Good films I watched this weekend (Vol 2)
Discussion
Had a bit of a catch up over the last few days and 'cleared' the other two Hobbit films while the wife has been away.
The Desolation of Smaug was quite good and enjoyed it although I did think he (Smaug) was a bit of a crap uber Killing Machine - seemed like a bad Bond bad guy who enjoys the sound of his own voice too much.
The Battle of the Five Armies - rubbish - could have been done in a fraction of the time and the whole thing should have been a more concise two film series. Wasn't long before I was on the iPad looking at other stuff, then thought I should pay more attention in cease I miss anything good and nodded off not long after.
In all, a bit disappointed by the whole series compared to LotR.
The Desolation of Smaug was quite good and enjoyed it although I did think he (Smaug) was a bit of a crap uber Killing Machine - seemed like a bad Bond bad guy who enjoys the sound of his own voice too much.
The Battle of the Five Armies - rubbish - could have been done in a fraction of the time and the whole thing should have been a more concise two film series. Wasn't long before I was on the iPad looking at other stuff, then thought I should pay more attention in cease I miss anything good and nodded off not long after.
In all, a bit disappointed by the whole series compared to LotR.
Asterix said:
Had a bit of a catch up over the last few days and 'cleared' the other two Hobbit films while the wife has been away.
The Desolation of Smaug was quite good and enjoyed it although I did think he (Smaug) was a bit of a crap uber Killing Machine - seemed like a bad Bond bad guy who enjoys the sound of his own voice too much.
The Battle of the Five Armies - rubbish - could have been done in a fraction of the time and the whole thing should have been a more concise two film series. Wasn't long before I was on the iPad looking at other stuff, then thought I should pay more attention in cease I miss anything good and nodded off not long after.
In all, a bit disappointed by the whole series compared to LotR.
inclined to agree, too much artistic licence and way too much departure from the core stories of the book for me....i'm not crying purist here and I grant Jackson a fair amount of slack due to his superb efforts with LotR but this was taking the piss frankly. The Desolation of Smaug was quite good and enjoyed it although I did think he (Smaug) was a bit of a crap uber Killing Machine - seemed like a bad Bond bad guy who enjoys the sound of his own voice too much.
The Battle of the Five Armies - rubbish - could have been done in a fraction of the time and the whole thing should have been a more concise two film series. Wasn't long before I was on the iPad looking at other stuff, then thought I should pay more attention in cease I miss anything good and nodded off not long after.
In all, a bit disappointed by the whole series compared to LotR.
John Wick - a proper blokes film about a hit man brought out of retirement and stylishly kills everyone he lays eyes on. Hard to believe Keanu is 50 and he did most of his own stunts. Good fun and glad to hear a sequel is in the works. 8/10.
Blackhat - as a huge Michael Mann fan I was really looking forward to this but it was very disappointing. Style over substance with a weak plot and editing that felt all over the place. Worth a watch but not one to view again. 5/10.
Blackhat - as a huge Michael Mann fan I was really looking forward to this but it was very disappointing. Style over substance with a weak plot and editing that felt all over the place. Worth a watch but not one to view again. 5/10.
Halb said:
JustinP1 said:
I missed them all when they were on Film 4 apart from Howl's Moving Castle.
I watched it with my four year old daughter 'on the wall' (as she calls our projector) and she loves it.
I've seen Laputa, and know that's suitable for her, but could you possibly hint whether the rest might be suitable?
I am conscious of the fact that all she knows is classical Hollywood narrative of the Disney princess things, and know that far eastern stories are culturally not as clear cut. She watched some parts of Howls through her fingers, so don't want any hidden nasties or characters dying. For example, from what I've heard of Spirited Away, I think that may be too much for her.
Cheers!
I made a decision not to watch any dubbed ones as they tend to not be as good as the original (subtitled). I deleted Howl's Moving Castle because it was dubbed. I did watch Laputa though, because it's my favourite and the dubbed version is the version I saw back when it was on telly in the 90s. So I've not seen Howl's to gauge it's level.I watched it with my four year old daughter 'on the wall' (as she calls our projector) and she loves it.
I've seen Laputa, and know that's suitable for her, but could you possibly hint whether the rest might be suitable?
I am conscious of the fact that all she knows is classical Hollywood narrative of the Disney princess things, and know that far eastern stories are culturally not as clear cut. She watched some parts of Howls through her fingers, so don't want any hidden nasties or characters dying. For example, from what I've heard of Spirited Away, I think that may be too much for her.
Cheers!
Spirited Away has no 'air of menace', but I can see how the parents being turned into pigs, the dragon getting cut over and over by paper planes and the slimy spirit could be on the verge. The girl lead is super positive though and isn't really scared at any point.
Nausicaä possibly might be too much (I also watched the dubbed because it's just such a great story), which is a real shame because yet again (the Japanese are so far ahead here) the lead is a young girl who shows far more intelligence and bravery than most around her, and basically saves the world. But it's a pretty intense story with fights, death, giant bugs and at one point a giant skeletal/muscle cyborg vomiting death at huge attacking bugs. But it's one of the best ones. Like Princess Mononoke, with another powerful female lead, but that has fights and death aplenty, and blood. So that one is too much I should think for a 4 year old.
