What's the latest movie you've seen? Let us know and feel free to add a small movie review.
The latest film I saw was
Eyes Wide Shut. I've seen this before, but that was around the time of its release and I didn't remember much, although I knew what I was getting into.
This time around, it made (even) less sense to me.
Eyes Wide Shut spoiler
Why would a basic swingers club be so sinister? I'm actually inclined to believe Ziegler's explanation that the swingers had nothing to do with the death of a character we'd previously seen almost ODing at a regular party.
However, this makes it a movie about very little. Tom Cruise's character barely gets to explore a slightly sordid underside to society, both poor (the prostitute) and rich (the swingers club), without doing much besides observing.
Why does it seem like Nicole Kidman's character dreams about the swingers club which she knows nothing about and why doesn't the movie focus more on her character? She seems to be the one with the most interesting inner life of the two.
I felt like the movie had been more interesting if it had been more of an exploration of the world uncovered rather than just an observing of it. It's a bit like a conservative's peek at a daring subject. As it is, it's barely a story worth telling.
The performances are okay. Tom Cruise laughs and grins at the strangest moments which seems a little off, but then that's to be expected.
Last movie I saw was Twister (1996). Very much a product of it's time, but still super fun, although on rewatch the true MVP is Melissa Reeves, Bill's fiance who appears to be the only actual adult in any of this.
Weirdly, I never saw the full twister, only clips from it. How's the 90s CGI? :)
Perfectly cromulent with one exception:
https://i.imgur.com/9Y1kgcA.mp4
Any way to display a gif/mp4 because the img tag didn't seem to work.
Yeah, that didn't look great :laughing:
Quote from: Comus on Jan 10, 2023, 09:19 PMAny way to display a gif/mp4 because the img tag didn't seem to work.
There's a bunch of unadvertised bbcodes (https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Alphabetical_list_of_all_bulletin_board_codes), but none that seem to allow for the embedding of mp4s. I can look into plugins and see if there's anything.
I watched this low-budget 50's film noir flick last night. A tale of a young, single, wealthy heiress with declining health & a conniving, smooth-talking gold digger. What could possibly go wrong?
:3stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 09, 2023, 08:40 AMWhat's the latest movie you've seen? Let us know and feel free to add a small movie review.
The latest film I saw was Eyes Wide Shut. I've seen this before, but that was around the time of its release and I didn't remember much, although I knew what I was getting into.
This time around, it made (even) less sense to me.
Eyes Wide Shut spoiler
Why would a basic swingers club be so sinister? I'm actually inclined to believe Ziegler's explanation that the swingers had nothing to do with the death of a character we'd previously seen almost ODing at a regular party.
However, this makes it a movie about very little. Tom Cruise's character barely gets to explore a slightly sordid underside to society, both poor (the prostitute) and rich (the swingers club), without doing much besides observing.
Why does it seem like Nicole Kidman's character dreams about the swingers club which she knows nothing about and why doesn't the movie focus more on her character? She seems to be the one with the most interesting inner life of the two.
I felt like the movie had been more interesting if it had been more of an exploration of the world uncovered rather than just an observing of it. It's a bit like a conservative's peek at a daring subject. As it is, it's barely a story worth telling.
The performances are okay. Tom Cruise laughs and grins at the strangest moments which seems a little off, but then that's to be expected.
Huge fan of that movie. Especially, when TC says "this weed is making you aggressive" and of course this scene
https://youtu.be/eDKiyehma28
Plus, it has an all time great soundtrack
I watched Akira for the first time tonight and ooh my god was it incredible really makes ya think about the universe and stuff
Quote from: TheNonSexualOccultHawk on Jan 14, 2023, 12:16 AMHuge fan of that movie. Especially, when TC says "this weed is making you aggressive" and of course this scene
https://youtu.be/eDKiyehma28
Plus, it has an all time great soundtrack
Cool, I too liked that scene.
Eyes Wide Shut
What's your take on the movie? Did a murder take place?
And the costumer's kid must've been a prostitute, right?
Quote from: tristan_geoff on Jan 14, 2023, 06:49 AMI watched Akira for the first time tonight and ooh my god was it incredible really makes ya think about the universe and stuff
I love Akira :) wish my wife didn't hate it so we could watch it together.
Probably blasphemy, but I prefer the movie to the totality of the manga which eventually gets a bit tedious after the big event imo.
The Akira soundtrack is phenomenal
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 10, 2023, 07:10 PMWeirdly, I never saw the full twister, only clips from it. How's the 90s CGI? :)
Awesome! It's far and away the ONLY reason to see the movie.
(https://i.postimg.cc/3RGmWrJQ/Shock-1946.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1n9fjQqv)
I watched this one yesterday. A good but rather predictable low-budget thriller from 1946, featuring Vincent Price as the head of a private psychiatric hospital.
:3stars:
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Jan 14, 2023, 05:56 PMI watched this one yesterday. A good but rather predictable low-budget thriller from 1946, featuring Vincent Price as the head of a private psychiatric hospital.
Looks kinda fun. I love Price - the hammier he gets, the better.
So the title is Shock. Is it in any way related to the then modern electro shock treatment therapy?
This was actually a very funny take on the time loop thing.
Much better than I expected going in.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 14, 2023, 06:05 PMQuote from: Psy-Fi on Jan 14, 2023, 05:56 PMI watched this one yesterday. A good but rather predictable low-budget thriller from 1946, featuring Vincent Price as the head of a private psychiatric hospital.
Looks kinda fun. I love Price - the hammier he gets, the better.
So the title is Shock. Is it in any way related to the then modern electro shock treatment therapy?
No, the title isn't a reference to electro shock therapy. It's a reference to a mental state of shock.
Last movie I watched was After Hours, a kinda weird 80s comedy directed by Martin Scorsese.
Paul is having the worst night of his life, but he can't seem to get home. Instead, he has all these run-ins with various characters and unfortunate events.
The movie is weird in that some of the events and dialogue seems a little dreamlike at times. People's responses or reactions may be off and occasionally the direction plays up the weirdness. It never goes full Lynch, though.
There's some fun casting here too, among them Catherine O' Hara and the comedy duo Cheech & Chong. I didn't know they'd played in a Scorsese picture.
It didn't make me laugh much, but it was enjoyable.
(https://i.postimg.cc/2SFw9xx1/Force-of-Evil-1948.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RWhKNKym)
Force of Evil (1948)
Another noir thriller. This one is from 1948 and features John Garfield as an attorney who gets in deep with the numbers racket while working for an underworld client.
:3.5stars:
One thing you should know about me is that I love bad movies. Corny movies, trashy movies, terribly directed movies, you name it. Me, The Boy, and one of my friends have watch parties dedicated solely to Mystery Science Theatering bad movies.
With that in mind, the latest one we watched was 2005's Son of the Mask. I don't use this word often, but that movie is pure cringe. Hated the movie, loved every second of the experience.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Jan 17, 2023, 04:16 AMOne thing you should know about me is that I love bad movies. Corny movies, trashy movies, terribly directed movies, you name it. Me, The Boy, and one of my friends have watch parties dedicated solely to Mystery Science Theatering bad movies.
With that in mind, the latest one we watched was 2005's Son of the Mask. I don't use this word often, but that movie is pure cringe. Hated the movie, loved every second of the experience.
I remember noting its existence as a blatant cash-grab, but of course I haven't seen it. Something to watch with the kids? :D
You've probably seen Gymkata and Miami Connection then? They're pretty bad-good, though not quite as bad as most MST3K movies.
Speaking of bad movies, here's one I watched a couple of days ago. A horror flick about a group of people who travel to an island infested with zombies. The only brief, worthwhile moments for me were in the soundtrack music. The rest of the film was a bad, goofy disaster.
:1stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 17, 2023, 08:19 AMQuote from: Mrs. Waffles on Jan 17, 2023, 04:16 AMOne thing you should know about me is that I love bad movies. Corny movies, trashy movies, terribly directed movies, you name it. Me, The Boy, and one of my friends have watch parties dedicated solely to Mystery Science Theatering bad movies.
With that in mind, the latest one we watched was 2005's Son of the Mask. I don't use this word often, but that movie is pure cringe. Hated the movie, loved every second of the experience.
I remember noting its existence as a blatant cash-grab, but of course I haven't seen it. Something to watch with the kids? :D
You've probably seen Gymkata and Miami Connection then? They're pretty bad-good, though not quite as bad as most MST3K movies.
I've never seen either, actually! Most of my knowledge of pre-90s bad movies is admittedly lacking. I will check them out for sure.
Most of our favorite bad movies to riff on are 90s kids movies, awful sci-fi, and/or corny flop comedies. My personal favorite is Carrot Top's Chairman of the Board, his is Bio-Dome.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Jan 17, 2023, 03:26 PMI've never seen either, actually! Most of my knowledge of pre-90s bad movies is admittedly lacking. I will check them out for sure.
Most of our favorite bad movies to riff on are 90s kids movies, awful sci-fi, and/or corny flop comedies. My personal favorite is Carrot Top's Chairman of the Board, his is Bio-Dome.
I remember Bio-dome, but never seen Chairman of the Board. I'll see if I can find it :)
Watched 'Its a wonderful life' on Christmas eve
Here's a low-budget sci-fi flick from 1954. I watched it on YouTube under the original title 'Stranger from Venus.' I thought the plot was familiar and after looking into the film, I discovered that it's a knockoff/copy of 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' and even has one of the main cast members from that film (Patricia Neal) in a starring role...
(https://i.postimg.cc/cLZSbF8R/Stranger-from-Venus-1954.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
This bit of info From IMDB, sums it up...
QuoteThe setting of this film is somewhat mysterious. It appears to be England, but the radio has American voices instead of British ones; both the doctor and the barmaid have very English accents, but middle-European names; the police wear uniforms suggestive of eastern Europe (and carry revolvers in a holster); a politician is described as "Secretary of the Interior", a post which does not exist in the British government; there is a reference to "the President", rather than the Prime Minister; and the inn where much of the action takes place seems halfway between an English pub and an Austrian gasthaus.
I'll add that the alien shows up in human form, wearing western clothing and speaking perfect English with a slight Austrian accent. For me, this was a low-budget, close to no-budget stinker of a sci-fi flick.
:1stars:
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Jan 19, 2023, 02:17 PMI'll add that the alien shows up in human form, wearing western clothing and speaking perfect English with a slight Austrian accent. For me, this was a low-budget, close to no-budget stinker of a sci-fi flick.
Oh man. If I watch a really cheap thriller / horror movie, at least I want some cheesy ass special FX. What a letdown.
I haven't yet seen it, but I'm currently trying to figure out how or where I can get a hold of a Norwegian movie that came out last year, Syk Pike which means Sick Girl. The english title given to it is Sick of Myself (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18816518/).
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 19, 2023, 05:55 PMQuote from: Psy-Fi on Jan 19, 2023, 02:17 PMI'll add that the alien shows up in human form, wearing western clothing and speaking perfect English with a slight Austrian accent. For me, this was a low-budget, close to no-budget stinker of a sci-fi flick.
Oh man. If I watch a really cheap thriller / horror movie, at least I want some cheesy ass special FX. What a letdown.
Yeah. It was about as minimalist and boring as it gets. It makes 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' look like 'Star Wars.'
(https://i.postimg.cc/B6wZW2Gq/Pharaoh-s-Curse-1957.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Pharaoh's Curse (1957)
A fairly entertaining B&W horror film from 1957. In Egypt in 1902, a curse is unleashed upon a group of archaeologists and military personnel at the dig site of the tomb of an Egyptian Pharaoh.
:3stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/Njh6qHg7/Untamed-Women-1952.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/563Y8jQ6)
Untamed Women (1952)
This one is in the "so bad it's almost good" category. A WWII bomber crew ditches their plane in the ocean after being hit by enemy flak and 5 surviving crew members in a liferaft end up reaching an unknown prehistoric island inhabited by a primitive tribe of women without any men.
:2stars:
Did the untamed women eat the men or what?
How do you decide on which god awful 50s horror you're gonna watch? :laughing:
Quote from: Janszoon on Jan 24, 2023, 04:05 PMDid the untamed women eat the men or what?
You'll have to watch it to find out their fate.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 24, 2023, 04:50 PMHow do you decide on which god awful 50s horror you're gonna watch? :laughing:
I watch most of them on YouTube, while I'm working out in my home gym. Whatever pops up as a suggested movie, that I haven't already seen, and fits into a 75 to 90 minute running time (the time of my usual workout routine) will usually do.
Sisters With Transistors
reservoir dogs
it's a 🚩 if this isn't your favorite tarantino movie
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Jan 26, 2023, 02:33 PMQuote from: Janszoon on Jan 24, 2023, 04:05 PMDid the untamed women eat the men or what?
You'll have to watch it to find out their fate.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 24, 2023, 04:50 PMHow do you decide on which god awful 50s horror you're gonna watch? :laughing:
I watch most of them on YouTube, while I'm working out in my home gym. Whatever pops up as a suggested movie, that I haven't already seen, and fits into a 75 to 90 minute running time (the time of my usual workout routine) will usually do.
This is a great idea. I've been doing something similar, but with Seinfeld episodes :)
Here's another low-budget flick I recently watched...
(https://i.postimg.cc/SNQRvLYz/Lost-Continent-1951.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Lost Continent (1951)
This one is about a group of three scientists and three members of the U.S. Air Force, flying on an expedition to recover a lost atomic rocket. During their search, they crash-land in dense jungle on an island in the South Pacific. Despite flying directly into treetops and trees on the way down, the plane lands largely undamaged and all but one of the crew members walk out unscathed in the crash. One of the scientists receives a slight gash on his leg which is quickly bandaged before they all set out in search of the missing rocket. They soon encounter a native woman who happens to speak perfect English and tells them that a bird of fire flew into a volcanic mountain on the island and frightened the rest of the villagers away. She shows them to the base of the mountain and then runs off in fear, leaving them to press on without her. They spend about 1/3 of the movie making a boring and uneventful climb up the steep mountain before the scientist with the leg wound slips at the edge of a cliff and plunges to his death. They eventually reach the top of the mountain and discover a vast, tropical jungle filled with prehistoric plants and dinosaurs. At this point in the film, the picture changes from B&W to a rather ugly light-greenish tint which I found unnecessary & somewhat annoying. After making their way through some dangerous encounters with various dinosaurs, they find the missing rocket partially buried nose down in the ground and completely intact without so much as a scratch at the spot where it crashed on the mountaintop. The two remaining scientists climb into the rocket to retrieve some data and shortly thereafter one of the Air Force members gets gored to death by a triceratops. With their mission accomplished, the remaining four head back down the mountain and the picture changes back from the ugly light-greenish tint to B&W just before the volcano suddenly erupts and all hell breaks loose.
:1.5stars:
I think I may have actually seen that one!
How much schlock can one man take?
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 27, 2023, 05:26 PMHow much schlock can one man take?
:laughing:
It didn't help that Cesar Romero was in a starring role in the movie. Ever since I saw him as The Joker in the 60's Batman TV show, I haven't been able to sit through anything else I've ever seen him in without immediately thinking of him as The Joker.
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Jan 27, 2023, 07:01 PMQuote from: Guybrush on Jan 27, 2023, 05:26 PMHow much schlock can one man take?
:laughing:
It didn't help that Cesar Romero was in a starring role in the movie. Ever since I saw him as The Joker in the 60's Batman TV show, I haven't been able to sit through anything else I've ever seen him in without immediately thinking of him as The Joker
Is he the guy who refused to shave his mustache for the role and so they just put the white makeup on top of it?
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 27, 2023, 07:34 PMIt didn't help that Cesar Romero was in a starring role in the movie. Ever since I saw him as The Joker in the 60's Batman TV show, I haven't been able to sit through anything else I've ever seen him in without immediately thinking of him as The Joker
Is he the guy who refused to shave his mustache for the role and so they just put the white makeup on top of it?
[/quote]
That would be the one. He was quite cooperative otherwise though and he enjoyed the role.
All Quiet On The Western Front
terrific score
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
It was charming but not brilliant.
Quote from: robhr on Jan 29, 2023, 07:22 AMThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
It was charming but not brilliant.
I agree with this.
I saw The Menu which was a neat little thriller and entertaining from start to finish. It's a little ridiculous, something that could've made it a mess in someone else's hands, but Ralph Fiennes does enough good acting to put the rest of the cast to shame and makes it work.
I don't wanna spoil any more, but watch it yourself if you want some violent fun.
I just saw the Room. Horrible. One of the cast members got some of the others togather and they have a mockumentary "Where Are They Now" going. It's hilarious.
Quote from: Rubber Soul on Jan 29, 2023, 01:40 PMI just saw the Room. Horrible. One of the cast members got some of the others togather and they have a mockumentary "Where Are They Now" going. It's hilarious.
Tommy Wiseau's movie from the 2000s? Because that's pure gold :laughing:
Quote from: Rubber Soul on Jan 29, 2023, 01:40 PMI just saw the Room. Horrible. One of the cast members got some of the others togather and they have a mockumentary "Where Are They Now" going. It's hilarious.
The Room is what made me realize I loved terrible movies. I've owned my DVD copy since 2008 and my friend group used to have watch parties that were always a hoot. My sister was lucky enough to meet Tommy Wiseau at a screening in Chicago.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 29, 2023, 01:47 PMTommy Wiseau's movie from the 2000s? Because that's pure gold :laughing:
That's the one... Oh, hi, Mark. :D
Quote from: Rubber Soul on Jan 29, 2023, 01:49 PMThat's the one... Oh, hi, Mark. :D
Oh man, the whole thing is funny, but I think the first 10-15 minutes or so when your brain is just trying to make sense of it.. And it's just so unbelievably stupid. It is great. I'm pretty sure it's the finest unintentional comedy I know of.
Indeed
Such is the power of The Room that me and some people close to me quote it to each other on a regular basis, even though none of them have actually seen it
Yesterday was the first time I ever saw it and it was a treat. Before that I had mainly only seen part of the "Oh hi, Mark" scene. For much of it, it seemed like going to see a porn movie and a bad one at that. :laughing:
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 29, 2023, 10:12 AMQuote from: robhr on Jan 29, 2023, 07:22 AMThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
It was charming but not brilliant.
I agree with this.
I saw The Menu which was a neat little thriller and entertaining from start to finish. It's a little ridiculous, something that could've made it a mess in someone else's hands, but Ralph Fiennes does enough good acting to put the rest of the cast to shame and makes it work.
I don't wanna spoil any more, but watch it yourself if you want some violent fun.
I thought that was a pretty good one too.
(https://i.postimg.cc/9FPH3sTx/Moon-Zero-Two-1969.png) (https://postimages.org/)
Moon Zero Two (1969)
I watched this one a couple of days ago. A fairly amusing sci-fi flick about an astronaut who is working from the moon, salvaging various items of debris/junk from space and accepts an offer from a sleazy & ruthless businessman to maneuver a small, valuable asteroid into crashing on the surface of the moon, so they can recover the contents of the asteriod. The film is a mix of sci-fi, drama, action, & comedy. A lot of the props & clothing reminded me of the 'UFO' and 'Space 1999' TV shows from the late 60's and early to mid 70's and I suspect that those shows probably used some of the same props & clothing. A bit of music-related trivia that I noticed during the closing credits was that the theme song for the film was sung by Julie Driscoll.
:3stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/WpH0GY7D/St-D-1947.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yW0JBPtB)
Scared to Death (1947)
A low-budget mystery/horror flick (filmed in color) from 1947. A young dead woman, laying on a slab in a morgue, tells the tale of how she ended up there. Part mystery, part horror, part comedy, it's somewhat amusing but not quite good enough to fit into the "so bad it's good" category even with a strange hypnotist, his midget sidekick, and a creepy figure in a green mask added to the plot. Bela Lugosi must hold some type of record for appearing in the most mediocre or awful movies in the history of film.
:1.5stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/Cx98BFwN/Sensation-Hunters-1945.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Sensation Hunters (1945)
I watched this one under the alternate title of "Club Paradise." A young, attractive woman from a dysfunctional family, falls in love with a handsome cad, leaves home and heads down the road to ruin.
:2.5stars:
I just rewatched this gem after being reminded of ny love for it in the top 10 thread:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNjg2NjYwODE4N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMTM1ODA3._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
As far as movies go, this one's pretty insane and absolutely wonderful. It's a musical fantasy comedy that defies explanation. You'd simply have to see it.
It was directed by Richard Elfman and also features his musical brother Danny in a brief role as the devil. It also features the other knights of Oingo Boingo in addition to the rest of its wonderful cast, the best of which is probably Marie-Pascale Elfman as Susan "Frenchie" Hercules.
Many of the jokes of the movie were considered offensive back then and it gained its fame as a midnight movie. These jokes haven't gotten less offensive the last 40+ years, so it's probably not for the easily offended. However, if you have high comedic tolerance and think a celebration of the absolutely absurd sounds like fun, then you should check this out.
PS! I've always seen the B/W version as Elfman, I assume, originally intended.
:4.5stars:
Richard is reputedly still working on the sequel to this. Hopefully we get to see it some day.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 05, 2023, 10:48 AMI just rewatched this gem after being reminded of ny love for it in the top 10 thread:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNjg2NjYwODE4N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMTM1ODA3._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
As far as movies go, this one's pretty insane and absolutely wonderful. It's a musical fantasy comedy that defies explanation. You'd simply have to see it.
It was directed by Richard Elfman and also features his musical brother Danny in a brief role as the devil. It also features the other knights of Oingo Boingo in addition to the rest of its wonderful cast, the best of which is probably Marie-Pascale Elfman as Susan "Frenchie" Hercules.
Many of the jokes of the movie were considered offensive back then and it gained its fame as a midnight movie. These jokes haven't gotten less offensive the last 40+ years, so it's probably not for the easily offended. However, if you have high comedic tolerance and think a celebration of the absolutely absurd sounds like fun, then you should check this out.
PS! I've always seen the B/W version as Elfman, I assume, originally intended.
:4.5stars:
Richard is reputedly still working on the sequel to this. Hopefully we get to see it some day.
Haven't seen it but the running time fits into my daily workout routine, so I might give it a go this morning.
You know, even as a pretty huge Oingo Boingo fan I've never seen Forbidden Zone all the way through. Gotta put that on the list.
QuoteYou know, even as a pretty huge Oingo Boingo
i'm a very casual fan but i saw them in the 80's and the kids were fully bonkers
That's awesome, they were an excellent live band. Makes me wish I wasn't six years old when they broke up, haha.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cLDm2Py3/Maniac-1934.png) (https://postimages.org/)
Maniac (1934)
I've known about this one for 40 years or so but never got around to watching it until yesterday. About as ridiculous and inept as it gets, even for a cheap exploitation film. It did make me laugh several times, so it wasn't a total failure of a flick. It's a story of a brilliant, mad scientist/doctor pushing his young assistant to his mental breaking point and the disastrous results that follow.
:1.5stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/G29QDHPH/Appointment-with-Crime-1945.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7G808PWk)
Appointment with Crime (1945)
A British crime thriller about a low-level member of a criminal gang who gets talked into committing a daytime smash-and-grab by the two leaders of the gang who accompany him on the heist. He ends up getting caught in the act while his two accomplices flee the scene and leave him behind. He keeps his mouth shut, goes to prison, does his time and gets out seeking revenge against the two ringleaders for running out on him.
:3.5stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/50sZy8Y7/Submarine-Base-1943.jpg)
Submarine Base (1943)
WWII era B movie thriller about a small clandestine submarine base in South America set up to service German U-boats and run by an American mercenary along with his British sidekick. The plot starts out seeming somewhat plausible but quickly becomes ridiculous and unbelievable as the story unfolds. Still rather amusing for the most part.
:2.5stars:
i just finished Blonde - i love oates but haven't liked the novel much - still not finished - and apart from a couple scenes i thought it was boring- liked the bad look they gave jfk - sick of the romanticizing of him - he was nasty
great film score though
Me and the fiance watched a classic terrible movie last night, Dana Carvey's career-killing magnum opus of cringe, The Master of Disguise (2002). Hadn't seen this since I saw it in theaters as a young teenager.
There's a kind of delightful innocence to this movie's dumbness that is charming for fans of bottom-of-the-barrel schlock such as my partner and myself. The villain's running gag is so immensely moronic, like something I would have written if I was in fourth grade at the absolute oldest, but I can't bring myself to hate it. If I was only allowed to watch clever, witty, sophisticated humor for the rest of my comedy-viewing life, I'd go insane.
Appallingly bad film, -10/10.
(https://i.postimg.cc/1RGR8kvL/Timetable-1956.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fkbQFrnK)
Time Table (1956)
A "thrill-o-minute" noir/crime thriller about a meticulously planned robbery which seems to have been pulled off without any clues but begins to unravel when one mistake leads to another and the mastermind of the heist starts to get increasingly nervous about getting caught.
:4stars:
@Psy-Fi maybe you should consider applying ror the vacant position of Curator of Movies? :)
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Feb 07, 2023, 07:02 PMMe and the fiance watched a classic terrible movie last night, Dana Carvey's career-killing magnum opus of cringe, The Master of Disguise (2002). Hadn't seen this since I saw it in theaters as a young teenager.
There's a kind of delightful innocence to this movie's dumbness that is charming for fans of bottom-of-the-barrel schlock such as my partner and myself. The villain's running gag is so immensely moronic, like something I would have written if I was in fourth grade at the absolute oldest, but I can't bring myself to hate it. If I was only allowed to watch clever, witty, sophisticated humor for the rest of my comedy-viewing life, I'd go insane.
Appallingly bad film, -10/10.
This sounds like it might be fun. I'll see if I can find it :)
I of course saw Heavenly Creatures, but that has its own thread. I also watched Wind River with Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. It's a crime thriller about a nasty murder in an indian reservation in Wyoming, I believe. No, it's not an Avengers movie. It was fairly straightforward with some formulaic characters (esp. Renner's scarred hero) and not something I'm likely to watch again, but still very enjoyable and probably worth your time.
:4stars:
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Feb 08, 2023, 12:12 PM(https://i.postimg.cc/1RGR8kvL/Timetable-1956.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fkbQFrnK)
Time Table (1956)
A "thrill-o-minute" noir/crime thriller about a meticulously planned robbery which seems to have been pulled off without any clues but begins to unravel when one mistake leads to another and the mastermind of the heist starts to get increasingly nervous about getting caught.
:4stars:
What's going on with those guys in the lower left? Ineffective strangulation? Tie adjustment? Awkward sex act? I'm intrigued.
There's a lot of that "neck tie adjustment" going on in those old noir movie posters. 8)
"I don't want any more pills, I'm tired of being happy"...
(https://i.postimg.cc/SxpxM2nR/The-Wild-World-of-Batwoman-1966.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Wild World of Batwoman (1966)
This one is an awful combination of superhero movie and those teen beach/bikini/comedy flicks that were popular in the 60's. A Woman who looks to be in her late 30's to early 40's and lives in a suburban California home, heads a crime-fighting group of women in their early 20's. Some obvious copyright infringement against DC comics and the Batman TV show which was popular at the time this film was made and there's even a bit of stolen footage from 'The Mole People' from 1956, which shows up part way into this gawd-awful low-budget stinker. Not even a nightclub performance by a mediocre jazz combo and a beach concert by an equally mediocre rock group can keep This one afloat. It isn't so bad it's good, it's just plain putrid. :poop:
:1.5stars:
Moonlight.
I tend to enjoy the A24 films and this was no exception.
(https://i.postimg.cc/7Yg5rQtY/Terror-in-the-Midnight-Sun-1959.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Terror in the Midnight Sun (1959)
A low-budget Swedish sci-fi flick about a meteorite which lands in the Swiss Alps. A group of scientists go to investigate the site where the meteorite came down and discover a herd of dead, mutilated reindeer and some very large animal tracks of an unknown species, leading away from the area of the carnage. When they get to the crash site of the meteorite, they realize that it wasn't a meteorite that crashed but some type of flying craft, which is undamaged and of unknown origin. Could there be a link between the mysterious flying object, the mutilated dead reindeer, and the mysterious animal tracks?
Somewhat entertaining as far as low-budget sci-fi flicks go and even has some fairly good special effects for a low-budget movie of this genre.
:2stars:
Oh weird, a swedish flick. Of course they have had somewhat of a film industry for a long time with Bergman's movies being famous.
I've had Shame (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063611/) on my to-do list for years.
(https://i.postimg.cc/j2mR7YZ7/The-Day-the-Earth-Froze-1959.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5QBhhTc4)
The Day the Earth Froze (1959)
I watched the American release of this one under the title 'The Day the Earth Froze.' It was originally released under the title 'Sampo.' Apparently, the American release was edited, so I didn't get to see some of the scenes from the original release. The American poster gives the impression that this is a sci-fi flick but it's actually a medieval sorcery/fantasy film.
From the IMDB website...
QuoteBased on Finnish mythology, this movie traces the exploits of Lemminkäinen as he woos the fair Annikki and battles the evil witch Louhi. Louhi kidnaps Annikki to compel her brother to build for her a Sampo, a magical device that creates salt, grain, and gold. When Lemminkäinen tries (and fails) to recover the Sampo, Louhi steals the sun, plunging the world into frozen darkness.
I rarely watch anything in this type of genre but I have to say that I found this one to be rather entertaining. It seemed to have a fairly good budget, the props and effects were quite good and the acting was reasonably good overall.
:3stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZKLfJ24Y/The-Lost-Missile-1958.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XppK82rt)
The Lost Missile (1958)
Low-budget sci-fi flick about an unidentified missile, suspected to be of extraterrestrial origin, flying in an orbit around the earth five miles up and blazing a trail of devastation with the unbelievable heat generated by its engines exhaust. The film is heavily padded with a lot of stock footage filler of civil defense exercises, military equipment & military exercises, and street scenes of pedestrians & traffic to the detriment of the movie overall.
:2stars:
Haha, the way they made those old posters / covers was great, though. So sensationalist and exciting and often not at all like the actual movie.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 14, 2023, 05:38 PMHaha, the way they made those old posters / covers was great, though. So sensationalist and exciting and often not at all like the actual movie.
Yeah, the posters are often the best part of the movie by far.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 14, 2023, 05:38 PMHaha, the way they made those old posters / covers was great, though. So sensationalist and exciting and often not at all like the actual movie.
Have you ever seen Ghanaian movie posters? Talk about exciting and not at all like the actual movie!
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0265/7612/6027/products/image_c6e330aa-6ff2-4fe0-a2b3-43b210bc4116_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651153549)
That's brilliant :laughing:
Were guns this much a part of Purple Rain? Looks like it was produced by the NRA. Also, Prince looks like he's played by Johnny Depp.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 14, 2023, 06:48 PMThat's brilliant :laughing:
Were guns this much a part of Purple Rain? Looks like it was produced by the NRA. Also, Prince looks like he's played by Johnny Depp.
I don't think there were any guns whatsoever in
Purple Rain. :laughing:
The Kid's (Prince's) father shoots himself in a failed suicide attempt
Pieces of a Woman
i liked it - great score and sound track
Attack of the Mayan Mummy (1964)A B&W horror film which was possibly the most boring & inept one I've ever seen.
From the 'Letterboxd' website...
QuoteA scientist hypnotically regresses a woman to a previous life, a Mayan princess, who leads him to a secret tomb where the princess was buried - and the mummy of an ancient warrior, cursed to live after death and guard the treasure buried with her. Edited by Jerry Warren from the Mexican horror film LA MOMIA AZTECA, and following its general plot but with 36 minutes of new, American-made footage added and English narration in lieu of dubbed dialogue for the Mexican footage.
The narration over the original scenes renders them tedious and dull and most of the added scenes look like they were shot in someone's home office and living room and just feature two guys sitting and talking to each other and are every bit as tedious and dull as the narration. There is one added scene of what is supposed to be a 60's malt shop with teens dancing and drinking Coca-Cola but that's about the closest thing to excitement that shows up in this butchered snooze-fest of a flick.
:0.5stars:
Well. Your patience with bad movies is commendable :)
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 15, 2023, 06:15 PMWell. Your patience with bad movies is commendable :)
Anything I rate less than 2.5 stars, if I wasn't playing them while working out and I was just sitting on my couch watching, I probably wouldn't get past the first 15 minutes.
(https://i.postimg.cc/90RsxFLY/The-Scarlet-Hour-1956.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Scarlet Hour (1956)
Top-tier noir thriller about an illicit love affair between a bored, unhappy wife and an employee of her older husband, which becomes more complicated by an unexpected temptation and her manipulative personality. Nat "King" Cole makes a brief appearance singing a number in a nightclub scene.
:4.5stars:
That guy looks like he's doing a Seinfeld bit.
"Why do people wear stockings? Who are these people?"
(https://i.postimg.cc/6QqjZV57/Wot-S-1958.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VSyWQCt1)
War of the Satellites (1958)
A fairly entertaining B&W sci-fi flick from Roger Corman. Satellites being sent into space are being inexplicably destroyed shortly after they leave the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists are baffled and further launches are in doubt. Then comes a dire warning from a mysterious source claiming to be from outer space, upset by humans attempts to explore space, referring to them as a disease and declaring they will set up a quarantine to protect the universe from any further attempts by humans to leave Earth and venture into space.
:3stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/8PpkcfFj/Anatomy-of-a-Psycho-1961.png) (https://postimages.org/)
Anatomy of a Psycho (1961)
Another example of a great poster for a lousy movie. The mentally unstable brother of a convicted murderer, becomes further unhinged after his brother is executed in the gas chamber and swears to avenge his death and punish those he deems responsible. Not a bad idea for a movie but the writing is subpar, the directing is mediocre and the acting is mostly just awful.
:1stars:
Since last I posted, I saw Possessor (2020) and rewatched Meet the Feebles (1989).
Possessor is a sci-fi thriller by Brandon Cronenberg which I described a little more in my Cronenberg thread.
(https://flxt.tmsimg.com/assets/p61722_p_v8_aa.jpg)
Meet the Feebles is Peter Jackson's The Muppets parody, although I also watched the making of and everyone seems careful never to mention the phrase "The Muppets" or Jim Henson.
It's a story about The Feebles, a performing ensemble of muppets that may just be a front for the drug selling operation of its owner, the walrus Bletch. The Feebles' director is trying to put on the show that will land them a network deal, but all sorts of things get in the way. It's a movie that has gore in it, poo eating, nasal sex, scenes of shooting up drugs etc. The emotional core of it all is the newcomer Robert who falls in love with backup singer Lucille. Oh, and Heidi, the overeating and emotionally traumatized hippo which is also The Feebles' fading star attraction.
It's easy to forget how twisted Peter Jackson's mind seemed to be around the start of his professional career. The production is a little rough in places and the picture quality isn't great. Still, this is a lot of fun - never a dull moment for me.
Some years ago around the release of his WW1 documentary, PJ said he was working on restoring and rereleasing his early films in 4K. Since then, I've waited patiently. They're definitely worth it!
I'd rank both films as a solid 7/10.
Man, Meet the Feebles. In college I used to be in a band with this artsy stoner kid who put it on in his dorm one night while we were both puffing the wacky tobacky. That was 13 years ago, so it's definitely due for a rewatch. It is very funny to think that this guy went on to do Lord of the Rings, haha.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Feb 19, 2023, 02:19 PMMan, Meet the Feebles. In college I used to be in a band with this artsy stoner kid who put it on in his dorm one night while we were both puffing the wacky tobacky. That was 13 years ago, so it's definitely due for a rewatch. It is very funny to think that this guy went on to do Lord of the Rings, haha.
Yes, I watched Bad Taste and Braindead at a much too young age and rewatched them a lot during my teens, especially Braindead (which admittedly scarred me a bit the first time I saw it). I also read the Hobbit and LOTR while I was still in elementary school and reread LOTR again in my teens, had a LOTR calendar, etc. So I was a fan of both Jackson and Tolkien. When I learned that Peter Jackson was to adapt LOTR for the big screen, I mean.. that's just awesome craziness :) and look how great it turned out.
From his start as a DIY film maker, his career trajectory is pretty extraordinary. He seems like such a sweet guy too.
Everything Everywhere All at Once.
It was good.
Quote from: robhr on Feb 19, 2023, 08:59 PMEverything Everywhere All at Once.
It was good.
Hells yeah, I loved that one :)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTY4NTU1MDk5OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDE2MDE3MTE@._V1_.jpg)
I rewatched David Cronenberg's Crash which is about..
SPOILER ALERT!
.. emotionally void people who seem to desperately search for some feeling or significance. They find it in deviant sex acts and become involved with a tiny subculture that fetishises car crashes, the intensity of feeling from that (or sexual release) and the resulting bodily mutilations. It's a soulless slide into depravity and quite sexually explicit. Sex scenes, in which there is quite a bit of skin on skin contact, must amount to about a third of the movie or so. It might have felt like soft porn at times if it wasn't for the crutches and scars and bracers, although in a way it's a little nice to see things that are usually considered unsexy be portrayed as very desirable here.
James Spader does a good job in a lead role that in hindsight seems a little brave for its time as it involves some male-on-male intimacy. It was also nice seeing Rosanna Arquette in another movie as I just saw her in After Hours (where she's adorable btw even if her character isn't exactly).
My wife HATES this movie. I like it. It's relatively slow going and somewhat bleak, yet I like the exploration of this theme which would seem far fetched to most sane people. Maybe I'm emotionally void and bleak, feel-bad movies are
my car crashes.
:3.5stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 19, 2023, 11:50 PMQuote from: robhr on Feb 19, 2023, 08:59 PMEverything Everywhere All at Once.
It was good.
Hells yeah, I loved that one :)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTY4NTU1MDk5OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDE2MDE3MTE@._V1_.jpg)
I rewatched David Cronenberg's Crash which is about..
SPOILER ALERT!
.. emotionally void people who seem to desperately search for some feeling or significance. They find it in deviant sex acts and become involved with a tiny subculture that fetishises car crashes, the intensity of feeling from that (or sexual release) and the resulting bodily mutilations. It's a soulless slide into depravity and quite sexually explicit. Sex scenes, in which there is quite a bit of skin on skin contact, must amount to about a third of the movie or so. It might have felt like soft porn at times if it wasn't for the crutches and scars and bracers, although in a way it's a little nice to see things that are usually considered unsexy be portrayed as very desirable here.
James Spader does a good job in a lead role that in hindsight seems a little brave for its time as it involves some male-on-male intimacy. It was also nice seeing Rosanna Arquette in another movie as I just saw her in After Hours (where she's adorable btw even if her character isn't exactly).
My wife HATES this movie. I like it. It's relatively slow going and somewhat bleak, yet I like the exploration of this theme which would seem far fetched to most sane people. Maybe I'm emotionally void and bleak, feel-bad movies are my car crashes.
:3.5stars:
great novel great film both five stars from me
^ Given Guy's review and OH's 5-star rating, we'll all want to see this film of course (or is it just me?).
And having had a very unsexy brace removed from my leg this week, this it should be right up my alley. :laughing:
Quotehad a very unsexy brace removed from my leg
nice
as for the book the same author wrote empire of the sun which was made into a film by speilberg
it's one of the great wwii novels right up there with the naked and the dead
ballard also wrote the burning world and the swans have an extremely underrated album with the same name which probably isn't just a coincidence but i've never read it
i need to dig back into ballard actually
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/ViolentN-poster.jpg)
Violent Night
This movie is basically Die Hard in a mansion with Santa taking the place of John McClane. It wasn't amazing but it was pretty entertaining. Some decent laughs and some ultraviolence.
Quote from: ribbons on Feb 20, 2023, 06:42 AM^ Given Guy's review and OH's 5-star rating, we'll all want to see this film of course (or is it just me?).
And having had a very unsexy brace removed from my leg this week, this it should be right up my alley. :laughing:
Well... You should probably hurry up and watch this with your man
before the brace comes off 😄
Quote from: TheNonSexual OccultHawk on Feb 20, 2023, 09:58 AMi need to dig back into ballard actually
I did notice Spader's character was called Ballard and wondered what that was about. Is it just Cronenberg's way of making tribute or did Ballard place himself in his own story?
Does he get hard from watching car crashes?
Also some trivia: there's a scene where they enjoy car crash testing footage with crash test dummies etc. I assume those were recorded at / by Volvo as the video narration was in Swedish.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 20, 2023, 07:04 PMWell... You should probably hurry up and watch this with your man before the brace comes off 😄
:laughing: These contraptions are not sexy at all - I'd like to see how they pull
that off (literally) in the film!
I watched a few YouTube clips of
Crash in the wee hours (no, I couldn't wait :laughing:) because I was unable to find the film.
Why do these people get aroused by car crashes? Gives new meaning to the saying, "I'd smash that." :coldsweat:
Quote from: ribbons on Feb 20, 2023, 07:57 PMWhy do these people get aroused by car crashes? Gives new meaning to the saying, "I'd smash that." :coldsweat:
Oh, you know, it's just the sort of thing that happens. It's just a normal day and then suddenly, you get horned up by car crashes.
But the characters in the movie are actively searching for sensational experiences and he happens to get involved in a car accident (he's a shit driver) where this woman who is already a crash fetishist is a passenger in the other car, etc.
So it sorta spreads through this group / subculture.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 20, 2023, 09:46 PMQuote from: ribbons on Feb 20, 2023, 07:57 PMWhy do these people get aroused by car crashes? Gives new meaning to the saying, "I'd smash that." :coldsweat:
Oh, you know, it's just the sort of thing that happens. It's just a normal day and then suddenly, you get horned up by car crashes.
But the characters in the movie are actively searching for sensational experiences and he happens to get involved in a car accident (he's a shit driver) where this woman who is already a crash fetishist is a passenger in the other car, etc.
So it sorta spreads through this group / subculture.
And then they all sort of spread it all over each other. Can't wait 'til the next time I get on the freeway. :laughing:
I saw part of that scene where he collides with the woman in the other car. Also another scene with his wife after a big crash and she's semi-unconscious in the grass and he gets *amorous* and so does she. :laughing:
Watched all the Harry Potters over the past couple weeks.
I liked it more than I thought I would.
I still think his adopted parents don't feel like real people though.
i'd rather deal with a severe herpes outbreak than sit through that garbage
Quote from: ribbons on Feb 20, 2023, 09:57 PMQuote from: Guybrush on Feb 20, 2023, 09:46 PMQuote from: ribbons on Feb 20, 2023, 07:57 PMWhy do these people get aroused by car crashes? Gives new meaning to the saying, "I'd smash that." :coldsweat:
Oh, you know, it's just the sort of thing that happens. It's just a normal day and then suddenly, you get horned up by car crashes.
But the characters in the movie are actively searching for sensational experiences and he happens to get involved in a car accident (he's a shit driver) where this woman who is already a crash fetishist is a passenger in the other car, etc.
So it sorta spreads through this group / subculture.
And then they all sort of spread it all over each other. Can't wait 'til the next time I get on the freeway. :laughing:
I saw part of that scene where he collides with the woman in the other car. Also another scene with his wife after a big crash and she's semi-unconscious in the grass and he gets *amorous* and so does she. :laughing:
There's also a scene where Ballard and Gabrielle go to a car dealership and of course, she's got the sexy underwear and big leg braces, making the salesman a near mute with sexual excitement. Then they try to move her stiff legs around so they can bang properly and he starts licking on her huge scar.
It's a good scene and probably what you should watch given your circumstance :laughing: maybe it's too explicit for YouTube, though?
Edit:
Oh, here's the first part:
:laughing: Forgive my ignorance, but, is this film supposed to be a black comedy or something?
I'm raging with jealousy because I don't have a huge gash like hers, and my brace was much flimsier than hers. :D
I do identify with her struggle to get in and out of the car, though - except in my case it didn't attract so much attention!
I think we might share in common that we are a bit counterphobic, Tore: highly distressing, emotionally bizarre movies are my *car crash*, as well.
:beer:
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 20, 2023, 06:53 PM(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/ViolentN-poster.jpg)
Violent Night
This movie is basically Die Hard in a mansion with Santa taking the place of John McClane. It wasn't amazing but it was pretty entertaining. Some decent laughs and some ultraviolence.
Maybe I should watch this after
Crash. That should counteract my counterphobia for sure. :laughing:
QuoteForgive my ignorance, but, is this film supposed to be a black comedy or something?
no
ballard was intensely serious
cronenberg would have never turned it into a joke
Quote from: ribbons on Feb 21, 2023, 12:53 AM:laughing: Forgive my ignorance, but, is this film supposed to be a black comedy or something?
I'm raging with jealousy because I don't have a huge gash like hers, and my brace was much flimsier than hers. :D
I do identify with her struggle to get in and out of the car, though - except in my case it didn't attract so much attention!
I think we might share in common that we are a bit counterphobic, Tore: highly distressing, emotionally bizarre movies are my *car crash*, as well.
:beer:
It's not above occasional comedy, I guess. It certainly makes me chuckle here and there, although most of the movie is quite sombre :)
I'm definitely counterphobic in my movie watching preference. It's a good way to put it! I'm watching Phil Tippett's Mad God for SCD Film Club, Brandon Cronenberg's Infinity Pool as I'm going through the Cronenberg's and have planned watching The Wolf House and rewatching Lars Von Trier's Antichrist. :laughing:
The Yesterday Machine (1963)I saw this one several years ago but I stumbled across it on YouTube and decided to watch it again. It was every bit as ridiculous and awful as I remembered. A former Nazi concentration camp mad scientist, living in an underground bunker/laboratory/jail with two Nazi brownshirt guards and a female slave from ancient Egypt, beneath an old abandoned house in the woods of Texas, is experimenting with a time machine he invented and intends to go back in time to change the outcome of WW2 in the favor of Adolf Hitler & the Nazis. A high school cheerleader, a night club singer, and a detective, fall into the hands of the mad scientist when they get too close to his lair.
I couldn't find a movie poster for this one, which is a shame because a flick as bad as this should at least have a great poster to promote it and mislead potential viewers.
:1.5stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/XqSFLsLW/New-York-Confidential-1955.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
New York Confidential (1955)
A B&W crime thriller about the head of a New York crime family and a young hitman he hires for a job and decides to keep on as a top member of his organization. Quite good from start to finish and even though I thought the ending seemed rather predictable, I still think it's one of the better gangster/organized crime/mafia type movies from that time and the genre in general.
:3.5stars:
Haha, the guy on the poster looks like a confused Walter Matthau? :laughing:
I saw Infinity Pool yesterday.
(https://ntvb.tmsimg.com/assets/p23681768_v_h8_aa.jpg)
It's a movie by Brandon Cronenberg and a sci-fi thriller with a very interesting premise. I don't wanna spoil it, but I can describe it in a spoiler tag for the extra curious.
Spoiler
The movie deals with death penalty, but with the twist that you can pay to get a clone made and they'll execute the clone instead of you.. if you can pay for it.
It's also ripe with social commentary. One could jokingly describe it as a mix between Crash and The Purge. It's not perfect, but definitely worth your time - especially if you like weird movies and can stomach occasional ultraviolence.
:3.5stars:
@TheNonSexual OccultHawk, I think you would like this. :)
QuoteOH, I think you would like this.
i might not stick to it but i'm trying to avoid film and tv completely until the next football season
i'll almost certainly watch it though unless i die before next season
I sort of drifted into Blade Runner 2049 when I really could find nothing much else on my box (keep passing season five of Gomorrah: it's the last one and I want to keep it for the right moment shut up) but I was very disappointed with it. Very slow, even then hard to follow, no real action for - well, up to the point it cut off. Thing is, it was shown on the Sony Movies Channel, and was for some reason split into two separate programmes which recorded independent of each other. All I had to do was push the green button on my remote to pick it back up and continue. The fact that I did not says perhaps all that needs to be said. Did I miss something? Should I give it another chance, or am I better remembering Blade Runner as the classic cult movie I know and love it as?
i liked it fwiw
of the film adaptations for dick's works blade runner and the sequel aren't my favorites
i like screamers, minority report, and total recall all more
high castle is a good novel but the tv show stinks
blade runner inspired a lot of good music though
I think Dick's book was a little corny and actually prefer Ridley Scott's very loosely based movie. To me, Blade Runner (the original) is brilliant. I enjoyed the sequel too, but it didn't leave much of a lasting impression.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 23, 2023, 07:08 AMI think Dick's book was a little corny and actually prefer Ridley Scott's very loosely based movie. To me, Blade Runner (the original) is brilliant. I enjoyed the sequel too, but it didn't leave much of a lasting impression.
do you think he's overrated as a writer
i think his style can be a little too convoluted and he's lackadaisical about drawing the reader in but i know he's extremely highly regarded so i can't deny maybe i'm just too stupid to appreciate him fully
Quote from: TheNonSexual OccultHawk on Feb 23, 2023, 07:30 AMdo you think he's overrated as a writer
i think his style can be a little too convoluted and he's lackadaisical about drawing the reader in but i know he's extremely highly regarded so i can't deny maybe i'm just too stupid to appreciate him fully
I think I only read Do Androids Dream... and that was a long ass time ago.
I read it because I love the movie so much, so it may be a given that I would prefer the movie. What I remember from the book is (
SPOILER ALERT) Deckard having a depressed wife who's addicted to some mood altering machine? And they're very fixated on what sort of fake animal they should get. He's really saving up for that goat. It's partly comical which makes for an odd feel and I vaguely felt like the story lacked direction. Was Deckard motivated in his work? I think he stumbles into stuff and kinda solves his case, but in a way that makes it seem like he has little agency. I don't know. I found it disappointing and haven't read anymore Dick since. But as you say, he's definitely very highly regarded and I also know he was very eccentric.
I rewatched Lars Von Trier's Antichrist.
(https://miro.medium.com/max/640/1*53LQ1QVEsXKH_sOATDicYA.jpeg)
I rewatched it because I like the dreary atmosphere and I couldn't quite interpret it the first time around and so.. I was hoping it would make more sense on a second viewing.
The plot is (SPOILER ALERT) a couple loses their only child and the husband, a therapist, tries to treat his struggling wife at a cabin in the woods where she can confront her fears (she fears nature). Weird things eventually happen and it's kinda difficult to understand why.
It didn't really become much clearer and I think I learned that Von Trier himself says these images came to him, but he doesn't know what they mean. A lot of the scenes were improvised, so I guess that means the movie is part flow of consciousness or does whatever it needs to in order to reach whatever imagery Von Trier was aiming for.
Some tangible themes are here in any case, especially the evil and chaos of nature - both literal nature and our inner natures, especially in terms of infanticide.
Von Trier made this while he was in the bowels of depression and it is rather bleak. If you're like me, it's still enjoyable. Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg are very dedicated in their roles and do a good job. Some of the imagery is stunning, if brief. I especially enjoy the slow motion shots of Charlotte's character walking in the woods. So atmospheric! Other than that, it's slightly notorious for a couple of scenes of ultraviolence, but it doesn't take up too much of its runtime.
Not for everyone, but.. You know who you are 🙂
:3stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/Yqx4S2nY/TFS-1946.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZCCY7mh5)
The Flying Serpent (1946)
Low-budget horror from 1946 which is so low-budget that it looks like it was made at least 10 years earlier. Mildly amusing but the plot is a ripoff of 'The Devil Bat' from 1940 and this film was even made by the same company. If anyone hasn't seen either of them and likes these types of flicks, then skip this one and watch 'The Devil Bat' instead. At least that one has Bela Lugosi in the starring role.
:1.5stars:
i don't enjoy these retro films - i think they're boring unless you're really stoned and i haven't smoked weed in a minute
but i bet back when they came out going to the theater or the drive-in to see these films must've been an absolute blast
all of them have really cool premises that are much more interesting than our comic book super hero fetish big money is mired in today
but after all the violence that started in earnest in the 70's there's no looking back for me and going to the movies today with assigned seating and all that all the three times too long on average thing - the last movie i saw in the theater was hereditary but i might go see Cocaine Bear that looks fun
Quote from: Dreams on Feb 24, 2023, 02:06 PMi don't enjoy these retro films - i think they're boring unless you're really stoned and i haven't smoked weed in a minute
but i bet back when they came out going to the theater or the drive-in to see these films must've been an absolute blast
all of them have really cool premises that are much more interesting than our comic book super hero fetish big money is mired in today
but after all the violence that started in earnest in the 70's there's no looking back for me and going to the movies today with assigned seating and all that all the three times too long on average thing - the last movie i saw in the theater was hereditary but i might go see Cocaine Bear that looks fun
Definitely helps to be high when you're watching some of those old horror or sci-fi flicks.
I've only been to a movie theater twice in the past 23 years. I used to go probably 2 or 3 times a month from the mid 70's through the late 90's but I just lost interest in seeing movies in theaters.
(https://i.postimg.cc/wMRzxRN9/The-Trollenbeg-Terror-1958.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GTRVq2zf)
The Trollenberg Terror (1958)
A British sci-fi flick about several strange, unexplained fatal accidents which occur in the area of a resort hotel on the fictional Mount Trollenberg in Switzerland. A mysterious, stationary, radioactive cloud has been observed hanging about on the south side of the mountain and an observatory professor and a UN troubleshooter think there might be a link to the cloud and the deadly accidents.
:1.5stars:
does it show that flying eye with tentacles killing people because if it does it needs an imax 3D remake
Oh man, that looks kinda cool in a Lovecraftish way.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zB6y1gyS/Get-Outta-Town-1960.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Get Outta' Town (1960)
Low-budget crime drama about a small-time career criminal who returns to his hometown to arrange a funeral and pay his respects after hearing about his brother's accidental death. It's not long before he figures there's more to the official story than has been reported and goes looking for revenge.
:2.5stars:
That sounds a lot like Get Carter.
The Northman.
Was excellent.
The Banshees of Inisherin
I love In Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri so I had high hopes and this movie really delivered. The scenery was gorgeous, the acting was top-notch, and the screenplay was fantastic. I fecking loved it. Martin McDonagh is brilliant.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zfbTrF4D/The-1000-Eyes-of-Dr-Mabuse-1960.jpg)
The 1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse (1960)
B&W German crime thriller by Fritz Lang in what was to be his final film. Quite interesting and entertaining but it wasn't until the 90 minute mark, close to the end of the film, that the rather confusing plot was revealed in it's entirety and everything came together and I was able to understand it fully. Still enjoyed it, though.
I liked the Spanish poster the best, so I thought I'd post it here instead of the German one.
:3.5stars:
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 27, 2023, 07:15 AMThe Banshees of Inisherin
I love In Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri so I had high hopes and this movie really delivered. The scenery was gorgeous, the acting was top-notch, and the screenplay was fantastic. I fecking loved it. Martin McDonagh is brilliant.
^Nice, been wanting to see that one 🙂 Finally Colin Farrell plays in something seemingly worth watching again.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTRiOTQ2ZWQtMmIwYy00Y2Y3LWFmMzgtNzgzZWU1MDhlOGJhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyODkwOQ@@._V1_.jpg)
I saw Naked Lunch, adapted to the screen by Cronenberg. I never read Burrough's book, but quite liked the movie. I would rank it slightly lower than Videodrome, Crash, Dead Ringers etc. but it's mainly because the story lacks drive. It's like it all takes place in a dream and everything is symbolic and metaphorical, but it's difficult to understand what for. I guess it's all taking place in his fantasy or is a metaphor for struggles in his subconscious? Is it actually about the process of creative writing or something, perhaps Burrough's method? I don't yet know and in my confusion, I felt like some of the scenes lack punch/weight as a result. It's probably much better if you've read the book or on a second viewing when you know what to look for.
It's still rather enjoyable and weird. Peter Weller does a marvellous job as this coldly charming writer protagonist with piercing blue eyes, hooked on cockroach powder and other weird.. and hallucinating that his typewriter is a giant bug. That's always gonna be fun.
i didn't like that movie
i read that book and couldn't understand it at all
some books i didn't understand were still fun but that one was just a chore for me
not saying it's not great though just that it's beyond my lexile limit
(https://i.postimg.cc/9MXZKNS4/Common-Law-Wife-1961.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Common Law Wife (1961)
Another early 60's low-budget film from the state of Texas. This time it's an exploitation flick about a rich, dirty old man and his younger girlfriend who's starting to look a bit too old for his sexual taste. He wants to kick her out of his mansion and bring in his much younger niece to satisfy his desires. His girlfriend gets angry when he asks her to leave and she visits a lawyer who tells her that according to Texas law, even though they weren't formally married, they are considered to be in a "common law" marriage and are husband and wife. She returns home, tells him their legal situation and refuses to leave. Meanwhile, the niece wants to get at his money, so she won't have to work as a stripper anymore. The niece goes to the sheriff (her former boyfriend who happens to be married to her sister) and starts up an affair with him to try to manipulate him into helping her get at her uncle's money. When that doesn't work, she turns to a childhood friend (a bootlegger with a violent streak) to try to get him to help her fulfill her devious plan.
:2stars:
I saw The Brood.
(https://offscreen.com/images/made/images/articles/_resized/Review_41_Photo_2_-_The_Brood_(1979)_400_593_90.jpg)
It was the last movie on my Cronenberg watch/rewatch-list, which is a little sad. I quite enjoyed going through his movies, this one included even if it's not his best one.
The Brood is Cronenberg's big feature debut. To my joy, it had Oliver Reed in a supporting role as a psychiatrist whose psychotherapy has the power to make difficult feelings manifest physically, as f.ex. rashes or ulcers. I won't spoil anymore, but it's a fun horror movie even if it isn't all that scary.
:3stars:
It's probably been 25 years since I saw that movie, but I remember enjoying it. I remember it being somewhat more "normal" than his later movies, despite the fact that the premise is still fairly bizarre.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4y23q5gk/The-Last-Man-on-Earth-1964.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7J7DTShm)
The Last Man on Earth (1964)
Re-watched this one the other day. One of my all-time favorite films with Vincent Price in a starring role. A B&W zombie-type apocalypse movie which was based on the novel 'I Am Legend' by Richard Matheson. I think anyone into the zombie genre would enjoy this film and, for the most part, it seems to have been the template for most films of the genre. A plague has infected the human race and turned everyone into undead zombie/vampire creatures except for Dr. Robert Morgan, who spends his waking hours dealing with basic survival and hunting & killing zombies. As nighttime falls, he retreats to his home and barricades himself inside his house. This film has been re-made and copied many times including as 'The Omega Man,' '28 Days Later,' 28 Weeks Later,' and 'I am Legend' just to name four of the most obvious ones. Well worth viewing if you're into sci-fi/horror/zombie type flicks.
:4.5stars:
That's such a great movie. Great book too.
You can't go wrong with Vincent Price.
Ehrmagerd, I've lots of Cronenberg movies left. For some reason I thought The Brood was his first. It's not! He has lots more and even some modern ones that escaped my radar. I did a poor job when I set up my list. That means I get to continue Cronenberging, so that's fun.
Quote from: Janszoon on Mar 01, 2023, 12:19 PMIt's probably been 25 years since I saw that movie, but I remember enjoying it. I remember it being somewhat more "normal" than his later movies, despite the fact that the premise is still fairly bizarre.
Yes, it has much more of a mainstream feel to it. I was wondering about this myself because I find it hard to place my finger on exactly what it is. Maybe it's the lack of truly depraved characters? The Brood is weird, but kinda has more mainstream structure and sensibility. Actor peformances feel more theatrical here than they do in his later films. That may well be the presence of Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar, but some of the other cast also add to this. It might be the style of the times.
Although I'm not yet sure what it is,
something of a transformation definitely happens across The Brood -> Scanners -> Videodrome where Videodrome an onward marks his full transformation into the Cronenberg we all love so dearly.
A Goofy Movie (1995)
It was a real treat to revisit this. As proud 90s kids (born in '89 and '86 respectively) my partner and I share a lot of childhood nostalgia and frequently bond over the media we grew up with. I saw A Goofy Movie in theaters, and while I still reference lines from this movie all the time, I hadn't actually watched the thing in over 20 years until the other night.
I had a great time. It still holds up, not just as a great kids' movie but as an entertaining watch in general. I admit I am a bit biased by nostalgia, I vividly remembered basically every scene before it was about to happen. I did notice how whenever I watch basically every old kids movie these days, I relate to the adults more than the kids, which is understandable but kind of a funny paradigm shift.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fLHrm1fQ/Abar-Black-Superman-1977.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CBq7VP2c)
Abar, the First Black Superman (1977)
Another one I just re-watched. A blaxploitation sci-fi/superhero film with some bizarre humor mixed in. A black family moves into an upscale white neighborhood and is immediately persecuted and made to feel unwelcome. A local black biker gang from a black neighborhood, hear about the situation and show up at the home to protect the family. The head of the gang, a man named "Abar," tries to convince the father to leave and move to the black neighborhood. The father won't budge and decides to hire Abar as a bodyguard. The father of the family happens to be a scientist and invents a superpower elixir which he gives to Abar and which gives the bodyguard the power of mind control over others.
:3.5stars:
I just read the wikipedia page for 'Abar, the First Black Superman' and thought I'd post this bit of the backstory to the film here...
Abar, the First Black Superman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abar,_the_First_Black_Superman)QuoteThe film was the brainchild of James Smalley, a black pimp from Louisiana, and Frank Packard, a white actor and screenwriter; it was filmed partly in a working whorehouse. Smalley ran out of money before the film was completed, and had to sell the film to the owner of a film processing lab to settle his unpaid bills.[1]
Originally titled SuperBlack, it was completed in 1975, but not released until 1977, under the name Abar, The First Black Superman; it would be renamed again for VHS release as In Your Face. Its original release was very limited, primarily to what was known as the "Chitlin' Circuit" of Southern drive-ins.[1]
The film was shot in the Baldwin Hills and Watts neighbourhoods of Los Angeles without permits to do so, and at one point actual motorcycle gang members who had been hired to play a black motorcycle gang surrounded the cars of the white police officers who had been called in to shut down shooting. The officers chose to stay in their cars.[1]
^Sounds interesting! I might just check that one out.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
(https://i.postimg.cc/6Q7GkQG3/The-Fake-1953.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Fake (1953)
British crime thriller about art forgery and theft at the Tate Gallery in London, England. An American detective assigned to protect a priceless painting, (Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna and Child) which is on loan to the Tate Gallery for a special exhibition, realizes that the painting has been replaced with an expert forgery and hunts for clues which will lead him to the forger and the missing painting.
:3stars:
The last couple of days, I saw these two:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNmUwMmU2YzgtYTU3OC00YzlmLWJlYTgtM2NmMzYzNGU2ODZiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
Weird that I hadn't seen this before as it has Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock and Kiefer Sutherland in it, arguably all around the time of their prime here. Nancy Travis, though a little less famous, also deserves a mention as she gets quite a bit of screen time and delivers a charming performance.
It is a thriller in which Jeff Bridges plays a dangerous psychopath. I don't mind spoiling that as it's a given from the start. It's not too shabby, but I guess also not terribly memorable. Jeff puts in a good performance, but I much prefer nice Jeff to creepy Jeff. Being a huge fan of The Fisher King (also featuring JB), watching him here is a little weird.
:3stars:
Then I researched this:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bf/Session_nine.jpg/220px-Session_nine.jpg)
I've seen it before and couldn't remember much, but the internet seems to gush over this, so I figured I'd rewatch it.
A sanitation crew is clearing out hazardous materials from an old psychiatric ward. Strange things happen which includes David Caruso being grumpy with everyone.
It was more entertaining than The Vanishing and a little ahead of your standard modern haunted house story. Not quite worth gushing over (imo), but decent.
:3.5stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/rsHFRtHb/The-Brain-Eaters-1958.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Brain Eaters (1958)
Low-budget B&W sci-fi/horror about parasitic alien lifeforms landing on earth and taking over the minds of people via the human nervous system. An obvious ripoff of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' and a few other similar flicks of the time. Somewhat amusing but if you've already seen one 50's space alien mind-control movie, you could skip this one without missing much.
