Pope Leo XIII Leaving Carriage and Being Ushered Into Garden, No. 104 (1898)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. The pope gets out of a carriage and sits on a chair.
A rather long title for a simple film. Could have done with moving the camera back a bit to get more in shot but mostly fine. No doubt important as a historical record if not that entertaining.
3/5
James Grundy, Buck and Wing (1895)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film staring James Grundy. A man dances to the harmonica.
A fun little short with not a huge amount to it. Captures dancing that is recognisable to the modern eye. Nicely done.
3/5
Warships at Sunset (1900)
Directed by William K. L, Dickson this is an early short film. Warships at sea sail in a convoy.
I am not sure the sun is actually setting, otherwise a nice little short. Not much to it but it does cast a striking image. Decent for what it is.
3/5
Women Talking (2022)
Directed by Sarah Polley this film based on the novel of the same name stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy and Jessie Buckley. Women in a strict religious community discuss what they should do after sexual assaults by the men of community come to light.
Both depressing and amazing this is a great look at oppressive communities and the impact of sexual violence on women in general. While this is one of those films that would work as a play it never feels constrained by limited locations. About the only thing I did not like was the muted colour filter used.
4/5
Rumours (2024)
Directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson & Galen Johnson this film has an ensemble cast featuring Cate Blanchett, Charles Dance, Roy Dupuis and Nikki Amuka-Bird. Leaders at the G7 summit find themselves abandoned in the woods as strange creatures roam about.
A rare case of a film with three listed directors that is not a complete car crash. Works well as a satire of how out of touch the world leaders can seem to be. Great final moment of the leaders giving a meaningless speech as the world burns around them.
4/5
Kraven the Hunter (2024)
Directed by J. C. Chandor this comic book adaptation stars Aaron Taylor Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Alessandro Nivola and Russell Crowe. A young man uses super natural powers to hunt bad people.
As someone who loved Chandor's Margin Call it is disappointing to see him turning out the latest serving of slop in Sony's attempt to cling onto what Marvel rights they still have. This film shambles through the motions of a superhero film with no emotional depth. Even the action sequences did not draw me in.
2/5
Duel to the Death (1898)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Two women have a knife fight.
Sure this is not the height of Hong Kong action yet it is fairly entertaining. A decent film for the period with good surviving image quality. Well acted by the two stars.
3/5
Man on Parallel Bars (1892)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A man on gym bars.
Unfortunately the action does not even stay in frame here. An early lesson in needing to move the camera back. Not the best from Dickson.
2/5
Rip's Toast to Hudson (1896)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. I suppose Rip toasts Hudson?
Like many films in this series it is hard to make out exactly what is going on in the scene and who is who. This early attempt at narrative film making did not hit the mark for me. Not really worth seeking out.
2/5
Place de la Concorde (1896)
Directed by Paul Nadar this is an early short film. A street view of a public square in Paris.
A nice entry into the genre, plenty of action as people go about their lives. Even if there is no plot it is a fun watch. Good for what it is, decent image quality.
3/5
Kindling (2023)
Written & directed by Connor O'Hara this film stars George Somner, Conrad Khan, Wilson Mbomio and Mia McKenna-Bruce. A young man with a terminal illness spends his last summer with his four childhood friends.
It would have been very easy for this film to be overly sentimental but it is expertly made. As we get closer and closer to the conclusion the film drips with sadness. A great look at mortality and friendship.
4/5
Sacramento (2024)
Directed by writer and star Michael Angarano this film also features Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart and Maya Erskine. Two men overcome anxiety about fatherhood.
I really enjoyed the off beat nature of this comedy, not everything has to be in your face. There is a lot to enjoy here even if it is not especially challenging Michael Cera. A couple of really laugh out loud moments in the film.
3/5
Juror No. 2 (2024)
Directed by Clint Eastwood this film stars Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons and Kiefer Sutherland. A man serving on a jury quickly realises he may have accidentally committed the crime the defendant is on trial for.
You can see what this film is going for, putting a different spin on 12 Angry Men, it just never sticks the execution. There is a real failure to go anywhere and I have to wonder if this “ends justify the means” discussion is an attempt by a Conservative to justify another Trump presidency. A miss for me despite the promise.
2/5
Danses Russes (1896)
Directed by Paul Nadar this is an early short film. Two women perform a Russian themed dance.
I have no idea if this is an authentic Russian dance or not, it is entertaining either way. Great image quality for the period. Really fun little short.
3/5
Paul Nadar pratiquant l'escrime (1896)
Directed by and staring Paul Nadar this is an early short film. A man shows off his sword fighting moves with a wooden cane.
Something very charming about this simple short. Captures a bit of the character of a man that remains familiar till today. Pretty fun.
3/5
Rue Royale (1896)
Directed by Paul Nadar this is an early short film. We see a simple street scene.
There is plenty of action captured in this short. Image quality is really good given the age. A fun little slice of history.
