A Christmas Story

And this week's Friday night movie has been.... A Christmas Story!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th December 2019

Apparently this is a beloved Christmas movie. And yet somehow, it;s one that has gone unseen by me. Maybe I was too busy watching Die Hard Joyeux Noel to notice? No matter, looks like 2019 is the year that situation is rectified.

At first I had no idea what to make of this movie. But, within time, it showed it's hand: It was really making a mockery of tropes associated with Christmas: A scary Santa, a kid who gets his dream present of a rifle, Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant among others.
Yet at the same time, this movie still has another trick up it;s sleeve: it is indeed a look at childhood and does so successfully. It indeed definitely resonates with sincerity, even for a grumpy curmudgeon like myself. And despite this movie taking a swing at Christmas tropes, it is still capable for some genuine heart (the final scene with Mr and Mrs Parker comes to mind).
It would appear that this is a beloved Christmas movie for a good reason.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Miracle on 34th Street (1947)!

Original image located here. Accessed 13th December 2019

Well it's that time of year....
I think we all know this one: An elderly gentleman is hired as a store Santa and shows signs he genuinely believes he is the man himself - all of which leads to a court case.
For a movie over seventy years old this certainly holds up well. Sure there's some interest value in seeing a young Natalie Wood but really the movie itself rests on the shoulders of Edmund Gwenn.
Much like the character he plays, he shows Santa the way we expect him to: Kindly, empathetic towards children, multilingual, knowledgeable of toys and trying to see the best in everyone.
Indeed, there is a reason why this has been a beloved Christmas classic for many years. And now I know

Kung Fu Panda 3

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Kung Fu Panda 3!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th December 2019

Last week i watched the second Kung Fu Panda movie on the basis that it is part of that rare thing: A rare trilogy that isn't rubbish. So now that my viewing of this trilogy is complete, how do such claims hold up?

I do believe it does. Much like's it older siblings, this movie succeeds on it's action, it's art design and the themes of self-acceptance. Po's character development continues to progress and his character arc reaches it's conclusion. And never once do the makers of this movie fumble.
But the real highlight is the panda village itself - bursting at the seams with color and personality. In fact I am reminded of Mists of Pandaria - which in turn raises of the question of who, out of Blizzard ad Dreamnworks, was copying who....

Kung Fu Panda 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Kung Fu Panda 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 29th November 2019

Man when did I first see the original Kung Fu Panda? Over a decade ago I think. In fact, I never knew it had spawned a pair of sequels. But I've heard some people hold this up as an example of a trilogy done right so that was enough top pique my interest. After all, this was done by Dreamworks and, if the superb How to Train Your Dragon movies are anything to go by, they know how to do a trilogy, right?

So I found this movie to be one of two halves: The first half seems more aligned with it;s predecessor, with Po being both a sarcastic jerk and bumbling incompetent (so much so it makes me wonder how much of a difference there is between Jack Black's real life persona and the roles he keeps playing). Okay sure we've got some world building, some excellent art direction and some amazing fight scenes, but in all honestly i found this part of the movie dull. And it left me wondering if I should be watching a movie that appeared to be solely aimed at a much, MUCH younger audience.....

.....That was until we get to the second half. Here Po is confronted with his heritage. And suddenly the movie shifts gears completely: It gets solemn and quiet and honestly? Its all the better for it. It reveals a depth one wouldn't expect from a serial such as this. Po gets some crucial character development and it's proof that self-realization is a powerful theme.
So yeah, this movie was dull at first, but when it kicked into high gear it did so with flair. It's a prime example of how anyone can put up with anything just as long as there's a substantial pay-off at the end.
Of course it's frustrating that this movie ends on a cliffhanger but there's always next week, right?

Joker

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

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd November 2019

This is a difficult one to discuss as much has said about it already: The disturbing nature of the movie, the aesthetic of the movie, Joaquin Phoenix's performance, the Martin Scorsese connection (not least having Robert de Niro present), a vital step froward for DC and superhero movies in general, and much being said about this movie potentially being a touchstone of the incel culture (if it isn't already). Such observations are indeed correct so it's hard for me to say something that doesn't sound like I'm repeating something previously said like a parrot.

So in the end, Joker is far from an easy watch and deeply unsettling but I can't say it was boring

Jodorowsky's Dune

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

Original image located here. Accessed 15th November 2019

I have little to no attachment to Dune. I've never seen the reviled movie and I read the book in University but it went over my head. However I have played Dune 2: Building of a Dynasty (fore-father to the mighty Command and Conquer series) and found it fun.
So why would I watch this documentary? Well, I am interested in movies that never get made. The kind that have a tonne of potential but come undone due to studio meddling or by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And this is one such movie: In the mid-seventies, Chilean director Alejandro Jodorowsky wanted to adapt Dune into a grandiose movie but it never went anywhere.

As is often the case in these types of documentary, the man behind it, Alejandro Jodorowsky, is the driving force of the narrative. And what a person he is: In talking about his unmade movie, he is passionate, enthusiastic and, at times, a complete lunatic. He said he wanted to present an ultimate head-trip of a movie and deliver something that, let;s face it, would've been very much divorced from the source material. Indeed, it is never made clear whether or not Jodorowsky HAS read Dune.

