Heathers

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

I love my dead gay son.

I'm pretty sure this is where I first became aware of "teen-speak," that delightful dialect that exists only in films and television. No actual teen can be that quick witted or snappy with their conversations. It's almost like a musical, people just accept it but when done properly it's almost like Shakespeare, there's an art to it. I do enjoy it.

It's been a while. I'd forgotten the shoulder pads. This one plays with fire and that's probably the reason most people love it so much. It probably wouldn't even get made now. God bless the 80's. But it's a damn great script. I wonder how the original ending would have gone over.

Love the cast, even enjoy the very synth score. Great movie

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

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

Oh my god how did I end up watching this one twice in a year?

It's ok though we used the time to wisely prepare for the 3D monstrosity that is unleashed this week. Midnight screening here we come.

We have created a drinking game for the series. Looking online it appears there have been many made before but some of them seem unrealistic, they'd have you on the floor before the opening credits, so we've made ours a little more specific in hopes to counteract that.

Drink every time:
• A helicopter flies at sunset
• The sun passes behind an object and then flares it out
• All sound cuts out before a large explosion or slow motion shot
• Gratuitous military lingo interrupts the flow of the action
• Optimus Prime wants to sacrifice himself

Here's hoping Michael Bay purposefully made the 2nd so bad that there's no way anyone can not be surprised by the jump in quality of the latest.

Transformers

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

I can't view this one now without knowledge of the horrid mess that came after it. I remember walking out of the theatre of this one having thoroughly enjoyed it. It was damn entertaining event though there were many parts that made me want to shoot myself. But it's a damn masterpiece when viewed in conjunction with the next instalment. Hopefully the 3rd one will be the best. I can hope can't I?

Michael Bay has a serious military fetish. It just strikes me as odd that Hasbro went with him for Transformers when they already had a G.I. Joe film in development. Now I unashamedly love that first G.I. Joe film but I can't help but wonder what Bay would have done with it, with all his military connections, rather than shoehorning them into this franchise where they aren't needed and easily add an hour worth of excess running time to each film. But this is how things worked out, so now Hasbro has two big military franchises and only one of them feels like a fun kids playtime. Not this one.

It's just so damn serious. And when he tries to inject some humor it's just the worst kind of bad lowest common denominator kiddy crap. And the two side by side make deciphering the target audience an impossibility. Genuine laughs can be had at the ridiculousness of it all. But you can still legitimately enjoy the staggering FX work from ILM and others that are wasted on this franchise.

There's no denying Michael Bay makes destruction sexy. He's also boarding on pedophiliac the way he shoots some of his young cast. But always with the shaky cam. And colours so crushed and processed that everyone looks bright orange.

I don't mind switching off and enjoying the action. But there's so much ridiculousness in between you have to put up with. At least in this first one it's not nearly as incoherent and offensive. That's probably the best praise I can give it.

Cars 2

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

Cars is the one Pixar film I can't get into. It's just a bit much to accept this world of cars and no humans the amount of questions of logic it raises is baffling beyond belief. I can't connect to any of the character and I don't care for any of them. The message of the first film is nice, telling a race car to stop and smell the flowers, I get that, and it worked. Here though they've forgotten their own message and glamoured everything up in a world wide spy racing extravaganza. It didn't help though, I still can't accept this world.

The best thing about the film was the first trailer for Pixars next output, Brave. I am SO down with them doing a celtic style heroine adventure in mystical lands of old. Blue fairy thing? Bow and arrow wielding horse riding firey haired heroine vs Bear? YES. Then the new 3D trailer for the Lion King re-release, which was neat but I hate they've tried to dimentionalise the 2D elements instead of just keeping them flat but in 3D space like they used to in the 50s. You can't see 3D in flat colour and consequentially it just makes the line work jutt out strangely. Then the new Toy Story Toon, Hawaiian Vacation. God I love Ken. and it was easily the best part of going to see Cars 2, it's hilarious and great to catch up with all our favourite characters again.

The Next best thing about the film was that unlike Kung Fu Panda 2 yesterday there was only a small handful of children in the massive theatre and they was all situated miles away from me. I practically had my own private screening, so that was nice.

Now for the actual film, which starts off cool enough with British spy car Finn McMissile infiltrating some oil wells in the ocean. Michael Caine sounds like he's phoning it in, but the action was good enough. But then the film proper starts and it becomes clear pretty soon that the horrifically annoying comedy relief Mater is going to be the focus of tis film, god help us. In fact the whole film kicks off because of a toilet gag.

From there this film feels like it's just pandering to children's wish fulfilment. I don't think I laughed once although thankfully I was rarely completely bored. Mainly because I was playing a game of spot the re-used set assets. I presumed they would use some Ratatouille stuff for Paris and I'm pretty sure they used the One Man Band courtyard for Italy. I also noticed the drive in was showing the Incredimobiles.