Western stories are quite complex too, but Disney just dispenses with all the complexity and make them basic, like lego.
Ocean Waves and Only Yesterday are different kettle of fish. I tried to watch them both last year, but got bored and deleted them. But I tried them again this year and was glad I did. Waves is about a young man remembering his time at school, it's really a great piece, but not sure if a 4 year old would like it, depends what she likes. Only Yesterday is similar, with a young woman remembering her time as a 6 year old child, and how confusing growing up in 60s Japan was. The insight to Japan is really enlightening. Your daughter may like the memories of the woman.
From Up on Poppy Hill is about two kids in 60's Japan and their relationship, it's a great story and again, from the girl's perspective, so she may like that.
Pom Poko is one she will probably like, it's about Japanese raccoon dogs fighting humans over development, but no deaths or stuff like that. The scariest bit is where the raccoon dogs pretend to be humans with no faces to scare a security guard.
She'll probably like Tales from Earthsea too. It was a dubbed one that I watched last year...cannot recall anything bad in it, it is taken from one of Le Guinn's books.
She'll like The Cat Returns, that's a fun one, a bit like ALice in WOnderland.
Didn't think I'd get such a detailed precis, thanks! We'll start with The Cat Returns I think.
Funnily enough, animation is the only time I'll accept dubbed versions. I watch I lot of foreign cinema but simply can't watch dubbed. As animation is not the original actor anyway, I give it a conceptual pardon.
Besides, Howl's Moving Castle is dubbed with Billy Crystal and Christian Bale!
JustinP1 said:
Cheers Halb - much appreciated!
Didn't think I'd get such a detailed precis, thanks! We'll start with The Cat Returns I think.
Funnily enough, animation is the only time I'll accept dubbed versions. I watch I lot of foreign cinema but simply can't watch dubbed. As animation is not the original actor anyway, I give it a conceptual pardon.
Besides, Howl's Moving Castle is dubbed with Billy Crystal and Christian Bale!
I don't think I'd have such a problem if the two cultures weren't so different. I watched subtitled Princess Mononoke...and loved it, couldn't believe how great it was...I went to check something on youtube and it was the dubbed version...it was just 'ergh', I'm sure they messed the incidental music up and it seemed a bit 'disneyfied'. Japanese cartoons can be quite harsh...which is what your original concern was! Didn't think I'd get such a detailed precis, thanks! We'll start with The Cat Returns I think.
Funnily enough, animation is the only time I'll accept dubbed versions. I watch I lot of foreign cinema but simply can't watch dubbed. As animation is not the original actor anyway, I give it a conceptual pardon.
Besides, Howl's Moving Castle is dubbed with Billy Crystal and Christian Bale!
And I find the harsh guttural shrieking of the Japanese voices adds to the tensions/ambience. D:Interesting point! And a great segue into the last film I watched:
The Departed
Scorsese flick about a mafia man being recruited into the high end of the Boston police, whilst a Boston policeman being recruited into the Boston mafia.
This was my second watching, and it's a 9/10 this time.
My first viewing, when it came out in 2006ish I watched after I had recently watched the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs which is the same story, but based in Hong Kong.
Despite the prowess of Scorsese as I loved the original so much I couldn't put my finger on why I didn't like The Departed as much, despite it being great. With fresh eyes, I've been able to see The Departed as a standalone film, and enjoyed it much more.
For that matter, I'd also recommend Infernal Affairs and its two sequels as an awesome trilogy which expands on the first story greatly.
The Departed
Scorsese flick about a mafia man being recruited into the high end of the Boston police, whilst a Boston policeman being recruited into the Boston mafia.
This was my second watching, and it's a 9/10 this time.
My first viewing, when it came out in 2006ish I watched after I had recently watched the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs which is the same story, but based in Hong Kong.
Despite the prowess of Scorsese as I loved the original so much I couldn't put my finger on why I didn't like The Departed as much, despite it being great. With fresh eyes, I've been able to see The Departed as a standalone film, and enjoyed it much more.
For that matter, I'd also recommend Infernal Affairs and its two sequels as an awesome trilogy which expands on the first story greatly.
Mordtecai. Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, Paul Whitehouse, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Got slated and only received 5.4 in INMD.
Depp is funny with his over the top upper plummy English accent but does pull it off. Paltrow is just irritating, as usual.
It's a great car spotters film with lots of classic cars scattered about.
Got slated and only received 5.4 in INMD.
Depp is funny with his over the top upper plummy English accent but does pull it off. Paltrow is just irritating, as usual.
It's a great car spotters film with lots of classic cars scattered about.
JustinP1 said:
The Departed
Scorsese flick about a mafia man being recruited into the high end of the Boston police, whilst a Boston policeman being recruited into the Boston mafia.
This was my second watching, and it's a 9/10 this time.
My first viewing, when it came out in 2006ish I watched after I had recently watched the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs which is the same story, but based in Hong Kong.
