Hop's Thoughts

I've been meaning to write a blog for a while now, but didn't want one filled with emotion. Been a rough month for me personally and going it alone has been tough. The usual suspects have been absent from my life, but most of all people have just been busy. Sure, I could quote some internet meme about how if people care they'd make time for me, but that's not always true. I've been there. I've had work, little league, personal relationships, my family commitments and I was young. I woke up at 6:30 and went to bed at 1:30 and not once did I have a minute to step back and say "this isn't living." Did I have fun? Of course, but for four years, I essentially became a slave to routine. I didn't go out with friends, didn't drink, didn't even really know what I was doing when I relaxed. I stared at screens, playing games or watching the same movies I'd seen before or ones that looked just like it. But wait, this isn't a cry for help....

Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse - Very funny, but lacks horror feel. Good acting. Francofonia - On paper, a brilliant docudrama about art preservation during war. On paper! A Brighter Summer Day - A very simple story, enhanced by it's beauty. Four quick hours. The Girl In The Photographs - As bad as a horror movie can get. An all-time dud. I'm A Cyborg, But That's OK - Surreal look at mental illness, is scattered, but works. Bill Cunningham New York - Funny, touching and possibly even deep. He was NYC fashion! Hail, Caesar! - Coen Bros. offer an homage to post-war Hollywood and nail it. Casting is A+ Event Horizon - Cult Classic did nothing for me. No twists or turns and silly script. Boo! Green Room - Run-of-the-mill claustrophobic thriller. Silly script, but solid cast makes it work. Rams - Icelandic drama about two brothers, their farm and the loss of their rams. That's it.  Wrestling - Short by director of Rams. Odd homosexual tale that just feels w...

Felt - Billed as horror, this sad drama about dealing with rape is odd, but effective. Beau Travail - This simple story feels like a complex dream in Claire Denis' hands. Brilliant! Krampus - Silly, funny at times, but definitely a failure as a horror film.  The Danish Girl - Vikander stands out in a miss-the-mark fictional twist on interesting story. Extraordinary Tales - Animated Poe Anthology is so good on paper, but never translates. Deadpool - Overhyped, silly, with some very funny moments, but the film is rather boring. Emelie - It's not perfect, but it's what horror should be. Tense, uncomfortable and exciting. Anomalisa - Charlie Kaufman strikes again. The film resonates, but lacks something in the end. Joy - Arguably the worst script ever written. The movie manages to fail in every way possible.  The Battle Of Algiers - Content could be debated, but the look and sound is impeccable. 10 Cloverfield Lane - Obvious, silly and boring, but surprisingly well a...

By far, the least number of movies I've watched in a month in almost two years (since I've been keeping track). Tiny Homes House Hunters - Silly, but some cool houses.  Son Of Saul - Auschwitz from almost a found footage style. Cinematic Masterpiece. Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Truly horrible in every way, but script and acting is atrocious. Philomena - Dench and Coogan's chemistry shines in this hilariously poignant film.  The Club - Poorly shot and directed film about repenting priests (or not). Didn't work for me. The Girl In The Car With The Glasses And A Gun - Stylish. Hard to like; impossible to hate. Close-up - Abbas Kiarostami's masterpiece is what docufiction should be. Left me speechless. The Traveler - Kiarostami's first. A boy experiences life. Surpasses 400 Blows in my opinion. The Lady In The Van - Despite Maggie Smith's presence, you never feel it. Awful last half. L'Eclisse - Antonioni's third part of "Trilogy,...

Bridge Of Spies - Hanks' best role since Big, but movie loses steam trying to appeal to masses. Vegucated - Funny, thoughtful look at the importance of convincing people to go vegan. The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie - Style over substance is influential, but club scenes drag. The Exterminating Angel - Bunuel's look at upper class fragility and the results. Fascinating! The End Of Summer - Ozu's penultimate film, is funny, charming and ends beautifully. The Hallow - Truly horrible, but distracted by beautiful co-star. Chi-Raq - Spike Lee combines Do The Right Thing with School Daze and Greek tragedy. Steve Jobs - Fassbender, co-stars, direction and cinematography are A-plus. Best of 2015. Almost Mercy - Need some humor and misses the mark consistently, but solid lead. The Conspiracy - Great idea, solid start and then becomes a cheap ambiguous mess. A Woman Under The Influence - Cassavetes' masterpiece. Rowlands and Falk are superb. The Forest - Great premise a...

This Friday, my niece was born. I received the message via text, with a picture attached. I cried. I was so overcome with happiness, I couldn't contain it. Later that day, I finally spoke to my brother and he told me all was well. He is not close enough for me to see this wonderful addition and with the way we've all become robots to technology, I've not even spoken to my sister-in-law yet. Everything has been through our phones, but very few voices have been heard and I am anxious to hear her coos and giggles, cries and sighs. It will, I imagine, melt my heart. Yesterday, I had a different feeling and it shook me; physically. I knew it was coming, but I wasn't ready for how it came upon me. Someone mentioned their parents "not being ready to be grandparents" yet and I laughed, told them they have time and went down to make myself some lunch. As I sat in the kitchen, I thought about my brother and his wife, staring in wonder at the life they created and the ...

Room - Cliche driven, poorly written script can't be saved by wonderful acting.  Bedevilled - Korean drama/horror works in many ways, but that ending really bothered me. Captain America: The Winter Soldier - shockingly bad, after solid first film.  The Trial - Welles' adaptation of Kafka novel as metaphor for Nazi Germany. Perkins shines. Last Shift - Underrated horror flick, with very solid performance by star and unnerving tension. Indigenous - Panama Jungle meets The Descent. Yep! Aside from good looking women, a dud. Criminal Minds: Season 9 - Repetitive, but character development and chemistry is its charm. Macbeth - Poorly adapted script and too much scenery, makes play lose all play quality. Crimson Peak - First complete letdown from Del Toro. One of the worst movies I've ever seen. Hannibal Buress: Comedy Camisado - Very slow start, but the last 20 minutes is hilarious.  The Tribe - Sign language...no subtitles. One of the most bizarre films ever. Troub...