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. 

Lawrence of Arabia

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Lawrence of Arabia!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st July 2022

Well I'm in quarantine so now would a good time as any to address some of the longer running movies in my to-watch list.
I knew this movie on two fronts: a) it's a very famous movie and b) it was directed David Lean. Now I've already seen one of his works, Doctor Zhivago, and it seems to me his films are defined by two characteristics: a) they feature lots of exotic locales and b) they tend to be very long. So should I be put off by such a reputation?

No I shouldn't. Because it seems to me this movie's reputation is justified. It runs over three hours but it never drags. The locations are astonishing and the filmmaking techniques put to use are incredible. The battle scenes are great and there are plenty of unforgettable images. There is plenty of desert sure but the film does a clever job making you feel like you're there - which is saying a lot for a movie approaching it's 60th birthday.
And it's always nice to see a pre-Star Wars Alec Guinness.
I was told that this is one of cinema's achievements and now I see no reason to doubt it.

Knives Out

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

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd July 2020

Man, hasn't this movie been proving itself to be something of a critical darling. I however noticed the name of writer/director Rian Johnson: the guy who gave us the Last Jedi and has thus been something of a polarizing figure in the Star Wars community. So the question here is can he do something with his own material?

Apparently he can. This is a murder mystery, worthy of Agatha Christie, but with some interesting twists on the tried-and-tested formula. Although it may not be immediately apparent at first, this is indeed compelling to watch and, as with any murder mystery, the clues are all there and there's no cop-out. Plus, the twist are enough to keep this movie standing on it's own two feet
Plus, this movie has a Southern James Bond and a Jerk Captain America - which should be the price of admission alone.

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd January 2020

It would appear that assessing a Star Wars movie carries a degree of risk: It may be enjoyable in the moment but take a step back and you realize 'Hey, wait a minute...". Indeed it would appear that the Phantom Menace has a lot to answer for.

If I could describe this movie in a single word it would be breakneck: Everything is moving so quickly that it is difficult to keep up. Sure there's some great action pieces and some interesting character moments but I can't help but think if this movie would've benefited from being two movies. Or being a three hour epic. Like Avengers Endgame.

Speaking of which, the plan of this movie wrapping up all eight movies preceding does indeed draw similarities to Endgame. But whereas Endgame showed how to properly wrap up a movie serial, Rise of Skywalker seemed limp by comparison. I mean it was all right and, being the geek that I am, i did pick up various nods to the other movies scattered throughout, but this is not quite the 'sticking the landing' this movie was supposed to be.

This may sound kind of strange but I'm drawing a comparison with this movie to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. You see, the latter, i thought the movie was unremarkable UNTIL to awe-inspiring final quarter that completely vindicated the preceding three quarters. And that's the same vibe I'm getting with Rise of Skywalker: The last quarter was superb but somehow the journey there seemed somewhat underwhelming.

So in conclusion, I did gleam some enjoyment of this movie and I did pick up numerous nods to fans, but, much like a lot of the Disney-helmed Star Wars, the thought of what could've been is indeed a lingering one.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Solo: A Star Wars Story!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st June 2018

I have discovered two things with the entrants in the Star Wars franchise: a) every movie that has followed Empire Strikes Back has divided audiences like no other and b) those which challenge the template set by Lucas and take risks come out stronger (ie Rogue One, Knights of the Old Republic and Clone Wars). So how does this one match up, production dramas and all?

Actually it was pretty good. Sure there are some dodgy lines, sure there are some lousy cinematography and sure there are moments where it shows it's origins as a movie made by a director who was switched partway through. But it's an enjoyable romp and loaded with some actions scenes that somehow come as a relief after the dour Last Jedi and Rogue One. There's some callbacks and some decent character moments and it was a lot of fun.

Not much more I can say except I suddenly want a remake of Star Wars: Droids - only one that has, instead of R2D2 and C3PO, the adventures of L3-37, K-2SO and HK-47

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Star Wars: the Last Jedi!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th January 2018

Well there's a lot to unpack here and it's kinda tricky without giving too much away. I will do my best:

So let me say this straight out: I enjoyed this movie. That being said however, my favorite parts of the movie were those which involved Luke and Rey. Beyond that, a lot of the movie, particularly the parts involving the 'pursuit' came across as somewhat pointless. Still, the final battle was pretty awesome and it's interesting to see this series prove that there is plenty more to this movie series and that it has the potential to keep going in interesting directions. In addition, Kylo Ren being an avatar for the 'Angry Star Wars fan' continues to amuse.
One point however: I've heard people compare The Force Awakens to A new Hope and The Last Jedi compared to Empire Strikes Back. Keeping with this formula, does that mean that no.9 is in the (admittedly unenviable) position of rehashing Return of the Jedi?

The Prequels Strike Back: A Fan's Journey

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Prequels Strike Back: A Fan's Journey!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st December 2017

This documentary came to my attention through a friend of mine. A crowd-funded movie that tries to validate the existence of the prequel trilogy? Well, stranger things have happened.

Upon watching this documentary however, it doesn't provide anything I haven't already heard before: Criticisms about the prequels being applied to the originals; the childish nature of both the prequels and the originals; People trying to find a meaning in the prequel trilogy even if they look like they're grasping at straws; The ionization of George Lucas that turned horrifically ugly in the fallout of the prequels; the potential scenario of a fan brought up on the prequels turning on the new trilogy.
Ultimately however, what i got the most out of this documentary is that Star wars fans are indeed passionate and will certainly find anything to validate something that doesn't sit well with the fandom - but then again, I guess all fandoms are like that.

Favorite line: Geeks are the lawyers of the internet

Rogue One

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

Original image located here. Accessed 6th January 2017

Ever since i saw Force Awakens, I've come to regard it as the 'Apology Letter for the Prequel Trilogy'. But now that Lucasfilm/Disney have got it out of their system, they can return to making proper movies now, right? And can we tell a story that doesn't involve the horrifically dysfunctional Skywalker family?

Apparently we can. Now, speaking as a fan of both Star Wars Rebels and Knights of the Old Republic, I welcome any opportunity to see the Star Wars universe from a different angle. And I certainly got it here. Great action, gripping set pieces and a truly exciting climax. I also like how the Jedi/Force stuff took a backseat, to make way for a grittier look at the rebellion and the Star Wars equivalent of the Dirty Dozen. Rogue One is certainly different to the regular Star Wars flair but it's all the better for it
Incidentally, did anyone else think that Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus deserved their own movie? Because I'd watch that!

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!!!

Star Wars: the Empire Begins

And this week's Friday night movie has been: Star Wars The Empire Begins!

For the uninitiated, this one is the fan edit where someone edited all three of the prequel movies into the one feature.

So what i can I say? I really enjoyed it. Its quite impressive that someone took three movies and reworked it completely. It's even more impressive that the three movies in question are reviled and refashioned into something that's actually quite a good movie.

However this edit is just one of many of the Star Wars prequel trilogy - and somehow I can't get the feeling that in the attempt to salvage a good film from the lousy source, what's resulting is a copy of a copy.