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Room 237

While watching this, more than enjoying the theories that the narrators suggest about The Shining, I was just reminded of how much I love that film, and enjoyed the clips. The theories are fun though, although the fact that you are never shown the narrators kinda works and doesn’t – doesn’t in the sense that since I don’t meet these people, I don’t really have a context to make a decision on how crazy or thought-out the theories are. But hey, if you’re a fan of The Shining, it’s well worth watching. It’ll definitely make my next viewing of the original film that much more interesting.

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Before Midnight

I’ve basically aged with these characters, being at the same point in my life as they are when a new film in the series has come out. I’ve really liked these movies, but I have to say that this one hit a bit too close to home – the conflict within – and so I can’t say that I enjoyed watching it as much as the other ones. It’s not to say I don’t like it, but seeing the “difficult” parts of your life being reflected in a movie – not exactly the same, but rather recognising and being reminded of the challenges that international couples face – was a bit rough.

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Man of Steel

It may be because I came in with pretty low expectations – considering that so many of my friends appear to not like this movie – but I ended up rather enjoying this. As big a comic geek as I am, I have never liked Superman, but I thought this was a pretty good take on him. I really liked the bits on Krypton – very sci-fiesque – and wouldn’t mind having an entire movie set there. As far as the action, I thought it was the best representation of super powered beings fighting I’ve seen on film – better than in the Marvel movies. You really could feel the force that was being used. I think people prefer the Marvel movies because they’re more fun – the DC movies wouldn’t be considered fun. The one thing I was really disappointed with was that they ended up introducing the stupid Daily Planet Clark Kent identity at the end – I was hoping they were going to skip doing that, as it has never made any sense that no one recognises him (but hey, in comics, you just go with it).

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Monsters University

I’m a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie, considering that I don’t have any particularly strong love for the first one (liked it, but don’t remember loving it). I really, really liked this one, thought it was a fun story, and pretty damn funny. I mean, it’s no Wall-E or Up, but definitely an example of Pixar being on top of its game.

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After Earth

Came at this with extremely low expectations, considering I’d heard nothing particularly good about it, and now I know why. It starts off good, I liked the setup, the world they inhabit, the tech designs. Then you meet Will Smith’s character, an absolute bore. Smith Jr. is more just annoying than boring, and so it was hard to find much enjoyment in what was happening. I liked bits here and there, but for the most part this is a pass.

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This Is the End

Holy shit did I ever laugh my head off while watching this – one of the funniest flicks I’ve watched in a while. Sure, it’s puerile as hell, but oh-so-much fun. The Franco/McBride argument about jerking off had me in tears. Sure, there’s also the fact that I like all of these people in the first place (well, their movies at least). Oh, and Michael Cera in this. Priceless.

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Trance

It was such a chore watching this. I wanted to give up so many times, but hung in there as I was hoping that the ending would present an interesting twist, and it did do that. But even with that, I can’t really recommend this. Consider this a Boyle miss.

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The Bling Ring

Not to say it’s awful, but definitely my least favorite Sofia Coppola film – yes, I liked Marie Antoinette more than this. Felt bored through most of it. When it comes to the “kids doing bad things” category, I much preferred Spring Breakers.

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I Am Street Fighter

Of all the video game genres, fighting is the one I tend to steer clear of, but I’m still fascinated by the culture that surrounds fighting games – EVO and the like – and this is a fantastic portrayal of the community that exists around the Street Fighter franchise (and fighting games in general). I loved the interview bits with Yu Suzuki, especially is proclamation towards the end of the #1 and #2 fighting game franchises. Definitely one to watch, and it couldn’t be easier to do so – the entire film is available for free on YouTube (I watched it last night through Apple TV).

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World War Z

Ended up really liking this. It really is unrelenting, and often found myself thinking, well this is it, there’s no way out of this one. I also like how it ends, with signs of hope, but not of complete resolution (no “all’s well that ends well”).