The Archive

Everest

2015 · 2h 1m · Baltasar Kormákur

7/10

Solid film that keeps you invested. It's nothing outstanding, but it communicates the brutality of the mountain well.

The Settlers

2023 · 1h 41m · Felipe Gálvez

7/10

A slow-burner for sure, perhaps almost too restrained at times, but one that lands with real force when it matters. This film left me thinking for a good while after it ended: bleak, morally unsettling, and quietly powerful in the way it confronts the violent history beneath the …

Donnie Darko

2001 · 1h 54m · Richard Kelly

8.5/10

A strange and dark film that presents ambiguous meaning and a whole host of interesting themes for the viewer to comtemplate. I'm still not sure how to interpret the chain of events, maybe there is no right answer, I suspect it's one that gets even better with a rewatch.

Run Lola Run

1998 · 1h 20m · Tom Tykwer

8/10

Overly stylistic but in the best way. It is fast moving and chaotic, sometimes forgoing proper explanations of events that transpire, but the open ended nature is one of the most interesting components.

Predestination

2014 · 1h 38m · Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig

7/10

Interesting plot but it's quite absurd, they may have taken the mind fuck concept a little too far.

The Housemaid

2025 · 2h 11m · Paul Feig

5/10

Easy to watch but pretty weak plot. It also seems to rely on some prior knowledge of the plot, because I knew nothing going in and had to wait an hour for any hint at what the actual plot was.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

2026 · 2h 14m · Gore Verbinski

6/10

Very weird, sometimes good but sometimes annoying. I kind of agree with the general message, but it's so on the nose it's a bit too much.

Materialists

2025 · 1h 56m · Celine Song

5/10

The Secret Agent

2025 · 2h 41m · Kleber Mendonça Filho

7/10

Great production value, solid acting, and really perfects the Brazilian time period. However it is very long and a quite slow, with the central plot never really deepening to the extent it could - it feels like it had potential for much more.

Hamnet

2025 · 2h 5m · Chloé Zhao

8/10

Started out as a 7 and gradually ascended to a 9 towards the end. Great acting, although the spirit of the film felt a bit too 'modern' for me at times. Special shout out to the actor of Hamnet as he smashed it.

No Other Choice

2025 · 2h 20m · Park Chan-wook

8/10

Very well made and beautifully presented, Park Chan Wook manages to conjure up a brilliant style of direction. My main criticism is that the plot feels like its overreaching in places, making some slightly indulgent choices.

Frankenstein

2025 · 2h 30m · Guillermo del Toro

7.5/10

Started off very strongly, but then gradually began to drag out, and the tone transitioned into something quite different. A great movie and a worthwhile watch, but felt a bit uncertain in what it was trying to be.

The Rip

2026 · 1h 53m · Joe Carnahan

5/10

Good production value and solid acting, but the plot has shaky foundations at best and continuously makes you question what exactly is happening and why.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

2026 · 1h 49m · Nia DaCosta

7/10

Quite bold in its direction and not what I was expecting. It uses gory violence as a shock factor but the underlying motives and themes feel a bit half-arsed and not fleshed out enough. The main character from the previous film seems to fade out of focus a bit, and again some plo…

28 Years Later

2025 · 1h 55m · Danny Boyle

6/10

Decent film with some interesting characters and tense sequences. However there was a jarring change of course halfway through the film, and some plot elements seem to circle around and others dissapear - the writing could definitely have used some tightening up.

28 Days Later

2002 · 1h 53m · Danny Boyle

7.5/10

Unique low budget film style that is raw and merciless, definitely punching above its weight with strong directing. My main criticism is that the plot in the final act felt a bit jarring in its change of style and theme.

Rental Family

2025 · 1h 50m · Hikari

8.5/10

A well-crafted and understated film that finds its strength in warmth, restraint, and performance. Its humour is gentle but well placed and lands well, the emotional moments build and hit hard, and the acting across the board gives the film a real sincerity. Highly recommend this…

Marty Supreme

2025 · 2h 30m · Josh Safdie

8.5/10

Great pacing with an engaging plot that keeps the viewer in focus throughout. Coupled with snappy dialogue that was genuinely funny, and consistently strong performances, this is a great start to 2026.

Parthenope

2024 · 2h 17m · Paolo Sorrentino

5/10

Frances Ha

2013 · 1h 26m · Noah Baumbach

5/10

Clearly trying to force a funny and quirky vibe but it just comes across as a bit weird and slightly annoying. The whole thing just feels too scripted and everyone talks so monotone.