3/5
Paul Nadar list l'Echo de Paris a la terrasse d'un cafe (1896)
Directed by Paul Nadar this short film stars the director. A man reads a news paper.
A very simple short, possibly the first self portrait in cinema? Surprisingly good image quality. Has some charm even if there is not much to it.
3/5
Scene de reve (1896)
Directed by Paul Nadar this is an early short film. Two actresses perform a short scene.
There is not a huge amount to this scene but it does manage to have a bit of charm to it. The dancing is pretty decent. While the image quality is a bit suspect in places it holds up for the most part.
3/65
Such a Lovely Day (2023)
Written & directed by Simon Woods this short film stars Eve Best, Edward Bluemel and Chuku Modu. A boy and his parents visit family for a large gathering.
You can see what this is going for, the underlying tension of a domestic abuse covered up in public, but I'm not sure the execution works. The rich people setting is a little too disarming for a start. Nicely shot at least.
2/5
Les Deux Gosses (1896)
Directed by Paul Nadar this is an early short film. Two women by a fire.
There is not a huge amount to this one but the image quality is really good for the period. It is nice to see something attempting a dramatic scene from a pre-1900 film. I like the painted backdrop, a hint of things to come in cinema.
3/5
I Walked with a Zombie (1943)
Directed by Jacques Tourneur this film stars Frances Dee, James Ellison and Tom Conway. A nurse goes to work on a Caribbean island caring for a woman without a mind.
You can see what this one is trying to do but it just does not work in my opinion. There is a lot to explore with how slaves were treated in the Caribbean and I do not this a Jane Ayre lite is the vehicle for it. I can not see why this one gets the praise it does.
2/5
The Levelling (2016)
Written & directed by Hope Dickson Leach this film stars Ellie Kendrick and David Troughton. A young woman returns home to the family farm after the suicide of her brother.
Short and not that remarkable there is nothing that special about this film. It is fine for what it is but never becomes more than the sum of its parts. Lots of familiar elements both for grief films and those set in rural England.
3/5
Past Lives (2023)
Written & directed by Celine Song this film stars Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro. A man and a women reconnect years after one of them has emigrated from Korea.
Incredibly beautiful, this film is not to be missed. The film manages to be both gentle and super hard hitting. A brilliant look at paths not travelled.
5/5
Danse du papillon (1896)
Directed by Paul Nadar this is an early short film. A dance with a flowing dress.
A staple of the period, it seems very film catalogue of this time needs a short covering a dance like this. Similar to others of the same topic. Survives in good quality.
3/5
Mademoiselle Zambelli de l'Opera (1896)
Directed by Paul Nadar this is an early short film. A clip of Carlotta Zambelli dancing.
Surprisingly good quality film given when it was made, the image is really clear and has a lot of detail. A nice little dance short captured in a single static shot. Good for what it is.
3/5
William Tell (2024)
Written & directed by Nick Hamm this film stars Claes Bang, Connor Swindells and Golshifteh Farahani. As Austria looks to dominate Switzerland a folk hero arises.
Neither the budget or the writing are at the level for the scale this film wants to operate on. The film is pretty limp through out then decides to unnecessarily sequel bait us at the end. Another poor effort from the Sky Originals line, I suspect the Swiss might have something to say about what has been done to their national foundation myth too.
2/5
Sharp Corner (2024)
Written & directed by Jason Buxton this film stars Ben Foster and Cobie Smulders. After moving into a new house a man becomes obsessed with car crashes on the dangerous corner outside.
I was expecting this to be a remake of one of those Scandinavian films on the anxiety over masculinity, pleasantly surprised to find it is original. As always Ben Foster is incredibly watchable, man always gives a great performance. An enthralling watch.
4/5
Danses Slaves (1896)
Directed by Paul Nadar this is an early short film. Two people perform a traditional dance for the camera.
Rather than featuring slaves as the title suggests it is Slavs that are the feature of this film. Very enjoyable and more action than some of the other dance films of the period. An entertaining watch.
3/5
Rip Passing Over the Mountain (1896)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A man passing over a mountain.
It is not even a mountain and he does not go over it. So the film pretty much fails to live up to the title leaving not much else to it. A real disappointment in a series of disappointments.
1/5
Rip Meeting the Dwarf (1896)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this short film stars Joseph Jefferson. Rip meets a dwarf.
It is a bit hard to tell who is supposed to be who here, does a man crouching down really pass for a dwarf? Weak effort with little action. Not worth seeking out.
1/5
Rip's Twenty Years' Sleep (1896)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this short film stars Joseph Jefferson. A man goes to sleep?
Another entry in the series where it is a bit hard to tell what is going on. A man lies down but you do not get the impression of twenty years passing. I guess you need to know the story well to see where this fits in.
2/5
Rip's Toast (1896)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film staring Joseph Jefferson. A man makes a toast.
It is a bit hard to tell the context of what his happening here but at least you can see what is going on. As a stand alone there is not a huge amount to this short. Obviously other films of the same era did not have much to them either.
