Been a good while peeps, so a lot to catch up on here... been on an extensive Anime binge post-Japan, but a few other genres (old & new releases) in here...
So in no particular order:
The BabadookProper dark (horror) stuff - but falls over from being over-drawn and predictable. Niche = difficult to recommend.
300: Rise of an EmpireSequel? Extended deleted scenes drawn out to feature length more like - utterly forgettable (nothing of interest to see here)
FilthI'm not a fan of McAvoy at the best of times, and I can't say his poor-man's-Begby helped him out here - if only the story had more focus about, or at least
after, the "reveal" then maybe it'd have been a better film, but not familiar with Welsh's novel, I don't know if that's how it was "supposed" to play out... either way, nah.
Dom HemingwayLaw's formulaic take on Bana's Chopper/Hardy's Bronson "big bad guy" is a bit old hat but Grant's wonderful (as ever) and as a rags-to-riches-to-rags rollercoaster it was (surprisingly) enjoyable, if not instantly (ever?) re-watchable.
TuskHilariously bad. I wouldn't even lump it with "Gore Porn" (as others have, comparing it to Human Centipede) - it's more Evil Dead/Braindead (funny) than current bad-taste (Saw et al) in the end. Great cameo role from Depp. Shocked to learn it was Kevin Smith (I liked Red State) - he's on some odd tangent at the moment.
Origin: Spirits of the Past &
Journey to AgarthaLOVE. If you enjoyed "Princess Mononoke", both fit right into the same beautiful-dark genre and both have me now scouring for a copy of "The Kojiki"
that won't cost this me this much!The Secret World of ArriettyUtterly delightful - but when you've the nostalgic memories of growing up with Ian Holm in the TV series, it was hard (even with the Ghibli treatment) to miss a few notes.
5 Centimeters Per SecondPossibly one of the most beautifully drawn/rendered animated movies I have ever watched. The triptych-plot is equally fantastic - if not (I imagine) to everyone's sensibilities.
Ghost In The Shell Arise - Border 1 - Ghost Pain,
Border 2 - Ghost Whisper,
Border 3 - Ghost Tears &
Border 4 - Ghost Stands AloneEpisodes watched back-to-back (to run like a feature-length) it's an interesting, if not wholly illuminating, or satisfying, "Origins"-esque tale of the Section 9 stalwarts. The kind of movie I imagine established GITS fans will love out of hand (or fight endlessly over canon) and makes for interloping fans (such as myself) want to dig in and read/see more to piece it altogether - but as a (4 part) standalone (boom! boom!) anime movie, sadly a little average.
The Wind RisesTruly superb. My gramps got Kamikaze'd in the Pacific, and a copy is winging it's way to him now... I think it's THAT good.
LucyBesson+Johansson. How could they go so wrong. When I read our Chris saying "Limitless" was better, I doubted him at first. But now...
The Raid 2Touted to trump the first, but a little over-long, over-woven and nowhere near the raw visceral brilliance of the first. Still, v.good.
Fantastic PlanetWonderfully bizarre, challenging and psychadelic. Trumps (it's contemporary counterpart) Yellow Submarine by some margin. Can't believe it's taken me so long to buy (and watch) it!
Battle of the WarriorsMeh - gamble purchase - and although not a complete waste, fairy weak amongst it's peers - suffers (like most siege-movies) with limited scope so heavily reliant on the narrative and acting, which - delivered in "period-Chinese" style, is all too thin. Had they just let Andy Lau and the action choreographers loose a little more it could've been a fairly decent martial-arts movie (i.e. Warlords) but instead, presented in a more historical recount, it turns out a tad flat.
Taro The Dragon BoyGreat little film (for all ages) that (in-no-way-a-surprise-to-learn-afterwards) is a cult classic for very good reasons. Really glad I found (and watched) it simply out of searching for the film at the end of this long list...
Tales from EarthseaGhibli's Hayao Miyazaki's son Goro's film, sharing all the sentiments, character and beauty of the same studio - wonderful - and a welcome new addition.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time(I think) My first (at least acknowledged) "Shoujo" film, and yes, the whole unexplored "concept" is quite tripe, but forgetting the fantastical elements, and questionable conclusion, entertaining evening fodder.
Whispers of the Heart &
From Up on Poppy HillA little saccharine, and an oddly peculiar inclusion/introduction to the (far more fantastical) film that followed it ("The Cat Returns") - but a delightful effort all the same.
Barefoot GenWOW. Writing now, my recollections are a bit hazy, but I remember this leaving me smiling, crying and ultimately speechless. I can only urge you to watch it.
KarafuruBrilliant. Most will work out the "twist" early on - but as a study on life (with a little obligatory fantasy thrown in) it's a compelling yarn.
PredestinationMeh. Hawke's got a pedigree for leftfield sci-fi gigs (Gattaca), but this trips up on it's own entanglements. Forgettable.
PhenomenaArgento+Pleasence+Connelly. Promised much, but... "alright" till it goes schlock (I can forgive the classically bad acting of the era). Be warned, it's "Cult Classic" soundtrack is woefully dated - but in a bad 80's Rock way (nothing like the brilliance of the score for "Suspiria")
...and finally
Nezha Riots the SeasI grew up with this (on VHS off of TV) and have spent countless hours trying to find it ever since - innocently using "Japan" in all of my search efforts, but thanks to a moment of carefree-Googling where I thought perhaps my childhood understanding of Asian subtleties might be skewed, a swap for "Chinese" (then some further extensive searching) I happened upon it - in all it's glory - and oh my, how happy I was/am. It still stands up today. Fan-tas-tic!
(Fav and ScarJo)
