Spiders on a Web (1900)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. Two spiders climb around in a confined space.
I am not able to make out a web in this short film, otherwise it is pretty cool. A very early close up of natural life. Not much more than what it claims to be.
3/5
The Death of Poor Joe (1901)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A man with a torch walks past a gate then a poor person arrives and dies.
I really like the attempt to use in scene lighting here, shows an attempt at innovation. While the backdrop is nicely painted you can unfortunately see it move in the breeze which rather destroys the moment. Being unfamiliar with Bleak House I have no idea of the relevance of the scene this is based on.
2/5
The Old Maid's Valentine (1900)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A spinster receives mail on Valentine's day.
So many relatable modern day elements, being a cat lady and getting spam. Not the most hilarious joke in history, it does at least work. Fine for a simple short.
3/5
Two Clowns (1906)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. Two clowns drink and have fun.
A very simple short film in terms of the action. What is impressive about this film is the early use of colour, the image is very colourful. Pretty fun even if it is a bit simple in content.
3/5
Comic Face (1897)
Directed by George Albert Smith this film stars Tom Green. A man drinks a pint of beer and makes increasingly silly faces.
You have to wonder if the subject is a bit of a lightweight with how fast things turn silly on just one beer. Pretty fun, nothing that special about this short. One of the more basic films from the director.
3/5
After Love (2020)
Written & directed by Aleem Khan this film stars Joanna Scanlan, Nathalie Richard and Talid Ariss. A woman who converted to Islam for her husband finds out he has another family after he dies.
For me this film never really takes off. There is a lot of potent up emotional energy that never gets released, which you could say is very British. Feels like there could have been more to this one.
3/5
MaXXXine (2024)
Written & directed by Ti West this sequel stars Mia Goth, Elizabeth Dehicki, Moses Sumney and Kevin Bacon. A porn star tries to break into mainstream cinema while a killer is on the loose in LA.
You can definitely see the Dario Argento influence on parts of this film. As slashers go this is fine, a lot less interesting than the prequel Pearl. Not really memorable and some of the cast seem a bit under utilised.
3/5
Fight or Flight (2025)
Directed by James Madigan this film stars Josh Hartnett and Charithra Chandran. A mercenary boards a plane to find their target only to discover half the people on the plane want to kill the same person.
Clearly this film wants to be Bullet Train (2022) on a plane but does not have the same level of talent behind it. The script appears to have been a bit of an after thought at times, the Macguffin is a Mission Impossible reject that gets glossed over pretty fast. I suppose the action parts are not too bad, they are just not enough to hold the film together.
2/5
The House That Jack Built (1900)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A boy knocks over a house made of toy bricks then the film is run in reverse to restore the house.
A simple in both concept and execution. Nothing that special really, the content is not that entertaining. Maybe it was impressive to viewers in its day?
2/5
The Miller and the Sweep (1897)
Directed by George Albert Smith. Two men bump into each other and have a fight.
Fine for a slapstick comedy, the action does sort of stray off frame at one point though. A decent concept for comedy in a black and white film. Nothing that impressive in the end.
3/5
Let Me Dream Again (1900)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A man has a lovely time with an attractive young woman then wakes up next to his wife.
A simple joke that is not overly funny. Fine for what it is but nothing that special. Survives in pretty good image quality.
3/5
Santa Claus (1898)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. Santa delivers presents to children.
Impressive use of editing for when this film was made. Has a lot of charm to it for how short the film is. An enjoyable Christmas film even outside of the season.
4/5
The Watchers (2024)
Directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan this film stars Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouere and Oliver Finnegan. A young woman finds herself trapped in a large, magical forest in Ireland.
Not a terrible start with an exploration of folklore and a dark take on fairies unfortunately I am not sure all of the plot makes sense. How exactly the bunker in the forest got built is not clear and the twist at the end is far too obvious. A bit of a disappointment really.
2/5
Thelma (2024)
Written & directed by Josh Margolin this film stars June Squibb, Fred Hechinger and Richard Roundtree. A woman in her 90s tries to get her money back after falling for a scam.
If you can look past the convenience of being scammed over the phone by someone that lives in the same city as you this is a decent enough film. The plot is a bit lightweight but fine for what it is. Has the occasional funny moment but could have done with punching up a bit.
2/5
Rob Peace (2024)
Directed by co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor this film based on real events also stars Jay Will, Mary J, Blige and Camila Cabello. A brilliant young African American student risks it all to try and get his dad out of prison.