2/5
Saltburn (2023)
Written & directed by Emerald Fennell this film stars Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant. In 2006 a scholarship pupil at Oxford worms his way into the life of a popular upper class student.
A lot of similar films exist and I am not really sure what this one adds to the genre. By no means does this film do anything wrong I am just not sure it does anything exceptional or new. Enjoyable regardless of how familiar it is.
3/5
Gladiator II (2024)
Directed by Ridley Scott this sequel stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington. Sixteen years after the events of the first film another man is brought to Rome as a gladiator.
A poor facsimile of the original there are just too many reminders you are watching a worse version of a film that already exists. There are too many contrivances in plot that is overly complicated and lacking in clear emotional arcs. Even Denzel can not save this one, the cast just falls short.
2/5
Rip Leaving Sleepy Hollow (1896)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Rip Van Winkle leaves Sleepy Hollow.
If you can pick out what is happening from the action on screen as it relates to any story then you are doing better than me. This is another film in the series where it is too hard to tell what is going on. As a stand alone this is pretty useless.
2/5
Exit of Rip and the Dwarf (1896)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Part of a series of scenes from the story of Rip Van Winkle.
Without knowing the story of Rip Van Winkle it is hard to tell what is going on here. This snap shot is so short as to even make it hard to work out who is who. Does not work as a stand alone.
2/5
Clerks III (2022)
Directed by Kevin Smith this film stars Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson and Trevor Fehrman. After suffering a heart attack Randal decides to make a film about his life as a clerk.
Highly self referential this film is likely not for everyone. Even as a fan of Smith's work in the past I found this one skirting the edge of cheese towards the end and lacking a bit in humour. Not bad for a third visit to the well.
3/5
Crissie Sheridan (1897)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Crissie Sheridan does a dance in a flowing white dress.
Similar to other dance films of the period. Nothing much to make this one stand out. Not much to remark on if you have seen any of the other films of this type.
3/5
'Salem's Lot (2024)
Directed by Gary Dauberman this film based on the novel of the same name stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh and Jordan Preston Carter. A writer visits the small town he grew up in and finds it is falling under the control of a vampire.
You can see what this one is going for in an exploration of the death of small town America however if the novel nails it then it was lost in the adaptation. As a genre movie this is fine but it is definitely not as memorable as other Stephen King adaptations, even ones from this same director. Might have needed a longer run time to play things out properly.
3/5
New Blacksmith Shop (1895)
Directed by William Heise and William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A blacksmith at work.
Simple in content and action. Fine for what it is, nothing that will linger in the memory. Pretty standard film for the period.
3/5
Joker: Folie a Deux (2024)
Directed by Todd Phillips this sequel stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. While in prison waiting trial Arthur falls in love with a young woman.
I really do not understand all the hate this sequel got, sure it point blank refuses to be what people who missed the point of the original wanted but who cares about them? Some really good choices as we dip further into the mind of Arthur Fleck. More great performances and fully entertaining.
4/5
Billy Edwards and the Unknown (1895)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. A short clip from a boxing match.
As boxing matches go the action here is pretty tame. Maybe one for boxing historians, not that impressive otherwise. Not much to this one.
2/5
Cock Fight, No. 2 (1894)
Directed by William Heise and William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Two cocks fight it out.
Thankfully short as I do not really like seeing this kind of thing. While it may be a popular pass time in large parts of the world it is still rather cruel. Not for me.
2/5
The Hornbacker-Murphy Fight (1894)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. Two men have a boxing match.
A small snippet of a fight. Compared to modern boxing this is a lot more pushing round than actual fighting. Not that special but I suppose a fine historical record.
3/5
Pope Leo XIII Being Seated Bestowing Blessings (1900)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. The first time a Pope is caught on film.
Existing mostly as a historical record I am sure this is important to some. As a piece of entertainment there is not a huge amount to this one. Still fairly interesting.
3/5
Home Delivery (2024)
Directed by Thom Harp this film stars Melanie Field, Lindsay Sloane, Donald Faison and Jimmi Simpson. A plus size model invites her family to the birth of her child.
I kind of which we had the full serious version of this film as it is pretty touching when it goes all in on the drama. There are some decent laughs so maybe the comedy parts are not without merit. Great cast, especially in the supporting roles.
3/5
The Luckiest Man in America (2024)
Directed by Samir Oliveros this film based on real events stars Paul Walter Hauser, Walton Goggins and David Strathairn. A man gets on to a game show knowing he can beat the system.
The script of this film takes a large number of liberties to condense things down so all the action takes place over one day and I am not sure it is the better for it. We do not really get to know enough of the protagonist and I am not a fan of some of the changes to events. If nothing else highlights a fascinating piece of tv gameshow history.
3/5
Anora (2024)
Directed by Sean Baker this film stars Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn and Yura Borisov. A New York stripper has a Las Vegas wedding to the son of a Russian oligarch that she has only known for two weeks.
