Movies you've just watched

[Mischief Maker]

Oh now what are you bitching about?

I promise you, dude, there is ZERO social justice in those classic films.

[soprano1]

Not to be confused with the porno The Devil in Miss Jones, although I guess that would have been pretty interesting, too.

That movie seems to have a magnificent plot, straight out of a modern hentai.

[Skykid]

ARRIVAL

- SOME SPOILERS AHEAD

A beautifully photographed, profoundly stupid movie about absolutely nothing.

Watchable, sure; entertainment, it qualifies. Just check your brain in at the door because the screenwriting is amazingly awful. I was marvelling less at the alien presence and more at only requiring one scientist and one translator to try and decipher first contact with an alien civilisation, rather than the army of intelligentsia who should be present to work at the site. Was stunned by the apparent total freedom of a small group of US Army personnel to handle pretty much everything to do with making first contact while the government folk were off in the Bahamas occupied with crazy golf. Taken aback by the absolute lack of protocol at any stage: briefings unnecessary, just wing it, or "you'll see" - didn't even give them a fucking heads up that gravity would invert beforehand.

Possible contamination quarantine due to exposure to a potentially deadly alien environment? No need, just come back and we'll talk about it. And for retarded plot development the prize has to go to squaddies setting a time bomb in an alien craft and then hanging around while the scientists go inside. No need to abandon posts and make a break for it, they'll never figure out it was us.

Also some ultimately pointless rubbish about seeing the future through a universal language and knowing your future kid's gonna die but going through it all anyway just to see how it goes (even though you know how it goes).

Don't get me wrong, I've seen much worse. You could say it was a competently made film of a piss poor script, but no idea why you'd hand this guy Blade Runner on the strength of it.

[Vexorg]

Jackie Chan's Project A (dubbed version): **1/2

Decent for a Hong Kong chop-socky flick, but this suffered badly from terrible dubbing (the whole thing basically sounded like a 90 minute long MXC episode, minus the constant innuendos.) Some good action scenes surrounded by a completely predictable plot and a shockingly brutal ending for the villain. Then again, it's not like you're watching this for the plot anyway, right?

[GaijinPunch]

You could say it was a competently made film of a piss poor script,

If they had any of those hangups they'd have likely not bothered adapting it from the source material.

[Skykid]

You could say it was a competently made film of a piss poor script,

If they had any of those hangups they'd have likely not bothered adapting it from the source material.

Well, given the colossally perfunctory nature of the result coupled with harebrained plotting the like of which hasn't been seen in years, not bothering may well have been the appropriate recourse.

[lilmanjs]

Jackie Chan's Project A (dubbed version): **1/2

Decent for a Hong Kong chop-socky flick, but this suffered badly from terrible dubbing (the whole thing basically sounded like a 90 minute long MXC episode, minus the constant innuendos.) Some good action scenes surrounded by a completely predictable plot and a shockingly brutal ending for the villain. Then again, it's not like you're watching this for the plot anyway, right?

I take it you watched the awful edited us version. A lot of the comedy is lost with that horrible dub. At least it isn't as horribly chopped up like the Armour of God movies.

[Mischief Maker]

ARRIVAL

- SOME SPOILERS AHEAD

It's been over a year since I saw the movie and some details are hazy, but I can't let this post go unanswered.

A beautifully photographed, profoundly stupid movie about absolutely nothing.

No, the movie is pretty clearly about the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, that the type of language you think in affects your manner of thinking. And this goes beyond just the Alien language, most characters' decisions are shown to have a linguistic antecedent. All the way to the line at the start of the film when she's telling her mom, "watching that channel makes you stupid."

Watchable, sure; entertainment, it qualifies. Just check your brain in at the door because the screenwriting is amazingly awful. I was marvelling less at the alien presence and more at only requiring one scientist and one translator to try and decipher first contact with an alien civilisation, rather than the army of intelligentsia who should be present to work at the site. Was stunned by the apparent total freedom of a small group of US Army personnel to handle pretty much everything to do with making first contact while the government folk were off in the Bahamas occupied with crazy golf. Taken aback by the absolute lack of protocol at any stage: briefings unnecessary, just wing it, or "you'll see" - didn't even give them a fucking heads up that gravity would invert beforehand.

