Summer Time Machine Blues

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

This might just be the best film about time travel ever made, and this is coming from someone who is obsessive over the conceit. Unfortunately it is also extraordinarily hard to get a hold of, only available in Japan as far as I am aware. Thankfully they put english subtitles on the dvd so you can import it.

The conceit is, during a particularly hot summer, an accident leaves the air conditioner remote in the sci-fi club room broken. When a time machine appears the geeks first thought is to go back to yesterday and snatch the remote before it gets destroyed. Things escalate from there.

The main conundrums of time travel are dealt with effortlessly and somehow the resulting film still manages to be hilarious and fun and a great teen summer holiday film as well. It moves at quite a pace and  has an energetic young cast that deliver great characters. It is also so very very Japanese which in my opinion just makes it better.

What is does so brilliantly is structure the narrative so the audience gets the information they need, right when it's needed and rewatching is also joy because it allows you to spot all the time connections in advance like a big jigsaw puzzle.

The other thing I love about it is how it creates a single timeline non-paradoxical (the only way to do time travel properly in my opinion, none of that alternate timeline crap) whilst juggle the tricky notions of free will AND have a happy ending. And all this complicated and sometimes profound nonsense is wrapped up in an extremely entertaining and easy to follow geektacutlar teen-pop comedy.

This is a must see in my opinion, and one of my all time favourite films. Hell, I'd even love to see a remake, if only to get the original dvd a wider release. It's amazing.

American Reunion

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

I have my 10 year high school reunion this year. A horrifying thought. That was predominantly on my mind watching this film. I have only seen the first film in this series but by the sounds of it, these two bookends are the most complimentary. (Seriously, how are the already 7 American Pie films? And why is Eugene Levy the one that's in all of them?) It certainly feels like the original and follows its structure and emotional beats exactly, even if the scenarios have changed. Fans of the original will have a blast.

I'm loathe to admit I have not seen any Harold and Kumar films (I feel a marathon coming on) but Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg taking over as writers and directors could explain the unexpected Neil Patrick Harris cameo and John Cho's expanded role. I don't remember him at all from the first film but he's here reprising his role as MILF Guy #2 which is hilarious in and of itself but that they gave him  his own mini emotional journey with that character is just brilliant.

Everyone gets their own little arc, like the first film. And they all culminate at the big reunion party at the end of the film , the last 10 minutes of which becomes a big cameo parade, trotting out faces from the original film and giving everyone a line or two. They actually make that work rather well though.

Most surprising is how they managed to take probably the most beloved (god knows why, I can't stand him) character, Stifler, and flesh him out just enough to get a shade of sadness out of him.

The gross out humour never really did anything for me and there's not much in this that is gonna push the bar but it's definitely a worthy sequel for what the original film was.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

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

After the unexpected pleasure of Arthur Christmas, Aardman Animations returns to stop motion for their next film, only relying on CG for creating oceans and skies, which works surprisingly well. The film looks great and in 3D even better.

Overall I didn't find this film held together as well as their past efforts but it's still miles ahead of any other animations I've seen recently. There are plenty of great jokes, action and visuals to keep you entertained, even if the story and characters are somewhat lacking.

As usual my favourite parts were the unexpected and out of left field jokes and references. Brian Blessed not only provides a voice but has a funny reference hidden away in the films earlier segments that did make me giggle. And the use of a Flight of the Concords song in the films dramatic crescendo was completely bizarre but does provide nicely pre-packaged laughs of its own.

An eclectic voice cast do fine work. I didn't recognise Hugh Grant at all despite listening out for any telltale line readings. Jeremy Piven and Salma Hayek have brief cameos and once again Martin Freeman provides the voice of reason.

I understand this is a mashup of a few of the children's books on which the characters are based. You get the feeling watching this film that it's more like an episode of a TV series with established characters, they never bother introducing most of them and while their stories are hinted at throughout the corse of the film, they never get any big moments or closure, they are just there.

 I doubt this will have any lasting rewatchablility, still it's pleasant enough to sit though and enjoy.

Dark Night of the Scarecrow

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

This really hit the spot. A made for TV movie from 1981 that was just released on dvd. I had read about it and must admit I always did find scarecrows creepy so I thought I'd give it a go. It turned out to be far better than I was expecting.

While its shot simply and on a budget, and can't show any gore, it still manages to create a really creepy atmosphere. It expertly sets up the story and the characters and even though it pretty much tells you who is going to be the next victim it always keeps the mystery of who is doing the killings right up until the very end.

This is a case of a simple idea done well. I was hoping for more scarecrow imagery but in the end I think it's far more effective by not showing anything at all. You don't know if it's a ghost, or one of many possible characters with a motive or simply the overwhelming guilt playing with their heads.

With a good cast of familiar faces and a great 80's slasher feeling but with a more brooding pace this film was a pleasant surprise indeed. A lost gem.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

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

I've missed Lasse Hallström's last two films but it's clear he hasn't lost his sentimental touch. You can see all the beats laid out in the trailer, the only thing it doesn't give you is the mandatory 3rd act couple split up instigator. In the actual film you can see it coming a mile away, even though it's pretty ridiculous and I was hoping they'd find another way. Oh and there's some assassination attempts.

The darker stuff is very much whitewashed over though to create a perfectly palatable film. And it is pretty enjoyable. Kristin Scott Thomas gets the bulk of the laughs as the press secretary. Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt are both lovely and it's nice to hear McGregor's natural accent for a change.

I don't know why but I seemed to object to the need for make the Sheikh some kind of exotic wise mystic with worldy advice for our couple. It seems Arabs portrayed in films can only either be terrorists or magical enlightened gurus.

Well, the audience was primarily of the older demographic and they all seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. I thought it was okay.

Critters 4

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

Critters in SPAAAAAACEEE! Well technically that's where they started but now, after a brief prologue which was just a rehash of the epilogue in part 3, we jump 53 years into the future. All the action takes place on a run down space station with a salvage crew who find the pod containing Charlie and the two critter eggs. Did not see that coming.

Brad Dourif is in this! And he's great. As is Angela Bassett. I also recognised that evil dude from Twin Peaks.

This one is probably the least consequential of all and you can see them trying to push the Alien style space horror on the film. Like they've used this franchise to play out their own fanboy dreams. 

This film is not funny. It seems to forget about the jokes and gags which is a nice change of pace but unfortunately this is not the kind of material you can take all too seriously. Most curious of all is the dramatic change in Ugs character which is never explained and seemed like a more intriguing story that what the film gave us. 

I keep seeing ways I would have developed the story, all the missed opportunities and undeveloped ideas the franchise presents. But I doubt anyone is clamouring for a Critters 5 or a reboot. As it is, it's an odd but pretty definitive ending for the unexpected franchise that, let's be honest, was just New Line's cash in on the success of Gremlins. 

Still the series holds together far better than those horrible Children of the Corn sequels I just forced myself through. Yeesh.

Headhunters

IMDB

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

I loved being surprised by foreign movies. All I know about this going in was it was something to do with an art thief and it had the guy that plays Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones in it. That's a great jumping off point because things soon escalate way beyond what I was expecting and it happens fast.

This is a film that's just begging for a hollywood remake, no surprise I read it was sold before its release. Probably because the author of the books and the producers of the original adaptations of them have already done so well with the Millennium Trilogy. 

I've only seen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but already this is a great deal more fun and interesting that that was. I also think that in the original language it classier and more sophisticated than it really is, and any remake will just feel like another regular hollywood style fugitive story. 

Anyway, if you get a chance to see this one, check it out. A very pleasant surprise that feels expertly structured with not a hair out of place and with a few unexpected twists and scenarios I wasn't prepared for but revelled in.

Critters 3

IMDB

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

A very young Leonardo Di Caprio in his first film, wearing a fluro orange and hot pink tshirt and playing a gameboy. God bless the 90's.

We shift the action to a city apartment block this time. However Charlie and Ug both make appearances and tie the continuity together nicely with a big "to be continued" ending to set up part 4 which was apparently shot back to back.

Being trapped in the apartment give it a nice claustrophobic feeling, I really liked the set up. However more than ever the critters and their jokes are abysmal. They have to resort to fart gags and cream pie throwing this time.

There's still some good stuff to be found though and the characters work pretty well. So far it's the weakest of the three I've seen but it's not trailer that far behind. We'll have to see how part 4 goes to wrap everything up. 

A Dangerous Method

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

Nice to see some new David Cronenberg, even if it's a film about psychoanalysis. Let's be honest, it's not the most cinematic of subjects and while the film has its moments it is a very dry affair.

I hear a lot of fuss kicked up over Keira Knightley. I've never had much of a problem with her and even in early scenes playing her most crazy she never bothered me that much. She certainly has the more interesting character.


Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender get a few nice scenes together. Unfortunately the film is as clinical and distant as the characters. Handsomely made but not entirely satisfying. Well the good news is there's more Cronenberg on the way.

Vanya on 42nd Street

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

I'm really not that familiar with Chekhov, never seemed like my kinda thing, but this is certainly an interesting way to do it. Literally just watching actors rehearse the play.

And they give great performances too. Without the artifice of costumes or many props or sets it really becomes just about the performance. And surprisingly those extras are never missed. Everything comes across perfectly naturally.

The actual story I found slow and not that interesting but I like the way it was done.

Mirror Mirror

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

You know what, it's not bad. It knows full well it's target audience and aims squarely for them so that's cool. Whereas so many kids films feel the need to pander to adults with irreverent humour there's not really any of that here. Besides the dialogue being more contemporary there isn't any annoying post modern film references either which made this vastly more appealing to me. Instead Tarsem Singh has crafted a gorgeous looking (as to be expected) and very fun take on the old tale.

The one thing that did annoying me is again, that habit of making your damsel in distress kick more ass than what should be the hero. Also they kinda forgot about the whole witch with the apple thing and tried to squeeze it in in the last few seconds of the film but it becomes more of a joke than anything. But I guess this was never going to be a wholly accurate telling of the tale.

Unexpected Sean Bean!

It saddens me to read about the passing of Eiko Ishioka, the wonderful costume designer, whose work is so distinctive and has always added so much to Tarsem's visuals. Her work here is just as stunning and the production design is brilliant. This is a film that's all about the look. And like Immortals it feels very stagebound but it suits this film so much more.

The dwarfs weren't nearly as grating as the original trailer made out. Neither was Nathan Lane's bumbling sidekick shtick. The most annoying thing was probably the random Bollywood number in the end credits.

Perhaps this is another case of such low expectations resulting in a unexpected good time. The film is light and fluffy and kids will love it. For everyone, well, Snow White and the Huntsmen comes out in a few months, which looks to be a very different take.

Critters 2: The Main Course

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

Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Despite growing up with the original and having low expectations I think I ended up liking this film more.

I see young Mick Garris and David Twohy were involved and they really managed to craft the best kind of sequel, one that relies on the exposition of the first film and jumps right into the action, which is bigger and funnier. It's obviously made by two horror nerds what with the amount of somewhat obscure references thrown into the dialogue.

There are many many more critters this time and they take over the entire town instead of just a house. The also manage to juggle more humans and give them decent enough characters and pay offs to hold you through. Even the Bounty Hunter shape shifters, who didn't really do anything much int he first film get more story.

While a lot of the jokes fall flat, overall this is a far more exciting film. I really enjoyed this one. Now, how many sequels will they keep that up for? I guess I'll find out soon enough...

The Lorax

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

The best thing about this film? Seeing the new Universal 100 years anniversary logo in 3D. Everything after that was downhill.

I never read Dr. Seuss books. I have no love or affection for them, but even I was pissed off at the adaptation. Also, I'm really over the whole Betty White thing, whatever that was in the first place.

This film has the most horrible songs. The score is great, but the songs are just tragic. They'll make you long for Alvin and the Chipmunks singing Lady Gaga. All the cute little critters they are so forcefully trying to make us love just fall flat. I didn't laugh out loud once in the entire film, and it doesn't take much to make me laugh.

The fluffy CG thing was damn impressive in Horton Hears a Who, a far superior and more enjoyable film on every level. Fluffy characters are not enough to save this film though. The entire thing is just bland.

Wrath of the Titans

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

Is it an improvement on the the last effort? Well, yeah I guess so. But that's very faint praise indeed. At least this time they just seem content to let Sam Worthington do his natural accent and not care what it sounds like.

It felt like there were about 5 lines of dialogue in the film that weren't some kind of basic exposition. This film is really all about Liam Neeson as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes as Hades, which is great, that's what we want to see. Unfortunately all other characters, including our protagonist, are shoehorned in just to fight some creatures and pad out the running time.

Look, it's not like the original Harryhausen films were great works of drama. We watch them to see fantastic creatures and people fighting them. But this all just feels hollow in a way that they never did. I ca see the father son relationship thing they are going for with Perseus and Zeus, but giving Perseus a son, who serves no purpose but to emphasise this theme is rather annoying, especially when they could have focused on fleshing out Ares' character more to do the same thing and work better as an antagonist at the same time.

Thank the gods they killed Io though. Bringing her back at the end of the first one was the most ridiculous slap in the face of their own storytelling I've ever seen committed.

Danny Huston actually gets some lines this time. Bill Nighy pops up and delivers the only memorable character in his brief time. Once again Bubo is the butt of a joke but nevertheless fits in better this time. Rosamund Pike takes over as Andromeda and they finally end up together like they were supposed to the first time around although it's just as undeserved this time as it would have been then, which is why I understand they ended up bring back Io in the first place. And for some reason she's a warrior queen because all females need to be able to kick ass as good as the men or your film is anti-feminist or something. God that really shits me, it makes no sense for her character.

They learnt nothing from the notoriously bad 3D post conversion on the first one. Except how to fake jabbing an audience better by adding in black bars for one shot so the offending object can appear to sit outside the screen. A trick I saw pulled off more often and with more confidence in G-Force.

I will give it this. If you want to see dudes fighting monsters, it delivers. At the end of the day, that all this film seems to be aiming for and you'll get that. The effects are done well, the creatures look great. Anything more than that and you're better off playing God of War again.