Trying to raise the question of if a person can escape the expectations of others I think this film might be a bit short to get to grips full with the issues at hand. A lot of the trappings of the story are familiar. If you want to see a smart kid go Walter White then this is the film for you.
3/5
The X-Ray Fiend (1897)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film staring Laura Bayley and Tom Green. A couple get x-rayed.
What fascinates me is how close this film was made to the discovery of X-rays, would the audience actually get what they are seeing? As it is this is an okay special effects film for the period. Fine for what it is.
3/5
Quo Vadis, Aida? (2020)
Directed by Jasmila Zbanic this film stars Jasna Duricic, Izudin Bajrovic, Boris Ler and Johan Heldenbergh. As Serbian forces take control of the Bosnian town of Srebrenica a woman working as a translator for the UN tries to save her family.
This is an anxiety inducing film about people ignored by the world as they are left to genocide. There is almost a documentary like quality to this film it sticks to the events and does not get melodramatic. A really tough watch, well made.
4/5
Surge (2020)
Directed by Aneil Karia this film stars Ben Whishaw and Jasmine Jobson. A man frustrated with life has a manic episode.
While the tag lines might claim this is a film about a man on a journey of self liberation it seems pretty clear to me it is more likely a manic episode. The plot is pretty grounded and I do enjoy the subtle needles of real life that the protagonist has to live with. Lacks a bit of a resolution.
3/5
Blue Jean (2022)
Directed by Georgia Oakley this film stars Rosy McEwen, Karrie Hayes, Lucy Halliday and Lydia Page. In 1980s Britain a school teacher must decide between keeping her own sexuality secret and protecting a pupil from false accusations.
Another film where you can see the inevitable disaster coming from a long way off, that builds a lot of tension and anxiety in the viewer. A good look at the struggles faced by LGBT folk in a society trying to repress them. Well made and well acted.
4/5
A Place Called Silence (2024)
Directed by Sam Quah this film stars Ning Chang, Eric Wang and Wang Sheng Di. Someone kills three high school girls that are part of a group of bullies.
There are too many twists and turns for the sake of having twists in this film. I also found some of the moments over milked for melodramatic purposes. A bit of a mess really.
2/5
The Line (2023)
Directed by Ethan Berger this film stars Alex Wolff, Bo Mitchell, Halle Bailey and Austin Abrams. A young man in a fraternity at a Southern University gets involved in the beef between his immature room mate and a new pledge.
Nothing is particularly new about this film and you can see the inevitable car crash coming, even if it is in a good way. What I struggle with is why does the rebellious pledge not just walk away as he clearly does not seem that interested in joining the fraternity. A bit of a mixed bag despite good intentions.
2/5
The Kiss in the Tunnel (1899)
Directed by George Albert Smith and Cecil M. Hepworth this is an early short film. A train goes into a dark tunnel and a couple enjoy a smooch.
Considering when this film was made it is possibly the first use of editing to convey a narrative. The content itself is not overly special, clearly this one is remarkable for the technical advancement. Pretty good for when it was made.
3/5
Coronation of Their Majesties King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria (1902)
Directed by Georges Melies and George Albert Smith this is a short documentary. We see a short snap of the coronation ceremony.
Unfortunately this film does not seem to survive in the best quality, it is a bit hard to make out what is going on in the image. No doubt of valuable historical record in terms of entertainment it is not that great. One I would probably skip.
2/5
Precious Hair & Beauty (2021)
Directed by John Ogunmuyiwa this film stars Michael Akinsulire, Ade Dee Haastrup and Adjani Salmon. We see the world through the window of an African hair salon.
When this film is a study of the mundane I really enjoy it, the inclusion of a man flying off into the sky really took me out of the piece and disrupted the tone. I do enjoy some of the small human moments that are captured. It is just that one out of place note that messes with this one.
2/5
Citizen Ashe (2021)
Directed by Rex Miller and Sam Pollard this is a sports documentary. We follow the life and career of Arthur Ashe, the first black man to be a tennis superstar.
I did not know anything about Ashe before watching this film and it does a fairly good job of telling viewers who he is. There could have been a bit more depth to the documentary, at times it all feels a bit surface level and safe, no push back or comments from the other side so to speak. Pretty well made.
3/5
A Tricky Painter's Fate (1908)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A painter trolls would be passengers on a train by placing paintings in the window.
