I watched ten films in December. More than usual but time off work equals more time to watch movies. So let’s look at them (and silently curse being back at work – oh wait I do that every Monday morning anyway).
December meaning Christmas I did of course enjoy some festive classics such as: Home Alone (1990), Home Alone 2 (1992) (because one is never enough), Love Actually (2003) and Fred Claus (2007) – definitely not a classic but it was alright and did have a good cast.
Anyway, it’s February so I won’t dwell too much on these (or the C-word in general). I must say though, I only really noticed for the first time just how over-the-top violent Home Alone 2 is. Kerosene and a nail gun?! There is definitely something more sadistic (and ridiculous) about the sequel, though it’s as solid as sequels get and my favourite scene is obviously Tim Curry being told he’s been “smooching with everybody”.
But whilst we’re whispering quietly about the C-word, I did get some cool C-word presents including – Supersonic (2016), the Oasis documentary on DVD (which I reviewed recently here) and David Brent: Life on the Road (also reviewed here).
And another pretty super present I received was an Amazon Fire Stick. Even more excuse to sit in front of the telly doing nothing except eat crisps. Yay! And with a whole heap of great movies at my fingertips, I wasted no time in watching some absolute film CLASSICS, starting with The Green Inferno (2013) and Sinister (2012). Obviously.
Now the latter I found very average, despite having fairly good reviews and finding Ethan Hawke attractive in a ratty, crackhead, strange type of way. But I didn’t like how the movie was half Deranged Serial Killer and half Paranormal Ancient Demon – didn’t really work for me. I’d have preferred it without the supernatural element though I was glad to finally see the infamous ‘lawn mower scene’ which was predictably overrated and over too quickly. I wanted to see some freshly cut blades of flesh goddamit.
The Green Inferno however, well – I fucking loved it. And I make no excuses for that – I fucking loved it. I am prepared to admit I may have been in the ‘right mood’ for a film of that kind (cannibals, teenagers, blood and tight shorts) but to be 
honest I know I’ll enjoy watching it again. It was, as I sometimes say “a bit of me”. The story follows a bunch of students and do-gooders who go into the jungle to protest against stuff and end up imprisoned by a tribe of cannibals. I’m not quite sure why I enjoyed it sooo much but it just felt like a FUN horror movie and I don’t really care if everyone else hated it. Suck on it. So often I put on movies like this and inevitably lose interest or start daydreaming about what I might have for dinner tomorrow (is a plate of Doritos acceptable?), but with The Green Inferno I really wanted to watch it and that’s the simplest praise there is.
So that’s eight done, two to go. The final movies I watched in December were Ted (2012) and Rachel and the Stranger (1948), which I watched with my grandad (well I didn’t think he’d fancy The Green Inferno).
I’m yet to see Ted 2 but I’d watch it based on Ted, which isn’t some amazing film (in the slightest) but is pretty fun mainly due to Peter Griffin being immortalised as a teddy bear. I remember the first time I watched it I sooo expected Ted to have a Brian voice. I was surprised – and delighted – to find him much more like Peter. Definitely the best of Seth MacFarlane’s film offerings but….that’s not saying much.
Rachel and the Stranger was a first time watch – but won’t be the last. It was a nice, comical film, easy watching AND you get to see Robert Mitchum singing – he’s not half bad! The story is about a widower (William Holding) who takes on a ‘wife’ (Loretta Young) to help raise his son and look after the farm they live on. He’s a decent guy and doesn’t want any ‘hanky panky funny old business’ with his new wife, despite her obviously wanting some man love. In the end it takes hunky flirt and friend of the family Robert Mitchum to help his mate see what he’s missing. The best scenes are when are the two men compete against each other for Young’s affections, it’s pretty funny. 
And so that’s it for December so let’s get on to the big stuff. Drum roll please….
Films I watched In: 2016
I watched eighty-three films over the year and these included:
- A rather pitiful five trips to the cinema.
- Forty-one re-watches.
- Forty-two first time watches.