What I don't get is cars eating human food, and apparently they drink and leak oil but there seems to be a tank full of shit at the airport. And they are talking about having to replace fossil fuels with alternate, they make reference to dinosaurs. There are no other animals in this world, I have to logically assume that there once were and these cars had some sort of uprising and killed everything. Whatever. You're not supposed to think about that.

Pixar can keep their Cars franchise, which I hear will include a Planes instalment very soon. I view it like I view the Twilight franchise. I don't have to like it and am baffled by its popularity but if it's making them THAT much money to fund cool new projects like I think Brave will be then Why not. Doesn't mean that I like it or have to watch it again though.

Time Masters

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

Watching Gandahar the other day I thought I better round it off and watch the last René Laloux feature animation I've yet to see. I'm a sucker for animation and sci-fi. The style here is far more cartoonish than his other films but it's still filled with some kooky creatures and cool sci-fi concepts.

Again he introduces Time Travel right at the very end but in this case it makes sense and works out well, logically and with the story. The rest of the film is a little episodic, all framed around a ship trying to rescue a stranded boy with only a voice transmitter to communicate between them.

Compared to his other two features this one is far more kiddie friendly and upbeat. Some nice Mobious designs too. Pretty neat.

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

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

What a great movie. I'd forgotten. After watching this again, why the hell wouldn't you want to hire Guillermo del Toro to do the Hobbit?

I love the world he's created here. You can see he love of creatures seeping out of every inch of the frame. Not to mention the story, which is filled with nasty and sympathetic creatures and constantly questioning which side audience and characters are on. Practical and CG blended so well together. I love the Tooth Fairies, Wink, the Bag Lady, the tragic Elemental, the creepy Angel of Death, they are all great. That troll market is a true work of art.

No one makes the horrific as beautiful as he does. Guillermo Navarro's gorgeous cinematography probably has a great deal to do with it. And the story is much tighter than the first film I think, now they've dispensed with all their main exposition and origin stories. Over all this film is leaps and bounds over the first, the effects, the action, the story and characters. I really did enjoy the first one but this one is what every sequel should be, it's got everything you love about the first film, gets rid of the excess, adds more awesome and naturally develops the story and characters further.

I doubt we'll see a 3rd film any time soon, if any. They left this one with such a great set up though after having watched it again I kinda wish he'd add it to his list of 89 films he's got lined up next. I'm pretty sure I saw a Lovecraftian monster in the background of the Headquarters. I know I saw a See You Next Wednesday reference, it's even there in the trailer.

I watched with the actors commentary, but I probably should have just watched the directors commentary again, they didn't have anything very interesting to say other than being completely in awe of all the practical fx.

I hope one day he gets time to finish this trilogy before Ron Perlman gets too old and refuses to don the makeup. He IS Hellboy to me now.

Revolutionary Road

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Amberly, Matt

Another fantastic Sam Mendes film and one I haven't watched as much as his others, not just because it's newer but also because it's pretty hard going drama. Intense maaaaan.

It's a beautifully crafted film, immaculately photographed, beautifully scored by Thomas Newman and such great cast performing at the top of their game, with characters they can really sink their teeth into. I feel like Mad Men took a lot of cues from this film.

I can see why Mendes would want to do something like Away We Go after the heavy lifting everyone has to do in this. But they are all so damn good it looks easy. I can't believe this wasn't nominated for more oscars, I liked Winslet more in this than The Reader.

Let's talk about Michael Shannon. Oh god I love him. He just breezes in and out of the movies and leaves a trail of carnage. He's always the best thing in anything he's in and it's great to see him getting recognised more and lead roles.

I don't know much about the novel except by reputation. I do know people have been trying to adapt it to screen for many years before this. I can't talk for the adaptation but just as a film the script is immaculately constructed. There was one bit that felt a little shoehorned in to make a thematic point but on the whole it's just great, like the rest if the film.

Son of Rambow

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Amberly, Matt

This is an adorable little coming of age film. I guess Super 8 reminded me of this, kids trying to make a film in the 80's. I love how dangerous these kids play, like real kids would but they never show on film. It's also very funny. Their somewhat forbidden friendship is the heart of the film and the two kids are terrific.

They are also joined half way through by a french exchange student who is bizarre and hilarious. Also I must mention the lovely Jessica Hynes who manages to make what could have been an evil mother character and make her sympathetic and understandable.

A lot of that also has to do with the script and direction by the great music video team Hammers and Tongs, who did The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy movie. I believe they intended this to be their first film, a nice simple little character comedy but they got offer to make that and there's no way you turn down something like that. But thankfully they went straight back to it.

Oh and it's filled with 80's-tasticness.

Again it's one of those charming feel good movies I don't think anyone couldn't get some kind of enjoyment out of. Delightful.

Speed Racer

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

Read about my ridiculous love for this film here.

Love this movie! Watch it!

Kung Fu Panda 2

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

An alright movie completely ruined by annoying little shits in the row in front of us. Why the hell weren't they in school? Very frustrating.

Well the film didn't hold their attention and I tried my best to get into it but even with Po's dark backstory of self-discovery, I couldn't find the heart from the first film. Po's relationship with his dad is still the best thing in the film. I understand the desire to explain it away, but I really loved the idea in the first film that it was just something everyone accepted. They go even further with a coda at the end of the film that sets up an inevitable 3rd adventure and undermines the relationship even more.

The animated kung fu action is amped up in this one though, now that Po is one of the masters there's plenty of great sequences where they are all fighting as a team. We have a new villain, a peacock voiced by Gary Oldman, whose backstory ties in nicely thematically with Po's. He's not as threatening as Ian McShane's Tai Lung from the first film, but he's got the tech.

Michelle Yeoh is another addition as a soothsaying goat. Wise and hilarious. Some of the bigger laughs in the film for me. The other things I loved was the Po's inability to perfectly create those badass action film clichés. They boarder on breaking the 4th wall but never quite go that far. I love that.

Once again there as various forms of animation used in the opening prologue and flashbacks. The prologue has a new shadow puppet style that was beautiful, and once again the 2d style from the first film is used in flashbacks.

Overall I didn't enjoy it as much as the first but it had it's moments. But my viewing was tarnished by horrid children so perhaps I'll have to have another look where I can actually get into the quieter character moments I enjoyed so much in the first one that these kids were obviously very bored in because no one was making any funny noises or fart jokes. God I hate kids.

Boy Eats Girl

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

Ooo an Irish high school zombie film. It stacks up alright against the others I've watched. There's only one big scene of gore and again the humour and/or horror isn't quite there but it's enjoyable enough. Pretty much straight down the middle, alright but not great.

Warlock

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

Haha that was pretty fun. Watch that trailer and you'll get a good idea what to expect. The best thing is, despite how ridiculous some of it is Julian Sands and Richard E. Grant seem so invested in their performance. What professionals. It also just makes it funnier.

A lot of it is hoaky. But there are some funny fish out of water bits, some neat oldschool animated fx and quite a lot of funky flying warlock wire work.

Ultimately I find this to be a little to cheesy but the final fight in the cemetery was good so it's not all bad.

Kung Fu Panda

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

Sequel opens tomorrow so I though I'd brush up and finally get around to watching the picture commentary on the bluray.

This is one of the better Dreamworks animation pictures, in my opinion second only to How To Train Your Dragon. I love that they have some serious character moments mixed in with the comedy. I love the 2d animated sequences. I love the creative action and sound. I love that his dad is a duck.

The commentary had some interesting info but for someone who loves the animators process to watch a feature called "animators corner" and find that most of the video is Jack Black in a recording booth is disappointing. There were a few places where they showed the animators doing there thing and coming up with some of the great acting in the film.

I'm a bit tentative about the sequel. I hope it keeps the fun with the (pardon the pun) weightier character moments.

Gandahar aka Light Years

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

Never heard of this one before, but what a cool movie. Avatar eat your heart out.

I'm a big Fantastic Plant fan but hadn't seen any other features René Laloux made. Then I saw Isaac Asimov wrote the english adaptation, the one I watched. That makes you sit up and take notice.

Like Fantastic Planet, this one features some very trippy imagery and great animation. The most bizarre and incredible design of creatures and plants and the whole world they created awesome.

Add to that a story or a young man on a quest, mutants, robot army and Christopher Plummer as a giant brain and you have a film that speaks wonders to me. The film also has time travel. I'm so picky about time travel and here it is one giant paradox that makes no sense at all, even to the mutants who do no acknowledge the present, only the co-existanse of past and future. Or something.

I've never heard an action synth 80's score from Gabriel Yared. What a treat. The Weinstein's were in charge of the American version and they got a great cast for the voices (and cut out the one love scene).

Anyway I really like this one, it's right up my ally. I must try and find the other Laloux feature.

The Social Network

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

Thoughts here and here. Finally got around to listening to Fincher's commentary. Some more cool tidbits there. He talks a lot about the music.

Now is it just me or is Banshee from the latest X-Men in the scene where Sean Parker gets busted at the party? He's not listed anywhere in the credits or on IMDB but I'm sure it was him, he even had a line.

Also can I just say, I really like the bluray menu.