I am not entirely sure how the painter's prank is supposed to work, his paintings are not that life like. Fine for what it is. Not the best in terms of artistry or humour from Melies.
2/5
Dark Waters (2019)
Directed by Todd Haynes this film inspired by real events stars Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway and Tim Robbins. A corporate defence lawyer ends up working for an acquaintance of his grandmother to take on a large chemical company.
What I really like about this film is how it highlights the slow and often futile path of justice, much like The Searchers (1956) you can really see the passage of time in the film. As a legal thriller there is not a huge amount that is new or different here. Decent performances from the cast but nothing really special.
3/5
Turn Me On (2024)
Directed by Michael Tyburski this film stars Bel Powley and Nick Robinson. A young woman living in a community where people take pills to suppress all emotions stops taking her pills for a day.
Not hugely original in content this film is at least a little different in the lower stakes execution of the concept. Instead of the more action filled version you might get in the early 2000s this is a more personal, comedic film. Pretty well done although I am not sure it ultimately goes anywhere that interesting.
3/5
The Bikeriders (2023)
Written & directed by Jeff Nichols this film stars Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy. We follow the evolution of a motorbike riding club in the 1960s and 1970s.
Taking a loose inspiration from real events this film does remain grounded and captures something of the biker culture of the era. Where the film falls short is it never really captures the experiences or motivation of the “new members” who come to take over the club and turn it into a real gang. A good character study but fails to get to grips with the larger change in culture in my opinion.
3/5
Rogues' Tricks (1907)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. Two men break into a house then get disturbed by the occupant.
Not bad for what it is and a change from the usual Melies subject matter. Pretty fun little comedy where criminals get their just deserts at the end. Not one that will linger in the memory.
3/5
The Genii of Fire (1908)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A couple go into a cave where people do weird magic.
A scene straight out of a dungeons and dragons campaign. There may not be the most easily of understood plot but there is definitely stuff happening here. Good effects and sets.
3/5
A Crazy Composer (1905)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A composer falls asleep and is visited by all manner of things in his dreams.
Another in Melies's series of films exploring the dreams of people. Well done in terms of costumes and staging. The film might lack a little in the way of plot but is entertaining.
3/5
Chuck Chuck Baby (2023)
Written & directed by Janis Pugh this film stars Louise Brealey and Annabel Scholey. A chicken factory worker reconnects with a woman she had a crush on since childhood.
For what it is this is a pretty fun film. The musical elements help add to what is a bit of an otherwise familiar plot. Decent performances from the cast.
3/5
I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
Directed by Jane Schoenbrun this film stars Justice Smith and Jack Haven. Two teens bond over their enjoyment of a television show.
This might be the best film I have seen in years, the way it switches from coming of age drama into Lynch style nightmare is fantastic. While the film is a trans allegory the concept living in fear rather than taking the big jump to what you really want can affect us all. Fantastic from concept to execution, perfectly nails the genre feel. I really need to see more from Jane Schoenbrun now.
5/5
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Directed by George Miller this prequel stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth and Alyla Browne. We learn the origins of Furiosa.
Prequels are hard to pull off, you have to take a character on an arc when we already know how things end, this film does a pretty decent job on that front. What I really like about this film is how it builds out the world and scale in a way Miller has not had the budget to before in the franchise. Lots of fun, may be a little on the long side, a bit of trimming would not have gone amiss.
4/5
The Tramp and the Mattress Makers (1906)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man falls asleep in a half finished mattress then wakes up scaring the mattress makers.
A pretty fun little comedy although I am not sure why anyone is making mattresses in the middle of the street. Really good image quality which is a change for some of these older films. You can even see some improvements in the acting.
3/5
Soap Bubbles (1906)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man makes women's heads appear from bubbles.
I am not sure there are enough bubbles in this one for my taste given the title. Decent camera tricks and backdrop for the period the film is made in. Standard Melies stuff.
3/5
The Marvellous Wreath (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician performs tricks.
Nothing really connects the various tricks here. We get a decently made film for the era containing many of the usual Melies tricks but nothing really stands out. Pretty average film.
3/5
Alcofribas, The Master Magician (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man in a cave shows off his magic tricks to another man.
A bunch of similar content to other Melies films. Fairly well executed, a good example of cinema of the period. Fun for what it is.
3/5
The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023)
Written & directed by Francis Galluppi this film stars Jim Cummings, Jocelin Donnahue amd Richard Brake. Two bank robbers hold people hostage at a remote diner while waiting for a fuel truck.
