Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Movie Review - A satisfying conclusion or a rushed obligation?

This film is a 12A, was released on December 19th 2019, and this review will contain LOADS OF SPOILERS BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE HOW I FELT ABOUT THIS FILM WITHOUT GOING INTO GREAT DETAIL, BUT MY CONCLUSION WILL HAVE NO SPOILERS SO SKIP TO THERE IF YOU JUST WANT TO HEAR MY FINAL STATEMENT. SO, SPOILER ALERT.

Introduction

Nowadays, we always have the idea of a certain type of film known as a blockbuster. These are crowd-pleasing movies that are usually a ton of fun and really popular. The 1970s was a time when this began to emerge, and one of the earliest examples of a blockbuster that became a phenomenon was Star Wars. This 1977 science fiction / fantasy film perfectly encapsulated everything audiences wanted from a movie - likeable heroes, menacing villains, an infectious sense of fun, grand action, and so on. I adore this film. From a young age I'd been a massive fan of it and even to this day, I never have a problem revisiting it. It puts a big grin on my face and has me excited and entertained to enormous extents. George Lucas, the man behind the film, did an excellent job with this, and it was just the beginning of something bigger.

In 1980, the sequel, Empire Strikes Back, was released. I always found this movie boring as a child as nothing really happens and there isn't enough of the exciting action that the predecessor offered. However, revisiting it earlier this year, my opinion has flipped completely. The pitch-perfect dialogue, the terrific character growth, and a more demanding storyline make it a great watch, but it doesn't top the original for me. After this, Return of the Jedi, the third entry, came out. Not everyone is a huge fan of this one, but I love it just as much as the two before it. The ending really makes me teary-eyed, the characters are as good as ever, and the action continues to make me smile. As you can probably deduct, these three movies are very important to me. A massive tent-pole of my childhood as well as films that still work for me many years later - and the rest of the world seemed to have the same response. 

Towards the 2000s, Lucas came back to the franchise with another trilogy planned out, serving as prequels to the original three. These films were The Phantom Menace in 1999, Attack of the Clones in 2002, and Revenge of the Sith in 2005. These were hated. Many complained they were hugely inferior to the originals and had many issues with the characters, acting and production. In my opinion, they're fine. Phantom Menace is a bit too long and boring as well as annoying at times, Attack of the Clones has some good set pieces but has some poor acting, and Revenge if the Sith is actually a great movie to me as it is exciting and intense. The main issue I have with these three is that they feel very pretentious. They take themselves too seriously and so the cheesy dialogue and over-the-top action set pieces feel out of place, as opposed to the originals which seemed to understand to not be too dramatic unless necessary. But, I personally don't have a problem with them. 

After the negative reaction, Lucas believed he was done with Star Wars and sold it to Disney for a sum of around $4 billion. Now, a new creative team had their hands on this material and were ready to continue where it was left off. When I heard that Star Wars: Episode VII was on the way, I lost my mind. I was so hyped to see a return to one of my favourite franchises. The first teaser only amplified this, and I eagerly awaited December 2015, when it was due to be released. And then it arrived, Boxing Day 2015, when I went into the cinema and was ready to be blown away... and I wasn't. 

After my initial viewing, I wasn't crazy about The Force Awakens. I tried to convince myself I liked it but I had to accept I didn't. I was just a baby back then and was annoyed they killed off Han Solo as well as made the main character a girl. However, with time, I actually really like this movie. The characters of Rey and Finn are really engaging to me, the latter of which having some hilarious lines, BB-8 is a ton of fun too, it's great to see some of the veterans such as Han, Leia and C-3PO, and it is easily one of the most gorgeous-looking and well shot films in the saga, any frame could make an amazing screen-saver. So, my initial reservations are essentially irrelevant now, it's great but still not in the same league as the originals. 

