Movies you've just watched

[NYN]

It's just a fun movie about a clumsy guy trying to be a hero and also getting a date for the prom.

Going by the description, I would not want to watch that even with shots of T&A in it. Which sounds like a impossible thing to do now, yet it was done, oh, decades ago. Even in a Hughes movie (Sixteen Candles).

[cj iwakura]

When I think "Raimi-isms", I think when the movie goes full Evil Dead with insane camera angles, like the entire horror show sequence of the Doc Ock operation scene.

[GaijinPunch]

Miracle Mile (1988): Really fun and somewhat unusual "worst night ever" LA disaster movie. Reminded me of Scorsese's After Hours.

Hidden Gem of the 80s! I love the Tangerine Dream soundtrack, even though it is in their more "syrupy" era.

[emphatic]

Speaking of soundtracks, I re-watched Point Break with my kids the other night. That soundtrack is beautiful too.

[Sumez]

When I think "Raimi-isms", I think when the movie goes full Evil Dead with insane camera angles, like the entire horror show sequence of the Doc Ock operation scene.

That was indeed wonderful.
But every single close-up to random pedestrians screaming in fear also counts.

[hazys]

Hidden Gem of the 80s! I love the Tangerine Dream soundtrack, even though it is in their more "syrupy" era.

Oh yeah. There's nothing more beautiful than seeing "MUSIC BY TANGERINE DREAM" flash across the screen.

Another 80s film with an incredible soundtrack is To Live and Die in L.A., which I watched last year. Never would've expected Wang Chung of all bands to pull that one out of their hat.

[GaijinPunch]

I saw that last year or so as well -- weird that you can only pirate it as it's not streaming anywhere.

[NYN]

Child's Play 2

First. I don't mind sequels (up to a point), though when I watch one it has to be snappy. Not just a tired start for formula. The original is fun, if deliberate camp. For the longest space I was not inclined to watch what followed. And yet, seeing that the Chucker sports 3 seasons of Tv now, I turned to think about it. As in why do I dismiss a knee-sized killer that easily? Could it be it has some hidden relevance, at least to me? Anyway, I just watched it and had a grand time. Clearly it's more of the same, though it's just fun, that made me laugh out loud. Being from year 1990, it has the pre-CGI pfx, cool score, and often a playful subversiveness that is easy to acknowledge. Chucks going after figures of authority for a child is a point here. In this one even the haunted lad has more control of his, ahem, acting. The "Voodoo" depicted is reduced, to be a bit less trite. Brad Dourif excels again. Fun surprises all around. And all this under 90 minutes. Fun times. Going for more.

[vol.2]

Rewatched Raimi Spiderman after 18 years. There was a brief stint where people were trying to claim these were awful movies in the mid 2010's. 1 and 2 are still my favorite superhero films. And for the first one, Simmons and Dafoe in the same movie is a recipe for success. Tobey is still my favorite to sling web.

I thought the first one was incredibly dumb when it came out. It is a little funny given how many of the things I thought were dumb have become so incredibly common in movies since then that the way this movie handles it actually comes across much more competent in retrospect.
That said, I did enjoy Spider-Man 2 when it came out, and it is a much better movie than the first. I love the "Raimi'isms" of it, and my favorite aspect of both movies is that artificial feel they have, almost like a stageplay. They are unapologetically movies, and hyper-stylized whenever it's beneficial to be so. Every superhero movie should do this.

I'm torn about this honestly. I think I have to go with the first movie over the second because I never liked Dr. Octopus as a villain; I always thought he was stupid and (as a kid) I was impatient for any comic with him in it to be over so Peter could move on to something more interesting. Nothing against Alfred Molina; I love his acting and he did a great job with it anyway. The real weak-link in Spiderman 2 though is Franco. He's such an awful actor that he stinks up anything he touches. The first movie had the great Defoe part in it. I'll take Defoe over Franco any day of the week.

[Lord British]

Haven't posted about movies in a while even though I'm still watching assloads, as well as its sequel assloads 2: electric boogaloo.

First off I saw a bunch of Walter Hill stuff:

Hard Times (1975) 9/10
- Enjoyed this way more than I anticipated. A Bronson alone doesn't work (unless it's chef's kiss-level trash like a Death Wish), but put a Jason Robards next to him, (and in this case a James Coburn) and you have a dynamic that works. I found the movie to be very well-balanced and paced for a genre flick that usually comes off dumb.

