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Movies the giraffe watched in 2017: November
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Noteworthy: The best and the worst
The breakdown: 28 movies and 1 short film watched
24 first views, 5 re-watches
6 via Amazon Prime, 12 via Showbox, 4 via DVD, and 7 (including the short) in the theatre
Decades touched: 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, & 2010s
As we approach the end of the year it shouldn't be too surprising that most of what I want to watch is films from 2017 as I strive to catch as many of them as I can. Fortunately my time with my daughter led me outside the present decade a bit, otherwise I might've been stuck there. Oh, to be fair I did make a couple trips outside of the 2010s (both successful and not), but the bulk of what's below did come out in the past year and most of it was worthwhile. My (unpublished) list of my favorite films of the year is ever-changing, which is a GOOD thing. Every time a new film joins their ranks it makes me happy, and the film that earned my top spot this month easily sits in my top 5 of the year at this point. We'll see whether that holds.
I also tried to focus as much as possible on films I could stream, as next month will focus my attention on the films on my shelves instead. Of course much like this month I'll also make it out to the movies a handful of times, and the only area in which I fell short this month was on catching everything that came out that I wanted to see. Hopefully I can catch up on what I missed next month. Thankfully most of what I saw in theatres this month was totally worthwhile, though at this time of year that should be the case.
24 first views, 5 re-watches
6 via Amazon Prime, 12 via Showbox, 4 via DVD, and 7 (including the short) in the theatre
Decades touched: 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, & 2010s
As we approach the end of the year it shouldn't be too surprising that most of what I want to watch is films from 2017 as I strive to catch as many of them as I can. Fortunately my time with my daughter led me outside the present decade a bit, otherwise I might've been stuck there. Oh, to be fair I did make a couple trips outside of the 2010s (both successful and not), but the bulk of what's below did come out in the past year and most of it was worthwhile. My (unpublished) list of my favorite films of the year is ever-changing, which is a GOOD thing. Every time a new film joins their ranks it makes me happy, and the film that earned my top spot this month easily sits in my top 5 of the year at this point. We'll see whether that holds.
I also tried to focus as much as possible on films I could stream, as next month will focus my attention on the films on my shelves instead. Of course much like this month I'll also make it out to the movies a handful of times, and the only area in which I fell short this month was on catching everything that came out that I wanted to see. Hopefully I can catch up on what I missed next month. Thankfully most of what I saw in theatres this month was totally worthwhile, though at this time of year that should be the case.
773
7.4
8.4
Coco (2017)
First viewing - Nov. 25th
Hey, Pixar returns to greatness & avoids rehashing what The Book of Life already did. I loved everything about Coco, especially the fact that we get a cast full of Latino/a people instead of overstuffing it with white people trying to sound Mexican or something equally ill-advised. This easily earns a spot in the upper tier of Pixar's achievements, and I sincerely hope it catches on so well that we get more diversity out of them in the future.
Best new-to-me film for November
Hey, Pixar returns to greatness & avoids rehashing what The Book of Life already did. I loved everything about Coco, especially the fact that we get a cast full of Latino/a people instead of overstuffing it with white people trying to sound Mexican or something equally ill-advised. This easily earns a spot in the upper tier of Pixar's achievements, and I sincerely hope it catches on so well that we get more diversity out of them in the future.
the giraffe's rating:
366
7.1
7.2
Winnie the Pooh (2011)
First viewing - Nov. 24th
The kiddo was far too young when this came out to justify taking her to see it, so despite my long-held love of these characters it fell by the wayside. Thankfully it's available on Showbox & with a run-time that barely exceeds an hour it was a perfect choice to watch after Raiders to get her mind on something else. As I started it up she said she'd seen it before, though she clearly didn't recall all of it as some moments surprised her along the way. I definitely hadn't seen it, though I recognized some of the stories thanks to the source material they're adapted from. What I most love, however, is the various ways it engages the characters with the tales being read around them, and those moments never lost their shine for me. We both roared with laughter several times, and overall I totally enjoyed it. I wouldn't go so far as to call it great, but I'm glad I finally got to watch it & will definitely watch it again.
Best hidden gem
The kiddo was far too young when this came out to justify taking her to see it, so despite my long-held love of these characters it fell by the wayside. Thankfully it's available on Showbox & with a run-time that barely exceeds an hour it was a perfect choice to watch after Raiders to get her mind on something else. As I started it up she said she'd seen it before, though she clearly didn't recall all of it as some moments surprised her along the way. I definitely hadn't seen it, though I recognized some of the stories thanks to the source material they're adapted from. What I most love, however, is the various ways it engages the characters with the tales being read around them, and those moments never lost their shine for me. We both roared with laughter several times, and overall I totally enjoyed it. I wouldn't go so far as to call it great, but I'm glad I finally got to watch it & will definitely watch it again.
the giraffe's rating:
8
7.2
5.6
First viewing - Nov. 25th
At this point we're all used to short films running before Pixar's movies, but this one overstays its welcome. At 21 minutes long it has no business being stuck in front of a feature film & since it's mostly an excuse to do a holiday-themed throwaway with these characters it should've been restricted to a DVD extra somewhere instead or aired on the Disney channel. I'll concede that there are a couple of jokes that work (most are painfully obvious), but they're spread so far apart that they earn more mild chuckles than bellowing laughter. Even the kiddo turned to me at one point & asked why we were watching the wrong movie, and despite her appreciation of Frozen (which far exceeds my own) she said afterward it was boring. Hopefully that means we'll be able to skip Frozen 2 when it hits theatres, though even if she insists on seeing it I'll likely "forget" to take her.
