Rate the last film you watched out of 5

[Thor]

The Breakfast Club

 

Would you believe I'd never seen this before? Hilarious, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately heartwarming. Only misstep for me was the "transformation" of Ally Sheedy's character, otherwise a great film, can see why this is a classic '80s movie. 

 

5/5

[schmojo]

11 hours ago, Vimster said:

Shark Attack (1999)

Shark expert heads to Africa to investigate the mysterious death of his mate who was looking into a spate of shark attacks. Make no mistake, this is no Jaws or Deep Blue Sea but then it isn't meant to be, you're getting a no-nonsense dose of straight-to-video shark-based action that, frankly, doesn't deserve the 3.3 average on IMDB. It takes ages to get going, pacing is an issue no doubt, but just when you're about to give up it picks up towards the end, delivering some inexpensive thrills whilst resolving a clumsily-constructed plot. There are rough edges but it's one of those cheap films that just about gets the job done in all departments, even if it's not in the most competent way. Stock shark footage is blended in well enough, again, to get the job done. I fear a lot of reviewers were expecting a lot more. Go in expecting less and you may be pleasantly surprised, mildly anyway.

 

2.5/5

 

 

 

 

The series peaks with Shark Attack 3: Megalodon.

 

It's fucking incredible. As a drinking game. That beautiful time before shark films got too knowing.

[Vimster]

9 minutes ago, schmojo said:

 

The series peaks with Shark Attack 3: Megalodon.

 

It's fucking incredible. As a drinking game. That beautiful time before shark films got too knowing.

As much as I have a sneaking liking for Sharknado and similar Asylum-esque films, Shark Attack is at least an attempt to do something decent on a budget, and it feels like they made some effort to get the shark info right. I suspect a lot of the low ratings were based on viewing all those later creature features when it doesn't deserve to be lumped in with them. Going to watch Shark Attack 2 tonight. 

[Bazjam]

The Beasts (2023) - 4/5 (Curzon at home)

 

This is really good. Has an almost unbearable sense of tension, bought about by the actors and setting feeling so real.

A French couple relocate to a very rural village in Spain, and to say that some of the locals don't take to them would be a massive understatement. 

Best to go into this one as cold as possible as its based on a true story so could easily be spoiled. Lots of people saying it's a French/Spanish Straw Dogs, which is pretty accurate.

 

Santoalla (2017) - 4/5 (Amazon Free view with ads)

 

A great companion piece to the above film. Its a documentary about the real incident that The Beasts is based on. Won't say more for fear of spoilers, but both films are really lingering in my mind.

[schmojo]

28 minutes ago, Vimster said:

As much as I have a sneaking liking for Sharknado and similar Asylum-esque films,  Shark Attack is at least an attempt to do something decent on a budget , and it feels like they made some effort to get the shark info right. I suspect a lot of the low ratings were based on viewing all those later creature features when it doesn't deserve to be lumped in with them. Going to watch Shark Attack 2 tonight. 

 

I cannot promise that SA3 is. But it's fucking marvellous anyway. The stock footage is incredibly poorly integrated, and there's a proliferation of Russian investors as background characters.

[Vimster]

Shark Attack 2 (2000)

Not a patch on the first which managed to make an attempt to get sharks right and combine it with a daft plot and surprisingly varied action. This one was definitely more Jawsy, with simple shark-hunting, a stubborn mayor and a beach in peril. There are some entertaining bits, especially the surfing competition bit, but not enough to raise much more interest. And what's with the growling sharks, or the comedy Aussie who kept veering off to cockney? Yes it may have just about enough so-bad-it's-good energy for those who need it. I just found it a bit boring, though not totally useless.

 

2/5

[disperse and recoagulate]

I watched Mid90s, written and directed by Jonah Hill. It’s a bit of a Kids rip off but enjoyable nonetheless. 3.5/5

I’m surprised Na’kel Smith hasn’t been in more stuff.

 

Also found it hilarious that there’s a character called Fuckshit.

[ZOK]

Stray - 4/5 (Netflix)

 

This is a cracker of a documentary, a movie about Istanbul street dogs and the people they share their lives with, in a city where canine strays are tolerated. Little dialogue and mostly shot from dog height, if anything in this trailer ticks your box you’ll love it:

 

 

[disperse and recoagulate]

At any point does it feature the song of the same name by Heatmiser? 

[ZOK]

No idea.

[Couch Corpse]

Operation Fortune - 1/7

 

[Loik V credern]

Plane  - 2.5/5

The Boat That Rocked - 0.5/5

Sharper - 1.5/5

Cocaine Bear - 0.5/5

The Breakfast Club - 1/5

[Fierce Poodle]

Tough crowd.

[Vimster]

The Boat That Rocked deserved it though, although it's probably 0.5 points too high.

[Ork1927]

I watched Sharper (it’s on Apple Fv) this week.

 

I like a good grifter/con-man film and this has a good cast - Julianne Moore, John Lithgow and Sebastian Stan.

 

Unfortunately, it is not a good grifter/con-man film. Starts slightly intriguing, but none of the characters are likeable or interesting, which might be fine if it was full of clever cons and twists, but it isn’t.

 

If you have never seen a film before then it might briefly catch you out I guess.

 

2/5

[g wings]

2 hours ago, Loik V credern said:

Cocaine Bear - 0.5/5

The Breakfast Club - 1/5

You're dead inside.

