Archive for November 2012

The Weekly Watch: Installment #33

November 28, 2012 Weekly Watch 7 comments

As the awards season starts to hot up, my December is already becoming jam packed with films. My last week or so of November has been a little quieter with a few 2012 films in The Trouble With the Curve, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Skyfall.

I finished two popular series off with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as well as Live Free or Die Hard. The best though was probably 1986 film Stand By Me. Finally, ahead of seeing This is 40 I watched Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up. Read on for full thoughts!
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) <<< Click here for my review. Out in Australian cinemas Thursday it was extremely powerful although I didn’t quite love it. B

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) – Not the worst film out and definitely not as bad as many have said, however the CGI and Special Effects are just so poor. Shia LaBeouf was fine in my opinion and while it’s not a classic by any stretch it finished off the series nicely. The worst of the four films however. B-  Read more

Recommend a Film: Installment #3

November 25, 2012 Recommend a Film 10 comments

I’ve been getting through a heap of movies over the last few months, with many classics I have still yet to see. My Watchlist is already huge and I’ve found so many movies thanks to recommendations from readers.

I would love to hear what movies I should tick off that Watchlist ASAP or any other ones you truly love that I need to see. Most of the films I’ve ever seen are on my A-Z page. Take a look at the table below for all the previous recommendations.   Read more

Movie Review – The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

November 22, 2012 2012 Movies, Reviews 5 comments

Powerful and full of emotion, The Perks of Being a Wallflower tells a moving story of a shy freshman that will have many tearing up frequently. It has some wonderful acting performances with Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller and Emma Watson all starring.
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Based on the novel written by Stephen Chbosky, It’s great that he’s the one actually directing the film as well, and from what I’ve heard, it understandably sticks to the book with the story. We see Charlie (Lerman) bracing himself for the start of the school year as a boy with no friends. His English teacher Mr Anderson (Paul Rudd), is quick to befriend him and is a character that is utilised well.  Read more

The Weekly Watch: Installment #32

November 17, 2012 2012 Movies, Weekly Watch 9 comments

Another satisfying week with all 7 films I saw earning at least a B grade. I decided to finally see the Indiana Jones films with The Last Crusade entering my top 30 of all time. I watched some more great films from the last 10 years in Children of Men, Hot Fuzz and Lost in Translation.

Just the one new release 2012 film in Breaking Dawn Part Two which I reviewed. I also had a rare rewatch in The Dark Knight Rises which was just as amazing the 3rd time round.
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Lost in Translation (2003) – There was something special about this film with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson both giving stellar performances. You could really relate to the characters who gave human performances as strangers in a foreign country. I can see why some don’t love it as plot wise very little happens, but I liked it. B+  Read more

Movie Review – Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012)

November 14, 2012 2012 Movies, Reviews 9 comments

Breaking Dawn Part 2 provides a more than fitting end to the Twilight Saga that will surely please die hard fans. While the first half has much the same feel as the previous films, it’s the final 20 minutes that deliver, with a bold twist that I didn’t see coming.
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By now most audiences know if they like the Twilight series or not and if you fall into the dislike category, there’s not much point going any further. However, while I liked without loving the first 3 films (lets not discuss Breaking Dawn Part 1), Part 2 has the power to convert the maybe’s into yes’s. The build up to the climax is well worth the patience, with a first half that keeps your attention without impressing you. The closing scenes are gripping, exciting and relatively dark, something perhaps unexpected from a film rated M in Australia.  Read more

The Weekly Watch: Installment #31

November 10, 2012 2012 Movies, Weekly Watch 11 comments

8 movies filled up my past 8 days with 2012 movies of Your Sister’s Sister, Excision and Seven Psychopaths.

I watched a few super movies from the early 00′s in Traffic, Mulholland Drive, American Psycho and Shaun of the Dead with all living up to the hype. I also caught the great 2008 documentary Man on Wire. Finally, with Breaking Dawn Part 2 coming out this week I watched Part 1, which was extremely disappointing compared to the rest. Read on for my thoughts as always…
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Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (2011) – I had a lot of issues with this film, primarily brought on by the decision to split the book into two. The first hour was extremely slow, with virtually nothing happening -it was hard to sit through. The second half was bewildering but would not have been a major issue if the movie wasn’t split as it would have been covered quicker. Overall it still had it’s moments and while it didn’t put me off seeing the next one it has negatively affected the series in my eyes. C+  Read more

The Weekly Watch: Installment #30

November 1, 2012 2012 Movies, Weekly Watch 11 comments

I’ve decided to give the Twilight series a watch with the final movie out in a fortnight, so I caught the first, as well as New Moon and Eclipse. Paul Thomas Anderson gave a great Q+A at the Astor theatre last week ahead of the Australian release of The Master. I watched Punch-Drunk Love the night before to get into the mood. I also checked out Inglourious Basterds which was probably my favourite Tarantino film to date.

2012 releases of Lockout and Man on a Ledge were viewed as well as one of the week’s new releases in End Of Watch. Read on for mini-reviews!
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Punch-Drunk Love (2002) – There is something very unique about this film that often had me mesmerised while watching it. It was likely the use of music over the top of dialogue and key scenes that intrigued me and overall it was quite enjoyable. Adam Sandler is great in a serious role and I loved seeing Mary Lynn Rajskub as a key character as I loved her in 24. Sandler’s character’s whirlwind of emotions was a highlight. B+
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