Top Ten 2014

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Craig Micklewright

This has been one of the toughest end-of-year Top Ten’s I’ve ever come up with. Although there were many good movies this year, there hasn’t (for me) been a clear winner, and well I’ve not managed to get around to some of the real big hitters like 12 Years A Slave or Boyhood, to name two. However listed below is my final Ten of the year compiled from the best movies I watched and reviewed (for the first time) in 2014. Note: I try and limit the contenders to movies released in the last two years.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy

2. American Hustle

3. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

4. The Wolf of Wall Street

5. Dallas Buyers Club

6. Gravity

7. Inside Llewyn Davis

8. Nightcrawler

9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

10. Saving Mr Banks

Honourable mentions: Gone Girl, The Raid 2 and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Birthday fun and reflection

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Craig Micklewright

Well I turned 39 yesterday and it was a really enjoyable day, despite the fact I was at work. I am fortunate to have many really good colleagues and friends at work and they all made a fuss of me, giving me cards, prezzies etc. I also had money and gifts off my family which included the ‘Atlas Limited Edition’ of Call of Duty Advanced Warfare for Xbox One as well as the official, limited edition Call of Duty Xbox One control pad. The game itself seems pretty decent but I’ll report more on that in another post.

At times like this, especially as I approach forty, I certainly find myself reflecting on life, and especially the past year, which emotionally has been very up and down. Some people come into your life and have a dramatic effect on it, then before you know it, they are gone for good. It’s certainly hard when that happens but sometimes can’t be avoided. Yet when I look to the things I have managed to achieve, the loving family I have around me, and the genuine friends who are still in my life, I do realise I have a lot to be thankful for.

I love writing this blog, I love watching movies, playing games, and I love my job … it challenges me and makes my life something once upon a time I never thought it would be.

I also want to thank anyone who regularly reads my posts, occasional visitors and the community here as a whole. You’re a joy to write for and make this a very rewarding hobby.

The Netflix Alphabet Challenge

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Craig Micklewright

I’ve come up with an interesting idea. Yes, the idea is to watch a movie on Netflix, and review it following day or so. The restriction being I must only review one movie from each letter of the alphabet, until all 26 movies are done. Other than this said movie can be from any year, any genre etc, although must be something that hasn’t been previously reviewed on here.. It’s going to take me a while but I am challenging myself … also it’s a good way to make more of my Netflix subscription and post more content.

Subsequent reviews of this challenge will have ‘Netflix Alphabet Challenge’ on the review itself.

A milestone reached

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Craig Micklewright

After starting this blog back in 2007, I never really did it to become all that popular … I wrote for my own love of writing and my love of movies, games and just getting my opinion out there. However in recent months and with the involvement of other blogs that I follow, there has been a growing interest here in what I am posting. That is such an amazing thing to me, that someone would actually want to read my stuff, let alone come back time and time again. So with a recent milestone reached of 250 followers here and that’s not including those that still visit but haven’t clicked the subscribe button, I want to express my gratitude and sheer joy of having you all on board. It makes writing this not just a hobby I love, but also something I am doing for an awaiting community – something I never thought possible. Please continue to comment, like and read my posts and I will promise to continue to post interesting, fun and informative reviews, as well as whatever else comes to mind.

Thank you so much for the support!

Craig.

The Wolf Of Wall Street

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Craig Micklewright

Viewed 28 January 2014 Cinema

I will generally watch anything featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, who I believe to be one of the best actors of his generation and has turned out some quite remarkable performances over the years … highlights being Stephen Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can and most recently his villainous turn in Tarantino’s Django Unchained. The same could be said for his long standing partnership with famed director Martin Scorsese, easily one of the best in the business. And so we come to this their latest collaboration, but does it live up to their other works?

Based on a true story, DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort a man who becomes a millionaire during the eighties by working the stock markets to his favour, and lives life to the extreme, enjoying wealth, drugs, women, cars … and more drugs. This hectic and outrageous film portrays Belfort as a man of excess, where he becomes addicted to a lifestyle that can only end badly. Basically this is a rags to riches tale, and seems to follow the blue print of Scorsese own Goodfellas, swapping gangsters for crooked stock brokers but the theme remains the same.

It’s a heady mix that Scorsese delivers with his expected style and expertise – fast and full of information, a wealth of side characters and cameos (was that Joanna Lumley?) and various stand out performances, including a hilarious Jonah Hill and a memorable Matthew McConaughey. But of course this is DiCaprio’s movie and he’s is like a tornado – blowing through the movie and delivering one of his most crazy, complex and brilliant performances in years (think Gatsby on acid!). Along with a director still at the top of his game and a shocking, riveting story (even if at times its unbelievably mad) this fired on all cylinders. It also happens to be the funniest movie I have seen in a long time (the cerebral palsy sequence…yes, really).

Jordan Bellfort may not be one of DiCaprio’s more likable roles, but the movie is a drug-fuelled ride of parties, sex, nudity and full-on-entertainment that’s very hard not to get caught up in. Superb.

Verdict: 5 /5