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Big Hero 6 - Blu-Ray - okay, we've watched this movie every single day since picking it up on Wednesday, including watching it twice today. While I like and adore this movie, my two sons are obsessed with it. All they want to do is watch it, I mean really that's all they want to do. When not watching it, they are acting out scenes and randomly quoting dialogue. We do the BayMax fist bump constantly, ba la la la la. Here are the boys with BayMax and Hiro from our recent trip to DisneyWorld.
They loved meeting them but only wished BayMax was in his armor.
1. Searching for Sugar Man (B+)
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (A)
3. The Imitation Game (B+)
4. Selma (A)
5. Inherent Vice (B+)
6. Foxcatcher (A-)
7. Back to the Future (B)
8. American Sniper (B-)
9. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (B)
10. Beloved Sisters (A)
11. Force Majeure (B+)
12. A Most Violent Year (A-)
13. Wild (B+)
14. The Conformist (A-)
15. Blue is the Warmest Colour (A+)
16. Jean de Florette (A)
17. Two Days, One Night (A+)
18. Manon of the Spring (A)
19. Atonement (A+)
20. Honeymoon (B-)
21. The Brothers Bloom (B)
22. Mr. Turner (B+)
23. Still Alice (B+)
24. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (B+)
25. Kingsman: The Secret Service (A)
26. Birdman (A-)
27. Black Book (A-)
28. Leviathan (B+)
29. Terms of Endearment (B)
30. Marty (B+)
31. The Greatest Show on Earth (C+)
32. Focus (B)
Glenn Ficarra and John Requa earned my appreciation for their previous two features, I Love You Phillip Morris and Crazy Stupid Love, romantic comedies that were, in the case of the first, decidedly unconventional; and in the case of the second, a expert use of formula that came across much fresher than it had any right to. Their new film is a con artist flick, featuring Will Smith, an actor who pretty much ruled the world as far as I was concerned in 1996-1997, but who hasn't done anything I consider worthy of his talent since (note, I haven't seen Ali). He's seemed to me an actor done in by uninteresting and overly conservative choices; it seems like this finally caught up to him over the last few years, where his star has suddenly and precipitously declined after a long period of seeming invincibility. I had reasonably high hopes for this, which the movie doesn't quite meet. It's entirely competent, with a number of standout sequences, but it doesn't rise to the level of feeling like a Smith comeback vehicle, and it's not as good as either of the directors' earlier films. That said, I'm still rooting for you Will, and let's hope this is the The Lincoln Lawyer in your own personal McConnaissance.
While Smith is a former biggest-star-in-the-world struggling to get his groove back, his costar, Margot Robbie, is one of the latest young actresses on the rise. She acquits herself very credibly here (and looks absolutely stunning). In some ways the standout in the cast is actually veteran character actor Gerald McRaney, especially impressive as his character comes along in the second half, which I think is overall far less interesting than the first. This is basically two movies in one, and the first movie is much better than the second. The second struggles with, among other things, the underdevelopment of the Smith/Robbie dynamic, which really needs to be more fleshed out for it to work.
33. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (A)
Not normally the sort of film I watch, but I decided last night to watch something in tribute to Leonard Nimoy, and this is regularly mentioned in the various obituaries and tributes to him as one of his more notable non-Trek film roles. Nimoy's is a supporting part, albeit a memorable one, with the main stars being Donald Sutherland (coming to the end of his 1970s heyday, before he started slumming it much of the time), Brooke Adams and a young Jeff Goldblum (less of that classic Goldblum-y diction we'd come to know and love in later years).
While, like I said, sci-fi-horror is not a genre I watch a lot (not being overly fond of horror in general), I thought this was an excellent film. The relationship between Sutherland and Adams' characters, for instance, is quite sincere, and becomes quite moving in the final stages as it becomes entirely clear that they're doomed (Sutherland's final scene I believe I'd seen before in .gif format in various places, as is often the case in today's internet, so I knew broadly where things were going). Nimoy, the reason I watched the movie, is very fun as a distinctly different sort of character from the type he usually played. The real star of the movie is the sound and visual effects people, though, for creating the remarkably disturbing scenes of the birth of the pod people (the sequence where Sutherland's character first falls asleep outside is particularly standout).
34. The Quiet Man (C+)
Having earlier watched The Greatest Show on Earth, sometimes called the worst Best Picture winner, here's John Ford's The Quiet Man, one of the films that it beat that year. On the surface a genial romantic comedy chock-a-block with every conceivable American stereotype about Ireland, I was distracted much of the way through by the film's gender politics, which operate on two different levels: first, the deliberate archaisms that John Wayne encounters in Ireland, which the audience is presumably meant to agree with him about; and second, the uncomfortable aspects of what is presumably meant to be the audience's own viewpoint, as represented by Wayne. In the former category, we would have things like the small Irish town's antiquated courtship rituals and the requirement that Maureen O'Hara's brother sign off on any marriage match she makes (a problem, as he is John Wayne's archenemy). In the latter category, the disturbingly cheery attitude toward domestic violence, as Wayne manhandles O'Hara pretty forcefully as soon as they're married (which, as their matchmaker informs them earlier, marks the point where he's allowed to hit her), including a climax that involves him physically dragging her five miles to her brother's house, to the approbation of the townsfolk. Both there and in an earlier scene on their wedding night, there's an undercurrent where she appears to be expecting him to "take charge" in this manner.
Moving away from gender issues, the film has lovely Technicolour cinematography (the film is in the Academy ratio, I guess just missing the widescreen boom that was just starting in the early 50s). Assessing it on its own terms, I found the movie's story structure a bit curious. The first half is largely about the courtship; when they get married by the midpoint, I wasn't sure what story was left to be told, which turns out to be the story of Wayne overcoming his reluctance to fight as a result of having killed a man in the ring during his prior career as a boxer, a plot point that jarringly appears right at that moment, with no real buildup beforehand (nor even buildup that he had some kind of secret grief).
