A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon - Movie Review - Another classic for Aardman?

This film is a U, was released on October 18th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

With the arrival of an alien named Lu-La on Mossy Bottom Farm, its up to Shaun, Bitzer and the rest of the gang to get them home before they're caught. I love Aardman, and there's something wonderful about their films because I can always count on them to make me smile and laugh, two things that I love to do. With this film, they had me sold on the fact that it was Aardman, but then I was double-sold on the fact that it was another Shaun the Sheep movie, and then triple-sold when I heard it was called 'Farmageddon' - a genius title. So, there was no way I could miss this, especially combined with the fact that I adore stop motion and want to support it forever and ever. So, I had very high hopes. 

It didn't take me long to be smiling and laughing away, this film just further proves how terrific Aardman and their work is. The jokes in this film are just brilliant. After seeing any comedy film, I always feel like just listing off every single thing that made me laugh, but I am not giving away any jokes here because that'd spoil the film largely. To keep it vague, the jokes range from being excellent slapstick, to really clever word-y jokes, to small details in the background, and just plain silliness. All of it works really well, and even the jokes that don't work can still be appreciated, and they don't leave a sour taste as it doesn't take long for a funnier one to come up. The animation is also up to the usual Aardman standard, with brilliant attention to detail and a great job with colour and character design. But, the key attribute of the animation here is that it used to tell the story, because the film has a lack of decipherable dialogue for the most part. This visual storytelling is really commendable and the 'show don't tell' mentality needs to be adopted by other filmmakers, even outside of animation. 

In terms of negatives, there are very few. My biggest issue is that the film is quite predictable, but that didn't ruin the experience, it just slightly bugged me. Also, the film used pop songs a little too much for my taste, it isn't particularly new or original as many plot points are borrowed from other films, even if they're used well, and, like Aardman's previous films, it is generally harmless and thus not anything that'll leave you thinking nor something that has interesting themes.

It is plain, it isn't boundary-pushing, but who cares? A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, is a delightful time at the cinema with absolutely hilarious jokes, exquisite animation, and wonderful use of silent cinema. It is really just as good, if not better, than the first one. I highly advise you go and see this because it will cheer up you as well as your whole family, and going to see it will mean that more great things will come our way. Aardman have never let me down and I doubt that they ever will. So yeah, it's terrific, and there's not much else to be said.

I'm going to give A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon an 8/10

Also, I was planning on ranking every Aardman film ever made to coincide with the release of this film, but I didn't because it was only when I began to write it that I realised everything I had to say about each film was essentially the same. So, here is a quick ranking of every Aardman film with their number rating next to them:

8. Flushed Away (7/10)
7. Early Man (8/10)
6. The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (Not 'Band of Misfits' tut tut) (8/10)
5. Arthur Christmas (8/10)
4. Shaun the Sheep Movie (8/10)
3. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (8/10)
2. Chicken Run (9/10)
1. Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (10/10)    

Joker - Movie Review - Worth all the fuss?

This film is a 15, was released on October 4th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

Introduction 

The Joker is a character that has appeared many times in cinema history. There have been many interpretations that range through all kinds of tones and styles. However, my favourite, and probably many others' favourite is Heath Ledger from The Dark Knight (well, my actual favourite is Lego Joker but let's be real here). He brought probably the most realistic interpretation of this character to the screen, and created such an engaging performance that he ended up winning an Oscar for it. But, what if the Joker wasn't a secondary character? What if he was the main character of his own standalone film? That is where Joaquin Phoenix comes in. 

Thoughts Going In 

I didn't know what to expect going in. There had been a fairly mixed reception online with many critics I respect saying it was really good, but others claiming it is a nasty film that 'endorses violence'. So, I didn't really know what I'd think, but I was sure that it'd be something.

The Story 

Arthur Fleck is a mentally unstable man living in Gotham. He dreams of being a stand-up comedian but is held back due to a condition he has where he frequently starts to uncontrollably laugh, regardless of what is happening. However, after an incident involving him one night, a series of crimes involving individuals dressed as clowns begins and he convinces himself that his life is one big comedy. 