:2stars:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c3/All_quiet_on_the_western_front_%282022_film%29.jpg)
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
I read this book for the first time like six years ago and really liked it. This movie adaptation of it is good, but not great. I suspect that this is just something that works better as a book. In the movie I felt like I had a hard time differentiating the characters. There were also a lot of non-book scenes involving diplomats and generals added into the story, which kind of worked thematically, but I think it would have been better if there was a lot less time spent on that stuff. They also chose to omit the part with Paul going home, which I think is a key part of the story, so it was weird to not have it. That said, the acting, cinematography, and score were all quite good.
:3.5stars:
^ I watched the original 1930 film version of that story as part of a class assignment back in high school. Haven't seen the movie since but I remember thinking it was a great adaptation of the book at that time. Not sure if I'll check out the new remake but I might re-watch the original and see if it is still as good as I remember.
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Mar 07, 2023, 03:46 PM^ I watched the original 1930 film version of that story as part of a class assignment back in high school. Haven't seen the movie since but I remember thinking it was a great adaptation of the book at that time. Not sure if I'll check out the new remake but I might re-watch the original and see if it is still as good as I remember.
I've never seen that version, but I'm curious to check it out.
I've seen the 1930 film and yes, it's chilling. It was very good at depicting the horrors of war and not just by 1930 standards
Quote from: Rubber Soul on Mar 07, 2023, 04:41 PMI've seen the 1930 film and yes, it's chilling. It was very good at depicting the horrors of war and not just by 1930 standards
Have you seen the new one?
Not yet but I don't know how they can top the first.
There are a couple other screen adaptations, right? It would be interesting to compare them.
(https://i.postimg.cc/T3Qvyh3f/Dimension-5-1966.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Dimension 5 (1966)
An odd combination of sci-fi/drama/comedy/thriller and spy flick. A case of too many genres spoiling the plot. I know a film is bad when I find myself paying more attention to the hairstyles, clothing, interior fashions, cars and technology of the time than the story itself. A ridiculous mess of a movie which might have been better if there had been more focus on a particular genre than trying to send the story bouncing off into too many different directions. Not much about this one stood out to me except that the main character was named "Justin Power" which made me think of the "Austin Powers" spy film spoof series from the late 1990's and early 2000's. Other than that, the only other things that stood out to me were during the closing credits when I noticed the names of two of the characters in the movie listed as "Negro Agent" and "Sinister Oriental."
:1.5stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/K8NCqpMF/The-Flesh-Eaters-1964.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Flesh Eaters (1964)
Another low-budget sci-fi/horror flick featuring a mad scientist with a German accent and a Nazi connection. The personal assistant to a famous hard-drinking actress, hires a float plane pilot to fly her and the actress from New York City to Provincetown, Massachusetts, ahead of a severe storm which is moving rapidly up the East Coast. Engine trouble develops during the flight and they are forced to land in the water surrounding an island which they assume to be uninhabited but soon discover a marine biologist is living there in isolation and conducting experiments of some kind. This one falls into the "so bad it's almost good" category and I have to admit that I thought some of the scenes were hilariously bad and as ridiculous as it gets but they had me laughing out loud on several occasions, so it wasn't a total waste of my viewing time.
:2stars:
I wonder what the free instant blood was all about.
Quote from: Janszoon on Mar 08, 2023, 10:37 PMI wonder what the free instant blood was all about.
You'll have to watch the movie to find out the connection. I wonder if "instant blood" is some powdered concoction that you just add warm water to like instant coffee?
And I've heard of being paralyzed with fear but I've never heard of being sterilized with fear.
That looks like a really good example of when the term "exploitation" might be applied to describe a movie. Talk about leaning hard into sensational luridness :laughing:
I saw Repo Man today which is one of those movies which has been on my to-do list for ages. I didn't actually like it much as it felt uneven in pacing and often dragging. You probably have to dig the vibe with this one, but I don't quite jibe with it.
It has some funny, edgy characters, but it also isn't quite zany enough so I kinda think it would've been more fun had it been made by Troma :laughing:
Haha, Repo Man is one of my all time favorite movies, but it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea!
Quote from: Janszoon on Mar 10, 2023, 02:04 AMHaha, Repo Man is one of my all time favorite movies, but it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea!
It's weird because I can easily imagine it as a Troma film :laughing: The murderous punks would fit right in, other characters as well. You'd have a lot more senseless violence of course and that radiation would instead turn people into melting piles of goo.
And you'd have this car scene in it:
I can't say I agree. The Robby Müller cinematography alone makes Repo Man a very different animal from Troma movies, not to mention the overall sensibility.
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 09, 2023, 11:38 PMI saw Repo Man today which is one of those movies which has been on my to-do list for ages. I didn't actually like it much as it felt uneven in pacing and often dragging. You probably have to dig the vibe with this one, but I don't quite jibe with it.
It has some funny, edgy characters, but it also isn't quite zany enough so I kinda think it would've been more fun had it been made by Troma :laughing:
I saw Repo Man back when it was first released in the mid 80's. It quickly became one of my all-time favorite films even before the ending and if I was to compile a list of top 10 movies from the 80's, it would definitely be on it. I don't think I've re-watched it in at least 15 or 20 years but I'd probably still enjoy it to this day. Maybe seeing it as a 20-something in the mid 80's, who was already listening to most of the bands on the soundtrack and was the same age as Emilio Estevez was at that time, has a lot to do with my appreciation of it, though.
(https://i.postimg.cc/k4RtMNjD/Lady-in-Cement-1968.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Lady in Cement (1968)
The English language posters I found, didn't look interesting enough so I thought I'd go with the one above. Not sure which country it's from. Maybe Japanese? Anyway, the film is a crime thriller with a lot of comic relief sprinkled throughout and features Frank Sinatra, Raquel Welch, Richard Conte, and Dan Blocker. A Miami detective is diving off the coast of Florida and discovers the nude body of a young woman with her feet encased in cement, resting on the bottom of the ocean floor. He reports the body to the police and not long after returning to land, gets hired to find a missing woman who he suspects is actually the dead woman he found and who's identity is not yet known. Unfortunately, Raquel Welch's acting abilities left a lot to be desired and the scenes she was in were rather lackluster as a result. The rest of the cast did a decent job, though, and I thought the film was fairly entertaining.
:3stars:
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Mar 10, 2023, 12:37 PMI saw Repo Man back when it was first released in the mid 80's. It quickly became one of my all-time favorite films even before the ending and if I was to compile a list of top 10 movies from the 80's, it would definitely be on it. I don't think I've re-watched it in at least 15 or 20 years but I'd probably still enjoy it to this day. Maybe seeing it as a 20-something in the mid 80's, who was already listening to most of the bands on the soundtrack and was the same age as Emilio Estevez was at that time, has a lot to do with my appreciation of it, though.
I didn't see it until maybe 1990, but maybe I was still within the window of time one had to be in to fully appreciate it. I still think it's great.
So I just watched the German late 80s video nasty NEKROmantic.
(https://assets.bigcartel.com/product_images/339622314/Nekromantik+POSTER.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&h=1200&w=1200)
Before I describe it, maybe I should put in a DISCLAIMER about GROSS DESCRIPTION and SPOILER ALERT.
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED
The movie centers on Rob, a guy who works for some corpse cleanup crew who likes to decorate his apartment with body parts and human bones. He shares the apartment with his girlfriend and one day he brings with him a particularly putrid corpse of a drown victim. They proceed to have a threesome with the corpse, sucking on its eyeball, licking at it and fitting it with a sawn off pipe to act as a penis so she can bang him/it.
She proceeds to use the corpse as a sex toy when he's not around and after he loses his job, she leaves him and takes the corpse with her.
The rest of the movie is Rob spiralling towards his suicide. He kills his cat and rubs its entrails over his body while naked in the tub. He watches a nasty slasher at a movie theater, dreams that he himself is a corpse playing / tossing a severed head back and forth with a girl.
Towards the end, I guess he tries to get a rebound fuck because he takes a prostitute to a cemetery and tries to bang her, but can't get it up until he strangles her and rapes her corpse. He falls asleep and is woken by the cemetery janitor who he murders with a shovel.
At home, he tries to kill himself by stabbing himself in the gut with a knife, but again can't quite do it until he makes it sexual. The last scene is of him stabbing himself repeatedly while ejaculating lots of cum and then blood from an obviously fake penis.
Time for a palate cleanser, I think :laughing:
It may sound worse than it is because it's so cheaply made and it removes some of the impact. There are no professional actors here, only a group of young German friends inspired by the likes of John Waters and probably Tobe Hooper etc. and trying to make the nastiest movie they can.
For what it is, the special fx aren't so bad and they generally opt for real animal parts and meats here and there (like the eyeball that gets sucked on). There's an unfortunate scene of a rabbit breeder killing a rabbit onscreen and skinning it, so some real violence to animals here.
The movie is without tension and goes about its depictions in a fairly everyday way with cheesy music on top which might add a little to its depravity. I preferred repo man to this and can't really recommend it unless your fascinations and/or humour runs very dark. I've known about this for years and just wanted to satiate my curiosity.
How they were able to make such an awesome poster is a bit of a mystery to me :laughing:
O Brother Where Art Thou.
For the gazilionth time. Top 5 Coen film.
^Watched NEKROmantik 2 because I got a hold of it along with the first and why not. Nr. 2 was a much duller fare throughout and very slow in its pacing with not much happening across about 1 hour and 50 minutes. The final scene was pretty wild and definitely made an impression.
Nekromantik 2 final scene
She kept her favorite corpse's sawn off head. While banging her boyfriend by riding him and pinning his arms down with her knees, she cuts his head off. Then she secures a rubber band around his penis so his dead body won't lose the erection, places her favourite corpse's head where his head used to be and rides him to her completion.
Pretty bonkers.
Everything else was more nasty and a little less dull in the first movie.
"B-Guys! (The Beardnicks) Living and loving for strange kicks!"
"Jet Dolls!" Ready and willing to go into orbit!"
"King of Beatsville! Master mind behind a million dollars worth of murder!"
"The Weirdies! Nobody knows what makes them tick!"
(https://i.postimg.cc/xCysq0hW/The-Rebel-Set-1959.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7Gh1WyxV)
The Rebel Set (1959)
A low-budget 50's B&W crime drama/thriller with a hipster beatnik twist. Unusual, amateurish, ridiculous, and rather entertaining.
:3.5stars:
^Looks kinda lighthearted and funny? Also, that sweater really hugs the body.. even between the boobs.
(https://i.postimg.cc/dts0rSmk/The-Red-Baron-2008.png) (https://postimages.org/)
The Red Baron (2008)
A war drama about the WW1 German fighter pilot ace, Manfred von Richthofen, also known as "The Red Baron." Mostly factual with a few fictional bits added to the story. The main fictional part, which runs through most of the film, was a love affair between Manfred and a nurse who took care of him after he was wounded in a battle. The nurse actually did exist in real life and did take care of him for a time but there is no historical record of a romantic connection between them. I would've preferred it if they hadn't added that fictional romance into the story but it didn't ruin the movie for me. The battle scenes were quite realistic and I'm not much of a fan of computer-generated special effects, mainly because they often look like a video game to me, and they were used in this film, but they were used sparingly and didn't spoil any of the scenes where they were used.
:3.5stars:
Did Snoopy at least have a cameo?
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 09, 2023, 11:38 PMI saw Repo Man today which is one of those movies which has been on my to-do list for ages. I didn't actually like it much as it felt uneven in pacing and often dragging. You probably have to dig the vibe with this one, but I don't quite jibe with it.
It has some funny, edgy characters, but it also isn't quite zany enough so I kinda think it would've been more fun had it been made by Troma :laughing:
to me it's weird how so many here like movies from the 50's
but in the same way i can see how repo man might not be aging that well
i secretly felt like it was a little overrated when i first saw it which was around 88 i think
but still it's a smart commentary on 1980's consumerism and it could do with a remake since things have only gotten worse
honestly i think the movie needed a lot more violence and nudity - most movies are pretty dry without it - so point taken about Troma - i agree actually
pacing can be better in modern films but i don't like when it feels like a warp speed montage either
I like 50s movies, just not hokey sci-fi b-movies. I like cheesy stuff and I'm very into vintage styles and aesthetics of that time period in particular, but b-movies are not my preferred flavor of cheese, so to speak.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cH1g9S6p/The-City-of-the-Dead-1960.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1gT3XbGB)
The City of the Dead (1960)
B&W horror flick about devil worship through witchcraft in a small New England town in Massachusetts. A female college student, taking a class on witchcraft, decides to visit a small town in Massachusetts with historical connections to witchcraft to do some research. Her professor is familiar with the town and recommends a local hotel to her where she can stay during her visit. She arrives in the town and begins to notice that some things seem a bit strange and out of place and her situation quickly becomes progressively unnerving.
Not bad for a horror film of this era and the fact that it was shot in B&W gave it an extra bit of a creepy vibe but much of it had the feel of a horror comic book story that was made into a movie. And the use of a fog machine during all of the outside scenes in the small town were overused and only made those scenes seem more like something out of a comic book.
:2.5stars:
Massachusetts was rife with fog machines when I was growing up. Fact.
Watched The Master of Disguise as I got curious after
@Mrs. Waffles described it as a career ending movie.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c0/Masterdisguise.jpg)
Again I found myself in the realm of man-child comedy. Similar to how Chairman of the Board felt like a vehicle for Carrot Top's brand of comedy, Master of Disguise caters to Dana Carvey's skill at playing various comedic characters. I did notice the credits where it said he wrote this.
The movie is mostly unfunny trash - unless you count laughing at how bad it is (which is why I watched it). Carvey's not bad at characters, but the main character he spends most of his time as (Pistachio Disguisy) is absolutely atrocious with a horrible accent, dumb faces and neverending flat jokes. Big, huge yuck.
The story is mind boggingly stupid. I don't wanna get into it. It's a level of bad that's very impressive in a negative sense. Perhaps one might call it brave.
Adam Sandler helped produce this mess. Figures!
Suffice to say it is some of the worst trash I've ever seen and it's weird they'd even put it out there after making it.
@Mrs. Waffles did you watch Kung Pow: Enter the Fist by any chance? Because I think you might like it :laughing:
Kung Pow is a classic! My high school friend group used to quote that movie relentlessly.
As for the Master of Disguise, it really is just so bad, absolute bottom of the barrel schlock. You have to be a hardcore bad movie enthusiast to have enough mental fortitude to make it through the film without feeling like your brain is slowly being pounded into a mushy paste. It's jaw droppingly, appallingly bad. And I love it.
^Kung Pow is very quotable :laughing: looking forward to watching it with my kids one day.
I just watched this piece of comedy/horror schlock:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BM2I4OTFhZTgtMWEwZS00NGRiLTgwMDctNmM1ODIxMmRmMDI3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQ2MjQyNDc@._V1_.jpg)
It's pretty bad, yet is still quite charming and occasionally funny. A medical student / mad scientist reanimates his dead girlfriend's decapitated head by combining it with his favorite parts of a bunch of dead hookers. Oh, the shenanigans!
James Lorenz has to do a lot of heavy lifting as the movie's protagonist, the tortured genius Jeffrey Franken who seems to like to lobotomize himself with a drill when life gets too hard. He's no Jeffrey Combs (who plays Re-Animator' Herbert West), but is enjoyable to watch and gets a pass.
Patty Mullen, playing the titular Frankenhooker, is perfect - beautiful, hammy and funny. It seems she didn't do anymore movies after this, which is a shame. It's hard to take one's eyes off her when she's on-screen.
The movie probably sounds gross and gory, but the special fx are obviously cheap and the movie doesn't pack much of a punch in terms of grossness. A lot of people blow up, but there's oddly not a lot of blood. Quite a lot of boobs, though!
I guess I'd rate it: :3stars:
I've never seen that movie, but when I was in college a friend of mine had the poster. I always thought the Bill Murray endorsement was hilarious.
Saw Leprechaun 3.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWEzNWFkYTktZWRkNy00MGJlLWE2N2YtNzA4OTkwYWRmZDk0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_.jpg)
Warwick Davis plays the titular character, a grotesque version of an Irish leprechaun protective of his wish-granting pot of gold. He does magic and beats up big people with his shillelagh and is probably considered racist towards the Irish.
The movie doesn't have much in terms of story beyond an excuse to set up various interactions between people in a Las Vegas casino and Warwick Davis's magical gnome,
The cast isn't too bad and has some charming performances and fun characters. The best of them is definitely Davis' rhyming leprechaun who is funny and full of evil glee.
All in all a pretty forgettable but vaguely enjoyable comedy horror which does better with its jokes than its scares.
:2.5stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/15XTqD3g/Shield-for-Murder-1954.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kBrfr689)
Shield for Murder (1954)
A pulp fiction novel made into a movie. A police detective on a downward mental spiral, goes crooked and becomes a brutal maniac. Some of the scenes seemed over the top, especially during the last 20 minutes or so, but an enjoyable thriller, nonetheless.
:3stars:
Haha, dame-hungry :laughing:
A weak spot for fast blondes. What's a fast blonde?
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 18, 2023, 03:27 PMHaha, dame-hungry :laughing:
A weak spot for fast blondes. What's a fast blonde?
The word "fast" used in that context is slang for a party-girl/easy-lay type.
I watched Banshees of Inisherin
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5wTRbC29tCA/movieposter_en.jpg)
I quite liked it :) It's a slow boiling drama / comedy about two guys (Colin and Brendan) on an island off the coast of Ireland in the 20s.. and their failing friendship. Colin Farrel plays the lead character Padraic who lives with his sister (played by Kerry Condon) and has an ex-best friend in Colm played by Brendan Gleeson. Farrel does most of the heavy lifting in terms of acting, but Gleeson and Condon are also very good and so is the rest of the cast playing the smaller roles, although I will say I found a certain Dominic slightly annoying.
It's nice to see Colin Farrel play well in a movie that's actually good. I enjpyed it and also enjoyed the locations. I would love to spend some time on that beach outside Colm's house.
I'd rate it 7,5 out of 10 or, I guess, a 3,75 out of 5.
After Yang.
I liked it.
Speaking of Colin Farrell.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Cats_2019_poster.jpg)
Cats (2019)
We went to see the stage play over the weekend so we decided to watch this after. Goddamn, I knew it wasn't well received, but even that didn't prepare me for how awful this was. It was just, I don't know, gross. Uncanny valley unpleasant. Awkward. Embarrassing. I feel bad for everyone involved, except the director who sounds like he was a real asshole to the VFX people.
Quote from: Janszoon on Mar 20, 2023, 12:36 AM(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Cats_2019_poster.jpg)
Cats (2019)
We went to see the stage play over the weekend so we decided to watch this after. Goddamn, I knew it wasn't well received, but even that didn't prepare me for how awful this was. It was just, I don't know, gross. Uncanny valley unpleasant. Awkward. Embarrassing. I feel bad for everyone involved, except the director who sounds like he was a real asshole to the VFX people.
This has been on our "bad movies to riff on" list for years, I think it's finally time.
Wish us luck.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Mar 20, 2023, 12:55 AMThis has been on our "bad movies to riff on" list for years, I think it's finally time.
Wish us luck.
Buckle up! :laughing:
(https://i.postimg.cc/MG5613wQ/Port-of-New-York-1949.png) (https://postimages.org/)
Port of New York (1949)
A crime thriller about an organized criminal gang, stealing a shipment of pharmaceutical opium on route to New York City via passenger ship. Presented in a semi-documentary style and featuring Yul Brynner (with a full head of hair) in his first film role. Several moments throughout the film were predictable, so there weren't any surprises, but it was still a worthwhile noir thriller.
:3stars:
"Suggested by a story" :laughing:
I can stomach a bad movie, but when me and my wife turned on Cats for movie night, we weren't quite prepared for the extreme level of awfulness. We actually turned it off, truly a rare occasion, so I've only seen the first 10-15 minutes or so.
Gellical cats? Jellycal?
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 21, 2023, 05:15 PMI can stomach a bad movie, but when me and my wife turned on Cats for movie night, we weren't quite prepared for the extreme level of awfulness. We actually turned it off, truly a rare occasion, so I've only seen the first 10-15 minutes or so.
Don't worry, it only gets worse from there. Just be thankful if you missed the scene with Rebel Wilson eating anthropomorphic cockroaches.
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 21, 2023, 05:15 PMGellical cats? Jellycal?
Apparently "Jellicle cats" is a term from the T.S. Eliot poems that the play is based on. It's supposed to be a corruption of "dear little cats" but I have a hard time wrapping my mind around how "dear little cats" could sound anything like "Jellicle cats" in any dialect of English.
Movies I watched on vacation:
- Belfast (2021)
- Uncut Gems (2019)
- The Quiet Man (1952)
- The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
- Secondhand Lions (2003)
- The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
^Thanks for the jellicle explanation, Jans :)
I just watched the 1995 movie Safe starring Julianne Moore.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BODliOWEzMTUtZDQ5ZS00ZTBmLTgzNzEtMGVkOTlhYWNkYjE2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_.jpg)
It's a mystery/ drama about Carol, an upper middle class woman who seems relatively void of personality. She mysteriously starts getting sick and eventually think it has to do with various chemicals, like exhaust fumes or bug spray.
What's fun about this movie is it doesn't give you an explanation for what you're seeing. Instead, we're kinda left to figure it out ourselves and I'm pretty sure my take may differ a lot from someone else's.
My take was this:
Spoiler
I think she probably has some disease, but not due to chemical sensitivity. She moves to a cult-run sanatorium, yet but we don't see her improve. In fact her health seems to further deteriorate. To me, it's a movie about how someone with an undiagnosed health problems and who doesn't get help from medical professionals slide into an alternative trap/scam run by a cult. I think her kind of void personality promotes this because having health problems finally gives her something to define herself by and, while the movie doesn't let us know what she's actually thinking, it does seem like she lacks critical thinking skills that might have made her reconsider.
All in all an interesting movie. I doubt younger audiences would like it much as it's an open ended slow burn, but as someone who likes the topic it explores in general, I liked it.
:3.5stars:
@Guybrush I saw that movie almost twenty years ago but I still think about it sometimes.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rwx3pWC6/DB.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Das Boot - The Original Uncut Version (1985)
I saw this film in a theater when it was originally released in 1981 and it blew me away. Easily one of the top 10 war films I've ever seen and the best submarine warfare film I've ever seen. Many years later I saw the 'Director's Cut' version, which expanded the length of the film with extra footage that was left out of the theatrical release and the film was even better with the extra footage added. Several years ago I discovered this version on DVD and bought a copy. It's the complete TV series of the film, originally shown in six parts but edited into a seamless whole movie for this release. It clocks in at 4 hours and 53 minutes and is still just as incredible and powerful even at that time length. I just re-watched it and it still amazes me just how much of a masterpiece this film is in every way. If anyone hasn't seen this before, I recommend skipping the theatrical release and the director's cut version and just go straight to this definitive version. Well worth the 4 hours and 53 minutes of your viewing time.
:5stars:
I remember being in awe the first time I aw Das Boot as well. I liked the perspective from the German side who apparently weren't all that crazy about Hitler either. There was nothing glorifying about the film which also makes it such a classic. It's all there to see, warts and all.
I liked Das Boot too.. didn't know there was a 5 hour version. I might put it on my to-do list :)
Das Boot is such a great movie. It always cracked me up that his next movie was The Neverending Story. Not that that's not a good movie too, just a wildly different tone mostly. I guess some of it is pretty dark for a kid's movie though.
well nope is extremely boring
Quote from: Toy Revolver on Mar 24, 2023, 02:16 AMwell nope is extremely boring
I loved Nope, what made you think it was boring?
Quote from: SGR on Mar 24, 2023, 02:19 AMQuote from: Toy Revolver on Mar 24, 2023, 02:16 AMwell nope is extremely boring
I loved Nope, what made you think it was boring?
no violence
no sex
lame plot
like why not show the monkey going ham and ripping that girl's face off
us and get out were great so i was really looking forward to it but it offered nothing
also i hate movies that have long scenes in the dark where you can't see anything
hello it's a visual medium the point of seeing a movie is seeing things - like if i go to the symphony i expect to hear the instruments - i don't think that's too much to ask
the movie repeats the attempts to photograph the flying saucer too many times
there's no suspense
no drama
it's not experimental or interesting on the grounds that pushes any type of cinematic boundaries
the positive reviews saw he's stepping into spielberg territory
please - those movies tell interesting stories
even the dialogue was extremely dull
say something interesting
if they just showed the monkey scene instead of expecting you to imagine it - again, it's FILM that means you SHOW me - stop trying to be literature
Quote from: Toy Revolver on Mar 24, 2023, 02:49 AMQuote from: SGR on Mar 24, 2023, 02:19 AMQuote from: Toy Revolver on Mar 24, 2023, 02:16 AMwell nope is extremely boring
I loved Nope, what made you think it was boring?
no violence
no sex
lame plot
like why not show the monkey going ham and ripping that girl's face off
us and get out were great so i was really looking forward to it but it offered nothing
also i hate movies that have long scenes in the dark where you can't see anything
hello it's a visual medium the point of seeing a movie is seeing things - like if i go to the symphony i expect to hear the instruments - i don't think that's too much to ask
the movie repeats the attempts to photograph the flying saucer too many times
there's no suspense
no drama
it's not experimental or interesting on the grounds that pushes any type of cinematic boundaries
the positive reviews saw he's stepping into spielberg territory
please - those movies tell interesting stories
even the dialogue was extremely dull
say something interesting
if they just showed the monkey scene instead of expecting you to imagine it - again, it's FILM that means you SHOW me - stop trying to be literature
Fair enough.
I thought it had enough violence. I don't particularly need a lot of it. And I don't always need it shown, it can be implied if it's done right, and I think that adds a different level of tension - I'm sure you've seen movies where rape is implied but not shown, and I think you'd agree you don't necessarily need or want to see that for it to get its point across.
I don't remember particularly dark scenes (at least where I had trouble seeing), but I'll cop to having a hard time hearing all the dialogue. I'm deaf as hell though - if it was up to me, all movies in theatres would have subtitles by default, but most people would riot over that.
I don't think it's completely original or vastly experimental or anything - but I thought it told an interesting story in an interesting way, and that's more than most movies that hit theatres do nowadays.
Towards the end of Nope, I was kinda loosing interest so while I liked it, I doubt I'll watch it again.
Favorite scene
But I loved when it's above the house and you can hear the screams of its victims and it starts raining blood 🤘
More scenes like that would've been good.
QuoteI'm sure you've seen movies where rape is implied but not shown, and I think you'd agree you don't necessarily need or want to see that for it to get its point across.
i used to be absolutely unforgiving as a critic in my hatred for self-censorship but now it depends on the movie- in general i'm going to respect the film makers much mote if the rape is graphic and explicit and deeply disturbing- but i'm not as hardline as i used to be - one reason i never liked blue velvet is because the rape scene was removed to avoid an nc17 rating it may have just been x back then - it even spilled into other of lynch's film that i never forgave him as a director for making that compromise
I thought Nope was great as is. For me it was a perfect mix of tension and comedy.
We saw the star studded stinker Tiptoes today.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjA0MjE0MTA0NV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTgyNjYyMQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
It's a drama that features a lot of little people and difficult feelings with little people and their related problems. We get Kate Beckinsale and Matthew McConaughey as a troubled couple, Gary Oldman as the groom's twin, Peter Dinklage as a french freeloader, Patricia Arquette as some rando hanger on.
It's actually rather good as an unintentional comedy. I laughed more at this than any of my recently watched comedies posted earlier. It's sometimes offensive, there's quite a bit of overacting and weird melodrama so it's always serious in the wrong places, we get Peter Dinklage doing an outrageous french accent and why oh why did they cast Gary Oldman as a little person? Couldn't they just find a little person actor? Instead we have to watch him stick his torso up through a hole in a couch and pretend those bendy rubber legs are real. Jesus Christ.
I just mentioned director Matthew Bright in the hot peeps thread as he has a couple of roles in Forbidden Zone (one that I like in particular). Whatever he achieved with this, the result is a pretty entertaining watch ;D
:3.5stars:
Sorry for posting this twice in a day, but the trailer is also amazing:
I'm definitely going to check up on Bright's other movies too.
A Troll in Central Park (1994)
I watched a man's heart break in half the other day. My fiance and I were doing one of our regular bad movie nights, and after getting about 10 minutes into Cats (2019) we realized we needed more time to fortify ourselves against that behemoth.
So he asked me what other bad movie I wanted to watch, and I suggested Don Bluth's 1994 children's cheesefest, A Troll in Central Park. My fiance, this sweet summer child, said "oh, but that's a great movie!" It was a childhood favorite of his, and he hadn't seen it in over 25 years. We watched it, and while my dearest fiance was initially excited with nostalgia, his expressions soon turned from elation to confused disappointment at what we saw.
I tried to warn you, darling. I'm so sorry you had to see that.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Mar 25, 2023, 01:30 AM...after getting about 10 minutes into Cats (2019) we realized we needed more time to fortify ourselves against that behemoth.
It's entirely possible that nothing can prepare you for the waking nightmare that is the
Cats movie.
Quote from: Janszoon on Mar 25, 2023, 04:43 AMQuote from: Mrs. Waffles on Mar 25, 2023, 01:30 AM...after getting about 10 minutes into Cats (2019) we realized we needed more time to fortify ourselves against that behemoth.
It's entirely possible that nothing can prepare you for the waking nightmare that is the Cats movie.
(https://i.postimg.cc/nrcSQM4q/C8-CC1641-C83-A-4-BDC-A89-D-90936-AA4-CA2-A.jpg)
this image is more than enough actually- looks about as enticing as gargling razor blades
if the words "joyful" and "christmas" don't scare you off i can't help you
(https://i.postimg.cc/MHPpf88Z/The-Crater-Lake-Monster-1977.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K3T2CwzC)
The Crater Lake Monster (1977)
Low-budget sci-fi/horror with some very dated-looking stop motion animation which looks like something from a 1930's era movie. A meteorite crashes into a lake in Northern California and reanimates a Plesiosaurus which has been lying dormant in some form of suspended animation at the bottom of the lake for millions of years. The hungry beast soon emerges looking for food and runs amok in and around the lake.
So bad it's sort of good but not great.
:2.5stars:
Saw Matthew Bright's 1996 movie Freeway:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTUxMTExODctNTE4Yy00MWNhLWJjN2MtMzcyYjUyZDBkNzM2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTk5MjAyMjM@._V1_.jpg)
The idea behind it seems to have been a modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, but describing it merely as that would be selling it short to say the least. It is a fairly depraved movie about a juvenile delinquent played by Reese Witherspoon. She's an illiterate who gets molested by her step father while her mother is out whoring for drug money. The movie takes her through various hardships including a very violent encounter or two with a certain serial killer.
It's obvious satire and it seems to be placed in that sort of alternate movie universe where everything is just a little more extreme than reality tends to be. Reese actually does a very good role here. She seemed so prudish to me before, but this movie is anything but. On a few occasions, it actually gets rather offensive.
Kiefer also plays his role well in this movie.
At times it seems like it might become an unpredictable mess, but it works and Reese in particularl plays it tight throughout.
I didn't laugh as much as I did watching Tiptoes, but I liked it.
:3stars:
Minari.
Charming, understated, but not my favourite. But good.
everything everywhere all at once
really bad really boring really ugly cliche score an hour too long mtv era hyper collage style montage throughout
here's a fair review
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-reviewed-theres-no-there-there
it is a really beautiful film if you're receptive to what it's trying to do, but (without really meaning this in a bitchy way) I'm not surprised that you're not
Quote from: Marie Monday on Mar 26, 2023, 08:48 PMit is a really beautiful film if you're receptive to what it's trying to do, but (without really meaning this in a bitchy way) I'm not surprised that you're not
i'm not surprised you like it
and i'm not surprised that you can't simply defend the film without tossing in a personal attack
i think mb has damaged you (not trying to be bitchy or anything just a friendly observation)
I liked Everything... A lot too. It felt fresh and original. It told a complicated story about the multiverse in a fun and inspiring way while addressing certain insecurities or faults that I think most of us have to deal with to some extent.
And it warmed my heart to see Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis in such awesome and funny roles. In hindsight, I'd say the same for Ke Huy Quan, but I didn't realize he was the kid from Goonies / Temple of Doom when I saw it.
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 26, 2023, 09:04 PMI liked Everything... A lot too. It felt fresh and original. It told a complicated story about the multiverse in a fun and inspiring way while addressing certain insecurities or faults that I think most of us have to deal with to some extent.
And it warmed my heart to see Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis in such awesome and funny roles. In hindsight, I'd say the same for Ke Huy Quan, but I didn't realize he was the kid from Goonies / Temple of Doom when I saw it.
just curious, was it hard to have a different take on a film without throwing in some kind of personal attack or is that just how normal people talk about film and literature and so on?
Quote from: Toy Revolver on Mar 26, 2023, 06:20 PMeverything everywhere all at once
really bad really boring really ugly cliche score an hour too long mtv era hyper collage style montage throughout
here's a fair review
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-reviewed-theres-no-there-there
I don't hate your opinion but be prepared for the whole world to turn on you.
I saw Night Will Fall, a 2014 documentary about an unfinished WW2 documentary to document the atrocities at concentration camps. Quite a bit of work went into producing it, but it was never finished and published for geopolitical reasons.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ3MTc5ODU4MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjU5NzU4NzE@._V1_.jpg)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3455822/
The documentary this is about was called German Concentration Camps Factual Survey. Allied soldiers liberating concentration camps brought cameras to document the crimes that had gone on there and some of the cleanup efforts, like the burial of emaciated dead bodies in mass graves. This movie contains quite a bit of footage from that. Although I do think this is the sort of film "everyone" should see, the depictions of dead and murdered prisoners makes for a hard watch, especially the bodies that were killed brutally.
Sidney Bernstein and Alfred Hitchcock was attached to this project, so it has an interesting history. They found some of the liberated Jews who appear in some of the footage and they appear in the documentary. There are also interviews with some allied soldiers, a lawyer from the Nuremberg trials, etc.
It's a good documentary and an important historical document. Everyone at all interested in WW2 should check this out if you haven't already.
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 27, 2023, 12:14 AMI saw Night Will Fall, a 2014 documentary about an unfinished WW2 documentary to document the atrocities at concentration camps. Quite a bit of work went into producing it, but it was never finished and published for geopolitical reasons.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ3MTc5ODU4MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjU5NzU4NzE@._V1_.jpg)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3455822/
The documentary this is about was called German Concentration Camps Factual Survey. Allied soldiers liberating concentration camps brought cameras to document the crimes that had gone on there and some of the cleanup efforts, like the burial of emaciated dead bodies in mass graves. This movie contains quite a bit of footage from that. Although I do think this is the sort of film "everyone" should see, the depictions of dead and murdered prisoners makes for a hard watch, especially the bodies that were killed brutally.
Sidney Bernstein and Alfred Hitchcock was attached to this project, so it has an interesting history. They found some of the liberated Jews who appear in some of the footage and they appear in the documentary. There are also interviews with some allied soldiers, a lawyer from the Nuremberg trials, etc.
It's a good documentary and an important historical document. Everyone at all interested in WW2 should check this out if you haven't already.
That sounds fascinating. I'm adding to my list of documentaries to watch.
Quote from: Toy Revolver on Mar 26, 2023, 08:52 PMQuote from: Marie Monday on Mar 26, 2023, 08:48 PMit is a really beautiful film if you're receptive to what it's trying to do, but (without really meaning this in a bitchy way) I'm not surprised that you're not
i'm not surprised you like it
and i'm not surprised that you can't simply defend the film without tossing in a personal attack
i think mb has damaged you (not trying to be bitchy or anything just a friendly observation)
I wasn't even attacking you, you oversensitive oaf. It was personal because I just think the reason you don't like the film is personal
I saw Takashi Miike's Audition from 1999.
(https://fr.web.img2.acsta.net/pictures/22/03/02/10/46/2030957.jpg)
Brief plot description
A guy in the movie biz uses a movie audition as an excuse to also audition women to be his next girlfriend. One applicant catches his eye and he starts pursuing her. But she's not quite as expected and a bit like he made a trap for her, she also made a trap for him
The movie has a fun sort of twist towards the end and is well made, but I didn't find it very entertaining. It's also a bit gross how he picks the youngest looking girl :laughing: she looks like a child.
I know it's considered a real classic, but for me it fell just a bit short of the things it tried. It fell short as a drama. Neither the grief of losing his wife or his new feelings towards the new girl were communicated believably. During their dates, they seem robotic and she's so meek. Having been married and having an older son, seems weird he would go for that. As a thriller, I think they perhaps give away that she's not what she seems a little early on. I liked the scene in her derelict apartment when she's waiting on the phone, though. Simple, but effective.
Still it's generally well acted, filmed and edited (despite some annoying flashbacks) and it's not a bad movie. I just don't quite get the hype.
I'd rate it: :3stars:
Ryu Murakami is a strong writer based on the two books I've read.
I'm pretty sure I've seen that movie.
The Fabelmans
i like coming of age stories and this was no exception
i know this is a brain dead painfully common criticism but THE FILM IS TOO LONG
the same story could've been told in an hour's less time
Spoiler
did anyone else think the character logan was secretly jewish or did i just dream that up
I saw Kill List from 2011 directed by Ben Wheatley.
(https://pics.filmaffinity.com/Kill_List-209687835-large.jpg)
It's about a family man and a veteran who also takes jobs as a hitman along with an ex-army pal. They get mixed up with a very strange job and he just has that way of flying off the handle.. All in all, it's a bit of a genre mix, but I'd say it's mostly a mystery thriller.
It's fairly well made and has some good performances. The script seems clever, even if it does go to some unlikely places. Parts of the movie are relatively grim, which I like. A lot of people seem to like it for its use of foreshadowing and the final acts also dips its toes in folk horror which I guess we were hungry for before we got Hereditary and Midsommar.
I didn't care much for the main characters Jay & Gal, something I feel affected my enjoyment, but it was a decent movie. It definitely feels like there were some loose ends at the end of it, though.
I'd rate it slightly less than a : :3.5stars:
Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Finally got around to watching this. I first became aware of it when the trailer came out and my friend hilariously texted me saying "hey they made a movie about you", haha. The negative reviews and weird celebrity drama kind of put me off, but we had a bunch of free time last night so we watched it.
Eh, it was okay. It is frustrating because I think this could have been great. As someone in a "traditionally gendered" relationship, the concept is very relevant to me on a personal level, and I think it could have been a cool examination of sexism, male entitlement and all that. As it is it just doesn't go deep enough into that commentary for me.
Very pretty movie though, I'm not gonna lie.
Uncut gems.. is it still good if you don't like Adam Sandler? 😅 People have been praising it, but surely it can't be that great? It's Adam Sandler. It's a bit like seeing Steven Seagal in the lead.
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 01, 2023, 01:33 AMUncut gems.. is it still good if you don't like Adam Sandler? 😅 People have been praising it, but surely it can't be that great? It's Adam Sandler. It's a bit like seeing Steven Seagal in the lead.
You wouldn't even know it's Adam Sandler, turns out he's a pretty good dramatic actor.
i love adam sandler
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 01, 2023, 01:33 AMUncut gems.. is it still good if you don't like Adam Sandler? 😅 People have been praising it, but surely it can't be that great? It's Adam Sandler. It's a bit like seeing Steven Seagal in the lead.
yeah it was a different vibe than happy gilmore :laughing:
Quote from: robhr on Apr 01, 2023, 01:45 AMYou wouldn't even know it's Adam Sandler, turns out he's a pretty good dramatic actor.
He's also good in
Punch Drunk Love.
Quote from: Janszoon on Apr 01, 2023, 02:16 AMQuote from: robhr on Apr 01, 2023, 01:45 AMYou wouldn't even know it's Adam Sandler, turns out he's a pretty good dramatic actor.
He's also good in Punch Drunk Love.
I still have to see that one, I've seen most PT Anderson.
Alright, guess we might give it a go. As long as he's not playing his character from Little Nicky.
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 01, 2023, 09:01 AMAlright, guess we might give it a go. As long as he's not playing his character from Little Nicky.
I've never seen that one because the character seemed so annoying. That said, I liked quite a few of his earlier movies. There a very few times that I've laughed as hard at a movie as I did when I saw
Happy Gilmore in the theater.
I used to be a big Sandler head. I still love pretty much everything he did in the 90s. And his uniformly horrible later comedies are at least fun to cringe at and joke about. The fiance and I watched Jack and Jill a few years ago during a quarantine zoom date and it was an absolutely glorious disaster.
But of course not everyone is crazy like us, haha.
Morbius (2022)
We did it for the meme.
This was really bad, and not even bad in a ridiculous way that's fun to make fun of. It's just a giant nothingburger of a film. I love good movies, I love intensely, comically bad movies. But what I can't get down with is boring movies, and this was one.
It was so bad, even the "it's morbin' time" jokes we were cracking stopped being funny after like 15 minutes and we spent the rest of the film completely checked out. Would not recommend the experience.
-0/10. Yes, that's a negative zero. It was the only way I could describe how hollow this film made me feel.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Apr 01, 2023, 09:05 PMMorbius (2022)
We did it for the meme.
This was really bad, and not even bad in a ridiculous way that's fun to make fun of. It's just a giant nothingburger of a film. I love good movies, I love intensely, comically bad movies. But what I can't get down with is boring movies, and this was one.
It was so bad, even the "it's morbin' time" jokes we were cracking stopped being funny after like 15 minutes and we spent the rest of the film completely checked out. Would not recommend the experience.
-0/10. Yes, that's a negative zero. It was the only way I could describe how hollow this film made me feel.
i'll take your word for it
It looks like a stinker. I've avoided it so far and the Venom movies as well. Eternals too. When Superhero movies stink, they just get so boring.
Although I thought the last movie of the Toby Maguire Spiderman trilogy was fun.. where we got emo Toby 🙈
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Apr 01, 2023, 09:05 PMMorbius (2022)
We did it for the meme.
This was really bad, and not even bad in a ridiculous way that's fun to make fun of. It's just a giant nothingburger of a film. I love good movies, I love intensely, comically bad movies. But what I can't get down with is boring movies, and this was one.
It was so bad, even the "it's morbin' time" jokes we were cracking stopped being funny after like 15 minutes and we spent the rest of the film completely checked out. Would not recommend the experience.
-0/10. Yes, that's a negative zero. It was the only way I could describe how hollow this film made me feel.
That movie is so bad that, when I watched it on a plane and missed the last 15 minutes because we started our descent, I didn't care.
Quote from: Janszoon on Apr 01, 2023, 09:31 PMQuote from: Mrs. Waffles on Apr 01, 2023, 09:05 PMMorbius (2022)
We did it for the meme.
This was really bad, and not even bad in a ridiculous way that's fun to make fun of. It's just a giant nothingburger of a film. I love good movies, I love intensely, comically bad movies. But what I can't get down with is boring movies, and this was one.
It was so bad, even the "it's morbin' time" jokes we were cracking stopped being funny after like 15 minutes and we spent the rest of the film completely checked out. Would not recommend the experience.
-0/10. Yes, that's a negative zero. It was the only way I could describe how hollow this film made me feel.
That movie is so bad that, when I watched it on a plane and missed the last 15 minutes because we started our descent, I didn't care.
i thought you were going to say "it was so bad i was praying the plane would crash"
We saw The Ghost and Mrs. Muir from 1947.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzYxMjIyMmYtMDI2OS00YTgyLWExZWMtODdkZTk1NzRlODgzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTAwMzUyOTc@._V1_.jpg)
I was creeping around the top 10 movies thread and noticed this mention by
@ribbons and it caught my eye because I'd never heard of it and I love me an old timey ghost movie.
This one is pretty good. The start of the movie is about a woman with her daughter and her servant moving to a haunted cottage by the sea. That sounds like a horror, but without revealing too much about the plot, it's not horror or very spooky and lands more in the realm of drama. It was well made and had some good and fun performances.
I'd rate it a solid :3.5stars:
Garden State.
It was cute.
Rare that I enjoy a romantic comedy.
watched Elvis with Sean Penn and Tom Hanks
it's good
watered down but still good
i liked it better than Blonde
Quote from: Toy Revolver on Apr 04, 2023, 07:03 PMwatched Elvis with Sean Penn and Tom Hanks
it's good
watered down but still good
i liked it better than Blonde
So what was it like hanging with Sean Penn and Tom Hanks? :D
(https://i.postimg.cc/FzgYhCGv/She-Wolves-of-the-Ring-1965.jpg)
She-Wolves of the Ring (1965)
Various female wrestlers compete for a million dollar prize in Mexico while nefarious acts and vendettas play out in the ring and behind the scenes. Big bucks, big busts, big hairdos, and campy humor.
:3stars:
Last movie I saw was this one:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjE5NjI5NTIyM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNTA4NjQ5._V1_.jpg)
It's an extremely 90s vampire movie that sometimes feels a bit like a Vampire: The Masquerade LARP.
The trailer is pretty good.
It's clear that the people who made this think Vampires are fucking cool. The script is a little juvenile and asks for certain things that the budget or scope of production can't deliver, but the dialogue is often quite entertaining and quotable. The movie has a bit of a goth vibe and has a goth soundtrack. Bela Lugosi is dead. The other three themes I guess are sex, gun violence and the Illuminati. And drinking blood.
The best thing about it is Eileen Daly who plays the protagonist. She seems to have been some C movie / goth darling from the 90s (?) with what's probably a small but devout group of followers. She really gets into the role, spewing cheesy and cool lines with gusto. I got a little curious, so I checked out her channel on YouTube. Today she makes very DIY music videos with a bf and friends so there's a fun extra rabbit hole.
Anyways, if anyone's interested in a gothy bad, but kinda fun B (or C?) Vampire movie from the late 90s, look no further.
:2.5stars:
Anyone seen the Mario movie yet?
The Lorax (2012)
This movie is gloriously stupid and I love it so much. I watched it for the first time about six years ago when it became a big meme on YouTube, but this was Mr. Waffles's first time watching it. Extremely high quality cringe, though my dearest fiancé pointed out that this movie is a musical film that also has Taylor Swift in a starring role, but she doesn't get to sing in it. It is kinda weird, like you have Taylor right there, heck even Betty White gets to sing for a bit! But anyway, this movie sucked, but it was a hoot to watch together.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Apr 17, 2023, 11:22 PMThe Lorax (2012)
This movie is gloriously stupid and I love it so much. I watched it for the first time about six years ago when it became a big meme on YouTube, but this was Mr. Waffles's first time watching it. Extremely high quality cringe, though my dearest fiancé pointed out that this movie is a musical film that also has Taylor Swift in a starring role, but she doesn't get to sing in it. It is kinda weird, like you have Taylor right there, heck even Betty White gets to sing for a bit! But anyway, this movie sucked, but it was a hoot to watch together.
Have you seen the original?
Quote from: Janszoon on Apr 18, 2023, 12:49 AMHave you seen the original?
Yes, but it was definitely over 25 years ago. I am more familiar with the original book. The new one really bungles the message and bogs it down with a ton of unnecessary silliness; the beauty in the book was in its simple clarity.
The new one is best enjoyed as an entertaining trainwreck. Making the Once-Ler into an emo twink voiced by Ed Helms was a stroke of bizarro-genius.
Wow, I might have to add that to the list. Who doesn't like an entertaining trainwreck? 🙂
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 18, 2023, 03:09 AMWow, I might have to add that to the list. Who doesn't like an entertaining trainwreck? 🙂
It's only really a trainwreck in comparison to the original story. On its own it's just a vapid soulless groaner of a film, but it's fun to watch to see just how badly they messed the adaptation and the message up. It's just bizarrely fascinating and makes you wonder why anybody thought this movie needed to exist.
In other words, go for it!
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y924r8Th/The-Last-Alarm-1940.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Last Alarm (1940)
A fireman reaches mandatory retirement age and doesn't know what to do with his free time now that he's no longer working for the fire department. A pyromaniac starts torching warehouses for thrills, resulting in the death of one of the fireman's closest friends. The ex-fireman comes out of retirement in anger to try to help the fire department catch the pyro and avenge the death of his friend.
:3stars:
Time for the annual rewatch
(https://torontofilmcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/naked-mike-leigh.jpg)
^it's a good movie, but I find Thewlis character so annoying. Fucking rapist know-it-all 😄 but maybe that was the point.
He acts well, though, and I love him in just about everything else I saw him in.
i just watched the original rollerball with james caan
it took about five tries to get through it without falling asleep
cool premise
it should've been 45 minutes long with all the characters nude the entire time and a lot bloodier
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 19, 2023, 07:29 PM^it's a good movie, but I find Thewlis character so annoying. Fucking rapist know-it-all 😄 but maybe that was the point.
He acts well, though, and I love him in just about everything else I saw him in.
One of my favorite actors. Do you remember his role in The Big Lebowski? Hilarious!
Naked very deliberately opens with a rape scene, so that you'd be under no illusion about who this guy is and no temptation to sympathize with him.
Once we get that out of the way, what we have is the best character ever. This film is a must for all Fallheads, because it seems parts of him were modelled on MES: a highly articulate working class Mancunian mad lad, conspiracy theorist and prophet of rage... TBH the younger me had some sympathy for his arrogant and caustic sides, definitely big themes throughout my 20s. But yeah he's obviously sociopathic, which I never was.
Amores perros.
Was a good one.
I saw the Australian horror movie Razorback from 1984.
(https://www.gbhbl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Razorback-Pic-1-736x445.jpg)
The movie is roughly about a giant wild boar terrorizing a small community in the Australian outback. That may sound kinda dull, but it's quite stylish and entertaining. The movie's great on visuals and got crazy characters and a setting that reminds me slightly of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and Mad Max. It's not at all what I expected.
At times it's a little stupid like you might expect from an 80s horror and the monster is a little.. let's say stiff. Still an en entertaining film that feels somewhat unique.
:3.5stars:
Thanks for the recommendation,
@Janszoon ! 🙂
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMmZiN2VmMjktZDE5OC00ZWRmLWFlMmEtYWViMTY4NjM3ZmNkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTI2MTc2ODM3._V1_.jpg)
Saw Evil Dead Rise at the cinema with a couple of buddies whom I used to watch the original Evil Dead with back when we were teenagers.
Evil Dead Rise reminds me, in tone, of the 2013 remake. Most of the humor from later in the franchise is gone and they've really upped the level of violence.
I quite liked Evil Dead Rise! It's sinister, it's creative in places and placing a small family with kids at the center of this story gives it some heart and makes you feel just a little more invested.
The story this time takes place in an apartment complex. I do miss the creepiness of the cabin, but on the other hand, the cast in EDR plays very well. Especially Alyssa Sutherland who plays the mom is wonderful and creepy as a deadite.
I think I already stated that Evil Dead is the only notable horror franchise that actually stays consistently good. EDR confirms and cements that.
:3.5stars:
QuoteMost of the humor from later in the franchise is gone and they've really upped the level of violence
sold
Saw Syk Pike which means Sick Girl, although its English/international title is Sick of Myself.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/Sick_of_Myself_%28film%29.png)
It's a Norwegian body horror comedy / social satire about awful, vapid people and the extreme lengths they go to for attention. In terms of themes and direction, it kinda feels like Ruben Östlund (The Square, Force Majeure, Triangle of Sadness) meets David Cronenberg.
Although the comedy is low key and not in your face (as is often the case in Scandinavian cinema), I found it very funny and entertaining 🙂 I also love body horror, so it ticked off many right boxes for me.
Well done by director Kristoffer Borgli and cast!
:3.5stars:
I:
(https://i.imgur.com/on742By.jpg)
II:
(https://i.imgur.com/NQGEfZX.jpg)
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 28, 2023, 11:44 PM(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMmZiN2VmMjktZDE5OC00ZWRmLWFlMmEtYWViMTY4NjM3ZmNkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTI2MTc2ODM3._V1_.jpg)
Saw Evil Dead Rise at the cinema with a couple of buddies whom I used to watch the original Evil Dead with back when we were teenagers.
Evil Dead Rise reminds me, in tone, of the 2013 remake. Most of the humor from later in the franchise is gone and they've really upped the level of violence.
I quite liked Evil Dead Rise! It's sinister, it's creative in places and placing a small family with kids at the center of this story gives it some heart and makes you feel just a little more invested.
The story this time takes place in an apartment complex. I do miss the creepiness of the cabin, but on the other hand, the cast in EDR plays very well. Especially Alyssa Sutherland who plays the mom is wonderful and creepy as a deadite.
I think I already stated that Evil Dead is the only notable horror franchise that actually stays consistently good. EDR confirms and cements that.
:3.5stars:
saw it today
level of gore: very high A plus
quality of the kills: creative and brutal A plus
weaknesses: same setting and lighting throughout became tedious
i did not become invested in the characters
writing was poor
whenever someone wasn't being killed or brutalized i was checking my watch
over all c minus
it's really the cheap dark lighting and monotonous set that killed it
also side point: i hate letting the kid live
just kill the fucking kid - that's the real money shot
as for horror franchises texas chainsaw in my favorite
but some banging jason or freddy movies could change that
halloween is the most overrated- yawn
Quote from: Toy Revolver on May 02, 2023, 11:39 PMas for horror franchises texas chainsaw in my favorite
but some banging jason or freddy movies could change that
halloween is the most overrated- yawn
I like the first two Texas Chainsaw Massacres, but the third and fourth are a samey blur to me. The most memorable thing about them is the cast (Matthew McConaughey, Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellwegger).
I've seen all the Nightmare on Elm Street movies and they're often funny and entertaining even if they're not great.
Friday the 13th and Halloween are kinda boring.
I really like the first two Hellraiser movies and the new one from last year was also entertaining.
However, no other franchise can match the awesomess that is Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn, Army of Darkness and Ash vs. Evil Dead (the TV series). The remake and this latest aren't quite as great as the original material that inspired them, but they sure beat Hellraiser 3 or Nightmare on Elm Street 2 or The Conjuring 3. 🙂
Elm St 3 was classic
Quote from: Toy Revolver on May 03, 2023, 12:04 AMElm St 3 was classic
Yes, Dream Warriors.. probably the second best one after the first 🤔
The girl in the body bag with the centipede coming out of her mouth from the first movie left a lingering impression in my young brain. Actually, quite a few scenes from that movie did.
So I watched this one - a recommendation from SGR in the horror movies thread. Yes, I will be watching your recommendations - just gimme a minute!
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDk0YTM4N2QtYmYwMC00NDAyLTk0MDQtZTM2OGE4MDg5YjI3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTUxOTk0Nw@@._V1_.jpg)
So this is a mockumentary about a dude who's found... well, I don't wanna spoil it, actually. It's a mockumentary that uses found footage to tell a story about a missing hiker/video blogger. I didn't like it much because I of course knew it was just a movie going into it and I'd argue there's little excitement or entertainment value to the interviews or news broadcasts. They're good for mimicking a real case, but they're not funny or very good for building tension which is something other certain found footage movies do better.
It's also not my genre. I'd rate it:
:2stars:
BUT I'm sure I would've enjoyed it more if I'd seen it with my wife and managed to trick her into thinking it was real, like what
@SGR seems to have achieved ;) And I enjoyed watching it even if I didn't love it, so thanks for the recommendation!
What I especially liked was I did a
@Psy-Fi and watched it while running on our treadmill and lifting some weights. Finally getting some exercise again! I'm like a human bean bag. Brilliant.
The Banshees of Inisherin.
I liked it.
Quote from: Guybrush on May 03, 2023, 12:32 AMYes, Dream Warriors.. probably the second best one after the first 🤔
The girl in the body bag with the centipede coming out of her mouth from the first movie left a lingering impression in my young brain. Actually, quite a few scenes from that movie did.
I've always liked that whole 3, 4, 5 internal trilogy overall.
Quote from: Janszoon on May 05, 2023, 08:24 AMI've always liked that whole 3, 4, 5 internal trilogy overall.
It's so long since I saw them, but I remember liking all of them, even the 6th I'm pretty sure. Not because they were great, but I just liked the surreal dream parts and funny deaths. 🙂
I saw this one today:
(https://filmmovietvblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/11555531_ori.jpg?w=640)
I've been curious about it for a while, but have honestly also been avoiding it. You can tell the whole premise coming from 10 miles away so it seems like it's already spoiled before you watch it and it's probably gonna be this formulaic thing.
The movie does suffer from that, but was much better than I feared. The script and screenplay takes the story seriously and the movie superbly casts the very lovely Vera Farmiga and a 10 year old Isabella Fuhrman as mother and her adopted daughter and they both do a great job. Their performances take something forgettable and turns it into something special. The rest of the cast are good as well, particularly Aryana Engineer who played the movie's other little girl and biological daughter Maxine.
Even if you know right away where the movie's headed, it's still an enjoyable ride. And it was inspired by a real life case in which a woman of 33, Babora Skrlova, tried to escape the law in the Czech republic by sneaking away to Norway and pretending to be a 13 year old boy, even attending school. So there's some interesting true crime slightly related to this..
I probably won't ever see it again, but enjoyed it.
:3stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on May 06, 2023, 01:03 AMIt's so long since I saw them, but I remember liking all of them, even the 6th I'm pretty sure. Not because they were great, but I just liked the surreal dream parts and funny deaths. 🙂
The sixth one is the first one I ever saw in the theater, which was fun because the last part of the movie was in old school red/blue 3D. I'm with you about why I like those movies. Even when they were new and I was a pre-teen, I liked them because they were funny and surreal.
just watched Wolf Creek 2
like the original it's fantastic
Fell asleep watching Conspiracy Theory on Youtube the other night. Fitting as a predictor of future Mel Gibson in a Julia Roberts vehicle.
Finally saw the first Gaspar Noé full-length feature. Very strong
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b2/SeulContreTous.jpg)
Never Let Me Go.
I liked it.
Quote from: Guybrush on May 03, 2023, 12:32 AMYes, Dream Warriors.. probably the second best one after the first 🤔
The girl in the body bag with the centipede coming out of her mouth from the first movie left a lingering impression in my young brain. Actually, quite a few scenes from that movie did.
I actually love Dream Warriors over the first one. I think it's the best in the series.
My last movie I watched was a film I found in a discount bin for 2 bucks. The D train. I had no idea Jack Black was in it but it was good. Idk when it came out but I must have missed the trailers for it.
The Pebble and the Penguin (1995)
Continuing our trudge through 90s Don Bluth kids movies, Mr. Waffles and I tackled this one that neither of us had seen in at least 25 years.
This was better than A Troll in Central Park at least. It felt more like an actual film with a semblance of a plot and wasn't as nauseatingly saccharine. The music in this one was written by Barry Manilow, who, courtesy of my father playing his music all the time as a child, has been marked as one of my musical mortal enemies. And it's very much showtune cheese, which I'm not necessarily opposed to as a rule if I get to make fun of the hamminess with my man by my side. If I had watched it alone I'd have groaned through some of these songs.
One plus of this movie is of course Tim Curry as the villain, who is a delight as always. Ultimately this wasn't nearly as insultingly bad as A Troll in Central Park and I'm glad we got to revisit it while cracking our usual Mystery Science Theater inspired jokes.
Her Smell
it sucked
elizabeth moss looked like it an idiot who never listened to a single punk record ever
jesus christ it was fucking lame
Her smell?
That's the name of a movie?
Sounds like it's about stalking and panty-sniffing.
Quote from: Guybrush on May 11, 2023, 01:43 AMHer smell?
That's the name of a movie?
Sounds like it's about stalking and panty-sniffing.
i probably would've enjoyed it then
I imagine a movie about a guy who gets fed up with his wife farting in bed.
This is not in any way inspired by any of my real life experiences, no siree.
pig
first worthwhile film i've seen in a minute
it's superb
The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue (1998)
Our weird 90s Don Bluth movie marathon continues, though this is technically not a Bluth film as he wisely had no involvement in it other than directing the original 1982 film. I didn't grow up with either film, I first watched the original around 2008 in college and I had never seen the sequel until now.
I have to say, as asinine as most of this film is, the big climactic plot twist is so ridiculously unhinged and batshit that Mr. Waffles and I were absolutely rolling with laughter and embracing the chaotic energy. The fact that this is a Secret of NIMH movie that features an Eric Idle musical number is so utterly bonkers that it made us absolutely lose it. A definite highlight of the Bluthathon thus far.
(https://i.postimg.cc/sD3VrZGP/Air-Patrol-1962.png) (https://postimages.org/)
Air Patrol (1962)
B&W crime thriller about the theft of a valuable painting from a high-rise building in Los Angeles, California. A police helicopter pilot is brought into the investigation to help solve the case.
:3stars:
Lucky Number Slevin. I love this movie. It has a great ensemble cast but my wife didn't like the violence in it and was on Tiktok for the entire movie after seeing a few scenes. I've seen it before and was re-watching it to share the cool plot with her but she wasn't having it. When I was younger I loved the movie and have seen it numerous times. I always thought Lucy Lui was too hot for Josh Harnett.
^I liked Lucky Number Slevin, though I haven't seen it since it was relatively fresh 🙂
I saw this weird thing:
(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/575adcf11bbee0fd2d9aa5f8/1493134531361-GZFA9YKDTVF97Q6MJAHE/Crimewave+painted+movie+poster?format=500w)
It's Sam Raimi's second professional movie and an early stain on his career, though the fault does not seem to be his alone.
A quote from him:
"I can't look at it. It's so painful. The experience was just awful. Bruce Campbell was supposed to star. A month, two months before, the studio said, "No, he's not starring in it." My composer was removed – Joe LoDuca, who did the Evil Dead movies. They didn't let me do a director's cut. They fired my editor about two weeks in, after we'd done shooting, and they brought the film out of Detroit to Los Angeles. They had their own editor cut it, they had their own components. It was just a mess."
It's a really weird movie, quite dark with some film noir suspense, but also very cartoonish, goofy and over the top. In particular, it features a couple of bad guys who are sinister, but also get involved in various Stooges-style physical comedy.
The lead character lacks agency with most of the movie just being things beyond his control happening to him, so the story feels kinda random and not very satisfying.
Still, it's so zany and weird, the spectacle of it ends up being somewhat entertaining. Also, one of the Coen brothers had a hand in writing this.
I'd only recommend this to fans of Raimi or the very unusual (like me) who might wanna watch this just to sate their curiosity.
:2.5stars:
I saw the spanish movie Piggy
(https://i0.wp.com/bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/piggy-movie.png?w=1064&ssl=1)
It's a drama / horror about a young, obese spanish girl who gets bullied by her peers. While out swimming and suffering some particularly bad bullying, she also catches the attention of a serial killer.
I won't spoil any more in case any of you want to watch it. It's not quite as B-movie as it might sound as it's reasonably ambitious in its storytelling and drama elements. By and large, it succeeds which I assume is why the movie has made enough of a splash so that it grabbed my attention.
It's not great or anything, but enjoyable enough from start to finish and performances are okay with the best chops coming from Laura Galan who plays the overweight protagonist.
:3stars:
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0693/4223/products/Evil_Dead_2_Cover_semi_hi-res_740x.jpg?v=1604941339)
I also rewatched Evil Dead 2 (Dead by Dawn). I rewatch the original Evil Dead trilogy every now and then. It's like comfort viewing for me. The first movie is more sinister and scary, but I love the goofs and creativity that went into this one. The best scenes are in the first half with Bruce just going slightly mad in the cabin and playing against himself (or his reflection, or his hand or the invisible evil spirits).
A lot of the effects are rubbery and weird, but it's always still a good time.
:4stars:
Saw Roman Polanski's Repulsion which has been on my to-do list for ages and ages.
(https://resizing.flixster.com/p6-4xxnZZ0IDbFOCWdMylGYuu0k=/300x300/v2/https://flxt.tmsimg.com/assets/p5617_v_v9_ai.jpg)
I have actually seen a little bit of it before and it seemed a little dull, which is why it took me so long to finally take the plunge.
It has a beautiful lead in Catherine Deneuve who plays the demure and troubled Carol. It has some nice shots, cool surreal scenes and some very effective jump scares. The surreal and spooky scenes were easily the most enjoyable for me.