The saga only continued with Episode VIII, The Last Jedi, in 2017. I wasn't super excited for this film, but of course I was keen to see it. It ended up spawning the most devisive response to a blockbuster in recent years. Many were conflicted about the direction the story went in as well as the bold, new ideas that were being inroduced. I personally like this movie, I've only seen it twice but I enjoyed it one both viewings. The characters are good and the action is remarkable, but it does suffer from feeling a bit too long and over-stuffed at certain points. The writer / director, Rian Johnson, did a good job here and despite some of the hate he received, he has proven he can still make great movies after he released Knives Out this year, which is fabulous. 

One thing I should elaborate on one thing I mentioned, that being the fact that I wasn't super excited for The Last Jedi. Well, as mentioned, I didn't initally love The Force Awakens, a film from 2015. But, do you know what film I did love from 2015? Avengers: Age of Ultron. Between Episodes VII and VIII, I became a massive fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with releases such as Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok, as well as viewing the previous entries. So, the main franchise I was attached to became the MCU, and I kind of lost my die-hard love for Star Wars. It didn't help that shortly after The Last Jedi came Infinity War, a movie you know I adore. Well, after Endgame came out earlier this year, and once the dust had settled regarding what happens in it, I was sort of without something big to look forward to, especially because the next films in the MCU seem to be smaller, solo films. 

Thoughts Going In

It was at this point that I remembered something, The Rise of Skywalker was yet to come out. To get in the mood, I rewatched the original triology and fell in love with them all over again, I then purchased a Lego Star Wars advent calender, booked tickets for the Empire in Leicester Square on opening weekend over a month in advance, me and my brother binged every single film in the main saga on the run up to the day we were due to see it, and I had completely rediscovered my love for Star Wars. Directed by JJ Abrams of The Force Awakens, this film had to task to bring together the set-ups of the first two in this new trilogy which were going in quite different directions. It seemed like a hard task, but I was hopeful to see what could be done to 'conclude' this enormous and personally important series. 

The Story 

Following on from the events of The Last Jedi............ this movie happens.

What I Liked 

Ok, if you're nervous about spoilers and want some vague thoughts - I'll just say that I enjoyed this movie, but have some issues. So, spoilers ahead, if you forgot what I said before.

The way the movie progresses the story set up by the previous two and concludes it is quite well done. While it does certainly feel like Abrams and Johnson have two different visions, the way it culminates does feel like a successful marriage of the two. Rey's arc in particular felt the most powerful. I like the way that while she is a similar character to Luke in the originals, her story plays out differently. She starts out as a nobody wanting more out of life, grows to become powerful in ways she never would've known, learns the truth about herself and her heritage, but doesn't let it get the better of her as she progresses her journey and becomes the hero the galaxy needs her to be. Kylo was another character with a very powerful arc. As much as I like Star Wars remaining as good, old-fashioned heroes vs villains, I like the fact that Kylo is humanised as he realises the error of his ways when confronted with his father, whom he killed, and goes on to fight evil alongside Rey because, once again, it's who the galaxy needs him to be. The other characters were fine, Finn and BB-8 are as good as ever as are the rest of the cast.

Being a Star Wars movie, the production is on another level. The score by John Williams is beyond perfection, bringing so much power to many scenes and calling back to previous films. The cinematography was really inventive, the final battle in particular had some really inspired shots that didn't cut at a rapid rate and kept the film feeling energetic and full of life. The visuals are also gorgeous. The sequel trilogy is definitely the best-looking of all the Star Wars films - I'll always remember the wondrous mix of reds, blues and more in the climax of The Force Awakens or the mesmerising red trails in the battle of Crait in The Last Jedi. Here, there are many beautiful sights such as the army of Star Destroyers only lit by occassional strikes of lightning, the eerie glow of the Emporer's cave lair, and much more. If there is one thing I can guarantee from any Star Wars movie, it's two hours of pleasure for my eyes and ears. 

Finally, the film as a whole felt very satisfying. It was neat to see how not only this trilogy but this entire saga finishes. The ending in particular was very cohesive with Rey referring to herself as 'Rey Skywalker' as she abandons the lightsabers for a future generation to find and sees her two greatest influences, Luke and Leia. That was very nice, as it ties all three trilogies together neatly, and it has enough ambiguity for the story to be picked up in around thirty / forty years time. So, watching this film is definitely easy to do as it wraps up a significant aspect of my life in satisfying fashion.   

What I Didn't Like 

The greatest issue with Rise of Skywalker that held me back from loving it was the lack of emotional involvement, and this can also be applied to the other sequel trilogy films. I admire the direction the story went and I was, overall, pleased with it - but the film itself didn't reach me as much as it could've done. This might not be a problem to some, but we live in a world where Endgame exists. I didn't want to make this argument, but I feel it is a perfectly fair comparison. Both are giant conclusions to large franchises that I'm a huge fan of, so they had the same job to do and also had equal amounts of pressure. Endgame was also a satisfying conclusion, but it was so satisfying that it made me smile and had me sat in awe at how perfect it was. Also, throughout the film were tons of moments that really impacted me. I laughed at the jokes and little callbacks, I cheered and clapped during the climax, I gasped at shocking moments, and I was tearing up towards the end, and consistently smiling and grinning everywhere else. So, when I walked out of that film, I felt like I'd not only watched a throughouly satisfying finale, but I'd experienced it. Here, there are tons of moments that feel like they're specifically designed to make audiences clap, cheer, cry, gasp, etc., including one laughably poor attempt to copy the portals scene from Endgame without any of the build-up, tension, majesty, beauty, music, pay-off, memorability or general awesomeness that made that scene great as it was, but I never felt the urge to do such because, unlike Avengers, this trilogy hasn't earned it. As much as I enjoy all these sequel films and as great as they may be, I'm not emotionally involved in them in the same way I am with the original trilogy or the Avengers films. I think the key reasons why this is apparent is because there is just no sense of urgency. These films had no reason to exist and don't justify why they exist nor do they add anything to what has come before. They can exist by themselves in the same way that I see Toy Story 4 existing aside from the first three, but the lack of reason makes it difficult to feel invested, and as a result, this finale cannot be as good as it could've and should've been.

Conclusion 

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a great and solid conclusion to one of cinema's biggest franchises. It has a really well organised story with meaningful arcs, excellent production, and a satisfying note to finish on. If I was more invested in these characters and this story then maybe this would've been one of the best Star Wars films ever, but as it stands, it's solid. I think, going forward, I'll view the series like this: the originals will forever be the best and defining films of the franchise, the prequels exist as good expansions to some characters' stories but ultimately aren't required, and the sequels will be there if I'm just after a bit more from the series. So, I'm pleased, and it gives me enough joy to say that alone. 

I'm going to give Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker an 8.0/10      

Jumanji: The Next Level - Movie Review - Just as fun as before?

This film is a 12A, was released on December 11th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

After having a rough time in the real world, Spencer heads back into the world of Jumanji to relive the time as Doctor Bravestone. His friends come in after him along with two old men, one of which is Spencer's grandfather. Now, they all have to get out of the game again and get through new challenges. I'm not huge on the original Jumanji, it's fine but nothing great. I really enjoyed Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in 2017, I thought it was a really funny and thoroughly enjoyable adventure with some of my favourite actors. So, I was excited for another round of hopefully the same fun. 

Unsurprisingly, this film was really funny. The best part of the original was seeing all these big-name actors like Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black act in ways that are different to how we usually see them. Here, it's cranked up to another level. With the old men, Dwayne Johnson is now impersonating Danny Devito, and Kevin Hart is Danny Glover. Neither have a clue what a video game is nor what is happening, and it's great to see these two actors be such different characters, with Johnson once again discovering the joys of being a big, tough guy and Hart speaking slowly and calmly as opposed to his usual, fast-paced blabbering. The other actors such as Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Awkwafina were really good as well, but those two landed the most laughs for me. The movie also delivers on enjoyable and engaging action, with set pieces such as dune buggies being chased by a stampede of ostriches, twisting bridges being swarmed by baboons, and a final battle that's a lot of fun too. The score also helped to make these scenes more exciting, being more than just a typical action movie score. The film also has some thought put into the story. It's not groundbreaking, but it does show that there is more competency to this film than one may have expected. 

