Sven's Watched in 2014
by svenning123 | created - 01 Jan 2014 | updated - 01 Jan 2015 | PublicFilms watched in 2014
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1. The Selfish Giant (2013)
Not Rated | 91 min | Drama
Two thirteen year-old working-class friends in Bradford seek fortune by getting involved with a local scrap dealer and criminal.
Director: Clio Barnard | Stars: Conner Chapman, Shaun Thomas, Sean Gilder, Lorraine Ashbourne
Votes: 12,728 | Gross: $0.01M
Jan 1
The film came highly recommended to me. It reminded me of Fruitvale Station in that it was a long slow buildup to a singular event that changes everything. The buildup for this one wasn't as good as Fruitvale to me. The performances were pretty good. The real problems here were that it was very light on story and that it was sometimes impossible to understand what they were saying hanks to the thick accents. Might have been better with subtitles. The ending does what it's meant to do and brings the film to another level. 6/10
2. The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947)
Approved | 95 min | Comedy, Romance
A high school girl falls for a playboy artist, with screwball results.
Director: Irving Reis | Stars: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple, Rudy Vallee
Votes: 9,608
Jan 1
Comedy with a premise that wouldnt really work today. "I swear officer, I'm just dating this 17 year old because the doctor prescribed it". Not Cary Grant's best performace, but even at his worst he is still great. The 19 year old Shirley Temple was good as well. 7/10
3. The People Under the Stairs (1991)
R | 102 min | Comedy, Horror, Mystery
Two adults and a juvenile break into a house occupied by a brother and sister and their stolen children. There, they must fight for their lives.
Director: Wes Craven | Stars: Brandon Quintin Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie, A.J. Langer
Votes: 39,636 | Gross: $24.20M
Jan 2
Surprisingly enjoyable film. It reminded me a little of the Burbs without the comedy. I'd like to see this film get a remake. It was pretty good, despite the performances being a bit too cheesy. It could do well with an update. One important thing learned from watching this film...An explosion in a pile of money doesnt destroy the bills, it just distributes them throughout the neighbourhood. I'll have to keep that in mind. 7/10
4. I Married a Witch (1942)
Passed | 77 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
A beautiful 17th-century witch returns to life to plague politician Wallace Wooley, descendant of her persecutor.
Director: René Clair | Stars: Fredric March, Veronica Lake, Robert Benchley, Susan Hayward
Votes: 9,519 | Gross: $0.31M
Jan 2
After seeing this I'm not surprised that it inspired Bewitched. Aside from a few points that were a bit over the top, it was a good movie with a fun story/script. Best part of the film, by far, was Veronica Lake. I guess I've seen her before, but never really took note of her til this film. She's got to be the most beautiful actress of her time. She put in a great performance for this role. The worst part was the actor who played her father. His performance was consistently over the top. 7/10
5. Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails (2009 Video)
Not Rated | 61 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Thomas finds an old engine and tries to restore him without The Fat Controller finding out.
Directors: Greg Tiernan, Jeff Bailey | Stars: Michael Angelis, Michael Brandon, David Bedella, Jules de Jongh
Votes: 404
Jan 2
Not sure how this movie compares to the TV show. I guess Thomas isnt as terrible as I'd thought it would be. If Sawyer didnt love it so much, I'd gladly never watch it again though. 5/10
6. About Time (I) (2013)
R | 123 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.
Director: Richard Curtis | Stars: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson
Votes: 385,645 | Gross: $15.32M
Jan 2
First off, I was really glad this didnt go exactly where I expected it to go. It was fairly predictable really, but there was one plot point that I was sure would happen, and it never did. It did however have lots of problems with the logic of the time travel and lots of moments that left me thinking "why is this a problem...he can just travel back again and fix it" but he inexplicably doesnt. 6/10
7. The Blue Dahlia (1946)
Passed | 96 min | Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery
An ex-bomber pilot is suspected of murdering his unfaithful wife.
Director: George Marshall | Stars: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix, Howard Da Silva
Votes: 9,656 | Gross: $2.70M
Jan 2
Happy to see more Veronica Lake, although she was much more pleasant to watch in the fun role of I Married A Witch. All in all this was a decent noir. I felt that it dragged a bit in parts, so it could have been better. 6/10
8. The Underneath (2013)
88 min | Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A young newlywed couple find themselves trapped in a network of underground caves. With her husband injured, the new bride is forced to find her way back to the surface in order to save his... See full summary »
Director: Brian T. Jaynes | Stars: Holt Boggs, Natalie Makenna, Larry Jack Dotson, Rebekah Kennedy
Votes: 349
Jan 2
Basically just a cheap rip off of the descent...almost exactly the same in fact. Problem is that this one started off with such a small cast that it didnt allow for anyone to get killed off throughout the film. Waiting til the end for the action to start really ruined it even though it was only a 70 min film. That combined with the not so great acting and the bad effects made for a bad film. 3/10
9. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
PG | 92 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
To everyone's surprise, including his own, Po, an overweight, clumsy panda, is chosen as protector of the Valley of Peace. His suitability will soon be tested as the valley's arch-enemy is on his way.
Directors: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson | Stars: Jack Black, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman
Votes: 522,045 | Gross: $215.43M
Jan 3
I think this is one of my favourite non Disney/Ghibli animated films. It has humour that can be enjoyed at any age, fun voice work from well known stars, good looking and creative animation and a strong yet accessible story. 8/10
10. Enough Said (2013)
PG-13 | 93 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A divorced woman who decides to pursue the man she's interested in learns he's her new friend's ex-husband.
Director: Nicole Holofcener | Stars: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette
Votes: 66,346 | Gross: $17.54M
Jan 3
Good performances from both of the leads, but her character was so annoying (and made so many annoying choices) that it all but ruined the movie. I'm sure the viewer was meant to be put off by her actions, but it was over the top stupid at times. It really is too bad that Gandolfini died, because he's been really good in the last few films I've seen him in. 6/10
11. Stardom (2000)
R | 100 min | Drama, Comedy
A young girl is plucked from small-town obscurity and thrust into the spotlight of the glamorous world of super-models.
Director: Denys Arcand | Stars: Jessica Paré, Victoria Snow, Jessica Mackenzie, Macha Grenon
Votes: 1,799 | Gross: $0.08M
Jan 3
I suppose it was well done for what it was. I would have enjoyed the fake documentary style if it had more comedy. The story was average at best. Not Denys Arcand's best work by a long shot. 5/10
12. Ms .45 (1981)
R | 80 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A timid and mute seamstress goes insane after being attacked and raped twice in one day, in which she takes to the streets of New York City after dark and randomly shoots men with a .45 caliber pistol.
Director: Abel Ferrara | Stars: Zoë Lund, Bogey, Albert Sinkys, Darlene Stuto
Votes: 12,528
Jan 3
I guess this has some sort of cult following. It didnt really strike me as anything special. We've seen this type of film done before, even with the deaf girl, and done much better. The acting in this one was bad. The only saving grace was the quantity of killings, but even those were nothing very unique. 4/10
13. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013)
R | 92 min | Comedy
86-year-old Irving Zisman takes a trip from Nebraska to North Carolina to take his 8 year-old grandson, Billy, back to his real father.
Director: Jeff Tremaine | Stars: Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll, Gregorio, Georgina Cates
Votes: 98,264 | Gross: $102.00M
Jan 3
All the jackass type stunts and the parts with the kid talking to unsuspecting people were funnier than expected. I could have done without the story connecting everything with the kid and the grandpa. 7/10
14. Carrie (2013)
R | 100 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A shy girl, outcast by her peers and sheltered by her religious mother, unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.
