C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th September 2025

Anyone heard of this? This is a mockumentary, presenting an alternate history where the American Civil War was won by the South. As such, it tracks a path where events go differently and the world as we know it looks very different. The views of the Confederacy still remain but in a more modern setting - further reinforced by ads that proliferate through the documentary.

Yes, this is quite vicious in it's satire and dark in it's hilarity. Yet the vision it presents is quite nasty, in that a) it's ideals of the Civil War being presented in a modern context and b) how disturbingly similar it looks to the racism that exists in the U.S. of today. Just when you think we had advanced from bleaker times...
Nevertheless, the facts are well presented and the level of research that went into this speculation is staggering. And no matter how uncomfortable viewing this may be, it still manages to generate some laughs.

Still, as I watch this, I am reminded of my own country and it's own brand of racism. Makes me wonder how long it will be before someone comes up with their own mockumentary presenting an alternate history where the arrival of the First Fleet went a little differently.....

The Revenge Artist

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Revenge Artist (M.F.A.)!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th September 2025

I may have said some less than favourable things about Promising Young Woman but if it wasn't for that movie, I wouldn't have heard about this one: Some have claimed that this 2017 movie addressed the same themes as Promising Young Woman and did it better. Sounds like a challenge to me: I'm in!

Of course getting a hold of this movie was one thing, sitting down and watching it was another. I will admit that the similarities to Promising Young Woman are evident but this comes across as the cheaper and nastier cousin.
And that is the strength of this movie: It's honest. It is uncomfortable, it doesn't shy away from the SA scenes, it addresses the effects of SA, it calls out ignorance and inaction, and it is focused. It also helps it has a compelling lead in Francesca Eastwood, who clearly takes after her dad. 

It wasn't an easy watch but it certainly was compelling. 

North by Northwest

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... North By Northwest!

Original image located here. Accessed 12th September 2025

It seems to me that the most famous movies of Alfred Hitchcock are Psycho and The Birds. So who has to take up the somewhat unfortunate role of being no.3? One would think it would be this: Widely regarded as one of The Master's masterworks but, somehow at the same time, not as widely recognised by the outsider.

But what does it matter? This is superb stuff.
Ever seen those thrillers where some hapless guy is mistaken for someone else and has his life disrupted as they are dragged further and further into extraordinary circumstances? Well you can blame this movie for that scenario: For this is pretty much the wellspring that inspired countless other movies. And yet this is still gripping stuff and shows a level of suspense that it's disciples still can't match.

K-Pop Demon Hunters

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... K-Pop Demon Hunters!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th September 2025

Yep, it's this movie. I have a lot of things to say about it so lets resort to dot points:

• Hasn't this been a hit? It's generated a passionate fanbase, scored hits with it's soundtrack and made a lot of interest in K-pop. And all from a an idea that seems absurd on paper.
• Personally I knew what I was getting myself in for due to an interest in Asian pop (started with anime, expanded upon by Kiera). 
• Oh who am I kidding? This was a lot of fun to watch. And there is plenty to latch onto here: Creative animation, jokes coming out at a machine-gun rate, snappy songs, great action scenes and real love for K-pop itself. 
• Special mention must go to what is some razor sharp writing with it's themes and compelling characters - which I hope other writers take note of. 
• Also of note is some surprisingly poignant musings on identity and self-worth.
• I noted Netflix has a Singalong version - which suggests that there are people who CAN hit those high notes in Golden (and make the guy in A-Ha jealous) 
• I wonder if this is going to set a new benchmark for populist entertainment that will have others falling over themselves to meet? If so, I'm all for it :)
• Ultimately, this movie has more personality than ever thought possible. Remarkable. 

Soul

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

Original image located here. Accessed 29th August 2025

Like every man and his dog, I do love me some Pixar: They tell great stories, have stunning animation, have boundless imagination, and can inspire both laughter & tears in equal measure. We all know what to expect from this fiendishly talented studio and yet we don't complain. As such, they have had hit after hit.
That being said, with such a success rate, it makes the weaker films easier to forgive and forget. And that makes an interesting question: Never mind which is the greatest Pixar movie; what is the least Pixar movie?

But even if Pixar may be running on successful formula, the greatest achievement is that the formula doesn't get old. And Soul may be running on said formula but it still works.
All of the above is, of course, a long-winded way of saying that this is a Pixar movie so we can't expect the usual high standard of animation, imagination, laughter and tears. Which is what we all signed up for.
What is particularly noteworthy about Soul however is it's strength of ideas: It is indeed a bold move to bring up existential themes in a children's movie (Never-Ending Story anyone?) but they still resonate deeply as an adult: The concerns of whether you've lived a meaningful life and whether you are prepared to live. And that really speaks to someone like myself who has struggled with self-worth - and no matter how many movies I see related to this topic it still resonates.

And that epiphany scene is truly something astonishing. 

Also: Wait, Nine Inch Nails did the music to this?!

