Introducing 52 in 52 2: The feature film sequel!

Over the last year Kat embarked on a literary challenge to see if she could read 52 books in 52 days; essentially one book per week; and to kick off 2015 with something new and fresh, we are pleased to say we are going to continue tradition. This time, however, 52 feature length movies will be in the spotlight but rather than having Kat just do all the hard work, I am also taking part in the challenge as well. Again, like last year, we will have a few rules, as followed:

• The films have to be at least one hour long – Some early or specialist feature films are therefore not permitted
• At least one of us cannot have seen the film before – This is so one of us watches the film as new experience but the other is not allowed to spoil any of the plot.
• The one who hasn’t seen it previously will have to write the majority of the review – The other will be contributing however
• Mediums allowed – DVD’s, Blu-Rays, Online Streaming services (i.e Netflix), Network broadcasts and of course, the actual cinema
• Sequels are permitted – However, only if they are a new cinematic or home entertainment release during 2015 or the preceding film has been watched first. Prequels are also allowed regardless if the original film has been watched or not

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Like the book challenge, it’ll give us both an opportunity to watch some great films that we have always wanted to watch but never really got round to do so. Some films will be watched at around about the same time they become relevant, so we could watch a romantic comedy on Valentine’s Day or a Christmas film during December.

So which films are we going to watch? Here is an extensive collection of the films that have been shortlisted for our challenge. You may notice that collectively there are more than 52 films on our watch-list. This is so if we can’t come by a copy of one thing, we will still have a back-up to watch.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – Science Fiction; directed by Stanley Kubrick

2012 (2009) – Disaster; directed by Roland Emmerich

50/50 (2011) – Comedy Drama; directed by Jonathan Levine

A Christmas Carol (2009) – Christmas; directed by Robert Zemeckis

A Long Way Down (2014) – Black Comedy; directed by Pascal Chaumeil

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) – Comedy; directed by Tom Shadyac

Airplane! (1980) – Comedy; direct by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker

Around the World in 80 Days (2004) – Comedy Adventure; directed by Frank Coraci

Beetlejuice (1988) – Comedy; directed by Tim Burton

Dirty Dancing (1987) – Romantic Drama; directed by Emile Ardolino

Divergent (2014) – Science Fiction Action; directed by Neil Burger

Donnie Darko (2001) – Supernatural Drama; directed by Richard Kelly

Enchanted (2007) – Fantasy; directed by Kevin Lima

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Comedy Drama; directed by Michael Gondry

Godzilla (2014) – Science Fiction; directed by Gareth Edwards

Goodfellas (1990)  – Crime Drama; directed by Martin Scorsese

Grave of the Fireflies (1988) – Animated Drama; directed by Isao Takahata

Groundhog Day (1993) – Comedy; directed by Harold Ramis

How to Train your Dragon (2010) – Animated Comedy; directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois

I Am Number Four (2011) – Science Fiction; directed by D.J. Caruso

Indian Jones and the Curse of the Crystal Skull (2008) – Adventure; directed by Steven Spielburg

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) – Adventure; directed by Steven Spielburg

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) – Adventure; directed by Steven Spielburg

Jaws (1975) – Horror; directed by Steven Speilberg

Jingle All The Way (1996) – Christmas; directed by Brain Levant

Kindergarten Cop (1990) – Comedy; directed by Ivan Reitman

Maleficant (2014) – Fantasy; directed by Robert Stromberg

Monsters University (2013) – Animated Comedy; directed by Dan Scanlon

Need for Speed (2014) – Action; directed by Scott Waugh

Never Been Kissed (1999) – Romantic Comedy; directed by Raja Gosnell

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) – Fantasy; directed by Guillermo del Toro

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) – Comedy; directed by John Hughes

Pulp Fiction (1994) – Black Comedy; directed by Quentin Tarantino

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – Adventure; directed by Steven Spielburg

Ratatouille (2007) – Animated Comedy; directed by Brad Bird

Sharknado (2013) – Disaster; Anthony C. Ferrante

The Blues Brothers (1980) – Musical; directed by John Landis

The Breakfast Club (1985) – Comedy Drama; directed by John Hughes

The Godfather (1972) – Crime Drama; directed by Francis Ford Coppola

The Hangover (2009) – Comedy; directed by Todd Phillips

The Hunger Games (2012) – Science Fiction; directed by Gary Ross

The Karate Kid (2010) – Martial Arts; directed by Harry Zwart

The Miracle on 34th Street (1947) – Christmas; directed by George Seaton

The Wind Rises (2013) – Animated drama; directed by Hayao Miyazaki

There’s Something About Mary (1998) – Comedy; directed by Peter Farrelly and Robert Farrelly

Top Secret! (1984) – Comedy; directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker

Wayne’s World (1992) – Comedy; directed by Penelope Spheeris

When Harry Met Sally… (1989) – Romantic Comedy; directed by Rob Reiner

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) – Comedy; directed by Robert Zemeckis

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) – Action; directed by Bryan Singer

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Not contempt with enough films to watch at home, here is a list of the films we could potentially see that are being released whilst we do our challenge. These include films that will be shown in cinemas during the 2015 period:

Fifty Shades of Grey (releases February 2015) – Drama; directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson

Avengers: Age of Ultron (releases May 2015) – Action; directed by Joss Whedon

Jurassic World (releases June 2015) – Science Fiction; directed by Colin Trevorrow

Furious 7 (releases April 2015) – Action; directed by James Wan

Minions (release June 2015) – Animated Comedy; directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda

Spectre (release TBC but possible October or November 2015) – Action; directed by Sam Mendes

Fantastic Four (releases August 2015) – Action; directed by Josh Tank

The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (releases February 2015) – Animated Comedy; directed by Paul Tibbitt

The Little Prince (releases October 2015) – Animated Fantasy; directed by Mark Osborne

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (releases December 2015) – Science Fiction; directed by J. J. Abrams

As you can fully see, there is a diverse range of films; from cult classics to big blockbusters as well as some highly anticipated titles such as Star Wars and James Bond’s new outing. There’s some that I haven’t seen and others that Kat hasn’t seen whilst the rest neither of us have seen. This challenge not only gives us the chance to put across double-perspective accounts from both of us but also gives us the chance to say why we thought it deserved a place on the list whilst the other gives their verdict, for the better or possibly worse. And because of the social nature of watching a film, we can include guests to give an even more in-depth discussion.

As always, if you think we’ve missed out a critical film that we must see, send us a tweet @Reviewinators; send a comment on Facebook or comment on this post below. Don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll be updated on the new articles as and when they come out. You know it makes sense!

Jimmi

Rock or Bust – AC/DC

With today’s factory manufactured pop taking over the charts, it’s hard to forget what actual music sounds like. Musicianship, composition and epic songwriting have all taken a back seat in this digital age of song creation and production. AC/DC prove that when it comes to making good tunes, a driven tube amplifier will always be king over the lesser quad-core processors. Rock or Bust is the band’s fifteenth studio album and although it hasn’t re-written the rules of rock music, it is a neat little collection of songs that show that this type of music, like Stonehenge, is still popular and still standing strong. It’s still AC/DC so expect thumping drums, simple bass lines, solid chorus and larger-than-life guitar solo. Streamed on iTunes for a week before its release in December, I decided to give the 35 minute album a quick once over.

Lead Vocalist Brian Johnson controls the flow whilst school-uniform clad Angus Young and newly appointed Stevie Young – who replaces Angus’ brother Malcom – riff on duelling guitars. Cliff Williams and Paul Rudd add the low end bass lines and stark drum beats to the tracks. Add it all together you get something akin to a bellowing V8 muscle car that will rip your face between the traffic lights but also cruise for miles on end.

‘Rock or Bust’ opens the album with said bass lines and drum beats enclosing some scorching Angus Young riffs. Johnson still strongly demonstrates he’s sounding as pumped and gruff as ever as the bass chugs over this track opener. ‘Play Ball’, ‘Sweet Candy’ and ‘Hard Times’ are slower, more lulling but just as pounding bluesy rock ’n’ roll stompers. ‘Play Ball,’ despite being just over two minutes long proves that a bit of good ol’ fashioned blues rocks has still got some groove. ‘Miss Adventure’ keeps to the tried and tested formula with a riff heavy opening but plants the throttle in this quicker but shorter assault and Angus Young’s intricate solo adds flair to the pace in the middle 8 in ‘Dogs of War’

‘Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder’ is a more classic rock influenced placed in the centre of the album that seems to mix the core of 1950’s rock and roll with 70’s-esque pinch harmonics. Dual octave guitar riffs opens the quicker all out rock attack that is ‘Baptism by Fire.’

Rock the House – the shortest track on the album – enters a war of attrition with the call and response between vocals and guitars, Johnson’s shrill highs matching the expression in the Young’s riffs. ‘Rock the Blues Away’ is swaying, slower more vocally melodic verses top and tail the anthemic choruses that keeps the album cruising whilst ‘Emission Control’ neatly finishes the album as melodic guitars and matching spiralling bass reach to the harmonies of a strong chorus. Again Angus’ guitar borders on organised-chaos as the track ends with the screams of a wounded Gibson SG.

As the solos howl, the kick drum thumps and the raw harmonies roar; AC/DC are always going to be heavy contenders when it comes the world’s best rock bands and even though Back in Black was release over thirty years ago, you can’t help but feel the spirit of ‘Back in Black’ is still in there. I know, I’ve heard it all before ‘AC/DC songs can sound similar’ and you aren’t wrong on that front, but this collection of songs isn’t just AC/DC showing us they can still make music for the sake of it, it proves to us that hard rock’s heart is still beating a four-to-the-floor drumbeat; breathing riff-heavy guitars and screaming at the top of its voice. If isn’t broken, why does it need fixing? It just works. Personally, I feel previous album Black Ice is a rounder, more complete collection, however in a world full of clinical auto-tune, stale compression and mathematical sequencers, Rock or Bust is a brash reminder that rock music can still hold its own. As long as there are fans to support the cause, rock will never die; it refuses to. AC/DC will keep that heart beating for the rest of eternity, if we let them, and I do not see that as a bad thing. That volume dial on the tube amplifier is not being turn down anytime soon.

Words by Jimmi