Fiction of 2019

[nerdietalk]

Hell yeah, a new and improved obsessive list

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February

[nerdietalk]

Three Identical Strangers

A pretty fucked up story about triplets who were separated at birth for the sake of unclear experiments. It leaves the kids wondering what might have been and hurts them for life.

Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Final: Ex-Aid and Build

Lots of Kamen Riders I don't recognize but it was good to just see Fourze, Ex-Aid, and Build bounce off each other.

Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors

God, it just. It believes in itself so much. The animation isn't great, the voice work needs improvement. But it really believes in itself. This version of Squirrel Girl is one of my favorites. Its amazing to see Ms. Marvel on the big screen. And its doing so well representing other essential characters. Its a diverse cast and it does what it can to provide that diversity in genuine ways.

Get Me Roger Stone

Absolutely repulsive and difficult to watch. The sheer soullessness of Stone and is ilk is downright sickening. Every minute is another infuriating remark, another smug sense of superiority. Their disgust for morality and empathy. The glee with which he promotes anti-intellectualism and profits from lies and hurting people is the worst. And he doesn't care. And he'll get away with it.

They Shall Not Grow Old

The thirty minute behind the scenes thing after the credits is almost more fascinating than the movie itself. Its a labor of love and dedication the likes of which I haven't seen in the hands of a historian before but its amazing to behold. Peter Jackson worked hard to make sure every detail was accurate and everything you could learn from this piece of history was valuable. And that's great.

The Last Valley

Honestly, its more interesting to think about as a piece of the 70s/Vietnam War than it is as an actual movie? Its trying to be about Vietnam when talking about the Thirty Years War and sometimes it works? Other times it doesn't? Its a film more interesting when you go in deliberately looking to examine how it treats women/men/soldiers/peasants/etc.

The Curse of the 13th Ghost

The Duellists

What a fucking flick. Two men who have honor to uphold insist on holding stupid duels every time they meet. This goes on for sixteen years. Its a tale of obsession and codes of conduct and some stupid ass men. Its super compelling and an utter delight.

Oscar Nominated Shorts: Animation
- Bao: its fine. Good, actually! I'm just salty Pixar will win again. But its really good this time.
- Late Afternoon: The shit I LIVE FOR in 2D animation. Fluid movements melting together to tell a story that only it can tell like that.
- Weekends: I think I'd need to give it another watch? I liked it a lot, but there was meaning there I didn't quite grasp.
- Animal Behavior: enjoyable but ultimately throw-away
- One Small Step: Felt very Pixar! Kinda schmaltzy, but good.

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Its trying. Its trying a lot. But I don't think it quite nails what its going for. Which is a shame because there's good ideas here? And just totally fails to nail them.

Joyeux Noel

Easily my favorite of the war film class so far. An incredible film about humanity in the face of war and propaganda.