As crime thrillers go this one is fine I just do not think it goes anywhere that interesting. When the tension is finally broken there is still a bit too long to go in the film in my opinion. Decently made with a pretty good cast.
3/5
Timestalker (2024)
Written & directed by star Alice Lowe this film also features Jacob Anderson, Nick Frost, Tanya Reynolds and Aneurin Barnard. A woman falls in love with the same man over several life times.
Alice Lowe has a weird mind and I am down to see whatever comes out of it. This film is funny on a surface level and as a satire of over the top romances. Well worth seeking out as our Lowe's other films.
4/5
The Killer (2024)
Directed by John Woo this remake stars Nathalie Emmanuel, Omar Sy, Sam Worthington and Diana Silvers. A hit woman leaves a witness to her latest hit and can not bring herself to finish the job.
I am not sure we needed a remake of this film even with John Woo still at the helm, directors often repeat themselves but rarely as obviously as this. The film still has some of the John Woo flair but there is not really enough new about this one to make it worth the effort. For me the highlight was seeing Cantona getting work again.
2/5
Faust and Marguerite (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. An attempt to adapt the story of Faust.
Without knowing the story of Faust or having some captions it is a bit hard to make out what is actually happening an follow the plot. The image quality of the version I watched was not the best which did not help matters either. Some decent effects for the period.
2/5
Ulysses and the Giant Polyphemus (1905)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man fights a one eyed giant.
As far as the special effects go this one is a bit of a mixed bag, definitely falls short of the likes of Ray Harryhausen even if that might be an unfair comparison. Without an good knowledge of the stories of Ulysses it is a bit hard to make out what is going on in the early parts of the film. A nice effort but not great to modern eyes.
2/5
The Cook in Trouble (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A cook refuses to feed a beggar who turns out to be a wizard.
Familiar stuff as a cook gets trolled by an imp/devil, the kitchen setting adds something a little different to other Melies films. The comedy is as you would expect, a bit on the silly side. A fun little short.
3/5
Gulliver's Travels Among the Lilliputians and the Giants (1902)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. We see several moments from Gulliver's travels.
As adaptations go this is obviously not the most complete one. What we get is a few disconnected scenes that do not really capture the narrative of the book on which it is based. The special effects and colour tinting are pretty nice.
3/5
Parachute (2023)
Directed by Brittany Snow this film stars Courtney Eaton and Thomas Mann. A young woman released from inpatient treatment for an eating disorder makes friends with a guy.
I really enjoyed this film and will be looking out for more from Snow, an uncomfortable watch in all the right ways. The film really captures the horrors of the modern world in terms of body image pressures. Definitely relevant and worth a watch.
4/5
Kill (2023)
Directed by Rodger Griffiths this film stars Daniel Portman, Brian Vernel and Calum Ross. Three young men kill their abusive father in the woods.
For what it is this film is fine, nothing special. The tension never gets ratcheted up enough to really keep you gripped and some of the twists are on the less believable side. Fairly well acted by the cast.
3/5
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
Directed by Adil & Bilall this film stars Will Smith and Martain Lawrence. The duo must work to clear the name of their dead captain.
It all just feels a bit tired in this one, the action sequences are flashy without much substance to them. The best thing you can say about the plot is it is there, there are one or two attempts made at actual character development but they go nowhere. Only really one for fans of the franchise.
2/5
The Christmas Dream (1900)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. Children go to bed on Christmas Eve and have some wild dreams.
It is not entirely clear to my eyes how these scenes connect together or if they would really be what children dream of. The scenes themselves are well done and have some nice pageantry to them. A fun short with some impressive film making for the period.
3/5
The Black Imp (1905)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A black imp plays tricks on a man staying in a room.
Containing a lot of material similar to several other Melies films the only difference here is that is slightly longer. There is nothing that special or wrong with this one, very middle of the road. If you have seen one of these you have pretty much seen them all.
3/5
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024)
Directed by Soi Cheang this film stars Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, Sammo Hung and Richie Jen. When an immigrant arrives in Hong Kong and finds himself in the walled city old wounds are reopened.
As far as action films go this one is pretty fun, the fight sequences are largely impressive. The plot is familiar, relying on stock elements you have seen plenty of times before. I do enjoy the setting of the film, the antagonist having spiritual powers is kind of out of place for the rest of the film though.
3/5
The Mermaid (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man does some magic tricks culminating in the appearance of a mermaid.