The Driver (1978) 9/10
- Another surprise. Very stripped down and minimal plot-wise. There's some obvious movies that owe a lot to this one and they're far inferior. Stars Ryan O'Neal and Isabelle Adjani in her first role.

The Long Riders (1980) 7/10
- The gimmick in this one is the real-life cast of brothers: 2 Keach's, 3 Carradines, 2 Quaids, and 2 Guests. And the gimmick works actually, setting it apart from other Jesse James movies.

Southern Comfort (1981) 6/10
- Kind of a mash-up of Deliverance and First Blood (First-Blood in-reverse). It's too bad that the first 80% sucks with the last 20% being tense as fuck. Keith Carradine and Powers Boothe play good characters but the rest are retards.

48 Hours (1982) 8/10
- Movie holds up because Eddie Murphy is so good, but holy shit if this isn't one of the most un-pc movies ever. A bit cringey but also kinda refreshing.



Had a movie night on Saturday where we watched Jerzy Skolimowski's Moonlighting (1982). This stars Jeremy Irons as the sole English speaker out of a crew of four Polish who are sent to renovate an apartment in London. The movie is tense as fuck as you can expect with Skolimowski (awesome director, he also did "The Shout" and my personal favorite "Deep End"), it shows how these guys endure the stress and cold they face with no money or food, leaving Irons to steal from the supermarket for them. Only Irons is aware out of his crew that there's a coup going on back in Poland as they renovate the house. The Money Pit w/ Tom Hanks is a much funnier movie.



Here's a goofball one. They All Laughed is a flop that Peter Bogdanovich self-financed that stars John Ritter, Ben Gazarra, Dorothy Stratten (a couple months before her murder), Colleen Camp, and the top billed Audrey Hepburn who's 50 here but looks 70 by today's standards. Loosely, it's about two private eyes that get involved with their targets. Very little makes sense but that's what makes it good. Colleen Camp steals the show as she lifts her act from 30's screwball comedies. If the movie works for you it's because it has a certain charm to it, but it's not for everybody.



I've seen a lot of weird movies but this is probably in the Top 10. Tough Guys Don't Dance stars Ryan O'Neal (yeah, again) and it's written and directed by Norman Mailer who, according to GWAR, could have been a tailor and a whaler. Nothing in this movie made any sense and I remember virtually nothing, but I was entertained enough by its weirdness while watching. Also stars Laurence Tierney and Isabella Rosselini.

Watch this 10 sec Oscar clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5k_arVcqR8

[Lord British]

Insignificance - 1985 - Nicholas Roeg





Theresa Russell gives me the creeps. She's hot but there's something off about her, I think she comes from Hell. I like her in Roeg's Bad Timing but in this one we have a pretty god-awful Marylin Monroe impersonation. If you're a Roeg disciple you'd argue her performance works, but for me no thanks. The "plot" here is 3 un-named people make unexpected visits to the "Professor's" (Einstein) hotel room, and those 3 are "The Actress" (Marylin Monroe played by Russell), "The Ballplayer" (DiMaggio played by Gary Busey) and "The Senator" (Joe McCarthy played by Tony Curtis). I thought it was a self-indulgent jerk-off fest, bad fan-fiction. Yet I liked Altman's "Secret Honor" with Phillip Baker Hall as Nixon, but to each their own I guess.

[vol.2]

Insignificance - 1985 - Nicholas Roeg

Looking at the info, it's apparently adapted from a stage play, which is often a kiss-of-death for a film. The whole medium of film doesn't lend itself well to single room performances. The one does not translate directly, and there always exists compromises not worth taking for one reason or another. In some case, extremely clever mise-en-scène can be used to great effect in cases of limited scenery, or the play can be reimagined to occupy more space, but I find it's rare to be done well.

Other films that (IMHO) really don't work (as films) for this reason are Death Trap directed by Sydney Lumet (from the Ira Levin play of the same name) and Little Murders directed by Alan Arkin (from the Jules Feiffer play). Of the two, Little Murders is better, but it's also very much just an "enhanced stage play" rather than a film strictly speaking. There is very little if anything that either of these two "films" do better by not being a regular stage play, and a great deal that they could do better by being one.

