July 2012
7 posts
43. Hick (2012)
As hick as a parrot
I was looking forward to watching this, as I’ve known about it for ages and it’s got a fair number of actors I like in it. However, it doesn’t seem to go anywhere. It’s boring and uncomfortable at times, although it does raise a question about whether Blake Lively deliberately takes trashy slutty roles or if those are the only ones she can get. 1/10
4 tags
42. Journey 2 The Mysterious Island (2012)
The Rock of ages
I’ve had this on my hard drive for absolutely ages and now that Dana had more or less caught up on writing up her movies, we could watch new movies again. While this didn’t spring any surprises it was an entertaining hour and a half. Michael Caine and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson were clearly enjoying themselves, Josh Hutcherson carried the lead well...
5 tags
41. Friends With Kids
Not a sequel to Friends With Benefits
Saw this to kill time before the Garbage gig at Brixton academy, because we’re both old and neither of us wanted to stand up for any length of time. We made the right choice, as the first half of this film is uproariously funny, before settling down and resolving the plot. The cast are perfect for a comedy, either SNL stalwarts (Rudolph, Wiig) or...
4 tags
40. Brave (2012)
A bear! You made a bear!
Yes, I saw this before it was released over here. It was free, too. It’s the first Disney Pixar film to a) feature a female protagonist and b) the first Pixar character to enter the the Disney Princess range. There are some who claim that this is the first redheaded Disney Princess; these people are wrong and these Enchanted deniers are what’s wrong with...
1 tag
39. La Luna (2012)
Climb me to the moon
A rather sweet short film about three generations of a family cleaning the moon. Yes, cleaning. 8/10
4 tags
38. The Island (2005)
Island in the sun
I’ll come clean, this was a drunken cheap purchase from Aldi one Saturday afternoon. It starts off the same as Never Let Me Go, but instead of being a thoughtful look at human cloning, it turns into a bog-standard Michael Bay action movie. Nothing special, but not boring. 5/10
5 tags
37. The Prestige (2005)
Magic Man begins
Surprisingly I’d never seen this before, despite being a fan of Nolan’s work. Like Memento and Inception, this film plays with the the audience’s expectations marvelously. It’s definitely one I want to watch again, knowing the twist, and seeing how it gets pointed out to the viewers. As a bonus, you can pretend it’s a Wolverine/Batman/Black Widow...
June 2012
8 posts
5 tags
36. Drive Angry (2011)
It’s all over the front page, you give me road rage
Watched this over the bank holiday as part of a clean-up of films knocking about my hard drive. I didn’t have medium hopes for it, let alone high ones. However, this was an over the top absolutely madcap bonkers film. The plot – Cage’s character has escaped prison to stop his granddaughter being sacrificed to a cult – is minimal but that works...
6 tags
35. Snow White And The Huntsman (2012)
Die Sonne scheint mir aus den Händen
As well as Rock Of Ages, this was designated one of the films that we’d see at the cinema this year for me, and Dana will be dragged along as well. I was quite looking forward to it as the trailers had played up the idea of Snow White as a butt-kicking female action hero, who didn’t need no man to define her life. I was excited as this would finally be the...
4 tags
34. Midnight In Paris (2011)
Back to the past. Far back.
I’d been meaning to watch this film ever since it came out but for one reason or another never got round to it. It was actually recommended to me by a customer (in response to me mentioning about my trip) so we made sure to give it a go. It’s rather lovely and twee, with Owen Wilson leaving his absolute bitch of a wife to time travel back to the 1920s, hanging out...
2 tags
33. Lilo And Stitch (2002)
Veeeeeeeeery bad man
I wouldn’t say I was forced to watch this, but it was suggested that Stitch would feature rather a lot in EuroDisney and so I probably ought to watch it in order to know who on earth he is. After a slow start setting the scene I really got into it and can see why Stitch is so popular. Fun fact! The voice of Lilo, Daveigh Chase, cropped up as the youngest Darko (i.e. not the...
