Sunday, 29 January 2012

Future Attraction - My New Monthly Film Report

    Shame that only now I've thought about sharing my film-watching experiences. Been listing every film I've seen since 1966 (only those viewed in a cinema count), and, rather wastefully, have been keeping it all to myself. (4,353 films to date) For the most recent twenty of those years they've each been given a score, but not so much in terms of being an intrinsically bad/good film (I don't feel qualified to do that), rather more for  its appeal to me alone - in terms of enjoyment, profundity, my being moved or its being clever etc.

     My monthly blog may be particularly useful to avid cinema-goers as they'll be for films which have only recently been given release (at least here in the U.K.) and may well still be in cinema circulation - so if anyone thinks my opinion carries any weight, and s/he was vacillating about seeing it at all, it may not be too late to see it in the format for which it was intended.
    I can't say how long I'll continue going to the cinema regularly. I've long since reduced the frequency of visits, generally because of the expense - and now with question marks appearing over my health, I don't know if there'll be the desire or even the ability to carry on and on. I certainly can't see myself going frequently after hitting the age of 70 in 5 years time - but then when I started at around 19/20 I didn't think I'd be doing much cinema-going after reaching 40! So whether it's for just a few years more, or perhaps even just a few months, I'll post a cinema blog shortly after the end of each month. (2012 has got off to a good start. I've already seen eight films, with possibly two more in the next couple of days).

    I must also acknowledge Stephen Chapman's most interesting and admirably concise monthly movie blog @
http://the state of the nation.blogspot.com  

   My 'reports' will differ from Stephen's in that the choice will be more narrowly focused. Whereas his blog covers a wide range of films, as well as covering a considerable time-range of original release date, mine are biased towards so-called 'art-house' films, and will all be recent releases. I do see certain kinds of block-busters too (e.g.all the 'Harry Potters', 'Missions Impossible' etc) but, essentially for financial reasons, I tend now to avoid films which I'm unlikely to like, because of critics' views or what I already know about them (such as the recent 'War Horse').. Consequently, most of my film scores turn out to get either the average score of 5/10 as a minimum, or higher- though sometimes an occasional low score will get through where it would have been better to have saved the money. Long gone are the days when I used to see everything within reason, whether wanting to or not.

So, in a few days time the first one will appear. We all hope for favourable reactions to what we post, though I'm aware that feelings towards film can be so subjective and I'm prepared for words of disbelief at some of the scores I'll be giving.

Anyway, let's give it a spin and see what happens.
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25 comments:

  1. Tiger Chanter29 January 2012 at 07:15

    I'm looking forward to it!

    P.S. I do hope that you'll be reviewing "Butt Boys on Uranus"! It's a personal favorite of mine! ;)

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    1. Raybeard29 January 2012 at 08:12

      Now now, T/C! You might be disappointed 'cos I'm hoping that most of mine will be QUALITY films. (Mind you, that particular title looks quite enticing.)

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  2. Jane and Lance Hattatt29 January 2012 at 08:02

    Hello Ray:
    Yes,yes, yes sign us up for a front row seat!! We love going to the cinema but only go in Budapest where an average ticket costs the equivalent of £2.50. We see ourselves toddling along there when we are 100!!

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    1. Raybeard29 January 2012 at 08:16

      You give me heart, J & L. As time passes and I get (even) older I feel myself more and more out of touch with what qualifies as 'cool'. But now that I know your own discerning self/selves will be following my personal opinions, then that gives added point to my postings even if you may not agree with them.

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  3. Stephen Chapman29 January 2012 at 12:41

    I look forward to reading your movie news!

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    1. Raybeard29 January 2012 at 23:51

      Thanks, Stephen. I'll be happy if I can make the blog anywhere near as pithy as yours.

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    2. Raybeard29 January 2012 at 23:55

      ....verbosity being just one of my faults. (You see - I just cannot let things go!)

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  4. Vương Tử Trực29 January 2012 at 18:40

    This is gonna be awesome, Ray. I have to admit that film reviews influence my choice because I don't have particular taste.

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    1. Raybeard29 January 2012 at 23:59

      Even though they'll be purely my own opinions I know that, because you'll be relying on me, there'll be an added responsibility. I'll try to live up to your expectations, Tai. Thanks.

