Stoker

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

Write Up.

So suspicious. Very fun.

The Turning

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

So what is this? Like an anthology movie? Without the program that comes with the cost of the ticket, I'd have no idea that characters or stories were linked. And most of the shorts don't stand on their own very well. I don't know the book it's based on so this was just 3 hours of esoteric Australian drama, which is kind of my worst nightmare.

So yeah, this didn't work for me at all. Some of it was pretty, much of it was bearable but it was just repeatedly unsatisfying, especially for someone who craves narrative. Oh, and whoever wrote the music for the Abbreviation segment did a really shitty Magnolia rip-off... (Full disclosure, that might have been me.)

An interesting, if unsuccessful experiment. So upsetting to me that precious Australian funding is wasted on stuff like this.

Mood Indigo

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

A very Michel Gondry film. Overly indulgent in his whimsical stylings, filled with love and of course, ending in heartache. Had to fly out of town to actually see it, and even then we did not get the full length version, I don't know the reason why but there's a half hour or so chopped out of the film for the Australian release. So I guess I'll have to watch an unedited version later.

Visually it's always stimulating, a pleasant watch. There's a lot of divergent things going on here but the central story is very simple and once you get a hold on that, the inevitable end seems to drag a little to get to.

But I do love seeing what Gondry's been up too and this didn't disappoint. Check it out if you're lucky enough to have it playing near you.

Jaws

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No

Write Up.

Digitally remastered at the cinema! So great, it looks brand new.  The first half has great drama and suspense and the 2nd half is great character and adventure. A little delirious seeing this at 7:30am after a massive weekend of no sleep but it perked me right up. Love it!

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.