SvdW | Movies I saw for the first time in 2023
- All the movies I've seen for the first time in 2023. So every movie I watch for the first time from Sunday, January. 1, 2023 till Sunday, December. 31, 2023 counts.
- I add some "short thoughts" to every movie I watch. These are mini-reviews that will later be made into more in-depth reviews. Spoilers are tagged with the "spoiler tag".
Update Nº 4 | Sunday, December. 31, 2023:
Thank you for the views!
Update Nº 3 | Monday, December. 4, 2023:
Thank you all for the 3K views!
Update Nº 2 | Sunday, July. 16, 2023:
Thank you all for the 2K views!
Update Nº 1 | Saturday, March. 11, 2023:
Thank you all for the 1K views!
- My ranking system:
- ✮✮✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
- ✮✮✮✮/✮✮✮✮✮
- ✮✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
- ✮✮✮/✮✮✮✮✮
- ✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
- ✮✮/✮✮✮✮✮
- ✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
- ✮/✮✮✮✮✮
- ½/✮✮✮✮✮
- My favorite movies I saw for the first time in 2023 are:
1. | De helaasheid der dingen (2009)
2. | The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2013)
3. | The Wrestler (2008)
4. | The Guns of Navarone (1961)
5. | En kongelig affære (2012)
6. | Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972)
7. | The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961)
8. | The Dark Crystal (1982)
9. | Godzilla Minus One (2023)
10. | El secreto de sus ojos (2009)
- The best surprises / films that suprised me (or films I thought I would hate, but I didn't/films I had low hopes for):
- The Guns of Navarone (1961)
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
- En kongelig affære (2012)
- Gandhi (1982)
- De vuurlinie (2023)
- Rabat (2011)
- Black Butterflies (2011)
- Napoleon (2023)
- Films that disappointed me (or films I thought I would like or love, but didn't):
- Largo Winch (2008)
- Shame (2011)
- Schemer (2010)
- Mon oncle (1958)
- Centurion (2010)
- Playtime (1967)
- Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
- Looper (2012)
- Le mépris (1963)
- Hancock (2008)
- Golda (2023)
- The Killer (2023)
- Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
- Live by Night (2016)
- Thanksgiving (2023)
- Silent Night (2023)
- Passengers (2016)
- Anyone But You (2023)
- Movies I’ve watched, but unavailable on IMDb:
1. | The Power of Suggestion - Making Trance [Trance] (*) | Monday, January. 2, 2023
A documentary about the making-of Trance.
2. | Danny Boyle Retrospective | Monday, January. 2, 2023
A retrospective of Danny Boyle's filmography for Fox Searchlight Pictures.
3. | Genèse de l'histoire [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
4. | A Beaune la Rolande... [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
5. | Recréer le Vel d'Hiv [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
6. | Mélusine [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
7. | Madame et Monsieur Starzynski "L'histoire de Natasha et Arben" [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
8. | Une nuit en 1942 [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
9. | Chez les Dufaure [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
10. | Un thé avec Kristin [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
11. | Dans l'ombre d'un tournage: "La Régie" [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
12. | Dans l'ombre d'un tournage: "La cantine" [Elle s'appelait Sarah] (*) | Sunday, February. 12, 2023
13. | Shut Eye 2 | Tuesday, February. 21, 2023
A short horror film directed by Lauren Cooney and Isaac Tomiczek.
14. | Le passé: Making of [Le passé] (*) | Tuesday, February. 28, 2023
15. | Ana | Thursday, March. 16, 2023
A short film directed by Kibwe Tavares, Jonathan Gales, Factory Fifteen and Paul Nicholls.
Starring Richard Brake and Georgina Sutcliffe.
16. | The Making of Schemer [Schemer] (*) | Thursday, March. 16, 2023
17. | xVoid | Thursday, March. 23, 2023
A short film directed by Meny Hilsenrad.
18. | HIDARI (Pilot Film) | Wednesday, April. 5, 2023
A short film directed by Masashi Kawamura.
19. | Falling Apart | Thursday, April. 6, 2023
A short film directed by Thomas Hefferon and Troels J. Hundtofte.
20. | SUUNS - Arena / 2020 / Bambi (a 'FD' short live film) | Saturday, April. 8, 2023
A short concert film.
21. | Urbance | Thursday, April. 20, 2023
A short film directed by Joel dos Reis Viegas and Sebastien Larroude.
22. | Making Of Komt een vrouw bij de dokter [Komt een vrouw bij de dokter] (*) | Saturday, April. 22, 2023
23. | Beau temps, vent léger [Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot] (*) | Sunday, April. 23, 2023
24. | Tout est beau!": Des signes, des lignes, design [Mon oncle] (*) | Saturday, April. 29, 2023
25. | Je vous en prie! Asseyez vous! [Mon oncle] (*) | Saturday, April. 29, 2023
26. | Making-Of - Introductie [Rendez-vous] (*) | Saturday, May. 20, 2023
27. | Making-Of - Spanning [Rendez-vous] (*) | Saturday, May. 20, 2023
28. | The Chamber | Thursday, May. 25, 2023
A short film directed by GMUNK.
