Movie opinions thread (what have you seen, what did you think?)
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Your affection for romcoms helps us all understand your degree of verse
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What I lack in depth, I make up for in breadth.Your affection for romcoms helps us all understand your degree of verse
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Someone was lamenting a couple pages back about the lack of modern action movies. I present to you action/comedy offering The Fall Guy. Directed by one of the guys who did the first John Wick.
Way better than I was expecting. Action was surprisingly solid for a modern movie, with a good amount of practical effects and stunts. But what put it over the top for me, was that not only did they have a Lee Majors cameo at the end (which is par for the course with these movie reboots of 1980s tv series), BUT THEY USED THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN BIONIC SOUND EFFECT DURING A FIGHT SCENE. TWICE!! The first time, I thought I must be hearing things and I had to rewind 10 seconds. My wife didn't understand what I was freaking out about. Then a little later, Gossling's character pushes someone out of the way of danger in slow motion and the bionic sound effect hit again, even more pronounced. My eyes almost rolled back in my head, I was so overcome with nostalgic giddiness.
This is the sound I heard in my head as I ran up and down the field playing AYSO soccer at age 5 (attn: stage, update the canon). Even if you didn't grow up as a Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman kid, I'd still say this is very worth the stream. About on the level of the Liam Neeson A-Team movie, maybe a little better.
Way better than I was expecting. Action was surprisingly solid for a modern movie, with a good amount of practical effects and stunts. But what put it over the top for me, was that not only did they have a Lee Majors cameo at the end (which is par for the course with these movie reboots of 1980s tv series), BUT THEY USED THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN BIONIC SOUND EFFECT DURING A FIGHT SCENE. TWICE!! The first time, I thought I must be hearing things and I had to rewind 10 seconds. My wife didn't understand what I was freaking out about. Then a little later, Gossling's character pushes someone out of the way of danger in slow motion and the bionic sound effect hit again, even more pronounced. My eyes almost rolled back in my head, I was so overcome with nostalgic giddiness.
This is the sound I heard in my head as I ran up and down the field playing AYSO soccer at age 5 (attn: stage, update the canon). Even if you didn't grow up as a Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman kid, I'd still say this is very worth the stream. About on the level of the Liam Neeson A-Team movie, maybe a little better.
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Candyman: Day of the Dead- Pretty terrible, the second one isn’t the greatest but this one is outright bad. Atrocious acting from everyone besides Tony Todd and the abysmal script certainly doesn’t help. Donna D’Errico is trying but she just doesn’t have the chops to be a lead. She is smoking hot though (and still looks good) in that 90’s blonde bikini babe way. But yeah the movie is just god awful.
The Fall Guy- Fun enough for what it is and it’s a nice love letter to stunt work and all the people behind the scenes. Nice to see a dog included, animal work in movies never gets the recognition it deserves either. Ryan Gosling is obviously having a lot of fun and has good chemistry with Emily Blunt. The movie also looks really good and there’s some creative visuals. I will say I almost turned it off when DJ Khaled started playing towards the beginning though. Overall this is a pretty solid watch for movie night with your GF or wife and should entertain both parties adequately.
This is also probably the most acting I’ve ever seen Aaron Taylor Johnson do. Not that he was amazing or anything but he did have a personality and was amusing to watch. Which makes me wonder if he just keeps getting used wrong. I mean he keeps getting consistent work but usually for the most generic roles possible. Shrug.
The Fall Guy- Fun enough for what it is and it’s a nice love letter to stunt work and all the people behind the scenes. Nice to see a dog included, animal work in movies never gets the recognition it deserves either. Ryan Gosling is obviously having a lot of fun and has good chemistry with Emily Blunt. The movie also looks really good and there’s some creative visuals. I will say I almost turned it off when DJ Khaled started playing towards the beginning though. Overall this is a pretty solid watch for movie night with your GF or wife and should entertain both parties adequately.
