Good films I watched this weekend (Vol 2)

[BrownBottle]

Pommygranite said:

BrownBottle said:

When it comes to Mad Max original is best for me.

Why?

By far the most simple and original storyline with zero flannel and none of the additional nonsense of the later films. Still like the sequels, but they are blockbuster sequels.

[Snubs]

Halb said:

Bedknobs and Broomsticks....fking ace.
In my Disney top ten, easy peasy.

Worth watching the whole film solely for the football match, a terrific bit of comedy

The Raid 2: Been meaning to watch this for a while as i was stunned by the first one. This one actually included a storyline, but primarily it's more of the same: fast paced hand-to-hand combat. If you're really in to that then it's worth a watch, but otherwise i'd give it a miss. 6/10.

[shakotan]

TREMAiNE said:

Real quick one line reviews...

Yesterday evening:
Mad Max
I like old films but this has aged horribly, it did pick up towards the end - not for me though! 6/10

Max Max 2: The Road Warrior
Absolutely bloody brilliant, its aged better than the first and I love the setting and art style, would watch again! 8/10

Max Max: Beyond Thunderdome
Had some good bits in it and was an enjoyable watch, if a little silly at times. Didn't live up to #2 IMO. 7/10

Today
Mad Max: Fury Road
WOW. A film with basically zero plot and zero character development doesn't interest me at all but Fury Road is just that, yet I loved it. It was brilliantly made with some of the best cinematography I've seen in a LONG time - the action for the most part was very good and the art direction and costume design was stellar. It was almost as if you could smell the petrol burn during the explosions. Really enjoyed it and will see it again! 9/10



So I'm pretty high on Mad Max at the moment, despite only seeing it for the first time at 8pm last night!
Might watch The Book of Eli later - another post apocalyptic film... Then I might play some Fallout 3! #NuclearWasteland

If you have MM on DVD/BR, make sure you switch the audio BACK to the original Aussie script, rather than the Yank cinema default overdub. It makes it a much better film.

[chris watton]

I notice Kingsman has just appeared to buy on Amazon prime - is it worth getting?

[SWoll]

chris watton said:

I notice Kingsman has just appeared to buy on Amazon prime - is it worth getting?

Did you enjoy Kick Ass?

Do you like old school James Bond films?

It's a bit of a marmite film based on opinions on this thread but I answer yes to the questions above and thought it was brilliant fun.

[chris watton]

SWoll said:

chris watton said:

I notice Kingsman has just appeared to buy on Amazon prime - is it worth getting?

Did you enjoy Kick Ass?

Do you like old school James Bond films?

It's a bit of a marmite film based on opinions on this thread but I answer yes to the questions above and thought it was brilliant fun.

Yep, like all of them!

I think I'll take a chance and buy it...Cheers

[qube_TA]

After enjoying Ex machina again I decided to watch 'The Machine' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2317225

Similar concept to the 80's DAYRL a cyborg developed to be a soldier turns out to have a concious and doesn't really want to be a soldier. It's a fairly predictable plot that has been borrowed from many a better film before it.

The film looked like it was made for about £50 and it amused me that the musician has deliberately used synth presets to make it sound more like Blade Runner.

But whilst there's plenty to knock I half enjoyed it, was nice to see a British film also.

6/10

[K12beano]

steveatesh said:

Watched Danny Boyles "Trance" last night, never heard of it but I found it clever and entertaining from start to finish. It helped when the female lead Rosario Dawson got all her kit off after hearing her shave, including close ups of what she shaved

Good film with a twist at the end.

Yes - also watched Trance

Very struck by one reviewer's observation about how good McAvoy is, and how just a few years ago that woul have been Ewen McG.

I thought McAvoy was good (not "Bond material" though as some have said).

If McAvoy was good, Cassel was even better - he is so convincing in the sort of parts he gets (thinking Black Swan etc). Steveatash has, somewhat disappointingly, highlighted the only thing that the woman lead brings to the party. But that's partly down to how completely non-sensical the notion of her "power" (for want of a better word) over some of the players. Then we had a really disappointing ending. I won't give a spoiler, but the laws of chemistry/physics need to be ignored.

I only read the reviews after I had seen it, but it does have a tendency to polarise watchers into <3 or >8 out of ten.

I'd be brave and say it has 7/10 for entertainment and some good acting. It had the potential to be an Inception or one of those typical Jake Gyllenhaal films, DD or Source Code, and failed - but not spectacularly - and it had some of that "Boyle Magic" in there.

Give it a go!

[blindswelledrat]

TREMAiNE said:

Today
Mad Max: Fury Road
WOW. A film with basically zero plot and zero character development doesn't interest me at all but Fury Road is just that, yet I loved it. It was brilliantly made with some of the best cinematography I've seen in a LONG time - the action for the most part was very good and the art direction and costume design was stellar. It was almost as if you could smell the petrol burn during the explosions. Really enjoyed it and will see it again! 9/10



So I'm pretty high on Mad Max at the moment, despite only seeing it for the first time at 8pm last night!
Might watch The Book of Eli later - another post apocalyptic film... Then I might play some Fallout 3! #NuclearWasteland

Everyone I know has said similar to you and I don't get the universal adoration for it. I agree with all that you have said but in the absence of characters, acting and storyline it was just a bit boring. Basically one thing happens and it happens for 2 hours. They drive along whilst people attack them. No deviation, no new anything for 2 hours just explosion after explosion after explosion. It was like watching some repetitive platform game from the 1980s, albeit with spectacular graphics.
Worth watching for the stunts and drama, but for me it was only a 6.5/10 I think

[anonymous-user]

Du1point8 said:

Flying Penguin said:

Tim's Vermeer 9/10 wow... simply stunning

Thanks for reminding me about this, its a awesome documentary.

