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Rendition 6/10 is a worthy, earnest, serious and slightly tedious film about the CIA's extraordinary rendition flights. That it is worthy, earnest and tedious has a lot to do with Jake Gyllenhaal's presence in the lead. I can't think of an instance in the history of Hollywood of a leading man so dull being so popular. The supporting cast - Reese Witherspoon, Alan Arkin, Meryl Streep, Peter Sarsgaard and J.K. Simmons - do well.
National Lampoon's Animal House 6/10 is too dated to get much enjoyment out of in 2009 but it's not downright bad like more recent National Lampoon films, such as Van Wilder.
The Castle of Cagliostro 8/10 is an early (1979) caper from Hayao Miyazaki. The pacing and reckless sense of fun in this film make it feel a lot younger than it actually is.
Porco Rosso 8/10 is an altogether slower, more sober, and mature film from Miyazaki which wonderfully evokes the interwar period and is brilliantly reminiscent of the sort of thing Hollywood was producing at that time (such as Casablanca and Only Angels Have Wings). Excellent action and flying sequences.
Run Lola Run 9/10 used to be a 10 but it's appeal is waning slightly because I've watched it too many times over too short a period. Definately best seen in a cinema.
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