Film

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Couldn't help thinking while watching it that Verhoeven could have made a quality movie out of the same basic story.

[The Butcher]

Watched the substance last night. Absolutely bonkers and got more absurd the closer it got to the end. Will definitely look out for whatever that director does next.Loved the sound design and cinematography.  More of that please 🙌

[Mithrandir]

Loved Nosferatu, Eggers absolutely killed it. Thought the design of the Count was rather cool and played into the whole Slavic folklore vibe. Looking forward to the Blu Ray as it's gonna have an extended cut of the movie.

I dunno, I felt it was all style over substance, will definitely watch again as it was so nice to look at but I don't actually think it was a good movie.

[Eoin McLove]

There's arguably not much substance to the story in the first place. It's basic, so I think that if they get the atmosphere right then they're winning. I'm going to see it on Sunday and I can't wait. I haven't been excited to see a film in ages and I'm going purely for the spectacle.

[The Heretic]

Sonic 3. Simply amazing. Just when you thought hedgehogs couldn't possibly go any faster, they go faster. And Keanu Reeves put in a spellbinding performance as Shadow. It was all you could hope for from a film about small but incredibly fast moving spiny mammals. A bit early to say it's a classic but it's up there.

0/10

I had the good fortune of seeing that one in the cinema with the kids the other day. Very lucky to catch it on the big screen while I could

-1/10

Reviews of the year right there!!

[Mithrandir]

There's arguably not much substance to the story in the first place. It's basic, so I think that if they get the atmosphere right then they're winning. I'm going to see it on Sunday and I can't wait. I haven't been excited to see a film in ages and I'm going purely for the spectacle.

Ah yeah I get that, I just think there was an attempt to substantiate the story that failed but keen to hear what you think after you've watched.

[Eoin McLove]

I shall report back in full. I've always got my 0/10 at the ready.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Whiplash shift of gear away from Pacific Rim:

Lumumba (2000) - Raoul Peck's biopic about Patrice Lumumba's rise to power in the newly independent Congo at the beginning of the 60s, and his ultimate murder.

Also watched Peck's Exterminate All The Brutes 4-part documentary series about genocide which is pretty fucking impactful in terms of content but also a bit too chaotic and odd in terms of narrative and editing.

[Mooncat]

The Long Good Friday. Always a classic. Think it might be my favourite British gangster film. Either it or Get Carter.

[ldj]

Watched The Lighthouse the other night, great film. Pattinson has made some turn around from being the lad from Twilight tbf, Dafoe great as always too.

[astfgyl]

Two old ones for me this evening:

The Sound Of Music, and The Man Who Would Be King.

Both on bbc4, which is nearly always a decent channel

[Eoin McLove]

Just back from Nosferatu. As Mithrandir said above its a bit thin story wise, but that's fine with me. The Dracula/ Nosferatu tale is straight forward so I expected it to live or die on the atmosphere and visuals. And it was spot on in those respects. I loved how it reverted to looking like a black and white 1920s flick for the nocturnal scenes. It was stylish without being too heavy handed. It all looked like it was shot slightly out of focus as well which added to that sense of age and decay. The vibe was perfectly creepy and crepuscular throughout. I thought it looked like the perfect black metal or funeral doom video and no doubt it'll be plundered for samples and visuals. The overall sound I thought was incredible. It was cold, minimal and barren and heightened the creepiness. Orlok's vokillz were killer too. It sounds like Sarsgard had watched a few interviews with Atilla Csihar! The accent, the voice, the slow staccato delivery... perfect. Hard to fault it really other than the lack of kangaroos. I think there might have only been one or two in the whole film.
2/10

[Emphyrio]

Nosferatu (1922), before I watch the new one. Still class.

[Eoin McLove]

I think there's just the right amount of homage in the new one. Little atmospheric nods.