Movies you've just watched

[GaijinPunch]

Chicago has Music Box Theater's Midnight Movies for the old film fan in us. Two I'd love to see this month (Runnign Man and Pee Wee's Big Adventure) but I'm not sure I'll be in town.

I remember The Evil Dead 2 being the "trippy" one. Anyone think the first is worth seeing on the big screen? I barely remember it.

[Mischief Maker]

I remember The Evil Dead 2 being the "trippy" one. Anyone think the first is worth seeing on the big screen? I barely remember it.

I'm going to be unpopular for saying this, but the first one is only worth watching once to set the premise for 2 and Army of Darkness. The first movie was a director making the best of a miniscule budget, 2 & 3 were full-blown parodies of the first. 1 doesn't deserve repeat viewing.

[MX7]

Always makes me laugh when people say Evil Dead 1 had a 'miniscule' budget. For a mainstream Hollywood film maybe. Christ I wonder how many films Koji Wakamatsu could make for $350k

[Skykid]

Watched The World's End last night with a high fever. One of the smuggest, most unpleasantly awful films I've ever say through. Simon Pegg is possibly my least favourite people in the world. Still the central premise was pretty compelling I guess. Just head punchingly poorly executed.

That high fever must have taken its toll Mike, The World's End is such a smartly concocted commentary on capitalism and workforce slavery, it's another example of Edgar Wright's underrated talent.

If you don't like Pegg that's fair enough - although I'm not sure why, there's little wrong with him - but its shrewdly clever in its premise of revisiting old friends to find them deadened by the rat race, and of course the "alien" takeover is meant to be about each person falling under the wheel of slave-based employment, towing the line, giving in to the rat race.

It's a highly metaphorical movie, and the apocalypse finale is meant to second guess the alternative to our current socioeconomic setup, in that actually it may end up being far worse than what we have now.

A clever film, really.

[Mischief Maker]

Always makes me laugh when people say Evil Dead 1 had a 'miniscule' budget. For a mainstream Hollywood film maybe. Christ I wonder how many films Koji Wakamatsu could make for $350k

As Jim Wynorski says, "Breasts are the cheapest special effect in our business."

[Satan]

Just find actors who look dead.

[MX7]

@Skykid - I usually like Edgar Wright, and I'm a sucker for anything that explores Baudrillardian notions of simulacra or simulation hypotheses in general but this seemed like a misfire to me. Far too blunt and facile compared to how clever it seemed to think it was. But the central premise was really interesting, and I've thought about quite a bit since I've been on antibiotics, so I no longer begrudge the time I spent with it (also, perhaps it cut a little too close to home, though most of my friends seem to have avoided office drudgery thank god)

@mischief maker - so many amazing directors that use pornographic elements to make an otherwise unmarketable film on a shoestring. Jean Franco, Jean Rollins, Shinji Imaoka, Hisayasu Sato, Russ Meyer and of course Wakamatsu to name just a few. All pioneers of cinema, and all of them actually got paid by pumping out sheer filth

[system11]

Just watched Harbinger Down - it's no 'The Thing', but it's not too bad.

[BIL]

Oh hey, that sounds familiar... think it was on my radar at some point. Will give it a go. Nothing's The Thing anyway. Certainly not that other The Thing.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Harbinger Down is Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff jr's official apology for The Thing 2011. I thought it was currently on a limited release in the US though. Is it online somewhere? Can't wait for Lance and the Wibbly Tentacles!

[options]

recently got invited to a The Blob/The Thing double feature.

horror is not my cup o' tea, but I can definitely appreciate cheesy 80s-era B movies (referring to the former). that, and the vibe was fun; the theater burst into laughter/cheers whenever someone got deep sixed on screen.

...then things got quieter. my take-home message from The Thing was that practical effects provide a significantly more visceral experience than the computer stuff. sh*t was freaky. (but what happened to Nauls?)

[system11]

Yeah unless you have the very best CGI technology can offer, practical effects win every time.