American Sniper (8/10)
Bayonetta: Bloody Fate (7/10)
A Certain Magical Index: The Miracle of Endymion (8)
Expelled from Paradise (9/10)
Heaven's Lost Property: Final (2/10)
Jupiter Ascending (6/10)
Kingsman: The Secret Service (8)
Lupin the 3rd: Napoleon's Dictionary (8)
Taken 3 (7/10)
I didn't start in the thread till August that year, partial list
Piranha 3D: C+
Book of Eli: B
Lethal Weapon: A
Lethal Weapon 2: A-
Lethal Weapon 3: B
Lethal Weapon 4: C+
The Crow: A
Clash of the Titans: B+
Prince of Persia: B
The Fountain: D
Resident Evil: A-
Resident Evil: Apocalypse: B
Resident Evil: Extinction: B-
Resident Evil: Afterlife: B
Resident Evil: Degeneration(animated): B
Bad Boys: B+
Zombieland: B
The Evil Dead: B-
R.E.D.: B
30 Days of Night: Dark Days: B+
Conviction: A-
Crazies(2010): A-
Paranormal Activity: A+
Paranormal Activity 2: A
Shutter Island: B-
Gamer: F
Last House on the Left(orig): D+
Thirst(asian film): C-
The Hills Have Eyes: B
When In Rome: B-
Dr.Horrible Sing-A-Long: A
Expelled No Intelligence Allowed(doc): B
Zombie Strippers: D
Mammoth: D+
Everyone Else: D
Dark Ages(doc): A
Batman vs Dracula(anim): A-
Independence Day: A
Robin Hood(2010-Crowe): B
Taken: A
Only You: B-
Momma Mia: C
High Plains Drifter: C
Joe Kid: A-
Tron Legacy: B
Voyage of the DawnTreader: B+
Tourist: B
Duchess: B
Blade Runner: B+
Men In Black: A
Jumper: B-
Interview with the Vampire: A-
Brideshead Revisted: B
Wizard of Oz: A
Gone With the Wind: A
True Grit: A
1. The Fighter: B-
2. Batman(90's saga): A-,B-,C-,D
3. Star Wars OT-Special Edition: B+, A, B
4. The Green Hornet: B
5. True Grit(1969): C+
6. Lord of the Rings saga: (A,A,A)
7. The Machinist: A-
8. Season of the Witch: B
9. Frozen: A-
10. Due Date: B+
11. Planet of the Apes(2001): B-
12. Faster: C
13. Romance: D (French film, subtitled)
14. YPF: C- (YPF=Young People F*&^ing)
15. The Beautiful Truth: B-
16. Strictly Sexual: C+
17. DOOM: C
18. Brothers: B+
19. Men In Black II: B-
20. The Crow: Wicked Prayer: C-
21. The Soloist: C
22. Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love: C+
23. I Now Pronounce you Chuck & Larry: B-
24. Battle in Heaven: C+ (Mexican film, subtitled)
25. Legion: B-
26. Battle: LA: B+
27. Righteous Kill: B
28. Dracula II: Ascension: B-
29. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li: D
30. You Don't Mess With the Zohan: C+
31. Finding Bliss: C
32. Dracula III: Legacy: B-
33. Tangled: B+
34. Paul Blart Mall Cop: C-
35. Chloe: B
36. Kung Fu Panda: B-
37. Centurion: B
38. The People I've Slept With: C
39. Grown Ups: B-
40. The Conspirator: A-
41. XXX: State of the Union: C+
42. Fast Five: B+
43. THOR: A-
44. Priest: D+
45. The Fourth Kind: B+
46. POTC: On Stranger Tides: B-
47. Turtles Forever: A-
48. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story: B+
49. Easy A: A
50. Inception: B
51. #1 Cheerleader Camp: D
52. Freakanomics: C+
53. Green Lantern: C
54. The American: C-
55. Super 8: A
56. Green Lantern: First Flight: B
57. Transformers: Dark of the Moon: B-
58. 9 Songs: F
59. Kings Speech: A-
60. Whiteout: C+
61. Passion Play: D+
62. Captain America: The First Avenger: A-
63. Marley & Me: A
64. Date Night: C+
65. Frantic: B+
66. Presumed Innocent: A
67. Invictus: A
68. Rocky: A
69. Hurt Locker: A+
70. Rocky II: C+
71. Rocky III: B+
72. Rocky IV: A
73. Cowboys & Aliens: B
74. Wonder Woman (DC Animated): B+
75. Rocky V: B-
76. Conan The Barbarian('11): B-
77. Dinner for Schmucks: D
78. Nothing But the Truth: B
79. Snow Angels: B+
80. Everybody's Fine: C-
81. Rise of the Planet of the Apes: A+
82. Fragments: C+
83. Fright Night ('11): A-
84. Cold Comfort Farm: D
85. Machete: C-
86. The Queen: A
87. Public Enemies: B+
88. Drive Angry: D
89. Red Riding Hood: C+
90. Fright Night ('85): B
91. Love & Other Drugs: B
92. X-Files: I Want to Believe - B+
93. Source Code: A-
94. Paranormal Activity 3: A
95. Rachel Getting Married: C
96. Love Guru: F
97. Funny People: C-
98. Win Win: B+
99. Everything Must Go: B
100. Scott Pilgrim vs The World: D+
101. American Ninja: D
102. Revenge of the Ninja: D
103. Lonesome Dove: A
104. Black Swan: B
105. Westworld: B
106. Fireproof: A-
107. Mission Impossible(4):Ghost Protocol: A
108. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: A
109. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows: A-
110. Belly: D-
111. Despicable Me: B+
1. Edge of Darkness: A
2. Star Trek: The Motion Picture: B+
3. Repo Men: B-
4. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier: B-
5. Underworld: Awakening: B
6. Lost City Raiders: C+
7. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist: B+
8. Contraband: B+
9. Kick-Ass: B+
10. Hereafter: A-
11. Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance: B
12. Act of Valor: C+
13. John Carter: B
14. Hunger Games: B+
15. Wrath of the Titans: C
16. Cabin In the Woods: B+
17. The Rum Diary: C
18. The Eagle: C+
19. The Avengers: A+
20. The Adjustment Bureau: A
21. Sucker Punch: B-
22. Knight & Day: C+
23. Mechanic: B
24. Devil: A
25. Dark Shadows: C+
26. Men In Black 3: B-
27. Columbiana: B
28. Haywire: C
29. Snow White and the Huntsman: B-
30. Meet the Parents: A-
31. Meet the Fockers: B
32. Prometheus: B
33. Chernobyl Dairies: B-
34. Little Fockers: B-
35. Halloween III: Season of the Witch: B+
36. Winters Bone: B+
37. Battleship: A-
38. Much Ado About Nothing: B+
39. Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs: B
40. Beauty & the Beast: A+
41. Bambi: A-
42. Sex & the City 2: D+
43. Top Gun: B
44. Abraham Lincoln-Vampire Hunter: B-
45. Brave: B+
46. Kill Bill vol.1: A-
47. Kill Bill vol.2: B
48. The Amazing Spider-man: B-
49. Virgin Territory: C-
50. 21 Jump Street: B+
51. The Dark Knight Rises: A-
52. Sicko: C
53. Capitalism A Love Story: C
54. Seven Pounds: B
55. Hot Fuzz: B
56. Total Recall (2012): A-
57. Total Recall (1990): B+
58. Hardware: D+
59. The Bourne Legacy: A-
60. Once Upon A Time in the West: B-
61. Expendables 2: B+
62. Hangover 2: C
63. Moneyball: A-
64. Adventures of Tin Tin: B-
65. 2016 Obama's America: A-
66. Unknown: B
67. No Strings Attached: B+
68. Megamind: A-
69. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies: A-
70. Halloween 4:Return of Michael Myers: A-
71. Halloween 5:Revenge of Michael Myers: B+
72. Halloween The Curse of Michael Myers: B
73. Halloween H2O: A
74. Halloween Resurrection: C+
75. The Day the Earth Stood Still(2008): B
76. Looper: A-
77. Smart People: C-
78. Atlas Shrugged-Part One: B
79. Dredd: A-
80. Bridesmaids: C-
81. Taken 2: B
82. Atlas Shrugged-Part Two: C+
83. Alex Cross: A-
84. RockNRolla: B-
85. Paranormal Activity 4: B
86. Argo: A+
87. Skyline: F
88. Cop Out: D
89. Skyfall: A
90. Red Dawn (2012): B-
91. Dracula (1979): B
92. Dracula (2009): C+
93. Slither: B-
94. Your Highness: F
95. Goldeneye: A
96. Whistleblower: B+
97. The Town: A+
98. Ted: A
99. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: B+
100. Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: A
101. Jack Reacher: A-
102. Django Unchained: B+
1. A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas: C-
2. Les Miserables(2012): B
3. Lincoln: A+
4. Parental Guidance: C+
5. Warm Bodies: B
6. Waiting for Superman: B
7. Grindhouse: Planet Terror: B-
8. Grindhouse: Death Proof: C+
9. Zero Dark Thirty: A
10. Last Stand: B
11. Red Tails: A-
12. Hansel & Gretel-Witch Hunters: C-
13. Parker: B-
14. Bullet to the Head: B+
15. Judge Dredd(1995): C
16. The Mist: B+
17. A Good Day to Die Hard: B-
18. Fired Up: C+
19. Fling: C
20. Ask the Dust: D+
21. Mulan: A-
22. The Lovely Bones: B
23. The Initiation of Sarah: D
24. Jack the Giant Slayer: C+
25. Oz the Great and Powerful: B+
26. Olympus Has Fallen: A-
27. The Lives of Others: B+ (German film)
28. The Croods: B+
29. Jennifers Body: D+
30. Evil Dead (2013 remake): B+
31. G.I. Joe: Retaliation: B
32. The Dark Knight Returns pt.1: A+
33. The Dark Knight Returns pt.2: A+
34. Batman: Gotham Knight: B
35. Superman/Shazam: Return of Black Adam: A-
36. Batman: Year One: B
37. Batman/Superman: Apocalypse: A+
38. Superman vs The Elite: B+
39. Justice League: Doom: A
40. Green Lantern First Flight: A
41. Oblivion: B+
42. Iron Man 3: B-
43. Planet Hulk: A-
44. Welcome to the Jungle: F
45. The Time Travelers Wife: B+
46. Star Trek into Darkness: A-
47. The Lost Tomb of Jesus: B
48. The Heat: C+
49. Fast and Furious 6: A-
50. Hangover III: C-
51. Now You See Me: A
52. Boot Camp: B-
53. Green Zone: C
54. Ninja Assassin: B
55. Mr&Mrs. Smith: A-
56. Silver Linings Playbook: A-
57. Man of Steel: B+
58. Doubt: A
59. Godfather: A
60. World War Z: B
61. Much Ado About Nothing: A-
62. The Lone Ranger: C+
63. Godfather pt.II: A+
64. Godfather pt.III: B
65. Beyond Sherwood Forest: D
66. R.E.D. 2: B-
67. The Wolverine: B+
68. R.I.P.D.: C+
69. Proof of Life: B-
70. The Conjuring: B
71. Pacific Rim: B-
72. Alone in the Dark: D
73. Apocalypto: A
74. Stargate: Ark of Truth: A-
75. Stargate: Continuum: A
76. Mortal Instruments: City of Bones: B-
77. Pi: C-
78. Riddick: B+
79. Percy Jackson: Lightning Thief: B
80. The World's End: C+
81. The Other Woman: B
82. The Other Guys: B-
83. The Sorcerer's Apprentice: C+
84. Catfish: A-
85. Wild Hogs: C
86. Zach & Miri Make a Porno: B
87. Gravity: A+
88. Supergirl: D
89. Escape Plan: B+
90. Prisoners: A
91. Disappearance of Alice Creed: A
92. Deathrace 2000: C+
93. Thor Dark World: A-
94. Superman Unbound: B+
95. JCVD: B-
96. Drive: B-
97. Hunger Games: Catching Fire: B+
98. War Horse: B
99. How to Train Your Dragon: A
100. Scrooged: A-
101. W: D+
102. 127 Hours: A-
103. Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug: B+
104. Moonrise Kingdom: A
105. Piranha DD: D
1. Saving Mr.Banks: A
2. American Hustle: A-
3. Larry Crowne: B+
4. The Grey: C
5. Real Steel: B-
6. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: B
7. Just Go With It: A-
8. The Road: B
9. Blue Valentine: B
10. Fifth Element: C
11. Boy in the Stripped Pajamas: A
12. Hachi: A Dog's Tale: A
13. She's Out of My League: C
14. The Lego Movie: A
15. Whip It: B
16. Up in the Air: B
17. 300: Rise of an Empire: B+
18. Splice: C-
19. Mirrors: B-
20. Pitch Perfect: A-
21. Noah: C-
22. 2 Guns: B
23. The Seventh Seal: B+
24. Mongol: A-
25. Captain America The Winter Soldier: A+
26. Munich: B
27. Amazing Spider-man 2: C-
28. The Killer Inside Me: A-
29. Rio 2: B
30. Welcome to the Rileys: B+
31. X-Men: Days of Future Past: A-
32. Atonement: B
33. Charlie Wilson's War: A
34. Frozen: A-
35. Rio: B
36. Godzilla: B
37. Bowfinger: B-
38. Transformers Age of Extinction: C+
39. We Bought A Zoo: A-
40. Chronicle: D+
41. Knights Tale: C+
42. 9: D+
43. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: A-
44. The Help: A
45. From Paris w/Love: B
46. Guardians of the Galaxy: A-
47. Wreck It Ralph: A
48. Land of the Lost: C-
49. Expendables 3: B-
50. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: B
51. Never Let Me Go: D
52. Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary viewing: A
53. Yes Man: B+
54. The Joneses: B
55. The Informant: A-
56. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore: B
57. Twelve: B+
58. Cyrus: A-
59. We're the Millers: A-
60. Big Hero 6: A
61. Fun Size: B-
62. Friday: A
63. White House Down: B+
64. Metropolis: B/B-
65. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial: A
66. ELF: A
67. THX 1138: C+
68. Dirty Harry: A-
69. Magnum Force: A
70. The Enforcer: B+
71. Sudden Impact: B
72. The Dead Pool: B-
73. In the Land of Blood & Honey: A+
74. Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone: A
75. Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets: B+
76. Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban: A
The 2015 list:
1. Mockingjay part 1: A-
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: A
3. Dairy of a Mad Black Woman: A-
4. Dolphin Tale: A-
5. The Equalizer: A
6. Veronica Mars-The Movie: B+
7. Monsters University: A
8. Demolition Man: B- 9. Jack & Jill: D+
This is the Adam Sandler movie where he does his best Eddie Murphy or Tyler Perry spin on playing a multiple role. Sandler sucks at it...badly. Sandler's films have been very hit/miss creatively for awhile now and yet his audience still turns up. As horrible as the film was it essentially broke even at the US Box Office and was saved with International for certain. I can see why those Sony leaked emails mention their deal with Happy Madison as being a creative drag more and more having seen Jack & Jill.