[Lord British]

Looking at the info, it's apparently adapted from a stage play, which is often a kiss-of-death for a film. The whole medium of film doesn't lend itself well to single room performances. The one does not translate directly, and there always exists compromises not worth taking for one reason or another. In some case, extremely clever mise-en-scène can be used to great effect in cases of limited scenery, or the play can be reimagined to occupy more space, but I find it's rare to be done well.

Other films that (IMHO) really don't work (as films) for this reason are Death Trap directed by Sydney Lumet (from the Ira Levin play of the same name) and Little Murders directed by Alan Arkin (from the Jules Feiffer play). Of the two, Little Murders is better, but it's also very much just an "enhanced stage play" rather than a film strictly speaking. There is very little if anything that either of these two "films" do better by not being a regular stage play, and a great deal that they could do better by being one.

Yeah Death Trap was kinda meh, but Little Murders is great!

My friend lent me the Blu-ray for Insignificance and also the script, which I've yet to paw through. Honestly I wish he gave me the script for Tough Guys Don't Dance instead, lol.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

For the upcoming 97th Academy Awards Show to be held on 3/02/2025, in the category of films nominated for "Best Special Effects," both sci-fi/horror film of Disney's (through it's 20th Century Studios movie studio division) Alien Romulus and Dune II have been selected. Am curious to see which movie will win in that respective category.

It's well-known that Apple iPads were used for both 4:3 and 16:10 aspect ratio computer terminal CRT screens with a thick and curved outer plastic screen covering with the proper diffused lighting effects to mimic those "old-school" 4:3 CRT computer screen monitors prevalent in both Alien and Aliens movies as shown in AR.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[vol.2]

For the upcoming 97th Academy Awards Show to be held on 3/02/2025, in the category of films nominated for "Best Special Effects," both sci-fi/horror film of Disney's (through it's 20th Century Studios movie studio division) Alien Romulus and Dune II have been selected. Am curious to see which movie will win in that respective category.

It's well-known that Apple iPads were used for both 4:3 and 16:10 aspect ratio computer terminal CRT screens with a thick and curved outer plastic screen covering with the proper diffused lighting effects to mimic those "old-school" 4:3 CRT computer screen monitors prevalent in both Alien and Aliens movies as shown in AR.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Haven't seen Alien Romulus yet because it got such meh reviews, but I will get around to it. Dune II had amazing special effects, although I found the scenery to be a little boring (sand anyone?).

[vol.2]

I watched Miracle Mile tonight after seeing some talk about it here.

I definitely liked it, but it was also quite a downer. Especially as the world seem to approach crisis once again, I feel uncertain about a tomorrow to look forward to.

The biggest surprise was seeing Tasha Yar. She was okay in it, but maybe a bit stiff like she was in TNG.

Maybe one complaint I have is that we didn't really see what happens to everyone they introduced, and things got a bit chaotic and contrived towards the end with things happening for the sake of advancing the plot.

But more or less I liked it. 7/10

[Lord British]

I watched Miracle Mile tonight after seeing some talk about it here.

I definitely liked it, but it was also quite a downer. Especially as the world seem to approach crisis once again, I feel uncertain about a tomorrow to look forward to.

The biggest surprise was seeing Tasha Yar. She was okay in it, but maybe a bit stiff like she was in TNG.

Maybe one complaint I have is that we didn't really see what happens to everyone they introduced, and things got a bit chaotic and contrived towards the end with things happening for the sake of advancing the plot.

But more or less I liked it. 7/10

Ha. That movie was an absolute shit show to make and it came out completely butchered. Like when the stereo theif dude drives through the storefront with his sister or something and it's implied you're supposed to know something about the sister? Lol

I guess the most annoying thing about it is Mare Winningham's parents ("Anyone care for a tubesteak??"). Oh, that and every decision Anthony Edwards makes is stupid.

My favorite part is when he's running around on the gym asking if anyone knows how to fly a helicopter.

It's flawed to shit but it's it one of my favorites, it should be a bigger cult classic than it is.