This is also probably the most acting I’ve ever seen Aaron Taylor Johnson do. Not that he was amazing or anything but he did have a personality and was amusing to watch. Which makes me wonder if he just keeps getting used wrong. I mean he keeps getting consistent work but usually for the most generic roles possible. Shrug.
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First Blood - The 1982 film based on the novel of the same name, starring Sly Stallone in his first outing as John Rambo. This is a great action-thriller, far grittier in tone than the movies that followed, and far more grounded too.
Rambo is a Vietnam vet trying to track down members of his old unit. As he tries to walk through a small mountain town he runs into local sheriff Brian Dennehy. At first the sheriff tries to "help" Rambo by giving him a lift to town limits, but when Rambo tries to return to the town, the sheriff arrests him and then all hell breaks loose.
I've not read the novel, but I understand there are some differences, notably that Rambo survives (in the book Trautman kills him). However, the underlying theme of Vietnam vets, once treated as war heroes, are now forgotten and unwanted by society, plus the effects of PTSD are strongly highlighted throughout the film, and Rambo cuts more of a troubled lonely figure trying to find a place for himself in the world, rather than the one-man army he portrays in later outings.
If you want to see a more vulnerable Rambo character, then First Blood won't disappoint. The cast is good, the acting solid, all ably directed by Ted Kotcheff.
Rambo is a Vietnam vet trying to track down members of his old unit. As he tries to walk through a small mountain town he runs into local sheriff Brian Dennehy. At first the sheriff tries to "help" Rambo by giving him a lift to town limits, but when Rambo tries to return to the town, the sheriff arrests him and then all hell breaks loose.
I've not read the novel, but I understand there are some differences, notably that Rambo survives (in the book Trautman kills him). However, the underlying theme of Vietnam vets, once treated as war heroes, are now forgotten and unwanted by society, plus the effects of PTSD are strongly highlighted throughout the film, and Rambo cuts more of a troubled lonely figure trying to find a place for himself in the world, rather than the one-man army he portrays in later outings.
If you want to see a more vulnerable Rambo character, then First Blood won't disappoint. The cast is good, the acting solid, all ably directed by Ted Kotcheff.
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The other thing I liked is that Gossling plays Johnson's stuntman in the movie, but Johnson's replacement stuntman after Gossling's "accident" is played by Gossling's real life stuntman. And they gave him a line of dialogue in the film, which earns him a SAG card in real life. Pretty nice thing to do.
And yeah, that dog kicked ass. I was pretty impressed with this movie overall. It's no Hot Fuzz or something, but like Hot Fuzz, a really nice love letter to action films while simultaneously being a solidly respectable example of the genre itself.
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The Prophecy- Man, talk about an underrated movie.
Archangel Gabrielle comes to Earth to get the soul of a war criminal that will help him win a war in heaven between the angels that’s been going on for millennia. A homicide detective who studied to become a priest and a teacher end up caught in the middle. Not your average premise for a mid 90’s horror thriller. There’s also some Native American mysticism thrown in which is a nice contrast to all the Catholic mythology. Add in a good amount of gore and a generally uneasy vibe and you end up with a real gem.
You’ve also got a stellar cast with Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Elias Koteas, Viggo Mortensen and Virginia Madsen. Walken and Mortensen are both awesome and steal every scene they’re in. It’s a pretty nice looking movie as well, making good use of the Arizona landscape. As well as some nice practical effects and some dated CG.
This series seems to be pretty much forgotten these days but there’s some really cool stuff, interesting unique ideas and great performances to be found.
Archangel Gabrielle comes to Earth to get the soul of a war criminal that will help him win a war in heaven between the angels that’s been going on for millennia. A homicide detective who studied to become a priest and a teacher end up caught in the middle. Not your average premise for a mid 90’s horror thriller. There’s also some Native American mysticism thrown in which is a nice contrast to all the Catholic mythology. Add in a good amount of gore and a generally uneasy vibe and you end up with a real gem.
You’ve also got a stellar cast with Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Elias Koteas, Viggo Mortensen and Virginia Madsen. Walken and Mortensen are both awesome and steal every scene they’re in. It’s a pretty nice looking movie as well, making good use of the Arizona landscape. As well as some nice practical effects and some dated CG.