29. | Like Home [Playtime] (*) | Saturday, May. 27, 2023
30. | Trafic International [Trafic] (*) | Monday, June. 5, 2023
31. | Zillion: Behind the Beats [Zillion] (*) | Wednesday, June. 14, 2023
32. | En Piste [Parade] (*) | Wednesday, June. 14, 2023
33. | Devolver Direct: The Return of Volvy | Wednesday, July. 5, 2023
A short film directed by Joseph Pelling.
34. | Spijt! - The Making Of [Spijt!] (*) | Wednesday, July. 5, 2023
35. | The Making of Tomorrow, When the War Began [Tomorrow, When the War Began] (*) | Wednesday, July. 19, 2023
36. | Remembering the Future: A Personal Journey Through Tomorrowland with Brad Bird [Tomorrowland] (*) | Sunday, July. 23, 2023
37. | Casting Tomorrowland [Tomorrowland] (*) | Sunday, July. 23, 2023
38. | A Great Big Beautiful Scoring Session [Tomorrowland] (*) | Sunday, July. 23, 2023
39. | The World of Tomorrow Science Hour - Hosted By Futurologist David Nix | Sunday, July. 23, 2023
40. | The Origins of Plus Ultra | Sunday, July. 23, 2023
41. | Brad Bird Production Diaries [Tomorrowland] (*) | Sunday, July. 23, 2023
42. | Blast From the Past Commercial | Sunday, July. 23, 2023
43. | From the Director’s Chair - On Casting [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
44. | From the Director’s Chair - On Music [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
45. | In Search of Gandhi [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
46. | Looking Back [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
47. | Madeleine Slade: An Englishwoman Abroad [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
48. | Reflections on Ben [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
49. | Shooting an Epic in India [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
50. | Designing Gandhi - Building The Ashram [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
51. | Designing Gandhi - The Tent [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
52. | Finding Trains [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
53. | The Funeral [Gandhi] (*) | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
54. | Les Leçons du Professeur Goudet | Sunday, July. 30, 2023
55. | Animating Spirit [Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron] (*) | Thursday, August. 3, 2023
56. | The Songs of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron [Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron] (*) | Thursday, August. 3, 2023
57. | International Star Talent [Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron] (*) | Thursday, August. 3, 2023
58. | Learn to Draw Spirit with James Baxter | Thursday, August. 3, 2023
59. | Het maken van De eetclub [De eetclub] (*) | Sunday, August. 13, 2023
60. | Deleted Song Performance [Straight Outta Compton] | Monday, September. 11, 2023
61. | N.W.A. The Origins [Straight Outta Compton] (*) | Monday, September. 11, 2023
62. | Impact [Straight Outta Compton] (*) | Monday, September. 11, 2023
63. | Director's Journey [Straight Outta Compton] (*) | Monday, September. 11, 2023
64. | The Streets: Filming in Compton [Straight Outta Compton] (*) | Monday, September. 11, 2023
65. | N.W.A Performs in Detroit [Straight Outta Compton] (*) | Monday, September. 11, 2023
66. | Becoming N.W.A. [Straight Outta Compton] (*) | Monday, September. 11, 2023
67. | New Future, Old School [Looper] (*) | Sunday, September. 24, 2023
68. | The Two Joes [Looper] (*) | Sunday, September. 24, 2023
69. | De dingen der helaasheid [De helaasheid der dingen] (*) | Sunday, September. 24, 2023
70. | Patients - Candace Burns [Gothika] | Wednesday, October. 25, 2023
71. | Patients - Wanda Clinton [Gothika] | Wednesday, October. 25, 2023
72. | Patients - Jeanne Howard [Gothika] | Wednesday, October. 25, 2023
73. | The Road to Rabat [Rabat] (*) | Wednesday, October. 25, 2023
74. | James McTeigue & Larry Wachowski in Conversation [V for Vendetta] | Sunday, November. 26, 2023
75. | Natalie Portman's Audition [V for Vendetta] | Sunday, November. 26, 2023
76. | Apartheid [Black Butterflies] (*) | Wednesday, November. 29, 2023
77. | Father and Daughter [Black Butterflies] (*) | Wednesday, November. 29, 2023
78. | How Ingrid met Jack [Black Butterflies] (*) | Wednesday, November. 29, 2023
79. | Ingrid Jonker [Black Butterflies] (*) | Wednesday, November. 29, 2023
80. | Making-of Sint [Sint] (*) | Sunday, December. 10, 2023
81. | The Music of Love Actually [Love Actually] (*) | Wednesday, December. 13, 2023
82. | The Storytellers [Love Actually] (*) | Wednesday, December. 13, 2023
83. | Bringing Life to Animation [The Princess and the Frog] (*) | Wednesday, December. 27, 2023
84. | Magic in the Bayou: The Making of a Princess [The Princess and the Frog] (*) | Wednesday, December. 27, 2023
85. | The Return to Hand Drawn Animation [The Princess and the Frog] (*) | Wednesday, December. 27, 2023
86. | The Disney Legacy [The Princess and the Frog] (*) | Wednesday, December. 27, 2023
87. | Disney's Newest Princess [The Princess and the Frog] (*) | Wednesday, December. 27, 2023
88. | The Princess and the Animator [The Princess and the Frog] (*) | Wednesday, December. 27, 2023
89. | Conjuring the Villain [The Princess and the Frog] (*) | Wednesday, December. 27, 2023
90. | A Return to the Animated Musical [The Princess and the Frog] (*) | Wednesday, December. 27, 2023
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- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsJames McAvoyRosario DawsonVincent CasselAn art auctioneer mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.[Review]
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Date Watched: Sunday, January. 1, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮✮✮/✮✮✮✮✮
Favourite scene: Simon Says Strawberry
Best actor: Rosario Dawson
And we’re off with the first 2023 watch.
