How was everyone’s month of May? I hope everyone had a wonderful month of movie-watching and general life enjoyment. This month hasn’t been too interesting for me, but I have definitely been enjoying many amazing posts across WordPress and beyond. Here is a very small selection of things on the internet I’ve been enjoying this month!
Assholes Watching Movies has been absolutely killing it this month (and since forever), but two posts I’ve loved recently have been focused on decidedly shitty films such as The Do-Over (2016) and Get A Job (2016). Both posts focus on alternatives to actually watching the films, so it’s actually very helpful to be provided with an alternative pathway to a terrible cinematic experience.
One film that I enjoyed recently as a part of my Blindspot series was Cat People (1942). Geoff of The Telltale Mind wrote a lovely review of the film, but also wrote a post on the film’s visuals which contains many interesting vintage posters.
A couple of weeks ago, I started watching a Japanese anime film titled Belladonna of Sadness (1973), and for whatever reason I wasn’t able to finish it. But it looks like I’m going to have to give it another go after reading a wonderful write-up of the film by Andy of A Constant Visual Feast, which was featured on Paste Magazine. The film sounds confronting and inventive, with a distinctive visual style. I’m looking forward to attempting it again!
Vinnie writes excellent film and television reviews, and also music reviews! His write-up of Beyoncé’s Lemonade is quite ace. Lemonade is one of my favourite albums of the year thus far, and Vinnie sums it up quite well as a raw and cathartic piece of work by our Queen Bey.
For my Blindspot series last year, I tried to review Polanski’s Chinatown (1974), but I was so overwhelmed by my enjoyment of it that I was hardly able to form a sentence. Luckily, the amazing JW of Film & Nuance wrote a most excellent recap of the film that explores the film’s quirky and groundbreaking noir sensibilities.
Conversely, my bro from another mo Eric of Isaacs Picture Conclusions explored an utterly awful film entitled Fantastic Four (2015) by asking the time honoured question – “Have you ever shit your pants?”. That question probably sums up the whole film, but I implore you to read and enjoy Eric’s take on what seems like a very painful experience indeed.
Another exploration of what seems like a terrible film – Mark of Fast Film Reviews recently reviewed Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016), and it sounds horrible. I found the first of the two Alice films difficult to watch because the 3D goggles made my brain hurt, but this one sounds like this one transcends physical pain and actually hurts your emotional wellbeing. In any case, Mark’s explanation of the film’s terribleness is a laugh riot. Well worth a read.
And in a similar vein, Darrell of A World of Film recently wrote an essay about the experience of watching a horrific or just plain terrible film and questioning why you just can’t look away. Using Michael Haneke’s Benny’s Video (1992) and other films as examples of car crashes of films that you can’t turn away from, the essay explores our internal processing of difficult slash traumatic events on screen, and why we feel compelled to just keep watching. Really fascinating stuff.
I also really enjoyed reading through Mike of Parlor of Horror‘s post on the world’s most evil books. Especially since I named my blog after a magical book!
During Game of Thrones season, I love writing recaps of the show, but I probably love reading recaps and reviews even more! Here are some excellent recaps I enjoyed this month:
- Sati of Cinematic Corner continues to knock it out of the park with her write-ups of episodes ‘Home’, ‘Oathbreaker’, ‘Book of the Stranger’, ‘The Door’, and ‘Blood of my Blood’.
- Jaccendo‘s breakdown of the big events of episode six was great; particularly the exploration of creepy High Sparrow’s manipulative powers.
- My Kind of Movie recapped ‘The Door’ to perfection.
- A Constant Visual Feast provided a very interesting analysis of a certain character’s death.
Lastly, if you haven’t seen already, the wonderful Rob of Movierob and I are hosting a blogathon in the month of July! The blogathon focuses on celebrating films that have a length of 90 minutes or less, and it’s going to be great! Here’s the announcement page, where you can find all the details. Please feel free to join in!
Those are all of my favourites for May! Hope you enjoyed them. Were there any particular links or films you enjoyed in May? Feel free to share below!
FILM GRIMOIRE 
You are an angel Anna, thank you for the link. I enjoyed writing that review as it have something else to write about and show my passion.
Aw, thanks Vinnie, loved your post! Beyonce is amazing.
Beyonce is queen.
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Don’t shit your pants!!!
#shitsies
#foursies
Too late . . . .
#itch
#sadnessblouse
More like #poopnessblouse
Haha! Never going to see that film, ever.
#foursies
#notfantasticsies
Cheers!! Thanks for the hook-up!
You’re welcome! 😀 Cat People is pretty awesome, I’m glad I finally got the chance to see it.
Thanks for the mention and the link Anna, you rock!
You’re welcome, loved your post on those excellent creepy books!
Thanks so much for the links!
You’re welcome! I love sharing the Thrones love.
Really awesome links! There’s a lot of good stuff I’ve bookmarked, especially A World of Film’s essay. Not too much happened for me in May except Captain America Civil War. I could not stop obsessing over that movie. Hope your June is wonderful! 🙂
Thanks heaps Katy! 🙂 I haven’t yet seen Civil War, but I really should get around to it!
Awesome round up. I have watched very little in May but at least I’m keeping up with Game of Thrones!
Thanks Abbi! Game of Thrones is an absolute must!
Thanks for the mention! It’s very much appreciated!
You’re welcome Lauren, loved your post on a very traumatic episode!
Thanks for the mention!
You’re welcome Mark, your post was a crack-up. Sounds like a terrible film!
Awesome round up!! Some great posts 🙂
Thanks heaps Emma! 😀
Thanks for the mention Anna :)) I really do love your roundup posts for the month!
You’re welcome JW! I love doing these posts, it’s such a good way to cap off the month and share the love.
Wow, it’s interesting how many of us succumbed to bad films this month. Here’s a toast that June may treat us better (cinematically speaking).
I love that you were overcome by Chinatown’s awesomeness to the extent that it struck you dumb. I should rewatch it. I wonder if anything could ever shut ME up?
Don’t answer that.
xo
Oh yeah, it did seem like I loved a lot of reviews of bad films during May. Perhaps May was a bit of a snarky month for me, or it might have just been a month of terrible films in general! Seriously, fingers crossed for the rest of June!