Movies/Series I've Watched, Enjoyed and Appreciated Recently 🎥🎬
► What movies have You enjoyed recently? ❔
I've been chugging happily through my assortment of DVD movies lately.
October 2024
⭐ Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) with Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone is a Martin Scorsese epic detailing injustice. It's a long (the pacing is deliberate) but rewarding watch.
⭐ As I've said, "Any film that leaves a strong emotional response/impression is a sign of good moviemaking". That's this film for me: Civil War (2024) with Kirsten Dunst and Wagner Moura. It's a hyper-realistic dystopian thriller involving the role of photojournalism in the front line. I don't normally watch movies like this, but this explores great character studies. Not for the faint-hearted.
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ I finally watched the classic/iconic anti-war masterpiece directed by Stanley Kubrick, Paths of Glory (1957), with Kirk Douglas. I'd never managed to watch it before. Great cinematic masterpiece highlighting the futility of war and military justice.
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
August-September 2024
Operation Mincemeat (2021) with Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen is good standard-fare WW2 drama.
⭐ Paddington 2 (2017) is a great 'it just feels good' movie.
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐+
⭐ Inside Out 2 (2024) is the latest glorious Pixar installation. Great story, characters, art, etc etc... even great quotes. Truly memorable.
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐+
The Secret of NIMH (1982) is a beautifully old-school hand-animated fantasy adventure film, although it didn't quite go where I thought it might. Still a worthy watch for the animation.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2002) - fun Choen Brothers folk comedy
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐+
I watched one of the worst movies of all time, just for the fun of it. Maniac (1932) is a b/w sci-fi horror thing that's so bad it's good!
⭐ Singin' in the Rain (1952) - classic Hollywood entertainment. Read my blog post about my joyous experience.
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐+
Dogville (2003) is a fascinating 'experimental' parable film, made on a stage with minimal staging, with a glorious ensemble cast.
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐+
⭐ I've enjoyed rewatching this fun Pixar flick [no pun intended]: A Bug's Life (1998).
June-July 2024
⭐ I rewatched this masterpiece:
- All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) - Felix Kammerer
- Great acting and cinematography; a tough but rewarding watch 💥
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐+
⭐ I rewatched the magnificent visual spectacle of The Fall (2006) yet again. Fantasy adventure... if you haven't: see it. This is A1 cinema. Enjoy.
Me: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
⭐ The Last Duel (2021) is a brilliant historical drama with great acting.
Me: 4-1/2 / 5: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
⭐ Make sure you watch The Promised Land (The Bastard) (2023). "Just do it!"
Me: 4-1/2 / 5: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
⭐ Michael Jackson: This Is It (2009): I finally got around to watching this fascinating insight into a great performer - and it was only rehearsals! What a great band he put together.
Me: 4 / 5: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Proxima (2019) is a brilliant film about the conflicted life of a trainee astronaut and mother.
Me; 4 / 5: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Carnage (2011): a great film of a great play, with great acting about parents overreacting.
Me: 4 / 5: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Her (2013) is a great insight into romantic relationships with AI; great acting and atmosphere.
Me: 4 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Death of Stalin (2017) is a surprisingly great absurdist comedy. I love re-watching this.
Me: 4 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) is a silly yet enjoyable film.
Me: 3-1/2 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐ +
I finally caught up and greatly enjoyed the nasty black comedy In Bruges (2008).
Me: 3-1/2 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐ +
I enjoyed Pixar's Luca (2021) more than I thought I would.
Me: 3-1/2 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐ +
Rewatching Pixar's Brave (2012) is always an enjoyable time
Me: 3-1/2 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐ +
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) - rewatched this entertaining biopic of Queen.
Me: 3-1/2 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐ +
Ray (2004) - rewatched an episodic biopic about Ray Charles.
Me: 3-1/2 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐ +
I've always enjoyed the Beatlesque Yesterday (2019).
Me: 3-1/2 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐ +
Triangle of Sadness (2022) is an undercooked satirical comedy about absolutely horrible people: the uber-rich.
Me: 3 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐
Onward (2020) was standard Pixar light fluff.
Me: 3 / 5: ⭐⭐⭐
I tried watching Grey Gardens (2009), but couldn't finish it: too depressing.
- ⭐ I discovered this a-maze-ing Norwegian documentary, "The Painter and the Thief" (2020), where artist, subject, art and life intersect powerfully. Outstanding.
- Me: 4 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- I enjoyed 2021's "Don't Look Up" political satire of modern life. All-star cast.