Man… this was a weird one!
I had known of this movie for years now, but I have never seen it somehow. I became more curious for it because it does something which almost every movie hasn’t shown [I’ll get to that later on].
Danny Boyle is a good director, but I don’t like some of his directorial flair, especially the movie he made around the late 2000s and early 2010s, and this movie has some of the same issues. It is overly energetic, too chaotic, weird (Dutch) angles, loud and overbearing music, etc.
The directing does work in some moments [nice transitioning shots, action sequences and bloody and gory moments are shot really well. I also appreciate that they used practical blood squibs/effects.
The story is all over the place though. John Hodge and Joe Ahearne’s script does work in place to deliver a mind-bending story.
My issue with the story is that I didn’t care for any of the characters. The acting is really solid from everyone involved. I didn’t care if any of them died.
And once Simon kills Franck, but it revealed he was under hypnosis and didn’t kill him, it felt cheap. And frankly, the film loses a lot of steam due to the movie constantly using this to fool you became tiring. I also didn’t like how this film is structured.
I mentioned before how this movie showed something a lot of movies don’t, and that is showing an shaven labia. Rosario Dawson is completely naked in this twice and it does work in the context of the story of the beauty in classical art Simon is an fan of. I don’t like how it got to that point though [which is an screenplay issue].
I probably need to rewatch this one to fully understand it, but for now it is a low 3 out of 5 stars. - DirectorSpencer SusserStarsMichael GovierKarolina WydraCandace HammerA man checks into a hotel and is mysteriously delivered an intriguing gift.Date Watched: Monday, January. 2, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
I wasn’t planning on watching an short film so soon this year, but this was one included on the blu-ray disc of Trance.
This was very mediocre. Michael Govier is not charismatic enough to lead something like this and while I don’t mind the idea behind the film, I don’t get the end goal here.
I get the idea of social isolation and how Eugene wants to be with an woman. I get his intensions, but Alice was in the right frame of mind too because she didn’t get what was going on.
This didn’t make me laugh much either. The talking fish made me laugh a little bit. - DirectorJérôme SalleStarsTomer SisleyKristin Scott ThomasPredrag 'Miki' ManojlovicAfter a powerful billionaire is murdered, his secret adoptive son must race to prove his legitimacy, find his father's killers, and stop them from taking over his financial empire.[Review]
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Date Watched: Tuesday, January. 3, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
Favourite scene: Jumping off an Cliff
Best actor: Tomer Sisley, I guess?
Yeah… This didn’t do it for me.
A few weeks ago I read through the first two issues [De Erfgenaam (Largo Winch #1) and Groep W (Largo Winch #2)] which were both the basis for this film adaption.
And I really liked the first one a lot, but the second one lost a bit of steam early on.
I was originally planning to watch this in the weekend, but I felt like watching an film after an annoying day of education.
I often don’t watch any films/series on normal working days because my mind is on work and I feel more tired after working.
And this proofed why I don’t (re)watch films and series on working days, because I just can’t bring myself to bring the energy required for it. And this film was an disappointment too, but enfin.
Jérôme Salle’s directing is really so-so. This was his second theatrical film and his first action film, and it really shows. There’s a lot of shaky cam during action sequences [there are some moments through where it is visible what’s happening] and annoyed me to no end.
I hate watching action films from this time because of every film trying to be what Paul Greengrass brought to the Bourne franchise, which killed action films for a while, but I digress.
The screenplay is a big mess. I haven’t seen a film like this for a long time, trying to move so quickly through its events, but not building characters up well. It also feels like a lot is missing here. And because I’m familiar with the first two issues of Largo Winch, I hate how characters and situations are changed.
Yeah, both issues aren’t the brightest bulb, but still. The two issues built on its characters and made them interesting. The film wants to introduce so many characters without introducing them.
And what’s up with the Hong Kong setting here? Why isn’t it New York? I don’t mind that some characters are left out, or added, but the villains are just weak.
And how does Largo Winch regain his knife? He left it at the Restaurant’s door!
I’m a bit split on Tomer Sisley’s performance. He does looks the part of Largo Winch [he even is more realistic to be in his late 20s, with the first two issues making him look like he’s in his 50s], but his joke-y side isn’t as strong as the comic’s counterpart.
But he is in good condition and does deliver. And he does a great job with making the different languages he speaks look easy. Kristin Scott Thomas is fine, but I cannot look at her with an straight face. The redhead wig looks awful and I don’t get why they went for that.
Predrag 'Miki' Manojlovic was the picture perfect casting for Nerio Winch and I was surprised to see Benedict Wong in an supporting role.
Alexandre Desplat won the "Soundtrack Composer of the Year World" award at the "World Soundtrack Awards", but his musical score is uneven to say the very least. I really like some of it, but there are also moments in it where it feels too much like a superhero score, or something out of a comedy. And Desplat isn’t even a bad composer, but his score underwhelmed me.
