Hey everyone! Here's my latest weekly catch up, where we look at all of the films I've watched this week. The episode of The Drive Back this week had six massive films that we had to watch, and the rest were watched on my own time. SPOILER: the films this week were all good to masterpiece level. There weren't many movies this week due to a busy schedule, so there aren't as many films outside of the episode ones!
Let's start with the films we watched for the show.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) REVIEWED ON THE PODCAST
SCORE: 99/100 (MUST WATCH)
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen
Synopsis: A meek hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and Save Middle Earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
Quick Review: The Fellowship of the Ring is an incredible start, breathing life and character into a world that feels so alive through perfect music, awesome visual effects, and brilliant acting.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on HBO Max.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) REVIEWED ON THE PODCAST
SCORE: 98/100 (MUST WATCH)
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen
Synopsis: While Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron’s new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.
Quick Review: The Two Towers ramps up in scope and in its battles, but its character moments are the true things to remember.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on HBO Max.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
SCORE: 100/100 (MUST WATCH)
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen
Synopsis: Gandalf and Aragorn lead the world of men against Sauron’s army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
Quick Review: The Return of the King earns its crown as the best in the series, and an all time best film, because of its satisfying conclusions, epic battles, and emotional climaxes. It's also one of my 5 best films of all time.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on HBO Max.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) REVIEWED ON THE PODCAST
SCORE: 72/100
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen
Synopsis: A reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of Dwarves to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold within, from the dragon Smaug.
Quick Review: While it relies a bit too heavily on CGI and is a little bloated, the first Hobbit is still a fun time with a cast of (mostly) great characters.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on HBO Max.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) REVIEWED ON THE PODCAST
SCORE: 82/100
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen
Synopsis: The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf, continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug.
Quick Review: The Desolation of Smaug is much better than its counterparts due to incredible performances from Freeman and Cumberbatch, and a permeating sense of dread.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on HBO Max.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) REVIEWED ON THE PODCAST
SCORE: 65/100
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen
Synopsis: Bilbo and company are forced to engage in a war against an array of factions and keep the Lonely Mountain from falling into the hands of a rising darkness.
Quick Review: Five Armies tries to be like Return of the King in scope, but is far weaker due to its reliance on CGI and an air of being unnecessary, but the emotions are true here.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on HBO Max.
Rango (2011)
SCORE: 81/100
Directed By: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Timothy Olyphant
Synopsis: Rango is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff.
Quick Review: I've always fostered a grudge against this movie. Not because it isn't a good movie, but because the director chose to make this over an adaptation of one of my favorite game franchises of all time, Bioshock. That aside, Rango is actually a really fun family western film. It has incredibly gorgeous animation and incredible looking water animation for 2011. It also helps that the cast is incredible here too, creating a town that feels so alive and full of character. Admittedly, the film is a bit weird, but it's not to the point where it's distracting. While beautiful, there still are a few areas where the animation feels a bit dated, but again it's not too much. The story is a little too formulaic, which is where it does lose a few points with me. It's your typical liar gets revealed and then comes back to save the day. It's a story that I'm not too big a fan of, but this film has it a little better given the nature of the main character. It's a great western that adults will probably like a lot more than the kids, and because of that it's hard not to recommend.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on Netflix until October 27th.
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
SCORE: 81/100
Directed By: Mel Gibson
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey
Synopsis: World War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.
Quick Review: Hacksaw Ridge is a great war film depicting one of the most heroic members of the US Army during World War 2. I feel like it's pretty rare when we receive a Pacific theater film, with Hollywood instead focusing on Europe most of the time. Andrew Garfield is deserving of his Oscar nomination here, bringing depth and sincerity to the main character of Desmond Doss. This movie would be a masterpiece if it were mostly focused on his actual heroics during the battle of the titular Hacksaw Ridge, but it does have a girthy segment in the beginning of Doss' training. It goes on for far too long, and really tries to nail the point home that you shouldn't give up on your beliefs. Actually, it more so hits you over he head with that message, since the writing isn't exactly subtle. Another complaint is that the film is a little too "Hollywood" when it comes to the battle scene as well as the demonization and dehumanization of the Japanese. I understand they were the enemy and the US didn't exactly have fond feelings for them, but I don't know if anything they were presented doing during the film is historically accurate. In any case, Hacksaw Ridge is still a fantastic film that I do recommend!
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on HBO Max.
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