Vertigo

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

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd August 2025

Here we go: One of Alfred Hitchcock's best known films - one in a filmography that is chock-full of them. Certainly I knew the name and I knew that the film was remade for a Faith No More video so let's take a look....

I find a lot to admire in this movie. There's some great visual tricks, there's some fantastic location footage that shows off San Francisco, the themes of obsession are handled well, Hitchcock's skill with suspense is in fine form and Bernard Hermann's score emerges as the MVP. 

However, as I watch this movie I can't help but think that of Hitchcock himself. For in recent years, Hitchcock has fallen out of favour as it has been made clear that he exhibited some questionable behaviour: Being nasty to actors and obsessing over the image of a particular blonde. As such, I can't help but think that Vertigo is The Master at his most confessional. After all, the title is Vertigo and it's funny how all sense of acrophobia disappears for a sizable chunk of the movie. 

So not bad but compared to to other Hitchcock movies I've seen this one did feel somewhat cold. 

Young Frankenstein

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

Original image located here. Accessed 15th August 2025

Seems that this is one of Gene Wilder's fondest remembered performances alongside Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Being well aware of the other movie, this seems like a challenge.

But this is still a Mel Brooks movie, so expect some biting satire walking hand-in-hand with jokes that bounce from hilarious to the inane. And this one delivers: Right from the get-go this is clearly paying homage to the Frankenstein mythos, and not just the original movie. The mood is still the same and I recognised some scenes from the James Whale movie but this time it's loaded with jokes.
Jokes that range from the dumb to the side-splitting. 
So yeah, this was kinda dumb but still pretty funny. 

Straw Dogs

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

Original image located here. Accessed 8th August 2025

This is another stab at the oeuvre of director Sam Peckinpah. I have had previous experiences with this guy and I admired his work - so lets go with his most controversial film: This British-made film that has been labelled as violent and misogynistic.
Looks like this will be a fun time.

Much has been written about this movie and what it was trying to get across: It's a fish-out-of-water story about a couple entering in a foreign environment. It is the clash between tradition and liberalism. It is both misogynistic and a criticism of misogynism. It is the story of a quiet, civilised man stepping up and becoming a violent monster. 
Valid criticisms to be sure but my main takeaway from this movie is just how soulless it is. It is just so dull and lifeless that watching it became a chore. Matters aren't helped with the nasty moments are difficult to sit through (granted that may be the point) and there is no catharsis whatsoever by the end. 

Am I missing something here? Sure fifty-plus years may have lessened the shock value it originally had - especially considering that many film-makers may have actively tried to top it since - but I know for a fact that Peckinpah can do better than this. 

Ikiru

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

Original image located here. Accessed 1st August 2025

This is my 500th post on this blog so here's something that I've been saving for a special occasion. 

Much has been said about this movie already: One of Akira Kurosawa's most famous movies. Kurosawa at his most human. Takashi Shimura giving the performance of his career. The Japanese Its a Wonderful Life. So what can I add to the pile?

What is there to say? This is the story of a boring man who, upon diagnosed with a terminal illness, decides to make his remaining time count. And yet such a description doesn't do the film justice: It isn't predictable and it never once makes our protagonist pathetic or a punchline. And that is some remarkable restraint. 

Certainly this movie touched me on a deep level. As I'm getting older, I do ponder on my mortality and wonder if I will get everything I want to do done. Certainly, it's not the first time I've made such ponderings - I recall doing as many outstanding things as possible back in 1999 - but it still makes for an effective motivator. So there's something to be said about someone using his time to go from a  boring, meaningless life into finding something substantial. 
And there is something universal in that message. And seeing it shown in a movie like this is something else: Certainly there may some who would write this off as insincere but hey, who hasn't been confronted with thoughts on their own mortality?

Truly a magnificent movie. 

And as I close out this five hundredth post, I realise: Maybe there is still more to do...

Mulan: Rise of a Warrior

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Mulan: Rise of a Warrior!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th July 2025

Here's something leftfield: A Chinese movie made about the legendary figure Hua Mulan. Now I've seen the Disney animated film - which I imagine is how a lot of other people became aware of this story - and thoroughly enjoyed it. So why not have a Chinese production take on the same source material? It is, after all, their story.

This is a movie that left me with a lot of mixed feelings: On one hand, the battle scenes are exciting and there is some great imagery throughout. But on the other hand, this is a slow movie. Some moments drag on and that is effectively the death blow to this movie. I have seen numerous epic movies based around a singular figure and I can tell you this is a genre that one has to go all out: It can't afford to be boring. And in this case, yes the second half may be thrilling but the first half was a slog to get through. 

It was engaging yes but somehow I felt the animated Mulan had a lot more personality. 

