johnson led from the front for the Bulldogs, as Boyd, Cross and Griffen again controlled the middle of the ground. The Dogs could make it 3 wins from as many starts next week against the Tigers, whilst the Roos face a Hawthorn side desperate to open its account for 2009 in the first of 5 consecutive home games for the club. In fact, with a “Collingwood-esque” fixture – they don’t leave Victoria in the first half of the season.

West Coast (125) defeated Port Adelaide (75), Subiaco

The final game of Round 3 pitted the 1-0 Power against the 0-1 Eagles. Coming off a horror, injury-ravaged 2008, the Power are tipped by many to make huge strides this year, whilst the Eagles are expected to languish towards the bottom of the ladder.

The Eagles started strongly and the Power simply could not recover. A small lead at quarter time increased at each interval, with the Eagles eventually belting the Power into submission with a staggering 50 point victory by the final siren.

The Eagles face some tough challenges in the form of the Saints, Dogs and Hawks over the next 3 rounds – whilst the Power will be keen to get back on track against the Dees next week back in the confines of AAMI Stadium.

Please feel free to leave a comment about any of the action from Round 2.

Cheers,

Luke.

Round 1, 2009 – AFL Review

Good evening all,

Here is my review of Round 1 of the AFL.  These will be posted after each round, so come back regularly and feel free to leave a comment.

Carlton v Richmond, MCG

Rarely can I remember a season opener as keenly anticipated as this one, with fierce rivals Richmond and Carlton playing in front of more than 86,000 people at the MCG on Thursday night. Of course, most of the anticipation in the lead up was focused on the return to AFL football of Ben Cousins, and the potential match-up with his former team-mate, Carlton captain Chris Judd.

In the end, the Cousins v Judd contest didn’t eventuate. In fact, the Richmond v Carlton contest didn’t exactly eventuate either, with the Blues jumping out to a quick 5-goal lead at quarter time and the Tigers never looking interested from that point on. Carlton won every quarter comfortably to trounce Richmond by 83 points.

And sadly, there was no fairytale comeback for Ben Cousins. His night ended with another hamstring tear, which will sideline him for about a month. Richmond’s decision to play Cousins once the game was lost (arguably 25 minutes into the first quarter) was a staggering one, given the obvious leg/hamstring issues he was having.

Carlton kicked their highest score since round 13, 2001 – and the winning margin of 83 points was their largest since round 10, 2001. With the emphatic victory, Carlton ended round 1 on top of the ladder – much to the pleasure of their success-starved supporters.

Hawthorn v Geelong, MCG

In a game more fitting of the anticipation and build-up from a night earlier, Hawthorn and Geelong met in a rematch of the 2008 Grand Final in front of almost 70,000. Geelong has had a faultless pre-season, culminating in another pre-season premiership, whilst the Hawks have been trying to manage multiple injuries to several of their big names but came into round 1 confident they could get the job done.

Much like last years Grand Final, Geelong were wasteful in front of goal, having 12 more scoring shots than the Hawks up to half time, yet they only led by 12 points.

The third quarter was a big one for the Cats, kicking 6 goals to 2, building a potential match winning lead and looking comfortable. Despite looking all but gone, the Hawks rallied in the last quarter, outscoring the Cats by almost 30 points – but Geelong did enough to hold on for the opening round victory, extracting just a small amount of revenge from last year’s premiership defeat in the process.

Collingwood v Adelaide, MCG

In the third match in as many days at the MCG, Collingwood and Adelaide opened their respective 2009 seasons in one of the most exciting matches of the round.

Collingwood, trying to block out their drubbing at the hands of the Cats in the pre-season decider, were surprisingly caught off guard early – as Adelaide jumped out of the blocks with 10 scoring shots (including 5 goals) to just 2 in the first quarter, to lead by 23 points at the first change.

Collingwood hit back strongly in the second and third quarter, to tie the scores heading into the final change. In a low-scoring and tense last quarter, Adelaide dug deep to be in front at the final siren in what was at times a “last man standing” type of game. The Crows have had a quiet off-season, yet they appear to be well placed to launch another tilt at finals football, with their talented mix of young and old.