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  5. anne marie in philly29 January 2012 at 19:47

    hello ducks! just catching up on several blogs I have so neglected in the last month (oh cripes, don't ask me what went on)...and I found your post with the holy 'shirt of shirts'!

    it fits you nicely; at least you can button it, which is more than I can say for myself!

    I hope you sniffed deeply and thought about all the persons who have worn this masterpiece before you.

    and I hope you read ALL the journal entries; I sure did! hope you enjoyed my little embellishments on my page.

    glad you were able to have a go, as it were.

    pip pip!

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    1. Raybeard30 January 2012 at 00:37

      Hi, A.M. in P,
      Delighted you've 'called in'.
      Yes, the Spo-shirt experience was quite something and more. Really honoured I was. I did indeed sniff it in deeply - but all I got was the smell of laundry! However, I just sat back, closed my eyes with it in my grasp - and let imagination do the rest. (Then I tried it with the shirt too!)

      Oh yes, I did read ALL the journal entries - and not only that, I loaded them onto my computer. Pity that some were not quite easily legible - and some of my copies are cut off at the margins. But I read that the good Dr Spo might well publish them all on the web anyway next time he gets it back.
      Of course I read what you had entered, with your stick-ons and lovely stars - and that was all the more reason to have felt privileged with the opportunity to make a rather large contribution to the record myself - though must confess to cringeing a little at the thought of what I wrote being read by all and sundry. However, that's all part of the game!

      Thanks so much for stopping by here. I look forward to catching up on all your own news - in fact I'm going right there pretty soon.

      Toodle-oo!

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    2. Raybeard30 January 2012 at 01:12

      Can't find you? Don't you have your own blog? Oh, weep!

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    3. anne marie in philly30 January 2012 at 16:21

      sorry, ducks, no blog. my life is so f-ing boring that NO ONE would read it!

      that's why, when I wore the spo shirt, I sent the pix to spo for publishing.

      smooches, luv!

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    4. Raybeard31 January 2012 at 01:12

      :-( That can only be a loss for the rest of us, A.M. in P. Still, I respect your decision, even though I doubt if your life can be THAT boring - and I admire your generosity in commenting on the blogs of us others. ALWAYS good to hear from you anytime at all.

      'byeeee for now.

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    5. anne marie in philly31 January 2012 at 16:15

      oh yeah, it's boring. get up, go to work, come home, go to bed. repeat 5 days a week.

      not exactly setting the world on fire there.

      thanks for the compliment, ducks!

      Delete
  6. Ur-spo29 January 2012 at 20:11

    Indeed, do so!
    One of the pleasure of blog-writing is to do what you fancy, write what gives you passion.

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    1. Raybeard30 January 2012 at 00:40

      Yes, you're right - but it's a pity that for SOME of us, at least, out acts are constrained by what we imagine others will think of us. The old story of 'fear of disapproval', I suppose.

      Delete
    2. anne marie in philly30 January 2012 at 16:23

      I don't give a fat rat's arse what someone thinks of my spo shirt journal entry. I had fun writing/embellishing it and that's all that matters!

      Delete
    3. Raybeard31 January 2012 at 01:13

      You are SO lucky! Have you any of your thick skin to spare, A.M.?

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    4. anne marie in philly31 January 2012 at 16:19

      it took 4 years of psychotherapy (NOT with dr. spo, unfortunately) to obtain this thick skin. and a dose of cancer.

      "I care not what the world may say", to quote a line from a petula clark song. everyone can just sod off! except for my dear gay boyfriends!

      Delete
    5. Raybeard1 February 2012 at 08:49

      Even before I knew about you, A.M., I'd put you down as a 'great survivor' - and so I learn that indeed you are. But must say I am sometimes utterly SHOCKED at your forthrightness - though I always end up loving you for it.

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    6. anne marie in philly1 February 2012 at 16:19

      I am going to private message you...keep watching your e-mail account!

      Delete
  7. Jase30 January 2012 at 09:40

    I wish you luck with your new venture into the world of moveie reviewer. Great idea.

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    1. Raybeard31 January 2012 at 01:17

      Thanks so much for that, Jase. Only a bit apprehensive that how I react to a particular film may be read as the film itself being intrinsically good or bad - and my being attacked for saying such and such. But let's not jump the gun. We'll see.

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  8. Kyle Leach9 February 2012 at 13:26

    Excellent!

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