I agree the numbers of people involved are unrealistic. I recall Whittaker gave some kind of excuse at the start but I forgot what it was. But from a thematic perspective adding extra characters would have diluted the message.

Possible contamination quarantine due to exposure to a potentially deadly alien environment? No need, just come back and we'll talk about it. And for retarded plot development the prize has to go to squaddies setting a time bomb in an alien craft and then hanging around while the scientists go inside. No need to abandon posts and make a break for it, they'll never figure out it was us.

I recall the characters going through a battery of medical tests the first time they returned, rehashing that point wouldn't have enhanced the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis theme and just bloated the film.

As for the squaddies, it had been established earlier the premise of a technologically advanced civilization distributing advanced weapons to cause war and ultimately weaken more primitive ones and make them easy pickings. The squaddies have been watching an Alex Jones-type between shifts who reports on the situation in terms of violent invasion so when the aliens ultimately say they're here to "give weapon" it makes sense for the squaddies who've been primed by Jones to think in violent terms that it's a prelude to violent invasion and respond in kind (even though the audience knows it's the wrong decision).

And as I recall, the scientists showed up just after the soldiers finished planting the bomb so they wouldn't have had time to run.

Also some ultimately pointless rubbish about seeing the future through a universal language and knowing your future kid's gonna die but going through it all anyway just to see how it goes (even though you know how it goes).

Okay, first that's the gut-punch emotional core of the movie. Choosing to love in the present even though you know for certain some time in the future death is going to end it (which is true of ANY love).

Second,

Linguist Lera Boroditsky, at the University of California at Santa Cruz, has done research showing that members of the Pormpuraaw Aboriginal tribe think about time passing differently than English speakers, because their language relates it to cardinal directions instead of from left to right.

Totally fair to say the movie stretches this concept beyond the breaking point, but it's freaking science fiction and speculative sci fi takes real life concepts and inflates them to ridiculous degrees to explore them from a unique perspective all the time.

Don't get me wrong, I've seen much worse. You could say it was a competently made film of a piss poor script, but no idea why you'd hand this guy Blade Runner on the strength of it.

Blade Runner was a slow-paced meditative film exploring heady concepts about the human condition with a strong emphasis on visual and sound design. Arrival is a slow-paced meditative film exploring heady concepts about the human condition with a strong emphasis on visual and sound design. It isn't that had to contemplate.

But it's not the artistic accomplishment of Transformers 5, I'll give you that much!

[Skykid]

A beautifully photographed, profoundly stupid movie about absolutely nothing.

No, the movie is pretty clearly about the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

OH RITE, THE SAPIR-WHORF HYPOTHESIS *smacks forehead* I shoulda known. I'm sure it would have been so much better if I'd read into the studies beforehand.

goes googling

I agree the numbers of people involved are unrealistic. I recall Whittaker gave some kind of excuse at the start but I forgot what it was. But from a thematic perspective adding extra characters would have diluted the message.

It's up to the director to create the thematic "perspective", or better yet, tone. Although minimal casting may help one concentrate on the film's themes, it's by no means a pre-requisite. A good director can create the right tone and draw focus even with an enormous cast. The point is it was ludicrously stupid to have us try and believe the welcoming party consisted of a uni language prof and one random sidekick sciencer, while pretty much the rest of the world was noticeably absent.

I recall the characters going through a battery of medical tests the first time they returned, rehashing that point wouldn't have enhanced the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis theme and just bloated the film.

Then you recall wrong. The disregard for protocol was absurd to the point that the film can be openly mocked for its portrayal of a world-changing event. The absense of protocol at every level was ridiculous: no briefings, no information, no medical or quarantine. And these things don't need to eat screen time, they can merely be suggested at with a single line. But of course because we're all focusing on the Sapir-Whorf Hpyothezis that we're all being learned about, that shiz ain't important. Go pull my other ball.

