Not going to lie it does feel a little weird writing about films I watched a couple of months ago when I probably should be listing my new year’s resolutions (exactly the same every year). But I like to keep things in order and need to do something to keep me from thinking about going back to work tomorrow (yuck). So before listing my December films along with a look at 2016’s viewing in its entirety (yay!) let’s have a quick look at these first.
I watched six films in October and five in November – that’s eleven for all the mathematicians out there. I started with Cold Comfort Farm (1995) which is sort of how I’d imagine The Hills Have Eyes to be, if it was set in England and had no murder in it. Light, enjoyable entertainment with Rufus Sewell being a highlight.
Next was Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) which I think is a film we all like. I watched it for the hundredth time and again had the mind-bending conundrum of which is the better film, that or Snatch (2000). I think I prefer Lock, Stock though Snatch does have some fantastic characters and quotes. Mind you so does Lock Stock.
(Thrilling reading material so far I’m sure you’ll agree?)
So you know how we all have those childhood movies we really, really, fucking loved and still fucking love now, well The Mask (1994) was one of mine. I loved it. And it also kick-started a weird crush on Jim Carrey that I’m relieved and happy to say didn’t transition into adulthood.
The more I look at that gif, the more wrong it looks.
I didn’t watch much after The Mask and then Halloween rolled round and I (gasp) watched The Fly (1986). But oh my god aren’t we all so bored of Emma droning about The fucking Fly. And after the film review (here), the soundtrack review (here) and the 1995 Jeff Goldblum (here – nothing to do with The Fly but felt it was worth mentioning) I feel I’ve exhausted the subject. It needs to buzz off for a while (thanks – I’m here all week).
The rest of Halloween was pretty quiet with only Final Destination (2000), Warm Bodies (2013) and Cloverfield (2008) watched in honour of the holiday. If you can even call Cloverfield a horror film? Probably not. Great fun though, I’ve always liked it a lot. In fact all three movies are really good (if lacking scares) and I’ve watched the Final Destination movies a lot (only 1-3 though, important to note) and Warm Bodies is just delightful. Everything about it – and I love Nicholas Hoult!
The Wicker Man (1973) I watched after Halloween, after the pumpkins had dried up. I reviewed it for one of Rob’s Genre Grandeur’s which you can read here – fantastic, British classic.
Next I re-watched The Guest (2014), but me talking about how much I love The Guest is starting to get a little like The Film That Must Not Be Named. So check out my film review (here), my soundtrack review (here) and The 17th January 2014 (here) – which will make more sense when you see it.
The Secret Life of Pets (2016) I was excited to finally watch because the trailer looked good, made me laugh and said it was made by the same people who made Despicable Me which is really good. In the end it didn’t really meet expectation but only because I’m 31 and never enjoy watching cartoon animals run around as much as I do a bunch of skinny dipping teens who are trying to escape the clutches of a machete welding maniac (or chainsaw, I’m not fussy). As usual with kids films like these, the characters are good and jokes just fine, but the story does begins to lag a little after a while.
And so onto my last movie of November, which I have literally no clue why, what, who, where or how – Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens (2016) (which actually I did kind of enjoy in a ‘I’m hungover on the sofa and it’s Sunday afternoon’ type way). But I just have no idea why I watched it – who exactly chose it and why the fourth one, having never seen any of the other movies in the franchise? I’m still confused.
Stay tuned for a look at the movies I watched in December, along with a look at the whole of 2016 – which I will post soon!
emmakwall (explains it all) 
As an AD on the 2nd Sharknado, and the costume designer on Sharknado 3 and 5…these movies confuse even me. But I do have to say, they’re damn fun to work on and as you pointed out yourself, great viewing for hungover couch days. 🙂
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That’s cool! Definitely fun 🙂 and surprised myself how much I enjoyed it ha ha. Well…that’s over stretching it a bit maybe, but I’ve seen far worse!
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I totally get it and understand…they are fun movies if you can totally suspend all reality and just roll with it. 🙂
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Great writeup. I used to run programming at E! Entertainment Television, and in 1994 I interviewed Jiim Carrey for his new movie called “The Mask”. It was at the Cannes Film Festival and I also interviewed the young co-star, here first film: Cameron Diaz.
If you are interested, I posted a story about some of the my Cannes adventures over the years: I took Joan Rivers there, and also hung out with Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme…the good old days of celebrity-adjacent living!
https://johnrieber.com/2016/05/08/cannes-2016-remembering-joan-rivers-jenna-jameson-my-seven-greatest-cannes-film-festival-moments-arnold-schwarzenegger-jcvd-my-favorite-cannes/
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Thanks so much! And fantastic I’ll have a read, sounds VERY cool! 🙂
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Some great movies on here Emma! The Film That Must not be Named is indeed a great film worthy of many viewings. I also love Warm Bodies – it is a whole bucket full of fun.
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Yay, thanks Natasha! Glad you love Warm Bodies too 🙂 it’s such a lovely film!
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Emma! Happy New Year!!! Hahaha – I’m often writing about films MONTHS after seeing them. Some of my reviews are over a year after watching a movie. Ugh. Too damn busy! And talk about The Fly as much as you want. The Fly rules. But I love how out of place The Secret Life Of Pets feels on this list…. Lol! 😉
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Haha, until you pointed that out I didn’t really think about it but omg you are so right! Poor old The Secret Life of Pets lol 🙂
I’m about to do my December list…at the end of January! If nothing I’m consistent 🙂
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Hehe. Better late than never! 🙂
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A witty and wonderful post from one of my favourite bloggers. That last gif cracked me up!
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Haha! Thanks so much Vinnie 🙂 glad you liked the gif 🙂
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It made me really laugh a lot. So ridiculous but so funny.
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The Sharknado films (though I’ve only seen the first one) don’t really work for me as the “so bad it’s good” thing they go for, probably because it’s way too intentional. Truly “so bad it’s good” material completely lacks self-awareness.
And The Fly deserves to be “droned on” about for eternity.
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That’s a great point and I definitely agree! It can only ever BE that ‘so bad’ if it doesn’t mean to be. And thanks, we should think about another joint post soon, The Fly or anything else we love! 🙂
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Sure, why not?
If you want to talk about The Fly, just send me an e-mail, we can get started on that soon.
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That last pic is pretty epic!
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It’s so great! Haha 🙂
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How about that gif from Sharknado though? I watched the first one which was kinda funny in a bad way for the first half hour and then I switched off but maybe I should give the sequels a chance.
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I dunno man, I think I was being pretty kind when I wrote that haha! Maybe if you’re drunk / tired / both it could just about appeal 🙂
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I really liked the first half hour of Pets but didn’t like it when it went outside.
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