32. Paris Je T'aime (2006)
Parisian postcards
We watched this as part of our “films relating to our holiday” marathon. It features a series of vignettes set in and around the Paris capital. Despite featuring some huge names (Steve Buscemi, Natalie Portman) none of the stories really gripped us and in the end, I just wished we’d watched Taxi 2 instead. 3/10
10 tags
31. Avengers Assemble (2012)
Some assembly required
Due to my laxity in writing these up, lots will already have been said about this film. The record breaking box office haul speaks for itself, as does the plethora of tumblr posts around it. I don’t agree with people saying it’s the best film of the year (it’s not even the best Joss Whedon film of the year) and it had flaws. The McGuffin was too easily defeated (the...
3 tags
30. Across The Universe (2007)
Watch out, Beatles about
Watched this as a result of following Evan Rachel Wood on twitter and wanting to see her as more than Evie Zamora or Sophie-Anne Leclerq. Quite enjoyable, both the surrealistic shots and the male lead’s vocal similarity to Ewan McGregor reminded me of Moulin Rouge. A film that not only am I glad I watched it, I would happily watch it again too. Worth checking out – and...
29. Beginners (2011)
Not a prequel to The Inbetweeners
Quite a charming, lovely film involving Ewan McGregor’s re-evaluation of his life following his father’s death from cancer. Along the way we see flashbacks to his father’s life (amiably played by Christopher Plummer). Not exactly a cheerful film, but a sweetly entertaining one. 8/10
April 2012
7 posts
3 tags
28. The Hunters (2011)
The hunters become the hunted Watched this because Dianna Agron was in it, like Glee. It’s fuhl of unsympathetic characters, convoluted plots, and leaves you uncaring about the whole thing. I gave up after 45 minutes which felt three times that and watched Smash. Dianna, seriously, do better roles. For your fans if nobody else. 1/10
6 tags
27. The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise… Quite frankly I’m impressed that this film even got released at all. Filmed in March 2009 and stated for a release in October of that year, it was pushed back due to attempted conversion to 3D, MGM’s bankruptcy, LA being sent to hell, before finally being released last Friday. Written by Joss Whedon and...
9 tags
26. Hugo (2011)
Hugo bosses the Oscars Again, another film that I’d been meaning to watch for ages but didn’t get round to it. Quite a lovely tale aimed at children exploring the history of cinema and in particular French cinematographer George Melies. The acting is, as you’d expect from a Scorsese film, top notch - with Moretz and Butterfield holding their own up against the heavyweights...
7 tags
25. The Princess Bride (1981)
The face that launched a thousand memes I’d had this for ages, since Laura was in Liverpool, and just never got round to watching it until looking for a Saturday evening’s entertainment. It’s very easy to see why it’s a popular film as it’s funny, lovely and enjoyable without being crude at all. Definitely going to be one to watch (and quote) again and again....
2 tags
24. Moneyball (2011)
If you buy them, they will come
There aren’t that many films about baseball. The ones that do get made (Field Of Dreams, The Natural, Fever Pitch/A Perfect Catch) tend to be very high quality. This is no exception. It’s a dramatization of a book detailing how a small team manage to compete with the East Coast juggernauts by eschewing traditional scouting methods and picking up cheap...
4 tags
23. The Iron Lady (2012)
I am Iron (wo)Man!
Another film I’d been meaning to watch, but never got round to. I was interested in this, as I like history, and while there’s a plethora of films covering (say) World War II, or a posh ocean liner hitting an ice cube and sinking, there’s very few covering the immediate past. Having heard about Thatcher from individuals who experienced her first hand (of...
3 tags
22. Limitless (2011)
Working title: The Limit Does Not Exist
Had this kicking around my hard-drive for months. I was intrigued by the concept (a drug that unlocks the “hidden potential” of one’s brain) but the film couldn’t decide whether to be a high brow sci-fi film with interesting ideas that make you think, or an action thriller with a fantastical idea used as an excuse for loud noises...
