Here’s what square eyed Mikey Wolfman been watching throughout August 2021.
Anyone who’s followed this here movie blog of mine may of noticed I had, some what, disappeared. It had been nice having a break with the family and doing home stuff but I did really missed it. However, it proved difficult to return. Like I said in last month’s watched list, “I’m determined to be back in September but, hehe, watch this space!!!” Well I did it with Brighton Rock and have a few more back in the running’s. It’s good to be back scribbling nonsense and learning little factoids along the way. Anyway, less of that and more of this, very late, monthly round-up…
The TV
What If?... This new Marvel series on DisneyPlus is so much fun. Based on the old comic book series it features Uatu, The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) looking down from the skies and describing certain events in time that could of taken a whole different path. How one small change could completely flip the story on it’s head. They rarely go well! Mostly all voiced by the original actors including Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa and What If? he was Star Lord from Guardian of the Galaxy. It’s a emotional watch as it would be Chadwick’s last performance. Other episodes so far that have been intense are the Doctor Strange tale that is extremely deep. And the latest one, ZOMBIES which is full-on frantic and so needs to be made into a film.
The Films
15 films this month and a total of 117 this year
1051 since the start of the blog in January 2017.
We Are The Millers (2013) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7
A fun comedy. I really didn’t think I was gonna like it to be honest. Then it managed to get me chuckling along right from the get-go. A middle aged pot dealer (Jason Sudeikis) has to create a fake family as cover for a drug smuggling trip across the Mexican border. Of course everything goes from easy mission to impossible to death dodging within no time. It’s silly but good-natured and fun. The Luis Guzman bit is so wrong and hilarious.
Blitz (2011) – Wolfman Rating 6 – IMDB Rating 6.2
Anyone who’s followed my monthly watch list posts over the last 4 plus years might of noticed I usually slot in a Jason Statham movie on a boozy Friday night for some action fun. Can’t be many left to see!! However I managed to find another. This one is a Brit production. It’s starts very well but increasingly starts to lose the plot. In the end it seemed a bit pointless. Aiden Gillen goes overboard loony, Paddy Considine isn’t too bad and the Stath keeps it Stathy. He plays a damaged cop tracking down a deranged cop-killer. A sub-plot with Zane Ashton was kind of silly and there’s a heap of actors like David Morrissey, Ned Dennehy and Mark Rylance to booster it up but unfortunately its all over the place imho.
The Castle (1997) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 7.7
I’d been trying to watch this Australian film for over two decades! At the time I could not find it anywhere. Then, shamefully, I forgot about it. It then appeared on a list I had written, I dropped everything. It’s so good. Ok it might of dated a bit but for me it still held up and had me laughing all the way through. Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) loves nothing more than his family, his home and his small community. His house is his Castle. He’s put everything into it. Ok it might be at the end of a airport runway but it’s his home. When the airport decides to expand, Darryl’s and his neighbours homes are in the way. Darryl tries everything to stay and takes on the courts.
Robot and Frank (2012) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7
Second watch for me. It’s a nice sweet tale of an ex-jewel living alone and slowly losing his mind to dementia. His son believes a robot can look after him. Frank (Frank Langella) isn’t happy at all with this “helping hand” until he discovers his new robot friend might have other uses, like maybe a lookout? I really enjoy this film again.
The Island (2005) – Wolfman Rating 6.5 – IMDB Rating 6.8
Starts really good. Felt sure I’d seen this? Sure I had? Watching again! I soon notice I hadn’t. First off I’m thinking this has to be Michael Bay’s “best” film? The sci-fi set-up was great, I liked the world and it was really quite restraint for Mr Bay! Then halfway through all hell breaks loose and we back in familiar Bay country. And man-O-man does it go stupid! Real shame. Plus the product placement was insane. Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson do their best Logan’s Run impressions.
Black Widow (2021) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 6.8
Scarlett Johansson is back on my watch list and back in sexy kick-out assassin superhero Natasha Romanoff mode. A movie filled with a whole project of Black Widows. We all enjoyed it as a family action flick. Unfortunately it feels a tad forgettable even though there’s a heap of cool action scenes and mega fights. David Harbour was good for the comic relief part. I’m sure to be watching it again sometime.
