Films I watched this week
Discussion
Bought Spectre from SKY Store and watched it yesterday.
Hmm, not sure I liked it too much. Perhaps it's my age or I have just watched too many films over the years, but this seemed like a mixture of the older and more ridiculous stunts (I thought they were moving away from this crap), wasted talent (Monica Bellucci), and a scene that looked like it was straight out of a script from Arnold's 1985 movie Commando - where he's standing there in full view of a dozen armed men, all missing him while he picks them off one by one. Commando I can forgive, as that's a tongue firmly in cheek movie, but in a modern JB film, it was just silly!
6/10
Hmm, not sure I liked it too much. Perhaps it's my age or I have just watched too many films over the years, but this seemed like a mixture of the older and more ridiculous stunts (I thought they were moving away from this crap), wasted talent (Monica Bellucci), and a scene that looked like it was straight out of a script from Arnold's 1985 movie Commando - where he's standing there in full view of a dozen armed men, all missing him while he picks them off one by one. Commando I can forgive, as that's a tongue firmly in cheek movie, but in a modern JB film, it was just silly!
6/10
shirt said:
lobster sounds intriguing by the way. i just read the plot and the fact it had a greek director and thought it had to be the guy who made dogtooth. turns out i was right. this guy has form so if you guys need another WTF movie to watch, it has to be dogtooth!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogtooth_(film)
Dogtooth is properly messed up. Not sure I want to see Lobster now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogtooth_(film)
Lone Survivor (Netflix, Mark Wahlberg):
Film based on a true story of a marine and his team on a mission in Afghanistan that goes wrong. 7.5/10
Zulu (Sky, Orlando Bloom and Forest Whittaker):
Set in S. Africa, a couple of cops are after the gang of dealers selling synthetic drugs that led to the death of a young middle class girl. Enjoyable film, and although the plot was a bit fantastical at times (this was minimal), a recommended watch. 7.5/10
Fast and Furious 7:
Really watchable film, I was surprised! I've seen the first, and maybe one or two of the others, but imagined on the 7th edition would have been tripe but it wasn't; just good fun action! 7.5/10
Film based on a true story of a marine and his team on a mission in Afghanistan that goes wrong. 7.5/10
Zulu (Sky, Orlando Bloom and Forest Whittaker):
Set in S. Africa, a couple of cops are after the gang of dealers selling synthetic drugs that led to the death of a young middle class girl. Enjoyable film, and although the plot was a bit fantastical at times (this was minimal), a recommended watch. 7.5/10
Fast and Furious 7:
Really watchable film, I was surprised! I've seen the first, and maybe one or two of the others, but imagined on the 7th edition would have been tripe but it wasn't; just good fun action! 7.5/10
Lordbenny said:
The Martian - Bloomin awful, so predictable, nothing new, fell asleep for about ten minutes (maybe I missed the good bit!) I was expecting a lot more Ridley Scott.
5/10
I was the opposite - I wasn't expecting much, as Scott has made some real stinkers of late, so was pleasantly surprised with The Martian.5/10
The Martian was good; Very close to the book though, which is no bad thing. I read the book first, which in retrospect was probably not the best way round to do it.
Some writers do seem to write with a screenplay in mind, but then a lot of them have worked in the TV and film industry. Alistair MacLean, Michael Crichton, Robert Crais, George RRRRRR Martin etc..
Some writers do seem to write with a screenplay in mind, but then a lot of them have worked in the TV and film industry. Alistair MacLean, Michael Crichton, Robert Crais, George RRRRRR Martin etc..
chris watton said:
Lordbenny said:
The Martian - Bloomin awful, so predictable, nothing new, fell asleep for about ten minutes (maybe I missed the good bit!) I was expecting a lot more Ridley Scott.
5/10
I was the opposite - I wasn't expecting much, as Scott has made some real stinkers of late, so was pleasantly surprised with The Martian.5/10
not knocking ridley but the source material is what made that film enjoyable. as has been mentioned there was no sense of tension and it just didn't quite add up to the sum of its parts. i think an edgier director would have helped enormously.
shirt said:
at what point during watching it did you think 'wow, the director of this film is really good'? not at all i bet.
not knocking ridley but the source material is what made that film enjoyable. as has been mentioned there was no sense of tension and it just didn't quite add up to the sum of its parts. i think an edgier director would have helped enormously.
I think a better actor would have helped. I felt the Martian was a bit meh, a more charismatic actor, some tightening of the script would have improved it for me. The best bits were the stuff filmed just for the trailers with all the other actors.not knocking ridley but the source material is what made that film enjoyable. as has been mentioned there was no sense of tension and it just didn't quite add up to the sum of its parts. i think an edgier director would have helped enormously.
ooo000ooo said:
The peanuts movie - stuck it on for the kids, me and the missus thought it was brilliant. The formula hasn't changed and is all the better for it.
Agreed - it's completely delightful, and much like Paddington could have been a disaster in the wrong hands.Charlie Brown though. Legend.
Halb said:
shirt said:
at what point during watching it did you think 'wow, the director of this film is really good'? not at all i bet.
not knocking ridley but the source material is what made that film enjoyable. as has been mentioned there was no sense of tension and it just didn't quite add up to the sum of its parts. i think an edgier director would have helped enormously.
I think a better actor would have helped. I felt the Martian was a bit meh, a more charismatic actor, some tightening of the script would have improved it for me. The best bits were the stuff filmed just for the trailers with all the other actors.not knocking ridley but the source material is what made that film enjoyable. as has been mentioned there was no sense of tension and it just didn't quite add up to the sum of its parts. i think an edgier director would have helped enormously.
shirt said:
Halb said:
shirt said:
at what point during watching it did you think 'wow, the director of this film is really good'? not at all i bet.
not knocking ridley but the source material is what made that film enjoyable. as has been mentioned there was no sense of tension and it just didn't quite add up to the sum of its parts. i think an edgier director would have helped enormously.
I think a better actor would have helped. I felt the Martian was a bit meh, a more charismatic actor, some tightening of the script would have improved it for me. The best bits were the stuff filmed just for the trailers with all the other actors.not knocking ridley but the source material is what made that film enjoyable. as has been mentioned there was no sense of tension and it just didn't quite add up to the sum of its parts. i think an edgier director would have helped enormously.
tbh until i just looked at the cast list on wiki i didn't realise this was pitched as a comedy. maybe that explains a few things. however when i watched it i was thinking it was more straight drama with comedic elements, so:
kristen wiig as a top nasa bod? really?
that mexican guy whose name noone knows as an ace pilot? seriously esse?
goofy nerd kid no.7 as the guy who saves the day?
only jeff daniels practicing for his role in steve jobs and the mission commander were near the mark. i also thought matt damon was a decent choice as any. he's not a very expressive actor though, compare to someone like sam rockwell whose performance in moon was much more what i'd expect from someone lost in space. damon is a dramatic actor and doesn't do comedy well. the informant was his best shot at that.
i think colin hanks would have been a good call actually but lacks box office appeal.
i think i rated this 7/10 and stick by that. enjoyable enough but not one i could watch over again and shouldn't really be worrying any oscar lists.
kristen wiig as a top nasa bod? really?
that mexican guy whose name noone knows as an ace pilot? seriously esse?
goofy nerd kid no.7 as the guy who saves the day?
only jeff daniels practicing for his role in steve jobs and the mission commander were near the mark. i also thought matt damon was a decent choice as any. he's not a very expressive actor though, compare to someone like sam rockwell whose performance in moon was much more what i'd expect from someone lost in space. damon is a dramatic actor and doesn't do comedy well. the informant was his best shot at that.
i think colin hanks would have been a good call actually but lacks box office appeal.
i think i rated this 7/10 and stick by that. enjoyable enough but not one i could watch over again and shouldn't really be worrying any oscar lists.
Edited by shirt on Sunday 21st February 02:14
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