Blazing Saddles

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

Original image located here. Accessed 29th December 2023

So how do I see out 2023? By watching one of the most funniest/offensive movies ever made.

It's a popular statement nowadays to declare that this movie wouldn't have a hope in hell of being made today but I feel such a declaration is selling the movie short. Because it is still really funny. There are some genuinely laugh-out moments and there is some biting satire. I knew from watching Spaceballs in my youth (many many times) I thought I'd know what to expect from Mel Brooks' brand of humour but this movie still manages to surprise.
Indeed, I do remember, quite vividly, seeing the climax but seeing it now, and with proper context, it is still a riot (pun intended).

Anywho, this concludes this series for 2023. Thank you for joining me on this journey and for following these ramblings over the past twelve months.
Next year will be 2024 - and thereby making it ten years since I started this series. So do I have something special planned for the tenth anniversary? Well it's funny you should mention that..

Scrooged

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

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd December 2023

I have spoken previously of my admiration of A Christmas Carol and how the source material is strong enough that it can adapted so many times and still work. So it was only a matter of time before I came across this.
On paper this sounds like it has potential: Bill Murray playing the Scrooge role? And it's updated with Scrooge playing a TV bigshot? And it utilises an adaptation of the original text as a framing device? Sounds like something that could work. So does it?

Watching Scrooged, I can't shake the feeling that it was looking over Ghostbusters' shoulder, with the presence of Murray, the use of horror & fantasy and ingenious special effects. Also it is difficult to ascertain the mood the movie is going for, with it starting being critical of Christmas sentimentality before giving up by the end and embracing it.
But in the end, this movie works because of Murray - proving that he is his best when he gets to play complete jerks. The afore-mentioned framing device works, and I will admit that I enjoyed the speech at the end.

You know, when I was a kid, I saw the music video to Put a Little Love in Your Heart on rage and wondered what movie it was selling. Now I know. 

Incidentally, would anyone else want to watch The Night the Reindeer Died?

Anywho, hope you all have a Merry Christmas. 

Ratatouille

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

Original image located here. Accessed 15th December 2023

And here we have another movie that originally escaped my notice the first around and, through some miracle, managed to do so for the next sixteen years, And once again, it is better late than never.

Ultimately, this is a Pixar movie so one expects it to be of very high quality. And Ratatouille delivers with it's animation, it's ingenious attempts at physical comedy, it's humour, it's depiction of Paris and the careful attention to detail with it's characters, Yes such strengths may be par for the course with Pixar but when they do what they do so well who am I to complain?
But perhaps the greatest takeaway I got from Ratatouille is the message of trying something and keeping at it no matter the risk or the number of failures one might experience on the way. Such a message may be nothing new in a kids movie but here it is delivered in a way that is nothing less than exceptional. Indeed, the concluding review from the character of Anton Ego is truly the apex of the movie - and is of particular resonance as I continue to bash these words out.

And one day I might actually learn how to correctly pronounce 'Ratatouille' (whilst writing this review I was referring to it as The Rat Movie).

Elemental

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

Original image located here. Accessed 8th December 2023

I will admit that this year I have indulging in my inner film geek with my viewing choices. But, as we head into the final weeks of this year, there is still time for me to bring something more crowd pleasing to the table.

This movie has quite the shelf life: What started as a disappointing opening weekend has eventually grown into a success, finding an audience who appreciated the immigrant angle. Yet at the same time, there have been some whispers that this is one of Pixar's weakest efforts. I suppose such feedback would be inevitable considering the triumphs the studio has enjoyed in the past and it is only a matter of time before a misfire happens and/or the output starts to look formulaic. Still, I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt: Not everyone can produce a high quality body of work AND make each entrant an unique entity (Stanley Kubrick anyone?).

However I can't fool myself: This was a gem. The usual Pixar inventiveness is on display - indeed it was a treat seeing how this world works - and the animation is, once again, of high quality. 
But, as always, the real strength of this movie is it's heart, showing the trials and tribulations of an immigrant family, the need to forge one's own path and the necessity for connection (which indeed resonated with an Aspergan such as myself). Indeed that 'Touch' scene was truly a thing of beauty.
And it wouldn't be a Pixar movie if it didn't leave me an emotional wreck by the end.

So it the end I don't know what the nay-sayers are complaining about: This is another solid entry in Pixar's (admittedly well-stocked) library. 

Funny People

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

Original image located here. Accessed 1st December 2023

Once again, I try to sit through a movie starring Adam Sandler. I have already made my view on Adam Sandler clear previously so to find something where he isn't confined to the formula that made him famous is a challenge and a half. I have been lucky so far (see Reign Over Me and 50 First Dates) so can this recommendation keep that hot streak going?

