The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No

Write Up.

Just finished watching the extensive making of and listening to the Commentary on the extended edition bluray release. I love the in depth material they produce for these sets. I was hoping for multiple commentaries but there's only one this time around but it's still interesting.

The few added scenes are mostly adding in more music numbers actually. But there's a few things that they promise help set up some things in future films. I'm not really that enamoured with this first one but I'll still be interested to see the next instalment on Boxing Day.

Night Train to Lisbon

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

This must have been one of the most annoying cinema going experiences I've had. I don't mean to be ageist but all those old people who don't understand that phones can be switched to silent or that commentating through the entire feature or that the cinema is not their lounge room can be quite aggravating. Isn't it normally the old people that have to tell the kids that?

Anyway it didn't help much that the film didn't provide sufficient interest to overpower all these distractions. Jeremy Irons becomes fascinated with the life of some mysterious author but that doesn't mean that we do, especially if we're given no reason to care about his life or why Irons' character follows him up. 

It's well put together but I found it dreadfully bland. And I may start avoiding sessions where I suspect the blue rinse crowd will gather en masse.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

Watched With: Kim, Tyler, Gemma, Chris, Therese, Bel, Josh, Krispen

Francis Lawrence gets to build a more interesting film on the foundation of the exposition of the first one. It hits the ground running and while I'm not really that invested in this love triangle (who in their right mind would choose Liam Hemsworth over Josh Hutcherson anyway?) or even in the actual Hunger Games that seem forced in in this entry for namessake, the characters and the seeds of revolution beginning to sprout is great to see. Gone is the shaky action cam but thankfully they've kept the amazingly ridiculous production design of the capitol.

And they've added a few new cast members that excited me greatly. But despite the upped intensity, drama and intrigue, this is still a joining film and the cliffhanger ending is a little unsatisfying although it does make me want to to see more. Definitely a good next step that improves on its predecessor.

The Fifth Estate

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Now that Bill Condon is done with Twilight he's back to more serious material. Got to admit I didn't really follow the whole Wikileaks thing but perhaps I'm more up to speed now. Benedict Cumberbatch does a great Australian accent too.

Well it seems Condon isn't as confident as David Fincher in making a movie about a website interesting and resorts to a lot of stylistic gimmicks to visualise the online world. The flashiness and pace of the first 40 minutes is dizzying but eventually the film settles into its story and characters.

I actually enjoyed this far more than I thought I was going to despite the try-hard editing. I can't fault it for keeping pace, the actors all do good work and the story it tells is certainly interesting, especially if you didn't really know much about it going in.

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

This is my first exposure to Jackass. I must admit the concept never appealed to me but this seemed like at least it had some kind of narrative thread to hang their pranks and idiotic behaviour onto. I never knew Spike Jonze was involved in this whole venture. Interesting.

Well, perhaps with the right crowd this would have been more enjoyable, the audience in my session seemed to enjoy it but didn't get very involved. I laughed a few times but all the big jokes are in the trailer, which I have seen far too often.

The To Do List

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Although it seems like a really odd role for Aubrey Plaza it's a pleasant surprise to see a a female centric crass teen sexual coming of age comedy. There's a really great cast here and plenty to enjoy, although not overly memorable. But I did appreciate the period setting and a deus ex machina that involved watching Beaches.

One Chance

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

The Weinstein's have taken a reality tv star story and made an extremely competent feel good movie. I guess everyone knows the outcome of the story but all involved do a good job of trying to make it matter to the audience. The dubbing in of the opera singing is a little annoying, I was hoping to hear James Corden before Into the Woods comes out but I guess that will have to wait. If you're in the mood for a feel good underdog story this one expertly manipulates.  I didn't get much out of it.

Prince Avalanche

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

David Gordon Green is bouncing between comedy and indie drama. This one is a nice mix. I have not seen the Icelandic film Either Way it's a remake of but I do have it ready to watch. It's a pretty minimalistic film, just two characters painting lines on a road and their character arcs are quite small too but interesting enough to spend 90 minutes with thanks to the writing and the two actors.

Adoration

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

Watched With: Kate

Also known as Adore overseas. What a creepy premise. It's outrageous enough that the audience we watched it with stifled their lack of comfort with laughter quite often. And to be fair some of it is kind of funny. But the actors involved give it their all (and Robin Wright does a surprisingly convincing Australian accent) and in the end I found the whole affair absolutely fascinating with all the questions it raised. 

It's certainly beautifully shot and although I thought some of the dialogue was less than stellar they wisely keep that to a minimum. I'm still having a hard time figuring out if I really liked it or not but the fact that I still think about it makes me lean towards the like. I'd be interested to see it again to clarify. 

The Kings of Summer

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

Delightful coming of age comedy. It has a very Wes Anderson vibe to it and some great characters played by up and coming actors playing the kids (and a few favourites as their parents). Beautifully put together too. It has real heart and plenty of out of left field moments to keep you guessing what's going to happen next. Most importantly it's just really sweet and makes you feel good. Seek it out.

The Secret of NIMH

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

I never watched this one as a kid but I had seen it once before, didn't remember it though. Turns out the secret was super intelligent rats. Spoiler.

Don Bluth seems to have an affinity for animating mice. This is his first effort and it works quite well, aided by a great Jerry Goldsmith score and some nice voice work. And the colour palette is great. The story is a strange mix of fantasy and a pretty grim reality. It doesn't work completely for me but it has real heart and creepiness in way that only 80's children's films did.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

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

Write Up.

Now out on bluray with isolated Bernard Herrmann score track. Nice. I can see how dated it is now when I watch it with friends, the accents and acting, the blatant and hilarious sexism, but I still love it.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: No

This was just released on bluray. I saw the giant squid on the cover and had to watch it immediately. Well, there's probably a reason I'd never heard of it before, it's certainly no 20000 Leagues Under the Sea. And their giant squid is pretty cheap. 

The story is actually more of a Roland Emmerich style disaster film. The sky is on fire! The only way to put it out is to maybe explode a missile at a certain point at a certain time to push the fire out into space or something? I don't know, it was really far fetched and pretty terribly written. And the effects were bad.

But the film does boast the most wonderful and inappropriate theme song since The Blob.

Saturday Morning Mystery

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

It's a cute idea, A scooby-doo-esque gang go to solve a real life case, there was humor to be had there but as the film devolves into a regular style slasher film it becomes far less interesting and any nice ideas or satire go out the window.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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

Write Up.

Rewatch at home because Mum wanted to see it again. I'm holding out for the documentaries on the extended edition though.