Hollywood loves the tale of a hooker with a heart of gold and this is another entry into that pantheon. Compared to Baker's other films I found this one all a bit to safe and a little over indulgent, the first section of the film could have been trimmed down a bit. I did enjoy the film even if it was nothing new.
3/5
Annabelle Sun Dance (1894)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this short film stars Annabelle Moore. A woman does a dance.
I am not entirely sure how this is different from the other dances Moore has done on film, still it is fairly entertaining. The hand tinted section is nice, no idea if that is original or not. Fine for a short of the period.
3/5
Glenroy Bros., No. 2 (1894)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. Two men perform part of a boxing act.
A bit like WWE before WWE. Not really enough to be enjoyable. Need to see more of the act to really get it.
3/5
Exhibiting Forgiveness (2024)
Written & directed by Titus Kaphar this film stars Andre Holland, Andra Day, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and John Earl Jelks. An artist's mother tries to get him to forgive his drug addict father.
For my taste this is too much unchallenged Christianity in this film, I would really have liked if the protagonist pushed back more against the characters hiding behind their faith. That being said this is a pretty good look at addiction, abuse and the need to forgive to be able to move on with your own life. Some great performances from the cast.
4/5
Monkeyshines, No. 3 (1890)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. A camera test from the Edison company film labs.
Not much too this one and it is a bit hard to make out what is going on. Image quality is understandably not the best. Not worth seeking out.
2/5
Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph (1894)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. Two men meet in an exhibition boxing match.
A short snippet of a fight rather than the full Raging Bull of the period. Fine for what it is I suppose. Image quality is not exactly fantastic.
3/5
Your Monster (2024)
Written & directed by Caroline Lindy this film stars Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster and Meghann Fahy. A young woman scorned finds her voice again thanks to the monster living in her closet.
Nothing you would not expect here but the film is pretty well done. There is some charm to the script and performances. Enjoyable even if it is not that deep.
3/5
Venom: The Last Dance (2024)
Directed by Kelly Marcel this sequel stars Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple and Rhys Ifans. On the run from the law our hero also finds himself on the run from aliens hunting Venom.
The plot for this film is convoluted and really needed a major re-write. I struggle to find anything to enjoy about this one, the characters get pretty much no development. In the end this is a load of elements thrown at the wall without thinking things through.
2/5
Sioux Ghost Dance (1894)
Directed by William Heise and William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A traditional Sioux dance captured on film.
Unfortunately the image quality of this one is pretty bad. I found it very hard to make out what is going on. Not the best either for entertainment or as a historical record.
2/5
Launch of the “Oceanic” (1899)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We the launch of a large ship.
A nice little short, pretty impressive action. No doubt a nice historical record. Also includes lens flare from a time before J. J. Abrams.
3/5
McKinley at Home, Canton Ohio (1896)
Directed by William K. L Dickson and Billy Bitzer this is an early short film. Two men walk towards the camera.
Not great in terms of image quality or content. The men never really get close enough to the camera to pick out their features well. I would not be able to tell you which is McKinley.
2/5
Me and My Two Friends (1898)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early sort film. A young girl with her two pets.
This is barely a film, only a handful of seconds long. What does survive has really good image quality, much better than a lot of pre-1900 films. Fairly cute.
3/5
A Nice Indian boy (2024)
Directed by Roshan Sethi this film based on the play of the same name stars Karan Soni, Jonathan Groff and Sunita Mani. A gay Indian brings home his first boyfriend to meet his family.
This film could easily have gone for some very obvious conflict, lacking in subtly instead it goes for a much better, softer take on the conflict. I really like the way this film is put together, no cheese and some real charm. I would not have guessed it was based on a play, it does a good job of moving the scenes around locations.
4/5
The Front Room (2024)
Directed by the Eggers Brothers this film stars Brandy, Kathryn Hunter and Andrew Burnap. A couple expecting a baby have the husband's abusive elderly step mother move in with them.
It is obvious from the get go where this one is going and it is a case of sitting through waiting for it to happen. Based on a short story I am not sure there was enough content to fill out the film. I lost interest while waiting for the inevitable to happen.
2/5
Old Guy (2024)
Directed by Simon West this film stars Christoph Waltz, Lucy Lui, Cooper Hoffman and Desmond Eastwood. An ageing hitman is paired with a new hitman.
You can see what this film is trying to do it is just not very good. I would guess the whole budget went on Waltz and Lui because I can not see any other reason for them to be in this film. A weak script means this never really gets off the ground.
2/5
Visit to Pompeii (1901)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A collection of scenes from a visit to Pompeii.
Pretty cool in the variety of scenes that are stitched together, something a bit unusual for the period. What it lacks for in action it does make up for in the variety. A nice little watch.
3/5
Retreat (2011)
Directed by Carl Tibbetts this film stars Cillian Murphy, Thandiwe Newton and Jamie Bell. A couple staying on a remote Scottish island are joined by a man claiming a virus is sweeping the world.
