Films I watched this week (NO SPOILERS) (Vol 3)

[C5_Steve]

Anatomy of a fall

As with the poster above, this really didn't engage me. I enjoyed the court scenes (very different to what we see usually with UK or US courts, seemed very civilised!) but I really didn't care about the outcome.

Don't get me wrong, well made and some food performances objectively but not something if ever watch again or tell someone to see

7/10

Poor Things

Second attempt at this, I started it at 11:30pm thinking I'd duck out when I got tired. Amazingly, I was tuned in the whole time and wound up finishing it just before 3am.

I honestly don't know how to describe it. Visually it's one of the most unique things I've ever scene. Just stunning from scene to scene. But absolutely batst in terms of story.

I've been reading alot about Coppola's new film and how no one can seem to work out who will distribute it because it's so weird. I cannot imagine it's more off the wall than this film. The fact this film got made blows my mind.

I'm undecided as to whether Emma Stone's performance is actually any good let alone award worthy but that's just because I've nothing to compare it to.

I will say, I would watch this again. So that puts it above Anatomy I guess but I can't explain why.

7/10 I think but I really don't know :ROFL:

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Mars said:

Dune 2

I wanted to love this but it seemed a bit empty. I'm far far more interested in storytelling than SFX or even glorious photography which I admit this film has in spades.

I didn't really follow how much time was passing in the story, and overall felt it just wasn't... what... fascinating? One of my friends felt it was the best film he'd ever seen but, yeah not me. I enjoyed part 1, and I've watched it a couple of times since but I can't see myself watching part 2 again.

No time at all has passed in the story. Indeed, it's one of the criticisms as it means that Alia doesn't get born. In the book (and the 1984 Lynch film), Paul's guerrilla war against the Harkonnen takes several years which a) allows time for his relationship with Chani to develop and b) allows time for Alia to be born and to become a child.

Sorry you didn't enjoy it. We're all different.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

RiseUp said:

e600 said:

Civil War, don’t bother paying at a cinema, wait until it’s free on a streaming service. It has a good premise, civil war in America but no context and how anyone would believe Texas and California would join forces against the other States defies logic.

The film concentrates on 4 journos trying to capture the conflict. It could have been so much better.

I found it to be excellent. Agreed on the Texas and California thing, though.

In VMax some of the fight scenes were incredibly loud and I think added to the tension.

I’d give it 7/10.

I saw a trailer for this at the cinema when I went to watch Dune part 2 and the takeaway quote was a journalist on his knees with a gun to his head from a paramilitary guy and the journalist is saying "I'm an American!!" and the paramilitary guy replies "Yeah but what kind?"

Scary and plausible.

I have little desire to watch it though.

Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Sunday 14th April 18:51

[tobinen]

Civil War at the pictures

I had reasonable hopes as it was written and directed by Alex Garland but for some reason i cannot place, it was a bit of a disappointment. It's not bad by any means, and there are some decent scenes, but I came away a bit non-plussed.

5 smoldering Hummer wrecks / 10

[smn159]

I thought that Civil War was great - a really powerful and harrowing portrayal of war. The sound was great and the soundtrack well chosen.

It's deliberately apolitical, hence the Texas and California thing, I guess to try and avoid alienating half of the US, but the comparisons with recent events are obvious even if the reasons for the war are largely left unsaid.

It isn't the Marvel style action movie which the trailer suggests, but none the worse for that.

Recommended.

[Mars]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Mars said:

Dune 2

I wanted to love this but it seemed a bit empty. I'm far far more interested in storytelling than SFX or even glorious photography which I admit this film has in spades.

I didn't really follow how much time was passing in the story, and overall felt it just wasn't... what... fascinating? One of my friends felt it was the best film he'd ever seen but, yeah not me. I enjoyed part 1, and I've watched it a couple of times since but I can't see myself watching part 2 again.

No time at all has passed in the story. Indeed, it's one of the criticisms as it means that Alia doesn't get born. In the book (and the 1984 Lynch film), Paul's guerrilla war against the Harkonnen takes several years which a) allows time for his relationship with Chani to develop and b) allows time for Alia to be born and to become a child.

Sorry you didn't enjoy it. We're all different.

Ah yes, that relationship with Chani didn't feel as though it was deep enough to have caused the emotional wrench they probably intended when he asked to marry the princess. I think that's what made me question the timeframe because clearly it all happened within the term of Jessica's pregnancy yet I felt there was meant to be something deeper about Paul's and Chani's relationship. He had been dreaming about her even before he met her, so there was this kind of "destiny" thing and yet we never really saw them become inseparable before she was discarded so casually.

There's has been both praise and criticism about the Foundation series. In that, clearly it wouldn't work to have the story play-out on screen as it was intended in the books, mainly because you have to discard characters when the timeframe of a story is measured over "thousands" of years, and yet the producers have managed to keep the essence of the story together and make a really engaging programme.

With Dune, I wonder really if it might have worked better as a TV programme, to convey the timeframe and to build the relationships better. I wanted to like it but I'm left a bit empty.


