Good films I watched this weekend (Vol 2)

[robemcdonald]

evenflow said:

I did notice one glaring plot hole in Kingsman too:

There is a huge class-based undercurrent in the film - is Eggsy "one of them" - the public school, aristocratic Kingsman? But wasn't Eggsy's dad (the original Lancelot) a Kingsman and saved Colin Firth's life? By the look of Eggsy's mum, if he was an aristocrat he was definitely dipping it in a bit of rough!

I also think I might be a little bit in love with the actress who plays Lancelot Mk2.

I'm pretty sure that was explained: in an exposition scene between Arthur and Gallahad. Arthur referred to Gallahads recruitment of eggsys father as a mistake because he came from a working class background

[anonymous-user]

JustinP1 said:

Spanna said:

Source Code: 6.5/10

A soldier is sent back in time in the mind of a bombing victim to solve what happened before more strikes are made.
The science and time lines in this can be a bit questionable, which will ruin it for some, but I found it a good movie with a good side story on the soldier himself.

I actually really liked Source Code.

I'd have given it at least 8.5 and maybe 9 and I'm a harsh critic.

I think the background to it was reasonable, and the twist was very good. I think with sci-fi, to enjoy it, you have to presume the artificial position they are in is scientifically correct and go with the flow. The best sci-fi is the story underneath the artificial position, and in Source Code, there was some quite thought provoking quandaries.

If it had finished 5 mins earlier then it would have been a brilliant film, but the ending spoiled it somewhat for me. Still very good though.

[JustinP1]

Symbolica said:

JustinP1 said:

Spanna said:

Source Code: 6.5/10

A soldier is sent back in time in the mind of a bombing victim to solve what happened before more strikes are made.
The science and time lines in this can be a bit questionable, which will ruin it for some, but I found it a good movie with a good side story on the soldier himself.

I actually really liked Source Code.

I'd have given it at least 8.5 and maybe 9 and I'm a harsh critic.

I think the background to it was reasonable, and the twist was very good. I think with sci-fi, to enjoy it, you have to presume the artificial position they are in is scientifically correct and go with the flow. The best sci-fi is the story underneath the artificial position, and in Source Code, there was some quite thought provoking quandaries.

If it had finished 5 mins earlier then it would have been a brilliant film, but the ending spoiled it somewhat for me. Still very good though.

I do very much see what you mean. Personally I thought "Hmmm.....". I watch a lot of non-Hollywood cinema, so personally I'd be more than happy without the classical Hollywood narrative there.

A shining example is actually Duncan Jones' previous film, Moon. Great idea, and an ending you just won't get away with with a big budget film that goes through the mill of test screenings etc.

One only has to have a look at the sister thread of 'Bad Films' to see such films like 'Gone Baby Gone' deemed to be by some the worst films out there because the subject is 'depressing'.

On the other hand, I am happy that thought provoking cinema can get into the mainstream. If the downside if the film has to have an 'ending by committee' then I can begrudgingly live with that.

[Spanna]

I think that's why my own rating is lower, the ending. The timeline and story of the end made no sense scientifically or if the creators felt it did I think they should have elaborated on it.

I did enjoy the film though, probably deserved a higher rating from myself.

[tobinen]

Grand Budapest Hotel: If we had an 'average films I watched...' I would put it there.

Decent cast, I liked the production design and it was an amiable yarn but ultimately I found it lacking in any real excitement and I didn't really care about the characters. 5.5/10

[Veeayt]

Birdman - so great. A film where actors can actually act, with a story that can't be simply invented. 10/10

[JonRB]

Not *totally* on topic but I saw this post today:
http://whatculture.com/film/5-reasons-sky-captain-...

It reminded me how much I love the film "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow".

I might have to watch that again this weekend.

[Veeayt]

^ Yep, can't understand the hate, excellent film

[irocfan]

JonRB said:

Not *totally* on topic but I saw this post today:
http://whatculture.com/film/5-reasons-sky-captain-...

It reminded me how much I love the film "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow".

I might have to watch that again this weekend.

I really wanted to love it (not just like it love it) and I was majorly disappointed... bit like lusting after Jennifer Anniston and then getting her to bed only to find out she's got a cock

[vxr8mate]

From Paris With Love has to be one of Travolta's worst ever.

It is literally him going around Paris shooting and fighting anyone and everyone.

It was as if Travolta took the time off from acting to be so bad.

[moanthebairns]

Dumb and Dumber to - 6/10 I loved the first one so I had high standards. Sadly it never lived up to them. It was weird watching it, the camera work isn't what you normally see on film and was more like a tv show. There was a few gags where they hinted of the presence of the cameras, that really annoys me to be honest as the first wasn't anything like this.

It was just weird watching it, the acting at times was utterly terrible, it was almost like a stage show, pandering to the audience. It never had the real life feel of the first one.

