Notebook Letters 8.

John Wayne Q & A

Can someone please tell me which film features John Wayne commanding someone to "get off your horse and drink your milk"? Also, are the rumours true that Michael Caine, sean connery and Roger Moore are making a film together? Edward, Kent

Matthew, Sheffield- You're not alone. The film Titanic should have sunk like the ship itself. Also, seeing Stallone walking in Rambo like a constipated gerbil is quite funny. Kev, Gosport

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 4th of October, 2009; 6/6.

Movie marathon madness

I fondly remember attending weekend horror marathons which would start on a Saturday and conclude Sunday. That's a lot of movies. Highlights included the premiere of Peter Jackson's full cut of Brain Damage and meeting Jim Van Bebber. t rivers, suss*x

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 5th of October, 2005; 1/6.

Does Tom Cruise play it safe?

Barry, that's hardly a well thought-out reply. I think Tom Cruise does play it safe far too often. He could choose more parts based on the challenges they provide and not the size of the role.

But I've never met a film fan who felt he was poor in Born On The Fourth of July or Rain Man. Have personal dislikes, yes, but have the knowledge and taste to see when someone puts on a fine performance. NC, St Helen's

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 5th of October, 2009; 2/6.

Review of Hollywood talent

The professional atheism of Ricky Gervais is spoiling my enjoyment of his comedy. It also hints he places too much value on his job. Rich, Romford

I think that one of the best martial arts actors out there is Cynthia Rothrock. Also, my favourite martial arts films are Blue Tiger, Guardian Angel, Naked killer, Police assassins, Red Wolf and Sworn To Justice. Tony, Barnet

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 5th of October, 2009; 2/6.

Original films uncovered

Someone wrote mourning the loss of original versions of films that were reedited and one of those mentioned was Metropolis. He'll be pleased to hear that a print including much of the last footage was discovered in Argentina last year.

It will be some time before it can be restored to a usable state (and even then there's still about five minutes missing) but it's still something to look forward to. Tim, County Durham

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 5th of October, 2009; 4/6.

t rivers- How can the r*pe of a child be described as an indiscretion? Sam, Blackburn

Like polanski, I also survived the nazis and I have never viewed my suffering as mitigation for unconscionable behaviour, nor should I. Elzbietia, Bath

I thought the Vortex was about views on movies, not about the rights and wrongs of polanski. MWR, Thornaby On Tees

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 5th of October, 2009; 5/6.

Lee a Jedi master?

Great martial arts feature, Mr James. Bruce Lee would've been approached to play a Jedi, I'm sure. Matth, Wakefield

Best martial arts movie stars: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa. Kenny, Lisburn

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 6th of October, 2009; 1/6.

Movie titles catch the eye

New debate- best/ most catchy movie titles? The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, There Will Be Blood, Apocalypse Now, Mad Max, The Departed, Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, No Country For Old Men, Fistful of Dollars. Also, you must all watch Hungarian film Kontroll. Brilliant! Mohammed, London

Peter- I too remember The Incredible Shrinking Man. It was based on a story by Richard Matheson. A great film and also available on DVD. Chris, Stockport

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 6th of October, 2009; 2/6.

Shrinking Man giant of film

Peter- The Incredible Shrinking Man is exciting, intelligent, symbolic and thought provoking. The set design was outstanding. Dodger, Colchester

t rivers- I too used to frequent those horror festivals. They were a big introduction to some fantastic unknown horror gems. Dave, Banbury

t rivers- I have similar memories. If you don't attend, may I recommend London Frightfest? Richard, Southend

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 6th of October, 2009; 3/6.

Nobel Son awful

I've watched Nobel Son, the film given away with The Mail On Sunday, and have paid me to watch it. No wonder it never had a release. Awful film. Martin, Wigan

polanski was put in an assessment centre for six months and was found not to be a s*xual predator. Then the judge asked the prosecutor to state there had been no plea bargain. The prosecutor said if he had been in the situation he would've left the US. Carole, Gloucs

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 6th of October, 2009; 4/6.

polanski debate rages on

Sam- Indiscretion- means lack of judgment, an unwise act, which is what happened. Elzbieta- You were on the streets while your parents were in a concentration camp? Your pregnant wife was murdered? t rivers, suss*x

Edward- John Wayne never said it in any of his movies. Bag, Leek

Matthew- Sorry to be pedantic but the spiders in The Hobbit are in Mirkwood, not Fangorn. Johnboy, Farnham

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 6th of October, 2009; 5/6.

