Rate the last film you watched out of 5

[El Geet]

4 hours ago, Clipper said:

2 films one night

 

The Enforcer (1976) (sealed unwatched bluray pile o shame project)

 

Having watched Dirty Harry and Magnum Force recently this one really shows a big drop in quality. In isolation it feels like a perfectly fine simple Dirty Harry film but stacked up against the first two it is poor. This film seems made to appeal to the more right wing inclined person or Republican voter than the first two. The bad guys are badly drawn "hippies" and their motivation is all over the place with the plot seeming to be happy with "hippies are liars and not hippies or they are BAD!". Harry has always been a tricky character as he tends towards the cartoonish, here they don't bother trying to humanise him he is pure cartoon. In the first two (especially the second) there was a distinction between Harry and the vigilantes and here it is still there but more blurred. This series struggles with mysogyny but here it doesn't struggle it just gives in to it. The final nail in the coffin is the lack of a Lalo Schiffrin score.

 

It is a shame as I quite like Tyne Daly in this but she is horribly wasted in all senses of the word.

 

2/5

 

Daybreakers (Prime)

 

I hopped onto Prime and just picked the "we'll think you'll like" film of the night and it was this curio from 2010. I am a fan of vampire films and dracula adaptations specifically but this one definitely caught my attention.

 

It is more of a vampire dystopian Scifi crossover film than a straight vampire flick and it is frustratingly good (more on frustration later). The high concept of vampires rule the earth is solid and the idea of vampire society and its need for humans is well played. In some ways it feels like a 1970s dystopian scifi film that is out of time, or maybe an alternative universe I am Legend.The plot hangs together and the substitute vs cure thing is very nicely handled, albeit the cure stuff is a bit ramshackle in its introduction. The main cast of Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill do a decent job although Neill is a bit phoned in and it feels like his scenes were shot in a day .

 

The frustrating part is that technically the film is not well put together. I am guessing it had a low budget but the cgi is very poor and the action is not well shot or lit at times. Parts of the in car scenes feel like Near Dark but shot by a director who is not even in the same league. I can't decide if it is budget, direction or cinematography that let the action scenes down but either way it leaves the film floundering whenever there is action/fx to be had. When the film is character driven it succeeds.

 

3/5

I agree re Daybreakers. The idea and story are compelling enough to see it through but it does feel like a wasted opportunity. IIRC it really goes for a stylised look that I think detracts from a cool concept. It has this weird 50s noir vibe that just doesn’t fit with the film at all. 

[glb]

On 19/01/2023 at 10:58, schmojo said:

M3gan

 

This silly AI-doll horror knows exactly what it is. And it does that well.

 

There were plenty of laughs in the cinema, and it ticks an awful lot of boxes. Though I haven't seen it, I suspect the plot is incredibly similar to the Child's Play reboot recently, and it hits all the tech movie tropes, but I don't care. It's fun.

 

3.5/5

 

It is fun and knows it. "Dumb horror" but made with smarts. And the soundtrack is gloriously tongue-in-cheek. 'Walk the Night', which plays during that dance scene, slaps hard.

 

A sequel is already in the works, unsurprisingly.

[Hitcher]

Skinamarink

 

-5/5

 

Pile of pretentious rubbish.

[Stig]

44 minutes ago, glb said:

 

It is fun and knows it. "Dumb horror" but made with smarts. And the soundtrack is gloriously tongue-in-cheek. 'Walk the Night', which plays during that dance scene, slaps hard.

 

A sequel is already in the works, unsurprisingly.

 

I see it's a 15 but I've been told it should really be a 12A. My daughter wants to see it but we'll have to wait for streaming. Is it OK for a 9 year old?

[Shimmyhill]

Empire of light 4/5 - really enjoyed it and watching it in the local indie cinema defi helped! Great performances by the leads and a bit like the Fly episode in breaking bad… loved it but couldn’t really tell you why!

[glb]

4 hours ago, Stigweard said:

 

I see it's a 15 but I've been told it should really be a 12A. My daughter wants to see it but we'll have to wait for streaming. Is it OK for a 9 year old?