Apparently no. 
First lets talk the positives:
 - Once again Sandler is playing a jerk but this is shaken up in some interesting ways: Halfway through the movie he makes the effort to stop being a jerk but for second half, this character clearly hasn't learned anything and is still being a jerk. So props to Sandler for taking the time to reconsider the role that made him famous
 - The cameos are fun. The appearances of James Taylor and Eminem are of particular note.
 - Eric Bana's presence was great (you can just tell he is a major St Kilda fan, right?)
 - Given that this movie is about stand-up comedy and features many comedians this clearly was a labour of love for the craft. So I'll give it that much.

But the Achilles heel of this movie is it's length. It's a bloated two and half hour run hat could easily been shorn of thirty minutes - or even forty five. Some scenes drag on and come across as pointless. And matters aren't helped with not all the jokes hitting the mark, leaving moments of radio silence.

So yeah, a disappointment if ever there was one

To Kill a Mockingbird

   And this week's Friday night movie has been... To Kill a Mockingbird!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th November 2023

It's one of the most famous movies of it's era, having come out during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and therefore becoming a representation of a time and place. 

Unfortunately it also means that this film comes across as dated. It seems to me that this film's reputation lies heavily on the courtroom drama that takes place in it. And whilst those scenes are great, they do however only take up a quarter of the movie. Other times, the movie is more focused on what the kids are doing - often to the movie's detriment. I mean, am I convinced a child can manage to change the minds of an angry mob? I don't think so.

Still, I do not doubt Gregory Peck's efforts and his Oscar for Best Actor was nothing less than well deserved.

Reign Over Me

   And this week's Friday night movie has been... Reign Over Me!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th November 2023

And here we have another stab at Adam Sandler's oeuvre. As mentioned previously, he may have a reputation for playing childish idiots but it's a reputation that's made him into a punchline. As a result, it can be one that would be difficult to shake off. 
Therefore, to see him playing a serious role would surely be the most ill-advised career move ever. I mean, the concept sounds awful on paper: Adam Sandler playing a widower who's struggling to overcome his losses and is stuck in some form of PTSD? That sounds utterly ludicrous.

So it is therefore a monumental surprise that it actually works. Sure Charlie is the same jerkass character Sandler has played before but here his behaviour is given some vital context. Sandler makes Charlie, the character he's portraying, sympathetic and, most crucially of all, he finally gets to show what he can truly do with his acting prowess - notably the scene when Charlie reveals the depth of his loss. 
Okay sure the script seems kind of all over the place, but when it works, it knocks it out of the park.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... Snow White and the Seven Dwarves!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th November 2023

I've been meaning to get this on DVD for the longest time and Disney's recent announcement that they will no longer distribute physical media in Australia is a good enough reason to grab it.
So why on earth would I get the physical release in this age of streaming? Well there was a special feature on the DVD that caught my attention: An audio commentary by Walt himself. Granted buying a DVD for a special feature, let alone buying a DVD, would look downright archaic now but keep in mind: once upon a time, special features were once a major selling point for DVDs.
Furthermore, the audio commentary got my attention just to see/hear how they did it (turns out, gathering all these sound clips of Walt, stitching them together and boom: there it is).

So about the movie: It's the big one. The one that proved feature length animation could work and the one that built an empire from the ground up. 
Of course, it may be easy to dismiss this movie for it's age but I don't think so. The animation and art direction still stand up really well. There is a lot of creativity and expressiveness on play here. Sure one might think that Disney and his animators are showing off what they can do but the animation still works some eighty six years later. 
And for a studio noted for formula, it is interesting to see it being put into play first up. And just how it works: Proof that the formula so well the first time that it has been reused many times since. 

So yeah, an important movie to the history of film that, remarkably, still holds up

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd November 2023

"He was the bravest of them allllllll......."

Once again, I tackle one of the westerns forged from the partnership between director John Ford and actor John Wayne. By all accounts, this was an unbeatable team, making some of the finest westerns ever committed to celluloid.

So it is indeed a surprise to see that this movie does things differently: it is shot in black and white and the location shooting is non-existent. These two elements are pretty much defined Ford's westerns so their absence is indeed striking. 
And one gets the impression that this is exactly the point: This movie is pretty much built around the notion of how the mythology of the wild west is built up and thrives. And it is therefore fitting that Ford is casting a critical eye to the westerns he crafted and the legend he, and Wayne, built up.

Keep in mind that this was made in the 1960s, where the western genre was on shaky ground: On one hand, the genre itself was falling fast out of favour and, on the other, in doing so it was perfectly positioned to be reinvented by the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone and the nihilism of Sam Peckinpah. And in that sense, the Man Who Shot Liberty Valance seems to be the endpoint of the classic western that defined the decades prior. But that doesn't mean it is without merit. 
So yeah: An excellent western all around

The Exorcist

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

Original image located here. Accessed 27th October 2023

And so we reach the end of this year's clutch of horror movies. And what better way to see it out then to go on Hard mode.

So yeah, approaching this movie, it is a given that it bears the label of one of - if not the - scariest movie ever made. That's all well and good but at the same time, it is difficult for this movie to shake off such a tag. So much so, it may be intimidating for a newcomer like myself. What I do know however is that movie has been referenced and parodied so many times that it provides a degree of familiarity as I head into uncharted waters...

