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Movies the giraffe watched in 2017: April

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Noteworthy: The best and the worst

The breakdown: 27 movies and one short film watched
22 first views, 5 re-watches
6 via Netflix, 14 via DVD and 6 plus the short film in the theatre
Decades touched: 1940s-2010s

Well, this was a productive month. Credit for that is due in part to the new releases for the month, but even more so for the local library saving me from my Netflix indifference. May doesn't look much better for new content either on Netflix, so I'm edging ever closer to jumping ship in favor of Amazon. Maybe next month I'll clear my queue of movies again so I can do that. Only thing I'll miss is some of the TV shows, but I'm sure I can pick them up again later. Anyway, there were plenty of films that turned out to be worth checking out, and really only 3 that weren't. Not too shabby.
People who added this item 319 Average listal rating (201 ratings) 7.1 IMDB Rating 7.2
Micmacs (2009)
First viewing - April 4th

Best new-to-me film for April


I have my fellow Listalites to thank for putting this film on my radar, and if I could I'd give each of you who recommended it a hug. The moment I saw Jeunet directed it I knew it'd be worth watching, and the film never betrayed that fact. The characters are quirky in endearing ways, there are numerous scenes that are memorable visual feasts, and the story is full of surprises. It didn't quite earn a perfect score from me for some reason, but it came really close and I'll now keep an eye out for a copy to add to my collection.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 154 Average listal rating (98 ratings) 6.5 IMDB Rating 6.7
First viewing - April 15th

Best Hidden Gem


After watching Westworld and eating dinner, I decided to spend the rest of the night on the couch with a double-feature from the four films I checked out of the library. And by the end of the night I felt like I should have flipped the order, because this was a tough act for Ruby Sparks to follow. I loved pretty much everything about the film, though some of Donna's jokes during her stand-up routines failed to hit the mark for me. I'll be adding this one to my collection, and perhaps with repeat viewings I'll appreciate those bits more than I did the first time.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 2165 Average listal rating (1395 ratings) 4.8 IMDB Rating 5.1
Scooby-Doo (2002)
First viewing - April 9th

Worst Film of April


The kiddo & I were trying to figure out something to watch on a Sunday afternoon, and despite some far better options on Netflix she chose this one. As someone who grew up watching the various Scooby-Doo cartoons, I'm well familiar with who these characters are and what aspects of the series are the best. I'd skipped the film for years mainly because I knew that Gellar and Prinze Jr. were wrongly cast as Daphne & Fred. Watching the film that belief was reinforced regularly. Add to that how horribly animated Scooby is plus a poorly constructed plot full of jokes that fail at every turn and there's not much to recommend here. I will say that Matthew Lillard and Linda Cardellini are perfectly cast, however, and were thus the only things that kept me from completely hating the film. The kiddo didn't care & loved it though, but then she's 6 and her tastes are still developing. Rest assured I have no intention of pointing out that this film's sequel is also on Netflix, lest I have to suffer through that crap too.

Currently streaming on Netflix
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Big screen attractions

Films I caught in a theatre
People who added this item 347 Average listal rating (230 ratings) 6.9 IMDB Rating 7.2
First viewing - April 1st

I kicked off the new month with a new movie in a theatre I hadn't been to yet. The theatre has 4 screens, nothing too fancy but the seats were super comfy & they've got a bar which I didn't take advantage of this time. Had I got there as early as I'd originally planned to I might have, but there's always next time. Best of all though the audience was entirely respectful, no issues with talkers or people checking cell phones.

Now initially I wasn't too excited for this one. The trailers didn't impress me much and while I know Irvine Welsh wrote at least one sequel to Trainspotting I wasn't sure if it really needed one. Well evidently I need to read Porno at some point, because I enjoyed the adaptation despite my hesitations toward it (can't imagine why they didn't retain that title though...surely it wouldn't hurt ticket sales?). Catching up with these characters 20 years later leads to some amusing and interesting places, and I appreciated how each of the four main characters from the first film were given more depth this time around. The film doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor, but then it also doesn't really try to either. At this point Boyle knows how to put a film together, so he retains a fairly tight focus on the events at hand which works out well on the whole. The cast is very game to slip back into their roles, and the supporting cast does a decent job overall too. I didn't think it was great, but I'd gladly watch it again.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 441 Average listal rating (306 ratings) 6.8 IMDB Rating 6.9
First viewing - April 15th

