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.

Spotlight

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

Original image located here. Accessed 15th November 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 88 (2015)

It's quite daring to have this movie to win Best Picture. Not only was a small winner (it won only one other award) but it also faces down the Catholic church. But then again, this is the 2010s where message movies are the norm. 

However get past the first impressions and this film is remarkable: It less about condemnation and more about the journalistic team working to uncover this case. It is an ensemble drama with all present clearly working outside of their comfort zone and giving committed performances. Also it's nice to see Mark Ruffalo in a role that both isn't the Hulk and allows him to flex his acting muscles. 

So how does the Catholic church emerge from this? Well, they are largely unseen. Granted this is perhaps to make sure this movie got a major release but this narrative isn't about them: It's about the victims, having endured physical and spiritual abuse. It is a wise decision to not show the journalistic team in a heroic light and instead focus on the people they are trying to reach. Indeed, that list at the end does hit like a truck.

Truly a remarkable movie. 

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

Far From the Madding Crowd

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Far From the Madding Crowd!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd March 2023

Once again, we have a case of me watching a movie that I put on my 'to watch' list so long ago that I forgot why I put on said list in the first place. Still, the distance presents an advantage: I am effectively going into this one blind.

So what this movie presents is an adaptation of the novel by Thomas Hardy. Well I once read Tess of the d'Urbervilles and I'm not in any hurry to read it again. Still, this appears to be cut from the same cloth but less relentlessly grim (thankfully).
So what we have here is the story of a woman who juggles running a farm with her independence and the attentions of three potential suitors. Indeed it is the romance that intrigues me: Throughout the movie, I was wondering if there's a fandom attached to this book, rallying behind the banners of Team Oak, Team Boldwood and Team Troy. And I was hoping for a three-way standoff between them (like in The Good The Bad and the Ugly).

Jokes aside however, I liked this movie a lot. Special mention must go to the landscape shots, the music and the presence of the lead Carey Mulligan. And whatever misgivings I may have about Hardy, the story is certainly compelling and the makers of this film told in a stunning way.
Favourite line: "I intend to astonish all of you"

Brooklyn

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

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd February 2023

Once again, this is a case of a movie that had been on my 'to watch' list for so long I'd forgotten why I put it therein the first place. But I am glad I did around to watching this.

What we have here is a story of an Irish woman who leaves Ireland for opportunities in New York. And right off the bat, this is a unique take as a lot of immigrant stories are male-led - rare is the immigrant story that is female led. And you know what? This movie is indeed marvellous. The location footage is astonishing, the portrayal of Irish in New York is well done and our lead, Saoirse Ronan, does a magnificent job. And, as is often the case, it is not the story that is told but HOW it is told.
Truly a very beautiful movie.

Straight Outta Compton

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Straight Outta Compton!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th September 2022

I remember this being a big deal when it was released, circa 2015. Never got around to watching it - I will admit that my knowledge of the subject, N.W.A., is somewhat limited - but I was aware that this movie was generating plenty of attention. And in a way, enough that made it difficult to ignore.

I will admit that in recent years I have become quite cold towards biographical movies where music bands are the subject - Such coldness comes from watching, and enjoying, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox story that points out how all of said movies tend to be formulaic and mocks them.
With such knowledge in mind, it may be difficult to take such movies seriously again.
That being said, I did enjoy the build up involved in the first half: Seeing how each member of the N.W.A. is introduced, witnessing their formation, the road to success and the controversy they courted (not to mention the danger that came with it). That part is indeed compelling and the actors involved certainly do a sterling effort of playing their real-life counterparts.
Funny thing is, once these guys stop performing live, and Ice Cube leaves, the film tends to lose focus: It goes in all kinds of directions and comes across like it's meandering around. Granted the N.W.A.'s history is plagued by infighting - and props to Ice Cube and Dr Dre for being honest about said infighting even when they're credited as producers - but somehow the second half can't compare to the fire of the first half.
Although the movie does do a great job of portraying Suge Knight as an absolutely terrifying figure.
Still I will give the movie props for avoiding the tropes associated with band-bio pics and portraying a time and place like no other

The Hateful Eight

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

Original image located here. Accessed 25th September 2020

I have seen a Magnificent Seven, a Ruthless Four and now we arrive at a movie that I've been wanting to see for quite some time. And I finally got the opportunity to do so (thanks Nick!).

