Explore
 Lists  Reviews  Images  Update feed
Categories
MoviesTV ShowsMusicBooksGamesDVDs/Blu-RayPeopleArt & DesignPlacesWeb TV & PodcastsToys & CollectiblesComic Book SeriesBeautyAnimals   View more categories »
Listal logo
Avatar
Added by Xanadon't on 1 Jun 2011 08:05
1972 Views 9 Comments
11
vote

Monthly Movie Journal: June 2011

Sort by: Showing 22 items
Decade: Rating: List Type:
Add items to section

First time views

The vast majority of this list, including most sub-categories.
People who added this item 1423 Average listal rating (752 ratings) 7.5 IMDB Rating 7.5
Xanadon't's rating:

O Deus Que Não Estava Lá - Legendado

Definately leans too far at times in the direction of "pop" but still exceptionally interesting at its best. This deserves an audience. Watch in it's entirety above if you're looking for something that blasts significant wholes through Christian tradition.
Xanadon't's rating:
People who added this item 132 Average listal rating (70 ratings) 7.5 IMDB Rating 7.2


An entire documentary all about a type-face. What made me watch this I'm not sure, but I'm happy I did. The eccentric and charming personalities captured in the interviews do a lot to raise this doc to a higher level, while anyone interested in advertising/conceptual design might want to give this a look.

Currently streaming on Netflix
Xanadon't's rating:
People who added this item 3112 Average listal rating (1982 ratings) 7.5 IMDB Rating 8
Blood Diamond (2006)


Two of my very favorite actors working today. Why hadn't I seen this yet??

Review by AgentLexi
Xanadon't's rating:
People who added this item 361 Average listal rating (196 ratings) 6.8 IMDB Rating 7.2


above:Audrey Tautou trapped in a really stupid movie.

That this flatly directed, overly obvious, mish-mash bore of a "romantic-thriller" received a 7.2 IMdb rating is absurd.
Xanadon't's rating:
Add items to section

Foreign Language Film of the Month

Most months I have more to choose from, but at least I made up in quality what I've lacked in quantity.


Review by PvtCaboose91


For further reading on this remarkable film and the man and book that inspired it:

www.salon.com/entertainment/feature/2008/02/23/diving_bell
Xanadon't's rating:
Add items to section

Documentary of the Month

Because sometimes a good doc is just the thing
People who added this item 303 Average listal rating (168 ratings) 7.7 IMDB Rating 7.9
Microcosmos (1996)


This French produced nature documentary focuses on the insect world and all kinds of creepy-crawly things. The video-photography is phenomenal and to say the music compliments the material would be a severe understatement. Nothing short of an absolute marvel!
Xanadon't's rating:
Add items to section

At the Movies

Caught these on the big screen!
People who added this item 549 Average listal rating (333 ratings) 7.6 IMDB Rating 7.5


Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins may well be the most wholly accomplished and satisfying film to come our way all year (and bear in mind, the year is creeping up on the halfway mark). In some ways, it’s essentially a standard samurai film, but in other ways, it completely subverts that claim. Setting the film in an end-of-an-era time when the samurai and their code are about to become extinct, it would have been an easy task to trade on the inherent emotional kick that comes with watching an era pass, and to sentimentalize the samurai. 13 Assassins, however, has very little use for senimentality of any kind, and instead makes the case that there are very good reasons for this era to end—even suggesting that the samurai code of unswerving allegiance is itself at fault and flawed, and needs to die to make way for modern man.