And, before I forget, I watched the English dub. There are two dubs (English and French) and the French dubs everything in French, while the English (the original?) dub has everyone speaking different languages (English, French, Serbian and Portuguese). - DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsMickey RourkeMarisa TomeiEvan Rachel WoodA faded professional wrestler must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle.[Review]
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Date Watched: Sunday, January. 8, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮✮✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮ | ♛
Favourite scene: The Final Match
Best actor: Mickey Rourke
My laptop didn’t save these "short thoughts", so I am writing them again.
I was planning to watch two films on Sunday, this and Shame. But after finishing this film I didn’t want to watch anything else.
This was so effective in making me emotionally invested. I am so glad I finally watched something for the first time again that I truly enjoyed [the 4.5/5 or 5/5 stars enjoyment I mean].
I am familiar with Darren Aronofsky’s filmography, but his films never really grabbed me. This film made me want to check out more of his work [my father watched Darren Aronofsky’s Noah one week ago, which looked terrible, but enfin].
However, I wasn’t an fan of some of the directing. This is filmed almost like an documentary, and I wasn’t an fan of the "European Editing" either. Both feel a bit distracting, but weren’t the worst either.
The screenplay made me care for Randy 'The Ram' Robinson. I even got tear-y eyed at the final few minutes because the character really was fleshed out so well and I just felt his pain.
Mickey Rourke is sublime here as Randy 'The Ram' Robinson. And like his character, he was also a bit washed out as an actor. This performance really proofed he has so much talent. He is nicely supported by others like Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood and Mark Margolis [I didn’t recognize him].
Excellent stuff. - DirectorJerónimo RochaStarsSofia HelenaFrederico AmaralCesário MonteiroTrapped inside the Space Freighter/Refinery DÉDALO, SIENA tries to survive an infestation of diabolic creatures.Date Watched: Tuesday, January. 10, 2023 | How I Watched: YouTube on TV
My laptop has some problems with saving some "short thoughts" I wrote on Word, so if these are posted a bit later, it is because of this reason.
My first watch of the ALTER shorts in 2023.
This one surprised me a lot.
This is easily inspired by the Alien franchise, but I like this with some of the same things like the female protagonist having to fend for her own life (while the rest of the crew died), etc.
I kinda predicted the final moments where Siena stabs the alien creature with the "coloured healing stuff", I however did not expect more than one creature though. I like that they don’t show what happens to her.
It is really impressive the filmmakers made the entire running time without dialogue and without it being confusing once.
My second favourite of the ALTER short films so far [ABE (or Abe) is still my personal favourite]. - DirectorMike NewellStarsHugh GrantAndie MacDowellJames FleetOver the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.[Review]
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Date Watched: Thursday, January. 12, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮✮✮/✮✮✮✮✮
Favourite scene: The Funeral
Best actor: Hugh Grant
I am gonna be frank and say I was planning to watch this as the last first time watch of 2022, but I got the blu-ray from my local library almost one week later than expected.
This is not the type of film I would watch very often, but it still disappointed me regardless. Richard Curtis delivered better work on the screenplay for Love Actually.
Hugh Grant is solid, but I thought Andie MacDowell was terrible here. She comes off as very unlikeable, and her entire performance seconds that. The rest of the cast deliver good performances.
I didn’t care for Charles to get together with Carrie. The scene that really made that clear was when she was recounting every man she slept with [about 30-ish men!]. I would’ve given the film some credit if he left her after that scene! At that point Fiona would’ve been an better love interest.
I really loved the funeral sequence. This is where the film got into gears for me, and lost me right after as well. I love how serious and emotional the film is during the funeral, with that poem from W. H. Auden. That moment really packs that emotional beat that I wanted.
A reason why I hadn’t seen this film was largely because of my parents. They had seen this film in theatres and they walked out after the second wedding sequence. I am an Christian, and so are my parents. They took offence to Rowan Atkinson’s dialogue and the scene in general. But I saw this scene and I didn’t think it was offensive at all. I actually thought Rowan Atkinson was funny and it fits in how nervous his character is to perform his first wedding. And having Atkinson being an part of your cast, his comedy should be an given. - DirectorMasaki KobayashiStarsTatsuya NakadaiMichiyo AratamaChikage AwashimaA Japanese pacifist, unable to face the dire consequences of conscientious objection, is transformed by his attempts to compromise with the demands of war-time Japan.[Review]
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Date Watched: Friday, January. 13, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
[Japanese Version]
✮✮✮✮/✮✮✮✮✮ | ♛
Favourite scene: The Executions
Best actor: Tatsuya Nakadai
For my 23rd birthday I asked for the Arrow Academy blu-ray of The Human Condition trilogy, but I got tickets for "Andrea Morricone conducts Ennio Morricone", which was an amazing experience, but enfin.
So some weeks later I decided to just buy the trilogy myself. And a few days later it arrived all the way from Malmö [from Sweden to The Netherlands]!
I am going to try and watch the trilogy this weekend.
And I was really overwhelmed by this first one. After some things in the morning, I finally sat down and watched the "Japanese Version", which is the film (204 minutes long) split up into two parts [and I believe doesn’t affect the spoken language].
