Summer time. INDEX
01. Barefoot Gen (04.06.17)
A powerful film. As with 'Grave of the Firefly's' and 'When the Wind Blows' it pulls no punches about the horror of the bomb. A slightly more optimistic and whimsical take on the time but it had is shocking moments. Like the other two it is a must see film.
02. Wallace and Gromit - A Grand Day Out (09.06.17)
A bit of a mini marathon tonight. Following the loss of Peter Sallis I had to watch the originals again. Wow I always am surprised by the rough work of the models but it is the charm it brings that brings it to life. A top film with a cool plot and very cool moments.
03. Wallace and Gromit - The Wrong Trousers (09.06.17)
The best chase in any film? It must come close. I love the pace of this one it just bangs moment after moment out all of which are great. One of the best films of all time.
04. Wallace and Gromit - A Close Shave (09.06.17)
The first of what would seemingly become a staple, the romance. It isn't needed but it dose work here. I love the plot and again the pace is good. I love Shawn to bits.
Goodbye Peter I loved you as Wallace and Clegg.
05. Everything [Short] (11.06.17)
A Oscar nominated film that is advertising a video game. The game is cool and this short really sells it. But it also is a great short work on the nature of life and an exercise in perception.
06. Batman - Bad Blood. (12.06.17)
Not bad, much better than The Killing Joke. It suffers from the off bit of dodgy dialogue but the plot holds it together. Nothing too interesting plot wise just a collection of faces under one big bad. The animation was clean and smooth and the designs not too over he top.
07. Someone's Gaze [Short] (14.06.17)
Yep this one again. Not sure If I watched it last year but I have seen it before but it is one of the best. Shinki had a thing for cats and the frank narration by the cat adds a few layers to the story. SO much is conveyed in so little time. and it looks and sounds great. Only on Shinkai left to watch this weekend I think.
08. The LEGO Batman Movie (16.06.17)
Fantastic.
09. The Gold Rush (18.06.17)
Chaplin had a great voice. This is a somewhat restored film with added narration (by Chaplin) instead of text cards and it works well. The action and effects for 1925 are awesome. Chaplin is a master.
10. Your Name (19.06.17)
'Kimi no Na wa' by the great Makoto Shinkai. It lives up to the hype. Biggest box office ever in Japan and highest Anime film ever. It surprised me and delighted me. I've got to pick up the OST.
11. Rakka [Short] (21.06.17)
Love the production quality of this short. This is a studio I will be following. Some of the dialogue was a bit uninspired but everything else was awesome. Love a good sifi short.
12. The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey (24.06.17)
The extended version, because the original didn't have enough messing about in it. First watch since the cinema and it's still a good film. The are some very good moments and all the parts are there just a lack of polish in places. Good but not the great it should have been.
12. One Point O - The Death and Rebirth of Final Fantasy Online - part one (25.06.17)
I have never played a FF game but I know a fair bit from mates at school and general knowledge. This story is damn interesting a game that came out far below standard and the journey to re-make it. A great No Clip doc.
13 Rise of the Planet of the Apes (26.06.17)
A superb film in every way. Very fast paced with tight direction and some of the very best CGI. I liked the background nods to the original film. The is plenty to be happy about with this one and apparently they only get better.
14. Rewriting History - The Death and Rebirth of Final Fantasy Online - part two (28.06.17)
That must have been quite the journey to fix the dead game wile making it's replacement. The is a interesting look into the corporate world of Japan and the amount of work that can be done with the right plan. One part left.
15. The New World - The Death and Rebirth of Final Fantasy Online - part three (30.06.17)
Nicely tied up and some interesting lessons presented. A fantastic mini series by Noclip.
'Kimi no Na Wa' takes this month but Lego Batman was a good surprise.
Sunday, 4 June 2017
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
RIP Roger Moore
Maybe not even a minuet has passed since I learned of the news of Roger Moore's death. A glance at twitter when I got back into my seat after grabbing a drink and there it appeared. Roger Moore dead at age 89 from Cancer.
James Bond has always been a favourite of mine and the was something about Moore's run that was special. The way it handles its self and the wink at the audience. He is what comes to mind first when I think of Bond. Over the top but never silly.