Director: Kimberly Peirce | Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Gabriella Wilde, Portia Doubleday
Votes: 148,156 | Gross: $35.27M
Jan 3
Chloe Moretz and Julianne Moore were both perfect casting choices. I think a stronger director could have made this much better. As it was I think I enjoyed it more than the original, although I haven't seen that one in many years. Even though there wasn't a lot going on for the first hour or so, it didn't drag at all thanks to Moretz's performance. The action and effects from the crowning of the king and queen on were impressive. I have to agree with some of the critics who pointed out the awkwardness of Carrie using her hands to direct her powers. I don't think it was much less awkward when she used her eyes to direct her powers in the original though. 7/10
15. Hour of the Wolf (1968)
Not Rated | 88 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
While vacationing on a remote German island with his younger pregnant wife, an artist has an emotional breakdown while confronting his repressed desires.
Director: Ingmar Bergman | Stars: Max von Sydow, Liv Ullmann, Gertrud Fridh, Georg Rydeberg
Votes: 22,568
Jan 3
It seems to me that Bergman was great at making good looking yet boring films. This one was a bit better than some I've seen on the excitement scale, but still felt very drawn out even at 90 mins. The look and style of the film was enough to make it better than average, but not much. 6/10
16. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
PG | 114 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
When both he and a colleague are about to lose their job, Walter takes action by embarking on an adventure more extraordinary than anything he ever imagined.
Director: Ben Stiller | Stars: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Jon Daly, Kathryn Hahn
Votes: 340,758 | Gross: $58.24M
Jan 4
This was better than the critics have made it out to be. I can see why the public opinion of this film is much higher than that of the critic. It has alot of flair that is in the end fairly shallow. What critics can't accept though is that sometimes that is enough to make for an entertaining, yet somewhat throwaway, film. The problem with this film for me was that there were several big, emotional (thanks to the inspirational music) and entertaining scenes, but the rest of the film couldnt live up to those moments. I usually dislike Kristin Wiig, but I did enjoy her in this role. I don't buy into her being the beautiful love interest, but I guess she fits that role in the eyes of the character of Walter Mitty. Probably won't be a memorable film, but it did have memorable moments with elevated the film past what it otherwise could have been. 7/10
17. Aningaaq (2013)
PG | 7 min | Short, Drama
Short film connected to the movie Gravity (2013). It shows the conversation of Dr. Ryan Stone with someone on earth, but this time from the other side of the line, an Inuit fisherman in a frozen desert.
Director: Jonás Cuarón | Stars: Sandra Bullock, Orto Ignatiussen, Lajla Lange, Maligiaq Fredeik
Votes: 3,453
Jan 5
Great idea to make this companion short to go with Gravity. I found it equally as emotional seeing the conversation between Sandra Bullocks character and the Inuit fisherman from the fisherman's side. There is some talk about this getting nominated for best short film. That will depend entirely on whether or not the voters consider Gravity and the connection this film has with that. If you'd not seen Gravity and you watched this short it would not have much impact, aside from being a nicely shot piece of film. I'm glad this side of things wasnt in the film (Gravity), but I love the idea of adding to the story in this way. The only other place I've seen this done is with pixar short films (Wall-E and The Incredibles). I hope this gives other filmmakers the inspiration to do this with their own films. 8/10
18. King Ralph (1991)
PG | 97 min | Comedy, Romance
A regular guy from America becomes king of England after a royal wipe-out puts him next in line.
Director: David S. Ward | Stars: John Goodman, Peter O'Toole, John Hurt, Camille Coduri
Votes: 16,943 | Gross: $34.00M
Jan 5
Not one of the best comedies of all time or anything like that, but one that I have good memories of watching over and over when it came out. It had probably been 10+ years since I'd last seem this movie. Still just as funny as I remembered it. John Goodman seemed like he'd have a long career of a leading comedic actor. I guess it turned out that he was just as good or better in dramatic roles. 7/10
19. Drug Wars: Silver or Lead (2008)
R | 83 min | Documentary, War
The inside story of the dangerous world of narco-terrorism. The deterioration of Mexico's society and its profound effects on the security of the United States.
Directors: Gary 'Rusty' Fleming, Rusty Fleming | Stars: Chris Blatchford, Fred Burton, John Johnson, Barry McCaffrey
Votes: 35
Jan 5
Disappointing documentary about the drug wars in Mexico. The really interesting subject matter was wasted in this doc that just refused to dig deep into it. The whole thing felt like it was barely scratching the surface and also felt very amateur. 4/10
20. Nothing Sacred (1937)
Passed | 77 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
An eccentric woman learns she is not dying of radium poisoning as earlier assumed, but when she meets a reporter looking for a story, she feigns sickness again for her own profit.
Director: William A. Wellman | Stars: Carole Lombard, Fredric March, Charles Winninger, Walter Connolly
Votes: 7,253
Jan 6
I guess this shows how different things were back in the 30s. Nowadays a woman dying of radium poisoning would not be the news story of the century, like it seemed to be in this film. It worked as a good setup for this film though and led to some funny moments. Unfortunately the over the top acting was hard to ignore and took away from the enjoyment of the film. More grounded comedic performances would have made for a better film. 6/10
21. Diana (2013)
PG-13 | 113 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
During the last two years of her life, Princess Diana embarks on a final rite of passage: a secret love affair with Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel | Stars: Naomi Watts, Naveen Andrews, Cas Anvar, Charles Edwards
Votes: 20,918 | Gross: $0.33M
Jan 6
I refused to believe the rotten tomatoes score on this film. It is a film about the last years of Princess Diana's life leading up to and including her death and it stars Naomi Watts. It turned out that the 8% RT score is completely warranted. It was horribly boring for the entire film. I stuck with it thinking that it was going to get interesting as soon as it got to her death. That ended up being the worst part of all, because it didnt show any part of it. It only showed her getting into the car then people finding out about the death. 2/10
22. Blue Crush 2 (2011 Video)
PG-13 | 113 min | Drama, Romance, Sport
Haunted by the memory of her deceased mother, Dana leaves Malibu behind and heads to South Africa to fulfill her mother's dream of surfing Jefferys Bay.
Director: Mike Elliott | Stars: Sasha Jackson, Lizzy Mathis, Ben Milliken, Sharni Vinson
Votes: 3,908
Jan 6
The only reason I watched this is because I saw that it had Sharni Vinson in it. Unfortunately she wasnt one of the leads, because it was a really bad movie. The only moderately interesting parts of the movie were the surfing scenes, and they werent really that good either. Maybe I should have tried Step Up 3d instead if I wanted to watch a bad movie with Sharni in it. 3/10
23. Magic Magic (2013)
R | 97 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A naive young tourist's road trip across Chile with friends turns into a waking nightmare.
Director: Sebastián Silva | Stars: Michael Cera, Juno Temple, Emily Browning, Catalina Sandino Moreno
Votes: 10,365
Jan 6
Between this and the Crystal Fairy, Michael Cera has been in some pretty bad movies lately. I think the only redeeming factor this film has is Juno Temple. She has been in some bad movies too, but at least I enjoy her in whatever I see her in. Michael Cera just feels like he is trying to break the mold he is known for but just makes you realize he should continue playing that same character over and over cause its all he's got. 4/10
24. The Fly (1986)
R | 96 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
A brilliant but eccentric scientist begins to transform into a giant man/fly hybrid after one of his experiments goes horribly wrong.