[Vimster]

Airport '77 (1977)

Something of a break from most flight disasters, this one involving a private 747 full of priceless art, and a quality cast, on their way to James Stewart's gaff, only to fall foul of art thieves, plane ends up on the bottom of the ocean. Whilst the film takes ages setting up the passengers and their various relationships it ultimately doesn't really matter once disaster strikes as it becomes a fight for survival, with the plane about to buckle under the pressure at any minute. The last half hour or so, as well as feeling like an ad for the US Navy, is actually really exciting, tense. The lack of interpersonal drama in the second half of the film, whilst understandable, makes it feel like something is missing somehow.

 

3/5

[Loik V credern]

22 minutes ago, g wings said:

You're dead inside.

 

Probably. Interesting response for The Breakfast Club given it's not fun, or funny, or enjoyable. Neither is Cocaine Bear but it kind of tries.

[g wings]

2 minutes ago, Loik V credern said:

 

Probably. Interesting response for The Breakfast Club given it's not fun, or funny, or enjoyable. Neither is Cocaine Bear but it kind of tries.

 

Keep believin'

[Festoon]

5 hours ago, Loik V credern said:

 

Probably. Interesting response for The Breakfast Club given it's not fun, or funny, or enjoyable. Neither is Cocaine Bear but it kind of tries.

 

Yeah, The Breakfast Club has aged terribly.

[Stig]

I felt like I should have watched Breakfast Club when I was younger to appreciate it. Watching it for the first time at 34 a few years back, it did nothing for me. Didn't dislike it, just could see this amazing film everyone had love for.

[Sidewaysbob]

If I've learnt anything from this thread it's this:

 

Films you watch when you're growing up and think are ace, will largely remain ace.

Old film you watch that you missed growing up, will largely be rubbish and you will not understand why other people love them.

 

there are a few notable exceptions. 

 

The Goodfather trilogy.  Most people love it, i thinks its terribly dull and slow. I didn't see it until very recently. Yet people who are considerably younger than me think it is a work of genius. I have no idea.  

Whiplash, everyone, old and young love this. Again, I have no idea why.

Everything everywhere all of the time,  My son and i love this to bits, because it resonates with us and our relationship now. My wife doesn't get it. And my father thinks it's boring. They are wrong and i am right. 

 

The Breakfast club is ace, if now dated, But at the time i watched it, it was ace.

 

There are others, but generally the rule holds up.  You like films because they mean something when you see them at the time. 

[Protocol Penguin]

Boiling Point (1990)

 

Genuinely entertaining at times, but definitely not one of Takashi’s best. The casual misogyny I found rather unpleasant, played for laughs more than anything else. Probably one for Takeshi fans and film nerds only.

 

2.5/5

 

After Life (1998)

 

Once you get used to the lo-fi subtlety, this was genuinely one of the most thought-provoking films you will ever see. Once you realise that…

Spoiler

Watanabe-san died suffering from a form of dementia 

… it certainly becomes a lot more poignant. I would recommended this film to if you get the chance.

 

5/5

 

Shazam: Fury of the Gods (2023)

Horrendously unfunny cringe-fest which doesn’t work as a comedy, and is hopelessly generic as a superhero film. I enjoyed the previous one, but this feels more dated, hollow, and frankly irritating. 

 

💩/5

 

[ZOK]

33 minutes ago, Sidewaysbob said:

The Goodfather trilogy.

[PK]

7 minutes ago, Sidewaysbob said:

The Goodfather trilogy.  Most people love it, i thinks its terribly dull and slow. I didn't see it until very recently. Yet people who are considerably younger than me think it is a work of genius. I have no idea.  

 

I'm with you on this. I can appreciate that they are incredible pieces of art, the mastery of absolutely every element of filmmaking is on display at the absolute highest level. But the experience of watching them leaves me cold; my attention wanders and I personally don't make the emotional connection with what's going on to really enjoy it.

 

There are a few things like that where I'm gradually reaching peace with the idea that something can be a masterful work of art and not really be my personal cup of tea,

[Qazimod]

Everything Everywhere All At Once

 

I really didn't think that I'd get on with this. I went in thinking that it would be a zany inconsistent mess devoid of any throughline, but it held itself together really well and I wasn't expecting the ending to get me in the feels like it did. And from a purely technical perspective I was very impressed by how it was all edited together - the production must have been nuts. Maybe some scenes could have been a bit tighter (the runtime is longer than it probably needed to be) or some moments could have had more to say but it's enjoyable enough as an overall package.

 

4/5

[Commander Jameson]

@Vimster did you watch Airport '75?

[Vimster]

48 minutes ago, Commander Jameson said:

@Vimster did you watch Airport '75?

I have that here to watch but just fancied watching 77. Also might rewatch Airport 79 The Concorde to remind myself just how ludicrous it is.

[Clipper]

1 minute ago, Vimster said:

I have that here to watch but just fancied watching 77. Also might rewatch Airport 79 The Concorde to remind myself just how ludicrous it is.

are they on streaming? I quite fancy a rewatch of those - I had the DVD boxset years ago and reviewed them as well I think I'll go dig in my archives

 

[Vimster]

1 minute ago, Clipper said:

are they on streaming? I quite fancy a rewatch of those - I had the DVD boxset years ago and reviewed them as well I think I'll go dig in my archives

 

 

The others I had to acquire elsewhere.