Films That I Saw: August 2016

The summer is coming to an end and thank goodness because in all honesty, I didn’t think it was very good. Not just because of all of the chaos that is going on around the world as well as all of these deaths as I’m pretty bummed about the passing of Gene Wilder. It’s also for the fact that I found the whole summer blockbuster season to be very underwhelming and I only saw one film in the theaters this summer as I’m just frustrated by the films that I want to see come out and then be gone the next week. Another problem is that a film I want to see is at a theater 20-30 minutes from where I live but I can’t go because my parents always have to go somewhere as it just really sucked. While I did manage to see a lot of films at home, it’s just been frustrating that a lot of good movies are being overshadowed by a lot of bullshit.

The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro was OK. I thought the opening and closing ceremonies were alright though my favorite thing in the latter was about what the Japanese will do for 2020 in Tokyo as it involved Super Mario. I liked some of the events that happened as it relates to the gymnastics, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and the fact that Honduras made it to the semi-finals in soccer. Yet, I was disgusted by Ryan Lochte did as the guy is a world-class moron who should be punished and be sent to prison for bullshitting everyone. I was also uneasy about the fact that there’s a lot of things going on behind the scenes as I saw Bryant Gumbel’s report on HBO about the International Olympic Committee and what they’re doing as it is corruption of the worst kind. While all of us were all dazzled by a lot of what is happening, there is a downside to all of this as anyone who knows what happened to Greece in 2004 as well as what countries will do to create the perfect event will see what the Olympics are really all about.

In the month of August, I saw a total of 35 films in 24 first-timers and 11 re-watches. Slightly down from last month not surprisingly as there hadn’t been a lot of old films on TV that I’ve already seen. One of the big highlights of the month was my Blind Spot assignment in A Brief History of Time. Here are the top 10 first-timers that I saw for August 2016:

1. Like Someone in Love

2. Breaking Away

3. Touki Bouki

4. Son of Saul

5. Hitchcock/Truffaut

6. Shotgun Stories

7. Youth

8. Trances

9. Straight Outta Compton

10. The Street Fighter

Monthly Mini-Reviews

Concussion

I’m sure many who follow the NFL are aware of the fact that there’s so many great players who are gone or are fading away considering the dangers of what happen when they play. This is a film that had its right place in its heart and was willing to say something but its execution is rather poorly. Despite the supporting performances of Albert Brooks and Alec Baldwin, the film doesn’t do enough nor was it willing to go all the way to really go into deep about the damage of concussions in football. Another aspect of the film that is troubling is Will Smith’s performance where it’s really him not really selling the drama while putting on a bad accent. It’s also a shame that Gugu Mbatha-Raw is given the thankless role as Smith’s love-interest where she is given very little to do.

Vixens from Venus

I like softcore porn films. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I grew up on softcore porn films though I will admit that a lot of the films of the genre haven’t been very good. This one in particular however is an exception. Three hot alien chicks from Venus arrive on Earth where they’re observed by scientists as there’s a lot of hot sex that goes on. It does have some substance about the fallacy of being overly-intelligent while also exploring the idea that not everything can be explained in a rational way. It’s just good fun with a lot of hot ladies.

Feast

The short that won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film is definitely a gem that anyone who loves animation must see. It’s a simple story about a stray dog who is picked by a man and gets involved into the man’s love life while having a lust for food. All of it told in the span of a few minutes where it has so much to say with so little time as it is a real gem from Disney Animation Studios.

Team Thor

With all of the chaos happening in the DC Comics Cinematic Universe, it is clear that Marvel is pretty much winning and having a good time. Plus, they’re not taking themselves so seriously where it is obvious the people involved have an idea of what to do. This recently-released mockumentary short film reveals where was Thor during the events of Captain America: Civil War as it is just down-right hilarious. It’s Chris Hemsworth making Thor be funny while it features a great cameo from Bruce Banner who is just taking it easy.



Top 10 Re-watches:

1. Ratatouille

2. Casino Royale

3. The Red Balloon

4. Spaceballs

5. Straw Dogs

6. Never Say Never Again

7. Bloodsport

8. Fernando Nation

9. June 17th, 1994

10. Double Impact

Well, that is all for August and the summer. In September, I will be watching a lot of films that is in my never-ending DVR list as well as films by the remaining subjects of my Auteurs series. Most notably Alejandro Jodorowsky as he is the next filmmaker I will discuss in my Auteurs series as well as the next film in my Blind Spot Series. In the world of music, I will be attending a concert for the legendary electronic group Kraftwerk in which I will post a review of the show in my music blog. Until then, this is thevoid99 signing off…

© thevoid99 2016