Films You Have Watched

[prinnysquad]

The Gray Man on Netflix.

Forgettable and unremarkable (apart from Chris Evans’s moustache). CGI heavy in places. Too many action sequences felt tangibly fake.

Was entertained and want to see a sequel, though. The cast were pretty decent and I enjoyed it at the time.

[fallenangle]

Ghost Ship - haunted ship horror starring amongst others Gabriel Bryne.

I quite enjoy this, seen it a couple of times before. The opening is a classic but after that it is pretty familiar, unremarkable, generic haunted house type horror stuff. There are the usual jump scares which will get your heart rate up momentarily but that's about it.

Worth seeing at least once if you like this type of horror simply because it is a bit different being set on ship.

[QualityChimp]

I watched Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022 via Disney+).

Although there's a Marvel blueprint for each director to follow, it felt like this was the first film where they were allowed to express themselves a little more, with Sam Raimi bringing some of his trademarks to the film.

Obviously, there's

->Open Spoiler<-

a cameo from the Oldsmobile and Bruce Campbell

, but there's also some pretty gory moments, especially for a Marvel film. As people said at the time, it's bordering on horror.
I was trying not to bore my son too much as I explained Raimi's various shots.

Here are some of those Raimi trademarks, but spoilered and don't watch if you've not seen it:

->Open Spoiler<-

I thought the big-bad was a really good choice and totally unexpected for me.
Their story arc is tragic, but that doesn't make them any less deadly.

So a combination of one of the final remaining Avengers, a good enemy, some laughs and some excellent directing made this a good watch for me.

[Atticus]

It hasn't been that long since I saw The Kid, Charlie Chaplin's first feature. It's a great little yarn where the Tramp finds an abandoned baby and raises him into his early years, becoming a double act scamming peeps. It's got some big laughs and a load of heart too. And it absolutely flies by ... the end title card arrives and leaves you wanting more.

Tucker and Dale vs Evil is a classic bit of daftness which turns the tables on the hillbilly horror, with the vacationing city kids being the bad guys and the misunderstood local boys having to deal with their predjudiced ways ... with some bloody results. Sometimes you just need something silly and disposable ... T&DvE fits the bill.

Misery was a recent Kino Lorber pick and the UHD disc is a huge upgrade on the blu-ray. It's stunning. Always enjoy this one. Never occured to me before but there's a Hitchcock's vibe all over this film ... so much so I had to search it up it and sure enough, Rob Reiner purposely steeped himself in Hitch prior to making Misery.

M Knight then ... a hit-and-miss film maker but a singular voice in a world of script-o-matic 2000 films. Knock at the Cabin is an interesating one. It's got a proper Twilight Zone set-up: four strangers arrive at a cabin in the woods and tell the peeps staying there they have to sacrifice one of their own or the world will end. There is familiar ground with 10 Cloverfield Lane ... but I feel that film played its cards way better. KatC isn't perfect ... but I did enjoy watching it, and was still thinking about it in the days after. It does lack a bit of substanbce and satisfaction but imperfections can be forgiven for the things it does well. And Dave Bautista is outstanding.

I hadn't seen The Driver since I was a kid ... and I actually remembered a fair bit about it. Watching it now what stands out is how economic on dialogue the film is ... especially with The Driver himself. Love that. The chases are great and there are some great LA locations too, in all their wonderful 70sness,

[wakka]

Did you watch Old?

The epic corniness of Shyamalan films is just, honestly, kind of great. Agree they are very 2000s.

[QualityChimp]

It just feels a bit trendy to bash Shyamalan, but everyone is falling over themselves to praise Black Mirror.
Both of which are hit and miss, but some kind of twist at the end that everyone is expecting, nay demanding!

[wakka]

I'm not bashing Shyamalan! It's undeniable that the man is a walking cob of corn though! And I like it! I like things from the 2000s!

I actually never really liked Black Mirror, even though its obvious main inspiration of Twilight Zone is one of my favourite things ever (talking the 50s version, here). It just always feels a bit like 'What if you had to pay a monthly subscription....FOR AIR'.

[Atticus]

Ah, sorry dude, I’ve been a bit unclear there … I meant ‘script-o-matic 2000’ as in a movie machine that churns out identikit films to merely deliver ‘content’ And even with flaws I can appreciate an M Night film for having its own voice and convictions.

I did see Old … not the best thing I’ve ever seen but it was worth a look. Knock at the Cabin is better imo but I can understand why some/many might not like it. It does play a move that’s hard to understand the rationale behind.

[wakka]

Ah I’ve got you now.

I liked Old a lot. It’s kind of old fashioned movie making. One shot hokum with a delightful hook (what if you aged a year a minute?!). It totally delivers on the concept as well. With that said, it’s actually a bad film in many ways but it’s just such a fun good-bad.

I’ll def watch Knock at the Cabin.

[prinnysquad]

There’s loads of class Black Mirror episodes. There’s some decent MNS films. Something has to be truly atrocious to get me to switch off.

I’m becoming more forgiving as I get older. Or is it less demanding? I don’t know how that works. Time is more and more precious, so surely I should be more Neony?

I guess it comes down to what I get out of something. Something like The Gray Man was derivative, messy and Bourne-lite, yet I got enjoyment out of it. That’s all it comes down to, I suppose.

[CMcK]

Caught Asteroid City yesterday. It’s the most Wes Anderson film yet. Thoroughly enjoyed it. It looks gorgeous and the whole premise of seeing actors play actors is actually well handled not too indulgent and just with the odd subtle nod to audience. And damn does Willem DaFoe look scary even when not trying too?

[Atticus]

I watched The Hateful Eight last night. Can't remember what made the cinema experience so average ... maybe Tim Roth's daft accent threw me initially ... but I had a great time watching it again. There's a fine line with QT's output that hovers between an entertaining film and a vanity project. I felt this was the latter when I first saw it but that shifted watching it again. Really fun watch. Proper bleak, snowy atmos and Ennio Morricone's killer soundtrack keeping it dark and moody. Samuel L Jackson was a pure joy as always. Best 3 quid I've spent in a while.

[Brad]

John Wick 4

Garbage. Did Keanu suffer a stroke between 3 & 4?


… yeah

[Neon Ignition]

There's a new out soon so...


Mission Impossible
It's interesting to go back to the days when Cruise wasn't doing extreme stunts off the side of the planet or what not, an entry more in line with the time when it was made. I'd forgotten how much this leans more into being a bit of a thriller than an out and out action film but it holds up well and is a nice re-entry point.

Mission Impossible II
I aways preferred this one of the two films and going back to it finally changed that. There's surprisingly little action and the idea of a rogue MI agent gets completely lost in the 'lets get Thandie Newton to sleep with the main cast' story approach. The storyline has an added weight to it now thanks to how COVID like it is but what little action is in the film isn't just John Woo action, it's poor John Woo action causing a re-evaluation of this one to cause it to drop a peg.

[Atticus]

Always liked the first Mission Impossible ... been ages since I saw it so it's well due another viewing. Still never seen part 2.

Recent films watched started with Casino on Saturday. Is there another 3-hour film with the energy of this? I dunno ... but it zips by without taking barely a breath. Always a treat. I've stayed in the hotel casino where it was filmed (don't look for it, it's not there anymore) so there's double-nostalgia going back to this one. That's Goodfellas and Casino watched with my eldest ... wonder if he'll like The Irishman as much?

Then I watched The Night of the Hunter. I won't yap on about the many things that make it a masterpiece ... but the difference this time for me was watching it as a dad. Can't believe Charles Laughton only ever made this one film ... the critical response to it putting him off ever making another. Belter of a 4K from KL this one too.

Then Pearl ... the sequel/prequel to X. Instead of a grimy 70s Texas Chain Saw vibe this has a 1930s Technicolor sheen ... set during the early years of the naughty nana from X. It's great. Original and entertaining. Mia Goth is brill.