There was some really st, almost cringe worthy jokes, however there was some real laugh out loud moments. The bond gag had me in stiches every time. There is some great references to the first one, but I felt they could have played on them more, possibly using the same songs, for similar scenarios throughout.

I just wished they had taken it a bit more seriously. The plot was lazy, really lazy. If they had put a bit more effort into it like the first one and binned the "toilet" humour it would have been a classic.

As it is, it’s a pretty weak follow up but worth a watch.

[VEA]

moanthebairns said:

Dumb and Dumber to - 6/10 I loved the first one so I had high standards. Sadly it never lived up to them. It was weird watching it, the camera work isn't what you normally see on film and was more like a tv show. There was a few gags where they hinted of the presence of the cameras, that really annoys me to be honest as the first wasn't anything like this.

It was just weird watching it, the acting at times was utterly terrible, it was almost like a stage show, pandering to the audience. It never had the real life feel of the first one.

There was some really st, almost cringe worthy jokes, however there was some real laugh out loud moments. The bond gag had me in stiches every time. There is some great references to the first one, but I felt they could have played on them more, possibly using the same songs, for similar scenarios throughout.

I just wished they had taken it a bit more seriously. The plot was lazy, really lazy. If they had put a bit more effort into it like the first one and binned the "toilet" humour it would have been a classic.

As it is, it’s a pretty weak follow up but worth a watch.

I thought it was fking awful, so awful in fact that I turned it off about 40 mins in. It wasn't even close to funny.

[JustinP1]

vxr8mate said:

From Paris With Love has to be one of Travolta's worst ever.

It is literally him going around Paris shooting and fighting anyone and everyone.

It was as if Travolta took the time off from acting to be so bad.

I guess you've never seen Battlefield Earth?

My memory of From Paris With Love from when I watched it was mainly positive, quite a fun film.

I think the attitude of it was very similar to Shoot 'Em Up.

You can't watch these films with the idea that they take themselves seriously. In both, they both realised that they knew what they were, a pastiche of stereotypes, and that made them entertaining in themselves as they play with those stereotypes in a funny way.

[vxr8mate]

JustinP1 said:

vxr8mate said:

From Paris With Love has to be one of Travolta's worst ever.

It is literally him going around Paris shooting and fighting anyone and everyone.

It was as if Travolta took the time off from acting to be so bad.

I guess you've never seen Battlefield Earth?

My memory of From Paris With Love from when I watched it was mainly positive, quite a fun film.

I think the attitude of it was very similar to Shoot 'Em Up.

You can't watch these films with the idea that they take themselves seriously. In both, they both realised that they knew what they were, a pastiche of stereotypes, and that made them entertaining in themselves as they play with those stereotypes in a funny way.

I erased Battlefield Earth my mind...until now which I have to agree was a total fest; however, I think Paris was a serious attempt at a Luc Besson action movie that was just rubbish like Transporter, 3 Days to Kill, Lockout and the list goes on.

[Veeayt]

Babadook - as it is always with good films, the personal drama plays the part. Not easy to watch. 7.5/10

[Langweilig]

Fortress - Similar to Memphis Belle. One major difference is that some of the B17 crew don't survive.

[Z06George]

Langweilig said:

Fortress - Similar to Memphis Belle. One major difference is that some of the B17 crew don't survive.

I haven't seen it so I'm probably way off but the trailer gives the impression that it focussed on the guy that was a track athlete and a POW camp. Whereas obviously Memphis Belle is mostly the flight. This is why I didn't bother going to see it, but if it is much more similar to Memphis Belle than I thought I might have to have a look! Also they're B-24s (well at least that's what the trailer shows ).

[Langweilig]

Z06George said:

Langweilig said:

Fortress - Similar to Memphis Belle. One major difference is that some of the B17 crew don't survive.

I haven't seen it so I'm probably way off but the trailer gives the impression that it focussed on the guy that was a track athlete and a POW camp. Whereas obviously Memphis Belle is mostly the flight. This is why I didn't bother going to see it, but if it is much more similar to Memphis Belle than I thought I might have to have a look! Also they're B-24s (well at least that's what the trailer shows ).

The full movie can be viewed on You Tube.

[Z06George]

Langweilig said:

Z06George said:

Langweilig said:

Fortress - Similar to Memphis Belle. One major difference is that some of the B17 crew don't survive.

I haven't seen it so I'm probably way off but the trailer gives the impression that it focussed on the guy that was a track athlete and a POW camp. Whereas obviously Memphis Belle is mostly the flight. This is why I didn't bother going to see it, but if it is much more similar to Memphis Belle than I thought I might have to have a look! Also they're B-24s (well at least that's what the trailer shows ).

The full movie can be viewed on You Tube.

Cheers!

[Z06George]

Being a dipstick for some reason I thought Fortress was the name of what is actually 'Unbroken', hence my comment about B24s etc. Never mind, it's been a long week!