The Professionals

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

Original image located here. Accessed 30th April 2021

I have previously expressed a keen interest in the western genre and that interest has never dulled over the years. So here's a look at a western from the 1960s.
I know my film history and I can say that the sixties were an interesting time for the western. The decade was one where the genre going well out of fashion - which in turn offered a sense of reinvention accepted by the likes of Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah (in the form of The Good the Bad & the Ugly and The Wild Bunch respectively).

And it is in this period of reinvention that The Professionals sits comfortably. Compared to it's earlier brethren this film does indeed have a sense of grittiness and realism that is rarely found in the genre. There are indeed some great action sequences, more explosions than one would expect in a western and some characters with depth. But, as with many westerns, the real star is cinematography, which makes the scenery never dull and is always handled to it's best.
It may be overlooked when compared to other westerns of this era but that doesn't mean the Professionals is an worthy entrant to this genre.

Flash Gordon

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

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd April 2021

Consider this the antithesis to the dour stuff I have been watching these past few weeks.
Lets be honest here: The only reason i know this film exists is through the Queen connection ("Flash! A-HAAA!!). And it would be safe to say that I'm not the only one. Still Flash is - apparently - the king of the impossible and the savior of the universe so that was a least worth a look.

So let's not kid ourselves. This is b-grade fare: The colours are garish, the effects cheap, the acting constantly swinging between wooden and hammy, and the whole thing was laughable, even with the passage of forty one years. Still i can't say it was dull. And it is proof that adding Brian Blessed to anything will increase it's awesomeness tenfold.
And hey, the music was great

John Wick 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been... John Wick Chapter 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th April 2021

It may seem something of a double standard to watch this, a sequel to a revenge thriller, having said some less than glowing things about Promising Young Woman the week before. However, whilst what I said about Promising Young Woman may paint a picture of a movie that is at odds with itself, that is not the case here. John Wick Chapter 2 knows exactly what is and you, the audience member, had better believe it.

And much like any sequel, John Wick Chapter 2 knows what worked with it predecessor and builds upon it. But let's not kid ourselves: Clearly the John Wick movies thrive on the action sequences, delivering such scenes that are well-choreographed and never dull. Keanu Reeves still delivers with this character and there is a real interesting set up for the third movie.
Thing is though, this may all sound like good things but that is pretty much it: There are are some indeed slow moments in this movie but they do indeed seem out of place. And the whole 'former-assassin-struggling-to-retain-humanity' shtick from the first movie is downplayed. Which is shame seeing as it contributed a lot to the first movie being so compelling.
Still, I can't say this movie was boring. So it remains to be seen what the third movie can dish up....

Promising Young Woman

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

Original image located here. Accessed 9th April 2021

Okay so I'm going to have to think about this one so hold on...
*Sounds of the Alchemist venturing off into the wilderness*
*37 days later*
*Sounds of the Alchemist returning from the wilderness*
....Ermmm.....

It seems to me you can't criticise this movie because doing so will only reinforce the points it is trying to get across
Still, I have the feeling this was made for a particular audience. One that does not include me.
Oh well....

Thunderball

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

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd April 2021

That title is misleading: perhaps I should start using the phrasing: 'This Month's James Bond Movie has been..'. Only that idea sounds completely dumb.

Anywho, one reason why i am watching more James Bond movies in 2021, is that I have seen bits and pieces of some but not all the way through. Therefore, watching a complete James Bond movie presents an opportunity to address some unfinished business. And Thunderball is indeed such a movie.
During the late eighties i came home from school one day to find my father who had stayed home from work on the account of being unwell. And he was watching a movie which featured some divers engaged in underwater combat. At the time, I had no idea what i was watching but i distinctly remember being mesmerized by the action taking place before me. It was exciting, gripping and was able to draw tension from a seemingly harmless situation. I also recall seeing the escape via jetpack at the start of the movie.
Of course, I would eventually find out that this was indeed a James Bond movie. So to watch Thunderball now is to revisit something that made a significant impression on me.