Director: David Cronenberg | Stars: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz, Joy Boushel
Votes: 201,790 | Gross: $40.46M
Jan 7
This film takes body horror to another level. It holds up surprisingly well for a film that's more than 25 years old. Some of the effects and makeup could do well with an update, but it wasnt distracting. I had forgotten how graphic some of the gore was, so was pleasantly surprised to see it. Will definitely be checking out the original sometime soon. The computer used to control the pods in this film was the size of a volkswagon beetle, so I wonder what it looks like in the original. 8/10
25. August: Osage County (2013)
R | 121 min | Comedy, Drama
A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.
Director: John Wells | Stars: Meryl Streep, Dermot Mulroney, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis
Votes: 95,318 | Gross: $37.74M
Jan 8
Even more boring than I'd imagined it would be. Very slow going and I didnt feel a connection to any of the characters, so I didnt care what happened to them at all. At a point, about an hour and a half into it, I thought it was finally getting interesting, then it got bad again. The whole film felt like it was trying too hard, and most of the performances felt the same way. All this added up to an average film with a below average story. 5/10
26. This Gun for Hire (1942)
Passed | 81 min | Crime, Drama, Film-Noir
When assassin Philip Raven shoots a blackmailer and his beautiful female companion dead, he is paid off in marked bills by his treasonous employer who is working with foreign spies.
Director: Frank Tuttle | Stars: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar
Votes: 10,616
Jan 8
Good Noir with another nice performance from Veronica Lake. This seemed like a stronger story than some of the other noirs I've seen recently. Story was tighter and the performances were more genuine. 7/10
27. Oliver & Company (1988)
G | 74 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A lost and alone kitten joins a gang of dogs engaged in petty larceny in New York City.
Director: George Scribner | Stars: Joey Lawrence, Billy Joel, Cheech Marin, Richard Mulligan
Votes: 52,931 | Gross: $74.15M
Jan 9
After watching and not enjoying The Rescuers recently, which I think has a bigger following than this, I wasn't expecting much. Turns out I liked this one a lot more. The animation of all the animal characters was good. The human's animation varied quite a bit, but were appropriate to their characters. Some of the 'camera work' looked really nice like in the famous scene from beauty and the beast but without the intricate backdrop. 7/10
28. Puss Cafe (1950)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Milton the cat is walking down the street and notices a yard full of delicious milk, birds, and fish not realizing it is guarded by Pluto. He shows his inferior minded pal Richard the set ... See full summary »
Director: Charles Nichols | Star: James MacDonald
Votes: 398
Jan 9
Funny short film with some very outdated and ugly animation. 6/10
29. Secretariat (2010)
PG | 123 min | Biography, Drama, Family
Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown.
Director: Randall Wallace | Stars: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Margo Martindale, Nelsan Ellis
Votes: 30,556 | Gross: $59.71M
Jan 9
Surprisingly good telling of the true story of a race horse. I wouldnt normally care that much for that type of story, but this was very well done. Good, even if slightly over the top, performances from a very strong cast. I didnt know anything about the true life story, but it was still very predictable. 8/10
30. The Cottage (2008)
Unrated | 92 min | Comedy, Crime, Horror
A tough, cute woman is kidnapped for ransom and brought to a rural English cottage. David and two morons have way more to worry about than her crime boss stepdad, his two Asian killers and her.
Director: Paul Andrew Williams | Stars: Andy Serkis, Reece Shearsmith, Jennifer Ellison, Steven O'Donnell
Votes: 13,081
Jan 9
This film felt very familiar, so I may have seen it before, but I didnt have a rating for it. I enjoyed the combination of humour and horror elements. The comedy was somewhat average, but the horror stuff was nice and gory. 8/10
31. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
PG | 101 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
Director: Rich Moore | Stars: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman
Votes: 458,247 | Gross: $189.42M
Jan 9
I found this even more funny the 2nd time around. I'm sure there are tons of references that I didnt get, but I'd think that this film would lose something for somebody who wasnt into any video games. 8/10
32. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
G | 100 min | Family, Fantasy, Musical
A poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory.
Director: Mel Stuart | Stars: Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Roy Kinnear
Votes: 227,214 | Gross: $4.00M
Jan 9
I've been wanting to rewatch this for a long time now. Glad I finally got around to it, because I think I enjoyed it more than ever this time. Gene Wilder is perfect in this film, as is the kid who played Charlie. I was surprised to see that the kid who played Charlie never end up acted in anything again after this film. I enjoyed all the songs and the set pieces are rich and colourful. 8/10
33. WALL·E (2008)
G | 98 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
In the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.
Director: Andrew Stanton | Stars: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard
Votes: 1,199,918 | Gross: $223.81M
Jan 9
It wasnt intentional, but interesting that I ended up watching 3 W films in a row. The first part of this film, before they get onto the ship, is really unique. You can't compare it to any other animated film. After the point that they get on the ship, it is still a good story with good animation, just not quite as unique as the beginning part. 8/10
34. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
PG | 95 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A young linguist named Milo Thatch joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis.
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise | Stars: Michael J. Fox, Jim Varney, Corey Burton, Claudia Christian
Votes: 133,986 | Gross: $84.05M
Jan 10
This was very strange for a disney film. The animation didn't look like any other disney film I can think of. The script was more adult than any disney film I can think of (talking about alcohol, some sexual references, guns and more violence in general). The story was the only thing that felt remotely disney. All that being said, I did enjoy it this time around, unlike when I watched it when it first came out. Michael J Fox as the lead is a good start and all those aspects listed above that made it less disney made it enjoyable as well. 7/10
35. Donnie Darko (2001)
R | 113 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a man in a large rabbit suit who manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.
Director: Richard Kelly | Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne
Votes: 849,776 | Gross: $1.48M
Jan 10
I couldnt remember anything about this film, so it all felt fresh to me. Lots of stars in this film, all of them putting in good performances except for Drew Barrymore. Great use of music, creative camerawork, and of course a very unique story. Its really /unfortunate that this director hasnt done anything good since. 8/10
36. This Is the End (2013)
R | 107 min | Comedy, Fantasy
Six Los Angeles celebrities are stuck in James Franco's house after a series of devastating events just destroyed the city. Inside, the group not only have to face the apocalypse, but themselves.
Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen | Stars: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel
Votes: 434,780 | Gross: $101.47M
Jan 10
Still hilarious the 2nd time through. As enjoyable as it is, I still feel like they missed some really good opportunities to make use of the stars they had and to get more jokes in at their expense. It obviously doesnt leave itself open to a sequel but I'd like to see another film like this. 8/10
37. Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse (2007)
TV-MA | 10 min | Short, Comedy
Jay and Seth are at each other's throats while holed up in a messy apartment during an apocalyptic crisis.
Director: Jason Stone | Stars: Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen
Votes: 969
Jan 10
The short film that led to This is The End. It stars Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogan trying to survive an apocalypse in a house, but has no resemblance to This is the End past that. This one was unfunny and didnt have any of the charm of the feature length version. I can't imagine that somebody saw this and then greenlit the feature. They mustve kept this hidden. 3/10
38. Found (III) (2012)
Unrated | 103 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A horror-obsessed boy discovers his older brother is a serial killer.
Director: Scott Schirmer | Stars: Gavin Brown, Ethan Philbeck, Phyllis Munro, Louie Lawless
Votes: 5,158
Jan 10
It really isnt fair to call this a horror film. Its hardly fair to call it a film at all. Bad acting, and no action whatsoever. Just a complete bore waiting for the good stuff to come. 2/10
39. Twelve (2010)
R | 93 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
A young drug dealer watches as his high-rolling life is dismantled in the wake of his cousin's murder, which sees his best friend arrested for the crime.
Director: Joel Schumacher | Stars: Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, Philip Ettinger
Votes: 12,656 | Gross: $0.18M
Jan 11
I guess I shouldnt be too surprised about this being a bad Joel Schumacher film. His record isnt very good. I think I've only really liked 4 or 5 of his films out of about 15 that I've seen. This one could have been fine, if not for the annoying style. I don't know what was up with the weird narrator. That element seemed completely unnecessary and really cheapened the film. 5/10
40. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
G | 144 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
A down-on-his-luck inventor turns a broken-down Grand Prix car into a fancy vehicle for his children, and then they go off on a magical fantasy adventure to save their grandfather in a far-off land.
Director: Ken Hughes | Stars: Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill
Votes: 50,692 | Gross: $7.50M
Jan 11
I'm surprised I'd never seen this film before now. Most of the songs were good (written by the Sherman brothers of Disney fame), and the story was mostly good too (written by Ian Fleming of James Bond fame, and adapted by Roald Dahl!!). At over 2 hours, it was too long to keep my interest all the way through. When there were a few not so great songs in the middle it dragged on. Then the last 20-30 mins got me right back into it. 7/10
41. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
G | 92 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
In order to power the city, monsters have to scare children so that they scream. However, the children are toxic to the monsters, and after a child gets through, two monsters realize things may not be what they think.
Directors: Pete Docter, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich | Stars: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi
Votes: 978,435 | Gross: $289.92M
Jan 11
Probably the best disney/Pixar film, although after watching the Toy Story films so many times I'm starting to think they might be better. 9/10
42. Escape Plan (2013)
R | 115 min | Action, Thriller
When a structural-security authority finds himself set up and incarcerated in the world's most secret and secure prison, he has to use his skills to escape with help from the inside.
Director: Mikael Håfström | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 50 Cent, Vincent D'Onofrio
Votes: 257,382 | Gross: $25.13M
Jan 12
Much better than expected but still not great. Stallone and Schwartzenegger both put in terrible performances. Aside from that it wasn't so bad. Good story and decent action. I think I like just about any prison break film. 7/10
43. Madame Curie (1943)
Passed | 124 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
Despite himself, accomplished physicist and avowed bachelor Pierre Curie falls for brilliant student Marie, and together they embark on the discovery of radium.
Directors: Mervyn LeRoy, Albert Lewin | Stars: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Henry Travers, Albert Bassermann
Votes: 3,189
Jan 12
Good re telling of Marie Curie's story. Some parts of the film felt a little forced, like the script was written as an educational piece to teach us about her life. Not particularly artistic either. I wouldn't have expected to find a 70 year old movie about Madam Curie as interesting as this. Maybe it's because I didn't know anything about her. 7/10
44. Pitfall (1948)
Not Rated | 86 min | Crime, Film-Noir, Thriller
Married insurance adjuster John Forbes falls for femme fatale Mona Stevens while her boyfriend is in jail and all suffer serious consequences as a result.
Director: André De Toth | Stars: Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott, Jane Wyatt, Raymond Burr
Votes: 4,539
Jan 12
Good performances and entertaining, yet basic, film noir story. It could have used another twist or turn to make it better. 7/10
45. The Canyons (2013)
R | 99 min | Drama, Thriller
When Christian, an LA trust-fund kid with casual ties to Hollywood, learns of a secret affair between Tara and the lead of his film project, Ryan, he spirals out of control, and his cruel mind games escalate into an act of bloody violence.
Director: Paul Schrader | Stars: Lindsay Lohan, James Deen, Nolan Gerard Funk, Amanda Brooks
Votes: 11,769 | Gross: $0.05M
Jan 12
Even worse than I expected it would be. Lindsay Lohan is really going downhill. This film was directed by the guy who wrote raging bull and taxi driver. I think he should stick to writing. This movie had bad camerawork, a terrible script and awful performances. It might as well have been a porn because the only good parts were the sex scenes. 3/10
46. Freezer (2014)
R | 83 min | Action, Thriller
After waking up in a refrigerated meat locker, a man engages in a battle of wits with his captors, a group of Russian gangsters.
Director: Mikael Salomon | Stars: Dylan McDermott, Yulia Snigir, Peter Facinelli, Andrey Ivchenko
Votes: 3,545
Jan 12
I've seen this premise done before, but it was still interesting to see again. This had a bit of a different spin on what I'd seen before. Dylan McDermott's performance felt a bit off, but I think that was because of the character. Aside from the twist was too obvious it was entertaining. 6/10
47. Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey! (2009)
G | 80 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
George embarks on a cross-country trip to reunite a baby elephant with her family.
Director: Norton Virgien | Stars: Frank Welker, Amy Hill, Ed O'Ross, Jeff Bennett
Votes: 1,445
Jan 12
Better than the Curious George Christmas movie, but not as good as the first film. The main problem was the change in voice actors. The story was fine, although clearly directed towards young kids. 5/10
48. Raze (2013)
R | 92 min | Action, Drama, Horror
50 abducted women are forced to fight each other using their bare hands.
Director: Josh C. Waller | Stars: Zoë Bell, Rachel Nichols, Tracie Thoms, Bruce Thomas
Votes: 6,419 | Gross: $0.00M
Jan 12
A movie about a bunch of hot girls being forced to fight eachother is a great premise! Unfortunately Zoe Bell, the lead, didnt fit in at all. All the other girls were good looking, but she just isnt. There are many other actresses who could have done a great job in the tough girl role...Sharni Vinson from You're Next comes to mind for one. Storywise I think it spent too much time on back to back fights without progressing the story enough. Then the last 30 mins or so made up for all of that. Lots of cool fights and gory action. The very end bit was unnecessary. 8/10
49. Blue Jasmine (2013)
PG-13 | 98 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks like a million dollars but isn't bringing money, peace or love.
Director: Woody Allen | Stars: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Sally Hawkins
Votes: 212,513 | Gross: $33.41M
Jan 13
Another satisfying film from Woody Allen. I liked all the performances in it, especially Cate Blanchett. I still miss Woody Allen when he doesn't put himself in his films. If he isn't going to be in it, I at least wish he'd have a Woody type character like in Whatever Works or Midnight in Paris. This was more like Vicky Christina Barcelona in that it does not have the typical Woody Allen feel to it. 7/10
50. Seduced and Abandoned (2013)
Not Rated | 98 min | Documentary
An exploration of several interconnected subjects: The Cannes Film Festival, cinema art, money, glamor and death.
Director: James Toback | Stars: James Toback, Alec Baldwin, Jessica Chastain, Bérénice Bejo
Votes: 1,959
Jan 13
Largely uninformative documentary. The interviews with various directors and stars were interesting, but the rest was pretty blah. 5/10
51. Lone Survivor (2013)
R | 121 min | Action, Biography, Drama
Marcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005. Marcus and his team are left to fight for their lives in one of the most valiant efforts of modern warfare.