I suppose the set up for this film is fine, remote location with people trapped there but it does not really go anywhere. Any potential is squandered by the script not really knowing where it wants to go. Given the cast some of the performances are even a bit weak.
2/5
A Visit to the Seaside (1908)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. Clips of people at the sea side.
Colour adds something unique to this film which makes it an important milestone in film making even if the content is not that special. Not that special in and of itself. Solid film for the period.
3/5
Grand Display of Brock's Fireworks at Crystal Palace (1904)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. We see clips from a firework display.
While the hand colouring adds some charm to this short film it does also cause a small amount of loss of detail. I did not find this one as awe inspiring as some seem to. A fun little short, nothing more.
3/5
Escape from the 21st Century (2024)
Directed by Li Yang this film stars Zhang Ruoyun, Elane Zhong, Song Yang and Wu Xiaoliang. In 1999 three 18 year olds find they can travel 20 years into the future and back by sneezing.
To be honest I am not sure this one works, it sets up rules for times travel then breaks them anyway. There is plenty of action which sort of makes up for the plot holes. Fun till it starts to drag towards the end.
2/5
A Different Man (2024)
Written & directed by Aaron Schimberg this film stars Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson. After a radical change of appearance a man starts to lose all sense of identity.
A good mix of dark comedy and thought provoking events. I was a bit worried this film would fall back on simplistic cheese, thankfully it avoids that. Good performances, well worth checking out.
4/5
Coming 2 America (2021)
Directed by Craig Brewer this sequel stars Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Nomzamo Mbatha and Kiki Layne. Upon becoming king our hero finds he has a long lost bastard son.
I have not seen the original this film is a sequel to but I managed to follow this film fine. The plot is incredibly predictable and takes forever to get to the inevitable conclusions. Not enough humour to sustain this tiresome sequel.
2/5
Old London Street Scenes (1903)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. We see a collection of street scenes from London.
A nice little short that captures life of the day. Busy streets show us how people lived their normal lives. More of a historical record than peak entertainment.
3/5
Mary Jane's Mishap (1903)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film staring Laura Bayley. A young woman has a mishap with shoe polish and then another with paraffin.
There is an impressive amount of acting in this short, something unseen in a lot of films of the period. I really liked the personality captured here. A fun short with an explosive ending!
3/5
Giraffe (2023)
Directed by Caleb Femi this is a short film. Two young men live in a world where youth culture is repressed.
While it might not go anywhere this is something of a decent set up and good metaphor. Does at least provoke some thought on the way we treat culture and coming of age. Needed to really play up the horror element a bit more in my opinion.
3/5
The Boys in the Boat (2023)
Directed by George Clooney this film based on real events stars Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner. Working class students take on the elite in their own country then internationally at rowing.
To be honest there are far too many cliché and forced elements in this film to take it too seriously. This is a familiar slice of sports Ameri-wank. Fine for what it is but very forgettable.
3/5
Poison (2024)
Directed by Desiree Nosbusch this film based on the play of the same name stars Tim Roth and Trine Dyrholm. Ten years after the death of their son a couple reconnect.
Like many plays adapted to film this film suffers a little from the lack of variety in action and location, the stage roots are very obvious. That being said this is a solid exploration of grief and how to live with it, ignoring the melodramatic or preachy routes films often go down. Handles the subject matter well and has decent performances.
4/5
Bettlejuice Bettlejuice (2024)
Directed by Tim Burton this sequel stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara and Jenna Ortega. Following the death of her father Lydia returns home and her daughter accidentally agrees to swap places with a ghost.
Mostly this is a fun romp without too much depth to it. There is just enough charisma from Keaton to carry the whole thing. While I have seen the original I do not remember much about it and managed to get through this without feeling like I was missing out on anything.
3/5
Black Dog (2024)
Directed by Guan Hu this film stars Eddie Peng and Tong Liya. A man released from prison returns home to a remote Chinese town with a stray dog problem.
Moving at a slower pace than many films you will need a bit of patience to shit through this film. I really like the way this film looks at the fate of outsiders as the march of progress casts them aside. Moody and thought provoking, a great watch.
4/5
Fording the River (1910)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. Various horse drawn vehicles ford a river.
A nice early use of colour in a pastoral scene. Really captures a slice of life as people cross a river. Wish I knew the location this was shot at!
3/5
Comic Shaving (1897)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A man shaves.
The image quality of this one is not the best so it is a bit hard to tell what is going on. Why this one is funny does not really seem to have transcended time, it went over my head. Not the best.
2/5
Buidheagain (2018)
Directed by Tony Kearney this short film stars Daibhidh Walker and Catriona Lexy Chaimbeul. A young traveller girl raises chickens.
I found this film to be overly simplistic and clearly aimed at audiences still in the single digits age wise. It is hard to find much to like about this one really as an older viewer. Notable only for being in Gaelic.
2/5
Animated Doll and Toy Town Circus (1912)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. Toys act out circus scenes.