The main issue with the film is that it is far too predictable. It follows a very similar layout to Welcome to the Jungle, hitting many similar story beats almost to the same level as something like Back to the Future 2. This caused the film to suffer as there isn't much tension while you're watching, you can mostly guess the outcomes. It also recycles a lot of its jokes from before, with many punchlines also being easy to guess. Luckily, the new jokes keep these from having to great of an effect. Additionally, it's not the most amazing film in the world, it's very much just solid and entertaining stuff as opposed to something that leaves you thinking or reaches you emotionally. Still, that's not a huge dealbreaker for me.

Well, I'm glad to say that I enjoyed this just as much as before. Some really fun, new jokes that alter the images of many great actors along with some well executed action elements make this a jolly good time at the cinema. As a holiday movie, there's plenty for the whole family so I'd highly recommend if you're up for some easy, solid entertainment. I may even revisit this again in the future. 

I'm going to give Jumanji: The Next Level a 7.5/10 

Ok, this isn't the only movie I'm seeing this weekend - as a little movie called Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is awaiting me at the Empire in Leicester Square on Sunday! With all the mixed responses, I cannot wait! Along with my review, I'll also be giving my in-depth thoughts on the rest of Star Wars as a whole, as I am a big fan and haven't discussed it greatly. Moving forward, there's much I look forward to such as Jojo Rabbit and 1917.   

Knives Out - Movie Review - A redemption for Rian Johnson?

This film is a 12A, was released on November 27th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

I meant to publish this review a while ago but forgot to because of stuff. Sorry!

Introduction

I. LOVE. WHODUNNITS. Not only are they usually really entertaining, but I like how they have you, the audience, actively guessing and theorising throughout the course of the runtime. Entertainment that I get more out of than just a good time is really engaging, even though I'm perfectly content with the latter. However, the genre has sort of gone dormant in recent years. We had Kenneth Branagh's Murder on the Orient Express in 2017, as well as his Death on the Nile on the way, but there's not been a good old-fashioned whodunnit in some time. 

Thoughts Going In 

Just looking at the poster for Knives Out made me want to see it, and this desire was only made stronger by the excellent reviews as well as Daniel Craig's silly accent in the trailers. So, I was keen for something that'd be fun, engaging, and just a great movie all-round. 

The Story

On the morning after his 85th birthday, Harlan Thrombrey is mysteriously found dead. With many family members who attended, all with different motives linked to Harlan, ace-detective Benoit Blanc is brought in to deduce who did what. 

What I Liked 

I'm just going to make it clear that I absolutely loved this film, and here's why:

The writing here is just phenomenal. This is easily one of the best, most meticulously written mysteries I've ever seen in a film. There are so many aspects to this mystery and seeing it all get pieced together is just a joy. As I said, I love 'playing along' with these types of films, and trying to solve the puzzles alongside the people in the film. This was a ton of fun. All the known pieces of information are delivered in fragments, and at a steady rate. By the time the film explains exactly what happened, it feels like a satisfying and oddly funny culmination of everything that was set up from the very beginning. You sit there smiling and laughing as it all comes together. Also, the pieces of the puzzle aren't just the things that the characters say when being questioned or things the detectives discuss, so many minor things that you barely think twice about act as vital to the end result. If you do see this, try to remember every line that is said, even the seemingly insignificant ones - it may just be the key to everything! I wasn't actively doing this, but it was funny at the end when certain things I could recall but didn't really care about became extremely important. So, the writing kept me engaged and entertained. 

