51: WHITEOUT

Problems on the Bakerloo line meant that I missed the movie I was planning to watch (see number 52) and was therefore subject to leftovers. Always a risky situation. Whiteout is based on a comic book that I always wanted to read, thus guiding me to my second choice.

Damn you, Bakerloo line. But I suppose it was my own fault. Sometimes you've got know when to turn away. Sure, my attempts at salvaging the night weren't entirely foolhardy, but maybe I would have been better served going for a drink in a bar somewhere, or playing pool with friends, or jumping in front of a bus.

It could've been because I missed the first couple of minutes, but this movie had zero impact on me. It elicited no emotion. It was as if I'd sat in a cinema for 90 minutes watching a blank white screen - no, that's not true - a blank white screen would've been impressive in its audacity.

Avoid this one - unless you want a spare 90 minutes to think about something else.

3 out of 10

50: DISTRICT 9

Part two of my Staples Corner night out (crazy times), and the official halfway mark!!

Entertaining, original, funny - District 9 has it all. Set in Johannesburg, South Africa, and shot in documentary style, it's a refreshing new addition to the science fiction genre. Peter Jackson produces this 'independent' movie and you can see why - it's hilarious (the main character, Wikus van der Merwe, is introduced as a bit of a deskbound nerd, but, when under pressure out in the field, comes out with some great one liners and uses the word 'fuck', with his Afrikaans accent, with great humour), it's gory (blood flies about in copious amounts and bodies explode regularly), it's touching (sort of), and its topical (examples of the way the 'prawns' are treated can be found in the real world, and being set in South Africa only emphasises this point).

A very entertaining 2 hours from a talented director, who hopefully doesn't go on to sell his soul to the remake / sequel producing machine that is Hollywood.

8.5 out of 10