The Movie topic

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38705

Bloody snowflakes, I was watching Robocop when I was eight, and once the nightmares and flashbacks had faded, I was fine within about 2-3 years.

Maybe

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22406

Where do you all sit on the Sarah Connor chronicles? I remember not hating them when they came out, but I can't remember a single thing about the story apart from it having a robot chick.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2143

Trooper wrote:

Where do you all sit on the Sarah Connor chronicles? I remember not hating them when they came out, but I can't remember a single thing about the story apart from it having a robot chick.

It's pretty good. It adds some lore that isn't out of place and there were two great episodes (the last one of s1 and the first one of s2). But when it finished it was really painting itself into a corner and it was using timelines to bring back dead characters (which always feels like a cop out). I didn't get the feeling it was going anywhere good.

Also, I love Garret Dillahunt in everything.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2143

92 - Smile 2. Super effective modern horror. I love this era of horror films. So many good ideas and now everyone has the technical chops to pull those ideas off. I was shatting it for the whole thing. Only loses half a point because of the nature of the [whatever it is] because it makes consistent storytelling quite difficult. Solid effort throughout though and the lead actress was superb. 4.5/5

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38705

I have very mixed feelings about Smile 2

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

It's a stunning escalation of the concept, where the victim is already deeply traumatised and suffering in their life. The opening one-shot sequence is a masterpiece of camerawork and film-making in general. The acting is pretty good for a horror movie, with the Smilers in particular being nice and unsettling (did you know that was Jack Nicholson's son?). That scene with the large group of people moving like a wave through the apartment? That creeped me right out. The ending scene chilled me to the bone with the implications for a further sequel. Is the demon now spread to thousands? Or has it just taken the opportunity to "hide" in the crowd after coming so close to being wiped out by Morris?

HOWEVER! The effects were pretty ropey in places. The monster is fucking goofy looking in a way that it wasn't in the first one. Even this movie is undeniably BIGGER, it somehow feels smaller, with much of it happening inside. This might be a deliberate choice to show the MC's contained and isolated life, but... I didn't like it. But the biggest thing, the thing I couldn't ignore was the IT WAS JUST A FUCKING DREAM moment. Fuck off! At some point in the movie, maybe even as far back as the point of initial infection, Riley has been puppeted through her life by the demon while being tortured internally. I HATE that. How much of the Morris angle is fake? There's no way of knowing, and it bothers me immensely. I'm willing to suspend my cynical mind for a few hours to enjoy a silly horror but when you do that to me, it feels like a slap in the face. Fuck you, movie.

So yeah. Mixed feeling. 73%

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Nov 22, 2024 3:32

Trooper wrote:

Where do you all sit on the Sarah Connor chronicles? I remember not hating them when they came out, but I can't remember a single thing about the story apart from it having a robot chick.

Robot River, no less.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2143

DavPaz wrote:

I have very mixed feelings about Smile 2

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

It's a stunning escalation of the concept, where the victim is already deeply traumatised and suffering in their life. The opening one-shot sequence is a masterpiece of camerawork and film-making in general. The acting is pretty good for a horror movie, with the Smilers in particular being nice and unsettling (did you know that was Jack Nicholson's son?). That scene with the large group of people moving like a wave through the apartment? That creeped me right out. The ending scene chilled me to the bone with the implications for a further sequel. Is the demon now spread to thousands? Or has it just taken the opportunity to "hide" in the crowd after coming so close to being wiped out by Morris?

HOWEVER! The effects were pretty ropey in places. The monster is fucking goofy looking in a way that it wasn't in the first one. Even this movie is undeniably BIGGER, it somehow feels smaller, with much of it happening inside. This might be a deliberate choice to show the MC's contained and isolated life, but... I didn't like it. But the biggest thing, the thing I couldn't ignore was the IT WAS JUST A FUCKING DREAM moment. Fuck off! At some point in the movie, maybe even as far back as the point of initial infection, Riley has been puppeted through her life by the demon while being tortured internally. I HATE that. How much of the Morris angle is fake? There's no way of knowing, and it bothers me immensely. I'm willing to suspend my cynical mind for a few hours to enjoy a silly horror but when you do that to me, it feels like a slap in the face. Fuck you, movie.

So yeah. Mixed feeling. 73%

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I agree with most of that. I think all the scary stuff totally worked and I thought the lead actress was great. So, for the most part, I really loved it. But yeah the final monster didn't look great. And it all being in her head does make solid storytelling impossible. If I can't believe anything that I see, that's an issue. Also, how the fuck did Lewis even get the curse?