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... Josee, the Tiger and the Fish!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th July 2025

Sometimes you go see a movie for the wrong reasons. And this is one of them.
Recently this movie has been generating disgust for it's plot: A guy is hired to be a carer for a woman confined to a wheelchair and they eventually both fall in love. Such disgust is based around the idea of fetishism. Or something.
Of course, such outrage could easily be written off as nonsense but it did make me aware of this movie so I decided to take a look at it for myself. 

So I watched with this with Kiera and we both enjoyed it. If anything, this is the story of two lost souls eventually finding each other. It's funny, charming and ultimately very touching. 
And whilst anime, as a genre, may be slammed for promoting unrealistic romantic expectations upon it's audience, what we have here are two people who have their own hopes and goals and how they inspire the other to pursue it. 
Throw in some great visual designs and we have a winner, 
Sometimes you go see a movie for the wrong reasons. And sometimes you can end up striking gold. 

How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... How to Train Your Dragon!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th July 2025

I will admit that I was something of a latecomer to the How to Train Your Dragon movies - but no matter: I still wound up adoring them. I equally enjoyed watching Race to the Edge. I even jumped  aboard the HMAS Hiccstrid. 

Of course, I had no plans to watch this - if the frosty reception of the Disney remakes is anything to go by - but Kiera had other plans and dragged me to it. Still, my cynicism remained: How can Live Action improve the animated splendour of the original?

I will say this: It's beautifully shot, the cast are all great, the designs are fantastic, the excitement is still there, there is a clear commitment being put into it and the strength of the source material still resonates. 
But there is still a slavish loyalty to the original: there is no need to make any improvements and there's nothing the animated original didn't do better. Furthermore, I think the original had more personality.

So yeah, it's a rollicking adventure movie but I still can't see what the point of it all was.
Mind you, if you told me that this was ploy to secure composer John Powell an Oscar then I'd believe you,
Can't wait for the Live Action remake of Shrek though...

Born on the Fourth of July

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Born on the Fourth of July!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th July 2025

I couldn't resist.

Jokes aside, there is nothing funny about this: a biopic about Vietnam vet Ron Kovic, tracing his story from childhood to adulthood. We see him fighting in the conflict, becoming paralysed and confined to a wheelchair, coming home and struggling to readjust to a civilian life, pursuing hedonistic pleasures to zero satisfaction and eventually becoming an anti-war activist.

I have a feeling that if this movie was released today it would be written-off as Oscar Bait. It certainly ticks the boxes that are favoured by the Academy and it certainly goes a long way to humanise those who fought in a very unpopular war. But somehow, this movie still stands on it;s own feet purely through it's lead: Tom Cruise.
For a long time. Cruise was a punchline: so much so it is easy to forget that he was truly one of the finest actors of his day. And here he delivers quite possibly his best performance: He inhabits the role of Kovis delivering the fire and pathos necessary to effectively become Kovic. 

This story may sound like one told many times before - indeed Kovic's story is one that many Vietnam vets would have faced - but none could hit like this. 

Rope

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

Original image located here. Accessed 27th June 2025

Well seeing as it's pride month....

It is an interesting thing with approaching Alfred Hitchcock's filmography: he produced so many movies and a large of them have gone down as classics that it is difficult to pick between them. And as such, a number of his films can slip through the cracks. 
It seems to me that this title is one such movie: Well regarded but nowhere near the likes of Psycho or The Birds. Still should be worth a look...

Maybe it's just me it seems this movies reputation, at least from modern audiences, lies in the fact that the two murderers here are clearly a gay couple. Certainly daring for the time (1948) but that does overshadow the technical achievements of the movie: Its constructed out of ten minute takes. It is impressive that it was done, that Hitchcock had the gall to do it and it suits the story's origins as a stage play well. 
At the end of the day though this was an experiment and whether or not Hitchcock succeeded is up to debate (one could make the argument that the homosexual overtones were far more interesting). Still, this is compelling and it's fun to see The Master branch out and try something different.

Some Like it Hot

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... Some Like it Hot!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th June 2025

Once again, we're going after a big fish: This movie has an impressive reputation as one of the greatest comedies ever made. And, from an outsider such as myself, this movie also appears to rank very highly amongst both women and the LBGT community - I suppose that's what happens when you make a movie based around two guys who are forced to dress in drag.

But who am I kidding? This was hilarious. Time hasn't aged it at all and the jokes still hit the mark. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon make for a superb duo and Marilyn Monroe is in her prime. 
It's a great example of a farce done right and some razor sharp satire. And a lot of movies that have followed since can only wish they were this good. 

Lilo and Stitch

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Lilo and Stitch (2025)!

Original image located here. Accessed 13th June 2025

I didn't plan on seeing this but Kiera dragged me to it. So here we are.
I think at this point the Disney remakes have been shaping up to be a series of disappointments. Complaints have been running rampant such as not offering anything new, lifeless in comparisons to their animated source material, blatant in it's cash-grabbing nature, and buckling to the bad-faith criticism internet nerds like to spruik. For such reasons, I have been hesitant in taking on these films.
Still, that a Lilo and Stitch remake exists is a surprise: It wasn't part of the Renaissance and it never seemed like one of the box-office successes. But I adored the original so maybe there will be something?

