Last film you watched and your rating: The Directors Cut

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - 5/10

Quite an odd film in many ways. It seemed to struggle with what kind of film it was trying to be. Or, it was genuinely trying to be several genres and failing at being any one of them. It starts out making you think it's going to be almost a mystery-horror-thriller, where the detective - driven by his desire for revenge - looks to track down this mystery group or murderers and put them away. But it soon descends into near-comedy, and any sense of a serious film goes out the window. The tone was completely different from the original film, and there some truly odd (not in a horror way, just plain odd) scenes and pieces of dialogue that seemed really out of place.

There were two, maybe three good scenes - all involving Leatherface - but otherwise it was pretty forgettable and full of 'what?' moments.

Eddie the Eagle.

I really enjoyed it. A real feel good uplifting film.

I have vague memories of Eddie and I guess most people think of him as a loser, which in the competition he was. But his determination, spirit and never give up attitude is really inspiring and makes him a winner.

I think it's a very good performance by Taron Egerton.

8/10.

John Wick 2 - 10/10

The best action film since The Raid 2. It's just so good. At points it's actually a ballet of bullets and blood. No smart jokes or banter just killing. Very very good ending too which sets up the next movie to be something ridiculous in scale and gun play.

Huge step up from the first movie which was good (apart from the dog bit)

A very good script and nice subtle nods to earlier events.

Go see it and support a truly brilliant movie.

Godzilla wrote:John Wick 2 - 10/10

The best action film since The Raid 2. It's just so good. At points it's actually a ballet of bullets and blood. No smart jokes or banter just killing. Very very good ending too which sets up the next movie to be something ridiculous in scale and gun play.

Huge step up from the first movie which was good (apart from the dog bit)

A very good script and nice subtle nods to earlier events.

Go see it and support a truly brilliant movie.

I keep hearing this and it's great to hear. Raid 2, while fun, was so over bloated that it fell far short of the tightly paced predecessor.

John wick 2 is very tight. It's such a confident and well filmed movie. Would talk about some more details but it needs to be seen spoiler free.

10 Cloverfield Lane - 7/10

Wasn't what I expected and therefore better than expected too.

Suicide Squad - 4/10

It just didn't work, new 'Marilyn Manson' style Joker wasn't great and Will Smith as Deadshot was extremely jarring after watching Arrow. Margot Robbie though

La La Land

Very late to the party with this, but I absolutely loved it - my expectations were pretty high, and it exceeded them. The chemistry between a career-best Stone and Gosling at his most likeably laconic was dynamite, the songs were great, the cinematography sumptuous, and the story simple but affecting. At times it felt less like a trad musical and more like a mid-budget dramedy that happened to have some singing and dancing in. It's clear that neither of the leads are seasoned pros in either discipline, but that only added to the appeal for me - the flaws made them feel more human, and their relationship more relatable. And there's something thrilling about watching them perform knowing that; with many of the numbers shot in long, unforgiving takes, it felt a bit like witnessing a daring high-wire act.

I think it could stand to lose maybe 10 minutes, but I was happy to forgive the few longueurs after such a wonderful final act (which I'm not afraid to admit had me choked up). Everything from Audition onward was immaculately judged. Chazelle seems to have a knack of writing endings that have you leaving the cinema on a high. The infuriatingly talented prick.

*****

I watched 3 films at the cinema yesterday...

John Wick Chapter 2 - 7/10 Didn't enjoy it as much as the first film, not that it didn't have good action scenes, overall a good action film.

T2 Trainspotting - 9/10 Loved it, thought it held together really well, it did make me want to go back and watch the first film again.

La La Land - 7/10 Quite disappointing really, most of the songs weren't very good, although I did like how it came together at the end I thought in general most of the film could have been better. The structure of it didn't really work for me.

Arrival - 9/10

Really good, and definitely didn't get teary-eyed at the end why would you ask me that what a silly question of course I didn't

Preezy wrote:Arrival - 9/10

Really good, and definitely didn't get teary-eyed at the end why would you ask me that what a silly question of course I didn't

I am glad I am not the only one that definitely didn't get teary-eyed, absolutely not, no tears here at all.

