Whiplash (2014) 8.5/10

Gate Of Hell (Jigokumon) (1953) 7/10

And Now Tomorrow (1944) 6/10

I saw Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), a so so darker version of the story.

It's rumoured that there is to be a follow up film next year called The Huntsman. It's to be written and directed by Frank Darabont.

The Four Days of Naples (Le quattro giornate di Napoli) (1962) 9/10

The Policeman's Wife (Die Frau des Polizisten) (2013) 7/10

Birdman (2014) 9/10

Big Eyes (2014) 7/10

The Imitation Game (2014) 8/10

Unbroken (2014) 6/10

Big Hero 6 (2014) 7.5/10

I saw The Dark Knight (2008), exciting but grim.

Co-written by Jonathan Nolan who later created and wrote for the television series Person of Interest. There are some parallels between The Dark Knight and Person of Interest with both Christian Bale#s and Jim Caviezel's characters being brooding, quietly spoken to create hightened tension. Also the use of the sonar machines monitoring cellphones is enhanced in Person of Interest into a more powerful surveillance device - too similar to be just a coincidence.

Ice Poison (Bing du) (2014) 8/10

The November Man (2014) 4/10

A Most Violent Year (2014) 8/10

Last Marigold Hotel 10/10

The Eagle has Landed 8/10 

Wolf's Night (Volca noc) (1955) 8.5/10

Journey Of Hope (Reise der hoffnung) (1990) 8/10

Wild (2014) 8/10

American Sniper (2014) 7/10

I watched The Wind and the Lion (1975). American woman (Candice Bergen) kidnapped with her children in Morroco by Berbers (Sean Connery as their leader), and the US president (Brian Keith) sends in the troops to rescue them. Written and directed by John Milius.The film is set in 1904 so not in the present time. Watchable but, although Connery is likeable, not a great film.Good music score by Jerry Goldsmith.

John Huston appeared in the film as an advisor to the president. Connery's next film was The Man who would be King, which Huston directed but Connery was recommended to Huston for that film by Paul Newman.

Oddly enough, The Wind and the Lion (set in Morocco) was filmed in Spain, but The Man who would be King (set in Kafiristan which is in Afghanistan) was filmed in Morocco.

Leviathan (2014) 9.5/10

Stations Of The Cross (Kreuzweg) (2014) 8.5/10

John Wick (2014) 5/10

Outskirts (Okraina) (1998) 8.5/10

Taken 3 (2014) 4/10

The Ball At Anjo House (Anjo-ke no butokai) (1947) 8/10

Tangerines (Mandariinid) (2013) 9/10

They Are All Dead (Todos están muertos) (2014) 5/10

Inherent Vice (2014) 7.5/10

Wakolda (2013) 7/10

Forest Of The Hanged (Padurea spanzuratilor) (1965) 9/10

Panique (1946) 8/10

City Streets (1931) 7.5/10

Interstellar (2014) 5/10

I watched The Water Horse (2007). Pleasant film set in Scotland. Young boy finds egg which hatches with a little Loch Ness type of creature. Nessie equivalent of ET.

The Absent One (Fasandræberne) (2014) 7/10

Leila (1997) 8/10

Come Into The Light (Alla luce del sole) (2005) 7/10

So Well Remembered (1947) 8.5/10

Bread And Salt (Khlib i sil) (1970) 7.5/10

I watched Little Buddha (1993). Although Keanu Reeves, Chris Isaak and Bridget Fonda are shown as the leads on DVD covers this is misleading. The true leads are Ruocheng Ying (Lama Norbu) and Alex Wiesendanger (Jesse Conrad).

If you watch the film thinking it's about the life of Siddhartha (the Buddha) then the film will be a dissapointment. The film is more about Lama Norbu's search for Buddhist enlightenment for himself, the candidates for the reincarnation of his teacher, and for the viewer.

A much better film than the typical ratings given on IMDB and film books. The film is just over 2 hours long and I wouldn't have minded if it had been longer. A sign of a good film and my favourite Bernado Bertolucci film.

Gentleman Jim (1942) 9/10

Bakumatsu Zankoku Monogatari (1964) 7/10

I watched Hugo (2011), Martn Scorsese's family film.

There is a connection between the storyline and Scorsese. The storyline is to some extent about the restoration of the reputation of the film pioneer Georges Melies. Years before this, Scorsese was instrumental about restoring the reputation of Michael Powell bringing him to New York to help him. And in the process Powell met and married Scorsese's editor Thelma Schoonmaker.

As Simple As That (Be hamin sadegi) (2008) 9/10

They Have Escaped (He ovat paenneet) (2014) 6/10

Going Away (Un beau dimanche) (2013) 6/10

Greatful Dead (Gureitofuru deddo) (2013) 5/10

Charlie's Country (2013) 8.5/10

Confession (Jo-Eun-Chin-Goo-De ul) (2014) 6/10

Late Marriage (Hatuna Meuheret) (2001) 7/10

The Gambler (2014) 5/10

Gold Of Rome (L'oro di Roma) (1961) 8.5/10

The Longest Summer (Hui nin yin fa dak bit doh) (1998) 8/10

The Simple-Minded Murderer (Den enfaldige mördaren) (1982) 9/10

The Big Combo (1955) 7/10

T saw A War of Children (1972), made for television in the States but given a film release in the UK. Downbeat and depressing film of families torn apart in Belfast. Cast included Vivien Merchant, Jenny Agutter and Anthony Andrews.

The River And Death (El rio y la muerte) (1954) 8.5/10

Dark Is The Night (Odnazhdy nochyu) (1945) 8.5/10

Amnesty (Amnistia) (2011) 7/10

And The Mud Ship Sails Away (Soshite dorobune wa yuku) (2013) 6/10

Disconnect (2012) 6/10

Stakeout (Harikomi) (1958) 8/10

Jacquot De Nantes (1991) 7/10