May was a great month for me, but I ended up turning in my lowest movie-watching total since I started blogging. In fact, in the last week of the month I watched five films, just one less than I was able to see during the first three weeks total! I did manage to finish a handful of video games (including Retro City Rampage, which I had been stuck in the final castle since the beginning of the year) and watched the conclusions to two of this year’s better comedies, Parks & Recreation and The Office. The summer in general is looking increasingly busier, but I hope to at least make more significant progress in my 50 Movies Project next month.
In order of viewing:
1) Sullivan’s Travels [1941] – 8.5/10
![Sullivan's Travels [1941]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/sullivans-travels1.jpg)
2) The Place Beyond the Pines [2013] – 8.5/10
![The Place Beyond the Pines [2013]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/the-place-beyond-the-pines.jpg)
3) The Room [2003]* – 2/10
![The Room [2003]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/the-room-you-are-tearing-me-apart-lisa.jpg)
4) The Impossible [2012] – 7/10
5) Hard Boiled [1992] – 8/10
![Hard Boiled [1992]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/hard-boiled1.jpg)
6) Beyond the Valley of the Dolls [1970] – 6/10
![Beyond the Valley of the Dolls [1970]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/beyond-the-valley-of-the-dolls1.jpg)
7) Star Trek [2009] – 6/10
![Star Trek [2009]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/star-trek-2009.jpg)
8) Wreck-It Ralph [2012] – 7/10
![Wreck-It Ralph [2012]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/wreck-it-ralph.jpg)
9) The Sessions [2012] – 8/10
![The Sessions [2012]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/the-sessions.jpg)
10) Robot & Frank [2012] – 8/10
![Robot & Frank [2012]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/robot-and-frank.jpg)
11) Sweet Smell of Success [1957] – 9/10
![Sweet Smell of Success [1957]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/sweet-smell-of-success.jpg)
Video Games Completed:
1) Thomas Was Alone [PS Vita, 2013] – 8/10
![Thomas Was Alone [PS Vita/PS3]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/thomas-was-alone-vita.jpg)
2) Forza Horizon [Xbox 360, 2012] – 8.5/10
![Forza Horizon [Xbox 360, 2012]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/forza-horizon.jpg)
3) Bioshock Infinite [Xbox 360, 2013] – 10/10
![Bioshock Infinite [Xbox 360, 2013]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bioshock-infinite.jpg)
4) Crysis 3 [Xbox 360, 2013] – 7/10
![Crysis 3 [Xbox 360, 2013]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/crysis-3-bow.jpg)
5) Retro City Rampage [PS Vita, 2012] – 8/10
![Retro City Rampage [PS Vita, 2012]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/retro-city-rampage.jpg)
TV Shows Finished:
1) Mad Men [Season 5] – 9/10
![Mad Men [Season 5]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/mad-men-season-5.jpg)
2) Parks & Recreation [Season 5] – 8/10
![Parks & Recreation [Season 5]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/parks-and-rec-season-5.jpg)
3) The Office [Season 9] – 8/10
![The Office [Season 9]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/the-office-season-9.jpg)
Movie of the Month: This kind of spoils my upcoming post(s), but Sweet Smell of Success was absolutely brilliant. Cannot wait to share my full review of this classic soon.
Dud of the Month: Nothing I watched in May was outright bad (aside from the “so bad it’s good” The Room), but I didn’t find Star Trek as engrossing as nearly everyone else has. I was into the origin stories during the first act, but once it fell into the generic sci-fi/action blockbuster formula, it lost me. I wanted to finally catch up with it in case I wanted to see the sequel in theaters, but I felt pretty underwhelmed.
How about you guys? What’s your favorite movie/game/show out of those listed? What’s the best film you watched last month?
Glad you liked new season of Parks and Rec! Can’t wait for next one. I haven’t seen many movies but I’m hoping to see Stoker very soon, I’m sure I will like this one.
Stoker is really good. Hope you enjoy it.
You guys are building my The Room expectations too high. I am telling you, It will have to perform very well to meet them now. 😀
I remember watching Star Trek when it came out. I remember I liked it. I had never seen anything related to it before and I did not fall in love with it either but I liked it. Maybe 7/10 on your scale. And loved The Sessions last year. It made my top 10.
Haha, just make sure you watch The Room at the theater if you can. It would make for an experience you would never forget. 😀
Glad to hear you enjoyed The Sessions. I liked that one a lot more than I expected.
The new seasons of Mad Men and Parks and Rec were pretty strong. Looks like I’ll have to check it Sweet Smell of Success.
Sweet Smell of Success is a must see.
I haven’t seen the new season of Mad Men yet, but I’m really looking forward to it.
Looking forward to your thoughts on BioShock Infinite.
Spoiler: I loved it.
Haha, me too!
🙂
Sweet Smell of Success is such a great film
It really is. Some of the best dialogue I have ever heard in film.
Wow, busy month for you Eric! Oh you saw Hard Boiled, that’s John Woo’s right? I’ve been wanting to see that for ages as I like the cast too. Looking fwd to your review on that one. Glad you enjoyed The Sessions and Robot & Frank, two wonderful and heartfelt indies I saw last year.
Yep, that’s John Woo alright. My first film from him, and it was a blast. Makes me want to finally check out some of his American films.
Oooh really? Then you must check out Face/Off. I LOVE that movie, perhaps one of my fave Nic Cage roles. He and Travolta played a dual role (when you see the plot you’ll know why) and I thought both did a good job. I like Woo’s action style. Yes it’s over the top at times but it’s cool, I even like his doves 😀
My girlfriend keeps pushing me to watch Face/Off, too, heh. I think it’s on Netflix now so I’ll give it a shot 😀
Nice overview. Have not seen Sweet Smell of Success yet, so will be checking that one out!
I really enjoyed that one, Nostra. Would love to hear your take on it when you watch it.
Hi, Eric:
It looks like you’ve been kind of busy with an intriguing list of films.
Looking forward to your critique of ‘Sweet Smell of Success’!
Yeah, I can’t complain too much about that set of films. No real duds anywhere for a change. 🙂
At least you acknowledge that the Room was “so bad its good” 😉
And infinitely rewatchable. 😀
When I feel like a “so bad its good film”, I’m giving The Room a watch. Can’t believe I still haven’t seen it.
I’ve heard high praise for those late 80s John Woo movies, so will get to Hard Boiled eventually. The Killer (1989) is also supposed to be a good one, that I hope to finally see.
Haha, The Room is an experience unlike any other. Best seen in a packed theater if possible.
Hard Boiled is a lot of fun. Should have my review up later today. It’s made me want to see more from John Woo, that’s for sure.