--Ken Hanke read complete review here
Xanadon't's rating:
People who added this item 2198 Average listal rating (1493 ratings) 7.5 IMDB Rating 7.7
Xanadon't's rating:
People who added this item 3187 Average listal rating (2232 ratings) 7.5 IMDB Rating 7.7


Kind of like a poor Harry Potter film crossed with a decent X-Men movie. Or for a more intelligent and thorough analysis please see here:

Review by lotr23
Xanadon't's rating:
People who added this item 1516 Average listal rating (1007 ratings) 6.5 IMDB Rating 6.8


Review by lotr23


Ha, it's occurred to me that lotr23's reviews are all over this list. But what can I say? The guy's just dead-on right so much of the time! So do check out his review and if you're interested a few of my thoughts are attached.
Xanadon't's rating:
Add items to section

Back on the shelf

Movies I gave up on before completing for various reasons, but most often because they sucked.
Add items to section

Good Intentions

Films I plan to watch this month, shaped by theatrical/dvd release, recommendations from fellow listal members, and my own sense of desire or duty.
Add items to section

Revisits

Often old favorites, but sometimes an effort to revisit a film from a different perspective.
People who added this item 687 Average listal rating (439 ratings) 6.4 IMDB Rating 6.6


It's been about 15 years since I've seen this movie, and the re-watch wasn't as kind as I'd hoped. Much of what I originally loved was still there (interesting sub-stories revolving around key characters, nice blend of humor and action, amusing Star Trek in-jokes, decent performances) but the overall effect was lacking. The final act of the film comes up short in terms of excitement and plausibility (even within the film's own logic and within a SciFi world). Not at all sorry I watched it though, as a 6/10-star Next Generation film is just about my favorite kind of 6/10-star film.
Xanadon't's rating:
People who added this item 863 Average listal rating (566 ratings) 7.1 IMDB Rating 7.6


I had not seen this movie since catching it during its theatrical run and I can confidently say it held up to and possibly even surpassed my original opinion. From here on out the rest of the Next Generation films (Insurrection and Nemesis)will be new too me, and I've gotta say First Contact set the bar high! This feels more like an extended episode of the series rather than a big, overdone theatrical effort which I think works in the film's favor. Oh, there's plenty of big-scale effects and excitement to be had, but there's also plenty of organic drama and brilliant script work here that are too often missing from attempts at big-screen blockbuster success.
Xanadon't's rating:
People who added this item 929 Average listal rating (575 ratings) 6.9 IMDB Rating 7
Martyrs (2008)


I watched this film for the first time a little over a year ago and I was utterly and completely terrified, revolted, shocked, and finally blown away by it. A re-watch so soon was not the plan. But here's what happened...



A bar regular at my work who I've gotten to know pretty well is a huge horror fan. On slower nights we'll spend all kinds of time talking horror titles, and between us we've seen quite a number of horror movies out there, both good and bad. Some time ago it came to my attention that he hadn't yet seen this one, and months later he still hadn't tracked it down. Reluctant to buy a movie he's never seen off Amazon, (especially one as notorious as this) I instead suggested I just order it from Netflix, turn around and hand it to him, and then he could mail it back. I received it, gave it to him, he watched it, and loved it. But rather than mail it back he brought the damn thing back to the bar and gave it to me.



So after a bit of internal debate I stuck the disc in the machined and sat down to Martyrs once again. Verdict: A nearly unparalleled intense, terrible, dark, ferocious, sick, and horrifying nightmare. If it's horror you want, this is it. BUT... it doesn't stop there. If you're feeling brave, see it for yourself and see what I mean. After two viewings I'm satisfied now with what I think about the director's intentions and messages, and also what to make of the infamous ending. For what this film sets out to do, my 10/10 rating stands, and what's more is I never have to watch it again!
Xanadon't's rating:
Add items to section

The Month in Review

People who added this item 473 Average listal rating (283 ratings) 7.2 IMDB Rating 7.3
My Quick Pick Three:

Good: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Bad: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Weird: Microcosmos (But in a REALLY good way)
People who added this item 13 Average listal rating (9 ratings) 6.3 IMDB Rating 6.3
The biggest and most pleasant surprise of the month goes to Bridesmaids. I never would have guessed at the level of comedic talent showcased here. Probably the funniest movie to hit theaters so far this year.

