The Men Who Stare at Goats
Director: Grant Heslov
Year: 2009
Stars: Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey
When my dad saw this in the TV guide his immediate reaction was "there's one for you Annie". When my response was "oh yeah, I was going to watch that" he looked at me funny and said "I was joking...". The movie does indeed have an odd title. It also has an odd plot and a weird way of looking at the world. I loved it.
If I tried to explain the plot I wouldn't do it justice. Suffice it to say that Bob Wilton (McGregor) gets caught up with Lyn Cassady (Clooney), who is on a secret mission as part of the New Earth Army. I'll leave the rest up to your imagination/ discovery.
The humour is very dry, and incredibly sarcastic at times - one of the main reasons I really enjoyed the movie. I'll admit it's not for everyone, and if you don't get it after the first 10 minutes, you're probably not going to. But if your sense of humour is as dark and dry as mine (some peoples are, it turns out) you'll love it as much as me.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Wednesday 5th January 2011
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawntreader
Director: Michael Apted
Year: 2010
Stars: Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, Simon Pegg (voice), Liam Neeson (voice)
I had wanted to see this before Christmas for a bit of a feel-good movie, but there just didn't seem to be time. Luckily, it was still at the cinema on after Christmas so I thought it would be good for a bit of post-Christmas cheer (I had been at work for a couple of days by now so needed some).
If you've read the Narnia books, you'll probably know the plot of the movie. Susan and Peter aren't in this one - this time it's just Edmund, Lucy and their annoying cousin Eustace who get sucked back into Narnia through a painting. They then have to help Prince Caspian stop the evil in Narnia from spreading by collecting a bunch of important swords.
The movie was exactly what I was expecting (although the 3D perhaps wasn't as beautiful as I had hoped), but if you're after a family adventure/ fantasy movie, you could do a lot worse than this.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Director: Michael Apted
Year: 2010
Stars: Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, Simon Pegg (voice), Liam Neeson (voice)
I had wanted to see this before Christmas for a bit of a feel-good movie, but there just didn't seem to be time. Luckily, it was still at the cinema on after Christmas so I thought it would be good for a bit of post-Christmas cheer (I had been at work for a couple of days by now so needed some).
If you've read the Narnia books, you'll probably know the plot of the movie. Susan and Peter aren't in this one - this time it's just Edmund, Lucy and their annoying cousin Eustace who get sucked back into Narnia through a painting. They then have to help Prince Caspian stop the evil in Narnia from spreading by collecting a bunch of important swords.
The movie was exactly what I was expecting (although the 3D perhaps wasn't as beautiful as I had hoped), but if you're after a family adventure/ fantasy movie, you could do a lot worse than this.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Sunday 2nd January 2011
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Year: 2008
Stars: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Jonah Hill
I really should learn that I just don't find the Judd Apatow team movies funny. All the clues were here: bad romantic comedy, Jonah Hill, storyline that sounds like it could be funny but just isn't, a whole bunch of reviewers that seemed to like the movie but I can't figure out why.
There's nothing special here if you like these types of movies: a guy loses his girlfriend, goes to Hawaii to forget about her, and discovers that she's staying in the exact same hotel with her new English boyfriend. To be fair to Russell Brand, he's probably the best thing in this movie. But that doesn't mean he's good in it.
Along with The 40-Year Old Virgin, this is another Judd Apatow-produced movie that proves I really shouldn't bother with them.
Rating: 1.5 stars
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Year: 2008
Stars: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Jonah Hill
I really should learn that I just don't find the Judd Apatow team movies funny. All the clues were here: bad romantic comedy, Jonah Hill, storyline that sounds like it could be funny but just isn't, a whole bunch of reviewers that seemed to like the movie but I can't figure out why.
There's nothing special here if you like these types of movies: a guy loses his girlfriend, goes to Hawaii to forget about her, and discovers that she's staying in the exact same hotel with her new English boyfriend. To be fair to Russell Brand, he's probably the best thing in this movie. But that doesn't mean he's good in it.
Along with The 40-Year Old Virgin, this is another Judd Apatow-produced movie that proves I really shouldn't bother with them.
