Month at the Movies: September

What a month at the movies September was! When you compare it to the massive disappointment that was the summer of 2016, the gap in quality is humongous. This is possibly the toughest list I have had to create as there was so much quality and I wouldn't want it any other way. I was fortunate to see 13 different movies this month in what was a very solid month overall.

If you aren't aware of this series, I pretty much go through the month and rank the movies that I saw that month based on a combination of quality and how much I enjoyed the film. So lets get into the list! 

13. Anthropoid

The only movie that I didn't particularly like this month was 'Anthropoid'. A very slow and uneventful build up made the film feel very tedious and downright boring. The finale is very solid but a poor start had already done the damage. Not the most compelling period drama you'll see and if you wanted to learn about the events surrounding 'Anthropoid', then you'd probably be best watching a documentary.

Final Verdict = C-

Check out my review for 'Anthropoid' here

12. Blair Witch

The surprise continuation of 'The Blair Witch Project' was a very mixed bag when it comes to a modern horror movie. There were many flaws in this movie, none other than the excessive use of terrible jump scares made this film hard to root for. However there are moments of genuine terror, including the final act that is truly frightening. An average horror movie that lacks consistency but still a reasonably enjoyable watch.

Final Verdict = C

Check out my review for 'Blair Witch' here

11. Ben-Hur

The remake of the highly successful and multiple Academy Award winner was always facing an uphill battle. It was hard to see what would actually be done better in this remake and it appeared to be true. Nothing was done particularly bad but with nothing being improved, it makes you question why it even happened. It would be harsh to say that this is a bad movie though, just pretty average.

Final Verdict = C+

Check out my review for 'Ben-Hur' here

10. The Infiltrator

Bryan Cranston delivers yet again, this time as Bob Mazzur who is infiltrating drug dealers, a different approach to the subject matter compared to 'Breaking Bad'. Unfortunately the film struggles to find focus and doesn't get that interesting until later on. Once it reaches that point, the film does burst into life having a very strong finish. It wasn't enough though to make this a great film but a reasonably good watch nonetheless.

Final Verdict = B-

Check out my review for 'The Infiltrator' here

9. Morgan

Morgan looked set to take the success of last years 'Ex_Machina' with impressive trailers that showed a Frankenstein's monster set up. Unfortunately, the film couldn't decide between going all out with the action or to use the effective slow build apparent in 'Ex_Machina'. Anya Taylor Joy shines again though showing why she's one of Hollywoods best young actresses, see her scene with Paul Giamatti for evidence. An entertaining film throughout that could've been so much more but unfortunately didn't completely deliver.

Final Verdict = B-

Check out my review for 'Morgan' here

8. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Tim Burton seems to have more misses than hits recently but thankfully, 'Miss Peregrine' was a step back on the right track for the visionary director. A fun film with that classic Burton darkness combined fairly well with the interesting characters really helping the film. These characters could have been explored deeper which was a missed opportunity and some poor CGI holds the film back from shining. Hopefully Burton can build on from this and get back to the heights he previously had reached.

Final Verdict = B-

Check out my review for 'Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children' here

7. The Girl With All The Gifts

Zombie movies are one of horrors sub genres that has been exposed to death recently to a stage where you think most ideas surrounding it have already been done. 'The Girl With All The Gifts' brings a fresh look at the genre with more intelligence featuring in the film, especially with the "hungries". Paddy Considine and Glenn Close are great in this film which isn't your normal look at a zombie film. There are some puzzling aspects within the film especially surrounding the creatures but overall, this is an entertaining, morally complex film.

Final Verdict = B

Check out my review for 'The Girl With All The Gifts' here

6. Kubo and the Two Strings

From Laika comes yet another great original story, this time disguised as a Japanese myth, 'Kubo and the Two Strings' is one of the most beautifully animated movies of recent times. A fun story with interesting characters made this easy to watch with great work from the voice actors. At times there were scenes that seemed to be filled with exposition that slowed it down and hurt it but nothing too severe to sabotage the quality of this film. If it wasn't for 'Zootropolis', this would probably be my top animated movie of the year.

Final Verdict = B

Check out my review for 'Kubo and the Two Strings' here

5. The Magnificent Seven

It seems as if remakes are a constant feature at the cinema these days but I cannot deny that I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Magnificent Seven'. A phenomenal cast where Ethan Hawke shines, the classic fun western feeling is captured magnificently well. Some great action set pieces make this is a film that the summer was crying out for and was delivered just too late. True entertainment with themes of revenge running through it, this is a remake done right.