Worst film
At this point we're all used to short films running before Pixar's movies, but this one overstays its welcome. At 21 minutes long it has no business being stuck in front of a feature film & since it's mostly an excuse to do a holiday-themed throwaway with these characters it should've been restricted to a DVD extra somewhere instead or aired on the Disney channel. I'll concede that there are a couple of jokes that work (most are painfully obvious), but they're spread so far apart that they earn more mild chuckles than bellowing laughter. Even the kiddo turned to me at one point & asked why we were watching the wrong movie, and despite her appreciation of Frozen (which far exceeds my own) she said afterward it was boring. Hopefully that means we'll be able to skip Frozen 2 when it hits theatres, though even if she insists on seeing it I'll likely "forget" to take her.
the giraffe's rating:
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Home viewings
43
6.2
6.3
Dave Made a Maze (2017)
First viewing - Nov. 3rd
This caught my eye when it first popped up on Showbox, and to be honest I'd started watching it in September but fell asleep before I could finish it. That's not a reflection on the film, just a matter of my being too tired on that particular night. I considered including it last month, but from what I saw it wasn't really a horror movie so I chose to wait. Kicking off November with it turned out to be a good idea.
First off, I love the craft of the film. The set design is impressive throughout and carries an obvious influence from Michel Gondry. If you weren't paying much attention you might even think it was one of his films. As the title suggests, the labyrinth is very much the main attraction here, and I often found myself in as much awe of its design as the ensemble cast is. Speaking of which, while the cast is mostly comprised of unfamiliar faces they do a solid job across the board. Each character comes off as mostly believable, though few of them are given much real depth. One thing I did enjoy though is that they're given a fair number of inside jokes they use, yet none of them are elaborated on or overtly explained for the audience's benefit. This lends their interactions with a shade of realism you don't often find in films.
If there's a flaw here, or one thing that keeps the film from achieving greatness, it's that there's not much depth to the film. There's no emotional investment in what's going on and nothing important the film is trying to say or explore. Which isn't to say that such things are a requirement, but it did leave me with the feeling that I watched a fun film that's not really essential. I'd gladly watch it again, however, because I enjoyed it for what it is & welcome another exploration of the labyrinth.
This caught my eye when it first popped up on Showbox, and to be honest I'd started watching it in September but fell asleep before I could finish it. That's not a reflection on the film, just a matter of my being too tired on that particular night. I considered including it last month, but from what I saw it wasn't really a horror movie so I chose to wait. Kicking off November with it turned out to be a good idea.
First off, I love the craft of the film. The set design is impressive throughout and carries an obvious influence from Michel Gondry. If you weren't paying much attention you might even think it was one of his films. As the title suggests, the labyrinth is very much the main attraction here, and I often found myself in as much awe of its design as the ensemble cast is. Speaking of which, while the cast is mostly comprised of unfamiliar faces they do a solid job across the board. Each character comes off as mostly believable, though few of them are given much real depth. One thing I did enjoy though is that they're given a fair number of inside jokes they use, yet none of them are elaborated on or overtly explained for the audience's benefit. This lends their interactions with a shade of realism you don't often find in films.
If there's a flaw here, or one thing that keeps the film from achieving greatness, it's that there's not much depth to the film. There's no emotional investment in what's going on and nothing important the film is trying to say or explore. Which isn't to say that such things are a requirement, but it did leave me with the feeling that I watched a fun film that's not really essential. I'd gladly watch it again, however, because I enjoyed it for what it is & welcome another exploration of the labyrinth.
the giraffe's rating:
81
6.3
6.4
Creep 2 (2017)
First viewing - Nov. 3rd
I followed up Dave Made a Maze with Creep 2, which you might think would also have been included in October's viewings. Turns out it's not really a horror movie like it's predecessor was (though it does have some elements of horror to it), and thus I had no regrets on waiting for it. To be fair, the way Creep played out it'd be tough to do another horror movie as the audience would know exactly what to expect from it. And let's face it, Mark Duplass is not one to make the exact same film twice in a row. He does, however, play the same character as wonderfully as he did the first time around, and the sequel builds on the first film in some really interesting ways. His co-star Desiree Akhavan does an excellent job of balancing the film with him, delivering a strong performance and a fresh perspective to approach the story. Overall it's a very strong sequel, but I didn't think it was better than the first film. Evidently we're going to get a third entry in this series, and I'm certainly curious about what approach they'll take next time.
I followed up Dave Made a Maze with Creep 2, which you might think would also have been included in October's viewings. Turns out it's not really a horror movie like it's predecessor was (though it does have some elements of horror to it), and thus I had no regrets on waiting for it. To be fair, the way Creep played out it'd be tough to do another horror movie as the audience would know exactly what to expect from it. And let's face it, Mark Duplass is not one to make the exact same film twice in a row. He does, however, play the same character as wonderfully as he did the first time around, and the sequel builds on the first film in some really interesting ways. His co-star Desiree Akhavan does an excellent job of balancing the film with him, delivering a strong performance and a fresh perspective to approach the story. Overall it's a very strong sequel, but I didn't think it was better than the first film. Evidently we're going to get a third entry in this series, and I'm certainly curious about what approach they'll take next time.
the giraffe's rating:
50
5.8
6.4
First viewing - Nov. 6th
So first off I'd planned to watch Brawl In Cell Block 99 on this particular night, but Showbox wouldn't play it for me. I tried everything I could think of short of uninstalling the app & reinstalling it, but no luck. So I figured I'd give this a chance instead, as I recalled seeing the Birth.Movies.Death site voice approval of it. That was really all I knew about it, and for me that worked out wonderfully. Initially I thought maybe this was going to fail compared to Baby Driver, and while that film is certainly better this one is really excellent for the most part. It's more thriller than action movie, and that's about all I'll say for it. Those with Netflix would do well to give it a look.
