Raiders of the Lost Ark

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Paul, Alex

Digitally restored print! First viewing on the big screen! And I loved it, so great. The film looks great and as it's been soooooo long since I last really sat down to watch it it was practically like watching it for the first time all over again. Such good fun. Even picked up a few things I hadn't seen before. Or heard... Has anyone heard the dog when the dude throws the watermelon from the truck after the chase when they leave the dig site? Hilarious.

I already had that new bluray set waiting at home but nothing beats the cinema experience. And I still get a kick seeing the original opening titles after years of the home video version. Oh man it was so much fun watching again!

The Words

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

It's a cool story and they play a little coy but it's easy enough to put together. Stylishly made and some interesting ideas. It's enjoyable but never really clicks.

Argo

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Paul, Ben, Marko

The tension just doesn't let up in this one. Ben Affleck knocks it out of the park.

I love the amazing ensemble of great character actors in all these bit parts, many almost unrecognisable in their amazing 70's wardrobe.

There's so much to like here, especially the story and the 70's hollywood scenes with John Goodman and Alan Arkin. The recreations of some of the big events are very impressive. It's often hard to tell if we are watching stock footage or beautifully faked film grain.

This is just immaculately put together and juggles characters and tone and storylines effortlessly. And I kinda wanna see what that Argo film would have been too heh. Sounds like my kinda movie.

Lawless

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

So cool pulpy fun. Not really my kinda movie but you can still appreciate the technical artistry and a well told story.

Once again Tom Hardy is barely understandable but it's pretty funny nonetheless. Shia LaBeouf is pretty much the lead here and he's fine. And Guy Pearce is good and creepy.

I can't imagine where the theatre shoot out scene would have originally gone but whatever the reshoot was the film flows fine. A nice ol' yarn.

Killing Them Softly

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

Loved it. Beautifully photographed, real classic 70's vibe, and sound design that made my jaw drop in a few spots. I can't get over that sound in the cinema. Add to that some great actors given the opportunity to sink their teeth into some interesting characters and great scenes. Scenes that play out more like scenes from a play, the dialogues go on longer than you're used to but always fascinating.

There are small bouts of violence that come quick and fast. Very effective. The story itself is vey simple and well told, but that's not really the focus here. It's not exactly on the nose but it makes for an effective satire too.

Very satisfying, and so classy.

Rampart

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

A dark character study of a corrupt cop. Woody Harrelson kills it. I was surprised how much this one engaged me, I don't normally go for the character dramas, especially cop dramas, but there's a sort of wild energy bubbling underneath this film.

You're just waiting for it to boil over. I love that they finished where they did. And I loved the amazing supporting cast they assembled too. A great, gritty little piece.

The Matrix Revolutions

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

So big. Let's get epic huh? I forgot how much they cram into this one. All the concepts they could think of for this world that didn't fist into the first part get thrown in here, on top of a huge adventure/war battle structure at the end. I do love those mech squiddies though, they are creepy and beautiful.

This one comes off a little better than the 2nd part mainly due to less long drawn out dialogue scenes that sound more like a philosophy class than characters speaking.

Lots o' action. MECH WARRIORS! Very old school style battle structure at the end there. For some this does not satisfy, for me it was not at all what I was expecting but undeniably a big climax for the world they have created and there's a lot I really think they handled so well. Neo's final journey to the machine city and the stuff that happens there is all great for me.

Really great watching all 3 films in a row again after such a long time. And I think the first time I've seen them all on bluray, they do look beautiful.

The Matrix Reloaded

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

The two Matrix sequels are divisive, to say the least. Understandably so. So much expectation after the first film. The Wachowski's had a story they wanted to tell and it's not what everyone wanted to see. Watching all 3 together now the second two do seem tonally different but there's no denying they are part of the same world. They are also on a much larger scale than the first one, which seems almost modest by comparison.

They also start laying on the psychobabble really thick. I think that pissed a lot of people off. I don't mind so much but it is kind of ridiculous. I think I just overlook any glaring problems with the film because I love that damn car chase soooooo much.

Gotta say watching it again this time I was far more invested in the Architect's speech and I think I understood much more of what he was getting on about this time through that I only have a vague notion of before. The logistics of Zion being another machine system of control and having been destroyed and rebuilt 6 times before already never solidified in my brain on previous viewings. That exposition goes so fast, buried in that college professor language but getting my head around it now, it's actually the most interesting idea in the film.

Anyway still an amazingly stylish piece of entertainment. The burly brawl is just ridiculous.

The Matrix

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

Wow, it's been a long time. I hate to think how old this film is now, I still remember it being so new. No denying it was a real game changer. I love this film dearly and even now after all the hype has died down it still manages to entertain me. A modern sci-fi classic. Absolutely loved watching it again.

Jesus Henry Christ

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

Really enjoyed this one. A sweet little tale with a great cast and quirky indie sensibilities. The two kids a great too. And I just love Michael Sheen in pretty much anything.

The Eye of the Storm

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

This film never piqued my interest to be honest. Just characters I didn't care about and a cold, austere writing and direction. Beautiful classical lighting though. Nice cast, just didn't care what they were up to. Obviously I'm not the target audience for this one though, but I did want to check out Fred Schepisi's latest anyway as he has delivered the goods in the past.

Hick

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

An odd little film. Interesting role for Chloë Grace Moretz that goes some dark places but never crosses any lines. Seems like odd casting for Eddie Redmayne too but it works. There's some nice writing here but nothing about the performances or directing really stood out to me.

12 Monkeys

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

If you want to see a good Bruce Willis Time Travel movie, you can now go watch Looper. But if you want to see a truly great Bruce Willis Time Travel movie, nothing even comes close to the brilliance of 12 Monkeys, Terry Gilliam's wildley exciting extrapolation of Chris Marker's La Jetée.

This is how you do time travel. In my opinion, this is the best way to use the device, both logistically and for a narrative. Not only do you get a great time puzzle to sort out, one that ACTUALLY works without paradox or lazily written branching universes, but you get it in a film beautifully written and constructed, grounded by fascinating against type performances from its 3 leads and to top it off, Terry Gilliam's visual treats that keep surprising me with extra details each time I watch.

This is one of my all time favourite films. I love it dearly. I think it's intelligently handeled, funny, great apocalyptic sci-fi, beautiful and tragic and to add great linear working time travel to the mix means there's no way I could possibly ever say no.