This series seems to be pretty much forgotten these days but there’s some really cool stuff, interesting unique ideas and great performances to be found.
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To Live & Die In LA - mid-80s thriller from William Friedkin about a hot-headed secret service agent whose relentless pursuit of a counterfeiter, who murdered his partner, puts himself, and others, in harms way.
Put together for just $6m, this puts most films of the genre with much larger budgets, to shame. Friedkin delivers a great cast, of what was back then, a group of unknowns - William Petersen, Willem Defoe, John Turturro, and John Pankow. Well paced, with a great soundtrack by, now largely forgotten, Brit band Wang Chung, To Live & Die In LA really sees Friedkin on form, capturing the fraught tension of his previous greats The French Connection and Sorcerer.
Petersen is great as he becomes steadily more irrational in his pursuit of Defoe's narcissistic counterfeiter, and the supporting cast all give solid performances. There is also one of the best car chases committed to film toward the end.
Put together for just $6m, this puts most films of the genre with much larger budgets, to shame. Friedkin delivers a great cast, of what was back then, a group of unknowns - William Petersen, Willem Defoe, John Turturro, and John Pankow. Well paced, with a great soundtrack by, now largely forgotten, Brit band Wang Chung, To Live & Die In LA really sees Friedkin on form, capturing the fraught tension of his previous greats The French Connection and Sorcerer.
Petersen is great as he becomes steadily more irrational in his pursuit of Defoe's narcissistic counterfeiter, and the supporting cast all give solid performances. There is also one of the best car chases committed to film toward the end.
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The Prophecy II- This was better than I was expecting considering it was direct to video and the only returning actors were Walken and the morgue guy. It’s pretty well made and where it’s lacking in budget in mostly makes up for it with some simple but effective creative visuals. Walken feels more comfortable in the role and seems to be having fun running around in leather pants calling everyone “monkeys“. Brittany Murphy also does well in her small role. They dig a little deeper into the Angel mythology but not enough to get up its own ass. Unfortunately the script is pretty bad and some of the dialogue is fairly awkward. Still it’s surprisingly good.
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Thief - Michael Mann's 1981 debut feature. Stars James Caan as an ex-con turned master jewel thief by night, while holding up the facade of respectable businessman by day. Caan's Frank is ruthlessly independent, picks his "scores", and only ever wants cash upon completion as his reward. After initially turning down the chance to pull some big reward scores for a local mob boss, he relents after realizing he's not getting any younger and wants to settle down with a wife and kid and lead a more "normal" life. Despite pulling off a big score flawlessly, he gets screwed over by the mob boss (Robert Prosky), and loses everything on his way to revenge.
Thief is beautifully shot, using a lot of the style that would become Mann's trademark over the next decade, features an wonderfully atmospheric score by Tangerine Dream (who Mann would use again in his follow up feature The Keep), and solid performances from the cast, in particular Caan. The film actually gives debuts to many actors who would rise to greater heights as the 80s wore on - William Petersen, Dennis Farina, Jim Belushi, and the aforementioned Prosky.
This is a great film that holds up really well, despite its age, and a must watch for anyone who likes Mann's later flicks, or just a damn good heist movie.
Thief is beautifully shot, using a lot of the style that would become Mann's trademark over the next decade, features an wonderfully atmospheric score by Tangerine Dream (who Mann would use again in his follow up feature The Keep), and solid performances from the cast, in particular Caan. The film actually gives debuts to many actors who would rise to greater heights as the 80s wore on - William Petersen, Dennis Farina, Jim Belushi, and the aforementioned Prosky.
This is a great film that holds up really well, despite its age, and a must watch for anyone who likes Mann's later flicks, or just a damn good heist movie.
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I'm planning on a Thief / Manhunter double feature soon. Gonna get the Thief 4K during the next Criterion flash sale (along with 4K Yojimbo and Sanjuro).
