Movie reviews

[bill5]

What's the last movie you saw? Like/hated/other? Why?

 

For me it was Walk Among the Tombstones starring Liam Nesson in a typical action film for him. It was kind of by the numbers and good enough but not great. 

[Fuzzy1]

Kung Fu Hustle - -The music, the insane comedyand the fights - - - this one makes me laugh out loud every time!

[Docbop]

The Woman King  great movie in every way, with soundtrack by Terence Blanchard.   

[Lindaru]

"As They Made Us" with Dustin Hoffman.  It shows some family dynamics involving a dysfunctional family as the patriarch becomes terminally ill.  I am a sucker for these types of movies, especially as deals with aging issues as I am getting up there in years myself.
 

[16251]

I recently watched the three Harley Quinn movies. I dig the quirkiness. Not happening without Margo Robbi.

[o0Ampy0o]

Recently:

Dunkirk - great suspenseful, realistic, well done on all levels.

1000 Miles From Graceland - funny and sort of cute.

Blade Runner 2049 - lives up to and does the original justice.

Hail, Caesar! - Funny and interesting enough, I love most of the Coen Brothers films.

 

The last film I watched:

The Ballad of Buster Skruggs - It is a series of short stories. I generally like the Coen Brothers material but this one was uneven. Each story had potential and could have held my interest as a full film but I did not think the last story was good at all. Sometimes something is strong enough to compensate for weakness but the last one was flat. I don't think Tyne Daly is a good actress, even for 1970's and 80's level TV she wasn't that good. In this film it seemed like I was watching someone act instead of buying into the character. Because they have so much going for them a Coen Brothers film is an opportunity to shine like a guest role in The Sopranos was.  The story wasn't interesting but the way it was shot entirely inside a stage coach the segment was all about the acting and how interesting they could present their characters. If the actor cannot act well there is nothing else that is going to save something like this.

 

An aside while speaking of acting, many times I thought I had seen everything out of Al Pacino. In his own way he does not change as much as other actors from character to character in terms of visually and his voice. However he can convince me to buy into a character because his mindset significantly changes. I thought the film The Insider would be boring. It was about tobacco companies. He was really good in that movie. In Glengarry Glen Ross, he played his character perfectly. In The Irishman, he presented such an interesting Jimmy Hoffa I easily stuck with the relatively long film.

 

On the other hand, from the opening scenes of Heat it was the failure of his career. They tried to make him youthful and vibrant with dyed hair and showing him as a stud satisfying his young attractive wife. But matching him to De Niro could only have been done indirectly. At that time De Niro wasn't doing comedic roles. He was at his prime. He was the straight man to comedic characters and plot twists in Midnight Run. When Pacino is chasing De Niro it is so obvious that Pacino is a very small man. His legs are going 5x faster compared with De Niro who is trying to look like he is desperately running as fast as he can but looking like he is practically skipping and frolicking in a meadow while playing tag with Bambi. They needed to approach their competition avoiding obvious counter-productive comparisons.

[David Emm]

* "Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters". Phil has been a first-call animator whose stop-motion work you've seen many times, including some notable Star Wars moments. The film's tone is one of fascination, by Phil & his fellow artists and ME, taking in how astounding that world can be. The bridging process from total practical effects initially to digital over the years almost reads like the history of synth progress. 

 

* "Mad God." Phil Tippett's huge, abstract film, created over several decades. Its disturbing and has no traditional narrative, although there IS a story hidden in it. Not for small kids and not for YOU, right before bed. Visually astounding.

 

* "Thor: Love and Thunder." Marvel movies each have a certain flavor, some more serious, some less so. This one is another Taika Waititi comedic take, for the most part. It has serious moments that further the narrative, but a lot of it is also strictly for fun. Its heavy on the fan service, dangling inevitable pearls that tease the next episode you'll see in 2 years. I was in the mood for a melodramatic sitcom with some cheap laughs and it delivered.   

 

[Stokely]

I watch very few these days.  The last one I saw in theaters was Dune, and that might be the last one I watched period.   I'd watch anything Denis Villeneuve directs, but the fact that this was a novel that I've read more than a few times meant I was there for the big screen.

I enjoy a few series on Prime and Netflix, like The Boys.   I'm currently checking out Shadow and Bone on Netflix, and I was pleasantly surprised...it's pretty obviously very high budget, looks incredible (but I get the criticisms about the lack of gravitas in the young actors, it's a young adult novel apparently.)   Also on Netflix I need to finish Dark, which is a pretty amazing German sci-fi show (3 seasons).  Movie quality cinematography, it's kind of a darker and more adult Stranger Things (roughly) without the cheese.   I enjoy Stranger Things simply because I grew up about the time the show does, and I love the nostalgia kick, but season 4 especially has me cringing quite a bit.