His was great in all of his roles but he is Bond. I will still enjoy his films but they will have a tangs of sadness to go with their upbeat romps.
Not the post I wanted to make today but words came out so I posted them.
James Bond has always been a favourite of mine and the was something about Moore's run that was special. The way it handles its self and the wink at the audience. He is what comes to mind first when I think of Bond. Over the top but never silly.
His was great in all of his roles but he is Bond. I will still enjoy his films but they will have a tangs of sadness to go with their upbeat romps.
Not the post I wanted to make today but words came out so I posted them.
Sunday, 21 May 2017
One Song
One Song
I like my music, and I like to think that I listen to a wide variety of artists and groups. I only listen to what I like and so sometimes the are only a few songs I will listen to out of an entire discography.
Sometimes a song makes such an impression I just want to talk about it. I don’t have much in the way of arbitrary rules for this experiment.
One song per group seem like a good start but I don’t want to set anything in stone. Same with what I will say about each song, I will go on about what comes to mind, be it in depth look at the lyrics or just a short piece about what it means to me.
So this is my list of song reviews, analyse and thoughts put into text:
04.12.16 - Tides Of Time [Epica]
07.12.16 - And Then There Was Silence [Blind Guardian]
21.12.16 - Lost Christmas Eve [TSO]
20.05.17 - The Chain [Fleetwood Mac]
28.06.17 - The Poet and the Pendulum [Nightwish]
21.10.17 - '39 [Queen]
24.12.17 - Gaudete
24.12.18 I Believe in Farther Christmas [Greg Lake]
I have some more in the works to come out when they are done.
Songs by the following are in the works (kind of) as well as others.
Pink Floyd
Iron Maiden
Jonathan Coulton
REM
I like my music, and I like to think that I listen to a wide variety of artists and groups. I only listen to what I like and so sometimes the are only a few songs I will listen to out of an entire discography.
Sometimes a song makes such an impression I just want to talk about it. I don’t have much in the way of arbitrary rules for this experiment.
One song per group seem like a good start but I don’t want to set anything in stone. Same with what I will say about each song, I will go on about what comes to mind, be it in depth look at the lyrics or just a short piece about what it means to me.
So this is my list of song reviews, analyse and thoughts put into text:
04.12.16 - Tides Of Time [Epica]
07.12.16 - And Then There Was Silence [Blind Guardian]
21.12.16 - Lost Christmas Eve [TSO]
20.05.17 - The Chain [Fleetwood Mac]
28.06.17 - The Poet and the Pendulum [Nightwish]
21.10.17 - '39 [Queen]
24.12.17 - Gaudete
24.12.18 I Believe in Farther Christmas [Greg Lake]
I have some more in the works to come out when they are done.
Songs by the following are in the works (kind of) as well as others.
Pink Floyd
Iron Maiden
Jonathan Coulton
REM
Saturday, 20 May 2017
One song – The Chain [Fleetwood Mac]
Track 7 ‘The
Rumours’ By The Chain
Released 1977
Songs have a way of
bringing back memories or feelings. Parts of games I’ve played are
tied to the songs that I were listing to at the time. I still can't
listen to some Iron Maiden without being brought back to the back off
the school bus. 30 song MP3 player in my ears then sharing a bud with
my mate when he got on.
The chain is a song
where this happens to me, but not just one memory. It hits upon three
distinct parts of my life. Story time...
F1
The solo at the end
was for a very long time the F1 theme for me. I remember first
watching F1 on Sunday afternoons in the 90s with my Granddad and
loved it. The cars, the commentary and the drivers all bookended by
this great piece of music.
I got older and the
F1 rights changes hands a bunch but I kept an interest and when it
came back to the BBC I was excited to watch a whole season. I got up
at about half 4 in the morning to watch the race. The TV was on low
and I was excited for the show to start. The heavy base guitar track
came in cars raced across the screen and the theme played out. I got
goose bumps.
Waves of nostalgia
and excitement came at me and I was in my element. I watched all the
races that year glued to the news and reports from the paddock and
enjoying every moment of it. I was back 5 again learning from my
Granddad about how the rules went and how the cars worked. Sometimes
the things you love are complex and here is no exception. My
Granddad, the sport, my excitement all packaged up into a great slice
of music.