What I Liked 

I think it goes without saying that Joaquin Phoenix is outstanding in this film. He fully embraces this role and you don't question it being an actor for one minute. However, what I really liked about his performance was that he genuinely made me feel uncomfortable. Whenever he was on screen, which is essentially the whole movie, you don't feel safe. You don't know exactly what he is going to do, but you know that he will do something, and that it will probably be brutal. This made his interactions with other characters really intense and it also left me biting my nails as I awaited his responses to certain things. And, as expected, they are violent to a large extent. Some of it made my jaw drop in shock and other times prompted me to look away. This is a game changing performance, and, like Ledger, Phoenix deserves an Oscar all the way. Also, other performances in the film such as Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz were really solid too, if not as remarkable.

The filmmaking is also excellent. All the effort was put in to make this film stand out in the crowd of other films released this year to be as unique as possible, highlighting the nature of the protagonist. The cinematography is brilliant, with many shots feeling gritty and real with some subtle usage of shakey cam. The lighting was also eerie and helped to intensify the horror or shock of certain sequences, the set design complemented this too with a really appropriately scrappy and grim aesthetic. The score was also extremely haunting and its presence / absence in particular moments made the actions feel even more grounded in reality or horrifying. So, the behind the scenes work to make this a truly weird and thus unique experience was all done to a largely commendable extent. 

But, the most effective thing about this film was the fact that all the elements combined added up to one of the most unsettling experiences I've ever had watching a film. Seeing Arthur with his derranged personality inhabiting this world that is stylised to seem as weird as possible made me, as an audience member, feel uneasy and disturbed. It understands what audiences find hard to watch or hard to sit through and uses those to its advantage. Things that are thematically dark, things that are alarmingly real, all these things complement the atmosphere that the film puts you in. I don't usually have this kind of response to a film, so if there is a film that makes me have it, you know its done something very well indeed.

One last thing I should mention is that this film gets you thinking. It's the sort of film that you want to talk about for ages after seeing it because you won't be able to stop thinking about it. I can vividly remember so many scenes and I doubt they'll be leaving me any time soon. As great as other movies have been this year, none have left me thinking and wanting to talk about them as much as this has. I have had three different conversations with three different people about this film and I'd love that number to go up. It's a film that leaves you with a lot to take away and unpack, and I respect that. 

What I Didn't Like 

The biggest issue with the film can also been seen as a positive to some extent, and that is that I thought it was a tough film to sit through. I praised it for making me feel uneasy, but that also works against the film because it lowers the rewatch value for me. Even though it may be less stressful of a watch the next time due to the fact that I know all the outcomes, I don't have any desire to see it again, even though I liked a lot about it. Also, you may be wondering why I was vague about certain points I've made despite wanting to talk about this movie as much as possible. That's because, as much as I do want to think about this film, I do feel uncomfortable whenever I do. That might sound weird but this is a weird film to talk about, so I think it makes sense. I also think it is much easier to talk about in person as opposed to writing a review when trying to vary vocabulary and be as detailed as possible.

Conclusion 

I think Joker is a really terrific piece or work, but I don't know if I like it or not. The amazing central performance, the impeccable work behind the camera, and the atmosphere of the film make it something else. But, the uncomfortable nature makes it less rewatchable than most other films. But, regardless of that, I think I really do like this film. It's difficult to talk about but I do want to talk about it. And I like the fact that it has given me this reaction and that it has left me thinking and probably will have me thinking for much time to come. Anyway, I think I'll need something a bit more light-hearted next, and how lucky is it that Shaun the Sheep is back on the big screen next week!

I'm going to give Joker a 9/10   

My Top 10 Favourite Film Scores

Hey! Have you read something extremely subjective today? If not, then allow me to completely change that, if you insist on continuing to read this, that is. 

So, I have really come to appreciate scores for films in the last year or so. I've picked up on how scores can impact a scene in terms of emotion, power, and awe. This list consists of scores that I personally think work well in the context of the film and outside of the film. I'll list what I like about the film's score, the composer, and some of my favourite tracks from it.

Note: I am not particularly knowledgeable about technical jargon when it comes to music, so my vocabulary will be somewhat limited and repetitive. Sorry!

10. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009) (Mark Mothersbaugh)

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is one of my favourite animated films of all time, and aside from the humour and animation, the score is one of its best attributes. The film is very science-y and a lot of the music has some really nice electrical leitmotifs that reflect this aspect. It gives the sense of all the wonder that is on display, and it works really nicely outside of the film for what I call "Thinking Music" which is music that I can listen to and not get distracted by when I'm working. In terms of my favourite tracks, Swallow Falls is a really nice opener that sets the mood, Introducing Flint has some quirky sounds to it that all culminate into a really exciting ending, and Flint's Determination is a good tune too.