[elif]

Most recently: The Narrow Margin, 1952 (IMDB)

Nominated for an Oscar (best writing).

 

Charles McGraw - hardnosed cop with an attitude
Marie Windsor (Queen of the B's) - mobster's widow, also with attitude

 

Storyline
--------------------------------------
When a mobster's widow decides to testify and provide names of others involved in evil deeds, she goes undercover to avoid being killed. Onboard a train going cross-country, she's being escorted in order to testify. Cop Walter Brown and his partner are assigned the task, but the mob are on their trail, attempting to make sure she never reaches her destination.
-------------------------------------

 

Loved it.

Film noir, B&W w/dramatic lighting, gritty & intense plot, clever dialog, men with hats and everybody smokes. Not too long (73 min).

[Old No7]

Top Gun * Maverick

 

In IMAX!!!

 

BEST movie sequel I've ever seen!

 

(Well, they had 20+ years to get it right...)

 

Old No7

[o0Ampy0o]

17 hours ago, Old No7 said:

Top Gun * Maverick

 

In IMAX!!!

 

BEST movie sequel I've ever seen!

 

(Well, they had 20+ years to get it right...)

 

Old No7

It looked like it had potential watching one trailer on YT but after it was available and I saw the clips and trailer on Netflix or Amazon I was put off by the new crew of cookie cutout cocky young pilots.

 

I'll have to give it a chance given such high praise unless "the best" is also "the only" sequel you have ever seen.

[TommyRude]

Roadhouse.   C'mon, how did this not get an Oscar for somethin'?

[xKnuckles]

I recently watched a film called 'The Alpinist' ...(on Amazon Prime video) which is actually a documentary about a Canadian freeclimber...but it was so outstandingly good that I feel compelled to mention it here. If you want a spellbinding, nail biting, uplifting and inspiring 90 minutes then try this film. I cannot recommend it highly enough. 🙂

[Anderton]

I went slumming last night, and watched "Moonfall" on Netflix. It is unquestionably the crappiest movie ever I would have paid money for to see in IMAX 3D.

 

Generic CGI special effects and super-saturated colors: A

Script and dialog: D-

Plot cleverness: Difficult to say. The only plot I could discern was "get bad aliens before they get you." 

Extra credit: Whoever made the decision not to pretty up Halle Berry, and instead just make her look like an ordinary person.

 

[Dave Bryce]

1 hour ago, Anderton said:

I went slumming last night, and watched "Moonfall" on Netflix. It is unquestionably the crappiest movie ever I would have paid money for to see in IMAX 3D.

 

Generic CGI special effects and super-saturated colors: A

Script and dialog: D-

Plot cleverness: Difficult to say. The only plot I could discern was "get bad aliens before they get you." 

Extra credit: Whoever made the decision not to pretty up Halle Berry, and instead just make her look like an ordinary person.

 

We made the mistake of watching it as well.  Completely agreed on the suck factor being high. 🤮

 

On the other side, I also liked Top Gun 2.  Fun film.

 

dB

[Doerfler]

6 hours ago, TommyRude said:

Roadhouse.   C'mon, how did this not get an Oscar for somethin'?

Tommy -

that was the last movie you saw?  How many times have you seen it.    

Love it myself, haven't seen it for a while.

Patrick Swayze (RIP) was fantastic, Sam Elliott was more fantastic, IMO. 

[Doerfler]

As for me, the latest movie I have seen is "Belfast" on HBO Max. (I spend more time watching serials these days)

If you are a Van Morrison fan like me, he did the soundtrack

Can't recommend it highly enough.

From Wikipedia (pretty high praise)

"The film received seven nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning for Best Original Screenplay. It was named one of the best films of 2021 by the National Board of Review and tied with The Power of the Dog for a leading seven nominations at the 79th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama, and won for Best Screenplay. It also tied with West Side Story for a leading eleven nominations at the 27th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture, and also received six nominations at the 75th British Academy Film Awards, winning Outstanding British Film."

 

[bill5]

Sabrina - 50s movie starring Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden where a servant girl for a rich family ends up in a love triangle. It was OKish. Big fan of all three, but Bogie just mailed it in on this one, very disappointing performance.  

[Wrrtyuuiioop]

The last movie we went to a cinema to see.

 

Blade Runner 2049

 

Bad script, bad acting, overly long, disjointed.

 

A waste of our time and cash.

[Doerfler]

5 hours ago, Biggles said:

 

 

Blade Runner 2049

 

Bad script, bad acting, overly long, disjointed.

 

 

I watched this movie on a plane trip returning to the USA from Europe last month. Kind of hard for me to judge a movie in that type of atmosphere, but I can't say I disagree. 