The other key element in the movie is a colossal bible ('the Dune book') that Jodorowsky produced containing every scrap of information about the movie. It has a script and a complete storyboard. It contains designs form the likes of HR Giger, Dan O'Bannon, Moebius and Chris Foss. It even promised starring roles from Mick Jagger, Orson Welles and Salvador Dali as well as music from Pink Floyd!

It may sound grandiose indeed but at the same time, completely bonkers. So in a way, perhaps it is best it never got made. But, as this documentary proved, it certainly left behind an amazing story to tell.

The Dressmaker

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

Original image located here. Accessed 8th November 2019

Well this was an odd movie. It's funny one moment but solemn the next, thus creating some serious mood whiplash. Still I did enjoy this, largely due to the cast: Kate Winslet is great in the central role, Hugo Weaving gets to relish in the opportunity to play a non-serious role, and it's interesting to see some familiar actors made into unrecognizable roles (seriously, I had to double-check the cast list at the end and was surprised to see some names I recognized but didn't pick up).
But in the end, Judy Davies ends up stealing every scene she's in and is a delight to watch.

Visually there are some great location shots and some nice use of colour. But at the end of the day, the real star is the costume design. Colorful, inventive, elaborate and enough to make any cosplay maker (or at least the ones I know) envious.
So yeah, good movie

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

And this week's Friday night movie has been...The Rocky Horror Picture Show!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st November 2019

Halloween may have been last night but I can still end this October run in style.

Well, I've put this off long enough. This movie still commands an audience forty-four years later and many people I've met talk it up. Indeed, i have lost count how many women I've spoken over the years who have seen this movie. Personally I know little of this movie beyond a) The Time Warp (apparently it's just a jump to the left.....) - but even then it's more from a Kodak commercial; b) a few of the other songs (kind of...); c) it's reputation as an audience-participation movie and d) it's popularity with the LBGT crowd.

Mind you, it's this movie's afore-mentioned reputation that bothers me. Clearly this is a movie that is best enjoyed with a group of people. I think it's safe to say that being with a group of people who are getting into The Rocky Horror Picture Show may make for a different experience than someone watching it by themselves.
Other than that, this movie was a lot of fun. Considering how unconventional this movie is as a musical, it makes me wonder if it was a fore-runner to a lot of unconventional musicals that has followed in it's wake (ie the South Park movie, Avenue Q, and Book of Mormon). But ultimately it's bizarre natural is my cup of silliness. And considering that this film has the message of being comfortable in one's own skin, even to the point of defying normality, that may go a long way why it still has an enraptured audience.

At least I now know, when I go to a party and the Time Warp gets played, why the song ends with everyone falling to the floor.

Zombieland Double Tap

And this week's Friday night movie has been...Zombieland Double Tap!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th October 2019

I saw the original Zombieland and thought it was a right laugh. So it is somewhat inevitable that I would approach the sequel. However caution was still exercised: Where can you go from the original? That and a decade is a long time between drinks...

Turns out there is still a lot going for this movie. The jokes are funny, the self-awareness is still on point, Woody and Jessie still make for a fun on-screen partnership and Nevada makes for an interesting addition.
But ultimately, there is no way around the fact that this sequel took a decade to emerge. So it makes me wonder just how many drafts went through because it is clear there are some good ideas here that, for one reason or another, don't reach their full potential.
Firstly, the circumstances surrounding Little Rock's departure seem ....odd. I would accept it if she was a teen but she's not: She's clearly in her early-twenties. In any case, she is then left by the wayside for much of the movie to make way for Madison.
Speaking of which, Madison strikes me as a wasted opportunity. Sure she's a 'dumb blonde' and endearing in an adorable way but only for so long. You want her to contribute something but nothing of the kind comes which makes me wonder if the writers had no idea what to do with her.
And speaking of wasted opportunities, there's no shortage of them here. One of which being the world-building: We see the zombies have evolved but little seen of these new breeds. There are more survivors but no indication of HOW they've survived.

So yeah, it was a fun movie but severely hindered by some unfocused writing. Here's hoping a sequel doesn't take another decade to come.....

The Blair Witch Project

And this week's Friday night movie has been....The Blair Witch Project!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th October 2019

Once again I face a movie that has a fearsome reputation attached to it. The most profitable indie movie ever made. A movie that freaked people out into never going camping. A pioneer for viral marketing. A benchmark for the found-footage genre. A shining example of how atmosphere and 'what you don't see' are effective tools for the would-be horror film director. A dull movie about three idiots who get lost in the woods.

Personally I recall back in 1999 how this was a big deal and how people were divided with some saying it was freaky while others saying it was boring. Once again, however, i took my time to come to this movie because I felt it was important to see it through my own eyes and divorce it from the hype machine that made this a big hit. And twenty years would make for a good enough distance.

If anything this movie is a triumph of independent filmmaking: It's embraces it's limitations and relies on clever editing to engage the audience. The 'what you don't see' trick works wonders here and makes for a gradual build up of the horror. Equally effective is the gradual collapse into panic the protagonists go through and harrowing climax in the house.

This movie may be cheap and grimy but personally, I like horror movies that rely on mood and a creeping dread. And to the end The Blair Witch project succeeds admirably.
Twenty years on and it still has power.

