Don't talk to the Robots or they'll think that they're people.
Movies Seen in 2015
- Thread starter od0_ital
- Start date
Don't talk to the Robots or they'll think that they're people.
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
Watched the last film Paul Walker completed before his death durin' the production of Furious 7 Sunday night. He plays an undercover cop (go figure) teamed up with a criminal (didn't see that comin') to take down a bigger threat inside a walled off section of Detroit. In case ya didn't know, its a remaked of the French film, District B13, with the parkour star of that movie reprisin' his role in this one.
Not too terrible, some good action scenes, some funny jokes, but the end felt really rushed.
Ah, well...
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
Watched the last film Paul Walker completed before his death durin' the production of Furious 7 Sunday night. He plays an undercover cop (go figure) teamed up with a criminal (didn't see that comin') to take down a bigger threat inside a walled off section of Detroit. In case ya didn't know, its a remaked of the French film, District B13, with the parkour star of that movie reprisin' his role in this one.
Not too terrible, some good action scenes, some funny jokes, but the end felt really rushed.
Ah, well...
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)
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)
The surprise miss in this year's Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars, a film that is somewhat misleadingly implied to be a disaster movie by its advertising. In fact, the apparent avalanche is a ruse to inspire an act of cowardice/self-interest by one of the characters, which in turn is the basis for the rest of the story, an examination of gender roles and egotism. It's interesting, albeit with a final 15 minutes or so that I think are rather underwhelming.
Cinema: 7 (+1)
DVD/Blu-ray: 1
Streaming Service: 3
The Book Of Life. The animation was amazing but the story was SO boring!
DVD - 2
Cinema - 3
Streaming Service - 2
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.
Cinema - 3
Streaming Service - 2
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.
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.
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+)
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+)
J.C. Chandor's third film, and my favourite of the two I've seen (I still haven't seen Margin Call, his debut). All Is Lost was the sort of movie I'm glad I saw, but couldn't imagine any reason for wanting to see again. I've seen this described as a crime film, but that's rather misleading, I think -- it's about a guy trying to run a legitimate business in a corrupt business climate. It reminds me a bit of the work of Sidney Lumet. Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain (the latter doing her take on Lady Macbeth) are in top form, and I really hope Isaac's upcoming spate of high-profile roles leads to him becoming a big star, because he deserves it.
Cinema: 8 (+1)
DVD/Blu-ray: 1
Streaming Service: 3
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-)
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-)
Amongst the various instances of duelling movies released in the same year, Wild and the Australian film Tracks are an especially odd pairing (films based on a true story about a woman dealing with family baggage, including the death of a mother, making a long solo trek through the wilderness, and including a highly symbolic dead animal). I rate Wild as the better film, for a variety of reasons. It does a better job of elucidating the protagonist's issues and relationships, and its depiction of the particular issues female hikers face is, I think, illuminating. Also, the scenery on a trek from the US-Mexico border to the US-Canada border is much more varied and interesting to look at, in my personal opinion. This is one of Reese Witherspoon's best performances (certainly her best since at least Walk the Line). The other Oscar-nominated performance, from Laura Dern, is also very good, though if she was going to get nominated for one of her turns as the main character's mother this year, I think The Fault In Our Stars gave her more to work with.
Cinema: 9 (+1)
DVD/Blu-ray: 1
Streaming Service: 3
1) The Imitation Game (2014) - B
2) Selma (2014) - B+
3) Whiplash (2014) - A4) The Lego Movie (2014) - B
5) American Sniper (2014) - C
And this is your Zero Dark Thirty/The Hurt Locker of Awards season everyone. America is good/Iraq is bad, rah rah go Americans.
I don't want to get political as there are places to do that and not here, but watching this movie, I couldn't help but think what kind of themes the Acadamy looks for every year. You've got your historical film (Selma), your bio pic (Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game), and now your war film (American Sniper).
Prior to seeing this film, I had read some controversy surrounding it and was even told I shouldn't go see this film because of said controversy. Well, I wanted to see all the best picture movies and as a film (And purely as a film) I couldn't help but think this film did a lot better at telling than showing. The gunfights and when Kyle is on the roof looking for targets is amazing in this film, but everything else is kinda poor. We're basically told what he's going through back home, and Sienna Miller feels like she's just there to hammer home the point of PTSD. I will say on a positive though that finally, Cooper is in a film where he's not the crazy guy (American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook) so that was nice. He was very good here.