Masaki Kobayashi’s directing is really good. I did have some issues regarding the sound editing. In several scenes the sound of an recording film camera [I believe?] is heard, or some sequences don’t have sound [slaps, the sound of an electric fence, etc.], which is an shame because it held me back from being immersed more.
I also like how ballsy this film can be at points. The Chinese POWs run like zombies towards food, prostitutes being send to the Chinese POWs and the involvement of the Japanese and the main character.
Definitely curious for the rest of the trilogy, although I have to admit I am too overwhelmed to watch anything else after this one. - DirectorMasaki KobayashiStarsTatsuya NakadaiMichiyo AratamaKokinji KatsuraAs a conscript in war-time Japan's military, a pacifist struggles to maintain his determination to keep his ideals.[Review]
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Date Watched: Saturday, January. 14, 2023 | Continued and Finished Sunday, January. 15, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
[Japanese Version]
✮✮✮✮/✮✮✮✮✮ | ♛
Favourite scene: The Japanese Against the Soviet Army
Best actor: Tatsuya Nakadai
Because I was quite busy this Saturday, I decided to only watch the first part, and the second part the day after [The Japanese Version is this film split up in two parts].
I might actually like this a bit more than the first film. It has some of the same issues as the first has [the sound issue (which I mentioned in my "short thoughts" for the first film), among other things], I really found the final 20-ish minutes to be very intense.
The final 20-ish minutes are very tense because we now see the Japanese fighting the Soviet Army. Masaki Kobayashi directs the action and the entire set piece really well.
The plot holes here are a bit crazy. The first film had some plot convenience with the Chinese POWs being able to successfully revolt by shouting, this film had more issues with the plot. Kaji and some other character both pull the pin from their grenade, only to not throw it? The grenades should’ve exploded a few seconds later. And the Soviet Army shoots at the Japanese, but they don’t notice Kaji and shoot at him in the last minute? And Kaji and another character went mad really quickly, don’t they?
Because it took a bit longer to watch this, I won’t be able to the third and final film in this trilogy until the next weekend. I am even thinking of not watching any (short) films before I have watched and finished the third film. - DirectorMasaki KobayashiStarsTatsuya NakadaiMichiyo AratamaTamao NakamuraHis ideals challenged by life as a conscript in war-time Japan's military, a pacifist faces ever greater tests in his fight for survival.[Review]
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Date Watched: Friday, January. 20, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
[Japanese Version]
✮✮✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮ | ♛
Favourite scene: Left Behind
Best actor: Tatsuya Nakadai
Yes, I know that I waited five days to finish this trilogy (and I watched nothing during it), but I finally watched the third and final film of the trilogy, and boy this one is my favourite out of the bunch.
I had some issues with the first two films with some plot holes and sound issues, but this film does fix most of those problems.
This does make me wonder what happened to the Japanese soldiers who were still alive at the end of the second film. I believe the soldiers alongside Kaji aren’t the same ones we saw in the second film.
I do still have some issues with the editing. Some of it is quite janky. I do think this has the best soundtrack out of the trilogy, especially the first act. And like the first two films, the film has some scenes where sounds aren’t added, although here it is less of an issue. And the sound of the recording camera is almost not hearable, so I’m good.
This was easily the most violent out of the trilogy. Things like a stab wound, a man’s intestines, blood, etc.
Man, the final few minutes of this film really broke me. To see Kaji slowly dying was hard to watch. I was really rooting for him to survive, but alas. This is one of the only times killing the main character worked in the films advantage. - DirectorDiane MichelleStarsJoseph KathreinAthena Isabel LebessisPenelope PiccirilliAfter a young couple puts their daughter to sleep, a paranoid mother starts to believe something else is in her daughter's room.Date Watched: Friday, January. 20, 2023 | How I Watched: YouTube on TV
I wanted to keep up with watching the short films on the ALTER YouTube channel, so before cleaning and hours after watching The Human Condition III: A Soldier’s Prayer I decided to watch this.
I didn’t like this one much, but it has some great elements. The acting is pretty weak, but the performance from Penelope Piccirilli is excellent. One thing that really is solid from most ALTER short films is that the child actors are always really good.
I like that didn’t really go for jump scares, but the scene where Carrie gets dragged under the bed(?) is really predicable and such low hanging fruit [with the sound being way louder than it should be]. And really, of course it is low hanging fruit too that William is the monster and he is obviously the enemy of the piece when we see him slap his wife’s buttocks [I can already sense some misandrist comments]. - DirectorSteve McQueenStarsMichael FassbenderCarey MulliganJames Badge DaleA nymphomaniac's carefully cultivated private life falls apart after his sister arrives for an indefinite stay.[Review]
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Date Watched: Sunday, January. 22, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
Favourite scene: Following Her through the Crowded Subway
Best actor: Michael Fassbender
I had placed this on my watchlist for December 2022 for an Challenge on Letterboxd, but I replaced this film by Nobody, and then I wanted to both The Wrestler and this film, but I was overwhelmed after watching The Wrestler, so this film wasn’t on my schedule yet.
But enfin. I needed to return the blu-ray back to the library, so I finally watched it.
And I was left severely disappointed by the film.
I do want Steve McQueen’s filmography to watch more of his films. His directing isn’t bad, but it feels a bit too distanced for my liking.