This weekend there was nothing new out I wanted to see, but fortunately Row House was having Sci-fi week. The other options were District 9, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers, but since I'd seen all of them (Total Recall most recently) this was the sole priority. And I'm glad I showed up because it was really damn good. The effects have held up well over the years and the acting is solid all around. I've watched enough movies though that I knew where it was heading, but fortunately the road to get there is consistently engaging & entertaining. I'd gladly sit through it all again too.
the giraffe's rating:
First viewing - April 29th

This short ran before Colossal, and was mostly hilarious and entertaining. I'd watch it again, and if Neon plans to use more before their films I'm totally OK with it.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 219 Average listal rating (153 ratings) 6.2 IMDB Rating 6.2
Colossal (2016)
First viewing - April 29th

I had four new films I wanted to see over the weekend, so I split them in half & spent Saturday afternoon with the genre films. Colossal delivered more than I'd expected from the trailer, which was a very damn good thing. Hathaway & Sudeikis impress in their respective roles & the story goes some unexpected places. It's not a film for everyone, but if you're able to hang with it you'll be rewarded. If I had any complaint it's that some aspects could have been more deeply explored, but perhaps that would've derailed the momentum somehow. It's still worth seeing, and I look forward to revisiting it to examine it further now that I know what to expect.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 172 Average listal rating (115 ratings) 6.4 IMDB Rating 6.3
First viewing - April 29th

Given its dismal opening weekend I wasn't sure if Free Fire would even be around for me to catch, but fortunately the theatres didn't give up on it too quickly. More surprising to me was the fact that when I saw it there were 3 pairs of senior citizens in the audience & only one other guy my age (and that's all that turned up for it, which given the lack of interest is less surprising). Perhaps Mr. Wheatley shouldn't open his films so widely.

Anyway, I thought this was totally worth the time. There's enough humor sprinkled throughout to keep it entertaining, and some of the scenes ratcheted up the tension wonderfully. Best of all the film knows when to pull the plug and does so in a satisfying way. The cast is stellar, the action pieces are well-composed so you're not lost, and some of the music used had me chuckling. It won't change your life and it's nothing deep, but it's worth giving a chance. Hopefully it'll find its audience as the years go by.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 63 Average listal rating (48 ratings) 4.5 IMDB Rating 5.9
First viewing - April 30th

I kicked off my Sunday morning with this comedy, which proved to not only be very funny but heartfelt as well. If you've seen the trailer and were amused, definitely give it a chance. I'll probably watch it again down the line.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 37 Average listal rating (23 ratings) 5.8 IMDB Rating 5.9
First viewing - April 30th

Well, I went four for four over the weekend, as all the films wound up being worth my time & money to see. Sleight may not be very original, as it calls to mind Chronicle and pretty much any other superhero origin movie, but I wound up liking it despite that fact. The cast is solid, I liked the characters, it's consistently entertaining, and by the end I wanted more. I have no idea whether we'll get a sequel, but if so I'd be willing to see it.
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Home viewings

First viewing - April 1st

I've been meaning to see this for a while, so naturally I watched it the first night it hit Netflix. I'd forgotten that Bradley Cooper was in it, but then all the marketing material was based around Vinnie Jones instead so that may not be too surprising. And to be fair, Jones gives a powerful performance throughout the run time (though I admit I kept thinking of Snatch which was mildly distracting). The story is occasionally predictable and there are some awful CG effects on display at times, both of which diminish the experience to some degree. Fortunately it all moves along quickly enough that I wasn't bored with it, but I definitely felt it could've been better and am therefore not likely to revisit it.

Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 419 Average listal rating (272 ratings) 8 IMDB Rating 8.1
First viewing - April 2nd

Since I'm underwhelmed lately with my options on Netflix I figured I'd head to the library to see what I could find. As luck would had it I had to make myself stop before I brought home more than I can get watched in a single week. Limiting myself to 3 seems manageable enough.

Between household chores I watched The Hidden Fortress since it's the longest of the films I chose. It doesn't feel as long as it is, however, thanks to pacing that suits the story and characters that are worth spending time with. Toshiro Mifune is as impressive as he is in anything else I've seen him in, especially during the spear duel scene where he exudes ferocity and determination. While the rest of the cast performs well enough he casts a shadow over them that's hard for any of them to break free from. I don't know that I found the movie to be great, but I did enjoy it and would watch it again at some point.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 742 Average listal rating (567 ratings) 7.3 IMDB Rating 7.6
First viewing - April 3rd

