Bill and Ted Face the Music (2020)

Bill and Ted Face the Music (2020)

Dir. Dean Parisot

I've not featured Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) on the 7th and Last because, simply put, I hated it. I mention it now only because it's somewhat necessary to have seen it to understand the relationship between Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) and the Grim Reaper (William Sadler), all of whom returned for Face the Music (2020).

The titular duo's destiny, as foretold in Excellent Adventure (1989) — which is to write a song so emotionally stirring that it'll unite all of humanity in glorious, peaceful harmony — hasn't happened. The world is largely unchanged, as are Bill and Ted, except that they're older and each has a daughter - that's them on the cover art: Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Thea (Samara Weaving).

The initial promotions had me worried that it would be another example of Hollywood trying to force some element of gender-swapping, but happily the story avoids that. And while I didn't warm to the new duo much at all, they didn't feel like they were in the way, and they'd a genuinely vital, complementary role to play in the story.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

Dir. Scott Derrickson

A remake of the The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) wasn't needed, but the underlying message is still pertinent, so there's some justification for updating and presenting it anew to a generation of science-fiction fans that may have missed out on the previous film.

Many of the same elements are in place, but most are approached from a different perspective; some are even inverted. The changes in the first hour were good, taking into account the progressions in technology and giving the film more urgency than its predecessor.

I was expecting scenes of a CGI Gort laying waste to over-familiar parts of America, but, mercifully, Gort's used only when needed. The focus is on Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) and his relationship with his surroundings, as it ought to be. I know that Keanu isn't the best actor in the world, but the remoteness that often characterises his style is, I feel, beneficial to the character this time around. In context, he's as suited as Michael Rennie was to the 1951 version.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Dir. Stephen Herek

B+TEA is special to me for a reason that may bore almost everyone, but I feel obliged to relate it because I love the film and owe it at least that much, for what I feel it gave to me.

I saw it first at a time in my life that was, let's say, pivotal in learning about who I was as a person and how my actions affected others.

I bought it back when VHS was the dominant home media format and watched it many, many times - I knew every scene by heart.

Alas, it happened that one evening a VHS tape was needed at VERY short notice in order to record from TV something that was even more beloved (i.e., Star Trek: TNG) and the B+TEA tape was the only one available...

The Matrix: Films (1999-2003)

The Matrix (1999)

Dirs. Larry and Andy Wachowski

It probably has its haters (even though I've never met one), but no one could legitimately deny that part one of The Matrix trilogy was a milestone in film-making. It shattered existing technical barriers and changed forever how action movies were made. It's not its fault it spawned a barrelful of inferior, soulless clones.

It throws in a smorgasbord of references to Eastern and Western philosophy, mythology, religion and spirituality to give people that like to scratch beneath the surface something deeper to explore, but if you'd rather enjoy it simply as an action movie you can do that, too, because it finds a comfortable balance.

Anime fans will spot many references to some of Japan's most famous works; even the framing frequently mimics the genre stylings.