- Nine films released in 2016 (pathetic).
- Seven films released in 2015 (even more pathetic).
- Twenty-four horror movies.
- Six kids movies.
- Ten films made before I was born (1985).
- Sixteen movies from the 1990s (awesome decade for film).
- Eleven films watched in January – my best month.
- Four movies watched in June – my worst month.
- And Pulp Fiction 2.5 times – my most watched movie of 2016. There were a few films I watched twice but I caught the last half of Tarantino’s masterpiece on TV one night, just giving it the edge of Most Watched (thank god it was something cool).
For a full, definitive list, you can read all my original, monthly posts here.
And let’s see if I can make it to a 100 this year! But to be fair I probably won’t. Got more important things to watch.
emmakwall (explains it all) 
More important things to watch! lmao 83 is still respectable though.
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The Chase man!!! 🙂 Thanks Geoff 🙂
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I posted a story about “The Green Inferno” – how it is an homage to “Cannibal Holocaust”, and also how “CH” resulted in Director being jailed! Roth did a terrific job with this wild wild wild genre of film! Here’s the link if you want to read it – https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/05/enter-the-green-inferno-eli-roths-homage-to-shocking-cannibal-holocaust/
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Thanks so much, I will do! It’s crazy the director was jailed haha, didn’t he have to prove they were still alive?! Cannibal Holocaust is a film every horror fan should watch, but not something I’d want to watch every weekend haha. I found The Green Inferno a ‘bit of a laugh’ 🙂
Thanks for link 🙂
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For me, I had to turn away during the real animal killing stuff…there was plenty that was cringeworthy, but it’s easier when you know it’s fiction…although I posted a story about “A Serbian Film” which is one of the most difficult movies I’ve ever watched…way way way more than most filmgoers would watch, but I had heard about it and wanted to see…and can never unsee!
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Yes I agree, the animal stuff was cruel and unnecessary. I’ve seen A Serbian Film too, but I waited AGES until I watched it and knew what all the most ‘gruesome’ scenes were, so it lost a bit of shock value. I was surprised how well made it was, I must say! 🙂
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Ems! I was just thinking about you this morning! I hope everything’s going okay. So, we don’t have the Fire stick, but we do have the Roku stick and I love streaming stuff! We were able to cut the cord on cable completely. We have Netflix, Hulu, and one streaming local broadcast channel so we can watch the news live, and we’re paying a pittance of what we were paying for cable! It’s awesome! Anyway, movies… I just added Sinister to my Netflix queue, but now I’m wondering if it’s worth even trying it.😕 Oh! Speaking of Netflix, do you have A Series of Unfortunate Events on yours? If you do I highly, HIGHLY recommend it! I think it would be just your cup of tea Kindred Spirit. And can I just say that 83 films watched is mighty impressive?!
xoxoxo
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Kims!! Dear Kims ❤
Ooh thank you, I'd have liked to have made 100 but 83 is pretty good 🙂
Things are ok Kims! I hope you are too xoxox
Roku stick sounds great! That's great too, there's so many mediums for watching great TV and film nowadays, cable isn't necessary! I'm really pleawsed 🙂
Oh no, Sinister is probably worth watching!! Still watch it sassy sister 🙂 I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I haven't Netflix at the mo (I'm going through an Amazon Prime stage lol) but I will no doubt get it again soon, I'd love to watch it! I liked the books and the film 🙂 never understood why they didn't follow it up more, they're good stories!
I'm about to start reading His Dark Materials trilogy!!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤ miss you lots. #kindredspirits
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I’ll definitely give Sinister a try. Ooh! I love His Dark Materials trilogy. It’s too bad the movie was a bit disappointing. You’ve got to let me know what you think Ems!
xoxoxo
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I will do Miss Kims! I’m starting it soon 🙂 thinking of you each day ❤ xoxoxoxox
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Awesome! I can’t wait to hear what you think! Miss you Dear Ems.🤗❤️💐
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P.S did you watch Sinister? 🙂
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Not yet Ems, but it’s in my queue. xoxo
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I watched Sinister at the cinema and I agree ‘Deranged Serial Killer and half Paranormal Ancient Demon’ didn’t work but I enjoyed the jump scares ……….. you reminded me I must see Pulp Fiction again, a good few years back I used to be able to quote lines verbatim….. 😀 all very sad!!!
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Not sad at all!! I always forget how good it is until I watch it again. And I love quoting it! I love it when Samuel L Jackson shouts “I don’t remember asking you a god damn thing!” haha 🙂
And yes you’re right, I was a bit harsh on Sinister but it WAS creepy in places and good jump scares!
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Yaaaas for The Chase! I love that show.
I think we should talk about the C-word all year round, it’s my favourite time of the year!
Ted is one of my favourite comedies 🙂 Ted 2 is good too, but nowhere near as good as the first.
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LOVE The Chase!! I could honestly watch it all night.
Haha, it is a great time of year 🙂 especially the food, music and time off work!
I am looking forward to watching Ted 2 at some point 🙂
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I have to confess to loving Ted, and enjoying Ted 2 as well. I have seen ‘Rachel and The Stranger’, but it was (almost) a lifetime ago. ‘The Green Inferno’ looks similar to the old film ‘Cannibal Apocalypse’ (1980) but may well be much better. I watched ‘Sinister’ on TV, and didn’t think it was very scary at all.
Thanks for your roundup, Em. I just watched ‘Train To Busan’ this morning. A review will follow, but I really enjoyed that Korean Zombie-fest.
As ever, Pete. XXX
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Miss you Pete! Glad you like Ted 🙂 I’m looking forward to watching Ted 2.
Watch Rachel and the STranger again! It was far more comical than I expected and very enjoyable.
I don’t like Cannibal Holocaust an awful lot, The Green Inferno was definitely a lot more low rent but you know when you just enjoy something for what it is? Sinister was terribly disappointing!
How are you? And how is Ollie?
Ooh, I must look up Train to Busan!! xxx
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My review of Train to Busan is on the blog now. I didn’t much care for Cannibal Holocaust myself.
Me and Ollie are OK. Well sort-of, as I had two funerals in January, got a high-speed puncture on the A11, and have had the flu and stomach pains for ten days!
But I’m staying positive, and keeping cheerful! Miss you too honey. XXX
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The Chase is great. Which is your fave chaser? Mine is The Beast.
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Dark Destroyer!!! LOVE The Chase 🙂 I love it so much it’s not normal.
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The Solicitor eh? He’s polite and low-key 🙂 The Beast is so cocky ha. Would you ever go on there? Do you giggle like Bradley?
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I love him! He’s a softie, I love how he makes out he’s all miserable and moody but you can see what a sweetie he is! Plus he ‘destroys’ the final chase (usually!). The Beast is great too, I like all of them a lot to be fair, did you see recently when he stormed off and punched the wall?!
Bradley cracks me up!! The chasers are great but the show definitely wouldn’t be the same without him 🙂
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I remmeber that episode. It was almost a brilliant save. I’d forgotten there were two Strauss’. The celeb ones are so funny. They always include at least one cheeky question that is cheekily rude and he can’t stop haha.
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I thought Ted was hilarious. Haven’t watched the sequel either.
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I am definitely going to watch it at some point! Will you? 🙂
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HI Emma,
Cool article, would be nice if you could stop spamming toplijster.be for backlinks though!
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I have never (knowingly) spammed you or anyone.
As I said in my email of today, please provide me with the links to these backlinks as I have literally no idea what you’re talking about.
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You just can’t beat watching Home Alone at Christmas! (I make my children watch it too!) :-p
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It’s the best Christmas film isn’t it! And yes you must do 🙂 do they love it too? Sometimes I wonder if we just love it because we grew up with it, I hope new generations enjoy it just as much!
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My little boy was chuckling away! I make them watch all the classics… whether they like them or not! Hehe!
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