There are new films I should be watching first but I had to watch The Shining over Halloween. Always delivers the goods. What a treasure it is. Might have to rewatch Doctor Sleep again now ... fond memories of it, especially the episodic director's cut.
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Took my daughter to see The Wild Robot at the cinema and it's lovely.
Based on a popular children's book, and directed by Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, The Croods) it's the tale of a robot that's washed up on an island after a plane crash and it looks for orders to follow and ends up trying to raise a gosling (not Ryan) so that it can leave when the flock migrate.
It resonates with kids wanting freedom and parents wanting to protect their children.
The smell of chopped onions were being sent through the air con at several points in the movie, I swear that's why I was teary.
However, Woovember is GO at QC towers, so it's action a-plenty.
I started off with Red Sun (1971 via Prime) as it ticks off a few challenges in one:
-Watch an action film set on a train to celebrate the claustrophobic intensity of "Kill"
-Watch an action film starring Toshirō Mifune to celebrate the 70th anniversary of "Seven Samurai"
-Watch an action film starring Charles Bronson
It was a decent Western, to be fair, with the added twist of a bit of samurai action.
Fairly violent and saucy, there's plenty of blood being spilled.
It was a take on the unlikely couple idea with Bronson's outlaw teaming up with Mifune's shogun's envoy to track down the gang leader that crossed them both.
First Blood (1982 via DVD)
- Watch a Rambosploitation movie to compare it to Rebel Ridge's fresh take on that formula
Not a Rambospoitation, but never seen the original, so took the opportunity to see the real deal.
Totally deserves its reputation as an action classic and it's much more layered than the sequels.
That bullying big cop in a small town mentality is all too real, so you're really cheering for John Rambo to prevail.
I'd built an impression of what it would like from the sequels (and Mega Drive Rambo III!) and Sly impressions over the years, but it's a tight survival thriller that doesn't relish killing but how the cops have had their own way for so long they've forgotten how to be humane. Stallone's final speech was really powerful.
The Quick and the Dead (1995 via DVD)
- Watch an action film directed by Sam Raimi to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Spider-Man 2.
I never tire of this Raimi Western.
I love most of his Spider-Man films, but apart from the sequence with Doc Ock, there weren't many trademark Raimi shots, IMHO. TQ&TD is packed with them! Crash zooms, Dutch angles and framing shots like this set around a shootout contest in a town run by a wrong 'un. Solid cast: Stone, Hackman, DiCaprio, Crowe etc.
I think I rate Hackman more in this than even Unforgiven, both corrupt sheriffs with an unsavoury past.
There's a great moment where he kills a gunman in the shootout contest that turns out to be hired by the poor townsfolk, tired of the unfair taxes and Herod (Hackman rages at them) "This is my town! If you live to see the dawn, it's because I allow it! I'm in charge of everything! I decide who lives or who dies!"
However, the whole film is visual treat and a lot of fun.
The Beekeeper (2024 via NowTV)
- Watch an action film directed by David Ayer to thank The Beekeeper for protecting the hive
It's easy to pick faults in this shallow & slightly silly John Wickesque actioner, but ultimately I had a lot of fun with it. Jason Statham is a nearly-mute beekeeper that finds his landlady defunded by fraudsters & sets about working his way up the ladder until he takes out everyone who wronged him.
Some inventive & gory fight flourishes in a silly but fun film
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Watched The Substance ths eve - thought it was a great film, well, apart from the last 10-20 or so minutes which was all a bit silly and a weak way to end the film, would have given it a 9/10 up until that point, think it would have been a stronger film without it, and pulled it down to a 6.5 for me.Last edited by MartyG; 04-11-2024, 22:42.
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Watched Smile on Netflix. For some reason I was under the impression this was a fairly tame, teeny horror ... so I was surprised when I saw the 18 certificate flash up and yeah, it's a lot edgier than I expected. I love the It Follows/Ring style curse going on and having the main character/victim a psyciatrist is a great set up. It's got atmosphere and scares and hits the landing pretty well too. A spooky treat. Enjoyed it. Defo up for the sequel.
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Watched David Lynch: The Art Life. It's about how he gets up when he wants, except on Mondays when he gets rudely awaken by the dustmen.
Ok, no it's not. But it is a documentary that is very much in-step with its subject, at the pace and about the topics that he wants to talk about, rather than having the crew steering things and pushing for concrete details. It's primarily about his young life and his love of painting, with the genesis of Eraserhead being something of a footnote at the end. It's meandering, blurry, and for many other people this style of doc would not work, but here it's pretty damn captivating. Obvs if you're not a fan this is going to be a tougher sell, but I really enjoyed this (safe in the knowledge there will always be a bit of my heart devoted to it).Last edited by fuse; 05-11-2024, 10:59.
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I watched The Gauntlet (1977 via DVD) for Woovember:
-Watch an action film starring Clint Eastwood to celebrate the 60th anniversary of A Fistful of Dollars
Always intrigued by the poster where I assumed a torn-shirted Eastwood with a scantily-clad lovely draped over him in front of a bullet-ridden and smoking bus was an exaggeration, but it's not that far from the film.
I was reminded of this film when it was rumoured that M:I director, Christopher McQuarrie, was teaming up with Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johansson for a remake, plus it was a new film to me to tick off on Woovember.