The reason this movie isn't an out&out F grade is that's its saved with an over the top Al Pacino, playing Al Pacino in a caricature type role. How they got Al, whatever pics or audio they hung over this head to blackmail him into this role save the picture from being a totally waste of my time. The Product Placement is all over the place since Sandler's Jack works for a firm doing commercials. The end with the Dunkin Donuts ad for their new drink "The Dunkachino" was a funny stinger at the end.
I'm so glad I learned long ago to relegate certain film genres to strictly DVD views. I'd heard this was bad but sometimes you've just got to sniff the spoiled milk for yourself. Blended is still in my Netflix queue somewhere, glad it doesn't come up for awhile now.
My movie count is down but I have managed to watch S2 of Sarah Connor Chronicles, Arrow S1, Spectacular Spiderman S2 animated and Transformers Prime Beast Hunters S3. I imagine it'll stay down as I try to catch up on S4&5 of Vampire Dairies next.
1. Searching for Sugar Man (B+)
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (A)
3. The Imitation Game (B+)
4. Selma (A)
5. Inherent Vice (B+)
6. Foxcatcher (A-)
7. Back to the Future (B)
8. American Sniper (B-)
9. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (B)
10. Beloved Sisters (A)
11. Force Majeure (B+)
12. A Most Violent Year (A-)
13. Wild (B+)
14. The Conformist (A-)
15. Blue is the Warmest Colour (A+)
16. Jean de Florette (A)
17. Two Days, One Night (A+)
18. Manon of the Spring (A)
19. Atonement (A+)
20. Honeymoon (B-)
21. The Brothers Bloom (B)
22. Mr. Turner (B+)
23. Still Alice (B+)
24. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (B+)
25. Kingsman: The Secret Service (A)
26. Birdman (A-)
27. Black Book (A-)
28. Leviathan (B+)
29. Terms of Endearment (B)
30. Marty (B+)
31. The Greatest Show on Earth (C+)
32. Focus (B)
33. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (A)
34. The Quiet Man (C+)
35. My Left Foot (B+)
Biopic of cerebral palsy-afflicted Irish painter Christy Brown, which marked a number of notable Oscar "firsts": Miramax got its foot in the door; Daniel Day-Lewis won the first of (so far) three Academy Awards; and it was the debut film of director Jim Sheridan, who would go on to direct such films as In the Name of the Father, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, The Boxer, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, and Get Rich or Die Trying', starring 50 Cent (the 21st century hasn't been kind to Sheridan, In America excepted -- here's hoping The Secret Scripture is good).
Anyway, I thought this was fairly well-done, though not a great movie by any means. The main reason anyone will watch this, in retrospect, is to see DDL's work, and he delivers -- though the actor playing Christy as a boy also does very good work, and he has to carry a reasonably lengthy portion of the story. I thought the movie's commitment to Christy's speech being borderline-unintelligible a decent amount of the time is laudable, and DDL does a great job conveying the physicality of the man, as well as how remarkable the labour he put into his artistic output was. Brenda Fricker also won an Oscar for this movie, but unlike the other people involved her career didn't really going anywhere notable (though on perusing her IMDb entry she was apparently in the early 1990s remake of Angels in the Outfield, which I recall watching on VHS at some point).
A Long Way Down - Netflix Instant Nick Offerman: American Ham- Netflix Instant The Interview - xbox The Book Thief - DVD As Above, So Below - DVD 30 for 30: Pony Excess - Netflix Instant All Is Lost - Netflix Instant Get On Up - DVD Dallas Buyers Club - DVD American Sniper - matinee The Conspirator - Netflix Instant The Bag Man - Netflix Instant Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time (2014) - Netflix Instant Brick Mansions - Netflix Instant
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis - DVD Lego Justice League vs Bizarro League - DVD Kingsman: The Secret Service - theater Earth to Echo - Netflix Instant Jupiter Ascending 2D - theater Ralphie May: Unruly - Netflix Instant In a World... - Netflix Instant
Watched a couple of movies on Netflix Sunday evenin'.
First up, the latest stand up from Ralphie May...which wasn't as good as his first couple. Dude spent a third of the time talkin' about his sexual experiences as a teenager. And there's just some stuff I don't wanna know, ever.
Followed that with Lake Bell's voice over dramedy. Lots of familiar faces in the cast, and a nice cameo from Geena Davis, but not really something I would watch again. Too many awkward pauses & stutter stops in the dialogue.
Got a plan to see Will Smith's latest later today, let's see how that turns out...
Biopic of cerebral palsy-afflicted Irish painter Christy Brown, which marked a number of notable Oscar "firsts": Miramax got its foot in the door; [...]
A Long Way Down - Netflix Instant Nick Offerman: American Ham- Netflix Instant The Interview - xbox The Book Thief - DVD As Above, So Below - DVD 30 for 30: Pony Excess - Netflix Instant All Is Lost - Netflix Instant Get On Up - DVD Dallas Buyers Club - DVD American Sniper - matinee The Conspirator - Netflix Instant The Bag Man - Netflix Instant Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time (2014) - Netflix Instant Brick Mansions - Netflix Instant Justice League: Throne of Atlantis - DVD Lego Justice League vs Bizarro League - DVD Kingsman: The Secret Service - theater Earth to Echo - Netflix Instant Jupiter Ascending 2D - theater Ralphie May: Unruly - Netflix Instant In a World... - Netflix Instant
Focus - theater
Went over to the Carmike in Nacogdoches for the cheap matinee showin' of Focus this afternoon.
It wasn't the best or the worst Will Smith has ever done. It was fun, had some humor, some drama, a little tension.
And there's a scene with Will Smith, Gerald McRaney & Margot Robbie that made the whole thing worthwhile.