Director: Peter Berg | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster
Votes: 306,601 | Gross: $125.10M
Jan 14
Any comparisons between this and Saving Private Ryan are ridiculous. They arent even in the same ballpark. Ryan starts with one of the best war scenes I've seen in any film and then goes on to have a good story with more good action scenes throughout. Lone Survivor took about an hour to get the story going, then became a decent war movie. Nothing too special though. It being based on a true story is the only aspect that elevated it beyond average. 6/10
52. Back in the Day (2014)
R | 94 min | Comedy
Sometimes, in order to move forward, you have to go back. Jim does just that when he heads home for his high school reunion, in an attempt to relive the glory days with his boys and explore an old romance.
Director: Michael Rosenbaum | Stars: Morena Baccarin, Michael Rosenbaum, Jay R. Ferguson, Emma Caulfield Ford
Votes: 1,949
Jan 14
I guess Michael Rosenbaum should stick to just acting. Writing and directing doesnt seem to be his thing. The story wasn't bad, but far from original. The acting and directing both left something to be desired. 4/10
53. Father Goose (1964)
Approved | 118 min | Adventure, Comedy, Romance
During World War II, a man persuaded to live on an isolated island and spot aircraft finds himself responsible for a teacher and several students, all female.
Director: Ralph Nelson | Stars: Cary Grant, Leslie Caron, Trevor Howard, Jack Good
Votes: 12,315 | Gross: $12.50M
Jan 15
One of Cary Grant's last films. He was still as good as in his prime, so its too bad he stopped. I really enjoyed this one, especially once all the kids showed up. I had a few laugh out loud moments from this. 7/10
54. Face/Off (1997)
R | 138 min | Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
To foil a terrorist plot, FBI agent Sean Archer assumes the identity of the criminal Castor Troy who murdered his son through facial transplant surgery, but the crook wakes up prematurely and vows revenge.
Director: John Woo | Stars: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola
Votes: 400,754 | Gross: $112.23M
Jan 15
I remembered this film being good. I guess it didnt age well. I have no idea what I thought was so good about it before. The story is the only thing it has going for it. Both leads put in bad performances. The script was weak, and the action scenes werent even that great. 5/10
55. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)
Approved | 94 min | Comedy, Romance
A man and his wife decide they can afford to have a house in the country built to their specifications. It's a lot more trouble than they think.
Director: H.C. Potter | Stars: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas, Reginald Denny
Votes: 12,808 | Gross: $6.00M
Jan 16
It seems like Cary Grant can't do wrong. I don't think I've seen anything of his that I havent liked. This film has some good humour to go with the nice simple story. Some of the comedy was a bit lost towards the end of the film even though it was still enjoyable all the way through. 7/10
56. The Croods (2013)
PG | 98 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
After their cave is destroyed, a caveman family must trek through an unfamiliar fantastical world with the help of an inventive boy.
Directors: Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders | Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener
Votes: 231,906 | Gross: $187.17M
Jan 17
I guess this is the first of the oscar noms that I've knocked of the list since the nominations were announced. The animation style wasnt very nice, but it did suit the story/characters. It had some funny parts and a decent story. The worst part, and why I don't think it should have been nominated, is the voice acting. The voices didnt match up with the characters at all. It seems like they put zero effort into making the characters look like the actors like Disney does. On the other side of it, it felt like the actors were all just using their regular voices and speaking the same way they would in any other movie. This distracted from the enjoyment of the film all the way through. 6/10
57. Outland (1981)
R | 109 min | Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
A federal marshal stationed at a mining colony on the Jupiter moon of Io uncovers a drug-smuggling conspiracy. He gets no help from the workers or authorities when he finds himself marked for murder.
Director: Peter Hyams | Stars: Sean Connery, Frances Sternhagen, Peter Boyle, James Sikking
Votes: 32,358 | Gross: $17.37M
Jan 17
A different kind of sci-fi film. It didnt rely on big explosions and effects. Doesnt really live up to some of the best sci fi films because of that, but also surpasses some for the same reason. This good story plus the effects would have made it even better. 7/10
58. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
R | 90 min | Comedy, Drama
A group of Southern California high school students are enjoying their most important subjects: sex, drugs and rock n' roll.
Director: Amy Heckerling | Stars: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Robert Romanus
Votes: 115,688 | Gross: $27.09M
Jan 17
I heard a clip of Spicoli the other day and it made me want to watch this again. Even though I'd seen it before it was hard to believe that was Sean Penn! Seeing this again for the first time in probably 15 years made me realize how big this was for a high school film. It was probably ahead of its time dealing with things like abortion and such. The highlights are phoebe cates and Sean Penn as Spicoli, but also notable for Jennifer Jason Leigh and Judge Reinhold. 8/10
59. All Is Lost (2013)
PG-13 | 106 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
After a collision with a shipping container at sea, a resourceful sailor finds himself, despite all efforts to the contrary, staring his mortality in the face.
Director: J.C. Chandor | Star: Robert Redford
Votes: 83,808 | Gross: $6.26M
Jan 17
Story of a man stranded at sea trying various methods to save his ship and himself. Very similar to Gravity in story, just with a different setting. While I did enjoy All Is Lost on some level, it was missing all of the charm that Gravity had. I'm not surprised that Redford missed out on a nomination as his performance was not so good. The entire film hinged on his performance but he was hardly expressive at all and the lack of dialogue didn't help either. 6/10
60. Tales from Earthsea (2006)
PG-13 | 115 min | Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
In a mythical land, a man and a young boy investigate a series of unusual occurrences.
Director: Gorô Miyazaki | Stars: Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Mariska Hargitay, Jun'ichi Okada
Votes: 44,162 | Gross: $0.05M
Jan 18
Beautiful animation, just like any other Ghibli film. Also a great story like any other Ghibli film. Even with all of that it was missing something. It was directed by Goro Miyazaki, Hayao Miyazaki's son. I'm guessing that it's his fathers touch thats missing. Despite the nice animation and story it just didnt have the charm of most other Ghibli films. 6/10
61. Atlantis: Milo's Return (2003 Video)
G | 70 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Milo and Kida reunite with their friends to investigate strange occurances around the world that seem to have links to the secrets of Atlantis.
Directors: Victor Cook, Toby Shelton, Tad Stones | Stars: James Arnold Taylor, Cree Summer, John Mahoney, Jacqueline Obradors
Votes: 11,102
Jan 18
A big step down from the first film. The lead voice actor did a good job sounding like Michael J Fox, although it was disappointing that it wasnt actually him. Unlike the first film, it didnt push any boundries and felt more like an episode of Scooby Doo than a movie. 4/10
62. Peter Pan (1953)
G | 77 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Wendy and her brothers are whisked away to the magical world of Neverland with the hero of their stories, Peter Pan.
Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Jack Kinney | Stars: Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried, Bill Thompson
Votes: 153,032 | Gross: $87.40M
Jan 18
Good classic Disney. The songs are good, yet not as good most Disney films. Even thought its over 60 years old, I'd say it holds up pretty well. There are many things here that you wouldnt see in a kids movie nowadays. Bad guys throwing knives and shooting people for example. 7/10
63. In a World... (2013)
R | 93 min | Comedy
An underachieving voice coach finds herself competing in the movie trailer voice-over profession against her arrogant father and his protégé.
