Films I watched this week (NO SPOILERS) (Vol 3)
Discussion
P-Jay said:
Star Wars
I signed up to Disney+ to try to keep the kids happy during our Firebreak, I can’t remember the last time I actually watched the original Star Wars.
It’s still a great film after a couple of decades break from it.
A few thoughts though:
4K HDR and a big screen isn’t very kind to 70s visual effects and set builds, but it’s the 90s CGI (no doubt given a polish for 4k) that sticks out. But I don’t care.
Alex Guinness and Peter Cushing are like F1 drivers at the local Karting centre, even Harrison Ford who has all the charisma in the world is outclassed in every scene with Guinness and there’s a reason why Mark Hamil makes a living voicing cartoons.
The actors playing Storm Troopers very obviously can’t see a thing out of their helmets, ha ha not just in the famous head bang shot, you can see them running and bumping into each other.
Mostly though, my Daughter is loving it, it’s not Just a nostalgia trip, it’s genuinely great.
It will be the MACLUNKEY version then - for some reason Greedo says it just before he dies after he and Han shoot "at the same time"...........George Lucas final tweeking before selling to DisneyI signed up to Disney+ to try to keep the kids happy during our Firebreak, I can’t remember the last time I actually watched the original Star Wars.
It’s still a great film after a couple of decades break from it.
A few thoughts though:
4K HDR and a big screen isn’t very kind to 70s visual effects and set builds, but it’s the 90s CGI (no doubt given a polish for 4k) that sticks out. But I don’t care.
Alex Guinness and Peter Cushing are like F1 drivers at the local Karting centre, even Harrison Ford who has all the charisma in the world is outclassed in every scene with Guinness and there’s a reason why Mark Hamil makes a living voicing cartoons.
The actors playing Storm Troopers very obviously can’t see a thing out of their helmets, ha ha not just in the famous head bang shot, you can see them running and bumping into each other.
Mostly though, my Daughter is loving it, it’s not Just a nostalgia trip, it’s genuinely great.
Target Earth (1954).
Very comely woman wakes up in a deserted Chicago (that looks suspiciously like LA) and after teaming up with a few other waifs and strays (genuinely funny scene when she stumbles on couple who are just getting pissed in fancy bar), discovers "Chicago" has been invaded by the worst robots* you've ever scene, who in a twist are from Venus rather than Mars, for once.
Film then proceeds as you might imagine, leavened only by a random psychopath rocking up.
(*actually robot (singular) as despite the awfulness of the robot costume, the budget stretched to only one).
4 preppy starlets out of 10. Saved by the first reel of our heroine waking up hungover in a deserted city being fairly well done.
Very comely woman wakes up in a deserted Chicago (that looks suspiciously like LA) and after teaming up with a few other waifs and strays (genuinely funny scene when she stumbles on couple who are just getting pissed in fancy bar), discovers "Chicago" has been invaded by the worst robots* you've ever scene, who in a twist are from Venus rather than Mars, for once.
Film then proceeds as you might imagine, leavened only by a random psychopath rocking up.
(*actually robot (singular) as despite the awfulness of the robot costume, the budget stretched to only one).
4 preppy starlets out of 10. Saved by the first reel of our heroine waking up hungover in a deserted city being fairly well done.
Well, I've had my feet up this afternoon getting a gander at The Gentlemen
Now, whatever you expect from a Guy Ritchie.... well this is it, but I cannot criticise it for it's slightly formulaic, slightly re-hashed, stylised approach.
Two f---ing words, you c----:
"Hugely Entertaining"
...and I'd give it 9 bags of bush out of 10 cold gangster bodies strung up in freezers!
....as you were.
Now, whatever you expect from a Guy Ritchie.... well this is it, but I cannot criticise it for it's slightly formulaic, slightly re-hashed, stylised approach.
Two f---ing words, you c----:
"Hugely Entertaining"
...and I'd give it 9 bags of bush out of 10 cold gangster bodies strung up in freezers!
....as you were.
biggbn said:
World's end...I did something i rarely do and switched off half and hour from the end. Critically acclaimed, great cast, but found it unbearable
You probably did the right thing, the best part of the film is up until "the big reveal", after which it all gets a bit silly. After watching 'A New Hope' a few days ago, my Daughter and I sat down to enjoy Empire yesterday. Watching my 6 year old sat aghast when Vader says "No, I am your father" was amazing.