- Me: 3-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐ +
- ⭐ I rewatched the magnificent visual spectacle of "The Fall" (2006) yet again. Fantasy adventure... if you haven't: see it. This is A1 cinema. Enjoy.
- Me: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
March - May 2024
- After some serious drama (below), it was time for some fun silly fluffy entertainment:
- "Team America - World Police" (2004) is a silly fun satire using Thunderbird-style marionettes in some seriously absurd situations. Great mindless dribble.
- Me: 2-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐ +
- Then I had a good Disney time, revisiting the magical delight of "Moana" (2016).
- Me: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐+
- After watching "Wolf Hall" (below), I thought to rewatch the series "The Tudors" (2007-2010) over May.
- It's a TV-ized version of the life of King Henry VIII. Good TV, but not history. Good acting, costumes etc. But yeah... the actual history seems (to me) far more entertaining than some of the inventions they've created here.
- Oh yes, King Henry was a complex bastard, surrounded my so many people with various agendas. Sheesh.
- Me: 2-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐+
- ⭐ I've just rewatched the 2015 6-part TV Series "Wolf Hall". Based on the viewpoint of Thomas Cromwell's service to both Cardinal Wolsey and then England's King Henry VIII in the 16th century.
- I love Mark Rylance's understand acting, and the great arrogance of Damian Lewis' portrayal of a petty and bi-polar King Henry.
- I enjoy these historical-type dramas.
- Me: 4 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- ⭐ I rewatched the terrifyingly-excellent TV Mini Series "Chernobyl" (2019) again. "Terrifying" as whilst this is very accurate and graphic, in reality: IT WAS FAR WORSE!
- This is a must-see: great acting, storytelling, direction, cinematography etc etc.
- Me: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
- ⭐ Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) (Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis) is a gorgeous absurdist surreal philosophical comedy-drama I just enjoyed. An Academy Award winner (deservedly)... beware of the Bagel [laffs]."Do yourself a favour" [grins]Me: 4-1/2 out of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
- Girls' Last Tour (2017) (English dub) Anime directed by Takaharu Ozaki
- Read my Blogpost about it
- Rated: 2.5/5 ⭐⭐+
- 💥 Constantine (2005) - Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz
- Wow, just wow. I'd heard a lot about it, and it was worth it. Not one of those goofy Superhero movies at all; great acting, atmosphere, characters, story; thought-provoking stuff, for sure.
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 💥 Contact (1997) - Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey
- Another flick I had in my DVD folders that I pulled out randomly, having not watched it as yet. Totally unexpected how good I found it.
- LOVED IT! Great story, acting, direction, atmosphere, characters.
- Science v Faith? Are they compatible?
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐+
- Road to Perdition (2002) - Tom Hanks, Paul Newman
- Fascinating graphic crime movie about fatherhood, and the consequences of crime. Great acting, great atmospheres and cinematography. Although I rarely watch things like this, I enjoyed it.
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Beetlejuice (1988) - Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton
- Classic fun silly dark comedy horror, perfect Tim Burton flick. I'd watched it years ago, and it'd been on my 're-watch list' for ages... so I did, and muchly enjoyed.
- The Dinner Scene is worth the price of admission alone.
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐+
- The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) - Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels
- A fascinating (altho deliberately hammily-acted) film about the fantasy of the cinema, the allure of the fictions it portrays and about distinguishing real dreams from false dreams.
- It didn't quite 'do it' for me, but I wholly appreciate what Woody was trying to do.
- Me: 2.5/5 ⭐⭐+
January-February 2024
- The Good Place (Series; 53 Episodes) (2016-2020) – Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, Ted Danson, D'Arcy Carden
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- I’ve been re-watching a few episodes a day over this month, even though I watched it a few years ago – I love it, despite its flaws. I adore its originality, writing, acting, setting, and tone, and their exploration and creative use of ethics and philosophy. And great characters... and some very fun very silly moments!
- I mean, dayum… how can I become so emotionally attached to fictional characters, that I always cry at the end? To me, that is the mark of good writing.
- 28 Days Later (2002) - Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris
- An updated attempt at a "Day of the Triffids" apocalyptic zombie horror thing; not my cup of tea (I've never been into horror/zombie etc flicks; just thought I'd give this one a go all the same), but there some beautiful poetic shots of water falling and a deceased London.
- Me: 2.5/5 ⭐⭐+
- The Zone of Interest (2023) - Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller
- An icy-cold dispassionate domestic look at life outside of Auschwitz; somehow it displays the entire "Banality of Evil" around this atrocious time in history. Brilliantly done, but still very unsettling; definitely not for everyone.