As for the squaddies, it had been established earlier the premise of a technologically advanced civilization distributing advanced weapons to cause war and ultimately weaken more primitive ones and make them easy pickings. The squaddies have been watching an Alex Jones-type between shifts who reports on the situation in terms of violent invasion so when the aliens ultimately say they're here to "give weapon" it makes sense for the squaddies who've been primed by Jones to think in violent terms that it's a prelude to violent invasion and respond in kind (even though the audience knows it's the wrong decision).

Please... don't try to defend the stupidest part of a fairly stupid movie. Was there even any reason to put the bomb on a timer? What is this, 1964? Then you hang around while the science guys go in and don't make a run for the hills? Complete trash writing, inexcusable.

Okay, first that's the gut-punch emotional core of the movie. Choosing to love in the present even though you know for certain some time in the future death is going to end it (which is true of ANY love).

But it's all flaky, drawn out waffling. Violin strings over quick edits of blue tinted children laughing, wind blowing leaves and waves lapping at the shoreline. The final scenes go on so long I was dying for the movie to put itself out of its misery.

Blade Runner was a slow-paced meditative film exploring heady concepts about the human condition with a strong emphasis on visual and sound design. Arrival is a slow-paced meditative film exploring heady concepts about the human condition with a strong emphasis on visual and sound design. It isn't that had to contemplate.

Er, right. That's not the right reason to give any director the opportunity to direct any movie.

But it's not the artistic accomplishment of Transformers 5, I'll give you that much!

Ooh, now there's a talking point.

[Zen]

Spoiler

Re. Mischief Maker.
I can see why you'd like it
The whole affair was handled terribly. It was a frustrating watch.

My own review of last year, bottom of page;
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32519&p=1238368&hil ... 4#p1238368

[soprano1]

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)
Another nice DC animated movie. Unlike Killing Joke, which was badly directed, this one is more interesting, as it isn't a direct adaptation of the original comic or it's sequel. The true identity of Jack the Ripper is quite an interesting choice.

[Vexorg]

I agree the numbers of people involved are unrealistic. I recall Whittaker gave some kind of excuse at the start but I forgot what it was. But from a thematic perspective adding extra characters would have diluted the message.

I tend to call this type of thing "One Avenger Syndrome" based on the tendency for MCU movies to have only one Avenger show up to face some sort of world-threatening crisis, mostly for budgetary reasons on the film production. Sure they could come up with some excuse as to why nobody else is there, but the real reason is almost always because it would be too expensive to depict this properly.

[BryanM]

Yeah, I think that's neat how Transformers is the new Star Wars and Star Wars is the new The Orville.

[neorichieb1971]

Maze runner - The Death Cure

At 2hrs 22 mins its long. Maybe too long.

However, it has some highs and lows. There is a lot of action here, but my only critique of the movie is that perhaps there is too much. Action scenes involve several thousand near misses (Transformers style) where the bad guys are concerned. Actually the bad guys in some places don't even raise their weapons in time for them to get shot which is really pitiful for an action scene. Its just like Star Wars all over again, with bad guys having all the awesome weaponry and making about as good use of it they might as well ran into the war with a can opener. Another critic is that some scenes are overly dramatised. There is an action scene on top of a high rise building similar to that of the last scene of Aliens where a floating futuristic flying plane has to take 2 passengers off the roof of the building while it is floating mid flight. With about 6 ft between the 2 on the roof and the floating ship, you would think it would back up those 6 ft, but no. 2 or 3 mins of stretching arms, people shouting "jump" etc and no real reason from the movie goers eyes that the ship can't back up another 6 foot, it makes this particular (and many scenes) over dramatised.

The story relies on a cunning group of kids that outwit their enemies time and again. You are never made to understand why anyone would architect a maze from part 1 with such engineering feats just to scare a bunch of kids. In fact the science behind making all that possible is more bewildering and unfathomable than the rest of the story put together. If your even remotely interested in this movie give it a whirl. Its not fantastic, but its kind of good in certain ways.. There isn't going to be another movie in the franchise, so its all done and dusted now. Unless Disney buy it and make more mazes.