No way around it: This a Tarantino film and it is therefore expected to see what he can do with the lessons he had picked up through watching countless movies. In a way, considering his affinity with gun battles, disjointed narratives and limited locations, it is unsurprising that he should again try his hand at a western.
Now I do enjoy a good western and I can see some familiar tropes being put to use: The use of scenery, the bounty hunter tracking down criminals, the presence of a stagecoach, the abrupt nature of people getting gunned down, lot's of blood and the presence of the late great Ennio Morricone. But these tropes are placed through the lens of a Tarantino picture: Thus we have some fascinating characters, a truly weather beaten look, some gripping suspense and a lot of black humor.
It may be difficult to determine Tarantino's best work but this is well and truly up there

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th April 2020

Much has already been said/mocked/condemned about Scientology, with their beliefs and the tendency to attack any questioning parties. I thought I knew a lot about them but this documentary provided a whole new trove of information. And a lot of it is terrifying to say the least.
We meet the founder L Ron Hubbard, we see the extent of the influence of Scientology, and just how weird the religion can be. We also see some of the nastier tactics utilized against those who both criticize and leave the Church.

But what i find interesting is the second part of the documentary's title, the words: 'Prison of Belief'. Considering the tactics used by the Scientologists (legal action, always attacking and never defending, strong-arming celebrity endorsement, buying up key real estate, ruthlessness towards whistle-blowers and shunning those who leave), it isn't too hard to see the same tactics being applied by other groups, both religious and non-religious. Indeed it is surprising to learn how great the need for agency in one's life can be and what it can lead to
Perhaps the most telling moment for me came in the remark that through joining a group who encourages you to think for yourself, you end up being told what to think.

The Dressmaker

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

Original image located here. Accessed 8th November 2019

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

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

Amy

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

Original image located here. Accessed 27th September 2019

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

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

The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th February 2019

For the uninitiated, this is a crowd-funded documentary discussing the unmade Superman movie Superman Lives, circa sometime in the late nineties. The trails and tribulations of this unmade movie are well-documented but this iteration offers unseen imagery, of designs, footage of costume tests and the experiences of those involved.

Prior to seeing this documentary i had read up on the troubled production of Superman Lives. And whilst it is fascinating to see the unseen material, the most interesting part is the involvement of producer Jon Peters. Previous accounts on Superman Lives have painted Peters as the bad guy with stories of him being incompetent, a bully, throwing in ideas with no rhyme or reason and not taking Superman seriously beyond him being a meal ticket. So it is fascinating, especially in the wake of the odd stories of him as told by Kevin Smith, to hear his voice. Granted he comes across as arrogant, of questionable honesty, spinning the narrative in his favour and a jerk, but he has a say at least.
All in all, a fascinating documentary and indeed, a glimpse at some truly lost potential

The Boy and the Beast

And this week's Friday night movie has been..... Bakemono no Ko (The Boy and the Beast)!

Original image located here. Accessed 27th April 2018

Like the world and his dog, I have been impressed with the works of Mamoru Hosoda (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Summer Wars and Wolf Children). So i was keen on seeing his latest work.

I feel that the strength of this movie lies in the idea of family that Hosoda has utilized previously: This is about a child & his father and how two broken souls end up becoming strong together. It's about how, as an adult, children often become a reflection of one's self. Okay, sure there are some moments that seem forced and rambly, but there are some great ideas at work here and some creativity and Hosoda's hand still seems potent enough.

To be honest I feel this is the least of Hosoda's work - but somehow, the least stills feels like the best someone else could come up with. And that's nothing to be ashamed of.

Ant Man

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Ant Man!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd July 2016

They say that when you watch enough movies (or read enough books or play enough games) you start to recognize patterns emerging and identifying formulas. And having seen several Marvel movies in a row, i have to admit that yes: A formula is starting to reveal itself with villains that are a) egotists determined to be the best or b) misguided dudes committed to a 'greater good'. This subsequently makes the Marvel villains And Ant Man offers nothing new to the the table. Hopefully Marvel will have this problem of dull villains sorted by the time Doctor Strange rolls around (maybe this is an opening that Suicide Squad could exploit?).

As for the movie itself, it was actually another winner to the Marvel stable. I heard that this movie went through a lot of trouble to get made so to see it come through looking like it did is truly an achievement. I like the smaller scale of the movie and the heist it eventually leads to. And full credit to Paul Rudd, without whom would've made a much duller movie (and suddenly the cheers from the audience when he appeared in Civil War makes sense).
Needless to say, it will be interesting to see where this character goes next...

Star Wars: the Force Awakens

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Star Wars: the Force Awakens!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th December 2015

I admit it: I have no attachment to Star Wars. It seems that the people, who make up the Star Wars fanbase are those who saw it as kids - whereas i saw the original trilogy when I was in my teens. Besides, if we go by the logic of 'fandom based around the movie you saw the most times as a kid' then we'll have to start talking about Spaceballs. XD

As for Force Awakens itself, Well it is an improvement over the prequel trilogy and I enjoy the use of the formula of: 'interesting characters and witty dialogue'. Needless to say, if Force awakens was an attempt win back interest then i'm interested to see what happens next....

......oh wait, Mel Brooks wants to make a new Spaceballs movie?! Hell yes!!!