Four Weddings and a Funeral

1994 · 1h 57m · Mike Newell

4/10

Pretty awful love story and some bad acting make for a not so captivating film.

The Big Sick

2017 · 2h · Michael Showalter

7.5/10

Funny throughout and interesting themes, but some of the relationship dynamics feel way too emotionless.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

2006 · 2h 31m · Gore Verbinski

7/10

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

2003 · 2h 23m · Gore Verbinski

8/10

Jab Tak Hai Jaan

2012 · 2h 56m · Yash Chopra

7/10

Quite long and meandering, but gets better as it goes on and is ultimately a feel good sweet movie.

Shakespeare in Love

1998 · 2h 4m · John Madden

7/10

A good film, brings a sensationalised and very dramatic style, but this is presumably intentional.

Paddington 2

2017 · 1h 44m · Paul King

6.5/10

Paddington

2014 · 1h 35m · Paul King

7/10

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

2025 · 2h 25m · Rian Johnson

5/10

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

2024 · 2h 47m · Mohammad Rasoulof

7/10

Very much enjoyed the first two acts which showed heavy restrained tension and powerful themes. However it all got a bit ridiculous in the final act and this washed out the build up to an extent.

Thunderbolts*

2025 · 2h 7m · Jake Schreier

6/10

Fairly generic plot but it does end up playing with some interesting themes. Execution is pretty solid, so an entertaining movie.

Narc

2002 · 1h 45m · Joe Carnahan

7.5/10

Exactly what it says on the tin, gritty, intense, keeps you engaged throughout and doesn't try to be too smart. Very entertaining film.

Before Sunrise

1995 · 1h 41m · Richard Linklater

5/10

I thought Ethan Hawke's character was quite cringey, acting was a bit weak, and script was a bit forced. I just didn't feel the vibe with this one.

Out of the Furnace

2013 · 1h 56m · Scott Cooper

7/10

Quality acting all round, but the plot felt a little hollow and I was left wanting a bit more depth.

Superman

2025 · 2h 10m · James Gunn

6/10

Very mid, fairly entertaining, bit of a weird geopolitical plotline.

The Smashing Machine

2025 · 2h 3m · Benny Safdie

5/10

Shows some drama but doesn't really answer any questions about who this guy is, what his background is, how did he get to where he is etc. This made the film just feel like it didn't have much real plot, it was just fight after fight with no real build up. The Rock's acting was p…

One Battle After Another

2025 · 2h 42m · Paul Thomas Anderson

5/10

Pretty weak plot, somewhat underdeveloped and weird characters, and a lack of cohesive structure tying it all together.

Freediver

2024 · 1h 31m · Michael John Warren

7/10

The Gambler

2014 · 1h 51m · Rupert Wyatt

5/10

Trap

2024 · 1h 45m · M. Night Shyamalan

4/10

The Beckoning Silence

2007 · 1h 13m · Louise Osmond

8/10

October Sky

1999 · 1h 47m · Joe Johnston

8/10

Full Metal Jacket

1987 · 1h 57m · Stanley Kubrick

8.5/10

Warfare

2025 · 1h 35m · Ray Mendoza, Alex Garland

8/10

8½

1963 · 2h 19m · Federico Fellini

Naked

1993 · 2h 11m · Mike Leigh

4/10

The characters and interactions are all a bit weird and overly manufactured. The main character is an asshole to such an extreme extent it's hard to believe, and his non-stop pseudo-intellectual dialogue starts to grate after not too long.

Take Shelter

2011 · 2h · Jeff Nichols

7/10

Broker

2022 · 2h 9m · Hirokazu Kore-eda

8/10

An intimate, bittersweet examination of a sensitive topic. Excellent acting and a solid script make it engaging whilst also raising some difficult questions.

Mickey 17

2025 · 2h 17m · Bong Joon Ho

4/10

All of the characters were poorly crafted, the plot was very weak, in general there were very few redeeming factors.

I'm Still Here

2024 · 2h 18m · Walter Salles

8/10

A great film with a powerful story. It could probably have been trimmed down a bit but otherwise very well made.

The 40 Year Old Virgin

2005 · 1h 56m · Judd Apatow

7/10

Great comedy that makes me miss the old school style, but unfortunately it's just dragged out for way longer than necessary.