Well it wasn't bad. 

There are some good jokes and the heart of the original is still there but it's buried under an approach that is bigger and louder. It's the classic 'shock and awe' tactic: Give the audience a lot and within a short space of time and they wouldn't have time to look at it more closely. 
And that does leave an unpleasant aftertaste as the original wasn't a large scale narrative. It had something that worked. And that something was still present with this one (although I do feel Nani was done dirty in the end). 

Mind you, I do want to know what kind of witchcraft Tia Carrere is using to preserve her good looks.

The Straight Story

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

Original image located here. Accessed 6th June 2025

Once again, I face down a movie that I have been wanting to see for a long time. I suppose the recent passing of director David Lynch is as good a time as any.
Funnily enough, I hadn't seen any David Lynch movies but I knew of his works through reputation: Surrealist imagery, eccentric characters and an interest in dreamlike states. And he also made Mulholland Drive which baffled my father so much, I heard about it for weeks afterwards.
So it is unsurprising that my first David Lynch movie would be the one that has the reputation of being his most conventional one. Furthermore, the story of Alvin Straight and his journey of travelling a 390 kilometre journey atop a ride-on lawnmower sounds like one that would make for an interesting movie. 

For someone who is unfamiliar with Lynch's work, I can still tell that this is a breed apart from his oeuvre: None of the tropes I mentioned in the previous paragraph are present here. Instead, this is an empathetic look at Alvin and the journey he takes. We see the people he meets and interacts with on the way and we gain insight into his way of thinking, built up through years of experience. And we learn his belief in family. 
It may sound dull but it is absorbing, largely due to Lynch's directing and the committed performance of the late great Richard Farnsworth. Whatever gamble this movie may have initially appeared to be, ultimately paid off. 
Sometimes the most compelling movies can be the most deceptive, you know?

Solaris

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

Original image located here. Accessed 30th May 2025

Here we are folks: The classic 1972 Soviet movie that was intended to be a response to 2001: A Space Odyssey but has since become something of a classic in it's own right. Certainly I knew of this film and I had seen the remake that starred George Clooney so what do I make of this?

It's long that's what. Nearly three hours and it comes across as something of an endurance test, with some pointless scenes and a pace that moves faster than a molasses flood. I will give credit to the director Andrei Tarkovsk for demanding that the audience approach the movie on his own terms but that is still quite a demand.

Still, I will give credit for this movie for it's ideas and the hypnotic approach. And the final scene is indeed one I never saw coming. 

Singin' in the Rain

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Singin' in the Rain!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd May 2025

Last year I watched quite a few musicals - more than I would regularly watch in a year (i.e. more than zero). So I may as well go the whole hog and go for the big one. Sure we all know the titular song but what of the movie attached to it?

Have you ever seen the kind of person who can enter a room full of people and, through a combination of personality and charisma, win over everyone in said room with little to no effort? That's what this movie is. The songs are catchy, the dancing sequences are insane, the humour hasn't aged at all, and exuberance just leaps out of the screen. 

Not much else to say except that it seems that this is an eternal classic for a damn good reason. 

The Wrestler

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

Original image located here. Accessed 16th May 2025

A lot has been said about this movie, with it being the resurrection of Mickey Rourke's career and being one of the best movies of the 2000s. So it therefore becomes difficult to bring something new to the table.
Personally I enjoyed it and think the approach of making this movie comparable to a documentary worked wonders. Rourke is in top form and credit is due to taking wrestling seriously. 

So is this movie the evil cousin of Rocky and Raging Bull? Well that's one way of putting it. But personally I find it fitting that this movie came out the same year as Iron Man: Both movies

• star an actor who had fallen out of favour, 
• delivering a performance that effectively breathes new life to their career 
• in which they play someone who mirrors their personal life.  

But ultimately this wasn't an easy watch so next week I think I might watch something more fun *checks schedule*....Oh hello.....

Kneecap

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

Original image located here. Accessed 9th May 2025

 Behold: A movie I wouldn't have heard about had it not been for a friend who told me about it.

So what we have here is a bio on Northern Irish hiphop act Kneecap. It has the band members playing themselves and shows their rise to fame along with the trials and tribulations they go through. Standard music bio pic right?

Wrong! Yes this genre can very easily fall into formula but this movie wisely avoids it. Part of what makes it unique is that it frames to band's story alongside that of Northern Irish identity: defying the British and preserving both the language and the culture. 
It also helps that this movie takes the approach of being grimy, anarchic, playful, creative and funny. 
So props to this movie for not only breaking step from formula and running in the opposite direction.

Also, does anyone think that Detective Ellis may join the ranks of cinema's most memorable villains?

Operation Filmmaker

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

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd May 2025

Here we are with another documentary that started in direction but ended up in a completely different one.
In 2003 during the War on Iraq, a young man, Muthana Mohmed, was caught on camera lamenting how his aspiring film career had been ruined: First by the then current regime and then by the US Armed Forces. This caught the attention of Liev Schreiber who then sought Muthana out and invited to take part in a film Schrieber was making (Everything is Illuminated) as an intern. 
Surely this is a one-in-a-million success story but this documentary is more about what happened next.

Needless to say it isn't pretty: What follows is Muthana's misadventures navigating the world of filmmaking: He doesn't do the work he is assigned, makes no effort to build connections and network, spends quite a lot of time partying, bounces from film-set to film-set, is warned by his countrymen to not return to Iraq, relies on the goodwill by the people around him, acts entitled, keeps adding to his visa, and tries to get into film school.

Yet at the same time, there is another narrative going on at the same time: that of the people around Muthana. They are relying on the good intentions that got him out of Iraq and are offering no help whatsoever. Indeed, it is telling that, in the last twenty minutes, Muthana turns on the people filming him and lashes out at them. 

So who is the bad guy here? It's unclear that's for sure but that's what makes this documentary so compelling. Uncomfortable viewing? Damn straight but it's hardly dull.

Where Eagles Dare

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Where Eagles Dare!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th April 2025

Should I be watching a war movie on Anzac Day? That's a very good question. Nevertheless, I have been wanting to see this for a long time so now is as good a time as any. I guess.

But no matter: This was gripping stuff, following a commando unit on a rescue mission. Richard Burton is certainly a presence and Clint Eastwood is effectively carrying over his Man With No Name persona into a different setting. The set pieces are great and there's some great actions scenes - not least that nail-biting sequence on the cable car. And there is some intrigue that one wouldn't find in a war movie - surprising but welcome. 

I've heard some comments comparing this to a James Bond movie but hey, whatever works. After all, anyone can come up with a war setting but it takes a visionary to do something different with it.

Tarzan

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

Original image located here. Accessed 18th April 2025

I never saw Tarzan - or Mulan for that matter - when it was originally in theatres. At that time I was in college and my interests were being directed elsewhere. Furthermore to watch a Disney animated film back then was, in my mind, dismissed as 'kid's stuff'. 
But now, I'm an adult and I see no reason to care any more - especially as I continue to lurch through middle age. In addition, I have heard some good things about Tarzan so maybe it's time to give this a look with fresh eyes. 

So does this count among the Disney Renaissance? I have spoken previously about the post-Renaissance years, which is now recognised as the Experimental years, but is there an overlap between the two? Indeed, one could make the argument that the Experimental years began post-Lion King as those have not had the widespread recognition comparable to Little Mermaid/Beauty and the Beast/Aladdin/Lion King.

All right, enough delaying: This movie was fantastic. It wasn't just the astonishing animation, but a lot of stand out moments: The soundtrack courtesy of one Phil Collins. The theme of family. The gorgeous artwork. But the real star is Jane: She was a great character in her expressive, adorkable, probably-inspired-by-Jane-Goodall glory - helped immeasurably by the voice acting of Minnie Driver. And seeing her relationship with Tarzan progress is one worth following. 

I have heard that Tarzan himself functions as an analogy for people with Autism. Certainly I can see it and yes it does seem plausible, what with him being socially awkward and how he is treated by the people around him. Having said that, maybe I should've watched this during it's original theatre run as it could've helped...

Anywho, this was great stuff and yes, I think this could easily stand amongst Disney's best.

Mr Peabody and Sherman

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Mr Peabody and Sherman!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th April 2025

I watched a lot of Rocky and Bullwinkle when I was a kid. So I was already familiar with these characters and their shtick. Needless to say, I was perplexed to see that someone decided that these two should have their own full-length feature. I mean, is this the type of thing that will sell to the kids of the 2010s, let alone anyone who was a kid in the 1950s?

So it seems that I needn't have worried: This was hilarious with some real laugh-out-loud jokes, snappy dialogue, some clever use of visuals, gags that are anything but archaic, and some actual heart - not to mention various allusions to the source material. It is like that the makers realised that this wasn't that big a property so they had the freedom to do whatever they wanted - and so they ran with that.

Like I said I had no idea who green-lit this but I never would've guessed it produced such a gem. 

The Queen of Versailles

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Queen of Versailles!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th April 2025

It seems this year that I have been, once a month, watching a documentary, that started in one direction but ended up in a completely different direction. So lets keep that particular train going.

This documentary is a fascinating one as it tells a familiar story: A couple are intent on building their dream house but, due to meddling from the bank, they are forced to abandon this plan and settle for something smaller. So what makes this story different? The couple in question are an excessively wealthy businessman and his trophy wife: David and Jackie Siegel. 