9. How to Train Your Dragon (2010) (John Powell)

The How to Train Your Dragon series isn't just visually stunning, it's musically stunning too. The first film has the best score in my opinion because it both started the series and has two of the best tracks in it. Forbidden Friendship is a charming tune that has sounds that speak of discovery as it builds to a really sweeping conclusion, along with the awe-inspiring moment when Hiccup places his hand on Toothless' face for the first time. And Test Drive, need I say more? You'll see that many of the scores on this list have a track that accompanies one of my favourite scenes ever, and this is one of them. The music feels so epic and blood-pumping and you can feel every burst of wind and sharp turn in the scene. It's just so terrific. The rest of the score has the same elements, and it works wonders.

8. The Social Network (2010) (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross)

The Social Network is one of the best acted and best written films I've ever seen to the extent that I was legitimately sad when it ended as I could continue watching more like it forever and ever. But, the score is brilliant, and you know it. Much like Cloudy, this film has some really good Thinking Music, but what sets this apart is that the music doesn't feel as if it was written to accompany scenes in a film. It genuinely feels as if it is written on its own, and all the better for it. Intriguing Possibilities, Painted Sun in Abstract, and Pieces Form the Whole are all so abstract and ominous yet really exciting. I always just love to listen to such interesting sounds, and this film delivers a score that has just that. 

7. Ready Player One (2018) (Alan Silvestri)

Okay, Ready Player One is a movie I've liked less and less with time. It's not because it's boring or anything, but some plot holes just become more prominent the more you see them. If there is one thing that keeps me a fan of this movie, it's the score. This is my optimum cup of tea when it comes to scores. I love grand, epic pieces of music like this. Ready Player One's strength is the fact that it is somewhat generic. As much as I love the Star Wars or Lord of the Rings themes, their iconicity can be a little bit distracting, even though they are excellent. Sure, this film does have some recurring leitmotifs but they don't necessarily trigger the thought of this film. So, this is beneficial because whenever I just want to hear something awesome and epic, I can listen to this. Additionally, they work fabulously in the film. "Why Can't We Go Backwards?" has a really quaint start but builds to be really big and boisterous, making the scene really exhilarating, Looking for a Truck and She Never Left are equally tense and exciting, and "What Are You?" is a really cosy piece that can calm you down after all the craziness. So, while it isn't iconic, it serves its purpose as a generic, epic score really efficiently.

6. Dinosaur (2000) (James Newton Howard)

I'd imagine you're probably seeing this and thinking "What?" But I think that this may be the most underrated score of all time. I think that because the film Dinosaur was passed off as an average Disney movie, most people overlooked a lot of the effort that went into this film. In all fairness, I do have a soft spot for this film as it was one of my favourites as a child, but I do think that the CGI holds up amazingly and the score is masterful. So many tracks in here are memorable and work well with their scenes. The Egg Travels is another one of my favourite scenes of all time and the music is a major part of that. The building from being small and quiet to vast and loud really emphasises the progression of the egg's journey as it goes from the hands of a raptor running through a jungle to a pterodactyl swooping over a canyon. It's simply magnificent. Inner Sanctum / The Nesting Grounds is tranquil and soothing, while Across the Desert and Breakout are equally as powerful. I think this score deserves more credit because it really is something special.

5. Isle of Dogs (2018) (Alexandre Desplat)

Both of Wes Anderson's stop motion features have brilliant scores, and while Fantastic Mr Fox is a better film than Isle of Dogs, the score isn't. Although, it would be at number 11 if I extended the list. The score to this film encapsulates the charming and bizarre nature of it. The End Titles in particular are really fun with such odd combinations of instruments intricately playing out together, it often has you struggling to choose something focus on, in a good way. Another key thing about this film's music is that it is very integral to certain sequences in the film. Six Months Later + Dog Fight is a key aspect of its respective scene. Many components such as the dogs move in beautiful choreography with the music. It's rather hard to explain it's true brilliance unless you watch it yourself. The other notable track is The Municipal Dome, which is great Thinking Music but with a Japanese-esque twist to it, especially with the percussion and brass. So, this score is where it is because of its unique nature. 