It takes a while for this one to get to the title character so have some patience. A good mix of Melies tricks and artistry. Solid film for the period it was made in.
3/5
Mosquito Squadron (1969)
Directed by Boris Sagal this film stars David McCallum and Suzanne Neve. A squadron leader is given the mission of destroying a secret Nazi base in France.
Ropey dialogue, a plot that does not make that much sense and a bunch of stock footage for action sequences, there is not really anything to recommend this one on. I should think the budget for this film must have been tiny and it shows. Definitely a lazy effort.
1/5
Slingshot (2024)
Directed by Mikael Hafstrom this film stars Casey Affleck, Laurence Fishburne, Emily Beecham and Tomer Kapon. An astronaut on a voyage to Titan struggles with the side effects of hibernation drugs.
With so much talent involved this film is a real disappointment, it just does not work. The main twist is far, far too obvious and without that there is nothing much to the film. Not even that believable really.
2/5
Get Away (2024)
Directed by Steffan Haars this film stars Nick Frost, Aisling Bea, Sebastian Croft and Maisie Ayres. Not all is as it seems when an English family goes on holiday to a remote Swedish island with a history of cannibalism.
Taking the expectations of folk horror, especially those coming from Midsommer, this film does a decent job of inverting the usual genre details. Beyond the premise there is not too much to the film, it is fairly fun with the odd chuckle here and there. Fine for what it is just do not expect anything riotously funny.
3/5
The Wonderful Rose Tree (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man grows a magical rose tree.
Mostly well made the only part that lets this short down is the bit where the actor kicks part of the set that is supposed to be a large rock and moves. Fun little short with a nice back drop. Not sure if it is supposed to be a reference to a particular myth or not.
3/5
An Improvised Fireworks Display (1905)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A drunk homeless person falls asleep on the street and is awoken by a fireworks display.
Essentially this is people bullying a homeless person, not really that funny if it was real. Nothing special in terms of concept or execution. A bit mean spirited really.
2/5
A Roadside Inn (1906)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. The staff of an inn make mischief at the expense of an old, drunk man.
Fine for a bit of slap stick humour. We never really know what the drunk did to deserve all of this which is a bit of a shame. Decent little comedy of the era.
3/5
The Luny Musician (1906)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A musician is trolled by various instruments.
A simple slap stick comedy. What this film lacks compared to similar films from Melies is a clue as to what is causing the supernatural pranks. Fine for what it is.
3/5
The 4:30 Movie (2024)
Directed by Kevin Smith this film stars Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo, Reed Northrup and Siena Agudong. During the summer of 1986 a teenager asks his crush to go see a movie with him.
Three things I enjoy are Kevin Smith films, nostalgia films and coming of age films so this one falling flat was a real disappointment. There is just not enough plot to fill out the run time and what there is feels a bit lazily written, I think the script needed a few more drafts. A real shame as I had high hopes for this one.
2/5
The Convert (2023)
Directed by Lee Tamahori this film stars Guy Pearce, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne and Te Kohe Tuhaka. A lay minster arrives in New Zealand and gets involved in the clash between Maori tribes.
Disappointingly the plot of this film is a bit too familiar despite having a fresh setting in 1830s New Zealand. Well made for what it is there is not too much to complain about here. Always good to see Guy Pearce getting more work as a leading man.
3/5
The Mischance of a Photographer (1908)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A family goes to have a group picture taken, a boy pulls a prank.
It takes a little long on the set up of this short to actually get to the business end of things. The prank itself is fine I guess, not sure it would actually work in reality. Not the best of early Melies.
2/5
The Bewitched Trunk (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man uses a trunk to do magic tricks.
Pretty familiar stuff for Melies. Camera tricks used here are obvious to the modern eye which does not help. Decent staging and costumes.
3/5
The Fall Guy (2024)
Directed by David Leitch this film stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Hannah Waddingham. A stunt man tries to win his ex-girlfriend back and find a missing film star.
I am pretty surprised this film got made, it is something of a throw back in terms of being a big action film without being part of an existing franchise. The plot is fun if very predictable. While I did enjoy the film it is entirely without real depth.
3/5
Problemista (2023)
Written & directed by star Julio Torres this film also features Tilda Swinton and RZA. A young immigrant needs to find a new sponsor after losing his job at a cryogentic company for artists.
There is a lot of fun to be had in this off beat comedy. The film manages to cover a surprising amount of areas in such a short run time. Great performance from Swinton as always.
4/5