So whilst this documentary starts with their original plan - a monumental mansion inspired by the Palace of Versailles - what happens next has such plans going belly-up with the financial crash of 2008 and these two settling for something lesser.
Now given that the super wealthy are hardly flavour of the month material at the moment, is this documentary condemning or sympathetic? The answer is both. Yes this couple make some poor spending decisions (especially Jackie), yes they have an oblivious approach to their situation, and yes they are effectively living in their own super-wealthy bubble. But at the same time, they are facing a lot of problems that the rest of us will face: limited funds, struggling to pay off debts and longing for a financial breakthrough. 

Make no mistake: These people are pretty much awful people who do dumb things and have a limited view of the world. And yet seeing them humbled in such a manner one can't help but feel sense of sympathy.
Maybe not a lot but its there.

The Snow Queen

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

Original image located here. Accessed 28th March 2025

I have thrown plenty of curveballs on this blog but this must be the biggest one yet: A Soviet animated feature from 1957. An odd choice certainly but this film is noteworthy as it famously inspired Japanese anime titan Hayao Miyazaki and remains one of his favourite films.

At first glance one would think this was Frozen's dour Russian cousin but it isn't. Instead it follows the source material very closely.
But really the main selling point of this movie would be the visuals. The art direction is pretty good by itself and the animation quality still holds up decades later. But it is the various animation tricks and techniques that really sell this movie. 
Granted this is more an art movie than a Disney flick but that's what makes it so unique.

Treasure Planet

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

Original image located here. Accessed 21st March 2025

And so here we go again with Disney's Post-Renaissance era. That weird period where they eschewed the musicals in favour of doing some more experimental works, with the results being polarising at best. And yet, with the passage of time, some entrants of this period are looked favourably, with some praising them for both the quality and Disney's willingness to take risks.

I do recall when Treasure Planet was originally released, being greeted with both bewilderment and a weak showing at the box office. But in the years since, many people have come around to it. So what do I make of this?

Well, this is an adaptation of Treasure Island so the source material is unbeatable. As such a lot rides on what is done with it. 

And I have to say this movie is indeed inventive: the visuals are stunning, showing every cent of the large budget. The creativity is great and designs are staggering. And it's also pleasing to see a straight-up adventure movie coming from Disney - but given the source material that is expected. 

It is certainly an odd move to reskin Treasure Island in a sci-fi setting but, against the odds, it works. 

Also casting Emma Thompson as Amelia was a master-stroke as she sounds like she's having the time of her life.

Vernon: Florida

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

Original image located here. Accessed 14th March 2025

I am attracted to any movie that has a fascinating backstory behind it and the one attached to this documentary is a doozy.
Documentarian Errol Morris went to Vernon, Florida to do a feature based on a story he heard about how local residents were cutting off body parts for an insurance scam. However this original idea had to be abandoned due to Morris receiving multiple death threats. So, as a Plan B, Morris instead made a documentary about some of the eccentric individuals that make up the town.

 As mentioned above this is exactly what it is: Some residents of a southern town talking about their lives and what they  think. It may sound dull but what makes it compelling isn't just these people's various eccentricities but their own insights thereby conveying their philosophies and experiences. Also noteworthy is that I gather this will be the closest we will ever get to see Southern people on the screen: a rarely seen people showing them as they are and having speak in their own voice. 

So in it's own roundabout way, this is a very human documentary. 
Truly a case of building something out of when one's original plan falls though....

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th March 2025

Well I've been putting this one off long enough. I was reluctant to see this one as I still have the scars from seeing the previous efforts that bore the DnD brand. But I did hear that this latest one was actually really good. Certainly that sounds like an against the odds victory but it was enough to grab my interest.

I guess comparisons with the Guardians of the Galaxy movies are hard to avoid: It's not just the idea of taking an IP that shouldn't work and actually making it work - it's also ramping up the comedy, presenting absurd situation after absurd situation, and having an group of personalities bouncing off one another. However it is the latter that should make this a natural fit as that's what a DnD session is: Multiple players working off on another as they build a narrative. 
And the makers behind this realised this and ran with it. And that I found myself enjoying this a lot confirms the wiseness of such a decision. Certainly I could see various instances that hint towards the mechanics and spirit of DnD but the whole thing was delivered with humour, cast interplay, creativity and action that anyone not familiar with this tentpole of geekiness could get on board. 
Also props to Hugh Grant who looks like he was having a lot of fun. 

Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th February 2025

Here's an interesting concept for a documentary: One on former US president Jimmy Carter framed around his love of music. Given his recent passing, I guess now is as good a time as any to take a look.

But whereas I was intrigued by the framework, itself proves to be deceiving. Yes, it is fascinating to see Carter's interest in music, going from discovering gospel in his youth before branching out into country and rock 'n roll. Yes it is interesting to have input from the likes of Bob Dylan, Nile Rodgers, Willie Nelson and Gregg Allman. And yes it is amusing to see Carter use his political connections to engage with many of the acts of the era.
However the further this documentary goes on, the more it strays from it's original intent: And it gradually becomes less about Carter's love of music and more about Carter as a person. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing: The movie talks about his beliefs, his values and his decisions as president. And the interviewees are certainly willing to talk about Carter, contributing to the image of him as someone of genuine integrity. 