Michael Fassbender does an superb job as the lead. But I do have some issues with the screenplay. Why should I care for his character? I get that his performance is great, but I feel no reason to care when he’s on screen. And because he’s in it a large bunch, why should I care for it again?
At first I was annoyed by the ending, but I do get what they’re going for when showing Brandon looks at the woman on the subway train. She wears an wedding ring. In one of Brandon’s monologues to Sissy he tells her she slept with an married man, and the ending shows the protagonist losing all morals and ideals [of what was left though] to what he said before.
What annoys me about the ending is that nothing seems resolved at the end. Its distanced directing and screenplay really made this an one-time viewing only. - DirectorJason KupferStarsJordan Woods-RobinsonRicky WayneLarry BukoveyA pair of home invaders consider their potential character choices just prior to their planned invasion.Date Watched: Tuesday, January. 24, 2023 | How I Watched: YouTube on TV
I felt like watching something short during working at home, I put this on and I really liked it!
The twist really surprised me. I was thinking that the two invaders were going to be successful in their mission, but this turns really funny when one of the two invaders gets stabbed with an household item, and he’s bleeding like crazy. I also like how the other invader gets into trouble due to his partner(?) and by his own mistakes.
I hope ALTER brings more of this. - DirectorKim Ji-hoonStarsKim Sang-kyungSul Kyung-guSon Ye-jinA Christmas Eve party at a luxury residential building takes a horrific turn when a fire breaks out.[Review]
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Date Watched: Sunday, January. 29, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
Favourite scene: The Christmas Party
Best actor: Sol Kyung-gu
I don’t know how I discovered this film, only I know that I saw that I could rent the blu-ray from my local library and I placed it on this year’s ACTIONx52 Challenge (on Letterboxd) to finally watch it.
South Korean cinema haven’t really clicked with me. I really liked Oldboy, but I haven’t seen it since 2017 [and knowing the plot twist I don’t know if I can rewatch it!]. But other films like Parasite, I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK, The Handmaiden and Decision to Leave did (almost) nothing for me. They are well made films, but I don’t love them like others do.
This has the makings to be really bad, but when it got into gear, it became highly engrossing.
With disaster films comes the (high) possibility of CGI, as is the case here. I didn’t mind some of it, but other times it looks a bit off and removed my immersion too.
I can’t talk about the disaster portion without spoilers. I like the scene where people go into an elevator and the effects of them (almost) stuck to the elevator door. It is stupid that characters do this, of course, but I like the visual side of it.
There’s certain leaps in logic when watching an film like this. There’s the issue of both towers collapsing, only to show it happening to one of them. Or when Seo Yoon-hee (and others) are meant to die [powerful scene too!], only for them to be alive minutes later.
What I really like is that I grew to really care for most characters. And the breakneck pace during the action makes it all the more intense.
I mentioned how this could’ve really been an bad film, and that’s because of the few half hour or so. Characters act like they’re in an unfunny comedy, like the crying/bonding scene, or the naked fireman scene. These scenes had me worried. When the fire breaks out it became an much better film, but the scenes where Sergeant Oh Byung-Man is seen by some to be an (divine) saviour were highly cringe and added nothing to the story.
Not bad.Note: Monday, February. 6, 2023: I got something wrong when talking about that elevator sequence. I watched that sequence again, and now I changed some of the text because I wasn’t in the right.
- DirectorsSteffen HaarsFlip Van der KuilStarsSylvia HoeksHuub SmitJennifer HoffmanTwo brothers have their friendship put to the test when they both fall in love with the same girl.[Review]
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Date Watched: Sunday, January. 29, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
Favourite scene: The Proposal
Best actor: Raymond Thiry
While walking in the woods I got an idea to watch The Tower [hours before watching it] and this film to get catch up with some films(*).
I was in the mood for an stupid comedy. It did deliver in that regard, but my enjoyment level wasn’t there.
Tim Haars was okay here, but he is only okay in small doses. Sylvia Hoeks isn’t bad, but she seems lost. Daniël Arends wasn’t that good and Henry van Loon became real annoying after an short while.
This film makes fun of everyone [race, sex(ism), disabilities, etc.], but it only got a couple of laughs out of me. I didn’t mind the idea behind an rom-com which has one of the main characters dealing with an porn addiction. This was really interesting to me, but the plot line gets ruined when Suzanne asks René to marry her. This wasn’t built up well.
I don’t mind the video store setting either, but I just don’t believe nobody sees an Luger lying on the floor.
This film "tries" to make an case that First Blood is "so bad, it’s good", but I fully disagree with that. There’s an reason why that film is considered an classic, and it ain’t because of "corny dialogue".
Not enough Raymond Thiry.
(*) = I watched this a bit too late in the evening. I couldn’t turn the volume up too much because of my parents. - DirectorDaniel Stellan KendrickStarsCourtney GainsCaige CoulterZoë Simpson DeanAfter mom gets hacked to pieces by her latest lover, a devout child fights to escape the same fate.Date Watched: Tuesday, January. 31, 2023 | How I Watched: YouTube on TV
This was another weekly ALTER watch.
This was above average.
The child acting (courtesy of Caige Coulter) is fantastic, but the short films on the ALTER YouTube channel have had great child acting when they are featured.