[Skykid]

I'm a sucker for anything that explores Baudrillardian notions of simulacra

Well the World's End is definitely in that territory if you deconstruct it - although I actually agree that Wright and Co. certainly went for a very obvious (or blunt as you put it) metaphor piece. Do I think that detracts from the movie as a satire? Not really. There is an argument that veiling a subtext in film can either make something more impressive or worse, depending on how you achieve or fail at striking the balance. On the flip side there are too many movies that lose their grip on their intended metaphor and subtexts by obfuscating to such a degree that any potential value is all but lost. The World's End certainly doesn't have that problem, and I wouldn't expect the Spaced guys to be tripping into true arthouse any time soon anyway (although arguably, if all facets of film are an art form - and they are - then Wright is more of an artist than most Hollywood buffoons).

The one thing that's interesting is how many people don't realise this particular movie's theme. Everyone takes it completely at face value, as something about an alien takeover and one hobo who doesn't want to work for a living like his mates. So blunt as it may be for you and I, perhaps Wright was more interested in trying to get his commentary noticed, but grossly underestimated the intelligence of the world's general populace and as such still had it fall on deaf ears. Considering the theme of the film that's kind of apt.

It's a neat movie though, I quite liked it.

[BIL]

(but what happened to Nauls?)

There's an interesting scrapped storyboard about that - CTRL+F Nauls

Spoiler

I prefer the finished product, though. Insidious. "The chameleon strikes in the dark," brrrr!

If there's a cancelled bit I think had some merit, it's

Spoiler

Blair-thing's dog familiar. Final showdown feels a little sterile. Though again, I can conclude just fine that if Mac hadn't Technical Bonused the BT so promptly, Scary Chasing Monster Action would have ensued.

And we have the 2011 knockoff for that stuff! ZING-A-LING

[Tregard]

I used to dig the Prince Charles Cinema. Saw some great stuff there, like the "Scream Blacula Scream / Incredible Two Headed Transplant" double bill hosted by Kim Newman.

It was a screening of Robocop that soured things for me. If you'd only heard the crowd you'd think it was a screening of Anchorman or something. Endless whooping and laughing the whole way through, even during the nastier bits of violence. And why? Because it's a satire! Didn't you know? If you're not laughing then you're not in on the joke and clearly don't have the right film-buff creds. Hence: every motherfucker in the place going red in the face trying to out-laugh their nerd rivals.

Same shit happened with Troll 2. That was the final straw.

[Mischief Maker]

I HATED "The Devil's Rejects," and the only reason I can fathom for why Ebert gave it thumbs up was the shoehorned scene where a movie critic says Groucho Marx was cooler than Elvis Presley, which was the most transparent pandering to movie critics imaginable.

[Skykid]

the only reason I can fathom for why Ebert gave it thumbs up

Most likely because Ebert was an incredibly overrated movie critic who knew very little indeed about film.

It was a screening of Robocop that soured things for me. If you'd only heard the crowd you'd think it was a screening of Anchorman or something. Endless whooping and laughing the whole way through, even during the nastier bits of violence. And why? Because it's a satire! Didn't you know? If you're not laughing then you're not in on the joke and clearly don't have the right film-buff creds. Hence: every motherfucker in the place going red in the face trying to out-laugh their nerd rivals.

Well, yes, I can kind of see this as an irritant. Although honestly there's a lot of Robocop that's genuinely blackly funny, and brilliantly so - but certainly not the scenes of raw violence. I'd find myself irked by the super nerd village in attendance if they couldn't can it for dramatic scenes.

But although it is a bit of a geekathon plaza in there, a lot of visitors just go for the movie and for the fun of it. I know I do. Unfortunately I go only once in a blue moon because I live in another country.

Same shit happened with Troll 2. That was the final straw.

I think Troll 2 is meant to be hilarious (ly bad)

[Khan]

Just watched Harbinger Down - it's no 'The Thing', but it's not too bad.

Just got done watching that...the acting was incredibly bad xD its only saving grace was Lance henrikson but everything about the movie was bad even the special effects were terrible its irritating there is alot of plotholes and none of the characters are likeable I'm shocked because they had alot of potential with the whole boat and terrifying alien creature on a massive ship.

[kaicooper]

Wow. That was a level of bad I have never experienced before. Thanks for that, I hadn't heard of Miami Connection.

Miami Connection

BAD acting
BAD plot
BAD Direction

but

Awesom Fights
AMAZING soundtracks

[kaicooper]

just watched 2 movies

The Game 1997..such an amazing movie

Death at the Funeral 2007 ..this's the original..the best and funniest
and skip the American Remake..its awful and just bad copy paste

[boagman]

The Game 1997..such an amazing movie

I really like this one, too! It's really, really well-written, and plays games with you the entire way through. *Yes*, it goes too far in some places, but it's still plenty of fun.

[Tregard]

Same shit happened with Troll 2. That was the final straw.

I think Troll 2 is meant to be hilarious (ly bad)

Yeah Troll 2 was genuinely funny, but again it was taken overboard by the audience, many of whom had clearly seen it several times before as they were quoting it throughout.

"You don't piss on hospitality!" was a good line, but it pretty much got a standing ovation in there. Made me realise I'd be having much more fun watching it at home with a few mates, some pizza and a crate of beers.

[Skykid]

Miami Connection

BAD acting
BAD plot
BAD Direction

but

Awesom Fights
AMAZING soundtracks

What are you doing? You can't sum up its positives and negatives. It's negatives ARE its positives.

Like this:

Awful acting
Nonexistent plot
Nonexistent direction
Useless fight scenes
Preschool editing
Laughable dialogue
Amazing 80s soundtrack

AWESOME MOVIE

[Mischief Maker]

Same shit happened with Troll 2. That was the final straw.

I think Troll 2 is meant to be hilarious (ly bad)

Yeah Troll 2 was genuinely funny, but again it was taken overboard by the audience, many of whom had clearly seen it several times before as they were quoting it throughout.

"You don't piss on hospitality!" was a good line, but it pretty much got a standing ovation in there. Made me realise I'd be having much more fun watching it at home with a few mates, some pizza and a crate of beers.

To properly set the context for a Troll 2 screening, you must watch the (excellent) documentary Best Worst Movie.

[Tregard]

To properly set the context for a Troll 2 screening, you must watch the (excellent) documentary Best Worst Movie.

They showed it immediately afterwards, and I think I enjoyed it more than the film. Was fascinating to see the lives of these various amateur actors and their reaction to inadvertently becoming cult stars years after the film was made. Some of it was quite tragic - I was quite moved by the older guy's sad reflections on how he "frittered his whole life away". Of course the audience seemed to find this hilarious too.

[Mischief Maker]

To properly set the context for a Troll 2 screening, you must watch the (excellent) documentary Best Worst Movie.

They showed it immediately afterwards, and I think I enjoyed it more than the film. Was fascinating to see the lives of these various amateur actors and their reaction to inadvertently becoming cult stars years after the film was made. Some of it was quite tragic - I was quite moved by the older guy's sad reflections on how he "frittered his whole life away". Of course the audience seemed to find this hilarious too.

If you liked that doc, check out Anvil! The story of Anvil

[Tregard]

If you liked that doc, check out Anvil! The story of Anvil

I've seen that too, at the Prince Charles Cinema. Loved it, ended up buying "This is 13" because of it. THIS IS THIRTEEEEEEEEEEN!! \m/

Slightly different subject matter, but another great documentary film of recent years was "TT3D: Closer to the Edge", which follows the various racers who take part in the deadly Isle of Man TT motorbike race each year.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1698010/

[chempop]

Fallen Angels http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112913/

Never seen anything quite like it. I’m not entirely sure what I think.
Maybe Skykid can tell me if I should like it, or if it’s any good.

[emphatic]

Fallen Angels http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112913/

Never seen anything quite like it. I’m not entirely sure what I think.
Maybe Skykid can tell me if I should like it, or if it’s any good.

Wong Kar-Wai is excellent most of the time. You should check out Chung-King Express, it's one of my favorite movies.

[iconoclast]

Yep, Fallen Angels and Chungking Express are top notch. FA has an amazing soundtrack, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANIJoDzgBng