Here we go last month of the project. The Index is HERE
01. 20th Century Boys (02.12.16)
I think this may be the first live action Japanese film I have watched. It has been sat on my shelf for years after picking it up off the market. I am well versed in the manga and read it back in 2008 I think. The story is great and very well told, this is a almost perfect adaptation of the manga up to the end of the first arc.
02. Full Metal Jacket (03.12.16)
This may seem a bit odd but this is the first time I have watch this a a Kubrick film. Before it was a army film. I watched looking into the direction and story telling. Like 2001 or Clockwork Orange it is a collection of parts, The are two very apparent parts but the whole film is almost a run of vignettes. Very unsettling at times and I'm not sure what Kubrick's theme was (duality of man?) but it is a great film.
03. Valkyrie (04.12.16)
To know the details of a film before it was written is a somewhat odd thing. I have a deep interest in the world wars and in the plots and machinations within them. My first time seeing this; not sure why, perhaps I know that unlike most war film you can't put a spin on it. Very well made film, the tension build wonderfully. Very compelling and an interesting look from the other side.
04. Tank Girl (05.12.16)
Crazy. Its like Mad Max but turned up to 11. Where Mad Max is restrained this takes 90s action and shoves it into a world of crazy. Nice direction and production, some of the acting is a bit suspicious but its the type of film that gets away with it. On another note why hasn't Malcolm McDowell been a Bond villain?
05. On Your Mark [Short] (07.12.16)
A short film slash music video by Studio Ghibli. It's setting is very interesting being a weird high density sifi world. The plot is fairly simple but the narrative is slightly more complex. It has a bunch of different plots all interesting in different aspects. The animation and art is very Ghibli and the song is fantastic.
06. Tokyo Godfathers (11.12.16)
So much to say, and now I've rewatched this I will do a post on Kon. This is a fantastic film, the pacing and plot runs smoothly and all the points in the film hit well. Its also so damn funny, from the outset just the premise of homeless people caring for a baby is odd but how the film plays with all its aspects its a riot at times. At other times it very introspective.
07. Escape [Short] (12.12.16)
A Christmas themed short. Its a nice little simple story shown with no speaking. The art style of paper craft silhouettes is very well realised. The were some nice little moments to the animation that showed extra depth to the story. The sound design and music were on point and all in all it a very good film.
08. Premier Automne [Short] (14.12.16)
A film that personifies the seasons. It is about the meeting between winter and spring and the resulting impact on the world. The story is nice and simple but very well made, with a cell shaded look and some very smooth animation. The puppy's were especially great even the skeleton ones. Loved the music which helped set the feel and the end was perfect.
09. Rogue One [Cinema] (16.12.16)
It's very very good! Story wise it ties some stuff up nicely with nothing overly surprising. The characters are interesting and well portrayed, loved the cg work on Tarkin even if it is a little uncanny valley. The look of the film is amazing. A wide range of locations helped but the cinematography is awesome. Overall it's a great film and a nice addition to Star Wars.
10. Batman - Year One (18.12.16)
Batman's first year compressed into a shortish film. This story has been told many times over the years with only slight variations. This one deviates a fair bit and is far too much of a rush to get through it. The overall plot is a mess and the characters are changed. The art and animation are very simple and plane. Not terrible but could have done with a focus and breathing space.
11. One Winters Night [Short] (19.12.16)
A low budget short film but it makes the most of it. The art is very janky almost reminds me of old shockwave stuff. The story is told as a poem, the narrator is a bit hard to understand but the poem is ok. It seems to emulate the style of Poe but its far short of him. Nothing special.
12. Summer Wars (22.12.16)
Showing the internet on film is hard, many films have done odd metaphors for hacking and the like. Here Hosoda has gone with a cool second life type style. The plot is a odd meandering one with a bunch of strands running through. The characters are diverse and well portrayed. As I have come to expect from Hosoda the animation is great. the are lots of intricate things I could go into but all I will say its it's well put together.
13. Memoirs of a Geisha (23.12.16)
A wonderful film, the cinematography and set design were outstanding. The overall plot it a simple tale of growth and finding love but the setting and style made the film truly great. The performances are all top notch and the score is one of John Williams' best. The are some stand out moments both awe inspiring and others shocking but it is all tied together brilliantly.
14. Fargo (24.12.16)
This counts as a Christmas film right, there is snow and everything. A damn good film, very well made and in a style that works well even though is not one I find interesting. The acting is very stylised but it works with the slightly absurd story. The are some great moments and the is space to let it all sink in. Even though it is not a long film it uses its time well and feels fuller than most modern films.
15. The Exorcist (26.12.16)
It's 43 years to the day since it was first released, so what's a better night to watch it for the first time? Going in I wasn't sure of what to expect, parts are ingrained into culture and cinema legend. I loved the build up in the first act and the rest of he film flowed nicely. It's all around amazing. Oh and Tubular Bells is awesome.
16. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (27.12.16)
Is there a more perfect film than this? It is fantastic on so many levels, world building, story, animation, characterization, music, theme and the direction that bundles it all up. Strong characters with good motivations and a world that not just makes sense but very easily could be in our future. I love it to bits and will watch it over and over again.
17. The Zero Theorem (28.12.16)
How do you go about disproving a meaning to life? How dose Terry Gilliam make such wonderful films? It's great, from wonderful performances by Christoph Waltz to surprising bit from Tilda Swinton. I loved how the film asks so many questions but strays from giving full answers, it looks at them but leaves the deeper meaning to us. Fantastic.
18. Planet Unknown [Short] (29.12.16)
A very well made short about two rovers searching a planet for a place to grow life. It takes a few too many cues from Wall-E but it is very well animated and the direction is nice. The music though a bit over the top at times works well. Not much of a story as such but a nice little film with good action and likeable robots.
19. The Garden of Words (30.12.16)
Every frame is a work of art. The animation and art shines. Makoto Shinkai is now becoming a household name like Ghibli, his work is so fantastic and this shortish piece is next to perfect. The story is a nice little but complex character piece with some heartbreaking moments and a great climax. But again its the art that stands out. I need to see 'Your Name' in the cinema.
20. Star Trek Beyond (31.12.16)
A film of ups and downs. The are some things that just didn't work but luckily they were only minor things. The two major twists worked well with the last one being great. Its a solid sifi film with some nice future architecture but the were places they could have gone further. I felt the enemy were too strong and numerous and like a lot of modern action films were dealt with too easy. Other than that one of the better trek films.
End of the month end of the year. A solid year for films and I have seen some very good ones. Best of this month? meh, so many good ones, if I were to narrow to ones I watched for the first time it would be Memoirs of a Geisha. So onto next year.
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