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The Princess Bride
The most fun you can have while storming a castle. →
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Hellboy
Much as I love everyone involved, this feels like a first draft, with overlong action scenes, a muddled plot, and not enough of the camaraderie and humour of its sequel. Not bad, but it’s been bettered. →
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The Oath
Predictable Icelandic thriller that at least has the novelty value of being filmed in Iceland. It’s fine, but nothing more. →
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Winter Sleep
A lengthy Turkish drama that’s completely absorbing. Intelligent and subtly performed, beautifully shot. →
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Superman II
Knowing the film’s history means it’s easy to see the cracks, and the film is dragged down by weak comedy, uninspired cinematography, and superpowers that seem to have been pulled from a hat. The Donner cut is more complete, despite being unfinished. →
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Clue
Ridiculous to even try and be objective about this; I’ve seen it a hundred times and intend to see it at least a hundred more. →
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Exotica
Some great performances and some haunting visuals and sound, but the film’s repeated use of the “sexy schoolgirl” theme has aged this in a particularly skeevy way. →
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Scandal
Tame by today’s standards, and ends up as a humdrum courtroom drama; what’s aged most of all is the idea of a politician resigning after behaving poorly. Almost feels quaint, now. →
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The Thing
Is there a more perfect horror film? Ageless special effects, a gripping story of paranoia and despair, and some bleak, dark comedy. →
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Tremors 5: Bloodlines
God, who even cares any more at this point →
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The Fisher King
One of Robin Williams’ sweetest, most heartbreaking performances, and Jeff Bridges is outstanding as well. A film I’ll never tire of watching. →
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Jabberwocky
The flimsiest of stories, but so what; Michael Palin is hilarious, and Gilliam’s depiction of medieval life is perfectly disgusting. →
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Sorcerer
A breathtaking piece of filming, and some top-class male rage screams. →
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The Visitor
Something like an acid-fuelled reimagining of The Omen but a bit less coherent than that sounds. Completely batshit; genuinely loved it. →
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The Muppets Take Manhattan
Any film that features a roller-skating Miss Piggy taking down a Central Park purse-snatcher gets a pass from me. →
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Mute
An interesting failure, but still a failure. →
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Certain Women
A perfect little character-driven triptych of stories, set against a stunningly-filmed Montanan backdrop. Unassumingly charming. →
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Stoker
A creepy psychological drama that’s rotten through the core. I can’t recommend it enough. →
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The Asphalt Jungle
Gripping ‘50s noir that can feel a little priggish, maybe due to Production Code-mandated morality, but it is what it is. A pre-fame Marilyn Monroe steals the film, as expected. →
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Black Panther
So refreshingly different from much of Marvel’s recent production line output I’m not sure I took it all in. A little rough around the edges with some dubious CGI but that’s a minor quibble; this is well worth your time. →