2017 Film Log [September]

Into Autumn. INDEX

01. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (02.09.17)
Still great. The second time 'The Chain' hits is one of the the best Marvel moments. Faster paced than I remembered but its good. Hard to choose which of the Guardians films are better.

02. The Inglorious Bastards (03.09.17)
Tarantino has a certain charm, a damn ugly charm but very visceral. I love the build ups in this film, they take their time and set things out and stretch out the tension finely. The explosions that come after are glorious.

03. Draw With Me [Short] (04.09.17)
A powerful and beautiful short. I love the art and story.

04. Drawn With Me: I love you. [Short] (04.09.17)
A squeal as such but with a simple story told in a cute way. Much more developed that the last but it has more time to play with. The lack of sound is odd but it kid of works.

05. Rogue One (06.09.17)
A great connecting film. The bigging is a bit to jumpy but it soon settles down and becomes a very well shot film. The effects are beautiful and the endings give me shivers.

06. POLYBIUS - The Video Game That Doesn't Exist (08.09.17)
Another great documentary by Stuart Brown of Ahoy. A look in t the making of modern legends and some of the length people will go to propagate them. Some very cool detective work and reasoning. As always the style and quality is far above some TV shows.

07. 12 Monkeys (09.09.17)
A compelling and very well crafted time travel story. I like this type of story that has all of the parts that need to slide together. Some very cool moments and the settings and character types are very unusual. I love it to bits.

08. La Jetée [Short] (10.09.17)
The French short film that has had major influences on sifi films. In fact the are so many things lifted from this that made it into 12 Monkeys. Very cool film the stills and music make for a unnerving watch. I had issues finding a version to watch and had to settle for a English voice over but I have also seen the original to soak in the atmosphere.

09. Pi (11.09.17)
I love the strong contrast back and white style. The music is very distinctive and like in Requiem for a Dream the main track is iconic. The theme of being destroy by your desire to achieve the goal is deep and is shown through several angles. I also like the clash and symmetry in the modern big business verses religion. Such a great film that I could get something out of time after time, like all of  Aronofsky's films. Side note I've done some look into the film and I've come across so much I will have to blog about this one. Including a huge coincidence where life imitates art.

10. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (18.09.17)
A artistically brutal film. Some dark humour and farce thrown in for good measure. So many bad choices and all of the tragedy that follows the film around make for a tough watch at times. The direction is stunning and the acting is fantastic. The main charter is interesting and his disability's are show well. Park Chan Wook is a very compelling writer and directer up there with some of the best.

11. Finding Dory (20.09.17)
Finding Nemo came out at a time when Pixar was unstoppable. they have hit bumps since but this film is up there with their best. I prefer the first one but this film work on so may levels. Fun thoughtful and very well made.

12. Fantastic Mr. Fox (22.09.17)
The is no doubt that Wes Anderson is a great film maker and that this is a brilliant film, but, the is something about it that is odd. I love the style and even the quirky dialogue. Perhaps its because this is my favourite Roald Dahl story. I have memory's of listening to it on tape over and over when I was young. The story changes work for the film but the book captures the fell better.

13. Memories of Murder (23.09.17)
My foray into south Korean films continues. This is a film that has been on my list since I saw this video and it sure lived up to the praise. Dark and funny but with a solid core of humanity that runs through. Seeing people changed by the world is hard and when it is due to murder it is moor so. The ending confrontation after the last body is found is powerful.

14. Silent Movie (24.09.17)
A bit of a cheat when its the music that makes this film work as well as it dose. Why pass up on a easy joke when you could do it is such a over the top way? Very well acted and the stunts were top notch. Mel Brookes has his style and it works here without coming off as forced.

15. Noitamina Poulette's Chair [short] (25.09.17)
Mostly montage but is coveys a lot of character in a small amount of time and in a object. Not sure what if any message is behind the film but it looks and flows nicely. Very well made and touching at times.

16. Imperfect [Short] (26.09.17)
A very well shot and scripted noir. It didn't need the sifi elements just the juxtaposition of the main charter worked well. It looks very cool and the eyes are captivating.

17. Blade Runner - Blackout 2022 [short] (27.09.17)
A prequel tot the new film but made by the great Shinichirō Watanabe (I must re watch Coyboy Bebop). So many thematic call backs to the original but not so much it out shows the story. Very cool idea and it makes scene that it would be the next step in the world.

18. Brian & Charles [short] (28.09.17)
Dark and depressing but with a underling hummer that is common in a lot of British humour. Only a few issues with is, what is the conceit with having the camera as a charter? The story was predicable but it did work well.

19. Ghost in the Shell (29.09.17)
The new live action version. It felt like GinS but i have issues with the changes they made to the Major; like in Arise she was new but even less skilled. She is meant to be satisfied in her being not questioning her existence, her troubles are deeper than that (what is a person and can a ghost be digitised). The plot was ok if almost a greatest hits of the films with some Stand Alone Complex throne in as well. Looked good but some of the back drops wont age well. Solid a sequel could work if they focused on the deeper stuff.

20. Children of Men (30.09.17)
The sound design in the last act was phenomenal. Such a cool concept with so many thought paths to go down. Very well made film and I liked all of the touches that showed it was the future. A tatted London 2012 hoody for example (the film came out in 06) Touching if a little disconnected at times but over all great. Oh and nice use of Court of the Crimson King.

Full month this one. Best? Pi I think.

Suddenly Autumn!

This seasons change has come in early this year. The feel of the air, the hint of cool rain and the dull day ending early. It all feels very autumnal.

Leaves have begun to turn and some of the sun sets over the last weeks have been stunning. To add feel my neighbour has spent the day taking down several tall conifers. The sound of the chainsaw in the distance mixed with the sound of chickens and wild birds paint a setting to be enjoyed.

All of this has only just dawned on me. I have been a bit distracted sine I came back from down south for a week. The hint of autumn has just caught me off guard as I was watering the garden. It likely will be a job I wont need to do much of soon and very likely one of the last times I do it in shorts and flip flops.

 

 Rail to Nowhere

 I have been back just shy of a week and my sleep has just about caught back up. The time has been a blur from working on over a 1000 photos from the week away to spending my birthday in Sheffield with some mates and catching up on the world as a whole.

I like going away with cadets but time gets very disconnected. Even if the is signal the is not much time to spent browsing the net. It is very odd to come back and to see what has changed. It puts some things into perspective, just how much media do I need to consume?

Things are getting back to normal, or probably a new normal. A few changes can't be bad. I have done well this year but the is always room for improvement.

Too Old For This

A small side note, I am very excited for a new season of the fantastic 'Within the Wires' podcast. The first season was only ten episodes but the conceit was awesome and the story was so impressively told. This second is looking to go off in a different direction but from the promos it sounds good.

Staying on the theme of upcoming story's; Brandon Sanderson's ‘Oathbringer’ is out in a month or two and the previews are getting me very excited. The Stormlight books are some of the best high Fantasy I have read and I can’t wait to get it into my hands. Though I'm not sure If my shelf can handle another book of its size.

Ending

Autumn my favourite time of the year. Be it on a nice sunny afternoon or a dull windy atmospheric day it all evokes nice feelings. I love the feel of being outsize be it urban or rural it just feels nice when you have the right frame of mind to enjoy nature.

I must spend more time away from my desk.