March 2012
8 posts
8 tags
21. The Hunger Games (2012)
“You know what they call this film in Japan? Battle Royale with cheese.”
First off, if you’re a fan of the books then you’ll be seeing this film anyway so this review won’t sway you either way. This is not for you; however you won’t be disappointed by the adaptation.
Now, if you’ve seen the posters/tv spots/interviews/press/reviews, read all the hype, spotted celebs gushing about it on Twitter...
4 tags
20. Some Like It Hot (1959)
“Well, nobody’s perfect”
For a film that was made in a more innocent age (it’s about three weeks younger than my father) this is a comedy that’ll knock any recent film out the park. Both hilarious and sweet in equal measure, it features two struggling musicians witnessing a valentine’s day massacre and going on the run. With an all female band, in drag. And both of them accidentally fall for...
3 tags
19. Company (2011)
Three’s company, and 14’s a crowd
Cinematic release of a filmed performance over last Easter of Sondheim’s play. Neil Patrick Harris plays against type as a bachelor happy in the single life, with five friends who are all married. Oh, and there’s singing too.
Like most cool interesting things that I end up doing, I found out about this via Whedonesque as the combination of NPH (the eponymous Dr...
5 tags
18. Milk (2008)
Not The Dairy Of Anne Frank
Went along to see this at the oldest cinema in the UK, which happens to be 2 minutes trot from my front door. It was free as part of a group of films set in California – a company promoting holidays to the State have put these films on to show how lovely California is and wouldn’t you like to go there sometime? Dana applied for tickets, possibly swayed by the free...
3 tags
17. Like Crazy (2012)
These are crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy likes
If you’ve ever been in a long distance relationship and known the pain of missing each other’s nightly call, wondering if the other is being tempted by the curvy Katniss lookalike workmate, or doubting whether it’s all worth the hassle, then you’ll empathise with the main characters in this film. Granted it’ll reopen old wounds and bring back...
5 tags
16. The Kids Are All Right (2011)
Sometimes, I feel I gotta get away
Saw a trailer for this movie when we went to see Easy A, before Josh Hutcherson was Peeta, Mark Ruffalo was The Hulk and I’d seen Julianne Moore’s body, and thought it looked quite good. Eventually got round to watching it yesterday as part of a warm-up for Hunger Games/The Avengers. Quite a sweet romantic film that didn’t get on its soapbox about gay...
3 tags
15. The Black Dahlia (2006)
Let’s put a smile on that face of yours
Dramatisation (i.e. the filmmakers found that the original murder of Elisabeth Short, cut in half at the waist, internal organs removed and Chelsea smile applied wasn’t dramatic enough) of the 1940s murder. They tried to make a noir style film, but with a Tarantino esque approach to violence, with the resulting mess being a horrible dull conflagration...
2 tags
14. Roman Holiday (1953)
We’re all going on a, Roman Holiday
The original boy-meets-girl, boy-falls-for-girl, girl-turns-out-to-be-a-British-princess film. Audrey Hepburn won an Oscar for it, which is pretty good considering it was her debut role. A lovely Sunday afternoon rom-com – nothing remotely controversial in this day and age, fun for all the family. Considering the film is old enough to get insurance from Saga...
February 2012
8 posts
2 tags
13. The Woman In Black (2012)
Harry Potter And The Many Chambers Of Secrets
Watched this as we’d both been hearing some good things about it (both online and from work colleagues). It’s a Victorian ghost story, but it relies upon tension and atmosphere rather than gore and scary faces. Radcliffe plays a widowed solicitor tidying up the estate of a woman up north. He’s regarded as an outsider by the locals, and not just...
2 tags
12. Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)
Deep Blue Something, 1995, #1 UK #5 US
There’s a cafe in Brighton named after this film. It features decor themed around it, and various pictures of Audrey Hepburn in other roles adorning the walls. However they take 20 minutes to serve you your food and it’s lukewarm, so don’t go there.