Despite the prowess of Scorsese as I loved the original so much I couldn't put my finger on why I didn't like The Departed as much, despite it being great. With fresh eyes, I've been able to see The Departed as a standalone film, and enjoyed it much more.
Got that on my HDD --haven't got around to watching it yet--thanks for the reminder.Scorsese flick about a mafia man being recruited into the high end of the Boston police, whilst a Boston policeman being recruited into the Boston mafia.
This was my second watching, and it's a 9/10 this time.
My first viewing, when it came out in 2006ish I watched after I had recently watched the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs which is the same story, but based in Hong Kong.
Despite the prowess of Scorsese as I loved the original so much I couldn't put my finger on why I didn't like The Departed as much, despite it being great. With fresh eyes, I've been able to see The Departed as a standalone film, and enjoyed it much more.
iambeowulf said:
Mordtecai. Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, Paul Whitehouse, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Got slated and only received 5.4 in INMD.
Depp is funny with his over the top upper plummy English accent but does pull it off. Paltrow is just irritating, as usual.
It's a great car spotters film with lots of classic cars scattered about.
I quite enjoyed this, reminded me of The Pink Panther films (or even the cartoon Hong Kong Fooey!) with Depp portraying himself as the heroic figure, but its his ever faithful sidekick that should get the credit.Got slated and only received 5.4 in INMD.
Depp is funny with his over the top upper plummy English accent but does pull it off. Paltrow is just irritating, as usual.
It's a great car spotters film with lots of classic cars scattered about.
Pickled said:
iambeowulf said:
Mordtecai. Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, Paul Whitehouse, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Got slated and only received 5.4 in INMD.
Depp is funny with his over the top upper plummy English accent but does pull it off. Paltrow is just irritating, as usual.
It's a great car spotters film with lots of classic cars scattered about.
I quite enjoyed this, reminded me of The Pink Panther films (or even the cartoon Hong Kong Fooey!) with Depp portraying himself as the heroic figure, but its his ever faithful sidekick that should get the credit.Got slated and only received 5.4 in INMD.
Depp is funny with his over the top upper plummy English accent but does pull it off. Paltrow is just irritating, as usual.
It's a great car spotters film with lots of classic cars scattered about.
Kingsman : The Secret Service
Ridiculously OTT violence, preposterous story, absolutely loved it. Already pre-ordered the Blu-ray.
8.5/10
SWoll said:
JonRB said:
Dredd
After the total pile of pants that was the remake of RoboCop I had zero expectations.
This was visually stunning, claustrophobic and I really enjoyed it.
It's a cracker isn't it? I still hold out hope for a sequel although based on BO numbers it's not looking likely. After the total pile of pants that was the remake of RoboCop I had zero expectations.
This was visually stunning, claustrophobic and I really enjoyed it.
The Raid is much more violent though.
Then watch The Raid 2. It's The Raid on speed and also very good.
bingybongy said:
You need to watch The Raid, I don't know which way round the homage was but they are very similar.
The Raid is much more violent though.
Then watch The Raid 2. It's The Raid on speed and also very good.
The raid is much more focused on martial arts hand to hand stuff.The Raid is much more violent though.
Then watch The Raid 2. It's The Raid on speed and also very good.
With the hordes of baddies in a tower block, I think they are both a homage to die hard......
motorizer said:
bingybongy said:
You need to watch The Raid, I don't know which way round the homage was but they are very similar.
The Raid is much more violent though.
Then watch The Raid 2. It's The Raid on speed and also very good.
The raid is much more focused on martial arts hand to hand stuff.The Raid is much more violent though.
Then watch The Raid 2. It's The Raid on speed and also very good.
With the hordes of baddies in a tower block, I think they are both a homage to die hard......
bingybongy said:
SWoll said:
JonRB said:
Dredd
After the total pile of pants that was the remake of RoboCop I had zero expectations.
This was visually stunning, claustrophobic and I really enjoyed it.
It's a cracker isn't it? I still hold out hope for a sequel although based on BO numbers it's not looking likely. After the total pile of pants that was the remake of RoboCop I had zero expectations.
This was visually stunning, claustrophobic and I really enjoyed it.
The Raid is much more violent though.
Then watch The Raid 2. It's The Raid on speed and also very good.
irocfan said:
bingybongy said:
SWoll said:
JonRB said:
Dredd
After the total pile of pants that was the remake of RoboCop I had zero expectations.
This was visually stunning, claustrophobic and I really enjoyed it.
It's a cracker isn't it? I still hold out hope for a sequel although based on BO numbers it's not looking likely. After the total pile of pants that was the remake of RoboCop I had zero expectations.
This was visually stunning, claustrophobic and I really enjoyed it.
The Raid is much more violent though.
Then watch The Raid 2. It's The Raid on speed and also very good.
The Raid 2 is IMHO the best of the lot though. What a movie.
SWoll said:
Indeed. Seen both Raid films and both amazing. There are obvious similarities between The Raid and Dredd but I have no issue with that personally.
Me neither, both are quality films. They are both pretty much the same film though, just one uses guns, the other martial arts.Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff