Having really enjoyed watching 8 Women last night, I thought I’d write a quick list of films that have impressed me over the last year or so:
- 8 Women – A dark and beautifully executed comedy. Every single cast member delivered a great performance
- Caught on a Train – Amazing that this was made in 1980. It accurately predicts the cult of the individual of the decade to come
- Koyaanisqatsi – Has to be watched on a big screen. Just let the Philip Glass soundtrack and stunning visuals wash over you
- Howl’s Moving Castle – Going against the grain, I actually prefer this to Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. Escapist fantasy at its best
- Downfall – Compelling and disturbing
- Belleville Rendez-Vous – I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite as surreal and charming before
Only seen one of those (Downfall). Waiting for Howl to come out on DVD. I really enjoyed Spirited Away so am expecting Howl to be good. Some that I’ve seen recently that are well worth checking out
King Kong
Kingdom Of Heaven (better than Gladiator and IMHO very underrated)
The Descent – from the maker of Dog Soldiers. Outstanding horror dripping with atmosphere (amongst other things).
Clerks
Battlestar Galactica – Mini Series and Series 1 on DVD. Not really a film. Intelligent, dark Sci-Fi.
and one to avoid at all costs
Jersey Girl – I watched it because it’s a Kevin Smith film. He now owes me two hours of my life back.
Will have to make an effort to watch some of those. Just watched a high definition trailer for Kingdom of Heaven on Apple’s Movie Trailer site, and it does look very impressive.
I saw Kingdom of Heaven on a flight, not exactly the best presentation. I think its a very enjoyable film, although disappointed to find afterwards that some liberties were taken with real historical characters – also true of Gladiator (in real life Commodus was strangled in his bath, not killed in the arena).
I still prefer Spirited Away to Howl, I’ve been watching some more Miyazaki films on DVD and so far Laputa is my favourite.
Kung Fu Hustle would be my favourite film of all last year, this year so far it’s an older one I watched for the first time on BBC4 recently – the Korean film Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter … and Spring. Part of the Asian Invasion series presented by Jonathan Ross. A very simple film with only two main characters, one set, and very little dialogue – something I didn’t go to see at the cinema because I thought it would be really boring, but on Ross’s recommendation I thought I would give it a go.