Sully

I enjoyed this. I find Clint Eastwood directed films a little hit and miss, but I thought this was really well executed. I thought the structure was extremely well thought out and it allowed them to build the tension in the investigation scenes rather than just the crash, which was important because you know going in the plane and passengers survive the crash.

I don't like Laura Linny and generally find her whiny and annoying and it was no different here. The rest of the cast were very good though, and Tom Hanks was as good as you'd expect. I also went the whole film without realising the co-pilot was Aaron Eckhart somehow.

Reading about it afterwards, it's a little disappointing how they exaggerated the investigation to make it more dramatic but I understand they were making a film not documentary. Still, not a fair reflection on the parties involved.

Overall though it gripped me from start to end and I'd recommend - 7/10

John Wick Chapter 2 9/10 Well strawberry float me, they did it. Every bit as good as the original even if it got a little silly towards the end. Is there anyone in New York who ISN'T a hitman? But those opening 15 minutes where he retrieves his car! Best 15 minutes of an action movie in some time. My favourite scene out of the whole thing didn't even have any action, it was the suiting up montage where he gets his gear and clothes. That was so brilliantly cut together. Really funny too.

Just relentlessly entertaining from start to finish. Bring on Chapter 3.

Hacksaw Ridge 8/10 That final 3rd was just mental. Gibson is really great at brutal action. Best performance of the movie by far is from Hugo Weaving. Did I miss something or was the other son never seen nor heard of again after that dinner scene where he says he's enlisted? He just seemed to vanish from the movie.

Kubo & The Two Strings 9/10 This was stunning. Best animated movie I've seen in years. Incredible stop motion anination and brilliant voice performances. Really dark too, especially for a family friendly animated movie. I will admit I got very, very sad more than once. I'd love for it to win the best animated movie Oscar but I have a feeling it will go to....

Zootopia 7/10 This was also good but in a more light-hearted, far less meaningful way. Best thing about it were the Sloths. Laughed out loud multiple times during their scenes.

My favourite bit in Zootopia is the Godfather scene

Ghostbusters (2016) - 5/10

Has there ever been a remake/reboot of a beloved movie that has ever been anything other than bang average? This isn't a terrible movie but it also isn't a good one. Average is written all the way through it.



The best praise I can give it is that it wasn't anywhere near as bad as the trailers made it look.

Meh.

All Good Things - 5/10

Mainly watched this to try and get over my aversion to Ryan Gosling in time for the new Blade Runner film. It was okay, Gosling was okay, everyone else was okay...all felt a bit flat and slightly pointless though. I know the story it's based on is unsolved/incomplete, but it felt like it was lacking something. Gonna take me a while to get the image of Gosling dressed in drag out of my head. Reading about the guy the film's based on is pretty crazy though.

Hidden Figures 7/10 A little dry, but an interesting story about NASA and discrimination in the early 60's

East is Wast 5/10 Been told about this film for years, but I didn't really find it all that amusing. Maybe my funny bone broke that day.

Happiness 7/10 A film that covers a wide range of taboos. Very funny, very sick.

Green Room 7/10 A punk rock horror thriller that doesn't utilise the punk rock theme as well as it could.

Lotus wrote:All Good Things - 5/10

Mainly watched this to try and get over my aversion to Ryan Gosling in time for the new Blade Runner film. It was okay, Gosling was okay, everyone else was okay...all felt a bit flat and slightly pointless though. I know the story it's based on is unsolved/incomplete, but it felt like it was lacking something. Gonna take me a while to get the image of Gosling dressed in drag out of my head. Reading about the guy the film's based on is pretty crazy though.

Try Half Nelson and The Nice Guys for great Gosling performances. Also La La Land if you're not averse to musicals.

Deadpool (rewatch)

This film is better than it had any right to be, I'm noticing so much more second time round. Looks stunning on blu-ray too.



9/10

Mad Max Fury Road. Again.

BrothersinArms/10

The Way of the Gun - 6/10

Meh, decent shootouts but the story was all over the place, as was Ryan Phillipe's atrocious accent.