[harmonizer]

My wife and I saw "Where the Crawdads Sing" in the theater when it came out this Summer.  A-

 

The most noteworthy new movie I have seen via streaming at home was "The Unforgivable", which I also rate A-.

 

They're both worth watching IMO.

[TommyRude]

18 hours ago, Doerfler said:

Tommy -

that was the last movie you saw?  How many times have you seen it.    

Love it myself, haven't seen it for a while.

Patrick Swayze (RIP) was fantastic, Sam Elliott was more fantastic, IMO. 

Forgot to mention why I love Roadhouse.  Mainly, it's for the fantastic dialog, quotable bits and pieces strewn throughout.   For example, "Pain don't hurt!"

[ksoper]

20 hours ago, Doerfler said:

I watched this movie on a plane trip returning to the USA from Europe last month. Kind of hard for me to judge a movie in that type of atmosphere, but I can't say I disagree. 

 

It gets better on repeat viewings. I watched it last week and caught stuff I've missed before.

 

My Name Is Doris:  Sally Field as a socially awkward 60 y/o who falls for a considerably younger man at work. Netflix. Grade B. Sally Field does extremely well with what she's given. 

 

I Used To Be Famous: Netflix. Discussed elsewhere on the forum. Former boy band star puts his life back together with the help of a gifted young drummer.  Formulaic but completely enjoyable. X-brace stand joke.  Grade A

 

The Last Laugh:  Netflix. Richard Dreyfus (who I literally bumped into in the Montreal airport) and Chevy Chase, who is lucky to be working if the stories about him are true. A buddy comedy and not only because one of the characters is named Buddy. Old show biz guys break out of the happy home and go on the road, Buddy proving the onstage laughs, kind of. Probably spent more time at the truck stop urinals than actually driving. Discovered that Chevy Chase is 78. Looks it. Be the pancake makeup. Nununununun. Grade B

 

Thor, Love And Thunder:  If you liked Thor: Ragnarok (did I spell that right? I'm not going to check.) you'll like this. Taika Watiti, mid stroke on hole 6 gets called when they're showing dailies, is asked how he likes it and he goes, "Yeah, baby!" Grade A--It's still quite entertaining.

 

Justice League Zack Snyder Cut:  We got about 30 min into the theatric version and I casually mentioned that there was a director's cut. The wife said, "Well wouldn't you want to see what the director envisioned.?" Overjoyed, I said, " It's 4 hours long," She said, "Whet else are we doing?" Well worth your time. A completely different movie than the theater cut. Grade A+.

 

Nope:  Jordan Peele should be paid all the money. What a gift. He owes a lot to Spielberg and Abrams in this movie but it still has his touch. Very enjoyable. Grade A+

 

Top Gun: Maverick:  Saw it in the theater. It was the movie you wanted. Yea team! 

 

The Munsters: Wow! That was a movie! It ran about 90 minutes. We paused it a couple of times to go to the bathroom. I think we're both going to the bathroom more. My prostate is the size of an eggplant. I joke. The doctor says my prostate is "boggy." Peat is essential to the production of the world's finest scotch. How could that be a bad thing? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stephen Fortner]

I finally got to see Nolan's "Tenet" on Prime Video. Visually stunning, great writing and acting, and a mind-bender of a time paradox puzzle that bears repeated watching to figure out. That said, never before has so much high-concept mileage been wrung out of such a straightforward visual device: playing stuff backwards.

[JamPro]

I just finished watching The Tin Drum, a German film released in 1979 (on TCM - German language with English subtitles).  The film won the 1979 Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and an Oscar for Best Foreign Language film in 1980.  The screenplay was adapted from the book The Tin Drum by Gunther Grass, published in 1959.  

 

The movie closely follows the action of the book.  It tells the story of Oskar, a boy who decides to stop growing at age 3.  As a child, he receives a drum and obsessively carries it with him everywhere, using the drum to interact with the world around him.  Unfortunately for him, his world is Danzig in the 1930's - one of the first European cities to be fought over in WWII.  The theme is mostly about the follies of humans, both individually in their relationships and in groups with their warfare.

 

The film is a visual delight, and unlike anything I have seen before.  The settings, framing, lighting and cinematography are unique and strongly contribute to the surreal story telling.  The soundtrack is likewise unique, and prominently includes a jaw-harp - tho' I also caught snatches of Old Limehouse Blues in one of the drinking scenes.

 

I heartily recommend The Tin Drum to any movie fan wishing for something more than another Hollywood blockbuster.

 

[JohnH]

Top Gun Maverick. Was excellent. I have a friend that went at least five times. I guess I just don't have that kind of time. I wanted to go again.

 

Tonight I am seeing the Dio Doc. And I would much rather go to the theater than watch stuff at home. At home I get distracted, fall asleep, so half the time I can't get anything finished without restarting it the next day. I am sure out of the three most important guitarists  (Iommi, Blackmore and Vivian) we are only going to get one talking. Blackmore doesn't typically show up on docs and Vivian is persona non grata with Wendy.

