Avatar: The Way of Water

 And this weeks Friday night movie has been.... Avatar: The Way of Water!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th September 2026

For me, James Cameron is one of those people who everyone has a differing angle upon: He's a filmmaker who can produce action movies with some intelligence. He's a guy who's seems passionate on underwater exploring to the point of obsessive. He's someone who really wants to push the envelope on visual effects in cinema and what they can accomplish. He's the traitor who made action movies (Aliens and Terminator 1+2) only to go onto something more romantic (Titanic). He's a madman with a vision like no other. He is infamous for being a dictatorial presence on set. He's a guy willing sink an astronomical amount of money to make a five movie series like Avatar to happen. 

Much has been written about Avatar as a series: Very long movies, huge production costs, doing gangbusters at the box-office, exercises in style over substance and The Last Airbender was better. Such assessments would make this series easy fodder as a punchline - not unlike Titanic - but is it enough to colour my view of it?
Admittedly it has been a while since I first saw the first one and I do recall enough of it to leave an impression. So enough beating around the bush: What did I think of The Way of Water?

Obviously this key strength of this movie lies in the visual: The world-building. The lore. The mechanisms that look unfeasible but still come across as possible. The staggering action sequences. The designs of the inhabitants of Pandora. There has been a lot amount of effort being put into this movie and it shows - thus giving the impression that this series is the one entry in Cameron's filmography that he put the most effort into (favourite child much?). 

However is it really style over substance? Well maybe. But then again, as is often the case, it's not what the story being told but how it's told. Certainly it is compelling to see Jake and Neytiri with a family in tow and facing the challenges that comes with it. 

But in the end, this was a fun watch and I had a great time with it. And there's certainly some potential for this film series. 

Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse

 And this weeks Friday night movie has been.... Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th September 2026

Given that this movie's predecessor, Into the Spider-Verse, had such a strong idea behind it, it should come to no surprise that a follow-up would eventually come around.

And much like any sequel, they take the idea that drove the first one and make it bigger: The animation is still of a quality that is insane, the creativity on display is still mind-boggling and the characters are still as compelling as ever. Indeed, it has been a while since I saw a movie that showed this much fun and passion behind it so it certainly made my evening. 
Indeed, such is the ideas that are on display that they clearly weren't enough to confine to two hours and twenty minutes. 

But it makes we wonder: Can Sony keep this hot-streak going? Surely they can't keep something of this quality up forever....

9/11

 And this weeks Friday night movie has been.... 9/11!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th September 2026

My fascination with watching documentaries that started in one place but ended up somewhere completely different continues as we have this.
In July 2001 two French filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet went to New York city to film a rookie firefighter, Tony Benetatos. The plan was to show the experiences of a rookie, a 'probie'. But little did those involved know but on the following September, things would take a turn for the horrific....

Given that documentaries exist as a form of journalism (documenting events as they happen) there is a lot going on here.
We see Jules going with the firefighters to investigate a gas leak only to be left outside and, whilst adjusting his camera work, ending up getting one of three recordings of the first plane hitting the North Tower.
We see the attempts of the firefighters congregating on ground floor to try and get a plan going.
We see the general confusion and disbelief, both inside and outside of the towers, as to what's going on.  
We see the humanity displayed by the firefighters and their efforts to save as many people as possible
We see the horror of digging through the rubble to find any possible survivors.
And we see the human cost involved.

This is effectively ground zero of this horrific event and is the best source of the impact of it. 
Not an easy watch but as a source of documentation it's unbeatable. 

The Odyssey

And this weeks Friday night movie has been.... The Odyssey!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th September 2026

It seems every man and his dog (ha ha) has seen this so I finally got off my lazy arse and got around to seeing it for myself. 

So what's my connection with Homer's epic poem? I knew of it back when I was in primary school: I read a few picture books on it and I later had a paperback edition that filled in a lot of the gaps. So yeah: can't say the source material isn't well known. 
But in all honesty, adapting The Odyssey is just like adapting Shakespeare: The source material has been circulating for centuries so the challenge of adapting it lies in doing something new or unique with something very familiar. 

