The Nativity Story

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

Original image located here. Accessed 19th December 2025

Here's a curve ball for you all: The tackling of a religious-themed film.
I have been wanting to see this for quite some time but I've always held it off - this is because I have been on the internet long enough to know that talking about religion is asking for trouble. 
But seeing as it's that time of the year.....

To adapt a story from the Bible is similar to adapting Shakespeare: The material has been done countless times before so the challenge lies in finding a new angle. So what does this movie do?
What I find interesting is that the director is one Catherine Hardwick: Future director of the first Twilight movie. And while her interest in desaturated colours is present here and her approach may be heavy-handed (A choral version of Silent Night playing at the end? Seriously?), there are some striking visuals at play here. I also admire the realistic approach this movie takes. I am also impressed to see a pre-fame Oscar Isaacs giving a compelling performance as Joseph. And the sci-fi nerd in me finds it amusing to see Alexander Siddig playing the Angel Gabriel. 

But what really makes this movie works is that it tells the story of a couple going on a journey and facing various trials and tribulations before before and during. And that's where the movie really shines, being gripping and finding a strength in both it's simplicity and sensitivity. 

So may I conclude this post by wishing you all a Merry Christmas. 

The Holiday

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

Original image located here. Accessed 24th February 2023

This movie came to me as something of a challenge. Because one thing that attracted me was the knowledge that it was a rom com with Jack Black in a key role. Nothing special about that you might think but the writer/director, Nancy Meyers, said the role she gave Jack was one especially written for him. Personally I feel that Jack Black can only play one character so to see him try something different is certainly welcome.

So what we have here is a Christmas movie (two months late I know but stay with me here) where a British woman (Kate Winslet) and an American woman (Cameron Diaz) switch houses and the adventures they have in the other country.
So yeah, I liked this one. Some say the rom-com may be cheesy and archaic but there still much to admire in this movie. Winslet is fun to watch, Black certainly stretches out to try something new and Diaz does this shtick with ease. There's some great laughs and these characters are treated with an empathetic eye. Sure it may be predictable but I will certainly welcome any rom-com that takes it's subjects seriously and doesn't really on gross-out humour and embarrassing situations - must be that feminine touch at play here.
You know, on the DVD case, there's the a critic quote that says that this is better than Love Actually. And I will not contest it.

Flushed Away

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

Original image located here. Accessed 30th September 2022

Once again I approach a movie that I have been putting off for years. Not quite sure why it took me this long: I've always been impressed with what Aardman Animation have done in the past (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run and Creature Comforts) but, as the saying goes, better late than never.

But yeah, this was great. The same strengths that Aardman have applied previously are at work here with rapid fire jokes, English sensibilities, great voice work from the cast and detailed animation. This being Aardman's first stab at CGI animation, it certainly allows for more spectacular set pieces that plasticine animation can't do. Also of note are the many details in the world-building and how the familiar objects are utilised.
Has this aged in the sixteen years since this was unleashed on the world? I don't so. It was still funny and still entertaining.
Yet I can't help think this is one movie that slipped through the cracks and is more or less forgotten. What, is a Dreamworks movie that isn't Shrek/Kung Fu Panda/How to Train Your Dragon DOA? Well i challenge that because this movie was better than being hit by that fate...

Little Miss Sunshine

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Little Miss Sunshine!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th July 2022

I was planning to watch the latest Dr Strange movie but then I noticed this and realised I've been putting this off for far too long.

At first I had no idea what to make of this movie. At times I was left wondering if this was the comedy i was promised as it seemed to come across as more strange than bust-a-gut funny. The laughs seemed slow and what humour was there seemed very off the wall. But within time, this movie won me over: largely through this eccentric cast of characters and watching them facing adversity together. I cna only how many other people have watched this family and remarked: "That's just like mine..."
And there is something to be said that, in world that is divided into winners and losers, being yourself can be an act of defiance.

Also that unforgettable dance to Super Freak:
"What's your daughter doing?!"
"Kicking ass!!"

Casino Royale

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

Original image located here. Accessed 19th November 2021

After a slight deviation, my yearlong mission to watch more James Bond movies continues.
And now we enter the Daniel Craig era. This does mean we are bypassing the Brosnan era simply because I have seen them all. But in away, going from Dalton directly to Craig does indeed seem like a more natural progression as both actors are drawing heavily from the source material. Furthermore, i will admit I didn't give the Craig era much of a chance (I saw Quantum of Solace when it was originally released in the cinema and I do recall it boring me) so it would be interesting to see it Craig strut his stuff with fresh eyes.

And does he ever.
Clearly doing a reboot was the right call to make given that this series has a terrible reputation for formula. And drawing heavily, like never before, from the source material was also the right move. As a result this a Bond updated, repeating the same trick Goldeneye pulled off years earlier (no surprise that both have the same director).
As always, the action scenes are well choreographed and the drama is well handled. And, as this is an origin story, it is interesting to see Bond's progression into the agent we know. I am well aware some people don't like Craig for his dour/humorless take on the character but give him credit: At least he is taking a tried-and-tested role and taking into unfamiliar territory.
I guess being older and wiser gives me more patience for Craig so it would be interesting to see where we go from here...

Marie Antoinette

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

Original image located here. Accessed 15th May 2020

I had heard of this movie from back in 2000s and I never thought I would be seeing it. But, as it happened, the gf suggested we give it a watch.

Obviously this movie is playing the whole 'Marie Antoinette as a Rock Star' angle with the soundtrack (featuring the Cure, New Order and the Strokes among others) and the presence of Marianne Faithfull in the cast. So clearly this is not aiming to be an accurate retelling of the life of the famous monarch.

Getting past that however and there is still a lot going for this film. The visuals are stunning, the location shooting is gorgeous and the wardrobe department are having a field day. Okay so it may not be historically accurate, and the opulent lifestyle shown here may be difficult to connect with, but as a piece of visual storytelling this is indeed something else.

An Inconvenient Truth

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....An Inconvenient Truth!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th August 2017

Those who follow this series will know that the only rule for my Friday night movie is that it has to be something I haven't seen before. Thus it seems a travesty that this movie has slipped my notice, considering the impact it has and the ripples it has throughout the world since. Still, the prospect of a sequel may be a good enough reason to get off my lazy arse and see it.

Thing is, the information presented here is over a decade old. This information has been repeated over and over across the years since. It's not a bad thing as the mess we've made of this planet has been terrifying to say the least but it can't be denied that this documentary has motivated a lot of action. Thus it would be interesting to see the changes that have been made since this documentary was made - hence the need for a sequel.
Oh wait, is said sequel now out in cinemas?

Over the Hedge

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Over the Hedge!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th March 2015

Not a bad movie. There are some decent jokes and some good ideas but one gets the feeling they aren't taken to their full potential. And it does seem something of a waste that we have this really great voice cast that come across as being restricted. Could have, and should have, been better....

Tenacious D: Pick of Destiny

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Tenacious D: Pick of Destiny!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th November 2014

So what did I think of it? I thought was completely stupid, juvenile and somehow very funny. Plus it has Dave Grohl. Yeah lets go with that