Listen
to the wind blow
Watch
the sun rise
Run
in the shadows
Damn
your love
Damn
your lies
Halcyon
I listen to radio 2
at home and I enjoy the oldies section in the afternoons. The was
this time I was on a trip for the weekend it was Friday afternoon and
the weather was nice. I was in the passenger seat of a mini bus some
people in the back doing their own thing but the driver was a nice
guy and we relaxed and enjoyed the drive. Then the oldies came on and
they were all perfect. A few in we were in full voice singing along
and probably annoying the youngsters in the back.
One of the tracks
was the Chain. Something hit me at the time that I can’t put into
words. It was one of the best times. This song brings that feeling
back.
While not many
people would call it a feel good song it is for me. The feeling I get
from hearing parts are nice and soften any feelings. But to sit down
and listen to the song brings it all back. And I will sit and listen
it is not a background song fore me, it grabs my attention and I am
glad it dose.
And
if you don't love me now
You
will never love me again
I
can still hear you saying
You
would never break the chain.
GotG
Mixing two great
things can more often than not make a mess. Vibrant blue, red and
green can make a dull brown. Having the artistic skill to use two
mediums and work them together can make a masterpiece. Guardians of
the Galaxy by this metric is a masterpiece.
To me the shining
example of pop music from the films is its use of the Chain. It gets
two plays and though in very different parts they both fit the mood
(or even set the mood). The first time it is played is impactful but
compared to the next it is more of an overture. To go into the ins
and out is to mess in the domain of spoilers but I will say them
themes come through.
Working with
nostalgia has become a thing over the last few years and it can
impact greatly how something is perceived. The main issues are that
it can be seen a cheep way to control emotion and inject something
not present into the scene. The other and greater one is that a song
can mean different thing to other people.
Break
the silence
Damn
the dark
Damn
the light
I was going to go on
and on about the lyrics and song composition, but no. I Think I have
said all that I need to. Good songs effect people, great songs
effects lives over and over again.
Chain,
keep us together
Running
in the shadows
Monday, 1 May 2017
2017 Film Log [May]
Onto another busy month but lets see what I can see. Here is the link to the INDEX
01. Split (01.05.17)
Soooooooooooooo good. The are only a few gripes but they are minor and don't detract from the overall package. And it is all there great acting and story with some solid direction from M Night. I will have to dive back into his films more. I love the story and world to bits and the method of its telling is great.
02. Two [Short] (03.05.17)
By the legend Satyajit Ray, the short is a look at two children and their respective toys and the envy of the rich child. It goes just about as you would expect.Shot with no dialogue but the feels come through well and the acting and direction makes it all work. An interesting look back at 1962.
03. I Can Feel Friday by Day! [Short] (05.05.17)
Some shorts are great for all of the story and themes they squeeze into such a short time. But this is just fun. No larger or great meaning just a crazy idea or two that the run with and spin into a good little film.
04. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 [Cinema] (08.05.17)
And if you don't love me now You will never love me again I can still hear you saying You would never break the chain. Marvel has another winner!
05. Attack the Block (15.05.17)
A fun well plotted film. The London 'gangster' scene is not one I am fond of bit it makes for a good background for a alien invasion film. It works well and on it's small budget dose a great job of looking good. Some very cool sifi moments and it is not ass feel good as it thinks it is.
06. Agent 327: Operation Barbershop [Short](17.05.17)
It's the animation studio name that caught my attention with this one. I have played about with blender a few times over the years and it has always been a powerful tool but the quality of this film is amazing its up there with Pixar. The story is a cool look at the British spy thriller well worth the watch.
07. Prometheus (19.05.17)
This film made me take notes! So here are a few un-filtered thoughts: Conflict??? Floored premise. Not enough background. People in suits waling in large dark space cliche, used a drone!!! TEAM. Where did the conflict come from. Incoherent incompetence.
There could have been more. This is a stupid film that is very nearly smart. It looks nice though.
08. Sintel [Short] (20.05.17)
A very well put together little film. How far would you go to look for your only friend? Some very cool moments and this would be great as a feature with some subtle ageing. The end song is great.