Informative yes, but not what I was expecting. 

Kung Fu Panda 4

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... Kung Fu Panda 4!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st February 2025

I didn't have plans on watching this, but this turned out to be one of the situations where Kiera chose the movie. Still, I am willing to be surprised. And I have had some glowing things about the other three Kung Fu Panda movies so can that winning streak continue?

Well allow me to resort to bullet points:

• The first three had their fair share of solemn moments but this does not. This was a mistake.
• The Furious Five are also absent. This is also a mistake. 
• Viola Davis was great as the antagonist. 
• Seems to be some hostility towards Zhen. Is it the character? Or Awkwafina's voice? If that is the case of the latter, I have to wonder this hostility came from as she was great in Crazy Rich Asians 
• I did enjoy the dynamic Po and Zhen as clearly the latter was written in a way reminiscent of the former in the first movie. 
• The idea of Po being a state of wisdom is a compelling one given the journey he had taken to get here. 
• The action is still as solid as ever
• The end credits theme is hilarious
• Ultimately there is some enjoyable moments but the end result is indeed removed from what the first Kung Fu Panda movies so great.

When Harry Met Sally

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... When Harry Met Sally!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th February 2025

Well it's Valentine's Day so here's one I've been saving for such an occasion. 

Seems to me that this movie is remembered for three reasons: Firstly, it defined rom-coms for the next couple of decades. Secondly, it made Meg Ryan the go-to actress for rom-coms. And thirdly, the diner scene. But I however came to this movie to judge on it's own, without these three factors in play.

And honestly, it's still really funny. There are some great gags and some razor-sharp writing, exploring the mindset of both genders. And it's interesting to note that whereas this movie became a benchmark of rom-coms it doesn't really follow the tropes associated with the genre (as dictated by It Happened One Night) and is all the better for it. 

It's also nice to see Carrie Fisher in a non-Star Wars role. 

The Boy and the Heron

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Boy and the Heron!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th February 2025

So when was it that I discovered the works of Studio Ghibli? The year 2000. And much like any other movie connoisseur/anime nerd, it didn't take much to win me over: Stunning animation, boundless imagination, a distinct brand of humanism and a fearlessness when talking about big ideas. How could I help myself but jump on that particular bandwagon.
But I did so at an interesting time. For the years that would follow would prove fascinating for Ghibli figurehead/genius Hayao Miyazaki: Releasing Spirited Away. Achieving worldwide success with said movie. Scoring anime's first Oscar. Going back and forth on retirement. Growing outspoken to the point of becoming a curmudgeon. Losing his friend/colleague/sempai Isao Takahata.
In fact, I think that the success of Spirited Away may have been something of a turning point: Whereas Miyazaki's movies prior were unique in their own way, what has followed Spirited Away (Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo) seemed to be following the same template of throwing whatever weirdness his imagination can come up with. However one could make the argument that said weirdness can be relied upon too much and can be used as a smokescreen to cover up a weak script. 
Granted it is foolish of me to draw comparisons to previous Ghibli works but given the factors of the uniqueness of each work, the high quality of the studio's output and Miyazaki's advancing years, any instances of repeating one's self becomes hard not to notice. 

As for the movie itself it is extraordinary. The animation is of the typical Ghibli high quality and the afore-mentioned weirdness is at play. And the imagery is inventive and the imagination is, as ever, wondrous. 
But the real heart of this movie is this is a personal work for Miyazaki. All the pieces are in place to explain where he come from: The experiences of his youth, the building of the empire that is Ghibli, the musings of moving on and building something with one's own hands. Big themes to be sure but the movie does address them with flair.

Mind you, watching this movie however I can't help but draw comparisons to The Tale of the Princess Kaguya: The bombing sequence is animated in the same way and both films share a sense of finality running throughout. Makes me wonder just how hard Miyazaki took the passing of Takahata (seriously, watch him give the eulogy at Takahata's funeral: the poor guy is barely getting through it). Still, much like Kaguya, this is an effective way to say goodbye.

Also, props to the English dub for having Robert Pattinson playing the Heron as he seems to be having the time of his life.

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st January 2025

As an IP, Wallace and Gromit's output is small: One feature film and a handful of shorts. Granted the quality of animation demands a lot of time and effort, but what there is, is never dull. And when a new entrant emerges, it is difficult to avoid.

No idea why you'd want to: The humour is near non-stop, the visuals are inventive and there are some surprising use of mood that would be suited to a horror movie. Also pleasing is the jabs at the increasing influencing devices and tech have in our lives. Okay sure there are more than a few allusions to The Wrong Trousers (perhaps to the point of reliance?) and Wallace makes for an exasperating character but this was a lot of fun. 