As a drama, I found it a bit too slow and frustrating. Carol is the sort of character you kinda wish would stand up for herself, take back some agency or just be a more active participant in her own life. Of course there's a reason she doesn't do this. She has her issues. This apathy of the protagonist may be realistic for a character who seems to disassociate a lot due to past trauma, but to me it doesn't make for engaging viewing in a movie where that character is alone on the screen for most of its runtime. Her inability to deal with any of her problems or for anyone else to recognize them instead becomes the tiniest bit frustrating.
Still, it's got a lot going for it and it makes sense a lot of people will love this. I just found it a bit too dull overall.
:3stars:
I watched that movie a while back because I heard such great things about it and I too was extremely underwhelmed.
Quote from: Janszoon on May 19, 2023, 12:04 PMI watched that movie a while back because I heard such great things about it and I too was extremely underwhelmed.
Glad it's not just me 🙂
I saw this Antman movie because I noticed it was on Disney+.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BODZhNzlmOGItMWUyYS00Y2Q5LWFlNzMtM2I2NDFkM2ZkYmE1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTU5OTA4NTIz._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
Though saw is perhaps generous term as I fell asleep about half an our in or so and missed just about everything except the big climax.
It seemed like fairly glossy production super hero fare. It didn't seem as interesting as the latest Dr. Strange movie (which was the previous one I saw).
I will say, though.. that Michelle Pfeiffer, still looking good. She's a GILF! Gotta have somee real good genes or something.
After (2019), After We Collided (2020), After We Fell (2021)
Oh yeah, it's time for Bad Movies with Mrs. Waffles again.
Our usual preferred flavor of awful movie is failed comedies and mindless kids' movies, but we got turned onto this romantic drama series by some homies elsewhere on the net. Apparently these movies are based on a fanfiction about the band One Direction, but with all the names changed. Kinda like how 50 Shades of Gray was originally a Twilight fanfic.
These movies are absolutely vapid crap, but they make surprisingly fun vehicles for our commentary. The main male romantic lead is this brooding emo boy who never wears anything but black, the sex scenes involving him are completely devoid of any sensuality or positive energy, and we had fun watching them. We finished the third (of five apparently) the other day and it was less fun than the first two as they are starting to get repetitive. Poor Mr. Waffles ran out of funny things to say after the halfway point of the movie and got zonked out on rumchata and fireball after about two thirds of the way in. I don't know if I should envy him for not having to watch the rest or not.
Anyway, still not sure if we're gonna finish the series, we only have one more and the last one comes out in September, so maybe we might as well? But yeah this is some absolute schlock and it was a fun experiment.
Quote from: Guybrush on May 17, 2023, 10:17 PM(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0693/4223/products/Evil_Dead_2_Cover_semi_hi-res_740x.jpg?v=1604941339)
I also rewatched Evil Dead 2 (Dead by Dawn). I rewatch the original Evil Dead trilogy every now and then. It's like comfort viewing for me. The first movie is more sinister and scary, but I love the goofs and creativity that went into this one. The best scenes are in the first half with Bruce just going slightly mad in the cabin and playing against himself (or his reflection, or his hand or the invisible evil spirits).
A lot of the effects are rubbery and weird, but it's always still a good time.
:4stars:
I love the Evil Dead franchise. Have yoy seen Evil Dead Rise? The newest installment.
Quote from: DJChameleon on May 22, 2023, 07:48 PMI love the Evil Dead franchise. Have yoy seen Evil Dead Rise? The newest installment.
Sure! I gave a little review here in this thread somewhere and proclaimed Evil Dead to be the only consistently good horror franchise 🙂
Quote from: Guybrush on May 22, 2023, 11:19 PMSure! I gave a little review here in this thread somewhere and proclaimed Evil Dead to be the only consistently good horror franchise 🙂
Oh yeah I see the review now. I'm sad you don't like The Conjuring series. Or maybe it was just The Conjuring 3? Which yeah I get. I don't know what they were doing with that one.
Quote from: DJChameleon on May 22, 2023, 11:46 PMOh yeah I see the review now. I'm sad you don't like The Conjuring series. Or maybe it was just The Conjuring 3? Which yeah I get. I don't know what they were doing with that one.
Yeah, it's pretty much as you describe it. I really liked the first one. The second one was good too. What the hell was up with the third one?
I also like the casting, particularly Vera Farmiga.. but I wish they wouldn't idolize the Warrens. Considering they're basically scam artists (imo), that bit is a little embarrassing. What was James Wan thinking?
The main thing that I love the Conjuring series is that it hits on all of the elements of horror stories. Creepy kids check? Creepy old people check? Demonic Possession check? Creepy dolls check?
The only thing it is kind of missing is serial killers/some type of slasher element.
I think I saw the first Conjuring movie and it had literally one scare in the entire movie. Also, it's supposed to take place in New England but was clearly shot in the southeast somewhere. Anyway, I was underwhelmed and I've never seen any of the sequels.
Some of the extended universe around The Conjuring isn't worth it. I will admit but I love The Nun. I feel like it's the best spin off. Outside of jump scares demonic Possessions in movies give me the willies and creep me out. I was raised Christian and went to church every Sunday so it taps into that fear for me.
I haven't seen The Nun and not the first Annabelle either.. But I avoid most of the horror movies that seem like they might be more run-of-the-mill, formulaic or just cash grabs.
It's not hard to persuade me to watch any horror, though, so I might watch it just based on your post :)
I'm also wondering whether or not I should see X. Plus I got a bunch to go through from the horror recommendation thread, among them Poughkeepsie Tapes and Dust Devil.
Poughkeepsie Tapes is found footage if I remember correctly. After REC and the first Paranormal Activity. I checked out of the found footage genre. I'm not really a fan of it tbh.
I've also heard X is great and I missed out on watching it.
The last movie I saw was Fast X but I need to re-watch it in theaters.
Not a movie but it's the latest movie-related video I've seen...
In Living Color : Men On FilmsI hadn't seen it since it was originally shown on TV but it's still just as funny all these years later.
I loved In Living Color.
I finally got around to watching Missing because it's on Netflix.
It was so much better than I thought it was going to be and it had me guessing until the end. I didn't see the twist coming at all whatsoever.
Frownland made it seem like the twist was so predictable but I disagree.
My favorite In Living Color bits were when Jim Carrey roasted white rappers. Everyone knows and loves his Vanilla Ice parody, but if you remember Snow, and/or his classic hit single Informer, I think this sketch is even funnier.
"i should paint my face and start belting out mammy" 😂
"I rap in your song to the best of my ability, you need a black man to increase your credibility"
So many great lines, haha.
Best line to me is "Time Warner kicked Ice T off the label for dissing the cops they said if just ain't right.
But when a Caucasian man records a cop hating song they don't have a problem it must be an oversight."
I remember that parody when it first came out but appreciate it so much more as an adult to understand certain references.
Ratatoing (2007)
We're taking a break from terrible Hollywood movies to watch some knockoff mockbuster crapola. This "movie" was made to trick children and clueless grandparents into thinking they're buying the Pixar film Ratatouille.
Honestly this movie is a special breed of terrible that is like audiovisual crack for me specifically. It looks like it was animated on Windows '98, the dialogue is so stilted it literally sounds like it was written by ChatGPT or something, and the transitions between lines and scenes are the cinematic equivalent of a five year old rambling stuff like "and then this happened and then this happened and then this happened". It took about fourteen minutes before Mr. Waffles declared that he was not high enough to be watching this, and for the first time in years I actually had a bit of a craving to get high with him. I didn't, but we still had a blast. An absolute masterpiece of unintentional hilarity.
The whole thing is on Youtube if you want to experience the magic for yourself.
^Holy crap, Lex 😅 not sure I could stomach sitting through that one.
I assume you guys are huge MST3K fans?
I saw this today:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWIyYjEwMDctZjU5Yy00ZTg1LTg5NTAtNWU1ZjA2MzBiMWEyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyODkwOQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
It was recommended to me by Trollheart who clearly thinks highly of it.
I don't want to spoil it, but maybe there's some ritualistic serial killings and demon stuff happening. I liked it a lot! It's a sorta horror movie (occasionally gory, but not scary) and
very early 90s in style and themes, including magic and big duster jackets and otherworldly visuals. It also reminds me slightly of Clive Barker and maybe stuff like Near Dark or Hellblazer and Preacher. It's got some very wooden performances, but also some rather good ones and in the end it's all fun.
It was directed by Richard Stanley who I mostly know as the director who tried and failed at directing the 90s remake of The Island of Dr. Moreau starring the impossible divas Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando. I remember seeing the documentary about it and how Stanley infiltrated his own movie set disguised as an animal person after he got fired from the directing gig, etc. It's the stuff of legends and I've been meaning to watch some of his movies for years now, so that was a nice coincidence.
:3.5stars:
Also cool to see a movie filmed in Namibia. Thanks for the rec,
@Trollheart !
I'm a big MST3K fan, yeah. I actually don't think the mister is that familiar, as strange as that may sound. He knows what it is of course, but our tradition of heckling bad movies kind of developed independently of the MST3K influence.
He's always been skilled at improv; I like blurting out jokes and he's insanely good at playing off them. I'm better at coming up with puns than him though. If there were a way to circumvent copyright I think it would be hilarious if we filmed some of our bad movie roast sessions, haha.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on May 31, 2023, 12:37 AMI'm a big MST3K fan, yeah. I actually don't think the mister is that familiar, as strange as that may sound. He knows what it is of course, but our tradition of heckling bad movies kind of developed independently of the MST3K influence.
He's always been skilled at improv; I like blurting out jokes and he's insanely good at playing off them. I'm better at coming up with puns than him though. If there were a way to circumvent copyright I think it would be hilarious if we filmed some of our bad movie roast sessions, haha.
In order to do anything close to that you'd have to just film yourselves making the jokes/roasts without the footage being scene but the audio might be okay to play I think. I've seen some Twitch streamers get away with doing it that way.
Speaking of Twitch streamers one of my faves got banned and she went on TikTok and we watched Get Out together. She actually showed the movie on screen though. Generally when she does a watch party type thing. We have to follow along just by watching it ourselves and start when she does. Idk what she got banned for though but she made lemonade out of lemons.
I love bad b movies but more so horror ones than regular ones. Idk how long I could last watching that rataloing one. Rough
Quote from: DJChameleon on May 31, 2023, 10:18 AMIn order to do anything close to that you'd have to just film yourselves making the jokes/roasts without the footage being scene but the audio might be okay to play I think. I've seen some Twitch streamers get away with doing it that way.
Speaking of Twitch streamers one of my faves got banned and she went on TikTok and we watched Get Out together. She actually showed the movie on screen though. Generally when she does a watch party type thing. We have to follow along just by watching it ourselves and start when she does. Idk what she got banned for though but she made lemonade out of lemons.
I love bad b movies but more so horror ones than regular ones. Idk how long I could last watching that rataloing one. Rough
Yeah, I've also seen movie commentary Youtubers who use movie footage, might just edit together a highlight compilation of the best bits of our commentary and hope for the best with copyright.
I follow some people who use Patreon and invite viewers to private patron-only streams on Vimeo where they play movies, both audio and video. I wonder if doing that but posting a link here in the secret forum instead of behind Patreon would be something we could get away with. Would probably require a lot of setup. But if we could figure it out I'd love to have movie nights with you all.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on May 31, 2023, 03:13 PMYeah, I've also seen movie commentary Youtubers who use movie footage, might just edit together a highlight compilation of the best bits of our commentary and hope for the best with copyright.
I follow some people who use Patreon and invite viewers to private patron-only streams on Vimeo where they play movies, both audio and video. I wonder if doing that but posting a link here in the secret forum instead of behind Patreon would be something we could get away with. Would probably require a lot of setup. But if we could figure it out I'd love to have movie nights with you all.
There used to be a platform called rabbit I think. I will have to look into it. It was great for creating watch parties with your friends.
I saw A Bronx Tale.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOTY5OGI3ZWQtNzk3ZS00YTYxLWJhZWEtMjc5YTJkZmMzOWJhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUzMDUzNTI3._V1_.jpg)
It feels like a movie I should've seen ages ago, but I just never came across it.
The story about how it came to be is actually rather compelling, so I'll give a quick summary. It is based on an autobiographical one-man show by actor Chazz Palminteri that he started in the 80s. Robert DeNiro went to see it and was so impressed, he wanted to turn into a movie. The two men made a gentleman's agreement about turning it into a movie which included Chazz playing the role of gangster Sonny and Bob playing the role of our protagonist's father. The movie was directed by DeNiro (his first) and came out in 1993.
The story itself is a coming of age story centered on a young italian american who grows up next to crime. I don't wanna give too much away, but of course it's a gangster movie and has some of the usual gangster ingredients in it and racism is also a central theme in the last half.
It's actually a very good movie. The actors are convincing and Bob and Chazz shine in their respective roles. The story is engaging and fun and suitably gritty when called for. Overall, I prefer it to some other gangster movies, f.ex. The Untouchables. It does have the feel of a classic, which is why it seems weird to me that it didn't show up on my radar earlier.
:4stars:
By the way, that Face-off style poster is not a good representation of the movie :laughing:
@Guybrush It's a good one. I saw it in the theater and have seen it several times since. It's actually the first thing I ever saw Michael Imperioli in. I agree about the poster. Between the face off and the kid running from the explosion, it looks like some kind of crime thriller.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ab/Cocaine_Bear_poster.jpg)
Cocaine Bear (2023)
Blah. This is a horror comedy movie that is not scary or funny or wildly off the rails entertaining. It's only about an hour and a half long but it feels more like three hours. Several usually good actors were also wasted in the endeavor.
:1stars:
damn
i was hoping that would be as awesome as it seems like it should be
Quote from: Toy Revolver on Jun 03, 2023, 04:56 AMdamn
i was hoping that would be as awesome as it seems like it should be
I think the filmmakers were so excited about having such a great title that they forgot to put any effort into making an entertaining movie.
(https://amc-theatres-res.cloudinary.com/v1682718567/amc-cdn/production/2/movies/66400/66361/PosterDynamic/151811.jpg)
I went to the first showing on Friday at noon. I feel like they should've had Spider-Gwen featured more prominently on the posters. It was pretty much more her story than Miles.
I loved that they did a recap so if you didn't see the first one that's no problem you won't be lost. The only thing they leave out about Miles that you would only know from the first one or the video game is that he has the power to go invisible and also has this electricity type of power.
They did a great job of tossing in a few jokes/commentary that would resonate with adults taking their kids to see it. The kids won't get those jokes at all.
:5stars:
^Nice! I loved the previous one :) Looking forward to see more animated spider man.
Quote from: Janszoon on Jun 03, 2023, 05:08 AMI think the filmmakers were so excited about having such a great title that they forgot to put any effort into making an entertaining movie.
It definitely looked a little gimmicky from the trailer, which made me skeptical.
This one's been on my to-do list for years and years. Finally I got to see it and really, there was no reason to wait so long.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BODM4Njg0NTAtYjI5Ny00ZjAxLTkwNmItZTMxMWU5M2U3M2RjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzkwMjQ5NzM@._V1_.jpg)
Come and See from 1985 is a movie set in 1943 Belarus and gives us a glance at the treatment of russian civilians at the hands of nazi soldiers. It was inspired by survivors accounts so I assume the sort of stuff we see is something that actually took place and perhaps was even common. We follow a boy / young man who becomes a partisan soldier at the start of the movie and then quickly finds himself in a world torn by war. It is a bleak movie, but not always so. The first third or so especially has some occasional comedy and fun characters. As the movie progresses, things go from bad to worse.
Something that is amazing about this film is lots of truly striking imagery and just crazy scenes. Just on the strength of those things, the movie is riveting. Add to that fine acting and the movie's ability to convey a sort of atmosphere and existentialism and dread that would be hard to put in words, it definitely earns its classic status. From the very start, you know you're watching something special.
It's also a movie you couldn't make today. Especially in the second half, there's sometimes just mayhem on the screen with lots of people, things blowing up, animals being bothered, children crying. It seems like a dangerous set at times, but the realism is great. Unfortunately, there is some animal cruelty in this movie, but at least it's not as sadistic as it is in, say, the exploitative Cannibal Holocaust.
I'm not sure I'll ever watch it again, but I can't recommend it enough to those who can stomach a bleak WW2 film.
:4.5stars:
I saw the 2017 restored version which really has lovely pictures. I know this restoration won some prizes, so it's probably the definite version.
Mac and Me (1988)
We got home from dinner last night and the mister was in the mood to watch a real stinker. He couldn't think of anything so it was on me to suggest something. I scanned Wikipedia's "worst movies ever" list and asked him if he'd ever seen Mac and Me. He gave me the exact response I had hoped for.
"Never heard of it."
If you're not familiar, Mac and Me is basically an E.T. ripoff that is infamous for its blatant and shameless product placement for McDonald's. It was an absolute joy watching the mister's expressions turn from mild confusion to disgust to being utterly dumbfounded at this "film" as it turned from shitty but mostly seemingly innocuous knockoff kids movie to a straight up McDonald's commercial. It absolutely made my night the moment where it really sank in and Mr. Waffles said, with more disdain than I've ever heard that man express:
"Oh my god, is that why they call it 'MAC' and me?!"
We've seen so many horrible films together that it's actually really rare that anything really breaks him these days, so that was certainly an unforgettable experience.
^Holy crap, I've only seen pics from Mac and Me and it looks atrocious.
I saw this GREAT movie yesterday:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOGE0N2U2YzItM2NmNy00YTE1LWE1ZjktNWRlMWFhYTQzNzgzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_.jpg)
I believe it's from 1994 and that it's Todd Solondz breakthrough movie. I've seen his movie Happiness a couple of times and am very fond of it. It's tragically funny and goes to places where few filmmakers dare tread, even tackling pedophilia pretty head on. Hence, I was fairly sure that Welcome to the Dollhouse was going to be tragically funny as well as controversial.
My assumption was pretty much spot on. This is awkward pre-teen comedy at its most awkward. For some reason I don't quite understand, there's something funny about watching some poor innocent person never catching a break 😄 Dawn Wiener, our protagonist, kinda fits that bill. Everything she does seems to backfire and any victory she might find seems short lived. Heather Matarazzo was 11 when she played this, about the same age as her character, and she does a great job. A fun cast supports her.
I'm also impressed with how Solondz seems to "get" a certain type of very young person. A lot of these awkward interactions feel very genuine, even though they're very weird.
I don't think it's for everyone, but I loved it and haven't laughed this much watching a movie in a long time.
:4stars:
Today I saw The Lives of Others from 2006.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81LoE+rY+sL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg)
It's a german thriller that takes place in socialist and totalitarian East Germany at the start of the 80s. It's a world where the eyes and ears of the Stasi secret police can be anywhere through surveillance and anyone can be an informant. It's a world where making the wrong comment during a lunch break can lead to grueling interrogations and torture.
I don't want to spoil the movie, but suffice to say it's well crafted, engaging and rightly considered a classic. I also greatly appreciate a glimpse into what life might have been like in East Germany before the wall came down.
I think most people would enjoy it so it's a pretty safe recommendation. For me, it plays it a bit straight. I want more weirdness in my movies 🙂 hence, I'd rate it:
:3.5stars:
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Jun 05, 2023, 01:22 PMMac and Me (1988)
Haha, I remember when that movie came out, but I didn't see it until a few years ago. Truly a terrible movie.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jun 06, 2023, 12:29 AMI saw this GREAT movie yesterday:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOGE0N2U2YzItM2NmNy00YTE1LWE1ZjktNWRlMWFhYTQzNzgzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_.jpg)
I haven't seen that movie since the 90s, but I really liked it at the time. It really captures a unique kind of awkward, disturbing tragicomedy.
I'm game for Welcome to the Dollhouse. Loved Happiness and a film about a girl's awkward upbringing will be easy to sell to the other half
Quote from: jadis on Jun 06, 2023, 08:58 AMI'm game for Welcome to the Dollhouse. Loved Happiness and a film about a girl's awkward upbringing will be easy to sell to the other half
If you liked Happiness, I'm pretty sure you'd like Welcome to the Dollhouse too :)
Today I saw Benny's Video:
(https://fr.web.img3.acsta.net/pictures/210/515/21051540_2013102212371282.jpg)
It is a fairly sterile and bleak german drama movie from 1992 by Michael Haneke that tells the story of a psychopathic teenager whose obsession with films and filming things might be a metaphor for his detachment to human nature. It's also about his parents who, without spoiling too much, eventually have to deal with their son's misdeeds.
It is occasionally an uncomfortable watch, even right from the start as the movie opens with a real movie of a pig getting killed with a bolt gun. This is of course one of Benny's home videos. Later violence is sparse and happens off-screen, but there's something about how there's no creepy music, there's no narration, little camera movement. We're just flies on the wall quietly watching the life of this psychopath. There's no rush and scenes are often quite long. It's like a quiet nightmare. Really, kudos to Haneke for the clinical way this movie is put together. The way he shoots his scenes and put this movie together definitely creates an uncomfortable mood.
While Haneke seems very proficient, it unfortunately doesn't make for a very entertaining watch. In a sense, it feels like a film students film. It might be interesting to analyse from a methodical standpoint. But as someone looking for entertainment, I would prefer the clumsy poetry of a Von Trier movie or just something a bit faster paced.
:3stars:
I haven't watched much Haneke yet, but I did like (and prefer) The Piano Teacher.
Welcome to the Dollhouse is fucking great. Like guybrush says, it's wonderful how it's simultaneuously so over the top and at the same time the most real depiction of early teenage misery
Also the bit with the band of kids playing in the garage is fantastic and somehow has become a vital part of my views on amateur music
Quote from: Marie Monday on Jun 08, 2023, 10:47 PMAlso the bit with the band of kids playing in the garage is fantastic and somehow has become a vital part of my views on amateur music
It's the most I've laughed watching a movie in a long time. Their instruments are like a clarinet, a synth and a drumkit :laughing: that is brilliantly funny.
Last time I saw this was about 20 years ago, so I figured it was time for a rewatch; Sam Raimi's Darkman:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/Darkman_film_poster.jpg)
I didn't actually like it that much the first time I watched it, but I thought perhaps I'd appreciate it more this time around.
The premise is kinda cool. You have this Robocop-ish start where he gets all fucked up by the bad guys. He survives, but becomes a homeless, vigilante burn victim wrapped in bandages. His super power is being super emotional (including rage) and, because he's also is a scientist working on skin grafts, he makes super realistic masks so he can impersonate others. Never mind that he is played by Liam Neeson who's a tall guy with some very prominent features (honk, honk) :-X .
The movie has good casting in Neeson and Frances McDormand. They both perform well, especially Neeson's tormented protagonist. Unfortunately, the movie and titular character never get quite as epic as the poster / cover art suggests. There's also a lot of wonky green screens and the big action scenes aren't all that interesting, even though he's hanging from a helicopter like supercop at some point.
Raimi has fun direction at times, but this movie feels overly ambitious compared to the end result. It's still passably entertaining and worth checking out for the curious.
:3stars:
@Guybrush I saw
Darkman in the theater as a 13 year old and loved it. I watched it again college, when I knew a lot more about Sam Raimi movies (and also knew who Neeson and McDormand were) and I'd say I liked it a little less but understood it a lot more.
I doubt that Darkman or Spiderman or any of that would be up my alley but Raimi's Simple Plan (1998) is a really beautiful film. Broke my bleeding heart!
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FtXIThkaIAEUMNf.jpg)
Quote from: Guybrush on Jun 07, 2023, 11:40 PMToday I saw Benny's Video:
(https://fr.web.img3.acsta.net/pictures/210/515/21051540_2013102212371282.jpg)
It is a fairly sterile and bleak german drama movie from 1992 by Michael Haneke that tells the story of a psychopathic teenager whose obsession with films and filming things might be a metaphor for his detachment to human nature. It's also about his parents who, without spoiling too much, eventually have to deal with their son's misdeeds.
It is occasionally an uncomfortable watch, even right from the start as the movie opens with a real movie of a pig getting killed with a bolt gun. This is of course one of Benny's home videos. Later violence is sparse and happens off-screen, but there's something about how there's no creepy music, there's no narration, little camera movement. We're just flies on the wall quietly watching the life of this psychopath. There's no rush and scenes are often quite long. It's like a quiet nightmare. Really, kudos to Haneke for the clinical way this movie is put together. The way he shoots his scenes and put this movie together definitely creates an uncomfortable mood.
While Haneke seems very proficient, it unfortunately doesn't make for a very entertaining watch. In a sense, it feels like a film students film. It might be interesting to analyse from a methodical standpoint. But as someone looking for entertainment, I would prefer the clumsy poetry of a Von Trier movie or just something a bit faster paced.
:3stars:
I haven't watched much Haneke yet, but I did like (and prefer) The Piano Teacher.
I
love La Pianiste. I think he absolutely nailed the darkest pathologies of the world of classical music (I like the French title cause it refers to her obviously frustrated aspiration of being a concert pianist)
Benny's Video too. I love every frame. The scenes in Egypt are devastating.
I think your review of this Austrian film is very perceptive. I'd say the video thing is more than a metaphor in the sense that it's completely central to the world inhabited by the characters. On me it had a very powerful effect but everyone experiences these things differently
Quote from: Guybrush on Jun 09, 2023, 12:25 AMIt's the most I've laughed watching a movie in a long time. Their instruments are like a clarinet, a synth and a drumkit :laughing: that is brilliantly funny.
Last time I saw this was about 20 years ago, so I figured it was time for a rewatch; Sam Raimi's Darkman:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/Darkman_film_poster.jpg)
I need to re-watch this. I feel like I was waaaay too young to understand it when I first saw it. Similar to Dark City. I need to re-watch that as well.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jun 10, 2023, 03:10 PMI need to re-watch this. I feel like I was waaaay too young to understand it when I first saw it. Similar to Dark City. I need to re-watch that as well.
I'd say both are flawed movies with interesting premises 🤔 Dark City is the better one of the two, I think.
Just saw this one:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/412P0SEY9JL.jpg)
Michael Mann's Manhunter from 1986.
It's pretty good and has some interesting trivia attached to it. It's a serious thriller about a retired FBI profiler, Will Graham, being pulled back in to investigate the up and coming serial killer nicknamed The Tooth Fairy. Along the way, Will seeks out help from his nemesis, the incarcerated Dr. Lecther.
This is the first film adaptation of Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lechter books. Specifically, this is an adaptation of Red Dragon, a book which was also used for the 2002 adaptation of the same name. Lechter isn't portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in this movie, but by Brian Cox, which is a little strange. He does an okay job, although not quite as creepy as Hopkins.
Supposedly, directing duties were offered to David Lynch who thought the script too violent. It went to Michael Mann instead who seems to have taken the job very seriously, including spending time with FBI profilers and taking some inspiration from his many years correspondence with convicted murderer Dennis Wayne Wallace. The end result is smart and exciting and not actually all that violent. Rather it is a slow burn like some of the later movie adaptations. I'd rate it:
:3.5stars:
If you're going to watch the Hannibal series - unless you read Thomas Harris, this movie might actually be a good start as it gives a rough background for Will Graham and Hannibal Lechter.
Wee Sing in Sillyville (1989)
Another week, another slice of children's schlock, though this one I actually grew up with. I don't think I'd seen this since around 1995-96 or so, it was a real blast from the past.
I'm actually kind of unsure of how well-known this series is, but if you're not familiar, it was a series of VHS "films" released in the 80s and 90s. My sister and I had at least four or five of them, and this one I think was my favorite as a kid. The videos were hour long musical romps featuring a bunch of public domain folk songs, children's songs, etc.
My sincere thanks to the man of the house for humoring me with my request to watch this, when I first approached him with the idea he looked at me like a deer in the headlights, as he was not familiar with this or the series. But roasting kids' media is a pastime of ours, and we ended up having a great evening. It all came back to me once I started watching it, I remembered nearly every scene. I must have been around 4 or 5 when in first saw this.
The plot revolves around two hapless children who are sucked into a magical world where four different colored tribes of equally whimsically obnoxious characters all hate each other and they must learn to overcome their prejudices and work together, or something. These tribes all sing traditional songs in pretty corny musical numbers.
I would not recommend watching this unless you actually did so as a kid or you are highly inebriated, which applied to myself and Mr. Waffles, respectively. I'm sure to any sober adult with no connection to it it would seem like a freakish 80s fever dream. But to me, it was a fun relic of my childhood to revisit and seeing the mister's incredulous reactions was a great way to do that.
Quote from: jadis on Jun 09, 2023, 03:19 PMI doubt that Darkman or Spiderman or any of that would be up my alley but Raimi's Simple Plan (1998) is a really beautiful film. Broke my bleeding heart!
Never seen this one 🤔 thanks for the tip!
Last movie I saw was this one:
(https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/films/10c53181d56d265d297a7d6f28476eca/Pkd3UjO6PDGkR5W60DoGQwdlXTLdDr_large.jpg)
The Korean drama movie Secret Sunshine from 2007 by director Lee Chan-Dong.
I don't want to spoil it but, it's a drama about grief and tackling it and the role religion can play in that. It has some very insightful criticism regarding faith and forgiveness that have been bugging me for years, but that I rarely see come up.
It is superbly acted by the lead in a role that seems extremely demanding. Those with short attention spans who don't like dramas probably wouldn't like this, but I found it very engaging.
:4stars:
Saw this thing:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNmFkN2M2NzItOTY5YS00MmE2LTk3ZjctNTk2YzQ5ZmRiYzJjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjkwOTAyMDU@._V1_.jpg)
It's not bad, yet there's plenty not to like about it.
If you're also a little late to this, you may wonder WHAT it is. It's actually a Forgotten Realms fantasy movie centered on the Sword coast and Neverwinter that features some usual D&D tropes along with Faerun specifics like elk tribe barbarians, harpers, Elminster, Szass Tam, etc.
The good is it's fairly entertaining throughout. The actors are okay and it was fun to see Hugh Grant back on the screen and in a role that was fun and kinda suited him.
The bad is it feels like Disney made a D&D movie like they might have made a Marvel movie. While the story has some surprising and imaginative turns that I enjoyed, it does seem predictable in its basic narrative structure and a little superficial. It's more Princess Bride than Lord of the Rings.
To me, it doesn't feel like quite the right tone for a Forgotten Realms movie, but then again you probably can't treat it like it's early seasons of Game of Thrones either.
At least it's fun and I enjoyed it a lot more than the latest Ant-Man movie. If you're an old D&D/Forgotten Realms nerd like me, just don't take it seriously and you'll probably enjoy it.
:3.5stars:
But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)
Watched this the other night at the mister's request. He thought it would be important for us to watch together; as much as we kind of appropriate very heteronormative gender roles in our own relationship, we both strongly identify with LGBT identity. He first watched it when he was a teenager, but I had never seen it.
I didn't know much about this movie going in honestly. I remember seeing it in the video rental store in the early 2000s and thinking it was probably one of those corny turn-of-the-millennium teen comedies. I became aware that it was focused on gay issues at some point, but I was mostly going in blind.
It was a great experience, I really liked that it was ultimately positive and uplifting in spite of its generally heavy subject matter that hits home for a lot of us LGBT people. I really did almost tear up at the end. As someone who resented the masculine gender roles pushed on me from a young age (and in my case eventually came to terms with it through veering to the extreme in the other direction and embracing hyperfemininity, lol) I really think the message of this movie is important. Not everything in it works, and it's got some stuff that was a product of the time, but ultimately I don't see it as taking the tragic horror of conversion therapy lightly, rather illustrating how fucking ridiculous enforced gender and sexual conformity is and always has been in a satisfyingly cathartic way.
I'm not a lesbian, but I think anyone who is LGBT, queer, GNC, acespec, or just desires to be true to themselves can find something to relate to in this movie. My only regret is that the mister didn't make me watch it sooner.
(https://i.postimg.cc/6pVGL1DR/The-Satan-Bug-1965.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jD55Rvqd)
The Satan Bug (1965)
60's sci-fi/crime/suspense thriller about a deadly virus created in a top-secret lab which goes missing after a scientist at the lab is murdered. Starring George Maharis along with a cast of familiar stars of the time like Richard Basehart, Anne Francis, Dana Andrews and Ed Asner, among several others.
:3.5stars:
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Jun 25, 2023, 01:11 PM(https://i.postimg.cc/6pVGL1DR/The-Satan-Bug-1965.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jD55Rvqd)
The Satan Bug (1965)
60's sci-fi/crime/suspense thriller about a deadly virus created in a top-secret lab which goes missing after a scientist at the lab is murdered. Starring George Maharis along with a cast of familiar stars of the time like Richard Basehart, Anne Francis, Dana Andrews and Ed Asner, among several others.
:3.5stars:
Lou Grant is THE SATAN BUG
Quote from: Guybrush on Jun 18, 2023, 11:51 PMSaw this thing:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNmFkN2M2NzItOTY5YS00MmE2LTk3ZjctNTk2YzQ5ZmRiYzJjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjkwOTAyMDU@._V1_.jpg)
It's not bad, yet there's plenty not to like about it.
If you're also a little late to this, you may wonder WHAT it is. It's actually a Forgotten Realms fantasy movie centered on the Sword coast and Neverwinter that features some usual D&D tropes along with Faerun specifics like elk tribe barbarians, harpers, Elminster, Szass Tam, etc.
The good is it's fairly entertaining throughout. The actors are okay and it was fun to see Hugh Grant back on the screen and in a role that was fun and kinda suited him.
The bad is it feels like Disney made a D&D movie like they might have made a Marvel movie. While the story has some surprising and imaginative turns that I enjoyed, it does seem predictable in its basic narrative structure and a little superficial. It's more Princess Bride than Lord of the Rings.
To me, it doesn't feel like quite the right tone for a Forgotten Realms movie, but then again you probably can't treat it like it's early seasons of Game of Thrones either.
At least it's fun and I enjoyed it a lot more than the latest Ant-Man movie. If you're an old D&D/Forgotten Realms nerd like me, just don't take it seriously and you'll probably enjoy it.
:3.5stars:
I loved this movie so much. I took my wife to see it and she loved it too without knowing all the references that was happening. I'm a D&D head so I recognized a lot of them but I didn't notice what campaign it was supposed to be from like you did. This is the best D&D movie ever made imo.
Not a huge DND fan (I've played before years ago but ultimately I don't think it was for me) but the 2000 DND film is a personal favorite. It's fantasy ridiculousness that hits all the right sweet spots of entertaining cheese. And Jeremy Irons gives an incredible and fittingly over the top performance as the villain.
Judging by you guys' praise, the new one sounds up my alley though. I love fun Princess Bride style fantasy and I love Hugh Grant and didn't know he was in it.
Might have to suggest it next time we do a movie night.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Jun 25, 2023, 04:11 PMJudging by you guys' praise, the new one sounds up my alley though. I love fun Princess Bride style fantasy and I love Hugh Grant and didn't know he was in it.
Might have to suggest it next time we do a movie night.
It is entertaining 🙂
I think the only things that will stop people from enjoying it entirely would either movie snobbery or D&D snobbery.
I do a bit of both, but just a little bit as I'm also somewhat self-aware and try not to lean too hard into that side of me. Most people should enjoy it 🙂
Edit:
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jun 25, 2023, 03:59 PMI'm a D&D head so I recognized a lot of them but I didn't notice what campaign it was supposed to be from like you did.
D&D was a huge part of my childhood and formative years and while I no longer play it, I've read all of the Drizzt novels 😄
I also used to DM Forgotten Realms campaigns.
Entrapment
1999
I saw this yesterday:
(https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2F5BNAY/the-wolf-house-aka-la-casa-lobo-poster-2018-kimstim-films-courtesy-everett-collection-2F5BNAY.jpg)
Also known as La Casa Lobo. I believe it is a Chilean film from 2020. If you like dark animation like Jan Svankmajer (yes please) or the recently tackled Mad God by Phil Tippett, this might be right up your alley.
The story is hard to piece together, but it is a fairytale about Maria, an escapee from some cult. She isolates herself in a house in a forest, hiding from a wolf. In the house are two pigs that she turn into humans, Ana and Pedro, and then start improving them, like turning them into blonde haired, blue eyed aryans. There's a lot of fairytale tropes and some cult/nazi themes and imagery.
It was inspired by Colonia Dignidad, a german cult community located in Chile that looked nice from the outside, but was also set up by a probable nazi as, among other things, a place to torture people and rape children. These themes are not explicitly present in the movie, but there is a dark tone to it and parts of it are nightmarish, although I wouldn't call it scary.
The best thing about it, imo, is the animation which is done in such a unique way. The frames are sometimes just painted on the walls of the house and while the style is rough, such an incredible amount of work must have gone into this.
It's a little sad that the movie also feels confusing and I found it a little hard to engage with in an emotional sense. I was just a spectator, but the visuals here are remarkable and they alone make this worth checking out.
:3.5stars:
Saw this movie, 19 Cloverfield Lane from 2016, as it was recommended to me by a colleague.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjEzMjczOTIxMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTUwMjI3NzE@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
It's a very small cast of about 5 people I believe and is a thriller set in the Cloverfield universe. I won't spoil it too much, but most of the movie takes place in a survivalist's homemade bunker.
I saw Cloverfield from 2008 when that was fresh, but honestly can't remember much from it other than it was this Godzilla-ish movie filmed pov style with a handheld camera.
I'm not that fond of disaster movies, so I think this one suited me more. It was entertaining and has an interesting ending with some cool scenes.
:3.5stars:
Mary Elizabeth Winstead does a good job as a comely lead and it was nice to see John Goodman again as he plays the survivalist Howard.
I also wanted to see the 1992 Clint Eastwood movie Unforgiven from 1992 whether or not it's a pick for the SCD film club :P
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f-Rz_STYgO8/movieposter.jpg)
This is a classic, of course, and won 4 Oscars - among them best picture from 1992. I remember seeing parts of it before, but that must've been back in the 90s.
The story feels familiar and contains quite a few cliches, like Eastwood's retired and reformed outlaw/gunslinger who goes back to his warrior ways to do one last job. But there are also a few surprises here and there and the movie is entertaining from start to finish.
The supporting cast of Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris (!) are all good. Hackman even got an Oscar for his portrayal of sheriff Little Bill.
I enjoyed it!
:4stars:
I've also never seen anyone fall down as many times in a movie as Clint does here. Maybe Buster Keaton.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jun 28, 2023, 03:27 PMWhat did you think about it?
not bad, remeber seeing it many years ago, Nothing special but entertaining
I saw the latest installment of Transformers.
Transformers Rise of the Beasts. I was a little bit late to my showing so I didn't realize it was set in the 90s. The main reason the soundtrack was so dope is because of that fact. They wanted to build off of the Bumblebee movie that was set in the 80s by doing this one set in the 90s. I loved it for what it was. A good summer blockbuster popcorn flick. Can't wait to see what they do next based off of the end credit scene.
:4stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Jun 29, 2023, 11:57 PMSaw this movie, 19 Cloverfield Lane from 2016, as it was recommended to me by a colleague.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjEzMjczOTIxMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTUwMjI3NzE@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
It's a very small cast of about 5 people I believe and is a thriller set in the Cloverfield universe. I won't spoil it too much, but most of the movie takes place in a survivalist's homemade bunker.
I saw Cloverfield from 2008 when that was fresh, but honestly can't remember much from it other than it was this Godzilla-ish movie filmed pov style with a handheld camera.
I'm not that fond of disaster movies, so I think this one suited me more. It was entertaining and has an interesting ending with some cool scenes.
:3.5stars:
Mary Elizabeth Winstead does a good job as a comely lead and it was nice to see John Goodman again as he plays the survivalist Howard.
Have you seen The Decline on Netflix (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-first-netflix-film-1.5488571)? It's set in a survivalist camp and it's pretty good imo
Quote from: jadis on Jun 30, 2023, 08:42 PMHave you seen The Decline on Netflix (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-first-netflix-film-1.5488571)? It's set in a survivalist camp and it's pretty good imo
I haven't seen it, but I'll add it to my mental list.
Thanks for the recommendation!
In some hours, we'll be going on our vacation to Denmark with my parents, brothers and sister and their kids and partners.
On the off chance that we might wanna watch a movie together, at least some of us, I'm bringing the following on a small thumb drive:
- Dead Alive
- Forbidden Zone
- Harold and Maude
- The Wicker Man
- Threads
I may have forgot some 🤔
Anyways, there should be something in there for everyone 😅
Pound Puppies: The Legend of Big Paw (1988)
The mister and I enjoy sharing movies from our respective childhoods to roast and riff on, especially those that one of us grew up with but the other didn't. He's a bit older than me and thus grew up with more things from the late 80s and early 90s that were before my time, and I grew up with some kids media from the mid to late 90s that he was definitely too old for. We refer to that three year difference as "the gulf betwixt us", and one example of it was this movie, based on a toy line, because of course it was, it was the 80s.
This movie is pretty delightfully silly honestly. I don't think it's great for a kids movie, but there's nothing too hideously obnoxious. We got a kick out of all the copyright friendly references to classic songs from the 50s, the villain (hilariously named "McNasty") was delightfully flamboyant, and I personally loved how the movie just treats humans and dogs being able to communicate as the most normal fact of life in the world. Mr. Waffles said he never thought about that as a kid, and if there's one thing we both love, it's destroying our own childhood magic and wonder like the sassy jaded 30 somethings we are.
I would never watch this on my own time, and the same goes for any kids movie I did not experience as a kid, really (the real joke is me having an hour of free time, lol). But I'm glad I got to have this experience.
Not a movie but it's connected to a movie...
Repo Man Filming LocationsOne of my all-time favorite flicks. Interesting to see how many of the locations have changed and how some still look much the same.
Digimon: The Movie (2000)
Welp, it was my choice for movie night last night, and boy was my pick an absolute doozy. Okay, so remember when I was talking about stuff that I grew up with but Mr. Waffles was too old for? One of those things was Digimon. I was 10 when the original show came out and I was a huge fan for a couple years. My first ever pieces of writing I put online were Digimon fanfics back in 2000-2001. I saw this movie in theaters, and even back then I was confused at its bizarre pacing and stitched-together storyline. The man of the house, on the other hand, had zero familiarity with the entire franchise. He just thought it was a Pokemon ripoff and never watched any of it. This movie is so unwanted by anyone that it's not on streaming services and we had to watch an upload on archive dot org of all places.
I gotta say, I kinda regret my choice for last night's movie. The entire time Mr. Waffles was just sitting there with a kind of dumbfounded look on his face like "you wrote fanfiction about this? and I tried to explain to him that the actual show was good. It didn't matter, this movie was not only bad for a first introduction to Digimon, it's also really bad for us fans, and a big reason for that is that it was originally three separate movies that the American editors Frankensteined into one poorly paced mishmash. It's not even so insanely dumb or egregiously low-brow that we can make fun of it like we do our usual favorite movies to roast. And if I, a (once) huge Digimon fan finds it that awful, you can probably imagine how utterly unamused Mr. Waffles was.
I almost want to make a formal apology to the mister for the complete sugarshow that occurred last night. The only amusing thing about this movie was the hilariously dated inclusion of popular hits of the day, including Fatboy Slim, The Barenaked Ladies, and of course, the obligatory Smash Mouth.
I give this movie a negative billion out of ten. I think I can speak for both of us when I say our lives are now just a teensy bit worse after having this experience.
Ghost in the Shell. The live action one with Scarlett Johansson.
It was fine. Neat to look at.
I'm not a big anime guy but the anime was better.
Rewatched Hanake's Caché on my laptop. What can you even say. Wonderful film, confronting us with heaps of ambiguities about the past and the present and technology and ourselves that we want to resolve but can't.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bL3JcJRVKeo/TS8wGCg6R1I/AAAAAAAAJPY/bD33mWuDr5U/s1600/cache15.jpg)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/86/Flamin_hot_film.png)
Flamin' Hot
Rags-to-riches biopic about the guy who invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos. It's not mind blowing, but it's very upbeat and heartwarming and it doesn't take itself too seriously. I enjoyed it.
Been meaning to watch Flamin Hot
I didn't know about that movie. We should probably watch it, Mr. Waffles loves using Flamin' Hot Cheetos as an instrument of punishment for me so I'm sure it would be a good watch.
Saw this:
(https://www.indiewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/rebel-without-a-cause.jpg)
Which I've known about forever, but which I hadn't really seen before today. I've seen stills and clips over the years, but never the whole thing.
I read The Disaster Artist about Tommy Wiseau and the production of his 2003 movie The Room. Of course Tommy found lots of inspiration in James Dean and Rebel.. so that made me want to check it out. And of course it's always been there as one of the classics I hadn't seen.
It is funny because I can, in retrospect, see some of Tommy's attempted mimicry. You're tearing me apart!! Jim, Judy and Plato's dynamic in Rebel is somewhat similar to Johnny, Lisa and Denny's dynamic in The Room, etc.
The story of Rebel.. was a bit messy and lackluster, I thought. We never really see the conflict between protagonist Jim and the gang resolve. The ending seems to be more about Plato, etc.
What makes it special are the performances which are very good and fun to watch. Natalie Wood is great as Judy and James Dean is magnetic and steals every scene, even if he isn't very convincing as a high schooler.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jul 14, 2023, 02:08 AMSaw this:
(https://www.indiewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/rebel-without-a-cause.jpg)
Which I've known about forever, but which I hadn't really seen before today. I've seen stills and clips over the years, but never the whole thing.
I read The Disaster Artist about Tommy Wiseau and the production of his 2003 movie The Room. Of course Tommy found lots of inspiration in James Dean and Rebel.. so that made me want to check it out. And of course it's always been there as one of the classics I hadn't seen.
It is funny because I can, in retrospect, see some of Tommy's attempted mimicry. You're tearing me apart!! Jim, Judy and Plato's dynamic in Rebel is somewhat similar to Johnny, Lisa and Denny's dynamic in The Room, etc.
The story of Rebel.. was a bit messy and lackluster, I thought. We never really see the conflict between protagonist Jim and the gang resolve. The ending seems to be more about Plato, etc.
What makes it special are the performances which are very good and fun to watch. Natalie Wood is great as Judy and James Dean is magnetic and steals every scene, even if he isn't very convincing as a high schooler.
I love that movie. It's amazing to me how they managed to get that much gay subtext into a movie in 1955.
Quote from: Janszoon on Jul 14, 2023, 04:57 AMI love that movie. It's amazing to me how they managed to get that much gay subtext into a movie in 1955.
Yes, it is interesting that Plato seems to be very confused, poor guy. And really, who wouldn't be gay for JD? 😄
Saw A Streetcar Named Desire from 1951.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/A_Streetcar_Named_Desire_%281951%29.jpg)
Another one of those movies that it feels like anyone slightly interested in movies should've seen, but that I just didn't quite get around to (I also haven't seen Ben Hur or Lawrence of Arabia).
You've probably seen it, but if you haven't, it's based on a play by Tennessee Williams. The fanciful Blanche - who's given to flights of fancy and who likes poetry, gentlemen and fine clothes - is destitute, has to face reality and moves in with her sister Stella in skid row (or "the Quarter"). Stella also happens to be married with Blanche's complete opposite, the uncouth, brutish, impulsive and occasionally cruel Stanley.
It's a social drama with some great dialogue - really well written. The most magnetic performance is given by Marlon Brando as Stanley. He was quite handsome in his young age, though his character is occasionally despicable.
Kim Hunter is also great as Stella and Vivien Leigh is a really good Blanche. The latter has, by far, the most screentime.
While the performances are good, it did drag a little and I couldn't help but feel a little annoyed with Blanche as she retreats further into her fantasies and refuses to deal with the real world. She also reminds me somewhat of Diane from Cheers.
Still a good movie. Like Rebel.. which I forgot to rate, I'd say for me it's a:
:3.5stars:
And probably deserving of more.
Quote from: jadis on Jul 10, 2023, 03:43 PMRewatched Hanake's Caché on my laptop. What can you even say. Wonderful film, confronting us with heaps of ambiguities about the past and the present and technology and ourselves that we want to resolve but can't.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bL3JcJRVKeo/TS8wGCg6R1I/AAAAAAAAJPY/bD33mWuDr5U/s1600/cache15.jpg)
Rethinking this one ever so slightly. A brilliantly done film, for sure, but not necessarily any longer buying the stuff I said about "heaps of ambiguities"... Maybe it's not as interesting as that after all.
Quote from: jadis on Jul 15, 2023, 03:19 PMRethinking this one ever so slightly. A brilliantly done film, for sure, but not necessarily any longer buying the stuff I said about "heaps of ambiguities"... Maybe it's not as interesting as that after all.
I've not seen Cache myself, but have some Haneke movies on my to-do list.
You wouldn't happen to be a fan of Rainer Werner Fassbinder?
Quote from: Guybrush on Jul 16, 2023, 08:19 AMI've not seen Cache myself, but have some Haneke movies on my to-do list.
You wouldn't happen to be a fan of Rainer Werner Fassbinder?
Haven't seen anything by him yet somehow though I've always wanted to watch his versions of Nabokov's Despair and Genet's Querelle de Brest.
Also I remember when a friend of mine who worked at the uni media library took out the Berlin Alexanderplatz boxset for a couple of weekends and was inviting me to join him and other friends and watch the whole thing but I had other things to do. We watched lots of films in his apartment back then but with Fassbinder it wasn't to be.
There's also this, by one of my favorite filmmakers, that only made me want to watch his stuff even more and I
still haven't gone around to it
We're just dipping our toes in his filmography ourselves 🙂
Last movie we saw was Fassbinder's Angst essen Seele auf (or "Fear Eats the Soul" in purposefully incorrect German grammar) from 1974.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ5YzM4MGMtYzIwZS00MjliLTg5NDUtZTUxYjJhNTI1NDU3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjUwMTQ4NjE@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
It's a romance / drama about an older German woman and a younger Moroccan male immigrant who get romantically entangled. There's a lot of pressure on their relationship, both external (wow are people casually racist) and internal. Overall, I felt the tone of the movie was uplifting.
I wanted to see it for a few reasons. The main one was because many think highly of it. I also thought it seemed interesting thematically and I caught on to the fact that El Hedi Salem (who plays Ali) was Fassbinder's partner at the time of filming. They later broke up the same year the movie came out. After that, Salem's alcoholism worsened and he stabbed (!) a few people. Fassbinder and others helped him to escape to France where he eventually hanged himself in jail in 1977, if I remember correctly. So.. there seems to be some crazy story related to this.
As for the movie, I liked it a lot. The actors were good. The story was unique and might be considered social realism for how it portrays and criticizes the racist attitudes of that time. It's also a great look into what Germany was like in the early 70s.
My wife is half German and really loved this and wants to see more german films, so I'm sure we're not done with Fassbinder or Haneke yet.
For myself and just rating how entertained I felt, I'd rate it:
:3.5stars:
By the way, we also recently rewatched The Room from 2003. I assume you all know it.
(https://images.justwatch.com/poster/176218423/s592/the-room-2003)
When Lisa tells her mother that Johnny had plans to adopt the severely weird and creepy Denny, my brain exploded. I completely lost it. It is so utterly stupid, I had this fit where I was laughing so hard and crying to the point where I was slightly worried I would pass out from a lack of oxygen. I couldn't breathe. I'd forgotten this adoption detail since our previous viewing and it caught me by surprise. Holy shit, I haven't laughed like that in years. 😄
I also noticed this time around how the script seems like it was written by a very cheap AI.
Man is The Room bad.. and in the best way possible.
:4.5stars:
Essential viewing!
(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/chrisnolan/images/2/25/OppenheimerOfficialPoster.jpg)
Saw Oppenheimer 🙂
Very good movie. It seems it did everything right.
Slight spoilers!!
For myself, I was more interested in the development of the bomb, the physics, the consequences for the Japanese people after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the heavy water sabotage ops, the demon core and Cecil Kelley accidents, etc. There was a little less of such things and more about a sorta prosecution of Oppenheimer and whether or not he was a traitor. So it was about the drama surrounding him more than those other interesting things related or connected to him, which is definitely understandable.
For me, it was a: :4stars:
I'd be up for a 4 hours director's cut implementing some of the stuff I missed 😄
Not a fan of Nolan but might watch it, if only because I have a general interest in mid-century US history. A very smart historian told me he thought Dunkirk was good fwiw.
Not to be a cliché but my favorite film by him is the low budget debut, Following (1998). A very smart and memorable thriller. Even more than Memento imo.
After that he did a really bad remake of one of my favorite films, Insomnia (1997), a Norwegian masterpiece set in Tromsø. And the Dark Batman stuff was very silly imo, though I guess the one with Heath Ledger is a decent action film. The less said about Inception the better.
Quote from: jadis on Jul 22, 2023, 08:03 AMNot a fan of Nolan but might watch it, if only because I have a general interest in mid-century US history. A very smart historian told me he thought Dunkirk was good fwiw.
Not to be a cliché but my favorite film by him is the low budget debut, Following (1998). A very smart and memorable thriller. Even more than Memento imo.
After that he did a really bad remake of one of my favorite films, Insomnia (1997), a Norwegian masterpiece set in Tromsø. And the Dark Batman stuff was very silly imo, though I guess the one with Heath Ledger is a decent action film. The less said about Inception the better.
Adding Following to my watch list but I highly doubt it will top Memento.
Nolan's batman trilogy is top notch the only thing I hated was Bale's batman voice lol.
What's your beef with Inception?
Go on a rant and be very specific.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jul 22, 2023, 11:02 AMAdding Following to my watch list but I highly doubt it will top Memento.
Nolan's batman trilogy is top notch the only thing I hated was Bale's batman voice lol.
What's your beef with Inception?
Go on a rant and be very specific.
I need to rewatch Memento, I saw it once with friends and was probably not super focused but remember I had a positive impression. I like the main actor, the other Australian guy from LA Confidential.
What I love about Following is the tone and look. Looks nothing like his other stuff.
All I remember of Inception is that I thought it was very silly and probably a tech bro's idea of an "art film."
In general, his films are not for me
Quote from: jadis on Jul 22, 2023, 11:56 AMI need to rewatch Memento, I saw it once with friends and was probably not super focused but remember I had a positive impression. I like the main actor, the other Australian guy from LA Confidential.
What I love about Following is the tone and look. Looks nothing like his other stuff.
All I remember of Inception is that I thought it was very silly and probably a tech bro's idea of an "art film."
In general, his films are not for me
I respect your opinion but woof.
Inception and TENET are so good from a cinematography standpoint alone not even touching on the plot itself which I actually love for various reasons.
Your Inception take just seems like a hot take to spit others but if that's how you feel then that's how you feel.
also Guy Pearce is the main actor in Memento. I also like Joey Pants' performance.
I don't do hot takes or adopt opinions based on how anyone would respond to them. I have my own preferences
I walked out of "Oppie" I hated it so much. Such a dude movie imo, relentless pacing with no narrative threads, a slew of characters with which you're given no time to connect, Florence Pugh plays a woman of significant influence and is reduced to 8 minutes of screen time as the naked crazy commie chick. Horrid. A gratuitous celebration of the western hero - each scene praises him as a playboy genius admired by his colleagues (except for that lil communism thing). Here is Oppenheimer, here's his current love interest, here's some quippy, shallow banter, here's his colleagues telling him what a genius he is, rinse & repeat. There's no time for nuance - we've got 30 years to cover in 3 hours!
I was truly looking forward to it from the perspective of a Vonnegut fan girl who's spent considerable time pondering Oppenheimer the human, and I'm truly angered by how badly Nolan botched what could have been and instead made a feature length feel-good film for the history bros. I wish I would've just watched Barbie twice.
Nolan's movie is based on the book American Prometheus and although I haven't read it, just the title already seems kinda like worship.
At least it didn't glorify the heinous bombings and murdering of thousands of civilians in the most horrific ways at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
It seems like everyone I know is recording stories on Instagram about how much they hated it
Feels like a U2 album drop to itunes moment, except people are mad at themselves for taking the bait and going to see it
Quote from: jadis on Jul 22, 2023, 07:38 PMIt seems like everyone I know is recording stories on Instagram about how much they hated it
Feels like a U2 album drop to itunes moment, except people are mad at themselves for taking the bait and going to see it
I think the movie is fine. To some extent it is a hero worship story from way back in the days of the patriarchy. Its cast is mostly dudes playing scientists. Is it going to change your mind about sexuality or feminism or racism etc? Probably not. Is it going to change your mind about Oppenheimer and the Manhattan project? Possibly.
I can see it doesn't bring up the issues people might want to discuss, but expecting that it would also seems like an unfair expectation. The minds and movers of the Manhattan project were mostly white, adult male persons, unfortunately.
And although I haven't seen Barbie (which would have to address at least one of those issues), I assume a lot of people watch them back to back and judge Oppenheimer thusly.
Following was a good one.
I saw The French Dispatch.
I liked it.
Wes Anderson is becoming a parody of himself.
But I liked it.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jul 23, 2023, 04:28 AMI think the movie is fine. To some extent it is a hero worship story from way back in the days of the patriarchy. Its cast is mostly dudes playing scientists. Is it going to change your mind about sexuality or feminism or racism etc? Probably not. Is it going to change your mind about Oppenheimer and the Manhattan project? Possibly.
I can see it doesn't bring up the issues people might want to discuss, but expecting that it would also seems like an unfair expectation. The minds and movers of the Manhattan project were mostly white, adult male persons, unfortunately.
And although I haven't seen Barbie (which would have to address at least one of those issues), I assume a lot of people watch them back to back and judge Oppenheimer thusly.
I don't think anyone's concerned about the film not being diverse or touching on social issues - that wouldn't make any sense.
The problem is that it's ONLY hero worship. It doesn't go deeper than that.
I don't think watching Barbie first influenced my opinion other than one being a movie I thoroughly enjoyed and was immersed in and the other was bland, stale, and underwhelming. Different levels of enjoyment in terms of the watching experience.
We finished this a couple of days ago.
(https://flxt.tmsimg.com/assets/p10487_p_v8_ay.jpg)
Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun which follows a young boy from a wealthy British family Shanghai during the second world War. The Japanese invade and he becomes a prisoner at a Japanese internment camp.
The boy is played by a very young Christian Bale who does a very good job as Jamie Graham. He's supported by a cast that includes John Malkovich and others.
I liked the movie and the performances, although the story wasn't quite my thing. It was interesting to see Bale so young as he'd play in American Psycho ten years later.
:3stars:
Yesterday, we watched Tumbbad
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/pv-target-images/7d580583f656147607331c30f8000c39deef0e033c9bce9c21c01d70b50cefb8._RI_TTW_.jpg)
It's a Bollywood fantasy/horror film that made a splash when it came out in 2018.
The movie has a fairly original story that reminds me of Clive Barker's short stories. It is decently acted, never boring and features some great location and cool imagery.
A slight downside is occasional goofs, weird CGI, but nothing too bad. I'll say the parents also beat their kids a lot and it's a little weird committing so much domestic, casual violence to celluloid.
I couldn't quite get behind all the hype, but I was entertained.
:3.5stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Jul 27, 2023, 09:05 AMWe finished this a couple of days ago.
(https://flxt.tmsimg.com/assets/p10487_p_v8_ay.jpg)
Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun which follows a young boy from a wealthy British family Shanghai during the second world War. The Japanese invade and he becomes a prisoner at a Japanese internment camp.
The boy is played by a very young Christian Bale who does a very good job as Jamie Graham. He's supported by a cast that includes John Malkovich and others.
I liked the movie and the performances, although the story wasn't quite my thing. It was interesting to see Bale so young as he'd play in American Psycho ten years later.
:3stars:
JG Ballard's book is a masterpiece, Spielberg's film is the very definition of "mid"
Quote from: jadis on Jul 27, 2023, 09:30 AMJG Ballard's book is a masterpiece, Spielberg's film is the very definition of "mid"
Yes, Spielberg has a good eye and a handle on storytelling, so of course it's gonna be decent. But besides Bale's performance, there's not that much to get excited about.
It's entertaining enough. Mid is an okay summary 👌
I haven't read the book, but it seems fascinating. I noted that it's semi-autobiographical and I'm always interested in realism and what people saw and experienced during WW2.
As for movies, I miss creepiness so I gotta watch some horror next 👹 Tumbbad was an appetizer, but didn't quite scratch the itch.
I did the Barbieheimer double feature two days ago.
I feel like people are doing it wrong by watching Barbie first then going into Oppenheimer. It's better in my opinion to watch that 3 hour flick that weighs heavy on you then watch Barbie to laugh and lift up your spirits a bit.
Oppenheimer has a great ensemble cast but because they have so much to cover they all couldn't get their proper shine. I feel like a few great actors were under used. As far as the sound design goes that people like to make fun of Nolan flicks for. It was well done in this moving. I won't go into too much detail about it to avoid spoiling but I just like the use of the bomb sound to showcase when Oppie was having anxiety. I feel like the movie should've ended after the bomb got dropped but it drags on for like another hour. The pacing up until that point was really good and I didn't notice time flying by.
:4stars:
Barbie
So, I went into it thinking it was going to be much darker than most people expected and I got what I wanted. It didn't go too over the edge obviously but I knew from the trailer it was going to deal with Barbie having an existential crisis to deal with. America Ferrara makes this great speech in the middle of the movie and because I'm a troll I said "nice speech can't relate". It was a speech talking about the experiences of being a woman and what's expected of women. Some guys in the theater laughed when I said it. In my head I was like no you don't get to laugh at my stupid joke not when you are sitting next to your gf/wife. Good luck sleeping on the couch tonight rookies. I wouldn't have made the joke if I was watching it with my wife. Matter of fact when I go to see it with her this weekend I will NOT be making that joke. I did feel a bit bad for Ken because of the whole unrequited love angle which I COULD relate to. I feel like Greta did a great job with this movie.
:5stars:
Barbie was delightful! I'm very pleasantly surprised at the feminist message, I know some might find it shallow or surface level, and it certainly is those things, but in an era of unhinged conservatism in America right now, it really feels good to see a movie with such a huge audience really embrace a positive message like that. It's something I have to grapple with personally, as my relationship is sometimes misinterpreted as being a "traditional gender roles", anti-feminist or even misogynist thing by people who don't know us very well. But we both enjoyed the movie a lot, kept us engaged all the way through.
Oppenheimer was about as enjoyable as it probably could have been for someone like me who doesn't really enjoy biopics or character studies like that. I do confess I was really tired from a long day of kitchen cleaning, my work shift, and having just sat down for two hours during Barbie. I ended up falling asleep a little over two hours in, after having already been drifting in and out of paying attention. So I wasn't really in the right mode to appreciate the movie, which I don't feel great about but at the same time I really wouldn't want to watch it again, not for a good while at least.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jul 27, 2023, 10:39 AMYes, Spielberg has a good eye and a handle on storytelling, so of course it's gonna be decent. But besides Bale's performance, there's not that much to get excited about.
It's entertaining enough. Mid is an okay summary 👌
I haven't read the book, but it seems fascinating. I noted that it's semi-autobiographical and I'm always interested in realism and what people saw and experienced during WW2.
As for movies, I miss creepiness so I gotta watch some horror next 👹 Tumbbad was an appetizer, but didn't quite scratch the itch.
BTW it's the same JG Ballard who wrote Crash, the novel Cronenberg filmed so memorably. All the same, for all my love for Cronenberg I prefer the novel. I find that the film has some great scenes but as a whole the novel works in ways the film doesn't.
I've read Empire of the Sun when I was already familiar with Ballard's trademark technological nightmares, dark humor, extreme violence etc, having read Crash, Atrocity Exhibition, High Rise, Concrete Island etc. So for me it wasn't so much a straightforward realist account as a "let's see where it all began". And it's all there, themes like confinement, escape, civilizational collapse, disintegration of bodily limits, war not as the state of exception but as the norm etc etc...
But then I gave it as a birthday present to a colleague of mine, who is working on texts written by French Holocaust survivors, and told her "this is WW2 as you've never known it" and she absolutely loved it despite never having heard of Ballard. Great books can be read in all sorts of way from multiple perspectives.