Collingwood fans need not worry; with news filtering through over the weekend that Anthony Rocca is in line for a call-up to the senior side – after he kicked a bag of goals for the Collingwood little league side at half-time. Yes, that’s an ideal preparation if you ask me!

Brisbane v West Coast, Gabba

The interest in this match was largely due to the long awaited coaching debut of Michael Voss, with the exit last season of four-time premiership coach and AFL legend, Leigh Matthews. As we know, Voss has some serious credentials as a player in his own right, but his challenge now is to deliver as head coach of the club he captained to three consecutive premierships.

West Coast basically bottomed out last year, feeling not only the loss of Judd and Cousins but also injuries to several of their big names. With essentially a full list at their disposal, the Eagles started superbly to build a good early lead that would have made Voss and co. very nervous.

Still 4 goals down at the half, a massive 9 goal third quarter by the Lions turned their fortunes around completely and gave them a 3 goal lead heading into the final quarter.

Despite not scoring a goal in the final term, the Lions managed to hold off a gallant West Coast side who will still take plenty from the eventual 9 point defeat.

St.Kilda v Sydney, Etihad Stadium

Many are expecting these two sides to head in opposite directions this season – with St.Kilda predicted to remain in top 4 calculations whilst the experts say Sydney will be “older and slower” this year (I think I also heard that in 2005) – with the suggestion we will see them slip down the ladder.

Early in this match, the Swans did their utmost to show they are not done with just yet, opening a 4 goal lead by quarter time against a sluggish Saints outfit.

But that’s where the good news ended for the Swans – as over the next 2 quarters they failed to even register a single goal, whilst their opponents managed 8 of their own during the same period to all but seal the contest, even without a significant contribution from Nick Riewoldt.

Late goals to the Swans did little but add respectability to the scoreboard, with the contest done and dusted well before full-time.

Melbourne v North Melbourne, MCG

Determined to rebound after another undignified exit from the finals, the Kangaroos performed below expectations in the pre-season, suffering a heavy loss to Carlton in the first round of the NAB Cup and regrouping from that point forward. Melbourne too, didn’t make many waves in the pre-season, but at least have most of their list healthy heading into the season proper, except for entertainer slash full-forward Russell Robertson, who is hopeful of returning in the first month of the season.

The Demons, last year’s wooden spoon “winner”, were surprisingly quite competitive for three quarters of this contest before the more seasoned Kangaroos outfit asserted their authority in the final term. Melbourne should take something from the contest, whilst the Roos would have relished a competitive opening round hit-out having secured the all-important 4 premiership points.

Port Adelaide v Essendon, AAMI Stadium

Two teams that were disappointing throughout most of 2008 faced off in their opening round encounter – Port Adelaide and Essendon.

The Power are tipped to jump a few spots up the ladder this year given a good run with injury, whilst very little is expected of the Dons – who are still very much in ‘rebuild mode’ and in my opinion, have a few years of rebuilding left before finals are a reality.

Despite some early resistance from Essendon, the Power got on top in the middle stages of the contest and won comfortably by 41 points.

Only time will tell whether Matthew Knights has Essendon on the right track, but if we’re looking to the future, I honestly couldn’t tell you whether I’d rather be a Melbourne or Essendon supporter right now.

Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Subiaco

The final match of round 1 saw the Dockers and Doggies battle it out in Perth on Sunday evening. There is no reason to expect the Doggies to fall out of the top 4 this season, especially with no clear challenger coming up through the AFL ranks looking to take their spot. Their core midfield group of Cross, Boyd, Cooney, Gilbee, Griffen and the improving Higgins is amongst the best going around.

The Dockers will be aiming to improve this season after their up and (mostly) down 2008, but it is hard to see them back in finals contention after making very few off-season changes.

After a tight opening term, the Bulldogs gained control of the match in the second quarter, booting 7 goals compared to the Dockers 3.

