I was back on my feet this week, so my watching habits returned back down to a normal level. Make whatever jokes you will about ten films being a “normal level” for me.
This week had me eclipsing 400 films watched on the year, and barring an act of God, I think it stands to reason that I will easily eclipse last year’s tally of 420 films watched overall. If that seems nuts to you, believe me when I say that it seems nuts to me too because I’ve actually been getting out and around a lot more this year than last year. Perhaps having movies on has just become part of my routine…the same way I used to reach for the stereo, or whatever book I happened to be reading.
I wonder though, if next year I can focus in on films I haven’t seen before more than rewatching those I have. Right now it’s at about a 50/50 split. I’d love to nudge it up to 60/40 or even 70/30. That might be a project all its own though.
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Screenings
CLOUD ATLAS - Wanted to watch it without “TIFF Goggles”. I still adore it.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO - Speaking of things I adore! The ongoing Wilder quest took a turn for the glorious this week!
THE OMEN - I do so love those pieces of 70′s horror.
MALCOLM - I suddenly feel the urge to build a model tram…
A DOUBLE LIFE - …and read Othello
CANDYMAN - That one’s gonna leave a mark.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
THE GAME - My Criterion blu-ray arrived. I sorta wish Finch had sat down to record a new commentary track for it.
THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS - Speaking of commentaries, the philosophical Matrix finally wrapped.
PROMETHEUS - So help you if you nitpick.
THE TOWN - Why not? In revisiting this review, I find I like it a bit more these days.
Boxscore for The Year
208 First-Timers, 194 Re-Watched
111 Screenings
402 Movies in Total
13 comments
Nikhat says:
Oct 27, 2012
You have to agree, Prometheus is a nitpicker’s dream.
Firsts: Your Sister’s Sister- Amazingly simple and funny and loved all the performances.
Side by Side- Very informative.
Festen- Loved it. Love fucked-up family movies.
Looper- Really good and v. entertaining.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg- I liked the story and the look but oh god the singing. Stop the singing!
The Girl- I liked it more than most, though that was mostly because I loved the performances.
Marnie- I really liked this one. It was unlike any other Hitchcock, but still very obviously him.
Misery- That wasn’t terrifying at all *heavy sarcasm*.
The Lost Boys- This was campy fun but so very ridiculous too.
Skyfall- Yes I have watched this. And I loved it. Best Bond I have seen.
Rewatched: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind- Is this the best modern romance film? I think so.
The Brothers Bloom- Even though Looper is a better film, this is my favourite Rian Johnson.
Reservoir Dogs- Had to watch this for its 20th anniversary. Noticed that no one actually kills Nice Guy Eddie. The most famous Mexican standoff of all time is actually a faulty one. Genius.
Inglourious Basterds- I have decided to show my brother some essential movies and he wanted to watch some Tarantino and he chose this one. Love it still.
The Truman Show- Also watched it with my brother. In a fair world, Jim Carrey would have an Oscar nomination for this role.
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 28, 2012
There have been precious few nitpicks in PROMETHEUS that I wasn’t able to easily explain. I’m beginning to believe that filmgoer’s knee-jerk reaction to dashed expectations is to nitpick.
I still have to wait another two weeks for SKYFALL, so consider me jealous of everywhere in the world that it opened this weekend.
Y’know, looking at your list as a whole, that is one great week of watching!
Stevee says:
Oct 27, 2012
Ahahaha, Prometheus. I had too much fun with that film.
First-timers:
Halloween – Honestly, I didn’t love it, but it was pretty good.
Retreat – Just for Cillian Murphy. It was surprisingly quite good, though.
Margaret – The full three-hour extended cut. Really liked it, but it was so frustrating.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – Sheesh, that was…bloody.
Blue Velvet – Getting into some David Lynch. Dennis Hopper was actually terrifying.
Rewatched:
Piranha (2010) – It was on TV, so my friends and I watched it for a laugh.
Fight Club – Introduced it to one of my friends.
The Social Network – Decided that ten months is a long time to go without seeing this film.
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 28, 2012
Which version of Texas did you watch? The original or the remake from a few year back? The original really shook me up in the way that it looks rather genuine.