I was expecting the villain was Satan/the Devil, but alas it ain’t. I don’t really believe the Cross being this loose on one side of the wall and it magically returning to the original place seconds later.
I don’t get the whole story either. Gracie’s mom gets murdered, and Gracie will be too (although it isn’t shown though). It feels like there isn’t much more depth that this simple premise, which could be much more. - DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsDavid NivenGregory PeckAnthony QuinnA team of Allied saboteurs is assigned an impossible mission: infiltrate an impregnable Nazi-held Greek island and destroy the two enormous long-range field guns that prevent the rescue of 2,000 trapped British soldiers.[Review]
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Date Watched: Friday, February. 3, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮✮✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮ | ♛
Favourite scene: Going Up the Mountains
Best actor: Gregory Peck
This was a long time coming. I finally watched this film!
But first some backstory. I loved Where Eagles Dare so much, but The Guns of Navarone is mentioned by many to be an inferior film when talking about Alistair MacLean’s film adaptions.
I bought the DVD back in 2019 or 2020, but I never watched it. But then I placed it upon this year’s ACTIONx52 Challenge to finally sit down and watch it.
But problems arose soon. I tried renting the blu-ray from my local library, but the copy never was found. Some weeks later however the copy was finally available for me to rent.
I really loved this film. Where Eagles Dare is mentioned often as an comparison, but I won’t do that in these "short thoughts", because this stands on its own two feet.
Gregory Peck is such an charismatic leading man for this, and I like the supporting actors as well. People like David Niven, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Baker, Anthony Quayle, James Darren, Irene Papas, Gia Scala and Richard Harris.
I got surprisingly really invested into the story. The first few minutes I wasn’t really feeling the film yet.
But after the laundry boy scene the film got really interesting I also like the usage of Maria Pappadimos and Anna. And when it is revealed Anna was an spy and an traitor, the film really builds the suspense well too.
The version I watched was 156 minutes. I don’t know why this version is two minutes shorter [I believe the 4K UHD version has the same running time as the blu-ray I watched], I didn’t really feel the running time too much.
Really surprised by it! - DirectorCatherine HardwickeStarsKristen StewartRobert PattinsonBilly BurkeWhen Bella Swan moves to a small town in the Pacific Northwest, she falls in love with Edward Cullen, a mysterious classmate who reveals himself to be a 108-year-old vampire.[Review]
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Date Watched: Sunday, February. 5, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
Favourite scene: I don't know
Best actor: Robert Pattinson
This was an watch I wasn’t really looking forward to. I was ready to never watch it, but then I joined an Letterboxd Challenge (The {Todd} 10,000 Followers Scavenger Hunt Spectacular) which asked to "Watch a Twilight film you haven't seen or any film that could be considered an paranormal teen romance. Use your imagination but here's a list with some ideas".
I went into this with an open mind. I know Twilight for its reputation(*), memes, etc. Either people love or hate the film and I watched to give it a fair shot.
But enfin, I am not an fan of this film.
Catherine Hardwicke’s directing is a real mixed bag. She brings some style and flair to the directing side of things, but it doesn’t really gel together well. 50% of the film is directing fine enough, but there are also scenes that feel like a low budget student film, or an 2000s Gothic music video. I do appreciate the makers not going for jump scares [especially because this an PG-13 affair], but the directing is just not that good.
I don’t mind Kristen Stewart as an actress, but her performance here is not that good. And the same can be said for Robert Pattinson. And I knew I recognized Anna Kendrick when I saw her on screen [didn’t know her name when watching though]. The acting from everyone is very bad.
And when the end credits appeared, I was shocked to see that Carter Burwell did the musical score. He’s an underrated composer, but his work here is instantly forgettable. This film also boosts some awful pop music, which made me not want to remember my good childhood during the 2000s [man, the music during that time was terrible – still is!].
This film tries to make new rules for Vampire lore, but I am not an fan of this (at all). Instead of being burned by sunlight, their skin radiates. They’re fine with garlic or onions, or their reflection is visible in an mirror. I would be fine with this, but breaking established Vampire lore should be treated more carefully.
Still a better love story than… oh wait.
(*) = When I was in elementary, I know for a fact that one of the teachers had one of the (Dutch translated) books of Twilight in the class room. I did remember this right now, although I’m questioning why she had that book in class? - DirectorSteven McCarthyStarsSteven McCarthyAlyx MeloneSandra ForsellA man races to find shelter in a roadside motel so he can take the necessary steps to feed his companion's addiction.Date Watched: Tuesday, February. 7, 2023 | How I Watched: YouTube on TV
And here is another weekly ALTER (short film) watch.
This has me confused by its premise and how I would rank this.
I didn’t like this one a lot, but I found it to be above average, but still ranks above some other ALTER short films.
Steven McCarthy, Alyx Melone and Sandra Forsell all did well with their performances. This is a pretty wordless piece and yet it is really well acted by their facial emotions.
I had no idea what this was about, even when I finished the short film. This doesn’t really explain its story to the audience. And what happened the woman’s body? We see her blood sprayed all over the bathroom, but we never get to see her.
