Life of Pi - 9.0 : iMDB

I've been waiting a good while to watch this film, but figured I should get it out of the way, and boy was it worth the wait!

I'd heard many good things, and of course the oscars that were flying around it, and the previous works of Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger / Brokeback) speak for themselves, but this one really is another class.

The outstanding graphical aesthetics go a long way towards doing the exceptional story justice, which is told beautifully, ensuring every opportunity is given to the viewer to make their own mind up without prejudice or preconception.

If you haven't already, then watch this immediately, and if you have, then watch it again!

I wanted to hold off with giving any 9 or above for a truly exceptional film, but felt this was more than worthy of being the first to make it into the heady heights.

I've given it a simple 9.0. 

The Good Doctor - 6.7 : iMDB

So I was pondering why I'd got this film, and it's been sitting waiting for me to watch it for a while...then I realised as it started, it's because it's part of the Michael Peña back catalog, and I have to say its reminiscent of his old films that didn't grab my attention at all but he does play his part quite well.

Orlando Bloom stars as the doctor, and I'm not a huge fan of his but his personality certainly fits this role.  The film takes a bit of getting used to, and I guess shows the struggles of being a doctor, and how the decisions you make can impact not just your life but everyone elses too.

It's not the quickest of movies, and for a film which should probably make you sit back and think a bit more, I think it struggled to do that, at least for me, and I therefor won't be recommending it very highly.  But if you like Bloom, which I certainly did in Elizabethtown (may be more because of Dunst & the film), then I'm not going to stop you from watching it!

It gets a balmy 6.7.

Place beyond the Pines - 7.5 : iMDB

And here's the third of the day!  I started watching at the end of my bottle of wine and had managed to ascertain some chocolate.

I've been waiting a while to watch this film as I had some pretty high hopes, especially with the cast of Gosling, Cooper, and Mendes.

It looked from the trailers like a really good movie, with a deep seeded emotional story about the battle between family and society, which is clear throughout.  There is however an issue.

The film is clearly structured in to three different parts, with the first setting the scene, and starring Gosling, where he plays his part superbly.  The second features Cooper and Liotta, Liotta being no different than all his other recent parts, which smacks of lazy casting, while Cooper following on from having watched Silver Linings Playbook a few weeks ago, again gives an assured showing, and I have to say, he's quickly becoming my favorite for this year, with his part to play in Hangover 3 too. (Matthew McConaughey may have something to say on this)

And finally, the third is solely Cooper, with Goslings in film boy showing what he can do.  When it got to this point I felt it had probably gone a little bit too far and was getting reasonably predictable.

All the same, it's a very poignant story that i'd recommend to watch, but unfortunately didn't live up to the standard i'd hoped, and therefor receives a reasonably average 7.5.

Stay - 7.9 : iMDB

It would appear to have turned in to a Ryan Gosling day, as i'm pretty sure i'll be watching Place beyond the Pines later on.

Disapprovingly, I started this film off by opening a bottle of red wine..which may not have helped considering that the film is quite trippy.

I had a good read of this, not so much the article, but the comments afterwards which I think highlighted the fact that the article writer simply dismissed the movie, and didn't know who Gosling was, even in 2006, that's shameless surely, especially since he'd already done The Notebook.

There's a lot of symbolism in the film, and there's so many hidden hints as to the real story, and what it's really about, but then as it makes the big reveal, the director can't help but throw in just a tiny little bit more.

I actually, on hindsight, really enjoyed this film, and while i'll probably never watch it again, it's definitely worth a watch.

Bearing all this in mind, it's worth at least a 7.9.

All Good Things - 7.3 : iMDB

I've had this one waiting to watch for a while, with it being one of only two older Ryan Gosling films that i'm yet to watch, I figured i'd get it out of the way before I move on to the newer Gangster Squad/Place Beyond the Pines/Only God Forgives.

I must admit I hadn't heard or read much about the real Robert Durst (David Marks) story, which i've now acquainted myself with.

The story is put together quite well but could probably have expanded some more on the activities.  Yet again though, i've got to say that Gosling plays his part well, while Dunst has a good first half cameo in the film.

It gets 7.3, and if you've some time, i'd recommend watching it, but don't go out of your way to do so.

Hangover III - 7.6 : iMDB

I have to say that having watched the first two of these, I probably wasn't expecting all that much as while I enjoyed them, they're very simple films with light humour.

The same goes for this one, but I took the stance of just letting the film do its bidding and just watched, instead of analysing.

Indeed, it was certainly quite funny, with some very classic gags, and Alan is one of the best characters to have hit the screens recently, and given this is the last of the series, he was given a very fitting sendoff.

I've given it a 7.6, which is possibly a little low for the amount I enjoyed it, but it really is very simple, but a good entertaining filler.

The Double - 6.2 : iMDB

I was surprised to see Richard Gere in a film I'd watch, not because I don't like him, just because I can't remember seeing him since Pretty Woman, or seeing him in person when he was filming First Knight back home in Wales.

The film itself isn't the most inspiring of story lines, sticking quite closely to the tried and tested, but bursting the big secret early to try and distract from the otherwise unexpected.

I can't say it was overly exciting, but it kept me somewhat entertained while I did my ironing, and I have to say I quite liked the part played by Topher Grace.

It gets a 6.2, just simply because it's not bad enough not to watch, but I wouldn't recommend paying to see it.

Nowhere Boy - 7.3 : iMDB

One of the important things to note about this film is the disagreement from Paul McCartney about the accuracy.

Getting that out of the way, watching it I felt the story was quite a good one, and it certainly whet the appetite for getting to know the Beates more.  I recently watched the Sky Arts show about Lennon (should he have not been successful), and found the attitude of both characters to be reasonably similar.

I have to say though, for what I saw, it was a really good story, if not a little disjointed at times, and I struggle to see that John had such an overwhelming power over the rest of the band, but I do see how that really added to the story that was being told.

If nothing else, it's given me an overwhelming urge to go and visit the extremely expensive Beatles Experience in Liverpool.

Should John be as talented as it appears in the film, i'm extremely intrigued to find out how he got there.

I've given it a 7.3, which bears in mind that it's unlikely to be wholly true, but the story isn't all that bad.

Gulliver's Travels - 6.2 : iMDB

I'm not very often surprised by iMDB ratings, but i'm surprised by this receiving a 4.8!

I've got to say, if i'd have watched this after 8pm, or any time when I had something else to do, i'd probably have rated it the same, but it's a classic story, which has been told with the humour it deserves, but perhaps adapted a little too far.

Jack Black is one of my favorite low end actors there is, and he has no shame whatsoever, which serves the purpose of the film beautifully.

I watched this when I had a bunch of spare time and nothing else to do, so I quite enjoyed the break.

I've given it a lovely 6.2.

Welcome

Hey!

So - I normally write on Twitter when i've got an opinion, or rather when i've watched any film, and give it a short and sweet review, but it's proved challenging to fit in some good opinions so I figured i'd extend on that.

For some of the films this year i'm going to go back and will make some comments, but for most i'll just put an opinion once i've watched them.

I watch quite a few so there should be quite a few short and sweet posts! :-)

enjoy!