Also on the subject of Crash, the guys who plays Vaughan, Elias Koteas, is so much more than a De Niro lookalike. His career didn't pan out as it could have, god knows why, but he's a brilliant, brilliant actor. And a proud son of Montreal's thriving Greek community!
(https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/internal/media/dispatcher/1873125)
He's probably best known as Casey Jones from the fucking Ninja Turtles and strong supporting turns in films such as Thin Red Line, Shutter Island and Zodiac. For me, his greatest achievement is the lead in a 1991 Atom Egoyan film, The Adjuster, which also happens to be one of my all time favorite films. This is what Koteas said about playing the role of Noah:
QuoteI feel like I'm watching someone else when I see it. I almost felt like I don't really know how to talk about that film. It seems like an out-of-body experience. What people take from that is completely different than what I could possibly say about it. And it makes my heart smile when people respond to that film, because it's so quirky and odd. Sometimes being so controlled as an actor and knowing everything you want to do can serve it. Sometimes not knowing on the day what you're going to do may be the best remedy for that part. Sometimes the actor's confusion might translate into the character's confusion for the viewer. And Atom Egoyan, he said in passing, recently, that you probably can't make that kind of movie now. It's just not possible. When you look at it, it's like a capsule of the potential of independent filmmaking at its rawest. And Atom has such a passionate view of how he looks at the world and how people relate to each other. And any time he has a story that he thinks I can help him tell, I'll be there.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDIwZGFkNWItMTE4MS00OTQzLThiZDMtNjg0NDVhNWJmZjM5XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUyNDk2ODc@._V1_.jpg)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOTZmNjA2NjAtODNkZC00ODQ2LWJmNzktMGY4YzRmY2Y2MjUwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUyNDk2ODc@._V1_.jpg)
Nice, Jadis! Thank you so much 🙂 I will check out Ballard as well as The Adjuster.
I wrote about rewatching Crash here a few months ago and Elias Koteas is one of those actors I typically recognize without remembering exactly from where.
I've also been thinking about Crash today as I wrote about Rosanna Arquette in the Hot Peeps thread 🤔 I'll check out Ballard's book after I've finished Hiroshima.
Saw the 2021 horror The Sadness yesterday.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fd/The_Sadness_%282021%29_poster.jpg/220px-The_Sadness_%282021%29_poster.jpg)
It's a Taiwanese movie about an epidemic where a flu-like virus turns people into violently sadistic, rapey berserkers. It resembles a zombie film even though the afflicted are not zombies, just really dangerous and out to get ya.
It has a lot of ultra violence in it, so unless you can stomach sexual violence, eyes getting poked out, innocent people stabbed and murdered, lotsa guts etc. this movie's not for you.
I found the movie to be pretty good and surprisingly well made, at least early on. It has jokes and never lets up that it's just a movie, but it also knows when to turn on the drama. The actors do a mostly fine job.
The cinematography is also good and we get some cool (if extreme) visuals.
HOWEVER the movie's last act fell very flat for me. So it's like first act is very good. Second is good. Final act is bad.
Final verdict: :3stars:
Still, there's a lot to like here if you're a gore hound or just like a bit of occasional visceral violence.
Today, we saw the Indonesian 2022 movie Satan's Slaves 2: Communion which is a sequel to Satan's Slaves from 2017.
(https://static-sg.winudf.com/video/image/81c4a11b-a477-4b7c-9649-36d073ef70b3.jpg)
The title does make it sound like pure exploitation, but these are somewhat serious attempts at making spooky movies with a family drama at their core, kinda like James Wan's Conjuring movies
Not everything works here and the family drama didn't quite grab me, but there's still a lot to like. The movie's well made with some striking imagery and fun and original ideas. It also takes place in an apartment building and uses this setting to good effect.
On the downside, quite a few things don't make sense and it leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Still fun, though.
I'd rate it: :3.5stars:
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Jul 27, 2023, 02:36 PMBarbie was delightful! I'm very pleasantly surprised at the feminist message, I know some might find it shallow or surface level, and it certainly is those things, but in an era of unhinged conservatism in America right now, it really feels good to see a movie with such a huge audience really embrace a positive message like that. It's something I have to grapple with personally, as my relationship is sometimes misinterpreted as being a "traditional gender roles", anti-feminist or even misogynist thing by people who don't know us very well. But we both enjoyed the movie a lot, kept us engaged all the way through.
In what way do you possibly interpret a Greta Gerwig film as only having a shallow or surface-level feminist message? Like... I don't know how much deeper you can get than a modern day parable of the effects of the patriarchy on all genders.
And isn't being a trans kind of an exemption from traditional gender roles at large or...?
I feel like you missed the point and just judged it as inherently a chick flick. Like what about the message was surprising exactly?
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 29, 2023, 04:04 AMIn what way do you possibly interpret a Greta Gerwig film as only having a shallow or surface-level feminist message? Like... I don't know how much deeper you can get than a modern day parable of the effects of the patriarchy.
I didn't really mean shallow in the sense that it lacked substance or merit to the message, just that I found the parable to be portrayed in a pretty simplistic way. I don't think it dug particularly deep into the subject matter, and don't get me wrong, I don't think that's bad or that the movie is worse for it. It just felt like it didn't really get at the roots of misogyny and sexism and systemic male privilege in a particularly satisfying way for me. But that's my own preference; I actually think the portrayal of the message is brilliant in its clarity.
I'm not even really saying I think it's shallow or surface level anyway, just that I can see why others would think that. I'm largely unfamiliar with Gerwig, but I don't like the idea of positioning anyone as an authority on feminism or how pro-feminist messages should be portrayed in film. I can have my own preferences on that, at the end of the day I can only speak for myself and the way I process art. I'm not saying it makes the message less effective or powerful.
QuoteI feel like you missed the point and just judged it as inherently a chick flick. Like what about the message was surprising exactly?
I most certainly did nothing of the sort. If anything maybe some nuance is lost on me because I have such a weird situation with gender, I fully admit that. And I'd love to discuss my trans identity and how it relates to gender roles, but with all due respect I would want to have a proper conversation about that rather than having assumptions made about me.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Jul 29, 2023, 04:53 AMIt just felt like it didn't really get at the roots of misogyny and sexism and systemic male privilege in a particularly satisfying way for me.
How so?
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 29, 2023, 04:56 AMHow so?
To me, boiling it down to "Ken feels taken for granted so he becomes a misogynist and decides to erect a patriarchal order" just doesn't really get into the nitty gritty enough for me. Like I said, I think the movie did portray the message well in the context of the narrative. But would you not agree that there is more to the roots of patriarchy and misogyny than that story arc gets at?
Maybe I'm a feminism illiterate weirdo, I get why I might be thought of that way. It's very probable that my perspective comes from a different place. I don't claim to speak for all women when I say these things.
And I meant I was surprised that a Hollywood movie co-produced by Mattel, Inc. went there with the feminist message. That's all I meant by that.
Lol no need to get defensive, no one's saying you can't have your own preferences ffs, I'm just asking questions.
As for Ken, I think the whole bringing the patriarchy to Barbieland narrative is what's surface level. It's the Kens turning on one another and becoming toxic and self-loathing, their identities being minimized to the most basic variety of masculinity, that is a perfect illustration of how as much as the patriarchy protects men, it is also inherently harmful to them. Not to mention the commentary on compulsive heterosexuality and Ken being created literally as an accessory to Barbie.
It's not a documentary on misogyny, no. No one claimed it to be. But as I thought it seems like you might have missed the forest for the trees. No offense.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 29, 2023, 05:18 AMLol no need to get defensive, no one's saying you can't have your own preferences ffs, I'm just asking questions.
As for Ken, I think the whole bringing the patriarchy to Barbieland narrative is what's surface level. It's the Kens turning on one another and becoming toxic and self-loathing, their identities being minimized to the most basic variety of masculinity, that is a perfect illustration of how as much as the patriarchy protects men, it is also inherently harmful to them.
It's not a documentary on misogyny, no. No one claimed it to be. But as I thought it seems like you might have missed the forest for the trees. No offense.
I'm only defensive over having assumptions made about me and the implication that for whatever reason I am not qualified to have my thoughts on feminist media readings. I understood the messages just fine. And once again I think we agree where it matters. Maybe I'm not articulating well enough, there's only so much detail I can put into these forum posts. I just don't appreciate being talked to like this stuff is lost on me and my ideas about feminist issues are less informed or less valid than yours because I may personally value different approaches to feminist narratives in film than the one Barbie took.
Bruh, you posted your thoughts on the film, and I asked for elaboration. I didn't make any assumptions, I used your own post as a basis to form my questions. Yeesh.
Am I the cinema? Because you are projecting.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 29, 2023, 05:45 AMBruh, you posted your thoughts on the film, and I asked for elaboration. I didn't make any assumptions, I used your own post as a basis to form my questions. Yeesh.
I was referring to you saying you thought I "judged it as a chick flick" and what you said about my trans perspective. It came off to me like you were trying to say I didn't read the film correctly because of something inherent about me.
If anything, if I didn't read the film correctly it's because I'm not a film critic or buff and 99 percent of the movies I watch are terrible schlock I watch to roast with my partner and not because I don't get feminism.
If that's what I was trying to say I would just say that.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 29, 2023, 05:52 AMIf that's what I was trying to say I would just say that.
Understood. Maybe I do mistake your brashness for hostility.
I would like to excuse myself from the Barbie discussion. I was actually really intrigued by what you said about trans identity and gender roles, and I would love to post my thoughts on that, but film readings are not my wheelhouse and I concede that, so I would like to end this discussion there, if you don't mind.
At the end of the day I really am not attached to defending my take; I'm no good at debates and if someone has a problem with the opinions I post, they're probably completely justified. This is why I prefer brainless bad movies and craft youtubers to stuff that has artistic merits to debate.
Lol damn. An official withdrawal. Really didn't think it was that serious.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 29, 2023, 06:12 AMLol damn. An official withdrawal. Didn't think it was that serious.
It's a flaw of mine; I get a bit hyperfocused on one thing and go in too deep and start taking it too seriously. I wanted to honor your response to my criticism by engaging with it, but I always get too into the debate rabbit hole. I ought to try to learn to nip this stuff in the bud.
Is every back and forth a debate? I don't get it. You seem to feel called out by any response I have to your posts, maybe it just me.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 29, 2023, 06:24 AMIs every back and forth a debate? I don't get it. You seem to feel called out by any response I have to your posts, maybe it just me.
Some of them, yeah, I did feel called out. Maybe I'm misinterpreting your posts, then. My bad. I just don't know what more there is to say on this subject and I don't feel like continuing to talk about it.
I sincerely apologize for coming off as defensive or accusatory of you. I have been awake for 19 hours and I am very on edge tonight. I shouldn't have freaked out like I did. I've had a very mentally stimulating week and am very burnt out on the whole. I misread your posts as being more hostile than they actually were. I fully admit I do tend to get overly defensive in internet discussions these days, engaging in the discourse about trans issues and political stuff on other websites has messed with my brain so much that my default setting in online discussions is to be on the defensive. The past year has been very rough on my mental health, and having to constantly prove the worth of my identity and my existence to bad faith posters elsewhere online has made me very on edge and untrustworthy.
I honestly feel awful for assuming the worst of you.
Quote from: Guybrush on Jul 28, 2023, 05:53 PMNice, Jadis! Thank you so much 🙂 I will check out Ballard as well as The Adjuster.
I wrote about rewatching Crash here a few months ago and Elias Koteas is one of those actors I typically recognize without remembering exactly from where.
I've also been thinking about Crash today as I wrote about Rosanna Arquette in the Hot Peeps thread 🤔 I'll check out Ballard's book after I've finished Hiroshima.
I think many people have this relationship with actors who appear mostly in supporting roles but when you know what school he went to and what's his favorite Chinese restaurant that's not an option!
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Jul 29, 2023, 06:36 AMI misread your posts as being more hostile than they actually were.
Nah you read it right the first time because I read it that way too and when you called it out. She decided to backpedal and be all "why so serious bro" about it.
I'm sorry for what you've been going through. It's okay to just back away from debate lords especially when you don't feel up to it anymore mentally. At the end of the day protect your inner peace.
Certain discussions/arguments aren't worth it.
Finding Jesus (2020)
The mister is not feeling well today. He's feeling fatigued and dealing with some private health issues. Nothing really worrisome thankfully. But he's a bit down today, and as you all know one of our favorite things to do together is watch bad movies, and we're both off from our jobs today. So I was tasked with finding a suitably atrocious work of cinema for the afternoon.
We're connoisseurs of the low brow, the obscure, and the poorly made, but one thing we've not really dabbled in is the world of religious films. For a bit of context, the man of the house was raised in a Catholic household and still followed Christianity at the time I met him. Religion honestly never really came up that much during the early years of our relationship, but all the while Mr. Waffles was very much struggling with his faith. I don't want to speak for him on here, and he can correct me on any of this and I'll edit, but long story short, he is not a Christian anymore. Since I found that out, I've been curious if he would want to dive into the world of low budget religious movies, because there's a lot of notorious ones. I found this movie listed among them, walked into the bedroom and told him I found out that there's a Christian ripoff of Finding Nemo called Finding Jesus. His response?
"Holy sh*t, we have to watch that."
It's pretty fitting that we chose to watch this while both of us were in such a low energy haze. This movie gave me the same feeling of zombified numbness as being on heavy painkillers. I felt like my grip on reality was loosening with every second of watching a bunch of stiffly animated sea creatures talking about Jesus. I'm not always in the mood to watch this particular flavor of bad movie (you know, the kind that feels like your brain is being slowly and repeatedly whacked by a meat tenderizer) but somehow today it just kind of felt right. I don't want to summarize the film, because doing so would make me relive it and then I'd lose even more brain cells. Surprisingly I didn't consider our viewing of the film to be a negative or wasted experience. But it's also the kind of experience that I think we'd both want to agree to never mention again.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jul 29, 2023, 10:38 PMNah you read it right the first time because I read it that way too and when you called it out. She decided to backpedal and be all "why so serious bro" about it.
I'm sorry for what you've been going through. It's okay to just back away from debate lords especially when you don't feel up to it anymore mentally. At the end of the day protect your inner peace.
Certain discussions/arguments aren't worth it.
Sees a take on a film I'm excited about that I don't understand -> question said take -> continue to ask clarifying questions -> somehow am the asshole
Please show me where I was being hostile or backpedaling because this makes zero sense to me
And what debate?? Literally was asking questions about a movie we both saw. Are we really so sensitive that our opinions can't be commented on or questioned without feeling threatened? I really do not understand.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 30, 2023, 02:25 AMSees a take on a film I'm excited about that I don't understand -> question said take -> continue to ask clarifying questions -> somehow am the asshole
Please show me where I was being hostile or backpedaling because this makes zero sense to me
And what debate?? Literally was asking questions about a movie we both saw. Are we really so sensitive that our opinions can't be commented on or questioned without feeling threatened? I really do not understand.
In your little diagram you conveniently left out the part where you make assumptions about the person and how they identify as if that has anything to do with their opinion of the movie but go off lil sis.
I came across this video review from Alanah Pearce and she had a similar opinion to Mrs. Waffles about the whole "shallowness" of movie.
Ok? People having differing opinions than me isn't a problem. And neither is asking questions.
What assumptions did I make exactly? Are you referring to where I said the thing about being inherently exempt from "traditional" gender roles as a person living a trans experience?
What exactly is hostile about that?
And it didn't come out of nowhere, Mrs. Waffles said her views may be biased based on the dynamic of her relationship - I never said anything to discredit that, if anything I was in support of her assertion of her opinions outside of a supposed bias that is highly unlikely she actually has because her experience is highly likely more complex than the basic understanding of "traditional gender roles."
But whatever. Someone has to be the heel of this forum.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 30, 2023, 02:51 AMOk? People having differing opinions than me isn't a problem. And neither is asking questions.
What assumptions did I make exactly? Are you referring to where I said the thing about being inherently exempt from "traditional" gender roles as a person living a trans experience?
What exactly is hostile about that?
I don't think anyone is bothered about having differing opinions or asking questions.
You made the comment about her just assuming it's a chick flick and then made that second comment.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jul 30, 2023, 02:58 AMI don't think anyone is bothered about having differing opinions or asking questions.
You made the comment about her just assuming it's a chick flick and then made that second comment.
And I provided examples as to why I think she went into viewing it under a certain context. Again, how is this hostile?
None of this is mean or an attack.
Like seriously what the fuck should I have said differently to spare feelings?
She said the depth took her by surprise, and I wondered how that could be without presuming the film would be shallow in the first place.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 30, 2023, 03:00 AMAnd I provided examples as to why I think she went into viewing it under a certain context. Again, how is this hostile?
It definitely felt that way from my perspective as well as Mrs. Waffles's.
She explained why it felt that way to hear and went into like doubting that maybe she read too much into it. At this point it's just gaslighting. It someone feels a certain way about something then let them feel it.
If you don't see how it's hostile then okay that's fine.
So I'm being hostile AND gaslighting. Fuck me.
Speaking only for myself, the phrasings that gave me the impression I got that put me on edge were as follows. I understand if none of this was your intention, it's just how it came off to me, and I am sorry for the misunderstanding. I don't think you are an asshole at all, for the record.
QuoteIn what way do you possibly interpret a Greta Gerwig film as only having a shallow or surface-level feminist message?
Your phrasing just came off as so incredulous at my interpretation on the film that I felt like you were saying it was inconceivable that my opinion could be valid, like this is all just opinions, as you said yourself. It felts to me that you were citing the director's name to say that she has credibility as a feminist director and back up the idea that it's crazy to ever have a criticism like mine.
QuoteAnd isn't being a trans kind of an exemption from traditional gender roles at large or...?
This just came off as you making an assumption about what the lived experience of trans people, or even just me, entails. Like I said, I think if you want to talk about the relationship between my trans identity and gender roles, I'd love to do that as I find it an interesting subject. But it came off here like you were trying to discredit what I said about my own relationship with gender roles, I didn't read it as a question that seemed to be asked out of genuine curiosity.
QuoteI feel like you missed the point and just judged it as inherently a chick flick.
This felt to me like you were jumping to conclusions about my interpretation of the film and making assumptions about my method of judging it. Saying you thought I missed the point when my review was mostly very positive and in agreement with the feminist message just felt like you were singling out the one vaguely negative thing I said and using that to say I misinterpreted the whole movie and just dismissed it as a chick flick.
So yeah, that's just how I interpreted your phrasing in that moment. Once again, I do not think you were malicious or attacking me or an asshole or any of that. I think we just got off on the wrong foot, and I want to meet in the middle and try to better understand this so we can communicate in a more productive way in the future.
The only thing I would change is that obviously (I hope) the phrase "a trans" was a typo.
I'm not responsible for how I'm interpreted. Or anyone's feelings. I say what I mean and I stand by what I say. I presume others operate the same way.
Being offended on someone else's behalf is both hilarious and outdated.
I haven't read much of the arguments here about it, but I just saw Barbie a few hours ago and I thought it was pretty good. Amazing production design, plenty of laugh out loud parts, and some moments of poignancy. I think I laughed hardest at the voiceover about casting Margo Robbie, but 90% of the theater seemed think the comment the BCC Pride and Prejudice was the big side-splitter.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 30, 2023, 03:58 AMThe only thing I would change is that obviously (I hope) the phrase "a trans" was a typo.
I'm not responsible for how I'm interpreted. Or anyone's feelings. I say what I mean and I stand by what I say. I presume others operate the same way.
Being offended on someone else's behalf is both hilarious and outdated.
Understood. You have stated your stance pretty definitively and I don't want to dwell on this anymore so I'm not going to say anything more on the subject. :)
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Jul 30, 2023, 03:58 AMBeing offended on someone else's behalf is both hilarious and outdated.
I'm not offended on anyone's behalf. It's called empathy but I'm going to drop it and not go back and forth with you. You both explained yourselves and it's over now.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jul 30, 2023, 05:35 AMI'm not offended on anyone's behalf. It's called empathy but I'm going to drop it and not go back and forth with you. You both explained yourselves and it's over now.
Because you deemed it so? Ok.
You came at me saying I was being hostile and then back pedaled when I was called out on it. You've yet to show me where either instance occurred, you just said it was how you read it. But sure go ahead and dismiss me now.
Quote from: Janszoon on Jul 30, 2023, 04:09 AMI haven't read much of the arguments here about it, but I just saw Barbie a few hours ago and I thought it was pretty good. Amazing production design, plenty of laugh out loud parts, and some moments of poignancy. I think I laughed hardest at the voiceover about casting Margo Robbie, but 90% of the theater seemed think the comment the BCC Pride and Prejudice was the big side-splitter.
I loved that voiceover bit too! Lots of great gags, makes me want to rewatch it just to be able to catch everything better. The bit about the Snyder cut really got a snort out of Mr. Waffles, as did Ken's favorite song being Push by Matchbox 20, haha.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Jul 30, 2023, 07:33 PMI loved that voiceover bit too! Lots of great gags, makes me want to rewatch it just to be able to catch everything better. The bit about the Snyder cut really got a snort out of Mr. Waffles, as did Ken's favorite song being Push by Matchbox 20, haha.
Yeah I liked when Lizzo's song got cut short the second time around and she was complaining about it.
While looking for new experiences in the movie realm, I thought why not check out some horror anime? In my youth, I did see Vampire Hunter D, Ninja Scroll and Akira. But besides those, I've mostly just seen Ghibli movies when it comes to anime and nothing in the realm of horror. So I landed on a few movies to check out.
The first pick was this, Legend of the Overfiend from 1987.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMGNkYzM3NDQtNWQ0MC00OTFjLWI0YTAtZGYzNmZmMWEzNGU1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzQ3MTI0NzU@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
And I'll just admit right up top I was not prepared for it.
It's a story about an entity called the Overfiend which wakes up every 3000 years to wreak havoc, not just on the human world but also on the demon world and the beast world (populated by superhuman beast people). It's like King Kong on steroids and mixed with lots of demons and gory imagery. The demon of destruction looks like a huge Satan figure towering over the city of Osaka. Pretty cool, actually.
What I wasn't quite prepared for was all the god danged tentacle porn. Yes. So much tentacle porn. I'd read that it had some cultural impact, but I didn't realize it was in pioneering this sort of ridiculousness.
It seems every demon in this movie just wants to rape a woman - or two or three - to the point where the woman's body is maybe shredded apart by the resulting cumshot. Actually, every male character in this movie, save for one, does this. The level of misogyny is kinda astonishing. That a sexual fantasy would be so based around rape is rather disturbing.
And not only that, but sex and sexual organs is just everywhere. The demon of destruction sprouts multiple huge dick tentacles that absorb innocent people. It's not that they get eaten by the dick tip, but just coming in contact with the dick skin kinda absorbs them. The rapey demons always sprout multiple tentacles, so there's like 8 of them going into a butthole at some point. And then the female character afterwards wonders if it was all a dream. What, she can't feel that she got bumrushed by a bucket of eels?
So it's a bit like The Room in that you think: Oh gods, not another sex scene. Just get on with it!!
Towards the end, it's a bit like in Ghostbusters 2 when the ghosts take over Manhattan. Only if the ghosts were raping and murdering everyone.
Watching it made me feel dirtier than watching NEKROmantic 1 and 2. How does this get made? An animation studio sat down and drew all these rape scenes by hand? It boggles the mind. But besides all that junk, there's actually something to like here. The imagery, especially the demon of destruction, is pretty gnarly and the creatures and the violence is a lot of fun.
Overall rating (based on how much it entertained me): :3stars:
What can I say? It was a novel experience.
And then I watched Sunset Boulevard from 1950 which has been on my todo-list for years:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Sunset_Boulevard_%281950_poster%29.jpg)
Such a great movie! It was cohesive, entertaining and the dialogue (including narration) was witty and smart in that cool way that these old movies (or at least the good ones) often are. Also, the movie manages to be very atmospheric, whether it's depicting a party or a derelict Hollywood mansion.
I won't give away too much of the plot and I figure you probably know it anyways. Let's just say it's a story about Hollywood (with a bit of critique) which involves an older movie star who refuses to face reality that her stardom has faded. William Holden is very charming as the lead character, a script writer down on his luck. Gloria Swanson was great as the faded movie star. It would feel wrong not to also mention a wonderful performance by Nancy Olson who plays the young, aspiring screen writer Betty Schaefer.
All in all it's an entertaining movie, well acted and well made, that comes to a satisfying conclusion. My rating:
:4stars:
Jaws (1975)
(https://s3.amazonaws.com/nightjarprod/content/uploads/sites/192/2021/05/10145225/l1yltvzILaZcx2jYvc5sEMkM7Eh.jpg)
I watched this for the first time yesterday. I don't tend to watch old films unless I have seen them when I was younger because I usually don't think they age well.
I can say I really enjoyed it and I had really low expectations of it tbh. I was surprised at how good the actors and actresses were, I was surprised that I actually jumped a few times. I was expecting everything to look really fake and terrible but I was in awe at how well everything was done for a film of its age.
^I only saw Jaws once and that was years ago, like before there was Wikipedia. But I remember having similar feelings about it. My first impression is basically: Sharks.. Without David Attenborough narrating, how interesting could it be? But then it's actually very good.
About films becoming outdated or not, I think the mark of a true classic is it has staying power across the ages 🙂 though there certainly are some fading stars among them.
Jaws is my favorite movie of all time. It's absolutely perfect.
Also the only film that's inspired me to monologue lol
Patched together because it was originally posted as a series of instagram stories
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Aug 05, 2023, 09:23 PMJaws is my favorite movie of all time. It's absolutely perfect.
Also the only film that's inspired me to monologue lol
Patched together because it was originally posted as a series of instagram stories
Did you ever get a chance to go on the Jaws ride at Universal in Florida?
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 05, 2023, 07:42 PM^I only saw Jaws once and that was years ago, like before there was Wikipedia. But I remember having similar feelings about it. My first impression is basically: Sharks.. Without David Attenborough narrating, how interesting could it be? But then it's actually very good.
About films becoming outdated or not, I think the mark of a true classic is it has staying power across the ages 🙂 though there certainly are some fading stars among them.
Yeah I definitely agree, I was so pleasantly surprised and given me the push to watch some more older films I had put off for those reasons :).
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Aug 05, 2023, 09:23 PMJaws is my favorite movie of all time. It's absolutely perfect.
Also the only film that's inspired me to monologue lol
Patched together because it was originally posted as a series of instagram stories
Lol I love that, it's great.
Quote from: SGR on Aug 05, 2023, 11:33 PMDid you ever get a chance to go on the Jaws ride at Universal in Florida?
I haven't but you have reminded me to watch it on YouTube 😅 as close as I'll ever get
We finished the movie Shutter from 2004 that we started yesterday, but fell asleep to.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/Shutterposter.jpg)
Its a Thai horror movie in which a ghost may possibly be haunting photographs. Or at least a photographer.
It's very much in the same vein as The Ring / The Grudge (at least the Asian originals) and feels slightly above average in certain aspects.
Something that did dull its impact somewhat for me is the movie sets up our protagonists, a couple, as somewhat despicable at the start of the movie so I wasn't too sympathetic towards them. You go, ghost!!
There were a few decent scares and cool scenes, but nothing mind-blowing. Still, enjoyable enough and the ending was kinda neat / fun.
My rating: :3stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/7hDWN7GC/The-Choppers-1961.jpg)
The Choppers (1961)
Low-budget B&W teenage crime drama about an organized group of teens working for a crooked junkyard owner, illegally stripping cars for parts. Ridiculous, cartoonish, and somewhat entertaining but rather mediocre overall.
:2.5stars:
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Aug 05, 2023, 09:23 PMJaws is my favorite movie of all time. It's absolutely perfect.
Also the only film that's inspired me to monologue lol
Patched together because it was originally posted as a series of instagram stories
great accent, great beard, 10/10
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 07, 2023, 12:08 AMWe finished the movie Shutter from 2004 that we started yesterday, but fell asleep to.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/Shutterposter.jpg)
Its a Thai horror movie in which a ghost may possibly be haunting photographs. Or at least a photographer.
It's very much in the same vein as The Ring / The Grudge (at least the Asian originals) and feels slightly above average in certain aspects.
Something that did dull its impact somewhat for me is the movie sets up our protagonists, a couple, as somewhat despicable at the start of the movie so I wasn't too sympathetic towards them. You go, ghost!!
There were a few decent scares and cool scenes, but nothing mind-blowing. Still, enjoyable enough and the ending was kinda neat / fun.
My rating: :3stars:
They did an American remake of that movie. I should have known it was a remake in the first place. I wonder how much better the original is comparatively.
Spoiler
Did the ending also have the main character starting to bend over like he had pain in his neck? if so then they followed the original to a T. The reveal at the end was dope and the only reason to watch the movie.
I generally don't like ghost horror movies because like so what they tell a story about what sad/tragedy happened to the ghost to want them to haunt the place but 9/10 it is super boring. Just silly little jump scares here and there. Ghosts can't physically harm you.
^I know about the remake, but haven't seen it and so can't compare. I think the original is a little more well liked, but who knows.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Aug 08, 2023, 07:19 AMSpoiler
Did the ending also have the main character starting to bend over like he had pain in his neck? if so then they followed the original to a T. The reveal at the end was dope and the only reason to watch the movie.
MASSIVE SHUTTER SPOILER
Yup, locked in an insane asylum with a very bent back. I liked it!
Now I'm watching Wicked City, another horror anime. However, got sleepy yet again and had to divvy it up.
Quote from: jadis on Jul 20, 2023, 08:20 PMSaw a local cinematheque is having a mini retrospective in August (https://jer-cin.org.il/en/lobby/summer-fellini) and got excited. Anyone else here a fan? I've always thought I was more in the camp of the understated Antonioni rather than the carnivalesque Fellini but seeing Roma on the big screen a couple of years ago and then Amarcord made me a passionate fan.
Really looking forward to see Nights of Cabiria on the big screen.
Here's Germaine Greer on why that film is Fellini at his finest ("the final emancipation of cinema from the narrative") and also on her relationship with the great man
Saw Nights of Cabiria yesterday on the big screen. Cried like a bitch at the ending, it's impossible not to. Germaine is right, it's a great great film.
Apparently Giulietta Masina was Chaplin's favorite actress and you can see why.
Was slightly pissed off during the first minutes because a date stood me up but the film drew me in very quickly. Texted her afterwards, turns out she had a sun stroke from a trip to Caesarea the previous day and thought it's today. Will take her to another Fellini later this month. Living in a city with a Cinematheque that shows Fellini is better than living in one without, whatever other inconveniences there might be
^Cool, Jadis 🙂
I haven't forgotten your Fellini recommendation btw. Just gotta wade through some of this trash first.
Yesterday, I finished Wicked City, an anime from 1987.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzZiMWMzMDYtZDM2My00Njk5LTg1MzItNTE4ZTIxMjIwNzU1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTgyNTA4MjM@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
One of the reasons I watch these is my wife falls asleep and I can't watch our regular shows because she'll miss out and same with any good movies we might wanna watch together. So she holds all those things hostage and I watch something she definitely would not want to watch anyways.
Wicked City is one such film.
It's a story that takes place in a setting where there is a demon world as well as the human world (I guess this is a regular concept in anime). There's a peace between the worlds, but the peace agreement is due for a re-ratification. Our protagonist is part of an agency that handles security for one of the signers of the new deal, a guy who some terrorist demons are out to get. To help him keep this dude safe from various attacks, he's joined by a sexy and lethal partner from the demon world.
I can't say the story really pays off when all's said and done, but some of the characters and visuals are quite cool. As an anime newb, I do like the wild ideas put onscreen.
We get some sexual violence, although nowhere as bad as in the Legend of the Overfiend. Still, it feels unnecessary and stupid. I'm not a prude, but the way it's depicted makes you feel like the people who made it find rape really hot. I guess it's also just a regular thing in anime?
So to summarize, it's reasonably entertaining and occasionally offensive anime about killing demons and banging.
:3stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 09, 2023, 11:34 PMOne of the reasons I watch these is my wife falls asleep and I can't watch our regular shows because she'll miss out and same with any good movies we might wanna watch together. So she holds all those things hostage and I watch something she definitely would not want to watch anyways.
I feel that for sure. Sometimes while the mister is at work I'll start watching something that looks interesting to have on while I'm doing chores, and I'll watch it for like 10 minutes before it turns out it's an incredibly "us" movie and something we'd definitely want to watch together. So I turn it off, add it to the "to watch" list and then find something else.
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 09, 2023, 11:34 PM^Cool, Jadis 🙂
I haven't forgotten your Fellini recommendation btw. Just gotta wade through some of this trash first.
For me it's important to find the right mood for anything like that. There was more than a decade between the last Fellini I've seen (based on Guy Maddin's recommendation I pasted here) and my current spark of interest in him. There was a short breather between Covid waves when I saw that Roma is playing at the local Cinematheque and felt like seeing it with a friend and it exceeded all expectations.
I kinda want to see Barbie but have no one to go with. The girl I'm seeing has already seen with her friends, the other lady I'm messaging with is more of a Fellini type and whoever else I know here who could be susceptible is either away or seen it already. It's not a film I feel like going to see alone.
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 09, 2023, 11:34 PMWe get some sexual violence, although nowhere as bad as in the Legend of the Overfiend. Still, it feels unnecessary and stupid. I'm not a prude, but the way it's depicted makes you feel like the people who made it find rape really hot. I guess it's also just a regular thing in anime?
So to summarize, it's reasonably entertaining and occasionally offensive anime about killing demons and banging.
:3stars:
It is NOT a regular thing in anime. Anime as a whole gets a bad reputation from the few super over the top sexualized scenes that are found in select ones but by no means is that the norm across all Anime.
Anime has so many sub categories that you can venture into and never see anything related to loli or being over sexualized.
have you watched Akira? It came out in 1986. I feel like you might enjoy that one.
Demon City, Fist of the Northstar, Ghost in the Shell are a few others as well that are considered old school anime that came out in the 80s that are stand alone movies that later on became series but the movies hold up so much better imo.
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 08, 2023, 08:56 AM^I know about the remake, but haven't seen it and so can't compare. I think the original is a little more well liked, but who knows.
MASSIVE SHUTTER SPOILER
Yup, locked in an insane asylum with a very bent back. I liked it!
Slightly darker ending than the remake but similar.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Aug 11, 2023, 01:23 AMhave you watched Akira? It came out in 1986. I feel like you might enjoy that one.
Demon City, Fist of the Northstar, Ghost in the Shell are a few others as well that are considered old school anime that came out in the 80s that are stand alone movies that later on became series but the movies hold up so much better imo.
I love Akira and have also read it (though I don't actually care so much for the story as it continues past the events of the movie).
I've also seen Fist of the North Star and Ghost in the Shell (kinda boring).
Perfect Blue, Vampire Hunter D and Cobra Space Adventure are a few more. Sword Art Online, Paprika, various Ghiblis.. okay, so there's some I've seen when I think about it 🤔 but I believe most of the animes I've seen caught the attention of the mainstream, so a deep dive is not something I ever really did.
Saw this the other day:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTI5MDE1OTEyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDA3ODQyMQ@@._V1_.jpg)
Der Todesking by Jörg Buttgereit.
I saw it while working out and I don't know German that well so kinda couldn't keep up with it when I wasn't paying attention to the subtitles.
What I did catch seemed like dark, artsy drivel. You see stories from the lives of several characters. All of them seem depressed, suicidal, murderous or all of the above. There's a lot of suicide themes here and Der Todesking (The Death King) makes it so that people don't wanna live anymore. At least that's what a young girl tells us.
Between the various episodes, we get stop motion pictures of a rotting corpse that looks very wax-like (ie. fake).
It's a super low budget, arty farty, edgy german flick that feels like a shallow attempt at being profound. Jörg is the guy who made NEKROmantic and was still very young when he made this. I don't think Jörg had the necessary maturity to pull this off. For example, we get weird changes in tone. When a girl tells her slob of a boyfriend to get off his lazy couch ass and he pulls out a gun from nowhere and shoots her dead. The score suddenly changes to punk music.
The drama and reasons for people's suffering seems whiny or non-existent. A lot of the violence either happens off-screen and is just implied or the sound is cut or whatever. Coupled with how the movie seems disingenuous in its profundity, the scenes lack the impact they might otherwise have.
This might not be a completely fair review because I wasn't giving it my full attention, but my impression is it was very boring.
:2stars:
Amsterdam.
Didn't love it. It was fine.
Quote from: robhr on Aug 14, 2023, 05:57 AMAmsterdam.
Didn't love it. It was fine.
wow really? I watched it twice because I was into it.
God damnit. I saw Kite from 1998.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYjU3NTIxMmItNDgzMS00NzAwLTg3MDQtZDQ5ZTU0MDUzOTk4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTgyNTA4MjM@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
I saw it recommended as a gory thriller about child assassins. The protagonist is an emotionally dead/scarred teenage girl. I won't get into the specifics, but what wasn't advertised is that OF COURSE it (also) contains a lot of sexual violence, this time committed against a minor. Gods damnit.
As stated, I'm not a prude and I think it's interesting that anime can depict / visualize stories that would be difficult or too extreme in a live action movie. But why do they have to make it look like girls/women like being raped? The effect it has on the character is traumatic. Depicting it as such would help drive the drama. So why the red faced moaning and general lack of resistance - in every scene?
This isn't a complete schlock movie either. Supposedly, it's set for a live action remake that has Samuel L. Jackson attached to it.
It's my own fault for getting the uncut version, I guess, as some of these scenes (or all of them?) were cut from other releases.
Either way, it's a movie about the hard lives of a couple of teenage assassins; the abuse and control inflicted on them and their struggle to break free from their oppressors.
Despite being gritty and occasionally exciting, it wasn't quite to my liking. I understand how it might appeal to many, though. It was still decent (disregarding the rape scenes).
:3stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 14, 2023, 05:12 PMAs stated, I'm not a prude and I think it's interesting that anime can depict / visualize stories that would be difficult or too extreme in a live action movie. But why do they have to make it look like girls/women like being raped? The effect it has on the character is traumatic. Depicting it as such would help drive the drama. So why the red faced moaning and general lack of resistance - in every scene?
So I feel like their culture is sexually repressed and some creatives express their weird desires through their art since they wouldn't do that irl.
Also rape is weird and your body that make it seem like you are enjoying it but it is still traumatizing. So if anything this depiction is more realistic than how it happens in other movies.
^Being repressed probably has a lot to do with it. It's still awful. And I understand what you mean about your body betraying you etc, but if these scenes were realistic, I really don't think that would come into play in any of the rape scenes I've seen so far. At least not the ones where the victims were human.
Anyways, me and my wife watched Guardians of the Galaxy 3 together.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_Vol._3_poster.jpg)
Appropriately, it took us three evenings to get through it cause she's a couch sleeper, but I was pleasantly surprised. Especially after the very dull Antman quantumverse thing, this was surprisingly entertaining and even a little heart warming in places.
It won't stay with me, but it's the best popcorn/pure entertainment flick I've seen in a while.
What more can you ask for from Marvel? That whole universe is so filled with random shit, I can't figure it out. New York seems to have hundreds of active superheroes and villains. You got a multiverse with alternate realities. Time cops. A galaxy full of aliens and gods and whatnot. A quantumverse?
It's too much, but it's fun when it kinda gels.
:4stars:
I also saw Martyrs from 2008 the other day.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51PSLeHWo3L._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg)
I'd seen some of it before, but never the whole movie. It has a legendary status, so I thought I'd revisit it.
It's probably the most significant movie from the wave of ultra violent french movies to come out in the 2000s with Irreversible, Inside and High Tension being other examples.
On the surface level, the story is about a victim of abuse who enacts a gruesome revenge on some of her abusers.. but about halfway, the movie changes tone and focus a little and explores some deeper themes.
It all ties in with torture and suffering, so the movie is not for the squeamish. I find torture porn (which the latter half of this is) vaguely distasteful, but the ending and payoff was decent.
Also, I enjoyed that it made me think of Hellraiser 2 Hellbound.
:3stars:
I love that movie and all the revenge type of gory movies that came out after the wave of Asian movies did. Oldboy, I Saw The Devil, Mother, etc.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Aug 16, 2023, 04:05 AMI love that movie and all the revenge type of gory movies that came out after the wave of Asian movies did. Oldboy, I Saw The Devil, Mother, etc.
The genre (?) is not a particular love for me, but I did like Oldboy and I Saw the Devil (despite some goofiness in the latter). I haven't seen Mother, though.
High Tension was so intense to my little mind when it came out lmao. Another great horror film from that era (although not French I don't think) was The Descent.
The original Oldboy was phenomenal, haven't bothered with the remake.
Molecules from MB really got me into classic Korean horror around 2008-2010, and it certainly was formative in my taste in film to this day.
Highly recommend Tale of Two Sisters (2003) and The Quiet Family (1998). Not especially gory films, but in the same league narratively I'd say.
Quote from: degrassi.knoll on Aug 18, 2023, 10:59 PMHighly recommend Tale of Two Sisters (2003) and The Quiet Family (1998). Not especially gory films, but in the same league narratively I'd say.
I got A Tale of Two Sisters on my to-do list, so might watch that tomorrow 🙂
Yeah, I didn't bother with the remake of Oldboy either. Didn't feel like it was necessary or worthwhile to watch.
13 Cameras.
(https://musicimage.xboxlive.com/catalog/video.movie.8D6KGWXN2J3J/image?locale=en-us&mode=crop&purposes=BoxArt&q=90&h=225&w=150&format=jpg)
I don't remember where I saw someone mention this movie but it was either on Instagram or on Threads. I decided to watch it for myself to see what it was about. Well it's about a creepy guy that just likes to watch people on cameras. He sets up 13 surveillance cameras and rents his house out to a pregnant couple. Shenanigans ensue. I can't believe they ended up making a sequel when the first one was so bad. It almost felt like a student film tbh. There are some plot twists near the end but like meh you end up not really caring by the time they are revealed.
:1stars:
I don't know why I'm torturing myself this way but I'm going to also watch 14 cameras. The only thing that really carries over from the first one is that it is the same creepy guy but the location has changed.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Aug 19, 2023, 12:00 PMI don't know why I'm torturing myself this way but I'm going to also watch 14 cameras. The only thing that really carries over from the first one is that it is the same creepy guy but the location has changed.
Haha, it is interesting. I also like to torture myself with bad movies every now and then. I still don't think I have
@Mrs. Waffles 's constitution.
I guess it makes for interesting experiences in that they're a nice break from formula or monotony 🤔
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 19, 2023, 12:37 PMHaha, it is interesting. I also like to torture myself with bad movies every now and then. I still don't think I have @Mrs. Waffles 's constitution.
I guess it makes for interesting experiences in that they're a nice break from formula or monotony 🤔
Oh I'm Mrs. Waffles levels of bad when it comes to watching bad movies. My faves are bad b horror movies. They are so funny to laugh at. I just love movies so much I will watch pretty much anything once to give it a chance even some slower dramas which isn't my normal wheelhouse.
I honestly would go so far as to say I get more enjoyment out of roasting bad movies than watching actual good movies these days. Especially movies meant to be moving or poignant or make you think deeply. Not to say that I don't like deep poignant thoughts, but narrative fiction is not my preferred way of absorbing that stuff.
But that's not always the case; I've enjoyed some "serious" and legitimately good movies, a lot of them being ones Mr. Waffles made me watch that I didn't think looked up my alley and would never have given a chance on my own. Sometimes I'll be doing something in the room while he starts up a movie and it'll just grab my attention and I'll ask to sit down and watch it with him.
My favorite bad movies are generally failed comedies, low budget kids schlock, and self-important crap made by people who think they're genius auteurs.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Aug 19, 2023, 11:07 PMI honestly would go so far as to say I get more enjoyment out of roasting bad movies than watching actual good movies these days. Especially movies meant to be moving or poignant or make you think deeply. Not to say that I don't like deep poignant thoughts, but narrative fiction is not my preferred way of absorbing that stuff.
But that's not always the case; I've enjoyed some "serious" and legitimately good movies, a lot of them being ones Mr. Waffles made me watch that I didn't think looked up my alley and would never have given a chance on my own. Sometimes I'll be doing something in the room while he starts up a movie and it'll just grab my attention and I'll ask to sit down and watch it with him.
My favorite bad movies are generally failed comedies, low budget kids schlock, and self-important crap made by people who think they're genius auteurs.
What's the last bad movie you watched?
Quote from: DJChameleon on Aug 22, 2023, 11:05 AMWhat's the last bad movie you watched?
I wish I could lie and say it wasn't this, but it was this.
(https://i.ibb.co/kJCRyVn/MV5-BMTkx-ODg1-MTI5-M15-BMl5-Ban-Bn-Xk-Ft-ZTYw-Njk1-MDI3-V1-FMjpg-UX1000.jpg)
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Aug 22, 2023, 11:22 AMI wish I could lie and say it wasn't this, but it was this.
(https://i.ibb.co/kJCRyVn/MV5-BMTkx-ODg1-MTI5-M15-BMl5-Ban-Bn-Xk-Ft-ZTYw-Njk1-MDI3-V1-FMjpg-UX1000.jpg)
How could this be bad?
I mean.. look at that cast!
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 22, 2023, 06:30 PMHow could this be bad?
I mean.. look at that cast!
You wouldn't think, right? But there's actually some pretty deep lore as to why it sucks so bad, pretty fascinating story.
But I feel you, you see a cast list that includes Judi Dench and Ian McKellen and you would never expect the onslaught of bad puns, pop culture references and fart jokes that the movie ends up being.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Aug 22, 2023, 11:22 AMI wish I could lie and say it wasn't this, but it was this.
I haven't seen it but I love the voice actor roster. I might have to check it out.
The Whale.
Loved it.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Aug 22, 2023, 09:15 PMYou wouldn't think, right? But there's actually some pretty deep lore as to why it sucks so bad, pretty fascinating story.
But I feel you, you see a cast list that includes Judi Dench and Ian McKellen and you would never expect the onslaught of bad puns, pop culture references and fart jokes that the movie ends up being.
Not gonna lie.. This does make me curious :laughing:
Quote from: robhr on Aug 28, 2023, 06:27 AMThe Whale.
Loved it.
Yes! We also recently watched The Whale. If anyone's unfamiliar, it's this movie:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZDQ4Njg4YTctNGZkYi00NWU1LWI4OTYtNmNjOWMyMjI1NWYzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTA3MDk2NDg2._V1_.jpg)
The movie is about a recluse teacher named Charlie who's had a rough time the last 8 years, a time when he's become severly obese and also estranged from his own daughter.
Brendan Fraser really was so good in this. I didn't know he had those kind of acting chops, associating him more with Bicentennial man, Jungle George and The Mummy. Hong Chau is also really good and Sadie Sink, while kinda typecasted into the same sort of character she plays in Stranger Things, does a decent job.
It was based on a play and while I was a little worried it might be slow, it kept me engaged and entertained with every minute. Towards the end, I may have felled a tear or two. Great stuff.
:4stars:
I'm also behind on my movie reviews and watch more than I have time to write about. Some of the movies I've found hard to review because I watched them while exercising and I'm just not giving them my full attention. For this reason, I wouldn't watch The Whale while working out, but I might watch some trash.
Some of the movies I've seen lately but haven't commented on:
Demon City Shinjuku(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzc0ZGNlOWYtOGM0ZS00MWJhLWEyZmEtNzFjYjQ5MjVhZjIyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTA0MTM5NjI2._V1_.jpg)
I think it's an anime from 1987 and I also believe
@DJChameleon mentioned it. As far as I could tell, this was pretty decent. There are some interesting ideas and visuals here and of course demon fighting. Thankfully, there was less sexual violence here than in my previous recent anime explorations. I'm not sure it ever got to that, actually. Or if it did, I missed it.
On the surface, it's very reminiscent of Wicked City, being about a guy and a gal facing down demons in a sort of urban environment. This movie has a little more heart and is preferable, although my final rating may not quite reflect that.
:3stars:
The Poughkeepsie Tapes(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTI0MjgzNzMyOF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDM0MzU1MQ@@._V1_.jpg)
This was recommended to me by someone here when I asked for more horror recommendations. It's a horror movie presented as a documentary about a serial killer. This killer films his tortures and murders and scenes from those tapes feature in the documentary.
Unfortunately, I find the documentary format interspersed with found footage to be extremely boring. It's a special kind of realism that's hard to recreate in an authentic manner and so there are little telltale signs you're watching actors pretending to be police detectives, parents and whatnot. Even if everyone played their roles convincingly, it takes a lot for me to forget I'm watching a movie and this format seems to forgo entertainment value in an attempt to increase realism. It doesn't work for me. I'd prefer entertainment value.
As such, I found it to be torture porn without many redeeming qualities.
:2stars:
Class of Nuke 'Em High(https://www.gbhbl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/class-of-nuke-em-high-cover.png)
I've seen this like twice before, but it stands out as one of my favorite Troma movies. It's a non-stop schlockfest of dumb gags, so it's the perfect exercise movie for me. Whenever you look up from your benching or crunching, there's something to laugh at on screen.
If you haven't seen it, it is a Troma highschool movie.. but of course this school is right next to the Troma Nuclear facility that seems to just mass produce nuclear waste that might mutate a poor teenager or turn the honor society into a band of violent, dope selling thugs.
The bad guy punkers called The Cretins (former members of the honor society) is my favorite thing about this. One guy rocks this cannibal tribe style with rings in his nose and uses a huge bone as his weapon. Another is a guy (trans?) with dark lipstick, pink sweater and boobs. Then there's a chick with a scar on her face and a small Hitler mustache. Then there's a guy with a face full of moles where every mole has like its own long hairdo. Etc. etc.
It's politically incorrect, stupid and fun.
:3.5stars:
Saw this one:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81J1DaRKzUL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg)
John Wick must have the thickest plot armor in the history of movies. Nothing seems to hurt him, including getting hit by three cars in the span of minutes and falling from several stories, etc.
Keanu Reeves couldn't deliver a line to save his own life. Why is this guy a renowned actor? Okay, he looks good, but he's more wooden than our bookshelves and a sorry comparison to other actors in the movie. He also moves wooden which kinda worked in Matrix, but seems very stiff compared to others here, like Donnie Yen.
Donnie Yen was the star of this movie, playing the incredibly implausible blind hitman Caine. He's fun to watch onscreen.
Bill Skarsgard plays the bad guy with an annoying accent. Nothing special here. Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne also return.
It's very male juvenile, but also well made and quite entertaining.. even if I don't get the styles, themes and baffling Keanu Reeves worship.
:3.5stars:
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
I never had any desire to watch this. Naturally it's come up in conversation with some of my friends and acquaintances when I've brought up the subject of my relationship and I never really could comment on it since I'd never seen it. But it popped into my head recently after a coworker and I had a conversation about Twilight that eventually turned to the 50 Shades series. I thought it might finally be time to watch it, so I brought it up as an option for a weekend movie. This was how we spent our Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Waffles had never seen the movie either; we were both going in with fresh eyes and ears. And as I expected, it's pretty woeful as far as being an accurate portrayal of a relationship like this that would actually work in real life. I would think that's part of the point, that this guy is not actually a good dominant, but if this was supposed to be romantically titillating, it certainly wasn't for us. Yeah we're not the target audience, but it's frustrating that people who are in the target audience might see this portrayal of a twisted, frankly abusive version of a BDSM relationship and think that's just how those relationships work.
I think the movie affected Mr. Waffles a bit more than me, he made some pretty existential comments like wondering if this was what the general public thinks doms are really like. It's a very real thought, we have a few acquaintances who are only vaguely wise to our ways. If their only exposure to BDSM is this movie series, maybe they assume that Mr. Waffles is a Christian Grey kind of person and he does all this sussy stuff, and that I'm his manipulated submissive who got roped into this world where the ideas of consent and negotiation are hazy at best. Kind of a worrying thought.
Dunno if we're going to watch the second and third movies. I've heard it gets even worse.
Yes
@Mrs. Waffles .
Vanilla people think the worse of BDSM because of 50 Shades and how other movies have handled the dynamic. The only movie that sort of handled it well but still has some minor flaws is The Secretary.
So your partner is right to question it and think about how others interpretation of Doms are. Now it's just up to him if he chooses to educate those when asked about it or just ignore their naive questions/judgements over it.
Alien 3.
It was passable. I expected more from David Fincher, but apparently he's really distanced himself from that movie.
Honestly none of the Alien movies lived up to how much I hyped them in my head. I mean they're good but not as good as I expected going in.
Alien is like Hellraiser. Only the first two are really worth your time (and for the record, I love the first two of either franchise).
Alien 3 is famous for being a production from hell. Lots of rewrites. Sigourney made lots of demands. I can't remember all the details, but maybe Fincher also wasn't the first director attached to it.
Yeah
@Guybrush I recommended Poughkeepsie tapes because I live close to Poughkeepsie NY. Where the fictional story takes place even though they didn't film a lick of it in Poughkeepsie.
It has been awhile since I seen it so don't remember if it was good good or bad good since I watch a lot of bad horror movies and laugh at them.
I don't think it was supposed to be taken seriously.
The French Connection.
I liked it.
We finally saw Beau is Afraid.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYTNhNWRmMDctYzE4OS00MzczLWJkODgtNzYxZTQxM2Y1YmM3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
It's Ari Aster's third studio production and being a huge fan of Hereditary, I was really looking forward to it.
In it, Joaquin Phoenix plays the titular Beau who is afraid of most things, including stuff like having sex and homeless people. I don't wanna spoil too much, but he travels on a short adventure of sort.
The movie is seen through the lens of Beau's anxieties, so if he's afraid of someone, their characters are super menacing in the film. My favorite scenes were actually early in the film where we witness this hyper violent, nightmarish New York where naked serial killers prowl the street and the police are as likely to shoot you. It's brilliant dark comedy.
As the movie goes on, it does drag a bit in places, though it never gets boring. Some of the things that went on I didn't quite understand and the movie is packed with symbolism, foreshadowing, layers etc. If you enjoy a movie you can analyze, this is for you.
I'd rate it :3.5stars:
But the first 20 minutes of its 3 hour runtime might be more like 5 stars.
One of the movies I forgot to mention after I saw it some days ago was Brainstorm from 1983.
(https://pics.filmaffinity.com/Brainstorm-397847766-large.jpg)
I thought it would be some sci-fi goofball horror, maybe like Lifeforce meets Altered States. What I got wasn't like that at all.
In this movie, Christopher Walken and Natalie Woods plays a recently separated married couple that work together on a machine that can relay other beings' sensory input. You put on a helmet, you can see what they see, taste what they taste and so on. Moreover, experiences and thoughts can be recorded to magnetic tapes and played / experienced by someone else at a later time.
While there are occasional goofs, the movie takes itself and its story seriously. It takes its concept to some interesting places, like exploring what might happen after we die, and is delightfully non-formulaic.
The actors do a fine job. Walken's weirdness works better here than in movies like The Dead Zone.
All in all, a little 80s gem and it's weird it took so long to show up on my radar. Why don't people mention this more often?
:3.5stars:
Also, those lab sets look great.
Funny that you mention The Dead Zone I came in this thread to post about it. I'm currently watching it but it's almost over.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Sep 11, 2023, 01:24 AMFunny that you mention The Dead Zone I came in this thread to post about it. I'm currently watching it but it's almost over.
I think The Dead Zone is okay, but a little uneven maybe as the political assassination plot towards the end feels a little tacked on. But maybe it's like that in Stephen King's book too.
I actually prefer Brainstorm to The Dead Zone.
(https://imgur.com/8UASHsb.jpg)
I finally got around to this. I love the original, and this did not disappoint.
I'm a Timothée Chalamet fan, or at least I was till he started dating one of the Kardashians. :poop:
Quote from: MonaSomona on Sep 11, 2023, 11:14 AMI finally got around to this. I love the original, and this did not disappoint.
I'm a Timothée Chalamet fan, or at least I was till he started dating one of the Kardashians. :poop:
When I hear Chalamet, I think of this song (even though it's not completely the same):
Quote from: Guybrush on Sep 11, 2023, 12:29 PMWhen I hear Chalamet, I think of this song (even though it's not completely the same):
Hahaha, classic Tim and Eric.
I don't think I've ever seen anything with Chalamet in it, but I did think the Wonka trailer looked cute so I might see that if I get the chance.
Never really been interested in Dune, never seemed to be enough of the whimsy I look for in my sci-fi and fantasy. But I could be totally wrong of course.
Quote from: Guybrush on Sep 11, 2023, 05:02 AMI think The Dead Zone is okay, but a little uneven maybe as the political assassination plot towards the end feels a little tacked on. But maybe it's like that in Stephen King's book too.
I actually prefer Brainstorm to The Dead Zone.
As I was watching this, I went on google so I could look up the book. I'm definitely going to read the book because I feel like it might flesh out things a bit more but sadly the ending is still similar. I don't mind it too much though.
I'd give it
:3stars:
the book is probably four to five stars. I like the concept. They also made it a tv series that I feel like I used to watch but never knew about the original movie/book. I may revisit the series.
I also watched Polite Society recently as well.
(https://assets.gadgets360cdn.com/pricee/assets/product/202302/Polite-Society_1676850832.jpg)
I loved this movie so much. It has a Scott Pilgrim feel to it. This sister wants to be a stuntwoman but her older sister is artsy. She ends up being courted to be married off and the younger sister doesn't trust the new suitor and his mother. She ends up gathering up her friends to fight off and find out what nefarious things are going on. I highly recommend giving this a viewing.
:5stars:
Anyone seen Moonage Daydream?
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Sep 15, 2023, 08:13 PMAnyone seen Moonage Daydream?
Not yet. I bought it digitally when it came out and then promptly forgot about it.
And then I've kept on forgetting about it.
Talk to Me
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.iqlk3aBlQCCz03abhaEJbgHaK-?pid=ImgDet&rs=1)
I went into this movie completely blind. I didn't watch a trailer but heard good things about it. The buzz for it was pretty high. All the actors in this movie were Aussie. I had one minor issue but it happens. Black characters don't tend to just go along with shenanigans in horror movies but I guess if most of her friends are white and she's been raised around them it changes her attitude towards situations but that's the only minor detail that took me out of the movie lol. I know there are plenty of foolish black characters in horror movies but in certain movies they tend to put up more of a resistance to shenanigans than this character. Teen goes to party participates in shenanigans and all hell breaks loose. I love this movie and I ended up finding out that there is a sequel already in development and they are going to call it Talk 2 Me. I hope it acts more of a pre-quel to explore more lore around this mysterious hand. I won't spoil the movie any.
:4stars:
Quote from: MonaSomona on Sep 11, 2023, 11:14 AMI'm a Timothée Chalamet fan, or at least I was till he started dating one of the Kardashians. :poop:
I just noticed this. :laughing:
I'm glad he's dating one of the Kardashians. They need to continue their white boy arc and date slightly differently.
I'm still not over Travis Barker marrying one of them.
Smashed
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYjJiZDY2ZTgtZGEyYi00NjUyLWJkZTktZDliNGE4M2NhYjYzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTMxMTY0OTQ@._V1_.jpg)
@Meatwad Never heard of Smashed. Did you like it?
@DJChameleon thanks for covering Talk to Me 🙂 it's on my wanna watch list right after Suitable Flesh.
Quote from: Guybrush on Sep 21, 2023, 01:40 PM@Meatwad Never heard of Smashed. Did you like it?
Yeah not too bad. 7/10 sort of territory for me. Nothing particularly earth shattering but a nice well crafted film based mainly around the timeline of a school teacher and some of her extra curricular actvities. :laughing:
(https://imgur.com/RXyTyO6.jpg)
Watched the whole 2 hours and 39 minutes of this last night. It was not good. Surprising since Austin Butler almost won an Oscar for it.
I've never seen that one but I'm not a big Baz Luhrmann fan on the whole. I think in a lot of ways his films seem like they'd be up my alley, but his style just goes overboard and tips the scale in favor of unbearable cheese to me.
Back to the Future.
Believe it or not I had never seen it.
It was cute.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Sep 23, 2023, 12:45 PMI've never seen that one but I'm not a big Baz Luhrmann fan on the whole. I think in a lot of ways his films seem like they'd be up my alley, but his style just goes overboard and tips the scale in favor of unbearable cheese to me.
I love all the whimsy and cheese that Baz provides. I haven't watched that Elvis movie yet though.
We saw this tonight:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0b/Barbie_2023_poster.jpg)
I liked it! Very funny and clever and well casted.
Gosling was good. Ferrel was funny. It was fun to see America Ferrera again as I haven't seen her since Ugly Betty. And Rhea Perlman I haven't seen in ages. Margot Robbie looks great as always, does a funny and effective role and really dialled up the acting in the dramatic scenes.
The plot was silly, but I appreciated the social commentary and the laughs along the way.
Considering the source material, I'm actually impressed with what they did with it.
:4stars:
Funny you mentioned that movie. I'm re-watching it tonight with a group of others in discord.
Is it on streaming now? We've been itching to rewatch it as well, might have to suggest that for movie night tonight.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Sep 25, 2023, 12:49 AMIs it on streaming now? We've been itching to rewatch it as well, might have to suggest that for movie night tonight.
Yeah it's on Prime but like you have to buy it. 30 bucks for digital and 24 bucks for 48 hour rental.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Sep 25, 2023, 04:13 AMYeah it's on Prime but like you have to buy it. 30 bucks for digital and 24 bucks for 48 hour rental.
Oof, one of those, gotcha. I don't know why anyone would choose the rental option, that price difference is so interesting.
Anyway, turns out the mister already had plans anyway, we watched Gladiator, which is one of his favorite movies that I had never seen. Tonight I spent a couple hours ironing and folding clothes in the living room, and he put it on as the evening's entertainment while I was doing that.
It was pretty good! Not really my usual kind of movie, but it was engaging all the way through, which is a feat for a 2 and a half hour long movie. I can see why it's one of his favorites, that was definitely the Mr. Wafflesest movie I'd seen in a while.
Ridley Scott is making Gladiator 2 these days, set for release late 2024. Russell Crowe is not attached to it for natural reasons.
(https://i.postimg.cc/hjsrc1L4/PXL-20230930-163744102.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/m2DdZJpv/PXL-20230930-165654598-MP.jpg)
Wildy accurate and a great movie! Even had Dave Portnoy clips in it about when Robinhood halted buys;
I remember watching that interview too, this movie hit a bunch of emotional spots too;
Worth the watch and slightly educational because it brings options trading into the average person's perspective;
Overall 5/5 rating!
Saw this a little while ago, Cure from 1999:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BY2IzODExNDgtMzViNC00ZDk5LWJlOGYtM2VjZjQ4MzllN2RiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTY4ODAxODI@._V1_.jpg)
It's a neat Japanese crime mystery / thriller. A seemingly stoic detective tries to solve a string of similar murders committed by various unrelated people and seemingly without motive.
It's a quiet, stylish movie with occasional bursts of emotion or hyper violence, though the latter is relatively sparse (but used to good effect).
The movie is well regarded and considered influential and important in ushering in a new age of Japanese / Asian thriller/horror, which is how it ended up on my radar.
I thought the plot was a little unrealistic, but well told and with good performances. I enjoyed it.
:3.5stars:
Also the guy who plays the protagonist is a bit like Japanese Brian Ferry, which is a compliment.
Quote from: Guybrush on Oct 11, 2023, 11:58 PMSaw this a little while ago, Cure from 1999:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BY2IzODExNDgtMzViNC00ZDk5LWJlOGYtM2VjZjQ4MzllN2RiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTY4ODAxODI@._V1_.jpg)
It's a neat Japanese crime mystery / thriller. A seemingly stoic detective tries to solve a string of similar murders committed by various unrelated people and seemingly without motive.
It's a quiet, stylish movie with occasional bursts of emotion or hyper violence, though the latter is relatively sparse (but used to good effect).
The movie is well regarded and considered influential and important in ushering in a new age of Japanese / Asian thriller/horror, which is how it ended up on my radar.