The Surprised-at-how-good-it-wasn't award goes to Midnight in Paris. Here was a movie I was truly excited to see. But unfortunately it's potential gets largely wasted, both in terms of the talent involved as well as the ideas at play.
People who added this item 4 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 8 IMDB Rating 6.2
Ohlédnutí (1969)
As anyone who has followed my monthly journals at all up to this point knows, I watched very few movies this month by my normal standards. In fact, at only 14 movies seen in June, that's less than half of my average number of movies watched per month. Lots of things keeping me busy as summer got underway! Also notable is the complete absence of any classic titles, whereas until now the "Classics Corner" has been a regular feature all year. Oh well, I suppose. Here's how it shakes out:

Total films watched: 14

Watched for the first time: 11

Among 11 first watches:

1990s: 2
2000s: 5
2010/11: 4

Total foreign language films: 4
Total documentaries: 3

My Ratings:

1/10: 0
2/10: 0
3/10: 1
4/10: 0
5/10: 1
6/10: 1
7/10: 2
-------
8/10: 2
9/10: 2
10/10: 2


People who added this item 479 Average listal rating (299 ratings) 6.4 IMDB Rating 6.7
Half Baked (1998)
Well, I've successfully kept up with my movie journal for six months now, so at the half-way point of the year, I thought I'd take a look at how things break down so far, by the numbers.

Midway Report: By the Numbers

Total Films Watched: 182-- That's a movie per day!

Total films watched for the first time: 157

Which puts re-watches at: 25

Of 157 first-time watches:

1930s: 2 (1%)
1940s: 2 (1%)
1950s: 5 (3%)
1960s: 8 (5%)
1970s: 4 (3%)
1980s: 10 (6%)
1990s: 26 (17%)
2000s: 53 (34%)
2010/11: 47 (30%)

That's a lot of newer movies... seems a bit lopsided!

Total foreign language films: 35 (22%) --Better than a month's worth of foreign films... Not too shabby.
Total documentaries: 14 (9%) --One in every 10 movies seems reasonable to me.

My Ratings:

1/10: 0
2/10: 2 (1%)
3/10: 6 (4%)
4/10: 8 (5%)
5/10: 16 (10%)
6/10: 21 (13%)
7/10: 25 (16%)
---------------
8/10: 35 (22%)
9/10: 34 (21%)
10/10: 10 (6%)

A full HALF of the movies I've watched are deemed by myself to be "very good" or better! Before you conclude that I rate movies too generously, remember that a professional critic has to watch everything. I have the luxury of deciding what to watch (or turn off) based on what I think I'm likely to enjoy.




Xanadon't's rating:

Voters of this movie list - View all
KamijaytoastAirakohl stokerjohanlefourbeHappy Vaderquisma88
Continuing my neurotic efforts to document my responses to the films I see, as well as perhaps lend shape, rhyme, reason to what I watch, why and how.

As always, feedback, suggestions, and polite criticism are encouraged!

See Also:

Previous entries

Thanks for viewing!

Added to

5 votes
Film Journal Archive, 2011 - Xanadon't (13 lists)
list by Xanadon't
Published 11 years, 8 months ago 1 comment



Related lists

Bubs' episodemeter
75 item list by Bubs
18 votes 3 comments
Hamza's 500 Greatest Films of All Time!
161 item list by Happy Vader
67 votes 16 comments
100 Part Great Movie Survey
74 item list by ♥ CHANi
12 votes 2 comments
The 100 Part Great Movie Survey
59 item list by NMartucci
13 votes 2 comments
The Mystery Exchange #2
20 item list by Nosoki
26 votes
Navaronen Tykit suuri vaihtariprojekti vol. 1
45 item list by Ruisperkele
22 votes 1 comment
My Top 100 Favorite Films of 2010s
137 item list by mirinbuddy
29 votes
Film Journal 2021
66 item list by Nerdy Werewolf
2 votes
30 days, 30 movies and 30 lists
30 item list by johanlefourbe
46 votes 19 comments
Film Journal 2020
107 item list by Nerdy Werewolf
4 votes

View more top voted lists

People who voted for this also voted for


More lists from Xanadon't