#1 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013)
An inauspicious start to my year of film watching admittedly. This sequel to the food-based animation (which I haven't seen BTW) is decent enough. The concept is kinda weird, but you probably need to see the original to truly get it. Some funny ideas and good performances (although it feels like some concepts have been ripped off other films) ... but forgettable all the same.
(6/10)
#2 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
I revisited this after watching Infinity War, and enjoyed it more than the first time I saw it at the cinema. It's good to see the Avengers working properly together as a team, and good to see early threads of the Thanos storyline slowly coming together. Good clean fun.
(8/10)
#3 I, Daniel Blake (2016)
A worker with a heart condition is cruelly forced to look for work in order to receive money from the state, but the system is up against him even though he's done nothing wrong. This is a deeply distressing account of life on welfare in 21st century Britain, and tragically things don't seem to have improved since this film was made. The only glimmer of hope is the small moments of kindness and generosity that permeates this story from the ordinary men and women without any real power.
(9/10)
#4 The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
Based on the German stories from the 19th century, the titular Baron comes out of retirement – in the middle of a seige no less – to set the record straight about his wild and fantastical exploits. Notorious for its out-of-control budget, this final film in the unofficial 'imagination' trilogy of Terry Gilliam is full-on spectacle and weirdness with some great set pieces and memorable performances from the likes of Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman (in her first movie role) and Eric Idle.
(8/10)
#5 Bird box (2018)
Sandra Bullock takes on an unseen enemy in a world where demonic-like creatures have invaded the earth causing people to commit suicide if they see them. What could be a fairly by-the-numbers post-apocalyptic thriller is actually quite nuanced and moving as the heroine struggles to keep herself and her family alive in a world where they must cover their eyes whenever out in the open. A refreshing piece of work.
(8/10)
#6 Fyre (2019)
This documentary about the ill-fated festival is both tragic and hilarious. The sheer ignorance of the organisers about what it takes to run a successful festival is mind-boggling. Even so it's kind of funny to watch a load of millenials rock up to a building site in the Caribbean and effectively turn into cast members from Lord of the Flies because they have to sleep on water-soaked mattresses in disaster relief tents.
(8/10)
#7 Free Fire (2016)
Disappointing comedy thriller that starts well but ends up just being an extended shoot-out. Interesting idea and a great cast but it’s a one-trick pony with no depth.
(5/10)
#8 A Quiet Place (2018)
Aliens have invaded earth and their one weakness/strength is that they can only hunt their human prey using their highly-developed sense of hearing (so, what - they can't smell?). In the resultant post-apocalyptic world, a family struggles to survive whilst under the constant threat of these baddies coming along should the slightest loud noise be made. An interesting and well-crafted tale, its only letdown is the slightly flawed logic surrounding the beasties as well as the confusing choices made by some of the characters during the course of the film.
(6/10)
An inauspicious start to my year of film watching admittedly. This sequel to the food-based animation (which I haven't seen BTW) is decent enough. The concept is kinda weird, but you probably need to see the original to truly get it. Some funny ideas and good performances (although it feels like some concepts have been ripped off other films) ... but forgettable all the same.
(6/10)
#2 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
I revisited this after watching Infinity War, and enjoyed it more than the first time I saw it at the cinema. It's good to see the Avengers working properly together as a team, and good to see early threads of the Thanos storyline slowly coming together. Good clean fun.
(8/10)
#3 I, Daniel Blake (2016)
A worker with a heart condition is cruelly forced to look for work in order to receive money from the state, but the system is up against him even though he's done nothing wrong. This is a deeply distressing account of life on welfare in 21st century Britain, and tragically things don't seem to have improved since this film was made. The only glimmer of hope is the small moments of kindness and generosity that permeates this story from the ordinary men and women without any real power.
(9/10)
#4 The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
Based on the German stories from the 19th century, the titular Baron comes out of retirement – in the middle of a seige no less – to set the record straight about his wild and fantastical exploits. Notorious for its out-of-control budget, this final film in the unofficial 'imagination' trilogy of Terry Gilliam is full-on spectacle and weirdness with some great set pieces and memorable performances from the likes of Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman (in her first movie role) and Eric Idle.
(8/10)
#5 Bird box (2018)
Sandra Bullock takes on an unseen enemy in a world where demonic-like creatures have invaded the earth causing people to commit suicide if they see them. What could be a fairly by-the-numbers post-apocalyptic thriller is actually quite nuanced and moving as the heroine struggles to keep herself and her family alive in a world where they must cover their eyes whenever out in the open. A refreshing piece of work.
(8/10)
#6 Fyre (2019)
This documentary about the ill-fated festival is both tragic and hilarious. The sheer ignorance of the organisers about what it takes to run a successful festival is mind-boggling. Even so it's kind of funny to watch a load of millenials rock up to a building site in the Caribbean and effectively turn into cast members from Lord of the Flies because they have to sleep on water-soaked mattresses in disaster relief tents.
(8/10)
#7 Free Fire (2016)
Disappointing comedy thriller that starts well but ends up just being an extended shoot-out. Interesting idea and a great cast but it’s a one-trick pony with no depth.
(5/10)
#8 A Quiet Place (2018)
Aliens have invaded earth and their one weakness/strength is that they can only hunt their human prey using their highly-developed sense of hearing (so, what - they can't smell?). In the resultant post-apocalyptic world, a family struggles to survive whilst under the constant threat of these baddies coming along should the slightest loud noise be made. An interesting and well-crafted tale, its only letdown is the slightly flawed logic surrounding the beasties as well as the confusing choices made by some of the characters during the course of the film.
(6/10)
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