Movies you've just watched

[Skykid]

Big Trouble In Little China 6/5.

I've never seen this movie before, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

Oh fuck yes. Just rewatched recently myself. Pure brilliance!

[GaijinPunch]

It's probably the best one. Certainly superior to Into Darkness, that was just boring.

Cumberbatch was a far superior villain. I love Idris Elba but the character was flat (not necessarily his portrayal). Without sufficient catalyst, I just continually ask myself "why". Beyond falls far more into the Hollywood formula of big action no story behind it than any of them. Not totally without merit, but it's the weakest of the three by a large margin.

Big Trouble In Little China 6/5.

Truth. Most accurate rating in this thread. Shame on you for having never seen it. Now to employ the many one-liners into your daily life.
#TheCheckIsInTheMail

[emphatic]

Shame on you for having never seen it. Now to employ the many one-liners into your daily life.
#TheCheckIsInTheMail

Well, suddenly, the stars aligned and I remembered I "had access" to it. #IWasBornReady

[Vexorg]

I never bothered watching Into Darkness after seeing the first reboot movie, mostly because the first movie was so determined to prove how hip and edgy it was that it was more off-putting than anything (arbitrarily shipping Spock and Uhura for no good reason was probably the most egregious example, but a lot of the characters just felt forced into whatever JJ Abrams wanted them to be.) There's a lot that was still kind of stupid in Beyond (they seem determined to blow up an Enterprise for no good reason in every film now,) but I liked it a lot better than the first one. Spock and McCoy as frenemies actually works pretty well, and Jaylah actually made for an interesting side character who they'll probably overdo in the next one, but seems like she fits right in with the rest of the crew. Sure it goes way over the top (anyone who has seen a recent Fast and Furious movie knew to expect that going in) but sometimes you just want to keep watching one of these films just to see how ridiculous it gets (which is probably the reason the Fast and Furious movies becme so popular.)

[soprano1]

Big Trouble In Little China 6/5.

I've never seen this movie before, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

Oh fuck yes. Just rewatched recently myself. Pure brilliance!

One of my favourite too, so many great lines.
"You leave Jack Burton ALONE!"

[Skykid]

It's probably the best one. Certainly superior to Into Darkness, that was just boring.

Cumberbatch was a far superior villain. I love Idris Elba but the character was flat (not necessarily his portrayal). Without sufficient catalyst, I just continually ask myself "why".

Having never seen The Wire I'm constantly wondering what all the fuss is about with regards to Elba anyway - his performance in this was as ill-pitched and lacking (particularly with the mask off) as it was in his other movie bit-parts.

That said the villain was perfectly fine as Star Trek fare. The plotting wasn't Shakespeare, but it was dense enough to satisfy on a popcorn sci-fi level. Saying Cumberbatch was a "superior villain", well ok: he was Khan, so unoriginal, and did nothing of note - a bit like Elba's. Superior or not though, who really cares when the rest of the movie is so paint-by-numbers dull? It didn't have any of the important things that Beyond achieved via script, screenplay and execution where actually forming characters is concerned.

Beyond falls far more into the Hollywood formula of big action no story behind it than any of them.

Disagree completely. What was the "story" in Into Darkness? I don't remember it doing anything groundbreaking for a Trek entry, except try to gloss over a patent lack of substance with event sequences.

Beyond at least fell into the TV serial mould: brave new worlds, adventures, and a likeable cast.

Not totally without merit, but it's the weakest of the three by a large margin.

If we're ranking film by script, screenplay, casting, and direction of actors (which we should) then it's probably the best. Add in legit Star Trek cred and it's def in with a shout.

As aforementioned, where Abrams built a new cast and a pretense of relationships, there was never any believability that this was a crew. Beyond nails the character chemistry through much better scripting and interaction, and that alone gives the movie a huge boost.

[GaijinPunch]

Having never seen The Wire I'm constantly wondering what all the fuss is about with regards to Elba anyway - his performance in this was as ill-pitched and lacking (particularly with the mask off) as it was in his other movie bit-parts.

Well, that's a problem in and of itself. Beasts of No Nation he was great in as well. I've not seen tons of stuff with him, but those two are good enough. The Wire he probably owes it more to the character, but that's not to say it took serious finesse to pull it off.

It didn't have any of the important things that Beyond achieved via script, screenplay and execution where actually forming characters is concerned.

I guess I blinked when those three things happened.

What was the "story" in Into Darkness? I don't remember it doing anything groundbreaking for a Trek entry, except try to gloss over a patent lack of substance with event sequences.

These are reboots, whether they don't want to be or not. I don't really expect them to be all that original tbh. I'm also not a trekkie, so that probably has a bit to do with it.

As aforementioned, where Abrams built a new cast and a pretense of relationships, there was never any believability that this was a crew. Beyond nails the character chemistry through much better scripting and interaction, and that alone gives the movie a huge boost.

I guess basically in Beyond, there was never any point in the film where I actually gave a shit. Maybe if I was a Fast and Furious fan...

[Skykid]

I guess I blinked when those three things happened.

Yes, I guess you did! As someone who I seem to remember saying they were a fan of Spaced, I'm surprised you didn't at least notice the writing. Simon Pegg's hallmark was stamped on it from the very first scene - unmistakably so. And while that made for a lot of humour, it also made for a vast improvement in the ensemble cast as people rather than planks of wood.

Edgar Wright was also on the shortlist to direct, interestingly enough.

[GaijinPunch]

Yes, I guess you did! As someone who I seem to remember saying they were a fan of Spaced, I'm surprised you didn't at least notice the writing. Simon Pegg's hallmark was stamped on it from the very first scene - unmistakably so.

Never saw Spaced. (Or even heard of it). The comedy alien movie he wrote as well... completely missed. Being in Japan all those years, a lot of things fall through the cracks. Usually garbage, which is good, but good shit, too.

[Stevens]

Big Trouble In Little China 6/5.

I've never seen this movie before, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

David Lo Pan is one of the best villains ever.

[Skykid]

Yes, I guess you did! As someone who I seem to remember saying they were a fan of Spaced, I'm surprised you didn't at least notice the writing. Simon Pegg's hallmark was stamped on it from the very first scene - unmistakably so.

Never saw Spaced. (Or even heard of it).

You never heard of Spaced?

Colour me surprised! As a purveyor of fine English comedies such as Peepshow I didn't expect that one to pass you by.

[FinalBaton]

Big Trouble In Little China 6/5.

I've never seen this movie before, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

David Lo Pan is one of the best villains ever.

Lords of Death. Street Gang. Punks from Chinatown.

God I lovethat movie. So damn entertaining

What the hell is Gracie Law doing here?
Now that line HAS to be self-aware She's sooooo coming out of nowhere in that scene, lol

[Skykid]

Passengers

Admittedly decent performances by the small cast, I quite enjoyed this. I don't understand the criticism it's received, but then I disagree with film journalists generally because they're full of shit. That's not to say they don't have some valid criticisms: yes it's stupid, implausible, unrealistic and cheesy, but it's handled well by the director and doesn't try hard to be anything different. What they have identified as flaws aren't really flaws when your movie isn't taking itself that seriously. It's not hard sci-fi. It's not 2001. It's light-hearted and soppy, but not to a fault. And it's pretty good fun, simply!

It was at least engaging, enjoyable popcorn entertainment; more watchable than a lot (most) of stuff I've seen from Hollywood in, oh, a decade or something (I'm losing count).

[emphatic]

The Thing. 5/5

One of the perks of being home alone with a cold is being able to watch movies like this with no wife or kids around. Shit is crazy as fuck.

Edit: And yeah, I've never seen it before today.

[GaijinPunch]

You never heard of Spaced?

Colour me surprised! As a purveyor of fine English comedies such as Peepshow I didn't expect that one to pass you by.

I'm really only in the know of ones I'm exposed to, which is admittedly a small number.

What the hell is Gracie Law doing here?

You know what I say when it's Miller Time?

The Thing. 5/5
Edit: And yeah, I've never seen it before today.

Seriously? How have you been so active in this thread and not seen these two until now? Didn't know they had such deep caves in Sweden. Well, at least you know now!

[copy-paster]

LOL I actually have not seen the 1982 The Thing, just saw some clips from 2011 version and the CGI monsters was laughable.

[Xyga]

The thing is if you haven't seen The Thing back then and only watch it today, you might think I envy you, but watching The Thing when it was the best horror thing on screen was the real thing.

[Mischief Maker]

LOL I actually have not seen the 1982 The Thing, just saw some clips from 2011 version and the CGI monsters was laughable.

Here's the really sad part.

[Xyga]

Here's the really sad part.

Fuck me I never knew, how miserable.

[emphatic]

Seriously? How have you been so active in this thread and not seen these two until now? Didn't know they had such deep caves in Sweden. Well, at least you know now!

It's because I'm such a pussy. I had to use a bottle of red wine to make it through the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I started to watch it when I was 17, but wussed out when they picked up that hitchhiker, because he was freaking me out. Finally watched it when I was 30 or something. The family dinner scene is my favourite.

