First Half Of 2019 Film Round Up
Posted 3rd July 2019
Category: Film Genres: N/A
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Looking at my list over the weekend, knowing I hadn’t watched many films but not thinking it was as ‘bad’ as it turned out to be – I last watched a new film in April – I already expect to do better in the latter six months this year. I’ll be wanting to up my numbers and I’m always aware of the short shelf life of films on subscription services.
Beauty And The Beast (USA/UK, 2017) – I’d been ready to find this not as good as hoped, having read a few negative reviews, but I have to disagree with them. It is a great pity that so much of this film is CGI – Dan Stephens in a mask would have been better however outdated it may have looked – but the script and the acting is a lot of fun. I was hoping for a copy of the much-loved library but the use of a library in a historic house wasn’t bad.
The Black Knight (USA, 2001) – The reality of this film wasn’t at all what I’d expected, a seeming vehicle for the actor, a slapstick comedy rather than something more thought-out. I didn’t hate it, but I won’t be watching it again.
Charade (USA, 1963) – Really good film with constant red herrings and changes of perception. But perhaps the best part is that it’s in the public domain and there are some wonderful high-quality versions about. I put Grant and Hepburn into Google, hoping this wasn’t the only film they made together; unfortunately it is.
The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society (UK/France, 2018) – A very good adaptation of the book which gets around the ‘problem’ of story being epistolary with aplomb.
Jumanji (USA, 1995) – I’d seen parts of this film before and enjoyed it. It is still good fun in adulthood.
La La Land (USA, 2016) – This was strictly okay; I liked the music but I’m glad I didn’t make a trip to the cinema for it.
The Lego Movie 2 (USA, 2019) – Absolutely awesome. This Song’s Gonna Get Stuck Inside Your Head did get stuck in my head and I didn’t mind a bit.
What films have you seen recently?
July 5, 2019, 8:24 am
Ahh Lego movie is pretty awesome and so is beauty and the beast. I get what you mean with lalaland it was talked up so much I expected to love it and it was just meh. The music was great but the story was confusing.
July 7, 2019, 8:56 pm
Charlie, I don’t think I have seen a new film since April either! Which is when I went to the cinema to see Avengers: Endgame, which I loved! I also caught Ghost in the Shell on the TV. Since then though I have had too many new TV shows to watch instead. Although I have enjoyed some comforting re-watches of favourite films, like Harry Potter, Practical Magic and Captain America: The First Avenger.
July 8, 2019, 12:20 pm
Nick: Great to read your thoughts, going to have to mull over the film again. With the achievements you note, it’s interesting that the ‘action’ in the film points to Cooper doing more, until you find out about Daisy, and interesting that she’s always reading at the bar but the connection isn’t easy to make. Yes on connections, very true!
Caitlin: The story of La La Land was a bit confusing. They got the genre right in terms of style and cinematography but lost it a bit with the story – in and of itself I thought it was good but the delivery and script could’ve been better.
Jessica: TV shows can be a problem with this, definitely. All too easy to think that you’re watching films and then realise it’s all shows. Lots of screen time for one story. (Though Gentleman Jack has been worth it.) Love Practical Magic! You know what you’re getting with a re-watch, so much easier to choose if you’re wanting to make sure the time is worth it.
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July 4, 2019, 1:33 pm
Just saw Fallen Stars – agree it is worth the investment of time despite the glacial pace which as you point out mimics real time. My take – both Daisy has achieved extraordinary thing (ny bestseller) which Cooper has achieved nothing – and what we’re shown is that it makes no difference to their (un)happiness, but human (and pet) connections are what can make the difference.