Films I watched this week (NO SPOILERS) (Vol 3)
Discussion
smithyithy said:
President Merkin said:
Drive.
I thought I'd seen this before but I had confused it with Place beyond the pines. TBF Ryan Gosling is a stunt driver in both films, Anyway, I liked it, has parallels with No country for old men in the plot & a really strong performance from Albert Brooks as psycopathic gangster Bernie Rose, outshining a few further up the bill imo.
Epic soundtrack too. Drive is one of my absolute favourite films, it is a bit on the 'artsy' side but it's by Nicolas Winding Refn so that's par for the course.I thought I'd seen this before but I had confused it with Place beyond the pines. TBF Ryan Gosling is a stunt driver in both films, Anyway, I liked it, has parallels with No country for old men in the plot & a really strong performance from Albert Brooks as psycopathic gangster Bernie Rose, outshining a few further up the bill imo.
I also really like The Place Beyond The Pines, it might actually be a better film than Drive in terms of story (I liked Bradley Cooper's arc and Ray Liotta plays a brilliant part) and arguably a bit underrated by comparison
Albert Brookes is very good. I didn't realise until seeing the film "The Super Bob Einstein Movie" that his brother was Bob Einstein (Super Dave Osborne). If you fancy a laugh watch the film about Bob, it's great, one of my favourite comics not that well known to UK audiences. He played Funkhouser in Curb, but was more famous in the states for his earlier work.
macron said:
Including the slightly unnecessary stampy bit?
Tame compared to some of Refn's stuff, honestly. He did a limited series called Too Old To Die Young, I think it's on Prime still.. A little bit style over substance and slow in parts, but beautifully shot and designed like most of his work. And, of course, gratuitously violent...I didn't think that shot in that scene added much to the film save to say it acts as a revelation to Carey Mulligan that she could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire but it's also a tale of immoral gangsters willing to go to any lengths in pursuit of their goals and we're all grown ups watching an 18 rated film.
Re-watched 10 Clovefield Lane for the first time since seeing it in the cinema; have to say I enjoyed it a lot more this time round than in the cinema. Was pretty disappointed with it originally, but this time I really enjoyed it up until the last 10 minutes when it goes off the rails. John Goodman is excellent at playing the bad guy, and I do love the way the film constantly makes you question if he's telling the truth or not.
I haven't seen Cloverfield Paradox yet either; and looking at reviews online I think I won't bother.
I haven't seen Cloverfield Paradox yet either; and looking at reviews online I think I won't bother.
parabolica said:
Re-watched 10 Clovefield Lane for the first time since seeing it in the cinema; have to say I enjoyed it a lot more this time round than in the cinema. Was pretty disappointed with it originally, but this time I really enjoyed it up until the last 10 minutes when it goes off the rails. John Goodman is excellent at playing the bad guy, and I do love the way the film constantly makes you question if he's telling the truth or not.
I haven't seen Cloverfield Paradox yet either; and looking at reviews online I think I won't bother.
Cloverfield is an excellent B movie. There also a Sci fi called Monsters, in a similar vein, ie it's more about what you don't see.I haven't seen Cloverfield Paradox yet either; and looking at reviews online I think I won't bother.
Arcadian
Some end of the world type disaster happens which isn't explained.
Nic Cage is left with his 2 twin sons to fend for himself.
The story picks up 15 years later where they are living in a farm house trying to get on with life.
However once night falls, it's a different story where monsters roam the land hunting humans, again it's not explained how they came about.
Some unfortunate events leave the 3 battling for their lives against these creatures.
Low budget 'A Quiet Place' type film, worth a one time watch on TV/streaming.
5/10
Some end of the world type disaster happens which isn't explained.
Nic Cage is left with his 2 twin sons to fend for himself.
The story picks up 15 years later where they are living in a farm house trying to get on with life.
However once night falls, it's a different story where monsters roam the land hunting humans, again it's not explained how they came about.
Some unfortunate events leave the 3 battling for their lives against these creatures.
Low budget 'A Quiet Place' type film, worth a one time watch on TV/streaming.
5/10
The Holdovers
70’s style cinematography of a 70’s style film. By the guys who did Sideways.
Set in an American prep school at Christmas. Basically a lad has to stay at school over the Christmas holidays with his teacher. Coming of age, student befriends teacher movie. Not a lot happens but it’s watchable.
