Matthew’s Letterboxd Watchlist
I’ve randomly watched lots of films aimed at a younger audience this week, which was not planned. To greater or less success for some of them.
Hugo
A number of people had recommended this and told me how good it was. Which might have been to its detriment, as I was a bit underwhelmed. I think a lot of that is because the film does some fantastical elements, but it doesn’t quite go far enough when it needs to and tries to root it in a more realistic world. It’s more like it couldn’t decide which way to go and ends up not being either a real world or a fantastical movie.
To Kill a Mockingbird
I never read this during my teen years as most people did, so it’s definitely a story I felt I should know. I was really surprised how well the tale was told given it was mostly in the point of view of the children but still handling some very mature tales. But more than that I was really surprised with what happens in the story. Some really bold decisions, which make me appreciate it as the great story that people hold it up to be.
Flatliners
We’re covering this on Pop Culturally Deprived and I will admit I found it hard to find topics of conversation. The film does some interesting stuff but doesn’t go far enough with them, and has too many plates spinning to pay the attention any one of them really deserves.
Good Morning, Vietnam
Another classic that I’ve wanted to see, it feels like it’s doing the same sort of story I’ve seen elsewhere. I don’t know if it’s that I’ve seen films based on this or if it’s just a story that is done fairly often. Enjoyable enough.
The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water
Very mixed on this one – some of it was quite clever and doing interesting stuff. Some of it was just hung up on the character jokes they do every time.
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies
I was really excited to see this film and not left disappointed. The DC references were wonderful, and so many inside awesome things that I relished. A fair few jokes that my nephew enjoyed too, but he was less enthused about it than I was so I don’t know if they purposely made it more for DC fans than children. I was a little disappointed they didn’t do more with the Batman/Robin relationship, or more that was impactful on the characters & relationships in general. But the Slade stuff was exceptional, the general plot was well done, and it had some great performances.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Don’t watch this film. The first I enjoyed because Colin Firth was being charming, and that action sequence in the middle was superb. But this is missing all of that and what’s left is pretty grim.
The Descent
People had recommended this as a good horror, which I can see it is, but at the same time it’s got some traits from more old-fashioned horrors. Pretty interesting with the full ending which added another layer on, and hearing the production elements of making the film made it better.
Paddington
This is an utterly ordinary British children’s film. Not very much for adults, a standard plot, and nothing that stood out.
Paddington 2
Surprisingly much better than the first one. A more varied plot (although not too deep), a mix of performances some of which were very fun, and a few moments that were really good.
Recommendation
Most people have probably seen or read To Kill a Mockingbird, but if you haven’t I’d recommend it. However my recommendation is definitely Teen Titans! Go To The Movies. It was almost like, and as good as, a PG rated Deadpool movie with the number of references intended purely for the audience rather than being part of the story. The casting itself was a great reference, the humour was always on point, and it was a supremely enjoyable hour and a half.