Cruise was great in Magnolia

Everyone seems to be putting down Tom Cruise, but nobody's mentioned his terrific performances in Magnolia- a bold, non-starring role for which he was perfectly cast. Those who call actors rubbish without reason aren't basing their judgment on a full body of work, so what they mean to say is they don't like them or the few films they've seen them in. Let's have less negativity and find out what people like. Good to hear about the print of Metropolis, though. Paul, Plymouth

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 6th of October, 2009; 6/6.

Deadmaus/ For Lack of A Better Name

By John Earls

The Canadian techno producer has become a major name, thanks in part to his gimmick of DJing with his face hidden under a robotic mouse head.

A compilation of early singles before a proper debut next year, it couldn't be more of a stopgap if it tried.

Shorn of gimmicks, the music is dull and, well, faceless techno with nothing in the way of memorable hooks or inventive production. 4/10

1/8.

Cerys Matthews/ Don't Look Now

After two albums, Matthews evolves into her poppiest post-Catatonia work.

Not that it's back to Britpop- this is gorgeously languid '60s girlgroup pop, with Matthews resembling Dusty on swooning torch song Spider And The Fly.

She can still sound happily chaotic, as on the jittberbugging Smash The Glass, but it's basically as fine a lazy Sunday morning album makes her a great diva. 6/10

2/8.

The Mountain Goats/ The Life of The World To Come

John Darnielle is joined by two new members for his sixth album with songs named after Bible verses.

Despite the new boys, and strings by Owen Pallett, it's often just that bit too minimal, Darnielle letting his eloquent lyrics and sparse delivery cope at the expense of developed songs.

The fuller arrangements, fizzing with golden harmonies and poignant guitars, show how great he can be. 6/10

3/8.

The Longcut/ Open Hearts

Nine Black Alps guitarist David Jones produces the Mancs' second album, a marked step up from last year's debut.

Whereas that record seemed beset by uncertainty, this time their crashing guitar workouts and punding metronomic drums makes for both danceable psychedelia and heavy, intense jamming.

Stuart Ogilvie matures into a hypnotic preacher, on a heady brew that deserves to get them hyped again. 8/10

4/8.

Sondre Lerche/ Heartbeat Radio

Following his soundtrack for Dan In Real Life, Lerche's fourth proper album features arrangements by Sean O'Hagan.

A major disappointment, the energy of his Phantom Punch album is only really here on this swinging title track.

The rest dissipates in a slew of sub-Sufjan ballads, cosy and verging on MOR as Lerche tries so hard to be tasteful that it's bland. O'Hagan's sterile horns don't help. 5/10

5/8.

Nerina Pallot/ The Graduate

The surprise choice as Kylie's new writer, hopefully Pallot has crafted better songs for her new album.

It alternates between wretched self-help ballads, full of pop psychology without any pop, and drippy, skippy pop that would have sounded dated in 1985.

Making Diane Warren's songs look the height of sincerity and bereft of decent choruses, they're rounded off by Pallot's drab vocals. Dismal. 3/10

6/ 8.

Kurt Vile/ Childish Prodigy

The former guitarist of War On Drugs, the Philadelphian claims he's a former bluegrass prodigy.

There's little evidence of that on his revivalism, Vile's iggy-esque melodramatic whooping leavened by sinister, inchoate guitars.

At home with MBV or MC5, the sulphurous atmosphere is more devilish than most peers. If he can find killer songs to match his style, he'll be superb. 7/10

7/8.

A Place To Bury Strangers/ Exploding Head

The New Yorkers' second album further pushes their punishing industrial rock.

Perfectly timed it is too- with NIN going on hiatus, the trio's battering-ram industrial deserves to best as unlikely dance music, thanks to juddering synths and oddly Madchester vocals.

Brutal mischievious fun, packed with tunes as hard as their ideas. 8/10

8/8.

Teletext page 823; 5th of October, 2009.

* Ducks' bills reveal whether they have s*xually-transmitted diseases.

* The average British home had 5.34 rooms.

* Dogs watch how nice people are to others to work out who to approach to beg for food.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 15th of April, 2011; 1/3.

* Time travel storylines are officially discouraged in China.

* The first Dulux dog was called Dash.

* More girls than boys became scouts in the past year.

* Some dinosaurs did their hunting at night.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 15th of April, 2011; 2/3.

* The world's smallest ever musical instrument is a guitar the size of a single blood cell.

* There are 8.5 million football-related words in English.

* Male humpback whales play "Chinese whispers" across 6, 000km.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 15th of April, 2011; 3/3.

Your favourite zombie film

Faze zombie film has to be the original Dawn of The Dead closely followed by Return of The Living Dead and in third, the darkest of them all, Day of The Dead ('85). Does anyone know if there's been a release date set for Romero's sixth zombie film? David, Barnsley

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 7th of October, 2009; 1/6.

Greatest movie titles

Best movie titles- Girl, Interrupted; The Abyss; Priscilla, Queen of The Desert; A Few Good Men; The Breakfast Club; Back To The Future; About Last Night. I'm sure there are loads more. Yvonne, Glasgow

Martial arts fans- check out the films of up-and-coming British actor Scott Adkins, particularly Undisputed 2, The Ninja and Special Forces. Not since Van Damme's glory days have I seen such an exciting new talent! John, Darlington

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 7th of October, 2009; 2/6.

Are 3D films a waste of money?

Can any Vortexers out there please explain to me why 3D films do not work on me? It's just like watching a 3D film. A waste of money. Duane, Hull

Original Dawn of The Dead is the best zombie film by far. Steve S, Warrington

I can't believe with film reviews on the net and even your phone I still see people outside cinemas staring at posters and then walking out of a film unsuitable for them. Paul, Hailsham

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 7th of October, 2009; 4/6.

Is Tom Cruise a good actor?

Tom Cruise's most diverse role is in Tropic Thunder. Glasses, bald, bearded, fat, foul-mouthed, abusive and almost unrecognisable. He does some crazy dancing too. Dodger, Colchester

I have liked Tom Cruise in everything I've seen him in. Wouldn't bother with Mission Impossible or Valkyrie or his private life. Patricia Bedford, Ealing

Have any of you martial arts fans seen Ip Man or Ong Bak 2? Kenny, Lisburn

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 7th of October, 2009; 5/6.

The Incredible Shrinking Man

Peter- The Incredible Shrinking Man is still brilliant today. The philosophy offered in Richard Matheson's screenplay is exquisitely moving, one cannot help but be touched by the main character's observations on the universe at the film's finale. mondo, kernow

Just watched Ong Bak and Warrior King again. They are brilliant. Why isn't Tony Jaa doing movies in America? Simon, Fintona

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 7th of October, 2009; 6/6.

Feel good films

As the winter months draw in, there is nothing better than sitting down with a great feel good film. As a 37-year-old man, I have to say that Hairspray (2007) is one I can watch again and again, but wouldn't admit to! Paul, Sheffield

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 8th of October, 2009; 1/6.

Pixar vs Japanese anime

With me being a grouchy, curmudgeonly old(ish) man, you'd think thar I'd be up for Up, but I actually find Disney/ Pixar both pretentious and patronising.

Japanese anime, on the other hand, takes no prisoners and is much preferable to our weak Western efforts. As much as I liked Wall-E, it's nowhere near the brilliance of, say, Princess Mononoke and the like. mondo, cornwall

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 8th of October, 2009; 2/6.

What's so good about 3D?

Duane, Hull- I don't know about 3D at normal cinemas, but IMAX is awesome. It's totally immersive and nothing like traditional cinema. Peter, Wakefield

Duane, Hull- I suggest you get your eyes tested for astigmatism, as this may be why you aren't seeing the two images merged properly into 3D. Richard, Felixstowe

Evan Rachel Wood is devastating in Thirteen. Jade, Derbyshire

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 8th of October, 2009; 3/6.

Advice sought...

Calling martial arts fans- can you recommend some Heroic Bloodshed movies? I'm a fan of Moon Warriors and the Baby Cart series, so anything in the same league would be appreciated. t rivers, suss*x

Spaghetti Westerns have the best titles: Today It's Me, Tomorrow You!, Kill Them And Come Back Alone, Duck You Sucker! and my favourite, Hands Up, Corpse, You're Under Arrest! Anyone seen these? Dodger, Colchester

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 8th of October, 2009; 4/6.