54. From Russia With Love

From Russia with Love is the first Bond movie to really establish 'the formula' of the many Bond films to follow and is a full on Bond caper from start to finish!

The pre-credits sequence, the introduction of Q, a proper theme tune and for the first time featuring some spectacular action sequences. A classic henchman turn from Robert Shaw and this really has whetted, my already considerably moist, appetite for the rest of the Bond 50 box set.

Onward!

53. Dr. No

After being lucky enough to receive the Bond 50 set on Blu-ray for Christmas I thought the least I could do was to work my way through them all. So here goes...

What needs to be said about Dr. No? Well it's the start of the greatest movie franchise ever and its as slick and engaging as many contemporary spy yarns. The one thing that really stands out is the Blu-ray print. This looks like a movie made today and set in the 60's - the image is crystal clear and the colour range is gorgeous.

The same however, cannot be said for the sound mix. The score sounds screeching high compared to everything else; although this may be optimised for surround set ups, which is something I don't currently own. Maybe I'll ask for that next Christmas...

52. End Of Watch

End of Watch is great. Not amazing or the 'greatest cop movie ever made' but a good, serviceable jaunt into the day to day wise cracking and shootouts of the LAPD.

The two leads are great and it does everything a David Ayer film usually does. Namely promises a lot but then descends into a big shootout at the end. Actually, that is a little harsh. As I have said - it's great - it just feels like it could and should have so much more...

51. Down Terrace

After seeing the amazing Kill List from the same director I was keen to catch Down Terrace. Ben Wheatley's first feature certainly has many of the same assets that made Kill List one my films of 2011. Generally this is involves bickering suburbanite families, organised-crime-based violence and some of the darkest humour ever committed to film.

Down Terrace is a look at what can happen if paranoia grips small time junkies and they start a bit of 'Let's murder everyone we think may know sometihng about anything'. It's eye watering funny at times and is punctuated by some very hard, straight forward violence. Which is nice.

Recommended.

50. Skyfall

Fifty Years of Bond and it all leads to number 50 on the blog and Skyfall. Can the series pick up from the pretty abysmal Quantum of Solace? Well yes, it does but after that movie, the only way is up.

It's a good solid Bond from start to finish and certainly Shit Bond's best. Not the greatest Bond (Man With Golden Gun, Goldeneye or Goldfinger for me) but very much a return to form with all the ingredients present and correct for a top quality caper.

I would say the only thing it lacks is a full on Bond girl - but the fan boy lip service is all very well received, especially when the DB5 makes an appearance...

Once they get the wise cracks back in, the series will be pretty much back to its best!

49. The Muppets

It's great!! For me though the one thing is really lacked was the kind of 'Muppet cruetly' of the TV show. Also  there is a distinct lack of Gonzo - which is pretty shitty.

Overall though it's top singing and dancing fun and if you have any kind of affection for the Muppet's at all you will get something out of this.

The only other thing I didn't like was the all too human based dance sequences. I want to see Muppet's dancing not humans - Less human, more Muppet!

48. Final Destination 5

I am a big fan of the Final Destination series and 5 is another steady instalment to the series that was suppose to have ended with the previous film 'The Final Destination' - which will no doubt be re-named in up and coming box sets as FD4.

5 takes the usual format and strips away the whole 'lets try and figure out why we survived and why we are all dying' aspect with Candyman popping up and telling our soon-to-be-deceased protagonists what the deal is. This leaves the film with more time to off teenagers but actually seems to slow the proceedings a little before turning into a more standard slasher for a good 15 minutes or so before the climax.

And what an end sequence it is! Probably the best ending to any FD movie (including the original I'd say).

Oh and the best death sequence... It has to be the gymnasium death scene - totally and utterly ridiculous but it had me in stitches.