Films I watched this week
Discussion
Trying to remember what ive watched over the past 2-3 weeks...
Storks
Animated Pixar (or Pixar-type) kids film, but with enough gags to keep adults amused, enjoyed it.
Under the Sun
Documentary filmed by a Russian crew in North Korea, following a real family who's daughter is preparing for some sort of celebration. The N.Korean security services are in constant attendance and the lines the family say are all scripted, and the footage approved by the Government, but what the film crew have done appears to have been to smuggle some extra footage out, and leave the cameras rolling in between takes. Its hard viewing to be honest - mostly because of the absolute monotony of most of it, with occasional moments of hilarity (the camera focusing on a very young girl who is nodding off while being forced to listen to an ancient genera recount tedious stories at her school) and absolutely heartbreaking moments - like the young girl breaking down at the end when asked if shes happy. Like some of the people on IMDB mentioned, i finished the film thinking i bet that family have already been executed for their unwitting involvement
Spectral
Low budget Netflix sci-fi/horror action starring the main guy from The Pacific and other men playing soldiers who you have seen playing soldiers in other films. All good fun, if you films like Aliens.
The Nice Guys
Really surprised how much i liked this - its like a funny version of LA Confidential. Ryan Gosling is absolutely hilarious, with some great dialogue and gentle slapstick.
The Greasy Strangler
Lasted 30 mins and switched off. Low budget horror comedy that relies on repetitive moronic dialogue (a bit like Napoleon Dynamite - except i loved that film) mixed with gross visuals (an old man who insists that any meal he is served has a huge amount of grease on it). Maybe it gets better - but i'll never know.
Under the Shadow
Iranian ghost/horror film set in an apartment building thats under bombardment from Iraq. Were it not for the setting & the language, it would be a fairly average western-style scare-a-thon, with a kid that sees things the mother doesn't, and a mother that seems to be losing her grip on sanity. As someone who jumps easily in films, it did seem to take a long time to get going - but sure enough in the last 3rd i was jumping out of my seat on a few occasions.
Lawrence of Arabia
I watched this for 2 reasons - because of the clips shown in Prometheus (and the fact much of the theme of that films was inspired by this) and because of the LoA-inspiration in the new Battlefield 1 computer game. At 3hr 47m i watched it in a few chunks. I suppose its looking a bit dated at times, and some of O'Toole's portrayal seems a bit hammy, but its still a pretty epic film, with some glorious scenes and genuinely surprising twists (eg, the fact that Lawrence isnt a hero throughout, and is capable of some quite brutal actions himself). Also stars Obi Wan Kenobi.
Storks
Animated Pixar (or Pixar-type) kids film, but with enough gags to keep adults amused, enjoyed it.
Under the Sun
Documentary filmed by a Russian crew in North Korea, following a real family who's daughter is preparing for some sort of celebration. The N.Korean security services are in constant attendance and the lines the family say are all scripted, and the footage approved by the Government, but what the film crew have done appears to have been to smuggle some extra footage out, and leave the cameras rolling in between takes. Its hard viewing to be honest - mostly because of the absolute monotony of most of it, with occasional moments of hilarity (the camera focusing on a very young girl who is nodding off while being forced to listen to an ancient genera recount tedious stories at her school) and absolutely heartbreaking moments - like the young girl breaking down at the end when asked if shes happy. Like some of the people on IMDB mentioned, i finished the film thinking i bet that family have already been executed for their unwitting involvement
Spectral
Low budget Netflix sci-fi/horror action starring the main guy from The Pacific and other men playing soldiers who you have seen playing soldiers in other films. All good fun, if you films like Aliens.
The Nice Guys
Really surprised how much i liked this - its like a funny version of LA Confidential. Ryan Gosling is absolutely hilarious, with some great dialogue and gentle slapstick.
The Greasy Strangler
Lasted 30 mins and switched off. Low budget horror comedy that relies on repetitive moronic dialogue (a bit like Napoleon Dynamite - except i loved that film) mixed with gross visuals (an old man who insists that any meal he is served has a huge amount of grease on it). Maybe it gets better - but i'll never know.