[neorichieb1971]

Wind river

If realism is your thing this movie might be the one for you. You have your American country folks living in the icy cold wilderness minding their business. A death occurs which could be a crime involving an Indian reservation and a gas pipeline type company. The local law enforcement needs help and so the FBI are invoked in, a rather fit and fine FBI agent at that.

I couldn't really fault the movie. It moves along at a nice pace and its a kind of suspense thriller type of movie. If you liked Sidney Portiers "Deadly Pursuit" or Al Pacinos 2002 movie "Insomnia" you might find yourself enjoying this.

To be honest its been such a long time since I watched a down to earth gritty thriller I forgot how good some of them can be. I'd give this outing a solid 8.3/10.

This was made by the same team that brought us Sicario. I didn't actually like that movie, but I do like this one.

[GaijinPunch]

The Cloverfield Paradox

Not sure what Netflix was thinking w/ the surprise release after the superbowl. This would have been fine as a TV episode of something, but felt like a cheap cash-in otherwise.

Spoiler

I quite liked how they tied 10 Cloverfield Lane together in the last one, even though it's definitely not for everyone. All that after a great John Goodman performance. This time, the reveal is lackluster at best (I had a better one in mind) and to be quite honest, the cast was forgettable. Even Zhang Ziyi. It was quite nice of everyone to learn at least rudimentary Mandarin since apparently being on an international space station doesn't require you to spit out any lines in English.

[SuperPang]

I like the other Cloverfields so feel the big reveal of how it all started deserved better than this. There was enough cash thrown at it and the basic premise is solid enough but it goes full retard.

Spoiler

I'd really love to hear the writers even begin to explain the whole arm business.


Also, if you're wondering why the first 20 minutes are so rushed, it's so the "event" ties in to the exact same second as in the first film.

[GaijinPunch]

Interesting stuff... (in not a great way). But yeah, shared sentiments. It deserved way better than this.

[Skykid]

City of God

Beautiful. Seen it before but over 10 years ago. One of the finest gangster movies of all time. Better than The Godfather by a fair distance.

Bright

Not sure what happened here but I expect, based on responses, that my expectations for this were set so low that I couldn't quite understand the levels of criticism it faced. It's a stupid cop action movie, nothing more, but more serviceable than most recent efforts in the same vein. Since Ayer is all about cop drama with Training Day, Street Kings and End of Watch under his belt, this was exactly as I expected. It's premise was a bit weird but I got used to it, the social commentary was background only and it spent most of the time guns blazing. Felt like the good momentum faltered toward the end and there was some clunky dialogue, but as a no brainer action movie it served a basic purpose. I've seen worse.

[neorichieb1971]

City of God

Beautiful. Seen it before but over 10 years ago. One of the finest gangster movies of all time. Better than The Godfather by a fair distance.

Bright

Not sure what happened here but I expect, based on responses, that my expectations for this were set so low that I couldn't quite understand the levels of criticism it faced. It's a stupid cop action movie, nothing more, but more serviceable than most recent efforts in the same vein. Since Ayer is all about cop drama with Training Day, Street Kings and End of Watch under his belt, this was exactly as I expected. It's premise was a bit weird but I got used to it, the social commentary was background only and it spent most of the time guns blazing. Felt like the good momentum faltered toward the end and there was some clunky dialogue, but as a no brainer action movie it served a basic purpose. I've seen worse.

Bright was disjointed for me. The mix of Tolkien and LA cop action didn't blend at all. The ending was a cringe fest. Who would have thought aye?

And its one of Netflix most successful projects so a sequel has the green light. We are doomed!

[Skykid]

Yeah the theme was a little jarring, it took me a while to settle with it. But the whole overnight sequence of events rolled over with enough pace to hold one's attention, and the action sequences were fairly competent. I didn't care much for the ending either though, bar some half decent video game kills; it was a bit overwrought and went on too long.

[soprano1]

Arsenic And Old Lace (1944)

[lilmanjs]

The Foreigner
Jackie Chan actually shows that when somebody pushes him, he can act. He doesn't say all that little, yet not all that much either. The action isn't very much, and isn't very long when its there, but well filmed and generally well done. The IRA plot works through the entire movie and the drama stuff is nicely done. Not the best movie Brosnan and Chan have been in, but certainly one of their better ones. Jackie Chan in a movie about IRA terrorists is something I never thought would ever be seen in a million years.

