it’s always been a thing with retrospectives, anniversary releases etc - but seems more common than ever now. Maybe not a sign of good health in the modern film industry but still a fun thing generally. Everyone deserves a chance to see these things the way they were intended to be shown rather than just half-watching at home
so whatcha been to see lately? Any that you’ve been meaning to get to for years, any total surprises that you’d barely heard of before, what’s the deal
from this year
First Watch Highlights
Perfect Blue - blew my mind a little. Loved it but also if I saw it when I was 18-20 it might have been my favourite film ever
Paper Moon - had on my list a long time but always seemed a bit too … slight to put on. Turns out it’s just great fun, bittersweet sad funny, the full-on classic I’d always heard it was. Already keen for a rewatch
Eraserhead - always knew I wouldn’t ever get round to it at home, glad I waited for this. Supremely unsettling and made all the better by the silent room with all the creaking groaning sound effects at full volume
Rewatch Highlights
Run Lola Run - that soundtrack, those action sequences, but bigger and better? Hell yeah
Terminator 2 - that soundtrack, those action sequences, but bigger and better? Hell yeah
The Wicker Man - still perfect, felt more unsettling watching it in a group actually. Just the slow descent into madness
Sad to have missed Jaws though, that would have been a guaranteed blast
Heat (1995) is back on the big screen this month which will be the first time for me, cannot wait
welcome to the boards!
Thank you for your kind welcome x
Only one this year: Amadeus’ theatrical cut, which was fantastic.
Definitely does seem that more older films pop up though. Last year Being John Malkovich was screened at one of my locals, a film I love wholeheartedly which has never (as far as I’m aware) been shown in the UK after its summer 2000 release. Picturehouse has been good at doing event screenings too - this year they showed a double bill of restored Thunderbirds episodes which was great fun.
Saw Terminator recently at the cinema. Absolutely slapped.
I did Amadeus director’s cut last year in the Prince Charles, totally swept up in it. Would not have had nearly the same effect as a home watch I don’t think
This year I’ve seen:
Caché
Funny Games
Wild At Heart
The Doom Generation
All good to great. Just much better seeing films on the big screen with good sound and no distractions isn’t it. Plus they’re normally fairly empty so don’t have as much annoyance as a busy cinema. Used to go to loads of screenings at the uni film unit, should do that again they’re well cheap and normally have an interesting lineup
I saw Perfect Blue (1997) and Possession (1981) at the PCC last month, both fantastic. Feels wrong to watch anything at the PCC that came out after 2000, tbh.
phew, In the Mood for Love is safe
took littlun to see Corpse Bride last week, better than i remember it being. about an hour in he started asking when Jack Skellington was going to be in it
I saw The VVitch there earlier this year with foreword by Robert Eggers and it still felt a bit off.
Apocalypse Now and 2001:Space Odyssey at the IMax Waterloo. Was worth every penny.
I saw 2001 for the first time last week at the Prince Charles, very warmed to see a) it was packed on a Monday afternoon and b) nobody got their phone out or talked at all, including the young children present. Its still possible!
Only ever done this 3 times
i’ve never seen an old film at the cinema. i mean, i have, but they were new at the time, never been to see one that was already old
Imho, a good time
yeah I did a RoboCop/Starpship Troopers double bill at PCC last year, and both were made a full star better by the experience compared to watching at home
Saw a 30 year anniversary screening of Total Recall (1990) in 2021.