That margin was cut by the Dockers to just under 4 goals by three quarter time, but the Dogs booted away in the final term, showing their class by kicking a further 8 goals to record an impressive 63 point victory.

Please feel free to leave a comment about any of the action from Round 1.

Cheers,

Luke.

Carlton v Richmond, AFL Round 1

G’day everyone,

The 2009 AFL home and away season commenced last night, with Richmond and Carlton facing off in one of the most anticipated opening round clashes in recent memory. The anticipation easily outweighed even the build-up to the Grand Final re-match between Hawthorn and Geelong (which is tonight, in case you weren’t aware). And for what it’s worth, I’m actually looking forward to the Hawks v Cats match.

But back to last night, 86,972 people watched as Carlton, somewhat surprisingly to some, absolutely destroyed Richmond in a total anti-climax in the season opener.

For Tiger fans, their disappointment was compounded by another hamstring tear to star recruit, Ben Cousins. The injury is a cruel blow to Cousins who has from all accounts trained the house down since his arrival at Punt Road in late 2008.

My take on Cousins? I’m actually severely disappointed for him. Sure, he has a checkered (and infamous) past but he has worked his way back to the AFL after a forced one and a half year lay-off throughout 2007 & 2008. I honestly hope Cousins can now rehabilitate his hamstring and make it back to AFL footy but I expect him to miss a minimum of 4 weeks given his history of hamstring tears.

I was at the game last night, but now in hindsight – I question why Richmond would put Cousins back on the field after three-quarter time – especially given the footage on the Channel Ten telecast of Cousins flexing his hamstring/leg prior to the final break.

If you want to read the thoughts straight from the man himself, check out Cousins’ feature article here. Some pretty honest thoughts there, and well worth a read.

Finally on Richmond, their performance was simply listless. Ordinary disposal and they looked shot as soon as the Blues jumped out to a 3 or 4 goal lead early. I now officially don’t hold any hope for them in 2009, whilst I realise it is a long season. There is very little to be excited about, maybe Mitch Morton and Jack Riewoldt aside. I liked the disposal of Matt White, also. He can use the ball – which is a rare commodity at Tigerland it seems.

That’s enough about Richmond. Back to the Blues.

I cannot emphasise enough how impressed I was with the Blues performance last night. Sure, the Tigers were terrible but Carlton still had to do all of the right things, which they did.

The entire team was magnificent. But from an individual standpoint, Marc Murphy (28 disposals, 2 goals, 6 tackles), Bryce Gibbs (30 disposals, 6 marks), Eddie Betts (15 disposals, 5 goals) and Chris Judd (23 disposals, 6 tackles) were all outstanding.

Other performances of note came from first year player Mitch Robinson (3 goals), Matthew Kreuzer (16 disposals, 21 hit-outs) and the ‘under-the-radar’ but ever reliable types in Hadley and Wiggins. One of my favourites, Kade Simpson, got his usual bunch of touches but was a bit wasteful in his disposal.

Hard to fault the Blues at all. They won every quarter convincingly and posted their highest score since, wait for it, Round 13, 2001 (by the way, a player named Brett Ratten was amongst our best players that day).

Richmond were held to just 67 points by the Blues last night.  Only twice last season did Carlton keep their opponent to 67 points or less.

And lastly from the statistical cupboard, last night’s winning margin (83) was our largest since the 119-point belting of the Eagles at Optus Oval in Round 10, 2001. If you hadn’t already guessed, Carlton haven’t been very good since 2001.

What I love about Carlton in 2009 is their depth. The fact that players such as Carrazzo, Fisher, Grigg, Stevens, Walker, Yarran and Warnock are currently on the outside looking in, means almost every player in the 22 should be playing for their footballing lives each week. I say ‘almost every player’ because I’d suggest Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Fevola and a couple of others are quite safe.

Next week, the Blues play the Brisbane Lions at the Dome. This presents Carlton with an excellent opportunity to potentially win their opening two matches which would be a terrific platform for the 2009 season. After Brisbane, we play Essendon – another game Carlton would realistically expect to win. Their draw gets tougher after Round 3 (Swans, Bulldogs, Hawks).

My Carlton Top 5 for Round 1:

5 votes – Marc Murphy (exceptional, kicked 2 goals capping off a great effort)

4 votes – Jarrad Waite (exposed Richardson’s lack of defensive mindset all night)

3 votes – Chris Judd (another typical Judd performance)

2 votes – Eddie Betts (5 goals tells the story)

1 vote – Mitch Robinson (best Carlton debut since Andrew Walker?)

Elsewhere on the interweb, surf on over to the website of some of my Twitter friends, Kick2Kick.net, Molly’s Mollyzine and Monty’s FanFooty. Some excellent AFL resources there, especially FanFooty if you’re into Fantasy Football.

By the way, don’t forget to join Twitter if you haven’t already!

Thanks for reading everyone – feel free to leave a comment on last nights game or any other subject!

Cheers.

Luke.

Carlton’s first choice starting 22

Hi everyone,

I saw an article in today’s Herald Sun by Bruce Matthews, as he had a look into the crystal ball to predict the Blues fortunes for the year. I believe he predicted Carlton would finish 7th or 8th – and that part, I agree with. In fact, my pre-season ladder prediction tipped an 8th placed finish for the Blues in 2009.

I was mystified, however, by Matthews’ prediction of our ‘best 22′ (that is, our best starting line-up of 18 plus 4 interchange players). He even listed emergencies, however I felt there were some glaring omissions from the squad.

So for what it’s worth, here is my best effort at our starting 22 (plus emergencies). It’s important to note that this would not be an accurate line-up for round 1 due to the suspension of Nick Stevens. I’ve left out Robbie Warnock for now, given his unknown injury status.

Full-back

P.Bower, M.Jamison, B.Thornton

Half-back

N.Stevens, J.Waite, S.Grigg

Tough to know exactly where to slot Bower, Jamison, Thornton and Waite – as weekly match-ups will determine their respective places on the field. I’ve left Stevens in the backline, as there is a strong feeling that he’ll be doing a lot of work out of the backline in 2009 – and with his excellent disposal, it makes some sense. I’ve put Grigg on the half back flank, due to some excellent form in 2008 and a promising 2009 pre-season campaign so far.

Centre

K.Simpson, B.Gibbs, H.Scotland

Solid centre line here. Simpson is a long-time favourite of mine, and is seemingly improving year by year. Gibbs in an absolute stand-out with no explanation needed, whilst Scotland, if healthy, should prove very damaging on a wing. He’s as good a kick as Stevens at times.

Half-forward

R.Houlihan, C.Cloke, S.Wiggins

Cloke aside, this line reminds me of Carlton’s dark days from the early 00’s. But Houlihan has proved, when he’s healthy, to be an extremely valuable player for the Blues – and word is, he is pain-free for the first time in a long time. Wiggins and Cloke deserve their spot for their strong work ethic and agression/courage at the contest – after both had encouraging years in 2008.

Full-forward

E.Betts, B.Fevola, M.Robinson

Fevola and Betts have become mainstays on Carlton’s full-forward line, and rightly so. I’d start Robinson out of a forward pocket just to mix things up and add even more enthusiasm to a forward line that should worry some opposition clubs this season.

Followers

M.Kruezer, C.Judd, M.Murphy

An outstanding following division – Judd and Murphy in particular are absolute premiums and should provide a lot of excitement for the Blues this season. Carlton would be hoping for bigger and better things from Kruezer in 2009, even after performing to, and then exceeding, expectations last year.

Interchange

A.Carrazzo, J.Russell, C.Johnson, B.Fisher

I decided not to go for another ruckman, as I’m backing Kruezer and Cloke to carry most of the load. Sam Jacobs has impressed me throughout the pre-season but I don’t believe he’s done enough just yet. Carrazzo I just couldn’t slip into the starting 18, but some midfield depth off the bench is handy. Russell and Fisher are in our best 22 and being the utility types they are (though Fisher has played mostly as a forward), could prove very useful as interchange players. Johnson provides another defensive option in case of match-up problems on-field.

Emergency

A.Walker (only if healthy), C.Yarran (once he has shown form in the reserves), R.Hadley (usually a solid contributor)

The selectors face a tough decision when/if Warnock gets healthy. Obviously Kruezer doesn’t come out of the team, so perhaps Cloke would face the chop then? I suppose in theory if Cloke can hold down centre half forward, Kruezer and Warnock could provide us with a dynamic 1-2 punch in the ruck.

What do you think of my starting 22? Feel free to leave a comment and include any changes you may make to the side.

Cheers,

Luke.

Carlton vs North Melbourne, AFL Pre-Season Round 1

Good afternoon all,

Carlton faced quite a difficult opening round encounter last weekend, playing against a fair full-strength Kangaroos side at the Telstra Dome.

Carlton, also, had a strong side on the park – with Carrazzo, Scotland, Walker and newly acquired Robert Warnock the major omissions.  The Roos were only missing Adam Simpson, and let’s face it, he’s not going to be the difference between a win and a loss for North Melbourne.

Carlton 123 defeated Kangaroos 70

Personally, I was very pleased with Carlton’s first-up performance against the Kangaroos.   Firstly, I wasn’t sure what to expect – I’d heard good things out of Vissy Park (formerly Princes Park) over the Summer but you never really know until the real stuff begins.

Also, the Kangaroos are a side that Carlton have had difficulty against if recent history is anything to go by (Carlton have lost their last 6 home-and-away matches against North Melbourne by an average margin of more than 36 points).  And despite this result, it will be nice to see the Blues pick up a home-and-away vistory against the Roos this season if we can manage it.  It is certainly not beyond the Roos to reverse this result, when we face them in round 18.

Getting back to the match, it was almost all good news for the Blues.  The exceptions would be the injury worries to promising draftee Chris Yarran, as well as Matthew Kreuzer – both players will miss the round 2 NAB Cup clash against Hawthorn.

Okay, now the positive signs.  Mitch Robinson looked extremely promising, after an early collision that looked to be the end of his night.  To his credit, he battled on and was excellent with around 20 disposals.  I can’t wait to see what he will do against the Hawks.

Brendan Fevola loves the pre-season competition.  Another bag of goals in this clash against the Roos confirmed the love-affair.  Fevola looks strong, but his problem has rarely ever been his body.  It’s knowing where his mind is at that is the key to his performance.  For the most part, Fev looked in control on Friday night.  Carlton’s worst possible result would be a suspension to Fevola prior to round 1 of the home-and-away season.  I’m confident he will behave himself.

Most of the midfield group looked good.  Perhaps Nick Stevens was quieter than usual, but I believe he was tagged even though he wasn’t always playing across the centre.  Gibbs, Simpson, Grigg, Houlihan and Murphy were prolific.  Grigg, in particular, looked great sweeping across the half back line.  This will be great for the Blues if he can become that ‘Lindsay Gilbee’ type player, using the ball effectively coming out of defense.

Speaking of the backline, I liked what I saw from Thornton, Jamison, Bower and C.Johnson.  The Carlton defense was a real worry for me in ‘08, so I hope the backline can look be more settled and consistent this season.  Bentley (acquired from the Power in the off-season), too, looked solid and there may be a place for him in the line-up throughout 2009.

So, good start for the Blues, but we’ve learnt the hard way that pre-season form means little when it comes to the real thing.  Another promising display against the Hawks will go a long way to showing the Blues may feature prominently in the mix during 2009.

Do you have any thoughts about the Blues or any other footy subject?  Feel free to leave a comment.

Luke.

Slumdog Millionaire

Hi everyone,

Well, I recently had the opportunity to see the much talked about (and much hyped) Slumdog Millionaire.  My review is below, and I was really happy to see the film feature so prominently at the Academy Awards last Sunday (winning 8 Oscars, including Best Feature Film).

It is just an amazing movie.  As Mark Kermode has stated (check out the podcast if you aren’t listening already), there is a lot of Slumdog before you get to the Millionaire, but this doesn’t detract from the picture one bit.