I thought the plot was a little unrealistic, but well told and with good performances. I enjoyed it.
:3.5stars:
Also the guy who plays the protagonist is a bit like Japanese Brian Ferry, which is a compliment.
I love this movie.
As for the plot being unrealistic: I got the feeling that the movie continuously hinted at the explanations being presented not being reliable and something deeper going on which made this film extra eerie and cool.
Caught a few of the newly released horror movies, the next one I would like to see is the new Exocist.
The Nun II
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tje0k3i197m5mhnwowey8/Nun-II-poster.jpg?rlkey=ito0wq3g121uu0tcmgr16ivlt&dl=0
I loved this so much more than the original. They honestly did a better job than the first one. I went into this movie thinking it was a prequel but no they went the sequel route they use a clip during the credits to showcase what timeline this took place in the overall franchise timeline. If you liked the version one you will love with one. The only reason I would give this four stars is because I would prefer another installment of The conjuring series to make up for the last one they put out because woof that one was awful.
:4stars:
Saw X
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/OPHS.CsfHM93GYOAn3g474C474?w=194&h=252&o=5&dpr=1.3&pid=1.7)
Who knew we would be on the 10th installment of the Saw franchise! I have fond memories of going to see the newest Saw movie on a yearly basis. It was my Halloween tradition. Halloween night I would head to the movie theater to check out the latest Saw movie. This movie is a nice send off to the character Jigsaw. If they never did another movie after this it would be a nice cap to his character and the storyline that it produced. The original three movies are the best in the entire franchise but this one is right up there and it's getting critical acclaim.
:5 stars:
Killers of the Flower Moon
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.ELkdRW2baEIoruINB_vvywAAAA?pid=ImgDet&rs=1)
I went into this movie completely blind after Guybrush mentioned it. I had no idea I was going into a 4 hour movie(actual run time is 3 hours and 26 mins but with trailers and ads it was four hours)!!?!?!
I don't mind long films but after awhile it gets long in the tooth. The thing is that I enjoyed the plot and wanted to see what would happen but like after the two hours and a half mark, I kept looking at my cell phone to see what time it was. He could have trimmed some of the filler. I didn't Oppenheimer being long because it was steadily building up to a point and then it only had a little extra near the end. I honestly could have done with all the trial stuff but it wasn't so bad. The killings of The Flower Crown though, I could chop that movie up so much to reduce the run time. A lot of it was unnecessary.
It's an interesting movie/book but this film does come off as like Oscar bait. I'm sure it will be nominated for a couple of categories. Great ensemble cast. I feel like the stand out was Mollie(Lily Gladstone ), she better get a Best Actress nomination for this.
I finally got to see Talk To Me 🙂
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I was pleasantly surprised by this. I thought it would feel more like a big studio teen shocker thing. But it actually had more of a smart indie vibe.
The protagonist Mia has lost her mom and has since become very attached to her best friend's family. They start dabbling with this possession game which is getting to be a popular party game. It's obviously not a good idea.
The spooky angle works. The dramatic angle works and the stakes feel high. They're also convincing as teenagers, so that works. Performances are good and it's an engaging watch.
Spooky and fun 🎃
:4stars:
Finally watched this and loved it. Fantastic acting and overall great script.
(https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w1280/fzQgasudHQuLWWb86qTPjIofDbV.jpg)
^Yes, I liked that too 🙂
Very enjoyable and also seemed very danish. They definitely have a more alcohol friendly culture.
I remember some years ago, we visited the Aarhus municipality with my work. We were greeted in the town hall building with a talk and a case of beer 😄
A case of beer at work when you're in public administration and on the clock is unheard of here for any reason, but.. When in Rome.
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
The mister and I watched this with some friends on Saturday, he had already seen it and the TV show spinoff, but I was going in blind. I enjoyed it a lot, I love it when you can make something wholesome out of what would otherwise be quite macabre subject matter. I will confess that it took me at least half an hour before I realized that was Jemaine Clement as the bearded vampire. But yeah this was the perfect movie for the spooky season; I love movies that are horror-themed but not actually meant to scare you.
watched the matrix reloaded last night. It was slightly good, the first original one is better.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Oct 31, 2023, 03:22 PMWhat We Do in the Shadows (2014)
The mister and I watched this with some friends on Saturday, he had already seen it and the TV show spinoff, but I was going in blind. I enjoyed it a lot, I love it when you can make something wholesome out of what would otherwise be quite macabre subject matter. I will confess that it took me at least half an hour before I realized that was Jemaine Clement as the bearded vampire. But yeah this was the perfect movie for the spooky season; I love movies that are horror-themed but not actually meant to scare you.
I love WWDITS! The TV show is also good 🙂 the cast and characters are all great.
Also, Taika Waititi is kinda handsome in the Our Flag Means Death series where he plays Blackbeard.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Oct 31, 2023, 03:22 PMWhat We Do in the Shadows (2014)
The mister and I watched this with some friends on Saturday, he had already seen it and the TV show spinoff, but I was going in blind. I enjoyed it a lot, I love it when you can make something wholesome out of what would otherwise be quite macabre subject matter. I will confess that it took me at least half an hour before I realized that was Jemaine Clement as the bearded vampire. But yeah this was the perfect movie for the spooky season; I love movies that are horror-themed but not actually meant to scare you.
My ex-roommate introduced me to this movie and I loved every minute of it. I'm a big Flight of the Conchords fan so I was on board when I found out Jemaine was in this. I haven't watched the tv series yet but it's on my to do list.
(https://i.ibb.co/TTvQ38H/WoM.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GJxZS2V)
The Wizard of Mars (1965)
A tediously boring sci-fi flick with a very slight nod to "The Wizard of Oz." Slow pacing, bad acting, bad writing, mediocre directing, and special effects which fluctuate between adequate and awful. John Carradine makes a brief appearance as a disembodied, floating, talking head but that's not nearly enough to make this movie worth watching.
:1.5stars:
We rewatched this:
(https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dagon_5cceca755ff7a.png)
It's a movie based on Lovecraft's Shadow Over Innsmouth from 2001. I think the last time I saw this was probably 2005/6.
So this movie is fairly cheap and sits nicely in the B movie category. If you don't already know the story, I don't wanna spoil it, but.. it's a little bit like if The Wicker Man was on steroids, had a lot more action scenes, was more of a fantasy movie and was made in the early 00s.
The lead actor, Ezra Godden, looks like a slightly handsomer Bob Saget.
All in all, a somewhat uneven but fun Lovecraft-adaptation. We get some ham. We also get quite a bit of dedicated acting. We get cheesy cg effects, but also some pretty decent costumes. And we also get some gore and hyper violence.
I give it: :3.5stars:
Ooh, trick question. I generally don't watch movies -- I bounce them, looking for a repeatable bit of a scene, usually when the ghoul pops out. I can't remember the name of the movie, but the one with the "hide and clap" sequence is a favourite. I occasionally watch Eraserhead in sections, and if I really feel like watching a movie, I'll watch a scene or two and then stop it until I feel like picking up the story again. The current movie that I'm actually watching is Step Across the Border, the movie about Fred Frith. I guess I'm about 20 minutes or so into it, maybe.
Quote from: larsvsnapster on Nov 12, 2023, 06:46 AMOoh, trick question. I generally don't watch movies -- I bounce them, looking for a repeatable bit of a scene, usually when the ghoul pops out. I can't remember the name of the movie, but the one with the "hide and clap" sequence is a favourite. I occasionally watch Eraserhead in sections, and if I really feel like watching a movie, I'll watch a scene or two and then stop it until I feel like picking up the story again. The current movie that I'm actually watching is Step Across the Border, the movie about Fred Frith. I guess I'm about 20 minutes or so into it, maybe.
Well, Eraserhead is a hoot.
If I watch any movie the way you describe, it'd be The Forbidden Zone because it's so neatly divided up into various enjoyable scenes.
I haven't seen Step Across the Border, but a movie about Fred Frith sounds interesting. Let us know what you think if you finish it?
(https://cdn.marvel.com/content/1x/marvels_imax_digital_supplemental_v3_lg.jpg)
I saw The Marvels Thursday night because I don't like getting spoiled. I saw the 3D version because it was the first showing at 3pm.
I don't care what anyone else says. I loved the movie and it was a great light hearted popcorn flick. Nia did a great job directing, the editing might have been a little off but other than that. 4 out of 5 imo, people will say their powers switching is a plot hole but nope they explain why they switch sometimes and other times they don't.
:4stars:
^Didn't even know there was a new marvel movie out.
I watched this:
Desperately Seeking Susan from 1985
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Madonna and Rosanna Arquette star in this romcom that's kinda light on everything, including rom and com.
It's too bland and inoffensive to be good, but it's not exactly dreadful either. What saves it is Rosanna Arquette ❤️ who is a darling and just watching her do anything is kinda interesting. Madonna does a pretty good role as well, though the movie didn't actually demand much from her as an actor.
Judging by the cover, I thought it would be about them being friends and doing stuff together. It might've made for a better movie. They do meet up, but only at the very end.
It's a :3stars: fare with little to no replay value.
Spontaneously went to a late showing of Sofia Coppola's Priscilla on Saturday. Everything else was sold out. It was poetically directed and filmed as expected with a Sofia film, but unfortunately so boring and uneventful we took turns drifting to sleep. Possibly 80% of the film was Elvis coaxing the much younger Priscilla to take pills and nod off in his velveted blacked-out bedroom. Maybe that's why I got so sleepy. ???
The two lead actors were fine and Jacob Elordi a dead ringer for Elvis in both appearance and mannerisms. But that was about it, imho.
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Quote from: Mindy on Sep 30, 2023, 09:17 PM(https://i.postimg.cc/hjsrc1L4/PXL-20230930-163744102.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/m2DdZJpv/PXL-20230930-165654598-MP.jpg)
Wildy accurate and a great movie! Even had Dave Portnoy clips in it about when Robinhood halted buys;
I remember watching that interview too, this movie hit a bunch of emotional spots too;
Worth the watch and slightly educational because it brings options trading into the average person's perspective;
Overall 5/5 rating!
Went to rent this movie on amazon now and watch at home, but wtf it's $19.99 for a stream ::)
I'm still buying it later because I want to watch again but older movies are only $4, what makes a $16 up price for a new movie?
Quote from: Mindy on Nov 15, 2023, 12:47 AMWent to rent this movie on amazon now and watch at home, but wtf it's $19.99 for a stream ::)
I'm still buying it later because I want to watch again but older movies are only $4, what makes a $16 up price for a new money?
Yeah new movies that are still in theaters or just recently left theathers are anywhere between 15 to 20 bucks. You can only rent it at that price unless they have it available to own then you own the digital version. I still prefer getting a physical copy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/DZXqfb4Y/King-of-the-Zombies-1941.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
King of the Zombies (1941)
Low-budget horror/suspense/spy/thriller/comedy combination. Three men crash land their plane on a Caribbean island where a doctor with a German accent is secretly creating a mini-army of the walking dead. Mantan Moreland steals the show as a high-strung and cowardly manservant.
:3.5stars:
^ thanks for that. I'm going to check it out later on.
I found it on YouTube.
Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)
Meh, this was passable. It took a while to get going and I thought a lot more could have been done with it. The big moments didn't really have the punch I'm looking for. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I were a kid or if I knew more about the FNAF lore (I played the first game when it came out and even back then I felt like I wasn't the target audience). So yeah, not a movie for me.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Nov 19, 2023, 03:44 AMFive Nights at Freddy's (2023)
Meh, this was passable. It took a while to get going and I thought a lot more could have been done with it. The big moments didn't really have the punch I'm looking for. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I were a kid or if I knew more about the FNAF lore (I played the first game when it came out and even back then I felt like I wasn't the target audience). So yeah, not a movie for me.
I know of the games, so.. is this an animated horror movie for kids?
Quote from: Guybrush on Nov 19, 2023, 03:51 AMI know of the games, so.. is this an animated horror movie for kids?
It's live action, and it's PG13, so more for teenagers than young kids. There are depictions of violence, but nothing particularly gory or graphic. I'd say it's aiming to be an "all ages" kinda thing. The games are a lot more abstract in terms of the narrative and the tone, I would say they probably appeal to a wider audience.
Though I do know plenty of adults who liked the movie, it's just most of them seem to be big fans of the games; there's a lot of Easter eggs and references to them and the fan culture.
Saw Fallen Leaves, the fourth of Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki's "working class" series (although I've not yet seen the first three) - followed by an in-person Q&A with the lead actors Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen. The plot concerns two lonely, depressed people who meet by chance and slowly (very slowly) try to build a relationship fraught with misunderstandings and mishaps. The film was a slow burn even at 82 minutes - but there were small comedic and hopeful moments peppered throughout that lifted the story out of the darkness. Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen were really engaging, intelligent and funny during the Q&A - I'd love to see more of them in other films. They shared many interesting insights, including that the film is "about how we are throwing away food, how we are throwing away animals, how we are throwing away people." Last but not least, there's a dog in the film who really steals the show. :D
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQIeiReMb0Zw7ay1HOHvynEG0UegqKaZ4nEtJWhJbujT3W6-eYZmEemtugqCzLRTdzkr0U&usqp=CAU)
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Nov 19, 2023, 03:44 AMFive Nights at Freddy's (2023)
Meh, this was passable. It took a while to get going and I thought a lot more could have been done with it. The big moments didn't really have the punch I'm looking for. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I were a kid or if I knew more about the FNAF lore (I played the first game when it came out and even back then I felt like I wasn't the target audience). So yeah, not a movie for me.
I don't know anything about the FNAF lore and they did a good job describing the lore and explaining what happened and why it happens. The easter egg moments of seeing Youtubers and Twitch Streamers pop up was so fun for me.
There is a message at the end of the credits that I had no clue what it meant. When I went to watch it, I asked some teens that might have known what it meant but they had no clue either.
Come to find out the last line is an indication of another animatronic that may appear in the sequel if they DO decide to do a sequel. There are pleny of Youtube videos out there that break down the easter eggs and stuff.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Nov 20, 2023, 04:47 PMI don't know anything about the FNAF lore and they did a good job describing the lore and explaining what happened and why it happens. The easter egg moments of seeing Youtubers and Twitch Streamers pop up was so fun for me.
There is a message at the end of the credits that I had no clue what it meant. When I went to watch it, I asked some teens that might have known what it meant but they had no clue either.
Come to find out the last line is an indication of another animatronic that may appear in the sequel if they DO decide to do a sequel. There are pleny of Youtube videos out there that break down the easter eggs and stuff.
Yeah, I wasn't confused or anything, I just meant I had a lot of times when something happened and I thought "I'm sure that means a lot to the big fans". But fair, I might check out those analysis videos.
Only Youtuber I recognized was Matpat. The theater loved his "but that's just a theory" line, I definitely groaned a bit at the obviousness.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Nov 20, 2023, 05:00 PMOnly Youtuber I recognized was Matpat. The theater loved his "but that's just a theory" line, I definitely groaned a bit at the obviousness.
The teens I talked to they actually said "he said the line". They loved it but I'm sure not everyone got the reference even though it was one that many in the know, know about.
Edit: The black guy driving the uber was one as well Corey something.
No Hard Feelings.
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.LG41ef8IWfINe7qYlVvFCgHaK8?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain)
The real selling point is just to see Jennifer Lawrence nude. She does physical comedy but she doesn't sell it enough idk something is off.
It is a very paint by numbers rom com/American Pie raunch type movie.
You can predict the plot points and what's gonna happen next.
:2stars:
A few days ago, we saw Aguirre.
(https://nhsportpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Aguirre-the-Wrath-of-God-675x900.jpg)
I won't spoil much, but it's a movie about an expedition of Spanish conquistadors (and their slaves) who are looking for El Dorado somewhere in the Amazon. They face various hardships.
So the movie was pretty good. Not everyone in front of the camera manage to convince, but at least Klaus Kinski brought enough intensity for everyone.
What made me curious about this one - and even more so Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo which I got lined up - are the production hell stories surrounding them. Much of it has been attributed to Kinski who would go straight into violent tantrums, sometimes several times per day. It seems a recurring theme in his career is that people found his antagonistic behaviour offensive to the point where they offer to murder him.
The movie itself was enjoyable, but I doubt I'll see it twice.
:3stars:
On Saturday, we saw Ken Russell's Lair of the White Worm from 1988.
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Oh wow, what a stupid movie! In the best possible way. As a "so good it's bad" kind of film, this one's absolutely tremendous.
Peter Capaldi plays an archeology student who, for some reason, is digging at the site of a Roman convent all on his own. He happens to find a large skull that obviously belongs to an oversized snake. He doesn't see this, though, and when the goofy girl who lives in the house whose garden he's digging in asks if it's a dinosaur, he says it can't be because there's 25 million years between the Romans and the dinosaurs. He's obviously not a paleontology or common sense graduate.
Anyways, it just so happens dark, snakey forces are stirring again and we get Hugh Grant as the posh heir to a knight who once slayed the local dreaded white worm. He's also the kind of dapper young aristocrat who's entirely unfazed when people murder his staff or he happens to slice a woman in two with the old family sword.
Amanda Donohoe is perfect as the intense and mysterious Lady Sylvia Marsh who just can't resist a Turkish snake charmer tune.
This is a movie where you'll constantly be asking yourself: is it that stupid on purpose? Or was it an accident?
Adding to this is a delightful inconsistency in tone with hilariously gruesome shots being tossed in next to unintentionally funny drama and what vaguely reminds me of an old hammer horror, only dumber.
As a bad movie, this should be hailed as one of the truly great. I'm so happy to have discovered it ❤️
:4stars:
Ken Russell made the excellent The Devils with Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed. And then he makes this? Was he on drugs?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/95/GNFOS_poster.jpg)
I finally got around to watching Gayniggers From Outer Space and it felt like they made it purposely for MST3k to watch and roast/make jokes about.
It's one of those so bad that it's hilarious.
I find it kind of funny but it makes sense oddly that it was made by Danish director. It's their take on sci fi/blaxploitation flicks and I think it doesn't hit the same because they are Danish and not American but still hilarious and I love that it's only 30 mins long. It has such a great run time. If it went on any longer or they tried to take themselves seriously it wouldn't have worked.
:3stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZKgmpJTb/SS2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ykF2z4gt)
The Silver Streak (1934)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jjbG45Bb/SS1.png) (https://postimages.org/)
An adventure/drama/love story centered around a streamlined train called "The Silver Streak." The train in the film was actually a diesel-powered streamlined train called "The Pioneer Zephyr" which was the first such train in use at that time in America. The story was a bit ridiculous and the acting was mediocre at best. The train was the real star of the show and the most interesting part of the film.
:2.5stars:
@Psy-Fi Do you find these old flicks on YouTube? You wrote something about it a while ago, but I can't quite remember and don't feel like digging 😄
Quote from: Guybrush on Nov 28, 2023, 05:48 PM@Psy-Fi Do you find these old flicks on YouTube? You wrote something about it a while ago, but I can't quite remember and don't feel like digging 😄
Yes. I watch YouTube on the TV I have in the room where I have my exercise equipment. Just something to have on while I'm working out. Often times I'll stumble across an old movie I haven't seen before and watch it during my daily routine.
I saw Almost Famous from.. I think its 2000.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzY1ZjMwMGEtYTY1ZS00ZDllLTk0ZmUtYzA3ZTA4NmYwNGNkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDk3NzU2MTQ@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
It's a very good movie about a kid who ends up as a rock journalist in the early 70s and joins a band on tour for a while to write an article on them for Rolling Stone Magazine. That's kinda the backdrop, then other things happen.
Kate Hudson plays the groupie Penny Lane who's a bit of a Holly Go-Lightly type in that she's a character that doesn't seem grounded in real life and rather seem to try escaping it. It's her face on the cover.
You got Billy Crudup and Jason Lee playing musicians and an odd casting of Jimmy Fallon as a manager type, a bit of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Frances McDormand doing a great role as our protagonist's (played by Patrick Fugit) mother. Kyle Gass makes an appearance.
Something a little icky here is the age of the groupies vs. the musicians. Having read Pamela DeBarres groupie memoirs, I know this is fairly accurate. They were teens, sometimes like.. 14. In the movie, at least they're 16, but they don't seem to make a fuzz about adult males banging children. Oh well, I guess the year 2000 is a long time ago.
Other than that, I really enjoyed it 🙂
:4stars:
Watched Sleuth (1972). The movie is very well regarded and has Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Still I was very disappointed. The plot was pretty lame, it wasn't filmed particularly well and even the acting wasn't that good. It felt overall cheap. I remember seeing it ten years ago or so and being underwhelmed even then but today I just plain didn't like it.
Quote from: grindy on Dec 06, 2023, 10:07 PMWatched Sleuth (1972). The movie is very well regarded and has Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Still I was very disappointed. The plot was pretty lame, it wasn't filmed particularly well and even the acting wasn't that good. It felt overall cheap. I remember seeing it ten years ago or so and being underwhelmed even then but today I just plain didn't like it.
Hmm.. I've never seen that one, although I'm curious. I got about 100 other movies on my list, though 😅
We wanted to watch killers of the flower moon, but that was like 20 USD to rent or so. Bananas.
So we saw this instead:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTUzM2I3NDEtMjNhYi00NTQ0LThmZDItZTMyMzM2MjJmZGRjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTU3NDU4MDg2._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
It's about a family who happens to go on a vacation just before some sort of societal disaster strikes. I don't wanna give away too much more.
It's entertaining enough, even if some of the characters are pretty unlikable. And there's some weird animal behaviour that I never understood and a tick that definitely didn't look like a tick. The ending wasn't what I wanted, but it was okay.
Seeing this, I was again reminded of how over-represented the upper middle class to the very wealthy are in American movies and TV.
Weirdly enough, executive producers on this are Michelle and Barack Obama.
I give it:
:3.5stars:
Actually it should probably sit at like 3,25 stars.
Quote from: Guybrush on Dec 09, 2023, 01:20 AMSeeing this, I was again reminded of how over-represented the upper middle class to the very wealthy are in American movies and TV.
Probably because they're usually the ones with the ability to pursue a career making movies and TV shows.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Rh0s9qYL/The-Killer-that-Stalked-New-York-1950.jpg)
The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
B&W film noir flick with a plot which wasn't quite what I was expecting when I saw the title. It has many of the usual elements of a typical film noir story but with an added twist. Mostly shot on location in NYC and similar in plot to 'Panic in the Streets' which was released a few months prior. I've seen 'Panic in the Streets' and I'd give it a slightly higher rating than this film but they're both enjoyable film noir thrillers.
:3.5stars:
Holidate
(https://d2iltjk184xms5.cloudfront.net/uploads/photo/file/379769/0ef5c0ff072d57d03d5de14960efb432-holidate-poster.jpg)
This is a cute holiday rom com. When I saw the credits roll and realized it was a McG production. I was like oh yeah that makes sense. It makes sense why King Bach showed up in it as well. McG always looks out for Andrew and casts him in his movies.
:3.5stars:
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Dec 11, 2023, 01:32 PM(https://i.postimg.cc/Rh0s9qYL/The-Killer-that-Stalked-New-York-1950.jpg)
I like how it looks like she's miles away, lost in thought, while also standing on a narrow ledge on the side of a tall building 😄
We finally finished this old classic, Lawrence of Arabia:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Lawrence_of_arabia_ver3_xxlg.jpg/1200px-Lawrence_of_arabia_ver3_xxlg.jpg)
It's about Lawrence, an English officer during WW1 who leads the Arab revolt against the Turks and tries to unite various Arab tribes. As the war goes on, it takes an increasing toll on our poor hero.
It's a very long and hugely ambitious movie, clocking in around 3,5 hours runtime, I believe. It took us 4 evenings to get through it.
The movie is very enjoyable. There are some incredible locations and great scenes and Peter O'Toole is
great in the role of Lawrence. Really, he's such a good fit and easy on the eyes. Omar Sharif is also quite good in his role as Sherif Ali, the closest thing Lawrence has to a real friend.
In my opinion, Lawrence of Arabia deserves its classic status.
:4stars:
Also, there seems to be no living female characters in this, so watch it for the bromance and sausage party.
(https://i.postimg.cc/W4Q1y7YZ/Violent-Saturday-1955.jpg)
Violent Saturday (1955)
A crime drama which takes place in a small town in America during the mid 1950's. Various characters are shown going about their daily lives in the town while a "salesman" and two "rookie salesmen" plan a bank heist. The first 2/3 of the film moves rather slowly while the different characters are shown and developed before being brought together by happenstance for the final 1/3 of the film leading up to the robbery.
:3.5stars:
I watched Gremlins 1 and 2 back to back because I have a double DVD with them both on it that I picked up for 5 bucks at Wally World.
Watching these movies hit all the nostalgia factors and got my 'member berries tingling. I think I still prefer the second one over the first one because of all the unique Gremlins that ended up coming out after they were taking chemicals in the lab. My wifey was making fun of the fact that I classified these movies as horror. I still think they are horror, just like comedy horror and it's not as intense as other horror movies.
Gremlins
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nloAAOSwd6Jji8Hc/s-l1600.png)
:4stars:
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
(https://i5.walmartimages.com/seo/Gremlins-2-The-New-Batch-movie-POSTER-Style-A-11-x-17-1990_3ddc2467-f8ed-4843-98ac-f10b212fa713.1a4187f94486970e43f594f394d748f9.jpeg?odnHeight=640&odnWidth=640&odnBg=FFFFFF)
:4.5stars:
I've been thinking about rewatching Gremlins 2 as it's been such a long time since I saw it.. 20 years, easily.
This was our Christmas movie:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTczNDYzNjEwMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwOTY4ODI5._V1_.jpg)
Of course it's about the Uruguayan rugby team who ended up in a plane crash in the Andes and had to resort to an unconventional diet.
Not an actual Christmas movie, but there's snow and they're together and sharing important meals etc. so a little Christmasy still.
It's pretty okay, actually. Ethan Hawke plays a role. Illeana Douglas is recognizable and kinda cute in 1993.
I'd give it :3.5stars:
I saw The Chaser from 2008 yesterday.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BY2ViOTU5MDQtZTRiZi00YjViLWFiY2ItOTRhNWYyN2ZiMzUyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyODkwOQ@@._V1_.jpg)
It got on my radar from being a generally high regarded south Korean thriller.
I thought it was well made and enjoyed that it wasn't too formulaic, but the plot and its characters wasn't something I found particularly enjoyable. A problem might be I found the protagonist mostly unlikeable 🤔
Still, and sorry for the very slight spoiler, but those who enjoy a gritty serial killer hunt might like this. However, I'd prefer a rewatch of Silence of the Lambs.
If you wanna know more about the plot, I'll summarise in a spoiler tag.
The Chaser
A pimp has whored out his sick prostitute to a serial killer, realizes his mistake and then desperately tries to stop the killer and save his whore. She and her child are the movie's only likeable characters with any significant, though sparse, screen time.
It's well made, but I rate based on overall enjoyment so this gets:
:3stars:
But I can easily see many if not most enjoying it more.
Saw this slice of cheese:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ed/Mission-_Impossible_%E2%80%93_Dead_Reckoning_Part_One_poster.jpg)
I haven't been keeping up with the Mission Impossibles, but thought we'd give this a shot as the train sequence and climax at the end were filmed in Norway (while presented as Austria).
The script seemed a little childish at times, like how quickly this romantic subplot develops and just the spy stuff etc. but whatever. You watch it for the popcorn action sequences. After all, it's just a series of big action sequences strung together with minimal bits of story and acting in between.. and the spectacle is good. Tom Cruise is a bit bland as Ethan Hunt, a man who unfailingly excels at everything, but he gets the job done. That he does his own stunts is honestly impressive.
The rest of the cast isn't too memorable, but I liked Vanessa Kirby's White Widow.
Enjoyable, but I won't watch it again. Another 3.5 stars for me.
:3.5stars:
I've also been to Austria and can clearly see the difference between here and there 😄
Saw this one:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTFkNmE5MjUtZDE1Yi00ZmQyLTk2YWUtN2EwODA1ZmNlOTA5XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTM1MTE1NDMx._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
Pearl from 2022. I think it is a prequel to X (which I haven't seen) and fleshes out an origin story for a character which is an old lady in that film.
In Pearl, the titular character is a young woman in 1918 whose husband is soldiering in Europe during WW1. She dreams of being a star/celeb, but is trapped in a life on the family farm with a non-verbal father stuck to a wheelchair and a very controlling mother. Without spoiling too much, Pearl's attempt to break free from this life is an important part of the plot.
The movie is a genre mix between drama and horror and while some scenes are very emotional, the movie doesn't take itself too seriously. There's a little bit of hyper violence, but it shouldn't have too much of an impact on the viewer compared to some other offerings in the genre.
I liked it, but probably won't watch it again. At times, it felt a little like that episode in the series you're watching when they leave you on a cliffhanger to instead explore the somewhat more boring backstory to a character.. but then I guess that's almost exactly what this is.
The character Pearl seems a little unlikely, I think, being a psychopath who is also very emotional, but she's well played by Mia Goth.
I believe this is part of a trilogy with X being the first, then Pearl and then the upcoming Maxxxine.
Pearl, from me, gets:
:3stars:
I feel the same way about Pearl but I want to re-watch it. I watched it out of order like you as well so I want to go back and re-watch it. I also dozed off on it so I want to watch it fully. I think you might like X more.
The Witch (2015) - 8/10
(https://thumbs4.imagebam.com/99/47/07/MER5SML_t.jpg) (https://www.imagebam.com/view/MER5SML)
Rewatched it last night. Watching the whole family slowly turn against each other because of evil was intense. Great acting all around.
"Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?"
Rewatched Everything Everywhere All At Once because it was on Amazon prime and my wife quickly fell asleep the last time we saw it.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1e/Everything_Everywhere_All_at_Once.jpg)
Still a very enjoyable watch the second time around. I'm impressed that this movie got made and with such a great result. I mean, they must have filmed so many scenes and there must've been so much editing to get to a final cut. Of course, editing was one of the many Oscars it won.
It's fun, sweet and all over the place.. very well casted. Jamie Lee Curtis especially makes me laugh in most of the scenes she's in.
It's a little busy for my tastes, but still a joy. If you haven't seen it, bump it up on your list of movie priorities 🙂
:4stars:
Wow that movie wasn't good enough for a 5 stars?
I give it 5 stars all day everyday.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jan 05, 2024, 08:05 PMWow that movie wasn't good enough for a 5 stars?
I give it 5 stars all day everyday.
In terms of how clever and well made it is, it probably does deserve more, but 4 stars is more a reflection of my enjoyment of it.
If there was a 4.25, I'd give it 😄 it's good, but no Forbidden Zone.
Saw this a couple of days ago:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNGMyZjM5YWUtMjVmMC00NmQ2LTgyMWEtNjYzZDFkYTIyMjFhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTAyMjQ3NzQ1._V1_.jpg)
We watched it on Amazon prime basically because the description made it seem like it was probably inspired by The Silence of the Lambs and I've kinda missed those kind of thrillers.
This one isn't terribly original and the opening reminds me of Dirty Harry. A young, female beat cop ends up helping an FBI agent track down a mass murderer. It's decently acted and entertaining.
A thing I didn't like was the killer, but I'll hide my comment in a spoiler.
To Catch a Killer
The killer seems a little Ted Kaczynzki inspired and at odds with modern society, but we dont actually get into the nitty gritty of why he murders people and, despite everything, seems like he could be a nice guy.
He's well casted with Ralph Ineson doing a fine job, but there's none of the menace that you get from the aforementioned movies.
So a decent crime thriller that would probably be safe for your parents to watch.
:3.5stars:
Also saw this:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYjIzNTYxMTctZjAwNS00YzI3LWExMGMtMGQxNGM5ZTc1NzhlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_.jpg)
Fitzcarraldo is Werner Herzog's epic about an Irish entrepreneur who, being in Peru during a rubber boom, decides to claim and exploit a seemingly unreachable plot containing millions of rubber trees. He can't take a boat up the river where it is due to violent rapids, but plans to take the boat up a neighbouring river and then drag the boat over the hill that separates the two rivers (quite a feat).
This movie has a crazy production history. For one thing, while Herzog was inspired by a real story, the boat used in the movie was 10 times heavier than the historical one and Werner didn't want to use special effects, so.. how do you make a movie about pulling a 320 ton boat over a hill? You do it and you film it.
From Wikipedia: The film production was an incredible ordeal, and famously involved moving a 320-ton steamship over a hill. This was filmed without the use of special effects. Herzog believed that no one had ever performed a similar feat in history, and likely never will again, calling himself "Conquistador of the Useless".
Furthermore, the original star got dysentery and got replaced with, yup, the acting world's most antagonistic individual, the constant tantrum that was Klaus Kinski. He'd get into several dust fights just about every day, scream in people's faces and some of the tribespeople who play in the movie offered Werner to kill Kinski. He said no. By the way, people offering to kill him is a recurring theme through Kinski's career.
Mick Jagger was supposed to play Kinski's character's assistant, but had to tour instead.
The movie is kinda slow and the acting felt a little off. I honestly think a large part of it was just a weird English dub that frequently felt off.
Klaus Kinski mostly seems batshit insane with his yellow, unkempt hair and big blue frog eyes. He has his dead eyed, bulging stare that is put to frequent use throughout and which makes him seem even more like a nutcase. In addition, he feels like a character void if any real passion or morality, a bit like Kinski himself.
It's really cool how they made it and the boat pulling etc. is indeed impressive. However, I wouldn't recommend it in a general sense. Movie / cinema buffs might like it. You know who you are.
Fir me, this was a,:
:3stars:
Heat.
It was fine.
I knew the ending from the moment it started. Good guy wins.
I like Collateral a lot more. I really really like Collateral this one was just okay fine. Al Pacino "She's got a great ass" okay fine.
Quote from: robhr on Jan 12, 2024, 07:44 AMHeat.
It was fine.
I knew the ending from the moment it started. Good guy wins.
I like Collateral a lot more. I really really like Collateral this one was just okay fine. Al Pacino "She's got a great ass" okay fine.
As far as bank heist scenes go, that movie has my all-time favorite one.
Quote from: ribbons on Nov 14, 2023, 09:18 PMSpontaneously went to a late showing of Sofia Coppola's Priscilla on Saturday. Everything else was sold out. It was poetically directed and filmed as expected with a Sofia film, but unfortunately so boring and uneventful we took turns drifting to sleep. Possibly 80% of the film was Elvis coaxing the much younger Priscilla to take pills and nod off in his velveted blacked-out bedroom. Maybe that's why I got so sleepy. ???
The two lead actors were fine and Jacob Elordi a dead ringer for Elvis in both appearance and mannerisms. But that was about it, imho.
(https://static.wixstatic.com/media/667fbf_2e682f7d854d4f338e56f4177382d071~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_919,h_534,al_c,lg_1,q_90,enc_auto/667fbf_2e682f7d854d4f338e56f4177382d071~mv2.png)
I am not ashamed to say I'll be watching that just to look at Jacob Elordi.
Watched Borgman once again, probably for the fifth time now.
I just love this movie so much. It's so entertaining and creepy and funny and weird and yet internally logically consistent.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDg5OTk0OTI3MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjYxMDM1MTE@._V1_.jpg)
oh I gotta watch thta, I was completely unaware that it exists. I love Alex van Warmerdam
Quote from: Marie Monday on Jan 12, 2024, 11:45 PMoh I gotta watch thta, I was completely unaware that it exists. I love Alex van Warmerdam
He's one of my favourite directors! Sadly not nearly as widely known as he'd deserve.
Quote from: grindy on Jan 12, 2024, 06:09 PMWatched Borgman once again, probably for the fifth time now.
I just love this movie so much. It's so entertaining and creepy and funny and weird and yet internally logically consistent.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDg5OTk0OTI3MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjYxMDM1MTE@._V1_.jpg)
Looks interesting,
@grindy 🙂 thanks for the rec!
(https://www.movieposters.com/cdn/shop/files/night_swim_477x.jpg?v=1697562194)
Saw Nightswim yesterday. I was in the mood for a horror movie in theaters but was treated to a basic jump scare fest.
I wish they focused on the lore more. They could have squeezed a sequel out of the short film that was made into a feature film.
The short film this movie was based on was awesome in comparison. They pretty much remade the short film in the first act of this movie but they didn't know how to stretch the concept out to a proper film.
If they are gonna make a haunting movie. You have to make us care about the characters or the tradegy that created the hauntings in the first place. They failed to do that. There were some great underwater shots though especially in the third act.
:2.5stars:
^Thanks for the tip, DJ. I'll see if I can find that short 🙂
We finally saw this. Well, I did. My wife fell asleep. Wes Anderson's Asteroid City:
(https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f6l4um99/production/d1fe4f1812deff281b909b7dbc87c06b05f64889-1920x1080.jpg)
Its not one of his best, but I liked it a lot. And in terms of being Wes Andersony with the carefully designed sets and shots, this movie is great for all who love that. More than his other films, this one doesn't look real. The sky is turquoise and the dirt is a homogeneous near-orange. Everything looks intentional down to minute details, unlike the real world. But then it also has meta layer where our actors generally play two roles, a character and the actor who plays that character as Asteroid City is the fictional story inside the story. So I find that also fits with the look of everything.
There isn't too much of a plot going on. It's more tossing a bunch of characters together and seeing them interact in that kinda detached way where they say they have emotions, but don't quite express them beyond words. Wes is capable of having real, emotional moments in his movies, but this feels more like a comedy and I quite like Wes' quirky sense of humour.
The cast for this film is amazing. So many old collaborators and some new ones too (afaik) like Bryan Cranston and Tom Hanks. The ones I liked the most were actually some of the smaller roles, like Matt Dillon as a mechanic (kinda nice to see him again), Maya Hawke as a teacher and Tilda Swinton as an astronomer.
All in all, it couldn't keep my wife awake, but I rather enjoyed it. Might be better on the second watch too, I figure.
:4stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/GtykB3pb/Fi-M-1929.jpg)
Frau im Mond (1929)
:3stars:
Silent B&W German sci-fi film by Fritz Lang, with a love story within the plot. The video I saw looked very good considering the age of the movie. I watched a version with English subtitles added because my German is rudimentary at best. The directing was as good as I expected, the acting was fairly typical of films of the era, and I thought the special effects were good for the time. Supposedly, the countdown sequence for the rocket launch was the first time that a countdown was ever used to depict a rocket launch. The story had some ridiculous and scientifically wrong aspects to it but it was fairly entertaining and managed to keep me interested despite the rather long running time of 166 minutes.
(https://i.postimg.cc/tTQGXyDG/The-Big-Chase-1954.jpg)
The Big Chase (1954)
:1.5stars:
Early 50's B&W crime flick disaster. A rookie patrol cop crosses paths with a couple of ex-cons and their two cohorts during a heist. The idea of the plot isn't bad but the script is. Mediocre acting, bad script, incompetent directing, the only good thing about the movie was its short running time of 59 minutes.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYzg1ZWQxZDMtYjBhMC00OTNhLWJiNGYtMGFiNDQ4NzQ4NjVlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTA1NjYyMDk@._V1_.jpg)
Le Trou (The Hole)
I've seen it many years ago and loved it and probably loved it even more this second time. This movie is just perfect from start to finish. It's about a prison break and the best one of this kind I've ever seen. It's based on a true story and one of the guys who participated in the real thing plays one of the major roles. Even apart from that it's very detailed and realistic and a fascinating insight into french prison life in the 40s. It has a certain calm intensity about it. There is very little drama, no music at all, few cuts, understated acting and yet it really grabs you. We actually had to split watching it into two days because at some point my GF couldn't bear the tension any more and wanted to relax a bit.
Highly recommended. This is such a great relief after watching a lot of modern stuff which is rife with overwrought drama, ridiculously over the top music and the plot being driven by people being idiots. Here we have several people calmly and intelligently solving a difficult problem and it's a delight to watch.
Nice one,
@grindy ! Adding it to my list.
(https://imgur.com/3CFHFWH.jpg)
:3stars:
Watched this the other night. Don't know what it would have been like to just watch it, because I had read the book first. This is a prequel centered around Snow and how he became an evil shit.
Wonderful book series.
Watched The Void as it seemed like something I'd find enjoyable enough.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzU0MzgxMjAtYjU0NC00ZWYyLTljZWUtNTRkNzBhZTYwYzY4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTM2MzgyOTU@._V1_.jpg)
It's a B movie that has its cast of characters holed up in a partly burnt hospital under siege by cultists and Lovecraftian/Carpenterian monsters.
It definitely is rooted in a kind of 80s horror and a scene or two in here seems very The Thing-inspired. Something that is great is I didn't see any overt CGI in the monster designs, so that helps add that 80s feel.
It's decently acted for what it is - a B horror flick. None of us are expecting a riveting dramatic performances.
All in all, it feels like a mixture between Dead Space (the computer game and its story) and Hellraiser. Not great, but quite ambitious and kinda fun.
It sits somewhere between:
:3stars: & :3.5stars:
Are there jump scares?
Quote from: grindy on Jan 20, 2024, 08:21 PMAre there jump scares?
Yes, a few, although it doesn't overuse them.
I didn't find it scary, but it's fun to watch monsters.
Being John Malkovich
Used to love it as a teenager but haven't seen it in many years.
Still think it's a cool movie but a lot of it didn't hold up well. Some scenes just seem kinda lame and juvenile.
Quote from: grindy on Jan 21, 2024, 10:32 PMBeing John Malkovich
Used to love it as a teenager but haven't seen it in many years.
Still think it's a cool movie but a lot of it didn't hold up well. Some scenes just seem kinda lame and juvenile.
Hmm.. I haven't seen that one since it was new. While I remember the premise being kinda fun and weird, I can't actually remember finding the movie to be very entertaining 🤔
I might actually like it more today. Who knows.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rwmfGnZn/O-1952.jpg)
Okinawa (1952)
:3stars:
B&W WWII war movie about an American destroyer assigned to a formation of ships around the island of Okinawa, to help protect the supply ships and American troops from Kamikaze attacks. The story mainly focuses on several crew members assigned to operate one of the main guns on the ship. A lot of stock combat film footage of Kamikaze attacks against American ships is used throughout the film, all of which I've seen countless times before, but it fit in well with the story so I didn't mind seeing it yet again. The running time of the movie was rather short at just over 1 hour. Not what I would consider an essential WWII flick, but fairly realistic and watchable.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYzRmOGQwZjktYjM2Ni00M2NmLWFlZDYtZGFhM2RkM2VhZDI1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTM1NjM2ODg1._V1_.jpg)
The Zone of Interest (2023)
9/10
It's a film drenched in symbolism that will turn your gears the entire time you're watching it. I don't want to talk too much about even the themes because this movie is best went into blind, spoiling the themes even reveals too much. Maybe I've said too much already. Oh well, this is one of the best movies of the decade so far.
(https://i.postimg.cc/yxb1B56L/The-Turning-Point-1952.jpg)
The Turning Point (1952)
:4stars:
Another film from 1952. This one is a crime noir thriller about a city prosecutor trying to root out a major crime syndicate operating in his city. His girlfriend is working as his secretary, his best friend is reporter for a local newspaper, his father is a city cop, there's a love triangle, and moral dilemmas and corruption galore.
Ted. Funny. Rare that I find mainstream comedy funny but I generally believe in Seth MacFarlane. Generally.
Quote from: robhr on Jan 28, 2024, 03:33 AMTed. Funny. Rare that I find mainstream comedy funny but I generally believe in Seth MacFarlane. Generally.
I'm a Seth fan. I even like his music.
I saw Ted a couple years ago and thought it was ok. I'm not really into comedies. There's a new Ted tv series that other Seth fans are enjoying. I procured the first season, but I haven't watched anything but trailers so far.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rmV4dFkj/Suddenly-1954.jpg)
Suddenly! (1954)
:3.5stars:
B&W film noir crime thriller featuring Frank Sinatra in a starring role. A small town in California gets a surprise visit from the President of the United States and a trio of assassins who are aware of the impending visit and show up in town ahead of the President and his entourage. Good script, good acting, & good directing make this one well worth watching.
(https://i.postimg.cc/dDPPkFxj/The-H-Man.jpg)
Beauty and the Liquid People (also known as Beauty and liquid human and The H-Man) (1958)
:2.5stars:
Japanese sci-fi/horror flick from the 50's filmed in color. A hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean, creates a gelatinous blob of radioactive goo which takes on a life of its own and absorbs any people in its path as it makes its way from the ocean to Japan. I watched the original Japanese release with English subtitles. The story was ridiculous but fairly entertaining and the color photography was gorgeous. One of those movies where I find myself being more interested in the period clothing, hairstyles, cars, and overall vibe, than the story itself.
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Feb 02, 2024, 01:31 PM(https://i.postimg.cc/dDPPkFxj/The-H-Man.jpg)
Beauty and the Liquid People (also known as Beauty and liquid human and The H-Man) (1958)
:2.5stars:
Japanese sci-fi/horror flick from the 50's filmed in color. A hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean, creates a gelatinous blob of radioactive goo which takes on a life of its own and absorbs any people in its path as it makes its way from the ocean to Japan. I watched the original Japanese release with English subtitles. The story was ridiculous but fairly entertaining and the color photography was gorgeous. One of those movies where I find myself being more interested in the period clothing, hairstyles, cars, and overall vibe, than the story itself.
Weird.. that's the same year The Blob came out. Sounds pretty similar.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 02, 2024, 03:43 PMWeird.. that's the same year The Blob came out. Sounds pretty similar.
The Blob is a classic of the genre and I've seen it but, for some reason, I didn't think of that.
I checked the release dates and it looks like Beauty and the Liquid People was released almost 3 months prior to The Blob.
Beauty and the Liquid People may not be the better movie but it certainly has the better title.
I've got some liquid people right here...
(https://i.postimg.cc/cLgdXv14/He-Walked-by-Night-1948.jpg)
He Walked by Night (1948)
:3.5stars:
Low budget B&W semi-documentary style crime thriller, which is loosely based on the real-life crimes committed by Erwin Walker in 1946. Featuring an early appearance by Jack Webb before he went on to create the 'Dragnet' radio show and TV series which is also loosely based on real-life crimes. The story was fairly close to the actual events but after looking up Erwin Walker in Wikipedia, the full story of his criminal activities would've made for a far more interesting script. I guess there's only so much that can be crammed into a movie with a running time of 80 minutes, though.
Erwin Walker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Walker)
(https://i.postimg.cc/LXBLS8zK/Woman-on-the-Run-1950.jpg)
Woman on the Run (1950)
:3stars:
B&W noir crime thriller about a man who sees a murder committed against a witness in an upcoming trial, and decides to go into hiding after the police want him to identify the killer in court. The police keep a close eye on his wife, hoping she will lead them to him before the killer can find him. Not sure why the title is 'Woman on the Run' because it's about a man on the run while his wife desperately tries to contact him.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qBFvK0SK/Mothra-1961.png)
Mothra (1961)
:4stars:
A classic Japanese monster movie from the 60's. The last time I watched this I was probably around 10 to 12 years old and it was even weirder and more wonderful than I remembered. As usual, radiation from atomic bomb detonations is a feature of the story. Add to that a tribe of primitive island people, a pair of miniature fairy twins, an unscrupulous entrepreneur, a linguist, a photographer, a newspaper reporter, a kid or two, a giant caterpillar, and the Japanese military, and you have all the ingredients necessary for a bang-up Japanese monster movie.
Cool
@Psy-Fi 🙂
A couple of dumb questions;
Might kids enjoy Mothra? And Mothra is an enemy of Godzilla, right? Is Godzilla in this?
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 08, 2024, 04:49 PMCool @Psy-Fi 🙂
A couple of dumb questions;
Might kids enjoy Mothra? And Mothra is an enemy of Godzilla, right? Is Godzilla in this?
For the most part I think kids would enjoy the movie but there's a scene where a group of island natives get gunned down in a jungle, so I guess it would depend on the ages of the kids. I know there's a "Mothra vs. Godzilla" movie but I don't know much about the rivalry between the two. And no, Godzilla is not in this movie.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 08, 2024, 04:49 PMCool @Psy-Fi 🙂
A couple of dumb questions;
Might kids enjoy Mothra? And Mothra is an enemy of Godzilla, right? Is Godzilla in this?
Mothra is actually a good creature. The reason she ends up fighting Godzilla is because she was trying to protect an egg of hers that Godzilla was going after.
(https://i.postimg.cc/hG2TM2Wj/The-Mack-1973.png)
The Mack (1973)
:3.5stars:
A small-time criminal does time in prison and decides to try his luck at pimping after he's released, much to the dismay of his brother, an activist trying to take criminals off the streets. He runs afoul of a couple of corrupt cops and his former crime boss who wants him to return to work for him.
Some interesting background info about the film from Wikipedia...
QuoteProduction for the film started from early September to late December 1972.[8] According to director Michael Campus, the original script for the film was written on prison toilet paper by Bobby Poole, an inmate at San Quentin. While staying in Oakland for two months, Campus met Frank Ward, a real pimp and drug dealer from Oakland. Max Julien's character of Goldie is based upon him. In order to shoot the movie, Campus needed Ward's permission, because many scenes were filmed in his territory. In exchange for his guidance and protection, Campus put Ward in the film. All of the homeless people, junkies, pimps and women in the film were supplied by Frank Ward.[9]
Although Campus had Ward's protection, the film was also in Black Panther territory. During filming, Black Panther party members would throw bottles and trash cans from rooftops. In order for filming to run smoothly, an additional deal had to be made with Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, who were then put in charge of providing extras for the film. About halfway through the production of the film, Frank Ward was shot and killed while in his Rolls-Royce. There was speculation that the Black Panthers were responsible for Ward's death, and the filmmakers and cast relocated to safer areas for filming. Despite the tension, the film's opening was shot in Oakland with all of the proceeds going to the Black Panthers' breakfast program.[10]
(https://i.postimg.cc/024R0zVJ/Latitude-Zero-1969.jpg)
Latitude Zero (1969)
:4.5stars:
A Japanese sci-fi/fantasy flick with futuristic submarines, heroes and villains. I found a bootleg DVD of this one for $6 (USD) and took a chance and bought it. Turned out to be top-notch quality video and audio. This movie is different from most Japanese sci-fi/fantasy films that I've seen, because the dialog was originally recorded in English and most of the cast were American actors. It reminded me of some of the 60's TV shows by Irwin Allen like 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea' and 'Lost in Space.' Sort of like a cross between those two made into a full-length film. The special effects ranged between very good to goofy but even the ridiculous effects didn't make the story any less entertaining.
Nice to see you find a truly good one once in a blue moon,
@Psy-Fi 😄
Me and my wife watched this:
(https://www.nfkino.no/sites/nfkino.no/files/movie-posters/SFN20231677_89009.jpg)
Tillsammans 99, a sequel to a Swedish movie, Tillsammans, that came out around the turn of the century that I saw a couple of times.
The old movie was about a Swedish commune in 1975. In this sequel, It's 1999, so the characters have aged appropriately.
It's a subtle comedy about weird, flawed people getting together and being awkward. It got more chuckles than laughs, but I liked it.
:3.5stars:
Omg there's a sequel to that??? I love Lukas Moodysson
Quote from: Marie Monday on Feb 18, 2024, 11:44 AMOmg there's a sequel to that??? I love Lukas Moodysson
Right?? Who expected that 😄
It's been a while, but I think I preferred the first Tilsammans, but it's still a welcome sequel.
(https://i.postimg.cc/FzfnKvhz/White-Pongo-1945.png)
White Pongo (1945)
:2stars:
Low-budget adventure flick about a group of explorers and scientists looking for an elusive albino gorilla, which they believe to be the "missing link" between man and ape. Part of the way into the jungle trek, several of the explorers stage a mutiny so they can look for a large gold deposit. There's also a love story which develops during the ordeal which also features men in ape suits occasionally running amok.
(https://i.postimg.cc/2SN5NX9m/Bride-of-the-Gorilla-1951.jpg)
Bride of the Gorilla (1951)
:3stars:
Another low-budget flick about a jungle and a gorilla. This one is a story of a jungle plantation foreman who commits a crime of passion in a moment of jealous rage. An old native woman who lives on the plantation, witnesses his evil deed and puts a curse on him followed with daily doses of poison which turns him into an ape-like creature each evening when night falls.
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Feb 20, 2024, 02:40 PMBride of the Gorilla (1951)
:3stars:[/center]
Another low-budget flick about a jungle and a gorilla. This one is a story of a jungle plantation foreman who commits a crime of passion in a moment of jealous rage. An old native woman who lives on the plantation, witnesses his evil deed and puts a curse on him followed with daily doses of poison which turns him into an ape-like creature each evening when night falls.
Oh my god, a wereape!
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 20, 2024, 02:45 PMOh my god, a wereape!
Yeah. :laughing:
I guess it was much easier and cheaper just to have someone put on a gorilla costume than to bother with the werewolf makeup.
(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmoviewalker.jp%2Fapi%2Fresizeimage%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F1172122%2F12468731%3Fh%3D500&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=b5d91b091c5d183fe5190bb9644b38197237e19d0a021d9df9531d5cf4b62667&ipo=images)
This has to be the worst movie I've seen in the cinema. I only went along to see this because my girl's a Marvel Comics geek, but it's 2 hours of your life wasted.
I have no idea what this movie is meant to be. It's complete mess with a plot that makes no sense. Something to do with déjà vu and spiders.
Dakota Johnson looks alright though.
I think it's time to put the superhero movies to rest. I assume many have had their fill by now. I want more intelligent horror.. and bring back fantasy!
Quote from: Gandalf on Feb 20, 2024, 09:48 PM(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmoviewalker.jp%2Fapi%2Fresizeimage%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F1172122%2F12468731%3Fh%3D500&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=b5d91b091c5d183fe5190bb9644b38197237e19d0a021d9df9531d5cf4b62667&ipo=images)
This has to be the worst movie I've seen in the cinema. I only went along to see this because my girl's a Marvel Comics geek, but it's 2 hours of your life wasted.
I have no idea what this movie is meant to be. It's complete mess with a plot that makes no sense. Something to do with déjà vu and spiders.
Dakota Johnson looks alright though.
I went to see this on VDay by myself. I didn't want to torture anyone else with watching it. I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt but I WAS expecting Morbius levels of bad. I feel like at the very least I laughed more during Morbius. This movie not so much. They also did this weird thing where the movie's time line was based off of early 00s. They snuck in a song that was played during the 2004 Catwoman movie with Halle Berry. I was like how fitting that they used that same song for the same level of suck. Even though I defend that Catwoman like crazy because I enjoyed it and well Halle Berry. Dakota Johnson is too milquetoast for me to care about her being the lead. She's not that attractive to me. Just another plain jane. When people see this movie and say things like Super Hero movies are done and they need to stop making them and MCU fare. They forget that THIS type of movie was the norm before MCU brought the high level of cinema that has come out.
Sony just needs to give up the Spiderman movies to Marvel fully and let them handle it.
This movie was basically Final Destination mixed with superheroes NOT super heroing lol. I wish they would have let the girls fight in their suits. Maybe they could have done a flash forward and you get to see how they interact in the future. Instead, they just showed them posing next to Madame Web near the end and we are supposed to be happy/satisfied with that. I wanted to go in and disagree with all the critics, but this one was a hard watch. I even fell asleep during the final act. Parts being tired but also part being bored.
:2stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 20, 2024, 11:41 PMI think it's time to put the superhero movies to rest. I assume many have had their fill by now. I want more intelligent horror.. and bring back fantasy!
I agree with Fantasy deserving a big push but there ARE intelligent horror movies coming out thanks to A24. We just need more of it from different production studios. MonkeyPaw has been doing well also.
I'd love to see superhero movies that intelligently explore how mind-blowing a lot of those concepts (superhuman abilities, hi-tech, cosmic horror etc.) and their implications are and instill this sense of awe that for example some great science fiction books evoke. While there were some superhero movies that could have potentially gone there, it ultimately always devolved into overwrought drama, flashy but boring fight scenes and lame meta-references.
Quote from: grindy on Feb 21, 2024, 07:09 PMI'd love to see superhero movies that intelligently explore how mind-blowing a lot of those concepts (superhuman abilities, hi-tech, cosmic horror etc.) and their implications are and instill this sense of awe that for example some great science fiction books evoke. While there were some superhero movies that could have potentially gone there, it ultimately always devolved into overwrought drama, flashy but boring fight scenes and lame meta-references.
There are a few that exist that are "intelligent".
Kick Ass, Logan, Watchmen, The Unbreakable series so that includes Split and Glass.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Feb 22, 2024, 12:32 AMThere are a few that exist that are "intelligent".
Kick Ass, Logan, Watchmen, The Unbreakable series so that includes Split and Glass.
I'm talking explicitly about exploring mind-blowing, complex concepts and taking them unexpected, philosophical places. Maybe Watchmen come close, with the whole Dr. Manhattan thing.
Quote from: grindy on Feb 22, 2024, 07:17 AMI'm talking explicitly about exploring mind-blowing, complex concepts and taking them unexpected, philosophical places. Maybe Watchmen come close, with the whole Dr. Manhattan thing.
Watchmen is enough to last a life time. We definitely don't need more of that but I get it. That's what you are interested in seeing.
(https://i.postimg.cc/kXn2VYjQ/Ma-Barker-s-Killer-Brood-1960.jpg)
Ma Barker's Killer Brood (1960)
:3stars:
Low-budget B&W exploitation crime flick about the notorious 'Kate "Ma" Barker' and her criminal activities. Some of the story is based on actual events and some is fiction but overall it's an enjoyable action/crime thriller.
It's a long time since I saw it now, but I LOVED Watchmen. The world and everything is so much more interesting. Like of course superheroes are just regular ass, weird, flawed people. Of course the US would try and weaponize a real life supermutant and of course the existence of such beings would affect stuff like geopolitics and whatnot.
Marvel's universe is so dumb in comparison. New York alone has what, over 200 superheroes or something? And a considerable number of the world's superheroes seem to save the world or universe one or more times. It's basically anything goes and nothing matters.
Quote from: grindy on Feb 22, 2024, 07:17 AMI'm talking explicitly about exploring mind-blowing, complex concepts and taking them unexpected, philosophical places. Maybe Watchmen come close, with the whole Dr. Manhattan thing.
The Watchmen comic is great, but I didn't like the movie.
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 22, 2024, 05:27 PMThe Watchmen comic is great, but I didn't like the movie.
Never read the comic but thought the movie was great. What didn't you like?
Quote from: grindy on Feb 22, 2024, 05:32 PMNever read the comic but thought the movie was great. What didn't you like?
Like most Zack Snyder movies, it felt like all surface and no substance. He spent so much time slavishly recreating the look of the comic that he lost the complexity of everything and the distinctness of the characters.
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 22, 2024, 06:08 PMLike most Zack Snyder movies, it felt like all surface and no substance. He spent so much time slavishly recreating the look of the comic that he lost the complexity of everything and the distinctness of the characters.
I suppose it makes a better impression without having the comparison to the source material.
Quote from: grindy on Feb 22, 2024, 06:16 PMI suppose it makes a better impression without having the comparison to the source material.
I think that's true of a lot of movies. I also think Zack Snyder just doesn't make good movies. I've never read the 300 comic, but I thought the movie was pretty bad.
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 22, 2024, 06:42 PMI think that's true of a lot of movies. I also think Zack Snyder just doesn't make good movies. I've never read the 300 comic, but I thought the movie was pretty bad.
I've also never been a fan. I did really enjoy Watchmen, the rest ranges from okay to bad.
I'd read the comic, but still liked the Watchmen movie.. despite the absence of space octopus.
Other Zack Snyder films not so much. I find his dark style kinda dour overall.
I like Zack Synder's style over substance directing.
The Synder cut of Justice League that got released was so good.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Feb 22, 2024, 08:55 PMI like Zack Synder's style over substance directing.
The Synder cut of Justice League that got released was so good.
Like two years ago or so Aaron had me and a couple of his friends over one weekend to watch all of that. I tried to get into it, but I just didn't really understand much of the context for what was going on. It didn't help that his friends were basically commentating the movie and making references to even more lore I didn't get.
I do remember liking Watchmen, though.
(https://i.postimg.cc/L4rcywcP/The-Big-Caper-1957.jpg)
The Big Caper (1957)
:3stars:
Crime thriller about a broke con man who pitches the idea of a small town bank heist to his well-to-do partner in crime. His partner takes him up on his idea and goes to work putting together a motley crew of dysfunctional criminals to join in and help them pull off the heist. The film ends with a sappy whimper that made me groan in disbelief but up until the last couple of minutes, it was cooking.
The Bunker (1981):3.5stars:
Anthony Hopkins delivers a top-notch performance as Adolf Hitler living out his final days in his bunker at the closing days of WWII. This was a movie made for TV, so there wasn't a poster made to promote it. The cast seemed to be British and American for the most part and their accents threw me off at first but the story and performances were good enough that it didn't matter much after a few minutes. The movie was a bit longer than usual but the 150 minute running time ended up seeming just about right.
(https://i.postimg.cc/bN7TPNbH/Hot-Cars-1956.jpg)
Hot Cars (1956)
:3stars:
A married man with a sick child, gets fired from his job as a used car salesman because his boss thinks he's too honest. Another used car dealer quickly offers him a job which ends up testing his honesty to the breaking point.
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Mar 01, 2024, 03:46 PM(https://i.postimg.cc/bN7TPNbH/Hot-Cars-1956.jpg)
Hot Cars (1956)
:3stars:
A married man with a sick child, gets fired from his job as a used car salesman because his boss thinks he's too honest. Another used car dealer quickly offers him a job which ends up testing his honesty to the breaking point.
Kinda reminds me of a friend I have who worked in telemarketing way back. He found that if he adopted this kinda mentally challenged personae and voice, he sold more junk, due to the added sympathy or pity-factor.
So, uh, that telemarketing gig tested his honesty to the breaking point.
(https://i.postimg.cc/28q4QWpm/Invasion-of-the-Saucer-Men-1956.jpg)
Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)
:3.5stars:
B&W sci-fi/horror/comedy about a spaceship that lands in a wooded area of a small American town. Martians leave the ship and one of them is accidentally run down by a teenage couple driving down a back road. Disbelief, confusion, and comedy ensue. The special effects were mediocre and crudely done for the most part but the acting and directing was good and the writing was entertaining enough to make me laugh out loud a few times.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Cell_2016_film_poster_2.jpg)
Cell. Oh my god it was bad. Based on a Stephen King book, it had some pretty decent potential, but they went for the lowest common denominator. The idea is that for some reason (never, in typical King fashion, explained) a signal comes through every cell phone which turns anyone who hears it into a screaming, murdering, homicidal maniac. Perhaps, as Vivienne once observed similarly in The Young Ones, it's actually a cure for not being a screaming, murdering, homicidal maniac. Anyhoo, our hero (played, if you can call it that, by John Cusack, of all people, who decides to literally phone it in, making the biggest pun of the movie) has been lucky enough that his phone battery died, so he didn't, and now he's on the run from most of the population of Boston, I think though don't care, teaming up for some reason with Samuel L. Jackson, who surely expected this was going to be better than he was promised? Anyway it all goes into 28 Days Later or fill in your favourite zombie movie territory, and ends as badly as you might expect.
I'll give it this: the opening scene in the airport when the cell signal is sent is bitchin', but after that you quickly cease to care, and are in danger of being transformed yourself into a less screaming, murdering, homicidal version of the main zombie (called "phoners", how long did that take to come up with?) cast, just wishing someone would eat your brain so you wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Oh yeah: they don't eat brains, or at least, I didn't see any doing so.
Given that King helped write the screenplay, I don't see how he can be absolved of any blame, unlike the complete half-inching of his story "The Lawnmower Man" for that movie, which could not have been further from the original, and I think over which he sued. This time there's nowhere to hide: he wrote it, he allowed it to come to life and did NOT, when he saw what he had created, stamp on it till it was dead. For shame, Mr. K! Avoid at all costs.
It's already been a few weeks actually but watched Grand Hotel Budapest. I've seen it before and remember enjoying it, but didn't like it at all this time. It felt as fake and hollow as a Tim Burton movie and is similarly transparently aimed at people who consider themselves quirky and weird but are mostly lame and tedious.
Quote from: grindy on Mar 05, 2024, 07:24 AMIt's already been a few weeks actually but watched Grand Hotel Budapest. I've seen it before and remember enjoying it, but didn't like it at all this time. It felt as fake and hollow as a Tim Burton movie and is similarly transparently aimed at people who consider themselves quirky and weird but are mostly lame and tedious.
I like it, but I understand the criticism. It was perhaps the tipping point where Wes became too much Anderson. Some of the humanity of his stories can get lost in it, I think.
We already talked about it, but I love Life Aquatic and also adored Rushmore, although that one I haven't seen in 15-20 years or so.
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 05, 2024, 08:02 AMI like it, but I understand the criticism. It was perhaps the tipping point where Wes became too much Anderson. Some of the humanity of his stories can get lost in it, I think.
We already talked about it, but I love Life Aquatic and also adored Rushmore, although that one I haven't seen in 15-20 years or so.
My negative reaction surprised myself. The first time I found it quite clever and well done and I usually don't mind the absence of deep emotions.
Haven't seen the two movies you mentioned but I have seen some other movies of his and generally liked them. Looks like I just changed.
Yeah I feel the same way about GBH and I've always been a bit puzzled about the good reviews. I like some Wes Anderson films (especially Moonrise Kingdom) but there's got to be some substance with the style imo, otherwise it gets dull
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 05, 2024, 08:02 AMI like it, but I understand the criticism. It was perhaps the tipping point where Wes became too much Anderson. Some of the humanity of his stories can get lost in it, I think.
We already talked about it, but I love Life Aquatic and also adored Rushmore, although that one I haven't seen in 15-20 years or so.
I loved Wes Anderson's earlier movies, but he's become such a visual stylist at this point that his movies don't do much for me. The French Dispatch was really the tipping point for me. It's visually impressive but I just did not give a shit about anything that was happening.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mZC7DZJy/Manhattan-Tower-1932.jpg)
Manhattan Tower (1932)
:3stars:
The working day of several people inside a Manhattan commercial tower are revealed and connected to each other through various events which happen throughout the 9 to 5 daily grind. Some humor, some drama, some sex, a villain, and a surprise darkly humorous ending.
I saw Dune Part II last weekend at the theater. I give it 3 stars. The first part was more interesting in my book. To be fair the entire second movie takes place in the desert. Lots of sand and loud noises. I'm getting old.
I liked Dune part 2 😊 the visuals were perfect, the sound design was an experience. I'm not quite sure I wanna watch it again because I feel it might drag a bit in the small screen, but I was entertained throughout watching it in the cinema.
It's a :4stars: for me!
Cons: Chani and Paul seem like such a boring couple. Especially Paul and his humourless demeanor.
One good, one bad/not finished. Watched "Once Upon a Texas Train", quirky and funny little western starring Willie Nelson as a just-released-from-jail-after-20-years train robber, determined to pull the last big job before retiring. A little cliche (I was reminded of "Going in Style" to some degree) but it doesn't take itself too seriously and is pretty enormous fun. One of the guys riding a mule and the other a bicyle tells you the kind of thing it's aiming for, and more or less achieves. Very enjoyable.
On the other hand, attempted to watch "Smokey and the Bandit 3" - what the hell? No Burt Reynolds? No Sally Field? Not even that guy whose dog rides in the truck with him? No, all about the sheriff retiring and yet ANOTHER challenge race. Endured about 20 minutes of it, checked Wiki which said it was savaged by the critics and is considered the worst of the three movies, and hit delete. Yee, but no haw!
(https://i.postimg.cc/K8W2CDwr/Beginning-of-the-End-1957.jpg)
Beginning of the End (1957)
:2stars:
Low-budget sci-fi/horror flick about hungry, gigantic, mutant locusts with a taste for human flesh. The locusts grow to enormous proportions after eating plants which were created in an experimental agricultural lab which was using radiation to grow vegetables and fruits into oversized specimens. This one sort of falls into the "so bad it's good" category, but it was just so genuinely bad overall that I couldn't rate it any higher than 2 stars. The poster for the movie gets a solid 5/5 stars from me, though.
Yes, great poster!
And kinda weird how the locusts, after growing large, seem to have swapped their insect mouthparts (the trophi) for mammalian style mouths with pointy teeth.
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 08, 2024, 03:45 PMYes, great poster!
And kinda weird how the locusts, after growing large, seem to have swapped their insect mouthparts (the trophi) for mammalian style mouths with pointy teeth.
That's how evolution works obviously.
Hollywoodvolution in action. Just ask Darwin.
That's Nobby Darwin, works as an intern at Universal Studios.
(https://i.postimg.cc/sxBSb31K/Creature-with-the-Atom-Brain-1955.jpg)
Creature with the Atom Brain (1955)
:3.5stars:
This one is a bit like 'Frankenstein' with a zombie/robot twist. A wealthy criminal obsessed with revenge, meets an unscrupulous scientist and funds his experiments which produce the ability to reanimate recently deceased people, give them superhuman strength, and manipulate them electronically via remote control.
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 06, 2024, 10:04 PMI liked Dune part 2 😊 the visuals were perfect, the sound design was an experience. I'm not quite sure I wanna watch it again because I feel it might drag a bit in the small screen, but I was entertained throughout watching it in the cinema.
It's a :4stars: for me!
Cons: Chani and Paul seem like such a boring couple. Especially Paul and his humourless demeanor.
Yeah I think it's 4 stars too from me but I hate that I dozed off on the best fight between Paul and the younger bald guy that I don't remember his name.
I would watch it again but I want to watch them back to back and wait til they sell them together as a pair.
(https://i.postimg.cc/gkdHf0nM/Gun-Girls-1957.jpg)
Gun Girls (1957)
:2.5stars:
Low-budget crime flick about girls gone bad. Bad directing, bad acting, ridiculous script, unintentionally campy. This is the type of movie that probably inspired John Waters to become a film maker (which is a good thing.)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VL7LwBXH/Highway-Hell-1941.jpg)
Highway Hell (1941)
:1.5stars:
Low-budget exploitation flick about prostitution. A young pimp puts his girls to work by dropping them off on the side of roads and having them hitch rides with passing men to seduce them. He befriends the impressionable teenage son of a motel owner, to try to convince him to take over the motel so that he can use it as a base to operate his prostitution business out of. Awful script, awful acting, awful directing, and awful editing, makes for an awful movie. In the right hands, this story could've been wildly entertaining, but alas, it was not to be.
Sounds very much like an exploitation movie considering the theme.. so bad acting and screenplay etc. is a given, but then they also make it boring? Sheesh.
Did you ever watch It Conquered the World?
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3iNk1fNSzj0/hqdefault.jpg)
Frank Zappa talks about it at the start of this song:
Not only have I watched 'It Conquered the World' but I also have a framed B&W photo featuring Beverly Garland & the monster from the movie, autographed by Beverly. :love:
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Mar 12, 2024, 12:51 AMNot only have I watched 'It Conquered the World' but I also have a framed B&W photo featuring Beverly Garland & the monster from the movie, autographed by Beverly. :love:
Oh wow 😄 that is awesome!
How did you get your hands on that?
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 12, 2024, 06:33 AMOh wow 😄 that is awesome!
How did you get your hands on that?
I got it around 25 years ago when she was still alive and signing autographs. I was collecting movie posters and autographed photos and attending pop-culture/TV/film collectibles shows and she was at one of them. I also have others of actors and actresses from various TV shows and movies that I got in-person at those shows.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYTFkM2ViMmQtZmI5NS00MjQ2LWEyN2EtMTI1ZmNlZDU3MTZjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjU0OTQ0OTY@._V1_FMjpg_UY3000_.jpg)
28 Days Later
I watched this on Saturday night for the first time and I really enjoyed it. The beginning of it hasn't really aged well but the film itself once it got in to it was really good and it had an extremely young Cillian Murphy in it so I was happy 😊.
Watched The Lion In Winter (1968). Despite starring Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn and Anthony Hopkins, it doesn't seem to be particularly well known. Very cool historical drama with tons of devious plotting. The acting can get a bit hammy and some scenes are somewhat awkward but overall very well done and super entertaining due to all the constant intrigue.
We saw The Lobster from 2016, or.. I did while she slept on the couch.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDQ1NDE5NzQ1NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzA5OTM2NTE@._V1_.jpg)
It's been on my to-do-list for years and since I want to watch Lanthimos' latest movie Poor Things, I thought we could warm up by getting this one done.
In an alternative future or perhaps present, being single is not allowed. Single peeps are given a chance to find a partner during a forced stay at a resort. If they can't do it, they get turned I to an animal, possibly of their choice. That's the backdrop.. The Movie itself feels like a surreal, light comedy about severely autistic people living non-sensical lives filled with pointless misery. Sometimes they seem like victims of this weird society. Other times, they seem to do it to themselves.
I couldn't quite make sense of it, but also didn't try too hard and rather just enjoyed the dark comedy. Maybe it was all some clever allegory? For once I didn't hate Colin Farrell. Come to think of it, he was okay in Banshees as well.
I rate it: :4stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 12, 2024, 11:53 PMWe saw The Lobster from 2016, or.. I did while she slept on the couch.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDQ1NDE5NzQ1NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzA5OTM2NTE@._V1_.jpg)
It's been on my to-do-list for years and since I want to watch Lanthimos' latest movie Poor Things, I thought we could warm up by getting this one done.
In an alternative future or perhaps present, being single is not allowed. Single peeps are given a chance to find a partner during a forced stay at a resort. If they can't do it, they get turned I to an animal, possibly of their choice. That's the backdrop.. The Movie itself feels like a surreal, light comedy about severely autistic people living non-sensical lives filled with pointless misery. Sometimes they seem like victims of this weird society. Other times, they seem to do it to themselves.
I couldn't quite make sense of it, but also didn't try too hard and rather just enjoyed the dark comedy. Maybe it was all some clever allegory? For once I didn't hate Colin Farrell. Come to think of it, he was okay in Banshees as well.
I rate it: :4stars:
That sounds like an interesting premise! Sounds like something for us to watch as a couple, I'll have to add it to the "good movies to watch" list (which, as you might guess, is indeed much shorter than the "bad movies to watch" list, haha).
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Mar 13, 2024, 12:00 AMThat sounds like an interesting premise! Sounds like something for us to watch as a couple, I'll have to add it to the "good movies to watch" list (which, as you might guess, is indeed much shorter than the "bad movies to watch" list, haha).
It's an interesting and absurd premise, but there's a deeper level of weird in how all these characters seem to have personalities that are paper thin.. and kinda autistic? That's what it reminded me of.
It's definitely not a movie for everyone, but if you're a little more patient type, like weird movies and enjoy dark comedy that is more aimed at extracting a rare chuckle rather than big laughs, then this could be for you 🙂
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 13, 2024, 12:18 AMIt's an interesting and absurd premise, but there's a deeper level of weird in how all these characters seem to have personalities that are paper thin.. and kinda autistic? That's what it reminded me of.
It's definitely not a movie for everyone, but if you're a little more patient type, like weird movies and enjoy dark comedy that is more aimed at extracting a rare chuckle rather than big laughs, then this could be for you 🙂
I do really like fiction that portrays a version of our society that is familiar but also kind of
off to the audience. Or has some big difference from real life that is very obviously weird or fucked up yet the characters treat it as just business as usual. I'm feeling a bit queasy in bed and I can't think of any examples right now though.
(https://i.postimg.cc/3N7R5zfc/The-Vampire-s-Ghost-1945.jpg)
The Vampire's Ghost (1945)
:2.5stars:
A B&W Horror flick about a vampire living as a nightclub owner in a jungle setting. Rather mediocre movie overall. The most interesting part of the story was that the vampire was a nightclub owner and the nightclub was located in a jungle. No ghosts of any type made any appearances at any time during the story.
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Mar 13, 2024, 12:35 AMI do really like fiction that portrays a version of our society that is familiar but also kind of off to the audience. Or has some big difference from real life that is very obviously weird or fucked up yet the characters treat it as just business as usual. I'm feeling a bit queasy in bed and I can't think of any examples right now though.
I know what you mean and I agree.. and I also have a hard time thinking of examples 😄 Brazil, maybe? But that's a very bizarre society and not really like our own. A dark reflection, maybe.
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 12, 2024, 11:53 PMWe saw The Lobster from 2016, or.. I did while she slept on the couch.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDQ1NDE5NzQ1NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzA5OTM2NTE@._V1_.jpg)
It's been on my to-do-list for years and since I want to watch Lanthimos' latest movie Poor Things, I thought we could warm up by getting this one done.
In an alternative future or perhaps present, being single is not allowed. Single peeps are given a chance to find a partner during a forced stay at a resort. If they can't do it, they get turned I to an animal, possibly of their choice. That's the backdrop.. The Movie itself feels like a surreal, light comedy about severely autistic people living non-sensical lives filled with pointless misery. Sometimes they seem like victims of this weird society. Other times, they seem to do it to themselves.
I couldn't quite make sense of it, but also didn't try too hard and rather just enjoyed the dark comedy. Maybe it was all some clever allegory? For once I didn't hate Colin Farrell. Come to think of it, he was okay in Banshees as well.
I rate it: :4stars:
The Lobster is great. I'd also recommend watching Dogtooth.
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8jfd6qC/The-Incredible-Petrified-World-1959.jpg)
The Incredible Petrified World (1959)
:1stars:
Low-budget adventure/exploration flick with a ridiculous plot and tedious pacing. A film where you are waiting for something interesting and/or exciting to happen but it never does.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mDBz5jrw/Daughter-of-Horror-1955.jpg)
Daughter of Horror (1955)
:3stars:
A low-budget B&W horror film with an interesting twist. A mentally disturbed young woman awakes from a nightmare in a cheap hotel room... but was it just a nightmare? The story has a visual film noir style but there's no dialog except from an unseen narrator who occasionally speaks throughout the story while music plays in the background.
Popped by Disney+ and was very surprised to see Poor Things available there 🤩
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNGIyYWMzNjktNDE3MC00YWQyLWEyMmEtN2ZmNzZhZDk3NGJlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUzMTg2ODkz._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
We promptly watched it and I loved it! Very funny and absurd comedy that bravely features Emma Stone in a lead role that must've been challenging for a couple of reasons. I believe she won an Oscar for this role?
She plays Bella Baxter, a character who (slight spoiler) starts out as having the mind of a child, but matures gradually throughout the movie, enchanting or frustrating everyone she meets.
Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe are also both good here with Willem as a fatherly figure and Ruffalo more as a comedic character.
I'm very happy weird movies like this get made.
:4stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/MpjM9ZK8/Hickey-Boggs-1972.jpg)
Hickey & Boggs (1972)
:3.5stars:
An action/crime thriller with Bill Cosby and Robert Culp teaming up as a couple of struggling private detectives who get hired to find an elusive woman. The trail to the woman leads to several murders and a large sum of money missing from a violent bank heist.
Leading up to the Oscars I saw Poor Things and SaltBurn because I was hearing good things about both of them.
I watched Saltburn first, it's basically a black comedy thriller where you are constantly questioning the motives behind the main character. The ending is interesting, but it was telegraphed near the beginning of the second act. I think you might enjoy this one also
@Guybrush :3stars:
I died laughing at the end of Poor Things. Poor Things is such an odd movie that it's getting a lot of backlash with people thinking the entire premise of the movie is creepy. The fact of having a woman with the mind of a child(adolescent) engaging in sexual acts is something that's not easy to get over. Everything else about the steampunk esque designs and the costumes were A+ though. There is a reason that the movie itself won so many Oscars and yes Emma Stone did win an Oscar for her role in this but it definitely should have went to Lily Gladstone.
:4stars:
Antebellum
I felt like I saw this movie before and wanted a re-watch because I couldn't remember what the twist ending was. It's essentially a horror thriller where the main character witnesses the horrors of slavery and I'll just leave it at that. I can't say anymore without ruining a large chunk of the movie. Janelle Monae showed off her acting chops once again. I feel like she does well in any role that she's been given.
:4stars:
The Haunting of Queen Mary.
Mid way through this movie I went looking for a wikipedia article to explain the plot and catch me up to date on what's going on. I have to re-watch this movie because I felt so lost throughout the entire thing and even when it ended I still wasn't completely sure what happened. A quick google search showed me that I wasn't the only one that felt this way about the movie. I think the movie is good but I can't tell because I'm a bit clueless about what happened. The gore was A+ though. I'm not even rating this movie until I figure out what happened after watching it a second time through. Maybe I just need to pay attention more and everything was laid out in front of me but I doubt it.
(https://i.postimg.cc/3RzR4MvP/Black-Tuesday-1954.jpg)
Black Tuesday (1954)
:4stars:
B&W crime thriller about a manipulative crime kingpin on death row, breaking out of prison with help from his gang and some fellow prisoners, just before he is about to be executed in the electric chair.
Started watching Inside Out and stopped midway through. Such a lame movie. Can't understand why it's so acclaimed.
Quote from: grindy on Mar 30, 2024, 09:14 PMStarted watching Inside Out and stopped midway through. Such a lame movie. Can't understand why it's so acclaimed.
I liked that move!
Dune 2 (2024)
Aaron and I went to this while we were out last weekend despite me having never seen the first one. I didn't know Christopher Walken was in the movie before we got there, so that was a nice surprise. Obviously I was a bit confused on the lore, I followed it alright but I think a lot of it would have meant more if I'd seen the first one. At any rate he wanted my company during the movie so I was happy to be there even if it wasn't the best experience with the movie that it probably could have been.
Quote from: grindy on Mar 30, 2024, 09:14 PMStarted watching Inside Out and stopped midway through. Such a lame movie. Can't understand why it's so acclaimed.
On the whole, I don't love animated movies, but I thought the way the movie portrays how we process memories and how our personalities can, in some ways, get torn down and rebuilt, how we're controlled by certain emotions etc. was great.
My daughter had some anxiety troubles after her brother lost an eye (she was slightly traumatised by that event) and Inside Out was actually a helpful tool in talking about difficult feelings (and also more trivial ones).
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 31, 2024, 12:36 PMOn the whole, I don't love animated movies, but I thought the way the movie portrays how we process memories and how our personalities can, in some ways, get torn down and rebuilt, how we're controlled by certain emotions etc. was great.
My daughter had some anxiety troubles after her brother lost an eye (she was slightly traumatised by that event) and Inside Out was actually a helpful tool in talking about difficult feelings (and also more trivial ones).
I can totally see how it can be helpful and interesting for kids but it did nothing for me. I wasn't at all invested in the story and the characters did nothing for me. I also didn't particularly like the animation. We have seen Soul a few weeks ago and that one was far more enjoyable for me.
I thought inside out was a really nice concept wrapped up in a very dull film (and I didn't like the animation either). Which is a pity, because the but at the end is moving, but sitting through the rest of it isn't really worth it
Yeah, I didn't love Inside Out that much. It was fine as a fun little romp, but honestly the real world segments were the only part I felt like I could actually care about.
Saw Godzilla X Kong today. I'm so ready to see it again. I had so much fun watching it. Love big monster movies like this. There were a few great surprises in it that I wasn't expecting.
Saw Bones and All from 2022 I think it was.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5f/Bones_and_All.jpg)
Young Maren who has had a very protected upbringing is set loose on the world when her father can't take more of her cannibalistic ways and all the questions it raises. Damn girl, stop eating people! So she's on her own and eventually hook up with another rogue-ish cannibal, Lee.
It's kinda like a teen romance vampire road movie, only instead of being vampires they're cannibals. Sounds weird? It is, a little bit, but also more droll than you might expect.
Our two main characters are very well played by Taylor Russell and Timothee Chalamet and lends credence to a story that is sometimes a little hard to swallow.
:3stars:
It was okay, but I'm not gonna watch it again.
Also, it was based on a book.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c0/Lift_2024_poster.webp/259px-Lift_2024_poster.webp.png)
For sheer, no-brains-required fun, Lift is a sure thing. Think Hustle mixed with Die Hard and bits of Mission Impossible - lots of fast, snappy directing, great leads and a lot of confusing jargon, twists and just a rollercoaster fun ride all the way. I imagine there'll be a sequel, or even a series. Like I say, very much like Hustle on afterburners. Loved it.
:4stars:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_(2024_film)
Quote from: Trollheart on Apr 02, 2024, 09:03 PMFor sheer, no-brains-required fun, Lift is a sure thing. Think Hustle mixed with Die Hard and bits of Mission Impossible - lots of fast, snappy directing, great leads and a lot of confusing jargon, twists and just a rollercoaster fun ride all the way. I imagine there'll be a sequel, or even a series. Like I say, very much like Hustle on afterburners. Loved it.
Hustle as in the Adam Sandler basketball movie?
Quote from: Janszoon on Apr 03, 2024, 07:46 PMHustle as in the Adam Sandler basketball movie?
No I think he means Hustle the British TV show.
I loved it and used to watch it a lot.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Apr 03, 2024, 11:11 PMNo I think he means Hustle the British TV show.
I loved it and used to watch it a lot.
Never heard of it. I may have to check it out.
The Adam Sandler movie is actually pretty good too.
Quote from: Janszoon on Apr 03, 2024, 11:20 PMNever heard of it. I may have to check it out.
The Adam Sandler movie is actually pretty good too.
It looks like the whole series is on YouTube.
This is the first episode. I had no idea it ran for eight seasons. I dropped off around season 3 or 4 I believe.
It's a show about conmen.
This is the second to last movie I saw, The Favourite which I believe was from 2016 and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTg1NzQwMDQxNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDg2NDYyNjM@._V1_.jpg)
It's a court drama comedy where Olivia Colman plays queen Anne and Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone play two cousins in Anne's court. I won't spoil much, but there mat be some usurping going on.
We get some good comedy, some outrageousness, a bit of sex, a bit of violence even. Still, court costume dramas aren't quite my thing, so I wasn't fully on board with all of it. Still had a good time watching it, though.
:3stars:
It is a good, funny movie and I think most who see it would probably have rated it a little higher.
The Matrix (1999)
First time watching this in over 20 years, as well as my first time watching it since realizing I was trans. I'd always seen some of the trans allegories being described that made sense to me, but watching this again with those 20 years of experience in the trans community I was kind of blown away by just how prominent they are. From the various plot elements being metaphors to the topics of conversation in the dialogue, it all feels so incredibly obvious watching it through my trans eyes.
It's honestly a pretty emotional experience watching this again, realizing exactly what it always was. I think about what it must have been like for the older trans people who knew who they were back in 1999, and I imagine them having a similar reaction, to view this movie and feel seen, having had the experience of feeling like so much about their life just felt all wrong.
I'm so happy I revisited this.
I watched Waves (2019) and Mid90s (2018)
Waves: I recommend this movie if you're a Frank Ocean or Kendrick Lamar fan. The soundtrack contains a lot of different artist known but the songs are underrated. This movie is a mix of romance and distraught, this is one of my favorites.
Mid90s: This is another one of my favorites, I really loved the soundtrack of this movie it include Mobb Deep, Cypress Hill, Morrissey, etc. I don't really like Morrissey as a person because of some controversy but he had some hits. In the movie they included one of his songs named "We'll Let You Know" I enjoyed this song it really fit the scene. Overall, this movie was funny and had some heartfelt moments.
@Lexi Darling it's been ages since I too saw The Matrix, but now I feel like watching it again and to try and see what you see 🙂
Quote from: steezy405 on Apr 11, 2024, 04:54 AMI watched Waves (2019) and Mid90s (2018)
Waves: I recommend this movie if you're a Frank Ocean or Kendrick Lamar fan. The soundtrack contains a lot of different artist known but the songs are underrated. This movie is a mix of romance and distraught, this is one of my favorites.
Mid90s: This is another one of my favorites, I really loved the soundtrack of this movie it include Mobb Deep, Cypress Hill, Morrissey, etc. I don't really like Morrissey as a person because of some controversy but he had some hits. In the movie they included one of his songs named "We'll Let You Know" I enjoyed this song it really fit the scene. Overall, this movie was funny and had some heartfelt moments.
I'm with you on Morrissey as I feel pretty much the same way. Love his music, though.
About Waves, I think that stars the same young black actress, Taylor Russell, that played in Bones and All that I posted above? I like her.
Mid 90s I actually bought on YouTube Movies way back, but still haven't watched 😄
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 11, 2024, 08:26 AM@Lexi Darling it's been ages since I too saw The Matrix, but now I feel like watching it again and to try and see what you see 🙂
I'm with you on Morrissey as I feel pretty much the same way. Love his music, though.
About Waves, I think that stars the same young black actress, Taylor Russell, that played in Bones and All that I posted above? I like her.
Mid 90s I actually bought on YouTube Movies way back, but still haven't watched 😄
Yeah, Taylor Russel is a good actress I have also watched the movie Bones and All but I never finished it. My attention span is low but I'll try to finish it :D
Quote from: steezy405 on Apr 11, 2024, 09:51 PMYeah, Taylor Russel is a good actress I have also watched the movie Bones and All but I never finished it. My attention span is low but I'll try to finish it :D
I'm not sure I could really recommend it 😅 the only thing that really saves it is good lead actors doing their job well. It makes for a decent watch, but not a particularly entertaining movie.
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 12, 2024, 06:10 PMI'm not sure I could really recommend it 😅 the only thing that really saves it is good lead actors doing their job well. It makes for a decent watch, but not a particularly entertaining movie.
Okay lol I'll take that into consideration, from what I can remember the movie had a lot of gore.
Quote from: steezy405 on Apr 12, 2024, 06:22 PMOkay lol I'll take that into consideration, from what I can remember the movie had a lot of gore.
I guess it has a lot of gore for what it is, a kinda romantic teen flick. But it's not on the level of, say, Peter Jackson's Braindead or last year's Evil Dead Rise 🙂
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 12, 2024, 06:34 PMI guess it has a lot of gore for what it is, a kinda romantic teen flick. But it's not on the level of, say, Peter Jackson's Braindead or last year's Evil Dead Rise 🙂
Evil Dead Rise was crazy as fuck from what I remember. Never seen Braindead :coldsweat:
For, again, simple low-brainpower-required fun, take elements of Die Hard, Taken and Rambo and throw in Jackie Chan as a vengeful restaurant owner, Pierce Brosnan as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, add a pinch of the IRA and essentially, a pretty incompetent police force, and you have this:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/The_Foreigner_%282017_film%29.jpg)
It won't win awards, but hey, it's fun.
Quote from: steezy405 on Apr 12, 2024, 06:45 PMEvil Dead Rise was crazy as fuck from what I remember. Never seen Braindead :coldsweat:
If you like grisly, gory practical effects, Braindead has more of it than any other movie I've seen 😄 an endearing classic. It's also hilarious!
Quote from: steezy405 on Apr 12, 2024, 06:45 PMEvil Dead Rise was crazy as fuck from what I remember. Never seen Braindead :coldsweat:
If you end up liking Braindead. Check out Brazil.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Apr 13, 2024, 03:05 PMIf you end up liking Braindead. Check out Brazil.
Alright :)
Quote from: DJChameleon on Apr 13, 2024, 03:05 PMIf you end up liking Braindead. Check out Brazil.
What??? Terry Gilliam's dystopian cult classic? Surely not. I can't see that movie having anything in common with something called Braindead...
Quote from: Trollheart on Apr 13, 2024, 06:11 PMWhat??? Terry Gilliam's dystopian cult classic? Surely not. I can't see that movie having anything in common with something called Braindead...
You know what they both have in common? Their use of practical effects!
I also don't see a huge resemblance, although I guess the protagonists have something in common, both being of a weaker male sort.. Although Lionel certainly shapes up as quite the zombie killin', damsel rescuing hero.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Apr 13, 2024, 07:44 PMYou know what they both have in common? Their use of practical effects!
Hell, you could say that about a lot of movies! But to compare
Brazil to this
Braindead seems to me to be disingenuous, as from what I read, the latter is a "comedy zombie splatter movie" and the former is a whip-smart science fiction dark comedy comment on the likes of
Nineteen Eighty-Four and Kafka. I don't see the connection. Just because it has good effects doesn't make it like the other film. Your logic escapes me.
Just watched Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970). A great piece of sci-fi history, and prescient given the modern age of AI.
Quote from: innerspaceboy on Apr 13, 2024, 11:43 PMJust watched Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970). A great piece of sci-fi history, and prescient given the modern age of AI.
That's been on my list for a long time. What did you watch it on?
Quote from: Janszoon on Apr 14, 2024, 02:14 PMThat's been on my list for a long time. What did you watch it on?
I've never owned a television or a smart TV or used a streaming service of any kind. I just downloaded and watched the film off my server. It was nice - it came with the original 1970s press kit. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Apr 11, 2024, 01:29 AMThe Matrix (1999)
First time watching this in over 20 years, as well as my first time watching it since realizing I was trans. I'd always seen some of the trans allegories being described that made sense to me, but watching this again with those 20 years of experience in the trans community I was kind of blown away by just how prominent they are. From the various plot elements being metaphors to the topics of conversation in the dialogue, it all feels so incredibly obvious watching it through my trans eyes.
It's honestly a pretty emotional experience watching this again, realizing exactly what it always was. I think about what it must have been like for the older trans people who knew who they were back in 1999, and I imagine them having a similar reaction, to view this movie and feel seen, having had the experience of feeling like so much about their life just felt all wrong.
I'm so happy I revisited this.
(https://media3.giphy.com/media/3osxYrgM8gi9CDjcPu/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952ktcbhbr7xkouasmevimdmvgq7hce435ypc9ftmx9&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
Quote from: Trollheart on Apr 13, 2024, 09:27 PMHell, you could say that about a lot of movies! But to compare Brazil to this Braindead seems to me to be disingenuous, as from what I read, the latter is a "comedy zombie splatter movie" and the former is a whip-smart science fiction dark comedy comment on the likes of Nineteen Eighty-Four and Kafka. I don't see the connection. Just because it has good effects doesn't make it like the other film. Your logic escapes me.
Why are so you intent on deterring someone watching Brazil is my question? ???
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYTYyODhlODktYjUzNC00NjUyLWI1MzYtNmI0MTY3YTUxYjY2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
A24 finally let me down.
This movie had a great premise but they did nothing with it. I knew going into it based off of an interview with Kirsten Durst that they weren't going to be political which I wasn't looking for but they didn't go into any lore whatsoever. They kept everything superficial. Everything that happened was so surface level just going through the motions then it ends. I felt like they ran out of money in the budget at the end and the director just yelled shut the camera off. Budget is too bloated. There was a point at the end where they could have at least wrapped it up emotionally and they did nothing.
:2stars:
Giving it 2 stars purely for Jesse Plemons acting ability and his scene alone.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Apr 15, 2024, 11:31 PMWhy are so you intent on deterring someone watching Brazil is my question? ???
Of course I'm not. It's a brilliant movie. But in my view, you're advancing it to be something it's not. If the guy you're recommending it to enjoys zombie slasher flicks, why then would be expect to enjoy
Brazil? They're literally nothing alike. Nothing. From what I read of
Braindead. If you had said, for instance, if you like
Nineteen Eighty-Four check out
Brazil, or maybe if you like ... you know, it's actually hard to come up with movies like
Brazil. But I would definitely not place something like
Braindead on its level.
Quote from: Trollheart on Apr 16, 2024, 06:42 PMOf course I'm not. It's a brilliant movie. But in my view, you're advancing it to be something it's not. If the guy you're recommending it to enjoys zombie slasher flicks, why then would be expect to enjoy Brazil? They're literally nothing alike. Nothing. From what I read of Braindead. If you had said, for instance, if you like Nineteen Eighty-Four check out Brazil, or maybe if you like ... you know, it's actually hard to come up with movies like Brazil. But I would definitely not place something like Braindead on its level.
As far as zombie movies go, there's none better than Braindead so it's up there. Both movies are in my top ten, so similarities are:
- Both are darkly humorous
- Both feature male protagonists that are generally perceived as weak
- Both feature a love story of sorts with the movie's other events getting in the way
- Both are movies by renowned directors with an uncompromising vision
But yes, they are also rather different, so I wouldn't assume someone who likes Braindead would enjoy Brazil or vice versa. But they are both brilliant 🙂
For Brazil, one should watch the Director's cut and - in any case - avoid the 94 minutes theatrical cut like the plague as that version is not a good movie.
For Braindead, Peter Jackson said some years ago they were going to restore it to 4k resolution. We're still waiting, Peter!
Quote from: Trollheart on Apr 16, 2024, 06:42 PMOf course I'm not. It's a brilliant movie. But in my view, you're advancing it to be something it's not. If the guy you're recommending it to enjoys zombie slasher flicks, why then would be expect to enjoy Brazil? They're literally nothing alike. Nothing. From what I read of Braindead. If you had said, for instance, if you like Nineteen Eighty-Four check out Brazil, or maybe if you like ... you know, it's actually hard to come up with movies like Brazil. But I would definitely not place something like Braindead on its level.
I don't think it's misleading at all. I watched Naked Lunch, Brazil and Braindead all back to back and enjoyed them all the same. Maybe it's just me that I grouped them up together as a certain type of off beat movies but all three of them are similar with how weird they can be.
Faur enough in both cases. I'm not against anyone watching Brazil. If you link them, that's fine; I just don't think they're natural cousins. To me, it would be perhaps like maybe someone saying if you like Legend you'll like Pan's Labyrinth, or something. There may be similarities, but I would not equate the two movies.
Whichever, if it gets someone to watch, and like, Brazil, then go for it. And I agree with Tore that the DC of the movie is beyond terrible: stick with the original.
Incidentally, not that the two are like each other, but I presume you've seen Gilliam's other two cult classics, Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen?
I'm repeating myself, but Gilliam's best movie for me might be The Fisher King. It is brilliant ❤️
Quote from: Trollheart on Apr 17, 2024, 12:32 AMFaur enough in both cases. I'm not against anyone watching Brazil. If you link them, that's fine; I just don't think they're natural cousins. To me, it would be perhaps like maybe someone saying if you like Legend you'll like Pan's Labyrinth, or something. There may be similarities, but I would not equate the two movies.
Whichever, if it gets someone to watch, and like, Brazil, then go for it. And I agree with Tore that the DC of the movie is beyond terrible: stick with the original.
Incidentally, not that the two are like each other, but I presume you've seen Gilliam's other two cult classics, Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen?
I have yet to check out those two films but I will keep an eye out for them.
I've remarked before about the overwhelming flood of pop culture cinema I've never beheld, (Star Wars, LotR, Avatar and most movies made after 1996), but I'm intrigued by this discussion of Terry Gilliam's filmography. I believe I saw 12 Monkeys when it came out, and I've incorporated it into my expansive library of films inspired by the writings of Philip K Dick.
As such, I'm curious to explore Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), The Fisher King (1991) and possibly Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998).
Wiki notes that Brazil has been called Kafkaesque as well as absurdist. I'm also interested in any films with a strong existentialist theme, so these may be worth tracking down.
I can only handle about one movie a month at most, but I'll bookmark these to pursue. Thanks!
I really think you'd enjoy Brazil, ISB. Has everything you mention - the idea of an oppressive and completely inefficient and bungling state, absurd humour, Kafka and Orwell tropes, great characters and a totally unexpected ending. Time Bandits, I don't know. It's a favourite of mine, but almost in a way more a kids' fantasy movie (though it has its dark parts too), while Munchausen would be, for me, the weakest of the three. Still good though. It is interesting how one director can be involved in three (and more) such different movies. If you need me to hook you up, just shout.
Quote from: Trollheart on Apr 17, 2024, 12:32 AMAnd I agree with Tore that the DC of the movie is beyond terrible: stick with the original.
What? But this is the opposite of what I wrote. The theatrical 94 minutes version is a frantic mess! 😄
Quote from: Guybrush on Apr 17, 2024, 07:02 PMWhat? But this is the opposite of what I wrote. The theatrical 94 minutes version is a frantic mess! 😄
Ah.
(https://y.yarn.co/e5190c50-1650-4c8e-9475-b86683daef43_text.gif)
Sorry, sorry: so much time and so little to do...
Mad God (2021)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Mad_God_poster.jpg)
Holy shit, I was nor prepared for this. I don't think one can be prepared for this.
Really glad I went into it blind without seeing any trailers.
An absolutely mind-blowing extravaganza of psychedelic, fucked up, nightmarish stop motion animation and practical effects.
It's certainly flawed, a bit too long, too repetitive, not every scene works and some of it is just too gory and/or disgusting for me.
But I'm really glad I saw this, it's been many years since I saw such a mindfuck.
Yes, I liked Mad God too 🙂 and felt much the same way. It's flawed in places, but still some great imagery and ideas. I always appreciate unique experiences.
We covered it in our little film club.
https://scd.community/index.php?topic=166.0
I took in Neil Breen's
Fateful Findings yesterday. Perhaps an exceptional specimen of outsider art or just the
Citizen Kane of bad movies, right up there with
Manos: The Hands of Fate.
I discovered Breen through Red Letter Media's Best of the Worst series on YouTube. Evidently, all of Breen's movies are identical - he always stars as the world's greatest hacker, who, (in his own words), "has hacked all of the secrets of government and corporate secrets." There is usually a supernatural element to the plot which is inevitably never explained.
Here's the climactic ending scene of the film.
Quote from: innerspaceboy on Apr 20, 2024, 01:59 PMI took in Neil Breen's Fateful Findings yesterday. Perhaps an exceptional specimen of outsider art or just the Citizen Kane of bad movies, right up there with Manos: The Hands of Fate.
I discovered Breen through Red Letter Media's Best of the Worst series on YouTube. Evidently, all of Breen's movies are identical - he always stars as the world's greatest hacker, who, (in his own words), "has hacked all of the secrets of government and corporate secrets." There is usually a supernatural element to the plot which is inevitably never explained.
Here's the climactic ending scene of the film.
I probably couldn't watch a full movie of his but I really enjoy people reviewing and breaking them down.
He is so pathetic and oblivious, it's funny and fascinating and sometimes hard to believe.
Has anyone seen this yet?
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYjdjMWJiOGYtYjBmYy00NTQ5LWE3ZGMtNjc1NjAzZmUzNTZhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDM2NDM2MQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
As a Bigfoot fanatic, I'd think this would be up my alley - but it seems like one of those films that might be polarizing. The last polarizing film I watched (Skinamarink), I hated. Debating on whether I want to drive a total of 2 hours to see it in theatres or wait until it's streaming.
(https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExN3BsemZibHo5dzVuMXo1bnZza3ExdDhweGVyb2EyMDQ5MngwcTNvbyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/1QjzdN6Q3HTrwqmKGH/giphy.gif)
Just watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I mean, it was all right, but I was brought up on Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka and, honestly, it's the original and best. I don't know if it's just me, but in recent movies Depp has always come across as, I don't know, slightly weird and even scary in a way? Like I think he would make a perfect Joker; he just has that sort of madness in his eyes, the tight smile that looks like he would be as happy carving you up as reading a book, like he's one twitching muscle away from just going crazy with a sub machine gun or something, giggling maniacally all the way. Is it the actor or the characters he plays? Well, Wonka was meant to be eccentric, but not the equivalent of a Chocolate Serial Killer, as it were, and the pleasure he takes in - or rather, almost disinterest in the fate of the four kids (deserved though they all were) is somewhat unsettling.
Not mad about the songs either, and the ending was a bit lacklustre I felt. Overall, I'm not sorry I watched it but I'm not particularly glad either. I think this may have been an occasion where if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Quote from: Trollheart on Apr 24, 2024, 01:38 AMJust watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I mean, it was all right, but I was brought up on Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka and, honestly, it's the original and best. I don't know if it's just me, but in recent movies Depp has always come across as, I don't know, slightly weird and even scary in a way? Like I think he would make a perfect Joker; he just has that sort of madness in his eyes, the tight smile that looks like he would be as happy carving you up as reading a book, like he's one twitching muscle away from just going crazy with a sub machine gun or something, giggling maniacally all the way. Is it the actor or the characters he plays? Well, Wonka was meant to be eccentric, but not the equivalent of a Chocolate Serial Killer, as it were, and the pleasure he takes in - or rather, almost disinterest in the fate of the four kids (deserved though they all were) is somewhat unsettling.
Not mad about the songs either, and the ending was a bit lacklustre I felt. Overall, I'm not sorry I watched it but I'm not particularly glad either. I think this may have been an occasion where if it ain't broke don't fix it.
I haven't seen it since, but when that movie came out I was at the peak of my Tim Burton fandom and even then I didn't enjoy it much at all. Only part I really liked that wasn't done better in the 1971 version was having Christopher Lee as his dad.
That's true. Well, adding Christopher Lee to any movie immediately raises its pedigree of course. However, clever and insightful as the origin story was, I see there's also another movie out called just Wonka, which explores his rise to fame, so I hope they keep that story constant or it's going to have been a waste.
Definitely did not like Depp in this though; he looked really as if he didn't want to do it, and was there under protest. A manic, and at the same time sort of boring/restrained performance that made me feel like his heart was not in it at all. As you say, and as I did, they did nothing better than the original. Even the "punishments" for the kids were the same, and while of course you can't exactly change the novel, everything from rolling Violet away as a giant blueberry to Augustus going up the pipe were all the same, with tiny little variances that made me wonder why I bothered.
"Fry and the Slurm Factory" was much better than this.
We saw Infested yesterday.
(https://resizing.flixster.com/Q87sFdpZZsb0Aplgey1uP-BeYOg=/ems.cHJkLWVtcy1hc3NldHMvbW92aWVzLzQxYTc1ZDU1LTJjZWEtNDQ2Ni1iODk5LWU0OWEzNzI2ZDZhYi5qcGc=)
It's a bit like Rec, only with Spiders. There isn't too much plot besides a group of friends trying to escape a quarantined building filling up with very dangerous and aggressive spiders.
These simple premise creature features are usually poorly made, but I saw this get some good reviews and decided to check it out. For what it is, it actually is well made. The characters feel mostly believable. The dilapidated building is a good setting. The buildup through the movie is effective. I can see how the spiders would creep some peeps out.
For myself, a reason I don't love creature features is I don't think creatures are particularly scary. I don't have the right level of arachnophobia for this either. Also I prefer movies that are more layered and less predictable/formulaic overall.
Still a decent watch and I expect some will really like this. Recommended to arachnophobes!
:3stars:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/Sherlock_Holmes2Poster.jpg)
This was on last night so gave it another go. I can't say I hated it, but being a big fan of Holmes I dislike the way he's being portrayed here as some sort of suave, wisecracking action hero. I know these days cinema audiences can't be expected to sit through a movie that doesn't whizz, bang, flash and explode all over the place, but I feel Holmes' legacy is being cheapened by this sort of treatment. I guess the days of Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett are long gone, but it irks me to see Holmes "Hollywoodised" this way. As I noted of Johnny Depp in my last post, RDJ kind of has that manic, dangerous attitude to Holmes that is, to me anyway, totally opposite to how Doyle wrote the character. Holmes was a quiet, severe, coldly logical man utterly devoted to his art, that of tackling crime. He seldom used humour, and if he did it was tight, acerbic humour. He could defend himself, but was no superman (here, RDJ takes out four assassins with the practiced ease of Jacky Chan or Van Damme!) and in fact a number of times gets quite badly beaten up.
The flashy "Matrix"-style direction of Ritchie - fast, changing angles, zooms, complete freezes, 180 or 360 camera angles, go again - annoyed me and made this seem more like an example of style over substance, giving the folks what they want and pandering to the exigencies of the Hollywood blockbuster. To be fair, the story did loosely follow mostly the plot of "The Final Problem" (though the Reichenbach Falls were moved to right beside the hotel, which I found odd) and tied in with the coming horror of the Great War, but while I would have to say I enjoyed it, it did seem almost like it could have starred any detective character, or any private eye. Didn't seem like Holmes to me, and I certainly did not like Jude Law's Watson: far too sarcastic and self-assured.
It can't be denied it's a rollercoaster of a movie, but for something more approaching the kind of Holmes you may be more used to seeing if you're a fan, try Sir Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes, which features a far more sedate Holmes in retirement, and is, for my money, a more realistic and faithful portrayal of the great detective, and a better movie.
:3stars:
I've watched a couple films in the past week that I adored - dying to talk about them.
(https://movieguide.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/spaceman.jpeg)
Spaceman (2024)
Six months into a solo mission, a lonely astronaut confronts the cracks in his marriage with help from a mysterious creature he discovers on his ship.
(https://themoviespoiler.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dream_scenario.jpg)
Dream Scenario (2023)
A family man finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams.
However, when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, he's forced to navigate the consequences of his newfound stardom.
We tried Dream Scenario, which looked good, but my sister and her husband both started looking at me about a half-hour in, when nothing seemed to be happening, and as they often do (and it's their house after all) they shrugged and we gave it up, trying something else. I must say, for one of my recs, though I hadn't seen it, just the trailer, I was quite disappointed. Then again, we didn't finish it, so maybe it got better? Wouldn't be inclined to go back and try it again though.
Has anyone seen Moonfall? It's on the telly on Monday, and I've never heard of it, but it looks pretty strange. Aliens built the moon? Is it meant to be a comedy, dark comedy, or to be taken seriously? Worth a watch?
"The Moon is in synchronous rotation, meaning that it keeps the same face toward Earth at all times."
"The Moon keeps one hemisphere of itself facing the Earth, due to tidal locking."
Both these quotes are from Wiki, and I find everything about the moon's orbit fascinating.
I'll try to lock into
Moonfall, in the meantime, Brian Bennett's "Air Quake" seemed to set the tone for this one
Can I assume you've checked out Trollheart's Guide to the Galaxy (and Beyond) then, where I do a very in-depth article on the Moon, including all the probes sent and the Apollo missions? If not, why are you still here? It's thatway! ------>
^TH, I'm on that thread now (https://scd.community/index.php?topic=225.0) and it's a good one :checkmark:. Had no idea of the number of probes which went there prior to the first manned landing of Apollo 11.
I always wondered why Neil Armstrong looked quite glum in that TV interview after coming back to earth. This could have been the first recorded instance of spaceface (as opposed to bassface which I would have made).
Quote from: Saulaac on May 05, 2024, 12:08 AM^TH, I'm on that thread now (https://scd.community/index.php?topic=225.0) and it's a good one :checkmark:. Had no idea of the number of probes which went there prior to the first manned landing of Apollo 11.
I always wondered why Neil Armstrong looked quite glum in that TV interview after coming back to earth. This could have been the first recorded instance of spaceface (as opposed to bassface which I would have made).
Oh yeah. The Russians (Soviets) were all over that shit till Apollo 11. You could almost say they won every battle but America came in with the big guns and won the war. The amount of firsts the Soviets achieved is incredible, almost as incredible as how inept the larger part of the American space programme was prior to Apollo. And I found it immensely interesting how Aldrin couldn't keep his mouth shut and keep God out of it, after he had been specifically told to ixnay the odgay stuff. Bloody Christians. Glad you enjoyed it though. Mars coming up next! Mind you, the entries on the Sun, Mercury and Venus are worth checking out too.
There are a couple of movies that I have seen lately just didn't post yet.
Arcadia
A monster flick with Nicolas Cage where he is a single dad of two sons living in a world where people live far apart from each other and have a system to be inside before the sunsets because monsters come to each property to terrorize them. Great movie I stumbled upon. I wish they explained more lore behind what led the world to be this way but I enjoyed it.
:3stars:
Boy Kills World
The voice of Archer and Bob from Bob's burger voices a mute kid that uses his voice to express himself while going on a revenge journey. I love all the recent revenge tales coming out lately. We just had Monkey Man which I also saw and now this one. John Wick-esque fight scenes and highly stylized gore. The marketing team did this movie a disservice. Most people haven't heard about it and even if they have, they had no clue when the release date was myself included. Hidden Gem
:5stars:
Tarot
Horror with some light comedy thrown in and a bunch of typical tropes slapped together with jump scares. Overall it was okay but it's a movie that I don't ever need to watch again.
It's based off of Tarot card readings/characters coming to life to mess with a group of college kids. They claim to be in the Catskills area which is close to where I live irl but I doubt they filmed it here. I didn't hear much about them filming in my area. The sequel to Smile was filmed in my area back in January and last week I saw a section of the street I live on closed down for filming.
:2stars:
Quote from: DJChameleon on May 06, 2024, 06:00 PMThere are a couple of movies that I have seen lately just didn't post yet.
Arcadia
A monster flick with Nicolas Cage where he is a single dad of two sons living in a world where people live far apart from each other and have a system to be inside before the sunsets because monsters come to each property to terrorize them. Great movie I stumbled upon. I wish they explained more lore behind what led the world to be this way but I enjoyed it.
:3stars:
Missed out an "n". Seems Arcadian was filmed in MY home town!
from Wiki:
Principal photography began in Dublin, Ireland, in November 2022.[3] In February 2023, it was announced that filming had wrapped and that the film was in post-production.[5]
Boy Kills World looks like a fun movie.
Smile was flawed, but quite fun. Cool that they're making a sequel.
Boy Kills World was like a roller coaster ride. It was so fun. I loved the camera work too.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTlhNmVkZGUtNjdjOC00YWY3LTljZWQtMTY1YWFhNGYwNDQwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjc1NTYyMjg@._V1_.jpg)
This is the latest movie I've seen one of my favorites.
Yes, Carrie is great 🙂 a bit underrated maybe as it doesn't get mentioned much.
For one dreadful moment there I thought they'd remade it.
Hands off the original, Hollywood! Stick to your superhero movies!
Rewatched The Royal Tenenbaums which I hadn't seen in like 19 years.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81yWGGX9UqL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_DpWeblab_.jpg)
It's so good and a lot funnier than I remember it even, so I'm sure it's grown on me. I like Wes Anderson in his current form, but his earlier movies (especially Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums and Life Aquatic) just blew my mind. They're so funny and quite dramatic in that subdued sense where certain characters struggle to maintain civility despite their inner pain and despair.
Anyways, love this. Funniest joke could be how Bill Murray's neurologist character Raleigh is always followed by his research subject, the cognitive deviant Dudley. When Raleigh is depressed, Dudley kindly asks if he'd like to experiment on him or run some tests to make him feel better 😄
Also people squatting when they talk and other silly things.
I don't care that much for Gene Hackman, but he's great in this. Most of the cast is, though Ben Stiller doesn't quite feel like a good fit.
It's a: :4.5stars:
Rewatching Rushmore next which was my favourite of the bunch for a while way back, so I'm thinking I'll enjoy that one even more. Looking forward to finding out.
Quote from: Trollheart on May 11, 2024, 08:11 PMFor one dreadful moment there I thought they'd remade it.
They did remake it in 2013.
Quote from: Guybrush on May 12, 2024, 11:37 PMRewatched The Royal Tenenbaums which I hadn't seen in like 19 years.
....
It's so good and a lot funnier than I remember it even, so I'm sure it's grown on me. I like Wes Anderson in his current form, but his earlier movies (especially Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums and Life Aquatic) just blew my mind. They're so funny and quite dramatic in that subdued sense where certain characters struggle to maintain civility despite their inner pain and despair.
Anyways, love this. Funniest joke could be how Bill Murray's neurologist character Raleigh is always followed by his research subject, the cognitive deviant Dudley. When Raleigh is depressed, Dudley kindly asks if he'd like to experiment on him or run some tests to make him feel better 😄
Also people squatting when they talk and other silly things.
I don't care that much for Gene Hackman, but he's great in this. Most of the cast is, though Ben Stiller doesn't quite feel like a good fit.
It's a: :4.5stars:
Rewatching Rushmore next which was my favourite of the bunch for a while way back, so I'm thinking I'll enjoy that one even more. Looking forward to finding out.
I love that movie. The epitaph on the gravestone at the end is simultaneously one of the funniest and most bittersweet things I've ever seen on film.
(https://resizing.flixster.com/-XZAfHZM39UwaGJIFWKAE8fS0ak=/v3/t/assets/p21677_p_v8_ae.jpg)
Rushmore is still brilliant! If you haven't seen it, it's initially a movie about 15 year old student Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) who falls for a teacher (Olivia Williams) at his school and then eventually competes with his friend, the very much older Herman Blume (Bill Murray) for her attention.
This one may have more laugh out loud moments than any other Wes Anderson movie, at least for myself. Jason Schwartzman's Max Fischer walks a fine line between being a douche and a creep and likeable nerd. His dynamic with the endearing and somewhat sad Herman is so great.
It's hard to say if I like it more than The Royal Tenenbaums. It does have a very satisfying wrap at the end, so maybe this gets a slight preference.
Watch it if you haven't seen it!
:4.5stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on May 14, 2024, 10:33 PMRushmore is still brilliant! If you haven't seen it, it's initially a movie about 15 year old student Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) who falls for a teacher (Olivia Williams) at his school and then eventually competes with his friend, the very much older Herman Blume (Bill Murray) for her attention.
This one may have more laugh out loud moments than any other Wes Anderson movie, at least for myself. Jason Schwartzman's Max Fischer walks a fine line between being a douche and a creep and likeable nerd. His dynamic with the endearing and somewhat sad Herman is so great.
It's hard to say if I like it more than The Royal Tenenbaums. It does have a very satisfying wrap at the end, so maybe this gets a slight preference.
Watch it if you haven't seen it!
:4.5stars:
Such a great movie!
MAX: I like your nurse's uniform guy.
PETER: These are OR scrubs.
MAX: Oh, are they?
Quote from: Janszoon on May 14, 2024, 10:51 PMSuch a great movie!
MAX: I like your nurse's uniform guy.
PETER: These are OR scrubs.
MAX: Oh, are they?
Haha 😄 then he still invites the doc to his play at the end (but tells him to wear a tie). That whole dinner scene is great ❤️
We watched Saltburn today.
(https://seattlespectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/s-l1200.webp)
My wife picked up that it was popular a while back and wanted to see it. I had no idea what it was.
I don't wanna spoil the plot, but it wasn't a movie either of us really liked. As a romantic movie or a drama, it has no really likeable characters (imo) so I found it hard to care much. As a suspense movie, it's just not very exciting.
Other than that, I've already tired from movies and TVs obsession with rich people. The rich people in this movie seem like hugely unlikely parodies of what a dysfunctional rich family might be like. These characters don't seem real or believable.
I also didn't care that much for the cast. I have undeserved, bad associations with Barry Keoghan and his dead facial expressions from The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Seeing Richard Grant is always a pleasure, though.
For me personally, it's a :2.5stars:
Wow. I really liked it and the ending is what helped so much to me.
Tank Girl
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Like if Mad Max were badly made, racially stereotyping & trying to queerbait you, 10/10
Also nerdy tomboy Naomi Watts is HOT people
(https://cassavafilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/170411-naomiwatts.jpg)
Quote from: Marie Monday on May 29, 2024, 10:11 PMTank Girl
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzc0NjBmMzgtMTUxMS00YWFjLTk4NTYtNjE4NTJhOTU3ZTYwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTMxMTY0OTQ@._V1_.jpg)
Like if Mad Max were badly made, racially stereotyping & trying to queerbait you, 10/10
Also nerdy tomboy Naomi Watts is HOT people
(https://cassavafilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/170411-naomiwatts.jpg)
I've seen Tank Girl, but that was back in the 90s. I can't remember much at all.
Looks like it might be worth a revisit 🤔
Quote from: DJChameleon on May 25, 2024, 01:09 AMWow. I really liked it and the ending is what helped so much to me.
Yeah, many like it. I guess I just didn't vibe with the movie or its characters at all.
I should warn you that if the aesthetic and lesbian queerbaiting don't do much for you, it might not be worth it lol
also I should mention that the soundtrack is impeccably fantastic and jarring, it'll throw Björk bangers at you like jumpscares
Quote from: Marie Monday on May 29, 2024, 11:42 PMalso I should mention that the soundtrack is impeccably fantastic and jarring, it'll throw Björk bangers at you like jumpscares
Alright, that's good then. I like Björk a lot 🤟
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Damaged_2024_film_poster.jpg)
Damaged (2024)
Meh. If you have a serial killer movie, with basically five characters, two of which die fairly soon into the film, including the main suspect, you aren't left with too many options are you? I was still wrong.
It was okay, but I've seen better definitely. Always good to see Samuel L., and again I mixed up James Nesbitt and John Hannah, but other than that, as I believe I mentioned at the beginning of this post, meh.
Oh, if you don't like graphic depictions of severed, mutiliated bodies, avoid. Seriously. The director seems to have some fetish about having each badly-chopped-up corpse zoomed in on. Like, ok dude! We got the message. No need to keep hammering it home.
I just saw The First Omen
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I've seen The Omen a couple of times, but that was a long time ago. I've also seen Omen 3, but can't actually remember anything besides Sam Neill was in it and I think he sits in a car at some point.
The Omen movies in general were a little dull to me. It's not as visceral as The Exorcist. It doesn't have surreal dream worlds of Nightmare on Elm Street or the dark fantasy of Hellraiser. There's no interesting hero like Ash in Evil Dead. All in all, seems like a dull franchise.
This popped up on Disney+ and I wasn't too interested, but then I read a couple of good things about it and decided to give it a go.
It's a prequel to the first movie. It's about a nun, which is a bit boring, but.. much of it is fairly well made and a cut above your average horror faire. It looks fairly good and has some interesting visuals. I initially wondered why they cast Nell Tiger Free in the lead as I didn't find her that compelling at first, but she grew on me over the course of the film and plays well in the movie's more intense scenes. She's a good physical actor. There's a scene in particular where the movie builds tension in a way I quite liked.
I was also happy to see it has a bit of guts and stuff in it.
By no means is this a great movie as its still lacking in interesting characters and you can predict the plot twists before they happen, but it's still rather enjoyable. Comparing Nun movies, it was certainly better than The Nun 2.
:3.5stars:
Better than that classic Nude Nuns with Big Guns? Surely not! :laughing:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0f/Angel_%281982_film%29.jpg)
Angel (1982)
There's one word that describes this movie, and it's dismal. Not as in, it's a dismal movie (though it kind of is) but the atmosphere is so depressing and dark you just kind of want to kill yourself, or possibly everyone around you. The story is awful - a saxophonist seeks revenge on paramilitaries who killed a girl he barely knew. He has, so far as is explained in the movie anyway (insasmuch as it does), no military experience, has never shot or handled a gun, and yet is able to assemble and use a sub-machine gun, killing one man, and then track down, by a mixture of luck and some bad clues, the rest of the gang, eventually exposing... yeah well if you decide, against my advice, to watch it, I won't ruin it for you by giving away the ending (watching it will ruin it enough for you, and I'm not a cruel man) but suffice to say it is bloody awful.
Given that it's written by Neil Jordan (The Company of Wolves/The Crying Game/Mona Lisa etc) I can't believe how peurile and haphazard this is. Set supposedely in Northern Ireland (but filmed in Dublin) the movie shows us how the "hero", Danny, basically stumbles around, killing and wounding people till he just more or less falls into the clutches of the bad guy. It's woeful, the pace is dire, and the constant sax wailing through it all is the shit icing on the shit cake. Stephen Rea in the main role plays the part as if he's drunk, high or both (and he may be) while the only real spark of life in the movie, his love interest Deirdre, the singer in the band, is woefully underused. It's almost an exercise in how not to make a movie. Avoid at all costs. The final scene, as a helicopter takes off out of shot and we get about three minutes of garbage and paper and whatnot being blown around in a sort of stone shelter is a pretty good metaphor for the movie: cheap, pointless and extremely forgettable.
Postscript: You know, anyone else, seeing everyone disagrees with him, would admit they were wrong, or just didn't get it. Yeah. Anyone else. Have you met me? Seriously, I'm more than gobsmacked to read through the reviews, both critics and users, on IMDB to see how everyone seems to love this. Ah I don't know: I'll never understand you humans.
Uh, that is...
:shycouch:
"I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death to protect my right to say I think you're wrong!" - Trollheart, 2024
I waited so late to see I Saw The TV Glow that it only had two showings left before being removed from my local theater. They only had a single showing each day. I had to skip out on work(left early) just to see it in theaters and boy was it worth it. The editing and cinematography were excellent. The plot was one big WTF but it oddly makes sense. When you get to the conclusion of the movie you kind of have to piece together what you think the director was attempting to do and there are strangely two different conclusions that both make sense as to what it could all mean. This movie felt like a nostalgia bomb and also like a memory like I've seen it before. It's hard to explain but I want more people to see this movie so they can share in the experience that I had even if it occurs on a smaller screen.
:5stars:
Theater was packed and so many discussions happened as people were leaving the theater about what it all meant. A+ theater experience.
I didn't even touch on the great music that got licensed for this movie. Basic jist of the plot is that it follows the story of two kids that become obsessed with a TV show that is similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer mixed with Are you afraid of the Dark.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jun 06, 2024, 05:21 AMI waited so late to see I Saw The TV Glow that it only had two showings left before being removed from my local theater. They only had a single showing each day. I had to skip out on work(left early) just to see it in theaters and boy was it worth it. The editing and cinematography were excellent. The plot was one big WTF but it oddly makes sense. When you get to the conclusion of the movie you kind of have to piece together what you think the director was attempting to do and there are strangely two different conclusions that both make sense as to what it could all mean. This movie felt like a nostalgia bomb and also like a memory like I've seen it before. It's hard to explain but I want more people to see this movie so they can share in the experience that I had even if it occurs on a smaller screen.
:5stars:
Theater was packed and so many discussions happened as people were leaving the theater about what it all meant. A+ theater experience.
I didn't even touch on the great music that got licensed for this movie. Basic jist of the plot is that it follows the story of two kids that become obsessed with a TV show that is similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer mixed with Are you afraid of the Dark.
Cool,
@DJChameleon 🙂
I'll keep an eye out for it.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jun 06, 2024, 05:21 AMI waited so late to see I Saw The TV Glow that it only had two showings left before being removed from my local theater. They only had a single showing each day. I had to skip out on work(left early) just to see it in theaters and boy was it worth it. The editing and cinematography were excellent. The plot was one big WTF but it oddly makes sense. When you get to the conclusion of the movie you kind of have to piece together what you think the director was attempting to do and there are strangely two different conclusions that both make sense as to what it could all mean. This movie felt like a nostalgia bomb and also like a memory like I've seen it before. It's hard to explain but I want more people to see this movie so they can share in the experience that I had even if it occurs on a smaller screen.
:5stars:
Theater was packed and so many discussions happened as people were leaving the theater about what it all meant. A+ theater experience.
I didn't even touch on the great music that got licensed for this movie. Basic jist of the plot is that it follows the story of two kids that become obsessed with a TV show that is similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer mixed with Are you afraid of the Dark.
Looooooved this movie. Saw it twice and came away with different, reasonable interpretations each time. The conversations it created with my friends and I were a delight. And even just beyond the deep subtext of the movie I also found it mesmerizing to watch. The aesthetic, the vibes, the MUSIC, all of it came together so well. One of the best of the year easily
Also a quick Letterboxd plug in case anyone here has it, I have been fully obsessed with it the past few years and have a pretty comprehensive profile at this point: https://letterboxd.com/Squash14/
Hey Yorkie! Welcome! :love:
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jun 06, 2024, 05:21 AMI waited so late to see I Saw The TV Glow that it only had two showings left before being removed from my local theater. They only had a single showing each day. I had to skip out on work(left early) just to see it in theaters and boy was it worth it. The editing and cinematography were excellent. The plot was one big WTF but it oddly makes sense. When you get to the conclusion of the movie you kind of have to piece together what you think the director was attempting to do and there are strangely two different conclusions that both make sense as to what it could all mean. This movie felt like a nostalgia bomb and also like a memory like I've seen it before. It's hard to explain but I want more people to see this movie so they can share in the experience that I had even if it occurs on a smaller screen.