A Beautiful Mind meets Scent Of A Woman meets one of those 70’s American college teen movies but not as good as any of them really!
6.5/10
70’s style cinematography of a 70’s style film. By the guys who did Sideways.
Set in an American prep school at Christmas. Basically a lad has to stay at school over the Christmas holidays with his teacher. Coming of age, student befriends teacher movie. Not a lot happens but it’s watchable.
A Beautiful Mind meets Scent Of A Woman meets one of those 70’s American college teen movies but not as good as any of them really!
6.5/10
Bubba Ho-Tep
A cult classic that I always heard mentioned but had never seen, Bruce Campbell plays Elvis who's not dead, he's just taking a rest in a retirement home.
I've heard a lot of people describe this as their favourite Bruce Campbell film, I kind of understand why but it doesn't beat the Evil Dead franchise for me. It plays like an extended episode of the X-Files which is no bad thing. BC is the highlight, he plays a very believable Elvis, not too over the top but just right.
It's available on YouTube right now (I haven't ever seen it anywhere else, even physical media is scarce) so if you're a fan of BC or that kind of low-budget B movie it's worth a watch at 90mins (ish) long.
6.5/10
A cult classic that I always heard mentioned but had never seen, Bruce Campbell plays Elvis who's not dead, he's just taking a rest in a retirement home.
I've heard a lot of people describe this as their favourite Bruce Campbell film, I kind of understand why but it doesn't beat the Evil Dead franchise for me. It plays like an extended episode of the X-Files which is no bad thing. BC is the highlight, he plays a very believable Elvis, not too over the top but just right.
It's available on YouTube right now (I haven't ever seen it anywhere else, even physical media is scarce) so if you're a fan of BC or that kind of low-budget B movie it's worth a watch at 90mins (ish) long.
6.5/10
Scream
With all the back and forth over the next one I decided to give the original a re-watch. It really is a great movie and I can't get over it's almost 30 years old. It hides it's age so well.
I'm a fan of all of them but especially the last two as they really leaned in to what made the original so great, it's easy to forget that Scream was taking the piss out of horror movie tropes before the last two started getting all meta with the reboot/requel talk within the movie by referencing Stab. There are so many tiny references and in jokes to the horror universe in this movie and yet it still remains original in it's plot, subverting the audience at every turn.
There's a reason it became the blue print for a whole genre of films and continues to be a successful franchise, it's as enjoyable to watch now having seen it multiple times as it was when it first released.
I'm very cautious about what they do with the next one (if they make it) due to alot of the behind the scenes stuff with the leads and director of the last one, if they stopped with the last I think it'd be a good place to end given the plot (and it'd allow me to finally by the box set without worring they'll release more
)
7.5/10
With all the back and forth over the next one I decided to give the original a re-watch. It really is a great movie and I can't get over it's almost 30 years old. It hides it's age so well.
I'm a fan of all of them but especially the last two as they really leaned in to what made the original so great, it's easy to forget that Scream was taking the piss out of horror movie tropes before the last two started getting all meta with the reboot/requel talk within the movie by referencing Stab. There are so many tiny references and in jokes to the horror universe in this movie and yet it still remains original in it's plot, subverting the audience at every turn.
There's a reason it became the blue print for a whole genre of films and continues to be a successful franchise, it's as enjoyable to watch now having seen it multiple times as it was when it first released.
I'm very cautious about what they do with the next one (if they make it) due to alot of the behind the scenes stuff with the leads and director of the last one, if they stopped with the last I think it'd be a good place to end given the plot (and it'd allow me to finally by the box set without worring they'll release more
)7.5/10
C5_Steve said:
popeyewhite said:
Cloverfield is an excellent B movie. There also a Sci fi called Monsters, in a similar vein, ie it's more about what you don't see.
Gareth Edwards breakout film showing what he could do with a tiny budget. Great film.It was a while ago, maybe I should try it again.
Monsters is brilliant though. I have watched that again recently and really enjoyed it.
durbster said:
I didn't think much of Cloverfield. It should be right up my street but I felt it hung everything on its elevator pitch concept and didn't give much thought to anything else. From what I remember, the characters were whiny and annoying, and the "monster" wasn't particularly new or interesting.
It was a while ago, maybe I should try it again.
Monsters is brilliant though. I have watched that again recently and really enjoyed it.