Anyway, here is the review..

Slumdog Millionaire

Most notable performances – Anil Kapoor, Madhul Mittal

This may be a rating I will re-visit later, but after seeing Slumdog Millionaire recently – I cannot find any reason to not award it top marks.

I thought it was an amazing film in every respect, and whilst it is a ‘fable’, it serves as an eye-opener as well to the harsh reality of everyday life for so many in India.

It was refreshing to go to a movie that didn’t feature a “big name” – so I had no pre-conceived ideas about what, and who, I was about to see. On the suject of acting, I thought everyone from the kids who featured earlier in the movie, to the adult versions of the same characters (Salim, Jamal and Latika), were fantastic and really believable. Another highlight for me was the performance of Anil Kapoor as the host of Millionaire – he was excellent.

I really enjoyed the score, especially “Jai Ho” – a certain purchase on the iTunes store. The score seemed to match the movie perfectly.

As I stated, I can’t fault this movie and I could not recommend this movie highly enough to others. Just go see it and decide for yourself whether you believe it’s worth the hype. Personally, I believe it deserved all of the recognition it received recently at the Academy Awards.

I’ll be very surprised if Slumdog is not my top movie of 2009.

My rating – 5 / 5 stars

There you have it.  As mentioned, easily my favourite movie of 2009 so far – but that’s not saying all that much given the other contenders for my best film are The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Seven Pounds and Step Brothers.  Slim pickings there, but I did enjoy Benjamin Button I suppose.

Also saw another movie recently..

Burn After Reading

Most notable performance – Brad Pitt

I didn’t love this movie, but I didn’t exactly want to turn it off either.

Brad Pitt’s performance was good (but it wasn’t an “award-worthy” role in my opinion), same goes for John Malkovich (I was a bit scared of him, to be honest).  I’m usually a fan of Richard Jenkins (see The Visitor), but I’m not sure if these comedy roles really suit him (see also Step Brothers).

The ending didn’t really work for me, either.  Not a bad movie, but not one I’d quickly recommend to others.

My rating – 2.5 / 5 stars

Thanks for reading.  Comment if you’ve also seen any of these movies!

Luke

Brief Movie Reviews

Hi everyone,

A collection of movie revies from films I’ve seen so far in 2009.

Believe in Me

Most notable performance - Jeffrey Donovan.

The obvious comparison here is to one of my all-time favourite movies, Hoosiers, but despite this being a relatively solid movie, it doesn’t really get there.

Jeffrey Donovan provides a good performance here, as the head coach who comes on board with the team at their worst, before steering the girls to victory. The acting is okay, but not great – however I will admit that the acting was good enough for me to get quite involved in the story (got the tingles a few times).

The basketball action itself looked quite realistic, also – which is sometimes a major downfall of movies such as this.

This is a good film for you if, like me, you enjoy these types of sporting movies and feel-good stories. Otherwise, I’m not sure this is one for you.

My rating – 3.5 / 5 stars

Wedding Crashers

Most notable performance - Rachel McAdams.

A movie not without some merit, with a strong performance from Rachel McAdams inparticular which I felt carried the movie.

I knew what to expect from Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, and the pair delivered on my expectations, with Wilson performing the stronger of the two in my opinion.

Not a lot else to say about this movie – it is what you would expect – some solid laughs but nothing ground breaking.

There are funnier comedies out there.

My rating – 2.5 / 5 stars

No Country for Old Men

Most notable performance – Josh Brolin.

An amazing movie, worthy of the many accolades it has received.

The acting is exceptional, led by brilliant performances from both Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin. I thought Brolin inparticular put in the most inspired and believable performance. I would have expected an Academy Award nomination for his performance, but not to be.

Bardem is downright scary as the psychopathic killer without a shred of remorse for his actions. Tommy Lee Jones was very good, also.

The ending was not what I would have expected, but it was not disappointing either. I enjoyed this movie and would highly recommend it to anyone if you haven’t already seen it.

