Film: Valkyrie Directed by Bryan Singer

A film detail the attempted plot to murder Hitler during the second world war.  The intention was to assassinate and then neutralise Berlin by claiming a state off emergency.

The conspirators wanted to murder both Hitler and Himmler in one attempt - but things do not quite go to plan.  This is a good film, but probably does too much bending of history for the benefit of a good plot.

Tom Cruise plays his role well but his own persona comes across a bit too much at times - making the character look a little righteous and vain.  The firing squad scene at the end is probably something you can imagine was debated with the studios and Cruise's "people"  - as it is a little over played....

Film: Munich directed by Steven Speilberg

A tense film about the retribution carried out after the Munich Olympic murders in 1972.  Israel sanction a hit list of targets that a loosely connected group are given to execute.

The film portrays each hit, but also covers the moralistic issues the lead character has to face as he finds himself becoming more desensitised to hist actions.

Has some good acting, Daniel Craig is a surprise with a South African accent.

Ballmer Quits!

Well on the back of the reorganisation, Ballmer announces his retirement - causing a boost in the MSFT share price:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23815316

It's a bit of a surprise, and it's a little unfair to call him unsuccessful.  MSFT have maintained profitability on existing sectors - they've been patchy on new areas, although not for want trying on things like Windows Mobile, and the ill fated Windows 8/RT.  I must admit even I could see RT was a turkey - the need to recompile for it, it was just never going to be easy.

So it will be interesting to see who is next to give things a go.  They are a big company with a lot of power, they need to work out how to become a commercial brand to supplement the existing enterprise.  Also rather than throw their weight around, embrace some of the things like open source, interoperability to make them more appealing - rather than an empire whose products are needed out of necessity.

Film: Frost/Nixon directed by Ron Howard

A film vehicle for Michael Sheen to play David Frost, during the time of his interview with disgraced president Nixon.

It did not sound that enthralling but the film is pretty good - depicting how much money Frost had to raise and encourage backers to raise money to pay a president who was clearly looking for another pay day.

Frost is portrayed as a playboy and slightly out of his depth journalistically.  The initial days of interviewing play into Nixon's hands and it is not until the last day does Frost get enough material to ask more pointed questions - which then cause Nixon's admissions.

Something of the original interviews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4QT-eH6zvg

Portsmouth League 2 - Tough Start

Harsh lessons for Portsmouth as they were beaten 4-1 at home to Oxford.  I really want to see Guy Whittingham do well, partly nostalgia, and partly because he is a good person.

An 18000 crowd saw this, which is a real shame - but it's early days, sounds like there is a lot to put right if League 2 is to be a promotion season!

Film: Terminator 2 Judgement Day directed by James Cameron

Hard to believe but I have never seen this film from 1991, and I really liked the original Terminator.  So I borrowed it and watched.  It was pretty good, I remember bits of it from "making of" dcoumentaries.

A lot of the film hinges on nascent CGI and looking at it now they hold up pretty well - but do look like an Amiga had been working over time to produce the ray tracing.

The film has a few twists, like Arnie being the terminator now on the protection job.  But generally it's a film of cat and mouse and huge fire power.

I did not realise it was a James Cameron film - and is in the Aliens mould for effects and all out action.