Godzilla vs. Megalon

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No

Randomly picked one of the remaining 20 odd Godzilla films I've yet to get through. This one's a doozy.

So the people under the sea are fed up with our surface dweller ways and send Megalon to destroy us. And coincidentally a scents has made a robot called Jet Jaguar which when threatened can think for itself. It somehow programs itself to grow large and protect us humans.

So where is Godzilla in all this? Some research reveals this was originally Jet Jaguars film but they thought a new character wouldn't sell on his own, so they made it a team up at the last minute. And sure enough Godzilla comes in to help his robot buddy out. They can somehow communicate with each other, which is hilarious to behold.

Megalons brother Gigan (who presumably was killed in a previous film) joins in and the final fight is really fun. Godzilla gets a new "flying judo kick" move. they battle it out and the good guys, i.e. Godzilla and Jet Jaguar win. Hooray!

It's really very very kiddy stuff. The music is just ridiculous and hilarious. It's very unintentionally funny though. Seeing guys in rubber suits do wrestling and martial arts moves with the occasional fire bomb thrown in is goofy fun.

There was a car chase and an annoying kid in there too. Eh, no one cars about the human stuff.

Edge of Tomorrow

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Naomi, Leo, Beau

Still prefer the original title "All You Need is Kill."

This was really great fun. I've always enjoyed watching other people play video games as I'm not that good at them myself and this it the closest I've seen a film come to portraying the constant respawning and learning how to beat a level from your previous mistakes whilst at the same time Emily Blunt provides a great emotional investment that develops organically from this process. She also kicks a fair amount of ass herself.

I've written before about the dangers of flatlining tension when a character has the power to reset events at any moment. This film manages a very tricky balancing act that keeps the stakes high when they need to be and never falls into the trap of feeling repetitious. It's actually very clever how it all works when really it shouldn't at all.

I'll put that down to good writing, direction and acting. It's a fine looking film to be sure. I really love those alien designs and the their movement is glorious and horrifying. Must have been a nightmare to rig and animate... And those exo-suits are pretty neat too. The 3d? Eh, it was ok.

You get to see Tom Cruise die. A lot.

Really well rounded film. I'm of two minds about the very very end but everything up to then is all ace so I can't really begrudge it anything, I'll definitely be seeing this one again on the big screen.

The Kings of Summer

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Leo, Naomi, Dawson, Kim, Tamara, Bri

Write Up.

So great!

It's a Disaster

IMDB

First time viewed: No

Current Release: Yes

Watched With: Leo, Naomi, Seb, Dawson, Kim, Jess, Jim, Tamara

Write Up.

So great to arch with a group. Really fun night! And such a great undiscovered gem.

Battle Royale

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Andrew, Kate, Paul

Write Up.

Chose to watch the bluray of the theatrical edition this time. It's a bit shorter but I think it's a lot less muddled without those extra scenes thrown in at the end.

How to Train Your Dragon

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Kate, Andrew

Write Up.

Much joy. So excited for the sequel.

My Neighbour Totoro

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

Write Up.

Wow the start of this really plays out like a horror film. There's quite a few times in the film you think it could veer over in to a much darker tale. And yes, It've seen the theories about just that on the net.

The Quiet Ones

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Naomi, Kate

Not quiet enough.

Sadako 2 3D

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

Why do I torture myself like this. I knew this would be bad, but it couldn't possibly be as bad as the first Sadako film. Well it comes very close. Sadako possesses a woman who keeps her trapped in her body. She has a kid. The kid is evil. People die. There's nothing going on here but some jump scares and a desperate reuse of Ringu imagery with no understanding of why it was scary in the first place. Tragic.

Ninja Kids!!!

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

Bahahaha hilarious. A manga comic come to life. Takashi Miike makes another completely absurd children's film and it plays out just like a cartoon, with a manic energy, hyper visuals and a world where physics is a little lenient.

I kept making comparisons to the first Harry Potter film in my head, probably because of the ridiculous glasses the protagonist wares and the fact that he's going to a special school to learn amazing powers.

There's a big massive dump of exposition right in the middle of the film that is so dense and ludicrous  it became hard to follow, which I have a feeling may have been intentional and a joke of its own. But still it was a little arduous to get through however once the kids have their mission and are on the road again the fun picks up.

Really loved this little number. Some genuinely hilarious stuff, fun action and great cartoonish style.

Cheap Thrills

IMDB

First time viewed: No

Current Release: Yes

Watched With: Michael, Naomi

Write Up.

Hilarious and horrifying every time.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Michael, Jess, Jim

Write Up.

Had to go again, I didn't even stay for the end tag the first time! Eh it wasn't that amazing. But I've seen it now. So bring on Apocalypse!