So what does Christopher Nolan bring to the table? 

I will admit that previous experience with the 'sword and sandal' movies from Hollywood tend to colourful, imaginative and adventurous affairs. So it is a surprise that this is clearly none of those things. It is bleak, is less concerned with the fantastical and more concerned with putting Odysseus through the PTSD wringer. But still: This is different and to that end, it is unique. 
There is certainly some superb displays of creativity and some stunning imagery throughout. Certainly this tale has been told many times before but not like this. 

Muppet Treasure Island

And this weeks Friday night movie has been.... Muppet Treasure Island!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th August 2026

I've been meaning to see this for years and given the recent passing of Tim Curry, now is a good a time as any. 

But yeah, there's not much to say: It's the Muppets taking on a literacy classic. It has random humour. It has the anarchic spirit that has defined the Muppets. It clearly has a larger budget which isn't surprising given Disney's involvement. It has a sterling human cast. But most of all, it has Tim Curry hamming it up and clearly enjoying every minute of it. 

Holy Days

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

Original image located here. Accessed 21st August 2026

Kiera insisted that we watch this. And the funny thing I would've never have heard of it otherwise. 
So this is a New Zealand co-production which has to have the most unusual elevator pitch behind it: a trio of nuns go on a road trip with a little boy across both islands of New Zealand. 

So yeah, its pretty obvious that the humour will rely on that of 'nuns interacting with the real world'. But what truly makes it work is the three leads - Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes and Jacki Weaver - who are clearly having the time of their lives in these roles. There's witty dialogue, great jokes and some truly stunning imagery of New Zealand. 
Indeed, a fun movie. 

Winnie the Pooh

   And this week's Friday night movie has been... Winnie the Pooh!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th August 2026

Well I saw the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh last week so it is only fitting that I follow it up with this 2011 effort. 
It would be easy to write this off as a remake of the preceding movie given it takes the same approach: Use the source material and throw in zany sight gags, lean on the naivety of these characters, break the borderline between the animation and the text, show off the playful nature of the animation and all wrap it up in a big bow of cosiness. 
But if it worked the first time, there's no reason why it won't the second. 

Really there's not much else I can add; This was a lot of fun to watch and whilst it seemed a repeat of the Many Adventures it never came across as a problem (which, lets face it, is a difficult trick to pull off). 

Although I am convinced that Pooh's love of honey is so great he may require professional help...

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

   And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th August 2026

When I was a little boy, my father had a copy of Winnie the Pooh on the bookshelf. This was a copy of the original text by A. A Milne and I read it many times. Indeed, a book where the titular character is far from the sharpest tool in the shed but is still able to succeed is something that spoke deeply to me. 

So we come to this: An anthology of previously animated shorts and indeed the most widely recognised of the Disney adaptations of Milne's work. I do recall seeing one of them on TV when I was a lad - the one where Tigger is stuck up a tree - but I never got to see how it ended. 

Looking at this collection of shorts, I can certainly recognise the stories from the source material. And I especially love the playful nature of the animation, with the incorporation of the story book framework. 
Given the ubiquitous nature of these characters, one will would they would grow tiresome easily but that is not the case. 
This has been a lot of fun to watch and hasn't aged at all.

The Wolf of Wall Street

  And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Wolf of Wall Street!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st July 2026

Behold: Another exploration into the filmography of one Martin Scorsese. And it seems this has become one of his best known films in recent years (least not for being the breakthrough role for one Margot Robbie). 

I have seen a number of Scorsese films but seeing this gave the impression that I was still unprepared to see it. It certainly is impressive to see this move as a series of events that get progressive more insane and chaotic the further the film goes on.
The problem is, at least to me, that's all there is. We're watching a guy become ridiculously wealthy through being a stockbroker and committing acts that are both heinous and deplorable along the way. 
Sure it may be fun to see this movie goes next and sure this lifestyle shown may look attractive to some but what is this movie? A biopic? A satire? A cautionary tale? 
I'm not sure myself but what I DO know is this movie left me cold. Sure there are some stand-out moments but I'm not sure what this movie wants from me. 
Oh well....

Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune

  And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th July 2026

Anyone heard of this? It's a 2010 documentary about the 1960s folk/protest singer Phil Ochs. 
I came across Phil Ochs in an interesting way: I have a big book on popular music and, while making my way through the 'O' section, I came across this name. What stood out for me was the story of himself: He made a name for himself as a folk singer, was unfairly pegged as 'second best' to Bob Dylan, was written off the critics and sadly met a tragic end - only to be acknowledged years later for his songwriting and willingness to stand for cause. Indeed, a tale worthy of Hollywood.
And so we come to this: a documentary on Phil and his life, with contributions from admirers such as Joan Baez, Van Dyke Parks, Billy Bragg, Jello Biafra, Sean Penn and Christopher Hitchens. Certainly prior I had never heard of Ochs' music but clearly he's a big deal. 

It's a given that this is a documentary takes us through Phil's tumultuous life. What is fascinating is how it parallels with the events in the world around him. As such, we see Phil make a name of himself with his songs based on what he sees at the time, his sense of humour and willingness to stand for many a cause, his belief his song-writing could make a difference, his gradual disillusionment with Kennedy's passing and Nixon's election, and his gradual decline professionally and mentally.

Needles to say, this documentary goes a long way in explaining Phil as a person and what he stood for. True we know how the story ends and his decline is tough to watch, but in the end, his music endures as does his passion to stand for what he believes in. 
We can all learn a lot from that.

My Brilliant Career

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... My Brilliant Career!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th July 2026

Given the passing of Sam Neill earlier this week, this is an obvious watch: His breakthrough role that brought him to attention of the movie-going public. 

And honestly it couldn't have happened in a better film: It seems that this is indeed a classic of Australian cinema, boasting an impressive cast, wonderful cinematography, and showing this country, and indeed the world, how to make a movie about us. 
The thing that stood out of me is just how quiet this movie is: It's telling a story of defying the gender roles of the day but it's less interested in beating the audience over the head with it and more interested in letting everything on screen sink in (case in point: that striking wide shot that ends Sybylla and Harry's final scene). And that's the greatest strength of this movie. 

It's fair to say that Harry Beecham is the Australian answer to the likes of Mr. Darcy and Rhett Butler. And Neill delivers the quiet charisma the role demands - and some. But even then, this movie is still Judy Davis' show, giving her all.

Seems this is a classic of Australian cinema for a damn good reason. 

Career Opportunities

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

Original image located here. Accessed 10th July 2026

I think it's fair to say that this movie exists purely because of Jennifer Connelly. Indeed, if people know this movie it's because they've seen the footage of Connelly on the coin-operated horse.
But is there more to it than that? I mean it has John Huston's name as writer so it has to be good, right? Surely this movie has a reason to exist other than Connelly looking stunning?

Probably not. 

Okay seriously, this movie was many things: aimless, obnoxious, amateurish. And yet at the same time it was strangely goofy and our two leads made an oddly compelling duo. Yeah it wasn't great but hey I've seen worse. 

And lets face it: if it wasn't for Connelly, no one would care for this movie.

The Peanuts Movie

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

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd July 2026

Its another one I have been putting off for a long time. 
I adored Peanuts when I was a kid. At the time, I revelled in Snoopy's personality - whilst struggling to connect with Charlie Brown. And yet, an adult perspective showed that this was a brutally honest comic strip: It may be easy to write Charlie Brown off as the eternal punching bag but there is something to be said about giving it your all no matter what adversity throws at you. Sure, one will say that giving up something one clearly isn't good at is a determination that is either blind or stoic but the refusal to pack it is admirable. 

Needless to say, this was very much in tune with the source material. Some absolute belly laughs, imaginative animation, countless references for the long-time devotees of Peanuts and the ever-present honesty that made the original strip work. And once again, Charlie Brown's everyman quality ultimately drives the whole thing.
And hey, haven't we all, at some stage, felt like the whole world is conspiring against us? 