[Skykid]

Jackie Chan actually shows that when somebody pushes him, he can act.

I love Jackie Chan, but he can't act.

[Squire Grooktook]

Arsenic And Old Lace (1944)

Aye, always loved watching this with my parents on Halloween. Good times.

[soprano1]

The Bishop's Wife (1947)
Meh, late 40's Christmas movie with Christian values crap. Cary Grant was cool here, but that's all.

[Axelay]

City of God

Beautiful. Seen it before but over 10 years ago. One of the finest gangster movies of all time. Better than The Godfather by a fair distance.

Bright

Not sure what happened here but I expect, based on responses, that my expectations for this were set so low that I couldn't quite understand the levels of criticism it faced. It's a stupid cop action movie, nothing more, but more serviceable than most recent efforts in the same vein. Since Ayer is all about cop drama with Training Day, Street Kings and End of Watch under his belt, this was exactly as I expected. It's premise was a bit weird but I got used to it, the social commentary was background only and it spent most of the time guns blazing. Felt like the good momentum faltered toward the end and there was some clunky dialogue, but as a no brainer action movie it served a basic purpose. I've seen worse.

Watching bright made me just want a full fledged shadowrun series or movie.

It was nice seeing centaurs and elfs with guns but yeah it was shit

[Zen]

The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)- Julius Onah

Merciful Mother of God!

This film, that carries the bankable "Cloverfied" moniker, is directed by one the most talent-less "directors" it has ever been my misfortune to experience.
Something very strange is going on here and I'm not talking about the sci-fi.

With Nigerian Onah having as his leads, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo, guess who the "bad guy" is? Go on, go on, guess! Yes! Its Taylor fucking Swift!

Spoiler

Well, the "Black guy always dies first" trope, was also some bullshit, so I got not problem with the blowback
But wait! The tropes get even worse!

Chris O'Dowd, "Oirish" "actor" and "comedian"
Oh God, where do I start! All this fucker was short, was a leprechaun suit (with optional Aran jumper), a bottle of whiskey and a portable confessional.
His character also likes to say prayers, apparently.
He had some of the worst lines in film history and that fucking arm . . . those who have seen it will know what I mean.
O'Dowd, I hope your proud of yourself!

And how about the lovely Ziyi Zhang? She was there. That's it. She was just, "there."

The first film I liked very much. The second was not my cup of tea.
This one? Its worse than Bright (2017)

Not sure what Netflix was thinking w/ the surprise release after the superbowl.

To beat the bad press, I guess?

[GaijinPunch]

And how about the lovely Ziyi Zhang? She was there. That's it. She was just, "there."

Yep... unable to speak English on an international space station.

The first film I liked very much. The second was not my cup of tea.
This one? Its worse than Bright (2017)

Didn't see Bright... I don't think I will judging from everyone here. I quite liked the 2nd one, even if the reveal was a bit of a a deux ex machina. I thought John Goodman was excellent. But yeah, I can see that it's not for everyone. This was definitely a slap in the balls to the first two in any case.

Not sure what Netflix was thinking w/ the surprise release after the superbowl.

To beat the bad press, I guess?

Doesn't it put it under a spotlight though?

[Zen]

Doesn't it put it under a spotlight though?

I think that was the plan.

"Paramount's chairman Jim Gianopulos felt the film's budget (which ballooned to over $40 million from an initial $5 million) was too large for the film to be profitable with a traditional theatrical release and that it still needed work done, and "while Abrams expressed an intent to get down to business in post-production, it was too little, too late". Following the film's release, The Hollywood Reporter stated that Netflix paid more than $50 million for the rights, with negotiations starting in late December 2017 and completed by mid January 2018; this offer made the film immediately profitable to Paramount. The studio retains China and home entertainment release rights."

It looks like a simple and rapid, pump and dump solution to recoup $35 million over budget?
Word of mouth would have killed it in the theatres.