Movies you've just watched

[lilmanjs]

Skiptrace
Not a bottom of the barrel Jackie Chan movie, just a decent one. Nothing new to see here in this one. Johnny Knoxville was actually funny at times and the action was decent as well. The Adele number could of been axed being my only gripe. Police Story 2013 is still the worst movie Jackie Chan has done to date.

[Satan]

Watched Moon again last night. We're all Sam Bell. (Gerty voice) "It's OK Sam."

[Skykid]

Hong Kong really suffered once Godfrey Ho was forced to close up shop.

Though the fact that China is working so hard to catch up to the bottom-of-the-barrel quality of American filmmaking is fascinating in and of itself. Truly, uh, entertainment for the proletariat.

It is. All commercial modern film is designed for the hard-of-thinking. There are a few that, to their credit, attempt to still tell a story or manage to escape production as a product of the director's making - but not many. I think superhero movies are nothing short of a plague.

Skiptrace
Not a bottom of the barrel Jackie Chan movie, just a decent one.

Oh that is bottom of the barrel, Jeebus. Chan looked like a dishevelled shadow of his former self, which, if judging by this unfunny, hacked together, finely chopped pile of drivel, he genuinely is.

Watched Moon again last night. We're all Sam Bell.

Yes, in some respects we are. I think that was the movie's point, of course. Terrific little film.


BLADE RUNNER: THE WORKPRINT


I screened this in my bar the other evening. Was incredibly well received. 8gigs worth of rare beauty, the Workprint has elements that are by far superior to all other cuts, including the Final Cut. In my opinion many of the alternate takes are superior to those chosen in the other versions, and I'm unsure why Scott switched them out. It has a brevity that moves the film along at a better pace - where some scenes are much longer in the Final Cut, here the fat is literally gone. It's pure noir, and has even more of a bleakness than other versions owing to its emphasis on violence and relative simplicity. Also, no unicorns.

Additionally it has by far the best colour toning of all the cuts. It's gritty as fuck, ultra-raw, pitch black, and the colour pops of the screen with beautiful stark blues and glowing reds. Really wonderful. Much of the Final Cut is washed out in comparison to the WP, and the Director's Cut is comparatively muddy. As this was Scott's test release version, it is in many ways his real final edit before the studio forced the commercial version, and it shows.

The only changes I would have made would be to cut the one instance of narration post Batty's demise, added the end credits track as in Director's/Final Cut, and lost the climatic music over the final battle. Otherwise it's the most perfect, wonderful thing I've seen in years - would watch again.

I've never been inspired to do a fan edit before in my life, but after this I think I might just consider it.

Look at how much MORE YOU CAN SEE!:



Beautiful!

[lilmanjs]

You have to remember the workprint version was screened to test audiences before the full score was finished. That rough change in musical style is a result of it. I like the color scheme better than the final cut as well. For me director's cut is my favorite.

[Squire Grooktook]

I wish I could Skykid, I wish I could...

[Xyga]

^ Never seen the workprint, only the international theatrical and the final cut.
Feel I've seen that film enough times in my life though, maybe I'll wait another decade before watching that one.

---------

Monsters (2010)

Irritating shit. Beyond the cheesy MCs relationship and glimpses of the cheap CGI beasts... nothing happens until the final fucking 30 minutes of the film.
Not even arguing about the also-cheesy conclusion, but I hate when assholes make you watch a 2h feature when they only have a few minutes of actual story to tell.

Loled at the wall tho, couldn't help but think "and some I assume, are good monsters"

[BIL]

I wish I could Skykid, I wish I could...

Sounds like it needs a special director's cut re-release

Spoiler

[Skykid]

You have to remember the workprint version was screened to test audiences before the full score was finished. That rough change in musical style is a result of it. I like the color scheme better than the final cut as well. For me director's cut is my favorite.

Director's cut is muddy visually. They changed the colour tone from crisp chromatic tones to brown, inexplicably - as was the original theatrical release. The Workprint is equivalent to real undoctored classic photography, with a really rich and dark natural gamma. If you like your photographic imagery raw and with natural grain, it's a dream, and makes the world even more vivid.

I wish I could Skykid, I wish I could...

Apologies for that, I can see it fine on my side. Thanks BIL our lord and image saviour:

Monsters (2010)

Irritating shit.

Listen, compared to Godzilla 2016 and Rogue One, Monsters is the only thing Edwards has ever done that's halfway decent. You might find it more impressive if you read about its budget and how it was made:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters_(2010_film)

[Xyga]

Monsters (2010)

Irritating shit.

Listen, compared to Godzilla 2016 and Rogue One, Monsters is the only thing Edwards has ever done that's halfway decent. You might find it more impressive if you read about its budget and how it was made:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters_(2010_film)

Yeah but just watching it without knowing that I've come with what I believe is quite an objective judgement, I don't care about the budget or his other movies, there's really fucking nothing happening for a full hour. A skillful writer and director would use that to build tension or whatever, not here, instead we get a tepid romantic road movie with checkpoints like a modern final fantasy, it's just 60mn of soporific flat.
Okay tbh 57,5 minutes, I've bothered with taking a look at the counter because I couldn't believe this shit.