So first off I'd planned to watch Brawl In Cell Block 99 on this particular night, but Showbox wouldn't play it for me. I tried everything I could think of short of uninstalling the app & reinstalling it, but no luck. So I figured I'd give this a chance instead, as I recalled seeing the Birth.Movies.Death site voice approval of it. That was really all I knew about it, and for me that worked out wonderfully. Initially I thought maybe this was going to fail compared to Baby Driver, and while that film is certainly better this one is really excellent for the most part. It's more thriller than action movie, and that's about all I'll say for it. Those with Netflix would do well to give it a look.
the giraffe's rating:
295
7.6
7.3
First viewing - Nov. 9th
Much ado has been made about this film among critics largely due to Robert Pattinson's performance, and I can't argue with that at all. He definitely shows he has acting chops throughout the film and impressed me. The story is very intriguing and had me wondering exactly how it would play out, which always earns my respect. And the ending was fairly satisfying, but nothing that totally blew me away. I don't know that I'd go so far as to say the film is great, but it's certainly worth seeing and kept me thinking about it well after it ended. I don't know that I'd need to watch it again, but wouldn't turn down the opportunity to do so either. So call this one a 7.5.
Much ado has been made about this film among critics largely due to Robert Pattinson's performance, and I can't argue with that at all. He definitely shows he has acting chops throughout the film and impressed me. The story is very intriguing and had me wondering exactly how it would play out, which always earns my respect. And the ending was fairly satisfying, but nothing that totally blew me away. I don't know that I'd go so far as to say the film is great, but it's certainly worth seeing and kept me thinking about it well after it ended. I don't know that I'd need to watch it again, but wouldn't turn down the opportunity to do so either. So call this one a 7.5.
the giraffe's rating:
4585
7.7
8
First viewing - Nov. 12th
The kiddo & I wanted to watch a movie together, so I let her pick something. She originally wanted to watch Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them as she's really into the Harry Potter world right now, but Showbox wouldn't play it for some reason. This was her second choice, and as far as I could tell she enjoyed it. I know the song about Gaston was stuck in her head because she was singing it around dinner time. I thought the whole thing was just okay. I spent the first third trying not to fall asleep, knew more or less what to expect from it, and since I know the story without having to see a film adaptation of it I knew it wouldn't be my cup of tea (which is the main reason I've never intentionally sought it out). I don't think it's a bad movie, and for its time the animation is good enough, but I could've continued ignoring it and been just fine. For me the humor fell flat most of the time & I couldn't find a single character to care about, plus the music is pretty lame. At least it didn't actively annoy me like Lion King does.
The kiddo & I wanted to watch a movie together, so I let her pick something. She originally wanted to watch Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them as she's really into the Harry Potter world right now, but Showbox wouldn't play it for some reason. This was her second choice, and as far as I could tell she enjoyed it. I know the song about Gaston was stuck in her head because she was singing it around dinner time. I thought the whole thing was just okay. I spent the first third trying not to fall asleep, knew more or less what to expect from it, and since I know the story without having to see a film adaptation of it I knew it wouldn't be my cup of tea (which is the main reason I've never intentionally sought it out). I don't think it's a bad movie, and for its time the animation is good enough, but I could've continued ignoring it and been just fine. For me the humor fell flat most of the time & I couldn't find a single character to care about, plus the music is pretty lame. At least it didn't actively annoy me like Lion King does.
the giraffe's rating:
39
6.3
6.2
The Blood Spattered Bride (1972)
First viewing - Nov. 13th
Ok, so watching this wasn't a great idea in the first place. I was curious about it since its title is referenced in Kill Bill, and dove in without really knowing what I was getting into beyond a 70s horror movie. The acting is fine, the effects are decent, and the premise is interesting. Admittedly there were times I was falling asleep trying to get through the back half of the film, and I hated the ending. It's especially tough to watch a film like this which deals with sexual aggression/assault as all these sexual assault stories get exposed lately. So while I thought it had moments that worked mostly I struggled to find any appreciation of it.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
Ok, so watching this wasn't a great idea in the first place. I was curious about it since its title is referenced in Kill Bill, and dove in without really knowing what I was getting into beyond a 70s horror movie. The acting is fine, the effects are decent, and the premise is interesting. Admittedly there were times I was falling asleep trying to get through the back half of the film, and I hated the ending. It's especially tough to watch a film like this which deals with sexual aggression/assault as all these sexual assault stories get exposed lately. So while I thought it had moments that worked mostly I struggled to find any appreciation of it.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
the giraffe's rating:
129
6.7
7.3
Shot Caller (2017)
First viewing - Nov. 17th
First off you should know that Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is the best reason to watch Shot Caller. I've enjoyed his work elsewhere, but I'm glad he's at the center of this film because he really delivers. The story unfolds in a way that helps you get to the bottom of who he is and why he does what he does, and isn't afraid to force him to face his consequences. I really dug it overall, and I'm glad my friend at work told me to check it out.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
First off you should know that Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is the best reason to watch Shot Caller. I've enjoyed his work elsewhere, but I'm glad he's at the center of this film because he really delivers. The story unfolds in a way that helps you get to the bottom of who he is and why he does what he does, and isn't afraid to force him to face his consequences. I really dug it overall, and I'm glad my friend at work told me to check it out.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
the giraffe's rating:
492
6.3
6.7
Atomic Blonde (2017)
First viewing - Nov. 17th
So this is a thing that I watched and was completely unimpressed with. The whole thing is shot in a very cold way which prevented me from connecting with anything that happens. The only reason I finished it was because I was about 45 minutes through when I started debating whether to give up & I figured I'd just stick with it. I give them points for letting Theron play this role, and she gets my respect, and hopefully it works well for others. I was bored with it & wish I'd chose something else to watch instead. But hey, at least I didn't spend any money to watch it.