My rating – 4 / 5 stars

Step Brothers

Most notable performance – Adam Scott.

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly team up for this hilarious, and outrageous, comedy – easily one of the best movies I have seen recently.

I still find myself constantly thinking back to several scenes (the sleep walking ones inparticular), and thoroughly enjoyed the performances of Ferrell and Reilly from a comedic point of view.

One of the problems I had was believing that Mary Steenburgen (‘Nancy’) was Ferrell’s mum, but I eventually got over that. This was a very funny movie with plenty of laugh out loud moments. Adam Scott, as Will Ferrell’s brother – Derek, was another highlight – especially in the car scene with his wife and kids attempting a family sing-along.

I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a laugh, unless you’re not a Will Ferrell fan of course.

My rating – 4 / 5 stars

Role Models

Most notable performance – Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

I see a lot of praise for this movie, so I may be on my own in saying it didn’t deliver the laughs I expected.

I felt Paul Rudd didn’t bring his A-game to this movie, and have actually found him to be boring and a lot funnier in other movies, especially in his ongoing role on ‘Friends’. William-Scott is the most pigeon-holed actor in Hollywood and I can’t see that changing, as long as the money keep rolling in.

Some of the comedy seemed very forced and awkward, and whilst I liked ‘Augie’ (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), I didn’t enjoy little Ronnie half as much. I liked a lot of the ‘role-playing’ scenes, and would have liked more emphasis on that side of the story (that’s the geek in me coming out!). Jane Lynch was solid, if not a bit unbelievable, as the ‘Sturdy Wings’ co-ordinator.

Not a bad movie, but not as enjoyable as ‘Step Brothers’ which I have also recently seen.

My rating – 2.5 / 5 stars

Seven Pounds

Most notable performances – Will Smith, Rosario Dawson.

In a word – Wow. This is a movie I am certain to not forget in a hurry.

Will Smith is superb, and Rosario Dawson provides fantastic support throughout. Smith’s performance alone is reason enough to see this movie, whilst the “jelly fish” scene is particularly moving also.

I can understand why not everyone loves this movie, because it does get slow through the middle – and to some it may be predictable, but I give credit to those involved for trying something a bit different.

In my view, Seven Pounds is a solid 4-star movie that I would recommend.

My rating – 4 / 5 stars

Thanks for reading, feel free to leave a comment if you agree/disagree with any of my comments.

Luke.

AFL Ladder prediction (continued).

Hi again,

Continuing on from my previous post, here is how I anticipate the bottom half of the 2009 AFL premiership ladder to play out..

9. Kangaroos – Since Wayne Carey’s departure from Arden Street (yes, I’m venturing back a few years now), I just haven’t had a lot of time for the Roos. And whilst, at times, I admire their so-called ’shin-boner spirit’ (which is only mentioned in gritty victories – yet amazingly never spoken of when they cop 50-point defeats) – there is nothing currently about their playing list that inspires me. Perhaps Brent Harvey, but little else to be honest. The no-frills, workmanlike approach of Petrie, Simpson, Rawlings and Harris might win them their fair share of games, but does little to sell memberships. Perhaps this will change in ‘09, but I’m not expecting big things.

10. Richmond – On paper, the Tigers will mostly be relying on their 2008 line-up to show steady improvement in their continued rise up the ladder. I wish Ben Cousins all the luck in the world in his recovery from his drug addiction, and I consider myself a fan of his, but one wonders whether his hamstrings will go the distance given his lengthy lay-off from competitive footy. And of course, as an AFL follower, you just have to love Richo (the good and the bad version). In 2008, we saw a lot of the good Richo, as he even came within a vote or two of a Brownlow Medal (which he deserved to win, mind you, unlike Cooney?). The Tigers will be thereabouts, but I don’t believe the addition of Cousins alone will be enough for them to force their way into the Top 8.