Final Verdict = B

Check out my review for 'The Magnificent Seven' here

4. Don't Breathe

I love how great 2016 has been for horror movies. 'Don't Breathe' can be added to the list of great horror movies as it's intriguing premise and dark twist work very effectively. Another example of how modern horror should be made, 'Don't Breathe' was a low budget success that deserves more attention. Tense throughout with great filmmaking aspects makes this a film that appeals to more than just your horror fans. Be sure to see this one if you can.

Final Verdict = B+

Check out my review for 'Don't Breathe' here

3. Deepwater Horizon

Based on the 2010 BP oil spill, 'Deepwater Horizon' is one of the most powerful movies of the year. It tells the story of the crew where 11 men died on that unfortunate night and director Peter Berg displayed the horror and braveness that occurred. Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell and John Malkovich all do great jobs in making this film even more impactful in a film which shows a side of the story that wasn't documented so well. A true disaster film that did a great job of portraying these men as the heroes they are on the Hollywood screen.

Final Verdict = A-

Check out my review for 'Deepwater Horizon' here

2. Hunt For The Wilderpeople

Perhaps the best comedy of the year has once again came out of the wacky and brilliant mind of Taika Waititi. The story follows the incredible journey of a young wannabe gangster and a grumpy Sam Neill in the New Zealand wilderness and the results are fantastic. Funny throughout the whole film, this film really is one that has snuck up on audiences. Again, this film needs more attention and is well and truly worth seeing.

Final Verdict = A-

Check out my review for 'Hunt For The Wilderpeople' here

'Kubo and The Two Strings' Review

From Laika, the creators of the unique animated movies 'Coraline' and 'The Boxtrolls' comes 'Kubo and The Two Strings'. A much more different style to the likes of Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks yet, 'Kubo' stands above most of the family animated movies so far this year.

After staying out too late, Kubo's world comes crashing down as he summons a vengeful spirit from the past. His mother sacrifices herself for his safety which leaves Kubo (Art Parkinson) alone or so he thinks. Now on the run and on the hunt for the three pieces of armour, Kubo is accompanied by Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) as they slay monsters and travel to discover the fate of Kubo's lost father.

As Hollywood seems to be full of remakes and sequels, Laika are offering yet another intriguing and entertaining original movie. The tale of Kubo is packaged as a Japanese myth, allowing the film to go all out with its mystery and magic creating a very enjoyable experience. As Kubo can make incredible things happen with his two stringed instrument, dazzling things are happening that will surely entertain the whole family. Due to Kubo's abilities, it keeps the film very fun as he is a child who can do marvellous things. With a young mind like Kubo who looks to do creative things with his abilities, it creates endless fun.

The fun is continued throughout the film due to the characters within the movie. Kubo as established is a fun character due to his abilities as he can do miraculous things. He is supported incredibly well by 'Monkey' and 'Beetle' who voices are two of Hollywood's current best in Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey. Monkey is very protective who seems to mainly be against wasting time and shows her annoyance when the pair of Beetle and Kubo joke around. This does lead to some great comedy moments throughout the movie as she is like a mother to two misbehaving children. Beetle is a lot more light-hearted like Kubo but also brave like Monkey which shows him to be a fun and reliable companion. The two are excellent supporting characters proving to be useful in the story and entertaining for the audience.

The animation style has mentioned before is most definitely unique. It's stop motion likeness works fantastically well throughout the film as the movement is so fluid and natural looking. It is refreshing seeing different styles of animation compared to the normality as everything is now at such a high standard, it is hard for some to stand out. However with Laika's unique look, 'Kubo' shines with its different look that really impresses. Everything looks magnificent throughout the movie from the magic that Kubo can create to the incredible scenery and locations that the trio reach in their journeys. 

As a family movie, the film does have a slightly darker tone to it that surprised me. This does make the film feel much more mature and maybe even to the extent where it may frighten very young children. With the evil spirits causing havoc and hunting for Kubo, it easily creates a threatening presence up against our heroes. This comes in the form of Kubo's mothers evil twin sisters whose giggles are enough to send shivers down your spine. Combined with the pale masks that they wear, the twins have a real creepy feel to them. I would like to have seen more done with the pair however as they seemed to be incredibly crafted and could've done a lot more in the film. Instead, they were more like henchmen to their father who didn't really impact the film quite like I had hoped he would. My only real gripe with the film is to do with the main villain as I didn't feel him to be in it that much or doing that much to make him seem really threatening.

Overall, 'Kubo and The Two Strings' is a great animated family movie that will challenge the best of them this year. Not quite up to 'Zootropolis' standard for me but still a very strong outing. An interesting story with great characters make this easily likeable and an enjoyable viewing all around. I'd recommend this especially if you have kids as it is an entertaining and beautiful original project. 

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Kubo and The Two Strings'? If so what did you think of it? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing this movie. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor