Farewell

Firstly, I'd like to congratulate myself on hitting the 500 post mark, yay me. You may have noticed my review-posting turnout has been significantly diminished in the past few weeks. This has in part been due to a few busy weekends involving family and the wedding of two of my best friends, but I've also been watching a great deal of Disney films for a Lambcast that will be released soon. As such, I've been feeling pretty depleted in terms of writing about films - I haven't reviewed anything from the 1001 List in a little while - and I've barely watched anything from it recently either. Therefore, I've decided to close up shop and take a break from the blog for a while.

I'd like to thank all my regular visitors and followers, especially those of you who frequently leave me comments and/or essays (Chip, I'm looking at you), and rest assured I shall continue to read most of what you all throw out (sticking to my rule of not reading reviews of films I've not seen but intend to one day). I've thoroughly enjoyed most of my time blogging so far. I always wanted to write about films, and I hope to continue to do so until one day I'm actually halfway good at it. Rest assured that everything of yours that I read continues to inspire me.

On a completely unrelated note, I'd like to announce the birth of www.lifevsfilm.com, where you will now find me writing on a hopefully far more regular basis, starting with an imminent review of Iron Man 3. The site is very much in its infancy, and although I'd meant to have it fully operational before launching it upon the world, it isn't even close. That's what happens when a busy/lazy person sets a self-imposed deadline (the aforementioned 500th post) and then neglects to work hard enough to actually reach it. Anyway, all the buttons should work, and I'll update various pages and links and things as I go. I'm pretty sure they all point back to here for now though. Give me a shout if there's something else that doesn't work, and I'll try and fix it.

Blogger, it's been real, but I'm taking this site on the road.

In comfort we trust

On a weekend trip visiting the girlfriend in Bury St Edmunds, we decided to step out to the cinema to see the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (keeping a recent tradition of film titles seemingly designed to be hard to remember, hello Martha Marcy May Marlene). The film was OK, a tad long and seemed to forget about some of its characters when what little plot it had did not require them, but the experience is worth proclaiming about because of the venue. We went not to an Odeon, a Cineworld or an Empire, but to a Picturehouse, something I haven't done for a while. We arrived a little late, after a last minute snack dash, so the only remaining sets of two seats were fairly near the front, but we didn't mind because they were on sofas. Not hard-backed, squeeze yourself in wooden benches, but full-on sofas, with leg room and cushions, separate cup holders and everything. No fighting for the arm rest with your neighbour, no hunching up to fit in a ridiculously narrow corridor whilst simultaneously ducking down to ensure the person behind can see (I'm 6' 3", though the chairs at my local Odeon seem designed more for those 4' 5" and under). Just sit back, relax, stretch out a little and enjoy. And these weren't even premier seats, just standard, used to encourage patrons to sit nearer the front of the screen, and I'd strongly recommend other cinemas to employ them too. One of the main reasons I don't go to the cinema that often - other than the exponentially increasing ticket prices - is because the seats are so damn uncomfortable, and I'm fairly sure I'd go at least once a week if I knew I wouldn't be shifting and squirming throughout the film, else it really is more worthwhile just to wait for the DVD.

1 Year Anniversary

Happy Birthday to the list! One year down, four to go, so far I've crossed off 260 films and spent a total of 21.21 solid days watching films (and that's just the list ones), yet I'm still 7 films and 4 minutes behind where I should be, plus there's 31 posts I haven't written yet, but all being well by the end of this month (thankfully extended by a day just for this purpose) this should all be sorted, and I'll be struggling manfully to write posts on either the day, or the day after I watch them, or maybe before I watch the next film, whichever is easier.

So, thanks to everyone who's been watching films with me (especially Aisha, I'm very sorry for putting you through such atrocious oddities as All That Jazz and Videodrome, but you should thank me for introducing you to the joys of Fargo, Monsters and Annie Hall) and to everyone who's been reading these posts, I hope you agree that they've gotten better, but fear not, I know I've still got a way to go before I actually get any good at doing this.

Here's to the next 4 years!

The Phantom Menaced

So George Lucas is apparently retiring from making movies, citing the reason that whenever he makes a film (or tinkers with an existing one) the Internet explodes with criticism, snide remarks and unremitting hatred, for a filmmaker previously revered for making some of the most popular films ever made. To quote the bearded one in a recent interview with the New York Times, “Why would I make any more, when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?”

Yes, he sounds like a whiny schoolchild, but he makes a fair point, and although I don’t blame him, I must admit I’m disappointed. The Star Wars films are excellent, and you can expect to read my List post upon them soon (we had a lovely little Star Wars marathon weekend last month), and I even enjoyed the prequels. If it wasn’t for them, I’d have gotten into Star Wars much later (remarkably, I saw the films in episode order rather than release date), and found the most recent Indiana Jones film enjoyable and a very entertaining film, just not as good as the rest in the series. FYI, it was still voted onto the list, so I’m not alone in this reasoning.

