Movies you've just watched

[GaijinPunch]

I watched Harakiri (or Seppuku?) from 1962 yesterday. Late to the party but what awesome storytelling it offered. I was glued to the story.
I thought the complexities of the samurai code of honor and the psychological conflict of each character was extremely well played. Easy 10/10.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056058/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Congrats! It's fucking amazing!!!

So because i loved this movie and really liked Kwaidan (1964) from the same director (Masaki Kobayashi) I think I will next see the epic 9-hour trilogy of The Human Condition I,II,III. Don't know what to expect really, but am optimistic.

The Human Condition... amazing as well but for very different reasons. Obviously each one is very long, and not the easiest material to digest.
I watched each one on 3+ hour flights so they were perfect. Maybe try The Inheritance or Samurai Rebellion first? Both solid choices by Kobayashi.

[DMC]

Yes, maybe Samurai Rebellion would be the logical next step. I just think the Human Condition trilogy could be a nice winter holidays exercise. Let's see if I am ready for it.

Speaking of Winter holiday movies. I kind of miss a big Star wars movie to go see on the theaters and watch some half in the bag review after.

[Mischief Maker]

Speaking of Winter holiday movies. I kind of miss a big Star wars movie to go see on the theaters and watch some half in the bag review after.

The Matrix 4 comes out soon.

[vol.2]

spiderman also

[Stevens]

While it is not a particularly high bar to clear, I believe Wrath of Man is easily Jason Statham's best film. And not good for one of his movies, but good.

Ritchie and company made a movie I saw at home, but wish I would have seen it at Alamo. And the climax? So many bullets..

[Mischief Maker]

easily Jason Statham's best film.

Better than Crank 2: High Voltage???

[Stevens]

Sorry MM, there's no jumper cables in this one.

[lilmanjs]

Uncut Gems
Fantastic movie that looks amazing on the Criterion 4K UHD disc. No clue why the heck it wasn't released on 4K before this year, but totally worth it.

[Vexorg]

Blithe Spirit: **1/2

2020 movie adaptation of a long running 1948 Noel Coward stage play where a discredited spiritual medium (played by Judi Dench) is called by a struggling writer to do a seance which inadvertently summons the spirit of his dead ex wife, greatly complicating his relationship with his current one. I haven't seen the play before, but this one was critically panned for being a poor adaptation of the source material, and performed poorly at the box office.

[lilmanjs]

Shang-Chi and The Legend Of The Ten Rings
I wasn't expecting much with this, but it impressed the heck out of me. I don't really know the source material for this one too well but Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh made this a movie I wanted to grab when it came out on home media.

[GaijinPunch]

Street Gang

Got lots of feels from this documentary about Sesame Street. Guess I had never thought about what lightening in a bottle it was, but I suppose it wouldn't be one of the most influential shows in the world for 5 decades otherwise. I grew up in basically white suburban Texas as a kid and never thought twice about the racial diversity in the show. Looking back now of course it would have been a thing.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Watched The Guilty. The American version. Didn’t know it was a remake or I probably would’ve watched the original instead. Heard that it is the better version. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a 911 operator. I honestly don’t see how people can stand to do that job trying to deal with craziness all the time. I’m sure this didn’t have much of a budget. The entire thing is just Jake Gyllenhaal talking into a headset but he makes it work. Intense situations for sure. I couldn’t help but think it would cooler if it had just a few shots outside of the call center. I don’t know if I can really recommend it but it was okish.

[vol.2]

Shang-Chi and The Legend Of The Ten Rings
I wasn't expecting much with this, but it impressed the heck out of me. I don't really know the source material for this one too well but Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh made this a movie I wanted to grab when it came out on home media.

I enjoyed Shang-Chi. It was definitely a whole lot of fun to watch.

My only real complaint about the movie is that there were a lot of silly plot holes, and it sometimes became distracting.

For example:

Spoiler

When the 10 rings attack the good guys, they don't bring modern firearms with them or anything. While I can appreciate the idea of individual soldiers slipping into a base and taking out enemies with stealth, that's not what happens here; the bad guys enter in force and use a few silly net weapons and then it's all basically hand to hand combat, but nothing even so interesting outside of the main fights. This is something I find to be a huge weakness of the marvel movies (including the xmen films) which is that large battles are terrible. I was especially disappointed with the third xmen movie and the forth avenger movie for this reason. Just boring and terribly done. But I digress; the point is that they could have just come into the secret valley with a bunch of weapons and slaughtered everyone, which was their plan anyway, but instead they go in and have an epic martial arts fight. Pretty silly, but it's minor and mostly only happens towards the end and isn't really that important to the story (if you can ignore the fact that everyone should be dead).