Virgin Mountain

2015 · 1h 30m · Dagur Kári

7.5/10

One of those films that achieves what it sets out to very well, but in doing this it leaves you feeling a bit sad and empty.

Conclave

2024 · 2h · Edward Berger

6/10

Fantastic cinematography and great acting isn't quite enough to hold up the lack of investment I had in this fim. It's just a bit too slow and inconsequential to make the tension really draw you in.

District B13

2004 · 1h 24m · Pierre Morel

7/10

The plot is a bit dumb with a lot of holes, but the action is fantastic, the acting and characters are strong and entertaining. Some may say it's far too over the top but I think that's the whole point of the style and it's pretty great.

A Real Pain

2024 · 1h 30m · Jesse Eisenberg

8/10

Plenty of genuine laughs whilst also balancing the juxtaposition of deeper melancholic themes very well. The writing was sharp and intellectual, bringing both laughs and deep thought.

Life Is Beautiful

1997 · 1h 56m · Roberto Benigni

7.5/10

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

2025 · 2h 24m · Christian Gudegast

7/10

So much potential but the plot was just a bit uninspired. Gorgeous visuals were presented through the fantastic cinematography in some very picturesque settings, and the production value was clearly very high, but the core narrative just wasn't that exhilarating.

The Beasts

2022 · 2h 18m · Rodrigo Sorogoyen

7/10

Felt a bit like two different movies, first a psychological slow burner, then a gloomy drama about dealing with trauma. I enjoyed the first part but the change of pace was a bit jarring and ended up feeling lacklustre.

Past Lives

2023 · 1h 46m · Celine Song

7.5/10

Good film that really hits its mark in the second half, but overall felt a bit too restrained, trying to stretch out little moments a bit too frequently.

The Brutalist

2024 · 3h 35m · Brady Corbet

7/10

Good storytelling, good directing, good acting, but it didn't really surpass good in any aspect. On the positive side the long run time never really felt like it was dragging, but then on the other hand it didn't feel like a lot of the sequences added much. Overall it lacked a st…

Dìdi (弟弟)

2024 · 1h 34m · Sean Wang

8/10

Very easy to watch film with lots of nostalgia, balancing the elements of laughter, struggle and tenderness very well.

Hundreds of Beavers

2024 · 1h 48m · Mike Cheslik

3/10

Childish slapstick comedy that I didn't really find funny at all, with a plot that was just boring.

Nosferatu

2024 · 2h 13m · Robert Eggers

8.5/10

Beautiful presentation with every frame dripping with detail and vivid imagery. The fantastic performances facilitated an engaging storyline that was paced very well and built up to the deeply metaphorical themes of the story. Really quite a unique offering with some unforgettabl…

The Iron Claw

2023 · 2h 12m · Sean Durkin

8/10

Solid film that is hard to believe comes from a true story. The pacing was a bit strange with certain things feeling a bit rushed, but overall it achieves quite a powerful movie.

The Holdovers

2023 · 2h 13m · Alexander Payne

8.5/10

Really warm film with lots of heart. Great acting and character dynamics, one that has a real touch of humanity.

City Lights

1931 · 1h 27m · Charlie Chaplin

7/10

I'm sure this was incredible at the time but it has aged a lot after a century. To say it's still a good watch after so long probably says enough.

Kneecap

2024 · 1h 45m · Rich Peppiatt

8/10

Lively and rowdy with quite a powerful story. The music is actually pretty good too.

Letters from Iwo Jima

2006 · 2h 21m · Clint Eastwood

7/10

Great action scenes with some deeper themes and a different perspective to the usual, but nothing that really blew me away, maybe I've seen too many war films at this point..

Challengers

2024 · 2h 12m · Luca Guadagnino

4/10

All the characters are assholes and the writing is quite poor at times so a lot of the interactions have a weird vibe and don't flow well or make much sense. The story in general is a bit bland as well so it all just feels quite unsatisfying and drags on way longer than it needs …

The Substance

2024 · 2h 21m · Coralie Fargeat

5/10

Very indulgent, overly stylised to repeatedly hammer home pretty simplistic elements. There wasnt really much depth to the characters, story or message at all. The third act was the best as the intensity stepped up, but the actual ending was ridiculous. Definitely a case of style…

Love Lies Bleeding

2024 · 1h 44m · Rose Glass

7/10

I enjoyed the stylistic originality of the film, but the second half is just a bit too unstructured and gets a bit ridiculous towards the end so that the conclusion is unsatisfying.