First up, I do like how this movie relies on the atmosphere and the sense of creeping dread. And I will favour such movies over those that rely on jump scares.
Having said that though, it seems that this movie's reputation relies heavily on it's final half hour. It is gripping indeed but for me that's when the movie feels like a horror movie. That's not to disregard the build-up beforehand but it's odd that The Exorcist's status only applies to a quarter of it's running time.
I suppose I could put this down to the many references (as mentioned above) but also to the notion that this movie threw down a gauntlet that numerous film-makers have picked up since.

So yeah, not bad but I was left wanting more...

Van Helsing

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

Original image located here. Accessed 20th October 2023

And with this post we have reached 400 posts on this blog - and what better way to acknowledge such a milestone then to finally have a movie reviewed for every letter in the alphabet (Thanks The Quiet Family and X-Men First Class!).
Once again we have a movie that I have been putting off for a long time. This can attributed to the fact that I recall when this was released, it was mauled by the critics. Still, may be the distance of nearly two decades may give way to a more fresh approach.

It is interesting to see this movie in the wake of the failed 'Universal Monsters' shared universe. Because I can see a lot of said monsters present. Was this an attempt to get a film franchise going? Perhaps - but it does mean I have to assess this movie as it's own entity as opposed to being part of something larger. 
Certainly there is a lot working against this movie: The CGI is practically lifting this movie entirely on it's shoulders, Richard Roxborough is completely ridiculous and the whole thing is kinda silly.
But was this movie dull? Of course not. It may be all style and no substance but there are some great action sequences and keeps an exciting pace throughout. And that is enough.

Student Bodies

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

Original image located here. Accessed 13th October 2023

I hate to sound like I'm repeating myself but this movie got viewed through a number of familiar threads: 1) October is the time to watch horror movies, 2) the tradition of watching horror movies at October may also include some shlock 3) I like horror movies that mock both the tried & tested tropes and the acts of idiocy and 4) It had been on my watch list for so long that I'd forgotten why I put in on there to begin with. 

It would be fair to say that Scary Movie wouldn't exist without this movie, as it tells the same jokes: Mocking tropes in slasher movies all through a rather puerile eye. That being said, this movie is amateurish (at best) and completely stupid (at worst) with many jokes range from the obvious to the cringy and the complete misfire. But there are some moments that got a decent chuckle out of me (ie the R-18 rating announcer, the on-screen body count tally). 
My cup of silliness? Well since you put it that way....

Get Out

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

Original image located here. Accessed 6th October 2023

It's October and with it comes the tradition of watching horror movies. And we're starting this year's clutch of horror movies with a doozy. 

Clearly the strength of this movie lies in the unease that it brings. I've spoken previously how the best kind of horror is the kind that relies on atmosphere over jump scares and this one delivers in spades. I found the movie was at it's best when it showed  just how freaky it is to wander into a situation where everyone is acting strangely and something funny is going on (but you can't put your finger on it).
Indeed, a lot has to be said for the execution, balancing tension that would've done Hitchcock proud with some very dark humour. 

Seems the success this movie has garnered happened for a very good reason.

50 First Dates

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... 50 First Dates!

Original image located here. Accessed 29th September 2023

If there has been a theme with my film selection of this year, it is the notion that I have been going through my 'To Watch' list and clearing some of the titles on it. Some of which have been on there for so long that I may have forgotten why I put it on there in the first place.
So why this movie? Beats me.
It's not much of a stretch to say that Adam Sandler is something of a punchline making crummy movies, through his production company Happy Madison, that are notorious for some really lousy humour. I can't say I have actively sought out his work but Still I was at least willing to give this film a chance. After all, if Adam Sandler can form a production company, Happy Madison, so he and his friends can make the movies they want then that is no different than Margot Robbie forming a production company, Lucky Chap, so she and her friends can make the movies they want.

It seems that when you watch a Happy Madison movie, you know exactly what you're getting in for: Dumb jokes that both repulse and age like milk. So given that these jokes are present in this movie, I should hate this movie. Likewise, this movie has become disreputable in recent years for it's depiction of a guy manipulating a woman with short term memory loss into making her fall in love with him. 
Major strikes to be sure but what works in this movie works wonders. Sandler and Barrymore make for an engaging on-screen couple, clearly Sandler is trying something different compared to the rest of his oeuvre, the tragic angle of living with someone with short term memory loss and certain moments that hit hard.
So yeah, when the movie works it works great. And almost makes the uncomfortable stuff excusable.

...........Almost

The Martian

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

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd September 2023

It's no secret that my preferred brand of science fiction is of the hard variety. You know: the kind that is based on science fact. My reasoning is based purely that people will take what they see on screen as gospel so the film-makers have a responsibility to apply science fact whenever and wherever possible.
Regardless of whether the film-makers like it or not. 

Given the success of Mythbusters, it has since become commonplace to show fictional characters solving a problem, applying a combination of ingenuity, engineering, scientific theory, testing and trial & error. And that is the key strength of The Martian: Showing how a guy marooned on a planet and the methods he applies in generating oxygen, growing food and trying to make contact with Earth using what limited resources he has. This is pretty much a survival story and is never once dull. 

Mind you, as I watched this, my eye did divert, however briefly, to Keira's Sailor Moon paraphernalia in the bedroom - and long enough to bring to mind the observation that: "Hey, if you're stuck on Mars go find Rei, she'll help you out" XD

The Nice Guys

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

Original image located here. Accessed 15th September 2023

Won't say no to a buddy/action/comedy movie. Sure I've seen plenty of them but they are always fun to watch. And this one is no exception. 
As per expected of this genre of movie, the jokes are pretty funny and and the action sequences are well done. But the real treat is the interplay between the cast: Russell Crowe is fun to watch as a heavy, Ryan Gosling shines and the interaction between them is great. But the real MVP is Angourie Rice, bringing pizazz to every line and instance she appears on screen.

So yeah. great movie and worth checking out

Out of Sight

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Out of Sight!

Original image located here. Accessed 8th September 2023 

I recall when this movie was released: It wasn't a major box office hit but it did make some headway in proving George Clooney could successfully make the transition from TV to move star.

Personally I feel that this movie deceived me: I went in expecting to see an action movie - with a title like that one would expect a movie with a whole load of car chases - but what I got was more akin to a slow burner. There's a lot of talking and some shots that come across as well constructed (and admittedly wouldn't have been out of place in a Stanley Kubrick movie). There is humour to be sure and a lot of small moments that ultimately add up to a substantial package. 

So yeah, not what I was expecting but there was much to enjoy

The Naked Kitchen

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

Original image located here. Accessed 1st September 2023

Anyone heard of this? I know I've been throwing a lot of curveballs with my movie selection this year but  this may be the biggest curveball yet.
With a title like that one would think this is a porno but no: It's a South Korean rom-com. I only came about it when Kiera dropped the dvd case in front of me and insisted that I watch it.
I suppose that is one way to get's one attention.
And they say physical media is dead, eh?

As for the movie itself, I'm not sure what to make of it: Guy wants to open a restaurant, brings in a chef to assist him and chef ends up having a fling with Guy's wife? Yeah, not doing much for me. 
As such, I found the movie dull and a chore to get through. 
Easy come easy go I guess

The Hangover

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

Original image located here. Accessed 25th August 2023

I recall this movie being a big hit when it was released but, as is often the case, it is only now that I get off my lazy arse and make the effort into seeing it for myself. I guess I was reluctant because I was expecting a 'comedy' loaded with unfunny jokes and gross-out humour (man, the Road Trip/American Pie movies have a lot to answer for).

Thankfully that wasn't the case, Sure the jokes are funny and the interplay between the cast great but for me the strength of this movie is tracing the path of the night before, trying to work out what had happened. It is the journey, picking up the clues and trying to piece together a path of absurdity that leads to the most unlikeliest of outcomes. 
Sure the movie may have it's dumb moment but somehow, it's improbable nature makes it a compelling sell.

Oh and for the record? My bachelors party was nothing like that XD

The Station Agent

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

Original image located here. Accessed 18th August 2023

Has anyone heard of this? If this movie is known to current audiences it is because that this movie was the breakthrough role for Peter Dinklage (and which ultimately led to Game of Thrones). 

From the outset, this movie is a character-driven piece, as we see three characters meeting and bonding with each other. This is about three loners who end up doings together and finding a connection when any of them wouldn't have thought possible.
It's known that Dinklage seeks out roles where he gets to play three dimensional characters and here he is certainly in his element, displaying a subtly and an empathy that may elude other actors. And he is supported by both his fellow leads - Patricia Clarkson and Bobby Cannavale - and an empathetic direction.
Granted this is an indie movie through and through but, as is often the case, the talent on both sides of the camera can overcome any limitations. 

Baby Driver

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

Original image located here. Accessed 11th August 2023

Behold: another movie that I've been putting off watching. I guess the unusual may have mad me hesitant but I'm pretty sure I'm not the first person to say that.

But yeah, this was a blast to watch: The car chases are certainly spectacular but what is of particular note is the emphasis on the music: The selections throughout are great and it's great to see a protagonist who has his earphones on all the time (something I can relate to) and isn't afraid to lose himself in the moment (something I can VERY much relate to). .

Central Intelligence

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

Original image located here. Accessed 4th August 2023

This is not the first time I have seen a movie of this calibre: An average joe gets pulled into a situation where he is facing death at every turn? And tangling with secret agents and not knowing who to trust? And the person who dragged him into it isn't the most reliable of sorts?

So what makes this movie stand out from the pack? Simple: The onscreen chemistry between Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson. Seriously, these two are lots of fun to watch and are enough to make the convoluted nature of the plot excusable. Special notice to Johnson as he seems willing to play the macho action hero and going against it IN THE SAME ROLE.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th July 2023

Well I saw one movie this year that mocked the music biopic (Weird) so why not another one?

