August 2015 Update

Sorry I missed posting for July, I saw too many movies, and as a result was too busy to post anything.  The main highlights however were Spy and finally getting around to watching the complete and awesome Rambo films. 

Below are my movie watchings for August. I have supplied bite-sized reviews for new films, and quick ratings for older ones. The ratings are based on a 5-Star system.

I hope you enjoy!

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

4.5

Oddly paced for the last act, but it pays off in a stealthier and classier way than the previous films. This fifth entry piggybacks off of the cartoony fun of the fourth, but injects more mystery and a strong female character who adds a nice balance of gravitas. We still get the Tom Cruise stunts, the nearly impossibly planned out missions, the cool spy gadgets, and still stays true to its spy genre origins (like the first film). To keep you on the edge of your seat, the action is visceral and varied throughout. The opening Evel Knievel stunt, a physically impressive brawl, the cat & mouse opera scene, an ugly yet intense underwater heist, an outstanding extended vehicular chase, and a stealthy and shadowy final chase. 

Straight Outta Compton

4.5

Sublimely entertaining for the first 2 acts, but it tends to drag on in Biopic Boredom Land for the last set. A half-hour's worth of 'beefs' could have been tightened up, and would result in a more even and well-rounded story. Nevertheless, there is no denying the power of this film and the freshness it gives to the 'artists rising and falling from fame' stories. The depiction of NWA's upwards climb and their success is a fantastic whirlwind of energy present in every scene, every dialogue quip, and in the editing (again, for the first 2 thirds). Taking advantage of glorifying each integral step in their career, the director even delivers 'hero shots' when they are in the recording studio. A must see if you can handle the language, and a film made with true love and care for its subject.

Fantastic Four

1

A pretty normal and on-par origin story for the first hour and 20 mins, and then you realize there's only 15 mins left and nothing has happened but ponderous intrigue. There had been so much bad buzz around the production of this movie over the past year, and aside from some silly writing, I saw nothing worse than any other conventional superhero movie. With the notable exception that there had been ZERO action. Then in the final section of the movie, it seems as though the studio hacked apart what would've been a 2nd hour, into a 15 minute haberdashery. Everything and nothing happens. It's as if the studio wanted to cut making the film altogether and slapped together a lame first & final confrontation fight with some terrible denouement dialogue to put a cork in it. A complete failure that is a fascinating example of how a studio production can fall apart.

Tarzan, the Ape Man (1932) 2

Lolita (1962) 3.5

What's Up Doc? (1972) 2.5

The Maze Runner (2014) 2.5

The Dead Lands (2014) 3

Two Days, One Night (2014) 4.5

Creep (2015) 3

June 2015 Update

Below are my movie watchings for June. I have supplied bite-sized reviews for new films, and quick ratings for older ones.The ratings are based on a 5-Star system.

I hope you enjoy!

Jurassic World

5

This movie is chocked-full with enough 'Disney-esque' theme park flourishes, dinosaur mayhem, and Jurassic Park homages to satisfy me as a fan. And yet, it is also equipped with fluid snowball pacing, non-annoying kid actors, thrilling action, and an ever-present allegory of marketing vs. nature to satisfy me as a film fan. It may lack the dignity and awe of the original, but this movie makes it up with glee and earnestness. World gets right down to business and embraces its King Kong monster movie origins. There are script misfires, but they aren't enough to deter me from having a blast at the cinema!

Inside Out

5

Here's yet another home run for Pixar. From the director of Monster's Inc. and Up, comes a perfect hybrid: using the emotional heft of the latter, packaged into an imaginative new world like the former. Personifying the feelings inside ourselves is not a new idea, but in classic Pixar style, it's all about the details in their vision. The world mechanics that they have conceived and designed are an absolute joy to experience. Each scene peels back a new layer as you delve deeper into the depths of the mind. Although the visuals are fairly simple and not as notable as the kinetic action of Cars 2, or the beauty of Brave, this is nevertheless a significantly higher quality film than than those recent failures. Pixar is back!

Love & Mercy

4.5

This is the life story of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys; and like the oddball himself, this film is formatted in a way that separates it from the more conventional biopics. Divided yet complimentary halves are juxtaposed to show his musically prodigious beginnings against his years under 'house arrest' as a paranoid schizophrenic. Both sets are equally fascinating thanks to Paul Dano's spacey portrayal of a musical genius in his prime, and John Cusack's neurotic performance in the later years. We wind up with a perfect mix of sad and unfortunate, yet decidedly celebratory moments. The highlights are the personal scenes with Dano in the music studio as we intimately watch Wilson's musical creations come to life; thanks in large part to some nostalgic photography and outstanding (ought to be award-winning) sound design throughout. Minus 0.5 for being a biopic though.

McFarland

4

Exactly what it needs to be: an honest and endearing sports movie. Complete with the necessary tear-shedding inspirational ending. Kevin Costner embodies the perfect down on his luck fatherly figure who can inspire anyone to get to their full potential. Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!