The Lobster (2015) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 7.2
This is not for everyone. It’s bonkers. My 2nd viewing as I introduced to my daughter. She loved it too. From Greek director and writer Yorgos Lanthimos. Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz star next to lots of familiar names. Right, what’s it about you ask? Well, it’s against the law to be single you see. If you are, you’ll find yourself in the “hotel”. You have 45 days to find a partner or you will be transformed into an animal of your choice and set free in The Woods? It’s quirky and I love it.
Suggs – My Life Story (2018) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 6.8
The Lobster finished and this started on the telly. We couldn’t be arsed to move so we watched it. It’s really very good. It set up as a stage show and a kind of a comedy stand-up performance with musical interludes. What makes it even better is there’s animation, archive footage and reenactments. Suggs, the lead singer from the band Madness tells his life story in a very unique way. Very recommended.
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 7.4
I loved the Netflix series The Witcher with Henry Cavill and am eagerly awaiting the new season. As a little back story to Witcher’s they dropped in this animated tale in a standalone story. I wasn’t that sure I liked it at first but as the story developed it sure goes bonkers. I haven’t read the book series, so can’t comment too much but I enjoyed it. Now bring forth the series now please.
The Suicide Squad (2021) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 7.4
James Gunn smashes this DC film little excursion away from Marvel. It’s so much fun and ridiculous entertainment. This second outing for another bunch of misfits wipes the floor with the first film, which was unfortunately a dud. They didn’t feel the need to add a number “2” in the title, they just added a “The” and probably swept the the first film under the dusty mat. There’s so many funny and outrageous scenes. Sweet to have the crazy and sexy Margot Robbie doing her loony Harley Quinn again. So many silly moments and nutty characters like Peacemaker (John Cena) and killer cute King Shark amazingly voiced by Sylvester Stallone. Both need their own films. Sit back, flick the shoes off, crack open a brew and get ready for the ride.
Fargo (1996) – Wolfman Rating 10 – IMDB Rating 8.1
Another Coen Brothers masterpiece. 5th time seeing it, this time with my daughter as it’s on her study list for Uni. It’s perfection, absolute perfection. Nuff said!
Brighton Rock (1948) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 7.3
Haha I did it, at last! Blow the party whistles and the kazoo’s. At last I got around to watching this British noir classic which I’ve been meaning to for decades and finally got to write a new review after a long pause. Check it out here if you wish… Brighton Rock (1948) Psychotic Pocket Rocket Slashes And Intimidates
Life After Flash (2017) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 6.6
Director, writer Lisa Downs does so well to get so many heads involved in the ace project. So great to watch as I’ve always been a massive fan of Flash Gordon (1980). Sam J Jones was a great sport for doing this. I loved the way he sets himself up. It’s kind of angled being about him however at the same time it’s just a love letter homage to the cult campy sci-fi classic. A few highlights, Melody Anderson looks amazing and came across so natural, funny and friendly. Peter Wyngarde was brilliantly campy deadpan funny, not knowing if he was joking or not. lol.. Then of course Brian Blessed bellowed his trademark booming voice and was his usual hilarious fantastic self. Would of liked to have seen Timothy Dalton and the ultimate naughty girl, Ornella Muti, I mean Princess Aura. If you love Flash, you have big fun with this doc and it’s on Prime if you got it.
Elysium (2013) – Wolfman Rating 6.5 – IMDB Rating 6.6
I went back for a re-watch of Neill Blomkamp’s follow up from District 9. I wasn’t that fussed with it the first time and to be honest, where I enjoyed watching it again there’s just something missing. Not sure what. Cool ideas and visuals as usual. I wish Sharlto Copley bad guy was toned down. What was fun, was spotting Pablo Escobar in the cast. The actor Wagner Moura would go on to play the Colombian drug lord to perfection in the series Narcos a few years later.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 7.8
Rogue One is by far my favourite Star Wars film since the end of the original trilogy. It got the mood right, the landscapes look incredible. A very worthy prequel for A New Hope and the way it all connects up gives this middle age man goosebumps. It seamlessly joins the opening beginning of the film that still blows my mind now as it did, 40 plus years ago. By the way Disney if you are reading this comment please make standalone films for K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), the reprogrammed Imperial security droid, and a film for the friendship of Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen) and Baze Malbus (Wen Jiang). Thank you Walt and the gang… hehe…
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Thanks for popping on by my humble little movie site.
Any goodies in there you have seen and liked? Thoughts, recommends etc always welcome if you fancy too.
Keep watching the screens. Thanks for having a look to see what’s been watched. All the best……… The howling one, Mikey
