Movies Of 2017 - September Recapped
I'm so unbelievably behind with posts at the moment, partly because I've actually had a social life, but mainly because I didn't realise that October had come around so quickly.
So enough preamble from me, let's get down to the business at hand... what I saw on the big screen at Cineworld in September.
So enough preamble from me, let's get down to the business at hand... what I saw on the big screen at Cineworld in September.
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The Limehouse Golem
The community of Limehouse in Victorian London have been rocked by a series of murders. They have called the mudered the Golem, as only such a creature could have done these heinous acts.
Elizabeth Cree, the music hall star, has been arrested for the poisoning of her husband John Cree on the same night as the last Golem murder. But when evidence is found by Inspector John Kildare that links John Cree to the murders, he sets about trying to solve both cases so that he might save Elizabeth from hanging for her crime.
Their investigation leads them to an exclusive reading room at the library, and a book on the art of murder. Within its pages are hand written notes chronicling the Golem murders to date. Only four men entered the reading room when the last entry was made; Dan Leno, Karl Marx, George Gissing and John Cree. Can the inspector eliminate the other three men and prove Cree is the Golem in order to save Elizabeth?
I was looking forward to this one. Some top actors were involved, and I love a bit of Victorian era murder. The film itself was good throughout, I can't fault it for the scenery and acting.
But...
Those of you that know me, know that I don't think about films. I'm sure I keep saying this. I watch them to have some fun, to escape reality, so what's the point in picking apart something that's made as a fiction to entertain you?
Even with me suspending my brain function for the duration of the film, I paused and thought... oh, this is what's going to happen... and it did. It felt a bit cliche, like the twist had been overused in every film like this that I'd seen. I don't think it was designed that way though. There was a clear moment in the film where they want you to know what is happening, but the realisation of the ending cam much earlier than this. And it was disappointing. I was enjoying the film a lot until I realised what was coming. Talking to my movie buddy I discovered that I wasn't the only one who had this feeling. It's such a shame, but the twist felt so obvious to me that I was suddenly very disappointed.
I have taken to looking at Rotten Tomatoes after seeing a film, and this one is currently sitting at 77% with critics and 61% with the audience. I'd say that's about right. I've left the major spoiler out of here, but if you're familiar with this sort of story then I don't think you'd be hard pressed to work it out. It is an excellent film in it's genre, but it was let down, for me, by the obvious direction it went in. [08/09]
Elizabeth Cree, the music hall star, has been arrested for the poisoning of her husband John Cree on the same night as the last Golem murder. But when evidence is found by Inspector John Kildare that links John Cree to the murders, he sets about trying to solve both cases so that he might save Elizabeth from hanging for her crime.
Their investigation leads them to an exclusive reading room at the library, and a book on the art of murder. Within its pages are hand written notes chronicling the Golem murders to date. Only four men entered the reading room when the last entry was made; Dan Leno, Karl Marx, George Gissing and John Cree. Can the inspector eliminate the other three men and prove Cree is the Golem in order to save Elizabeth?
But...
Those of you that know me, know that I don't think about films. I'm sure I keep saying this. I watch them to have some fun, to escape reality, so what's the point in picking apart something that's made as a fiction to entertain you?
Even with me suspending my brain function for the duration of the film, I paused and thought... oh, this is what's going to happen... and it did. It felt a bit cliche, like the twist had been overused in every film like this that I'd seen. I don't think it was designed that way though. There was a clear moment in the film where they want you to know what is happening, but the realisation of the ending cam much earlier than this. And it was disappointing. I was enjoying the film a lot until I realised what was coming. Talking to my movie buddy I discovered that I wasn't the only one who had this feeling. It's such a shame, but the twist felt so obvious to me that I was suddenly very disappointed.
I have taken to looking at Rotten Tomatoes after seeing a film, and this one is currently sitting at 77% with critics and 61% with the audience. I'd say that's about right. I've left the major spoiler out of here, but if you're familiar with this sort of story then I don't think you'd be hard pressed to work it out. It is an excellent film in it's genre, but it was let down, for me, by the obvious direction it went in. [08/09]
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American Assassin
Mitch and his girlfriend are on a love filled holiday in Spain. He's just proposed, she's just said yes, and now they're going to celebrate. But the happy event is cut short when a radical Islamist jihadist cell appears at the resort and attacks. Wounded, and filled with rage at being unable to prevent her death, Mitch finds his new purpose in life.
Eighteen months pass and he has managed to gain an audience with the terrorist responsible for the death of his girlfriend. Vengeance has consumed him, but US Special Forces swoop in and kill everyone denying him the chance to settle the score.
He is debriefed and recruited into a black ops team, Orion, by the CIA's Deputy Director. Here the recruits will be trained by ex-Navy Seal and Cold War veteran Stan Hurley in asymmetrical warefare.
Weapons grade nuclear material has gone missing. Their mission is simple, but who is the operative who seems to know their every move?