There’s some nice practical blood effects too. But I am not an fan of this genre of horror and I think I would’ve liked this more if it was more psychologically driven. - DirectorTyson Wade JohnstonStarsJustin ZacharySusanna EricssonIndie DesRochesSet in Los Angeles City, 2057, an outlaw is captured and sentenced to a penal colony on the moon (à la Australia). To reunite with his family, he must become the first convict to escape the corrupt prison system and return to earth.Date Watched: Thursday, February. 9, 2023 | How I Watched: YouTube on TV
I found out recently that the DUST YouTube channel is an thing. It is the ALTER YouTube channel but for Science Fiction short films.
This was a weird one. It has a lot of good going for it, but there’s too much going on for a mere seven minutes.
The CGI effects aren’t the best, but I will give it leeway because of its limited budget.
There’s too much going on. It shows the convict with his wife and the baby, him trying to escape(?) and getting caught. But there’s also him escaping the moon prison and crashing back to the city. This needs more time to fully tell its story.
The IMDb description cracked me up. It says and I quote: "Set in Los Angeles City, 2057, an outlaw is captured and sentenced to a penal colony on the moon (à la Australia)". What has this entire short film have to do with Australia? If we were talking about the Covid quarantine compound, then I would get it. - DirectorDavid CageStarsValorie CurryTercelin KirtleyHanako DanjoKara is a visually stunning and emotional PS3 technology which is here "represented" by a female android who becomes self conscious.Date Watched: Friday, February. 10, 2023 | How I Watched: YouTube on TV
I somehow taught of this short film / tech demo for some reason.
I had seen some parts of it, but was my first time watching [I believe] it completely.
I know this was the basis for Detroit: Become Human, but I’ve only played one part of that video game [at an friend’s house].
I did really think this was effective short film.
I like Science Fiction based on androids becoming self-conscious. Valorie Curry’s voice is just right and you feel her pain.
The CGI rendering isn’t my cup of tea, but I don’t mind it much here, because this is an tech demo after all.
You can watch this short film here! - DirectorsRuben SmitMark VerkerkStarHarry PiekemaAnimal life in the nature reserve Oostvaardersplassen in the Netherlands during four seasons.[Review]
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Date Watched: Friday, February. 10, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
I felt like watching this because I do like nature documentaries.
This was an solid film, although the blu-ray doesn’t have the best quality transfer(*) when moving shots are shown.
I had seen some criticism about Harry Piekema’s voice over work as the narrator, but I thought he was fine. I do also like the line delivery.
There’s some humanizing of the animals that I am not the biggest on. It isn’t the worst, but I would’ve been better off with less of that.
(*) = IMDb mentions this film is 97 minutes, but the blu-ray is 101 minutes [102 minutes if rounded out]. - DirectorGilles Paquet-BrennerStarsKristin Scott ThomasMélusine MayanceNiels ArestrupIn modern-day Paris, a journalist finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in 1942.[Review]
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Date Watched: Friday, February. 10, 2023 | How I Watched: blu-ray on PlayStation 3
✮✮✮½/✮✮✮✮✮
Favourite scene: Opening the Closet
Best actor: Mélusine Mayance
I can already tell this is going to be a hard one to write "short thoughts" for. A few weeks ago I finally finished the Dutch translated version of Tatiana De Rosnay’s Elle s'appelait Sarah [after months and months of reading it], but the book disappointed me severely.
It has me questioning if I should even go on with reading or just quit it altogether. My review for the book is up here.
But enfin, this film was a slight improvement over the original source material, but just barely. It has some of the flaws and mistakes.
The directing is really good. Despite some scenes being a bit too up-close and wonky looking [I don’t like the look of modern buildings here], the director did a good job.
Where this really falters is with its screenplay. They [I mean the screenwriters] luckily cut the misandry from the source out of the script, but they still focused a bit too much on Julia Jarmond, when the focus should be on Sarah’s storyline and Julia looking into Sarah. It is also unclear here why Julia visits William Rainsferd. In the book it is explained [although it is still wonky too], it feels rushed.
I do think the film got me more emotionally invested. The entirety of Sarah’s story [safe for her suicide car bit] was really powerful, but when it focuses on Julia Jarmond’s story arc it becomes an bore. The ending is an nothing burger too. I don’t buy that Julia would call her new born Sarah. It comes as bad faith and honestly is a real weird move.
Kristin Scott Thomas is quite good. Her French accent is great, but I don’t buy her American one. She comes off as an Brit trying her hardest not to sound British, but alas. Mélusine Mayance really delivered one of the best child acting performances I’ve seen so far. It is a shame she didn’t go on to bigger things.
There’s a case to be made with her character in this film growing up quite quickly, which the book made clear she did over a short while, this isn’t her fault though. The acting especially when Sarah sees Michel dead in the closet is just heart breaking. Mayance’s performance should be the standard.
A low 3½/5 stars. - DirectorsPeter LordDavid SproxtonA door-to-door salesman tries to use the gift of the gab to sell an elderly couple things they don't really need.Date Watched: Saturday, February. 11, 2023 | How I Watched: YouTube on TV
I am trying to watch some more Aardman (short) films and other stop motion animation this year.
This is another weekly Aardman short film.
I am not feeling the Animated Conversations shorts yet. Down and Out and this one aren’t the most exciting.
The stop motion animation is great. The voice work isn’t bad, but I don’t like how they added background noise. This distracts a lot and I already have trouble with thick accents to begin with!
Hopefully the rest of my Aardman watches will be better…