[RGC]

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) Dir. David Lynch
Holy cow, I'd forgotten how intense this is. So many things laid bare here, in stark contrast to the TV show, where each mystery is peeled back to reveal another, more perplexing one (it's that endless process, combined with the sense that every detail is somehow centrally connected, that provides the show's dreamlike quality). The feature makes you see one or two characters in a different light, or maybe a stronger one(?) Laura, we're told all about in the show, but to meet her, witness some of the trauma she suffered up close, and feel the irreversible damage done to her psyche, really brings home the tragedy of her life (and death). If you-know-who hadn't killed her, you get a sense her days were numbered regardless. She was spiraling toward annihilation, arguably already past the point of no return, and beyond hope of either James (her rock), or her best friend bringing her back.

There are others you see a different side to as well (Bobby is a notable one. Even more jarring when you consider his eventual career path. Did he sit on the secret of what really happened in the woods that night, or reveal it to someone and make himself accountable? I don't remember if any of that is revisited in The Return). I wonder whether the TV show would have been this intense if Lynch & Frost had had total freedom, or whether there was a conscious decision from Lynch to dial everything up for the prequel. I still have 90 mins of The Missing Pieces to watch (deleted scenes from the main feature), which came bundled on the same disc. Looking forward to that. Chris Isaak and Kiefer Sutherland work really well together in the "Teresa Banks" prologue. I could happily sit through a miniseries of their other adventures. Ray Wise is as great as he is in the show, i.e. really very.

Spoiler

I still haven't quite grasped the significance of the owl ring and how it's connected to the black lodge, but I'm sure explanations, interpretations and speculations abound just a search away!

[RGC]

The Great Silence (1968) Dir. Sergio Corbucci

Very cold, very bleak Western. Beautiful mountainous backdrops. Interminable snow. You can feel this one in your bones. The era of bounty hunting is coming to an end -- so citizens and law enforcers hope. Bounty hunters might technically be on the right side of the law, but morally they've become a bunch of psychos, merrily offing anyone whose face appears on a wanted poster before they've had time to blink, much less go fer their gun. The inimitable Klaus Kinski plays the leader of one such gang of bastards. But there's another man, one they call Silence, who fuckin hates bounty hunters (justifiably, as it turns out), and similarly abuses the letter of the law as a way of shooting them in "self defence". Multiple endings were shot by Corbuccci just in case the studio wouldn't go for such a bleak ending. Without spoiling it, I can see why! This film broke multiple rules to great effect, which makes it stand out from the rest. Beautifully scored by Morricone too.




Django (1966) Dir. Sergio Corbucci

The other genre pioneering Corbucci Western alongside Il Grande Silenzio (1968), and surely the more widely recognized of the two. On first viewing I found it to be the weaker, but I'll have to postpone judgment as I idiotically bought the "CineKult" bluray, which carries no English sub (the dub is, I discovered, regarded as atrocious, and rightly so). The bluray print was grade A though, and Franco Nero was made for the role (that and Jesus Christ in The Visitor, 1979 ). Looking forward to appreciating it with better language options at some point. Note: The promo art by Rodolfo Gasparri is well deserving of the awesome movie posters thread!

[BIL]

The Great Silence (1968) Dir. Sergio Corbucci

Very cold, very bleak Western. Beautiful mountainous backdrops. Interminable snow. You can feel this one in your bones. The era of bounty hunting is coming to an end -- so citizens and law enforcers hope. Bounty hunters might technically be on the right side of the law, but morally they've become a bunch of psychos, merrily offing anyone whose face appears on a wanted poster before they've had time to blink, much less go fer their gun.

Great review! I'll have to watch this. Enjoyed the original Django, ages ago. Became curious after playing the PS2 games of Ghegs' mainstay avatar, Gungrave. The image of a revenant gunslinger trudging the wilds with chained casket in tow is agelessly evocative. I wonder if it had some ancient inspiration.

Didn't realise at first that I'd encountered Nero before as a wee tyke, in his even more iconic role: OG American Ninja.

[RGC]

Didn't realise at first that I'd encountered Nero before as a wee tyke, in his even more iconic role: OG American Ninja.

I've seen that trailer many times over the years, every time making a mental note to ensure it gets cued up at the next bro-and-pizza, B-fest gathering (of which many have come and gone). It still hasn't happened. Maybe there's a subconscious fear that all the gold is in the trailer and the rest is dog dirt.