Theater 4 (+1)
TV/Netflix
Itunes
2) Selma (2014) - B+
3) Whiplash (2014) - A4) The Lego Movie (2014) - B
5) American Sniper (2014) - C
And this is your Zero Dark Thirty/The Hurt Locker of Awards season everyone. America is good/Iraq is bad, rah rah go Americans.
I don't want to get political as there are places to do that and not here, but watching this movie, I couldn't help but think what kind of themes the Acadamy looks for every year. You've got your historical film (Selma), your bio pic (Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game), and now your war film (American Sniper).
Prior to seeing this film, I had read some controversy surrounding it and was even told I shouldn't go see this film because of said controversy. Well, I wanted to see all the best picture movies and as a film (And purely as a film) I couldn't help but think this film did a lot better at telling than showing. The gunfights and when Kyle is on the roof looking for targets is amazing in this film, but everything else is kinda poor. We're basically told what he's going through back home, and Sienna Miller feels like she's just there to hammer home the point of PTSD. I will say on a positive though that finally, Cooper is in a film where he's not the crazy guy (American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook) so that was nice. He was very good here.
Theater 4 (+1)
TV/Netflix
Itunes
1) The Invasion - C
2) Goodfellas - B
3) Flowers In The Attic - D-
4) The King's Speech - B
The scenes with Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth carry this movie, but unfortunately they seem like vignettes. The rest of the move just seemed to plod along between the scenes. Firth, even in scenes without Rush, is why one should see this movie.
2) Goodfellas - B
3) Flowers In The Attic - D-
4) The King's Speech - B
The scenes with Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth carry this movie, but unfortunately they seem like vignettes. The rest of the move just seemed to plod along between the scenes. Firth, even in scenes without Rush, is why one should see this movie.
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+)
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+)
Bernardo Bertolucci's first highy acclaimed film, which I've been waiting to see for a while (I got it on DVD from the library late last year, but that started to skip after about twenty minutes; the new Blu-ray obviously doesn't have that problem) -- though I think it was a mistake to watch it when I did, as I ended up being a bit tired, which is a problem when trying to watch a film like this, between the subtitles (a general thing) and the film's sometimes very rapid cutting (there were a few times where I became rather confused about what was going on). In any event, there's grounds to rewatch the film in the near future under better conditions. The cinematography, production and costume design of this are exquisitely coordinated (the most striking visual being our main character's fiancee being introduced in a dress whose stripes match with the sunlight passing through the blinds on the windows). I think I probably need another viewing to decide what I think of all of the story elements (our main character is such a cold fish that I'm not really sure why his target's wife is so drawn to him, for instance).
15. Blue is the Warmest Colour (A+)
My first rewatch since seeing it in theatres, with my friend Stephanie, who hadn't seen it before. I quite liked the film when I first saw it, and it's continued to rise in my esteem as I thought more about it; seeing it again pretty much confirms that. It's a long sit, of course, but definitely worthwhile. The conversations in this movie, especially, stand apart from most such you see in film, in terms of how they allow moments and actions to be drawn out in a way that feels very real. As well, the conversations cover a wide range of topics, far more engaging to listen to than most of what you see in the cinema. This is basically a two-character piece (with the main focus on just one of them), which at three hours gives ample space for detail and development (the romantic element dominates, of course, but it's far from the only thing there). Exarchopoulos and Seydoux are phenomenal here (in most years the former would have been my pick for Best Actress, but I ultimately favoured Cate Blanchett), and I hope they continue to have successful careers (Seydoux is certainly on track; Exarchopoulos is more of a question mark, though she's still quite young). My only real criticism would be that the first of the three sex scenes between Adele and Emma goes on way too long (oh, and everybody has terrible table manners).
Cinema: 9
DVD/Blu-ray: 3 (+2)
Streaming Service: 3
1. The Woman in Black (2012)
2. 47 Ronin (2013)
3. John Wick (2014)
4. Lucy (2014)
5. The Zero Theorem
Good Terry Gilliam weirdness, but in the end I wanted to like it more than I finally did. Christopher Waltz's performance felt a bit cartoonish. And the problem I have with every Gilliam film is pacing, scenes often feel overtly rushed or too drawn out.
