Joyeux Noel

And this year's Christmas Eve movie has been.....Joyeux Noel!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd December 2016

Errrr....wow, I came into this movie not knowing what to expect (beyond the general concept of it being based on the WW1 Christmas Truce) and I came away impressed. A superb movie and certainly gripping. It's also interesting to see a war movie which focuses on the different sides involved.

But really, this movie is about a bunch of soldiers from three factions who, despite the war going around them, desired for a peace and, on Christmas Eve, put down their weapons and joined together in solidarity. And in a year which saw the lines of division grow even wider, I think we can all learn something from that.

Have a Merry Christmas

Searching For Sugar Man

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Searching For Sugar Man!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th December 2016

I think we know all the story by now: Rodriguez, A troubadour from Detroit US, makes two albums in the early seventies which don't go anywhere. But unbeknownst to him, Rodriguez's music finds an audience in South Africa where his albums are big sellers and he himself is ionized. And of course this documentary played an instrumental role in giving Rodriguez a wider audience and the subsequent belated success that eluded him.

So what can i say that hasn't been said already? The documentary was fascinating, the story was both incredible and engaging and, i have to admit, i did get the feels when confronted with the video footage of Rodriguez playing his first show in South Africa in front of a sell-out audience.
I recently had the pleasure of seeing Rodriguez perform live (and that was before I saw this documentary). He was funny, charismatic, and can certainly engage a crowd.

Enchanted

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Enchanted!

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd December 2016

You gotta hand it to Disney: Poking fun at themselves and the tropes they pioneered. I will gladly support any big company that has the willingness to laugh at themselves and this film delivers in spades. Oh and Amy Adams. She was a riot to watch and she pretty much steals the show. So yeah: Great film!
Could've done without that dragon at the end though....