Talking of empty... I'm watching Roadhouse right now - the new one. I quite like Jake G and I'm impressed with his body transformation (I need to sort my st out and get back on my bike), however I agree with everyone else that they really should have left the story with the original Swayze film which had more heart. I like Jake G - he just needs a decent original script (which seem thin on the ground in Hollywood these days).

[mikebradford]

Lady killers (1955)
At the cinema.
Seen it a few times at home. However without distractions i watched It properly.
Fantastic film with some great laughs.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Mars said:

With Dune, I wonder really if it might have worked better as a TV programme, to convey the timeframe and to build the relationships better. I wanted to like it but I'm left a bit empty.

The Sci-Fi channel (before it renamed itself the SyFy channel) commissioned a TV mini-series of Dune in the early 2000's. It was actually very good and is quite underrated. They also did a 2nd season based on Children of Dune with an early role for James McAvoy

I watched both as transmitted and also have them as boxsets on DVD.

I think Amazon Prime might have them available currently.

Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Sunday 14th April 19:29

[Mars]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

The Sci-Fi channel (before it renamed itself the SyFy channel) commissioned a TV mini-series of Dune in the early 2000's. It was actually very good and is quite underrated. They also did a 2nd season based on Children of Dune with an early role for James McAvoy

I watched both as transmitted and also have them as boxsets on DVD.

I think Amazon Prime might have them available currently.

Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Sunday 14th April 19:29

I'll check it out - thanks

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Mars said:

I'll check it out - thanks

If you don't like them then you didn't see me, roight?

[Athlon]

Sumotherhood

Ridiculous gangster film that should be awful. I have not laughed so much in ages!! It was terrible but so funny.

The list of people making brief appearances is crazy.

8 Rico's out of 10 Kane's

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Athlon said:

Sumotherhood

Ridiculous gangster film that should be awful. I have not laughed so much in ages!! It was terrible but so funny.

The list of people making brief appearances is crazy.

8 Rico's out of 10 Kane's

Sounds similar to Cockneys vs Zombies and Lesbian Vampire Killers insasmuch as both are films that should be awful but are actually entertaining.

Perhaps I'll add it to my list.

[tupak798]

Greatest Hits (2024)

Lucy Boynton

Very much hoping this was not another ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ which was highly disappointing or some other time jumping romcom crap with Domnal Gleason. Never understood the favourable reviews on those but anyhow we’ve now got Lucy Boynton as our latest time traveller, this time triggered by hearing particular songs rather than hiding in the nearest wardrobe.

Edited by tupak798 on Sunday 14th April 23:14

[272BHP]

tupak798 said:

Greatest Hits (2024)

Lucy Boynton

Very much hoping this was not another ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ which was highly disappointing or some other time jumping romcom crap with Domnal Gleason. Never understood the favourable reviews on those but anyhow we’ve now got Lucy Boynton as our latest time traveller, this time triggered by hearing particular songs rather than hiding in the nearest wardrobe.

Edited by tupak798 on Sunday 14th April 23:14

But did you like it?

[Radec]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Athlon said:

Sumotherhood

Ridiculous gangster film that should be awful. I have not laughed so much in ages!! It was terrible but so funny.

The list of people making brief appearances is crazy.

8 Rico's out of 10 Kane's

Sounds similar to Cockneys vs Zombies and Lesbian Vampire Killers insasmuch as both are films that should be awful but are actually entertaining.

Perhaps I'll add it to my list.

It's kind of a soft follow up to Anuvahood from some years back.
It has quite a few of the same actors from that film which the same 2 guys in lead.

That was much better than this though, although the cameos were fun, Ed Sheeran in particular.

It wasn't that good tbh.

4/10

[200Plus Club]

Scoop
The wife wanted to see this more than I did, but glad I watched it. The two main characters were very well played, it re-created some of the shocking awkwardness really well and appears to give a really accurate description of how events unfolded. Billy Piper actually plays a very good part too.
8 greasy sweaty takeaway pizzas out of ten.

[272BHP]

Damsel - Netflix

Millie Bobby Brown vehicle that sits rather uneasily between Disney Princess movie and Game of Thrones style gore.

Something different for a Sunday evening - we all quite enjoyed it.

6.5/10

[Lordbenny]

ARRIVAL

Better than I thought it would be. Thought provoking and intelligent…ish. My Mrs doesn’t usually do sci-if but she enjoyed it too.

7.5/10

[Black can man]

Athlon said:

Sumotherhood

Ridiculous gangster film that should be awful. I have not laughed so much in ages!! It was terrible but so funny.

The list of people making brief appearances is crazy.

8 Rico's out of 10 Kane's

Is this on TV anywhere ?

[President Merkin]

mikebradford said:

Lady killers (1955)
At the cinema.
Seen it a few times at home. However without distractions i watched It properly.
Fantastic film with some great laughs.

Great film, as are most of the other Ealing comedies.


Got my arm twisted into watching La La Land. Wouldn't have picked it if left to my own devices but it's good. Standardish love's true course tale but can't fault the quality of the production. I'm starting to think Damien Chazelle might be a bit of a jazz head.