6. Nightcrawler
Slick, sick, great. Jake Gyllenhaal makes a fascinating and truly scary sociopath. I will keep an eye on first time director Dan Gilroy and whatever he does next.
2. 47 Ronin (2013)
3. John Wick (2014)
4. Lucy (2014)
5. The Zero Theorem
Good Terry Gilliam weirdness, but in the end I wanted to like it more than I finally did. Christopher Waltz's performance felt a bit cartoonish. And the problem I have with every Gilliam film is pacing, scenes often feel overtly rushed or too drawn out.
6. Nightcrawler
Slick, sick, great. Jake Gyllenhaal makes a fascinating and truly scary sociopath. I will keep an eye on first time director Dan Gilroy and whatever he does next.
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+
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+
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
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
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-
3. Dairy of a Mad Black Woman: A-
4. Dolphin Tale: A-
5. The Equalizer: A
6. Veronica Mars-The Movie: B+
It's been so long that I don't recall how the TV show ended, if I ever saw the final eps of S3 or not but it really wasn't required for this film. They give a brief recap of S1 highlights and that's all as for what's needed in this story.
I felt it captured the wit of the show all over again and it was fun seeing where are characters are 10yrs after High School. The 10yr Reunion was the crux of getting everyone back into Neptune.
If you liked the show I'm sure you'll enjoy this. If you enjoy movies with some snappy banter and modest mystery then give it a go.
DVD - 2
Cinema - 3
Streaming Service - 3
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.
Cinema - 3
Streaming Service - 3
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.
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.
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+)
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+)
I've heard a lot about this and its second part, Manon of the Spring, for a while and been curious about it, but the new Blu-ray release presented the obvious opportunity to see it. It's too bad, in a way, that this film is always discussed together with its sequel, because any knowledge about the sequel essentially gives away how Jean de Florette ends. That said, it's an extremely good film, and it's a good demonstration of how much you can get out of a fairly straightforward premise (augmented with stunning natural photography). This is also a great film to discuss when showing the impact of POV on audience perception; we're introduced to Ugolino as he returns from the war, is warmly greeted by his older relation Cesar, and the two of them go about making future plans, which involve growing carnations for sale. They seem like very nice people. But it quickly becomes apparent to the audience that these are actually awful people, who in pursuit of their own dream are only too happy to ruin others. There points where they're mocking Gerard Depardieu's character where I wondered how the scenes would play if I hadn't known where this was going, whether I'd be more inclined to join in their laughter at him (something William Golding's Rites of Passage does very well).
17. Two Days, One Night (A+)
A Belgian film, but it's still French-language, and with a French star, so one expects most international audiences will assume this is set in France. This is the first film by the Dardenne Brothers that I've seen, and it's certainly a strong introduction, as well as a very effective Communist Party recruiting video. This is the fourth of the five Oscar-nominated performances for Best Actress that I've seen so far -- the exception being, ironically, the one that seems set to win -- and Marion Cotillard's is definitely the best of them (and it's a very good field this year). The film works both as a character piece about depression and a fairly obvious microcosmic examination of the workings of contemporary capitalism. Though I'm sure Michael Haneke was booing loudly when the Dardenne Brothers pass on the chance to have Sandra stab the pious black guy in the back and thereby expose the craven hypocrisy and selfishness of humanity, or whatever. In all seriousness, though, I really credit them for taking what honestly feels like a fresh approach to this sort of story, which in arthouse circles would most commonly end with pure misery.
18. Manon of the Spring (A)
Revenge is best served cold, as they say (though, in fact, Manon's revenge mainly affects the town -- not that they aren't also guilty, albeit to lesser degrees -- Ugolin and Cesar are done in almost exclusively by their own actions and/or feelings). Set ten years after Jean de Florette, we open with our two criminal protagonists enjoying their ill-gotten gains, while Manon has become a roving shepherdess in the hills. When she discovers that the two men were behind her father's downfall (something that momentarily confused me, as I thought she had already uncovered that at the end of the first movie, but I guess her horrified was reaction then was just at the two guys seemingly finding water so easily after it eluded her father?). The result is expertly Sophoclean.
The only thing about this movie that I'm not really sure about is the character of Manon, who seems rather unreal compared to everything else in the setting She's apparently living wild in the hills, and has been for some time, while her mother lives elsewhere -- how did this arrangement come about, exactly? And despite the fact that she lives in a cave and spends most of her time tending goats and avoiding people, she's stunningly beautiful and well-groomed (the Provence landscapes are as gorgeous here as with the first movie, and the various shorts of Emmanuelle Beart's golden hair against the golden fields and flowers, etc. augment that further), and exceptionally well-educated (autodidact, I guess).
