A mixed bag of nuts

Movie Review: Aikido: The Path Beyond Thought (2001)
I've never had the best impression of Steven Seagal. He's famous for hurting his stuntmen and a lot of the things he's said in the past are pretty unbelievable ie - he was a hitman for the CIA. His aikido is excellent though. I've seen him do a demonstration once before in Japan but this video is full of him showing off his stuff. After he was declared to be the reincarnation of a Buddhist monk he began to wear Tibetan style clothes and it is strange to see him practicing aikido in these threads. Only of real interest to Aikido practicioners. 8/10

Movie Review: Ken Park (2002)
Another film from Larry Clark and Harmony Korine, the minds behind such whimsical romps as 'Kids' and 'Gummo'. Like those films 'Ken Park' is about a group of young teens in what seems to be a relatively small town. They all seem to come from problematic and violent homes. The openning scene shows a skateboarding kid blow his brains out in the middle of a skate park. Other, quite graphic, scenes show the kids drinking, doing drugs, being beaten by their parents, having sex with each other, masturbating, and maybe even smoking a cigarette or two. It's very powerful stuff and, to give credit to the cast, seems very realistic. Thematically it seems the same as Clark and Korine's earlier movies although it's a bit more shocking and graphic. 7.5/10

Movie Review: Swimming Pool (2003)
This French film is about a British crime novelist who stays at a beautiful house in France while writing her latest book. Her publisher's daughter (it's the publisher's house) unexpectedly turns up and intends to stay at the house as well. She is not shy in the least bit and enjoys sunbathing topless and bringing home various men to coucher with her. Of course, as per the rules of Angela Lansbury and 'Murder She Wrote', where a crime novelist goes can a crime be far behind? Did I mention there's a swimming pool too? A fun, sexy movie but the twist at the end isn't too unpredictable. 6.5/10