The Creature From the Black Lagoon

And this week's Friday night movie has been....The Creature From the Black Lagoon!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th October 2019

My first encounter with The Creature of the Black Lagoon happened during my pre-teen years. I would go to my local arcade parlour and see, among others, a pinball game dedicated to it. I didn't play it but I do recall being put off by the artwork: There was something seeing a monster carrying a (potentially comatose) blonde in a white one-piece that unsettled me. Of course that doesn't sound ridiculous in a post-MeToo world - and it should be noted that the game was more to do with seeing the movie in a drive-in theater than the actual movie itself - but in a roundabout way, my curiosity was piqued.
Further interest was generated with the movie being the inspiration for the Shape of Water (the movie not the book).

That being said, this is a 1950's monster movie through and through. So there's lot's of screaming, rubber monster costume, loud dramatic music and damsel-in-distress-ness. Still, the real highlights for me are the use of suspense, the gradual build up before the reveal of the creature and the underwater footage/movement. And the monster itself still looks impressive. And, in some instances, scary.
Looks like this movie still has merit sixty-odd years later

Frankenstein

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Frankenstein (1931)!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th October 2019

Well it's October so of course I'm going to see some horror movies these next few weeks. And what better way to start than with the granddaddy of them all.

I often find it a danger to approach a movie from the pre-New Hollywood era as they tend to date rather horribly. That is not the case here. This still holds up by providing plenty of mood and unease. And it all holds together with Boris Karloff's performance of the monster with both freakish and humane.

Not much else I can say except it seems it's reputation as classic is justified and looks set to endure.

The NeverEnding Story

Recently I watched the NeverEnding Story for the first time in a long time.

Original image located here. Accessed 29th September 2019

Geez, when did I see this last? I had only seen this once before and it was when I was in primary school, either in year 1 or year 3. Still, I do recall this being one of my earliest exposures to fantasy. As such, there is a lot from it that I remember quite vividly: I remember Rockbiter; I remember Falkor; I remember two sets of Sphinx statues (one gold that shoots death rays, the other blue that crumbles); I remember the trauma-inducing fate of Artax and, of course, I remember that unforgettable theme song in all its eighties-synth glory.

Looking back at it now through the perspective of nearly thirty years, I see some things I don’t recognise in the form of the Gmork and the climax where Atreyu meets the Childlike Empress. Furthermore, looking at the movie through the perspective of an adult, I have to admit that the film that the film still holds up with the use of puppetry, practical effects and the strength of its ideas. I have previously stated that the eighties fantasy movies tend to look a lot more grungier than their post-Lord of the Rings cousins and this is no exception.

However, one thing that strikes me about the Never-Ending Story, particularly through an adult perspective, is that it doesn’t look like a High Fantasy movie. If anything, I can’t help but notice but Fantasia looks kind of…..well…barren. The population is sparse, there is little to no sign of civilisation, and Atreyu’s quest seems to be going from location to location with stretches of empty-looking distance in between. Rockbiter, Nighthob and Teeny Weeny are shown as messengers for regions that are never shown and the Childlike Empress is the only sign of authority which makes me wonder just how much authority she actually has. Okay granted the film-makers of the time most likely didn’t have the budget to produce a living, breathing world (like Lord of the Rings) but we are told that Fantasia is a dying world – and yet shown at the same time that Fantasia is kind of empty. I swear, I can’t be the only one who noticed that the Southern Oracle is shown to be situated right in the middle of nowhere.

In fact, as strange as this may sound, I’m getting a Legend of Zelda vibe from this movie. Allow to me explain: When I played the original Legend of Zelda I realised that we have a protagonist, Link, traversing across a dangerous and sparsely populated world in order to help out an unseen monarch (Princess Zelda). The idea was a strong one and enough to make me wonder that if Hyrule is in the state it was, what kind of power Zelda had. Of course that maybe me trying to find a truth that wasn’t there to begin with but it’s the same wavelength with the Never-Ending Story. Indeed, I can’t help but think that whether the Never-Ending Story informed my perception of Legend of Zelda.
But at the end of the day, this movie still has wonder, inventiveness and holds up quite well over three decades later. And hey, who wouldn’t want to ride across the skies on a luck dragon?

Amy

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

Original image located here. Accessed 27th September 2019

Yep, it's the documentary based on the life of one Amy Winehouse.
At the time, when her career was in full flight, I didn't pay a lot of attention to Amy. I heard little of her music but I DID hear a lot about her daily escapades with drug & alcohol abuse and constantly making a fool of herself in public. Indeed, it's not a good sign when you find yourself asking 'Wait, she's a singer?'.
However, most of my knowledge about Amy Winehouse has been informed through reading the book Cradle to the Stage (by Virginia Hanson-Grohl). And the section dedicated to Amy, as recounted by her mother Janis, paints a picture of the eternal rebel, fiercely resisting advice, warnings, common-sense and any form of order and structure. And suddenly Amy's famous declaration of "They tried to make me to go rehab / I said: No No No" seems less defiant and more petulant.
So can this documentary present some new information?

Much like Mystify: Michael Hutchence, this is a documentary built out of (mostly) home video footage and the accounts of the people who knew the subject. It does indeed show Amy at her best, a singer and a writer, and at her worst. It doesn't shy away from the rebel image (as described above) and it is saddening to hear the attempts from various people trying to stop Amy from her self-destructive tendencies only to fail.
Indeed, it is depressing see Amy go from a young, pretty and charismatic performer into a mess. Going into the documentary, we all know how the story ends but that doesn't make the journey any less harrowing.
Still it is impressive to see the amount of material the makers of this documentary had to work with. A stand out for me was the footage of her in a studio working alongside her hero Tony Bennett. And a story from a friend who bursts into tears as she tells it.
So in the end, like any good documentary, this is raw, honest and leaves a sizable impression

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

And this week's Friday night movie has been...Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th September 2019

During my teen years I really did not like Brad Pitt and Leonardo Di Caprio as they, to me, represented this 'pretty boy' image that i had no hope in hell of matching. Who would've guessed that they would end up starring in a movie together? And not only that, but prove to be such a formidable duo?

Stars aside, this is advertised as a Quentin Tarantino movie and, as such, has some of what we've come to expect from a Tarantino movie: References for the movie geeks, a passion for film history and veteran cast members being handed unique roles. It also has the ultra-violence and the cussing but that isn't the point....

So what this is is Tarantino recreating Hollywood in the sixties. The recreations are fun, the attention to detail is superb and the familiar faces are interesting to spot. As mentioned above, Leonardo and Brad make a great partnership but for me the real star is Margot Robbie - she never disappoints and her role as Sharon Tate is interesting as Margot does so much with so little.
All in all, it's another gem from Tarantino which, considered his extensive oeuvre, is saying something.
Who would've guessed that hippies would be so dangerous?

Office Space

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

Original image located here. Accessed 13th September 2019

Some of my buds have been urging me to see this, citing it's hilarity and situations I may find familiar. Personally, i had no idea that this movie existed but I'll try anything once.

And as it so happens it was funny. I can't say some of the situations in this movie has happened during my job (thankfully) but there is indeed some relatable elements in them and there were some decent laughs to be had.
Oh and when my home printer eventually gives up the ghost i am definitely giving it a send off reminiscent of the one portrayed in this movie

The English Patient

And this week's Friday night movie has been....The English Patient!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th September 2019

This movie was a major hit in the nineties but, as someone who lived through that decade, I don't recall it being a big deal. Maybe I, at the time, had my concerns directed elsewhere but I only became aware that this was a big deal when it swept the board at the Academy Awards.

As it turns out, it's not a bad film. Much has been said about it's cast but for me, the true star is the photography. The location shooting is nothing less than astonishing and is truly a sight to behold. It looks real, like you, the viewer, are there, in that environment. Equally impressive are the scenes involving examining painting on a cave wall and seeing frescoes by the light of a flare.
Personally i didn't care much for the love story but the visuals are what make this film. And that is more than enough.

The Abyss

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

Original image located here. Accessed 30th August 2019

Apparently director James Cameron is real keen on underwater exploration....
Okay, seriously: I've been wanting to see this movie ever since 1989 (!) when I first saw the advertising poster and thought it is ominous enough to grab my interest. An interest, it would seem, has not waned over the course of three decades...

I do enjoy James Cameron movies and this one didn't disappoint. There's the action and special effects I have come to expect from him but what marks this movie as special is the build up. There's tension, some brilliant photography, and an atmosphere that will make more modern movies green with envy. And the movie has indeed aged well when compared to other movies of the era.

Not much else i can say is that who would've guessed thirty years would be worth the wait?
(of course I've had longer waits to see certain movies but still...)

Her

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

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd August 2019

Hasn't this been a major hit: A movie about a guy who falls in love with an AI? Personally, I approached this movie with caution: I've seen a lot of anime which plays off a similar scenario (ordinary guy falls in love with anything-but-ordinary girlfriend in a story that is out to pander to an audience of guys who struggle with the world outside their bedroom) so can this movie do more than rehash an oft-played scenario?

Apparently it can. This is indeed an odd movie - but I suppose that is par for the course with Spike Jonze. It certainly has some things to say about getting over a breakup and moving on - but the way it is going about it is indeed something else. It's funny at times and emotionally intense other times. It is clever, challenging and not afraid to go for the jugular with it's emotional punches. And the two leads are great with Joaquin Phoenix carrying the movie and Scarlett Johansson giving the performance of her career (impressive when she is only present in voice).
Is it like the anime I mentioned in the previous paragraph? Maybe, but it is interesting to see a familiar trope being taken in a different direction.

It's a very good movie yet I can't help but think that it's just as well that the movie got made when it did (2013). because in a post-MeToo/Elliot-Rodger world one would think that a socially-maladjusted, emotionally-crippled, confidence-challenged protagonist would be one heading down the path of a villain.

Tombstone

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

Original image located here. Accessed 16th August 2019

Oh boy have I been wanting to see this for a long time. I enjoy westerns and this one has the promise of some of the snappiest dressed gunmen in any western. That and a sizable number of big names in the cast.

It's not a bad western. Oh sure it may be somewhat overlong, sure it may be meandering and sure some of the characters just come and go but I was impressed by the production values, the action sequences ("NO!!") and how both Val KIlmer and Kurt Russell make their mark - and how everyone else still manage to hold their own. It may not be historically accurate but it still has a lot of fun. There's some great lines herein too.
So in the end, it's not bad western and worthy entrant into the genre.

