The Shining

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

What an atmospheric film. So great to finally see this on the big screen. I was watching it this time imagining how it would play without the music. It would be a very boring. Or comical, with those crazy performances. The use of music here is so pivotal.

And the cinematography always amazes me, knowing how much of the film is a set. And filmed in the summer.

I always found this film more creepy than horrifying and seeing it at the cinema really amplifies that tone. I always thought Jack Nicholson never really gradually became crazy, that it just clicked once they were one month in. So much time is spent making tension that there is not really anything left to develop plot so it's a good thing they keep it simple.

Always a pleasure to watch. My god those 70's carpets.

Cabin in the Woods

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

Non-Spoiler write up here.

Slightly more in-depth write up here.

Finally got to see this digitally projected at a cinema with a much better (and bassier) sound system. Makes a great difference. Also great, seeing it with people that haven't seen it before and have no idea where it's going. What fun.

Runner Runner

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

This was ok.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

The first one was not all that great, and neither is the second really, but it's serviceable. I just love all that greek myth stuff so it's a fun universe to play in. Seems like they've scaled back on budget and scope and while they race through the story, at least there wasn't any really offensive post modernisms or stupid jokes. I didn't really like the new cyclops brother character, he just came out of nowhere and still hasn't been explained but they've left things with a set up for another this time so who knows.

Thanks for Sharing

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

I didn't really go for this one, it's a very fluffy look at addiction and feels strange to be made to laugh at people with a disease. It's not terrible but pretty forgettable.

Rush

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

A good little drama from Ron Howard. Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth are both great and engaging, and there's a great script from Peter Morgan. I'm really not interested in car racing but the focus of the film is really these characters and the rivalry. Shot on a variety of formats but all treated to look like 70's 16mm film with a great colour treatment, the film looks very nice indeed and the car racing sequences are very well put together too.

Turbo

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Michael, Naomi

Dreamworks aren't even trying anymore are they. Well this feels very much like a lower budget, lesser effort from them. I didn't get to see the 3d version, which is a shame as most of the shots looked like they would play really well in the format, and probably one of the few redeeming features of the film. It's by no means a terrible film but it's by no means an engaging or interesting one either.

Devil's Pass aka The Dyatlov Pass Incident

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

Another found footage film, so how did this one fare. This time Renny Harlin give it a go. Using a real life mystery as a basis and then drawing in other classic conspiracy theories like the Philadelphia Experiment and a whole bunch of kooky sci-fi fun. And a lot of typical found footage spookyness. Some very cg creepyness. Eh it has a funky twist but on the whole, not so great. still I've seen much much worse...

Errors of the Human Body

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

What a creepy drama, feels like old Cronenberg. And that is great. The science here feels real, believable and the set up is good. I like the characters involved although the end gets a little too big for the tone of the rest of the film but still, a really solid effort with some creepy ideas explored.

The TV Set

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

Write Up.

Heh, so funny. And yet, so sad because it's true.

Riddick

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

I do like the Pitch Black universe. I really love Pitch Black. Chronicles was ambitious and a little unwieldily but Riddick returns the break out character to his roots. The creatures you guys, all the creatures. The opening act is dialogue free, just following our anti-hero surviving on a unknown planet. Filled with creatures.

When the bounty hunters arrive we get some very stock characters. The action moves along just fine but I started to zone out towards the end. Still great that this actually got made.

Spring Breakers

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes

Write Up.

Commentary. Heh, oh such fun. Interesting way to make a film. Feels kinda Terrence Malick, only interesting.

The Little Mermaid

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No

I vividly remember going to see this with mum on its initial release. The film that save Disney animation. For about a decade. It's pretty darn great too. I wanted to check out the new bluray. Haven't yet seen the 3D version but I watched the commentary again, same as from the dvd. There are some nice new extras, mainly the stuff about Howard Ashman, which was great to see. Plus it has that fantastic documentary from the older dvd. Looks great on bluray. Have to find someone with a 3d TV now.

Ginger & Rosa

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

A somewhat interesting relationship drama set in the far more intriguing backdrop of 60's British ban-the-bomb movements. The cast are all great and the drama works well but I was just far more interested in the setting. Still it works very well with the drama that unfolds. Strangely nostalgic and melancholic.

Hatchet III

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

And the story continues. This has been a wonderful throwback series and I do love sequels that pick up immediately where the last instalment leaves off. So the insanity continues and doesn't show much sign of letting up. Mythology is explored more too. And another funny cameo, this time a remnant from the first film. I do enjoy these.