The generally positive reputation of this film combined with the fact the script was written by the same guy who wrote the excellent Hell or High Water made me curious to check it out. Much as I'd suspected, however, I didn't get much out of it. The film has its moments, to be sure, and the cast does a solid job across the board. I just didn't care much for the story itself & the film doesn't create a world I'd ever want to revisit.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 63 Average listal rating (48 ratings) 6.7 IMDB Rating 6.2
In Like Flint (1967)
First viewing - April 10th

In Like Flint looked interesting to me, so in the interest of keeping some variety release-year-wise for the month I figured I'd give it a shot. I can't say though that it was really worth the time. The humor fell flat for me and the way the story unfolds is really uneven. I didn't realize until afterward that this is a sequel, so perhaps if I'd seen the first film I would've appreciated the characters more than I did. Unfortunately they're not very well-developed here, which made it difficult to really connect with any of them. And then there's the somewhat problematic finale which runs rampant with misogyny in ways that make Bond look feminist. Overall I was passively entertained though, so while I didn't hate it I did think it should've been far better.

Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 1507 Average listal rating (980 ratings) 6.3 IMDB Rating 6.4
Re-watch - April 11th

I wasn't about to risk another bad film experience in a row, so I went with The Craft which I watched several times back in the '90s and probably haven't seen in its entirety since. I find the whole thing more cheesy now than I used to, but at least it's solidly entertaining. There are some moments with the central coven where their actions don't make a lot of sense, but they never derail the film's momentum. I feel now that the film would benefit from another half hour of time to allow the action to breathe and the characters to develop better, but for simple popcorn entertainment it's fine I guess. While I probably would watch it again some time, I still think it's no better than a 7/10.

Just a thought: This film is responsible for the crush I used to have on Robin Tunney.

Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 2841 Average listal rating (1683 ratings) 7.6 IMDB Rating 8
Re-watch - April 14th

I can't remember the last time I watched Magnolia, but then it's not a film I revisit often. That's largely due to the run-time (3 hours for one film can be more time than I'm willing to commit, no matter how great the film is), but also due to the fact that it's not a movie that demands a high number of repeat viewings. I think it's better to watch it once every 10 years. I still love everything about the movie, from the characters to the story to the technical aspects to the soundtrack, and P.T. Anderson has yet to reach its heights again as far as I'm concerned. And that's another reason to not watch it too many times...the more time you allow between viewings the better the film hits you when you come back to it again.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 586 Average listal rating (378 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 7.2
First viewing - April 15th

Given the story idea you'd think I would have loved this film far more than the one that preceded it, and for a little while I thought I was heading that way. I didn't dig all the characters, but that didn't bug me too much. Then the ending comes along and wrecks it all. And I refuse to discuss how & why out of respect for those who haven't seen the film, but feel free to ask me about it if you have. I do think it raises some good ideas though, so it's not without merit & I don't regret sitting through it. I just wish they'd come up with a better finale.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 1550 Average listal rating (897 ratings) 7.9 IMDB Rating 8
Persepolis (2007)
First viewing - April 16th

Well, this was an interesting story but not much else I felt. Yeah, the animation is decent & the mostly black-and-white approach was visually engaging. But the whole thing felt like I was just watching someone talk about their past with nothing more to walk away with. And the ending isn't really an ending, which I guess makes sense given that the central character goes on with her life afterwards but it didn't leave me feeling much of anything. I guess it was worth watching once, but given its reputation I was expecting something more out of it.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 370 Average listal rating (276 ratings) 5.6 IMDB Rating 6.2
The Visit (2015)
First viewing - April 17th

Thanks to Split & encouragement from others (thank you) I happily plucked this off the shelf so I could finally watch it. And man, it's a lot of fun. The Visit is nothing great of course, but Shyamalan has a ball with the story and pokes fun at himself through the dialogue. When things get weird the tension ramps up and these moments deliver the goods. The teen boy's rapping was atrocious and while one could argue that fits it was still painful to sit through each time. It was a touch that I failed to appreciate. And I figured out early on where this was heading, but that didn't deter me from enjoying the road to get there. I might even be willing to watch this again at some point, though I wouldn't rush to do so.

Again, thanks to those who encouraged me to give it a chance.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 39 Average listal rating (27 ratings) 3.2 IMDB Rating 2.5
First viewing - April 18th

Well, this was an easy target for the crew of MST3K. For something that appears to be a horror film it fails at being remotely scary. Instead it's mostly an excuse to have a bunch of unknown women run around scantily clad while the so-called "horrors" attack their group then leave them alone for a long time before returning near the end of the movie. The make-up is dreadful, the acting not much better. Thankfully the riffing mostly worked well & kept me engaged.