:5stars:
Theater was packed and so many discussions happened as people were leaving the theater about what it all meant. A+ theater experience.
I didn't even touch on the great music that got licensed for this movie. Basic jist of the plot is that it follows the story of two kids that become obsessed with a TV show that is similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer mixed with Are you afraid of the Dark.
I watched it too yesterday and liked it. Especially all the references to Buffy, and I think as an ode to what Buffy meant for queer people the film works best (but as a queer person to whom Buffy means a lot, I'm obviously biased). Like you said the cinematography is great too, my only gripe with it is that the characters and their lives are only sketched at best, and that the two main different readings sometimes don't mesh well (such as when liberating yourself by coming out as trans on another level means leaving your mother who is dying of cancer behind) but overall solid film
Quote from: Marie Monday on May 29, 2024, 10:11 PMTank Girl
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Like if Mad Max were badly made, racially stereotyping & trying to queerbait you, 10/10
Also nerdy tomboy Naomi Watts is HOT people
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I saw Tank Girl when it came out and really liked it. It's been many years since I've seen it though.
I just watched Behind the Curve (the flat Earther documentary).
I learned that the flat Earth is at the center of the spider web of the transgender evolutionist chemtrail GMO 911 vaccine human sacrifice blood ritual reptilian conspiracy orchestrated by Warner Brothers, the Jews, the Freemasons and the Vatican Satanist Rockefellers and perpetuated by NASA, the NSA, the CIA and the governments of the world.
I've just pitched it as our next film for my Conspiracy Movie Night series at CFI headquarters. I really hope the board likes my idea.
Haha! I haven't watched that documentary but I think you gave a precise summary of buzzwords that have been in my brain over the last 20 years, ISB. Georgia Guidestones, Max Spiers, Bill Cooper and Greys demanding Castrol are a few others I came across.
Quote from: innerspaceboy on Jul 04, 2024, 10:21 PMI just watched Behind the Curve (the flat Earther documentary).
I learned that the flat Earth is at the center of the spider web of the transgender evolutionist chemtrail GMO 911 vaccine human sacrifice blood ritual reptilian conspiracy orchestrated by Warner Brothers, the Jews, the Freemasons and the Vatican Satanist Rockefellers and perpetuated by NASA, the NSA, the CIA and the governments of the world.
I've just pitched it as our next film for my Conspiracy Movie Night series at CFI headquarters. I really hope the board likes my idea.
(https://i.makeagif.com/media/8-03-2021/XM43nW.gif) :laughing: :laughing:
Quote from: innerspaceboy on Jul 04, 2024, 10:21 PMI just watched Behind the Curve (the flat Earther documentary).
I learned that the flat Earth is at the center of the spider web of the transgender evolutionist chemtrail GMO 911 vaccine human sacrifice blood ritual reptilian conspiracy orchestrated by Warner Brothers, the Jews, the Freemasons and the Vatican Satanist Rockefellers and perpetuated by NASA, the NSA, the CIA and the governments of the world.
I've just pitched it as our next film for my Conspiracy Movie Night series at CFI headquarters. I really hope the board likes my idea.
I love that movie! My wife and I still jokingly make the flat earth hand gesture to each other every so often.
Watched Furiosa yesterday, first time I've been to the cinema in 20 years or so. I enjoyed it overall, it is very well suited for the cinema with all the effects and actions scenes and epic landcapes. The story seemed a bit undercooked and fractured but it was alright.
Watched Blackhawk Down for the first time last night. I have to admit, I wasn't that impressed. I mean, I know it's based on a real event, but mostly it was just people running around, getting shot and shouting "Hwup!" a lot. ANd there was a lot of gore. I mean, a LOT! Not for me thanks.
I watched this thriller/drama what comes around and the conclusion is so sad and how it wraps up. Really good movie and I didn't have a clue where it was leading me until the big reveal.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jul 14, 2024, 08:31 PMI watched this thriller/drama what comes around and the conclusion is so sad and how it wraps up. Really good movie and I didn't have a clue where it was leading me until the big reveal.
Which movie though? ???
Quote from: Trollheart on Jul 14, 2024, 08:42 PMWhich movie though? ???
Yeah I didn't capitalize the title.
What Comes Around is the name of the movie.
Got it. Thanks. Was just a little confused. Thought you might have been using a phrase to represent, I don't know, people in a group handing around DVDs or something. Or even some new buzzword us oldies aren't privy to, like the "dropping" of an album or something.
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No biggie. I'm also typing from my phone so didn't have time to put up the movie poster.
Quote from: Trollheart on Jul 14, 2024, 07:06 PMWatched Blackhawk Down for the first time last night. I have to admit, I wasn't that impressed. I mean, I know it's based on a real event, but mostly it was just people running around, getting shot and shouting "Hwup!" a lot. ANd there was a lot of gore. I mean, a LOT! Not for me thanks.
Yeah, I thought that movie was pretty overrated as well.
To be honest, I was watching it and the video recording from the telly ran out for some reason (I think the programme before it overran) so I switched to the plus one channel, but they were like about a half hour at least behind, and I realised I didn't really care about the ending. I don't know what way you'd categorise it - I would not call it a war movie - but whatever it is, I've seen far better. Also, as two choppers were shot down (at least in the movie) should it not have been titled Blackhawks Down?
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The Beekeeper
Not a bad action movie for a lazy Sunday. It's in the vein of Taken or John Wick—killing machine comes out of retirement to go on the warpath—and though it's not as good as those other two, it's still pretty entertaining in the way that Jason Statham movies tend to be.
It's society's fault. If there was a proper pension plan in effect for killing machines they wouldn't have to come out of retirement. We have only ourselves to blame.
I rewatched Brazil (director's cut).
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/Brazil_%281985_film%29_poster.jpg)
Its been many years since my last viewing now, but it still holds up and feels poignant. Me having aged a bit, the movie now seems darker while its jokes are even funnier.
What I love most about it is just the world Gilliam's created where technology is everywhere, but never seems to work properly, and all this oppressive beuracracy seems to exist for its own sake. I much prefer it to its early inspiration 1984 (either book or movie).
A very solid :4stars:
Wonderful movie. I love the scene where Sam is starting work and the guy says loftily something like "Oh you have to know how to use these machines" then it won't work and he snaps "Oh sod it! It's broken!" whereupon Sam plugs it in! :laughing:
Quote from: Trollheart on Jul 15, 2024, 01:57 AMWonderful movie. I love the scene where Sam is starting work and the guy says loftily something like "Oh you have to know how to use these machines" then it won't work and he snaps "Oh sod it! It's broken!" whereupon Sam plugs it in! :laughing:
Yes 🙂 I also love the Buttle/Tuttle fuckup which is the perfect story for this universe (and more so than the Sam / Jill romance). It's also little things like Palin's character Jack who, after understanding that he's tortured the wrong man to death, refuses to accept any wrongdoing as the error was first made in another department and he accepted the prisoner on good faith.
Working for the municipality which also handles a bit of beuracracy, there are some similarities and Brazil is a little bit like a nightmare version of my own work environment 😄
Quote from: Trollheart on Jul 14, 2024, 10:48 PMIt's society's fault. If there was a proper pension plan in effect for killing machines they wouldn't have to come out of retirement. We have only ourselves to blame.
Also, the warpath is not the big money-earner that some think it is. Afterwards, the typical destruction of their vehicle and using up all the explosives and ammunition they had stored in the basement/garage/barn frequently leaves them in a worse financial situation.
This is not an isolated story. We can stop this. Text HELPKILL to 555-189-777666 NOW to donate 20 dollars to the Killing Machine Retirement Fund or see our website. Together, we can ensure that when killing machines retire, they stay retired. Thank you.
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The Mission (2023)
Not to be confused with the 1986 historical drama about missionaries in 18th century South America, this is a 2023 documentary about one missionary in South Asia who got himself killed by being an idiot. You might know this story already: American evangelical goes to North Sentinel Island, home to a tribe who have been aggressively isolated for all of recorded history, to tell them about Jesus and they kill him. The end. It's a decent documentary, and worth watching, but be forewarned that you're going to have to listen to a decent amount of evangelical horseshit to get through it.
Mission: Impossible? :laughing: :laughing:
Quote from: Trollheart on Jul 20, 2024, 01:20 AMMission: Impossible? :laughing: :laughing:
More like
Mission: Insufferable.
I've been on a river kick, which happens to also include Kevin Bacon
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Alright, didn't know KB had done multiple river themed movies.
Our friend who's staying with us is very particular about what she can watch, particularly with the mood/situation she's in. Under no circumstance can we watch anything remotely spooky or too weird. Spooky & weird are my go-tos, so obviously I'm out and she's gotten to choose what we watch for movie nights. So far we've seen (of her suggestions):
- Crazy, Stupid Love - Kinda dumb comedy with Steve Carrell, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling
- Sense and Sensibility (1995) - Romantic drama with Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant
- Notting Hill - Romantic drama with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts
- Clueless - Teen romantic comedy with Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd
- It's Complicated - Romantic drama/comedy with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin
Of these, Sense and Sensibility was by far the most enjoyable with Notting Hill and It's Complicated being okay and Clueless and Crazy, Stupid Love being less enjoyable.
Overall, I feel like I need creepy and weird back in my life 😅
I saw A Quiet Place: Day One.
It was interesting to see the beginning of the invasion and how people learned to deal with these creatures but there were some silly moments near the end where people knew the rules of the new universe and just didn't care. They would make noise and then die in a flash. These moments just come off as comedic.
:3.5stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Jul 22, 2024, 01:49 AMAlright, didn't know KB had done multiple river themed movies.
Our friend who's staying with us is very particular about what she can watch, particularly with the mood/situation she's in. Under no circumstance can we watch anything remotely spooky or too weird. Spooky & weird are my go-tos, so obviously I'm out and she's gotten to choose what we watch for movie nights. So far we've seen (of her suggestions):
- Crazy, Stupid Love - Kinda dumb comedy with Steve Carrell, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling
- Sense and Sensibility (1995) - Romantic drama with Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant
- Notting Hill - Romantic drama with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts
- Clueless - Teen romantic comedy with Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd
- It's Complicated - Romantic drama/comedy with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin
Of these, Sense and Sensibility was by far the most enjoyable with Notting Hill and It's Complicated being okay and Clueless and Crazy, Stupid Love being less enjoyable.
Overall, I feel like I need creepy and weird back in my life 😅
So at a wild guess she likes... chick flicks? ::) Rather you than me.
Saw what might be one of the worst movies I've seen recently, though I can't really say as I fell asleep through most of it. What I saw, though, was dire.
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Into the Blue (1997)Here's the synopsis from IMDB (Wiki wisely refuses to have anything to do with it)
Harry Barnett is a failed businessman who used to run a garage until he went bankrupt. He is now living on the island of Rhodes, looking after the villa of a friend, Alan Dysart, a former government minister. After Heather Mallender, a young woman who is staying at Dysart's villa, goes missing, Harry is accused of her murder. He is determined to prove that she is still alive and to discover why she has vanished. He returns to England and, armed only with a set of photographs that she took, retraces her steps. In doing so, he gradually uncovers a conspiracy which implicates Dysart in the murder of Heather's sister.Now here's author Robert Goddard on how shit the adaptation was:
Original author Robert Goddard was not impressed with the adaptation of his novel. In an interview, he said "The TV version of Into the Blue was a travesty of the story I wrote and I am determined that any future adaptations should be more faithful to the original".and a review from someone who knows the novel:
Good TV thriller when taken on its own terms; obviously no friend of the book
Having been dismayed by many tawdry TV rewrites of perfectly good books, I can understand why the "Into the Blue" author and many readers would be apoplectic after watching this. Instead of gasping at the thrills and chills in this TV movie, those who read the book first will merely gasp in surprise at how well over half of anything to do with it has been radically altered for this film, including the most major characters and plot twists.
That any major changes should occur is not a surprise, however. Indeed, one wonders just why the producers chose to film this book of all things. There was just no way 400 pages of dense, hard paragraphs and exhaustive backstory (all in tiny font) could've made a film of 110 or so minutes. Despite having some compelling drama and ideas, frankly the book can afford to lose perhaps 100 pages.
Even so, by the standards of adaptations, this film's condensations and rewriting are savage. I read the book second, then revisited the film. Thus for me, it's rather a hoot how the film broadcasts right from the start how it's spared nothing in its rewriting. In the first five minutes, Harry Barnett shows someone a portrait of Alan Dysart's wife, a small but important (and alive) supporting character in the book. Harry reports that she died of cancer 2 years ago, then moves on without another word. That's that for wifey!
From my point of view, the movie (I know nothing of the book) plays like a really, really bad 1970s spy thriller, like maybe something by Len Deighton or Robert Ludlum or someone*. I found the casting of the aged John Thaw pointless. The man is a legend, sure, but by 1997 he's getting on in years, and one of the opening scenes, where he's in bed with a woman much younger than him, is frankly laughable. His efforts to be an action hero at his age similarly so. The unsympathetic, almost cartoonish way the Rhodes Police are portrayed is actually insulting, and the cliches abound. Like I say, I slept through most of it (until I had had enough, woke up and probably less than halfway through shut it off and deleted it) but what I even heard in my half-sleep made me roll my eyes. Absolute rubbish.
* No offence intended to either of these writers, or indeed Goddard, who are all I'm sure great novellists. Not my thing really, but I'm just trying to get across the basic theme and mood of the film as I saw it. Put it this way: it was only missing some James-Bond-at-Monte-Carlo music to complete the awful picture.
You might enjoy 2005's Into The Blue more. Paul Walker and Jessica Alba star in it.
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Free Guy (2021)If you're a gamer, you'll love it. If you're not a gamer, you'll still love it. Frivolous, unhinged fun with Ryan Reynolds shining as an NPC (Non Player Character duh) who realises he is actually living in a game world, and wants to be so much more. It's not
Tron and it's not
The Matrix, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. Really enjoyed this. And I'm not even a gamer.
^I need to get around to watching that. There are a few streamers that got a cameo in it.
I saw Trap the latest M. Knight production. He decided to let his oldest daughter star in it which makes sense because she's a singer. This movie reminds me of an episode of Criminal Minds, matter of fact it should have been shortened to an hour and 10 mins or so. The 3rd act falls apart so badly. The premise is a concert is set up to catch a serial killer but they aren't sure what he looks like they just know he's going to be in that building so they pack it with security and cover all exits to question all men leaving the arena.
:2stars:
Tonight I watched House (1977) and Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) and now I wanna make a low/no budget horror flick with my friends. Oh my god I'm so inspired what a night.
I forgot to mention I also saw Deadpool 3 twice last weekend.
I rushed to see it on Thursday afternoon because I knew that spoilers would be flying left and right. Later on that same night Variety of all places posted spoilers because they were doing coverage of Hall H and revealed some excellent cameos. It was the type of movie that was great to see with an audience with people cheering at certain parts and hearing the laughter of others great atmosphere. I thought I was gonna be annoyed because there was a row of teenagers sitting in the back attempting to be comedians but I didn't let them bother my experience of the film. I might definitely see it one more time before it leaves theaters. It was great to see Wolverine in his comic book accurate suit.
:5stars:
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Snowden (2016)
Another of Oliver Stone's political/conspiracy movies, I really enjoyed this. Some of the technical jargon was, naturally, over my head, but it didn't get too much in the way of being able to understand or enjoy the movie. A timely reminder that our very liberty is a fragile thing, and sometimes there are people prepared to stand up and defend it, even if it means they're exiled from their home forever and have to give up everything they had.
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Mission: Impossible (1996)
I've seen, I think, Fallout and Rogue Nation (though it's easy to mix them up) and the beginning, if I remember, of Dead Reckoning Part One (though I think it failed a few minutes in) and enjoyed them on a surface level, though I did note fairly soon that you really need to have seen the previous movies to be able to properly follow the later ones. This is, of course, the first in the franchise, and I have to admit, I wasn't impressed. The effects were great, of course, lots of excitement, chases, things exploding, people dying, clever gadgets. But the plot left me confused. Very complicated, very intricate and very hard to follow. I see from reviews I'm not the only one. Kind of felt like I was trying to read some technical manual on spycraft or something and at regular intervals people were lobbing flash grenades at me. I'm unsure if it's worth watching the others now, though I have two of them recorded.
The Favourite (2018)
Saw it once before and only remember liking it. Enjoyed the second time even more. Beautifully filmed, superbly acted, great, biting dialogue, hilarious black humour. A very minor complaint would be that it loses a bit of momentum towards the end and you expect some final twist or intrigue but it ends up on a more low key, sombre note. Still great though and I don't think I'd have changed anything.
Saw Killers of the Flower Moon, finally.
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It's fucking long, so had to divvy it up a bit. I think it took us three evenings.
Still, I had a blast with this. What an injustice to the people of the Osage tribe and how great to tell this story. It's also something neither of us had heard about before. Scorsese delivering the conclusion to the story of these characters in a cameo at the end was perfect. I'm not sure I'll want to watch it again, but I still liked it a lot.
:4stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 16, 2024, 10:12 PMSaw Killers of the Flower Moon, finally.
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I haven't really been interested in watching that movie, but I did read the book it's based on and it's really worth checking out.
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Mission: Impossible II (No subtitle yet, that comes with later movies)
Yeah, I did it. I was considering deleting the other two and then I thought, why not? I would say it was more or less a continuation of the previous one, though I think the plot at least made a little more sense. Sort of easy to see the twists coming, but generally it managed to avoid the storyline pitfalls of the first movie, keeping the narrative more or less on the same course. Naturally, it's leave your brain at home time, as some of the action sequences, great though they were, defied reality. If you've seen it you'll know what I mean. Thought Thandie Newton was a little underused, Dougray Scott came off as a cardboard villain, and the other two (Billy and Luther) were kind of just there to lend support, as it were. Great to see Sir Anthony, even if he was uncredited.
I can see how movies like this break box-office records and guarantee sequel after sequel: it's pandering to that kid in us, isn't it? The one who likes to see things explode, likes to see car and helicopter chases, and that the good guys win in the end, and doesn't want to bother too much with whether any of it is possible. Movies like the ones in this franchise, so far as I can see, have no staying power beyond that of the Box Office. I doubt if, fifty years from now, they'll be discussing any of them as movie classics of this century. But I guess they never pretend to be nor were they intended to be. For what they are, which is guilt-free entertainment for the masses, brain not required, they do the job.
Oh well, on to the third one now I guess. Hey! Anyone seen my brain? I swear, I just put it down and now... what was I saying?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/Mission_Impossible_III.jpg)
Mission: Impossible III (In search of a tagline/subtitle still) (2006)
It is, as expected, more of the same, though the cliches are really piling up now: the mole, the agent forced out of retirement back into the field, the love interest who's captured by the bad guy and must be rescued - though in effect she more or less takes over the rescue herself, and is surprisingly proficient with a gun after a few seconds of tuition! The car chases, the explosions, the masks, the parachutes and the flying ziplines or whatever the hell they are: you get the feeling you've seen it all before, and even the maguffin is eerily similar to that from the second movie. In fact, they don't even tell you what it is! Supposedly that's for the next movie, or the one after that.
Seems like the public appetite for brainless thrillers is inexhaustible, and we'll be seeing sequels to this in our old age. Can't say I'm gagging to see the next one, but if they show it I might watch it. Won't kill me if I don't though. Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to continue watching MI movies until your brain has completely turned to mush. Honestly, I have The Godfather taped too, and although I've seen this already, I'm more looking forward to it than I was to any of these. Cruise on, Tom!
Oh, and has anyone noticed the Star Trek connection? Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore wrote the script for the second movie, now we have JJ Abrams directing this? Spooky.
The Mission Impossibles probably got better as it went 🤔 I saw the latest as it was filmed partly in Norway. I think the previous one was too. Ethan Hunt isn't in Norway. Rather it was said to be Austria in the latest, I believe.
As you say, its just cliches and action farce and doesn't really leave a strong impression, at least not on me.
Remember you can also dip into Tom Cruise's two (?) Jack Reacher movies for even more of the same 🙂
Thanks, it's not for me. Like I say, disengaging brain for two hours or so, they can be enjoyable. But I prefer something that makes me think, that has good writing (and if it has explosions and car chases, so much the better though not exactly vital). I remember The Good Shepherd being one of this genre (to be kind) I was impressed with, as was, suprisingly if I remember, White House Down, but spy movies in general can be very boring and dense. You can keep your Bournes, your Bonds and definitely your Hunts.
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Brute Force (1947)
:3stars:
B&W action flick about a group of inmates serving time in prison for various offenses. The prison is a powder keg of pent-up frustration and anger which is only exacerbated by the actions of the manipulative and sadistic head of the prison guards. Much of the action seems like it came from a pulp fiction novel or a crime comic but even though it's a bit unbelievable it's still an entertaining movie.
We saw Dream Scenario a while ago 🙂
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Nicholas Cage plays an Evolutionary biologist with a somewhat boring personality (very unusual in biologists). For some reason, he starts showing up in people's dreams and this turns him into a viral sensation.
He tries to take advantage of the opportunities that comes his way, but things take a bit of a left turn.
It was a fun movie 🙂 the first half is a little stronger than the last half, but I enjoyed all of it.
Also, I believe the writer/director is some Norwegian bloke. Nice!
:3.5stars:
Only thing I really didn't like was Nicholas Cage's hair. I wish I could reach inside the movie screen with my trimmer and cut it off.
Quote from: Shhon on Aug 31, 2024, 03:16 PMI dont watch many movies but this is one I want to watch
I remember when it released I posted the trailer to BX first and everyone then assumed I was going to watch it but I never did
I have some of those myself with The Green Knight (2021) possibly at the top of my list.
Dream Scenario's current IMDb score of 6.9 seems about right. The story has some untapped potential, but I still enjoyed what it delivered 🙂
Labor Day weekend was my weekend where I just happened to end up watching weird movies.
Kinds of Kindness
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.0d517e8cd170752ce532ee54de8d6aa6?rik=1RtTwYE977ctkg&riu=http%3a%2f%2fwww.impawards.com%2f2024%2fposters%2fkinds_of_kindness_ver10.jpg&ehk=qGbzCE%2flttHT%2fUvsie3yR73%2bBZygaYnESlbn%2bEo%2b270%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0)
I went into this completely blind outside of the teaser trailer maybe but it didn't show much or give you much of anything related to what this movie is about. It ends up revolving around 3 different stories that are extremely loosely related. Each story is played by the same cast they are just given different characters. I ended up watching it twice because I didn't understand what was going on and thought a second watch would clear things up. idk I think
@Guybrush will enjoy this. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons is in it. Along with Willem DaFoe.
:3stars:
The Watchers
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/The_Watchers_film_poster.jpg)
Another movie that I ended up watching twice but mainly because I was distracted and on my phone for most of the movie so I missed key details. I'm not sure how well it was received in theaters but it was great to me. It gives a spin to some mythical creatures is all I will say. This movie is hard to talk about without revealing the great parts of it. Just watch it.
:4stars:
Amélie
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.te8PSgOgePmAN5pglAIRzAHaLH?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain)
This is a classic to some folks but I have never seen it. I know someone that based their whole personality off of the main character in this movie. It was interesting and kept my attention. I don't mind the fact that I had to read subtitles because the movie is in French.
:5stars:
Yesterday I went to see The Front Room at my local theater because it was closing down after 36 years. The owner of the building sold the property off to a storage facility that wants to be built in its place which is sad. This theater managed to survive Covid 19 by switching to a drive in theater model and they were selling movie theater popcorn like randomly throughout the week. The community came around to support during the hard times. It was hard on the second theater that didn't change their model they had to shut down. Now the closest movie theater is 25 mins drive away. There are three different theaters in each direction that are 25 to 30 mins drive away. It was sad ordering my last ticket from them even though I stopped going to the local theater after I got the Regal unlimited pass. I went for nostalgia because all during high school I would hit up that theater. So many good memories.
Anyways The Front Room, I went into it completely blind. All I knew was that Brandy was in it based off of the movie poster. I didn't see a trailer for it and thank goodness. After I saw the movie and came home. I watched the trailer and wtf through the whole thing. They gave away some key points to the movie in the trailer alone. I didn't even realize this was a A24 movie. It was giving Mother! vibes but something was messing/not adding up and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It's definitely a slow burn movie so if you hate those types you won't like this. I think the graphic use of bodily fluids hit too close to home for me since I was in a similar situation irl just last year.
The basic jist of the plot is that an interracial couple that has a baby on the way ends up taking in the husband's step mother and chaos ensues. Come to find out the mother is heavily religious but also has ties to the KKK. That's all I'm gonna say.
:2stars:
Quote from: DJChameleon on Sep 17, 2024, 02:07 AMIt's definitely a slow burn movie so if you hate those types you won't like this. I think the graphic use of bodily fluids hit too close to home for me since I was in a similar situation irl just last year.
The basic jist of the plot is that an interracial couple that has a baby on the way ends up taking in the husband's step mother and chaos ensues. Come to find out the mother is heavily religious but also has ties to the KKK. That's all I'm gonna say.
:2stars:
It doesn't sound likely to win any awards, but it still sounds like a fun time.
For myself, I saw this:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMDU0NjcwOGQtNjNjOS00NzQ3LWIwM2YtYWVmODZjMzQzN2ExXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg)
It was okay-ish entertainment. It definitely feels like its trying to pick out the best bits from the first two movies and mash it together. I don't think it really gels and it didn't engage me that much. Sometimes I think modern movie productions have become too good in the sense that there's not a wasted minute, every camera angle and picture is well crafted, stuff happens all the time. It just doesn't resemble real life which is messy and sometimes boring. I feel like movies in the past were sometimes better at depicting this, like the banter in Alien or the breakfast scenes in movies like Poltergeist or ET.
Stuff about the xenomorphs
Anyways, something that annoys me about it is the xenomorph life cycle. In this movie, spider insects human with egg which hatches baby xenomorphs which grows to adult. I mean, the whole life cycle doesn't make sense as there seems to be no point to the Spider stage. Why have a stage that is asexual, relatively vulnerable and reliable on finding a compatible host. Wouldn't the aliens be more deadly and better adapted if they skipped the spider stage and went directly to xenomorph?
Whatever. In this movie, all these stages can be completed in a matter of hours or even minutes. Yes, a spider lays an egg and within hours, that has become a grown ass xenomorph. They don't seem to need nutrition or anything much for this to miraculously happen and the spider stage seems even more pointless.
But set design was good and I was okay entertained.
:3stars:
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
(https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2024/07/19/beetlejuice-beetlejuice-ver11-xlg-1721400662736.jpg)
I didn't expect that much and actually found it to be slightly better than I feared. Monica Belluci looks great, Catherine O'Hara is so funny and Michael Keaton is still good. Ortega does a more run of the mill, but decent performance as Lydia Deet's daughter while Winona Ryder was strangely wooden this time around. Strangely because she showed she could act well in Stranger Things, but doesn't quite convince me here.
Anyways, it's not a big problem in a comedy. The movie is never hilarious, but it did elicit some chuckles from me and my buddy. Oh, and Danny Devito kinda plays Frank from Always Sunny, only deader.
:3.5stars:
Recently we saw The Old Dark House from 1932.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/The_Old_Dark_House_%281932_ad_sheet%29.jpg)
It's a dark and very rainy night. A young couple and their friend are forced to give up on their car ride through the Welsh countryside to seek refuge from the sudden storm at a mansion; a mansion lived in by two or more strange siblings who has Boris Karloff as their butler. And he has a drinking problem.
The story isn't great, but the movie is still quite entertaining and also funny. It's got lots of great banter and a good dose of weird. I read that it was an influence on Rocky Horror Picture Show. I can see that.. at least the start is pretty much the same.
It's somewhere between old horror and comedy, though I felt it leans more heavily into comedy. See it if you like old, spooky (not really) movies.
:3.5stars:
Classic horror comedy reminiscent of The Trouble with Harry and Arsenic and Old Lace? I thoroughly enjoyed both of those.
Quote from: innerspaceboy on Sep 18, 2024, 11:53 PMClassic horror comedy reminiscent of The Trouble with Harry and Arsenic and Old Lace? I thoroughly enjoyed both of those.
Possibly, though it's hard for me to say as I haven't seen those 🙂 The humour is accessible and a little goofy at times and generally sticks to the dialogue. It's not slapstick.
Me and my wife also saw this:
Full Circle (also known as The Haunting of Julia) from 1977(https://shop-cdn.bfi.org.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/3e114a9bcdb9ddec78ab9c1de50916ee/f/l/flipside_-_full_circle_4k_uhd_clean.jpg)
It's based on the book Julia by Peter Straub and is more or less a classic ghost story. It has a lot in common with The Changeling released a few years later, though it's not quite as creepy or well known.
I don't wanna spoil anything, but it features Mia Farrow in the lead who is trying, in the best tradition of the genre, to figure out who or what it is that haunts her. The movie has violence and moments of horror, but most of that is kept just off-screen or at least not overt. It seems carefully made.
This movie caused me some slight childhood trauma as I saw the first few minutes of it on telly in my childhood. Needless to say, it didn't seem traumatic today, but it is effective.
I also give this one:
:3.5stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Sep 17, 2024, 11:41 PMBeetlejuice Beetlejuice
(https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2024/07/19/beetlejuice-beetlejuice-ver11-xlg-1721400662736.jpg)
I didn't expect that much and actually found it to be slightly better than I feared. Monica Belluci looks great, Catherine O'Hara is so funny and Michael Keaton is still good. Ortega does a more run of the mill, but decent performance as Lydia Deet's daughter while Winona Ryder was strangely wooden this time around. Strangely because she showed she could act well in Stranger Things, but doesn't quite convince me here.
Anyways, it's not a big problem in a comedy. The movie is never hilarious, but it did elicit some chuckles from me and my buddy. Oh, and Danny Devito kinda plays Frank from Always Sunny, only deader.
:3.5stars:
I saw this two weeks ago and I enjoyed it. It was a bit strange having two antagonists but it ended up working out.
I also saw Romulus and loved it so much. Some people complained about the characters not having much depth but I'm like come on they are alien fodder who cares if they have depth or not. Only the main two needed depth which they did and had good back story. I disagree with your analysis of how the alien evolves. It has always been that way and necessary.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Sep 20, 2024, 04:37 AMI disagree with your analysis of how the alien evolves. It has always been that way and necessary.
It's always been stupid, yes. I get the purist argument that it should stay as stupid as it's always been, but for myself, it'll always be a jarring part of that franchise.
Festen (The Celebration)
Reminded me of you lot
Wow are you calling us incestuous :laughing:
Quote from: Marie Monday on Sep 21, 2024, 03:58 PMWow are you calling us incestuous :laughing:
LMAO nahh just drama :laughing:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1a/Cassandra_Crossing.jpg)
The Cassandra Crossing (1976)
For the time, this is a pretty dark action movie. It sort of has everything, from stars of today (at the time) such as Richard Harris and Martin Sheen and yesterday in Sophia Loren and Ava Gardner, to high-speed action, a government conspiracy, a deadly virus and an explosive ending. I saw it years and years ago and only remember the ending, but I rewatched it last night and while it's not a classic, for the time it's pretty good and the themes it explores are still relevant today. In fact, replace the made-up virus they have in the movie with Covid and it works. Harris in his traditional turtleneck sweater, submachinegun over his shoulder, is out to save the day, and it's interesting to see Sheen with long hair playing a bad guy.
Burt Lancaster as the colonel tasked with, um, stopping the train plays his role in a brilliantly understated way, and yeah, OJ Simpson is okay in it too. There's a helicopter chase scene in it that one of the Mission: Impossible movies must have just lifted almost right out of this movie, and it's a timely reminder - for the era of Watergate and Vietnam - never to trust your government. Damned good effects too. Worth a watch if you like rollercoaster thrillers mixed with conspiracy theory. There's a particularly poignant scene in the movie where a Jewish man who has obviously been in the camps sees the train being boarded up (for their safety - right - as a sort of mobile quarantine) and is reminded sharply of the cattle trucks which took him and his family to the concentration camps during the war.
:4stars:
Ferris Bueller's Day Off - childish, dated, and mean-spirited. Even worse than Fast Times; some of those classic old teen films are really just nostalgia traps
Quote from: Marie Monday on Sep 26, 2024, 06:58 PMFerris Bueller's Day Off - childish, dated, and mean-spirited. Even worse than Fast Times; some of those classic old teen films are really just nostalgia traps
Yeah I had that experience when I rewatched Weird Science.
They drop certain insults so casually but yeah it was a different time. Retarded and F****t is what I'm talking about.
(https://i.postimg.cc/5NW5j5sd/Shed-No-Tears-1948.jpg)
Shed no Tears (1948)
:3stars:
B&W crime drama about a life insurance fraud scheme between a married couple (an older man and a much younger woman), which goes awry under a cloud of suspicion over the widow while she's planning on taking all of the insurance money and running away with her young lover.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Sep 26, 2024, 11:53 PMYeah I had that experience when I rewatched Weird Science.
They drop certain insults so casually but yeah it was a different time. Retarded and F****t is what I'm talking about.
yeah but policitally incorrect or old-fashioned bigoted stuff wasn't even what bothered me most here. The worst thing is how the film presents you with a whole bunch of characters who are just pathetic, nothing more, and then asks the audience to laugh at their expense. That's its main idea of 'entertainment'; it's miserable to sit through (I did though - the desperation of airplane boredom)
Quote from: DJChameleon on Sep 20, 2024, 04:37 AMI saw this two weeks ago and I enjoyed it. It was a bit strange having two antagonists but it ended up working out.
I also saw Romulus and loved it so much. Some people complained about the characters not having much depth but I'm like come on they are alien fodder who cares if they have depth or not. Only the main two needed depth which they did and had good back story. I disagree with your analysis of how the alien evolves. It has always been that way and necessary.
To add a bit to the conversation here, I saw both Alien: Romulus and the Beetlejuice sequel in theaters recently, and I enjoyed both but thought Alien was much better.
Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice) has a villain problem. Delores (Monica Belucci) is set up at the beginning to be what seems to be the primary antagonist of the film and then....the film does basically nothing with her. Not to spoil too much, but the ending scene...I thought we'd get something, anything more than what we got, but nope. I love Willem DaFoe as much as the next guy, but his character felt completely pointless in the story as well. Cut both of those characters out and give the other characters more screentime imo and we'd be better off. The love story between Ortega's character and the boy felt a little forced to me too. She runs into his fence and apologizes, then they both find out they read Dostoevsky and listen to music and they fall in love? I mean, they're supposed to be teenagers I guess, but it didn't feel completely natural (hint hint: I guess there's a reason it didn't feel "natural").
Overall, the film just had too much going on. It didn't feel focused like the first film did. All that being said, it was "fun". So I'll give it that. I think a few years from now though, none of us will remember the major story beats of the film.
Alien, despite some of the stated flaws, was also a blast. It can be nitpicked for sure, but I was completely engaged and entertained throughout the film. A return to form, none of this engineers shit, just give me the Xenomorph and some grisly and suspenseful chase and death scenes and I'm happy. I'd switch Guy's ratings of these two movies around honestly. The ending of Romulus was just great...what a nasty motherfucker that thing was, my goodness. :laughing:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d3/BreachPoster.jpg)
Breach (2007)
I don't know what it is with me. I didn't love but gave credit to The Cassandra Crossing as a good thriller, and literally every critic panned it, some calling it something like the worst movie ever, which I think is unfair. Having watched this, I thought at the end "meh" and here every single critic loves it, some even putting it as film of the year! GMDNTA obviously, at least mine doesn't. But I found this pedestrian and boring. I know it's based on reality, but I've watched films like that before and they've managed to make them interesting. This I expected a twist at the end (forgot it was a true story, to be honest) but no, nothing happened. For me, it just did not fulfill its potential and I was left with a feeling of "so what?" after the credits rolled.
:3stars:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Mary_Queen_of_Scots.png)
Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
Sure, we all know the story and in fact I only recently watched a documentary about her, but it never ceases to be an interesting one. Talk about a bunch of men using a woman - well, two women really; Elizabeth didn't want to have her executed but had no choice - to get their own way. Quite misogynistic in a lot of ways, but them was the times. Saoirse Ronan is great in the title role, Margot Robbie didn't really convince me as Elizabeth, but David Tennant gave a towering performance as John Knox. Always good to see Martin Compston too. I'd say recommended, though don't really expect anything you don't already know. Great score too.
:3.5stars:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/41/MitchellsMachinesPoster.jpg)
The Mitchells vs the Machines (2021)
I loved this. Different, quirky, fun and funny, with a lot of family-driven pathos too. A dysfunctional family have to save the world when mobile phones become robots and, of course, go rogue and take over the world. Well-written, at times side-splittingly funny with some genuine emotion and a well-timed dig at the "Instagram generation". Best line: "Maybe collecting people's personal data and sending it to a hyper-intelligent AI as part of an unauthorised and unregulated tech monopoly was a BAD idea?" Superb. Silly to the max, but highly enjoyable. And for once, the kids aren't annoying. Oh, another great line: Father (looking up at huge computer structure) "My God! It's like the cover of a Journey album!" Kid: "What's an album?" :laughing:
:4.5stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/cJ0HNpFR/Blonde-Ice-1948.jpg)
Blonde Ice (1948)
:3stars:
Another crime drama from 1948. This one is about an amoral society columnist with a desire for wealth & power, with no limits to what she will do to fulfill her desires.
I saw The Substance with a couple of mates today at the cinema 🙂
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZjdlMjAxMGEtZjkzNy00NzI3LTllOWUtMmZkY2FjMjlmZDhlXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UX480_.jpg)
I went in blind having read no review or watched a single trailer. I somehow knew it was body horror starring Demi Moore and that the imdb rating was unusually good.
Such a fun movie! It was an absolute blast. The few characters that were in it were fun, especially Dennis Quaid as the sleaziest network exec. It was nice seeing Demi Moore again and Margaret Qualley was indeed a treat for the eyes.
The stakes were high. The comedy was fun and the gross out moments were gross.
Best of all, the movie just keeps ramping up for a completely insane finale that took all of us by surprise - and in a good way. It's been a while since I laughed this much in the cinema.
Some rando was too grossed out and left, but most seemed to like it 👍
Go watch it!
:4stars:
Tonight I attended a screening of
Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism's Unholy War on Democracy (2024).
From the official website:
QuoteBAD FAITH reveals how Christian Nationalist leaders have spread fear and anger for decades, distorting political issues into Biblical battles between good and evil. Financed through the secretive Council for National Policy, Christian Nationalists have succeeded in taking over the Republican Party, turning it into a powerful weapon to demolish democracy from within. Discover the origins of this organized grasp for power and the grassroots coalition of secular and interfaith leaders bravely confronting the unholy forces threatening democracy.
Critics have summed it up best, saying:
BAD FAITH is one of the ten best movies of 2024.—VARIETY
A GREAT AND POWERFUL AND TIMELY FILM, filled with the dread this moment engenders; the cynical misuse of religion to advance aims diametrically the opposite of Christianity's mission. — Ken Burns
BAD FAITH IS THE SCARIEST MOVIE I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME — Owen Gleiberman, Variety
BAD FAITH FEELS LIKE A TERRIFYING POLITICAL THRILLER — Desert Sun
TRUST ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: IT IS A MUST-SEE AND IT WILL TERRIFY YOU — Steve SchmidtTrailer:
Been meaning to watch this for years and with it being shown on the BBC this week (they picked the right time to scare people :laughing:), I thought it would be a good time.
Threads.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/35/Threadsmoviecover.jpg)
It managed to shock me in places.
I really enjoyed it.
5/5 from me.
Nice one,
@jimmy jazz 🙂 I loved Threads.
We saw this tonight:
Poltergeist II from 1986(https://musicart.xboxlive.com/7/565e1100-0000-0000-0000-000000000002/504/image.jpg?w=1920&h=1080)
It has a score below 6 on IMDb, so I've just assumed it was pure trash, but a while ago I found out its reputation is better than its score would suggest and a not insignificant portion of Poltergeist fans prefer it to the original.
I still think the original was better, but this positively surprised me still. It still feels a bit like a Disney take on a horror movie, but I do feel like it's scarier in parts. The character of the villainous Kane, while in his human shape and played by Julian Beck, is probably creepier than anything in the first movie.
I also like that it's about this family where they love eachother and try to protect one another. It gives the movie a nice emotional core and horror movies work better when there's a contrast to the dark and scary, like how Braindead is a love story between Lionel and Paquita.
The movie is definitely flawed in places, like it goes completely Lovecraft with monster designs for some reason, but I don't really mind it because it's still entertaining. Bring on the schlock.
Best scene for me, I think, was possessed dad.
:3.5stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/d1vxv5v1/Johhny-Stool-Pigeon-1949.jpg)
Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949)
:3stars:
B&W film noir flick about a narcotics detective going undercover to infiltrate a heroin smuggling operation. He convinces a prison inmate, who he helped convict, to join him to help him get inside the gang. Along the way, a woman joins them at the insistence of the convict, and various complications arise.
Also saw this:
Poltergeist 3 from 1988
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZGVkNzI1NjAtMjQyNS00Y2QxLWI1NjItNTAwZTk5MGU5M2M4XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg)
I'll admit the reason I saw it is it autoplayed after Poltergeist 2 and I was like alright, let's take a gander.
It's definitely the weaker of the three, but I still had fun watching it. There's a lot of mirrors in the movie and some clever special fx. It does become very predictable, but then again I don't expect to be scared, only mildly entertained.
Child actor Heather O'Rourke is back as psychic child Carol Anne, this time visiting her aunt and uncle who lives in what looks to me like a skyscraper or very tall high-rise. With her, the old man ghost Kane also comes visiting, yay. Also Tangina, the heroic medium from the previous two movies. The guy who played Kane previously sadly died. The rubber prosthetics filled character they replaced him with has none of the previous actor's presence or creepiness. Ah well.
What follows is a bit of a farce with lots of randomness, fun practical effects and the name Carol Anne being loudly shouted roughly 300 times. Lots of fake snow and fog/smoke machines. No blood, though. The dead in Poltergeist are always kinda dried up, the old raisins.
The movie has a glaring plot hole in that we see two important characters being replaced by evil versions, but the makers of the movie never address this again and seem to forget it. It's on the level of American Horror story (where similar things happen repeatedly). It seems this was due to the extremely sad death of Heather O'Rourke during the production which created a need to redo the ending. So tragic.
Anyways, I enjoyed the schlock and seeing Lara Flynn Boyle in her first big role, so I feel generous.
:3stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/D0nGJR5T/Vice-Squad-1953.jpg)
Vice Squad (1953)
:3.5stars:
B&W crime film about the hunt for a cop killer which leads to information about an upcoming bank heist and the gang behind it. Various moments of comic relief are sprinkled throughout the film despite the underlying theme of violence.
(https://i.postimg.cc/R0ZXLppf/Velvet-Smooth-1976.jpg)
Velvet Smooth (1976)
:1.5stars:
Crime flick about a detective agency comprised of 3 women, hired by the head of a criminal gang to find out who's behind a series of attacks and robberies targeting his organization. Sort of a ripoff of a Pam Grier flick combined with 'Charlies Angels.' Lousy script, lousy acting, mediocre (at best) directing, and ridiculously cartoonish fight scenes comprised of the type of kung fu fighting which was popular in a lot of action movies at that time. Disappointing to say the least. The poster is by far the best thing about this movie.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Oct 12, 2024, 03:52 PMBeen meaning to watch this for years and with it being shown on the BBC this week (they picked the right time to scare people :laughing:), I thought it would be a good time.
Threads.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/35/Threadsmoviecover.jpg)
It managed to shock me in places.
I really enjoyed it.
5/5 from me.
Freaky! I almost missed it too, just checking the EPG night before and I saw it. Couldn't believe it. I watched it when it was originally released (Channel 4 I think) and it shocked the hell out of me. The two burning images I had from the first time I watched it were of course the mushroom cloud over Sheffield (though I remembered it wrong; thought yer man was looking at it over his shoulder as he ran, when in fact he was under the van with the other fella) and the end scene. Terrifying. And all true. Best real-life, facts-based apocalyptic scenario film ever made. I read that when it was finished, the crew didn't even celebrate; most of them couldn't sleep for weeks after. Successful, but terrifyingly so. Fair play to them for showing it again on its 40-year anniversary. As relevant now as it was then, sadly.
:5stars:
Other movies I watched:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1c/Godfather_ver1.jpg)
The Godfather (1972)What can I say that hasn't already been said? Well, maybe this:
Took me a long time to watch this, and of course I was glad I did. No point in going into a long review: if you've seen it, you know, and if you haven't, then make it your next urgent piece of business to do so. Could have watched another three hours of it, is the finest compliment I can pay. Changed the way we think about both gangsters and the Mafia, and Italians in general. Maybe an over-romanticised view of all three, but that's what we got now. Movie history, a true classic.
:5stars: (Well, what else did you expect?)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/03/Godfather_part_ii.jpg)
The Godfather Part II (1974)Perhaps the most amazing thing about the sequel is that they almost made it better than the original. Almost, not quite. The scenes of Michael's taking over of the family on the death of his father intercut with the young Vito's rise through the Mafia in New York work perfectly, and the eventual breakdown Michael's marriage as he realises he can't serve two masters is tragic but entirely realistic. Plus you get Pacino AND De Niro! What's not to like?
:5stars:
(I didn't bother with the third part. Saw it once, and very much regretted it. Like, I think, most people who watched it. Sometimes one sequel is enough, capische?)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7b/Margrete_den_forste.jpg)
Margrete, Queen of the North (Margrete den Første) (2021) Kind of a film-long episode of
Vikings, I felt. A lot of
Game of Thrones palace intrigue, jockeying for position, betrayal and treachery, and a lot of guys running around with big axes and swords, but ultimately I found it slow and dreary, a little confusing and really probably only of interest to those who have a genuine need to know about Scandinavian history. Which I do, but I still found it boring. Expected more. Shock ending, admittedly. Almost woke me up. Also in Danish, so if your attention span isn't great you're not going to want to be reading subtitles as you resist falling asleep. And yes, you guessed it, 93% approval on Rotten Tomatoes.
:3stars:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/The_Invisible_Woman_poster.jpg)
The Invisible Woman (2013)Not, as you might think, another superhero movie, but the tale of the woman Charles Dickens had an affair with, but kept hidden away as a dirty secret. It takes place after the great author has died and evokes her memories of the time she spent with him. Now she's trying to come to terms with his legacy, while also continuing to keep their relationship from public knowledge. Again, I must admit I started with high hopes but was quickly bored, and found my attention wandering. The critics loved it, of course.
:3stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/XYdjQj2Z/The-Frogmen-1951.jpg)
The Frogmen (1951)
:3stars:
Action/war film about a commanding officer assigned to replace the well-liked commanding officer of a Navy underwater demolition team, who died in combat. The new commander starts out with a strict no-nonsense approach which the men under his command see as being too rigid and impersonal. He eventually relaxes his demeanor and proves himself to be a selfless leader, earning the respect of the rest of his men and the crew aboard the ship they are assigned to.
(https://imusic.b-cdn.net/images/item/original/441/5705535069441.jpg?paul-mescal-2023-aftersun-dvd&class=scaled&v=1682873074)
While watching the film I thought it was a nice story, set in the late-90s, about a father (Calum) and daughter (Sophie) enjoying some time with each other on a holiday in Turkey. It was a good opportunity for her to know her father more, assuming that her parents were separated. The acting is excellent and and the film is shot really well.
But it's the ending which is really stuck in my head...
Spoiler
It wasn't until after the film had ended that I realised what it all meant. The final shots of adult Sophie re-watching the recordings she made from that holiday strongly suggest that her dad is no longer alive. While it's never directly addressed in the film, it's likely that her dad took his own life shortly after their holiday in Turkey. There are hints throughout the film that her dad was suffering from depression, combined with the overall nostalgic tone of the film. The film is an account of their last time together, and when she said goodbye to him at the airport, it was the last time she ever saw him.
Saw When Evil Lurks which I think was from Argentina.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BY2UxZWExMTYtMzIzYy00NGUxLTk4Y2QtNTUxNWEyNWYxMWYzXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg)
It made a small splash when it came out last year, so it's been on my to-do list for a little while.
In a world where possessions are a thing, the government seems to have had some system of "cleaners" in place, but this service has eroded over time. This bit of information isn't given to the viewer explicitly, but can be inferred.
Two brothers investigate a murder and end up finding a possessed person. To save their community and loved ones, they try to deal with the situation, but basically end up making everything worse.
I wasn't really that fond of the story or the setting or the somewhat inflated melodrama. Also, I think the information about how evil kinda works and the setting could have been given just a little more clearly. I wasn't quite sure what was going on at times. And there was a lot of shouting.
For positives, there was some excitement and grisly scenes, particularly with some violence against children. It does feel like a genuine attempt at making something where both the dramatic parts and horror parts both work.
I like the ambition, but it wasn't quite for me so the spooky and violent scenes didn't feel quite as impactful to me as they seem to have been for some other reviewers.
:3stars:
Halloween fodder for me, but I can see how many would probably rank this Higher.
Quote from: Guybrush on Nov 03, 2024, 01:51 AMSaw When Evil Lurks which I think was from Argentina.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BY2UxZWExMTYtMzIzYy00NGUxLTk4Y2QtNTUxNWEyNWYxMWYzXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg)
It made a small splash when it came out last year, so it's been on my to-do list for a little while.
In a world where possessions are a thing, the government seems to have had some system of "cleaners" in place, but this service has eroded over time. This bit of information isn't given to the viewer explicitly, but can be inferred.
Two brothers investigate a murder and end up finding a possessed person. To save their community and loved ones, they try to deal with the situation, but basically end up making everything worse.
I wasn't really that fond of the story or the setting or the somewhat inflated melodrama. Also, I think the information about how evil kinda works and the setting could have been given just a little more clearly. I wasn't quite sure what was going on at times. And there was a lot of shouting.
For positives, there was some excitement and grisly scenes, particularly with some violence against children. It does feel like a genuine attempt at making something where both the dramatic parts and horror parts both work.
I like the ambition, but it wasn't quite for me so the spooky and violent scenes didn't feel quite as impactful to me as they seem to have been for some other reviewers.
:3stars:
Halloween fodder for me, but I can see how many would probably rank this Higher.
Did you ever see Demián Rugna's earlier film
Terrified (Aterrados)? Compared to
When Evil Lurks, I'd say the highs are higher, but the lows are also lower. Definitely some great scenes in the movie though.
I will say, both films struggle a bit in terms of plot, but that can be excusable sometimes for horror films.
Quote from: SGR on Nov 03, 2024, 02:57 AMDid you ever see Demián Rugna's earlier film Terrified (Aterrados)? Compared to When Evil Lurks, I'd say the highs are higher, but the lows are also lower. Definitely some great scenes in the movie though.
I will say, both films struggle a bit in terms of plot, but that can be excusable sometimes for horror films.
I haven't seen it, but I have read that some liked it and it was part what helped generate the buzz for Lurks..
If dramatic elements don't work in horror movies, then I think I prefer it if the movies are funny 🙂 not necessarily overt or intentional. The Poltergeist series mentioned above is a good example. Like when the graves start shooting up from the ground in the first and she falls into the pool with the dead bodies.. That's hilarious 😄
Watched Godfather 1.
It was OK.
Overrated imo.
Goodfellas is the much better film.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Dec 07, 2024, 02:07 AMWatched Godfather 1.
It was OK.
Overrated imo.
Goodfellas is the much better film.
(https://images.vexels.com/content/267887/preview/you-re-dead-to-me-simple-halloween-quote-badge-6a9635.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/WK78GMp.gif)
The Godfather has amazing cinematography, like that film does not look like it was made in the early 70s.
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Dec 07, 2024, 05:03 AMThe Godfather has amazing cinematography, like that film does not look like it was made in the early 70s.
I noticed that. True, but, if the plot is boring then it doesn't matter how shiny and new it is imo.
What do you think of Goodfellas?
I don't know how you can say it's a boring plot. It set the mould for every gangster film to follow, including Goodfellas, which is a fantastic movie, but chances are without The Godfather it would never have been made. Gangster movies were seen as a relic of the 1930s and 1940s and Hollywood was moving on. The Godfather brought crime and the Mafia into the mainstream, and opened or re-opened up a whole new genre of movies.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/68/Seven_%28movie%29_poster.jpg)
Se7en (1995)For years I wouldn't watch this movie, as it seemed too gory for my tastes. Since it was on the box last night I decided to go for it, and was surprised at how easily I was able to watch it. There was gore and so forth but I found it was handled decently well, not shoved in your face with sharp orchestral hits or doomy bass piano notes (in fact, not much music at all in the film). Overall, I enjoyed it but I did not like the ending. I've read all about how it revitalised the crime/serial killer genre, both in movie and TV, but to me it was a lazy ending. I expected something else to happen: maybe
Spoiler
Somerset could have been forced to shoot Mills to prevent him killing Doe, maybe both would have died and Doe sat there grinning, after having turned the two allies against each other
, I don't know, something other than what happened.
I can see how shows like
True Detective and
The Wire got their inspiration from the movie, but I was disappointed in the ending. And what is it with everyone praising Morgan Freeman's role? All he did was what he always does, look enigmatic, tired, disillusioned and speak mostly in a bored monotone. As Karen used to say, "and Morgan Freeman as Morgan Freeman."
In the end, I would have to say, did not live up to its promise and generally speaking was not worth waiting for.
And setting-wise, totally ripped off
Blade Runner.:3stars:
Quote from: Trollheart on Dec 07, 2024, 05:10 PMI don't know how you can say it's a boring plot. It set the mould for every gangster film to follow, including Goodfellas, which is a fantastic movie, but chances are without The Godfather it would never have been made. Gangster movies were seen as a relic of the 1930s and 1940s and Hollywood was moving on. The Godfather brought crime and the Mafia into the mainstream, and opened or re-opened up a whole new genre of movies.
Not denying that but it doesn't really matter.
When I watch a film I don't really care what came before it in that respect. There are probably films you like that wouldn't exist were it not for some black and white film from the 1920s or whatever. It doesn't mean the earlier film is more enjoyable.
I'm going to watch Godfather 2 soon. Hopefully that is better.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Dec 07, 2024, 05:05 AMI noticed that. True, but, if the plot is boring then it doesn't matter how shiny and new it is imo.
What do you think of Goodfellas?
I've actually never seen it. The extent of my knowledge of it is from the Goodfeathers Animaniacs sketches lol.
(https://i.postimg.cc/htFbfdZq/Fiend-of-Dope-Island-1961.png)
Fiend of Dope Island (1961)
:2.5stars:
B-movie action/adventure flick about a maniacal crime boss who smuggles guns and marijuana from a small Caribbean island and rules over his underlings and the locals with a sadistic iron fist. A few entertaining moments here and there but rather disappointing overall. A title like 'Fiend of Dope Island' could've been wildly entertaining in the right hands but, unfortunately, it was not to be.
For my money, I prefer
Goodfellas to
The Godfather. Throughout the runtime, I just find it to be a more engaging and rewatchable movie. I also think
Goodfellas has more moments of levity and humor - in other words, it's just more fun. No disrespect to
The Godfather though, which is obviously an excellent and highly influential film.
Its a long ass time since I saw either, but I think I enjoy The Godfather more than Goodfellas.. And maybe I enjoyed Casino more than either. The Departed for sure, although the style is a bit different.
Last movie I saw was:
Under the Shadow from 2016
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjIxNjA1MDAzMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTk4NTQ2NTE@._V1_.jpg)
It has a little bit of a reputation and so has been on my radar for years and years. We finally got to it.
Without giving away too much, it is an Iranian haunted house movie set against the backdrop of the Iran-Iraq war close to 1980. A young woman whose ambitions of becoming a doctor was crushed by the Iranian revolution is now a mother and increasingly disillusioned housewife. Her husband gets drafted and people start to leave Tehran due to daily Iraq missile strikes on the city. Yet, she decides to stay behind in her flat with her daughter and soon has more than just bombs to contend with.
I found a couple of scenes in this movie to be genuinely creepy and that's quite rare for me. The reason is creepiness mixed with the high stakes from having a child in the mix. It's not particularly original, but an unfamiliar setting helps make the movie feel somewhat fresh still.
The acting is good enough to draw you in and the movie has got some layers of meaning for those who like to ponder a bit after viewing.
I'd recommend it to those who like haunted house movies that rely more on psychological horror than violence. I don't think there's even a drop of blood here, but there's some great tension. Not Hereditary levels of tension, but still good.
:3.5stars:
Quote from: Guybrush on Dec 09, 2024, 07:56 PM(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjIxNjA1MDAzMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTk4NTQ2NTE@._V1_.jpg)
That poster reminds me of this album cover...
(https://i.postimg.cc/mrmZH94r/X.jpg)
I've just returned from the local indie theatre participating in the worldwide one night only screening of Daft Punk's 2003 epic anime musical science fiction film, Interstella 5555 featuring all the music from their Discovery LP. Anyone who knew me in college knows I adored the album and film, (and I still have my Daft Club membership card!)
At the show I didn't pass up the opportunity to pick up the promo poster for the one-night event. And as an insane bonus, when I got it home I found it measured 12x18 - the exact size of the lone spare duplicate frame I had laying around! So in minutes at no cost I had it hanging proudly in my home!
This will be a treasured memory and a fond look back at my early 20s.
(https://i.imgur.com/edZ6NbVl.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/t4vdr7Rj/Devil-Girl-from-Mars-1954.jpg)
Devil Girl from Mars (1954)
:3stars:
B&W British sci-fi flick from the 50's. A spaceship crash-lands in Scotland after colliding with a plane. The sole inhabitant of the spaceship emerges soon afterwards, looking like a cross between a vampire and a dominatrix. The martian visits the inhabitants of a nearby inn and announces that Mars is running out of men capable of procreation, and, as a female Martian, she has come from the planet Mars to look for suitable males to bring back to Mars for breeding.
Ridiculous but entertaining enough to watch to the end. The poster shows 3 spaceships but there's only 1 in the movie, and the robot-creature shown in the poster looks far more menacing and interesting than the one that actually appears in the film. A 3 star movie with a 5 star poster.
Quote from: Trollheart on Dec 08, 2024, 08:03 PM(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/68/Seven_%28movie%29_poster.jpg)
Se7en (1995)
For years I wouldn't watch this movie, as it seemed too gory for my tastes. Since it was on the box last night I decided to go for it, and was surprised at how easily I was able to watch it. There was gore and so forth but I found it was handled decently well, not shoved in your face with sharp orchestral hits or doomy bass piano notes (in fact, not much music at all in the film). Overall, I enjoyed it but I did not like the ending. I've read all about how it revitalised the crime/serial killer genre, both in movie and TV, but to me it was a lazy ending. I expected something else to happen: maybe Spoiler
Somerset could have been forced to shoot Mills to prevent him killing Doe, maybe both would have died and Doe sat there grinning, after having turned the two allies against each other
I can see how shows like True Detective and The Wire got their inspiration from the movie, but I was disappointed in the ending. And what is it with everyone praising Morgan Freeman's role? All he did was what he always does, look enigmatic, tired, disillusioned and speak mostly in a bored monotone. As Karen used to say, "and Morgan Freeman as Morgan Freeman."
In the end, I would have to say, did not live up to its promise and generally speaking was not worth waiting for.
And setting-wise, totally ripped off Blade Runner.
:3stars:
Se7en is a direct inspiration on Saw and also much better than Saw.
We saw this hunk of cheese:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZDg3NDA0YjYtYmU4NS00Mzc2LWExMTItN2UzYmM4MDU1MWJmXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg)
The Pope's Exorcist!
It's like part horror, part buddy action comedy, part cheese-fest. Russel Crowe has a rather limited range of expression, channeling a sort of stoic but still somewhat compassionate tough guy.
The Catholic church obviously plays a role here, being fun and occult. They're on the front lines in the fight against Satan - or at least used to be. Now it seems when they're at war with the literal kings of hell, they send one guy.. but luckily that guy is Russell Crowe, so it works out fine, and he also does stumble across a new sidekick purely by chance.
He has to help a family of mother and two children who is being bothered by a prominent demon, one which I immediately recognized as being voiced by Ralph Ineson. Cool.
I don't think this merits too much analysis. It's stupid, but also kind of fun and the sets actually look good. Dont expect too much and just enjoy. Popcorn is definitely allowed.
Somewhere between :3stars: and :3.5stars:
Recently watched Terrifier 3. Hadn't see the previous films but my mate just decided to buy it and we really enjoyed it. It's plenty gory and the main villain is incredibly well acted.
Quote from: Thelonious Monkey on Dec 16, 2024, 02:44 AMRecently watched Terrifier 3. Hadn't see the previous films but my mate just decided to buy it and we really enjoyed it. It's plenty gory and the main villain is incredibly well acted.
Hey and it's a Christmas movie too, right? I may have to see it myself.
Quote from: Thelonious Monkey on Dec 16, 2024, 02:44 AMRecently watched Terrifier 3. Hadn't see the previous films but my mate just decided to buy it and we really enjoyed it. It's plenty gory and the main villain is incredibly well acted.
I did the same thing but I went to see it in the theater. The first two movies are on Amazon Prime if you want to see them.
Quote from: Guybrush on Dec 16, 2024, 06:32 AMHey and it's a Christmas movie too, right? I may have to see it myself.
Yep it's a Xmas movie.
I went to see Kraven on Friday as it's the last movie in the Sony Spiderverse villian thing they were trying to set up. So they made a villian into an anti hero and gave him like 3 to 4 mini bosses/antagonists to square off against. It was such a mess. I dozed off during it and woke up for the fight scene near the end. I just got up and left as soon as the credits started rolling not caring if they decided to do an after credits scene. I later researched and they didn't, which makes sense.
(https://i.postimg.cc/hP64mqYj/Fog-Island-1945.jpg)
Fog Island (1945)
:2.5stars:
B&W mystery-thriller about a wealthy ex-con living in a mansion with his daughter on a secluded island. While there, he plots revenge on his associates responsible for his imprisonment and the murder of his wife. He sends out invitations to his intended victims, asking them to visit him on his island and enticing them with the prospect of finding a hidden fortune located there.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Mprc66wq/Between-Midnight-and-Dawn-1950.jpg)
Between Midnight and Dawn (1950)
:3.5stars:
B&W crime drama about two Los Angeles prowl car cops working the night shift. They have an encounter with a young local racketeer which becomes more complicated and dangerous as the story unfolds.
Soooo...
@DJChameleon @Lexi Darling has anyone seen Sonic 3 yet?
I saw it last Monday with my bro, but don't wanna spoil anything :laughing:
Yep I saw it last Monday afternoon too.
It was a good time even though I went into it without knowing Shadow's lore all that well. The theater erupted in cheers at the end credits scene.
Quote from: SGR on Dec 30, 2024, 04:43 AMSoooo... @DJChameleon @Lexi Darling has anyone seen Sonic 3 yet?
I saw it last Monday with my bro, but don't wanna spoil anything :laughing:
Not yet, I've been alternating between being sick and being really busy this holiday season, I think I'll probably just wait for streaming. DJ's post has me intrigued tho haha
Without spoiling anything, I thought the way they handled Shadow's backstory with Maria was downright excellent, definitely tugged on my heartstrings since SA2's story is one that's been welded into my brain since childhood. I'd go so far as saying that the movie humanized her better than the games ever did (the games more often treat her simply as a plot device than a true character).
I thought Keanu Reeves did an excellent job at voicing Shadow - and I was very happy to see, as someone who hasn't even watched the first two Sonic movies yet, that the human characters (other than Eggman/Gerald Robotnik) were given very little screen time. After all, I'm here to see Sonic on the big screen, not these lame characters who cosplay as Sonic's 'parents/guardians'.