The film, however, is much better. All I really knew about it before watching were the...
11. Muppets From Space (1999)
Not a film about Gilling- oh wait, I’ve done that joke already
Watching this a few hours after the new Muppets movie meant this one wouldn’t compare favourably. Still, it was enjoyable enough, and quite fun to see the late 90s cameos (“Hollywood” Hulk Hogan and Pacey and Joey from Dawson’s Creek) cropping up. 6/10
7 tags
10. The Muppets (2011)
Not a look at Gillingham FC
Any film written by the guys behind Forgetting Sarah Marshall is going to go down well with me. Throw in the adorable Amy Adams (who was playing a more experienced and slightly more cynical Giselle from Enchanted), Jason Segal and a host of cameos (some of which worked, some needed announcing in Zombie Simpsons style - “*Gasp!* Teen heartthrob Justin Bieber,...
9. Small Fry (2011)
A brief short shown before the Muppets. A nice look at the Toy Story universe again, but nothing special. 7/10
4 tags
8. Our Idiot Brother (2011)
Had been meaning to see this for a while, but was scuppered when the copy turned out to be The Hangover. In Russian. Eventually finding a decent one we put this on on a Sunday night. The plot revolves around Paul Rudd’s well-meaning but naïve sibling to Elisabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel and Emily Mortimer and him staying with each of them after being jailed for selling pot to a uniformed police...
3 tags
7. Babel (2006)
I got you, Babel
Watched this on recommendation from a friend. It had some quality acting talent and had received rave reviews so I did have decent expectations. Unfortunately they weren’t met. A long old film which was unnecessary as the Japanese part of the plot was tangentially connected to the rest, and seemed only to be there to fulfil a manga fetish. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett did...
6. Babe (1995)
I got you, babe
I was made to watch this by @alittlelost, as she was aghast that I’d never seen it. Unfortunately the initial excitement was fruitless as the disc was scratched to heck, and the next was even rasher as the download turned out to be Batman – at which point I was accused of turning a silk purse into a sow’s ear and cheating to watch Batman. A deeper search eventually brought home...
January 2012
5 posts
5 tags
5. Take Me Home Tonight (2011)
Where there’s music and there’s people and they’re young and alive
Given that this features Topher Grace as a 20-something in the 80s with no idea what to do with his life after graduating, and it’s written by the pair of writers behind That 70s Show, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this is a That 70s Show spinoff movie. While Topher plays a different character in name he plays it the same...
6 tags
4. The Artist (2012)
…
I’d seen the trailer for this before, and read an article about it in Empire that intrigued me. It’s a film about a silent movie star at the top of his game just as the first “talkies” start to appear, and the rise of one of his fans into the leading light of the era. Ignoring all the current bells and whistles used in filmmaking, it’s instead shot as a...
3 tags
3. Shame (2012)
The shame, but different
I’d had my eye on this film for a while, because it had the Oscar-nominated thingy from Doctor Who in it. When an offer in the local paper in Brighton came up for a free screening I took it up - free stuff is always good! This is rated 18 for good reason - it centres around Fassbender’s character’s sexual addiction and inability to form meaningful...
4 tags
2. The Notorious Bettie Page (2005)
Page, but sadly no Plant
If you weren’t aware, Bettie Page was famous in the 1950s for posing for a serious of racy (for the time) photoshoots. These caused a national outcry and accusations of corrupting the sweet innocent children of the day, much like Facebook is today. This film chronicles the senate gratify about the pictures, as well as Bettie’s life-from possibly ...
10 tags
1. Hairspray (2007)
A hair raising experience
What’s this? A musical set in the fun 50s in America? A whole host of catchy tunes? Singing and dancing? John Travolta and Michelle Pfieffer? You’d be forgiven if you thought this was Grease (or Grease 2) but it’s actually a pretty neat musical directed by the guy who choreographed the Buffy musical episode. If you want 90 mins of fun and...