Gattaca

1997 · 1h 47m · Andrew Niccol

7/10

A good film that tackles some interesting themes, however the whole style feels a bit too restrained and cold, and there are quite a few aspects of the plot that feel flawed.

Anora

2024 · 2h 19m · Sean Baker

7.5/10

The film is definitely very well put together in a lot of ways, however the plot just feels a bit inconsequential and not very satisfying at all, the whole time I was just waiting for things to really kick off.

Twisters

2024 · 2h 3m · Lee Isaac Chung

7/10

The plot is a bit far stretched at times but overall it's well written and backed by solid action scenes.

Confessions

2010 · 1h 47m · Tetsuya Nakashima

4/10

Pure exposition, monotonous soundtrack, overuse of slow motion, ridiculous characters. This film has some deeper elements that strike a chord but the style did not impress me at all.

The Rover

2014 · 1h 43m · David Michôd

7.5/10

A rather bleak and nihilistic slowburner with unapologetic violence. The standout is a great performance by Guy Pearce, whose character feels unhinged and dangerous, but unfortunately it still feels a bit hollow as we receive no real clues as to why he is the way he is.

Road House

2024 · 2h 1m · Doug Liman

7/10

The plot is a bit ridiculous but it's still good fun if you don't take it too seriously, and McGregor basically playing himself is hilarious.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

1989 · 2h 7m · Steven Spielberg

8.5/10

Just as good as the original. The father son dynamic arguably brings it to an even higher level.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

1984 · 1h 58m · Steven Spielberg

7.5/10

Raiders of the Lost Ark

1981 · 1h 55m · Steven Spielberg

8.5/10

Timeless and endlessly rewatchable

The Instigators

2024 · 1h 42m · Doug Liman

7/10

Entertaining with some funny scenes, even if the plot feels a bit ridiculous at times.

Wolfs

2024 · 1h 48m · Jon Watts

6/10

Some good laughs within, but really the movie is held together by two great actors without much of an underlying soul.

The Promised Land

2023 · 2h 7m · Nikolaj Arcel

8.5/10

Powerful film with simple elements that are executed wonderfully. Mads gives a fantastic performance, as do almost the whole cast, all glued together with restrained but sharp dialogue.

Notting Hill

1999 · 2h 4m · Roger Michell

7/10

Romance is pretty meh but it's a decent comedy and fairly entertaining.

Anatomy of a Fall

2023 · 2h 31m · Justine Triet

7.5/10

Impressively engaging for a film mostly consisting of a court case. However it's probably a bit longer than it could be, and the characters seem weirdly void of emotion a lot of the time.

Red One

2024 · 2h 4m · Jake Kasdan

6/10

Sunshine

2007 · 1h 48m · Danny Boyle

5/10

The plot idea was pretty cool but the execution poor. Weak dialogue, plot holes and nonsensical choices ruined the script to a large extent, whilst the epic visuals did some work to redeem it.

Volver

2006 · 2h 1m · Pedro Almodóvar

8/10

Cold War

2018 · 1h 28m · Paweł Pawlikowski

7/10

Cute plot with charm and a touch of humanity, but falls down towards the end. Beautiful cinematography kept me well entranced, and I was surprised at how much I liked the music aspect too.

The Boy and the Heron

2023 · 2h 4m · Hayao Miyazaki

4/10

Completely lost in the abstractness and meaning of it all, I didn’t really get it. Redeemed a little bit by some great visuals and scoring.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

2003 · 2h 18m · Peter Weir

7.5/10

Very engrossing and immerses you in what feels like a realistic depiction of life on a ship. However it doesn't quite manage to create a truly impactful storyline, keeping itself somwhat understated and deliberate.

Boss Level

2021 · 1h 41m · Joe Carnahan

5/10

Very mid on all accounts, some good action is the only real highlight.

3 Idiots

2009 · 2h 51m · Rajkumar Hirani

7.5/10

A bit weird and probably too long, but a pretty wild ride with some likeable characters and funny moments.

Deadpool & Wolverine

2024 · 2h 8m · Shawn Levy

8/10

Flowed well with great action, plenty of laughs and lots of fan service, maybe even a bit too much, but I guess that was kind of the point.

