Oliver Battershall

The Tale of Zatoichi (1962) 3.5/5
I enjoy blind characters in movies, especially strong and principled ones that refuse to be belittled. Probably because that’s exactly what my grandad was, who I was very close to. (I did inherit his eye condition though so thanks for nothing John!) This drags its feet at times and I’m not entirely sure how they ended up getting 26(!) movies, 4 seasons of TV and many spin-offs worth of content out of this character but it’s compelling enough with some cool shots and nicely meditative moments of silence that make up for the fairly lacklustre action.

Bad Black (2016) 2.5/5
Definitely more ambitious than Captain Alex but with that comes an even more baffling story with less of the crazy action. Found this a bit less charming and I have a slight headache, but VJ Emmie once again had some great moments despite not having as much to work with. I’d still say give it a watch because filmmaking like this transcends ratings.

Garden State (2004) 4/5
A vulnerable directorial debut that’s flawed (and unexpectedly Freudian) but full of charm and quirky comedy. Am I prone to having my judgement of a film clouded by its many well-picked needle drops? Perhaps. Actually, absolutely. But if that’s a crime then lock me up and throw away the key.

Don’t Bother to Knock (1952) 3/5
There was a time in history where a character in a movie could turn to the camera and tell the audience “this person had…nondescript mental problems! And was put into…an institution! But…they’re out now!” And that was enough to make half the cinema faint in sheer terror. Monroe fares well in a far cry from her other roles and despite what I just said I think the movie is sympathetic to the subject of mental health for its time. However this really drags in the middle where tension should be building through extra layers of drama, and everything is resolved a little too easily.

Daredevil (2003) 2/5
Remember a few days ago on another review when I said I liked movies about blind people? Well this is the exception that proves the rule. It shows glimpses of quality but is let down by bad dialogue, awkward CGI and strange pacing. Also everyone can jump like 20 metres when in a fight for some reason. The biggest saving grace was definitely Colin Farrell’s completely over-the-top Bullseye performance which was a joy. Not only features two Sopranos actors but the most 2003 song of all time (Evanescence’s Bring Me To Life). Watched the director’s cut which is 30 minutes longer and reportedly more fleshed out than the theatrical cut. Yes it’s a 2-star movie but it’s a 2-star movie you could watch with mates and have a great time, and where would we be without those?

When Harry Met Sally… (1989) 4.5/5
It’s 1989, Meg Ryan has one mission, should she choose to accept it. Give the ultimate last hurrah of 80s hair. And by god she accepted it. This was so great, and maybe the only rom-com I’ve ever properly laughed multiple times at. The chemistry is perfect and deals with a kind of intimacy that other movies were too scared to show. An intimacy that’s misunderstood, scary, awkward and painful, but real. You’re practically cheering for the two of them by the time Billy Crystal delivers that ending monologue.

Document of the Dead (2012) 3.5/5
Watched the 102-minute definitive version, released in 2012 with updated segments. The original Living Dead trilogy is one of my favourites in all of cinema and Dawn of the Dead in particular is maybe the most fun I’ve ever had watching a movie. Being shot over such a long period, this doc definitely suffers from a lack of specific focus, mode and tone. It’s part academic film analysis, part behind-the-scenes accompaniment to Dawn, part actor reunion, and part crew interviews. It generally felt quite cobbled together with not much structure but parts were still really interesting and fun, especially the stuff on the set of Dawn. Romero isn’t the most captivating director in interviews but the significance of his work can’t be understated.

Gladiator II (2024) 3/5
Enjoyed this about as much as the first one, which is to say, kinda! There’s a slightly tedious amount of grandiose posturing about ‘Rome’, it felt like I was watching Coppola’s Megalopolis again at points. (That’s not a good thing.) This definitely felt like a ‘safer’ movie than its predecessor but I thought the time passed easier here, though maybe my attention span has just improved in the four years since I watched it. Mescal surpassed my expectations in the lead role, fair play to him it’s no easy task playing a character like that when you’re the Internet’s favourite pretty boy of the 2020’s so far. I took breaks during this to watch Olivia Rodrigo’s Glastonbury set by the way, pop music is in good hands. Anyway, this was alright.