Unfortunately, this has so far proven to be the weakest of the Connery era. Many of the characters are dull & inconsequential, the plot is meandering & boring, the climax suffers from some bad editing decisions and the moments of gold are few and far between. Still Connery continues to be in fine form - as he no doubt has the character down pat by now - and the underwater sections are still impressive.
At least now i can say that I know which movie had those underwater combat scenes

K-On the movie

And this week's Friday night movie has been... K-On the movie!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th March 2021

Yes, it's another trip to the anime well - and again, it's one prompted by my now wife-to-be.
Mind you, the last three movies I've watched have been action movies so nothing wrong with having some levity.
I can't say I'm a fan of K-On: I tried watching the first season but it didn't work for me. But on Kiera's recommendation I had a shot at the second season and now this: the movie which effectively closes the series.

As is often the case with movies based on popular TV series, this is one for the fans. If you liked the series, good news! You get to see these characters doing more of the same only it's stretched out to under two hours! But if you didn't like the series, well, you're going to be lost. And confused. And, dare I say, frustrated.
So in the end, those on board the K-On train will love it. Those not on board will find little to change their opinion. And the world will continue turning.
Still, at least the movie included 'Gohan wa Okazu '.

Expendables 3

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Expendables 3!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th March 2021

As a film franchise, i have had an odd relationship with the Expendables: I saw the second one first (!) at the cinema and thought it was a lot of fun. Then I saw the first one and found it rather grim.
So what of the third one? Going into it, I found it presented something of a paradox: It appears that the people who liked the first two movies hated the third one whilst the people who hated the first two movies liked the third one.

Personally, i knew what i was getting myself into: This was going to another action movie devoid of depth and consisting of set pieces that are more ludicrous than the one's proceeding. And what do you know: That's exactly what i got. But hey, I like a movie that knows what it's doing and doesn't try to be anything else.
So really this movie follows the formula that made it's predecessors successful: In-jokes, an ensemble cast where everyone gets their moment to shine, the afore-mentioned action sequences, and a sense that everyone involved is a) having the time of their lives and b) more or less playing themselves. Of particular note, is Antonio Banderas, stealing every scene he is in and playing up the whole 'world's friendliest mercenary' shtick.
It may be an action movie of the 'big and dumb' variety but I can't say it was boring.

Mind you, it has been nearly a decade since this movie and promises of followups (Expendables 4 and an all female spin-off Expendabelles) have yet to deliver fruit. Personally I hope we're kept waiting much longer because there certainly is a lot that can be done with this franchise and these characters so I'm for it.

John Wick

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

Original image located here. Accessed 12th March 2021

Some friends of mine have been urging me to have a look at this one: The first movie in an eventual franchise that resurrected Keanu Reeves' career in spectacular fashion. And, depending on who you ask, an example of what could've happened had Ted gone to military school.
Personally I've seen plenty of action movies of this ilk: One guy, who has extensive combat training, seemingly limitless resources and a flash car, taking on a horde of bad guys through a series of increasingly amazing set pieces without breaking a sweat. I will admit I will never tire of them but there comes a time when you need to do something unique to make one's movie stand out.

Well one could see this is revenge porn for the dog lover...
Okay seriously, this was indeed a gripping movie. The action sequences are well done, I like the use of colour and Keanu proves to be a formidable presence in front of the camera - indeed i have heard people say his acting style has been wooden but here he is well and truly on fire (to a point where I never knew he had it in him).
It may not do anything new to a tried and tested formula but it deliver in the action department. So I'll give it that.
Now about the sequels....

Goldfinger

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

Original image located here. Accessed 5th March 2021

This may surprise a lot of you but I have never seen the most famous Bond movie of them all. I mean, i started it during my college years but I never got around the finishing it.
Well, I vowed to watch more Bond movies all the way through this year so now is a good time to address this oversight (with more to come I can assure you).

Much has been said that as this as the most successful 007 movie of all time with many of its successors have been trying to replicate the formula that made it such a hit. But having come from seeing Goldfinger's predecessors (Dr No and From Russia with Love), it seems to me that that the formula was already in place. All Goldfinger had to do was refine it.
But really there's not much i can say about Goldfinger that hasn't been said before. It is exciting, properly defines James Bond and never takes a misstep.
All i can say is that clearly this is the highest regarded of the James Bond movies for a very good reason.

The Accidental President

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

Original image located here. Accessed 26th February 2021

Anyone heard of this? It's a documentary that follows Donald Trump and the road he took in order to become the 45th President of the USA. His come from behind victory in 2016 is analyzed and shows how he managed to pull it off.