[lilmanjs]

All versions of blade runner look impressive on blu-ray. The first collection release I went woah after starting up a version. There are some interesting bits that really get talked about on the workprint commentary. I guess I just don't like the sudden ending of the workprint. Either way, many, many thanks to shaw brothers for even allowing the movie to have the money to be made!

[Skykid]

Either way, many, many thanks to shaw brothers for even allowing the movie to have the money to be made!

Hands down the best thing Hong Kong has ever produced.

[Zen]

Hong Kong really suffered once Godfrey Ho was forced to close up shop.

Though the fact that China is working so hard to catch up to the bottom-of-the-barrel quality of American filmmaking is fascinating in and of itself. Truly, uh, entertainment for the proletariat.

Well, the audiovisual lobotomist that is Hollywood worked so well in the West, big bosses have decided to share it with our Asian brothers. Perhaps the current buyout of Hollywood will see the "formula" become even more deadly and it can be shipped right back over to us to finish us right the fuck off.

[Zen]

Hell or High Water (2016) -David Mackenzie.

Difficult one to rate, this. There is no doubt as to the high caliber of this film. Directed by David Mackenzie, who directed the also superior Perfect Sense - (2011), this has quality. But two major issues for me;
1. Is this No Country for Old Men in an alternate universe? I mean Jesus fucking Christ, come on!
2. Jeff Bridges. Nope. Bad casting. Jeff is a legend but putting him in this film, with these actors? Way too strong a presence.
Also, the score and some of the individual songs, did not gel with me. I've just read that Nick Cave scored it, so maybe thats it . Case in point, the song playing out the credits: Outlaw State Of Mind - Chris Stapleton. I get what they were going for, I just don't think it works.

All in all, definitely worth a watch.

[GaijinPunch]

Get Out

Ridiculous, but somewhat entertaining.

[GaijinPunch]

Moonlight

Excellent. I'm sure it will take some awards tonight.

[Ixmucane2]

The Great Wall

It stumbles from cliché to cliché, with the only mild surprise that they are the clichés of war and heroically averting alien invasions rather than the ones of war and Chinese traditions. Suffice it to say that martial arts are limited to Matt Damon's character, the Chinese are content with high-tech weapons and tactics.

Some action scenes are good, particularly the shell-shocked European barbarians in the middle of a bombardment, but most are ruined by CGI effects, ranging from unrealistic Great Wall architecture to ridiculous numbers of troops and monsters to bizarre weapons.

[Vexorg]

The Great Wall

It stumbles from cliché to cliché, with the only mild surprise that they are the clichés of war and heroically averting alien invasions rather than the ones of war and Chinese traditions. Suffice it to say that martial arts are limited to Matt Damon's character, the Chinese are content with high-tech weapons and tactics.

Some action scenes are good, particularly the shell-shocked European barbarians in the middle of a bombardment, but most are ruined by CGI effects, ranging from unrealistic Great Wall architecture to ridiculous numbers of troops and monsters to bizarre weapons.

Not in any hurry to see that one, apparently it's bad enough that the Chinese government had to start censoring negative reviews.

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead: **

Early 90s teen tripe. Mom ditches her cliched slacker kids for the summer and leaves them with a tyrant babysitter who conveniently expires, but leaves them broke. The oldest one is forced to get a job so they don't starve, and bluffs her way into an executive assistant job at a failing fashion designer. The others act as immature and stupid as you would expect until they are forced to suddenly start acting mature by little more than a montage. You wouldn't miss much if you just skip it.

[Kaiser]

Moonlight

Excellent. I'm sure it will take some awards tonight.

And it certainly did win, I don't care that by mistake it won, La La Land and it's "HOLLYWOOD IS GREAT" mentality can shove it. Moonlight is a better, down to the ground movie, at least the main cast KNOWS how to act.

[Skykid]

So following the Blade Runner Workprint I mentioned earlier, I got my hands on Final Cut for a proper comparison. And it's beyond belief the stuff NOT included in it. That particular shot I posted as Workprint reference isn't even IN the FC. What the fuck, why would you cut this:

Spoiler

There are only two shots of Deckard hanging over the side of the building. Both are cropped top and bottom, and darkened considerably until you can't actually see any detail. Compared to the Workprint, there are about 5 shots of Deckard over the side of the building, all of which are quite fantastic.

This is just one example of an area where the Workprint shines above all other versions. If you're a fan of Blade Runner I beseech you go and find a copy. It's not easy by any means, but so worth it.

[kaicooper]

Streets of Fire 1984

this movie is uhh..WHYYYYYY!!
movie has cheezy acting and style..started very very well and first act (45 mintues)
was amazing action packed with atmospheric neon style..it has epic atmosphere
second act (second 45 min) such a Lame boaring fight..its like the final boss fight in MGS4 lol
ok lets forget about second half..i have no problem..movie has amazing 80's atmophere and neon style
WHY THE FUK there's Jazz music from start to finish?????? i read about it..its like a throwback to 50's retro!!!! WTF
this movie should be one of the best 80's B-movies if it had the right awesom 80's music (Darksynth/synthwave)
totally Lame...very very bad step..