Fifty Shades of Grey

2.5

A moderately compelling romance of 'hard to get' and 'give and take' flirtations. It has moments that are cheesy enough to snicker at, but too serious to be a good lark. The actor in portrayal of Mr. Grey is one of the weaker points, with his quasi brooding/creeping moods. He never quite becomes a believable human character. Another mis-step is the cinematography and camera work. We start off with a beautifully shot opening credits, but that type of care and framing is rarely seen again. The image above demonstrates an interesting shot with muted colours, but this isn't even from the movie, it's a fan photo. Instead, we get soap opera type indoor lighting and unbearable slo-mo shots. The pop soundtrack is quality though!

Jupiter Ascending

1

Silly. There may be a full mythology built up, but just because it is thorough doesn't mean that it is engrossing. Movies like Star Wars, District 9, Minority Report and even the new Mad Max created such interesting worlds, but they also ensured that their films have characters that have inhabited said worlds for a long time. Jupiter feels like the characters were just, well...'characters' plucked out of thin air for the purpose of perpetuating events in this mythology. Perhaps it lies in the fault of the horrible performances of the three main actors. Good title and art direction throughout saves this from being a total disaster though.

The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) 4

A Night to Remember (1958) 5

The Killer (1989) 2.5

Glory (1989) 4.5

The Proposal (2009) 0.5

Magic in the Moonlight (2014) 2.5

Spring (2015) 3

May 2015 Update

Below are my movie watchings for May. I have supplied bite-sized reviews for new films, and quick ratings for older ones.The ratings are based on a 5-Star system.

I hope you enjoy!

Mad Max: Fury Road
5

An aggressively entertaining bonkers of a movie. We follow our hero and his vehicular chase for freedom across a desolate post-apocalyptic world. Yet despite this landscape, this is a film brimming with life. A film like no other. It reminded of the feeling when I first saw Sin City or 300, and how they are truly unique cinematic beasts; scintillating visual experiences (yes, despite the fact that these are all remakes or comic-book adaptations). Fury Road is a movie filled on adrenaline and full of macabre humour, imaginative visuals and RedBull infused pulse pounding action. The trailer is a perfect microcosm: just picture that for nearly 2 hours! A must see for film fans and a breath of fresh air for the cinematic landscape.

Ex Machina

4

Intellectual but not overly entertaining or thrilling. Instead, this film chooses to probe the depths of science-fiction in its truest form: hypothesizing about advanced science and its relation to humanity. The lack of thrill or gripping storytelling isn't a problem, but it doesn't lead to very satisfying arc in 'movie terms'. It would make for a better essay or short-story than a film. However, I still highly recommend Ex Machina. It has impressive low budget effects, solid acting, enough 'thinking' material and a fantastic time playing with perception.

Tomorrowland

2.5

It's about great ideas and themes, but it talks at you instead of using the medium of film to show. Brad Bird has been a master visual storyteller, and can tell you tons through his action. But the script for this movie isn't very subtle and removes Bird's voice, making way for muddled tossed-off speeches and childlike banter. He at least gets in a couple of great action scenes as well as a miraculous and impressive single-take exploration of the titular land. Yet the uneven script leads to the issue of who this movie is for? The themes and explanations are too dry and complicated for kids and much of the banter and 'adventures' are for a younger crowd. At least there are plenty of retro Disneyland references as fan-service for me.

Black Hat

1.5

(Yawn) What is Michael Mann doing? He used to bring us some of the best and most exciting mature thrillers. Now this Cyber-hacker convoluted 'thriller' that seems like it was written in the 90s. Films like this are a plague on the cinemas: the adult crime thriller that has no ambition or any intention of being anything but capable or adequate. Never aspiring to be anything outstanding. A story that is hardly gripping and an incredibly dull lead from Chris Hemsworth. Just a few Michael Mann moments in the climax that help save this from being a total dud.

Mortdecai

0.5

Alright, one positive assessment: Paul Bettany is fun. Other than that, these are the thoughts that bored through my mind while watching this. Who is this movie intended for? Have they seen The Pink Panther? Poor Peter Sellers. This makes Steve Martin's Panther look good. Are these jokes? What is going on? What's with these location title cards? Why is this scene necessary? Why is THIS scene necessary? Oh hey, it's Jeff Goldblum! Yay! Are these supposed to be jokes? I think I'm watching inside jokes - Is the whole movie an inside joke that we just don't get?

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) 4

Detour (1945) 2

Pillow Talk (1959) 2.5

Children of the Damned (1964) 2.5

Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) 5

Five Million Years to Earth (1967) 3

The Great Train Robbery (1978) 3.5

Jaws 2 (1978) 2

The China Syndrome (1979) 4.5

Footloose (1984) 3.5

Big Eyes (2014) 3.5

The Gambler (2014) 2.5

Life Itself (2014) 5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) 3

Wild (2014) 4

'71 (2015) 4

Black Sea (2015) 3