I recall watching Wallace and Gromit when I was in High School. And I'm glad to report this IP is still delightful three decades later.

Dark Star

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

Original image located here. Accessed 24th January 2025

Here's a question: Can anyone tell me, without looking it up, who created the Alien franchise?
My experience with sci-fi nerds - or any nerds for that matter - is that they tend to venerate creators who come up with successful IP. By way of example: George Lucas gave us Star Wars, Gene Roddenberry gave us Star Trek, J. Michael Straczynski gave us Babylon 5 and Joss Whedon gave us Firefly.
All recognisable names to be sure - so who created Alien?

The answer is two people: Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett. The former wrote a movie called Dark Star and it impressed the latter to a point that they joined forces, worked on some of the ideas from said movie and gave us the horror/sci-fi hybrid that we all know.
And if that isn't enough, this movie was the directorial debut of one John Carpenter. It was originally a student film but, with some additional funds, it was expanded upon.
Quite a pedigree one would think.....

Let's get this out of the way: This is a B-Movie. The sets look shoddy, the sfx are cheap, the premises are ludicrous and there is no attempt to hide it. The monster in this movie is a beachball and the cast act like they're stoned. Certainly there are some elements that will crop up again in Alien - blue-collar space-farers working for a faceless corporation - but both films are so removed from each other it's hard to make the connection both came from the same writer. 
And yet, this movie still works: There are plenty of laughs and the cheap nature of it makes it endearing. It certainly does say a lot about doing a lot with limited resources and you must give props to a student film that made the leap into a full feature. 
Funny how big things would come to those behind a mere student film....

Gimme Shelter

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

Original image located here. Accessed 17th January 2025

Behold: one of the most famous (infamous?) documentaries, music or otherwise, ever made. It's the chronicle of the Altamont Free Concert - a show put on by the Rolling Stones that ended in disaster.

For those who don't know: Altamont happened in 1969, four months after Woodstock. It was put together by the Rolling Stones and had them headlining with some other acts. During the show however the crowd was unruly and the security, provided by the Hells Angels, were very hostile to them. Needless to say, it descended into chaos and an attendee, one Meredith Hunter, was stabbed to death.
Since then, there have been varying accounts of the event but it has gone down in history as a catastrophe and, most significantly, the endpoint of both the sixties and the hippy ethos of 'peace and love' it inspired.

Of  course, this documentary does nothing to challenge such a narrative: the planning process is shown to be haphazard and the event is shown to be utter mayhem. And it is the latter that is the key selling point of this documentary: it is terrifying to watch and the alarm shown by the Stones is genuine. 

But the main strength of this feature is seeing Mick and Charlie being confronted with the footage. Granted the Stones may forever be the benchmark for pop music 'bad boys' but rarely are such 'bad boys' shown the consequences of their actions. And it is downright harrowing. 
Was that the intention of this documentary? Hard to say but what I do know is that this was a far from easy watch - but much like car crash, hard to look away. 

Nosferatu (2024)

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Nosferatu (2024)!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th January 2025

I saw this in the cinema where some goth girls were in the row behind me. And when the line came "He's coming! He's coming!" I heard some giggling....

It's a bold move to remake one of the foundation stones/benchmarks of horror cinema: what can one do with the source material? Okay sure the original is over a century old and may look creaky today, but there are some genuinely freaky moments that put more modern horror movies to shame. So what does this one bring to the table?

Well the atmosphere is stunning with some great use of creeping dread. The visuals are gorgeous and there plenty of nods to the source material. But at the same time, I can't help but think that this is a soulless exercise. It is horny to the point of absurdity, the accents are silly and I was left with the thought of what the whole point of it was.

Footrot Flats: A Dog's Tale

   And this week's Friday night movie has been... Footrot Flats: A Dog's Tail Tale!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd January 2025

Happy New Year! And what better way to set off another year of movie watching, lets take a look at a movie that I have wanting to see for a long time.

I remember Footrot Flats when I was a kid. Certainly I knew of the comic strip but a lot of the humour went over my head - I guess one has to be sheep farmer to get the most out of it. But I do remember knowing the characters and, in particular, Dog. And I knew of this movie and the accompanying theme song - Dave Dobbyn's Slice of Heaven - so I may as well get off my slack arse and watch this.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this movie is that it is a New Zealand production and a major stab at getting an animated New Zealand movie made (has any more been made since?). And the animated is indeed delightful - ironically being outsourced from a Sydney animation studio - with special mention going to some rather stunning backgrounds.
Problem is, there is no plot to speak of: just a series of misadventures involving bad jokes, pointless scenes, archaic situations, the afore-mentioned farmer-centric humour and New Zealand pride that would look alien to outsiders. 
Needless to say it was disappointing that a movie I have been wanting to see turned out to be downright dull. 

But at least we still have Slice of Heaven.

And so 2025 is off to a flying start....