Wrecked (2010) - Michael Greenspan

What started off as a sort of wannabe Buried (also 2010) - Rodrigo Cortes became something slightly different after about half an hour. Whether this is better depends entirely on whichever actor you find more appealing: Ryan Reynolds or Adrien Brody. I liked it, but not enough to concentrate completely. There wasn't enough dialogue or sound effects to make that side of the film particularly fun, but when one tries to, the twist is entirely worthwhile.

★ ★ ★  ☆ ☆

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003) - Peter Jackson

I'll keep this short, unlike this four hour extended edition: you can understand why it's only been done the once. It needs never doing again, as Mr Jackson did it perfectly. And then dragged the ending on for a tad too long and unnecessarily. The cinematic release, I believe, had slightly less waffle, but even so...

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

El Laberinto del Fauno (2006) - Guillermo del Toro

I don't get why all the pages cite this as Pan's Labyrinth. We should use its real title. The whole film is in Spanish, and the Spanish translation isn't even Pan's Labyrinth. That's just the title to try and grab a Western market, more familiar with the idea of Greek god of wilderness, Pan, than they are with the concept of a faun. We've all read about Mr Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (and seen him played by James McAvoy in that 2005 film, directed by Andrew Adamson), so we should just call a spade a faun, or something.
Anyway, that being put aside, this film is a fairytale for the adult, for the modern, and for those that like their films. Basically, this film is a fairytale for me. Yay. I loved it, and I love that del Toro didn't do it in English, as I feel that a subtitled film kept it elegant and not childlike, which perfectly fitted the scares and gore that appears more frequently than one such as me first assumed it would have. I found myself not remembering anything from my first viewing, little over two years ago, and instead remarking on how scary the eye demon thing HANDS! was. But yeah, this isn't one for the kiddies, so watch alone all you parents.

☆ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Evil Dead (1981) - Sam Raimi

A genuinely scary film, and possibly one of the best on a shoe string budget. This film made Bruce Campbell and the director's career. I preferred Spider-Man (2002), which also has a cameo by Campbell, but Evil Dead will always remain a favourite for horror fans all over the world.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Letter (1940) - William Wyler

We are doing about stars in our American Cinema History class, namely Bette Davis. From this film, she seems like a whore, one that none of the audience seemed particularly caring about. Whether this was intentional on the studio's part, as she was demanding about her contract, asking about upgrades from that of a usual actress, is anyone's guess. It is a possibility though.

 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) - John Moore

This film was a bit obvious, there weren't many shocks. Even the "twist" seemed too obvious.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

30 Minutes or Less (2011) - Ruben Fleischer

Not as good as Zombieland (2009), but a good collaboration between Jesse Eisenberg and this director. I look forward to their (hopefully) next project: Zombieland 2. Also Aziz Ansari makes this film. He's the best thing in it.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Layer Cake (2004) - Matthew Vaughn

This was brilliant. It was very Guy Ritchie styled, but Matthew Vaughn has gone on to some really brilliant films since this first directed by him, and you can see why. It keeps you gripped, and its many characters is only rivalled in the aforementioned Ritchie and possibly, Quentin Tarantino, only Vaughn is British, so even better!

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) - Edgar Wright

I think I've mentioned that this is my favourite film before. It still is. I love it. I've recently started reading the comics, and they're so brilliant. Every panel, seems to be a shot right out of the movie, except for the extra bits obviously, but it would have difficult to fit the entire story into a two hour film. But Edgar manages to keep in everything that is important. And it's just a really feel good film. Yeah. Wow.
Edgar Wright is my favourite director, and I think that he well on his way to being renowned as one of the best of all time.
By, the way, if anyone has the link to make a Scott Pilgrim version of yourself, please send it me. I can't seem to find a working one.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) - Shane Black

This seems to be one of those films that you need to watch where you concentrate. Sadly, I was at a friend's home watching, so didn't get the full gist of the story, and everyone only shut up, when the person who's flat it was told us there was a funny part coming up.