09. The Boy and the Beast (22.05.17)
The latest film by Mamoru Hosoda and it as good as his rest. It starts off with a very standard heroes journey and the master student dynamic that are as old as the hills. The are a few things that make this explore other places and the twist to the story are nice. Very well animated and directed but as good as it is nothing can top Wolf Children.
10. Arrival (26.05.17)
I love a good paradox. This film just got better the longer it went on, or was it just that good from the start? The are some very interesting high sifi concepts floating about; and while it didn't play out large scale as I would expect it worked for the story that they were telling. The look the sound and direction were all top notch.
11. Wallace and Gromit A Matter of Loaf and Death (27.05.17)
Somehow I had not seen this. Its fun and well crafted even if the jokes were a bit to Were Rabbit for my liking. It had the charm of the originals and some very cool easter eggs. I will have to re watch the others now I can see them in HD it looked cool seeing so much detail.
12. Spaceballs (28.05.17)
I knew this was going to be good but damn was it ever. So packed full of references and jokes. I loved it to bits.
13. Spriggan (29.05.17)
It started off as a generic 90 action thriller anime but turned into a thoughtful sifi film. I will have to pick the manga up sometime even if it seems a bit trope filled. Nice animation and music but the direction was a bit flat and the tone was strange. Again having some background may of helped. Not bad.
14. Cream [Short] (31.05.17)
A creepy short by David Firth. I love this style of animation it takes me back to my erly days of web browsing and looking at sites such as B3ta. The short had a cool concept but it is told in a very interesting fashion. The ups and down of a creation by the old media a very pertinent concept.
So goes another month. Best will have to be Arrival by a hair. It's been a good month quality wise.
01. Split (01.05.17)
Soooooooooooooo good. The are only a few gripes but they are minor and don't detract from the overall package. And it is all there great acting and story with some solid direction from M Night. I will have to dive back into his films more. I love the story and world to bits and the method of its telling is great.
02. Two [Short] (03.05.17)
By the legend Satyajit Ray, the short is a look at two children and their respective toys and the envy of the rich child. It goes just about as you would expect.Shot with no dialogue but the feels come through well and the acting and direction makes it all work. An interesting look back at 1962.
03. I Can Feel Friday by Day! [Short] (05.05.17)
Some shorts are great for all of the story and themes they squeeze into such a short time. But this is just fun. No larger or great meaning just a crazy idea or two that the run with and spin into a good little film.
04. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 [Cinema] (08.05.17)
And if you don't love me now You will never love me again I can still hear you saying You would never break the chain. Marvel has another winner!
05. Attack the Block (15.05.17)
A fun well plotted film. The London 'gangster' scene is not one I am fond of bit it makes for a good background for a alien invasion film. It works well and on it's small budget dose a great job of looking good. Some very cool sifi moments and it is not ass feel good as it thinks it is.
06. Agent 327: Operation Barbershop [Short](17.05.17)
It's the animation studio name that caught my attention with this one. I have played about with blender a few times over the years and it has always been a powerful tool but the quality of this film is amazing its up there with Pixar. The story is a cool look at the British spy thriller well worth the watch.
07. Prometheus (19.05.17)
This film made me take notes! So here are a few un-filtered thoughts: Conflict??? Floored premise. Not enough background. People in suits waling in large dark space cliche, used a drone!!! TEAM. Where did the conflict come from. Incoherent incompetence.
There could have been more. This is a stupid film that is very nearly smart. It looks nice though.
08. Sintel [Short] (20.05.17)
A very well put together little film. How far would you go to look for your only friend? Some very cool moments and this would be great as a feature with some subtle ageing. The end song is great.
09. The Boy and the Beast (22.05.17)
The latest film by Mamoru Hosoda and it as good as his rest. It starts off with a very standard heroes journey and the master student dynamic that are as old as the hills. The are a few things that make this explore other places and the twist to the story are nice. Very well animated and directed but as good as it is nothing can top Wolf Children.
10. Arrival (26.05.17)
I love a good paradox. This film just got better the longer it went on, or was it just that good from the start? The are some very interesting high sifi concepts floating about; and while it didn't play out large scale as I would expect it worked for the story that they were telling. The look the sound and direction were all top notch.
11. Wallace and Gromit A Matter of Loaf and Death (27.05.17)
Somehow I had not seen this. Its fun and well crafted even if the jokes were a bit to Were Rabbit for my liking. It had the charm of the originals and some very cool easter eggs. I will have to re watch the others now I can see them in HD it looked cool seeing so much detail.
12. Spaceballs (28.05.17)
I knew this was going to be good but damn was it ever. So packed full of references and jokes. I loved it to bits.
13. Spriggan (29.05.17)
It started off as a generic 90 action thriller anime but turned into a thoughtful sifi film. I will have to pick the manga up sometime even if it seems a bit trope filled. Nice animation and music but the direction was a bit flat and the tone was strange. Again having some background may of helped. Not bad.
14. Cream [Short] (31.05.17)
A creepy short by David Firth. I love this style of animation it takes me back to my erly days of web browsing and looking at sites such as B3ta. The short had a cool concept but it is told in a very interesting fashion. The ups and down of a creation by the old media a very pertinent concept.
So goes another month. Best will have to be Arrival by a hair. It's been a good month quality wise.
Saturday, 1 April 2017
2017 Film log [April]
The fourth month. INDEX
01. Dead Leaves (01.04.17)
Insanity. Pure and distilled into a cocktail of crazy. Very cool aesthetic and editing a bit over the top at times (but then it is a film about being OTT) There was more story than I expected and it fitted in well. It's about what I expected from the directer of FLCL and TTGL.
02. MST3K - Space Travelers (02.04.17)
A film that makes a very cool thing damn boring. It takes a good bit of skill to make a slow and inept film. But at least the commentary had some fun moments. Picking these out at random is a good idea but I think I will ration to no more than one a week.
03. Alien (03.04.17)
"This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo signing off." Any better last line of a film than that. Heck is the any part of this film that isn't one of the best parts of any film? One of the great films.
04. MST3K - The Final Sacrifice (05.04.17)
Ok I lied, but to be fair this one was recommanded to me today. The film this time was not too bad, it tried too hard in the first act but it was a ok B movie. The commentary was awesome, all the down time gave the guys a change to go wild, and they landed every joke.
05. Soylent Green (07.04.17)
Wow. Its a great film, from the world and its logic to the acting its all great. Then starting with one of the best scenes I have seen it goes into over drive and delivers huge punches one after the other. The whole thing works so well. but the euthanasia part is some of the best film ever.
06. Aliens (08.04.17)
Maintaining its roots but expanding in ways that make the world and plot feel right. My only complaint is one that can be leveled at many films and comes from my understanding of military ways but I found the marines to be annoying in many ways. It doesn't bring the films quality down as it work in its way but one thing I find hard to ignore. A bloody great film, shame about the rest.
07. Doodle Bug [Short] (09.04.17)
An early work by Christopher Nolan. Shot using old stock but with some very modern camera work. The performance is good and the double twist ending is nice. A cool little little short that crams a tone of shots in.
08. Watership Down (09.04.17)
A film from my childhood, not one I was ever scared of. I found the into fascinating and Fiver to be compelling. It is a great film a bit strangely paced in the middle but it is one of the best films of its type. I should give the book a go some time.
09. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (10.04.17)
Also know by; Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below or Journey to Agartha. Directed by Makoto Shinkai and so I don't need to say it looked stunning. The were three very distinct parts (not acts) and together they make for a strange whole. It has some interesting moments and a solid enough story but could have done with a little fleshing out. But the feel of the film is its biggest selling point. I could get lost in its worlds. Only one Shinkai film left.Your Name, I can't wait.
10. The External World [Shortish] (14.04.17)
Directed by David O'Reilly who I found through is games and not a game game Mountain. This is fantastic, irreverent, thoughtful and funny. The style is all over and the whiplash you get from one part to the next is great. The is so much crammed in and it looks and sounds great.
11. Please Say Something [Short] (15.04.17)
Another by David O'Reilly. Life is a bit of a mess and if you try and think through all of the outcomes you will break down. If there are any issues say something. Such a powerful film.
12. Spelunky - Noclip Documentary (16.04.17)
I have thought hard about where to classify these as films. They are made for youtube but are of high quality and reach good lengths. Since they don't get squirted out I give my thoughts on them. Not a game I have pal ye much but one I have heard tonnes about and find the ins and outs fascinating. A very relaxed doc and some very interesting story's.
13. Alien³ (17.04.17)
As good as the first two! Well I watched the Assembly cut and this version is very good. Only two complaints, the cgi is bad. Very bad. The film is too long it could have worked without the alien getting out again and the last chases is horrible. The are some outstanding moments and shots, the cinematography and direction is top notch. Not a bad film at all which is a surprise after the botching of the first version.
14. The Great Dictator (19.04.17)
Charlie Chaplin had a wonderful voice. The big draw to this film is the final speech the contents and how they are delivered with meaning and passion. 1940 what a time to be alive a time that needed this film as do we now. Such a great film powerful in meaning and it is look at the world. Oh and it's damn funny.
15. MST3K - Manos the Had of Fate (21.04.17)
Wow such utter tripe. A film so inept it I'm surprised it got a release. The trio are on top form and they needed to be with the film being boring on top of just plain bad. I think I will have to try one of the new episodes next.
16. Alien Resurrection (22.04.17)
This could have been good, which is not to say it is bad but it cant stack up against the other films. The only character that seem a little human is the android all of the other are far too one dimensional to the point they are distracting. All flavours of personality are on show and they all clash. The are some interesting ideas at work by what they choose to show us was strange and not nearly enough. I could have put up with this being a dumb action film but instead it's a film that had no identity.
17. The Shining (23.04.17)
Just what do I make of this? It is well put together and Kubrick works the camera masterfully. The acting set design and building mess makes it a great film. The are parts of the story that don't click for me, they work plot wise but as a story I didn't connect at all. Strange I can see is is fantastic and I enjoyed watching it. It is like finding a fault in a Persian rug.
18. Control Bear [Short] (30.04.17)
Here is a strange one. It is very well made but by one of the Ghibli veterans the is no surprise. The short show so much wonder is a small space and the film floats through its story carefully and with charm. Here is the kicker it is a ad for a teddy bear shop in Japan. Strange...
A good and strong month. Best would have to be Alien with The great Dictator a very close second. The was not a dud this month even Alien Res was ok. I have some good stuff lined up over the next few weeks as well and not long until Your Name comes out. Onto May.
01. Dead Leaves (01.04.17)
Insanity. Pure and distilled into a cocktail of crazy. Very cool aesthetic and editing a bit over the top at times (but then it is a film about being OTT) There was more story than I expected and it fitted in well. It's about what I expected from the directer of FLCL and TTGL.
02. MST3K - Space Travelers (02.04.17)
A film that makes a very cool thing damn boring. It takes a good bit of skill to make a slow and inept film. But at least the commentary had some fun moments. Picking these out at random is a good idea but I think I will ration to no more than one a week.
03. Alien (03.04.17)
"This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo signing off." Any better last line of a film than that. Heck is the any part of this film that isn't one of the best parts of any film? One of the great films.
04. MST3K - The Final Sacrifice (05.04.17)
Ok I lied, but to be fair this one was recommanded to me today. The film this time was not too bad, it tried too hard in the first act but it was a ok B movie. The commentary was awesome, all the down time gave the guys a change to go wild, and they landed every joke.
05. Soylent Green (07.04.17)
Wow. Its a great film, from the world and its logic to the acting its all great. Then starting with one of the best scenes I have seen it goes into over drive and delivers huge punches one after the other. The whole thing works so well. but the euthanasia part is some of the best film ever.
06. Aliens (08.04.17)
Maintaining its roots but expanding in ways that make the world and plot feel right. My only complaint is one that can be leveled at many films and comes from my understanding of military ways but I found the marines to be annoying in many ways. It doesn't bring the films quality down as it work in its way but one thing I find hard to ignore. A bloody great film, shame about the rest.
07. Doodle Bug [Short] (09.04.17)
An early work by Christopher Nolan. Shot using old stock but with some very modern camera work. The performance is good and the double twist ending is nice. A cool little little short that crams a tone of shots in.
