Not much going on here. I started well; I saw a new film on New Year’s Day and visited the cinema a couple more times that month but my watching petered out as spring started. Family events ensured I watch a few more films than I might have otherwise and I tried another of those ‘watch one every evening’ goals I first attempted a few years ago; at the end of the day I don’t think I’ll ever get over the ironic feeling I have that a couple of hours spent on a film isn’t worth much even though I can spend several hours on an average book and deem it very worth it. I guess film bloggers feel this in reverse!

Bridge of Spies (USA, 2015) – I didn’t catch as much of the humour as did those I saw it with but it wasn’t bad.

Cheerful Weather For The Wedding (UK, 2012) – Strictly okay. Sorely lacking in the humour that made the book so good and the poignant ending wasn’t well done.

Cinderella (UK, 2015) – Apart from the way the actors all seem cut out of another piece of film (I suspect too much green screen) this is an excellent production. Very, very funny, in an adult humour way, and in this case the sections that are overly romanticised and cute are clearly to placate the kids who want the princess fairytale. The step-family weren’t as awful as I’d been led to believe – they’re more bog-standard Cinderella – but the focus on that aspect of the story is given more time.

The Danish Girl (Multiple countries, 2015) – The actors were good and worked well together, the music was great, cinematography… I’m just a bit confused as to why they chose to adapt a fictionalisation rather than the true story.

Ella Enchanted (USA, 2004) – Very silly, perhaps too silly, but entertaining enough.

Joy (USA, 2015) – A good story but film was the wrong medium for it. Wait for the book (not that it’s on its way).

Man Of The Year (USA, 2006) – Eternally relevant.

Philomena (UK, 2013)– Hard hitting and whilst not quite true to life, very good.

Spectre (UK, 2015) – Not bad at all. Liked the characterisation of the Bond Girl.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (USA, 2015) – As a Star Wars film? Not so much. As a film in itself? Awesome. I am loving Rey so far though I could do without Darth Vader’s Anger-Management-Course-Required grandson. Bit too samey.

Goal for the next six months? Honestly, I think saying I’d like to have watched two films is a good idea. I have read a fair number of books – they’re making up for the slack.

Which films have you seen recently and would you recommend them?

In any given year I seem to forget about the screen somewhere between June and July and that’s it until the next January. This time around I have Christmas to thank – we watched four films and as is often the case, there were some interesting ones on catch-up television.

Here are the films I watched for the first time during the second half of 2015.

About Time (UK, 2013) – Funny, poignant, and, hey, it’s by Richard Curtis. You do need to suspend reality as the time travel has a lot of holes but the message rings true. And that title is pretty meta.

The Book Thief (USA/Germany, 2013) – It’s not the same (it was never going to be, so much of the book’s success is in the writing itself) but it’s a great film nonetheless. Best viewed as it’s own creation.

Jurassic World (USA, 2015) – You have to suspend reality for more than the obvious reason but this is a good film.

Mockingjay Part I (USA, 2014) – Like the book, this film isn’t as good as the others in the series, but it’s a fair addition and I liked that they went against the books and kept Effie.

Paddington (UK, 2014) – I had my doubts when we started, but this is a great film and, like Disney, there’s a lot of adult humour, too. I’d never liked Sally Hawkins before this film; everything I’ve seen her in she’s been upset or angry or wicked, but here, well, I really don’t know why more films don’t have her in happy roles; she’s a delight to watch.

The Princess Bride (USA, 1987) – Finally saw this after hearing so many Americans talk about it. My expectations were a bit too high – take out those and I loved it. Yes, it’s dated, but if you’re expecting that it’s fine.

Romeo & Juliet (UK/Italy, 2013) – This was rated negatively, mostly due to the butchered dialogue, but I quite liked it. They made a point of showing it’s set in Verona and we actually got to see Rosaline.

So not bad in the end, though it could’ve done with more diversity in all senses of the word.

What films have you enjoyed recently?