The Accountant

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

Original image located here. Accessed 9th August 2019

Once again I pick up with a movie built around a character who is on the Autism spectrum. What makes this different though is this time, instead of a rom-com as per previously, we have an action movie.

Obviously this movie is giving an action movie hero that autistic kids can look up to and to that end the film is admirable - a socially awkward, mathematically gifted guy who can punch and shoot goons without flinching and has enough resources to make James Bond worried? Has potential. Furthermore, Ben Affleck is certainly giving a committed performance and the action sequences are well done. But there are moments in the plot that seem incoherent and baffling to the point of frustrating.
Still, as indicated above, this movie has it's heart in the right place so I'll give it that much.

The Searchers

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

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd August 2019

Once again I find myself facing down one of the titans: One of the oft-mentioned, undisputed classics, frequented-referenced-in-best-of-list of cinema. It's an intimidating prospect indeed but am i up to the task?

Well much has been written of Ethan, John Wayne's character, and how much he is, in fact, a racist. I won't deny that but I personally think that if the movie made me involved in the character's arc then it must've done something right. Having said that, what makes this movie compelling is that it's looking through the genre of the western through a grey lens. There are no black hats/white hats that are so common in the genre and honestly? The movie is all the better for it.

Ultimately however the real star of the movie is the setting. It may be shot in Utah Arizona but it never ceases to astonish. It's colossal, staggering and mind-slowing in it's bareness. There's no green-screen whatsoever and leaves a lot of modern movies for dead.

So yes facing this movie was indeed an intimidating prospect but it still holds up, even with the distance of sixty years (that final shot being a particular stand out). So in the end, this movie has a well-earned reputation.
Truly epic in every sense of the word.

Mystify: Michael Hutchence

And last week's Friday night movie has been....Mystify: Michael Hutchence!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th July 2019

So this has been doing the rounds lately: a biographical documentary on former INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, made up of (mostly) home video footage and spoken accounts from the people how knew him.

Being a child of the eighties and an Australian, I was in the right place and the right time to bear witness to INXS achieving their superstardom. Thing is, I never got into INXS. Sure their songs were a constant presence on the radio, sure Hutchence's face was everywhere but I however, was more into the likes of Hoodoo Gurus, Midnight Oil and Icehouse. I had no idea of the headway INXS were making overseas and, as far as I was concerned, their music wasn't for me - but I will admit to a fondness for Beautiful Girl which, as bizarre as it may sound, I will forever associate with my Primary School leavers dinner XD
In recent years though, my indifference has been challenged and I'm finding something to like in INXS' music. So maybe there is something to be gleamed from this documentary?

Apparently so: Clearly this documentary is going out of it's way to humanise Michael and show him as he really was. I was interested to see how Michael was described as someone who functioned best when he was within a familial unit. I was intrigued to hear about his relationship with Kylie Minogue - particularly when Kylie's accounts are delivered with boundless enthusiasm. And even when we all know how the story ends, the tragic of it is still a kick to the teeth.
So in the end, if this documentary was aimed at humanising Michael and show him who he really was, this succeeded with flying colours.

Adam

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

Original image located here. Accessed 19th July 2019

As regular readers of this series would know, I will show favoritism for movies that feature characters that have Aspergers Syndrome. And this is one such case: A romance that shows a guy in New York, with Aspergers, meeting and falling in love with his neighbour.

It's not a bad movie. Its not the best movie I've seen but the portrayal of an Apsergerian is sincere and it's heart is in the right place. There are some moments that may be somewhat hard to swallow but in the end, the movie is indeed taking the romance seriously and the leads (Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne) certainly give it their all.
Not a bad effort at all

Spiderman: Far From Home

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Spiderman Far From Home!

Original image located here. Accessed 12th July 2019

It must be a challenge to make a Spiderman movie. Because, in my mind, there are two things that make it so: a) Meeting the standard set by the Sam Raimi Spiderman movies (well maybe not 3) and b) once you get past that you still need to face the fact that the greatest Spiderman movie has been made in the form of Into the Spiderverse. So what can Far From Home do besides picking up the gauntlet?

To me what made Homecoming and the aforementioned Spiderverse succeed was that they didn't try to replicate the the Sam Raimi Spiderman movies favoring instead to do their own thing. And Homecoming confirms the wise-ness of that decision. Yep, this movie makes up yet another winner in the MCU stable.
Much has been said about how this is the first post-Endgame movie in the MCU and how the effects of it are being felt in-universe but for me the real treat is how this movie is steadfast in doing it's own thing with Spiderman and is doing things differently. It's great to see familiar situations discarded in favor of going in a different direction (personally you can only see Peter Parker whinge about his girl troubles and his absurd lengths to protect his identity before it gets reeaaaalllllllllll tiresome). And Mysterio is made into a character that can work.
All in all a superb movie and it would be interesting to see what happens next with this incarnation of Spidey (especially considering the mid and post credit sequences).

Toy Story 4

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Toy Story 4!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th July 2019

And thus the curtain falls on an odyssey twenty four years in the making - or at least I hope it's the ending because I can't see where Pixar can go from here.