Coming from the comedic minds that is The Lonely Island, one knows what to expect: hilarious gags, layered comedy, celebrity cameos and snappy songs. And this movie does indeed deliver, mocking all the tropes, not only with music biopics but the popstar career in general. It may all be easy targets but the gags still hit.

Sister Act 2

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Sister Act 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st July 2023

Well I watched the first one so I may as well watch the second one. That and Kiera decided that we both watch this one.

I do recall this movie, as is often the case, not living up to the success of it's predecessor. Yet at the same time there seems to something of a recent reappraisal of this movie, citing a diverse cast as one of it's strong points. 

Watching the movie now, I will admit that yes: the class that Dolores teaches is indeed diverse and shows the kind that puts a lot of more recent movies to shame. However, in doing so one can't help but notice that Dolores has a lesser role in the movie. Indeed, ones get the feeling this was a movie about a teacher handling a class from the rough side of the tracks (Dangerous Minds anyone?) but it was only made when the characters from the first Sister Act movie were added. Which is a shame as I found the end result as going against the grain of what made the first movie work: The laughs are fewer, the themes of the stodginess of nuns has nowhere left to go and the crime-world sub-plot is sorely missed.

Not bad but I have the feeling it could've been better....

Sister Act

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

Original image located here. Accessed 14th July 2023

I recall this movie being a huge hit in the early nineties and it being instrumental in making Whoopi Goldberg a huge star. Personally I have only seen bits and pieces of it but have never sat all the way through it. Little did I know that Kiera had plans for me...

Watching it now, what strikes me is that the strength of this movie is not the murder plot, nor the humour (I will admit however the Catholic joke got a good laugh out of me), nor the general premise of poking fun at the stodginess of nuns. No, the strength of this movie is the musical numbers. They are snappy and there is some solid singing involved - indeed one could make the case this movie is an ancestor of the Pitch Perfect movies.
And that's enough for me

Rurouni Kenshin: The Final

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Rurouni Kenshin: The Final!

 Original image located here. Accessed 7th July 2023

I first became aware of Rurouni Kenshin in 2000 - the same year I discovered Queens of the Stone Age. As such it didn't take much to combine the two: "K-K-K-K-K-Kenshin!!!"

*crickets chirping*

Moving swiftly along, given that I saw the Beginning last week, it is therefore a natural progression that I would watch The Final. And this movie is of particular interest as it's an attempt to cover the Revenge arc - which was never covered by the original anime (well there was the Reflections OAV but we don't talk about that one...). Of course, I did know what the Revenge arc covered beforehand so it is interesting to see how this would stack up.

Its interesting to watch this having watched the other movie the previous week before (even if it was released second). Because they're both like night and day. Beginning is grim, with desaturated colours, realistic fight sequences and a tragic air. Final is colourful, Wire-fu all over the place and a theme of redemption. And again, the LA cast have the mannerisms of their animated counterparts down pat with freakish accuracy. 

Obviously this is working with the strengths established with the previous movies which is well and good. But what as an adaptation?

Well it follows the same story beats but this is where the filmmakers have to deliver something news that wasn't already covered in previous adaptations. So this adaptation is a loose one but it still feels lacking. Most of the side characters get the shaft and some moments don't have the punch that they should have. Guess the Revenge arc will never have a proper adap.. wait, there's a new Kenshin anime? Coming out this year?

Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning!

 Original image located here. Accessed 30th June 2023

Back in 2020, i saw the first Live action Rurouni Kenshin movie and liked it enough to have a look at the rest. But, as is often the case with me, I never got around to it. However, as of now, I was able to find the final two - Final and Beginning - on Netflix. Of course, I will be missing out on the middle two but having seen that portion of the Kenshin story in animated form, I can feel confident that I can skip that part.

As for this? Well it's the LA adaptation of Kenshin's background as an assassin - which was done previously with the Trust/Betrayal OVAs. And much like said OVAs, much of the mood is carried over: This movie is grim, lacking in colour, bloody and the tragedy still hits like a truck. And in a way it does improve over the OVAs as it dispenses with some of the arty diversions for a more tighter narrative. Much of the strengths of the first movie, the cast and the visuals are carried over but they still work even when placed under such a grim light.

I have to say: Of all the Live action adaptations of well known manga/anime, this is hands down the best. But then again, when the source material is so strong you can't really do a bad job of it, right? 

Man With a Movie Camera

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Man With a Movie Camera!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd June 2023

Anyone heard of this? It's a Soviet movie dating all the way back to the silent era - 1929 to be precise - that has gone down in history as being one of the most influential movies ever made. Such a reputation rests on the fact that this movie employs many film-making techniques: cross-cuts, slow motion, fast motion, reversing, quick cuts, stop animation and more.
Granted this could yet another instance of me, so far this year, of watching yet another lesser known/foreign/arty film but then again, I have always relied on the notion that I talk about the movies I've seen and hope that what I type connects with someone. So I see no reason to stop now.