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I was watching the earlier Arrow release - a 4k scan - but upscaled to 4k it looks and sounds amazing on my set-up, so as tempting as it is, I shall not be double dipping on the Criterion 4K. I definitely wait and get the 4k if you don't have it on physical media 
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The Prophecy III- There are two more in the series but they don’t have Christopher Walken and these three work fairly well as a self contained trilogy. This one definitely has a much more direct to video feel to it but again it still feels like they’re trying and manages to have some pretty cool stuff and imagery. It is funny though that the movies get more ambitious as the budget goes down. Acting is pretty bad all around, except for Walken of course. This time they gave him a ridiculous wig which he makes the best of. I will say he does have a nice character arc and I can see why he stuck around for the trilogy.
Overall I’d say all three are worth watching but the first is by far the best.
Overall I’d say all three are worth watching but the first is by far the best.
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Hundreds of Beavers - entertaining comedy about an Apple Jack seller turned fur trapper who goes up against hundreds of beavers to win the heart of a trading post owners daughter.
Very wacky, but well put together, on what was a shoe string budget. The decision to make all the animals people in costumes is inspired, and the whole thing plays out like a comedy from the silent era of movies.
It's a bit out there, and probably about 10 minutes too long, but well worth seeing if you like odd ball stuff.
Very wacky, but well put together, on what was a shoe string budget. The decision to make all the animals people in costumes is inspired, and the whole thing plays out like a comedy from the silent era of movies.
It's a bit out there, and probably about 10 minutes too long, but well worth seeing if you like odd ball stuff.
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Legit one of my favorite Comedy films of all-time.
I can see the non-stop gags running a bit thin for some folks near the end, but the entire thing was pure joy to me.
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John Woo, Chow Yun-fat Classics Among 156-Film Golden Princess Library Acquired by Shout! Studios (EXCLUSIVE)
Shout! Studios acquires 156 Hong Kong action classics from Golden Princess, including John Woo, Chow Yun-Fat hits like 'Hard Boiled' and 'The Killer.'
variety.com
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Battle Royale 3/5 - I'm not gonna lie, this was entertaining throughout the whole runtime, but it was juvenile as fuck. And I can't really excuse the handwaving of a LOT of stuff at the end, even some that don't make much logical sense. Bitch I sat through this for 110 minutes and you couldn't expand on how the transfer goober knew how to take off the collars for example? What the fuck.
It would be a 4/5 if the writer knew how to wrap things up properly. I'm up to not taking things TOO seriously but I expect at least some internal consistency.
It would be a 4/5 if the writer knew how to wrap things up properly. I'm up to not taking things TOO seriously but I expect at least some internal consistency.
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Love that flick! The "God's Army"" cut is definitely the best version. It skips the CGI and moves some things around. I had a Russian screener of that version years ago, but it's floating around on the interwebs. It was originally titled "God's Army".
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lol it's allegorical. Maybe you missed that.
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explain
you know it doesn't matter if its an allegory for whatever, the movie still has plot holes with or without them, nice handwaving though
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John Woo, Chow Yun-fat Classics Among 156-Film Golden Princess Library Acquired by Shout! Studios (EXCLUSIVE)
Shout! Studios acquires 156 Hong Kong action classics from Golden Princess, including John Woo, Chow Yun-Fat hits like 'Hard Boiled' and 'The Killer.'
Tai Seng Video, is BACK!! Wooooooooh!
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Thats cool and all but most of those movies have been available on Blu-ray and some on 4k from Fortune Star for years and are region free. I remember reading one of the sticking points with GP is that they won’t let anybody else do the remastering or subtitling. So I expect Shout! Isn’t going to have much involvement aside from packaging and special features. It’s likely going to be the same old transfers that are already available, which are very hit or miss.
I will be happy to upgrade a lot of shitty Dragon Dynasty and Tai Seng/Media Asia DVDs without having to import though.
I will be happy to upgrade a lot of shitty Dragon Dynasty and Tai Seng/Media Asia DVDs without having to import though.
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Well it’s based on an absolutely ridiculous manga and directed by Kinji Fukusaku, of course it doesn’t make sense.