Martyrs

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

Write Up.

An odd double with Totoro. The brief was to find something the opposite of that. I can't think of anything more opposite than this?

My Neighbour Totoro

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

Write Up.

Weeeeeeeeheheheheheeeeee

Clue

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

How awesome is Clue? Yeah, so good. Grew up with this one and know it off by heart. In my older age I appreciate the amazing cast much more. But this is a film that I found hilarious as a kid and can appreciate on a whole new level now. The farcical humour of yesteryear still brings a smile. And I love that on the bluray they've kept the random ending option.

Such a great adaptation of a board game. Who knew? Oh and an amazing score!

The Great Gatsby

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

OMG this movies has the Gravity trailer in 3D attached! YES! Reason enough to see it.

As for the film itself, well, it's a Baz Luhrmann version of Gatsby, which funnily enough was exactly like what it sounds. Somehow it was both over and underwhelming at the same time.

I don't like the actual story that much, I find it quite distancing and I felt the same here. I've never read the book but from what I understand, the appeal is the beautiful prose and the wafer thin story is just a means to hold theme together. They hamfistedly try to cram in as much of that prose as possible and it just kills the film for me. So much metaphor and little regard to actual substance, which makes it very hard for me to care about anyone in the story.  But the actors try gosh darn it, they do. Varying degrees of success.

Once again Luhrmann starts his film off with a bang. A frenzy of editing and sound, I don't think there was a point in the first half where there weren't at least 2 or 3 competing songs playing in the background at all times. But as usual he always sets the audience up to hold on to their seats for a wild ride and then dies halfway through as the film limps to a close. Strictly Ballroom is the only film of his where I enjoy the latter half as much as the first, he just never lives up to the promise of his openings.

It's visually very nice, very stylised, as to be expected. and the 3D is great. Everything looks kind of fake, green screened or cg but it's so consistent that it just seems like part of the world that is created. Baz is never aiming for realism.

It's a tricky one, I haven't quite made up my mind about it. I certainly didn't love it but I don't hate it either.

A Haunted House

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Well I really don't like these spoof movies but if I have to see one I'd rather it be one like this, that actually has some semblance of plot and characters to take you through gags that are worked organically into the story and don't just rely on referential humour.

The Scary Movie franchise has devolved into a parade of tabloid celebrities and references to anything that happened to be trending on twitter the morning they shot. I refuse to watch the 5th film, I just can't do that to myself. But back when Marlon Wayans was working on number 2 it still seemed to be trying to have original laughs and fit the jokes into a cohesive story. And this film does that too, so I have to give it props for that, even if I don't find the humour funny.

Behind the Candelabra

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

Steven Soderbergh's film about Liberace was rather musing. While the rise and fall of fame is something we've all seen before, these larger than life characters and their relationship is what makes it worth the watch. Matt Damon and Michael Douglas are wonderful in their respective roles and there's a good supporting cast too. Rob Lowe is slightly horrifying. 

Hope this isn't really the last feature Soderbergh makes. 

Cheerful Weather for the Wedding

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

This is not as much of a comedy or farce as the trailer makes out. It's a pretty dreary drama steeped to the eyeballs in proper British societal vernacular and behaviour. It almost chokes you with it. But I suppose that is entirely the point of the film. So having said that I'm sure you can guess where things lead.

It's well put together and they try to keep things interesting by keeping all the events on the wedding day and revealing all backstory slowly through flashback scenes interspersed throughout. But it's just not that fun to watch. It's so cold and austere and I really had no sympathy for any of the characters. Just didn't interest me. But some of you out there may enjoy it, if only for the costumes and period.

Black Book

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

Write Up. Watched this one tonight pretty much to show a friend how awesome Carice van Houten is. Cool to see her in Game of Thrones.

The Burning

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

A fun early 80's summer camp slasher. And the start of the Weinstein legacy. Harvey claims he wrote this before Friday the 13th but I don't know if I believe that. As it is, it's just an alright rip-off. Is this the trailer Edgar Wright was aping in Grindhouse?

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

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

Write Up.

I like this one well enough. The first half is funny and the second half the drama between this rather odd pairing plays fine.

The Last Wave

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No


An old Peter Weir film I'd been meaning to see for a while. It was dream-like and haunting just as you'd expect. A really great concept that I always wondered why it hadn't been mined more in Australian films and stories. Today is national Sorry Day. Perhaps people here are now more wary of being insensitive or trivialising native beliefs. Everything is so politically correct. You'd have a hard time making this today I think.

But it is fascinating. Weir manages to create a prevailing feeling of quiet foreboding that just increases as the film goes on and things start to become apocalyptic. Spooky stuff. So simply done too. I wondered what on earth it could have been leading up to. The end didn't disappoint.

Great to finally see this minor masterpiece.

Texas Chainsaw

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Missed out on the novelty of the 3D.

So I expected the worst from this. It picks up right after the events of the original '73 film which was kinda fun. The family gets all shot up and some rednecks take a baby. Then somehow in present day the baby has only grown up to be about 20 and finds out she's adopted and her grandma just died and left her a house with a Leatherface in the cellar.

There are some good jump scares every time Leatherface is revealed. And there's some good death scenes. I guess that's all most horror fans are really asking for, so it's not a total bust. But there's not much more to it. Alexandra Daddario handles herself well.