Doctor Strange

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

Original image located here. Accessed 25th November 2016

I went into this movie expecting something along the lines of 'Inception on steroids' and, in a way, that's kind of what I got. The SFX were certainly mind-blowing and, in an age were CGI is overused to the point of tedium, one gets the feelings the makers of Dr Strange wanted to show everyone how it's done. In that case, mission accomplished! (although i hope there were some practical FX in there somewhere...).

Other than that, the character of Dr Strange was great (helped considerably by the actor performing him) and it would be interesting to see him fit in with the rest of the MCU...wait, he'll be in the new Thor movie? With both Thor AND Hulk?! Oh YES!!!!!

Barry Lyndon

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

 Original image located here. Accessed 11th November 2016

I have to say, this movie was a surprise. I'd heard beforehand about how the movie involved a lot of natural lighting - notably the use of candles in certain indoor scenes - but nothing could prepare just how visually beautiful this film was. The art direction (the art direction!!!), the attention to detail and how true to the time period this movie was blew me away. So much so, I found myself caring less for the drama that was unfolding before me. But that's not to say i found it dull - the final duel scene in particular being a stand out.

All in all, seems we got another winner here

Raging Bull

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

 Original image located here. Accessed 4th November 2016

Once again, I have myself facing down one of THOSE movies: A movie widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time that it comes across as intimidating. Will I like this or not? How will i address a rate of expectation that can't possibly be reached?

Well to be honest I'm not sure if i can add anything that hasn't been already said about this movie: It's the anti-Rocky, it's Robert de Niro's show, the >direction is top notch, the cinematography gripping, the fighting brutal and the drama compelling.

But I will say at least I now know where Ant-Man (in Civil War) got the phrase "I'm the Boss! I'm the Boss! I'm the Boss!"

The Nightmare Before Christmas

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th October 2016

Well seeing it's Halloween weekend....

This may come as a surprise but I've never actually seen this movie before. I do recall seeing ads for this on repeat at Area 52 (before it was Area 52) and I've certainly seen a lot of merch since but I don't recall this being a movie that everyone went out and saw. But it's only now, years later, that people are admitting that they really like it.

However, to be honest, I'm not sure what to make of this movie. Sure the art direction, the visuals and the animation are all stunning but I think they're the only thing keeping the boat afloat. Sure there's a great idea about holidays intruding in on each other but one hindered by a 76 min running time.
If anything, I think Honest Trailers put it best: "This is Hot Topic! This is Hot Topic!"

Singles

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

Original image located here. Accessed 21st October 2016

Well what can I say about this one? It's definitely a product of it's time but as a time capsule of early nineties Seattle and the music that came with it, it's kinda cool. There are some fun cameos (Tim Burton, Chris Cornell and three fifths of Pearl Jam) and it also helps that the movie itself is both funny and entertaining

Road to Perdition

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Road to Perdition!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th October 2016

I don't recall this movie being that big a deal when it was originally released - and compared to other graphic novel / comic book movies, it comes across, at least to me, to be overlooked. Sure these movies can't all be on par with the MCU but considering the patchy reputation these type of movies have, they can't all be bad right?

Well, i didn't see Road to Perdition as a comic book movie or an American rehash of the Japanese manga Lone Wolf and Cub. No, I saw it as a crime drama. And to that end, the movie is remarkably effective. Exceptional visuals, directing and soundtrack make for a gripping film and there's some truly unforgettable moments - the diner scene and ambush in the pouring rain being two such examples.

I reiterate: comic book movies tend to have a patchy reputation but this is undoubtedly one of the best. But there's something to consider: Did Road to Perdition become the turning point where people started taking comic book movies seriously again that it ultimately paved the way for the MCU? One can only wonder....

The Bride With White Hair

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Bride With White Hair!

Original image located here. Accessed 30th September 2016

Has anyone heard of this? It's something of an underground hit in Kung-Fu/Asian cinema that has created repercussions since - Allegedly the titular character was the inspiration for Xena Warrior Princess.

As for the movie.....well.... it was weird. Sure the fight sequences were exciting and choreography stunning to behold. Sure the plot was an interesting variation on Romeo and Juliet and the drama compelling. Sure the cinematography was superb but in the end....it was weird. Particularly that climatic fight scene which left me feeling like the movie had completely lost it's mind.

Weirdness aside though, the reason why i watch kung-fu movies is for the fight scenes and this one has it in spades. So I'll take that for what it's worth.