[xxx1993]

Finally got around to seeing Spider-Man: No Way Home. Hoo boy, where to begin…? It was quite the shocker…

[GaijinPunch]

Die Hard

My Xmas tradition. A shower thought I had is that millenials and younger often shit on classics from the 80s and 90s as never being able to work in modern times as every problem would be solved with cell phones. I think Die Hard escapes that. I mean, he has no fucking shoes! So with a slight tinge of superiority, I gave myself a pat on the back.

For this Xmas season, I felt the duty to force my roommate, whose application for citizenship has been submitted, to watch it. The feeling of him being showered in stars and stripes without seeing Die Hard didn't make much sense to me. For the keen-eyed (or no life having forum bum), this is the same would be citizen roommate whom I exposed to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles less than a month ago. What's next? Could use some ideas.

[GaijinPunch]

Gaiden Post:

Been listening to podcasts while I absolutely crush it in the gym. Some of my programming podcasts have dried up a bit lately, so I've been looking into comedy and pop culture. [Side note: Conan's podcast is quite good]. I stumbled upon The Rewatchables which is a podcast about movies. Specifically, ones that are rewatched after some time has passed. (Trigger warning: not much earlier than the 80s from what I can tell). Anywho, it is a pretty fun podcast. They talk about what has aged well, what hasn't, standout performances and nitpicks. I feel the hosts would fit in here - some good theories, some less than rock-solid, but everything very thorough.

One episode worth mentioning is the Three Heat: the podcast's third look at Michael Mann's Heat from 1995. (It was the first and hundredth episode topic, for the record). For the third time around, they are joined by none other than the man himself, Michael Mann. Some of the information is out there in the internet but there are some great bits of info included, and it's pretty interesting hearing these thoughts come from Mann himself. He talks about the back stories of a lot of the characters, and mentions some of those details will be available in a novelization next summer, which serves as a prequel and sequel (of sorts) to the film.

[BIL]

I think Die Hard escapes that. I mean, he has no fucking shoes! So with a slight tinge of superiority, I gave myself a pat on the back.

Christ what an absolute horror that aspect of DH is. >_< No wonder motherfuckers invented shoes!

For this Xmas season, I felt the duty to force my roommate, whose application for citizenship has been submitted, to watch it. The feeling of him being showered in stars and stripes without seeing Die Hard didn't make much sense to me. For the keen-eyed (or no life having forum bum), this is the same would be citizen roommate whom I exposed to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles less than a month ago. What's next? Could use some ideas.

For more 80s concrete junglism? ROBOCOP, no question (directed by a European, true, but given life by its impeccable cast). For a decade back and a bit more downbeat, while still in the VIOLENCE COP VS CRUEL SYSTEM subgenre, I'd hit em with DIRTY HARRY, the original, no sequels. This scene might save his life!

...I'm reminded my uncle's story about this time he and his crew caught a "greaseman" down the harbour, stealing ladies' dresses out of a big freighter. Said they were struggling to pin the fucker down (naked career criminal covered in lard = 5x manpower to restrain), until someone dumped a bag of coarse sand on him - that got him to the floor, where a hellacious beatdown ensued. "What was he stealing?" I asked over my burger. "RAAS. SOME BULL SHIT. PANTIES." growled my uncle. Anyway his point was, if that'd happened a decade later when he'd moved to Florida, he'd have just shot the cunt.

Guns and burgers, that is the romance of MURICA to foreign eyes.

edit:

One episode worth mentioning is the Three Heat: the podcast's third look at Michael Mann's Heat from 1995. (It was the first and hundredth episode topic, for the record). For the third time around, they are joined by none other than the man himself, Michael Mann. Some of the information is out there in the internet but there are some great bits of info included, and it's pretty interesting hearing these thoughts come from Mann himself. He talks about the back stories of a lot of the characters, and mentions some of those details will be available in a novelization next summer, which serves as a prequel and sequel (of sorts) to the film.

Oh shit, cheers That sounds rad, gonna enjoy tonight.

[emphatic]

Starship Troopers!

[Mischief Maker]

Starship Troopers!

I hated this movie at release as a teenage fan of the book.

As a grownup watching this movie I laugh 'til my sides hurt!

[GaijinPunch]

For more 80s concrete junglism? ROBOCOP, no question (directed by a European, true, but given life by its impeccable cast). For a decade back and a bit more downbeat, while still in the VIOLENCE COP VS CRUEL SYSTEM subgenre, I'd hit em with DIRTY HARRY, the original, no sequels. This scene might save his life!

Noted -- limited time together but I think I can squeeze one more cinematic giant in.

...I'm reminded my uncle's story about this time he and his crew caught a "greaseman" down the harbour, stealing ladies' dresses out of a big freighter. Said they were struggling to pin the fucker down (naked career criminal covered in lard = 5x manpower to restrain), until someone dumped a bag of coarse sand on him - that got him to the floor, where a hellacious beatdown ensued. "What was he stealing?" I asked over my burger. "RAAS. SOME BULL SHIT. PANTIES." growled my uncle. Anyway his point was, if that'd happened a decade later when he'd moved to Florida, he'd have just shot the cunt.