Thing is, if you're going to make a documentary on the Trump presidency, it is challenge in itself; It has been written about and analyzed so much that it's difficult to come up with something new. While informative, this documentary however doesn't present anything that hasn't been said before. So if you've heard of the things Trump did - appealing to people who are sick of corruption in Washington, eschewing acting like a potential leader in favor of being himself, winning over the masses through being a showman and taking an abrasive approach, thriving, and eventually succeeding, on being a risky prospect - then you've heard it all before.
Still, this documentary does try and present a balanced view by bringing in voices from both sides - in particular the Democratic campaign is analyzed and shown to be complacent through over-confidence.
Ultimately, this documentary may not present anything new but it's decent in what it says - and just shows what a paradoxical beast U.S. politics is. Mind you, considering how this presents Trump's methods, it makes me wonder how much Biden was onto him....

The Fifth Element

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

Original image located here. Accessed 19th February 2021

Being the sci-fi enthusiast i am, I have been wanting to see this for many years but, for some reason or another, i never got around to it. That is until recently when my gaming buddies found out I hadn't seen it and urged me to do so. So here we are.
Isn't peer pressure grand?

Okay serious talk now:
There's no way around this: this movie is bizarre. It's a cliche to think that French films are loaded with symbolism and bizarre imagery and this movie does nothing to challenge that cliche.
Okay, sure there are a lot of clever visuals, inventive art direction, and some real colorful moments. The humor is well utilized and the action sequences are great.
But on the other hand, there are some goofy moments.

Boy are there some goofy moments.

The type the interrupt the flow of the movie and threaten to derail the movie completely (ie Gary Oldman's character and Chris Tucker's character). Such moments may add to the bizarre-ness of the movie and it's unique nature but it certainly makes for an odd viewing experience.
Still, when this movie works, it works well. So in the end, I'm glad I saw this one

Earwig and the Witch

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Earwig and the Witch!

Original image located here. Accessed 12th February 2021

Going into this movie I was under the impression that this was Studio Ghibli trying to take on Pixar at their own game. I will admit it's an idea - after all its well documented that Pixar has been looking over Ghibli's shoulder for many years so maybe some cross-pollination could work?

In all honesty this is a difficult movie to assess. On one hand, there are moments of real imagination and the Ghibli standard of 'fantastical whimsy meets mundane' is well and truly in place. And Earwig's impulsive and commanding nature certainly grants her a place in Ghibli's (sizable) ranks of heroines.
But on the other hand, the plot seem under-developed. The ending is abrupt and the movie comes across as incomplete - questions are never answered and it could've easily gone for another half hour. As such, this movie comes across as if there is a full third that got left on the cutting room floor.
I did some research and found that the original text was written by Diana Wynne Jones - and it was her final work before her passing. And as it turns out, the original text is both short and has an abrupt ending. It would've been nice if Ghibli expanded beyond the confines of adaptation but it seems unlikely giving the reverence the studio has for Jones. And as such, the movie suffers.
Its an experiment to be sure, but it does raise the question whether Ghibli can manage without it's esteemed founders.

From Russia With Love

And this week's Friday night movie has been... From Russia With Love!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th February 2021

Given that i will be talking about more James Bond movies over the course of this year, lets get it out of the way: Formula.
The James Bond series has a nasty reputation for being formulaic. It's a reputation that has been built up over the years and is known to both fans of the series and those who aren't. And this reputation is so entrenched, it has proven difficult to shake off: There have been numerous attempts but none of them have been successful (with the possible exception of the Daniel Craig era).
That being said, it is interesting to see this early entrant in the series- the second to be precise - before the formula began to solidify. As such: this movie is effectively it's own thing.

And boy is it ever: Looking at From Russia From Love I am surprised just how it plays differently from it's successors. Sure there's the usual - gadgets, action, exotic locales, secret agent shenanigans and bikinis - but there is no climax in some super huge villains lair. In fact, it is fair to say that this plays out less like a James Bond movie and more like a Cold War thriller. It would be easy to say that this is the most grounded of the James Bond movies but here it works - and from a series known for moments of going over the top that's saying a lot
It may not adhere to the formula but in doing so, From Russia With Love stands proudly on it's own two feet.