It’s an interesting thing, I’ll watch many films early in the year – January, February – and then, ironically later, think I’ve lots of time to go. Of course in reality I do, but part of the point of these round ups is to get me watching more films and that’s not happening so much when I constantly think I’ve lots of time. For the most part I have enjoyed what I’ve seen. I’ve noted some Bollywood films from 2013 I want to watch (the year I stopped actively following the industry) and plan to get to more classics. I have never seen When Harry Met Sally, for example, which, from what I can ascertain, is quite strange.

Here are the films I have watched so far this year for which it was my first time watching them.

Becoming Jane (UK, 2007) – About Jane Austen’s early years. Takes some liberties to tell a film-worthy tale, but overall good.

Bee Movie (USA, 2007) – Excellent. Timely, relevant, very funny. The creators were quite obviously focused on adult enjoyment.

Bright Days Ahead (Les Beaux Jours) (France, 2013) – I’d wanted to see this at the cinema so was happy to find it on BBC Four. Not as good as I’d expected, but a fair film nonetheless.

Catching Fire (USA, 2013) – Best book; best film. The new cast members fit wonderfully.

The Fault In Our Stars (USA, 2014) – There are differences to the book, obviously, but this is a solid effort and a good adaptation overall. It translates differently due to viewpoint, loses a bit of humour, but the emotion is there.

Guardians Of The Galaxy (USA, 2014) – I can see it being a hit for big Marvel fans, but I prefer the ‘regular’ Marvel movies.

The History Boys (UK, 2006) – I practically jumped in delight when I saw this on iplayer; I’d wanted to see it for a while after watching the French scene on Live at the National Theatre. The history and literature were of course right up my alley but I think what I loved most about this film was the way they didn’t just not try to hide the fact it was a play, they created a good balance between film and theatre. The acting was mostly theatrical and the ending perfectly staged.

I Capture The Castle (UK, 2003) – Not as fun as the book, but not bad.

If I Stay (USA, 2014) – Sickly sweet at times, though as it nears the end it is exceptional and the emotion works well. I noticed, as others have, that the direction could have been better – people swerve to avoid Mia which of course they shouldn’t be doing and are obviously doing so that they don’t hit the actress. Maybe it’s the musician in me, that I ‘get’ it, but I found it emotional, even though I knew the story.

Krrish 3 (India, 2014) – Bollywood does Marvel. This isn’t a bad film but it could have done with a better director and not so much lifting from other films because albeit that Rakesh Roshan is good for the story it sometimes feels as though he’s too in awe of his son. I got the feeling they really wanted Shah Rukh Khan instead of Vivek Oberoi as Vivek plays his role as SRK would, and there is a bit too much violence, angst, and even for a Bollywood it goes on too long. I did love Kangna Ranaut, however. It’s the first film I’ve seen her in and I definitely want to see more.

My Fake Fiancé (USA, 2010) – Fun, light escapism.

Renoir (France, 2012) – It’s all right, it’s just not very interesting. A biography would be better. I also felt that, although they obviously wanted to cover the meeting between the couple and combine it with the artist’s work, the film years would’ve been a better choice.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (UK, 2015) – Not as good as the first, partly because the first wrapped up so completely, but still fun and worth seeing. Use of Bollywood songs much appreciated.

So a basic plan in mind: classics, famous films I’ve missed, but otherwise I’m going to go with the flow.

What’s the best film you’ve seen recently?

I did pretty well these last six months and I think I’ve broken my pattern or not watching as many films in the last months as I do in the first. I did make a conscious effort to view more, as I’d planned, and being able to use catch up services and borrow DVDs is a great help.

So here we go, a short summary followed by summed up opinion. Here are the films I watched in the second half of 2014 for which it was my first time watching them.

The Accidental Husband (USA, 2008) – Not very realistic but fun all the same. Loved the use of Indian film soundtracks.

American Hustle (USA, 2013) – Great film. Admittedly I couldn’t hear all the dialogue; the film is very quiet even when you’ve the speakers on maximum, but I loved the length of it. Liking Jennifer Lawrence a great deal, too.

The Avengers (USA, 2012) – Might as well say it now; we’ve been going through the Marvel films so there are a fair few here. I liked this more than some of the solo outings; my favourite part was the very end, after the credits. The simplicity and contrast was just too much fun.