I’d agree, it’s pretty tame bar a few moments. Does have swearing (a few f-words from what I remember) Will put the more notable scenes in spoilers, I’ll try to be vague where possible but some are specific:

 

Spoiler

There’s a car crash in the opening, where a main character is orphaned. Very little gore, if any, just a jump scare.

A dog attacks M3gan and bites a child. It’s implied the dog is killed but this happens off-screen, no actual visuals.

 

There’s a couple of scenes with a fair amount of blood, but the spray and gore is pretty quick rather than gratuitous. Except one ear-pulling scene but is uncomfortably funny more than really scary, and one scene where the blood is present for a few scenes (the actual kills are quick)

 

A body is shown before a body bag is zipped up. The person meets a violent end but it’s seen through quick editing and is more of a jump scare as a result. I laughed in shock because it wasn’t expected.

 

A few other jump scares and some creepy robot visuals when M3gan goes full Terminator.

I’ll stress I don’t have kids but I’d put it at the ‘safer’ end of 15-rated horrors. The gore is quick, and the film is tonally very much a dark comedy. Edit: it’s a PG-13 in the US if that helps.

 

I’m going to have a rewatch, it’s a really fun film. And I’ve just remembered another bit of soundtrack that had me dying.

[Jamie John]

Film #3/52: The Raid (2011) - Netflix

 

 

You know what? It's Friday night and it's time to watch The motherfucking RAID.

 

Snapping necks? RAID

Cracking spines? RAID

Popping kneecaps? RAID

Crushing windpipes? RAID

Ripping out larynxes? RAID

Machete to the groin? RAID

Flying knee to the face? RAID

Slashing Achilles tendons? RAID

Throwing fools ten storeys? RAID

Decapitations on a doorway? RAID

Gas tank grenade in a fridge? RAID

1hr 40 mins? RAID

 

Y'all best know it's time for The motherfucking RAID

 

4/5

[Silent Runner]

War of The Worlds
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/

 

An alien invasion threatens the future of humanity. The catastrophic nightmare is depicted through the eyes of one American family fighting for survival.

 

I haven't watched this since the cinema and didn't have great memories of it. But revisiting it tonight and I a blast. Tom Cruise plays against type as a regular guy (dock-worker divorced from his wife trying to connect with his children) who is caught up in an alien invasion. 

 

This doesn't hang around. We get about 5 minutes of setup then the invasion starts. And after that it's action and tension right to the end. The cool thing Spielberg does is that the war is playing out in the background, we're just with a normal family caught up in the chaos.

 

Everyone puts in great work here. It's hard not to see Cruise as a hero but he is believable as a regular dad not doing a great job. It's not an original observation but no one moves a camera like Steven Spielberg -  there's a sequence where Tom and his children are driving, one second the camera is in the car with them, the next it's filming from outside then it swings out into traffic before coming back into the car to close out the scene. It's all so smooth you don't realise it's happening but it never distracts from the conversation between the characters.

 

There's some proper striking shots - the burning train, the river full of bodies, the ferry sinking and the 9/11 imagery is very prominent. And there's a real hopeless vibe to the efforts of humanity trying to fight the aliens. 

 

Absolutely loved this. And I'm glad I left it so long to rewatch because it all felt fresh.

 

4.5/5

[Jamie John]

Just now, Silent Runner said:

War of The Worlds
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/

 

An alien invasion threatens the future of humanity. The catastrophic nightmare is depicted through the eyes of one American family fighting for survival.

 

I haven't watched this since the cinema and didn't have great memories of it. But revisiting it tonight and I a blast. Tom Cruise plays against type as a regular guy (dock-worker divorced from his wife trying to connect with his children) who is caught up in an alien invasion. 

 

This doesn't hang around. We get about 5 minutes of setup then the invasion starts. And after that it's action and tension right to the end. The cool thing Spielberg does is that the war is playing out in the background, we're just with a normal family caught up in the chaos.

 

Everyone puts in great work here. It's hard not to see Cruise as a hero but he is believable as a regular dad not doing a great job. It's not an original observation but no one moves a camera like Steven Spielberg -  there's a sequence where Tom and his children are driving, one second the camera is in the car with them, the next it's filming from outside then it swings out into traffic before coming back into the car to close out the scene. It's all so smooth you don't realise it's happening but it never distracts from the conversation between the characters.