08. Watership Down (09.04.17)
A film from my childhood, not one I was ever scared of. I found the into fascinating and Fiver to be compelling. It is a great film a bit strangely paced in the middle but it is one of the best films of its type. I should give the book a go some time.
09. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (10.04.17)
Also know by; Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below or Journey to Agartha. Directed by Makoto Shinkai and so I don't need to say it looked stunning. The were three very distinct parts (not acts) and together they make for a strange whole. It has some interesting moments and a solid enough story but could have done with a little fleshing out. But the feel of the film is its biggest selling point. I could get lost in its worlds. Only one Shinkai film left.Your Name, I can't wait.
10. The External World [Shortish] (14.04.17)
Directed by David O'Reilly who I found through is games and not a game game Mountain. This is fantastic, irreverent, thoughtful and funny. The style is all over and the whiplash you get from one part to the next is great. The is so much crammed in and it looks and sounds great.
11. Please Say Something [Short] (15.04.17)
Another by David O'Reilly. Life is a bit of a mess and if you try and think through all of the outcomes you will break down. If there are any issues say something. Such a powerful film.
12. Spelunky - Noclip Documentary (16.04.17)
I have thought hard about where to classify these as films. They are made for youtube but are of high quality and reach good lengths. Since they don't get squirted out I give my thoughts on them. Not a game I have pal ye much but one I have heard tonnes about and find the ins and outs fascinating. A very relaxed doc and some very interesting story's.
13. Alien³ (17.04.17)
As good as the first two! Well I watched the Assembly cut and this version is very good. Only two complaints, the cgi is bad. Very bad. The film is too long it could have worked without the alien getting out again and the last chases is horrible. The are some outstanding moments and shots, the cinematography and direction is top notch. Not a bad film at all which is a surprise after the botching of the first version.
14. The Great Dictator (19.04.17)
Charlie Chaplin had a wonderful voice. The big draw to this film is the final speech the contents and how they are delivered with meaning and passion. 1940 what a time to be alive a time that needed this film as do we now. Such a great film powerful in meaning and it is look at the world. Oh and it's damn funny.
15. MST3K - Manos the Had of Fate (21.04.17)
Wow such utter tripe. A film so inept it I'm surprised it got a release. The trio are on top form and they needed to be with the film being boring on top of just plain bad. I think I will have to try one of the new episodes next.
16. Alien Resurrection (22.04.17)
This could have been good, which is not to say it is bad but it cant stack up against the other films. The only character that seem a little human is the android all of the other are far too one dimensional to the point they are distracting. All flavours of personality are on show and they all clash. The are some interesting ideas at work by what they choose to show us was strange and not nearly enough. I could have put up with this being a dumb action film but instead it's a film that had no identity.
17. The Shining (23.04.17)
Just what do I make of this? It is well put together and Kubrick works the camera masterfully. The acting set design and building mess makes it a great film. The are parts of the story that don't click for me, they work plot wise but as a story I didn't connect at all. Strange I can see is is fantastic and I enjoyed watching it. It is like finding a fault in a Persian rug.
18. Control Bear [Short] (30.04.17)
Here is a strange one. It is very well made but by one of the Ghibli veterans the is no surprise. The short show so much wonder is a small space and the film floats through its story carefully and with charm. Here is the kicker it is a ad for a teddy bear shop in Japan. Strange...
A good and strong month. Best would have to be Alien with The great Dictator a very close second. The was not a dud this month even Alien Res was ok. I have some good stuff lined up over the next few weeks as well and not long until Your Name comes out. Onto May.
Friday, 3 March 2017
2017 Film log [March]
Lets keep going. Link to the INDEX!
01. The Blues Brothers (03.03.17)
Fantastic. I first saw this film in my early teens and found it fascinating. I got a lot more out of it this time around. Great music and choreography.
02. Zodiac (05.03.17)
Not quite what I expected. The film felt a lot shorted than it is and thinking back not much happened but it was all very well acted and shot. I can see why it's a classic. A very interesting topic and one I think I will look into furtherer.