Seemingly the critics panned this one. Would I ever need to see it again? No. Was it bad? No. It was a perfectly entertaining action movie... buuuuuut... there's not really much else to say about it. The best bit about this film for me was Michael Keaton. Definitely stream it, if it's under a fiver and you like this sort of film then it's worth buying. [12/09]
Yes, I watched it twice... well why not? I've got Unlimited and it was very entertaining.
I'm going to dispense with most of the "official" waffle about this one. You know it's going to be a kick ass action movie and you know it's going to be funny. Some bits were a little awkward, and it probably wasn't as good as the first one, but it was still really enjoyable.
This one might make you want to lay off the burgers for a little while, but it will also make you love Mark Strong/Merlin even more than you did in the first place.
I do have one bugbear though, the trailer shows you part of the car chase with Galahad in the taxi, the music they use is a remix of The Who's song, My Generation. It works amazingly well. But of course like so many movies, that song was only used in the trailer, and the music that was over it in the film didn't work for me. [20/09]
Now, this one amused me... even Wikipedia doesn't care about this movie, its entire plot summary is... "Medical students induce their own deaths to experience near-death experiences." And while that's true I feel like there's more to describe about this film than the unnecessary five heavy paragraphs I read about Home Again.
This film might be okay if you haven't seen the original... might be. But if it ain't broke don't fix it as they say.
What I would say is that there are probably sensible reasons not to watch this, if you have trouble letting go of the past and have anxiety and guilt, maybe stay at home. [30/09]
Eighteen months pass and he has managed to gain an audience with the terrorist responsible for the death of his girlfriend. Vengeance has consumed him, but US Special Forces swoop in and kill everyone denying him the chance to settle the score.
He is debriefed and recruited into a black ops team, Orion, by the CIA's Deputy Director. Here the recruits will be trained by ex-Navy Seal and Cold War veteran Stan Hurley in asymmetrical warefare.
Weapons grade nuclear material has gone missing. Their mission is simple, but who is the operative who seems to know their every move?
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Kingsman: The Golden Circle x 2
Yes, I watched it twice... well why not? I've got Unlimited and it was very entertaining.
I'm going to dispense with most of the "official" waffle about this one. You know it's going to be a kick ass action movie and you know it's going to be funny. Some bits were a little awkward, and it probably wasn't as good as the first one, but it was still really enjoyable.
This one might make you want to lay off the burgers for a little while, but it will also make you love Mark Strong/Merlin even more than you did in the first place.
I do have one bugbear though, the trailer shows you part of the car chase with Galahad in the taxi, the music they use is a remix of The Who's song, My Generation. It works amazingly well. But of course like so many movies, that song was only used in the trailer, and the music that was over it in the film didn't work for me. [20/09]
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Home Again
Mother of two, Alice Kinney, is turning forty. She's separated from her husband and has just moved back to her father's old home in Los Angeles to start again. While out with her friends for her birthday she bumps into the youthful Harry, and his friends George and Teddy, who've come to LA to pitch their movie.
After an awkward encounter the morning after, Alice's mum convinces her to let the three of them stay in the guest house while they're in town. The three of them become part of family life, helping her with work and the kids. When her ex shows up unexpectedly, Alice is left in a confusing position, and when tension builds between everyone things start to change.
Is this the best rom-com? That's a strong no. Is it a bad film? Also no. It made me chuckle, and it brought a bit of a tear to my eye. It was just a nice film. The conclusion seemed to happen very suddenly, but then I feel that about quite a few films that I see. Personally if I fancied seeing a Reese Witherspoon film then I'd probably pick Sweet Home Alabama, Just Like Heaven, or even Hot Pursuit. I read online that the conclusion was that everyone in this film has done something better, and that is definitely true. [29/09]
After an awkward encounter the morning after, Alice's mum convinces her to let the three of them stay in the guest house while they're in town. The three of them become part of family life, helping her with work and the kids. When her ex shows up unexpectedly, Alice is left in a confusing position, and when tension builds between everyone things start to change.
Is this the best rom-com? That's a strong no. Is it a bad film? Also no. It made me chuckle, and it brought a bit of a tear to my eye. It was just a nice film. The conclusion seemed to happen very suddenly, but then I feel that about quite a few films that I see. Personally if I fancied seeing a Reese Witherspoon film then I'd probably pick Sweet Home Alabama, Just Like Heaven, or even Hot Pursuit. I read online that the conclusion was that everyone in this film has done something better, and that is definitely true. [29/09]
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Flatliners
Now, this one amused me... even Wikipedia doesn't care about this movie, its entire plot summary is... "Medical students induce their own deaths to experience near-death experiences." And while that's true I feel like there's more to describe about this film than the unnecessary five heavy paragraphs I read about Home Again.
This film might be okay if you haven't seen the original... might be. But if it ain't broke don't fix it as they say.
What I would say is that there are probably sensible reasons not to watch this, if you have trouble letting go of the past and have anxiety and guilt, maybe stay at home. [30/09]
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Six films this month then... yes I know one of them was twice... but I'm already making a start on next month, and have been seeing lots of trailers that look good. So happy watching everyone, lots of good stuff coming soon.
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