6/10

[Xyga]

^ Watched the Blade Runner WORKPRINT. Too curious. Fast-forwarded some parts though. :p

Okay it is indeed overall darker in tone, darker visually yet with MUCH better colors, and some ambiant sound effects add to the grittier/oppressive atmosphere.
The painted backgrounds missing in all other versions are great indeed.

A few oddities though: some daylight smog that really looks like shit and you don't necessarily expect where/when they put it, also the shitty background where the dove flies that feels completely off...
And the weird theme during the final confrontation (is it really from planet of the apes? lol)

Now is it superior to the Theatrical and Final cuts ? Yes, I agree.
It might give a feeling of unfinished here and there, but it's no big deal considering the alchemy is even greater than that of the other versions.
Too bad I'm seeing it so late in my life. Ack.

Q: isn't the Director's Cut mostly based on the Workprint with roughly just the unicorn and more vangelis added ?
I'm curious in particular of the colors (the thing I hate the most with Final)

[xxx1993]

Better than the theatrical and final cuts? But those are what defined Blade Runner!

[Zen]

So following the Blade Runner Workprint I mentioned earlier, I got my hands on Final Cut for a proper comparison. And it's beyond belief the stuff NOT included in it. That particular shot I posted as Workprint reference isn't even IN the FC. What the fuck, why would you cut this:

Spoiler

There are only two shots of Deckard hanging over the side of the building. Both are cropped top and bottom, and darkened considerably until you can't actually see any detail. Compared to the Workprint, there are about 5 shots of Deckard over the side of the building, all of which are quite fantastic.

This is just one example of an area where the Workprint shines above all other versions. If you're a fan of Blade Runner I beseech you go and find a copy. It's not easy by any means, but so worth it.

Good call. The Workprint is a beautiful thing. Having watched it twice now (first time for comparison. Second time I just left it run in the background because its just so beautiful), it leaves the clear impression that Scott got it right the first time.
Visually its like the difference between full and limited dynamic range. And give me full grain anytime. I want to see it how it is, not smeared to hell and back.
Initially missed some Vangelis pieces but the bleakness without them is growing on me.

[Skykid]

^ Yes to both of you.

I also found the end sequence music odd at first, it's literally 80s climatic theme stuff, but kind of interesting nonetheless. The death narration I can do without, but otherwise it's about as perfect as Blade Runner ever got. The crisp, gritty grain and deep blacks contrasted with those rich, sharp colours are boner inducing, and alternate takes FTW.

FYI the Director's Cut is different in colour tone. Less raw and turned muddy brown. Final Cut removes this, but is too clean and too dark. Also the dove shot is ONLY fixed in the Final Cut - it's in all other versions.

I LOVE those many extra shots of Deckard hanging over the building at the end - there's far more sense of impending death and the drop is a visual spectacle. Why they all but took it out is beyond me.

I think a fan edit would be a minor adjustment. A couple of rearrangements and that's it. Otherwise the WP is the bleakest, quickest, and sexiest BR of all time. Scott got it right out the gate, and Lucased it ever since.

[Xyga]

There's an 'ultimate workprint' edit by Shuwest flying around, but it seems the guy just added and edited by his own preference picking stuff from other versions, not sure it's worth it.

EDIT: I think they've removed the painted backgrounds because those feel to 'retro' despite the setting. I mean that's very golden age kind of visual effects, and probably Scott wanted his whole thing to look more modern/futuristic.

[Skykid]

EDIT: I think they've removed the painted backgrounds because those feel to 'retro' despite the setting. I mean that's very golden age kind of visual effects, and probably Scott wanted his whole thing to look more modern/futuristic.

Nothing in the work print feels like a painting or an effect because of the quality of the film stock. I watched it projected at home theatre size and it was convincing and magnificent throughout.

[kaicooper]

Blade Runner best Cyberpunk movie

[Satan]

I dated a girl once who couldn't say magnificent.

[GaijinPunch]

Moonlight

Excellent. I'm sure it will take some awards tonight.

And it certainly did win, I don't care that by mistake it won, La La Land and it's "HOLLYWOOD IS GREAT" mentality can shove it. Moonlight is a better, down to the ground movie, at least the main cast KNOWS how to act.

La La Land was fine. A lot of effort went into it and it showed, but all parties. It was amazingly well put together, and I think it won the awards it deserved, although perhaps not Emma Stone. She was good, but what do I know. I just didn't feel it was best picture film. I loved Arrival but agreed that while it was solid, not a best picture film.

And up on my list is the Blade Runner workprint.

[Xyga]

I know it would be redundant with this one but I'd love it if we had a thread specifically dedicated to films versions and releases.

Nothing in the work print feels like a painting or an effect because of the quality of the film stock. I watched it projected at home theatre size and it was convincing and magnificent throughout.

I don't mean how it looks but the technique used, who knows the bizarre reasons why some directors make the wrong choices sometimes ?

Anyone found anything interesting to read about the workprint beyond "It was found in storage, x scene and x line missing, screenshot, screenshot, just watch the Final, blah blah" ?
Surprisingly there isn't much about it on the nets, or my google-fu is shit...