If Morris was entirely fake that's pretty elaborate from the curse demon. Like why create all that narrative when you can just pepper Riley with horrible jump scares for a week? But I think the general feeling is that reality was mixed up until she got that dancer's arm shoved down her throat. Then it's all demon. Until she ends up on stage. How she gets there is super unclear.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38705

Blucey wrote:

DavPaz wrote:

I have very mixed feelings about Smile 2

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

It's a stunning escalation of the concept, where the victim is already deeply traumatised and suffering in their life. The opening one-shot sequence is a masterpiece of camerawork and film-making in general. The acting is pretty good for a horror movie, with the Smilers in particular being nice and unsettling (did you know that was Jack Nicholson's son?). That scene with the large group of people moving like a wave through the apartment? That creeped me right out. The ending scene chilled me to the bone with the implications for a further sequel. Is the demon now spread to thousands? Or has it just taken the opportunity to "hide" in the crowd after coming so close to being wiped out by Morris?

HOWEVER! The effects were pretty ropey in places. The monster is fucking goofy looking in a way that it wasn't in the first one. Even this movie is undeniably BIGGER, it somehow feels smaller, with much of it happening inside. This might be a deliberate choice to show the MC's contained and isolated life, but... I didn't like it. But the biggest thing, the thing I couldn't ignore was the IT WAS JUST A FUCKING DREAM moment. Fuck off! At some point in the movie, maybe even as far back as the point of initial infection, Riley has been puppeted through her life by the demon while being tortured internally. I HATE that. How much of the Morris angle is fake? There's no way of knowing, and it bothers me immensely. I'm willing to suspend my cynical mind for a few hours to enjoy a silly horror but when you do that to me, it feels like a slap in the face. Fuck you, movie.

So yeah. Mixed feeling. 73%

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I agree with most of that. I think all the scary stuff totally worked and I thought the lead actress was great. So, for the most part, I really loved it. But yeah the final monster didn't look great. And it all being in her head does make solid storytelling impossible. If I can't believe anything that I see, that's an issue. Also, how the fuck did Lewis even get the curse?

If Morris was entirely fake that's pretty elaborate from the curse demon. Like why create all that narrative when you can just pepper Riley with horrible jump scares for a week? But I think the general feeling is that reality was mixed up until she got that dancer's arm shoved down her throat. Then it's all demon. Until she ends up on stage. How she gets there is super unclear.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I agree that the "arm down the throat" point is most likely where she goes catatonic. Seems to make sense logically, and it's after she meets Morris for the first time.

Lewis got the curse because he watched the Cop murder the two drug dealers at the start. He was there buying drugs. The first movie established that you can pass the curse on without dying by committing a brutal murder in front of a witness

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2143

Ah! I forgot that about the first film.

Fair enough then.

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Nov 22, 2024 22:13

It begins.

Christmas at the Plaza (2019, Amazon prime) is on the TV.

With thanks to the Mysterious Internet Movie Inspiration for a list.

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Nov 22, 2024 23:45

MaliA wrote:

It begins.

Christmas at the Plaza (2019, Amazon prime) is on the TV.

With thanks to the Mysterious Internet Movie Inspiration for a list.

Judgement has been passed.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12355

And that is the maximum score for a Hallmark movie

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Nov 23, 2024 9:39

Four of those five marks were for the grant application in academia subplot.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5470

Booked tickets for Wicked this afternoon. It's close to sold out on most of the screenings, though that may be people wanting to shelter from the storms today

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Nov 23, 2024 20:58

Hot Frosty is brilliant 8/10.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5470

Wicked was good, but I'd not realised they've split the stage show into two films. 2hr40 runtime and it's only half way there!

Also, Ariana Grande needs to eat some pies. She's looking unhealthily thin.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Nov 23, 2024 23:57

Click and Collect (2018) on netflix. Road trip to buy a toy..excellent stuff.

Findus Fop · **Joined:** 14th May, 2009 **Posts:** 4367

Everyone here has watched Game Night haven't they? I'm sure they have. But if you haven't, you should.

Sir Taxalot · **Joined:** 5th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 4875

We watched The Wild Robot for a Sunday evening family film. It was a good film and was well done. The story was nice if rather formulaic feeling, but still, I enjoyed it and so did the kiddos.

DavPaz wrote:

Bloody snowflakes, I was watching Robocop when I was eight, and once the nightmares and flashbacks had faded, I was fine within about 2-3 years.

