Movie Review: Contagion

Date seen: Oct 22, 2011
Where: Century City Village Cinemas

When I saw the poster, I thought "All Star cast, sounds interesting, with a well known director".
Heard good reviews about it, thought I'd give it a go. 15mins into the film, I started to think
"Wait a sec, isn't this the first half of (Stephen King's) 'The Stand'?"

And after that I really couldn't get into the movie, because all I kept thinking was "This is the first half of The Stand!"

Everything from the slow but inexorable descent into armageddon, to the hysteria of accusing the Govt of
witholding an antivirus.

The story is told from three perspectives.

- The people from the CDC who are trying desparately to find out what the virus is so that they  can grow it and find the antivirus(Lawence Fishburne, Kate Winslet)

- Matt Damon as the everyday guy whose world is torn apart and just wants to keep his family safe

- Jude Law (with a pretty cool tooth prop, at least I hope it was fake, or else he needs to go see a dentist) as the bloggist who thinks he's a journalist who people trust and is fighting the power.

Whilest King's The Stand focused on the characters being affected by the virus, Contagion had a more
overall view.

In short the movie is a study in how society reacts to a virus that kills and yet the people who are in power are helpless to find the anti virus.  It's the classic race against time.

Rating: 2 and a half out of 5.

PS. If you're curious about the second half of The Stand (and I mean the book, not the movie). I have these words for you.

CI-BO-LA BUMPTY-BUMPTY-BUMP!

How I feel about the Western Bulldogs

With respect to a poster named "Leon" on Bigfooty, this is how I feel about the Western Bulldogs.

Originally Posted by Leon:

"The Bulldogs are like the girl you just can't get over.

You love them so much, you give them your heart and soul, everything, do the right thing by them, each time they swear its different, that they'll treat you right, but time and again you just end up heartbroken.

But you love them still and each time a new footy season comes around you're back buying flowers and telling them you love them, or dropping down on your knees begging for a root, depending on what sort of guy you are."

Amen Brother.

Favourite Quotes

Jim Classic:

I asked him if he had seen the lastest Alien movie

"No"

"Well did you finally get to see the Final Destination DVD I lent you"

"No"

"I thought you didn't do much on the weekend!"

"Well, I have this thing....called a LIFE!"

Well played Jim, well played.

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 Probably my Fave Castle scene:

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Too good not to be shown:

What is a SHART?

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Another Jim classic:

When a discussion was underway about "being too familiar with someone"

"Yeah...'he has a mole on his left testicle'  would be an example"

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 I was "appreciating" a beautiful woman's outfit at work, I said to a co worker "She's wearing
a nice outfit don't you think?"

Her reply:

"Yeah, she's lovely, lovely figure, personality, face.....BITCH"

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Another Jimbo classic

"Man it smells like Chinese in here"
"Don't even think of saying it Jimbo"
then we hear Jim trying to...well he makes this noise that's half grunt/laugh.

It's really bad that I think the same thing that Jim does, which means my fall from normal society is now complete

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Jimbo's advice to the guys living alone

"Shit, no food in the fridge, can't be bothered going out, wait...Coco Pops? Yeah that works"

*I replied, you can always have cornbeef and eggs for dinner*

"Yeah, but that involves cooking, Coco Pops can be eaten with or without milk, depending on your mood"

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 "Oh, you don't want to say anything infront of the W-H-O-R-E?"
"You know I can spell"
"Oh, of course, anyway..wait...isn't that Charlie Sheen over there?"
"Where!"

Las Vegas



"Why drink and drive when you can smoke and fly!"

Bob Marley

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"Did you recommend me for this case, because I'm Fa-, Fah-, Fff...because I'm large?"


"Oh he must be Canadian"
"Yay, thank heavens for our neighbours to the south!"

Drop Dead Diva

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"Keep Stroking that Wall!"

"You can't out run me..I'm Black!"

Get Him To The Greek

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"WWVMD!"
"That's right....What Would Vic Mackey Do?"
"Okay..he'd plant some evidence and coerce a confession!"

WEEDS
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"To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid"
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“Does the hippy hippy shake...”
“Who sang that KB?”
“Crash Craddick 1970”
...“Thought it was a drink!”

Part of commentary overheard in a Dogs V Cats AFL game.

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“You must never underestimate the power of the eyebrow”
Jack Black
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"Alma and Jerry, Alma and Jerry"
"What are you jealous?"
"But really! How come he's always the one with you in the movies? It's always him".
"Well Jerry said that you complained about, you know..."
"That is a dirty lie, I never said a word about your moustache"
Be Kind Rewind.

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“It’s bad luck to be superstitious...”
Commentator - Hopman Cup
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“You know when you hear girls say ‘Ah man, I was so shit-faced last night, I shouldn’t have fucked that guy?’ We could be that mistake!”
SUPERBAD
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James Russell: Don’t say anything about my fiancÈe’s weight. She’s sensitive.
Franklin Hatchett: Man you must have one of them fat assed, Taco Bell, McDonalds eatin’ big booty-assed girls.
Franklin Hatchett: You’re phat.
Grace Cipriani: Excuse me?
Franklin Hatchett: You’re phat. P-H-A-T. Pretty Hot And Tempting.
MONEY TALKS
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ACE VENTRUA quotes:

"Hi, I'm looking for Ray Finkle"
*Shotgun gets pointed at Ace*
"And a new pair of shorts".