1. Searching for Sugar Man (B+)
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (A)
3. The Imitation Game (B+)
4. Selma (A)
5. Inherent Vice (B+)
6. Foxcatcher (A-)
7. Back to the Future (B)
8. American Sniper (B-)
9. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (B)
10. Beloved Sisters (A)
11. Force Majeure (B+)
12. A Most Violent Year (A-)
13. Wild (B+)
14. The Conformist (A-)
15. Blue is the Warmest Colour (A+)
16. Jean de Florette (A)
17. Two Days, One Night (A+)
18. Manon of the Spring (A)
19. Atonement (A+)
20. Honeymoon (B-)
21. The Brothers Bloom (B)
22. Mr. Turner (B+)
23. Still Alice (B+)
24. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (B+)
25. Kingsman: The Secret Service (A)
26. Birdman (A-)
27. Black Book (A-)
28. Leviathan (B+)
29. Terms of Endearment (B)
30. Marty (B+)
31. The Greatest Show on Earth (C+)
32. Focus (B)
33. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (A)
34. The Quiet Man (C+)
35. My Left Foot (B+)
36. Shame (B+)
The moral of the story: If you're a straight man who is desperate for sex, hold off on going into the gay sex club, because you never know when you'll get invited to a random threesome with two sexy ladies.
Steve Queen's sex film is expertly acted -- Fassbender and Mulligan are both in top form, and there are some nice supporting parts from people like Nicole Beharie (the movie is cast virtually entirely with British people playing Americans, but is set in New York, for whatever reason; maybe McQueen just needed a context for Carey Mulligan to sing that song) -- but I'm not sure how much I really care for the story structure. Excess of ambiguity can be equally problematic as excessive didacticism or spelling out everything, and most of this movie is observing the characters' behaviour and never going beyond hints at what might be driving them to do the things they do.
1. Searching for Sugar Man (B+)
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (A)
3. The Imitation Game (B+)
4. Selma (A)
5. Inherent Vice (B+)
6. Foxcatcher (A-)
7. Back to the Future (B)
8. American Sniper (B-)
9. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (B)
10. Beloved Sisters (A)
11. Force Majeure (B+)
12. A Most Violent Year (A-)
13. Wild (B+)
14. The Conformist (A-)
15. Blue is the Warmest Colour (A+)
16. Jean de Florette (A)
17. Two Days, One Night (A+)
18. Manon of the Spring (A)
19. Atonement (A+)
20. Honeymoon (B-)
21. The Brothers Bloom (B)
22. Mr. Turner (B+)
23. Still Alice (B+)
24. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (B+)
25. Kingsman: The Secret Service (A)
26. Birdman (A-)
27. Black Book (A-)
28. Leviathan (B+)
29. Terms of Endearment (B)
30. Marty (B+)
31. The Greatest Show on Earth (C+)
32. Focus (B)
33. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (A)
34. The Quiet Man (C+)
35. My Left Foot (B+)
36. Shame (B+)
37. Heavenly Creatures (A)
I had never seen any of Peter Jackson's pre-LOTR features, so on browsing Netflix Instant, I decided to look at this one, which I'd read about for many years, but never gotten around to. Jackson's hyperkinetic style (and the performances he gets from the actresses to match it) is a bit jarring at first, given the subject-matter, but as the movie went on I became acclimatized to it. Certainly, if you're making a movie about two teenage girls who become completely bound up in a world of make-believe, this sort of swooping, enthusiastic approach sells their convictions. The climactic murder is a brief but brutal contrast with this. Also notable, the visual effects, which generally look great and have a real sense of weight to them (apart from one bit whether one of the big figurines is cut in half; contemporary CGI could have improved on that).
Looking back at movies like this, where you've got a two-hander where one of the two hands became a global megastar (another example would be Bend It Like Beckham), one wonders what the other thinks about how things turned out -- Melanie Lynskey has done reasonably well for herself, albeit still being known to American audiences primarily for a Charlie Sheen sitcom, but when your costar is the young Kate Winslet, anything else will pale in comparison.
Birdman - Apple TV - I can't simply state, I loved this movie. It has been a long time since I loved a movie this much. This is without a doubt Michael Keaton's best performance ever and it is riveting. Not just him, everyone in the cast. Well except Emma Stone, she was one note. I even liked Zack Galifianakis and I loth him.
American Sniper (8/10)
Bayonetta: Bloody Fate (7/10)
A Certain Magical Index: The Miracle of Endymion (8/10)
Expelled from Paradise (9/10)
Heaven's Lost Property: Final (2/10)
Jupiter Ascending (6/10)
Kingsman: The Secret Service (8/10)
Lupin the 3rd: Napoleon's Dictionary (8/10)
Planet Hulk (7/10)
Taken 3 (7/10)
Recently Seen:
Avenger's Confidential: Black Widow and The Punisher (9/10)
DVD - 3 Cinema - 3 Streaming Service - 5 Television Broadcast - 1
1 Guardians of the Galaxy
Rewatch.
A Marvel movie. I found it as good as the first time. The story of the Guardians of the Galaxy and how they come to save Xandar from Ronin was well written. Each of the characters (except Ronin, Nebula and Thanos) were well realized. 8/10.
2 Big Hero 6
A Disney Animated Canon movie based on a Marvel property. I found that this was well realized, especially when it came to Hiro's grieving for his brother, Tadashi. His character was well written. The moral quandaries that he and his new friends face as they track down a new villain in San Fransoyko are also well written. 8.5/10.
3 Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Rewatch
A Disney Animated Canon movie based on the novels by Lewis Carrol. I found this movie, just as strange as I remembered. Especially with the Cheshire Cat causing Alice to provoke the Queen of Hearts (not that she needed it much) into wanting to execute her. The other characters, including the Hatter and the White Rabbit are just as strange as I remembered. 7.5/10.
4 The Water Diviner
A movie loosely based on a true story about an Australian farmer who tries to find the bodies of his sons who went to fight at Gallipoli. This movie showed the grief and loss of war very well (and also the impact of trench warfare on the unfortunate participants involved). The characters of the farmer and the people he meets during his quest are well realised. As is the situation in the post-war Ottoman Empire. 9/10.
5 Cinderella (1950)
Rewatch
A Disney Animated Canon movie based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault. I found this movie just as interesting as I remembered (although I remembered less than with Alice in Wonderland). This story of the kind orphaned girl who is abused by her stepfamily is still quite powerful in an emotional sense. The interaction between Cinderella and her fairy godmother was well done. As was the character of the stepmother. 8/10.
6 Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
The third in the Night at the Museum series, based on a children’s book. I found that this movie is just as enjoyable and well written as the first in the series. The situations and the various characters involved in this film were well realized. Larry Daley's character growth is impressive, particularly when it came to discussing with his son about the latter's choices about life after school. Additionally knowing that this was Robin Williams' last role made his scenes rather poignant, particularly towards the end. 9/10.
7. Thor: The Dark World
Rewatch
A Marvel movie. The scond in the Thor series, based on the Marvel comic series. This is still enjoyable on the third (or fourth) viewing. The situation with the convergence is well written (although the Dark Elves', and Melekith's in particular, motivations seem a little simplistic). Thor and Jane Foster's reunion is well done, both Hemsworth and Portman's performances were very good. The plot thread involving Loki is very well realized, easily continuing his story from the first Thor and Avengers.
Well worth seeing again. 8/10.
8 Fantasia (1940)
Rewatch
A Disney Animated Canon movie. A series of short stories set to classical music. I found it quite as interesting as I remembered it. All of the sequences set to the classical pieces are well done, especially in the animation. (Some are not quite to my taste, like the Chernoborg sequences, or the Bacchanalia, but Disney and his animators did them well.) As for a part did like, the Sorceror's Apprentice, liked well. Not just because of Mickey Mouse, but because of the lesson involved. To not get over your head in a power you barely involved.
The Sorceror's response is the way would expect a master to react. A great rewatch. 9/10.
9 Muppet Treasure Island
Rewatch
A Muppet movie based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. As is usual for the Muppets, the movie is filled with humour. The role of Jim Hawkins has been expanded to include Rizzo and The Great Gonzo. (Although most of his original plot line is intact). The Jim Henson Company has outdone themselves, they had built upon their experience with the A Muppet Christmas Carol. Tim Curry is great as Long John Silver. Humourous, and yet; threatening. Easily believable as the pirate leader.
All the musical numbers are great, younger children can easily sing along. Not only that, but they add to the comedic atmosphere of the film. 9/10.
10 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Rewatch
A movie based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name. The story of a reclusive chocolatier who sends out five golden tickets for visitors to his factory. It is also the story of the recipients of those tickets, and how their character flaws influence their journey through the factory. Johnny Depp is his usual idiosyncratic self as Willy Wonka, the chocolatier who takes the flawed children and their guardians through the factory. He was rather good in the role, albeit quite weird. The other characters are well portrayed (as in the events lead to the consequences are quite believable).
Charlie Bucket, the poor (as in socio-economically; not in character, nor in fate) boy who is the final recipient of the golden ticket is better portrayed than the other child characters. 8/10.
11 Toy Story
Rewatch
A Pixar movie. A film about sentient toys. Specifically two toys belonging to a seven year old named Andy. A cowboy action figure named Woody, who is Andy's favourite toy finds himself threatened when Andy receives a spaceman action figure named Buzz Lightyear for his birthday. The movie is mainly about their rivalry. It is also about Sid, Andy's neighbour, who shows sociopathic tendencies in his behaviour towards toys. He not only mutilates them, he also blows them up with actual explosives.
The main plot, of Woody and Buzz' rivalry and their eventual reconciliation, is well written. Pixar set themselves with a high standard with their first outing. Andy's reactions to his toys going missing are also well done. 9/10.
12 A Bug's Life
Rewatch.
A Pixar movie. A film about an ant colony which is subjected to extortion by a gang of grasshoppers every year. It is also about Flik, a young ant who accidently destroys the colony's offering to the grasshoppers with one of his inventions. Another plot thread is about a troop of circus bugs that Flik accidently recruits to help the ant colony fight off the grasshoppers. It is also about the budding romance between Flik and Princess Adda, who is the heir to the colony's Queen. Overall this movie was well written and directed.
The motivations of the main villain, Hopper, the leader of the grasshopper gang, are well realised, easily paralleling real life situations of a similar nature. The comedy of errors in relation to the circus bugs being mistaken for warrior bugs is also well done. 8.5/10.
1. Searching for Sugar Man (B+)
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (A)
3. The Imitation Game (B+)
4. Selma (A)
5. Inherent Vice (B+)
6. Foxcatcher (A-)
7. Back to the Future (B)
8. American Sniper (B-)
9. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (B)
10. Beloved Sisters (A)
11. Force Majeure (B+)
12. A Most Violent Year (A-)
13. Wild (B+)
14. The Conformist (A-)
15. Blue is the Warmest Colour (A+)
16. Jean de Florette (A)
17. Two Days, One Night (A+)
18. Manon of the Spring (A)
19. Atonement (A+)
20. Honeymoon (B-)
21. The Brothers Bloom (B)
22. Mr. Turner (B+)
23. Still Alice (B+)
24. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (B+)
25. Kingsman: The Secret Service (A)
26. Birdman (A-)
27. Black Book (A-)
28. Leviathan (B+)
29. Terms of Endearment (B)
30. Marty (B+)
31. The Greatest Show on Earth (C+)
32. Focus (B)
33. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (A)
34. The Quiet Man (C+)
35. My Left Foot (B+)
36. Shame (B+)
37. Heavenly Creatures (A)
38. When Harry Met Sally (A+)
I recall seeing pieces of this on TV over the years, but I don't remember if I ever watched the whole thing before. In brief, I think it lives up to its reputation. The romantic comedy genre has been largely in the gutter, creatively and commercially, for the last 15 years or so, so it's interesting to go back and look at one of the films that helped set the template for the 90s boom in the genre. One thing that really jumped out is the way that a lot of the more recent elements have seriously lost the "romantic" part of genre's name, often in the service of attempts at humour that aren't funny.
1. Searching for Sugar Man (B+)
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (A)
3. The Imitation Game (B+)
4. Selma (A)
5. Inherent Vice (B+)
6. Foxcatcher (A-)
7. Back to the Future (B)
8. American Sniper (B-)
9. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (B)
10. Beloved Sisters (A)
11. Force Majeure (B+)
12. A Most Violent Year (A-)
13. Wild (B+)
14. The Conformist (A-)
15. Blue is the Warmest Colour (A+)
16. Jean de Florette (A)
17. Two Days, One Night (A+)
18. Manon of the Spring (A)
19. Atonement (A+)
20. Honeymoon (B-)
21. The Brothers Bloom (B)
22. Mr. Turner (B+)
23. Still Alice (B+)
24. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (B+)
25. Kingsman: The Secret Service (A)
26. Birdman (A-)
27. Black Book (A-)
28. Leviathan (B+)
29. Terms of Endearment (B)
30. Marty (B+)
31. The Greatest Show on Earth (C+)
32. Focus (B)
33. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (A)
34. The Quiet Man (C+)
35. My Left Foot (B+)
36. Shame (B+)
37. Heavenly Creatures (A)
38. When Harry Met Sally (A+)
39. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (B-)
Going back to look at Wes Anderson's older films (I was going to say "working backwards", but I watched The Royal Tenenbaums already, so it's not strictly in sequence). I recall this movie being advertised back in 2004, but it didn't draw my interest at the time, and in a sense I'm glad I didn't see it, as it might have put me off seeing Anderson's more recent work, which I love unconditionally. This one didn't work for me -- the would-be serious bits just resonate, and it's not particularly funny. There are, of course, some bits that work -- Murray stating the scientific purpose of hunting down and killing the rare shark as "revenge" was probably my favourite bit -- but other gags fall flat. The parodic shootout scenes, for instance, got a brief chuckle, but they really feel more like a concept for a joke than a particularly well-executed one. All Wes Anderson films are interesting on an aesthetic level, but that's about it.