Brave (USA, 2012) – Not what I expected as ‘Brave’ made me think it’d be a bit like Mulan, but I enjoyed it all the same. Lots of laughs.

Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie (Ireland, 2014) – With fewer out-takes and the lack of a studio audience, it doesn’t hit the spot. A joke in which a person thinks an Asian man is Jamaican works once and shows silly ignorance, after six or seven repetitions it comes across as racist, intentional or not. And a scene which could be considered a mocking of the tendency to use white people instead of a person of the ethnicity presented (that was my reaction – I thought it’d be awesome if they’d done that and then reverted to a Asian actor from then on) again came across badly when it turned into more scenes. I later discovered it was because the Asian actor was ill so they had to change things quickly, but if so this information needed to be included in the film, breaking the fourth wall being common, after all.

Captain America: The First Avenger (USA, 2011) – One of the better ones, definitely. I loved spotting all the British actors, especially the sudden appearance by Richard Armitage.

The Decendents (USA, 2011) – Another recent George Clooney film that meandered and didn’t know what it wanted to be. A film about a family coping with death, or a film about land ownership?

Erin Brockovich (USA, 2000) – Yep, last person and all that. Loved it.

The Hunger Games (USA, 2012) – I liked that they obviously wanted to make the most of the war, but I did find it lacked the pace and information the books have.

The Incredible Hulk (USA, 2008) – How to get drunk: take a drink every time Betty says ‘Bruce’.

Nativity! (UK, 2009) – Silly, unrealistic, but a lot of fun.

Nativity! 2 (UK, 2012) – Even more silly and pointedly unrealistic but fun enough.

Puss In Boots (USA, 2011) – Works, but this is definitely a spin-off.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones (USA, 2002) – I loved The Phantom Menace when I first saw it but never got around to seeing this one. The boy who played Anakin in 1 was excellent, this young man, not so.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith (USA, 2005) – Better than the last one, and the guy got better at acting.

StreetDance (UK, 2010) – A fun enough dance film in which street dance mixes with ballet.

StreetDance 2 (UK, 2012) – The Salsa/street dance is interesting, but ironically there are too many dance scenes and it’s not got the same chemistry or feel-good factor of the first.

Sydney White (USA, 2007) – I wasn’t expecting much, it looked like any other school Mean Girls movie, and it is. But it is fun, uses stereotypes unapologetically to good effect, and the way it played with the tale of Snow White was pretty different.

Tangled (USA, 2010) – Loved this. Funny, pretty adult, and the changes made worked well enough. I’m just confused as to how her hair managed to be in such good condition when she was constantly dragging it across the floor…

Thor (USA, 2011) – Wasn’t keen on the main character but overall it’s not too bad.

Tron: Legacy (USA, 2010) – I never saw the first but it turned out not to matter too much. This film is excellent.

Wedding Daze (USA, 2006) – An average film but then it never promises it’ll be more.

Winter’s Bone (USA, 2010) – I watched this for Jennifer Lawrence. Alright film, good acting.

It’s still missing variety but I plan to remedy that this year.

What films have you enjoyed recently?

My film plans never go to plan. Last year I said that this first 2014 round-up would likely feature Bollywood. It doesn’t. Truth is, going to the cinema is expensive, Bollywood is still a rarity on the big screen here, and the films recorded from the television (last year…) I just haven’t found time to watch. But I have managed to fit in a fair number of films in general these past six months. It definitely helped that I was always thinking about how many I wanted to see and that my boyfriend and I had a few film nights.

Here are the films I have watched so far this year for which it was my first time watching them.

Belle (UK, 2013) – A white man brings his mixed-race daughter home but his family can’t stop her discovering the horrors those less fortunate than her face. I’m glad I was able to see this; I wasn’t sure it would be out in UK cinemas. It started a bit shaky and didn’t seem to be going anywhere in particular, but then yes, it did, and it was very successful. I thought as the father (figure) did that John Davinier was too emotional but other than that it was fantastic. And, whilst based on fact and thus limited in what it could present in terms of slavery and abolition themes, it worked with what it had to go on. The light moments were well done and the key difference chosen for the suitors was perfect. Not subtle in itself, only subtle in delivery, and it was the presentation of it that really helped the romantic aspect shine.