Jesus christ the picture you paint of your extended family. I kind of want to ditch my own and go have Xmas with them!

[xxx1993]

Just saw The Matrix Resurrections. It was pretty fun!

[GaijinPunch]

Matrix Resurrections

Garbage. Not sure if it was worse than I expected but that was a low bar. Would love to see more Carrie-Anne Moss though.

[neorichieb1971]

Don't look up - Netflix

Considering the cast, surprised I switched it off about 40 mins in. I can't think what anyone gets out of movies like this.

[Mischief Maker]

The Matrix 4

This has got to be the angriest and most spiteful Hollywood movie I've watched since Verhoven's heyday.

Spoiler

In-universe, The Matrix was a hit videogame trilogy with Keanu head designer. His studio's parent company Warner Brothers (yes, Warner Brothers) is making a fourth sequel to the Matrix whether the original team wants to or not, and if they don't comply they're in breach of contract. Cut to scene after scene of douchey style consultants saying, "The one thing people are looking for is originality in our fourth Matrix sequel!"

I watched it on HBO Max and so had the ability to pause and rewind. There are lots of little angry touches, like in the initial chase scene where the blue haired chick slides down a 50s diner neon sign and for a split second you can see at the bottom "Where people love to eat shit!" Also the scene in Neo's office where the camera pans over all his matrix figurines and at the very end is a prominently displayed hand giving the middle finger.

The movie it actually reminded me of most was Adaptation.

Action parts are the worst in the series but for the sheer angry "Burn, Hollywood, Burn!" energy... I think it's my second-favorite of the bunch.

The ultimate "fuck you" at the end was the Jada Pinkett Smith cover of Rage Against the Machine over the credits.

[Randorama]

Die Hard

My Xmas tradition. A shower thought I had is that millenials and younger often shit on classics from the 80s and 90s as never being able to work in modern times as every problem would be solved with cell phones. I think Die Hard escapes that. I mean, he has no fucking shoes! So with a slight tinge of superiority, I gave myself a pat on the back.

For this Xmas season, I felt the duty to force my roommate, whose application for citizenship has been submitted, to watch it. The feeling of him being showered in stars and stripes without seeing Die Hard didn't make much sense to me.

Top Gun. Like, before Boxing Day is over, or you've squandered the most important Xmas of his life. Citizen duty time!

...fun fact time. In Italy, Trading Places (Dan Akroyd & Eddie Murphy's classic) and It's a beautiful life (Frank Capra's movie) are Xmas standards*.
The first movie, in particular, attracts millions of viewers every year even if it is hardly a new release.
I think that one channel also runs a Lupin III marathon on Xmas or Boxing day night.

Honourable mentions: Die Hard as a "recent" trend (maybe).
I know that some cable channel started the tradition in 2013-2014, but it may actually be "''80s classics".
I mean, friends told me that they watched again Breakfast Club, in the same movie marathon.


I think that I am going to watch Honneamise again, though the old man is in a different continent.








*...too lazy to look their exact titles, sorry.

[xxx1993]

Top Gun is an absolute classic.

[GaijinPunch]

The Matrix 4

This has got to be the angriest and most spiteful Hollywood movie I've watched since Verhoven's heyday.
<snip>

So I think and I are on the same page, yeah? I've been berating my friends that told me it was "okay" before I watched it.

[Mischief Maker]

The Matrix 4

This has got to be the angriest and most spiteful Hollywood movie I've watched since Verhoven's heyday.
<snip>

So I think and I are on the same page, yeah? I've been berating my friends that told me it was "okay" before I watched it.

I think. I'm in the camp of Matrix 4 being "Freddie got Fingered"-esque intentionally bad anti-cinema.

I just found out the movie has a post-credits sequence. Any doubts I had about the lack-of-sincerity ended after learning this was the period they put at the end of the film.

Spoiler

That and the final confrontation with Neil Patrick Harris being looney-tunes level silly with Trinity literally kicking his jaw off.

WB's creatively-bankrupt "Space Jam 2" reference?

[Vexorg]

Encanto: **1/2

About as average as it gets for a Disney movie. A few good songs and visuals (unsurprising, since Disney seems to be marketing this film primarily on the involvement of Lin-Manuel Miranda in the development of the musical score), nothing particularly bad about it, but also nothing particularly memorable about it either.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

The Last Duel

I’d probably give this movie of the year easily. The way the do flashbacks in the movie is really weird and kind of annoying but it works. I could definitely do without lame ass Ben Affleck in the movie but whatever. Everyone else gives a pretty decent performance.