There's not really a lot I can say about this: It's Pixar. It's Toy Story. It has the same laughs, heart and pathos we have come to expect from this series. Gabby Gabby is a fascinating character and we see some familiar faces develop in some interesting ways.
So really, not only does this movie has a good case for existing but it can certainly sit comfortably alongside it's older siblings.

One last thing: Duke is indeed a delight and was well-received by the audience when i saw this in the theater - but I have to wonder how many people, besides me, have made the connection to Ken Carter

Atlantis The Lost Empire

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Atlantis: The Lost Empire!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th June 2019

It has always always been my perception that the Disney Renaissance ended with The Lion King. Every movie that followed, at least until Tangled, has polarized opinion and would sooner be discarded by the Disney faithful and left in the trash heap alongside the sequels. Therefore it is something of challenge to find, as some would claim, a 'diamond in the rough' / 'underrated classic'.
Which now brings me to Atlantis: The Lost Empire, a movie I have put off until now. So could this be prove to be an underappreciated gem?

First things first: The animation is great. It may be a given considering this is Disney but the characters are expressive, full of energy and have some great designs. Speaking of which, there are some superb mech designs, some truly imaginative sequences throughout and everything rockets along at a cracking pace. And, if anything, this come across as an action movie - perhaps the purest action movie in Disney's animated canon.
Plus, as a sci-fi nerd, there is some amusement in having the voices of Spock and Susan Ivanova in the same movie.
However this is a movie of two halves: The first half does indeed move but at times it is difficult to keep up and not enough time is spent to process key plot advancements. The second half however is when things slow down and time can be invested in the plot. And there are some moments of astonishment that easily rank among Disney's best (the part when Kida approaches the Heart springs to mind) but it does leave me wishing such a pace was consistent.

Grumbling aside is this an 'underappreciated gem'? Maybe - but what i will declare this as an action movie and all the better for it

The King of Comedy

And this week's Friday night movie was....The King of Comedy!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st June 2019

As some of you who have been following this series may know, i ma something of a newcomer to the films of Martin Scorsese. And from the outset, this movie has a reputation of being an under-appreciated gem. This, along with comparisons being made to this and the recent trailer to the upcoming Joker movie, makes a compelling case to check it out.

Make no mistake: This is a triumph of unease. It is indeed unsettling but the best kind of unsettling (if such a thing exists) in just how subtle it is.
A lot of the movie rests on Robert de Niro's performance as Rupert. I am used to see Robert being tough guys and psychopaths and whilst he is playing a psychopath here he does so in a more subtle way: Rupert is indeed bonkers and mentally damaged but he does what he does with so much confidence - to a point where one would think it's bad thing.

But ultimately much like Taxi Driver, this a movie about the person trapped in isolation. The person who is in dire need of the basic human need of social interaction - only to go about it the wrong way. While this movie was made in 1983 it somehow still comes across as being relevant, over three decades later, in the internet age where everyone is hiding behind a screen, a keyboard and the mother-skirt of anonymity but will struggle beyond it.
Indeed, would it be amiss to say that i can see shades of people I know in both Rupert and Masha?

As for the Joker connection, I have to ask: is this DC's strategy of remaking older movies as superhero movies (after all, isn't Shazam a retread of Big?). That maybe the case but, as Incels/keyboard warriors/socially-maladjusted loners continue to be a talking point, maybe a movie about the isolated person could continue to have a place...

Free Solo

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

Original image located here. Accessed 14 June 2019

I think we all know this one: The documentary showing rock climber Alex Honnold climbing the El Capitan, a 900 metre cliff face in Yosemite National park, as Free Solo (as in no ropes, no support; just the climber, the cliff face and a guy with a black cloak and a scythe waiting at the bottom).

Three quarters of the documentary is dedicated to showing who Alex is and what kind of preparation he goes through. We see his background and get a glimpse into what kind of physical shape this guy is in, in order to face such a demanding task.

But really, everything leads to the final quarter which is ...astonishing to say the least. The camera work is jaw-dropping, the tension is unbearable and the effort Alex is putting in is monumental. Indeed, such a reaction is the kind that some action movies can only dream of.
Looking at the Wikipedia page of this movie, one notices a whole cabinet's worth of awards this movie has won. And it earned every last one of them.

2040

And this week's Friday night movie has been....2040!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th June 2019

So this movie has been doing the rounds lately: It's a documentary made by one Damon Gameau with his own take on climate change - which takes the form of presenting solutions that are currently available and seeing what would happen in 2040 if they were applied now.

When it comes to climate change, all I'm hearing is a whole lotta bad. Everyone's saying how irrevocably doomed we all are yet no one is offering an solution that doesn't involve accusation and anger. So it is welcome for someone to say that these solutions are possible, they should be implemented and they are ultimately beneficial. So yes, this documentary is indeed enlightening and Gameau has enough charisma and conviction to get his point across.
Could've done without his attempts at humor though (seriously that yoga gag got real old real fast).

But in the end I enjoyed this documentary and, as a call to arms, it is effective. Go see it!

Aladdin and the King of Thieves

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Aladdin and the King of Thieves!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st May 2019

It is indeed a given that the Disney sequels tend to be wretched and forgettable but for me, it was either this or the remake.

