The Films You Watched Thread VI: The Undiscovered Movie

[Neon Ignition]

I think that's why there are so many arcs and storylines on Bruce wanting to save Gotham and make a difference but I don't think there's any incarnation where Gotham is ever shown to get anything other than worse. Batman has done everything from stop a robber to save the multiverse but Gotham always remains a crime ridden cess-pit.

I quite like the idea that Gotham is also the way that it is not just because of the corruption but also because in effect the GCPD is already defunded and the rest of the US has largely abandoned it. It's always woefully ill equipped for the scale of threats it's expected to deal with and even has to resort on a masked vigilante. There's always the hanging question of why anyone still lives there, something I hope The Batman II reflects given the story direction it's headed in.

Even in other versions, in BvS Gotham and Metropolis are visible to each other across a bay so why is one so prosperous and the other so manky?

[QualityChimp]

Even in other versions, in BvS Gotham and Metropolis are visible to each other across a bay so why is one so prosperous and the other so manky?

It's funny in that LEGO DC Villains when you fly across the river from Gotham and the rain stops, the sun comes out and there are flower beds everywhere.

[QualityChimp]

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[Atticus]

Sleep. This German horror film explores many, many things, but mainly sleep, as the title suggests, and the time between dreamtime and waking. A woman has visions of a hotel in her dreams and discovers it's actually a real place. Upon visiting she has a massive breakdown and ends up in hospital ... then her daughter follows her footsteps to find out what happened there. One thing I love is that the hotel is still open but very much out of season ... so it's empty and kind of like The Shining. The story goes down some unexpected avenues and deliverers some genuine surprises but it wasn't satisfying enough a watch for me to whole-heartedly recommend it.

[wakka]

Dune

Unfilmable novel regarding a planet full of a valuable natural resource fought over by a couple of superpowers in the year 10,000.

This is pretty good. It's very Denis Villeneuve, meaning there are some awesome visuals, lots of brooding dream sequences and terse conversations. I haven't read the book but from what I can see they seem to have done a very good job of compressing an awful lot of plot down into two and a half hours.

It's very well acted. The CGI and production design are outstanding. And Hans Zimmer pulls another great score out of the bag. But I have to say that I didn't feel that I fully connected with it. This is very much 'Part 1' (the opening title card even declares it so), and there is an awful lot to cram in. That means that there are a lot of characters and we don't spend too much time with any of them, with the exception of the protagonist Paul, who I think is well drawn and who we get to see complete a character arc.

It might just be me, though, because often struggle with these epic fantasy/space opera type of things. My partner absolutely adored it. So don't let me put you off. And while I didn't feel fully thrilled by the overall film, there are some scenes that I thought were absolutely terrific - particularly those involving the psychic power 'The Voice'.

I watched it on UHD where it looks and sounds pretty bloody incredible. Actually it was the rare film where I wished I had seen it in the IMAX. Some of the sequences in the desert must've looked amazing on the big screen.

[Dogg Thang]

I watched The Amazing Spider-Man 2. I enjoyed it! It falls into the exact same trap as Raimi’s 3rd Spider-Man in having too many elements and that meant that one core opponent here didn’t really have the weight I expect they were going for. And Electro’s origin was totally rubbish. Although I really liked him once he got going. And quite interesting how different he was to his No Way Home appearance, in looks, power and personality. It’s like they completely rewrote him for that movie for whatever reason. One thing the movie does brilliant is Spider-Man himself when in action. The suit looks real, as in it’s material and has creases and folds and so that grounds him and yet his action and posing is so comic-like in a way that, to me, is better than any other incarnation of the character. And Garfield was great and overall the movie was really good. Not sure if it’s a controversial view but I prefer these to the Maguire movies and, while I love Holland’s version and really rate Homecoming, I feel like Garfield does a better Spider-Man in terms of how I imagined him before he hit movies, if you know what I mean.

[fallenangle]

Watched The Limehouse Golem on BBC2(?). Late Victorian police whodunit investigation and pursuit of a serial killer.

Not brilliant but I found it entertaining enough to keep me watching to the end.

Good performances all round and looks good too.

Like some other reviewers I guessed correctly who the killer was long before the denouement but was persuaded away from it, quite cleverly I think, by the plausible alternatives the plot provided.

[Dogg Thang]

I watched No Retreat No Surrender last night. It is hilariously awful and wonderful all in one. One of the most ‘80s films ever, it is unintentionally funny throughout with some unbelievably terrible acting and constantly entertaining. Just when I think it will run out of laughs and lunacy, it delivers more. VanDamme is all over the blu-ray cover and gets top (only) billing and yet is barely in the movie. But it’s easy to see why he was the breakout star. Every moment with him in it is immediately superior to anything around it. And he’s so young in it. Looks like a kid.

To be fair to the movie, it brought me along for the entire ride and I enjoyed the hell out of it.

[randombs]

I’m getting quicker at changing and feeding the munchkin so there’s usually 2.5 hours free between sessions. Ergo, I’ve watched these over the past few days:

Mortal Kombat

Not that bad. I thought Kano was going to be annoying but he turned out to be a superstar. My only real gripe with the film is, and I dunno if this even warrants spoiler tags, but

->Open Spoiler<-

there’s NO ACTUAL MK TOURNAMENT AT ALL. It’s just random fights.