[David Emm]

On 9/26/2022 at 7:56 PM, Anderton said:

I went slumming last night, and watched "Moonfall" on Netflix. It is unquestionably the crappiest movie ever I would have paid money for to see in IMAX 3D.

 

Generic CGI special effects and super-saturated colors: A

Script and dialog: D-

Plot cleverness: Difficult to say. The only plot I could discern was "get bad aliens before they get you." 

Extra credit: Whoever made the decision not to pretty up Halle Berry, and instead just make her look like an ordinary person.

 

 

Its one of those popcorn movies that made my dog look at me and say "Oh bitch, please!" Its a new level of Bad when you can't decide if it was made that way as a joke or if the bosses thought it was a serious drama and lacked the ability to recognize the level of suckage. If you turn off the volume and play "The Dark Side of the Moon," its.... a lot better. 

 

[bill5]

On 9/27/2022 at 1:59 AM, Biggles said:

The last movie we went to a cinema to see.

 

Blade Runner 2049

 

Bad script, bad acting, overly long, disjointed.

 

A waste of our time and cash.

Thanks for this; it's amazing to me how many people thought this was a great movie. It sucked bad. IMO so did the original really, though not as much.

[o0Ampy0o]

2 hours ago, bill5 said:

Thanks for this; it's amazing to me how many people thought this was a great movie. It sucked bad. IMO so did the original really, though not as much.

I am going to say this even though it is probably going to fall on deaf ears:

 

A plane trip is not a good environment for doing anything and/or if you were not particularly a fan of the original or you watched the film in a significantly less than ideal frame of mind no one should expect to enjoy the sequel.

 

Recommending Blade Runner 2049 I just thought about how much I enjoyed the film. I did not think of it from the perspective of a film historian and how its popularity sits in the grand scheme of things. I do understand that it is not a universally popular film. If you did not particularly appreciate the original I doubt you have the interest or mindset to enjoy its sequel.  The sequel, Ridley Scott felt it could have and should have been edited down to a shorter viewing time. I did not see either in a theater. I even aborted viewing the sequel the first time as I was not in the mood to continue with it. I did eventually view it and I did enjoy it. I even wish there was a "Director's Cut" and some deleted scenes to watch. I don't have a problem with the released version as it is. I would just like to see more of the film.

 

That said, Blade Runner is a cult classic. Most cult classics have many imperfections but are something that can be loved and appreciated. Blade Runner came out of a wonderful period of scifi renaissance. The original's story bored me a little. I mostly enjoyed the world that was created. I read the book out of curiosity. I enjoyed the film, the book not so much.

 

Harrison Ford was generally flat as an actor in earlier roles then he demonstrated how he could be surprisingly versatile between characters. I have never thought much of Star Wars. I became aware of Ford via the first three. I did see those (I was not impressed with the first, I went along with friends and thought the second was exciting so I saw the third. I also saw the fourth with that annoying kid but did not see any of the others that came after it.). I thought Ford was miscast in Star Wars. IMO he wasn't charismatic enough. When Ford appeared as Indiana Jones I was impressed at how he fit into the role which was modeled after the era. He revealed a chameleon-like ability. His physical appearance does not hold him back. His chameleon-like ability extends to mannerisms which also expressed the genre. He carried himself differently between the characters in Star Wars, Blade Runner and the Raiders films. In the original Blade Runner he played the Decker character like a detective from early crime caper fiction.  Ford's appearance in the fourth Raiders film was silly. Many years passed between the previous and most recent installments of these two franchises. That sequel was all sentimentality.  In contrast, his appearance and the story connecting the Blade Runner sequel to the original was plausible.

 

I enjoyed the world created for the film to take place within. It is interesting visually but it is an emotionally cold and empty existence. There was also a layer of haunting sadness to the film. Sean Young's character embodied the beauty and tenderness that the harsh world of Blade Runner lacked. That was also present in Blade Runner 2049. The relationship Ryan Gosling has with the virtual girlfriend was similarly sad. The actress, Ana de Armas, was perfect in the role. Gosling was good enough to carry his end of that relationship. Sylvia Hoeks as "Luv" was very convincing as the most ruthless replicant. She played a version of the ruthless character portrayed by Rutger Hauer in the original. The commonality between the two is how both demonstrated the lengths a replicant would go to accomplish their objective.

 

I am saddened that you do not like my film choice. Oh well. I think it is wonderful and appreciate many things about it especially that it was a fitting extension respecting the original.  To each his own.

 

 

 

 

[CowboyNQ]

Bullet Train.

 

Great fun.  Felt like a Tarantino/Ritchie cross.