If you like this can I suggest Incognito as an artist based film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmbPPLnb5JM

Thanks for listing that guys - now on my 'must watch' last after never hearing of it before. Tim's Vermeer that is.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 26th May 16:11

[anonymous-user]

Down Terrace is a 2009 British crime film directed by Ben Wheatley

low budget, a few killings, a blackish comedy drama, not a usual gangster film with a few recognised TV actors popping up along the way.

8/10

[TREMAiNE]

blindswelledrat said:

Everyone I know has said similar to you and I don't get the universal adoration for it. I agree with all that you have said but in the absence of characters, acting and storyline it was just a bit boring. Basically one thing happens and it happens for 2 hours. They drive along whilst people attack them. No deviation, no new anything for 2 hours just explosion after explosion after explosion. It was like watching some repetitive platform game from the 1980s, albeit with spectacular graphics.
Worth watching for the stunts and drama, but for me it was only a 6.5/10 I think

I can see what your saying - and from the face of it, I would agree with the rating you've given it.

For me, you need to look a bit deeper to see how great it is...

It doesn't grind to a halt in order to chuck in some character development. The exposition is done during the action sequences, the exposition and development is worked into the action rather than be jammed in - it keeps the whole movie in sequence and gives it near perfect pacing - IMO poor pacing is the easiest way to make a good movie bad.
Also, the art direction was fantastic - the world looked incredible, normally in post-apocalyptic films have a real dull colour pallet, Fury Road is spectacularly colourful and vibrant and yet the world is still believable. It was a visual feast for the eyes and I was totally immersed.
The cinematography itself was stellar, some of the best I've seen in a long time, almost every shot felt worthwhile and every shot was clearly thought about. I read after that George Miller wrote a 3,500 box storyboard for the film and they ended up doing a shot for all 3,500 boxes.


Its not particularly difficult to create a 2 hour chase sequence with next to no story, few speaking parts and lots of explosions... All you need is a camera, some cars and a lot of CGI... But Fury Road is all real, its all been beautifully crafted and choreographed to make one of the best action movies of the century (IMO) and creates a world you really can believe could exist.

Its very similar to "Drive", which also had a mediocre plot, few speaking parts, not much really going on - and yet it was terrific.

I hate most action movies, 2 hours of action is my idea of hell - but this was utter brilliance. I'm still stunned that I think so highly of it!

[chris watton]

OK, Just watched, and thoroughly enjoyed Kingsman - The Secret Service.

What a great film, and I loved the way that, this time, it was an American who was the bad guy, rather than anyone but an American!

[Flying Penguin]

Du1point8 said:

Flying Penguin said:

Tim's Vermeer 9/10 wow... simply stunning

Thanks for reminding me about this, its a awesome documentary.

If you like this can I suggest Incognito as an artist based film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmbPPLnb5JM

Incognito actually rings a bell... hmmm, a long time back, though. Will get it from the "usual source"- cheers

[Flying Penguin]

garyhun said:

Thanks for listing that guys - now on my 'must watch' last after never hearing of it before. Tim's Vermeer that is.

Edited by garyhun on Tuesday 26th May 16:11

You shall not be disappointed, Sir!

[Jaroon]

It Follows.

My daughter and I disagreed about this modest budget, US horror film but as the resident household horror buff, I think you'll find it wasn't too slow, it was really quite well paced and solid. 8/10

The sound track reminded me of something? Some 80's horrors, John Carpenter films, or the early Halloween films, can'y put my finger on it. Decent concept and quite scary.

[toasty]

TREMAiNE said:

Real quick one line reviews...

Yesterday evening:
Mad Max
I like old films but this has aged horribly, it did pick up towards the end - not for me though! 6/10

Max Max 2: The Road Warrior
Absolutely bloody brilliant, its aged better than the first and I love the setting and art style, would watch again! 8/10

Max Max: Beyond Thunderdome
Had some good bits in it and was an enjoyable watch, if a little silly at times. Didn't live up to #2 IMO. 7/10

Today
Mad Max: Fury Road
WOW. A film with basically zero plot and zero character development doesn't interest me at all but Fury Road is just that, yet I loved it. It was brilliantly made with some of the best cinematography I've seen in a LONG time - the action for the most part was very good and the art direction and costume design was stellar. It was almost as if you could smell the petrol burn during the explosions. Really enjoyed it and will see it again! 9/10



So I'm pretty high on Mad Max at the moment, despite only seeing it for the first time at 8pm last night!
Might watch The Book of Eli later - another post apocalyptic film... Then I might play some Fallout 3! #NuclearWasteland

I don't know whether you noticed but the lead baddie (Immortan Joe) in Fury Road was the same actor as the lead baddie (Toecutter) in the original, Hugh Keays-Byrne. He hasn't aged well.

[TREMAiNE]

toasty said:

don't know whether you noticed but the lead baddie (Immortan Joe) in Fury Road was the same actor as the lead baddie (Toecutter) in the original, Hugh Keays-Byrne. He hasn't aged well.

I'd seen that it was the same actor before I went to see FR (I spend a lot of time on IMDB) but to be honest he looked so different I'd never have known if I didn't find out first.

[Halb]

toasty said:

don't know whether you noticed but the lead baddie (Immortan Joe) in Fury Road was the same actor as the lead baddie (Toecutter) in the original, Hugh Keays-Byrne. He hasn't aged well.

I noticed. I asked if it was the same character in the Mad Max thread.

[iambeowulf]

chris watton said:

I notice Kingsman has just appeared to buy on Amazon prime - is it worth getting?

"Where are you going?"
"To save the world?"
"Oh. Come back and fk me up the arse"



Completely random line.
Great movie.