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 💥 Soul (2020) - Pixar 💥
- I enjoyed rewatching this GREAT classic Pixar story about passion; great characters, animation, awesome jazz; highly recommend this one.
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Encanto (2021) - Disney (Prod.)
- Cute fun soppy animated Disney fare, with a lot of songs
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
- 💥 The Lobster (2015) - Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz 💥
- I rewatched this after seeing it for the first time a few years ago... still a remarkable experience.
- Note: it's definitely not a film for everyone, but it's so bizarre (in a good way[?]) that I love it.
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- "The Lobster" is an offbeat absurdist surreal deadpan dark comedy drama film that explores human behavior and relationships, touching on topics like social pressure and conformity, made with a dynamic artistic quality.
- Basic Premise: It is set in a dystopian near-future society where being single is prohibited... a world in which love is mandatory, and people who don’t find a match are turned into animals.
- The film's satirical style presents a world that seems absurd and irrational, while also making it believable for the audience.
- A really great way to explain this wonderful albeit bizarre film: https://gamerant.com/the-lobster-ending-explained/
- 💥 Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) - John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Disney (Prod.) 💥
- I rewatched some great fun enjoyable Disney animated entertainment, with enough emotional highs, lows and Disney references to be swallowed by a whale... [lol]
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 💥 The Prestige (2006) - Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale 💥
- Great acting and atmosphere; magic, magicians, rivalry, mystery
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐+
- Napoleon (2023) - Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby
- Spectacular historical sweeping epic, but didn't quite 'do it' for me... too much swept over I think.
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
October-November 2023
- 💥 Oppenheimer (2023) - Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt 💥
- Awesome exploration of a very human unique individual
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
- Biosphere (2022) - Sterling K. Brown, Mark Duplass
- sci-fi comedy, that started well, but went somewhere I was NOT expecting, and I didn't finish watching it.
- Isle of Dogs (2018) - Wes Anderson (Dir.)
- Enjoyable animated adventure
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
August 2023
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) - Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
- Good old-fashioned suspend-belief Indiana Jones rollicking adventure fun.
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ +
- Primer (2004) - Shane Carruth, David Sullivan
- Fascinating concept of the problems associated with time travel
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
- Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) - Werner Herzog (Director)
- Absolutely amazing exploration of recently-discovered prehistoric Cave Art; some of them resemble (to me) Picasso!
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ +
- Rango (2011) - Johnny Depp
- Great fun animation; a fun rewatch laying in bed
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 2023
- Meeting The Beatles in India (2020) - Paul Saltzman
- Interesting personal documentary when four individuals were trying to find some personal answers.
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ +
- Made In Abyss (2023) - Chapters 61-65
- WOW! Just wow!
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
- Updated Manga (to Chapter 65)
- Animated Magna with Music
May 2023
- Stranger Than Fiction (2006) - Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Emma Thompson
- Wonderfully-restrained performance from Ferrel, and Emma Thompsons' performance is STUNNING in this comedy/drama 'fiction?'
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The World's End (2013) - Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
- fun silliness
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
- Sisu (2023) - Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie
- WW2 action lust over gold with a definite Tarantino gore ethos (NB. I'm not normally interested in this kind of stuff, but this is brilliantly directed, acted, and atmospheric, albeit a bit of a silly plot, but that's OK!)
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Shaun of the Dead (2004) - Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield
- Zombie comedy - didn't meet my expectations tbh
- Me: 2/5 ⭐⭐
- Paul (2011) - Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
- Fun silly alien 'road movie' comedy
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
- Renfield (2023) - Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage
- Fun silly Dracula nonsense, with a Tarantino splatter aesthetic...
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ +
- Absolutely Anything (2015) - Simon Pegg, Kate Beckinsale
- Fun silliness with a Python connection
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
- Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) - Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone
- Just some light silly fluff to blow away some impending blues
- Me: 2.5/5 ⭐⭐ +
- The Beatles; Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (2016) - Ron Howard (Dir.)
- I needed a Beatles hit to drive away some impending blues - did the trick!
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ +
January-April 2023
- Mummies (2023) - Joe Thomas, Eleanor Tomlinson
- Cute animated light entertainment
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ +
- I started watching "Idiocracy" (2006), but turned it off after c.30 minutes. Absolute rubbish. The concept is HIGHLY contemporarily relevant, tho...
- The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) - Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, John Hawkes, Zack Gottsagen
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
- 💥 The French Dispatch (2021) - Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton 💥
- Brilliantly funny yet so quirky - love it! If you enjoyed "The Grand Budapest Hotel", you'll appreciate this, I assure you.