Cinema: 10 (+1)
DVD/Blu-ray: 5 (+2)
Streaming Service: 3
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+
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+
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
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
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
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: A
4. Dolphin Tale: A-
5. The Equalizer: A
6. Veronica Mars-The Movie: B+
7. Monsters University: A
The animated prequel to Monsters Inc where we see how Mike & Sully became friends and how Randall became the arch nemesis to them. A fun tale that was lively told and full of colorful scenes! My fiancé is a librarian so the challenge during the Games of Capture the Flag w/o alerting the scary librarian with noise was extra fun to watch with her beside me!!
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)
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)
Oh, Joe Wright, I love your first two films so much. After the weird hiccup The Soloist, which I never felt any compulsion to see, your later work has been interestingly experimental, but I overall prefer the more classical form of his early films. I always got the sense that he consciously wanted to prove wrong the people who were accusing him of being a James Ivory type with his later work (being a James Ivory type being implicitly a bad thing in the eyes of many; or, at least, not the sort of person with whom a rising young director wants to be equated -- while I think his Anna Karenina is an amazing achievement in cinematic design, on some level I kind of wish he'd done a more conventional version that would be easier to invest oneself emotionally in.
Anyway, watching this on Blu-ray for the first time, really emphasizes how gorgeous the cinematography, production and costume design is here. The richness of the reds in a few of the adult Briony's scenes, for instance. Dario Marianelli's score is a personal favourite ("Elegy for Dunkirk" is truly magnificent), and it's always neat the way the rat-a-tat of Briony's typewriter is integrated into the soundtrack beats, like piano keys or drum strokes (at various points).
Watching this again at almost a decade's remove (wow, the time flies), I remembered that Benedict Cumberbatch was in this, but I had never realized that Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones' Theon) has a minor part as the slow-witted help. There's also Juno Temple, which is a bit funny given how her career has tended to feature her in much trashier sorts of roles. Amongst the major actors, this put Saorise Ronan on the map, and deservedly, though she hasn't been especially well-served since (I'm really interested to see Brooklyn). Ronan sucked up most of the acclaim, but Romola Garai is really good as the young adult Briony as well. Keira Knightley is very good, though of the three films she's made with Wright this is the one where she has the least to do.
I keep meaning to read the novel this is based on, but I still haven't gotten around to it.
Cinema: 10
DVD/Blu-ray: 6 (+1)
Streaming Service: 3
DVD - 2
Cinema - 3
Streaming Service - 4
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.
Cinema - 3
Streaming Service - 4
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.
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.
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+)
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+)
Horror is not a genre that interests me much, but I was looking for a bit of a change of pace, and I'm a fan of Rose Leslie from her work on Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones. She's on her third accent in as many roles here, an American one. Her costar Harry Treadway -- who on checking the IMDb afterward is Dr. Frankenstein on Penny Dreadful -- is another Brit doing an American accent, making this one of those movies where I wonder why they don't just have the actors use their natural accents, because the nationalities of the characters are completely irrelevant (apart from that Leslie's character's family has an old cottage in Canada). Anyway, as I said, I'm not someone who follows these sorts of films, but this is a reasonably effective "people in an isolated area" story, though the ending is a bit underwhelming.
21. The Brothers Bloom (B)
The second of the three films so far directed by Rian Johnson, and the one I missed on initial release. Brick was, I thought, an interesting gimmick, but ultimately not much more than that. Looper was one of my favourite films of recent years (and he's directed some great TV). I was interested, going in, to see which I these poles this film inclined more toward, and it turns out to be the former. At times it felt like watching a Wes Anderon imitator, albeit a decent one, but the characters never really come to life (with the possible exception of Rachel Weisz), so while it's funny and reasonably engaging, I didn't think it was particularly impressive. Rinko Kikuchi's mostly-mute sidekick was well-played (she has an extremely expressive face).