Riders of Justice

2020 · 1h 56m · Anders Thomas Jensen

6/10

Quite weird at times but still an intriguing movie. There was probably a great film in there somewhere but it was too all over the place with a lack of clear direction.

Napoleon

2023 · 2h 38m · Ridley Scott

6/10

Looked very nice but lacked any real depth, mostly just stuff happening. Too much focus on his personal life which felt quite flat, was hoping for more historical juiciness but a lot of events just went by without much impact. Also Napoleon's thick american accent was kind of str…

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

1964 · 1h 35m · Stanley Kubrick

★ 9/10

Sharp, witty dialogue and perfect pacing made this an engrossing watch. Further boosted by some hilarious moments, interesting characters (bar the Dr who I didn't really get), and a very context relevant satirical subtext.

Rebel Ridge

2024 · 2h 11m · Jeremy Saulnier

6/10

Very plot driven film bit it didn't make much sense in a lot of places. Decent but didn't quite deliver the thrills and action I was hoping for.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

2024 · 2h 29m · George Miller

8.5/10

Gripping plot with interesting characters, balanced lots of excellent action scenes with deeper elements too.

The Last Temptation of Christ

1988 · 2h 44m · Martin Scorsese

5/10

Couldn't really get into it, acting wasn't that great, just didn't really resonate with me much at all.

Alien: Romulus

2024 · 1h 59m · Fede Álvarez

7.5/10

The Abyss

1989 · 2h 20m · James Cameron

7/10

Quite grand and impressive in its presentation, clearly sparing no expense. However it was good to mediocre in most other ways, particularly the plot which ended up being a bit bizarre.

The Celebration

1998 · 1h 41m · Thomas Vinterberg

8/10

Quite chaotic with a variety of wacky characters, but was very engaging and a bit of a rollercoaster. Very much enjoyed, even if it was a lot darker than I was expecting...

Top Secret!

1984 · 1h 30m · Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker

5.5/10

Pretty stupid on the whole but had a decent number of funny moments.

Masquerade

2012 · 2h 11m · Choo Chang-min

7.5/10

Enjoyable and easy to watch, some poweful characters and all round pretty to look at.

The Butterfly Effect

2004 · 1h 53m · Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber

8.5/10

Do not watch the Director's Cut imo, the ending is ridiculous. Theatrical cut is way better. Very intriguing film, the plot does become quite far fetched towards the end of the film but overall it's a great watch and is quite moving.

Blue Velvet

1986 · 2h · David Lynch

7/10

Very strange watch but quite entertaining with good pacing. Frank is a great character.

Death Proof

2007 · 1h 53m · Quentin Tarantino

7/10

A bit too over the top but still pretty entertaining. The overarching plot lingered in the background and it was mostly just girls chatting shit. Plenty of funny moments and insane sequences.

Hit Man

2024 · 1h 56m · Richard Linklater

8/10

Great plot and writing, good jokes, original and quirky in the right ways.

Headhunters

2011 · 1h 40m · Morten Tyldum

7.5/10

The Lives of Others

2006 · 2h 17m · Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

8.5/10

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

2024 · 2h · Guy Ritchie

7/10

Onibaba

1964 · 1h 45m · Kaneto Shindō

6/10

Some interesting allegorical themes but ultimately I don't think this aged very well.

At Eternity's Gate

2018 · 1h 51m · Julian Schnabel

7/10

Beautifully shot to look like a painting, excellently acted, but a bit too artsy fartsy and drawn out to be truly great.

Mirror

1975 · 1h 47m · Andrei Tarkovsky

6/10

Triggered something viscerally and emotionally but I didn't really know what was happening in the film.

Civil War

2024 · 1h 49m · Alex Garland

6/10

Some cool shots, stylistically quite unique, tackles some interesting themes and is unashamedly violent. However im not really sure what the point of the film was and it all felt a bit too abstract and weirdly specific without any explanation.

Into the Wild

2007 · 2h 28m · Sean Penn

6/10

Technically well made film but I felt the central character was misrepresented and his struggle overly romanticised, and the overall message was very questionable.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

2011 · 1h 45m · Rupert Wyatt

6/10

Fairly entertaining but a bit silly at times.

A Moment to Remember

2004 · 1h 57m · John H. Lee

7/10

Mediocre for most of the film but the final act is incredibly powerful.