[Sumez]

Though I've yet to watch any of his other movies (though I'm especially keen on both Florida Project and Anora), I've *INSTANTLY* become a fan of Sean Baker following Red Rocket, which I caught on Netflix the other day, due to it disappearing from the platform within the next week.



It felt kind of unassuming as I was watching it, but it's one of those movies I've simply been unable to let go of it afterwards. It's ultra low budget (at least by modern movie standards) and shot on 16mm film, but it's absolutely beautiful, and has an undeniably "genuine" and raw tone to it which is almost at odds with how expertly and professionally it's filmed. Like a weird cross between a beautiful Hollywood movie and a gritty documentary.
Simon Rex is killing it as the narcissistic main character who is basically the entire focus of the movie. He's a scumbag and a charlatan, but weirdly likable despite his horrible actions which includes grooming a 17 year old girl into becoming a porn actress. But honestly, the entire cast is brilliant, including random people literally plucked off the street to fit into the tone and culture of the story.

If you haven't watched it yet, and you have a Netflix account, be sure to check it out before they drop it.

[RGC]

Stroszek (1977) Dir. Werner Herzog

A recovering alcoholic and ex-con escapes a rough life in Germany for a fresh start in the States, taking with him a badly abused street walker and an elderly neighbour. Herzog knows how to find some weird and wonderful shit in everyday life to point a camera at. Most of the dialogue came across as improvised or plain real. This was very raw and rough around the edges, and lacked any direction or momentum (reflecting the life of the main character somewhat, I take that point). The performing poultry at the end felt like peak acid trip, or a gimmick Jodorowsky might employ (although Jodders would likely blow the poor buggers up when they'd got done dancing). This one inhabits a few "Top Herzog" lists, but honestly, between the weird or dramatic sections I found it a bit tedious. I've been listening to Werner narrate his memoir Every Man for Himself and God Against All. I can only take his analysis of the minutiae in small doses. Sometimes his words create such powerful images, and at other times his voice puts me to sleep. Similar effect here. I'm still glad he's around though.

[RGC]

Continuing with the schizophrenic viewing habits...

Nightbreed (1990) Dir. Clive Barker
Revisited this after decades, and I still don't really get it. Mutant monsters called the Midian hide from the world in a mausoleum somewhere in America. I didn't notice if the film communicates how they got there. David Cronenberg plays a serial killing doctor who dons a gimp mask with button eyes and slays families for being obese and daring to breed (daybreeders?). A young dude escapes a psychiatric hospital (where another patient tears his own scalp off by way of an introduction), discovers the monsters, becomes one of them, and tries to defend them against the mad doctor who, having turned his attention to slaying monsters instead of overweight innocents, has enlisted support from the local fascist police, who arrive at the cemetery, armed to the gills with guns, flame weapons and explosives, for a final showdown. Don't judge people just for looking like a big shaven ballbag is the message, I suppose. The actor who plays Pinhead makes an appearance and gives the film a little more weight.



Freddy vs Jason (2003) Dir. Ronny Yu
For my sins, I've now sat through every F13th film. There are worse entries in the franchise than this one, but that is saying very little. The entire setup makes no sense, but I don't think you're supposed to care. In order to return to Elm St. and resume dream killing, Freddy needs people to remember him. The best way to do that is to have Jason go there first and start chopping people up and this will jog everyone's memory. Then Freddy's power will grow and he can make a proper comeback. The townsfolk have done a good job of covering up the horrid memories of the past by keeping anyone who surived the previous ordeal with Freddy in an induced coma, where they will surely have a better quality of life. Jason enjoys killing too much and starts to steal some of Freddy's victims. This does not sit well so the two of them face off in a junkyard (in Jason's dream). Then a woman who looks remarkably like Brittany Murphy pulls Freddy into the real world where the fight continues...and concludes! Or does it? WGAF. Can't believe I even bothered typing this.



Edit: technically, this should be considered more of a ANoES film than a F13th one, as it has Freddy's signature theme tune and is definitely played for laughs (making it more palatable than dead-straight Nightbreed, in some ways).

[Lord British]

Stroszek (1977) Dir. Werner Herzog

Yes, tedious at times, but it's one of my favorite endings for a movie because it's so bleak and funny at the same time.