Not a million miles away from Harry Callahan, but Eastwood's Ben Shockley is more at ease at being overlooked until he realises that's how others see him and gets pissed off that he's been underestimated.
Loved the concept of getting across several states, but being sandwiched between the good & bad guys, so they have to take multiple modes of transport.
There are moments of misogyny, some part of the plot and some unacceptable by today's standards, but if you can get past that, I found it to be an engaging chase thriller that had me gripped from start to end to see how it would end, enjoying a cruise through 70's America.
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Now thats a film posterLast time I saw any reference to The Gauntlet was seeing it on the shelf of my local video store back in the 80s.
Originally posted by fuse View PostWatched David Lynch: The Art Life. It's about how he gets up when he wants, except on Mondays when he gets rudely awaken by the dustmen.
Ok, no it's not. But it is a documentary that is very much in-step with its subject, at the pace and about the topics that he wants to talk about, rather than having the crew steering things and pushing for concrete details. It's primarily about his young life and his love of painting, with the genesis of Eraserhead being something of a footnote at the end. It's meandering, blurry, and for many other people this style of doc would not work, but here it's pretty damn captivating. Obvs if you're not a fan this is going to be a tougher sell, but I really enjoyed this (safe in the knowledge there will always be a bit of my heart devoted to it).
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Originally posted by Atticus View PostNow thats a film posterLast time I saw any reference to The Gauntlet was seeing it on the shelf of my local video store back in the 80s.
I love how I end up checking out films I've not gotten around to seeing before when I'm doing Woovember.
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Just got back from watching Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.
A tough, warts-and-all, and even heartbreaking, watch at many points throughout, but ultimately one that serves to underline that being the artistic arbiter of what is surely still the definitive on-screen portrayal of The Man of Steel was actually the least interesting or inspirational thing about Christopher Reeve, or indeed his immediate family who survive him.
A timely reminder that not all heroes wear capes.Last edited by Nu-Eclipse; 05-11-2024, 21:39.
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I think I'd like to see that, but would also be sobbing throughout.
I remember Reeve saying in his memoirs that would he would allow himself five minutes of self-pity, then just get on with the day. Inspirational.
I watched 48 Hours (1982 via DVD).
-Watch an action film starring Eddie Murphy to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Beverly Hills Cop
Didn't really get on with this, if I'm honest.
Eddie Murphy is great and the scene where he's turning over a redneck bar is brilliant, but there's some pretty ugly racist dialogue throughout.
At the end, Nick Nolte's character apologises, but it's already out there and defined the character.
Other bits are decent but it's because it reminds me of other things from James Horner's score that makes you think of his Commando one, Murphy's turn in better movies and all the cast that regularly made me think "What else have I seen them in?".
There are some funny bits and a few chunks of action, but this was just OK, IMHO.
Didn't help that the DVD was in some postage stamp 4:3 format in the middle of the screen.
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Originally posted by QualityChimp View PostI think I'd like to see that, but would also be sobbing throughout.
I remember Reeve saying in his memoirs that would he would allow himself five minutes of self-pity, then just get on with the day. Inspirational.
I didn't cry while watching it but I full well understand why some others might. The interview scenes with his kids and ex-partner are tough watching. I can only admire their candour and dignity. Well worth watching if you can - digital version should be out soon if I've read it right.
Originally posted by QualityChimp View PostI watched 48 Hours (1982 via DVD).
-Watch an action film starring Eddie Murphy to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Beverly Hills Cop
Didn't really get on with this, if I'm honest.
Eddie Murphy is great and the scene where he's turning over a redneck bar is brilliant, but there's some pretty ugly racist dialogue throughout.
At the end, Nick Nolte's character apologises, but it's already out there and defined the character.
Other bits are decent but it's because it reminds me of other things from James Horner's score that makes you think of his Commando one, Murphy's turn in better movies and all the cast that regularly made me think "What else have I seen them in?".
There are some funny bits and a few chunks of action, but this was just OK, IMHO.
Didn't help that the DVD was in some postage stamp 4:3 format in the middle of the screen.
I can understand that. 48 Hours should be a celebration of Eddie Murphy in his SNL prime but I can only hark back to the racist tirades that Nolte's unpleasant character throws at him throughout every time I think of rewatching it. It's pretty telling that the 1990 sequel Another 48 Hours tried to follow the same blueprint and bombed at the box office.
That said...Annette O'Toole....Last edited by Nu-Eclipse; 06-11-2024, 10:17.
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Just watched After Hours (1985).
Nearly forty years on and it remains very much an outlier in the Martin Scorsese ouevre.
Arguably the least "Scorsese-like" film ever but also arguably his most creative, offbeat and madcap work. I can appreciate the craft of the cinematography and how the characters are expertly weaved together in what is pretty much the director's trademark fashion, but it's not exactly like the comedy is strong from a writing perspective. It almost feels like the gimmick of Griffin Dunne's character's increasingly farcical escapades in the Lower Manhattan night-time wears thin about two-thirds into the film.
I'm not saying this is a bad film by any means...but would I go out of my way to watch it again like I would other Scorsese greats like Goodfellas or The Color of Money?Last edited by Nu-Eclipse; 07-11-2024, 09:24.
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