Mad Max: Fury Road

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Mad Max: Fury Road!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th June 2026

Well, I've put this one off for long enough.

I have something of a history with the Mad Max movies. I knew of them when I was a kid, knowing enough of them that they consisted of violence, car chases, deserts and people with strange names. Clearly this was something for adults.
Nevertheless I did get my first experience with the Mad Max movies when I saw the Road Warrior in my tween years (!!!). Granted it is questionable if I should've been watching it in the first place but it is difficult to deny that it was, and still is, one of the greatest action movies ever made. And it isn't hard to see the Road Warrior as being the face that launched a thousand ships and inspired a whole host of imitators - indeed, it's doubtful the Warhammer 40,000 universe would exist without it. 
Years later, I got to see the sequel, Beyond Thunderdome. And a funny thing happened: Whereas The Road Warrior was a film tween me shouldn't have been watching, Beyond Thunderdome came across as more kid-friendly - especially in the second half. But, irony of ironies, I hated it. Okay sure it was fun to see Angry Anderson and Tina Turner hamming it up, sure the ideas of rebuilding and a cargo cult were interesting but this was devoid of the bleakness that made the Mad Max films what they were. Would I dare suggest said identity was softened? 
And finally when I reached adulthood, I got to see the first Mad Max movie. In retrospect, it was certainly a world apart from its younger brethren but still very impressive as a low budget feature. 

So, preamble over: I knew very well what I was getting myself in for when I got off my lazy arse and watched this. So what is there to say? 
Violence, car chases, deserts and people with strange names. And it was utterly deranged.
So yeah, this is very much a Mad Max movie. 
And it was frickin' great. 
Pretty much all there needs to be said, really.

Lincoln

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

Original image located here. Accessed 19th June 2026

Yep, another movie that had success in it's day but somehow passed me by. But then again, does anyone really care when you come to a movie?

You know, if you're going to make a movie about one of the most beloved US Presidents, then you may as well go all out and get the best people for the job: Steven Spielberg in the directors chair, John Williams for the score, Tony Kushner for the screenwriting, Janusz Kaminski for photography and as many character actors as one can muster. But really this is all Daniel Day-Lewis' show: He breathes new life into Lincoln, changing the perception of an actor inhabiting a role and into flat-out resurrection. 
I've heard that both Day-Lewis and Spielberg invested a lot of research into the Honest Abe and it shows. The Lincoln here has plenty of humanity brought to the forefront and is intent on breaking down the myth to show the man. 

As for the rest of the film, it's a mixed bag: On one hand it, there are signs it's operating like a heist movie with the 13th Amendment being the prize. But on another, it is political drama with all the skulduggery that comes with it.
But this is clearly the most Oscar-bait of movies, as it ticks all the right boxes: It is a historical drama. It has a lead with proven Oscar success. It has a stacked cast. It is telling the inspiring story of someone who changed history, stuck up for the oppressed and had to evade the nay-sayers to do so. 
Given such observations, they are hard to avoid and did effect my enjoyment of this movie. 

But let's be honest: is Day-Lewis' performance enough to make this film? Damn straight it is. 

The Hunt

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

Original image located here. Accessed 12th June 2026

This came recommended to me. So may as well take a look.
So what we have here is a Danish film wherein a school teacher is accused by one of his students for something heinous. The accusation is false but this movie is more concerned as to what happens next.

Clearly this movie is one intent on raising questions: We see the teacher's life collapse, the community turn against him and the words of the accuser flip-flop between truth and dishonesty. The answers aren't always clear, favouring instead to let the audience make up their own mind.

Personally I find this movie was at it's most compelling in showing how a community turns on someone. And it is done with a cold ruthlessness: No indication that this was a bunch of people circling like sharks waiting for blood in the water; no stopping to consider any discrepancies in the child's account; no pausing to stop paternal instincts to ponder on the consequences of one's actions.
Indeed it took me a while to realise there is little to no soundtrack in this movie, favouring instead to let the silence weigh in. 
And it's that coldness that makes this movie so striking. 

Also, if Die Hard is a Christmas movie does that mean this is a Christmas movie as well?