40. The Invisible Woman (B)
Ralph Fiennes' second film as a director, a biographical feature about Ellen Ternan, the mistress of Charles Dickens -- the former played by recent Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, the latter by Fiennes himself. On the whole, I was a lot more impressed with this than with Fiennes' earlier Coriolanus, though there are still some rough parts. Contrary to what one might expect given that the director is also playing Dickens, this is mainly Jones's movie, and Fiennes' take on Dickens, while imbuing him with considerable charisma, is pretty unsympathetic.
The most interesting aspect of this to me is how Fiennes approaches the central relationship, which is totally unlike your standard period romance of this sort, principally because it's almost totally lacking in romance. The first hour or so sets up Dickens' increasing interest in Nelly, the youngest of three sisters in a family of traveling actors who sometimes work for Dickens, but Nelly herself, while interested in him as a celebrity, never displays much of a romantic inclination toward him. Her becoming his mistress is almost transactional, after a few tete-a-tetes between Dickens and her mother (Kristen Scott Thomas) and the latter's informing Nelly that, contrary to what she and her sisters have been telling her for years, she has no acting talent and can't possibly support herself doing that. Ouch. And just like that, we cut to word of their relationship getting out in gossip rags. It's all decidedly anti-romantic.
After the setup, I don't think the second half of the movie quite knows where to take the characters. Despite what I've said before, Nelly does feel some positive emotions towards him, and we see them enjoying themselves some of the time, but there's a lot of conflicting emotions at play here, but I don't think it all quite coheres as a movie. The film also gives a very sympathetic portrayal to Dickens' wife, who is introduced as a sad woman who no longer seems even to expect consideration from her husband, yet still finds herself heartbroken when he publicly separates from her.
41. All That Jazz (A-)
Bob Fosse's penultimate work, which is like Rob Marshall's Nine if it was good (or, when it originally debuted, as if someone had taken Fellini's 8 1/2 and made it into a musical). As one might expect from Fosse, the choreography is excellent. I think many of the individual details require a bit of knowledge about Fosse himself to give them their fullest meaning, though perhaps that's to be expected from autobiography. Watching the opening number the obvious thing that came to mind was the Broadway musical "A Chorus Line" (on Wiki-ing the film after, star Ann Reinking played Cassie for a while, too). In a perfect world Fosse directed the film adaptation of that, though perhaps after this movie he felt it was superfluous. The movie shows how skilled its creator was, because a lot of the storytelling decisions could easily have gone badly awry -- such as the climactic musical number, which is like four different routines, one after the other. All this and the youngish John Lithgow.
A Long Way Down - Netflix Instant Nick Offerman: American Ham- Netflix Instant The Interview - xbox The Book Thief - DVD As Above, So Below - DVD 30 for 30: Pony Excess - Netflix Instant All Is Lost - Netflix Instant Get On Up - DVD Dallas Buyers Club - DVD American Sniper - matinee The Conspirator - Netflix Instant The Bag Man - Netflix Instant Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time (2014) - Netflix Instant Brick Mansions - Netflix Instant Justice League: Throne of Atlantis - DVD Lego Justice League vs Bizarro League - DVD Kingsman: The Secret Service - theater Earth to Echo - Netflix Instant Jupiter Ascending 2D - theater Ralphie May: Unruly - Netflix Instant In a World... - Netflix Instant
Focus - theater Bad Grandpa: Unrated Version - Netflix Instant
Went out over the weekend for a Leonard Nimoy tribute screenin' of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home at the Alamo Drafthouse - Richardson.
I've now seen eight out of twelve Star Trek movies in the theater - III, IV, GEN, FC, INS, NEM, nuTrek & STID.
When I got back tonight, I found the unrated version of Bad Grandpa on Netflix. I guess it was a mistake to watch BG 1.5 awhile back, 'cause most of the jokes for this one were ruined. Still there was some funny stuff in it.
DVD - 4 Cinema - 3 Streaming Service - 5 Television Broadcast - 1
1 Guardians of the Galaxy
Rewatch.
A Marvel movie. I found it as good as the first time. The story of the Guardians of the Galaxy and how they come to save Xandar from Ronin was well written. Each of the characters (except Ronin, Nebula and Thanos) were well realized. 8/10.
2 Big Hero 6
A Disney Animated Canon movie based on a Marvel property. I found that this was well realized, especially when it came to Hiro's grieving for his brother, Tadashi. His character was well written. The moral quandaries that he and his new friends face as they track down a new villain in San Fransoyko are also well written. 8.5/10.
3 Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Rewatch
A Disney Animated Canon movie based on the novels by Lewis Carrol. I found this movie, just as strange as I remembered. Especially with the Cheshire Cat causing Alice to provoke the Queen of Hearts (not that she needed it much) into wanting to execute her. The other characters, including the Hatter and the White Rabbit are just as strange as I remembered. 7.5/10.
4 The Water Diviner
A movie loosely based on a true story about an Australian farmer who tries to find the bodies of his sons who went to fight at Gallipoli. This movie showed the grief and loss of war very well (and also the impact of trench warfare on the unfortunate participants involved). The characters of the farmer and the people he meets during his quest are well realised. As is the situation in the post-war Ottoman Empire. 9/10.
5 Cinderella (1950)
Rewatch
A Disney Animated Canon movie based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault. I found this movie just as interesting as I remembered (although I remembered less than with Alice in Wonderland). This story of the kind orphaned girl who is abused by her stepfamily is still quite powerful in an emotional sense. The interaction between Cinderella and her fairy godmother was well done. As was the character of the stepmother. 8/10.
6 Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
The third in the Night at the Museum series, based on a children’s book. I found that this movie is just as enjoyable and well written as the first in the series. The situations and the various characters involved in this film were well realized. Larry Daley's character growth is impressive, particularly when it came to discussing with his son about the latter's choices about life after school. Additionally knowing that this was Robin Williams' last role made his scenes rather poignant, particularly towards the end. 9/10.
7. Thor: The Dark World
Rewatch
A Marvel movie. The scond in the Thor series, based on the Marvel comic series. This is still enjoyable on the third (or fourth) viewing. The situation with the convergence is well written (although the Dark Elves', and Melekith's in particular, motivations seem a little simplistic). Thor and Jane Foster's reunion is well done, both Hemsworth and Portman's performances were very good. The plot thread involving Loki is very well realized, easily continuing his story from the first Thor and Avengers.