 

There's some proper striking shots - the burning train, the river full of bodies, the ferry sinking and the 9/11 imagery is very prominent. And there's a real hopeless vibe to the efforts of humanity trying to fight the aliens. 

 

Absolutely loved this. And I'm glad I left it so long to rewatch because it all felt fresh.

 

4.5/5

 

QFT. War of the Worlds is often overlooked or snubbed, but I maintain that it's an excellent intra-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller. Your post has reminded me that it's due a re-watch.

[ZOK]

Probably his best film this century.

[Nick R]

7 minutes ago, ZOK said:

Probably his best film this century.

 

[Festoon]

The only bit I really liked of WoTW was the creepy alien probe bit. That proper stayed with me.

[Waggo]

1 hour ago, ZOK said:

Probably his best film this century.

Bollocks to that.  His best film period is ‘Oblivion’, and that is a hill I am willing to die on.

 

As for last film watched ‘Ex Machina’ - 4.5/5 - Brilliant acting from the 3 leads in addition to a tight plot makes for a fantastic near future Sci-Fi movie.

[ZOK]

29 minutes ago, Waggo said:

Bollocks to that.  His best film period is ‘Oblivion’, and that is a hill I am willing to die on.

Spielberg didn’t direct Oblivion. It’s also a pile of shite.

[Stopharage]

Babylon - Still Processing/5.

The first 30 minutes alone make this a worthwhile watch. Utterly decadent and a feast for the senses. The music is stunning throughout and further illustrates how the very best of Chazelle is based around strong musical pieces and performances. 
 

It’s overlong and there are some frankly bewildering scenes that I’m struggling to understand how they were included and not edited out. The cast are great and there are some lavish set pieces and poignant scenes which hit home. There’s also some really lewd and baffling scenes which are totally off kilter. 
 

Whilst the characters are fictional they are recognisable as amalgamations of celluloid stars of yesteryear. Robbie smoulders in pretty much every scene she’s in.

 

Definitely one to see in the cinema. 

[Fierce Poodle]

Watched two films last night.

 

Malignant

 

This was pretty poor up until the last 30 minutes when it goes completely bonkers and actually becomes quite entertaining.

 

2/5

 

Mulholland Drive

 

Second time I’ve watched this. Not been able to get it out of my head since the first watch. Pleased to say it’s still a masterpiece.

 

5/5

[Waggo]

8 hours ago, ZOK said:

Spielberg didn’t direct Oblivion. It’s also a pile of shite.

Ahh too much to drink last night.  I thought you were talking Tom Cruise Films.

 

It is however far from a pile of shite, and is the best Tom Cruise film.😝

[ZOK]

Come on…it’s not even the best Vsevolod Kuznetsov film!

[Loik V credern]

It's not even the best Tom Cruise sci fi film released in 2013-2014 where he fights aliens. 

[Waggo]

Your both so very wrong.

[Clipper]

The Dirty Harry Quintology continues

 

Sudden Impact

 

This is an odd flabby directionless film. I can see what it is tryng to do but it shouldn't be a Dirty Harry film as it doesn't fit the character of Harry at all. Locke is pretty good but she does have a tendency to default to a "slack dead face" when she is trying to show ruthlessness. The reason I say flabby is that it takes 45 mins to drag the film to its main plot, so much screentime wasted getting HArry "on vacation". The bad guys are the weak point again just like in the last film, the sequels seem to forget that these films need a decent bad guy. Harry's decision at the end is out of character and his character in the first half is even more cartoony that the last outing making the sharp turn 2nd half really weird.

 

2/5

[iknowgungfu]

Mortal Kombat

Utter shitfest. Why the fuck did I watch this?  Should have watched The Raid instead. In fact - I may have to do this tonight to correct the universe. 
1/5

 

Jason Bourne

Havent watched this is a while. I actually enjoyed it more than I remember.  It doesn’t have the impact of the original trilogy but it did move along at pace quite nicely. Too many car chase scenes though. 
3/5

 

The Descendants (the Alexander Payne one not the Disney one!)

Followed up Bourne with this for some reason (2 films in one night!). 

