100 Movies before we move: #42 (this was not on purpose, but awesome!)

Emmy says:
Let’s do this one more time. A totally exquisite visual sensation. The various art styles work together so well in this. Loved the story. So much re-watch value. 10/10.

Jeff says:
The number 42 features prominently in this film, so this being the 42nd “movie before we move” is an unintentional bonus that this movie deserves. This film was amazing! While it takes some time to get used to, the art style is gorgeous and the styles being tied to the characters and the comics origin of the source material is on point. This movie is moving, funny, meaningful, delightful, heart-breaking, and uplifting. I want to see more of these characters, and more of this kind of work. Go see this! 10/10.

IMDb

100 Movies before we move: #40

Emmy says:
I’m in awe of the moving cities! This is gorgeous machinery. I was completely swept away by the tale, I don’t even care about how predictable it was. It was a spectacle. 9/10.

Jeff says:
My issue with this movie is physics. Giant mobile cities should not be able to move like that. It defies the laws of physics. There were sequences where the actors should have been in immediate peril, but they looked like they were remembering a sequence of steps not running for their lives. The characters were engaging – if not completely predictable and cliched. Bigger is not better, especially when you need CG to make it happen. 6/10.

IMDb

100 Movies before we move: #39

Emmy says:
The gizmos and gadgets and feelings that were felt, made this tale of Christmas one an ice heart did melt. 9/10.

Jeff says:
I never hated How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and apparently that puts me in the minority. Having said that, I think this is a much better version of the story for the intended audience. The Carrey version was a little too risque to be truly a kids’ film. This version doesn’t have that problem. From the perspective of an adult, this was like a pavlova: light, fluffy, a little too sweet, but really quite more-ish. The script was on point the animation was delightful, and it felt like a Dr Seuss story should. 9/10.

(Guest Reaction) Rachel says:
It was super awesome except the fuzzy skin and noses weirded me out a little bit. 9/10.

IMDb

100 Movies before we move: #38

Emmy says:
Ostentatious, gaudy, preposterous, vibrant. Outrageous fashion and anachronistic politics. Totally ridiculous and I loved it. 8/10.

Jeff says:
Personally I think Robin Hood: Men in Tights was more believable in terms of time and place. This movie was to Robin Hood what the 2012 Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour was to the gospels: fun but completely rubbish in terms of being authentic. Also, both have Tim Minchin in a supporting role. This was a dumb adventure ride that was nevertheless entertaining. I give them this: they must have known how ridiculous it was and just decided to go for it. Nottingham has NEVER looked like this. MovieBob had it exactly right on this one: it’s bad, but you’ll laugh your ass off. 7/10.

IMDb

100 Movies before we move: #37

Emmy says:
The first scenes felt disjointed and distant and the interspersed political machinations had me confused and feeling adrift from the story. Very effective at conveying the haze these women were working through. This is filled with stunning directing and acting. Powerful performances from the leading ladies. 9/10.

Jeff says:
The trailer, effective at making us want to see this movie, does nothing to give the story away. What looks like an action crime caper turns into something altogether different. I didn’t realise it was based on a Lynda La Plante story, but it makes sense know that I now.  The women are almost all very real and believable although the men are a little under-developed and basically caricatures. The drama and inter-personal tension is effective, and I was invested in them succeeding. There were some issues with blur that was either the ‘print’ or was a result of filming digitally, and I usually don’t notice those things, but overall an excellent film. 9/10.

IMDb

100 Movies before we move: #36

Emmy says:
The dancing in this was incredible. Absolutely outstanding. Costumes and sets were well utilised and had the feel of 1970’s Berlin. The story had me feeling like a confused bystander only catching parts of each plot line. Did not understand anyone’s motivation. Does make me want to see the original. 7/10.

Jeff says:
I was not particularly interested in seeing this, but I knew Emmy would be. Horror and dancing were always going to win. It had both, and both were done very well. The story was lacking an explanation (that I believe was given in the sequels to the original). Remaking Dario Argento’s work was always going to be challenging and they did a very good job. Not easy to watch, not easy to understand, but easy to appreciate the talent that went into making it. 7/10.

IMDb

100 Movies before we move: #35

Emmy says:
I enjoyed the details put into each of the beasts and their interactions with the world. A lot of tie-ins to the HP series, not that they added any value. Feels like the middle act and not a stand alone movie. 8/10.

Jeff says:
The film opened with a sequence that was so full of blur, motion, and CG that it was hard to tell what was happening. Sadly, that was not an aberration. Bad camera work (shaky cam at times there was no reason for it), little plot, and no reason (apart from exposition for all the links to names we know from Harry Potter). The main characters were still people I could care about, and the creatures were cool, but sadly I couldn’t say either about the story. 6/10.

IMDb

100 Movies before we move; #31

Emmy says:
I sang and cried my way through this. A massive reminder of how much a part of my childhood Queen was. I miss you. 10/10.

Jeff says:
This movie had such a troubled production – I could write an entire article on it, but others have done it already. As a result, I didn’t have high hopes – I knew the music would be killer though. Even though I see where the dramatisation happened, and where the drama was amped-up for story, I was blown away. The band looked like Queen, they sounded like Queen. The music left me a weeping puddle. The recreation of Live Aid at Wembley Stadium was something to behold. Can Rami Malek have the Best Actor Oscar and Lady Gaga Best Actress? Two movies with incredible music, in a row, being much better than I dared hope. This was far superior to A Star is Born (2018) though. 10/10.

IMDb