Under the Shadow
Iranian ghost/horror film set in an apartment building thats under bombardment from Iraq. Were it not for the setting & the language, it would be a fairly average western-style scare-a-thon, with a kid that sees things the mother doesn't, and a mother that seems to be losing her grip on sanity. As someone who jumps easily in films, it did seem to take a long time to get going - but sure enough in the last 3rd i was jumping out of my seat on a few occasions.
Lawrence of Arabia
I watched this for 2 reasons - because of the clips shown in Prometheus (and the fact much of the theme of that films was inspired by this) and because of the LoA-inspiration in the new Battlefield 1 computer game. At 3hr 47m i watched it in a few chunks. I suppose its looking a bit dated at times, and some of O'Toole's portrayal seems a bit hammy, but its still a pretty epic film, with some glorious scenes and genuinely surprising twists (eg, the fact that Lawrence isnt a hero throughout, and is capable of some quite brutal actions himself). Also stars Obi Wan Kenobi.
daddy cool said:
Trying to remember what ive watched over the past 2-3 weeks...
Under the Shadow
Iranian ghost/horror film set in an apartment building thats under bombardment from Iraq. Were it not for the setting & the language, it would be a fairly average western-style scare-a-thon, with a kid that sees things the mother doesn't, and a mother that seems to be losing her grip on sanity. As someone who jumps easily in films, it did seem to take a long time to get going - but sure enough in the last 3rd i was jumping out of my seat on a few occasions.
I mentioned this film a page or so back. I am sure that if it were a Western-made film, the reviews would have been three stars max, but because it is Iranian, it received 5 stars across the board! I liked it, but I don't think it was deserving of the rave reviews from the movie mags.Under the Shadow
Iranian ghost/horror film set in an apartment building thats under bombardment from Iraq. Were it not for the setting & the language, it would be a fairly average western-style scare-a-thon, with a kid that sees things the mother doesn't, and a mother that seems to be losing her grip on sanity. As someone who jumps easily in films, it did seem to take a long time to get going - but sure enough in the last 3rd i was jumping out of my seat on a few occasions.
Rich_W said:
Blade Runner - Directors or somesuch.
I realise I'm late on this one, but it's not the stunning piece I expected it to be. Barely developed plot. And some interesting visuals does not a classic make! In fact has Ridley Scott actually done more than about 4 films that are any good? Sure they all look good, but come on...
6/10
I think its of of those films where depending on which version you see first you love it or hate it. I watched the originally released version with the Harrison Ford commentary, loved it. Watched the directors cut and nope not for me. I realise I'm late on this one, but it's not the stunning piece I expected it to be. Barely developed plot. And some interesting visuals does not a classic make! In fact has Ridley Scott actually done more than about 4 films that are any good? Sure they all look good, but come on...
6/10
walm said:
Agreed.
As long as you can cope with the fact it's a musical, it's brilliant.
It wasn't as 'musical' as I thought it would be, in fact I was rather let down by the fact that there weren't as many traditional musical numbers as I was led to believe.As long as you can cope with the fact it's a musical, it's brilliant.
The story line went a little but strange at the end in with the whole 'Sliding Doors' thing but I'd still give it a solid....9/10
gavsdavs said:
La La Land. A homage/revival/love letter to the musical, celebrating Los Angeles, Jazz and 'dream of the creative industry'. Some very enjoyable scenes, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are both very impressive. Not really classic PH fodder, but enjoyable if you let yourself go along with it.
Its golden globes are in the "comedy or musical" category and against the competition i've seen (example - Deadpool) - its worth its awards.
7/10.
Disagree, terribly disappointing. Could have dropped the first hour completely. Not sure it deserved any awards at all.Its golden globes are in the "comedy or musical" category and against the competition i've seen (example - Deadpool) - its worth its awards.
7/10.
Edited by gavsdavs on Friday 13th January 09:45
Hell or High Water - really bloody good. Paid a fiver to rent on the xbox - well worth it.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hell_or_high_wate...
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hell_or_high_wate...
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