You’re a great friend for introducing someone to FIGHT CLUB, you probably just changed their entire outlook on life! Of course when I think of “introducing” people to that film, I think about the unsuspecting girl I took to see that on opening weekend in the theatres. Must not have been her thing because a week later my calls weren’t getting returned.
Stevee says:
Oct 29, 2012
I saw the original, and yeah, it was really freaking scary.
Steven Flores says:
Oct 27, 2012
First-Timers: Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007, Quantum of Solace, Les Diaboliques, CM Punk: The Best in the World, Near Dark, Leaves from Satan’s Book, The Vanishing (1988 film), and Kwaidan.
Re-Watches: Jack & Sarah, Club Dread, and The Shining.
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 28, 2012
The one thing that I’m most enjoying about everybody revisiting all the old 007 films in recent weeks? People are beginning to realize that QUANTUM OF SOLACE is in fact *not* that bad!
Sean Kelly says:
Oct 28, 2012
Will be bit long this week
Toronto After Dark:
REC 3: Genesis – Abandons found footage early on, but it’s an enjoyable zombie film
Cockneys vs Zombies – A very enjoyable film
Doomsday Book – More lighthearted than expected
Lloyd the Conqueror – Ridiculous, but decent
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning – Good action, meh plot
After – A bit monotonous, but decent
Grave Encounters 2 – Suffers from major sequelitis
Citadel – Quite tense
My Amityville Horror – A chilling doc
Resolution – Weird
Sushi Girl – An obvious Tarantino homage, with a stand-out performance by Mark Hamill
Dead Sushi – A crazy and violent killer sushi film
In Their Skin – There’ve been better home invasion films
Wrong – Didn’t really laugh at the constant non sequiturs
A Fantastic Fear of Everything – An often hilarious noir comedy
Game of Werewolves – Terrible English title, decent film
Other Screenings:
From Russia with Love – My Bond marathon at the Lightbox kicks off
Goldfinger – Had a blast seeing my favourite Bond film on the big screen
The Rocky Horror Picture Show – I’ve now seen what the midnight screenings are all about and I have no aspirations to do so again.
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 28, 2012
I actually zoned out and TOTALLY forgot that they were playing GOLDFINGER and RUSSIA/LOVE at Lightbox yesterday. I know they’ll be playing them again later, but it would have been a lot of fun to see those in advance of SKYFALL.
Sean Kelly says:
Oct 28, 2012
Both screenings were actually sold out, which I expect is going to be a trend with the Bond films (especially the ones that are only screening once)
CS says:
Oct 28, 2012
Rather long list this past week.
First time:
The Amazing Spider-man – Garfield and Stone are great, but lackluster plot and poorly written villain let them down.
The Pirates Band of Misfits – Charming fun flick.
REC 3: Genesis – It was a bad decision for this franchise to abandon what made it so special in the first place.
The Crazies – Sold entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less.
Hostel 2 – Really enjoyed this one. Doubt I will watch number 3 though as I hear Eli Roth did not direct it.
Doomsday Book – Uneven anthology film but Kim Jee-woon’s segment was the highlight.
Grave Encounters 2 – Well, it is not the Blair Witch 2…last act redeems it to a passable but forgettable level.
In Their Skin – I went in with really low expectations and ended up really enjoying it.
Wrong – Loved it. If you liked Rubber you will enjoy Wrong, if you hated Rubber than do not even bother.
A Fantastic Fear of Everything – Had some good moments but overall too uneven for me to recommend.
Game of Werewolves – Very solid horror-comedy in the vein of Joe Dante.
Crulic: The Path to Beyond – Ekran fest screener. Decent animated documentary.
Women’s Day – Ekran fest screener. Predictable but entertaining nonetheless.
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 28, 2012
I swear to God I’m beginning to think i was the only one who dug THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN.
All of those After Dark shenanigans seemed like a lot of fun. I may have to return to the fold next year – that is if I remember to make my October a bit less hectic.
Sean Kelly says:
Oct 28, 2012
I would say that I liked Amazing Spider-Man in the end (at least enough to check out the inevitable sequel)