Dune

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

Someone once asked David Lynch if he has a favourite film to which he responded with the usual "films are like my children, I love them all differently" answer so many directors give. Someone pipped up and responded "Even Dune?" to which he simply responded "Dune was a very naughty boy." Still, it got him the contract that let him make Blue Velvet so it's not all bad.

And really, anyone is going to have trouble trying to tell a story like this in a regular running time feature film. But I still do like a lot about it. I watched the bluray of the theatrical cut. The extended television version, while it has some cool extra scenes, is a little clunky, I can see why Lynch had his name removed from it.

If you're gonna fail, fail big. This film goes for broke and for a lot of people it's great. I do like the score, the old school fx, some of which are interesting many of which were poor even for the time. The disparate group of actors give it their all selling some tough material. Makes for a great cult film.

Cypher

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

I really love this Vincenzo Natali film and especially Jeremy Northam's performance. It's a great little spy thriller with a bit of a corporate sci-fi bent, beautifully shot, edited and scored and all done on a lean budget.

I love how Northam's character starts off as a bumbling idiot and ends up akin to James Bond. And how the macguffin works to theme. I love pretty much everything about this film. I remember it came out at cinemas in Perth for about a week, but I managed to see it on the big screen and the brainwashing sequence was intense.

Just love this film.

Hanna

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

First Write Up. Second.

I gots ma Bluray. Definitely one of my favourites for the year. Commentary time.

12 and Holding

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

Another veteran of HBO directing that came from Indie films. I really love Michael Cuesta's L.I.E. and this film, following 3 stories of 3 kids getting up to varying amounts of mischief, doesn't quite hit the mark like his first film but still has a lot of interesting moments and some great performances from the young cast.

It's almost a prequel to Thirteen hah.

Immortals

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

Here's my write up.

2D doesn't really make much difference. But the sound certainly did. Sound in this cinema was awesome. Nice and loud with lotsa bass. Neat.

Arthur Christmas

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

The trailer makes the film out to be cheap sappy kiddie holiday entertainment, which to a small degree it is, but there is one important factor many people overlook and that is, it's made by Aardman. And just like there other output, it's also filled with wit, wry British humour and a lot of heart. I'll cop to getting a little misty eyed at the end. And for a cynical guy like me, for the film to have won me over it must be doing something right.

The opening sequences are very cool. They present Santa's christmas deliveries as a mission impossible scenario, filled with ninja like elves and state of the art technology that would make Tony Stark jealous.

What's great is the 4 Santas from 3 generations have a very clear character traits and arcs and they way they all need to resolve these problems and come together works effectively and emotionally. And the rest of the film is just good clean fun. Enjoyed it muchly.

Das Boot

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

What can you do when you have to wait for computers to render? Watch the Uncut 293 minute version of Das Boot in German from the newly released bluray. Being a Wolfgang Petersen fan I always had intended to see this but I wanted to make sure I saw the full version. Really it's 3 films all rolled together but it works great in one epic sitting.

Despite the long running time, the pace is fine, there are definitely slower areas but everything works so well to really get you in that submarine with the characters and really raises the suspense well. There are some great sequences and without fail the film keeps flipping expectations, celebrations are interrupted by bad news and conversely moments of despair are brightened by small rays of hope. This flip flopping continues right up to the end credits and keeps you on your toes the whole time.

I'm glad I waited to see this version, I don't know how well it would hold together if the suspense moments had to be cut down, or more than likely all of the character moments would have been cut out.

It's rare I get so involved with a war movie but this one did the trick. I can see why it was so popular. It does leave you rather exhausted though so I'll leave it there for now.

American Psycho

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

Wow, youtube is full of fake trailers for this. I could only find one real one on there and it wasn't even embeddable.

Anyway, I really love this film. I love the shallow world of 80's wall street as a backdrop to the ease of which it seems to allow you to loose your identity. Patrick Batman isa fascinating character and Christian Bale is stunning in the role.

I'm surprised he's never done a comedy because he is absolutely hilarious here. It's a black satire that becomes so outrageous in parts you doubt wether it can all be real. And indeed that is the intention. It's left in large part up to the audience to make up their mind about what is real and what is not and both possibilities have interesting and differing ramifications as to theme.

Absolutely love it.