So this is a thing that I watched and was completely unimpressed with. The whole thing is shot in a very cold way which prevented me from connecting with anything that happens. The only reason I finished it was because I was about 45 minutes through when I started debating whether to give up & I figured I'd just stick with it. I give them points for letting Theron play this role, and she gets my respect, and hopefully it works well for others. I was bored with it & wish I'd chose something else to watch instead. But hey, at least I didn't spend any money to watch it.
the giraffe's rating:
379
6.6
6.9
Re-watch - Nov. 18th
I needed to watch something Great, and since I seem to keep walking into films that don't work for me this month I figured I'd revisit one that was guaranteed to give me everything I want and maybe reset my sense of what I should give a chance to. Of course with Swiss Army Man there's also the possibility that nothing else I watch this month will be able to compare. It's still my favorite film of 2016, and it's likely that I enjoy it more than any 2017 film I've seen. It's smart, funny, juvenile in a good way, and heartfelt, and I love every second of it.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
I needed to watch something Great, and since I seem to keep walking into films that don't work for me this month I figured I'd revisit one that was guaranteed to give me everything I want and maybe reset my sense of what I should give a chance to. Of course with Swiss Army Man there's also the possibility that nothing else I watch this month will be able to compare. It's still my favorite film of 2016, and it's likely that I enjoy it more than any 2017 film I've seen. It's smart, funny, juvenile in a good way, and heartfelt, and I love every second of it.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
the giraffe's rating:
494
6.9
7.1
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
First viewing - Nov. 18th
I like the new Star Trek film series well enough to keep up with it, but not so well that I'm ever compelled to rush to the theatre to catch it. I realize that means I lose out on some of the effect of the visuals, but there always seem to be other films I'd rather spend my money on. As expected this was worth watching, though I doubt I'd watch it again. I dug the villains this time around, and was mostly entertained, but I can't say I was very impressed. Honestly though, with Anton Yelchin gone I doubt I'll bother with another film in the series should they keep it going. Ah, and the way this ends is satisfying enough to close out the series as far as I'm concerned, so hopefully there's not another attempt to push it forward.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
I like the new Star Trek film series well enough to keep up with it, but not so well that I'm ever compelled to rush to the theatre to catch it. I realize that means I lose out on some of the effect of the visuals, but there always seem to be other films I'd rather spend my money on. As expected this was worth watching, though I doubt I'd watch it again. I dug the villains this time around, and was mostly entertained, but I can't say I was very impressed. Honestly though, with Anton Yelchin gone I doubt I'll bother with another film in the series should they keep it going. Ah, and the way this ends is satisfying enough to close out the series as far as I'm concerned, so hopefully there's not another attempt to push it forward.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
the giraffe's rating:
74
6.4
6.6
First viewing - Nov. 19th
Been seeing some positive feedback on this one, so when it popped up on Showbox over the weekend I figured I'd give it a look. And as it turns out it's well worth watching. It earns major points for delivering the most natural portrayal of teens I've seen all year, as all the teenage characters here came across like actual people instead of having dialogue that felt like someone's idea of what young people sound like. The whole thing unfolds in a very interesting way, and I found myself thinking about it afterward and the subtler ways it works as it moves along. I don't think it crossed the line into greatness territory, but it came close & I'd watch it again.
Just a thought: How many CGI deer must die in movies before filmmakers move onto another animal/metaphor?
Been seeing some positive feedback on this one, so when it popped up on Showbox over the weekend I figured I'd give it a look. And as it turns out it's well worth watching. It earns major points for delivering the most natural portrayal of teens I've seen all year, as all the teenage characters here came across like actual people instead of having dialogue that felt like someone's idea of what young people sound like. The whole thing unfolds in a very interesting way, and I found myself thinking about it afterward and the subtler ways it works as it moves along. I don't think it crossed the line into greatness territory, but it came close & I'd watch it again.
Just a thought: How many CGI deer must die in movies before filmmakers move onto another animal/metaphor?
the giraffe's rating:
158
6.6
6.9
First viewing - Nov. 20th
It took me a while to appreciate what was going on here, but once I found my way into it I thought this film worked pretty well overall. It's especially nice to see Adam Sandler act again, though it also reminded me of how much of his career he's spent wasting his potential. There are some wonderful moments throughout the film, along with some that are tough to appreciate, which seems to be what it's going for. That's life, right? Anyway, it was totally worth checking out, but I doubt I'll need to watch it again.
It took me a while to appreciate what was going on here, but once I found my way into it I thought this film worked pretty well overall. It's especially nice to see Adam Sandler act again, though it also reminded me of how much of his career he's spent wasting his potential. There are some wonderful moments throughout the film, along with some that are tough to appreciate, which seems to be what it's going for. That's life, right? Anyway, it was totally worth checking out, but I doubt I'll need to watch it again.
the giraffe's rating:
1582
6.8
7.2
21 Jump Street (2012)
First viewing - Nov. 23rd
I was actually looking for something else to watch on Thanksgiving night, but my curiosity got the better of me & I decided to give this a chance instead. Now I'm not at all familiar with the TV series it's spawned from, because at the time it ran on TV it wasn't my cup of tea so I skipped it. I don't know that I ever watched an episode, but I know the commercials failed to sell me on it. So I went into this pretty much blind unless you count whatever I vaguely recall from its trailers. And I wound up enjoying it in spite of myself. I'd say about 2/3 of the jokes worked for me, but what I appreciated most was the central relationship between Tatum & Hill. It really helps ground the movie & kept me invested in what was going on. There were also some really amusing moments along the way, though there were enough moments that didn't work for me to keep this as a film I doubt I'd need to see again. I'm also not sold on the idea that it needs a sequel, even though the ending clearly sets one up. We'll see whether I give in and watch it or not.