03. The Man Who Stole Dreams [Short] (06.03.17)
A film that would have given me nightmares had I seen it as a child. Some very interesting artwork and very trippy. The story while simple works as a way to show the animation and crazy content. Very of its time.
04. Gauche the Cellist (12.03.17)
A exquisite early work (1982) by Isao Takahata who went on to do Grave of the Firefly's for Studio Ghibli. He is fantastic at stylish water colours and animal emotions. I loved this film from top to bottom, the art the story and the music! The sound design and score is great and it work well with the art to make a work of art.
05. MST3K - Squirm (22.03.17)
The best way to watch a bad film is to rip it to shreds. With MST3000 the commentary is there for you. This is the first time I have seen a 'episode' of MST3K and its a very cool concept but the skits are a bit much. As for squirm it takes the make a mundane thing scary and fails in every way. I must track down more of this.
06. Luxo Jr [Short] (25.03.17)
I Watched this to death when I was little. I saw it for the first time in over 10 years today and wow it is close to being a perfect short film. It hits all the pillars of a comedy film and it's caricaturization are fantastic. But the thing that amazed me the most was the quality of animation for 1986.
07. Bayonetta: Bloody Fate (27.03.17)
How to not make a good adaptation. From a in your face crazy action game to a dumb lazily animated film. It his all of the wrong notes from exposition to boring direction and the biggest crime bad action. A waste of time.
08. Ocean Waves (29.03.17)
The forgotten Ghibli? Made for tv its not often remembered as a Ghibli classic, the style and subject is also different from what people expect from the studio. For a short is film it fits in a tone of caricaturization and plot. The structure is kind of non liner but it works well and i like a film where the charterers have interesting flaws. A nice slice of life tale.
A truly hectic month I watch about 50% less than I wanted to but between; Rugby, Football, illness, Iron Fist and other commitments I've had a very lax month. Best? Gauche The Cellist.
Lets try and break ten in April shall we.
01. The Blues Brothers (03.03.17)
Fantastic. I first saw this film in my early teens and found it fascinating. I got a lot more out of it this time around. Great music and choreography.
02. Zodiac (05.03.17)
Not quite what I expected. The film felt a lot shorted than it is and thinking back not much happened but it was all very well acted and shot. I can see why it's a classic. A very interesting topic and one I think I will look into furtherer.
03. The Man Who Stole Dreams [Short] (06.03.17)
A film that would have given me nightmares had I seen it as a child. Some very interesting artwork and very trippy. The story while simple works as a way to show the animation and crazy content. Very of its time.
04. Gauche the Cellist (12.03.17)
A exquisite early work (1982) by Isao Takahata who went on to do Grave of the Firefly's for Studio Ghibli. He is fantastic at stylish water colours and animal emotions. I loved this film from top to bottom, the art the story and the music! The sound design and score is great and it work well with the art to make a work of art.
05. MST3K - Squirm (22.03.17)
The best way to watch a bad film is to rip it to shreds. With MST3000 the commentary is there for you. This is the first time I have seen a 'episode' of MST3K and its a very cool concept but the skits are a bit much. As for squirm it takes the make a mundane thing scary and fails in every way. I must track down more of this.
06. Luxo Jr [Short] (25.03.17)
I Watched this to death when I was little. I saw it for the first time in over 10 years today and wow it is close to being a perfect short film. It hits all the pillars of a comedy film and it's caricaturization are fantastic. But the thing that amazed me the most was the quality of animation for 1986.
07. Bayonetta: Bloody Fate (27.03.17)
How to not make a good adaptation. From a in your face crazy action game to a dumb lazily animated film. It his all of the wrong notes from exposition to boring direction and the biggest crime bad action. A waste of time.
08. Ocean Waves (29.03.17)
The forgotten Ghibli? Made for tv its not often remembered as a Ghibli classic, the style and subject is also different from what people expect from the studio. For a short is film it fits in a tone of caricaturization and plot. The structure is kind of non liner but it works well and i like a film where the charterers have interesting flaws. A nice slice of life tale.
A truly hectic month I watch about 50% less than I wanted to but between; Rugby, Football, illness, Iron Fist and other commitments I've had a very lax month. Best? Gauche The Cellist.
Lets try and break ten in April shall we.
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