Over the past month I’ve watched quite a few movies at home, taking me into the beginning of the Christmas season. I’ve also been watching Shrinking and Silo on Apple TV, Man on the Inside, Wynonna Earp, and finished up Fear the Walking Dead on Netflix. Along with other things like Superman & Lois and Ghosts. Somewhere in there I had time to look at all these films…
Sorry About the Demon- Actually watched this horror/comedy on Halloween. It’s a small independently made flick. While it’s not great, it’s not that bad. I wouldn’t rewatch it, but I’m glad I saw it.
Music by John Williams- See full review in Television/Streaming section.
King Kong (‘05)- My first rewatch since seeing it in theaters. My feelings really haven’t changed. It’s WAY too long. A shorter, tighter running time would have served this Peter Jackson love letter to his favorite movie a great deal. He just couldn’t stop himself.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park- Another film I didn’t like initially. It’s still problematic, and in the hands of anyone other than Spielberg would have sucked. I like the all the island stuff but when they bring the T-Rex to the U.S. the whole thing falls apart.
The Three Musketeers pt 1: D’Artagnan- The first of two French films retelling Alexandre Dumas’ classic tale. I enjoyed it.
Barry Lyndon- Believe it or not, this was my first viewing of this beautiful Kubrick film. I think it’s too long and Ryan O’Neal probably miscast, but it is so amazing to look at that most of the time you just don’t care about it’s flaws.
Endurance- This is a documentary about the expedition to find the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s ship The Endurance. I’ve been fascinated by this story for decades and seeing the actual wreck was amazing to me. I wish more time had been spent after they found the ship than all the retelling of the Shackleton story, but it’s still worth your time.
Major League 2- This sequel holds up pretty well. It’s nowhere near as funny as the original film, but watchable.
The Three Musketeers pt 2- Milady- The second part of the French retelling of the Musketeers story. I really liked it. The film hints at another entry, but I don’t know if it’s happening.
The Instigators- This Matt Damon/Casey Affleck led action/comedy works most of the time, but does have it’s issues.
Ray- A rewatch for me. It’s a pretty good bio-pic and Jamie Foxx disappears and becomes Ray Charles.
Ride the Eagle- Here is a small film that works really well. A killer cast- Jake Johnson (who also wrote it), D’Arcy Carden, J.K. Simmons, and Susan Sarandon, really make this story something to watch.
12 Angry Men- Embarrassingly my first time seeing this 1957 classic. The performances by Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshal, Jack Klugman, and Jack Warden make a movie about 12 men in a room talking for 90 minutes riveting.
Die Another Day- Definitely one of the “lesser” films in the James Bond series, but it has a few cool scenes and Pierce Brosnan is cool throughout.
Stripes- I hadn’t rewatched this comedy classic in several years and someone told that it just doesn’t hold up. They are wrong, it’s still hilarious. Are bits of it problematic through today’s eyes? Maybe a little, but not enough to ruin it. I loved rewatching it.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves- Many people dismiss this film, but I enjoy it. I don’t think Costner’s English accent is bad because he isn’t doing one. So to those people, I say “relax and enjoy it”.
Wicked Little Letters- Now here’s a weird little English comic/drama. Based, loosely I’m sure, on a true story it stars Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman, who are terrific.
Heaven’s Gate- I thought I was settling in for the full 3hr version but it turned out to be the shorter cut. It’s not terrible but you do feel like something’s missing. I have a feeling that by editing it down for it’s release MGM signed their own death notice, but blamed Michael Cimino.
Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley- This is a decent doc exploring Elvis’ return from his Army service, doing mostly bad movies, and the great success he had both professionally and personally with his ‘68 TV special.
Thelma- Another really good indie. June Squibb is great as the 90-something Tom Cruise fan who is out to get back the money she was cheated out of by a phone scammer. I loved it. Richard Roundtree, in his final film role, is also a lot of fun here.
Things to Come- As a kid I always had trouble getting through this 1936 version of the H.G. Wells story. Sure it was prescient and has some great visuals, but it does drag a bit toward the end.
Jurassic Park III- I actually like this entry in the series. It moves along at a fast pace and clocks in at just over 90 minutes. There are no wasted moments. I think it’s underappreciated.
Somewhere in Queens- Ray Romano directed and stars in this indie about a parent living vicariously through his son. It’s funny and heartbreaking.
Edward Scissorhands- I showed my daughter this Tim Burton classic. It holds up. I still hated Anthony Michael Hall’s character. It was a stroke of brilliance for Burton to cast him against his expected type.
Single All the Way- Fist Christmas movie of the season. Featuring Michael Urie, Barry Bostwick, Kathy Najimy, and Jennifer Coolidge, it rises above being just a gay Hallmark style movie.
Beatles ‘65- This new Disney+ doc about the Fab 4’s first trip to the U.S. is good. I did like that it didn’t focus solely on their Ed Sullivan appearances. It follows them on their entire trip.
Becoming Santa- A fun doc about one man’s journey to...well, become Santa.
The Fisher King- I hadn’t revisited this one since before Robin Williams passed away. It’s so gooooood.
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