I was actually looking for something else to watch on Thanksgiving night, but my curiosity got the better of me & I decided to give this a chance instead. Now I'm not at all familiar with the TV series it's spawned from, because at the time it ran on TV it wasn't my cup of tea so I skipped it. I don't know that I ever watched an episode, but I know the commercials failed to sell me on it. So I went into this pretty much blind unless you count whatever I vaguely recall from its trailers. And I wound up enjoying it in spite of myself. I'd say about 2/3 of the jokes worked for me, but what I appreciated most was the central relationship between Tatum & Hill. It really helps ground the movie & kept me invested in what was going on. There were also some really amusing moments along the way, though there were enough moments that didn't work for me to keep this as a film I doubt I'd need to see again. I'm also not sold on the idea that it needs a sequel, even though the ending clearly sets one up. We'll see whether I give in and watch it or not.
the giraffe's rating:
1262
7.4
7.9
First viewing - Nov. 23rd
First off, I feel stupid for having skipped this one on the big screen. I tend to ignore the fact that I generally enjoy Tom Cruise's movies because his real life gets so much attention & I get annoyed with him like most people probably do. Which is odd really, because I don't watch much TV or pay attention to tabloid BS, yet this information finds me all the same. Anyway, Doug Liman directing should've been enough to entice me to give it a chance while it was in theatres but I ignored that & let it get by me. Edge of Tomorrow is a lot of fun from start to finish, and they come up with some clever ways to keep things interesting along the way. My only complaint is that the finale is too dark for its own good, to the point where at times it was unclear what I was seeing. That kept it from being truly great in my book, but otherwise I'm glad I finally caught up with it and will likely revisit it.
First off, I feel stupid for having skipped this one on the big screen. I tend to ignore the fact that I generally enjoy Tom Cruise's movies because his real life gets so much attention & I get annoyed with him like most people probably do. Which is odd really, because I don't watch much TV or pay attention to tabloid BS, yet this information finds me all the same. Anyway, Doug Liman directing should've been enough to entice me to give it a chance while it was in theatres but I ignored that & let it get by me. Edge of Tomorrow is a lot of fun from start to finish, and they come up with some clever ways to keep things interesting along the way. My only complaint is that the finale is too dark for its own good, to the point where at times it was unclear what I was seeing. That kept it from being truly great in my book, but otherwise I'm glad I finally caught up with it and will likely revisit it.
the giraffe's rating:
5313
8
8.4
Re-watch - Nov. 24th
I talked the kiddo into watching Raiders with me, though she was initially skeptical of it. At first she thought it would be boring, but by the time it ended she insisted she needs to watch the rest of the series (even the 4th film, which I'm glad I don't own and thus can insist we never watch...though unfortunately I can't keep her from seeing it without me). And yeah, the face melting creeped her out, but then it does all of us when we're kids right? Fortunately I was able to find something safer to chase away her fears when it ended...
I talked the kiddo into watching Raiders with me, though she was initially skeptical of it. At first she thought it would be boring, but by the time it ended she insisted she needs to watch the rest of the series (even the 4th film, which I'm glad I don't own and thus can insist we never watch...though unfortunately I can't keep her from seeing it without me). And yeah, the face melting creeped her out, but then it does all of us when we're kids right? Fortunately I was able to find something safer to chase away her fears when it ended...
the giraffe's rating:
4061
7.2
7.5
Re-watch - Nov. 25th
After lunch, the kiddo insisted on watching more Indiana Jones. I warned her that some parts of this one could scare her, and I was right about that. The dinner scene and of course the first Kali Ma scene freaked her out. Overall though she enjoyed it about as much as Raiders (and I was pleasantly surprised to hear her lament Willie's frequent screaming), so when it ended she was looking forward to watching The Last Crusade.
After lunch, the kiddo insisted on watching more Indiana Jones. I warned her that some parts of this one could scare her, and I was right about that. The dinner scene and of course the first Kali Ma scene freaked her out. Overall though she enjoyed it about as much as Raiders (and I was pleasantly surprised to hear her lament Willie's frequent screaming), so when it ended she was looking forward to watching The Last Crusade.
the giraffe's rating:
248
6.7
7
UHF (1989)
Re-watch - Nov. 25th
Now that the kiddo has seen Raiders I told her she could finally watch UHF (even though I knew there would be other references she'd miss, but that one's pretty essential). She laughed hysterically through most of it, and at one point turned to me & said she was going to watch it once a week from now on. We'll see if that holds or not, but I'm thrilled she loved it as much as she did. Course that's not surprising given she loves Weird Al already, but I wasn't sure how much she'd appreciate it. However often she winds up revisiting it, it'll be cool to see how her thoughts on it change as she grows up & better understands the aspects she's too young to really get yet.
Now that the kiddo has seen Raiders I told her she could finally watch UHF (even though I knew there would be other references she'd miss, but that one's pretty essential). She laughed hysterically through most of it, and at one point turned to me & said she was going to watch it once a week from now on. We'll see if that holds or not, but I'm thrilled she loved it as much as she did. Course that's not surprising given she loves Weird Al already, but I wasn't sure how much she'd appreciate it. However often she winds up revisiting it, it'll be cool to see how her thoughts on it change as she grows up & better understands the aspects she's too young to really get yet.
the giraffe's rating:
4544
7.8
8.2
Re-watch - Nov. 26th
My daughter wound up enjoying this one as well, though it's possibly her least favorite of the three. That's not too surprising though as a lot of what's going on here is more meaningful when you're an adult than when you're a kid. I know that's certainly been my experience with The Last Crusade over the years. After it ended I asked her if she were to rank the films what order they'd be in. At first she said "the scary one" was her favorite (Temple of Doom), then Raiders and then this one. When I reminded her about Willie screaming throughout Temple, however, she changed her mind & decided the first film was her favorite.