Well worth seeing again. 8/10.
8 Fantasia (1940)
Rewatch
A Disney Animated Canon movie. A series of short stories set to classical music. I found it quite as interesting as I remembered it. All of the sequences set to the classical pieces are well done, especially in the animation. (Some are not quite to my taste, like the Chernoborg sequences, or the Bacchanalia, but Disney and his animators did them well.) As for a part did like, the Sorceror's Apprentice, liked well. Not just because of Mickey Mouse, but because of the lesson involved. To not get over your head in a power you barely involved.
The Sorceror's response is the way would expect a master to react. A great rewatch. 9/10.
9 Muppet Treasure Island
Rewatch
A Muppet movie based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. As is usual for the Muppets, the movie is filled with humour. The role of Jim Hawkins has been expanded to include Rizzo and The Great Gonzo. (Although most of his original plot line is intact). The Jim Henson Company has outdone themselves, they had built upon their experience with the A Muppet Christmas Carol. Tim Curry is great as Long John Silver. Humourous, and yet; threatening. Easily believable as the pirate leader.
All the musical numbers are great, younger children can easily sing along. Not only that, but they add to the comedic atmosphere of the film. 9/10.
10 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Rewatch
A movie based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name. The story of a reclusive chocolatier who sends out five golden tickets for visitors to his factory. It is also the story of the recipients of those tickets, and how their character flaws influence their journey through the factory. Johnny Depp is his usual idiosyncratic self as Willy Wonka, the chocolatier who takes the flawed children and their guardians through the factory. He was rather good in the role, albeit quite weird. The other characters are well portrayed (as in the events lead to the consequences are quite believable).
Charlie Bucket, the poor (as in socio-economically; not in character, nor in fate) boy who is the final recipient of the golden ticket is better portrayed than the other child characters. 8/10.
11 Toy Story
Rewatch
A Pixar movie. A film about sentient toys. Specifically two toys belonging to a seven year old named Andy. A cowboy action figure named Woody, who is Andy's favourite toy finds himself threatened when Andy receives a spaceman action figure named Buzz Lightyear for his birthday. The movie is mainly about their rivalry. It is also about Sid, Andy's neighbour, who shows sociopathic tendencies in his behaviour towards toys. He not only mutilates them, he also blows them up with actual explosives.
The main plot, of Woody and Buzz' rivalry and their eventual reconciliation, is well written. Pixar set themselves with a high standard with their first outing. Andy's reactions to his toys going missing are also well done. 9/10.
12 A Bug's Life
Rewatch.
A Pixar movie. A film about an ant colony which is subjected to extortion by a gang of grasshoppers every year. It is also about Flik, a young ant who accidently destroys the colony's offering to the grasshoppers with one of his inventions. Another plot thread is about a troop of circus bugs that Flik accidently recruits to help the ant colony fight off the grasshoppers. It is also about the budding romance between Flik and Princess Adda, who is the heir to the colony's Queen. Overall this movie was well written and directed.
The motivations of the main villain, Hopper, the leader of the grasshopper gang, are well realised, easily paralleling real life situations of a similar nature. The comedy of errors in relation to the circus bugs being mistaken for warrior bugs is also well done. 8.5/10.
13 Toy Story 2
Rewatch
A Pixar movie. The second in the Toy Story trilogy. A year after the events of the first movie, Woody is stolen by a toy collector while Andy is at a cowboy camp. Buzz Lightyear then mounts a rescue mission. There are many elements to this movie, relating to the concept of sentient toys, and what will happen to them (a thread that continues into the third movie). One relates to what happens when a toy is damaged. They are liable to be thrown away, or forgotten. The other is what happens when an owner outgrows a toy.
The scenes involving this latter point are particularly poignant, especially When You Loved Me. The reasons why Jessie is the way she is are well realised. The case of the Prospector is also well realized, in the case of never being bought. Almost as good as the first movie. 8.5/10.
1. Searching for Sugar Man (B+)
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (A)
3. The Imitation Game (B+)
4. Selma (A)
5. Inherent Vice (B+)
6. Foxcatcher (A-)
7. Back to the Future (B)
8. American Sniper (B-)
9. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (B)
10. Beloved Sisters (A)
11. Force Majeure (B+)
12. A Most Violent Year (A-)
13. Wild (B+)
14. The Conformist (A-)
15. Blue is the Warmest Colour (A+)
16. Jean de Florette (A)
17. Two Days, One Night (A+)
18. Manon of the Spring (A)
19. Atonement (A+)
20. Honeymoon (B-)
21. The Brothers Bloom (B)
22. Mr. Turner (B+)
23. Still Alice (B+)
24. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (B+)
25. Kingsman: The Secret Service (A)
26. Birdman (A-)
27. Black Book (A-)
28. Leviathan (B+)
29. Terms of Endearment (B)
30. Marty (B+)
31. The Greatest Show on Earth (C+)
32. Focus (B)
33. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (A)
34. The Quiet Man (C+)
35. My Left Foot (B+)
36. Shame (B+)
37. Heavenly Creatures (A)
38. When Harry Met Sally (A+)
39. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (B-)
40. The Invisible Woman (B)
41. All That Jazz (A-)
42. Smashed (B)
I was a big fan of James Ponsoldt's 2013 film The Spectacular Now; this film, which came out the year before, has a bit of subject-matter overlap, being about a main character with alcoholism, though overall I wouldn't say it's nearly as good. Which isn't to say it's bad, either. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, an actress I've seen in a number of films but never gotten much of a sense of, gives an excellent performance as a woman who was a high-functioning alcoholic for a long time, but is now having it catch up with her. The central conceit of the film is about the effect trying to be sober has on your life when everybody else you hang out with, including your spouse, is also an alcoholic. Aaron Paul, in the spouse part, is also very good (the best role of his that I've seen outside of Breaking Bad). Some aspects of the plot, regarding a deception the main character gets herself into, strains credulity a bit and I don't think was really necessary, which holds the movie down a bit.
19. The Loft (2015) ★★
20. Clown (2014) ★
21. Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) ★★
22. The Pyramid (2014) ★
23. Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (2015) ★
24. Eye of the Needle ★★1/2
American Sniper (8/10)
Avenger's Confidential: Black Widow and The Punisher (9/10)
Bayonetta: Bloody Fate (7/10)
A Certain Magical Index: The Miracle of Endymion (8/10)
Expelled from Paradise (9/10)
Heaven's Lost Property: Final (2/10)
Jupiter Ascending (6/10)
Kingsman: The Secret Service (8/10)
Lupin the 3rd: Napoleon's Dictionary (8/10)
Planet Hulk (7/10)
Taken 3 (7/10)