As for the movie, well, clearly it's reputation lies on how it managed to expand the vocabulary of film. At first glance it is a documentary what with it showing a day in the life of an Eastern European city, with it's occupants at work and play. Yet I personally felt that I was watching the distant progenitor of countless music videos.
Ultimately however, the strength of this movie lies in it's visuals and what the director, Dziga Vertov had managed to accomplish. There are some stunning visuals and some interesting narratives at work.
That being said, has this movie aged? I ask this as we are watching the same techniques that have been replicated many, many, MANY times since. I would say no as this movie's followers would no doubt take the 'I can do that too' approach. Here however I don't get the impression that Vertov was showing off - largely because this is still a documentary first and foremost.
So yeah, nearly a century later, this movie still has power.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Puss in Boots: The Last Wish!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th June 2023

So we arrive here: As promised it is time to see if this is cracked up as it was made out to be.

And what do you know? It delivered and then some. Sure I had the slight advantage as I didn't have to wait a full decade between seeing this and it's predecessor, but this truly was a gem.
In a previous post, I may have slammed the Shrek movies for introducing a formula that many have tried to replicate since - and like any formula it can only go for so long before it gets tiresome. But I don't get that impression here: Much like it's predecessor, it breaks away from the formula to say something of it's own.
And that something is one that refuses to talk down to it's audiences and is unafraid to talk about major themes - particularly that of living life that wasn't wasted. Which is big deal given this is a movie staring a spanish-accented tabby with boots and a big hat.
The highlights for me are the Wolf and the quality of animation. Sure it reeks of the same techniques that the Spiderverse movies worked with but it is interesting to see Dreamworks take an approach of 'I can do that too'. One would think it would be derivative but that the animators made wonders out of what they were working with is truly astonishing.
So yes, once again the further Puss divorces itself from the Shrek formula, the better the final product is.

Leaving Neverland

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Leaving Neverland!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th June 2023

I was originally going to watch Puss in Boots: Last Wish but I had a last minute change of plan and opted for this.
I think a lot of my audience would have heard of this: It's a documentary where two guys, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, talk about how they were befriended by Michael Jackson at a young age and what followed afterwards. Needless to say, this documentary has gone a long way in challenging Michael's reputation.

Personally I always had an indifferent stance with Michael Jackson. So upon watching this documentary, two things stand out. Firstly it is long at four hours (Heaven help me if I ever decide to watch Shoah). And secondly, this is really Wade and James being very open about their experiences. I've heard people complain that this documentary is one-sided but really, it is both Wade and James' story.
And what a story it is. A lot of detail is given about what happened to these two and how they processed it: Stories of abuse, separation, secrecy, silence, cover-ups, and the long road in processing the trauma endured. This documentary certainly isn't easy to sit through but it certainly has power as a description of child abuse.
Powerful and without a doubt nothing quite like it....

So what did prompt that last minute change? Buggered if I know.

Puss in Boots

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Puss in Boots!

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd June 2023

I've been hearing good things about the latest Puss in Boots movie (Last Wish) so I may as well take a look at it's predecessor as a primer.
So what do I think of Shrek? I enjoyed the first two movies but I avoided what came after once it became clear this was a franchise that was going to be run into the ground. Furthermore, it seemed to me that the first one introduced a formula for success that many other movies in it's wake have sought to replicate. Also the jabs at Disney in the first movie are looking quite antiqued now.
So you can imagine my scepticism when returning to this particular franchise.

But I think the distance did me some good: I had a great time with this. It was a good move to make Puss the star of his own movie as there was a lot to the character and plenty to be added to him. It also helps that Antonio Banderas seems to having the time of his life in this role (and that is saying something given it's a voice role).
The humour certainly does seem to differ from the Shrek formula and is all the better for it. I don't know if that was the intention but this movie does suit the action/adventure format anyway.
So yeah great fun. Puss is as dynamic as ever and Kitty makes for a fun addition.
Now about the sequel....

Weird: The Al Yankovic story

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Weird: The Al Yankovic story!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th May 2023

Being the uber nerd I am, it should come to no surprise that I am a fan of Weird Al Yankovic. I've seen him live twice and it's a true display of one's nerd credentials - and, as I found, a good way to annoy one's big brother. So of course I would see this movie.

Years ago, I saw the movie Walk Hard: the Dewey Cox Story which I thoroughly enjoyed for it's mockery of the Rock Biopic. The reason I mention it now is that Weird is telling the same joke.
But what does it matter? This was the funniest movie I have seen in a long time, with genuine belly laughs, numerous references, the blatant disregard for factual context and the complete absurdity of it all. And the fact that Weird Al is played by Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter himself - and he actually does a fantastic job is just the icing on the cake.
Seriously, I can't remember the last movie I laughed so hard at XD

McCabe and Mrs Miller

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... McCabe and Mrs Miller!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th May 2023

If there has been a theme in my movie watching for this year (thus far) it is me addressing my to-watch list: watching the stuff that have been on there for a long time, and finally striking said movies from the list.
And this is one such movie: No idea how long it's been on my to watch list so that's a good reason to watch it.