My daughter wound up enjoying this one as well, though it's possibly her least favorite of the three. That's not too surprising though as a lot of what's going on here is more meaningful when you're an adult than when you're a kid. I know that's certainly been my experience with The Last Crusade over the years. After it ended I asked her if she were to rank the films what order they'd be in. At first she said "the scary one" was her favorite (Temple of Doom), then Raiders and then this one. When I reminded her about Willie screaming throughout Temple, however, she changed her mind & decided the first film was her favorite.
the giraffe's rating:
182
6.9
7.3
First viewing - Nov. 27th
Since I won't spend any time with Prime in December I figured I'd choose from their options for anything I watched the last week of November. This film caught my attention partly because Greta Gerwig is in it and partly because when it screened here earlier this year there was a respectable offer to have all ticket sales for one weekend benefit Planned Parenthood. I think I was even at a theatre that weekend, but for a film that was a bigger priority for me.
Anyway, on the one hand this is a fairly interesting and well-acted film for the most part. You pretty much can't expect failure from this cast, and they deliver when it counts. The trouble lies with the way the story is told and framed. We're never allowed to get close enough to any of the characters for any real emotional connection, and while I have respect for Mr. Mills's previous work this time his approach works against him. I was also left with a strong feeling that he should've co-written the script with at least one other woman, or else handed his script over to a female director. I get that we're supposed to approach this story from the teenage boy's perspective, but it keeps us at a distance that might have been bridged had a woman's touch been allowed in the creative process. As it is, the whole thing is interesting enough to keep one's attention but ultimately an unfulfilling experience that I'll likely forget as time passes.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
Since I won't spend any time with Prime in December I figured I'd choose from their options for anything I watched the last week of November. This film caught my attention partly because Greta Gerwig is in it and partly because when it screened here earlier this year there was a respectable offer to have all ticket sales for one weekend benefit Planned Parenthood. I think I was even at a theatre that weekend, but for a film that was a bigger priority for me.
Anyway, on the one hand this is a fairly interesting and well-acted film for the most part. You pretty much can't expect failure from this cast, and they deliver when it counts. The trouble lies with the way the story is told and framed. We're never allowed to get close enough to any of the characters for any real emotional connection, and while I have respect for Mr. Mills's previous work this time his approach works against him. I was also left with a strong feeling that he should've co-written the script with at least one other woman, or else handed his script over to a female director. I get that we're supposed to approach this story from the teenage boy's perspective, but it keeps us at a distance that might have been bridged had a woman's touch been allowed in the creative process. As it is, the whole thing is interesting enough to keep one's attention but ultimately an unfulfilling experience that I'll likely forget as time passes.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
the giraffe's rating:
26
6.6
6.4
First viewing - Nov. 28th
Full disclosure: Landline wasn't my first choice on this particular night. I originally wanted to watch Beastmaster, but the picture was so shitty I couldn't stand to sit through it & gave up in less than 10 minutes. Funny how I never have that issue with Netflix, yet Prime occasionally has some movie I want to check out & the transfer is total crap. Anyway, after that I tried to watch Argento's Inferno but soon realized I wouldn't be able to keep up with its methodically slow pacing. I'm sure it's a fine film, but the lack of momentum was just not a good idea on a weeknight. Which finally led me to Landline, a film that was on my radar thanks to it reuniting director Gillian Robespierre and actress Jenny Slate, who previously worked together in the excellent Obvious Child.
And thankfully it was totally worth watching. It never quite reaches the heights of Obvious Child, but as a portrait of a family dealing with infidelity I thought it worked well. The cast is wonderful all around, and the story goes to some unpredictable places. There's a nice balance of humor and drama, and I was never bored with it. And the soundtrack has some excellent songs. I don't know that I'd go so far as to buy it for my collection, but I'd be willing to watch it again at some point.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
Full disclosure: Landline wasn't my first choice on this particular night. I originally wanted to watch Beastmaster, but the picture was so shitty I couldn't stand to sit through it & gave up in less than 10 minutes. Funny how I never have that issue with Netflix, yet Prime occasionally has some movie I want to check out & the transfer is total crap. Anyway, after that I tried to watch Argento's Inferno but soon realized I wouldn't be able to keep up with its methodically slow pacing. I'm sure it's a fine film, but the lack of momentum was just not a good idea on a weeknight. Which finally led me to Landline, a film that was on my radar thanks to it reuniting director Gillian Robespierre and actress Jenny Slate, who previously worked together in the excellent Obvious Child.
And thankfully it was totally worth watching. It never quite reaches the heights of Obvious Child, but as a portrait of a family dealing with infidelity I thought it worked well. The cast is wonderful all around, and the story goes to some unpredictable places. There's a nice balance of humor and drama, and I was never bored with it. And the soundtrack has some excellent songs. I don't know that I'd go so far as to buy it for my collection, but I'd be willing to watch it again at some point.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
the giraffe's rating:
2
6.5
7.5
First viewing - Nov. 30th
I had the good fortune to catch Betty Blowtorch back when they were around, though if I recall correctly it wasn't intentional. I know I saw them in a club in Dallas & loved every minute of their set, but I'm pretty sure there was one or more other bands playing the same show that I was there to see instead. I know I picked up their album, and later found out about their connection with the short-lived punk band Butt Trumpet (well, I say short-lived based on their original line-up...turns out the guy who founded the band still performs with a revolving door of musicians, though I haven't looked into it deep enough to find out if it's been any good). I also remember being heartbroken finding out they played their final show ever on my birthday as lead singer/bassist Bianca Halstead was killed in a car crash in the early morning hours after. They were a hell of a band, one of the few all-female groups that could easily go toe-to-toe with most male bands, and I'm glad I've got two albums worth of music from them to remember them by any time I miss them.
As for the documentary, I thought it was okay. The way it's put together is kind of a mess, but then so was the band so perhaps that's intentional? All I know is some scenes felt unnecessary, some questions were never deeply explored, and there's a moment or two where we're denied sharing someone's emotions due to them hiding behind sunglasses the entire time. Perhaps that was the only way they'd agree to speak on camera, but it bothered me. There are some really fun moments along the way too though, and I won't complain too much about the decision to shoot them playing entire songs instead of editing some of the songs down a little to make for a tighter film. I also learned a few things I wasn't aware of. As a fan it was worth checking out, but I also won't need to watch it again.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
I had the good fortune to catch Betty Blowtorch back when they were around, though if I recall correctly it wasn't intentional. I know I saw them in a club in Dallas & loved every minute of their set, but I'm pretty sure there was one or more other bands playing the same show that I was there to see instead. I know I picked up their album, and later found out about their connection with the short-lived punk band Butt Trumpet (well, I say short-lived based on their original line-up...turns out the guy who founded the band still performs with a revolving door of musicians, though I haven't looked into it deep enough to find out if it's been any good). I also remember being heartbroken finding out they played their final show ever on my birthday as lead singer/bassist Bianca Halstead was killed in a car crash in the early morning hours after. They were a hell of a band, one of the few all-female groups that could easily go toe-to-toe with most male bands, and I'm glad I've got two albums worth of music from them to remember them by any time I miss them.
As for the documentary, I thought it was okay. The way it's put together is kind of a mess, but then so was the band so perhaps that's intentional? All I know is some scenes felt unnecessary, some questions were never deeply explored, and there's a moment or two where we're denied sharing someone's emotions due to them hiding behind sunglasses the entire time. Perhaps that was the only way they'd agree to speak on camera, but it bothered me. There are some really fun moments along the way too though, and I won't complain too much about the decision to shoot them playing entire songs instead of editing some of the songs down a little to make for a tighter film. I also learned a few things I wasn't aware of. As a fan it was worth checking out, but I also won't need to watch it again.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime
the giraffe's rating:
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Big screen attractions
Films I caught in a theatre
135
4.8
5.7
Suburbicon (2017)
First viewing - Nov. 4th
Evidently Suburbicon is not a well-liked film, a fact I was somewhat aware of prior to buying my ticket for it & as such I lowered my expectations a bit. The trailer for the film suggested it'd be a darkly comic romp, and had my interest regardless. Add to that the fact that the script came originally from the Coens and the film was directed by Clooney, and there wasn't much chance I wouldn't see it & make up my own mind. To be fair, any time the Coens have written a script & let someone else direct it the results have been mixed to awful. But if nothing else I figured there was no way it'd be any worse than Crimewave. I was right about that last part.
Truth is though the results are somewhat mixed, but I'd argue it's not as bad as its ratings elsewhere would suggest. You could easily make a case that the whole film would've been better had the Coens kept the script for themselves, but they didn't so let's look at what we have. The cast is not at fault, as they all turn in decent performances (yes, even the child actors). There are individual scenes that work wonderfully all around, and as a whole the film is interesting. The trouble is that the film sets you up to believe you're following the stories of two families which are equally important, but fails to properly balance both & gives more weight to the wrong one. There are hints of what might have been scattered throughout the film, but it never comes together quite right. And I can't help feeling like it needs at least 45 minutes more if not another hour spent truly digging into its characters to bring it home in a powerful and satisfying way.
Reading up about the film afterward, it all makes sense that it works out the way it does. The story focused on the Lodge family was the original Coens script, and the Meyers family pieces were tacked on by Clooney & Grant Heslov. The two tales do make for an interesting contrast upon reflection, but really each family should have been given a separate film instead. And thus the film winds up being a big mess. But I didn't hate it like most of the critics seem to, as the parts that do work were entertaining enough to keep me hanging with it.
Evidently Suburbicon is not a well-liked film, a fact I was somewhat aware of prior to buying my ticket for it & as such I lowered my expectations a bit. The trailer for the film suggested it'd be a darkly comic romp, and had my interest regardless. Add to that the fact that the script came originally from the Coens and the film was directed by Clooney, and there wasn't much chance I wouldn't see it & make up my own mind. To be fair, any time the Coens have written a script & let someone else direct it the results have been mixed to awful. But if nothing else I figured there was no way it'd be any worse than Crimewave. I was right about that last part.
Truth is though the results are somewhat mixed, but I'd argue it's not as bad as its ratings elsewhere would suggest. You could easily make a case that the whole film would've been better had the Coens kept the script for themselves, but they didn't so let's look at what we have. The cast is not at fault, as they all turn in decent performances (yes, even the child actors). There are individual scenes that work wonderfully all around, and as a whole the film is interesting. The trouble is that the film sets you up to believe you're following the stories of two families which are equally important, but fails to properly balance both & gives more weight to the wrong one. There are hints of what might have been scattered throughout the film, but it never comes together quite right. And I can't help feeling like it needs at least 45 minutes more if not another hour spent truly digging into its characters to bring it home in a powerful and satisfying way.