If you don’t like a film, by all means don’t recommend it to your friends, and even write a negative review about it if you like, but no-one is forcing you to see it, and what right do you have to contact the guy who made it and piss on his cornflakes? If you don’t like his films, don’t see them. If you don’t approve of his modifying the films he’s already made or converting them to 3D, don’t buy them. If they’re really that bad, enough people will do the same, they’ll make no money and he won’t make any more, but don’t ruin the enjoyment of anyone who does like his films by encouraging him to not make anymore. Lucas continuing to make films does nothing to you whatsoever.

Belated New Year's Post

Woah, I've been running this blog for over a year now, and in a few weeks I'll be a year into this godforsaken challenge, thats 20% of the way through! Only four years left! And still over a thousand films! I'm not sure about this, but I'm told 2012 has usurped 2011 for position of What Year It Is, so this is as good a time as any to make some blog-related plans.

Firstly, I've still got a few overdue posts to write (31, but who's counting?) and I'm currently 14 films behind where I should be on my schedule, and about 7 hours behind if you're working it out that way instead, so the main goal really needs to be to pull my head out of my arse and catch up. I've been doing pretty well recently, last weekend being the most productive blog-wise since records began, and I need to keep this up. I've stopped watching films recently, other than LoveFilm, Movie Night or when someone else wants to watch one, in the hope that this will give me more time to write posts, and it seems to be working. I'm going to give myself until the end of February (but I'm aiming for January) to catch up on post writing and film watching, and after that I'm going to work like buggery to keep on top of it.

Secondly, the blog looks a bit dull, doesn't it? I quite like the logo (a neatened up scribble I made at work one day) but it could look better, and I've got some ideas for the side bars, so watch this space.

Thirdly, this isn't supposed to all be about the list. When I started this blog I wrote a couple of random posts, and started a small section called Second Chance, where I watched a film that everyone says is crap, to give it another shot (shockingly, most of them still were) and once I've caught up on the list posts, then I'll kick start the other posts too. I have other opinions as well, you know.

And finally, the name of this blog is Life Vs. Film, yet it's all about film, so let's get a bit more life into it, shall we? Although my life largely revolves around the world of movies, but I do other stuff to I'd like to discuss or showcase. I read a lot, cycle, and am an amateur craftsman, baker and chocolatier, so expect to see some of this discussed in the upcoming decades. I'll try and tie it all into movies as much as I can though, fear not.

So that's what 2012 may hold for my little corner of the web. I've also been dabbling in twitter recently (more on this later), so please feel free to follow me on @LifeVsFilm, joining I think just Aisha and a load of fake accounts. Wow, all that and I didn't even mention the Mayans. Ah balls.

Most anticipated films of 2012

2011 is drawing to a close, and let’s be honest, it hasn’t been a terrific year for film, but worry not, in just over a week a new year will be upon us, and its already looking like a cinematic doozy. Here’s my pick of what’s likely to be saucering my eyes next year:

The Avengers

Marvel’s dream team of superheroes line up to face a world threatening attack, as well as each other, in Joss Whedon’s epic ultimate crossover.

The Pirates! In An Adventure with Scientists

Aardman are back with more traditional stop-motion animation and characters comparable with Wallace and Gromit, and just as silly.

Men in Black III

Doubters hold fire, part 2 was a blip that can be hastily ignored as Will Smith’s Agent J goes back in time to team up with Josh Brolin as a 60s Agent K.

Prometheus

Ridley Scott making a new Alien film? With Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Patrick Wilson, Rafe Spall and LVF favourites Idris Elba and Michael Fassbender? Count me in.

Rock of Ages

Same director as the abominable Hairspray remake, but this features much better music and a far superior cast (no Christopher Walken though).

Jack the Giant Killer

Bryan Singer’s fairy tale reboot sees Nicholas Hoult ascending the bean stalk to fight a giant and rescue a princess.

The Dark Knight Rises

Micro-budget indie you’ve probably never heard of about some guy who gets his kicks dressing up as a flying squirrel. Or something.

Ted

Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane makes his live action debut in a tale of a talking teddy bear. Sounds much better than I just described.

Brave

Pixar. ‘nuf said.

Warm Bodies

A rom-zom-com, but with a zombie falling in love with a person. Sounds mental, hopefully will be.

Premium Rush

A movie about a cyclist! Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s NYC delivery guy goes up against Michael Shannon’s corrupt cop.

Looper

Brick’s Rian Johnson directs Gordon Levitt (again) as a hitman tasked with killing his future self (Bruce Willis). I’ve just realised how ridiculous that sounds, so I’m eager to see where on Earth they take it.

Argo

Ben Affleck’s next directorial outing, focussing on a CIA operation to extract hostages from Iran in 1979, by directing a fake movie. Produced by Clooney and starring John Goodman.

Gangster Squad

Zombieland’s Ruben Fleischer takes a break from directing Jesse Eisenberg comedies to pit Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling’s 1940’s policemen against Sean Penn’s Mickey Cohen.

