Beasts of the Southern Wild

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

This film certainly makes an impression. Absolutely fascinating. I don't think I've ever seen a film in a setting like this. It's somewhere between a fantastic dream and a harsh reality. It's both. And a wonderfully realised coming of age story at the same time, grounded by an impressive young lead who effortlessly carries the film.

I need to see this again time permitting. There's a lot it left me wondering about. I really really loved the experience though. The music is beautiful and uplifting even if the story doesn't always seem to be. The way they've done the fx is great.

A very moving and awe inspiring film. Do not miss it.

Kath & Kimderella

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I thought the series was just ok. The film however left a lot to be desired. Probably not best to go and see by yourself in the middle of the day though.

My favourite part was actually a joke in the opening credits which read "and introducing Barry Humphries." That got a laugh from me but it was pretty much downhill from there.

The fairytale mash-up was a bit messy. Richard E. Grant's hair flicks made me giggle. Worst fx work ever, possibly on purpose? I can't tell. And did they shoot this on 16mm? Have they heard of colour grading? It looks like it was shot in the early 90's. Judging by the talent involved and the style humour, that's probably where it belongs. Surly we are all over this by now.

Berserk: The Golden Age Arc - The Egg of the King

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan, Tessa, Rob

Reel Anime festival begins! And to start off with a bang we have part one of a three part saga that I have no idea if I will ever see the conclusion of. Not sure if that makes me happy or sad. A little of both. I'm sure I'll get to it at some stage.

Ridiculous. This film couldn't be more anime. Oh lord.

Gay tension you can cut with a knife. Or should I say sword. Giant anime sword. Everything about this puts a smile on my face, either in a good way or a bad way. I'd love to seem them do an english dub and see how they translate some of the lines....

Hit and Run

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Whoda thunk Dax Shepard was the writer/director type?

I actually quite enjoyed this little romp. Then again I never had much of a problem with Shepard anyway. He's assembled a good cast and put together a fun little flick. It has a good set up, the very end is a little uneven but nothing too problimatic. If you miss good ol' fashion car chases, this could keep you satisfied for the time being.

The Talented Mr. Ripley

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Wow this movie is so great, far too long since I last watched it. But long enough that I felt like I was watching it for the first time all over again. Awesome.

Such a great cast, all around. The script is magnificent and best of all the soundtrack just blows me away. I used to listen to it every day in highschool and marvel at it. Still do. Gabriel Yared does his best work.

This would not be so fascinating if Matt Damon hadn't made such a despicable character so sympathetic. Fascinating to watch.

Anthony Minghella will be missed. But this is by far my favourite film by him that I have seen. I got a bit of catching up to do though.

Code 46

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Tyler

Hah, all the trailers I found for the film sell it completely wrong. This is a slow paced character piece set against the backdrop of an intriguing near future. Michael Winterbottom never makes the same film twice does he.

I love the simple design of the future they depict here, shooting in China and making use of the architecture and landscape. This is such an odd sort of love story and it's presented somewhat coldly. I'm still not completely sure how I feel about the story but I do know that I love the style and the production design and the actors are all great.

The Watch

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan

A solidly average comedy. Richard Ayoade is a stand-out but mainly because we aren't all sick of his schtick yet. Billy Crudup also has fun in a nothing sort of role. Always nice to see Doug Jones making some cool creatures come to life too.

The story and character arcs are nothing special. Actually some of them are done so obviously it made me cringe a little. There's a few good moments here and there but nothing that left a huge impression on me. Forgettable popcorn fun.

The Nines

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan

Trailer makes this look like a horror film, it's everything but. John August has made a big mediation on what it is to be a writer, to create and control characters. Presented in 3 rather distinct but very inter-related parts we see Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis and Melissa McCarthy jumping between characters, and sometimes playing themselves, trying to make sense of everything.

It's a big conceit, one that is sure to loose a lot of people. But ultimately it's a film I enjoyed watching again and one that still intrigues me every time I see it.

Ryan Reynolds is just fantastic in this film. Perhaps some of his best work, especially playing what appears to be the surrogate John August in the middle section. It's a big showcase for him and for Melissa McCarthy. Before Bridesmaids, this is primarily where I remembered her from.

This film never got a cinema release here but it's defiantly worth looking out for, for those of you that are interested in seeing something a little different. It's mysterious and playful and was great to watch again.

Cosmopolis

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

Write Up.

Just wanted to get one more viewing in before it left cinemas here. I find this one quite funny and sad. Usually at the same time. It can be cold and clinical but there is a quite despair underneath it all.

Whisper of the Heart

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan

Write Up.

Anime Festival is just around the corner. Can't wait. Though't I'd brush this one off again. It's a sweet little film.

Hanna

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Michael

First write up. Second.

I think this is the 6th time I've watched this one. I just can't stop admiring it. Love it!

Valkyrie

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Michael

Come on Bryan Singer, where is Jack the Giant Killer? So long between films while he's been busy producing, but seem as I only ever saw this once, at the cinema, I thought I might give it another look.

There is always that worry that if you know the outcome of a situating going into a film it won't be enjoyable. But I still enjoy watching Titanic, even though I know it's going to sink at the end. We all know they don't kill Hitler. But it's very impressive how close it came to changing the course of the war.

And it's pretty tense too. The staging of some of the sequences are very impressive and right from the beginning the suspense is there. There is of course a dreaded inevitability to the whole operation which I think works in the scripts favour.

And then the awesome cast just take it up a notch too. It's also a handsomely produced film. It makes an interesting companion piece to Singer's other Nazi themed film Apt Pupil. This is a considerably grander undertaking than that title but just as tightly constructed.

[REC]³ Génesis

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan

I do love the first two and this one is a little different, new setting and cast and they ditch the verite camera style after a 20 minute prologue and it turns into a full blown widescreen movie with a cool horror score.

Really enjoyed this one, a great "zombie" flick, although one can hardly called these things zombies. They take the set up of the first two and add some new lore to the scenario. Also there is a bride kicking ass with a chainsaw.

There's a lot of great and not-so-subtle imagery actually. But after the restrictions from the style they had chosen for the first two you can see them letting loose here and the result is a hell of a lot of fun.

The Black Hole

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Tyler

Write Up.

You know the theme song in this is really cool but the action music seems very inappropriate. Such an odd film but man there is some really cool stuff i it. The model work is great. So oddly dark for a disney movie.