Maybe

A good childhood friend of mine, 'Super Alan', recounted how he was troubled for some time by the scene were Murphy got all shot to pieces. And my eldest is a little sensitive.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2143

93 - Edge of Tomorrow. First time watching this in ten years. It's still very good but maybe not as brilliant as I remembered. Cruise is pretty solid in it and the story is decent. I think it maybe loses a point because of the ending which feels like a test audience didn't like a more gritty version. 4/5

94 - The Lost Boys. Had been a while since I last watched this but it's still great. It's such a brilliant, tight film. And, ironically, it does seem to have aged at all. It looks as good as ever. 5/5

95 - Malum. A sort of spooky take on Assault on Precinct 13 that had promise, and some decent effects, but is let down by all the reality shifts and constant jump scares. It just gets exhausting. Admittedly, Smile 2 did the same thing and I liked that one but Malum doesn't work nearly as well. Even the lead actress seemed jaded by it all. 3/5

KovacsC · **Posted:** Wed Nov 27, 2024 11:21

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Wicked was good, but I'd not realised they've split the stage show into two films. 2hr40 runtime and it's only half way there!

Also, Ariana Grande needs to eat some pies. She's looking unhealthily thin.

We went on Sunday. I still have Defying Gravity stuck in my head.

Even though it was long, it did feel not feel that way.

The bits they added made sense and padded out the stage show. The songs were fantastic.

Have to wait a year for part 2!!

GazChap · **Posted:** Wed Nov 27, 2024 12:34

Findus Fop wrote:

Everyone here has watched Game Night haven't they? I'm sure they have. But if you haven't, you should.

How can that possibly be profitable for Frito-Lay?

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14429

I watched some films.

1) Terrifier 3.

FINALLY! A proper fucking Christmas movie! Watch it with your gran on Christmas Day, I say. Atrocious final act, mind. The doubling down on the “lore” was just a nonsense idea that shouldn’t have even been in the second film.

2) Deadpool vs Wolverine

I was surprised I liked this so much as I did. I had 3 (count em) genuine laughs in the real world. Nobody was around or anything; I was just laughing at the TV like a mad man. The final act is atrociously bad though. No sky beam, this time, just a picture of a line. Wow. Exciting.

3) Smile 2.

Better than the first by a mile. Still a bit too long for what it was going for. Does every film have to be over two hours to tell a story these days? I reckon this could, and should, have been shorter and tighter. That being said, there’s some cool visuals going on (the theatre creeps being especially good. I think theatre kids are fucking creepy anyway), and some decent “scares”. Although I wasn’t scared. I’m hard, init. The monster was hilarious though. I’m not sure that’s what the director had in mind, but it really was…weird. I absolutely loved the choice of just showing the audience reaction, mind. Yeah, good enough after the rather bland first film.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14429

4) M. Knight Shymalan’s Trap.

Crap, more like. Actually annoying to watch.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2143

96 - St Elmo's Fire. Given that I love The Breakfast Club, it's weird how I never really wanted to give this a go. A bit like how I never wanted to play Civ 2. Anyway, what an odd film. The cast are really good, as you'd expect from a 'Brat Pack' film but it's even hard to say what the film is about. I reckon you could take 90% of the movie's scenes and show them in any order and it wouldn't add to or detract from the film. Which is to say that the story is sort of rubbish. There's a weird stalky sub-plot with Emilio Estevez which you could remove entirely, Demi Moore's story is pretty pointless too. The good maybe outweighs the bad but I can't see me watching it again. 3/5

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Nov 30, 2024 22:01

All I want for Christmas (1991) - wholesome, lovely, and it has a man called Tony in it and is set in Brooklyn. Millionaires are divorced but their kids want them back together. Thora Birch absolutely nail the annoying kid part.

Me and big one spent a long while shouting "aaaay, Tony" anytime he was on screen.

Leslie Nielson is father Christmas.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sun Dec 01, 2024 0:07

Merry Gentlemen: overall, I enjoyed it but I had massive issues with pretty much every moment in it

8/10

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2143

97 - The Holdovers. Normally I'm not a huge fan of films that drag past two hours long. Get it all done in 80 minutes. And this film definitely keeps a slow pace but, despite that, I enjoyed it. It's set at Christmas in the very early '70s and it nails the look and feel completely. Maybe not one that I'll watch again in the next twenty years but I'm glad I experienced it once. 4/5

JBR · **Joined:** 2nd Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 3309

Satsuma wrote:

4) M. Knight Shymalan’s Trap.

Crap, more like. Actually annoying to watch.

Oh crikey, yes. I'd heard it was one half interesting setup, and one half WHAT? But I reckoned I knew better. Can't see how this will not be satisfying, I thought as it built nicely. And then... WHAT?

Malc · **Posted:** Sun Dec 01, 2024 22:42

Just watched Family Pack on Netflix.

It's a French Jumanji where they jump into a game of werewolf set in 1497.

Jean Reno is in it along with Suzanne Clement and I really enjoyed it, Family French Fun Film!

It felt a bit like A Knights Tale in places, and I suspect that had some influence. But it's well worth a watch if you can handle foreign language films

KovacsC · **Posted:** Mon Dec 02, 2024 17:12

Watched Argyle, a very silly film. Enjoyable but silly. It shows how silly a Bond film is by having a recognisable film.

Quote:

Reclusive author Elly Conway writes best-selling espionage novels about a secret agent named Argylle who's on a mission to unravel a global spy syndicate. However, when the plots of her books start to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization, the line between fiction and reality begin to blur.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2143

Having heard about the terrible reviews, I was sort of surprised by Argyle at first. The first hour was good fun. But the second half really disappointed me. There was a bit with some smoke and then a bit with skating on oil that were maybe the two worst scenes I've seen in a film. I liked the first hour enough to give the overall film a 3/5 on Letterboxd though.

MaliA · **Posted:** Tue Dec 03, 2024 23:31

Our Little Secret is a hugely enjoyable film, but not a Christmas one. 12/10

KovacsC · **Posted:** Wed Dec 04, 2024 15:16

Blucey wrote:

Having heard about the terrible reviews, I was sort of surprised by Argyle at first. The first hour was good fun. But the second half really disappointed me. There was a bit with some smoke and then a bit with skating on oil that were maybe the two worst scenes I've seen in a film. I liked the first hour enough to give the overall film a 3/5 on Letterboxd though.

Oh yes the skating and smoke wee terrible.. but it made me laugh

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14429

So I watched Never Let Go which is the Hallie Berry flick where she and her two kids can’t leave a cabin because everyone in the world is dead due to some evil.

It’s pretty compelling and has a decent stab at a constant back and forth of “is it? Isn’t it?” as the story progresses.

The only thing that really soured my time with it was the dumb fucking Polaroid at the end which seemed to suggest that it was “it was”. I was reading elsewhere that some people are saying that the Polaroid wasn’t real, but if that’s the case, why show it. Anyway, it’s got enough interest and subtext that I found pretty interesting. I’d say, give it a go.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Dec 07, 2024 14:49

The Princess Switch

Nigh on perfect. I cried tears of joy at least twice during it. Far better than you ever would expect.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Dec 07, 2024 22:02

Candy Cane Lane

Highly proficient at what it does but does it soullessly.

Findus Fop · **Joined:** 14th May, 2009 **Posts:** 4367

MaliA wrote:

The Princess Switch

Nigh on perfect. I cried tears of joy at least twice during it. Far better than you ever would expect.

Was planning to be cynical but won over by this review. Will check it out.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2143

98 - Juror #2. If you can get past the set up, which is just too much of a coincidence, and the iffy forensics, this is a good old fashioned courtroom drama. Full of tension. I really enjoyed it. 4/5

Also attempted Nutcrackers, the new Ben Stiller Xmas movie. Turned it off after 15 minutes. Unwatchable.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sun Dec 08, 2024 14:30

Findus Fop wrote:

MaliA wrote:

The Princess Switch

Nigh on perfect. I cried tears of joy at least twice during it. Far better than you ever would expect.

Was planning to be cynical but won over by this review. Will check it out.

It's the best "one actor playing two roles" since Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins!

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5470

Conclave was brilliant. Who'd have thought picking a new Pope could be so enthralling.

GazChap · **Posted:** Sun Dec 08, 2024 16:12

In the cursed timeline, Elon Musk would be the new Pope, thanks to his Papal connection.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sun Dec 08, 2024 21:26

Princess Switch 2: Switched Again, tonight

I had expectations, and they were very much met.

Quite different from the first, but an absolute blast

Sir Taxalot · **Joined:** 5th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 4875

GazChap wrote:

In the cursed timeline, Elon Musk would be the new Pope, thanks to his Papal connection.

I am laughing at this, yet I am also angered by it.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sun Dec 08, 2024 22:25

MaliA wrote:

Princess Switch 2: Switched Again, tonight

I had expectations, and they were very much met.

Quite different from the first, but an absolute blast

Right: this is basically what Aliens is to Alien. There's the original idea clear and present ,and then they have taken those par boiled potatoes into a colander, stuck a lid on and given them a good shake to make them pop.

It's an absolute blast

12/10

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 26229

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Conclave was brilliant. Who'd have thought picking a new Pope could be so enthralling.

Have you watched The Two Popes? One of my favourite films, ever.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5470

Mimi wrote:

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Conclave was brilliant. Who'd have thought picking a new Pope could be so enthralling.

Have you watched The Two Popes? One of my favourite films, ever.

Nope, will track it down

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 26229

It seems to be on Netflix if you have that:

https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80174451

It’s a wonderful film.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5470

I do indeed.

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 26229

Let me know what you think if you watch it.

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