So what we have here is a western (not gonna complain there) but with a difference: This is a western that takes a realistic approach. Instead of deserts, we get snow. Instead of the gunslinger protagonist we have a gambler-turned-businessman. Instead of a desolate, weather beaten town, we have a village on the grow.
Indeed it is that refusal to go with the grain of tried and tested western conventions that is the main strengths of this movie. And that the movie is beautifully shot is an added bonus.
The best moment for me is the final showdown, which plays much differently than one would expect and where the tension is milked for every drop.
So yeah, it's different but it's certainly compelling

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Super Mario Bros. Movie!

Original image located here. Accessed 12th May 2023

These past couple of weeks I have been indulging my inner fan geek: watching these classic movies that achieved classic status. Well, this time around I think it's time I watched something more current.
I will admit that this movie's reaction intrigued me. Critics aren't liking it that much but the audiences are loving it. I suppose that is a given sense this particular franchise has an in-built (and not to mention sizable) fanbase.

But you know what? I had a lot of fun with this movie. Certainly i will admit that it pretty much exists for gaming geeks like myself who can spot all the visual references, identify all the musical cues and pick up on the notion that persistence pays off. But dammit, this movie clearly has a lot of love put into it and it gave me an enormous grin that stretched from ear to ear as well as provided plenty of laughs all the way through.
I guess film connoisseurs like myself don't have to go for the serious stuff all the time XD

Throne of Blood

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Throne of Blood!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th May 2023

Last year I watched Ran - Akira Kurosawa's take on the Shakespeare play King Lear. This year I watch Throne of Blood - Akira Kurosawa's take on the Shakespeare play Macbeth ("Aahhhhh! Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends!").

Part of the thrill of watching this play is seeing a play i am very familiar with being shown in a different context - after all that is the challenge of doing Shakespeare: presenting something that has been done countless times before in a different light. So whilst this play may not follow the text to the letter, there are still some recognisable scenes and the plot progresses the same.
But what this film really understands about the source material is that the play has a sense of mystery and dread about it. And the film certainly runs with it, what with having a lot of fog, paranoia, ominous moments and a tiny number of locations. Indeed the triumph of this movie is that does a lot with what little it has.
Throw in some compelling performances from the two leads (Toshiro Mifune and Isuzu Yamada) and a death scene that has to seen to be believed and we have a movie that has lasted very well against the march of time.
Damn Kurosawa sure knew how to make a movie, eh?

Duck Soup

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Duck Soup!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th April 2023

Anyone heard of this? This is a famous movie from the 1930s headed by the renowned comedy troupe the Marx Brothers.
I've said many times that it is a gamble visiting movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood (1910s-1960s) as they tend to date poorly. And the genre that suffers the ravages of time the most is the comedic movies. Still I do know of the Marx Brothers and I do recall, once upon a time, seeing and thoroughly enjoying Bringing up Baby (another comedy of the same era). So could this surprise me?

Needless to say I hadn't seen any of the Marx Brothers prior to this. I mean I knew who they were and of their distinct comedic personalities, I knew this particular movie was a rare excursion in political satire and I knew it angered Mussolini but I had never seen the Marx Brothers actually in action.
Actually, forget what I said about 1930s comedy aging: This is still pretty funny. Lots of sight gags, one-liners (courtesy of Groucho), physical comedy and a sense of bringing chaos to order. Even now the personalities the brothers have shine through and still work decades later. Interestingly enough, I grew up watching Looney Tunes and it's fascinating to see how that brand of humour can be traced back to these guys. In fact, a lot of these gags have indeed been replicated many times before but here they are still laugh out loud funny.
Remarkable how time has not ravaged this movie at all

Dersu Uzala

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Dersu Uzala!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st April 2023

I have previously spoken about my efforts to explore the oeuvre of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. So we come to this: One of his lesser-known works.
This came about because Kurosawa wanted to do an adaptation of the novel by Russian author Vladimir Arsenyev. And he got a chance to do so when he was given Russian backing - so, with a Russian cast and crew, along with the opportunity to shoot in the wilderness of Siberia, Kurosawa came up with this movie.

When one thinks of Kurosawa, his samurai epics come to mind as well as his ability for orchestrating action scenes. But that is selling him short: He had a strength for his humanist approach to filmmaking and his subjects. And that is well and truly at play here. The titular character is a Mongolian man, well at home in the wild, and how he assists, and eventually bonds, with the captain of a Russian surveying expedition. It does make for a fascinating character study, with we the audience learning a lot about Uzala both as a character and his survival skills. Which makes the ultimate conclusion hit like a truck.
Another one of Kurosawa's strengths is his ability to conjure up beautiful shots. And here we have plenty of shots of the Siberian wilderness - it's all looking magnificent, especially considering that much of it isn't really accessible to human presence.
So yeah, an excellent movie with Kurosawa doing what he does best. Thoughtful and compelling tied with moments of beauty.