A great mix of stop motion animation and colour photography. Sure there is not much to it but it has a level of charm and entertainment. A lot of fun and impressive for the period.
4/5
Tartans of Scottish Clans (1906)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. We see a collection of tartans and the clans they belong to.
Not a lot to this one in terms of entertainment value. I am sure it serves as a nice record but to watch it is very dry. Needs something more to it to be memorable.
2/5
Mob Cops (2025)
Directed by Danny A Abeckaser this film stars David Arquette and Jeremy Luke. Two corrupt cops work for the mob in New York.
This film suffers from both terrible lighting and terrible writing. If there is a character arc here at all I applaud you for being able to find it. Nothing to recommend this one on at all.
1/5
Speak No Evil (2024)
Directed by James Watkins this remake stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy. An American couple and their daughter living in London go to the countryside visit a family they met on holiday.
Fine for what it is this is a bit of a predictable psychological thriller. Maybe things drag a little in the middle once you know what is going to happen and you are waiting for the inevitable. It seems the ending is changed from the original which I have not seen so I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing.
3/5
Our New Errand Boy (1905)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. A shop gets a new errand boy who is more interested in causing trouble than doing his job.
A fun little short that maybe drags on just a smidge too long. Has a good collection of slapstick gags although none are especially original. Fine for what it is, nothing special.
3/5
The Village Fire Brigade (1907)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. The village fire brigade tackle a fire at a cottage.
Pretty simple in content, takes a while to get to the main event. Eventually the near by town fire brigade shows up to put the locals in their place which I guess is supposed to be the gag here. Pretty impressive fire anyway.
3/5
The Little Match Seller (1902)
Directed by James Williamson this short film is based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen. In the cold of winter a little girl selling matches is ignored by everyone.
An enjoyable little tragedy. There is a good use of special effects to pull this one together. Pretty impressive for the period.
4/5
The Damned (2024)
Directed by Thordur Palsson this film stars Odessa Young, Joe Cole and Rory McCann. Fishermen at a remote arctic fishing bay do nothing to help save men on a sinking ship then become haunted by them.
Mostly I just love the location the film was shot it, stark and cold it is really striking. The folk horror narrative is nothing special and I could have done without the ending reveal. Lacks a little something in the execution.
3/5
Omni Loop (2024)
Written & directed by Bernardo Britto this film stars Mary-Louise Parker and Ayo Edebiri. A 54 year old woman with only a week to live keeps travelling back in time one week trying to stave off the inevitable.
It is pretty clear early on what the film is going for and once you realise that it does drag a little in the middle. Otherwise the film is pretty smart, fairly fun and has the occasional moment of off beat humour. Well made for what it is even if it is not a revolutionary effort.
4/5
Cleaner (2025)
Directed by Martin Campbell this film stars Daisy Ridley, Taz Skylar and Clive Owen. Eco-terrorists take over a high rise building and only a window cleaner can stop them.
I am down for a Daisy Ridley lead action film but the script here was a pure after thought. When you are evoking a genre classic like Die Hard you better come prepared for the comparisons, this film is not even in the same league. Another massive disappointment under the Sky Originals banner which is not a surprise.
2/5
Flying the Foam and Some Fancy Diving (1906)
Directed by James Williamson this film stars “Professor” Reddish. A man rides a bike off a pier.
Basically Jackass for the 1900s crew. Pretty fun and the multiple camera set up captures the action well. Surprisingly well shot.
3/5
Gymnasts on Parallel Bars (1898)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. Men do gymnastics on parallel bars.
Not a huge amount to this one, it lacks any sort of narrative. It is about what you would expect, guys showing off doing gymnastics. The image quality is surprisingly good.
3/5
Washing the Sweep (1898)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. Two washerwomen get revenge on a chimney sweep for carelessly brushing up against clean washing.
A fun little short, you can see the enjoyment on the face of one of the actresses. Not a huge amount to this one but it is entertaining. A solid effort for the period.
3/5
The Polite Lunatic (1905)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. A misunderstanding about the return of a putty knife.
A simple gag that works fairly well. The image quality of the version I saw is not the best, not sure if all surviving copies are that low quality. Fine for what it is.
3/5
A Mistake (2024)
Written & directed by Christine Jeffs this film stars Elizabeth Banks, Simon McBurney and Richard Crouchley. A mistake in surgery has effect that ripple through the life of a surgeon.
A fairly interesting film about medical care and transparency. Thought provoking at least even if events do stretch credibility a little bit. Banks's New Zealand accent is best not focused on too much as it does come and go a bit.
3/5
Between the Temples (2024)
Directed by Nathan Silver this film stars Jason Schwartzman, Carol Kane and Madeline Weinstein. A Jewish widower in his 40s befriends an older widow.
I found this one to be a little off beat and slow for my taste however it is not necessarily bad because of that. There is a bit of the Harold and Mauds about this one. Pretty decent if not for everyone.