- Me: 4.5/5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
- The Summit of the Gods (2021) - Patrick Imbert (Prod.)
- Great animation; together with "Fall" (below), this does nothing to dispel my fear of heights [laffs].
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ +
- Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) - Ewan McGregor, David Bradley
- Great animation, exploring a different version of what we grew up with
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ +
- Treasure Planet (2002) - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brian Murray, Emma Thompson (Disney)
- Classic Disney hand-drawn animation
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Big Eyes (2014) - Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Tim Burton (Dir.)
- Who owns what? Possibly miscast imho...
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
- Fall (2022) - Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner
- I don't like heights as it is! Good 'climbing' suspense
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 💥 Close (2022) - Eden Dambrine, Gustav de Waele 💥
- Wow... just wow!! Powerfully emotive, then there's the 'cinema'...
- Me: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- My Blogpost 💥
- 💥 Babylon (2022) - Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva 💥
- A spectacular movie about making movies in the 1920's
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ +
- 💥 All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) - Felix Kammerer
- Great acting and cinematography; a tough but rewarding watch 💥
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐+
- 💥 The U.S. and The Holocaust (2022) 💥
- Me: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- My Blogpost 💥
- 💥 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) 💥
- The 'Big Bad Wolf' is scarily awesome!
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Marianne and Leonard - Words of Love (2019) - Nick Broomfield (Dir).
- The Greeks island of Hyrda connection for me (George Johnson and Charmian Clift - my favourite authors)
- Me: 2.5/5 ⭐⭐ +
- Mister Roberts (1955) - Henry Fonda, James Cagney
- Fun silliness classic old-skool with a twist...
- Me: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
- 'Round Midnight (1986) - Dexter Gordon
- Jazz legends
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sept-December 2022
- 💥 The Beatles: Get Back (2021) 💥
- Me: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- My Blogpost 💥
- C'mon C'mon (2021)
- Do yourself a favour... enjoy this.
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Elvis (2022) - Austin Butler
- You have to feel pity for the guy!
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐+
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐+
- 💥 Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun (2022) 💥
- I don't watch anime... but this is A-maze-ing! 💥
- Me: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- My Blogpost 💥
- Man on the Moon (1999)
- Jim Carrey plays a great original quirky entertainer
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Power of the Dog (2021) - Benedict Cumberbatch
- Slow burn revenge with awesome acting
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 💥 The Prestige (2006) - Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale 💥
- Magic, magicians, rivalry, mystery
- Me: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐+
- Russian Doll (2019-22)
- I loved the concepts in this Series
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Sea Beast (2022) - Chris Williams (Dir.)
- Nice animated fantasy adventure
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Turning Red (2022)
- fun silly enjoyable animation adventure
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐+
- WandaVision (2022)
- I'm not into any of those superhero movies at all. This Series has a great concept that starts well and then ends disappointingly silly
- Me: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐+
- Wednesday (2022)
- Me: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Zelig (1983)
- I hadn't seen this mildly amusing Woody Allen b/w pic before now
- Me: 2.5/5 ⭐⭐+
💥 Movies I've YET to watch, enjoy and appreciate (out of the recent batch of movies I have sourced and are ready to go):
- About Time (2013)
- Affliction (1997)
- Aftersun (2022)
- Ammonite (2020)
- The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
- Belfast (2022)
- CODA (2021)
- The Constant Gardener (2005)
- The Departed (2006)
- Don Juan DeMarco (1994)
- The Fabelmans (2022)
- Grave of the Fireflies (1988) (NB. I know what this is about; I will have to be in an emotionally-strong place to experience this masterpiece)
- Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
- Juniper (2021)
- King Richard (2022)
- Living (2022)
- The Lost Daughter (2021)
- Maestro (2023)
- The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
- Marty (1955)
- The Menu (2022)
- The Nightingale (2018)
- Nobody (2021)
- Nope (2022)
- Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) (nb. I'm not into Westerns, but after "The Good The Bad and the Ugly" [a true classic!], this is something to anticipate).
- The Pale Blue Eye (2023)
- Poor Things (2023)
- The Remains of the Day (1993)
- Song of the Sea (2014)
- Sound of Metal (2019)
- The Stranger (2022)
- Tár (2022)
- The Whale (2023)
- Women Talking (2022)
- 1408 (2007)
- 28 Days Later (2002)
► Also: Mal's Movie Collection (1,000+ titles) 💥
► Also: Mal's 5 out of 5 Movies 💥
Also: Recent Movies
Peas be with ewe
Mal
Mal