The characters help to enhance the film's great story, and the performances were a big part of that. Of course, my favourite was Daniel Craig. Not only was he simultaneously doing the best and worst Southern USA accent, but he was also effortlessly charming and charismatic in his delivery. I could honestly watch this performance alone for two hours and be satisfied. The other stand-out was Ana de Armas. Her role in the film was larger than I expected which made me happy, as she is very talented and I hadn't seen her in much up until this point, the only thing coming to mind being Blade Runner 2049, where she didn't have an awful lot to do, even though she was in my favourite scene. Everyone else such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette and Christopher Plummer were as brilliant as you'd expect, but I'd also like to mention how nice it was to see Chris Evans doing something excellent that wasn't a Marvel movie. I should address the fact that this film is hilarious, despite not being an alleged comedy. These actors sure know how to deliver this dialogue in the funniest ways possible.

To keep it brief, essentially everything else in this film was top notch. The cinematography was great, rarely was there a shot that ever felt uninteresting or lifeless. The set design was terrific, setting the scene and atmosphere appropriately. The score was wonderful and incorporated many traditional mystery-Esque sounds such as high-pitched violins which kept the film exciting. The colour palette was always interesting with each scene feeling distinct from each other and having their own moods. I just don't think there is a single creative aspect that was lacking in the slightest, everything was just marvellous. 

What I Didn't Like 

The only teeny-tiny problem I have with this movie is, you guessed it, some pacing issues. I know, it's typical for me to point at this as a flaw in a movie, but it is certainly more to do with me having quite a short attention span. Basically, there's roughly a 10-20 minute chunk of this film that was slightly less interesting than the rest. It wasn't bad, okay or even just good in the slightest, it was still great but it began to deal with aspects of the mystery that I didn't find as engaging nor as coherent. Luckily, it gets back on its feet smoothly, but that's just a tiny nitpick from me. 

Conclusion 

What more is there to be said about Knives Out? It's just fabulous. This film just gets everything right and manages to be a prime whodunnit as well as wildly funny, effortlessly charming and extremely engaging. Aside from a slightly less interesting section, this is one of the best films of the year, and something I doubt I will ever get bored of even after 100 viewings. It's masterful filmmaking, just go and see it for yourself. And remember, when you know what happens, keep it quiet!

I'm going to give Knives Out a 9.5/10

Le Mans '66 (Ford v Ferrari) - Movie Review - Fast-paced fun or a slow mover?

This film is a 12A, was released on November 15 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

After some hard luck, the Ford motor business decides to enter the world of racing by building a car to compete in the annual 24 hours at Le Mans in 1966. Not a huge racing fan, but it does give me a rush of energy that I enjoy. I also like Matt Damon and Christian Bale well enough, and the trailer seemed snappy and fast paced to my liking. So, I thought this would be something neat to catch in cinemas, especially because I lost interest in seeing Frozen 2 quite quickly. 

The film delivers in essentially everything that I was after. Damon and Bale give very strong performances, and they're also largely entertaining while on-screen. It is fun to watch these two and they anchor a lot of the film's strengths. On top of this, the racing sequences are a lot of fun too. They're fast paced, with some really effective sound editing / mixing to create the right atmosphere. The cinematography was also excellent in these scenes with some really smooth and wide pans around the speeding cars from many interesting angles. It really puts you in the driver's seat. The score was also terrific with some exciting tracks heightening the tension. The film also had a really good story, I like to see films that involve things such as problem solving, and this film did just that. A large segment of the film revolves around developing the car, and it makes it all the more engaging. So, the film succeeded in delivering what it promised. 

The only major issue is that the film is quite long - two and a half hours. I didn't feel bored at any point in that run-time, but the film did take some time to get going. Once it finds its feet and the main plot starts up, it whizzes by. But, the first 30 - 40 minutes of the film are quite slow and a bit dull in comparison to the rest of it. 

Le Mans '66 is a lot of fun and very solid. The performances, the racing sequences, and the filmmaking are all very strong and made this an enjoyable watch. Despite a slow start, it's a fun watch and something I'd not mind revisiting some time soon. 

I'm going to give Le Mans '66 an 8/10 

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.