The Creator

2023 · 2h 14m · Gareth Edwards

7.5/10

Beautiful cinematography, great soundtrack and thematically interesting, however the plot isn't particularly cohesive and the main actor gives a mediocre performance.

The Fallout

2021 · 1h 36m · Megan Park

6.5/10

Kinda made me hate gen Z but also had its touching moments.

Perfect Blue

1998 · 1h 22m · Satoshi Kon

5/10

Dune: Part Two

2024 · 2h 47m · Denis Villeneuve

★ 9/10

Requiem for a Dream

2000 · 1h 42m · Darren Aronofsky

Transcendence

2014 · 1h 59m · Wally Pfister

6/10

Eastern Promises

2007 · 1h 40m · David Cronenberg

7.5/10

Blue Beetle

2023 · 2h 8m · Ángel Manuel Soto

5/10

A Haunting in Venice

2023 · 1h 44m · Kenneth Branagh

5/10

Escape from Kabul

2021 · 1h 22m · Jamie Roberts

8/10

A lot more intense than I anticipated, a very interesting look at a bleak and fragile situation.

The Killer

2023 · 1h 58m · David Fincher

7/10

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

2017 · 2h 1m · Yorgos Lanthimos

6/10

An interesting core plot idea that was mostly ruined by an absurd style of dialogue.

Solaris

1972 · 2h 47m · Andrei Tarkovsky

7/10

Very interesting concept that wasn't realised to its full potential. Quite slow moving, it shows elements of brilliance without being thoroughly entertaining. Maybe too intelligent for its own good, it definitely requires a very thinking viewer.

Fallen Leaves

2023 · 1h 21m · Aki Kaurismäki

6/10

Poor Things

2023 · 2h 21m · Yorgos Lanthimos

★ 9/10

Absurd but brilliant, and totally hilarious.

Godzilla Minus One

2023 · 2h 5m · Takashi Yamazaki

7/10

Weak first half but recovers and finishes strong.

Harakiri

1962 · 2h 15m · Masaki Kobayashi

8.5/10

Dark but beautiful cinematography and sound capture this capitivating samurai tale.

Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan

2007 · 2h 5m · Sergei Bodrov

6/10

Fairly interesting but suffers pacing issues and a lack of real emotional investment.

Miller's Crossing

1990 · 1h 55m · Joel Coen

7.5/10

Strong script but lacks polish and a real wow factor.

Lawrence of Arabia

1962 · 3h 48m · David Lean

★ 9/10

Beautiful cinematography, majestic score, brilliant pacing, engaging script, a masterful film on all fronts.

Grave of the Fireflies

1988 · 1h 29m · Isao Takahata

8/10

Powerful film that will pull at your heart strings, although the aged animation perhaps holds it back in places.

Missing

2023 · 1h 51m · Will Merrick, Nicholas D. Johnson

7/10

Quite engaging with some smooth editing.

Wonka

2023 · 1h 57m · Paul King

6/10

A bit weird but fairly enjoyable.

Mean Streets

1973 · 1h 52m · Martin Scorsese

7.5/10

Very enjoyable even if it is a bit rough around the edges.

Ikiru

1952 · 2h 23m · Akira Kurosawa

7.5/10

Cinema Paradiso

1988 · 2h 4m · Giuseppe Tornatore

8.5/10

Excellent film crafted with passion and love, but the ending in the theatrical cut is a bit jarring and left me unsatisfied. Will watch the Director's Cut at some point.

Come and See

1985 · 2h 22m · Elem Klimov

8/10

Powerful film but lacked the finesse to achieve true greatness.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

2023 · 2h 5m · Peyton Reed

5/10

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

2022 · 1h 43m · Joel Crawford

7.5/10

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

2023 · 2h 35m · James Mangold

6/10

Killers of the Flower Moon

2023 · 3h 26m · Martin Scorsese

8/10

Very long but kept me engaged and interested nonetheless. Nothing mindblowing but just great filmmaking.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

2023 · 2h 30m · James Gunn

8/10

One of the better of the recent Marvel films that actually has some real substance and soul.

Violent Night

2022 · 1h 52m · Tommy Wirkola

5/10

Some entertaining violence but it's pretty silly and not that funny.

Kubo and the Two Strings

2016 · 1h 42m · Travis Knight

7/10

A slow start and fairly weak ending lets down an otherwise pleasant and charming movie.