Otherwise, bonus points for the fatalities that looked like those in the game itself, and extra bonus points for a scene where a normal, functioning mum swears in front of her daughter like it’s nothing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in a film before.

The Suicide Squad

Lovely, and the soundtrack is wonderful. I felt Waller was more frightening in the original but I’m planning to see that again so I can compare. DC are geniuses for getting James Gunn to direct this because it’s gloriously loud and colourful. Speaking of DC…

Man of Steel

Its my second time seeing this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t like it the first time and it felt like the last hour was just one big DBZ fight. It might be that I like it more after having watched BvS and JL, or maybe my standards have dropped! Either way, I got hyped up to see the BvS Ultimate Edition so I’ve just bought that on BR to watch later this week.

[QualityChimp]

Dead Heat (Prime)
1980's cop/comedy/horror I'd never heard of before and it was a real treat, but in a schlocky way. Think Re-Animator or Trancers.
A cop duo investigate a company that appears to be bringing the dead back to life...
Recommended if you like this kinda fun tat. I reckon Baseley would love it.

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E.T. (Blu-Ray)
Watched this as a family. 5 y/o lost interest towards the end, but we all enjoyed it. If I'm honest, it's a bit dated now, but it's still fun.
I watched the reunion video on the extras, which was lovely.

Back to the Future (Blu-Ray)
This is one that just hasn't dated. Just perfection. Saw new stuff this time too. My son loved it, but I reckon I loved it more!
Watched the deleted scenes and there's some interesting stuff, but you can see why it was cut as it was superfluous to the story and slowed it down.

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The Vault (Prime)
I'd never heard of this, but it was good fun! A team are assembled to rob an impenetrable bank vault!
Shades of Ocean's 11, The Italian Job and so on, but it felt unique and was good fun seeing them trying to perform the heist.
Likeable lead too.

[Atticus]

Life of Pi 3D - Yes, me who doesn't much care for 3D watched and loved a 3D film last night (as I posted in the set-up thread I recently acquired a 3D tv). I think I may have spoiled myself with a particularly great example of the format with this film as it gets a lot of praise. The visuals are truly something else. And I did see the film in 2D when it came out but I didn't remember it being quite so beautiful. The story too was great to revisit. Brilliant stuff. The blu was only £2 from CeX too. That was a LOT of bang for the buck. Eager to try a few more now.

[Neon Ignition]

Turning Red
Quite a fun, low key film and mixes up animation styles a little bit for Pixar. I liked it more than the stuff they've done of late like Onward or Soul but there's still nothing really firts rate about it. It also seems to try and push forward a little in terms of dealing with women by featuring direct references and metaphor to periods but... as much as it tries to deal with female positive messaging (the kids will ensure I see it again to see if I've read this right) I'm pretty sure the film is about telling girls to take control of their lives, be body confident and stand strong... by buying into americanised consumerism and monetising the exploitation of their bodies...

[randombs]

It’s not a film, but it’s long enough to be one:

Dune (TV series)

It’s three episodes long. I’d seen glimpses of it but it looked naff so I was never interested. Someone on Reddit said it was originally meant to be a play, and watching it as though it’s a play makes it much better. It has its fair share of corny stuff but I thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s so different to the 1984 and 2021 films that it can stand on its own two feet. It’s 4.5-odd hours long so it can cram so much of the book in, but it also makes Princess Irulan more of a central figure than she was in the book and the 1984 film.

The effects aren’t great but they get the job done and I love how they did the blue Fremen eyes (it looks like they’re shining lights on the actors’ faces!). Also, I really like the sandworm design.

Lastly, the costumes are nice and everything is bursting with colour. Like this:



And here’s the Guild costumes (and acting!):

[QualityChimp]

Thanks to the incredibly generous [MENTION=5490]wakka[/MENTION], I watched the 3D version of Dial M For Murder (1956 via 3D Blu-Ray).
I recently realised there are a load of Hitchcock films I've never seen, including this one and it was great to see it in it's 3D version.
Hitchcock filmed it in 3D, but it was unpopular at the cinema, so it was switched to 2D prints.

Some lovely shots throughout, like the ultra-low shot below and a one where we see on a door, the shadow of the cheating couple embracing, then separating as the husband walks in through it. He obviously thought about the 3D as there is always several layers providing depth throughout.

Quite often Hitchcock deals in suspense - we, the audience, know what's happening, but the suspense is seeing if it will play out as planned. Great fun, thanks!

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[Atticus]

^^^ loving a bit of Hitch in the thread ^^^

I'm off work this week so watched Nightmare Alley today (just landed on Disney Plus). It's got a lot that would normally appeal to me with it's noirish tones and carnival flavour. The set up is simple, a carny worker/act has aspirations of taking his show to a higher stage. The problem, for a two and a half hour film, is the story is kind of linear and lacking enough depth. The lush visuals do keep you on board (it is definitely a treat for the eyes) but really, it fell a bit short for me. It's like a classic Tales From The Crypt story stretched right out ... it's just as predictable as one too.