Okay serious now:
So this movie was intended to conclude both the movies and the TV series. And oh look! We have Robin Williams returning to voice the genie.
But for me, the real meat is, of course, the King of Thieves himself Cassim. He's fascinating character, he has the voice of John Rhys-Davies and the scenes where he is interacting, and bonding, with Aladdin were great. I heard Cassim has his fangirls and, it would appear, not without good reason.
Other than that, the animation tends to flip flop between terrible and imaginative, Jasmine gets sidelined, the genie hijacks the movie too often and some of the joke's don't work. I know the genie was based entirely around Williams' stand-up routine but here it comes across as 'too much of a good thing'.

Does this movie come across as soulless as Disney sequels are known for? Sometimes, but there are some good ideas and some interesting plot points. But such potential isn't truly realized.
It's not bad but could have been better

Won't You Be My Neighbor

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Won't You Be My Neighbor!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th May 2019

As someone of the non-US persuasion, Fred Rogers has been something of an enigma. I never saw his show, I never grasped his life lessons and he was never consistently there dispensing wisdom and guidance when needed. Yet it would seem more than a few people in the US grew up watching Fred and still hold him in high regard, So maybe this recent documentary may introduce me to someone new?

Of course it can.
Much like the man himself, this documentary is honest in it's approach, showing it's audience (in particular to outsiders like myself) who Fred was and his beliefs. We see his commitment to Children's television, his implacable sincerity, his challenge before Congress when they threatened to cut funding, and just how willing Fred was to push the boundaries of what could be said on a Children's television program.
But i think the greatest impression this documentary imparts is Fred's tireless message in being yourself and finding self-worth. And in an age where everyone is falling over themselves to say what you can't do and what you can't do, such a message still resonates more than ever. In fact it's not just a message for children - some adults may benefit from such reassurance as well.

Mary and Max

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Mary and Max!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th May 2019

Those who follow this series would know that i have a particular favoritism towards movies that aim to portray autism in a serious light. They are indeed rare and, as an Aspergian, welcoming.

Well firstly, the art direction is great and the dry humor is hilarious. Now with that out of the way, I have to say that this is so far the best representation of Aspergers Syndrome i have seen on celluloid. Not only does it portray the various aspects of it and explain how it effects the diagnosed, but it, more than anything, it shows the social awkwardness of being an Aspergian. It shows the disconnect from 'normal people' and an-all-too-human want to connect with other people.
And as for that last scene......I'm not crying YOU'RE CRYING!!!!!!!!!!

Willow

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

Original image located here. Accessed 10th May 2019

Said it once and I'll say it again: The eighties were a fertile ground for fantasy movies and, given the passage of time, sport a more grungy/fascinating look in a post-Lord of the Rings world. And with rumors circulating that Disney wants to do a sequel of this IP I guess now is a good time as any to take a gander at this movie.

Hooo boy has this movie not aged well. Okay, sure any degree of high fantasy in a movie is better than none and there are some interesting ideas at work. But the special effects are indeed dated and look hideous - moreso considering this is from Lucasfilm/Industrial Light and Magic, whose experience in special effects have been better both before and since.
But ultimately, who is this movie for? To me, one gets the feeling it was made for an older audience than children but at the same time, it does come across as being somewhat cringe-worthy/condescending for both teenagers and adults.
Not bad but not that great either

Avengers Endgame

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

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd May 2019

I think we all know the drill by now: Anyone who has seen this movie is being tight-lipped about it. So much so that they will come down on anyone who gives away plot details like a tonne of bricks. I've previously viewed that seeing a particular movie can seem like a secret handshake but this is another level entirely.

So in the spirit of this, let me say one thing: After eleven years and twenty-one movies i expected nothing less than a triumph - and that's exactly what i got

All Quiet on the Western Front

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....All Quiet on the Western Front!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th April 2019

Well yesterday was Anzac Day so of course I will watch a war movie. And you can't do better than the granddaddy of them all.

It's always a risk going back to a movie pre-New Hollywood - and perhaps an even greater one going back to a movie that sits on the cusp of the transitional period out of the silent era. This is because they tend be ruined by the ravager that is time.
Mind you, this movie was, in it's prime, banned in Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Australia - but you wouldn't think that now.

But that is not the case here. The anti-war message hits like a hammer, the performances are top-notch, the spectacle is astonishing (more so for a movie made in 1930) and the humanism is prominent. Special mention must go to the war scenes which are both realistic and horrific in equal amounts (perhaps the ultimate goal for any war movie) and that unforgettable conclusion. Indeed, it says a lot when an eighty-nine year old move still commands such power.

Shazam

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

Original image located here. Accessed 19th April 2019

Its no coincidence that I saw Big last week. After all, both movies are based around the same theme so seeing how each approach differs would be something to see right?
To be honest I wasn't looking forward to this movie as i though the trailer didn't look anything special - but somehow I've heard some good things about Shazam so i decided i would give it a shot. And sometimes, there is something to be said about being proven wrong.

So yeah this movie was a lot of fun. It was funny and definitely shows signs of a low budget being made the most out of. Indeed one gets the feeling that seeing as Shazam is a lesser tier DC hero, the makers of this movie just decided that, (much like Aquaman) they could whatever they wanted - and in this case this is some sly attempt to remake Big (note the homage) under the guise of a super hero movie.
Of particular note however are instances of particular poignancy that are indeed surprising and are pulled off well.