After that She wanted to know how Vader became a Baddie, we'd be talking about the hows and whys all film, mostly she wanted to know how they got a Red Sabre. Anyway, we watched the first hour or so of Revege of the Sith before bed. It took a while to explain that's Darth Vader before he was Vader, that's '"Old Ben" when he was younger and how the Storm Troopers / Clones were on the good side etc (because there was no way I was wading through Phantom Menace with her).
I haven't seen the prequels since they were new, I know we're all supposed to hate them, but the last one is good, when it's good, the biggest failing isn't Jar Jar, Anakin's awful acting or even the clunky dialog, it's the fact that this Action and Adventure Film for young people and kids just f
king stops for ages to squabble over internal politics, it just kills the pace and Daughter got bored and wandered off (literally).
After that She wanted to know how Vader became a Baddie, we'd be talking about the hows and whys all film, mostly she wanted to know how they got a Red Sabre. Anyway, we watched the first hour or so of Revege of the Sith before bed. It took a while to explain that's Darth Vader before he was Vader, that's '"Old Ben" when he was younger and how the Storm Troopers / Clones were on the good side etc (because there was no way I was wading through Phantom Menace with her).
I haven't seen the prequels since they were new, I know we're all supposed to hate them, but the last one is good, when it's good, the biggest failing isn't Jar Jar, Anakin's awful acting or even the clunky dialog, it's the fact that this Action and Adventure Film for young people and kids just f
king stops for ages to squabble over internal politics, it just kills the pace and Daughter got bored and wandered off (literally). zygalski said:
The Lighthouse.
I haven't quite finished processing this yet. It might take some time!
I can't remember a film I've seen in the last 10 years with better cinematography.
Definitely a very marmite film, and like Joker, although I thought it was excellent, I'm not sure I'd watch again.
One of the last films I saw in the cinema prior to lockdown, quite a journey it takes you on! I agree the cinematography is absolutely stunning.I haven't quite finished processing this yet. It might take some time!
I can't remember a film I've seen in the last 10 years with better cinematography.
Definitely a very marmite film, and like Joker, although I thought it was excellent, I'm not sure I'd watch again.
I loved seeing it on the big screen but I have no desire to watch it again (see also: Midsommar)
Ghost Dog ( 1999 )
Now the dark nights are with us, the routine exchange of DVDs between friends has begun.
Forest Whitaker as Ghost Dog is a hit man for his mob employer and observes total loyalty while maintaining a life in the tradition of a Samurai. When the mob turn on him, the silencer gets screwed onto his pistol and he eliminates his enemies systematically, one by one.
Its all done very tastefully, the pace of the film is easy going, broken every so often with a scripture from The Art of War. Lots of rap music and lots of tongue in cheek references eg the mob guys are always shown watching cartoon funnies on the TV. ( as they do ). Unlike modern films, it lacks pools of blood and slow fatality - its just well put together and worth a watch anytime.
I've seen it before but it was a great movie to pass the night away. Got to be 8 /10
Pearline ......." The end is important in all things."
Now the dark nights are with us, the routine exchange of DVDs between friends has begun.
Forest Whitaker as Ghost Dog is a hit man for his mob employer and observes total loyalty while maintaining a life in the tradition of a Samurai. When the mob turn on him, the silencer gets screwed onto his pistol and he eliminates his enemies systematically, one by one.
Its all done very tastefully, the pace of the film is easy going, broken every so often with a scripture from The Art of War. Lots of rap music and lots of tongue in cheek references eg the mob guys are always shown watching cartoon funnies on the TV. ( as they do ). Unlike modern films, it lacks pools of blood and slow fatality - its just well put together and worth a watch anytime.
I've seen it before but it was a great movie to pass the night away. Got to be 8 /10
Pearline ......." The end is important in all things."
Black Box
One of a bunch of Blumhouse TV movies just added to Amazon Prime. Basically a Black Mirror premise where a guy loses all his memories after a car crash, then a doctor offers him an experimental treatment to try and regain them. It had me hooked from beginning to end as I was never sure where it was going.