Rating: 1.5 stars
2010 Review
Another year, another yearly review. This time around I’ve changed things a little, as taking the best and worst films of each month seems a little unfair. For example, the worst film of one month could score 3 stars, whilst in the next month there could be 3 films that all score 1 star. It seems unfair to claim the 3 star film is worse than two of the 1 star movies!
Therefore, I’ve taken all the films that scored 2 or less stars, and all the films that scored 4.5 or more stars, and listed them in order. If you want to know best and worst films of a particular month you can look at past blog posts, but if you want to know my best and worst films of the year, see below! OK, that’s the explanation part over with... on to the movies in question!
Films of the Year:
12. In Good Company (4.5 stars)
11. Mulan (4.5 stars)
10. The Edukators (4.5 stars)
9. In Bruges (4.5 stars)
8. Let the Right One In (4.5 stars)
7. The Full Monty (5 stars)
6. Toy Story 3 (3D) (5 stars)
5. Inception (5 stars)
4. Children of Men (5 stars)
3. Casablanca (5 stars)
2. Stand by Me (5 stars)
And my Best Film of the Year:
1. Cabaret (5 stars)
Looking back at this list, I wonder if, in hindsight, I wouldn’t have scored some movies slightly differently. For example, although I gave In Good Company 4.5 stars (which I felt was fully deserved at the time), I now find it quite hard to remember the movie. I would say there are probably two notable absences from this list, which, over time, have grown on me and should have perhaps scored more than the 4 stars I initially gave them. The two movies in question here are Kick Ass and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
A special word about Let the Right One In as well, which perhaps should also be a 5 star movie. When I realised the film wouldn’t make it onto this list if I stuck to 5 star movies only, I was highly distressed! I am of course referring to the Swedish version here – I’ve yet to see the American one.
As may be obvious, choosing my top films this year was really tough. However, I have no problems with my choices for top 5 films of the year. Inception has an incredible storyline that will leave you lost in thought for ages afterwards, Children of Men makes a point very poignantly, Casablanca will forever be a classic, and I couldn’t tell you how many times I could watch Stand by Me. However, for its wonderful music, very definite message and just plain brilliance, Cabaret wins Film of the Year in 2010. It’s notable in being one of the two movies in my top 5 I’ve only ever seen once, but I think that just proves how powerful a film it is.
And now, onto Films not to waste your time on. This list was decidedly easier to put together. I’ve seen some truly dire movies this year, and unfortunately they are, for the most part, easy to remember. So here’s 20 hours of my life I’ll never get back:
Films Not to Waste Your Time On:
10. Sherlock Holmes (2 stars)
9. An American Haunting (2 stars)
8. Deck the Halls (2 stars)
7. Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (2 stars)
6. Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2 stars)
5. 300 (2 stars)
4. The Sentinel (1.5 stars)
3. King Arthur (1.5 stars)
2. Grow Your Own (1 star)
And Worst Film of the Year goes to:
1. Synecdoche, New York (0 stars)
Some of these are simply totally unmemorable (so unmemorable I had to read my own reviews to remember them), including An American Haunting and Pocahontas II. Others, however, are truly dire. King Arthur is just, well, wrong (in every sense), whilst Grow Your Own is a complete sexist mess (although I will confess that’s it very memorable – I’ve not forgotten the plot at all).
However, the Worst Film of 2010 truly deserves this honour. Synecdoche, New York is perhaps a controversial choice, as it is loved by reviewers the world over it seems, but I HATED it. Yes, I’m shouting. It is the only movie ever on this blog to manage to score 0 stars. I hate it that much. It’s thoroughly boring, and makes As You Like It (last year’s Worst Film of the Year) suddenly seem like a masterpiece. Well, perhaps not (I’m not sure I could face having to watch that movie again either) – but it’s not far off.
To summarise:
Film of the Year 2010: Cabaret
Worst Film of 2010: Synecdoche, New York
I hope you all had a great start to the new year, have an amazing 2011, and I’ll be back in, oh, 24 hours or so with my first review of the year. New Year’s Resolution: watch more than 5 movies a month!
Therefore, I’ve taken all the films that scored 2 or less stars, and all the films that scored 4.5 or more stars, and listed them in order. If you want to know best and worst films of a particular month you can look at past blog posts, but if you want to know my best and worst films of the year, see below! OK, that’s the explanation part over with... on to the movies in question!
Films of the Year:
12. In Good Company (4.5 stars)
11. Mulan (4.5 stars)
10. The Edukators (4.5 stars)
9. In Bruges (4.5 stars)
8. Let the Right One In (4.5 stars)
7. The Full Monty (5 stars)
6. Toy Story 3 (3D) (5 stars)
5. Inception (5 stars)
4. Children of Men (5 stars)
3. Casablanca (5 stars)
2. Stand by Me (5 stars)
And my Best Film of the Year:
1. Cabaret (5 stars)
Looking back at this list, I wonder if, in hindsight, I wouldn’t have scored some movies slightly differently. For example, although I gave In Good Company 4.5 stars (which I felt was fully deserved at the time), I now find it quite hard to remember the movie. I would say there are probably two notable absences from this list, which, over time, have grown on me and should have perhaps scored more than the 4 stars I initially gave them. The two movies in question here are Kick Ass and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
A special word about Let the Right One In as well, which perhaps should also be a 5 star movie. When I realised the film wouldn’t make it onto this list if I stuck to 5 star movies only, I was highly distressed! I am of course referring to the Swedish version here – I’ve yet to see the American one.
As may be obvious, choosing my top films this year was really tough. However, I have no problems with my choices for top 5 films of the year. Inception has an incredible storyline that will leave you lost in thought for ages afterwards, Children of Men makes a point very poignantly, Casablanca will forever be a classic, and I couldn’t tell you how many times I could watch Stand by Me. However, for its wonderful music, very definite message and just plain brilliance, Cabaret wins Film of the Year in 2010. It’s notable in being one of the two movies in my top 5 I’ve only ever seen once, but I think that just proves how powerful a film it is.
And now, onto Films not to waste your time on. This list was decidedly easier to put together. I’ve seen some truly dire movies this year, and unfortunately they are, for the most part, easy to remember. So here’s 20 hours of my life I’ll never get back:
Films Not to Waste Your Time On:
10. Sherlock Holmes (2 stars)
9. An American Haunting (2 stars)
8. Deck the Halls (2 stars)
7. Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (2 stars)
6. Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2 stars)
5. 300 (2 stars)
4. The Sentinel (1.5 stars)
3. King Arthur (1.5 stars)
2. Grow Your Own (1 star)
And Worst Film of the Year goes to:
1. Synecdoche, New York (0 stars)
Some of these are simply totally unmemorable (so unmemorable I had to read my own reviews to remember them), including An American Haunting and Pocahontas II. Others, however, are truly dire. King Arthur is just, well, wrong (in every sense), whilst Grow Your Own is a complete sexist mess (although I will confess that’s it very memorable – I’ve not forgotten the plot at all).
However, the Worst Film of 2010 truly deserves this honour. Synecdoche, New York is perhaps a controversial choice, as it is loved by reviewers the world over it seems, but I HATED it. Yes, I’m shouting. It is the only movie ever on this blog to manage to score 0 stars. I hate it that much. It’s thoroughly boring, and makes As You Like It (last year’s Worst Film of the Year) suddenly seem like a masterpiece. Well, perhaps not (I’m not sure I could face having to watch that movie again either) – but it’s not far off.
To summarise:
Film of the Year 2010: Cabaret
Worst Film of 2010: Synecdoche, New York
I hope you all had a great start to the new year, have an amazing 2011, and I’ll be back in, oh, 24 hours or so with my first review of the year. New Year’s Resolution: watch more than 5 movies a month!
December 2010 films
Another quiet movie month - I've only watched 5 films again in December, and 4 of those were in the period between Christmas and the New Year. None of them were at the cinema.
Unfortunately, none of them were great movies. A couple were fairly good, but that was as good as they got:
Film of the Month: Strictly Ballroom
Film not to waste your time on: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Unfortunately, none of them were great movies. A couple were fairly good, but that was as good as they got:
- Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005) - 2 stars
- Strictly Ballroom (1992) - 4 stars
- I Am Legend (2007) - 3.5 stars
- Stranger than Fiction (2006) - 3.5 stars
- Mrs. Miracle (2009) - 3 stars
Film of the Month: Strictly Ballroom
Film not to waste your time on: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
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