11. Brisbane – Brisbane, led by newly appointed head coach and Lions great Michael Voss, will be a team to watch in 2009 – and whilst I had considered slipping them into my Top 8, I just couldn’t justify it in the end. So much will hinge on the fitness of powerhouse forward, Brown and Bradshaw. A full season to both and they’ll be knocking on the door of the 8, if not higher. Speaking of injuries, wouldn’t they also love the talented pair of Luke Power and Simon Black to be at 100% fitness all season. There will be too many untested youngsters in their line-up for them to be a real threat over a long and arduous home-and-away season, which isn’t to say they can’t knock off some talented teams – because they most likely will – but I don’t foresee a Top 8 finish with all other things being equal.

12. Essendon – And now, the start of the “best of the rest”. So basically, I’m discounting every team from this position onwards and giving them no hope of seeing finals footy. But if any of these teams can make it, Essendon would be the one to make it interesting. Whilst their ‘better’ players are another year older (I speak of Lloyd, Lucas, Fletcher and McPhee) – and James Hird is still retired – there are some younger, middle-tier players I actually rate. They include McVeigh, Stanton, Watson and Welsh (though his recent injury will hurt the Dons). They wont be terrible, but I wouldn’t expect them to be in finals contention for too long.

13. West Coast – Cox, Kerr, Embley, Glass, Selwood, Wirrpanda, Q.Lynch and Priddis – that is a fair nucleus of players to have as your foundation.  Their first round NAB Cup humiliation at the hands of Collingwood should be largely overlooked, given the Eagles were missing most of the aforementioned players – whilst the Pies fielded close to a full strength line-up.  I like the look of Masten, Ebert and McKinley – whilst another, Mitchell Brown, is said to be training down the house.  If their stars can all stay on the park – namely Cox, Kerr and Embley – this team could rise up once more.  But several of their youngsters looked extremely raw the other night, but it remains to be seen what a difference it will make having their better, more experienced players out on the field with them.  Between 6-8 wins sounds about right.

14. Fremantle – You just have to wonder when the ‘purple haze’ will finally hit their straps and put together a consistent season.  It’s fair to say Mark Harvey didn’t impress me much throughout 2008 (the phrase ‘deer in headlights’ comes to mind), however Freo – with just the 6 wins -  came within a whisker of a victory so many times it is beyond belief.  8 losses by less than 10 points is an amazing statistic, and shows they weren’t far away from competing for finals – had those results been reversed.  At the end of the day, they couldn’t win the games when they were there for the taking.  Blame the coach, blame the players – either way, it became a big problem.  Their line-up, led by the ever consistent Pavlich, is solid – and from all accounts there are some talented kids coming through.  The Dockers will scare a few teams once again, but they probably lack the class to push much further up the ladder than this.

15. Port Power – There is some potential in the Power line-up, with no less than 8 or 9 quality players when they’re fit and firing.  Their ’spine’ appears a worry, however, especially with the ageing Warren Tredrea plugged in at full-forward and Westhoff (seems to turn up to play every other game) at CHF.  Tredrea (who is 3 or 4 years removed from his best form) has really struggled in the past year or two to have an impact, though he has no doubt been hampered by injury.  If the Cornes and Burgoyne clans stay healthy and produce the quality footy we know they’re capable of,  it wouldn’t surprise me if they finished several places higher than 15th.  But I can’t shake the doubts I currently have about aspects of their line-up, so I’ll leave them here.

16. Melbourne – Sorry Demons fans, but whilst there should be some improvement on their horrific 2008 season – something dramatic would need to occur for Melbourne to climb off the bottom of the ladder. Take out Green, Bruce, Davey and the gritty James McDonald – and this line-up is very ordinary. Robertson is not the player he once was – and hasn’t been for a couple of years now. It will be interesting to see if ‘Robbo’ can find some of his vintage form in 2009. There is nothing about the Demons line-up that instills me with any sense of confidence – and I expect another miserable year again this year. Melbourne will want to see their youngsters show something and give their supporters a reason to cheer.

Well, thanks for reading. In about 6 or 7 months, we’ll know exactly how inaccurate these predictions are!

Feel free to comment and leave your own predictions for the upcoming AFL season!

Luke.