Boyhood

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Boyhood!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th April 2023

I think we all know this one through how it was made:  movie that was shot over the course of twelve years, for one month a year, using the same cast thereby crafting a story that is showing a life playing out in real time. As the title suggests, the protagonist starts the movie as a six year old child and ends the movie as an adult. It's an impressive achievement and an effective selling point.

And to boil it down this movie is nothing short of a triumph.
As the years roll by and the more movies I watch, it can be a challenge for particular movies to stand out but this one does so. It is indeed remarkable to see a life playing out like it does and it does so with sincerity, addressing the concerns of a person through various stages of their youth. So props to the makers of this movie for addressing the subject with an honesty one would be pressed to find anywhere else.
Yep, definitely a gem here

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... The Adventures of Baron Munchausen!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th April 2023

I said I will be watching more movies from the mind of Terry Gilliam so here we are. Thing is, I have a bit of a history with this one: When I was younger, I heard it was one of the biggest box office flops of all time. Then one day, when I was 11, it was on TV so I watched the start of it. But for whatever reason I never got around to watching the rest of it. Well, today that changes: I will sit through this movie all the way to the end.

You know I have seen some weird movies in my time but this one manages to stand out from the rest purely because it revels in it's weirdness. And having seen Brazil earlier this year, it is interesting to compare the two movies as both take a playful approach to the distinction between fantasy and reality. The only difference is that this movie is a lot more humourous (and therefore owes the greater debt to Gilliam's background with Monty Python).
I certainly get what this was going for in that being a rebel against a society that preaches facts, favouring imagination over truth and living a life of wonder over reason. Subsequently, i can think of more than a few people who would hate this movie. XD
So yeah, this one is creative indeed, showing that, once again, the eighties were a fertile time for fantasy movies and Terry Gilliam is at the top of his game.

Roger and Me

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Roger and Me!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st March 2023

I have previously spoken of my following of Michael Moore over the years so here we are at his debut feature: his announcement to the rest of the world that he exists.
So what this documentary is Michael following the closing down of a General Motors factory in Flint Michigan and the chaos that follows: Unemployment, increased crime, people being evicted, and an aggressive indifference from the wealthy. All the while Michael is trying to get in touch with General Motors CEO Roger Smith to ask some questions.

Of course, as this is his first feature, there are some familiar tropes on Michael's part: Standing up for the down-trodden, challenging the wealthy and showing up unannounced at certain places only to be kicked out. But what I find striking is that how un-relentlessly bleak this movie is: One expects Michael to have some humour to go with his razor sharp points but I didn't find much to laugh about. And of course since this movie's release, the situation has seen little improvement.
Of course, you can complain about Michael's one sided approach but you can't say the end effect is a searing experience

Man Bites Dog

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Man Bites Dog (C'est arrivé près de chez vous)!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th March 2023

We got a challenge and a half here: A Belgian movie from the early nineties that has the reputation of being one of the most controversial movies ever made. If you, the person reading this, haven't heard of it then it's for a very good reason.
Well, I've seen movies in my time and I have certainly seen some unsettling stuff in my time, so there will be nothing left that some truly disturb me, right?

So what this movie is is the product of a group of movie fans: It tells the story of a film crew that follows a serial killer around as he.....does things.
Naturally, this is an amateur production and it shows: It is black and white, is cheaply shot and is relying on a strength of ideas.
Needless to say, it should come to no surprise that there is a lot of violence, black humour and obviously exists to provoke and challenge the audience.
Yet at the same time, this was a slog to get through. The mood was grim, the jokes are few and far between (at least for me) and the lead character isn't really likeable (although one gets the impression that was precisely the point). I mentioned above that i have seen some unsettling material in my time but this is less that and more dull. I should also point out that I was watching an edited version where the most nastiest moment was cut out (mercifully?)
It should be noted that this movie came out in 1992 - the same year that Quentin Tarantino announced himself to the world with Reservoir Dogs. I mention this becuase both that and this movie seem to share the same DNA. The difference is that Man Bites Dog comes across as Reservoir Dogs' dour goth cousin - but alas such a description sounds far more compelling than the actual movie.
Damn...

Will Penny

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Will Penny!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th March 2023

As regular readers would know, I like a good western so we arrive at this: a 1968 western with Charlton Heston in the lead role. I can't say I care much for Heston (especially since his disastrous appearance on Bowling for Colombine) but he did single this movie out as his favourite role and the one he was most proud of. Well, sounds like a challenge to me..

In retrospect, there is no denying that this is Heston's show all the way. He has a commanding presence and certainly shows a degree of commitment. So much so, one would think that he is in a separate movie when compared to the antagonists. It has been observed that said villains are the clique version of the west whilst Heston's character represents the more actual representation - and that is one assessment I do agree with.
So what we have here is the story of an aging gunslinger who falls in with a woman and her son and subsequently gets a glimpse of a life he could've led. Certainly a compelling scenario and a lot is certainly done with it.
So yeah, good movie.