Kingdom of Heaven

And this weeks Friday night movie has been.....Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut)!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th September 2016

With my Friday night movie, I make it a point to avoid movies I have seen before. In this case however, I'll make an exception. True I've seen this movie before when it was originally released on DVD but this time it's the same movie but in the guise of a director's cut. Which, as is my understanding, is regarded by critics as superior to the original (is it therefore any surprise that this and Blade Runner are both from the same director?)

Well it seems the critics were right. I thought the original by itself was okay but somehow the director's cut elevates it to something higher. I guess I can put it down to recognizing certain actors (ie Alexander Siddig) and having read the extraordinary story of King Baldwin (props to Edward Norton) but. seeing it again with fresh eyes and new footage has left a sizable impression when the original couldn't.
All in all, this was a superb film and, now that i think about it, perhaps the best representation I've seen of the Crusades.

Red Cliff

And this weeks Friday night movie has been.....Red Cliff (parts 1 and 2)!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th September 2016

Let it be known that I like me some John Woo. The man sure knows how to make an action movie and I rank his opus The Killer as the benchmark of all action movies. And whilst I have previously been disappointed with his American-made material, a return to his Hong Kong roots may be cause to raise an eyebrow.

And boy was this duology epic. Everything about it is massive, both in length, size and scope. The battle scenes are staggering and the visuals are stunning to behold. It did take an effort to go through both installments but I tell you: it was worth it!
Have to wonder though: Was this an attempt to beat the Lord of the Rings trilogy at their own game? It's possible but if it was, then it was a pretty good effort.

A Bug's Life

And this weeks Friday night movie has been.....A Bug's Life!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th September 2016

I admit it: I've ever seen this movie before. I do recall, when this was originally screened in cinemas, seeing Antz instead and enjoying that movie. But I never got around to seeing A Bug's Life. Maybe it was the similarities between the two that made me suspicious. But no matter: I've now seen A Bug's Life and.....

...Yeah it wasn't bad.
I have to say this straight up: The Circus Bugs really made this movie. They were so funny, so entertaining and work off of each other that they pretty much stole the show. But that's it: The rest of the movie I found kinda under par (for Pixar). I did get some enjoyment out of the movie but it's no Inside Out. ("Binnnng Boonnnngggggg!!!!!!!!!!!")

Conan the Barbarian

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Conan the Barbarian!

Original image located here. Accessed 8th August 2016

Once again, this is a movie that i finally see having only experienced the effect (as opposed to the cause). I know that Conan the Barbarian is a benchmark of heroic fantasy; I know that this movie, along with the artwork of Frank Frazetta, played a major role in bringing Conan to a wider audience than previously; I recall seeing the sequel Conan the Destroyer when i was ten (or thereabouts) and, later, the cartoon Conan the Adventurer; I know Conan inspired similar IP (Golden Axe anyone?). But in spite of all that, it's only now that I've seen this movie.

As for the movie itself, I'm likening it to the evil twin of the Lord of the Rings movies: It is cheaper, nastier, dour, reliant on a different approach to SFX, has a lot of bare flesh, offers a scenario that is far from heroic and thrives on being something of a power fantasy.
Still, this movie is easy to see how it made Arnie a star (that is until The Terminator) and the score is incredible to say the least. And as a Low Fantasy it works rather well.
So in the end, it's a nasty piece of work but the good kind of nasty. If that makes any sense

Enter the Dragon

And this weeks Friday night movie has been.....Enter the Dragon!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th August 2016

This may come to a surprise to some people but I haven't seen any Bruce Lee movies before this one. Maybe it was the whole martyring of him that put me off (see also: James Dean, River Phoenix and Heath Ledger). But you can only stick your head in the sand for so long.

So what did I think of this movie? Well, it's interesting to see this movie having been familiar with Mortal Kombat (both the game and the movie) and see where Midway pillaged their ideas from. But in reality, we go to see Bruce Lee in a movie just to see him kick the living daylights out of so many goons. And to that end, the movie delivers: The fight scenes are all superbly done and the action is exciting & fast-paced.

So in the end, Enter the Dragon is Bruce Lee's show and what a show it is

Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn!

Original image located here. Accessed 12th August 2012

Man was this a ride and half. It was fun, inventive and remarkably faithful to the source material. Having read the Tintin books when i was a kid, i picked up a lot of subtle references and I was particularly impressed with what was accomplished through the animation - that, lets be honest here, LA wouldn't have a hope of matching. Seriously I doubt I could ever see the continuous take that was the falcon chase done in LA.

You know, prior to his death, Herge said that Spielberg was the only one who could do Tintin justice. Seems such a declaration was right on the money