It’s a weird one this. Everything seems so muted considering what is going on plot wise. I think clooney plays the role well tempering the sadness of his wife’s condition and the anger he feels about everything else. The supporting cast are decent too and the soundtrack to the movie is near constant throughout the film. I liked it - just not sure how or why. I did really like the long closing shot which brings in the credits. I think it summed up the film/story conclusion without any words whatsoever. 
4/5

 

[Festoon]

11 hours ago, Stopharage said:

Babylon - Still Processing/5.

The first 30 minutes alone make this a worthwhile watch. Utterly decadent and a feast for the senses. The music is stunning throughout and further illustrates how the very best of Chazelle is based around strong musical pieces and performances. 
 

It’s overlong and there are some frankly bewildering scenes that I’m struggling to understand how they were included and not edited out. The cast are great and there are some lavish set pieces and poignant scenes which hit home. There’s also some really lewd and baffling scenes which are totally off kilter. 
 

Whilst the characters are fictional they are recognisable as amalgamations of celluloid stars of yesteryear. Robbie smoulders in pretty much every scene she’s in.

 

Definitely one to see in the cinema. 

 

I'm not sure who keeps giving Chazelle money for his rubbish films. I think the fact that he's settled into a groove of films about Hollywood helps -the industry loves films that talk about Hollywood. He's clearly got some visual flair, but his films are a bit of a mess.

 

Even from a musical perspective, the Coen Brothers joke musical clips in Hail Caesar are so much more inventive, subversive and better shot.

 

 

Didn't even get an Oscar nom.

[Monkeyboy]

The Trip (2021) (Netflix)

 

Starring Noomi Rapace and Norwegian Bill Burr, it's a comedy horror home invasion type thing, with a good final third if you enjoy gore. The tone is comedic, so it's not scary at all. And I think if Noomi Rapace wasn't in it, I'd probably rate it lower. She tends to elevate whatever she's in.

 

3½ out of 5

[Loik V credern]

4 hours ago, Waggo said:

Your both so very wrong.

 

Can't believe you inflicted that on us just because we disagree about the best Tom Cruise film. 

[schmojo]

22 hours ago, Stigweard said:

 

I see it's a 15 but I've been told it should really be a 12A. My daughter wants to see it but we'll have to wait for streaming. Is it OK for a 9 year old?

 

I've seen this same sentiment, but I don't really agree. As glb says, there's blood, swearing, threat and mild torture. It's not aimed at the young teen or kid markets, and even older teens will watch the satire skate over their heads, though I know not every kid is the same.

[Waggo]

1 hour ago, Loik V credern said:

 

Can't believe you inflicted that on us just because we disagree about the best Tom Cruise film. 

 

What can I say other than I need to stop posting here while under the influence of alcohol!!!!!

[Stig]

1 hour ago, schmojo said:

 

I've seen this same sentiment, but I don't really agree. As glb says, there's blood, swearing, threat and mild torture. It's not aimed at the young teen or kid markets, and even older teens will watch the satire skate over their heads, though I know not every kid is the same.

 

Probably give this one a swerve with her then for the time being. 

[schmojo]

51 minutes ago, Stigweard said:

 

Probably give this one a swerve with her then for the time being. 

 

 

Give it a watch first, I don't have the first clue about parenting. I enjoyed RoboCop plenty at 6 without having particularly nuanced grasp of the anti-consumerist sentiment.

 

Also give it watch because it's fun.

[Vimster]

Last couple of films off that 6 Flight Disasters box, firstly:

 

Flight From Hell aka Mercy Mission: The Rescue Of Flight 771 (1993)

TV movie based on a true story about a pilot flying a crop-duster from Hawaii to Australia, loses his navigation, a commercial airliner searches for him. Everything that could go wrong pretty much does, well, except the plane crashing, obviously. Honestly, this is medical-grade emotion-baiting stuff scientifically designed to get the old heart strings pulled so tight you think they can't take any more. It uses every trick in the book to get an emotional response, right down to the frankly awful continuously mawkish soundtrack. They were doing something right because even this massive cynic had a lump in his throat towards the end specially when the two pilots (Scott Bakula and Robert Loggia) meet up. Go on, take the piss! The downtime in the drama was all a bit too wistfully sentimental, but I guess that was all part of the cunning plan to rev it right up, the swines. Can't give this anything less than a 3, honest.

 

3/5