If you wrote out the plot it would sound pretty dreadful, but I thought the execution was pretty solid. Very rare to see a sad sci-fi/horror movie (as a father it was genuinely upsetting at times).
Solid if unspectacular, but as TV movies go it was certainly at the upper end of the scale.
One of a bunch of Blumhouse TV movies just added to Amazon Prime. Basically a Black Mirror premise where a guy loses all his memories after a car crash, then a doctor offers him an experimental treatment to try and regain them. It had me hooked from beginning to end as I was never sure where it was going.
If you wrote out the plot it would sound pretty dreadful, but I thought the execution was pretty solid. Very rare to see a sad sci-fi/horror movie (as a father it was genuinely upsetting at times).
Solid if unspectacular, but as TV movies go it was certainly at the upper end of the scale.
Jack Ryan
Captain Kirk/Chris Pine leaves university, has a helicopter crash and is recruited in to the CIA to investigate Soviet multi-billions fraud, and much merriment doth ensue.
All escalates remarkably quickly but it rattles along and is a fun way to spend 1:45. To probably commit PH heresy I can't abide Keira Knightley, and it's a bit of a Kenneth Brannagh ego project, but there's some genuinely tense moments.
A good week-day evening filler.
Captain Kirk/Chris Pine leaves university, has a helicopter crash and is recruited in to the CIA to investigate Soviet multi-billions fraud, and much merriment doth ensue.
All escalates remarkably quickly but it rattles along and is a fun way to spend 1:45. To probably commit PH heresy I can't abide Keira Knightley, and it's a bit of a Kenneth Brannagh ego project, but there's some genuinely tense moments.
A good week-day evening filler.
I've had a bit of a classic western bluray phase recently.
You certainly notice the famous scenery and sets / town / villages making regular guest appearances.
1) 'The Last Wagon.' 1956 Cinemascope with Richard Widmark
Good old Cowboys (settlers on a dangerous journey) and Indians stereotype fest. Decent adult themes..
Quite bold for it's time with heinous crimes committed by various factions described more directly than usual.
Some nice eye candy amongst the ladies and the scenery.
All goes a bit pear shaped after some midnight skinny dipping and then it's a desperate fight for survival.
8 whopping Comanchees out of 10 misguided inept pioneers.
2) 'The Magnificent Seven' 1960 with Yul Brynner and an all star cast.
Filmed in Panavision with that unforgettable Bernstein score.
The Seven Samurai US rip off remake it may be, but it hits nearly all the right spots with those hopelessly inaccurate revolvers.
Great cast, locations, story, music etc etc.
It's rightly IMO regarded as a classic and worthy of a rewatch with adult eyes if the last time you saw it was as a kid.
Struggling stereotypical Mexican farmers on a budget hire moody gunslingers to protect them from marauding bandits led by the brilliant Eli Wallach.
It's a magnificent 7 film stars out of 10 dusty tumbleweed cliches from me.
You certainly notice the famous scenery and sets / town / villages making regular guest appearances.
1) 'The Last Wagon.' 1956 Cinemascope with Richard Widmark
Good old Cowboys (settlers on a dangerous journey) and Indians stereotype fest. Decent adult themes..
Quite bold for it's time with heinous crimes committed by various factions described more directly than usual.
Some nice eye candy amongst the ladies and the scenery.
All goes a bit pear shaped after some midnight skinny dipping and then it's a desperate fight for survival.
8 whopping Comanchees out of 10 misguided inept pioneers.
2) 'The Magnificent Seven' 1960 with Yul Brynner and an all star cast.
Filmed in Panavision with that unforgettable Bernstein score.
The Seven Samurai US rip off remake it may be, but it hits nearly all the right spots with those hopelessly inaccurate revolvers.
Great cast, locations, story, music etc etc.
It's rightly IMO regarded as a classic and worthy of a rewatch with adult eyes if the last time you saw it was as a kid.
Struggling stereotypical Mexican farmers on a budget hire moody gunslingers to protect them from marauding bandits led by the brilliant Eli Wallach.
It's a magnificent 7 film stars out of 10 dusty tumbleweed cliches from me.
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