Reading up about the film afterward, it all makes sense that it works out the way it does. The story focused on the Lodge family was the original Coens script, and the Meyers family pieces were tacked on by Clooney & Grant Heslov. The two tales do make for an interesting contrast upon reflection, but really each family should have been given a separate film instead. And thus the film winds up being a big mess. But I didn't hate it like most of the critics seem to, as the parts that do work were entertaining enough to keep me hanging with it.
the giraffe's rating:
59
5.9
6
Tragedy Girls (2017)
First viewing - Nov. 4th
My neighborhood theatre got a hold of Tragedy Girls, and I'd already planned to see it Saturday afternoon because the timing worked out better that way. Then the night before the theatre announced that Craig Robinson, who has a small role in the film and produced it, would be present to introduce the movie & do a little Q&A. His appearance was a nice bonus, and he was very cool about meeting people. I didn't have anything to talk to him about, as I can only think of a couple films I've seen him in, so I didn't bother the guy. Still, I appreciated that he showed up & have little doubt he helped ensure the crowd would be a better size than it would've been otherwise.
As for the film itself, it's a lot of fun. Tragedy Girls both pays tribute to the horror genre and puts a fresh spin on it, and the cast is good all-around. It didn't quite cross the line of greatness for me, but I would absolutely watch it again & if it spawns a sequel from the same creative team then I could be on board for it.
My neighborhood theatre got a hold of Tragedy Girls, and I'd already planned to see it Saturday afternoon because the timing worked out better that way. Then the night before the theatre announced that Craig Robinson, who has a small role in the film and produced it, would be present to introduce the movie & do a little Q&A. His appearance was a nice bonus, and he was very cool about meeting people. I didn't have anything to talk to him about, as I can only think of a couple films I've seen him in, so I didn't bother the guy. Still, I appreciated that he showed up & have little doubt he helped ensure the crowd would be a better size than it would've been otherwise.
As for the film itself, it's a lot of fun. Tragedy Girls both pays tribute to the horror genre and puts a fresh spin on it, and the cast is good all-around. It didn't quite cross the line of greatness for me, but I would absolutely watch it again & if it spawns a sequel from the same creative team then I could be on board for it.
the giraffe's rating:
81
6.7
6.7
First viewing - Nov. 4th
After dinner I returned to my neighborhood theatre to catch Takashi Miike's 100th film, which they showed the trailer for before Tragedy Girls. It's not often enough I get opportunities to see Miike's films on the big screen, and there was a decent crowd for it too. Blade of the Immortal is epic, violent as hell, super fun, and I loved it. The only thing that keeps it from earning a perfect score from me is that it runs a little longer than it probably needs to, but the time spent developing the characters and clearly communicating their motivations mostly outshined that issue.
Just a thought: Chiaki Kuriyama gets more beautiful all the time.
After dinner I returned to my neighborhood theatre to catch Takashi Miike's 100th film, which they showed the trailer for before Tragedy Girls. It's not often enough I get opportunities to see Miike's films on the big screen, and there was a decent crowd for it too. Blade of the Immortal is epic, violent as hell, super fun, and I loved it. The only thing that keeps it from earning a perfect score from me is that it runs a little longer than it probably needs to, but the time spent developing the characters and clearly communicating their motivations mostly outshined that issue.
Just a thought: Chiaki Kuriyama gets more beautiful all the time.
the giraffe's rating:
424
7.4
7
First viewing - Nov. 5th
Well, this was...interesting. The cinematography is very impressive, and for most of the run-time the story is intriguing. I felt like the film carried strong influence from Kubrick & Haneke, which has positives & negatives to it. After a while I got tired of it though & started wishing something would happen to wrap it up. The acting is fine, though I'm not a big fan of the way Lanthimos likes his actors to deliver their lines. When it ended I pretty much shrugged & walked away, not thrilled with having seen it nor regretting it either. I did wish, however, that I could've seen Thor: Ragnarok right after though, as I'm sure it would've lifted my spirits. But I promised the kiddo we'd see it together, so it would have to wait.
Well, this was...interesting. The cinematography is very impressive, and for most of the run-time the story is intriguing. I felt like the film carried strong influence from Kubrick & Haneke, which has positives & negatives to it. After a while I got tired of it though & started wishing something would happen to wrap it up. The acting is fine, though I'm not a big fan of the way Lanthimos likes his actors to deliver their lines. When it ended I pretty much shrugged & walked away, not thrilled with having seen it nor regretting it either. I did wish, however, that I could've seen Thor: Ragnarok right after though, as I'm sure it would've lifted my spirits. But I promised the kiddo we'd see it together, so it would have to wait.
the giraffe's rating:
979
6.9
7.9
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
First viewing - Nov. 11th
The kiddo and I went first thing Saturday morning to see Ragnarok, which is easily the best of Thor's solo series. It's smart, it's funny, and it's consistently entertaining. She said it's tied with both Guardians movies, and I can't argue with her about that at least in terms of quality & overall fun. I'd personally place it a little below those films though, and mostly I'm just pleased that they handed the film over to Taika Waititi and he was able to finally deliver a Thor movie I wasn't bored with. I do wish, however, that the Hulk had been left out of the promotional materials as I think the film would've played even better than it does knowing he'll show up. But clearly that move ensured more people would turn out to see it, so it doesn't surprise me Marvel took that approach. It doesn't ruin the movie per se, but had they kept his presence under wraps I think we'd all be more pleased with the film.
The kiddo and I went first thing Saturday morning to see Ragnarok, which is easily the best of Thor's solo series. It's smart, it's funny, and it's consistently entertaining. She said it's tied with both Guardians movies, and I can't argue with her about that at least in terms of quality & overall fun. I'd personally place it a little below those films though, and mostly I'm just pleased that they handed the film over to Taika Waititi and he was able to finally deliver a Thor movie I wasn't bored with. I do wish, however, that the Hulk had been left out of the promotional materials as I think the film would've played even better than it does knowing he'll show up. But clearly that move ensured more people would turn out to see it, so it doesn't surprise me Marvel took that approach. It doesn't ruin the movie per se, but had they kept his presence under wraps I think we'd all be more pleased with the film.
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