"Spank you, Spank you very much Mr. Helpy Helperson...."

"Ventura!"
"Yes Satan? Oh sorry, I thought you were someone else..."

"If I'm not back in 5 minutes....just wait longer"

"Like a Glooooooooove!"

"That's not snowflake! That's not snowflake!"

"Your gun is digging into my hip...."

"Bumblebee Tuna, Bumblebee Tuna..."

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"Ben bounced to his feet. It was awesome to watch Ben Hanscom bounce".
IT
Stephen King
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Jimbo classics:

I was complaining about how some big/fat guys get the hot chicks. Jimbo's response "Chicks dig big guys!"
To which I protested "Hey, I"m big, how come I can't get a chick!"

"That's because you're ugly".

And after my comment of "Cripes that was quick" after looking at the time

"Yeah, that's what your girlfriend said last night...."






"She's like a chick version of me...with bigger boobs"
"But that means she's ugly like you"
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"If the gwali can get up there, we should be able"
"Beggin' Your Grace's pardon, but do you think you could swing through the trees like them too?"



Silverthorn

Ryath said "It is near time"
Arutha said: "What is the dragon speaking of?"  He had seen so many wonders over the last
two years, the sight of a talking dragon was making no impression on him. 


Darkness at Sethanon

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Adwin Quotes: 


"I don't pay for shit man..."


"I remembered talking alot of shit when I was younger, so I thought it would be useful for when I
was working"


"All these bloody meetings, I just keep having lunch meetings and getting fat"


*I suggested eating a salad when ordering*


"Yeah, but that's kind of wimpy, eating a salad in front of doctors/clients"


*My response - doctors would understand...you're just being health conscious*

"Damn, man you're a bloody manager, with all these people reporting to you"
"No....that;s EXECUTIVE manager"

Top Ten Favourite Movies

 Before listing my top ten, there are things you have to understand on how I compiled my list.
- The movie must be good enough that I can watch it over and
over and never get tired of it.
- Movies I have seen would be skewed to the modern era (I'm 34 years old as of this post) for instance I've heard and seen bits of pieces of movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and of course The Shining and Casablanca, but I have not seen these movies...yet, so I can't have an opinion on something I haven't seen.
- The movies listed are simply movies that *I* like..you may not like them, but I'm allowed to have an opinion...right?


Anyhow on with the show:

Top Ten Movies:

1. Pulp Fiction -

Fave bit: John Travolta and Samuel L accidentally shooting the guy in the back of their car
And Samuel L Jackson going nuts while cleaning the car and of course Mr. Wolf

Cleaning the car Pulp Fiction style



2. The Godfather 1 & 2

Impossible to separate the two.

The Godfather 1 - the meeting

The Godfather 2 - The Kiss of Death

3. Shawshank Redemption

One of the few instances the movie is better than the Stephen King book/novella it was based on
and the ending is word for word the same as the novella. I only wish one day The Dark Tower series could be made.

I Hope....



4. Forrest Gump

How can anyone not laugh at:
Forrest Gump: DONE, DRILL SERGEANT!
Drill Sergeant: GUUUUUUMP! Why did you put that weapon together so quickly, Gump?
Forrest Gump: [confused] You told me to, Drill Sergeant?
Drill Sergeant: Jesus H. Christ!
[looks at stopwatch]
Drill Sergeant: This is a new company record! If it wouldn't be such a waste of a damn-fine enlisted man I'd recommend you for OCS! You are gonna be a general someday, Gump, now disassemble your weapon and continue! 
Also, how can anyone NOT be misty eyed when Forrest talks to Jenny "Under their Tree".

Done Drill Sargeant!

Under our Tree

5. Good Will Hunting

If there's a better feel good movie than this, please let me know, the ending was perfect.

The Perfect Ending

6. Aliens

One of the best sequels ever made, moments that had you jumping with great characters
such as Vasquez and Hudson and of course the line.
"Get away from her you bitch!" Got to love Ripley


You tell 'em Ripley!


7. LA Confidential 

When I first saw this movie, after the first 5 minutes I just thought "This is an awesome movie".
And I reckon Kim Basinger won her Academy Award for saying the word "Fuck"  


That *IS* Lana Turner

Bud White defender of women 



8. Jaws

Still scares the crap out of me to this day, loved Richard Dreyfuss's reaction to the "boating accident" and the bit where you know the severed head will appear, but you still jump when you see it.  Still think of the movie before I go to the beach.


Bigger Boat Required
 

9.  American Beauty

Great performance from Kevin Spacey and the very first scene pretty much sets
the tone of the movie and I nearly fell off the seat when I saw it the first time, laughing my ass off.
And of course:
"Fuck me your majesty!"

BUSTED!


10. A League of their Own

There's not many movies where every scene there's something hilarious or quote worthy.
This movie has it.  Never get tired of  watching it and for those who think it's a chick flick
because it's a movie about girls baseball, you're missing out on Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz's hilarious performances.  Great ensemble acting


There's no crying in baseball!!!