DIRECTOR'S DIARY: I am often disappointed by the latest cinema offerings... but feel compelled to watch the latest 'blockbusters' as an education excercise - usually in how not to write a film.

After two years of studying the art of screenwriting I find it diffult to just enjoy a film, without paying attention to the intricacies of plot, charactisation, script, arc... etc...

I was really looking forward to watching Baz Lurhmann's latest offering Australia. And yes, it is epic; I can appreciate the incredible work that goes into such a picture; but it just left me a little flat. Perhaps I just wanted to be wowed. The script at times was a little narrative and bland, was sometimes a little predictable and cliched, but I really tried to enjoy the film - which left me a little numb.

Perhaps I am wrong, but for the first time I couldn't decide whether I liked or disliked a film.

Though, I definitely knew my feelings when I went to watch another blockbuster recently called The Spirit. The trailer looked quite beautiful; there was an all star cast, and millions had been spent on it. But my movie companion summed it up about 40 minutes into the flim when he leaned to me and gave his honest critique: "This is shit." And I agreed.

So after - enduring - 40 minutes of predictable plot, poor acting and a bloody awful script we could endure no more and left the cinema early, so as not to waste any more life.

It is all a fascinating and valuable learning process. If your script is shit your film will be shit. End of.