MST3K rating: 7/10
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 134 Average listal rating (96 ratings) 5.8 IMDB Rating 6.3
Hamlet 2 (2008)
First viewing - April 22nd

This came up somehow while talking to my co-worker friend, and after he encouraged me to check out a trailer and I told him it looked amusing he let me borrow his copy. And it's definitely amusing. It's not great by any means (weaknesses abound with some of the acting & comedic moments fall flat at times), but I was consistently entertained by it & was satisfied with it overall. I wouldn't need to watch it again, but I could be persuaded to with the right company.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 2087 Average listal rating (1517 ratings) 7.6 IMDB Rating 8
Re-watch - April 23rd

With Vol. 2 right around the corner, the kiddo and I were both itching to revisit Guardians first so we curled up on the couch together to watch it. I enjoyed it even more this time around, though I'm still not quite ready to deem it great. And now the kiddo & I are more than ready to watch the sequel.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 506 Average listal rating (299 ratings) 5.8 IMDB Rating 5.7
First viewing - April 24th

I know this film more by reputation than anything else, and as such it's been one I've been curious to see. After watching it I can honestly say I should have ignored my curiosity. The first third of the film is pretty brutal to get through, though that's clearly part of the point. Once we're past that the film turns into a revenge movie, which makes sense but wasn't especially satisfying beyond the surface. It doesn't help that none of the characters have any depth to them, and I found much of the last third of the film to be rather questionable. For low budget horror it's got moments that work really well, but it's just not a film that I can recommend to anyone nor would I sit through it again.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 351 Average listal rating (255 ratings) 6.9 IMDB Rating 7
First viewing - April 25th

The Gift may be imbued with familiar tropes, but the script manages to subvert expectations at every turn, creating an air of head-slapping ambiguity, and it helps that the execution is so thoroughly engaging, revealing darker depths and layers to the story that we might not have expected from the outset. It's the way Edgerton plays with expectations that elevates The Gift above less skilful thriller efforts, questioning who the real villain is and raising tension as the story plays out. Even though the story climaxes with a sense of righteous vengeance, the movie nevertheless closes on a note of solemnity and loss, with scars of the past still as tender as ever. Even though The Gift isn't the most pleasant motion picture, it's certainly a harrowing watch.
--from PvtCaboose91's review

Just a thought: Nice how this unintentionally tied in to Magnolia.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 9 Average listal rating (1 ratings) 6 IMDB Rating 7
First viewing - April 28th

This was loaned to me along with Hamlet 2 when my friend found out I'd never seen it & didn't know what it was. Those of you who have followed my lists know that I wasn't very impressed with Citizen Kane and don't keep up with TV much (or HBO output at all), so both of those factors obviously worked against my seeing this sooner. And I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

Liev Schreiber does a commendable job of portraying Orson Welles, though he's no Adam McKay. Every now & then I believed him in the role, so that's respectable. The story is definitely an interesting one and I had no idea the obstacles Citizen Kane faced with regard to its release. The cast was solid and I was consistently entertained. There's nothing especially impressive about the way RKO 281 was made though so I wouldn't deem it to be great, but it was certainly worth watching.
the giraffe's rating:
People who added this item 1405 Average listal rating (907 ratings) 7.1 IMDB Rating 7.3
Re-watch - April 28th

After RKO 281 I wanted to end the night with something fun, and since I hadn't watched Raising Arizona since the day before my daughter was born I figured it was a good choice. I still think every moment of this film is genius and laugh at most of the humor in it. I also know a lot of the dialogue, which makes me wish I could go to a quote-along event some time. Plus Nic Cage gives one of his best performances of his uneven career by disappearing into H.I. McDonnough, and it remains one of the best Coens films.
the giraffe's rating:
Re-watch - April 29th

Between the educational short that precedes the film & the dreadful film that features, Joel & the Bots riff so well it's almost perfect. Even the skits that break up the film are fun, so this was a joy to revisit.

Currently streaming on Netflix
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Netflix exorcisms

Films I caught before Netflix jettisoned them from streaming
People who added this item 7 Average listal rating (4 ratings) 6.5 IMDB Rating 0
First viewing - April 8th

Masked Avengers was slated to leave Netflix (along with several other Shaw Bros. movies) on April 9th, and since this was in my queue I figured I'd try it before it left. It started out well enough, but after a while I started getting sleepy and fought to stay awake through the rest of it. From what I saw though it was just an average kung fu movie centered on revenge. But hey, at least it wasn't overrun with training scenes...so that's something I guess.
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