Remeber the marketing for Cloverfield? It was quite brilliant (and of course it was Matt Reeves break through movie don't forget, despite J J Abrams getting most of the coverage for the movie as he was the big name at the time). It was a while ago, maybe I should try it again.
Monsters is brilliant though. I have watched that again recently and really enjoyed it.
I agree with you on the monster, it was kind of a generic Kaiju in the end and I wish they'd done more with the origin in the follow-ups. I think I've only watched it the once since it released so perhaps need to watch it again.
C5_Steve said:
Bubba Ho-Tep
A cult classic that I always heard mentioned but had never seen, Bruce Campbell plays Elvis who's not dead, he's just taking a rest in a retirement home.
I've heard a lot of people describe this as their favourite Bruce Campbell film, I kind of understand why but it doesn't beat the Evil Dead franchise for me. It plays like an extended episode of the X-Files which is no bad thing. BC is the highlight, he plays a very believable Elvis, not too over the top but just right.
It's available on YouTube right now (I haven't ever seen it anywhere else, even physical media is scarce) so if you're a fan of BC or that kind of low-budget B movie it's worth a watch at 90mins (ish) long.
6.5/10
Groovy!A cult classic that I always heard mentioned but had never seen, Bruce Campbell plays Elvis who's not dead, he's just taking a rest in a retirement home.
I've heard a lot of people describe this as their favourite Bruce Campbell film, I kind of understand why but it doesn't beat the Evil Dead franchise for me. It plays like an extended episode of the X-Files which is no bad thing. BC is the highlight, he plays a very believable Elvis, not too over the top but just right.
It's available on YouTube right now (I haven't ever seen it anywhere else, even physical media is scarce) so if you're a fan of BC or that kind of low-budget B movie it's worth a watch at 90mins (ish) long.
6.5/10
popeyewhite said:
There is a sequel, not as good, but worth catching.
The Mist is another flick that plays its cards close to its chest.
The Mist is outstanding. Ironically I feel that Monsters: Dark Continent suffered from having a larger budget. They tried to do too much and lost the focus. The Mist is another flick that plays its cards close to its chest.
the satanic rites of dracula. Never bothered before due to useless reviewers that couldnt see beyond usual hammer fare.
Was ahead of its time but the filmmakers not talented enought to realize it.
Bit of come to london its great at the start, for no reason at all. Thought kojak was going to do a voiceover.
Was ahead of its time but the filmmakers not talented enought to realize it.
Bit of come to london its great at the start, for no reason at all. Thought kojak was going to do a voiceover.
Blitz - an older Stath movie and one that, for some reason, I'd not seen before. Nothing spectacular, and in fairness it is actually quite subdued by his standards. Decent enough supporting cast (Paddy Constantine, Littlefinger and a few others) but, ultimately, a 'B' movie. Could've been better, could have been a lot worse
C5_Steve said:
Bubba Ho-Tep
A cult classic that I always heard mentioned but had never seen, Bruce Campbell plays Elvis who's not dead, he's just taking a rest in a retirement home.
I've heard a lot of people describe this as their favourite Bruce Campbell film, I kind of understand why but it doesn't beat the Evil Dead franchise for me. It plays like an extended episode of the X-Files which is no bad thing. BC is the highlight, he plays a very believable Elvis, not too over the top but just right.
It's available on YouTube right now (I haven't ever seen it anywhere else, even physical media is scarce) so if you're a fan of BC or that kind of low-budget B movie it's worth a watch at 90mins (ish) long.
6.5/10
I love Bubba Ho Tep, its not just great Bruce Campbell, I found it really moving by the end. Maybe its just me A cult classic that I always heard mentioned but had never seen, Bruce Campbell plays Elvis who's not dead, he's just taking a rest in a retirement home.
I've heard a lot of people describe this as their favourite Bruce Campbell film, I kind of understand why but it doesn't beat the Evil Dead franchise for me. It plays like an extended episode of the X-Files which is no bad thing. BC is the highlight, he plays a very believable Elvis, not too over the top but just right.
It's available on YouTube right now (I haven't ever seen it anywhere else, even physical media is scarce) so if you're a fan of BC or that kind of low-budget B movie it's worth a watch at 90mins (ish) long.
6.5/10
I put it a solid 8/10. Thankyouverymuch
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