[NYN]

Freddy vs Jason (2003) Dir. Ronny Yu

Funny. I watched Bride of Chucky last night for the first time. The flick that "qualified" Yu for FvJ. It's a comedy with a few kills. It made me laugh a lot.

For my sins, I've now sat through every F13th film.

Ah, thanks much. You give me license to sound of about them. Fearing to come off to much as a horror weirdo, in a nest full of Sci-Fi geeks.

I watched Part 6 for the first time recently. I know only original, Part 2, and Part 3 (and the lame remake, full of dull stereotype). Leaped over entries 4 and 5 because it didn't sound like fun, and they changed from chick heroines to teen dudes...

Anyway, Part 6 incorporates finally humour and some wink-wink/nudge-nudge, which is much needed. Hero chick and dude together. What sucks is how short the Jason stunt-guy is. Too short, no presence. The rest is stupid, goofy fun. And finally shorties in the summer camp, not only randy counselors. Not watching any more, the rest must be down hill.

This does not sit well so the two of them face off in a junkyard (in Jason's dream).

Huh? The boiler room, where Fred pinballs (and tilts) Jason? That's a dream. The showdown is in Camp Crystal Lake, Jason's turf.

Can't believe I even bothered typing this.

At least the different stunt-guy for Jason had the right build for him! See, with a mute killer it needs to be about height. Freddy's short, and has a mouth, Chucky is shorter and has a fowl mouth. There's a formula to it! A simple formula! Hey, I watched Child's Play 3, too! And I believe I can be bothered to even type about it. You want me to?

[RGC]

Stroszek (1977) Dir. Werner Herzog

Yes, tedious at times, but it's one of my favorite endings for a movie because it's so bleak and funny at the same time.

In hindsight, it was probably too strong a word. That ending though...definitely comes from left of field. Is Werner trying to spare us some sympathetic pain via a bizarre distraction, or is he commenting on the circus of life?

[Lord British]

Stroszek (1977) Dir. Werner Herzog

Yes, tedious at times, but it's one of my favorite endings for a movie because it's so bleak and funny at the same time.

In hindsight, it was probably too strong a word. That ending though...definitely comes from left of field. Is Werner trying to spare us some sympathetic pain via a bizarre distraction, or is he commenting on the circus of life?

Definitely both lol

[RGC]

Hey, I watched Child's Play 3, too! And I believe I can be bothered to even type about it. You want me to?

Yes! I've only seen the first two, many moons ago.

Re. Freddy vs Jason, don't know why I said junkyard, I meant boiler room. That part with Freddy launching gas tanks like torpedoes. Oh dear. . Btw, I'd say it's worth filling in the gaps with F13th. There's fun to be had, especially with Jason X. IX is downright weird and breaks too many well established things about Jason to be worthy of the series. Afficionados (I'm not one), often cite number IV as the best, just to mention.

You're dead right, Jason is ALL about stature. It adds a smidge of plausibly that he could severe a victim into two tidy slabs of bloody meat with a single slash. Then again, these films are not renowned for their realism!

[NYN]

CHILD'S PLAY 3

First. After having fun with 2, I went all the way. And I had fun again. From what I read, this one had a mere 9 month production span, that can't bode well. Assuming it was a tough production, next to nothing is felt in it to my perception or disappointment. Of course, with the sequel-sequel, it's now a formula, a simple formula! Yet, even it's not all that bland: having the main target Andy reach teen-hood and being cast of into military school gives off a few new jolts. Things would be tough with playing at soldier, yet to my surprise there are snarky chicks allowed and they can keep their luscious hair . The highest delight I found was with the over-the-top performance of Andrew Robinson, playing the school barber Sergeant Botnik! (I. Kid. You. Not.) Very over-zealous and sardonic in his fine duty of cropping teen hair, to the point where he lurks around, reaching into personal spaces and full -do, to pull and make appointments! Until he wants to cut red hair (heh-heh-heh)... It's under 90 min, ends at a carnival, in a ghost house, on a heap of fake skulls, which is all I could ever want from it. Spiffy score, too. Lick the roll credits. And the best is: all this time and decades, I had no idea! Best feel.

And right after it, I was so psyched I watched Bride of Chucky...