Watching - February 2024

WALL·E (2008)

Such a sweet film. I'm sure there are many references for film buffs that I won't pick up, but even so the ability to produce a story about two robots falling in love is just so impressive, and WALL-E him(?)self is such lovely character.

Rocketman (2019)

Obviously not intended as a biography, exactly, nor not one either - a very broad brush interpretation of Elton John's life that aims at the truth in a wider sense. As a result, while very entertaining and setting the songs very well, it feels a bit scattered. possibly because it's a real life rather than a story with a beginning, middle and end. Full marks for including all the more controversial elements of his life though, and credit to Taron Egerton for a superb performance.

Love at First Sight (2023)

I thought K would like this, and so I finally got her to sit down and watch it - and she (perhaps slightly reluctantly) admitted she did enjoy it.

Doc Hollywood (1991)

Yeah, I've watched it too many times, but it's still worth it for the scene where Lou and Ben dance to  Patsy Cline's "Crazy", never quite kissing. One of my favourite movie moments.

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

I've been curious to know what it is about this film that has managed to generate nine sequels (so far), but my interest was finally really piqued when an episode of Inside Cinema (a great series of short films by the BBC about, well, cinema) mentioned that it was essentially Point Break, but with cars. Well, I like Point Break so that settled it. It was inspired by an article about street racing in New York, but moved to the west coast, and I can see the appeal: fast cars, a soundtrack that I'm pretty certain we'd call "bangin'" and plenty of babes in bikinis. What's not to like if you're a teenage boy? Ultimately though, there's not that much to it, but Vin Diesel is surprisingly good (even if he's no Patrick Swayze) and some of the car chases are fun.

Speed (1994)

A classic thriller that somehow I have managed never to have seen before. Deeply implausible, of course, but that's kind of the point - it's solidly in the vein of Die Hard and that sort of thing. Keanu does his Keanu thing and Sandra Bullock does well in a role that basically requires her to look scared most of the time. 

Forces of Nature (1999)

Largely forgettable travel/buddy movie. Some funny moments, but didn't seem to be quite sure what sort of film it was. (Roger Ebert's review is spot on, btw)

Cool Runnings (1993)

This is such a feel-good story and so it's a bit of a disappointment to learn that it is really only loosely based on the real events. I was more surprised to find that all the actors were American. Still, none of this really spoils what's a classic family film and one that everyone should watch (although my kids, in what is apparently now a family "joke", refuse to watch it on the grounds that I keep telling them they would enjoy it. Ha. Ha. Ha.)

Ready Player One (2018)

I was blown away by this in the cinema, in 3D and it saddens me a bit that I'm unlikely to see it like that again. Nevertheless, it's a good film. I miss the detail and background that you get with the book though, and some of the more Hollywood moments are, well, a bit lame.

Long Story Short (2021)

An obvious, slap-you-round-the-face moral and Rafe Spall apparently attempting to impersonate David Brent at times, still didn't stop me enjoying this simple time-travel(ish) story about making the most of your life. Perhaps there's something for us all to learn from that (he says, having just spent the evening watching a low budget Australian romcom).

Animal House (1978)

I watched this because I hadn't seen it in a long time and my subscription to Sky Cinema runs out in few days. Amusing in places, silly in more, and an interesting example of how a film that breaks boundaries (as I believe it did) can end up looking a bit pedestrian with the passage of time.

One Day (2024)

Sometimes more is not more.

Plus One (2019)

A little bit romcom by numbers but watchable and nice at the end.

Moana (2016)

Family singalong fun.