Director: Lake Bell | Stars: Lake Bell, Fred Melamed, Michaela Watkins, Rob Corddry
Votes: 33,056 | Gross: $2.96M
Jan 18
This didnt live up to expectations for me. The story was very blah. I guess Lake Bell did a good job, but she kinda annoyed me as the movie went on. Some ok humour and very light on charm. Not a bad movie, but certainly not the great film it was made out to be. 6/10
64. The Kings of Summer (2013)
R | 95 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Three teenage friends, in the ultimate act of independence, decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land.
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts | Stars: Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Nick Offerman
Votes: 84,375 | Gross: $1.29M
Jan 18
This was oozing with the charm that In A World was missing! All the performances were great and it was an amazing film for a first time director. Great use of slow motion throughout the film without it getting tiring. Nice use of music and sound effects. Reminded me a bit of Son of Rambow with the charm it had. The first half of this film was leading towards a 9, but dipped below a bit as it went on. This is the type of film that should have been recognized by the awards shows, especially something like the independent spirit award. 8/10 adjusting score after thinking on it more. I gave the Way Way Back a 9 and I liked this more. 9/10
65. Grudge Match (2013)
PG-13 | 113 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
A pair of aging boxing rivals are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout, thirty years after their last match.
Director: Peter Segal | Stars: Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Kim Basinger, Alan Arkin
Votes: 62,858 | Gross: $29.81M
Jan 18
Unsurprisingly bad. Not even worthy as a film to play in the background while doing something else. Probably Deniro's worst film. The performances were lazy and tired as were all of the jokes. The music choices were obvious like a soundtrack for a cookie cutter wedding or high school dance. People who say that reality tv is the decline of the entertainment industry haven't seen this movie. Not as bad as Grown Ups 2 though. 2/10
66. Exit (VI) (2011)
TV-MA | 90 min | Drama
A group of people believe the city is a maze and are obsessively searching for the lost exit.
Director: Marek Polgar | Stars: Kylie Trounson, Michael Finney, Hannah Moore, Drew Tingwell
Votes: 156
Jan 19
I was expecting something more out of this. I didnt really feel connected to the cause of finding the exit. It was an interesting story, but I didnt enjoy the way it was presented. 6/10
67. BASEketball (1998)
R | 103 min | Comedy, Sport
Two childhood friends are pro athletes of a national sport called BASEketball, a hybrid of baseball and basketball, and must deal with a greedy businessman scheming against their team.
Director: David Zucker | Stars: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Dian Bachar, Yasmine Bleeth
Votes: 66,384 | Gross: $6.94M
Jan 19
For some reason I think this movie is hilarious. It is really really dumb, but thats all its supposed to be really. One of my favourite sports movies. I wish Zucker would make more movies like this rather than the Scary Movie franchise. I think anything he makes turns out funny, but this is his only one since the 80s that I have interest in rewatching over and over. 8/10
68. Cinderella (1950)
G | 74 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
When Cinderella's cruel stepmother prevents her from attending the Royal Ball, she gets some unexpected help from the lovable mice Gus and Jaq and from her Fairy Godmother.
Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske | Stars: Ilene Woods, James MacDonald, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton
Votes: 173,875 | Gross: $85.00M
Jan 19
Classic Disney that holds up fairly well considering its age. The animation feels old but its still fun to watch otherwise. I had forgotten how abrupt the ending is. Feels a bit like it needed to be edited down last minute or something. I wonder how the sequels were...I'm sure I'll find out one of these days. 7/10
69. Man of Steel (2013)
PG-13 | 143 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
An alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth.
Director: Zack Snyder | Stars: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane
Votes: 811,663 | Gross: $291.05M
Jan 19
Not sure how I feel about this after a repeat viewing. The action and effects seemed even better the 2nd time around. The plot holes and mistakes made in telling the Superman story seemed even worse. We were put off this time by the physique of the actor chosen to play Superman. In my memory, Clark Kent is a scrawny guy that you'd never expect to be strong. in this film, he looks like he spends hours a day in the gym. 7/10
70. The Fog (1980)
R | 89 min | Horror, Thriller
An unearthly fog rolls into a small coastal town exactly 100 years after a ship mysteriously sank in its waters.
Director: John Carpenter | Stars: Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, John Houseman
Votes: 82,947 | Gross: $21.38M
Jan 19
Completely not what I'd expected going into this. I like that the story had more depth to it than just a killer fog coming into town. I'd say that the execution of what the fog brings with it was weak, but the idea was good. 6/10
71. Burning Palms (2010)
R | 105 min | Comedy, Thriller
A subversive tale that interlaces five stories set in Los Angeles, where no taboo is left unexplored as each character careens toward a dark and often comic fate.
Director: Christopher Landon | Stars: Jamie Chung, Rosamund Pike, Dylan McDermott, Shannen Doherty
Votes: 3,079
Jan 19
I realized almost right away that I'd already seen this film before. For some reason I didnt have a rating assigned to it. I remembered it being good and I got drawn in so I kept watching it anyway. 5 short stories with weird/comical premises. I really enjoyed 4/5, if for no other reason than the over the top weirdness of them. 7/10
72. A Teacher (2013)
Not Rated | 75 min | Drama, Romance
A high school teacher in Austin, Texas takes sexual advantage over one of her students. Her life begins to unravel as the details of the relationship are exposed.
Director: Hannah Fidell | Stars: Lindsay Burdge, Will Brittain, Jennifer Prediger, Julie Dell Phillips
Votes: 5,407
Jan 19
Well done for what they included, but the problem of the film was what they didnt include. It didnt go deep enough into the ethics of the situation. I think it would be interesting to see a film that covers both a female teacher sleeping with a male student and a male teacher sleeping with a female student. Then go on to explore the inequities of how people and the law perceive these situations. They could likely even show the male teacher only kissing the student and having worse consequences than the female teacher sleeping with the student. As wrong as that is, I guess it kinda makes sense because I only wish I could have had a high school teacher like the one in this movie. 6/10
73. Cold Comes the Night (2013)
R | 90 min | Action, Crime, Mystery
A struggling motel owner and her daughter are taken hostage by a nearly blind career criminal to be his eyes as he attempts to retrieve his cash package from a crooked cop.
Director: Tze Chun | Stars: Alice Eve, Bryan Cranston, Logan Marshall-Green, Ursula Parker
Votes: 9,833
Jan 20
Pretty decent movie aside from the lead actress and her bad acting. Bryan Cranston's accent was odd to hear but not in a bad way. Nothing really too special or unique, but kept me entertained. 5/10
74. The Fly (1958)
Not Rated | 94 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
A scientist has a horrific accident when he tries to use his newly invented teleportation device.
Director: Kurt Neumann | Stars: David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Vincent Price, Herbert Marshall
Votes: 25,645 | Gross: $3.00M
Jan 20
Much different than the remake. I think I prefer the remake even though this one had some really nice aspects that the remake was missing. I liked that is started with the end and then went into the flashback. I also liked the husband and wife relationship in this one better than the girlfriend relationship in the new one. The effects were obviously better in the remake and the idea of him gradually turning into a fly was much better than them just switching heads. Now I know why it happened that way in the Simpsons though. 7/10
75. After the Dark (2013)
R | 107 min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
At an international school in Jakarta, a philosophy teacher challenges his class of twenty graduating seniors to choose which ten of them would take shelter underground and reboot the human race in the event of a nuclear apocalypse.
Director: John Huddles | Stars: James D'Arcy, Sophie Lowe, Daryl Sabara, Freddie Stroma
Votes: 23,551
Jan 21
Interesting concept that, at least for the first half of the film, was executed much better than I'd expected. It felt at times like a teen novel because of all the young actors but the style and storyline saved it from falling down that hole. Great use of music to make the action feel more intense. Unfortunately the 3rd act slowed down too much so the movie lost a lot of the steam it had built up early on. I think it's still worth watching anyhow. 7/10
76. Last Vegas (2013)
PG-13 | 105 min | Comedy
Billy, Paddy, Archie and Sam have been best friends since childhood. When Billy proposes to his much-younger girlfriend, they go to Vegas to relive their glory days. However, the decades have changed Sin City and tested their friendship.
Director: Jon Turteltaub | Stars: Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline
Votes: 136,853 | Gross: $63.91M
Jan 21
I was worried that this would be as bad as grudge arch with all the "look at how old I am now" jokes. Thankfully it wasn't so bad. Far from being clever humour or an original story. Either way it was fun to watch if you allow yourself to ignore how obvious and simplistic the humour is. It was uncomfortable to watch some of these actors being so old. Mary Steenburgen never really worked as a believable love interest and she much further from that now, though so is Michael Douglas. Robert Deniro and Morgan Freeman are timeless. 6/10
77. Short Term 12 (2013)
R | 96 min | Drama
A 20-something supervising staff member of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend.
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton | Stars: Brie Larson, Frantz Turner, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever
Votes: 91,788 | Gross: $1.01M
Jan 21
Good performances and a straightforward yet interesting story. Much of the film was depressing because of the characters and their stories. Hard to believe that the lead is the girl from Scott Pilgrim cause she looked so bad in this film. 7/10
78. Austenland (2013)
PG-13 | 97 min | Comedy, Romance
Obsessed with Pride and Prejudice (1995), a woman travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman.
Director: Jerusha Hess | Stars: Keri Russell, JJ Feild, Jennifer Coolidge, Bret McKenzie
Votes: 23,642 | Gross: $2.15M
Jan 21
What a terribly blah film. I read the awful premise before watching it, but decided to go ahead and watch it because it started Felicity. This will be the last time I watch a movie just because she is in it. Nothing at all interesting or entertaining about this film except maybe for the end credits with the Hot In Here song. . 2/10
79. Free Ride (2013)
Not Rated | 86 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
A single mom caught up in the Florida drug trade during the late 1970s tries to make a better life for her two girls.
Director: Shana Betz | Stars: Anna Paquin, Liana Liberato, Ava Acres, Drea de Matteo
Votes: 2,489
Jan 21
Another case of a bad movie watched just because of who is in it. Not as bad as Austenland, but still very blah. At least this one was based on a true story. That made it at least slightly interesting. 4/10
80. Operation Petticoat (1959)
Approved | 124 min | Comedy, Romance, War
During World War II, a commander finds himself stuck with a decrepit (and pink) submarine, a con man executive officer, and a group of army nurses.
Director: Blake Edwards | Stars: Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Joan O'Brien, Dina Merrill
Votes: 15,867 | Gross: $23.30M
Jan 22
Cary Grant delivers again. Fun story that reminds me of something else I've watched recently. Good comedic performances from Grant and Curtis. 7/10
81. Filth (I) (2013)
R | 97 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A corrupt, junkie cop with bipolar disorder attempts to manipulate his way through a promotion in order to win back his wife and daughter while also fighting his own inner demons.
Director: Jon S. Baird | Stars: James McAvoy, Jamie Bell, Eddie Marsan, Imogen Poots
Votes: 115,791 | Gross: $0.03M
Jan 22
This film had some good aspects to it with its sometimes crazy style, however it let itself go too far at times and just became weird for the sake of weird. When it was good, it reminded me of Trainspotting, but when it went too far it lost its style and story along with it. 6/10
82. Damsels in Distress (2011)
PG-13 | 99 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A trio of girls set out to change the male-dominated environment of the Seven Oaks college campus, and to rescue their fellow students from depression, grunge and low standards of every kind.
Director: Whit Stillman | Stars: Greta Gerwig, Adam Brody, Lio Tipton, Megalyn Echikunwoke
Votes: 9,987 | Gross: $1.01M
Jan 22
Neither the story nor the performances drew me in. On top of that it had nothing special to speak of style-wise. I think I've only liked Greta Gerwig in To Rome With Love. 5/10
83. Big Bad Wolves (2013)
Not Rated | 110 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
After a little girl is brutally murdered, a suspect avoids arrest due to lack of evidence. Working separately, her father and a cop decide to do something about it.
Directors: Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado | Stars: Lior Ashkenazi, Rotem Keinan, Tzahi Grad, Doval'e Glickman
Votes: 17,549 | Gross: $0.03M
Jan 22
While I feel like I've seen this story done before, I don't think I've ever seen in done in this way. The combination of brutality and humour was certainly unique. I thought it was too slow moving in some parts. More humour might have made it goofy, but more brutality would certainly have been welcome. 7/10
84. Reasonable Doubt (2014)
R | 91 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A District Attorney has his life turned upside down when he's involved in a hit and run and another man is arrested for his crime and charged with murder.
Director: Peter Howitt | Stars: Dominic Cooper, Samuel L. Jackson, Gloria Reuben, Ryan Robbins
Votes: 20,828
Jan 22
Good storyline wasted with a bad director and lead actor. Samuel L Jackson was fine, but the other guys performance was maybe worthy of a TV movie of the week. The movie was structured in a way that it assumes that you've grown to care for the characters even though it didnt manage to build the characters enough to achieve this. The epilogue at the end was pointless for that reason. 5/10
85. Ender's Game (2013)
PG-13 | 114 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Young Ender Wiggin is recruited by the International Military to lead the fight against the Formics, an insectoid alien race who had previously tried to invade Earth and had inflicted heavy losses on humankind.
Director: Gavin Hood | Stars: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin
Votes: 253,958 | Gross: $61.74M
Jan 23
I went into this film with very low expectations and ended up being pleasantly surprised. Harrison Ford looked like he was going to be terrible based on the trailer, but he was completely fine. The story was interesting, and different from most of these types of films. The closest comparison I can think of is Starship Troopers and thats not a bad thing. While it was missing much of the fun(and action) that Starship Troopers had, it did very well with what it does have. It's clear that this was meant to be only the first film in a series, so its too bad they're not going to continue. 7/10
86. High Sierra (1940)
Passed | 100 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
After being released from prison, notorious thief Roy Earle is hired by his old boss to help a group of inexperienced criminals plan and carry out the robbery of a California resort.
Director: Raoul Walsh | Stars: Ida Lupino, Humphrey Bogart, Alan Curtis, Arthur Kennedy
Votes: 19,232
Jan 24
Good story and good performance from Bogart. I thought the performances of both of the female actresses were very weak and therefore kept the movie from being something better. I enjoyed that the story was not so obvious and straight forward. 7/10
87. Rise of the Guardians (2012)
PG | 97 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.
Director: Peter Ramsey | Stars: Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher, Chris Pine
Votes: 192,492 | Gross: $103.41M
Jan 24
I really didnt care much for the animation in this film. Its not that it looked bad, but it was just lacking and uninspired. The story was also pretty blah. They could have done so much more with this idea. 5/10
88. Cars (2006)
G | 116 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
On the way to the biggest race of his life, a hotshot rookie race car gets stranded in a rundown town and learns that winning isn't everything in life.
Directors: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft | Stars: Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy
Votes: 469,578 | Gross: $244.08M
Jan 25
I've been avoiding watching this for the 2nd time because I really didnt like it the first time around. Now that I've seen it again I'd say that it wasnt really so bad. It is clearly directed towards younger children which, in this case, makes it less enjoyable for adults. This and Cars 2 are the only Pixar movie that have that feel that they're meant for younger children. It was still at least enjoyable for its story and animation. 7/10
89. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
G | 91 min | Animation, Drama, Family
A deformed bell-ringer must assert his independence from a vicious government minister in order to help his friend, a gypsy dancer.
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise | Stars: Demi Moore, Jason Alexander, Mary Kay Bergman, Corey Burton
Votes: 171,602 | Gross: $100.14M
Jan 25
I'd forgotten that this had such good songs in it. They're not as memorable as some of the songs from other classic Disney films, but they're about as good. The quality of the songs makes this feel like a classic Disney film. 7/10
90. The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (2002 Video)
G | 68 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Quasimodo goes into action when a magician seeks to steal one of the bells of Notre Dame.
Director: Bradley Raymond | Stars: Jason Alexander, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Tom Hulce, Paul Kandel
Votes: 7,944
Jan 25
Big step down from the original. It made the typical sequel mistake of adding in new characters that nobody cares about and gives them the major role which pushing aside characters that we want more of. For a bad sequel there were alot of big names doing the voices still. That didnt help it though. 4/10
91. Scrooged (1988)
PG-13 | 101 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.
Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, John Glover
Votes: 116,408 | Gross: $60.33M
Jan 25
I know its a little late to watch a Christmas movie, but I just picked up the blu ray and Sandra had never seen it. Bill Murray plays the perfect *beep* Still funny and charming and probably one of the best Christmas movies. Has me wanting to watch The Family Man now. 8/10
92. A.C.O.D. (2013)
R | 88 min | Comedy
A grown man caught in the crossfire of his parents' 15-year divorce discovers he was unknowingly part of a study on divorced children and is enlisted in a follow-up years later, which wreaks new havoc on his family.
Director: Stuart Zicherman | Stars: Adam Scott, Richard Jenkins, Catherine O'Hara, Jane Lynch
Votes: 13,878 | Gross: $0.17M
Jan 25
This film had all the elements of a good comedy about a dysfunctional family. It even had a strong cast. I guess where it went wrong was with the director. He is a first time director and it shows. He also wrote the script which was fine so he isnt all bad. With a different director it might have been better. 6/10
93. Fantasia (1940)
G | 124 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
A series of eight famous pieces of classical music, conducted by Leopold Stokowski and interpreted in animation by Walt Disney's team of artists.
Directors: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe Jr., Norman Ferguson, David Hand, Jim Handley, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Ben Sharpsteen | Stars: Leopold Stokowski, Deems Taylor, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Corey Burton
Votes: 103,941 | Gross: $76.41M
Jan 25
Decent animation and great classical music. At 2+ hours it is really only suitable for watching in the background while doing something else. The Sorcerers Apprentice sequence is the only one from the film that could really stand alone. Everything else in the film is good, but just couldnt carry it. 6/10
94. Twenty Feet from Stardom (2013)
PG-13 | 91 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Backup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in popular music, but we've had no idea who these singers are or what lives they lead, until now.
Director: Morgan Neville | Stars: Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill
Votes: 13,950 | Gross: $4.95M
Jan 25
I enjoyed learning about the stories of the backup singers and some of the ins and outs of the business. They didnt talk at all about how much money they could make in this business, which is too bad because I would have liked to hear about that. Good documentary in what seems to have been a weak year for docs. Out of the 4 nominated docs I've seen so far, this is my favourite. 7/10
95. Blackbird (I) (2012)
Not Rated | 103 min | Drama
An alienated teenager's posturing online threat ignites a firestorm of fear in a small community.
Director: Jason Buxton | Stars: Connor Jessup, Alexia Fast, Michael Buie, Alex Ozerov-Meyer
Votes: 1,735
Jan 26
Good example of how simple film making can result in a great film as long as you have strong performances and a good story. This film had both and delivered very well. The simplistic style was never distracting, though a more polished version of the same film would have been nice. Missed this one at TIFF, but i'm glad I finally managed to see it. 8/10
96. Ju-on: White Ghost (2009)
Not Rated | 61 min | Fantasy, Horror
Akane begins seeing visions of a female ghost wearing the same yellow hat and red satchel she wore as a school child.
Director: Ryûta Miyake | Stars: Hiroki Suzuki, Ichirôta Miyakawa, Natsuki Kasa, Akina Minami
Votes: 2,543
Jan 26
J Horror can be pretty great. While this isnt one of the best it had so very creepy elements. All these elements were just repeats from the original Grudge movie though. Doesnt really compare in quality to the original, but I still enjoyed it. I was worried when it started as it seemed it was just going to be a collection of short sequences, all with the same ending. Once it became clear that there was more to it than that it felt more like a movie. If they'd put more effort into this it could have been as good as the original. 7/10
97. Ju-on: Black Ghost (2009)
Not Rated | 60 min | Fantasy, Horror
After losing her child at birth, the dark horror of the grudge begins growing within her.
Director: Mari Asato | Stars: Kôji Seto, Kuniteru Shigeyama, Kana Tsugihara, Ai Kago
Votes: 2,033
Jan 26
This one wasnt as good as the White Ghost version. This one was missing all the 'big' scares that the other had. The Black Ghost story just felt like a light version of a J Horror, and nothing compared with the original Juon. 5/10
98. No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad (2013 TV Movie)
135 min | Documentary
An extensive, detailed account on the incredible legacy Breaking Bad created before it had even ended, whilst documenting in intimate detail the filming of its final season.
Director: Stuart Richardson | Stars: Adam Bernstein, Melissa Bernstein, Sharon Bialy, Michael Bowen
Votes: 695
Jan 26
An informative look at not only the making of Breaking Bad, but more importantly the actually people behind the scenes. It was nice seeing how close some of the actors really were and how they celebrated when closing things off for each actors final scene. This is the type of documentary that could only be entertaining for a fan of the show. I'm probably being a bit generous because of how much I love Breaking Bad, and this doc has me very interested in watching it all again! 7/10
99. Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010)
R | 106 min | Action, Drama, History
Chen Zhen, believed dead, returns to 1930s Shanghai under a false name. He joins a mob boss for info on the Japanese incl. a long kill list and at night fights the Japanese masked.
Director: Andrew Lau | Stars: Donnie Yen, Alex Ahlstrom, Shu Qi, Anthony Chau-Sang Wong
Votes: 11,069 | Gross: $0.05M
Jan 26
As I've mentioned before, I'm not generally a fan of martial arts films unless there is something really special with it. This film had fight scenes that rival some of the fight scenes from The Raid. That is definitely something special. It also had a superhero movie feel to it thanks to the lone vigilante protagonist. Although the story was good, it slowed the pacing down too much. It would benefit from a couple more cool fight scenes or a shorter runtime. The fight scenes get a 9/10. The movie overall... 7/10
100. Frankenstein (1931)
Passed | 70 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Dr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.
Director: James Whale | Stars: Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, Boris Karloff, John Boles
Votes: 79,679
Jan 27
I can't believe I went this long without seeing this classic horror film. While it is far from being a horror film by todays standards, it is a very strong film for its time. It hold up well even today. Frankensteins monster is a surprisingly deep character. You are able to connect with the monster in a way that doesnt happen with modern horror. This film is easily the strongest of the classic horror films I've seen (which is admittedly few). 8/10
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