4. The Martian (2015) (Harry Gregson-Williams)

The Martian is one of my favourite films of all time, and while the score isn't one of the primary reasons, its still something I bare in mind when thinking about it. You've probably guessed that I love a lot of this film's tracks because they serve as Thinking Music, but the best thing about this film, is that the Thinking Music works really well outside of the film, and even better in the context of the film. When you hear something like Making Water or Science the S*** Out Of This, you feel like Watney is thinking to it too, whether he's problem solving or calculating something. The fact that this music works in both settings is the best part. Other notable tracks include Hexadecimals, which is oddly satisfying as it plays out over a silent montage, and Crossing Mars which is such a simplistic and vague piece that it captures the scope and haunting emptiness of Mars as Watney crosses it. So, the big achievement here is the wide appeal of this score, being perfectly fit within the film, and greatly satisfying outside of it. 

3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) (Alan Silvestri)

Yep, you knew it was coming. One might even say, it was inevitable. But of course I love this score, and I'm sure you can guess what one of the top two is from this. Even though I said iconicity can be distracting when listening to film scores out of context, what makes Infinity War an exception is the fact that this score offers much more than just the Avengers theme. A lot of it is impactful and as this film goes in directions that one may not have expected, it is only amplified. The End Game makes the very brief one-to-one fight between Iron Man and Thanos as powerful as it could be, and Infinity War playing out loudly over such insipid credits really makes that ending feel all the more shocking and emotional. Also, in terms of the Avengers theme, I have huge amounts of respect for this score because prior to this film, many people said the MCU's music was really lacking and that they didn't have a memorable tune under their belt. But, then this film came along and has immortalised the Avengers theme as one of the best themes in history. Forge uses the tune perfectly and when Thor arrives in Wakanda (another one of my favourite scenes ever), I get chills all over and my blood pumps faster and faster. So, how could this list get any better?

2. Avengers: Endgame (2019) (Alan Silvestri)

Well done Mr Silvestri, you've managed to make not one or two but three scores I really adore. Much like Fantastic Mr Fox and Isle of Dogs, despite Endgame being slightly inferior to Infinity War, the score isn't. There are so many excellent tracks in this film and all of them work beautifully in and out of the film. Arrival is a really sombre rendition of the iconic Avengers theme as well as setting the tone for the next three hours suitably, One Shot does a great job at providing the hope that the Avengers may succeed, and Worth It accompanies the greatest moment in the MCU, involving Cap and a hammer, and it makes me smile whether I'm just listening, or listening and watching, and it probably would if I was just watching. But then you have Portals. Which, in my opinion that I am entitled to, is the best piece of music ever written for a scene in a film. It captures the awe and amazement as all you heroes who were once thought to be dead return in one giant formation. It is a spectacular thing to behold and I don't think words could ever do it justice. And, surprisingly, there's more that comes close to topping that. The Real Hero is really earnest and makes you think about the entire journey the last twenty-two films have told, and Main on End is my favourite version of the Avengers theme. Seeing the silhouettes of the original six with the signatures of their respective actors writing themselves as the music builds around it, I just cannot physically express how swept up I feel whenever I watch or hear that. So, how on earth can the list get better? Well, it can. 

1. The Lion King (1994) (Hans Zimmer)

This is my favourite score for mostly reasons that have already come up. The music accompanies some of my favourite scenes ever, it works in and out of the film, and I have a soft spot for it because I grew up with this film and the score forever stays in my head. But, if it's all for the same reasons, why does this get the top spot? It's because this contains some of the most glorious and majestic sounds I think I'll ever hear. Remember Who You Are and The Rightful King are so unbelievably phenomenal that I'm not even going to attempt to put their greatness into words, it simply cannot be done. I Was Just Trying to be Brave, Kings of the Past, Stampede, and essentially every other track is just amazing. What's also amazing is the fact that the score only has a small number of leitmotifs that are slightly rearranged in different scenes. This is such an accomplishment because the ability for strictly finite pieces of music to be perfectly fit for so many different moments is outstanding. It fits the film's cyclical themes really neatly. And, above all, it is just great music. Anyone who listens to this can appreciate it, even if they don't like The Lion King or even the score itself. I don't really know what else to say. Sometimes, the magnificence of the very best things in life cannot be truly deciphered, and I know that this can't. 

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed reading something you don't agree with. But, these are just my favourites. The fact that we all have different favourites is something to be celebrated. I am planning on doing more top 10 lists as this was fun to put together, so get ready for even more subjectivity, because this was just scratching the surface.