22. Mr. Turner (B+)
Mike Leigh's latest film, a biopic of the 19th century British Romantic landscape painter J.M.W. Turner, is a marvel of cinematic design. The production and costume design, cinematography, makeup, etc. present of the most realistic-seeming, lived-in recreations of the late Regency/early Victorian period that I've ever seen. The four technical Oscar nominations the movie earned are all well-deserved. That said, through much of the movie's running time I was preoccupied with the question of why Mike Leigh thought this guy's life was a fitting subject for a movie. The film is constructed as a series of episodes over a period of about 20 years, generally engaging -- but Turner really doesn't appear to have lived a very interesting life. Great artist, sure, but that doesn't make him a great film subject. Timothy Spall is very good in the central role (though he sometimes appears to be auditioning for the role of a live-action Pumbaa).
Cinema: 11 (+1)
DVD/Blu-ray: 6
Streaming Service: 5 (+2)
1) The Imitation Game (2014) - B
2) Selma (2014) - B+
3) Whiplash (2014) - A
4) The Lego Movie (2014) - B
5) American Sniper (2014) - C
6) Still Alice (2014) - A
I didn't even hear about this movie when the Golden Globes came around. When Julianne Moore won best actress my thought was what is this film and how come it just appeared on the radar only for Award Shows. When I learned more about it, I actually got a little more anxious to see it, but for some reason this movie wasn't coming to the big theaters. I found it was playing at the local smaller theater and the bargain matinee was only $7 so I figured, I might as well.
I've heard this film being called one of the most depressing films ever. While it is a very depressing film, it's not the first film that comes to mind for me (That would be The Descendents, which before I saw it I thought it was a comedy and it ended up being probably the most depressing film I've ever seen). Of course part of that is I haven't really experienced a friend going through the disease so I was looking at it from a "neutral" perspective.
Everyone is talking about Julianne Moore and she was excellent, but this film did the thing I complained American Sniper didn't do, more showing rather than telling. For example, yeah Alice had Alzheimer's Disease, but the movie showed how this wretched disease takes away your humanity until there is almost nothing left. There is a scene in the movie where Alice gives a speech to the Alzhiemer's Association and says it's not suffering the disease, it's struggling through it, and trying not to lose who you were. This film showed that struggle, and how it affects everyone.
I'm a little surprised this film didn't get a bigger release than it did though. I mean it has a cast of not only Moore, but Alec Baldwin (Who I think 30 Rock ruined him for me because I kept thinking Jack Donaghy when he was on screen), Kristen Stewart (Who I didn't see the Twilight Films so I'm not biased), and Kate Bosworth. It was a terrific, realistic film and Moore should win the Oscar.
Theater 5 (+1)
TV/Netflix (1)
Itunes[/QUOTE]
2) Selma (2014) - B+
3) Whiplash (2014) - A
4) The Lego Movie (2014) - B
5) American Sniper (2014) - C
6) Still Alice (2014) - A
I didn't even hear about this movie when the Golden Globes came around. When Julianne Moore won best actress my thought was what is this film and how come it just appeared on the radar only for Award Shows. When I learned more about it, I actually got a little more anxious to see it, but for some reason this movie wasn't coming to the big theaters. I found it was playing at the local smaller theater and the bargain matinee was only $7 so I figured, I might as well.
I've heard this film being called one of the most depressing films ever. While it is a very depressing film, it's not the first film that comes to mind for me (That would be The Descendents, which before I saw it I thought it was a comedy and it ended up being probably the most depressing film I've ever seen). Of course part of that is I haven't really experienced a friend going through the disease so I was looking at it from a "neutral" perspective.
Everyone is talking about Julianne Moore and she was excellent, but this film did the thing I complained American Sniper didn't do, more showing rather than telling. For example, yeah Alice had Alzheimer's Disease, but the movie showed how this wretched disease takes away your humanity until there is almost nothing left. There is a scene in the movie where Alice gives a speech to the Alzhiemer's Association and says it's not suffering the disease, it's struggling through it, and trying not to lose who you were. This film showed that struggle, and how it affects everyone.
I'm a little surprised this film didn't get a bigger release than it did though. I mean it has a cast of not only Moore, but Alec Baldwin (Who I think 30 Rock ruined him for me because I kept thinking Jack Donaghy when he was on screen), Kristen Stewart (Who I didn't see the Twilight Films so I'm not biased), and Kate Bosworth. It was a terrific, realistic film and Moore should win the Oscar.
Theater 5 (+1)
TV/Netflix (1)
Itunes[/QUOTE]