[Xyga]

^ Ah, for you the cure is called Braindead (Peter Jackson, 1992)

[emphatic]

^ Ah, for you the cure is called Braindead (Peter Jackson, 1992)

First, I saw it on an illegal VHS copy (how my buddy got hold of that with no Internet is like black magic to me), then, I saw it the cinema on release. They even gave out free vomit bags for the first screenings.

I have no problem at all with gore, but am seriously allergic to jump scares. My friends often try to drag me to movies like that in the cinema, but I rarely go anymore, I hate jump scares.

[Lord Satori]

I don't think I've mentioned these yet:

Penelope: I didn't catch the first 15-30 minutes or so, but I kinda liked it. I never would've seen it if it weren't already on at the house I was at. The one complaint I have is that they didn't make her nose as ugly as everyone in the movie acted like it was.

Ghostbusters 2016: Again, I wouldn't have seen it if it weren't already on at the house I was visiting. The story was kinda weak, imo, and it feels a little too much like an origin story that will never get a sequel, but the movie wasn't nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be. Like I said, it wasn't perfect, but there have definitely been worse movies out there. Also, I feel like their decision to make their secretary both male and stupid was a little too on the nose as far as the whole "Take THAT, gender stereotypes!" thing goes, but maybe I'm just seeing it from the other side or something.

[Sinful]

I guess basically in Beyond, there was never any point in the film where I actually gave a shit. Maybe if I was a Fast and Furious fan...

What does being a fast and furious fan have to do with it? The last released fast furious, which was terrible and only one he did, was also the director of Beyond. Which too was terrible and the worst one out of the three in my opinion. At least Into Darkness had Robocop going for it.


"Come quietly or there will be... trouble."

[GaijinPunch]

It's because I'm such a pussy. I had to use a bottle of red wine to make it through the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I started to watch it when I was 17, but wussed out when they picked up that hitchhiker, because he was freaking me out. Finally watched it when I was 30 or something. The family dinner scene is my favourite.

I"m not a horror fan in the least. Quite the opposite. Never saw Texas Chainsaw Massacre... none of the Saw films... only seen The Exorcist once. Generally my limit is something like Silence of the Lambs and Se7en which probably fall more under some other category. Aliens & The Thing never phased me though. Go figure.

[GaijinPunch]

Here's the really sad part.

Fuck me I never knew, how miserable.

So what happened in the end? They wound up glazing practical effects with CGI with bad results? Never saw the film... don't think I will.

[BIL]

Yep, pretty much. It's a shame; the 2011 pseudo-prequel is only mildly interesting, and completely disposable next to the '82 classic, but good craftsmanship was still spoiled.

That said, some of the same SFX team worked on later "The Thing... on a boat!" flick Harbinger Down aka Inanimate... and save one creepy monster design, and the always watchable Lance Henriksen, that movie is utterly worthless. So I doubt unfettered practicals would've helped all that much. The Thing 2011 is the 82 movie for people who hated all that boring subterfuge/paranoia stuff and wanted the alien not to lurk behind friendly faces, sowing discord and devouring victims in secret, but noisily chase people up and down hallways.

Any conceivable good points were already covered (in a fraction of the runtime) by 82's bone-chilling visit to the ruined Swedish I mean Norwegian camp. Except one, I guess. Mary Elizabeth Winstead be hawt ¦3 but this ain't the time, honey! GTFO my bleak xenopocalyptic horror with that Final Girl shiet! Also Kurt MacBeardy is pretty hawt too ¦3

Fuckers need to follow Carpenter's example and sort a competent horror film out, then add the zany alien hi-jinks.

[GaijinPunch]

Subtlety just doesn't seem to be a thing in film these days. Action... horror... scifi... seems to be all about da bling. Sometimes it comes off okay. I agree, there's a place for it, but more with less is a skill I miss. I feel a lot of love for photography these days is really just people getting horny over a super shallow depth of field and a hot subject. For shame.

[BIL]

Often they don't even grant us the the consolation prize of doing less with more. Less with meh, more like. :[ Look at this shitty bumfluff on NotMacready's mug:



LMAO! Shameful.



Mac ain't buyin' that.

edit: Oh also, Adebisi's in it as NotChilds - unfortunately he's just as useless as NotMacready. Generic Black Buddy, goes "sheeeit" once and that's about it. The only comparable challenge to MEWMEW's authority comes from characters who are either cartoonishly villainous or categorically the motherfucking alien. Oh well.

[Skykid]

What does being a fast and furious fan have to do with it? The last released fast furious, which was terrible and only one he did, was also the director of Beyond.

No. The last F&F, which was the worst of the lot, was directed by James Wan, writer/director of Saw.

Justin Lin was responsible for the interim entries which are widely considered to be the best. Lin is the director of Beyond, which is possibly the best of the reboot trilogy.

Facts straight before fingers talk bro.