This is normally the time of year when I look back over the books, films and TV which I have consumed over the past twelve months. Previous posts in this series can be found at the following links: 2009, 2008 and 2007Unfortunately this year I am at a bit of a disadvantage in looking back over the books I have read in particular, as I have ( Read more... )

This film was directed by Federico Fellini, which is reason enough to watch a film in my book. But that wasn't why I watched it.

It's also set in Rome, which is reason enough too. But again, that wasn't why I watched it.

I watched it because it features ( the one and only screen appearance by a certain Giulio Moreschi: nephew and adopted son of my beloved Alessandro Moreschi )

This was the latest Cottage Road Classic, which I went to see on Wednesday with ms_siobhan, planet_andy and big_daz. The cinema had really gone to town on creating an appropriately festive atmosphere: not only was the film itself a Christmas classic, but they had also put on mulled wine, mince pies and Christmas cake, as well as making sure that the usual prelude of vintage ( Read more... )

I actually watched this months ago - some weekend in the late summer when I was feeling rather ill and it was on one of the cable TV channels, I think. So it is well out of sequence as far as my reviews are concerned. But better late than never ( Read more... )

I spent yesterday afternoon asleep on the sofa, recovering from a busy week and a busy term. But today I came over all functional and sociable, and spent the afternoon in the balcony of the Hyde Park Picture House instead, watching a stop-motion animated film called Mary and Max with ms_siobhan and planet_andyIt's an absolutely lovely film - very sweet and touching, ( Read more... )

I'm rolling two reviews into one here, because they are both for classic films which I saw with my fellow aficionado, ms_siobhan, as well as planet_andy and (in the latter case) big_daz

28. House on Haunted Hill (1959), dir. William Castle

I saw the abysmal 1999 remake of this in the cinema with mr_flay when it came out, and we both agreed that it had stolen precious hours from ( Read more... )

I saw this yesterday with big_daz, ms_siobhan, planet_andy, nigelmouse and maviscruet in a big jolly Northern Goth Contingent family outing at the Light. I've seen the fullest version of Metropolis previously available before - in fact, that was the first film I wrote up when I began systematically blogging all the films I had seen on LJ back in January 2007. But this is an all-new version, ( Read more... )

I headed over to ms_siobhan and planet_andy's place yesterday evening for a film night. They've recently acquired this Hammer Horror box set, and we began our viewing by selecting Rasputin: the Mad Monk from amongst the possible options (with the aid of a d6). Before long, we were chorusing "Ooh, wasn't she in Dracula: Prince of Darkness?" "And him!" "And that's the ( Read more... )

I should really have read the book this is based on before progressing to the film, so that I could see properly what Stephen Fry was doing with his source material. But it seemed like a natural fit on my Lovefilm list after Easy Virtue (the last film I saw), and a pleasant way to spend a Sunday evening. I can pick up the novel later ( Read more... )

Watching this film was the one thing I did manage to do while lying wiped out on the sofa yesterday evening. It's my latest Lovefilm rental, which I'm pretty sure someone here recommended to me because of the 1920s setting. I can't remember who now - but thanks, whoever it was ( Read more... )