 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ 

Jurassic Park (1993) - Steven Spielberg

Holla at me. It's a quality film. What could have been so cheesy, is actually so perfect a film. My girlfriend got scared, watching it on the big screen, but I thought it added to its quality. Also, I was in it (not really):

Yeah, I used to be chubbier and had a shaved head. Yay.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

The Land Before Time (1988) - Don Bluth

During my extensive research for this blog (HA), I found out that there were thirteen of these movies! Thirteen! Wow, really? I had no idea.
But yeah, this is a childhood favourite of mine, even though I wasn't born until 1993, but I think it was broadcast on TV a lot.
I went to PortAventura once and wanted a green screen picture with all the characters, but it wasn't to be. I got pictures from a different film instead, which you will probably see soon, as I am watching the film tomorrow. I shall probably post it on the review of that. Here's a hint: it also involves dinosaurs.
My sister bought me The Land Before Time on DVD for my birthday, and I also have the second one ready to watch, pretty soon.
Even though this one doesn't have Chomper in, (he's my favourite character, the original film is the best. It has more emotions, and I probably cry more in that two minutes (you all know the two minutes I am referring to) than in most cartoons, with possibly the exception of An All Dogs Christmas Carol (1998) - Paul Sabella and Gary Selvaggio, which most people think is a bad film, but I enjoy, purely because Don Bluth's original version (same director, what a small world?) was a bit too boring for my tastes. What part do you cry on, I hear you cry? The part where Carface, a mainly two dimensional villain, is shown his own past, and his reasons for being evil, always gets me, especially when he's all young and cute.
Anyway, this film conjures up all sorts of memories and reminiscents for me, and probably for most people born in the 90s and late 80s.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Blonde Venus (1932) - Josef Von Sternberg

This film was really good, even if it was banned two years after it's release.
Marlene Dietrich is the definitive bitch of Hollywood stardom, even if she claims everything she did was for the love of her family. Like you'd turn down Cary Grant for your poor husband and kid. They never had a chance.
What the goddamn hell happened to the kid's puppy though, seriously? It was in one scene, then disappeared for good. Ouch. Poor thing probably got murdered whilst they were on the run.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

PS No, seriously... where is the dog?

Leprechaun (1993) - Mark Jones

I think I dozed off, but there was a bit of cheesiness, that I liked. And Jennifer Aniston pre-Friends was quite good to watch.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) - Jim Sharman

After watching this at the theatre for Valentine's Day, I simply had to rewatch the film.
I couldn't help but compare the two, but myself and my friend who watched the film with me agreed that in the grand scheme of things they were both equally impressive. We liked the "live" bedroom scenes better, but we also liked the way the film had sneaky in-jokes and the pauses between each line, allowing one to shout. The stage show did this too, but the actors obviously reacted, some good and some bad. But yeah, overall, both get a five star rating.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This Is 40 (2012) - Judd Apatow

Not as good as Knocked Up (2007), but sequels never are, I suppose. Still worth a watch, but nowhere near as good. As a 20 year old, I don't think I am the target market for this film, but there were some funny bits.

 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Warm Bodies (2013) - Jonathan Levine

I liked the twist in the regular zombie movie. It was a bit like Colin (2008) - Marc Price, in the way it followed the zombie's point of view (in this case, R [a subtle reference to Romeo and Juliet I presumed, with a particular scene]).
It wasn't a great movie. Some of the comedy fell a bit short of the mark.
Nicholas Hoult should be more of a Hollywood heart throb after this film, as the romance parts were very well done, and it definitely worked as a rom com.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

A Room for Romeo Brass (1999) - Shane Meadows

Watching Dead Man's Shoes (2004) perked my interest in Meadows again, so I watched my favourite one again. Paddy Considine is amazing, and I only just realised that this is his debut! Wow! Amazing for a first performance.

 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Dead Man's Shoes (2004) - Shane Meadows

Brilliant film. British classic. Better than This Is England (2006), and deserves more recognition as a benchmark of excellence.

 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hitchcock (2012) - Sacha Gervasi

I liked it, in parts. Some bits were too gimmicky. It was alright though. Anthony Hopkins was the only person that could have done justice to the role. Scarlett Johansson's character could have been made more 3 dimensional.
The film did give us some insight into the creepiness and oddness of the famous director, and as a film student, this film was interesting purely for that fact.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ 

Mamma Mia! (2008) - Phyllida Lloyd

This is one of the greatest musicals of all time, even prompting my friend to have an ABBA / 80s themed party. I don't know why I haven't done this yet, but this picture is relevant to this film:

I think that about explains my love for this film.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Social Network (2010) - David Fincher

This is better on repeat viewing. That's all I have to say about that.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

I Give it a Year (2013) - Dan Mazer

It was good for a romcom. Stephen Merchant didn't feature as heavily as he was advertised, but I suppose that's because all his bits were the best. It was watchable and a nice twist on the usual mundane British romance film, but it failed to do what Love Actually (2003) - Richard Curtis and Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) - Sharon Maguire did do: redefine the genre.

 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Flight (2012) - Robert Zemeckis

Robert Zemeckis is brilliant; every credit to his name deserves to be an awards winner, but there are only a couple that get there. Flight is much of the same kind of thing. You know it won't win an Oscar, but that doesn't mean it isn't up there with the best of the year. Denzel Washington shines out, and every little touch seems perfectly written.

 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Pinocchio (1940) - Multiple

The directors were Norman Ferguson, T. Hee (what a name), Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts and Ben Sharpsteen, yet with all those names, you'd think one of these people would consider this story a little bit scary for kids. It's absolutely terrifying. Seriously. Brilliant, but yeah, terrifying.

 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) - Peter Jackson

This was the extended edition. Woop woop. It was good. Dragged on a bit, but obviously it is still a brilliant piece of fried gold.

 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Top Gun (1986) - Tony Scott

This film is one of those Tom Cruise classics, that there are so many of. Watching any of them makes you realise why Tom Cruise is one of the most powerful actors in Hollywood. He's cool, suarve, and still a brilliant actor. As watching Jack Reacher (2012) - Christopher McQuarrie last year, taught me, Cruise is still one of the finest actors around, and still super cool.
A good film, even if the air fights got a bit tedious and confusing to someone without any kind of aeroplane knowledge to speak of.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Inception (2010) - Christopher Nolan

What kind of mind can write something like this? What kind of company would let him make it? This film is outstanding, and finally, uses special effects to furthur a narrative!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

SPOILERS I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) - Mervyn LeRoy SPOILERS

I don't know why I'm tagging this with "spoilers" because it's so old, no one will probably not see the end coming, but I didn't like that it was ruined for me, by the lecturer telling us there would be a "twist". Had I not known about the twist, I think I'd have been a lot more shocked by the ending.
I enjoyed the film immensely anyway, but the ending especially was poignant: the way in which Paul Muni's character was driven to thievery, by the very forces in place to stop him.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 

American Pie: The Wedding (2003) - Jesse Dylan

This film was lacking a lot of what the earlier two did have, mainly Oz, for fuck's sake, mention him at least once, it deserves that.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ 

ParaNorman (2012) - Chris Butler and Sam Fell

I saw this back in October 2012, just before Hallowe'en, and I enjoyed. However, on repeat viewing, I realised it was a bit cliche and the animation was a bit lacklustre. It sort of reminded me of a Scooby Doo movie from my childhood. Other than that, it was still OK. Not great, but OK. I noticed Anna Kendrick was in it this time, but other than that, not much new. It's that kind of humour and stroy telling where every piece of information and/or comedy has to be pointed out and walked through. I realise it's a kid's film, but some films manage to bridge that gap to adult humour quite well. As for ParaNorman, not for me.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ 

Bullet to the Head (2012) - Walter Hill

This was generically Sylvester Stallone. It is so obvious what it's like, it might even be unnecessary to go see it.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ 

Movie 43 (2013) - Too Many To List

Right, here is a list of the directors: Bob Odenkirk, Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffin Dunne, Peter Farrelly, Patrick Forsberg, Will Graham, James Gunn, Brett Ratner, and Jonathan Van Tulleken.

Parts were OK. All of it was crude as fuck, but maybe sometimes, that's necessary, in a world where serious drama rules the screens, sometimes all you want is a good laugh at some laddish, pub humour. I think the UK got the better version of the film. Analysis' of the US one are very critical of the way the sketches are linked together, but ours made (kind of) sense. This film wasn't fantastic, but doesn't deserve these tags of worst film in the world. It's worth watching, just for a certain testicular problem on an Oscar nominated actor.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