3/5
Trap (2024)
Written & directed by M. Night Shyamalan this film stars Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue and Saleka Night Shyamalan. A serial killer takes his daughter to a concert only to find out the police have the whole place surrounded trying to catch him.
The premise sets up a tense scenario that quickly gets unrealistic and the film stays too long once the initial scenario is broken. There is something here it just fails to come together. Nice to at least see an attempt at something different even if it does not work.
2/5
Devil's Dyke Fun Fair (1896)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. A number of scenes at the fun fair.
As a historical document this is no doubt an important record. Fascinating to see how many attractions we have in common with fun fairs of the past. Interesting little watch.
3/5
The Puzzled Bather and His Animated Clothes (1901)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. A man attempts to bathe in the river.
Similar to other films of the period this short involves a man whose clothes keep reappearing on him. Uses simple camera tricks which are common to the era. Fun little short.
3/5
Blood Rites (2022)
Directed by Helena Coan this film stars Mirren Mack, Ella-Rae Smith and Ellis George. Three young women hunt men for blood.
I will be honest, I am not sure where this one was supposed to be going. Good set up but it peters out in my opinion. Bit of a shame as there is potential here.
2/5
Two Naughty Boys Teasing the Cobbler (1898)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. Two schoolboys annoy a cobbler who accidentally takes out his frustration on a woman.
A simple set up with a familiar pay off gag. The image quality on this one is really good give the age of the film. Good early use of narrative to set up the joke.
3/5
Smile 2 (2024)
Written & directed by Parker Finn this film stars Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt and Miles Gutierrez-Riley. A pop star on a come back after a substance abuse scandal is infected by the smile demon.
Given we know how the demon works as this is a sequel I thought this film rather dragged things out, you could knock half an hour off the run time pretty easily. Naomi Scott gives a decent performance but there is not a lot to write home about otherwise. Does not really add anything to the franchise.
2/5
The Parenting (2025)
Directed by Craig Johnson this film stars Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn, Parker Posey and Brian Cox. A gay couple rent a house for a weekend trip to meet each other's parents.
Pretty funny for a horror comedy film even if nothing that special. The supporting cast really helps carry the film, there are some big names as the parents. Not something that will linger in the memory.
3/5
Twisters (2024)
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung this stand alone sequel stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos. After having gotten three of her friends killed storm chasing a young woman is tempted back years later.
While no one would accuse the original of being a master piece it at least had some charm and scientific basis to back it up. This sequel has more action, destruction and reckless behaviour from its characters. Barely a sequel, an unremarkable disaster film.
2/5
Magic Extinguisher (1901)
Directed by James Williamson this short film stars Sam Dalton. A man makes various animals disappear.
Pretty simple camera tricks and you can see the edits in places. Similar to a lot of other stuff of the period, especially from Melies. Fine for what it is.
3/5
Perfect Sense (2011)
Directed by David Mackenzie this film stars Eva Green and Ewan McGregor. A couple fall in love as people round the world lose their senses one by one.
Really this film is only interesting in that it was made in 2011 but does a good job of predicting some of the events of 2020. The love plot is nothing special. Where the film falls down is the heavy handed narration which feels the need to beat us over the head with a rather reductive message.
2/5
Are You There? (1901)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. A man gets caught by the husband having a telephone conversation with a married woman.
Because the man is talking when there is no one on the other end of the phone it rather breaks the illusion of this one. A nice attempt even if it does not work. Interesting to see such an early attempt to get a phone conversation on film.
2/5
Lady Cyclists (1899)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. A large number of women cycle past the camera.
Like many films of the period this is just a single static shot. There is plenty of action and the film does capture a slice of history. Does not seem as distant of a past thanks to this film.
3/5
Touch (2024)
Directed by Baltasar Kormakur this film based on the novel of the same name stars Egill Olafsson and Koki. An Icelandic man studying in London in the 1960s falls in love with a Japanese woman then tries to find her again as the world shuts down for covid.
As a romantic film this is fine, it is a bit on the predictable side. Could have done with trimming a bit in the middle, gets a little slow there. Has a nice selection of locations if nothing else.
3/5
Greedy People (2024)
Directed by Posty Pinciroli this film stars Himesh Patel, Lily James and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Two cops try to cover up an accidental death and find themselves trapped in a web of crime.
Essentially a Coen brothers knock off with a script that needs the comedy punching up a bit. Fine for what it is but not one that will stick with you. I did enjoy seeing Joey Lauren Adams pop up in a small role and Joseph Gordon-Levitt getting to play something a bit different.
3/5
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
Written & directed by Aaron Sorkin this film inspired by real events stars Eddie Redmayne, Scaha Baron Cohen, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Mark Rylance. A group of men are put on trial for allegedly starting a riot.
Unfortunately there are just far too many familiar Sorkin-isms littered through out this film to be able to take it seriously as a reflection of real events. Another case of Sorkin getting overly preachy in my opinion. A real shame that it does not dig into the motivations of some of the key protagonists such as the judge.
2/5
Whimsical Illusions (1909)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician does a number of magic tricks.
A collection of familiar Melies tricks strung together to fill out five minutes. The back drop and colour tinting add a nice level of artistry to the film. Sadly a bit same-y if you have seen other Melies stuff.
3/5
Grandma Threading Her Needle (1900)
Directed by Geroge Albert Smith this is an early short film. An old woman attempts to thread a needle.
An early example of drag on screen. Nothing that special in terms of the action. The film is pretty well preserved.
3/5
Two Old Sports (1900)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. Two men read a magazine and check out a picture of a lady.
Not a huge amount to this one and it lacks a little of the character that other similar films have. Fine for what it is I suppose. Image quality is decent on the BFI version.
3/5
Policeman and Burglar (1902)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A policeman catches a burglar in the act and delivers a beat down.
Good image quality and decent sets. The action is fine for what it is, nothing special. Pretty average film for the period.
3/5
My Penguin Friend (2024)
Directed by David Schurmann this film inspired by real events stars Jean Reno and Adriana Barraza. A retired fisherman in Brazil helps a penguin, the penguin returns to visit him every year.
A bit cheesy and sappy there is not a lot to this film. Essentially this is a piece of viral news stretched out to fill 90 minutes or so. Does not really go anywhere and tries to manufacture some drama in the second half.
2/5
Cuckoo (2024)
Written & directed by Tilman Singer this film stars Hunger Schafer, Dan Stevens and Jan Bluthardt. An older teenager moves with her family to a resort in the German alps.
Given the title the film goes pretty much where you expect. As a horror film it is pretty decent, some sufficiently creepy moments here and there, also nice to see the protagonist actually get a character arc for once. Well made for what it is.
3/5
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)
Directed by Jason Woliner this film stars Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova. A Kazakh journalist travels to the USA in an attempt to give a gift to Mike Pence.
Some how four years later this feels very flat. There are some funny moments however the satire is all a bit too easy and not as biting as you would hope. As we face another four years of Trump maybe that is part of what makes this less funny now.
3/5
Scandal Over the Teacups (1900)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. Two old women gossip over tea.
Captures a familiar scene although we do not get the details of what is being talked about. A fun little short even if there is not much depth. Could have been made today as the same behaviour still exists.
3/5
Weary Willie (1897)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A tramp scares away all the people sitting on a bench.
Not as suspect as the name might suggest. A simple short with a gag that is not too bad. Really good image quality on the surviving version.
3/5
Hanging Out the Clothes (1897)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A married man is caught smooching with the maid.
Simple, fun, works well as a short. Nice to see some narrative in such an early film. Well made and survives in surprisingly good quality.
3/5
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Directed by Taika Waititi this sequel stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson and Christian Bale. Thor faces off against a god killer.
A bit on the simplistic side this film is still pretty good for what it is. The plot remains fun with some humour through out although it does border on self parody occasionally. Seeing Russell Crowe rock up as Zeus is pretty great.
3/5
I'll Be Right There (2023)
Directed by Jim Berggarly this film stars Edie Falco, Jeannie Berlin, Charlie Tahan and Kayli Carther. A divorced middle aged woman spends her days running round doing things for her family.
Not the deepest film you will ever see but it is pretty genuine and mostly real. Solid performances from the cast and some restraint that stops things from becoming sappy. A decent little film.
3/5
Babes (2024)
Directed by Pamela Adlon this film stars Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau. A young woman gets pregnant and finds out her one night stand has since died.
I found this film to be fairly fun, it is essentially the rom-com structure but for female friendship. Nothing is earth shattering or surprising here. Some may find the protagonist a little annoying but if you can over look that this is fine.
3/5
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Directed by Peyton Reed this film stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors, Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglas. Our heroes are dragged into the quantum realm.
Lacking much in the way of character arcs and throwing CGI at everything in sight there is not much heart to this film. Where previous Ant man films had a fair amount of personality to carry them it all gets lost in this one. Ultimately rather forgettable.
2/5
Brighton Seagoing Electric Car (1897)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A short snippet of an electric car in the sea.
A fascinating clip of old technology. Sadly the clip is so short you barely get to see the strange vehicle. I wish this one was longer.
3/5
An Interesting Story (1904)
Directed by James Williamson this is an early short film. A man is so engrossed in a book he gets run over by a steam roller.
Mixing two gags here the man also get reinflated after being steam rolled. Pretty funny for a film of the period and could easily be remade with a “kids always on their phones” modern update. The pacing could be a little faster is my only complaint.
3/5
A Very Short Film About Longing (2023)
Directed by Eimear McBride this short film stars Joe Alwyn, Natalia Kostrzewa and Lashay Anderson. A teacher has an affair with a married neighbour while one of his pupils stalks him.
Two tales of longing that are interconnected, it is pretty well done. Enjoyable and evocative especially with the cinematography. Decent if not stellar performances.
4/5