The Twilight Samurai

2002 · 2h 9m · Yoji Yamada

7.5/10

Pensive and sentimental film that I quite enjoyed, but the plot wasn't as compelling as it could have been and some characters lacked proper development. Also the ending is annoying.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

2023 · 2h 20m · Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Joaquim Dos Santos

★ 9/10

Excellent film on most accounts. It has a particularly unique and creative art style and manages to craft some real, deep relationship dynamics. The only real criticism is that some of the core plot elements, especially the villain, are a bit weak.

5 Centimeters per Second

2007 · 1h 3m · Makoto Shinkai

5/10

Turns out I don't really like anime.

Pearl

2022 · 1h 42m · Ti West

7/10

Outstanding lead performance but everything else is pretty average.

X

2022 · 1h 46m · Ti West

5/10

Interesting style, good cinematography, quite weird, very average.

Infernal Affairs

2002 · 1h 41m · Alan Mak Siu-Fai, Andrew Lau Wai-Keung

8/10

Fantastic plot with enough depth and complexity to stay engaged throughout. The editing and cinematography is pretty slick on the whole but feels a bit cheesy in some moments.

Embrace of the Serpent

2015 · 2h 5m · Ciro Guerra

8/10

Biutiful

2010 · 2h 28m · Alejandro G. Iñárritu

8.5/10

Heartfelt film that's full of soul and real, human characters. In particular, Bardem gives an incredible performance with layers and subtelty to his lead role.

Silenced

2011 · 2h 5m · Hwang Dong-hyuk

8/10

Horrible but great.

Barbie

2023 · 1h 54m · Greta Gerwig

5/10

Way too in your face with its message, there was no subtlety and parts of the film were basically just characters reading out a lecture. It was abstract in all the wrong ways, forcing quirkiness without adding any underlying intelligence or quality filmaking. The main redeeming f…

La Haine

1995 · 1h 38m · Mathieu Kassovitz

8/10

A sharp script, realistic characters and well stylised production come together to highlight important themes that still remain relevant 30 years later.

What Is a Woman?

2022 · 1h 35m · Justin Folk

7/10

A measured approach to a controversial topic that raises some important questions.

Sonatine

1993 · 1h 34m · Takeshi Kitano

7/10

Oppenheimer

2023 · 3h 1m · Christopher Nolan

7.5/10

A very well made film on an interesting topic, but at the end of the day its just a biopic with 3 hours of talking. It never feels truly intense and edge of your seat, which is what I've come to expect from Nolan. I think there was a great 2 hour film in there somewhere but it ju…

Shoplifters

2018 · 2h · Hirokazu Kore-eda

7.5/10

A heartfelt film but its understated style left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.

The Flash

2023 · 2h 24m · Andy Muschietti

6/10

Had great potential in its concept and ambition, but the execution felt pretty scattered and all over the place.

The Great Beauty

2013 · 2h 22m · Paolo Sorrentino

7/10

Has its captivating moments that truly capture the beauty of life, but in between there is a lot of rather eccentric and slightly bizarre content that leaves it overall feeling a bit thin. The setting, cinematography and soundtrack also very much deserve a nod.

Rounders

1998 · 2h 1m · John Dahl

8.5/10

Good writing, good characters, a bit nostalgic, just all round an enjoyable film.

10 Things I Hate About You

1999 · 1h 37m · Gil Junger

8/10

Great film with actually interesting characters.

Thirteen Lives

2022 · 2h 27m · Ron Howard

7/10

Interesting story but doesn't get properly going until the second half, complemented by a couple of awful British accents.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

2023 · 2h 44m · Christopher McQuarrie

8/10

Solid film with lots of outstanding action, an interesting plot and some fantastic scenes.

John Wick: Chapter 4

2023 · 2h 50m · Chad Stahelski

5/10

Didn't really follow the plot, but it seemed so nonsensical that I don't think it would've made any difference. This film is definitely carried by the non-stop action, which is very well choreographed, but every bad guy's aim is worse than a stromtrooper which ruins the immersion…

Wild Tales

2014 · 2h 2m · Damián Szifron

8/10

A bit silly in places, but overall a highly entertaining set of stories, crafted with an underlying dark humour.

Bullitt

1968 · 1h 53m · Peter Yates

6/10

Nothing particularly stood out except the car chase which was excellent.

Extraction 2

2023 · 2h 2m · Sam Hargrave

7.5/10

2 hours of virtually non-stop action, most of which is high quality, with some creative camera work. However don't expect much of a gripping plotline.

