Wreck-It Ralph

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jess, Jim, Paul, Kelly, Tyler

Write Up. 

Loving that Sugar Rush theme song.

Les Misérables

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

I must have been 3 or 4 years old when my folks took me to see the first Australian tour of the musical at His Majesty's Theatre. I sill vividly remember certain scenes and number from the show. The years following, the cast recording was on constant rotation in our house and I enjoyed it. But then as the years went on and I fell out with theatre and then back in again, everybody seemed to become more obsessed with it with each passing year. Every time I had to listen to yet another rendition of one of the anthems from the show I would feel overcome with dread at the thought of having to endure it yet again. Whatever magic the show once had was well and truly lost on me from over-saturation. So it was with much trepidation I went into this screening.

The film is a good adaptation of the stage show. That's really all you need to know. The film adaptation brings with it all the problems from the show though. The sprawling text's structure does not easily condense into concise and palatable acts. Characters dropping in and out and new characters being introduced half way through, a whole revolution that feels almost superfluous and the majority of the time spent singing about either wallowing in misery or just being inappropriate feeling slapsticky nonsense. It's all rather melodramatic. But that's what the show is. It's a huge emotional musical with heart on sleeve. You know this going in and that's exactly what you'll get.

So what about the film? Well I guess the biggest deal has been made about recording all the voices live and yes, it's about time. The acting comes through loud and clear and you can be sure the actors take full advantage of being able to eb and flow from the rhythm to suit their performance. I think10 minutes could have been shaved off just from them milking their pauses. I was worried at the start, the first few numbers I had a hard time making out the words at all, but either I got used to it or the mixing got better. I have no idea how the hell they recorded On My Own with rain towers drenching poor old Éponine, there must have been some post dubbing there, and occasionally the room sound more "live" than other times but on the whole, it sounds good.

Handheld camera was an interesting and at times infuriating choice. For such a stylised show, to try and make it naturalistic seems counter-productive but for the most part you get used to it. Every so often though, a cut would come where characters singing out to the skies are suddenly staring almost right down the barrel and it suddenly feels like watching a music video. Actually there's quite a lot of jarring editing going on but I guess you should expect that when recording songs live. Piecing together performances becomes trickier.

And the performances on the whole are great. Everyone gets their little episode with a wide lens shoved right up their nose as they scream or whisper. Such dynamics. At any rate, they can all hold a tune.

It's been so long since I've listened to the whole show that I couldn't tell you where alt he new bits and changed bits are. I forgot about all that recitative and jarring sudden key changes between songs that you never have to hear on cast recordings. What did stand out to me was one or two moments of orchestration that grated in my head. Look, I can't stand classical guitar at the best of times, due much to the same reason as I can't stand having to listen to people belt these songs again, over-saturation. But the few quiet moments of solo guitar intos for Éponine and Marius stuck out like a sore thumb in the midst of a lush orchestral backing.

I'm being nit-picky and cynical. That's just how I am with this show. But make no mistake, it's pretty much the musical I remember transplanted to the screen. You should know if you're gonna love it or hate it based on that.

Red State

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

Write Up.

Recent world events had me thinking about this film. It's such an odd film tonally, keeps you guessing as to where it's going to go next.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Paul, Naomi, Leith

Write Up.

Really cool little heartfelt film.

Life of Pi

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Mum

Write Up.

Mum went in as a doubter, believing there's no way a film could possibly do her beloved book justice and came out ecstatic. It's just as amazing and awe inspiring the second time through. I need to see this at the cinema as many times as possible, it's just stunning. Can't wait for the IMAX version.

Everything about the power of cinema and its craft is on dazzling display here. It's real magic.

Alex Cross

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

This film is so cliche ridden and predictable and so overly serious I'm not exactly sure if it's a satire or just really terrible. Unfortunately I think it's the latter. It's like a 12 year old's idea of what a serious cop movie should probably look and sound like. Oh man. Just surreal.

The Brood

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

Time for some more classic David Cronenberg. Oliver Reed is a scary guy. Samantha Eggar is also pretty spooky. And the brood is just messed up. Bizarre concept. And like other Cronenberg horrors, they don't play out like other horrors of the time. There's gore sure, but it isn't mindless exploitation and it's not ever whats disturbing about the film. There's always something else, something psychological, that figuratively and literally gets under your skin.

Always nice to go back and refresh these.

The Andromeda Strain

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

Robert Wise has such an eclectic and fascinating filmography. The way he translates Michael Crichton's patented verisimilitude is great, it feels so different to any other kind of disaster film. And yet as cold and sterile as all the scientific mumbo jumbo could get, there's still a great amount of character and build of suspense at the end.

Some really interesting graphical elements and moments. Very 70's and yet I can only imagine how ahead of its time the film was. Very cool.

Princess Mononoke

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

Write Up.

Just Awesome.

Grave of the Fireflies

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Kim, Maria, Tara

Write Up.

Well I finally did the double feature with Totoro. There are many similarities between them but really, not the best two films to be viewed together...

The HD copy I got a hold of was from the Japanese bluray, so I have yet to hear the new english dub, but I can't wait to check it out, because the original english dub is just appalling. For now though, the Japanese track with subtitles is the best way to go.

Such a beautiful and sad tale, the full impact of which I don't think is known until the second viewing, if you're game enough.

My Neighbour Totoro

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Kim, Maria

Just magical. A joyous experience every time. And now on bluray, it looks stunning. 

I really love disney's new english dub, mainly because of the two performances from the young Fanning siblings, that are as natural and well observed as the animation itself. 

Again, Miyazaki's stream of consciousness style of story structure really makes this such a curious film, especially for first time viewers. You really have no idea where the story's going most of the time, or even if there really is a main plot line. 

And the title character only shows up for 3 scenes. But when he does the impact is all the more great. The music drops out, everything gets quiet and the pace slows and it has a funny way of drawing you in to try and get a glimpse of the big man himself. It has a strange way of transfixing me everytime. He's also just hilarious by design. (Although sometimes he can look a little freaky. That goes double for the Catbus.)

It's always the natural behaviour of the two girls that I'm fascinated by most. They've captured it perfectly. Always love revisiting this and a great way to introduce people to Studio Ghilbli, with their flagship creation. 

Requiem for a Dream

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

In the process of re-mounting a theatrical production we did earlier in the year. This felt like an appropriate title.

Some more Aronofsky. I forgot hom many edits there are in this film. So stylised. And a sound design that's almost comical at times. And a score that is now overused to death. But if you can look past all that it was something pretty interesting and new at the time of its release.

And some great performances by the cast.

Parental Guidance

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

This is a relic from the 90's. It's average sitcom joke writing at best. At worst it's annoyingly contrived. Somehow Bailee Madison is yet again the best thing in a film. It certainly makes a good argument for corporal punishment. I wish some was applied to the little shits in the audience too.