Even as a lesser Ghibli films there is still something special such as how beautiful so many of the scenes are. It made me want to seek out more Ghibli wallpapers for my computer. I started wondering how great a video game collaboration between The Chinese Room and Ghibli, possibly with Dontnod could be. Perhaps these distractions were why I never felt as invested in the story. Or perhaps it wasn't really a story for me. How many times have we now seen a young girl sent to the countryside for the summer? I was also distracted by the English dub, trying to place the actor's voices. So I didn't find the mystery that interesting or satisfying but I completely understand how it may appeal to others more.
March 29, 2016 at 02:19PM29 March 2016
Pitch Perfect, 2012 - ★★★★
Putting aside my growing obsession with Anna Kendrick there's really nothing about this that I should have liked and certainly not as much as I did. It's entirely predictable, full of stereotypical characters, doesn't always make sense and features music far removed from my usual taste. And yet it's full of great moments; Kendrick's charm, the commentators and just all comes together so well. The attempts at gross-out humour feel were the only parts that didn't work for me but for the rest of the film I couldn't help smile throughout.
March 29, 2016 at 02:06PMDelicatessen, 1991 - ★★★★
When I first saw Delicatessen (16-17 years ago) it was unlike anything else I'd seen and all the more amazing as a result. Today it's influence can be seen in many places and the film had less impact on me. There's still something wonderfully delightful about the almost clockwork nature of the strangeness taking place in, under and on top of the building.
March 29, 2016 at 01:52PM25 March 2016
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, 2015 - ★★★★
A fascinating and well balanced insight into a subject I was surprised to find I knew very little about.
March 25, 2016 at 08:44AM20 March 2016
Machete Kills, 2013 - ★★★
If you're in on the joke (this is a joke, right?) then it's quite enjoyable but it's also a bit of a mess and could do with something else that just made it better.
March 20, 2016 at 12:46PMThe Wolverine, 2013 - ★★★
I've never been a big fan of the 'original' generation of X-Men, although I suspect the first film might have been diluted by weaker sequels and spin-offs. This is fairly enjoyable until the boss fight finale which doesn't work particularly well. There's also some already dated animated/CGI sequences such as the train fight which just look out of place.
March 20, 2016 at 12:37PM15 March 2016
Anomalisa, 2015 - ★★★★
I'm still not sure what to make of Anomalisa. I liked it, quite a lot actually but I don't really know why. Perhaps it's because it's all so real in spite, or perhaps because, of the animation. I wish the film had a stronger final act because that didn't work so well for me.
March 15, 2016 at 07:31AM13 March 2016
Bell, Book and Candle, 1958 - ★★★
A so-so romantic comedy that is elevated by the always-great presence of Stewart and Lemon.
March 13, 2016 at 08:37PM11 March 2016
Bone Tomahawk, 2015 - ★★★★
Best Western 2015-16. The dialogue is sharper and funnier than The Hateful Eight. The journey is more heartfelt and gruelling than The Revenant. The more extreme moments feel a little out of place but that only makes things even more horrific. Throughout it all, even seconds after *that* moment, there was something that made me smile (and quite often unexpectedly laugh out loud), making this one of the funniest yet bleakest films I've seen.
March 11, 2016 at 06:56PM07 March 2016
The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jefferies, 2014 - ★★★½
It's the strong central performance that grabs your attention throughout the two hours (which I watched as a single film) and keeps you involved even though you may already know how things pan out.
March 07, 2016 at 08:01PMRams, 2015 - ★★★
Simple, effective and very funny in places, just not sure if it was worth a trip to the cinema.
March 07, 2016 at 07:55PM05 March 2016
High-Rise, 2015 - ★★★½
As I was watching High-Rise I could tell it was a film I'd want to revisit. This may have been because it felt like it had already been around for a long time, as if it was actually made in the 70's and not just set then. There's also so much going on that I'm sure I missed out on lots of things. The dreamlike (or more accurately nightmarish) quality of the film also slips over you.
Unfortunately I think my appreciation of the film was marred by the venue. On Twitter I described the Everyman as a bar that happens to show films rather than a cinema that serves food and drinks. Leed's screen 3 was better than some of the other screens used during the film festival but still quite bad. Far too hot, the screen too low and obscured by the many bobbing heads constantly nipping out to the bar or toilet. Music from the bar drifted into the screen when the doors were open and the noise and smell of food provided another distraction. I've also never seen trailers before a preview screening especially not when the director was present to introduce the film. The trailers for The Secret Life of Pets, Zootropolis and Kung Fu Panda 3 also seemed inappropriate for the audience and one of them was in 3D before a 2D film. This all pushed the start time back meaning I would have missed the last train home, fortunately I'd decided to drive so I could stay for the excellent Q&A.
I know it's wrong to use the bulk of the review to complain about the venue but it really did detract from the whole experience.
Fortunately the Q&A with Wheatley was very interesting and enjoyable.
March 05, 2016 at 12:26PMA.K.A Nadia, 2015 - ★★★
I know I was too tired to fully appreciate this film. It appeared to be a well made film with lots to say but I struggled to stay engaged.
March 05, 2016 at 12:09PMThe Wolfpack, 2015 - ★★★
I wish I'd seen this cold because the revelations would have had more impact if I'd known nothing about them. Unfortunately the film never explores anything in enough depth to make it that interesting once revealed. There is a better film to be made about the Angulo family and it even feels like the making of this film would provide more answers.
March 05, 2016 at 12:08PMDukhtar, 2014 - ★★★½
A familiar 'on the run' film but a lot more interesting because of the unfamiliar environment and circumstances.
March 05, 2016 at 12:02PMThe Last Explorers On The Rio Santa Cruz - ★★★
Watched on Saturday February 27, 2016.
March 05, 2016 at 11:58AM
04 March 2016
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, 2014 - ★★★
I hoped I might appreciate this more on a second viewing but my opinion didn't really change. It always felt like I should be enjoying it more than I actually was.
March 04, 2016 at 07:07PMLapse Of Honour - ★★★½
Another impressive directorial debut at #KFF17, like The Violators it has it's flaws but places Rayna Campbell on my radar as a director to watch.
Followed by Q&A with Rayna Campbell
March 04, 2016 at 07:05PMThe Closer We Get, 2015 - ★★★★
A fascinating and intimate documentary which would have been just as compelling if it only focussed on caring for the mother after her stroke. The fact that even more family secrets are revealed during the film makes it even more remarkable.
Followed by Q&A with Karen Guthrie
March 04, 2016 at 07:04PM
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