Reviews by
In Limbo
Columbus is a special film for me. It represents that headspace where time feels like it comes to a stop, without realising it never can. You exist in this state of limbo, not knowing where you are going or what to do about it. I’ve been in this state of mind for a long time now. I have ideas of where to go; I think I know how to get there, and yet here I am, stuck in limbo. When watching Columbus, you are transported to a space in between things. Between objects, between one step and another, between decisions and people. You can get trapped in this space, or you can witness something special happen in it. This is where symbiosis happens, where strangers can become friends. The trees and structures stand stoically beside the characters, allowing for creation to happen in this “negative” space. The environment of Columbus is like a museum. A bond is formed between Casey and Jin as they walk through this museum. They form their connection through the shapes and patterns in the space around them. The environment they share is a significant part of their rapport. If those same characters were placed in a different environment, maybe they would never say a word to each other. The passing of Casey’s cigarette over the fence to Jin may never have occurred, and they would have had very little in common if the space between them didn’t provide the right ingredients for connection. Both Casey and Jin have decisions to make. Although this purgatory space allows for connection, it also stops them from moving. They are stuck here. Casey is stuck in her looping speech and the rooms she goes in and out of at home. Jin is stuck in his father’s rooms, his father’s environment. Between these rooms are the corridors that connect them, another reminder of limbo. The shots of long corridors at home, in an office, along a winding path in the park, or between the bookshelves at the library seem to trap the characters in a comfortable state. This film feels like a constant embrace. The soft, earthy colours, the low-key dialogue, and ambient music leave you feeling refreshed. But like the characters, I come to this film/place for comfort, and I’m reminded that I too am stuck with them. Nothing has changed since the first time I watched it, however many years ago. I can only hope that I can get out of the same repetitive corridors and doorways in my own life and find new rooms and spaces to explore.
Welcome to Millimetre
Purpose I created this app for a couple different reasons: existing platforms introduced me to a wide range of movies but they also changed how I watched them. Instead of focusing on the film itself, I found myself thinking about how my profile would look, what others might think of my ratings, and whether my list seemed interesting enough. The act of logging films was overshadowing the films themselves. Millimetre does the same core things as other film apps - tracking, logging, and sharing what you watch. The goal is to keep the film at the centre of the experience, removing the bias and social pressure that can come with public film logging. This isn't about eliminating the social aspect entirely, as sharing what you watch is a great way to explore cinema and make friends. I just want to explore if there's a better way to do it, one that prioritises genuine engagement over performative watching. I’m sure some people have no problem with this but I know that I do and that others can relate. Key Features Collaborative Collections: Film clubs, friend groups, and communities can all contribute to shared lists. No need to assign one person as the sole editor - everyone can add, remove, and reorder films together. Private Accounts: Keep your viewing completely private, share only with trusted friends, or with the wider community. It’s up to you. Diary Entries vs Reviews: Quick thoughts and initial reactions go in diary entries, while reviews are reserved for deeper analysis or personal stories inspired by what you've watched. This was a problem I saw in other platforms where there were gems of people sharing thoughtful notes that were hidden behind a sort of popularity contest. Customisable Experience: Hide film ratings to avoid bias before watching - this comes from the amount of great films I’ve seen that I delayed watching because they had an average/low rating. I’m planning to create more toggles for customisation to let you tailor the app to how you want to use it. Please feel free to give your own ideas for this aspect. What's Coming Next Comments on diaries, reviews, and collections More collaboration features with different user roles Improved recommendations on film pages - right now its just what TMDB recommends, which tends to be a bit random Better "For You" page with personalised content Stats - for those who want them Auto-save review drafts and data export And more About Monetisation No third-party ads. The app is fully accessible right now with nothing locked behind paywalls. Eventually, I'll introduce optional premium features to cover development costs, allowing me to update the server and database for an improved experience, and hopefully allow me to work on this full-time in the future. For now, there's a support link in the settings for anyone who wants to contribute to development. The Future What you see now is just the beginning. I'd love to hear your feedback on what works, what doesn't, and what you'd like to see next. My hope is that Millimetre can generate a better way to engage with films online while still being fun. Thanks for joining and hope you enjoy! ヘ( ^o^)ノ P.S. I’ll probably create a Discord at some point but for now you can contact me through millimetreenquiry@gmail.com or through the feedback section in the settings.