A Separation

2011 · 2h 3m · Asghar Farhadi

8.5/10

An excellent Iranian drama piece that feels authentic and grounded.

Captain Phillips

2013 · 2h 14m · Paul Greengrass

8/10

The Chaser

2008 · 2h 5m · Na Hong-jin

6.5/10

Interesting and different style to the usual, but did not achieve a particularly intense atmosphere or feel like high stakes for most of the film. A couple of very annoying plot devices too.

Bicycle Thieves

1948 · 1h 29m · Vittorio De Sica

8/10

Great film with lots of charm but it doesn't particularly bring a wow factor to a modern viewer.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

2023 · 2h 14m · Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley

7/10

Terrible start but soon finds its charm. Entertaining with a likeable set of characters.

12 Angry Men

1957 · 1h 37m · Sidney Lumet

★ 9/10

A film with a simple structure that nonetheless manages to be completely captivating.

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant

2023 · 2h 3m · Guy Ritchie

7.5/10

Crams a lot into just 2 hours and some parts feel a bit disjointed, but overall a solid offering with strong lead performances.

Twelve Monkeys

1995 · 2h 9m · Terry Gilliam

7/10

Engaging and original, but a bit too wacky in its style for my liking. Also quite hard to follow at times.

Vortex

2021 · 2h 22m · Gaspar Noé

7.5/10

Sad, bleak, depressing… this film is certainly powerful in what it sets out to achieve, doing so in a stylistically unique manner and with such authenticity that it feels almost too real at times.

Aftersun

2022 · 1h 41m · Charlotte Wells

8.5/10

A precious film that manages to bring a moving and wistful magic to the screen through a symphony of simple, subtle moments.

Cocaine Bear

2023 · 1h 35m · Elizabeth Banks

6/10

Some funny moments and mildly entertaining, but not quite as outrageous as I was hoping.

21 Grams

2003 · 2h 4m · Alejandro G. Iñárritu

7/10

A sobering tale that is certainly compelling to watch, but suffers from a confusing structure and ultimately leaves you unsure of the message to be gleaned.

Luther: The Fallen Sun

2023 · 2h 9m · Jamie Payne

5/10

Massively let down by some shoddy editing and an awful plot that's full of holes.

Samsara

2011 · 1h 42m · Ron Fricke

★ 9/10

I found this to be a completely engrossing experience, different to any other film I've seen. It's a meditative, reflective, and strangely cathartic piece. There are sections of the film where traces of a narrative seeps through, but I actually found the more abstract shots where…

The Insider

1999 · 2h 38m · Michael Mann

8/10

Well directed, well shot and well acted with a sharp script. It had incredible potential, however even though I was engaged from start to finish, I felt the story didn't flow with a real energy except in the final act.

Official Competition

2021 · 1h 54m · Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat

8/10

Brilliantly executed satire that is both interesting and funny, sprinkled with just a hint of avant-garde abstraction to deliver a refreshingly lively piece.

I Saw the Devil

2010 · 2h 24m · Kim Jee-woon

7.5/10

Visceral and unsettling, this film pulls you in with a powerful first act, however I found the storyline soon became a bit far fetched and contrived which took me out of it.

Cartel Land

2015 · 1h 40m · Matthew Heineman

7/10

Interesting, although a little lacking in structure and the Arizona based storyline felt out of place.

Babylon

2022 · 3h 9m · Damien Chazelle

5/10

Wacky and bloated, there are a lot of elements that just come across as convoluted and nonsensical. It does maintain some entertainment value, but overall feels way too indulgent.

All Quiet on the Western Front

2022 · 2h 27m · Edward Berger

7.5/10

Brings a fresh perspective on WWI and I commend the depiction of the harsh realities of trench warfare. However it is a bit predictable at times, somewhat drawn out, and I didn't connect with all the characters as much as I would have liked to.

Triangle of Sadness

2022 · 2h 27m · Ruben Östlund

7.5/10

I didn't find this particularly thought provoking, although somehow it still felt interesting and kept me engaged. I couldn't really take the satire seriously and it tended to make me laugh rather than think. I don't know if that was the intention of the film, but for me it's gre…

Violent Cop

1989 · 1h 43m · Takeshi Kitano

8/10

Dark, raw and violent. A nihilistic film that is full of character, yet leaves you feeling empty.