Star Wars : The Force Awakens (7th viewing)

I don't need to say anything about this movie..
*****... duh!


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Goosebumps

Back in Cardiff for the weekend and I decided to grab an 'advanced weekend' showing of Jack Black's latest. It was this or Spotlight, and I fancied something a bit lighter than a true story about kiddie fiddling vicars..

If you've read the Goosebump books this film will make more sense to you.. I haven't, and consequently it was a steep learning curve.

Jack Black's always adds a star to a movie (in my opinion) and this was an entertaining CGi fest.
I think my problem is I'm not the target for these kind of movies. I did enjoy it while it lasted but thats it..

Still ***1/2 stars isn't bad..


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The Big Short

2nd Screen Unseen this month and this one turned out to be 'The Big Short'.
This films centres around a group of American business men (Steve Carell, Brad Pitt, Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling amongst others) who, in 2006 managed to predicted the financial collapse and successfully managed to 'bet on it'.

This is without a doubt the best film I have ever seen about the 2006 bank collapse. Margo Robbie and Selena Gomez are drafted in to spice up the financial exposition and this adds to what is basically a mocumentary.  And it was funny... in parts.. But in the end I just didn't understand it..

That's why I only gave it *** stars.

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The Revenant (2nd viewing)

I couldn't make up my mind today. Which is a nice position to be in for a change. It was either 2/3 of Star Wars followed by Hateful 8, or all of Star Wars followed by The Revenant. Plus I was keen on seeing IP Man 3 and Creed if I could.. In the end I threw out all plans and just went for thus.. I dunno, I'm a glutton for punishment..

I still enjoyed it, despite the harrowing moments (or maybe because of?).
It'll be interesting to see if Di Caprio gets an Oscar for this. He's good there's no denying it.

Yeah, its still 4 1/2 stars for me.. I don't think I'll watch it again in a hurry though.. It was had work - but worth it.

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Star Wars :The Force Awakens (6th viewing)

This was an obligation really.
Originally it was only Jack and myself. But Corina and Shereena tagged along to make it a family outing..

My main concern was wether or not Jack would like it as he wasn't really that bothered about the whole Star Wars universe. Luckily he did.. And so did the two girls (duh! as if I ever had doubts!?)
I think I enjoyed more too. Still has the same emotional impact as the first time (well, nearly..)
A packed screening too..
Yeah, still.*****

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The Revenant

Here we are again for the latest Odeon Screen Unseen. I took a (really) wild guess at Warcraft, which as someone pointed out isn't due till July.. (I did say it was wild!)
General consensus seems to be 'The Big Short'..

Turned out to be The Revenant. Based on true events (yeah, that old chestnut) Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a tracker in 1820's America. After a particularly gruesome attack by Indians, Hugh and what remains of the group he's escorting head back to the fort. To make matters worse he's then brutally mauled by a bear, his son's killed and he's left for dead..

What can I say about this film..? It's a brutal and nasty film.. and also it's extraordinary beautiful.. As a keen amateur photographer I was constantly in awe at the jaw dropping landscape... only to be jolted back to reality by a gruesome arrow through someone's eye..
There is some excellent camera work through out, particularly a river scene where it looked like they used a Go-Pro!? In fact there was a lot of scene's like that, wide angle close shots..
Considering it came from Alejandro G. Iñárritu was another one of the shocking elements of this film (he who pooped out the steaming Birdman this time last year). 

The performances were also outstanding.  Tom Hardy (as John Fitzgerald) gave Leo a run for his money.  General Hux Domhnall Gleeson and Will Poulter also provided some excellent support.  As you can probably tell I loved it.

It's set the bar high for this years films and I think it's a well earned ****1/2 in my opinion.



On an unrelated note, I do like Odeons latest pre-movie intro.. It's all very soothing and atmospheric.

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Star Wars :The Force Awakens (5th viewing)

First film of the year and it'll be interesting to see if anything this year can top this one.. This is my fifth viewing and in theory there could be many more to come. Gravity came out in early November and was still on in January. And that never came close to the business Force Awakens has already generated (1.5 billion? Or near abouts!?)
Anyway, due to time restraints and the fact that both 'Joy' and 'The Danish Girl' didn't sway me, I opted for this safe bet...
It's the 'spicy italian' all over again..
And yes, it's still working for me..
*****


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Review Of The Year 2015

Once again, as expected with the usual Oscar bait, the year started off well...
My January favourite being the excellent Ex Machina (which I saw twice).  That, along with Kingsman and The Theory Of Everything and the things were looking good..  Amidst the Oscar fodder we also had American Sniper, Selma and Birdman which were... ok I guess. They just didn't do it for me (particularly Birdman. Don't know what all the fuss was about with that one?)

As the year progressed it appeared that the Odeon Screen Unseen was going to be the one constant quality factor. It Follows was one of my favourites of the year.  We then had Inside Out and Me,Earl & The Dying Girl.. It looked like it was going to be a full house until Black Mass turned up.. I think it was probably down to the previous good quality and that I felt I'd seen this film done better in Goodfellas. Luckily they (Odeon) redeemed themselves with Room.

There were one or two Super Hero movies this year.. Well, Marvel Super Hero movies that is.. The only one I missed was Fant4stic erm... Four. Which, judging by the negative critical and public panning I had a narrow escape.. Also the premier of Avengers:Age Of Ultron was my first midnight screening this year (plus the movie marathon helped bump up the April viewing figures too..)

Sci-fi was in abundance this year. As well as the aforementioned Ex-Machina, there was Tommorowland, The Martian and of course Bladerunner - the re-issue (twice)

Oh of course there was rubbish.. Taken 3,  Victor Frankenstein, Solace and let's not forget Seventh Son.

Ok, here's my top ten.

10 - Tomorrowland
 9 - Mr Holmes
 8 - Spectre
 7 - The Martian
 6 - Sicario
 5 - Salt Of The Earth
 4 - It Follows
 3 - Ex Machina
 2 - Mad Mad: Fury Road
 1 - Star Wars:The Force Awakens

2016 looks promising.. At last DC might have a movie that challenges  Marvels dominance...
We'll have to wait and see..