Annabelle

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

The Conjuring was a great film. And now they've rushed out this spin-off and given the cinematographer a chance to direct, presumably because all the other creative partners were doing better things. This one doesn't really hold together. There's a handful of jump scares but it's really laking the script and character that it's originator succeeded in fleshing out so well.

Our leading couple here is just meh. I don't care about them. They can die or be cursed or whatever is going on. And seriously what is going on? Possessed doll is all well and good, why do we need a demon as well? Strikes against for wise old black lady cliche too.

Yeah it's just not very good. I wasn't expecting it to be, but I think it was still worse than I was hoping for.

Gone Girl

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

David Fincher's latest is a delightful thriller, a simple pulpy drama with all the twists and turns you could hope for that is immensely elevated by virtue of a master working at the top of his game, stunning turns from the cast and a neat display of technical and artistic prowess. I can see this same story being made into a really average daytime tv movie. And it would still be a fun watch, but with this team involved it just makes it really sing.

As you'd expect from anything Fincher adapts, the story has a pretty scathing and cynical world view, this time focusing on the horrors of married life. It's a grim and amusing look at the institution and despite the long running time is completely captivating, from the subtly off-kilter opening titles to the quietly unnerving closing frames.

And for some reason everything Neil Patrick Harris does in the film made me giggle.

Really fun story coupled with amazing cast and technical artistry equals a great cinematic experience. Go check it out! Probably not a good date movie.

Dracula Untold

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Well it's not terrible. But it really wasn't that interesting either. Actually it had some cool stuff in it. I think Charles Dance makes a great vampire. We really didn't need an origin story for Dracula or to see him sympathetically. But they tried to make it matter, and added in a 3 day of no blood drinking and you won't be cursed clause to up the stakes (no pun intended) but the unfortunate thing is that everyone already knows how it's going to end up so it's all for naught.

The was a great unintentionally hilarious scene involving Vlad sneaking around a monastery desperately trying to appear normal whilst avoiding shafts of light. The rest of the film is all dreary and serious, there's some cool fighting stuff at the start that soon gives way to big cg bat particle systems.

And then there's a questionable modern day coda. I don't know what they are going for there. are they rebooting dracula. Do they think we needed that scene for closure to the romantic plot line that didn't really work in the first place? Who knows.

There's some okay stuff here but it's pretty forgettable.

Detention

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

Write Up.

The Boxtrolls

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

Write Up.

So much fun, just had to see it again!

Life of Crime

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

They are going to run out of Elmore Leonard novels. But once again we have a really fun crime tale, this one set in the 70's and full of fun period style too. This one has a great cast too and a story that keeps turning, all leading to an unexpected but funny end point. Very enjoyable.

Step Up All In

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

The pretty boy from Step Up 4 and the chick from Step Up 2, both now broken up with their significant others that we were so invested in, come together to try and prove that dancing is a viable source of income.

It's more of the same, the terrible acting and unsubtle story beats that land with a thud are all here as well as the dance crews doing what they do. Unfortunately I missed out on seeing this one in 3D which would have been the biggest drawcard for me. It can't be that hard to write something with the slightest of substance? Maybe they don't trust their dancers to deliver on the acting front. Whatever the case, I'm hoping the next film is set is space.

The Equalizer

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

I don't know the source material. But I can only imagine it's better than this, the epitome of modern generic action/revenge films. The only thing this film really has going for it is the brand name recognition and a few stars. Denzel Washington does what he does. Chloë Grace Moretz wishes she had a character written half as well as Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver. They do what they can, and the film looks alright. But this is just run-of-the-mill and forgettable. Not even offensive or bad, just, meh.

Princess Mononoke

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

Write Up.

Great film for a lazy afternoon.

The Boxtrolls

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Laika Studio's latest is a really fun little flick with their usual detailed stop frame animation on full display, looking amazing in 3D as well. They've added in quite a lot of CG atmosphere and some motion blur in this one which does take away a little from the stop frame look, but overall it's a stuffing film visually. 

It's got a really fun story and an amazing voice cast bringing all these ridiculous characters to life. I didn't even recognise Ben Kingsly. It's also very funny, there were a few moments I was laughing out loud at jokes that went over the kids heads.

It doesn't quite have the same appeal as Paranorman for me, simply because the subject matter in that film is right up my alley, but it's well worth a look on the big screen in 3D. Really fun time. And there's a beautiful shot midway throughout the credits that pulls back the curtains a little, that was amazing.

The Infinite Man

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

Write Up.

Great film! Check it out now. After seeing it a second time I have one or two questions about how certain bits link up but that's just me getting really nit-picky with the time travel.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

Watched With: Tyler, Tamara, Erin

I really like this teen night out film from a few years back. It's got a great cast and a fun vibe that's I felt managed to avoid being too hipster for its own good. It's also the first time I remember seeing Ari Graynor. Her subplot and the chewing gum make quite an impact. Fun times.

All Cheerleaders Die

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

I generally like Lucky McKee's films, here he's partnered up with Chris Sivertson, whose work I'm unfamiliar with, to remake one of his short films into a feature. Or multiple features as the ending promises.

This one is super silly. It has some fun bitch teen characters and a whole lot of weirdness and witchcraft. It really feels a bit all over the place though, the tone jumps around. There's definitely stuff in here I liked but I'm not sure it works overall. But maybe this will be something that can be improved with the next instalment? We shall see.

Planes: Fire & Rescue

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

Had to go a little out of my way, but I managed to see this one in 3D this time. And while I'd say it was worth the effort, it really hi lights just how quick and cheap they seem to be putting these out. Besides the big landscape fly overs all the scenes took place with a small foreground 3D set and then a flat backdrop in the distance. Most of the time it looked like a small stage with painted backdrop.

Now I really didn't care much for the first film. This one I'd say is marginally better, if only because Ed Harris is always marginally better. There's really not much here but the kids are going to go see it anyway.  Ah well.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

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

The world of Sin City looks amazing in 3D, the graphic style really lends itself to some bold uses. And I've always loved the style of the first film so aesthetically, it's really fun to spend some more time in this world.

Unfortunately the stories being told this time around just fail to connect. None of them seem to pack the punch or have the urgency or satisfying closure of the bite sized noir tales in the first film. I left feeling pretty underwhelmed.