The Expendables 2

Just look at that cast. Stallone, Statham, Van Damme, Lundgren, Li, Hemsworth, Couture, Crews, Willis, Schwarzenegger, Chuck frickin’ Norris! Just need Steven Seagal and we’re done.

The Hobbit

No idea what this is. Supposed to be good though.

It’s not all looking good though, and I think my 2012 would probably be preferable without this bunch:

The Amazing Spider-Man

Sam Raimi’s films were good, at times great, and made just the other day. I don’t care how much of a reimagining this may be, there are plenty more original films I’d rather see.

Mirror Mirror

Why release one Snow White film, when you can release two? Tarsem Singh’s release may pip the Kristen Stewart starring Snow White and the Huntsmen to the post, but it’s nauseating candy-coloured visuals and starring of Lily “daughter of Phil” Collins as White makes me ill just typing about it.

Wrath of the Titans

Did no-one see Clash of the Titans? Alas, I did, in the cinema, in what was laughably called 3D (never again), so I apologise for my part in the financial gains that must have led to this unnecessary, unasked for and frankly unwanted sequel. Screw you Sam Worthington, learn another bloody accent.

Titanic 3D

Because James Cameron doesn’t have enough money. Retro-fitting 3D should be a hanging offence.

Battleship

The navy fights an alien invasion, made by a group of people who apparently have never played the board game.

Portal 2

Let's take a moment to stop watching films off the life-impeding list, and talk about video games. Although I don't get to play on the PS3 as often as I'd like, when I do I like nothing better than to settle down with a bout of Portal (or Half Life 2) widely believed to be one of the greatest computer games of all time. A sequel has been supposedly in development for many, many agonising years, and now it would appear that a release date has been set. "But wait!" I hear you cry, "surely this is a blog about films? I mean, the blog has the word 'film' in it, and every post to date has mentionned nothing but them!" and yes, I would admit that you are correct, but I feel this post complies within these rules, as recently it was announced that Portal 2 will feature the voiceovers of both Stephen Merchant and, epicly, J.K. Simmons, one of my favourite character actors, of whom I have been a fan from his work in the Spiderman films and the work of Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking, Juno, Up In the Air). Upon it's release (April this year, but I think that's just in America) you can expect my Challenge watching to decrease for a little while, but fear not, I shall do my best to keep watching and letting you know if they're any good or not, as well as probably updating you on the hopefully-awesome game.

Is 3D killing cinema?

Yesterday, my girlfriend and I wanted to see Tangled. We want to see it in 2D, as I refuse to pay an extra £2.00 per person to see the exact same film (£3.00 if you include the glasses), with an added third dimension. I don't care if it's more immersive, it's the same film, I don't care. It's just another way of draining my hard earned money out of my pocket, where it's busy keeping the moths warm. However, the optimum times for watching the film were only showing in 3D, so we didn't go, we went home and watched Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer instead. I may never forgive cinema. We're going to see it tonight instead, in 2D, but if we weren't such social outcasts that we didn't have two consecutive weekend evenings free, we wouldn't see it, and the Gods of Movies would never see our readies.


Why should I be punished for not wanting to watch in 3D? All you people excited to see the next revolution in cinema can just shush, it's not that big a revolution, and I really hope they stop making films in 3D, I feel it adds nothing to the experience, save forcing me to wear my contacts instead of glasses, else I must commit the fashion faux pas of the double-spectacles. Anyway, I demand that cinemas provide equal rights for both 2D and 3D viewers. Let us make our own minds up about how we want to watch it, don't force 3D on us, or you;ll lose our business.

Scream 4

With the recent release of the trailer for Scream 4, I wish to express my excitement about this forthcoming film. I feel that, in the ten years since the release of Scream 3, the horror genre has progressed significantly, with the introduction of the torture-porn sub-genre in the likes of the thankfully now finishing Saw franchise and the nauseating Hostel films (I still can't watch the bit with the eye in the first one) as well as the near constant onslaught of remakes, prequels and 'reimaginings' of existing films, be they masterpieces or less so.

I greatly enjoy the existing Scream trilogy, and look forward to rewatching them in anticipation of the new release (I can't watch a new film without watching all those that prelude to it, making any new Bond films almost annoying). I appreciated the mix of genuine horror with the parodies and homages to more classis pictures, although the third film did seem to deteriorate away from horror a little, with the cameos from Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Carrie Fisher, although being well done, being irrelevant to the film.

I am glad to see from the trailer that Wes Craven (thankfully still helming the franchise) has managed to reteam the three leads of Courtney Cox, David Arquette and Neve Campbell, alongside, in true horror tradition, an admirable collection of actors more renowned for their appearances than their thespian abilities (Kristen Bell, Hayden Panettiere, Emma Roberts), who should all be credited for hopefully getting the joke of their casting.

All in all, I am looking forward to seeing the film, and hope it lives up to the dizzy heights of it's predecessors, roll on April 2011.