Clearly I need to watch Early Man but it hasn't made it to Campbeltown yet.
Instead my first experience of watching a film in the newly refurbished art nouveau gem that is the Campbeltown Picture House was the Darkest Hour. An excellent film, I thought. I can forgive the underground scene as a "device" to illustrate his understanding of the will of the people.
All a bit emotional for me as my Campbeltown-born dad was part of the rearguard action in France, ordered by Churchill. In fact, I'm only here because he ended up in Woolwich at the end of the war and met my Belvedere mum. And I'm only an Addick because dad was told to support Charlton by his father in law. What's more, this little girl brought up in a council house went on to get a place to study languages at none other than Churchill College, Cambridge. Anyone else notice Winston's rather fetching pink and brown dressing gown? Those were his family's racing colours and therefore also ours for college sporting colours. And the College provided archive material for the film. So it was fitting to see this film back in the very cinema that dad used to sneek into when he was a little kid - without paying because the family were so poor but the usherette let him in anyway.
Anyway, apologies, getting a bit self-indulgent now. It was a good film of a fascinating and very important time in history.
I think I've got something in my eye. Or perhaps it's hay fever.
There are some actors and directors that can do no wrong in the eyes of The Academy and serious critics. Guillermo del Toro is definitely one of those directors. Don't get me wrong , he has made some very good films but sadly , in my opinion , The Shape of Water is definitely not one of them. In the hidden high security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda discover a secret classified experiment on a water based man like creature. Elisa finds she is falling in love with a creature that others want dead.
I really do not know what all the fuss was about with this film. Sure , Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon are good but they usually always are. This had the feel of an average story that you might have seen on an episode of The Twilight Zone . For a Del Toro film the special affects were very average , almost like a B movie from back in the day. Perhaps that was what he was trying to achieve ? Why this has been nominated for 13 Oscars is a mystery to me because this film was average at best.
Have to agree that this film is massively overrated.
Sadly, I have to agree. I'd been looking forward to this movie and given all the hype and praise I was expecting something strange and wonderful like "Pan's Labyrinth". It turned out to be straightforward and predictable. Enjoyable, as there are some excellent performances, but I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.
I can see why Jeunet & Caro might be a bit peeved about the film, but they helped ruin the "Alien" franchise so they're on thin ice with me if they're picking holes in somebody else's monster movie.
Missed it at the cinema, but finally got round to seeing Goodbye Christopher Robin.
Quite a moving film about the author AA Milne, his struggles with being in World War One, the relationship he had with his son, and how the Winnie the Pooh bear stories came about, something different, really enjoyed it.
I'm looking forward to new sci fi film 'Annihilation' coming out , the books 'southern reach trilogy' were brilliant.
Googled it & now I'm looking forward to it too ! Thanks, @Shrew.
Fingers crossed it gets a general release over here, I'm currently working with the writer, Jeff Vandermeer (whose been really generous) on some short films with disabled performers who I work with on a weekly basis.
Missed it at the cinema, but finally got round to seeing Goodbye Christopher Robin.
Quite a moving film about the author AA Milne, his struggles with being in World War One, the relationship he had with his son, and how the Winnie the Pooh bear stories came about, something different, really enjoyed it.
Saw it at the cinema with my daughter - enjoyable film that was far better than I expected.
Anyone gonna see Black Panther? 97% tomato meter and getting rave reviews. Going to break Marvel opening weekend box office records in the US. Never even heard of the character before.
Anyone gonna see Black Panther? 97% tomato meter and getting rave reviews. Going to break Marvel opening weekend box office records in the US. Never even heard of the character before.
Son & grandson saw it last week & thought it was crap.
Anyone gonna see Black Panther? 97% tomato meter and getting rave reviews. Going to break Marvel opening weekend box office records in the US. Never even heard of the character before.
He appeared in Captain America: Civil War
The way that Marvel have operated, I reckon people wont want to miss Black Panther and miss any potential continuous plot into Avengers: Infinity War that comes out in April.
Took my niece to see Jumanji today. Never saw the original but knew about the storyline etc.
Thought this one was really good and both my 12 year old niece and myself found it very funny - in particular Jack Black and the black man who’s name I’m not aware of.
Maybe it was due to low expectations but I was pleasantly surprised.
Anyone gonna see Black Panther? 97% tomato meter and getting rave reviews. Going to break Marvel opening weekend box office records in the US. Never even heard of the character before.
Saw it before the game yesterday. Absolute drivel.
Finally caught up with Dunkirk. Exciting and well made, but no story that actually is going to stick with me. Inspired me to read up about it I suppose.
After Phantom Thread, I am VERY wary about the tomato-meter. Usually reliable but it goes away with the mixer every now and then. It gave the latest Star Wars film way too many points too.
Very pleased to see that pretentious drivel, Shape of Water, only won the music nomination- must have been asleep when they were playing it.
The worst bits of Beauty and the Beast meets ET meets a crap 1950s sci-fi B movie plus some gratuitous violence. But its really a subtle allegory about oppression of minorities.
Anyone gonna see Black Panther? 97% tomato meter and getting rave reviews. Going to break Marvel opening weekend box office records in the US. Never even heard of the character before.
Saw it last week. I don't usually do Marvel movies at the cinema, but it was absolutely brilliant. It actually gives you something to think about, rather than simply having lots of stunts, explosions and 'let's go get those suckers'-type dialogue. Special effects are decent too.
Very pleased to see that pretentious drivel, Shape of Water, only won the music nomination- must have been asleep when they were playing it.
The worst bits of Beauty and the Beast meets ET meets a crap 1950s sci-fi B movie plus some gratuitous violence. But its really a subtle allegory about oppression of minorities.
Utter garbage!
Another post I want to both like and LOL. I haven't watched it but I just know it's that kind of film that I won't be interested in.
Watched 'The Shape of Water' last night. I enjoyed it, for its visual storytelling. I'm happy to ignore the hype and simply watch an entertaining film.
Just seen ‘Early Man’ which was about a football team in red and white trying to get back to The Valley. Nick Park must be a Charlton fan!
Spot on @JamesSeed and @SaoPauloAddick. Any scintilla of doubt that this film is about CAFC was removed at the end when the baddie - resplendent in a rat costume - tried to escape from the stadium with all the money. A very beautiful metaphor.
Thoroughly enjoyable, with some excellent humour and voiceovers.
Saw this today - very funny and well worth a watch. Couldn't have been about Charlton as the team in red scored late in the game to win. 8/10
We went to see Lady Bird last night. The storyline is far from original (teenager coming of age in Culturalwasteland, USA) and it came across to me like American Graffiti with less jokes and great tunes. However, the actors are uniformly good and in the case of the the mother (Laurie Metcalf) and daughter (Saoirse Ronan), excellent. Definitely worth seeing for the performances.
Anyone gonna see Black Panther? 97% tomato meter and getting rave reviews. Going to break Marvel opening weekend box office records in the US. Never even heard of the character before.
Saw it last week. I don't usually do Marvel movies at the cinema, but it was absolutely brilliant. It actually gives you something to think about, rather than simply having lots of stunts, explosions and 'let's go get those suckers'-type dialogue. Special effects are decent too.
Definite 9/10 for me.
Saw it last night - thought the first half an hour or so wasn't too great but after that the story got going and I really enjoyed it. 7.5/10
I, Tonya Very entertaining mockumentary film that tells the story of skater Tonya Harding and the background to her attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan. Margot Robbie as Tonya and Alison Janney as her mother are both excellent and it's a great piece of storytelling - hard to believe that all these events took place.
Some very funny moments - the dialogue is very sharp. 8.5/10
This is like some kind of 1950s romantic, fantasy, thriller B movie, if such a thing ever existed. Not a film out of the top draw but an enjoyable one, with some strong performances.
We went to see Lady Bird last night. The storyline is far from original (teenager coming of age in Culturalwasteland, USA) and it came across to me like American Graffiti with less jokes and great tunes. However, the actors are uniformly good and in the case of the the mother (Laurie Metcalf) and daughter (Saoirse Ronan), excellent. Definitely worth seeing for the performances.
I thought this was a fantastic film with a great script and excellent performances from the cast. Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf are outstanding. Some very touching moments and by far the best film I've seen this year. Beautifully shot and a story that is easy to relate to. Definitely my type of film. 9.5/10
Just seen I, Tonya, wasn't what I was expecting at all, really really good film, wouldn't be surprised to see Allison Janney pick up best supporting actress for her performance as Harding's mother.
Just seen I, Tonya, wasn't what I was expecting at all, really really good film, wouldn't be surprised to see Allison Janney pick up best supporting actress for her performance as Harding's mother.
Would thoroughly recommend it.
Alison Janney did put in a great performance as the mother from hell. A very entertaining film.
Comments
Sadly, I have to agree. I'd been looking forward to this movie and given all the hype and praise I was expecting something strange and wonderful like "Pan's Labyrinth". It turned out to be straightforward and predictable. Enjoyable, as there are some excellent performances, but I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.
I can see why Jeunet & Caro might be a bit peeved about the film, but they helped ruin the "Alien" franchise so they're on thin ice with me if they're picking holes in somebody else's monster movie.
Quite a moving film about the author AA Milne, his struggles with being in World War One, the relationship he had with his son, and how the Winnie the Pooh bear stories came about, something different, really enjoyed it.
The way that Marvel have operated, I reckon people wont want to miss Black Panther and miss any potential continuous plot into Avengers: Infinity War that comes out in April.
Thought this one was really good and both my 12 year old niece and myself found it very funny - in particular Jack Black and the black man who’s name I’m not aware of.
Maybe it was due to low expectations but I was pleasantly surprised.
7/10.
Absolute drivel.
The worst bits of Beauty and the Beast meets ET meets a crap 1950s sci-fi B movie plus some gratuitous violence. But its really a subtle allegory about oppression of minorities.
Utter garbage!
Definite 9/10 for me.
8/10
Never been so cold in a cinema!
Very entertaining mockumentary film that tells the story of skater Tonya Harding and the background to her attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan. Margot Robbie as Tonya and Alison Janney as her mother are both excellent and it's a great piece of storytelling - hard to believe that all these events took place.
Some very funny moments - the dialogue is very sharp. 8.5/10
This is like some kind of 1950s romantic, fantasy, thriller B movie, if such a thing ever existed. Not a film out of the top draw but an enjoyable one, with some strong performances.
Would thoroughly recommend it.