I like time travel stories, but there are plenty around that make little or no sense, dealing with the concept in a way that doesn’t bear too close examination. As such, in no particular order, here are some films that I think are better examples of time travel story-telling. Primer (2004) Potentially one of the…
“The Equalizer 2” came out in 2018, and while this isn’t exactly a review of the film, it had me thinking about the often odd behaviour of bad guys in action flicks. (Disclaimer: my comments are based solely on what seems logical and not on any knowledge of military or secret agent tactics and training).…
“Miracle on 34th Street” is a famous Christmas movie loved by people all over the world. Consequently, I must admit that when I watched it the other night, it was for the very first time! However, I found it well worth watching and leaves the audience with a happy feeling. The plot centres around a…
Recently I finished watching a fantasy tv series called “Carnival Row”. It was heavily influenced by themes of racism, the plight of refugees, slavery and even genocide. I was surprised to learn it had been criticised for this, with some people insisting that such ‘politics’ had no place in a fantasy story. However this is…
When you hear that song that reminds you of something you don’t quite remember but you feel a melancholy longing for the intangible When you listen to music that fills you with joy so great you feel as if you might burst with happiness Reading a poem that tears deep into your soul stabbing to…
“Triangle” is a supernatural thriller, and follows Jess (Melissa George), a single mother of a disabled son, who accepts an invitation to go sailing with a friend and his other friends. After running into trouble at sea, they come across a huge steam ship and board it, only to find it (apparently) deserted. Characters are…
“Son of Frankenstein” was third in the Universal Studios Frankenstein series, following “Frankenstein” and “Bride of Frankenstein.” This film was directed by Rowland Lee, and starred Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Basil Rathbone. It has much more to recommend it than you might imagine. The plot follows Wolf Von Frankenstein (Basil Rathbone) as he comes…
Many years ago I watched “Mulholland Drive” on video. (Yes, it was that long ago.) And I hated it. As far as I was concerned, it made absolutely no sense, and was a waste of time to watch. Over the years since, I kept on hearing about how good this film was from various sources,…
“Knives Out” is a comedy/whodunnit directed by Rian Johnson. It boasts an impressive cast, led by Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, and also included Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette and Christopher Plummer. It is an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, based around the death of a family patriarch under suspicious…
Joaquin Phoenix stars in “Joker”, an origin story film about the Batman villain’s beginnings in the city of Gotham. Directed by Todd Phillips, the film focuses on Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill man who works as a clown, but dreams of being a stand-up comedian. A film combining excellent direction, a magnificent performance from the…
Eclectic Assemblage 