Belle (2014)

So this is a pretty much a well made period drama that gets across it's themes of discrimination really well. It's one of those films where everything is fine and pretty much what you'd expect and you a learn a tiny bit of history too. If you don't like period dramas then your not missing much, if you do like them though then I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Personally it didn't do much for me but everything works well enough.
***

The Young and Prodigious T.S Spivet (2013)

Jean Pierre Jeunet's latest film and while not up to the standard of his other work, this is still a pretty decent film overall. As usual the film has stunning cinematography and a certain charm that keeps it engaging. I think what a brings the movie down is it's script which seems a little jumbled and just about manages to work due to it's good execution.
Overall though this is a really nice little film that provides an entertaining watch.
***

Oculus (2014)

This is a solid psychological horror that I really liked. It has a really good structure that builds nicely and doesn't rely jump scares but keeps a very eerie, unknowing kind of atmosphere that plays with the audience really nicely. It also has some really interesting lighting and great camera work and Karen Gillan's in it so that also a plus.
All in all despite not be hugely unique I found this to be a very effective horror that worked really well.
***1/2

Street Of Joy (1974)

So this is a Roman Porno from the 70's and it does contain it's fair share of sex scenes, but this film has a bit more going for it. It depicts the lives of prostitutes in 1955 before licensed Brothels are officially abolished in Japan and the prostitutes themselves turn out to be quite interesting characters. Another interesting thing is how alot of scene are actually shot in one long take, not sure if thats normal for Roman Porno's but I liked how it was done. There's also hand drawn comic panels that are interspersed here and there which are rather fun and overall this was actually pretty decent film.
***

The City Of Lost Children (1995)

Jeunet & Caro's wonderful fantasy film that is very imaginative and unique. It has great set design, great cinematography and visuals and is just an all around great film.
****

Bleak Night (2010)

So this little Korean film is the debut film of director Yoon Sung-hyun and was apparently his Korean Academy of Film Arts graduation project. Having said that I must say that this film is great and I'm very impressed by what he's made here. It has great performances from the actors and very interesting characters with a strong emotional core. I also have to credit the cinematography for looking great, especially the use of handheld cam being executed superbly.
Overall this a great coming of age drama as well as a great debut film and I look forward to what the director does in the future.
****

Evil Of Dracula (1974)

Released in the uk as part of the 'bloodthirsty trilogy' this film is a very standard affair that plays out like a japanese version of a hammer horror, except I found the whole thing rather bland. It didn't help that the DVD release of it I watched was clearly a VHS transfer, so the quality was rather poor. It's pretty much all we've seen before, it's not necessarily awful but I just didn't find it all that interesting. I will say that this does star two familiar faces from the godzilla series which I found quite amusing.
Overall, nothing special but it works I suppose.
**