Definitely, Maybe (USA, 2008) – On the eve of his divorce, a man whose daughter has just been taught about sex agrees to tell her his romantic history, but she has to guess which woman her mother is. I’d been wanting to see this film for quite a while and I loved it. It’s nowhere near a suspense, but the idea of having the mystery for the daughter (which of course makes it a mystery for the viewer) is compelling and it’s just an all-round good film. This is also the first time I’ve seen Ryan Reynolds and Rachel Weisz.

To Catch A Thief (USA, 1955) – A former criminal is hired to, well, catch a thief, and finds himself working for a mother and daughter who may or may not be truthful themselves. Not bad, though rather confusing without subtitles for the French dialogue, and Grace Kelly’s character should’ve ensured the ‘hero’ didn’t get with her.

The Emperor’s New Groove (USA, 2000) – An uncaring monarch gets a shock when he’s turned into a llama and unable to rule. Very much an adult-age Disney film, and pretty great, however there is a bit too much humour on occasion.

Frozen (USA, 2013) – A princess who hasn’t seen her sister or anyone else for years finds herself searching for said sister when the young woman becomes queen and her curse is revealed. I liked it, but the hype had my expectations sky-high. This said, the humour was top-notch.

Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past (USA, 2009) – A guy who disdains the idea of love and is always having one-night-stands gets visited by ghost and ‘ghost’ women on the eve of his brother’s wedding. There are some great concepts here, and I liked the way the story spun away from Dickens’s tale, but I found Connor’s sudden change unbelievable.

My Wedding And Other Secrets (NZ, 2011) – An ethnically Chinese Kiwi and an ethnically white Kiwi meet at school and fall in love, but the girl’s traditional parents are not happy with the idea. Cringe-worthy at times, though funny and sweet; more drama series-like than a film. It is okay overall and that it’s based on a true story makes it easier to watch.

My Week With Marilyn (UK/USA, 2011) – Based on a non-fictional account (truth contested), this is the story of Colin Clark’s time as Marilyn’s friend during the shooting of The Prince And The Showgirl. A documentary-like air, and rather slow and lacking a plot, but the actors are pretty good and the story revealing and kind of needed (James Joyce’s Ulysses is shown at least twice).

Passport To Pimlico (UK, 1949) – After a group of boys accidentally blow up what was supposed to be a controlled explosion of a WWII bomb, a shop keeper discovers treasure beneath his London street and this in turn leads to the discovery that in the days of Charlemagne, Pimlico belonged to Burgundy. This information having been forgotten it is resurrected by the residents to both funny and grounding results. Pretty great, really, and particularly British.

The Sapphires (Australia, 2010) – In the 1960s, a group of Aborigine girls defy racist opinions to become soul singers and entertain troops in Vietnam. Very good film; shame about the European/American DVD cover.

Tea Fight (Dou Cha) (Japan/Taiwan, 2008) – A young woman seeks to reverse her family’s fortunes in business and to find out about the curses of the enemy’s tea. I had been wanting to see this film since pre-production but unfortunately it’s disappointing. It doesn’t know what it wants to be – it flicks between fantasy, slap-stick comedy, angst, and family drama, and whilst the acting is good enough the story is confusing and just that little bit silly.

The Great Gatsby (USA, 2013) – Nick recounts his experience meeting the rich Gatsby who is in love with his, Nick’s, cousin, and had built up that wealth in order to get her back. I liked the use of music and some of the acting was superb, especially Di Caprio’s. But I thought the focus on the visuals and style detracted from the story and themes. I originally choose to watch this because of Amitabh Bachchan, so it was a pity his role was so short.

I think the best way to continue, at least for this year, is to have no plan. To just keep the idea that I want to watch films in mind. Whether that’ll help with my wish for continued and better diversity I don’t know, but I hope so.

What’s the best film you’ve seen recently?