All in all, a great movie and a sign that DC are heading down the correct path after numerous misfires - Clearly the dour approach wasn't working out for them.
Yet it is a disappointment that this movie does a better job of being a Superman movie than any of the recent Superman movies

Big

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

Original image located here. Accessed 12th April 2019

I've always liked Tom Hanks as an actor and here he doesn't disappoint. Sure he might have won Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump but this is perhaps the best role I've seen him in. He really sells being a kid in an adult's body. Sure the rest of the movie is funny but Tom's performance is the pretty much the engine that is driving this movie.

On a personal note however, this movie did strike a chord with me, upon seeing this character. You see, I have spent the past eighteen years being an adult - or at least trying to be one. Seeing an adult acting solely on a childlike innocence does indeed remind me of me at times and the people I have met. The type of people who resemble adults but don't shy away from acting like kids (lets be honest here: Who wouldn't want to play Heart and Soul on a giant keyboard?).
In recent years I have gotten my act together and become more of an adult - even when other people may balk at such a prospect (hence the phrase "I can't adult today!"). Even if i may indulge in some youthful enthusiasms, at least I take comfort in the knowledge that I am no more winging adulthood than everyone else

Stan and Ollie

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Stan and Ollie!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th April 2019

Once again, I see John C Reilly in a biopic. The difference here however is whilst Walk Hard was a parody, this however is done serious.
I can't say I know a lot about about Laurel (Stan) and Hardy (Ollie) beyond their status as legendary comedians and Hardy's catchphrase ("This is another fine mess..."). But i was curious about this movie because I heard some good things about it.

And you know what? I'm glad I did.
As mentioned above, i know next to nothing of Laurel and Hardy's comedy routines but I was impressed to see this routines replicated. Even more impressive is that i found routines nearly a hundred years old really funny.

But ultimately, the weight of this movie lies on the shoulders of Steve Coogan and John C Reilly as they recreate Laurel and Hardy with freakish accuracy, you'd swear you were watching the real thing.
However the humour and and recreation does not hide that this is a bittersweet movie about a partnership that's at the end of the line. That sense of finality does hang throughout this movie and certainly gives it an emotional punch.

So yeah, great movie and one of the best I've seen so far this year (meaning Endgame has it's work cut out for it)

The Big Chill

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Big Chill!

Original image located here. Accessed 29th March 2019

It has often been said that revivals happen in chunks of twenty years. And as Grease is the 70's tribute to the 50s, here we have the 80's tribute to the 60's.

That being said, i kind of get the feeling this movie was made for baby-boomers: The kind of people who grew up in the idealistic era of the 60s only to left in disappointment by being in a more materialistic era. But of course, both eras mean little to me (in the case of the 80s I was a little kid for most of it) so i was left alienated, let alone bored, by this movie.

I was indeed open to the possibility of this movie being a critique of revival movies in that showed the era of one's youth wasn't as good as people would like to think it was and/or the aforementioned disappointment with the difference of youth to adulthood but I never got that impression.
Still the soundtrack was pretty good

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd March 2019

I was interested in seeing this movie because it was sold to me as something of a contrast to Bohemian Rhapsody. Whereas a common complaint of Bohemian Rhapsody was that it adhered to the tried-and-tested tropes of the music bio-pic (often at the expense of the facts), Walk Hard however mocked said tropes, making them both stupid and hilarious at the same time. The ultimate irony is however that Walk Hard was a bomb whilst Bohemian Rhapsody raked in the cash.

Personally? I thought this was hilarious. The tropes are indeed all recognizable and are mercilessly mocked. Some of the cameos are a scream (the scene where Dewey meets the Beatles is one such moment), the personalities are similarly made fun of, the songs are great, and the contributions from real-life personalities are a hoot. Sure some of the jokes are incredibly stupid but it's my kind of silliness. But when the jokes do hit, they hit out of the park (witness the Bob Dylan parody and Dewey's multiple encounters with drugs through his drummer).
Plus it has Jack White (!) in scene-stealing form as Elvis (!!). Can't go wrong with that.

Captain Marvel

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

Original image located here. Accessed 15th March 2019

In a way i wasn't looking forward to this. Prior to this movie we've had a build up which can only be described as a PR disaster with this being talked up as feminist film and the subsequent hostility from the misogynist crowd. Personally, i didn't want to be talked down by a movie that's falling over backwards to prove how woke it is - I just want to see Carol Danvers kicking arse.

Thankfully, that's exactly what i got (the latter that is).
It may be adhering to the Marvel formula with the action, humor and special fx we've come to expect, but there are some excellent character moments throughout. Ben Mendolson is in top form, Samuel L Jackson appears to be relishing the chance to be a major player in an MCU movie but in the end, this is still Brie Larsen's show and she carries the movie with flair. The various Nineties references were great too.

Do i feel like this was going out of it's way to talk down to me, the white-cis-male/scum-of-the-earth? Personally, I never got that impression. Perhaps I have a thicker skin than I realise but somehow the idea of getting back up after being constantly knocked down is indeed a universal one.
Ultimately, this may be adhering to the Marvel formula but for a series that supposedly winding down, this movie certainly proves there's some gas left in the tank.

As a side note, as someone who is a nephew to a woman called Carol, i find some degree of amusement with Monica's declaration of 'Auntie Carol!'.