Malcolm X

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

Original image located here. Accessed 5th June 2026

Surprisingly I haven't seen any of the filmography of one Spike Lee. The immediate impression is that he is a black movie director making movies for a black audience - which subsequently places me in a considerable disadvantage. 
Still I've been meaning to watch this as a) I seen Denzel Washington in numerous movies and he never disappoints, b) I am curious to find out more about a historical figure that I have heard a lot about but only in name and c) I am willing to consider a perspective different from my own.

But what does it matter? Turns out this movie was something unexpected: A biopic that transcends it's intent and becomes something more epic. I mean it worked for Lawrence of Arabia...
Seriously though, this is very effective as a character study, taking us through Malcolm's life, highlighting key points and showing his passion for civil rights. His speeches, teachings and white-hot rage (pun unintended) are all incorporated and even moments when his views are challenged (i.e. his pilgrimage to Mecca and what happens afterward) are included. Indeed, even if the widely-known image of Malcolm X is one of anger, this movie does indeed go to great lengths to show there was a humanity tied to him. 
When one watches a biopic, one gets the feeling that they are watching a propaganda piece but I never got that that with this movie - which means it did it's job better then anyone could've hoped for. 

Funny thing: I did find the first hour a bit of a mess but it really got more focused once Malcolm went to prison, had a religious revelation and began heading on his path of being a civil rights activist. But having typed that sentence out, it would appear that that was the point....

The Beekeeper

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

Original image located here. Accessed 29th May 2026

Some of my workmates suggested I should watch this. So here we go. 

So what we have here is a burly action hero taking action against some computer nerds that are out to scam the livelihood out of some unsuspecting saps. Certainly it makes for an experience that many can relate to - especially considering that the perpetuators of such schemes get away with a lot and the victims are left with next to nothing- except a desire of justice that will never be realised. 
Indeed, I can imagine the elevator pitch for this: 'Jason Statham punches out Mark Zuckerberg'

Jokes aside, this was a solid action flick with some great actions scenes and some delicious catharsis of seeing some internet scam artists getting their come-uppance. 

Oh a sequel is being made? Well I'm for it. 

Interstellar

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

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd May 2026

This has been a long time coming. But now: No more excuses. I am going to sit though this and I will gleam something from it.
Hopefully.

When I was a kid, I often dreamed of leaving the earth and travelling the stars in a spaceship (as kids are often wont to do). Having seen this movie however such dreams now seem like several lifetimes away.

Okay serious now: I was impressed with this movie. Certainly this is a Christopher Nolan movie so one will expect a lot of dialogue and the cerebral elements pushed to eleven - to the point where they threaten to crush the rest of the movie. 
But what makes this movie work is the vision, the visual spectacle and how it takes the science seriously. Say what you like about Nolan's tendency to get behind material that is denser than lead, he sure knows how to craft an incredible movie.

Perhaps it is fitting that Nolan will go on to tackle The Odyssey as that too features a protagonist who takes a very long time to get home..... 

Kundun

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

Original image located here. Accessed 15th May 2026

Over the years I have been slowly getting more acquainted with the oeuvre of Martin Scorsese. So let's take a look perhaps his most unique movie: A biopic on the life of the 14th Dalai Lama. 

Watching this movie I can't help but think of The Last Emperor. Sure such a declaration will be unfair to this movie but it isn't hard to imagine this movie looking over The Last Emperor's shoulder and taking notes. Both follow the pattern of a boy thrust into a position of power, not knowing quite how to handle it, and how it effects him into adulthood. 

Still this is still pretty good and quite an effective turn from someone who built their career from making New York crime dramas. But this isn't just Scorsese's show: he is backed with the staggering visuals of cinematographer Roger Deakins, the evocative score of Philip Glass and the editing of Thelma Schoonmaker. All four are bringing their A-game and the result is a truly a stunning movie. 
It's just a shame that the weak point of this movie is the narrative: It seems disjointed & plodding at times and proves to be quite the Achilles heel.

Nevertheless, this is an impressive movie and certainly a stand-out in Scorsese's filmography.