Per Eggman/Gerald, their antics were often a little bit too much for my liking. The dance number they did in the laser room went on far longer than it should have - and damn did I dislike their 'interactions' in the last 5/10 minutes of the movie - like I know it's a kid's movie, but come on, how much levity do we need in what's supposed to be the epic finale? Per the game's canon, Gerald shouldn't even be alive during this sequence of events and I know the movies aren't following the games beat for beat (nor should they), but I can't help but wonder if I would've liked the movie more if Gerald's only role in the movie was in flashbacks and it was Eggman releasing Shadow and leading him around. It often felt like instead of having Eggman's more evil and deranged grandfather in the movie, you simply had two Jim Carrey's, playing "Jim Carrey" (as Jim often does), dressed in Robotnik outfits. I think it would've been more compelling to have had Gerald be more of a counterbalance to Eggman - more serious, cunning, and even-keeled - or even just the 'straight man' in the Robotnik comedy troupe. But he behaved as eccentrically and as silly as Eggman did, so no counterbalance at all really, it's just that Eggman followed his lead in the story.
Another thing that confused me - the movie kinda treated the master emerald and the chaos emeralds as one in the same, or at least it appeared so - I'm no Sonic lore professor, but I don't think that's accurate. Maybe the first two movies would dispel my confusion about how this is handled.
Without spoiling things for Lexi, there were a lot of things I really liked about the ending, but I don't feel like it had nearly the same amount of emotional weight as the ending of the game did. If the movie was maybe 5 minutes longer, and it just gave the characters more time to reflect, and the story more time to breathe, I think I would've loved it. At its base, the story of SA2 is one about handling grief and loss and ultimately how you can find redemption - it hits on all that, but the game handled it better imo. Still one of my favorite video game endings ever.
As someone who grew up with these games, I'm the demographic they were trying to pander to with this movie, and it mostly worked - but I wouldn't have minded a little more pandering (with references, and line pulls and the like). I definitely noticed some missed opportunities. :laughing:
No way. That's the highlight of the movie just letting them have two goofy over the top Jim Carreys and I love that dance sequence.
Also you need to watch at the very least the second movie to see how they handled the chaos emeralds. The thing that you liked about this one with the humans ended up having more story in the previous two movies though. It's like they heard criticism about them and decided to reduce their roles more in 3.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Dec 30, 2024, 06:50 PMNo way. That's the highlight of the movie just letting them have two goofy over the top Jim Carreys and I love that dance sequence.
Also you need to watch at the very least the second movie to see how they handled the chaos emeralds. The thing that you liked about this one with the humans ended up having more story in the previous two movies though. It's like they heard criticism about them and decided to reduce their roles more in 3.
I mean, I get the appeal. I guess I had competing interests in this movie, as a fan of Jim Carrey myself. Seeing Jim Carrey be funny and do the things only Jim Carrey can do - and then as a huge fan of Sonic (especially SA2) - wanting Eggman and Gerald Robotnik to be portrayed well, and for the dynamic between them to be interesting and compelling. I got a lot of the former, and not as much as I'd like of the latter. If you're not personally into the backstory of Shadow/Maria/Gerald and aren't that emotionally invested in it, I totally get why it wouldn't bug you at all, and that you'd be happy with the setup serving as an excuse for Jim Carrey to play off of his own gags.
Gerald did have one line near the end of the movie that was cold as fuck though, and I just wish there was more of that Gerald in the film.
I'll check out the first 2 movies when I get a chance. Maybe when the third one hits streaming, I'll watch them all together.
(https://i.postimg.cc/g097d2wz/Kronos-1957.jpg)
Kronos (1957)
:2.5stars:
B&W sci-fi thriller about an unusual object which appears on the viewer of a scientist's telescope, enters the Earth's atmosphere, and crashes into the ocean off the coast of Mexico. A large robotic machine eventually emerges from the ocean and runs amok, sucking up electrical energy from power plants, while on its way to a stockpile of nuclear weapons in America.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zvhKYst6/Flat-Top-1952.png)
Flat Top (1952)
:3.5stars:
War-action flick told in flashback style. The Commander of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier in the Korean war, reminisces about his time serving as Fighter Squadron Commander on the same carrier during WWII, while fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. A good bit of actual combat footage from WWII is added to the movie, but it's blended into the action quite well and doesn't interfere with the story or vibe like it sometimes does in other war films which use that same technique.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zfLGfbqV/Monster-from-Green-Hell-1957.jpg)
Monster from Green Hell (1957)
:2stars:
B&W sci-fi/monster flick about a rocket carrying a payload of wasps into space for an experiment, which malfunctions and veers off course and crashes in a remote area of Africa. Several of the wasps survive the crash and mutate due to being overexposed to cosmic radiation during the flight. They grow to an enormous size and begin to terrorize the wildlife and the local natives. The two scientists in charge of the space experiment, find out about reports of giant monsters wreaking havoc in central Africa, and decide to travel there to investigate.
This was one of those films that seems to drag on longer than the running time. It clocks in at 71 minutes, but it seemed to be twice as long as it actually was. Much of the film is spent showing the scientists and their entourage, trekking through the African bush, plains, and jungle, which just made the movie drag on.
(https://i.postimg.cc/bvMTRVgc/The-Underwater-City-1962.jpg)
The Underwater City (1962)
:2stars:
Sci-fi adventure into the world of "inner space" below the waves. An underwater "city" made up of several airtight structures, is constructed and anchored to the sea floor, to conduct an experiment to see if humans can live underwater in such an environment. The acting wasn't bad but the special effects were ridiculous and the story just plodded along without much of interest happening for the most part until the action picked up a bit during the last few minutes of the film.
(https://i.postimg.cc/76zScRGS/The-Man-They-Could-Not-Hang-1938.jpg)
The Man They Could Not Hang (1939)
:3stars:
B&W horror/sci-fi film about a scientist who develops an apparatus and procedure to resuscitate people who have recently died. His first experiment using the device and procedure on a living human volunteer, is interrupted by the local police, who charge him with murder.
I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
Finally watched this after months of my friends raving about it. It's great that movies like this are coming out these days, even though it's an allegory to being transgender and not about being trans exactly, it depicts such a strong pathos for the experiences of queer people, those in denial or repression, and especially those who know that freeing their true self is the right thing to do and feel the fear of taking that leap.
I feel like the movie may have been more impactful on me personally if I had lived in the closet for a longer time, but it definitely still hit hard in the way it nailed the portrayal of how it feels to live with dysphoria; it really is horror, slow moving dread, a mundane, ever present feeling that you're just existing on autopilot, knowing that something is wrong, that this isn't how living is meant to feel.
Beautiful film, and I hope even those who don't know the feelings and experiences this movie is allegorical to firsthand can still watch it and understand that in the end being trans/queer is just how we are; it's not a consciously felt feeling nor is it something rooted in our personal morals or values. There is constant pressure on trans people nowadays to engage in 'debate' and make some kind of philosophical case for our existence to prove that our identity is legitimate, and I'm glad this movie instead went for a depiction of our kind of experience in a way that didn't get bogged down in clinical, concrete details and showed the viewer how it feels rather than telling them what it is.
I'm so very glad I watched it.
(https://i.postimg.cc/6q5X0VY4/Edge-of-Eternity-1959.png)
Edge of Eternity (1959)
:3.5stars:
Late 1950's crime-thriller about a Deputy Sheriff in a small town, on the edge of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, trying to solve a mysterious murder in the town. The film had the look and feel of an Alfred Hitchcock movie from that era, which gave it a typical Hitchcock vibe, but he wasn't involved in the film as far as I know.
Quote from: QuantumSync on Jan 06, 2025, 02:59 PM
I think I saw it on Prime. It's available to stream already.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jan 06, 2025, 03:17 PMI think I saw it on Prime. It's available to stream already.
yeah it was really cool
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Jan 04, 2025, 07:34 PMI Saw the TV Glow (2024)
Finally watched this after months of my friends raving about it. It's great that movies like this are coming out these days, even though it's an allegory to being transgender and not about being trans exactly, it depicts such a strong pathos for the experiences of queer people, those in denial or repression, and especially those who know that freeing their true self is the right thing to do and feel the fear of taking that leap.
I feel like the movie may have been more impactful on me personally if I had lived in the closet for a longer time, but it definitely still hit hard in the way it nailed the portrayal of how it feels to live with dysphoria; it really is horror, slow moving dread, a mundane, ever present feeling that you're just existing on autopilot, knowing that something is wrong, that this isn't how living is meant to feel.
Beautiful film, and I hope even those who don't know the feelings and experiences this movie is allegorical to firsthand can still watch it and understand that in the end being trans/queer is just how we are; it's not a consciously felt feeling nor is it something rooted in our personal morals or values. There is constant pressure on trans people nowadays to engage in 'debate' and make some kind of philosophical case for our existence to prove that our identity is legitimate, and I'm glad this movie instead went for a depiction of our kind of experience in a way that didn't get bogged down in clinical, concrete details and showed the viewer how it feels rather than telling them what it is.
I'm so very glad I watched it.
I really want to watch this, but haven't really seen a trailer or it showing up anywhere for streaming or digital rental 😐
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 07, 2025, 07:49 PMI really want to watch this, but haven't really seen a trailer or it showing up anywhere for streaming or digital rental 😐
We streamed it on Youtube, if it's not there for you then it's probably a country-based licensing thing unfortunately.
If you can't end up finding a way to watch it, I've actually recently been getting into having viewing parties on Discord so maybe if there's enough interest I could host something like that, for this movie and other movies/albums etc.
Here to help.
(https://media.tenor.com/LUrsCSUcwIwAAAAM/bye-poof.gif)
Hey....!
:shycouch:
Quote from: Trollheart on Jan 08, 2025, 01:18 AMHere to help.
(https://media.tenor.com/YGv21ulkylwAAAAM/ms-msxoxm.gif)
Avast there, matey! :) Keep scannin' yon horizon for me new journal on pirates, or I'll keelhaul ye and send ye to Davy Jones' Locker! (Though quite what one of the Monkees has to do with sailors I don't understand...)
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Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 07, 2025, 07:49 PMI really want to watch this, but haven't really seen a trailer or it showing up anywhere for streaming or digital rental 😐
That's a really good movie.
I've seen a bunch of movies that I should comment on.
Like Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness. They kinda hold up, at least for me.
I saw Longlegs, very nice! Nosferatu was great. I saw Daddy's Home 2.. Why?! I had a chuckle or two.
Tomorrow, I'll probably see Smile 2. I'll let you know what I think 🙂
I thought the first Smile was just ok. The ending kinda sucked though.
Interested in your take on Nosferatu. Is it a remake of the old black-and-white silent movie, or just a way of differentiating yet another movie about Dracula?
I'm not in a rush to see Nosferatu, I haven't even seen Nosferaone yet.
How did you hack into my account?? :laughing:
Personally, I haven't trusted Nosferatu since he pulled that joke on Spongebob
Quote from: SGR on Jan 10, 2025, 09:09 PMI thought the first Smile was just ok. The ending kinda sucked though.
The main reason the ending sucked because that character forgot everything he was learning throughout the movie with us. I love that the second movie picks up exactly with the same guy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/W3J2XG6p/The-Vampire-Bat-1933.jpg)
The Vampire Bat (1933)
:3stars:
Horror film about mysterious deaths occurring in a small European village. The victims are all found with two puncture marks on their necks and are drained of their blood. Rumors of vampires spread through the village while the local constable tries to find clues to solve the murders, which he suspects are the work of a homicidal lunatic. The plot has a couple of unexplained holes in it, which occur later in the film, but they don't ruin the film as far as horror flicks go.
I was so frustrated yesterday I wanted to clothesline Trump supporters and throw rocks at Proud boys and burn their trucks so I went to the movies and avoided watching Trump's speech. I went to see Nosferatu.
I heard rumors that it was a horny film but I didn't realize how much so. It's a re-telling of the 1922(?) movie but with some nice homage and camerawork. I feel like each actor got a scene to really be over the top and showcase their acting skills. This movie was well done and worth the watch. Eggers(the director) did a great job.
:5stars:
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jan 21, 2025, 03:30 PMI was so frustrated yesterday I wanted to clothesline Trump supporters and throw rocks at Proud boys and burn their trucks so I went to the movies and avoided watching Trump's speech. I went to see Nosferatu.
I heard rumors that it was a horny film but I didn't realize how much so. It's a re-telling of the 1922(?) movie but with some nice homage and camerawork. I feel like each actor got a scene to really be over the top and showcase their acting skills. This movie was well done and worth the watch. Eggers(the director) did a great job.
:5stars:
I thought you said you didn't want to see Trump? :laughing:
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jan 21, 2025, 03:30 PMI was so frustrated yesterday I wanted to clothesline Trump supporters and throw rocks at Proud boys and burn their trucks so I went to the movies and avoided watching Trump's speech. I went to see Nosferatu.
I heard rumors that it was a horny film but I didn't realize how much so. It's a re-telling of the 1922(?) movie but with some nice homage and camerawork. I feel like each actor got a scene to really be over the top and showcase their acting skills. This movie was well done and worth the watch. Eggers(the director) did a great job.
:5stars:
I haven't seen
Nosferatu yet - will probably wait til its streaming. But I'm a big Eggers fan - you ever seen
The Lighthouse or
The Witch, DJ?
Quote from: SGR on Jan 24, 2025, 12:21 AMI haven't seen Nosferatu yet - will probably wait til its streaming. But I'm a big Eggers fan - you ever seen The Lighthouse or The Witch, DJ?
No to both. Im more inclined to watch The Lighthouse first before The Witch.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Jan 24, 2025, 05:29 AMNo to both. Im more inclined to watch The Lighthouse first before The Witch.
Highly,
highly recommended.
The Lighthouse was phenomenal. I thought it'd be somewhat of a typical A24 studios indie horror flick, but it was so much more. You wouldn't think it, but I can't remember the last movie that made me laugh like that one did. The dialogue and performances from Willem DaFoe and Robert Pattinson were absolutely top fuckin notch. And as a New Englander myself, it hit that special fibre of familiarity (in similar ways to
The Witch, also a New England film, did - but not quite the same way since that one is much further removed from our current time). Pretty easily the best film I watched last year.
Quote from: SGR on Jan 24, 2025, 05:33 AMHighly, highly recommended. The Lighthouse was phenomenal. I thought it'd be somewhat of a typical A24 studios indie horror flick, but it was so much more. You wouldn't think it, but I can't remember the last movie that made me laugh like that one did. The dialogue and performances from Willem DaFoe and Robert Pattinson were absolutely top fuckin notch. And as a New Englander myself, it hit that special fibre of familiarity (in similar ways to The Witch, also a New England film, did - but not quite the same way since that one is much further removed from our current time). Pretty easily the best film I watched last year.
He also did The Northman, I think it's called.
I also really enjoyed The Lighthouse 🙂 More so than The Northman or The Witch. That one and Nosferatu are his best ones so far, I think.
(https://i.postimg.cc/6p3XGVgZ/Roar-of-the-Press-1941.jpg)
Roar of the Press (1941)
:3stars:
A recently married newspaper reporter on his honeymoon, witnesses a man fall from a building to the street below. He quickly calls the story in to his editor, who tells him to cover the story and find out more info on the man, which eventually leads to him discovering a sinister plot involving foreign agents. Various moments of romantic comic relief between the husband and wife are added to the story as it unfolds.
United States of Insanity still has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
It's a good documentary about juggalos.
(https://i.ibb.co/YTbKqQcx/IMG-3903.jpg)
Movie Review: Waterworld (1995)
Watches like a failed book adaptation.
What year is this?!?!/10
I've probably seen Waterworld at least 5 times. But probably not since the year 2000. I remember it as a relatively big movie back in my teens, even though I'm not sure critics ever liked it.
I actually also really liked The Postman when I saw it way back. I'm gonna guess it doesn't hold up.
Critics never liking it is an understatement.
It's a universally panned movie that they hated and the budget for the movie was outrageous for what they ended up producing.
I also liked The Postman, though Karen did not. Never saw Waterworld. Costner doesn't quite get movie lengths/audience attention spans, does he? I mean, I loved Dances with Wolves, but even then it is a stretch. Let's not forget Wyatt Earp. What Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer did with 2 hours Costner stretched to 3, and I know which movie I prefer.
Watched this a few nights ago, as 'twere on the box. I enjoyed it a lot. Being based on a true story, there probably wasn't much they could do to fuck it up, but Keira Knightley shone, loved to see Matt Smith again and a rather criminally underused Rhys Ifans.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Official_Secrets_poster.jpg)
Official Secrets (2019)
:4stars:
(https://i.postimg.cc/HsnHzgHb/Voodoo-Island-1957.jpg)
Voodoo Island (1957)
:2stars:
B&W horror flick about voodoo. A wealthy hotel developer hires a celebrity myth-buster to help him look into the disappearance of 3 of his employees who vanished on a surveying trip to an uninhabited island. One of those films where nothing much of interest happens throughout the story until almost the end, and even then it isn't enough to justify the time spent watching.
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Feb 13, 2025, 03:53 PMOne of those films where nothing much of interest happens throughout the story until almost the end, and even then it isn't enough to justify the time spent watching.
I'll watch it ASAP!
I had to see Captain America 4 before I got spoiled since I'm chronically online.
I enjoyed it. It was a bit of a slow burn at parts but it definitely reminded me of winter soldier. I wish they would have kept the Red Hulk under wraps instead of showcasing it in all the trailers and promo materials.
Heretic. Loved it. Hugh Grant is such an affable psycho. Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher (who I completely didn't recognize from her role on Yellowjackets) were fantastic. Thinking person's suspense/horror flick.
I want to see Heretic so badly but refuse to pay the rental to see it. I will just wait til it's on streaming
Quote from: DJChameleon on Feb 15, 2025, 07:16 PMI want to see Heretic so badly but refuse to pay the rental to see it. I will just wait til it's on streaming
It
was on AmzPrime for $5 last week, which is when I streamed it. Not sure if the price has gone up again.
I also want to see Heretic and would gladly pay the rental fee if only the movie was available here 😐
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 16, 2025, 05:40 PMI also want to see Heretic and would gladly pay the rental fee if only the movie was available here 😐
Ah, that's a bummer. So you're not in the U.S.? Hopefully it will be available where you are soon.
I saw it earlier this morning. So good. I loved the religious conversations that took place.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Feb 16, 2025, 09:29 PMI saw it earlier this morning. So good. I loved the religious conversations that took place.
I still have questions about the ending. I have my assumptions about the meaning, but from everything I've read about the director's intentions, he wanted to leave it open ended, open for interpretation. I like movies that keep me thinking and coming up with different possibilities.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Feb 16, 2025, 09:12 PMAh, that's a bummer. So you're not in the U.S.? Hopefully it will be available where you are soon.
No, I'm in southern Norway 🙂
We get things here too. Eventually. Painfully slow, sometimes.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Feb 16, 2025, 09:58 PMI still have questions about the ending. I have my assumptions about the meaning, but from everything I've read about the director's intentions, he wanted to leave it open ended, open for interpretation. I like movies that keep me thinking and coming up with different possibilities.
I immediately had questions about the ending and went to look up youtube videos but I like my own conclusion.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 16, 2025, 10:55 PMNo, I'm in southern Norway 🙂
We get things here too. Eventually. Painfully slow, sometimes.
Ah, bummer. I wonder how you Scandinavians feel about having some of your tv shows adapted for American audiences, though. I'm thinking specifically of stuff like The Killing and The Bridge. They're not Norwegian, but Swedish/Danish. But obviously, network tv producers in the U.S. felt like American audiences would respond to these shows enough to adapt them. Always made me wonder if Scandinavian people felt like we were trying to steal a bit of their culture or something.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Feb 16, 2025, 11:49 PMI immediately had questions about the ending and went to look up youtube videos but I like my own conclusion.
Ok, so what's your conclusion? If you don't want to post it publicly (no spoilers), send me a DM. I'd be interested to hear others' opinions.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Feb 17, 2025, 02:25 AMOk, so what's your conclusion? If you don't want to post it publicly (no spoilers), send me a DM. I'd be interested to hear others' opinions.
There is a spoiler tag but you can DM if you aren't sure how to use it to post your response to me.
Spoiler
So I think she died as well because a butterfly landed on her finger just like she said she wanted to do in her next life to her loved ones.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Feb 17, 2025, 03:56 AMThere is a spoiler tag but you can DM if you aren't sure how to use it to post your response to me.
Spoiler
So I think she died as well because a butterfly landed on her finger just like she said she wanted to do in her next life to her loved ones.
I'll try and see how it works...
Spoiler
That's exactly what I thought, too. I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw it that way. I also thought that, perhaps if the director didn't intend the butterfly to represent her death, then it represents her friend who was killed. But I generally think my first instinct was correct, since she was the one who identified with butterflies.
(https://i.postimg.cc/kg7WNVyb/The-Undercover-Man-1949.jpg)
The Undercover Man (1949)
:3stars:
Crime film about a group of U.S. Treasury agents investigating the finances of a mob boss in order to bring a charge of tax evasion against him. Not the most exciting plot but I thought the movie was well done. I'm puzzled by the title of the flick, though, because nobody actually went undercover at any time during the story.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Feb 17, 2025, 02:22 AMAh, bummer. I wonder how you Scandinavians feel about having some of your tv shows adapted for American audiences, though. I'm thinking specifically of stuff like The Killing and The Bridge. They're not Norwegian, but Swedish/Danish. But obviously, network tv producers in the U.S. felt like American audiences would respond to these shows enough to adapt them. Always made me wonder if Scandinavian people felt like we were trying to steal a bit of their culture or something.
I do find it weird in general when the US remakes European movies like Let The Right One In, Force Majeure, Insomnia etc. Right now there's a US version of Speak No Evil and the original Danish/Dutch version is only 2-3 years old. At least I think it's from 2022. Me and wifey saw it at the cinema and it was such a gut punch. The unknown actors and somewhat grittier production makes it more believable and immersive. From what I can tell, the US version is described as tamer than the original. It also has James McAvoy and is probably a lot more polished, yet I cannot see the attraction myself.
I enjoy foreign language movies and think any sorta beningn exposure to other cultures and languages is healthy. But then I ofc also realize this is driven by pure capitalism and that these remakes make money so I guess they're not going away.
I don't exactly feel like our culture is stolen, but I do wish people would see the original productions instead of the remakes. There's a reason these movies and tv productions get remade after all (they're good) and I do want the original filmmakers to get the cred they deserve.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 18, 2025, 07:42 AMI do find it weird in general when the US remakes European movies like Let The Right One In, Force Majeure, Insomnia etc. Right now there's a US version of Speak No Evil and the original Danish/Dutch version is only 2-3 years old. At least I think it's from 2022. Me and wifey saw it at the cinema and it was such a gut punch. The unknown actors and somewhat grittier production makes it more believable and immersive. From what I can tell, the US version is described as tamer than the original. It also has James McAvoy and is probably a lot more polished, yet I cannot see the attraction myself.
I had no idea Speak No Evil is a Dutch movie, but I haven't looked up any info about it online. And so recent, too! I wouldn't be too happy about that either if other countries remade some of our movies or tv shows... but honestly, I've never heard of that happening.
And I completely forgot about Let the Right One In, which is probably my favorite horror movie. I'm not a big horror fan because I have a hard time NOT letting my imagination get the better of me, so I have to carefully choose the ones I watch. I was nervous about Let the Right One In and saw the American version (Let Me In) first. I liked it a lot, was pleasantly surprised that it was more suspenseful than gory horror, so I decided to watch the original Swedish film and it was
so much better! I get that the American director wanted to pay homage to a movie he loved, but once I saw the original, all I could think was, he should have left it alone.
When US remakes are done what happens is people watch the remake they find out there was an original and the original gets watched to compare the two. So while you might be grumpy about remakes being done it creates a whole new audience for the original works to be seen by.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Feb 18, 2025, 01:07 PMWhen US remakes are done what happens is people watch the remake they find out there was an original and the original gets watched to compare the two. So while you might be grumpy about remakes being done it creates a whole new audience for the original works to be seen by.
That is possible. It's still valid, I think, to wish that Americans were more interested in foreign movies in general and that the American market was friendlier and more available to non-US movie makers as a result.
Of course many European countries also have an aversion to foreign languages and while they may not have an industry that can remake foreign movies, they can at least dub them. To my ears, the results are generally ridiculous. People should just learn to read subtitles.
I'm happy that movie culture in Norway is so that foreign movies are shown in their original language with subtitles. No dubbing. The only exception is popular kids movies.
The Substance (2024)
This was great. I love how uncomfortably stylized and exaggerated everything is in the cinematography, it really works to stress the statement the movie is making via being so relatably offputting. I will say I didn't expect the level of body horror it goes into, some very nightmarish shit in here. Also I'm guessing Dennis Quaid's character is supposed to be a reference to Weinstein, but the group of friends I was watching with kept referring to him as Vince McMahon, which is terrifyingly accurate imo lol. Good movie.
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Feb 20, 2025, 08:37 PMThe Substance (2024)
This was great. I love how uncomfortably stylized and exaggerated everything is in the cinematography, it really works to stress the statement the movie is making via being so relatably offputting. I will say I didn't expect the level of body horror it goes into, some very nightmarish shit in here. Also I'm guessing Dennis Quaid's character is supposed to be a reference to Weinstein, but the group of friends I was watching with kept referring to him as Vince McMahon, which is terrifyingly accurate imo lol. Good movie.
Yes! He does remind me of Vince McMahon.
I've seen it twice now and it's my favorite horror movie from 2024, if you can call it that. I guess it might be more of a dark comedy.
It's got layers, like Sunset Boulevard meets The Fly and Meet the Feebles. And if that doesn't grab ya, there's TnA 😲
I saw an interview with the director. Very cool lady and seemed to be very involved with various parts of the production, like the practical effects. She is the stunt person for getting her arm poked with a syringe.
I'm always fascinated when kinda offbeat things get funding and then succeed and then get a large audience and reach. I love that someone had this crazy idea, fought for it, got people and investors on board and actually managed to make it.. and it turned out like this. Impressive! Really looking forward to her next movie 🙂
If you guys liked The Substance, you might enjoy this one, which is actually based on a true story. The movie, of course, fictionalizes some of the plot points, but what happens in the movie
did actually happen IRL. Truth. I enjoyed the flick a lot.
I'm not a horror fan (though I do write horror, go figure!) but I do love my vampire movies, and I would put Let the Right One In (original version) right up there with the best of them. The scene from underwater near the end is a masterclass on how to do horror that's subtle but still terrifying. Absolute classic.
Quote from: Trollheart on Feb 21, 2025, 02:57 AMI'm not a horror fan (though I do write horror, go figure!) but I do love my vampire movies, and I would put Let the Right One In (original version) right up there with the best of them. The scene from underwater near the end is a masterclass on how to do horror that's subtle but still terrifying. Absolute classic.
What about Ginger Snaps?
Ain't seen it.
(https://i.postimg.cc/jSJPJ33Z/The-Man-Who-Died-Twice-1958.jpg)
The Man Who Died Twice (1958)
:3stars:
Crime film about a nightclub owner who dies in a fiery car wreck and is burned beyond recognition, leaving his nightclub singer wife to run the club. The deceased man's brother arrives in town, unaware of his brother's death a few days prior, and starts befriending his brother's wife at the request of the local police, who suspect she may be involved in a large narcotics operation. The title of the film gives away a key element of the story, so it ended up like I thought it would, but it was still an entertaining crime film.
(https://i.ibb.co/5WzpBFXg/Crashout-1955.jpg)
Crashout (1955)
:3stars:
B&W crime film about a group of prison convicts who conduct a large-scale prison escape. The story focuses on a group of six of the convicts as they try to elude law enforcement while seeking a hidden stash of money which one of them buried before he was sent to prison.
(https://i.postimg.cc/P52VHJqW/Hoodlum-Empire-1952.jpg)
Hoodlum Empire (1952)
:3stars:
Crime film about a member of an organized crime family who comes home from combat in WWII as a changed man. He decides to quit the organization to go into a legitimate business and become a law-abiding member of society and raise a family with his new wife. The head of the organization wishes him well but he soon finds out that there were unseen strings attached to his resignation.
Watched Schindler's List again, with my dad, as I only managed an hour the first time before switching it off.
Its not shit. But it's not something I'd watch again either. Just kind of drags and is boring.
It gets 2.5/5 from me.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/30/Flow_%282024_film%29_poster.jpg)
Flow (2024)
The original Latvian title is Straume. The animation in this movie is astonishing and beautiful. It's also an extremely relaxing viewing experience. Highly recommended.
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 26, 2025, 09:54 PMFlow (2024)
The original Latvian title is Straume. The animation in this movie is astonishing and beautiful. It's also an extremely relaxing viewing experience. Highly recommended.
I loved the movie. Definitely beautiful to watch. However, "relaxing" is not a term I'd apply to it. I was so worried for the cat and other animals throughout the whole film. Watching the flood waters close in and rise was very frightening. Watching them try to survive was scary. I've been there myself and understand that kind of terror. I think if you've lived through it, or anything similar, you'd empathize with the characters and not find it relaxing.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Feb 26, 2025, 09:16 PMWatched Schindler's List again, with my dad, as I only managed an hour the first time before switching it off.
Its not shit. But it's not something I'd watch again either. Just kind of drags and is boring.
It gets 2.5/5 from me.
Whaaat.. Well. I only saw it once and that was nearly 20 years ago. It made a huge impression and I thought it was absolutely great, but I haven't really had the urge to go back to it. I might see it with my kids when they get a little older.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 26, 2025, 11:34 PMWhaaat.. Well. I only saw it once and that was nearly 20 years ago. It made a huge impression and I thought it was absolutely great, but I haven't really had the urge to go back to it. I might see it with my kids when they get a little older.
Just didn't do anything for me.
Did you know the story beforehand?
Next up is that Bob Dylan film.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Feb 26, 2025, 11:14 PMI loved the movie. Definitely beautiful to watch. However, "relaxing" is not a term I'd apply to it. I was so worried for the cat and other animals throughout the whole film. Watching the flood waters close in and rise was very frightening. Watching them try to survive was scary. I've been there myself and understand that kind of terror. I think if you've lived through it, or anything similar, you'd empathize with the characters and not find it relaxing.
I found the music and animation relaxing. My wife did too. I think a lot of people would.
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 27, 2025, 05:07 AMI found the music and animation relaxing. My wife did too. I think a lot of people would.
I don't understand this. Are you lacking some empathy?
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 26, 2025, 11:34 PMWhaaat.. Well. I only saw it once and that was nearly 20 years ago. It made a huge impression and I thought it was absolutely great, but I haven't really had the urge to go back to it. I might see it with my kids when they get a little older.
Is Schindler's List a great movie? In my estimation, it is in the sense that it tells an important story, chronicles an important part of history, and does it extremely well. Is it a fun, enjoyable watch? No, it's definitely not, but it's not supposed to be. It's not just simple entertainment. Would I want to see it again after the 1.5 times I've watched it? No, not again.
I saw Schindler's List in '93 when it was first in U.S. theaters. I was a recent college graduate, working minimum wage jobs, barely getting by, and I rarely had any weekends off because I worked so much. However, I had a free Saturday afternoon to myself one weekend, so I went to the theater to see Schindler's List.
The movie had just started when my boyfriend showed up to the theater and sat down next to me. I was surprised to see him because he'd told me he didn't want to see the movie, which is why I was there on my own. I think he ended up being bored that weekend with nothing else to do and decided he didn't want me to see the movie without him, so he showed up.
We were about halfway through the movie, maybe a little less, when he suddenly got up and left the theater. I had no idea why. We'd been sitting there in stunned silence, watching the movie, not saying anything to each other, when he suddenly stood up and walked out. I assumed he was angry at something, but I didn't know. Reflecting back on this incident years later, I now know he needed to make the whole thing about himself, take my attention away from the movie and put it back on him, which is how he often was. But I was in my early 20s at the time and still clueless to these kinds of twisted motivations.
So even though I didn't want to leave and wanted to finish the movie, I got up and followed him out. He was sitting outside the theater, sulking. I asked him what was going on and he launched into a rant about the movie - how horrible it was, Spielberg should have never put that stuff on film, etc, etc. He didn't mean it was a "bad movie,"
per se; just that it's not something he felt people should see, specifically
he shouldn't see, even though no one forced him to watch it. He'd made that decision on his own.
I didn't say anything, just listened to his rant and waited for him to calm down and feel better. We didn't go back in and finish the movie. We drove to a nearby park and relaxed there for the rest of the afternoon. He got what he wanted - my attention - so he felt better.
Years later, when the movie was available to rent, I had a free evening to myself, so I decided to give Schindler's List another chance. I rented it, went home and watched it all the way through to the end. As I wrote above, it's an important story to tell. I'm glad I saw it. Would I want to see it again, though, more than the 1.5 times I've seen it? No. That's enough for me. I think everyone should see it once all the way through, which I've done. I wouldn't want to do it again.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Feb 26, 2025, 11:37 PMJust didn't do anything for me.
Did you know the story beforehand?
Vaguely, I think, though it's hard to remember to what extent.
By the end, we were moved to tears. That happens very rarely for us.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Feb 27, 2025, 07:55 AMYears later, when the movie was available to rent, I had a free evening to myself, so I decided to give Schindler's List another chance. I rented it, went home and watched it all the way through to the end. As I wrote above, it's an important story to tell. I'm glad I saw it. Would I want to see it again, though, more than the 1.5 times I've seen it? No. That's enough for me. I think everyone should see it once all the way through, which I've done. I wouldn't want to do it again.
I agree with this, though I wouldn't mind seeing it again today. It's just there are other things grabbing my attention.. but watching it with my kids is definitely gonna happen.
Just gotta try and aim for the right time / age 🤔 I'm not the best judge of this, but I'm thinking 9 is probably still way too young.
9 is definitely way too young.
I'd leave it until they're at least 13. The scenes where people get shot are brutal.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Feb 26, 2025, 09:16 PMWatched Schindler's List again, with my dad, as I only managed an hour the first time before switching it off.
Its not shit. But it's not something I'd watch again either. Just kind of drags and is boring.
It gets 2.5/5 from me.
I went to see it in a theater when it was first released. Not many people in the audience at the time. I stayed to the end but it did seem to drag on a bit. Not a bad film but not something I have any desire to see again. I'd probably rate it about the same as you did.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 27, 2025, 08:06 AMI agree with this, though I wouldn't mind seeing it again today. It's just there are other things grabbing my attention.. but watching it with my kids is definitely gonna happen.
Just gotta try and aim for the right time / age 🤔 I'm not the best judge of this, but I'm thinking 9 is probably still way too young.
As a professional educator who has worked in the profession for nearly 25 years and knows kid psychology, I'd agree. 9 is way too young. I'd wait until age 15 or 16, and even then, it might be too traumatic for them. Not that they don't need to learn about the Holocaust, but there are other ways to do it. The Diary of a Young Girl (aka The Diary of Anne Frank) is standard curriculum in U.S. middle schools, when kids are around 12 years old. It's a good, relatively child-friendly introduction to the Holocaust. There's a reason it's been part of U.S. middle school curriculum for so long. ...Although with the current administration, I sometimes wonder how long that will last. :-\
Quote from: costa_oscura on Feb 27, 2025, 07:29 AMI don't understand this. Are you lacking some empathy?
Nope, I just find a low-key soundtrack, beautiful imagery, and adorable animals relaxing.
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 28, 2025, 05:57 PMNope, I just find a low-key soundtrack, beautiful imagery, and adorable animals relaxing.
But there was nothing relaxing about the story, aside from a few scenes at the beginning. Seems like there's something missing.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Feb 28, 2025, 10:54 PMBut there was nothing relaxing about the story, aside from a few scenes at the beginning. Seems like there's something missing.
The further up this thread I went, I thought you were both talking about "Homeward Bound" until I saw the Janz' original comment. :laughing:
Quote from: SGR on Feb 28, 2025, 11:09 PMThe further up this thread I went, I thought you were both talking about "Homeward Bound" until I saw the Janz' original comment. :laughing:
I don't watch fake talking animal movies. Flow was so much better than all that disney crap.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 01, 2025, 02:02 AMI don't watch fake talking animal movies. Flow was so much better than all that disney crap.
Well I had a childhood. And Homeward Bound is a classic.
(https://media2.giphy.com/media/SqHkHseogAqvr6cmbf/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b9529lqpnu2h41spmtzp67ypjys2th8feifgoxqlm5ta&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)
In terms of Schindler's List, it's probably one of these films you need to see, if only to say you've seen it. I only got to see it recently (think I may have posted here about it, not sure) and I would say that while yes, it is a little laboured at times (no pun intended) I couldn't say it drags. I wasn't waiting for it to end, end, for god's sake end or anything, and yeah, sure, I had the hanky out at the end. It is pretty brutal, but then, I think it has to be. There's no point in sanitising how it was back then for Jews in Nazi Germany - the callous way they just shot people and then walked away laughing: absolutely horrifying.
@costa_oscura I'm sorry your bf was so unreasonable about the movie that he would ruin it for you with his petulance and desire for attention. Honestly, when you said he got up and walked out I thought you were going to say he was so moved by it and didn't want you to see him crying! Very immature and very selfish, if you don't mind me saying so, and you showed great tolerance in abandoning the film for his sake.
I haven't seen that animated one you guys are talking about, but am I missing something or are the animals not real? Why then get worried about them, except in the course of the film itself, caught up in the narrative? I watched Watership Down and feared for the rabbits, but in the end, they're just CGI creations, aren't they? Pixels on a screen?
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 01, 2025, 02:02 AMI don't watch fake talking animal movies. Flow was so much better than all that disney crap.
I started Flow but too much was going on and I know when I'm on my phone half paying attention I can't watch certain movies.
I went to see The Monkey today and it was so good. I got the comedy vibes from the trailer but it exceeded expectations. I was laughing through most of the movie. It scratched my B horror movie nerve. Loved it.
@Lexi Darling Keep an eye out for this movie when it streams.
:5stars:
Quote from: DJChameleon on Mar 01, 2025, 04:24 AMI started Flow but too much was going on and I know when I'm on my phone half paying attention I can't watch certain movies.
I went to see The Monkey today and it was so good. I got the comedy vibes from the trailer but it exceeded expectations. I was laughing through most of the movie. It scratched my B horror movie nerve. Loved it.
@Lexi Darling
Keep an eye out for this movie when it streams.
:5stars:
I'm currently trying to convince my wife to go see The Monkey with me. :laughing:
Ok, you guys are selling me haha. Though I probably won't have an opportunity while it's in theaters since I have obligations to my mom; either Aaron or I has to be at the house to take care of her at all times and I hate going to theaters alone. But I'll jot it down for the future!
Quote from: costa_oscura on Feb 28, 2025, 10:54 PMBut there was nothing relaxing about the story, aside from a few scenes at the beginning. Seems like there's something missing.
The story is basically animals cooperating to take care of each other. That's pretty chill content to me. Its just not the pulse pounding thriller you're making it out to be.
Quote from: Janszoon on Mar 01, 2025, 06:10 AMThe story is basically animals cooperating to take care of each other. That's pretty chill content to me. Its just not the pulse pounding thriller you're making it out to be.
So it seems like you've never endured potential danger to your life, to make it to the next day, to your ability to support yourself. It must be nice to live without those experiences.
Quote from: SGR on Mar 01, 2025, 02:04 AMWell I had a childhood. And Homeward Bound is a classic.
Nah, it's a piece of overdone tripe. I felt that way even as a child.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 01, 2025, 08:01 AMNah, it's a piece of overdone tripe. I felt that way even as a child.
Movie night at your place during elementary school slumber parties must've been all anyone could talk about at recess.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 01, 2025, 08:00 AMSo it seems like you've never endured potential danger to your life, to make it to the next day, to your ability to support yourself. It must be nice to live without those experiences.
I haven't seen the movie, but I'm not gonna lie, this is a really weird thing to assume about someone based solely on what they thought about a movie.
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Mar 01, 2025, 08:46 AMI haven't seen the movie, but I'm not gonna lie, this is a really weird thing to assume about someone based solely on what they thought about a movie.
See the movie and judge for yourself. If you have any empathy, you'll be hard pressed to find it 'relaxing' and will identify with the animals' situation. Janzoon, however, doesn't seem able to make that leap and I'd guess it's because this person has never experienced any hardships personally that might create the empathy needed while watching this film. Lacking empathy is not an unusual thing; some people
do lack it. It's just unusual to see it represented so clearly in a public forum, unless we were in a MAGA group. Then I might expect it.
Quote from: SGR on Mar 01, 2025, 08:19 AMMovie night at your place during elementary school slumber parties must've been all anyone could talk about at recess.
None of those things happened in my childhood, but thanks for asking. ::)
I'd have to agree, particularly after you took me up so wrong about subtitles, that it's unfair to judge someone from a single comment or impression you form of them. Jansz is a cool guy, and I'm sure has been through plenty of trauma (haven't we all?) so I think making that assumption in the light of the hard time you gave me over a misinterpretation/misunderstanding of something I said is the wrong way to approach people.
Quote from: Trollheart on Mar 01, 2025, 09:32 PMI'd have to agree, particularly after you took me up so wrong about subtitles, that it's unfair to judge someone from a single comment or impression you form of them. Jansz is a cool guy, and I'm sure has been through plenty of trauma (haven't we all?) so I think making that assumption in the light of the hard time you gave me over a misinterpretation/misunderstanding of something I said is the wrong way to approach people.
Just because I thanked you for your apology doesn't mean you didn't deserve to be called on your assumptive b.s. about me, troll. I didn't want to drag that discussion out further with you, wanted to be done with it and move on. But here you are, bringing it up again, and again making assumptions about me, as others here have done, without knowing anything about me. That seems to be who you are and I'm not going to let you get away with that shit with me.
As a mental health professional, what I
do know without question is that when people have a hard time identifying with others experiencing core level difficulties, such as survival, whether they'll live to see the next day, as the characters in the movie Flow are shown on screen enduring, and state they find it "relaxing," that's a clear sign of lacking empathy. As I've written in my other comments here, that's not completely unusual. There are plenty of people on the planet who live their lives lacking empathy. Some who do lead completely serviceable lives with nothing worrisome or troubling about those lives. Others who lack empathy engage in more clearly problematic and sometimes criminal behavior. Everybody handles it differently. There's no one clear outcome with that issue.
If, however, as others have stated here Janzoon usually exhibits some measure of empathy, then perhaps he's unable to do so here, with regard to recognizing the hardships the animal characters in the movie Flow endure because he's never experienced the challenge they face in the movie. He's never had his survival openly threatened, as the animals in the film do. He still may have some measure of empathy, but not enough to truly understand what it means to have one's daily survival challenged. The lack of that experience in his life has dulled his appreciation and empathy for the animal characters in the movie who
do undergo that experience.
I'm essentially calling him out for the same thing you assumed of me, troll, except my focus is not on racial or financial privilege. It's on Janzoon's apparent privilege in having lived a life thus far having not ever endured having his daily survival challenged and the lack of understanding it's resulted in. I've had my survival challenged many times and am going through it again now. I have no interest in sharing any of that here because that's not why I joined this forum. I have no interest in sharing that part of my life on this particular platform.
But if you can't recognize this person's apparent privilege, which you took your time to assume of me, the good fortune to live a life where you've never had your survival threatened, then you're just as much of a hypocrite as I thought you were when you first tried to come after me without knowing anything about me or my life experiences. And if that's the part you're going to play here, troll, then you can step off and leave me alone. I don't want to hear from you or engage in any further discussion with you. I hope that's not who you are, but you've done nothing so far to prove me wrong.
I've not seen the movie, but have read a Review. It's been Oscar nominated so must have some merit.
I think Costa probably has a valid point, but has gone overboard defending it by being unnecessarily argumentative.
People are entitled to have different opinions.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 01, 2025, 08:00 AMSo it seems like you've never endured potential danger to your life, to make it to the next day, to your ability to support yourself. It must be nice to live without those experiences.
I have definitely "endured potential danger", weirdo. Who are you exactly?
Quote from: Janszoon on Mar 02, 2025, 04:05 AMI have definitely "endured potential danger", weirdo. Who are you exactly?
I'm the person calling you on your b.s., Janzoon, that's who. So if you want to call names and assert that you've "endured potential danger," then share the proof. What danger have you endured, Janzoon? Has your survival literally been in danger? Because mine has and I understand that fear. Do you?
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Mar 02, 2025, 02:20 AMI've not seen the movie, but have read a Review. It's been Oscar nominated so must have some merit.
I think Costa probably has a valid point, but has gone overboard defending it by being unnecessarily argumentative.
People are entitled to have different opinions.
A lack of empathy is not an "opinion," Buck. It deserves to be questioned, don't you think? Not that a person can't exist without empathy and doesn't deserve the right to live their life as they choose. But if they're sharing it publicly and expecting others to accept it as "truth," wouldn't you say that's a problem, Buck? Because I think it is.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 02, 2025, 06:56 AMA lack of empathy is not an "opinion," Buck. It deserves to be questioned, don't you think? Not that a person can't exist without empathy and doesn't deserve the right to live their life as they choose. But if they're sharing it publicly and expecting others to accept it as "truth", wouldn't you say that's a problem, Buck? Because I think it is.
Janzs gave an opinion on an animated fictional film and described it as relaxing because of its music and animation. Nowhere did he describe it as 'the truth' of the movie. How does one go from seeing someone's mild-mannered take on a film everyone enjoyed to implying they lack empathy and haven't endured potential danger in their life? It seems fairly obvious that the movie connected to you and your life experiences very strongly, and that's cool - it's great when art can resonate like that. But why get bent out of shape and argumentative with others who enjoy it and come away from it with different impressions than you do?
I agree with
@SGR here,
@costa_oscura. I don't think someone should have their entire person questioned in such a way due to a comment about how they enjoy a movie. Neither do I think your assessment of Jans seems accurate. He might be a stoic perhaps, but doesn't deserve your attack. And he's certainly no MAGA supporter.
Quote from: SGR on Mar 02, 2025, 07:30 AMBut why get bent out of shape and argumentative with others who enjoy it and come away from it with different impressions than you do?
Because it's alarming to me when someone expresses a lack of empathy so openly. Why isn't that alarming to you, SGR? Why does that behavior not worry you? ...Unless you don't see the problem? Unless you think this is perfectly normal behavior?
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 02, 2025, 08:39 AMI agree with @SGR here, @costa_oscura. I don't think someone should have their entire person questioned in such a way due to a comment about how they enjoy a movie. Neither do I think your assessment of Jans seems accurate. He might be a stoic perhaps, but doesn't deserve your attack. And he's certainly no MAGA supporter.
I never suggested he was, so I'm not sure where that assessment comes from, other than the groupthink here that seems to function on the "let's attack the new member" concept. It's unfortunate, but not unusual in forums like these. ...But I got it: shut up, don't question the establishment, toe the line to the status quo. That's how things are here. Lesson learned. Real openness you've cultivated here. ::)
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 02, 2025, 02:02 PMBecause it's alarming to me when someone expresses a lack of empathy so openly. Why isn't that alarming to you, SGR? Why does that behavior not worry you? ...Unless you don't see the problem? Unless you think this is perfectly normal behavior?
He hasn't 'expressed a lack of empathy', he expressed his opinions on one film. It's your opinion that it means he lacks empathy. I think it's important to reestablish some perspective here. This is the movie Jansz found relaxing:
(https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FLOW-ANIMATED-MOVIE-REVIEW.jpg?quality=75&strip=all)
Based on all the pearl-clutching you've been doing, you'd think he made these comments about a snuff film or something.
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 02, 2025, 02:02 PMI never suggested he was, so I'm not sure where that assessment comes from, other than the groupthink here that seems to function on the "let's attack the new member" concept. It's unfortunate, but not unusual in forums like these. ...But I got it: shut up, don't question the establishment, toe the line to the status quo. That's how things are here. Lesson learned. Real openness you've cultivated here. ::)
Give me a break, trying to recast yourself as a victim here is silly. People aren't
attacking you, they're pushing back on your attempts to impugn Janzs's empathy and experiences based on his reaction to one animated film. It has nothing to do with the fact that you're the 'new member', it has to do with people disagreeing with how you're approaching this conversation.
Hmm. "Just because I accepted your apology doesn't mean etc". So I guess you didn't really accept my apology, accept that a comment I had made about - well, not even you, but people in general - was taken totally out of context, and your behaviour here towards others shows that it's typical of how you react. I didn't read your wall of text - I have the copyright on them - because now I see you're just going to dig your heels in, double down on what I said (even though I explained it and you seemed to understand/accept that explanation) and make out that you're being attacked. Did it ever occur to you that, as the old saying goes, if ten people are telling you you're dead, lie down? If everyone thinks you're overreacting, here's a thought: maybe you are. It's not a "groupthink" or clique mentality here - we frequently disagree with each other. But when everyone is saying the same thing, there must be some truth in it.
Just take a step back and look at what you're saying. Because a guy you don't know, have never met, know nothing about, calls an animated movie about animals (albeit, apparently, in danger) "relaxing", you make a snap judgement on his personality, and when everyone else tells you to cool it and that you're wrong, you just stamp your foot like a child and say no no I'm right and you're all wrong and now you're all attacking me. It's a real storm in a teacup, because all you had to say was something along the lines of well I don't agree but whatever, and nobody would have cared. Now you've started to alienate everyone here, which is sad, as it's the first time a new member has reacted in this way. But if that's who you are, if that's the kind of person you are, there's nothing anyone can do about it. I wish you would see that you have made a mountain out of a place where small furry animals live underground, and just drop it, let it go.
As for me bringing back up our little spat, don't you see you're doing exactly the same thing as you accused me of? Judging someone without a clue as to who they are? I did that (in your opinion, though not intentionally) and apologised for it and pointed out my reasons. You're doing the same thing, but won't apologise or even accept you're wrong. That's not going to win you any friends, and it's not going to help the dynamic here.
I'd also point out that what you're doing, both with Jansz and SGR, and to an extent with me, amounts to a series of personal attacks, and we don't allow those there. Ribbing is fine, slagging off is fine, disagreeing with others is perfectly fine. But if you attack someone's personal integrity, that's not fine.
So please, drop the attitude. Everyone will be a lot happier just to move past this. In the end, it's not worth all this upset.
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Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 02, 2025, 06:56 AMA lack of empathy is not an "opinion," Buck. It deserves to be questioned, don't you think? Not that a person can't exist without empathy and doesn't deserve the right to live their life as they choose. But if they're sharing it publicly and expecting others to accept it as "truth," wouldn't you say that's a problem, Buck? Because I think it is.
I'm not sure if you completely misunderstood, or are just being obtuse. I never claimed empathy was an opinion. I was referring to his opinion of the movie. You're the one who characterized his opinion as a lack of empathy.
Empathy is a multi-dimensional concept that has multi-dimensional characteristics that may not align exactly with yours.
Anyway, you fall victim to your own line of reasoning. You asked Janz to do something that you said you were not prepared to do yourself, i.e explain the circumstances of the danger you experienced.
You seem like a smart person, I think this is the 2nd time you've played the victim card. That's beneath you.
I'm starting to form the opinion that because you say you have education and health experience in the subject matter, you were trying to goad Janz into a debate where you could show off your knowledge.
It's very clear that there's no going against the status quo here and you don't respect women with education. I worked hard for my degrees, credentials and years of experience and I'm not going to diminish them for anyone here or elsewhere. I know the signs of lacking empathy and Janzoon has exhibited them, whether the status quo here wants to recognize it or not. It's clear you all would rather defend an established member of this forum than ever consider the idea that I might be right.
And troll, I was serious when I wrote that you need to leave me alone. If you comment any more at me in this forum, I'll take it as harassment. When else do you ignore a woman's request to leave her alone, troll? When else is this a problem for you?
Stop the fighting words, please, and lets get back on topic. If you want to argue further, take it to PMs or Unmoderated.
I thought the first part of Wall-E was relaxing and had a calm atmosphere even though it's about a completely destroyed and ruined planet earth that has clearly gone through horrific, presumably extinction level catastrophe. Does that mean I have no empathy for the destroyed human society and the pain that clearly occurred? I dunno, I just think the silence and sense of gloom and the escapades of this cute little robot give a feeling of calmness. Melancholy can be relaxing.
Again I haven't seen the movie in question but I would assume it's not really very intense. "Relaxing" doesn't always mean "positive, everything is fine". There is nuance I think we can acknowledge here.
After all this commotion about Flow, I had to watch it for myself last night. My wife watched it with me. For most of the movie, it was pretty low-key. Like Noah's Ark without Noah. But there were a couple sad parts to it. But, not to spoil anything, near the end, my poor wife broke out in tears. She used to have dreams of being a vet tech though, and she absolutely loves animals. Admittedly, I was a little choked up too. But I wouldn't say it was any worse than most classic Pixar fare. I'll make no excuses for it, the beginning of Up and the flashbacks of Jessie in Toy Story 2 always choke me up. :laughing:
Great film though - animation was excellent, and with no dialogue at all, the story was mostly told in a very clear and straightforward manner. Apparently it was all made with Blender, which is completely open source. That's pretty cool, and while I thought it was technically proficient, I still don't think that kind of animation is quite as distinctive and memorable as handrawn 2D art which you might find in Miyazaki films like Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle.
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Mar 02, 2025, 09:17 PMI thought the first part of Wall-E was relaxing and had a calm atmosphere even though it's about a completely destroyed and ruined planet earth that has clearly gone through horrific, presumably extinction level catastrophe. Does that mean I have no empathy for the destroyed human society and the pain that clearly occurred? I dunno, I just think the silence and sense of gloom and the escapades of this cute little robot give a feeling of calmness. Melancholy can be relaxing.
Again I haven't seen the movie in question but I would assume it's not really very intense. "Relaxing" doesn't always mean "positive, everything is fine". There is nuance I think we can acknowledge here.
Somehow, I've never seen Wall-E. I have no idea why. I've heard nothing but great things about it. I need to watch it at some point. Ratatouille was another one that I hadn't seen for the longest time - finally got around to it a few years ago and absolutely loved it.
Same. I haven't watched all of Wall E or seen Ratatouille as an adult.
I should add them to my list of movies to watch this week.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Mar 02, 2025, 11:30 PMSame. I haven't watched all of Wall E or seen Ratatouille as an adult.
I should add them to my list of movies to watch this week.
Yeah, both of those movies got released around the time I was in high school - so as a stupid high schooler, I thought I was too mature for animated family/kids movies, but also, because I was in high school, the teachers would rarely wheel those movies out with the TV stand and VCR anymore (they abused us with The Polar Express in elementary/middle school for so many years that I absolutely fucking despise the movie).
Ratatouille is good though - a very fun movie.
Quote from: SGR on Mar 02, 2025, 11:42 PMYeah, both of those movies got released around the time I was in high school - so as a stupid high schooler, I thought I was too mature for animated family/kids movies, but also, because I was in high school, the teachers would rarely wheel those movies out with the TV stand and VCR anymore (they abused us with The Polar Express in elementary/middle school for so many years that I absolutely fucking despise the movie).
Ratatouille is good though - a very fun movie.
I just realized the release dates probably contributed to me missing them as well. I was just out of college and not really paying attention to animated movies. So that's how I missed both.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Mar 02, 2025, 11:52 PMI just realized the release dates probably contributed to me missing them as well. I was just out of college and not really paying attention to animated movies. So that's how I missed both.
Yeah, depending on the time of your life, it's easy to miss certain movies - even if you just happen to be busy with a lot of bullshit one year.
Speaking of animated movies, did anyone see Mad God? I watched that one a month or so ago and damn, it's like a nightmare-fuel
Nightmare Before Christmas. All stop motion and the brainchild of Phil Tippett, who had roles in creature designs in both Star Wars and Jurassic Park.
Interesting! Yeah, Wall-E came out when I was 19 in the year off I took between high school and college so I think the timing there might have been a factor. I saw movies a lot more frequently in my pre-college years and at 19 I was well past my "I'm too cool and edgy for cartoons" era haha.
We discussed Mad God in our little film club,
@SGR 🙂
https://scd.community/index.php?topic=166.0
Quote from: Guybrush on Mar 03, 2025, 01:01 AMWe discussed Mad God in our little film club, @SGR 🙂
https://scd.community/index.php?topic=166.0
I still need to watch this movie!
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 02, 2025, 08:52 PMIt's very clear that there's no going against the status quo here and you don't respect women with education. I worked hard for my degrees, credentials and years of experience and I'm not going to diminish them for anyone here or elsewhere. I know the signs of lacking empathy and Janzoon has exhibited them, whether the status quo here wants to recognize it or not. It's clear you all would rather defend an established member of this forum than ever consider the idea that I might be right.
And troll, I was serious when I wrote that you need to leave me alone. If you comment any more at me in this forum, I'll take it as harassment. When else do you ignore a woman's request to leave her alone, troll? When else is this a problem for you?
Sorry, but you can't now switch to the "poor put-upon female card". That doesn't absolve you from any posts you made which others find offensive, wrong or incorrect. Your status as a woman doesn't make you immune to criticism, or warnings. I'm a mod here, and I'm doing my job. Your gender, and whether or not you wish to hear from me, has nothing to do with it. Like I say, you've been warned. I'd prefer to hear no more about this, but that's up to you.
Quote from: Trollheart on Mar 03, 2025, 03:26 AMSorry, but you can't now switch to the "poor put-upon female card". That doesn't absolve you from any posts you made which others find offensive, wrong or incorrect. Your status as a woman doesn't make you immune to criticism, or warnings. I'm a mod here, and I'm doing my job. Your gender, and whether or not you wish to hear from me, has nothing to do with it. Like I say, you've been warned. I'd prefer to hear no more about this, but that's up to you.
Someone says leave me alone and you proceed to ignore their request. Why?
Relevant.
Everyone loves an underdog (undercat?) story. Congrats to everyone involved in the making of the film. Well deserved!
'Flow' wins best animated feature film Oscar (https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/flow-wins-best-animated-feature-film-oscar-2025-03-03/)
It's a crime that Transformers One wasn't even nominated imo.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Mar 03, 2025, 04:08 AMSomeone says leave me alone and you proceed to ignore their request. Why?
Oh come on now! All I did was give her a warning and tell her she was doing exactly the same thing as she accused me of. That's allowed. As a mod, I can't not warn someone just because they ask me not to talk to them!
Anyway, rest assured I won't be talking to her again, unless she initiates a conversation with me, or refuses to heed the warning. I, like most of us I think, would prefer to consider this matter closed and move on.
Did anyone watch Herectic (2024)? Worth watching or nah?
It seemed to be generally liked. A few people here said it was good, others said they wanted to see it. Me, I don't know: I'm a good Catholic boy. :laughing:
Quote from: DJChameleon on Mar 03, 2025, 04:08 AMSomeone says leave me alone and you proceed to ignore their request. Why?
Because that's who this person is. He(?, I assume) can't stop when a woman tells him no.
Quote from: Trollheart on Mar 03, 2025, 06:15 PMOh come on now! All I did was give her a warning and tell her she was doing exactly the same thing as she accused me of. That's allowed. As a mod, I can't not warn someone just because they ask me not to talk to them!
Anyway, rest assured I won't be talking to her again, unless she initiates a conversation with me, or refuses to heed the warning. I, like most of us I think, would prefer to consider this matter closed and move on.
You need to stop. Mod or not, when a woman tells you to leave her alone, you need to acknowledge that request by doing it. Women need more safe spaces to interact online, not less. Right now, you're showing me you're part of the problem.
Quote from: SGR on Mar 04, 2025, 01:48 AMDid anyone watch Herectic (2024)? Worth watching or nah?
I liked it better than I thought I would. A few scenes towards the end are a little formulaic, but overall, it surprised me in good ways. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East are great, and Hugh Grant as a charming psychopath is a real treat.
Quote from: SGR on Mar 04, 2025, 01:48 AMDid anyone watch Herectic (2024)? Worth watching or nah?
Yeah we talked about it in this thread a few pages back. If I find it, I will link it for you.
I generally enjoyed it
https://scd.community/index.php?topic=8.900
Starts in the middle of page 61
Jeezus, I feel like an idiot. I read the takes on the film a couple pages back and that's what reminded me of the movie. Then I forgot that I was reminded about the movie through reading about it here. Thanks everyone. :laughing:
Quote from: SGR on Mar 04, 2025, 03:40 PMJeezus, I feel like an idiot. I read the takes on the film a couple pages back and that's what reminded me of the movie. Then I forgot that I was reminded about the movie through reading about it here. Thanks everyone. :laughing:
In my house that's called a senior moment. They're a comin to gitya eventually. :laughing:
Welcome to the old codgers' club! :laughing:
Quote from: costa_oscura on Mar 04, 2025, 11:15 AMYou need to stop. Mod or not, when a woman tells you to leave her alone, you need to acknowledge that request by doing it. Women need more safe spaces to interact online, not less. Right now, you're showing me you're part of the problem.
"You need to stop" - Granted, Trolls does need to reduce his paragragh count a tiny bit, especially when it comes to to the history of Ireland, history of England, history of prog, or history of anything... (pls don't stop your history of jazz rock prog funk.)
"Women need more safe spaces to interact online" - Well, that's a good point by costa, because there is a hell of a lot going on where women are not appreciated. But Jesus Christ, where on SCD are women not appreciated? I'm convinced that women drive the banter on SCD.
Quote from: Saulaac on Mar 04, 2025, 10:04 PM"You need to stop" - Granted, Trolls does need to reduce his paragragh count a tiny bit, especially when it comes to to the history of Ireland, history of England, history of prog, or history of anything... (pls don't stop your history of jazz rock prog funk.)
"Women need more safe spaces to interact online" - Well, that's a good point by costa, because there is a hell of a lot going on where women are not appreciated. But Jesus Christ, where on SCD are women not appreciated? I'm convinced that women drive the banter on SCD.
Never, sir! Not while there's yet breath in my body! In fact, if you think you've seen walls of text from me, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Um, that is to say, as yet, you have not seen anything. Um. :laughing:
Jesus fucking Christ, I always knew there was a John Paul or a John Peter amongst us. As an ambassador of that questionable religion, feel free nonetheless to shove two fingers to whoever pisses you off. It works a treat.
What are you talking about? ???
I don't focking know anymore. Does anyone else have a clue?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Splash_ver2.jpg)
Splash (1984)
I saw this in the theater when it was new, and maybe one more time as a young adult, but it's been a long time. I was surprised that it holds up as well as it does. Aside from John Candy's character's pervy-ness, this movie, including the VFX, has aged incredibly well.
One of Karen's favourite movies. A very young Tom Hanks, and basically a modern version of The Little Mermaid. Without all the cute songs.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ydN4Tz9d/Cry-Vengeance-1954.png)
Cry Vengeance (1954)
:3stars:
Crime thriller about a former cop who is released from prison after serving time for a bribery charge which he was framed on. He is obsessed with seeking revenge against the man he believes is responsible for the deaths of his wife and child in a bomb blast which was meant for him shortly before he was set up and sent to prison.
After seeing Flow,, it left me in the mood for another good animated movie. I watched The Wild Robot. Anyone here seen that one? I quite liked it. Deifnitely tugged on your heart strings. Best thing Dreamworks has done in a long while imo.
Haven't seen it but it looks good. Isn't he friends with a bird or something in it?
Quote from: Trollheart on Today at 03:02 AMHaven't seen it but it looks good. Isn't he friends with a bird or something in it?
Yeah, she stumbles on a bird egg and through circumstance, ends up becoming a mother to the bird (who is a runt).
You did say runt, right? :laughing:
Quote from: SGR on Today at 01:17 AMAfter seeing Flow,, it left me in the mood for another good animated movie. I watched The Wild Robot. Anyone here seen that one? I quite liked it. Deifnitely tugged on your heart strings. Best thing Dreamworks has done in a long while imo.
I saw Wild Robot a few weeks ago and loved it.
Its been on my to watch list. I wanted to see it while it was in theaters.
Same thing with Piece by Piece but I ended up watching it a few weeks ago.
It's interesting to see Pharrell's autobiography in Lego pieces. It's a great nostalgia trip hearing all the songs he produced and was part of.