Last Movie You Watched (2017)

[CTravis]

Finally went to see Fate of the Furious. I was pleasantly surprised that it was quite a bit better than I thought it would be. Like must of the others in this series you have to suspend your disbelief for a few of the scenes, but overall I liked it. I think they could have improved to story some (they definitely stretched the whole Dom betrays everyone bit a little far).

 

[VictorK]

I saw Transformers 5, because I absolutely love the Transformers but I also have a deep seated hatred of myself and a lack of self-respect.

I left the theater wondering whether it was possible to tell stories anymore. It's a stupid movie made by stupid people for stupid people.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

But this is a Pirates of the Caribbean

I watched the first. It was a bit silly. The sequels sound stupid.
I'll stick to Muppet Treasure Island and the (French dubbed into English?) Slightly SF TV series Treasure Planet. Or even the earlier Coral Island that partially inspired Treasure Island.
And a few books.
"The Pilot" is good, though technically hasn't got Pirates (The unnamed Sailor is probably the Scottish guy that fought for USA in War of Independence and then Russian Imperial Navy, the UK regarded him as a Pirate). Fennimore Cooper, more famous for "Last of the Mohicans", The Pilot is on Gutenburg.

 

[JunkMonkey]

Car Wash - Daughter Number One's rather odd choice for the Friday Night Family film - she and I laughed like drains while the rest of the family were rather bemused and/left the room.

 

[Hobbit]

Substitute 'voted Republican/Conservative' for 'saw Transformers' and this should be true for many people.

Polite reminder about the politics - please don't.

 

[Alchemist]

I just watched The Void, which was surprisingly good. If you like John Carpenter films and HP Lovecraft, you'll really like this film.

 

[JunkMonkey]

The House by the Cemetery - another off the infamous DPP 1983 list of 'video nasties'. Can't say I feel that depraved or edified after watching it. A bit bored maybe.

 

[Carl L. Sanders]

The Mummy
Total crud. The first time I've seen Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe stink.

 

[Prairie_Dog]

Star Trek Beyond just recently became available to watch on Amazon Prime, so I thought I I'd give it a try. My short take on it is it was a pretty good action movie with good special effects trying to be Star Trek.

I'm a Trekkie who is not a big fan of the Kelvin Timeline, also known as the JJ-Verse. The initial 2009 movie didn't impress me, and Into Darkness didn't resolve my misgivings. However, I knew J. J. Abrams had left the Captain's Chair on the franchise so he can go work on one he actually likes: Star Wars. Beyond was helmed by Justin Lin and Simon Pegg, so I thought I should give this movie the benefit of the doubt. I did find it was better than its predecessors in the Kelvin Timeline, but still not good Trek.

POTENTIAL MILD SPOILERS BELOW:

First I'll address my misgivings, then move onto the better aspects. There was so much that did not make much sense. Kirk has been a Captain for three years of his five year mission and is bored, so he asks for and potentially will be granted a Vice Admiral posistion? This will take him off a ship and potentially that will cure his boredom? Poor baby only has to ask and the Federation will give him whatever.

We then have Krall, who sort of makes sense as a Star Trek villain. At least he's new and not simply just "borrowed" from the Original Series and or movies like Kahn was. It would be nice if they explained how he transformed into this alien-like form, other than a throwaway line near the end. It would also be handy if they explained how at the end he spontaneously turned back into his human form. It seems odd that you get an actor with the gravitas of Idris Elba and keep him in prostetics for 90% of the movie so he can't really emote very well. It also should be said his voice was almost unintelligible for that time period of the movie too. Another loose end was where did he get all these henchmen?

Then we have the alien swarm ships, which were reportedly used for mining? Really? These were then overcome by the power of FM radio and rock-n-roll! OK, I could buy that maybe if the Beastie Boys song had disrupted their communication and ability to maneuver, making them easy targets for Federation weapons. But no, they were rapped out of existence being blown up entirely by the power of the beat! Amazing also that these alien swarm ships can be easily flown by a human doctor, McCoy just leapt into the saddle of one and was flying it like it was second nature.

Now, for the positive aspects. Like I hinted at above, I was pretty happy that this was an original movie with new characters and settings. I really liked Jaylah played by Sofia Boutella. She had a really great look for a Star Trek alien, and had a decent backstory. I also enjoyed Shohreh Aghdashloo of The Expanse as Commodore Paris (I wondered if she was supposed to be related to Tom Paris of Voyager?). There were some good aliens, unlike the TV series, there is plenty of budget for the special effects needed.

One of the finest parts of this movie was undoubtedly the Starbase Yorktown. Wow, this is what the Federation can do with all of its advanced technology! It also shows how average Federation citizens live their lives. When you have gravity control, advanced shielding, unlimited energy, and replicator technology, what kind of place can you build with that? Yorktown is a pretty good answer. My major issue is would you put this relatively poorly defended place on the border with an unexplored nebula? Regardless, it was one of the best aspects of the movie for me.

There was so much angst about Mr. Sulu and his family prior to the release of the movie. Yes, they portrayed him as being gay, and having a husband and daughter. They probably should have discussed this with George Takei in advance, as he felt it was "unfortunate." However, it was really well done. It was understated, just Sulu with his husband and daughter in one scene on Yorktown. Tasteful, and was actually a plot point, as Sulu was later fighting to protect his family who were in danger.

Zachary Quinto's Spock and Karl Urban's McCoy have such a great role in this movie. They really have got the essence of the Bones/Spock relationship down. Their banter is great, and you get that there is real feeling behind it. Since they are on their own for a good portion of the film, they get to act out those roles together.

I guess I should mention that the film does give a form of tribute to the late great Leonard Nimoy in that word of his character's death (Ambassador Spock - or Spock Prime) reaches Quinto's Spock. Its effect is discussed or shown in several scenes. I think this was pretty respectful, and fitting.

All in all, I have mixed feelings about this film. It's a lot better than the other two set in the Kelvin Timeline, but is still flawed in some ways. I would recommend watching it for the special effects, and for those things it gets right. However, understand that for many Trekkies, it will still not be fully satisfying.

 

[Chuffalump]

OK I went back a couple of pages but couldn't find any mention of the new 'Ghost in the Shell' film. Anyone seen it? It has Scarlett Johansson in it.....

 

[Ropie]

Watched Lars von Trier's frankly harrowing Breaking the Waves last night, now on Amazon Prime. Definitely one of the better films they have available.

 

[Chuffalump]

Speaking of Amazon Prime....I recently saw the Korean film 'Man on High Heels'. About a policeman who wants to retire and become a woman. First though, he has to put down the crime syndicate that killed his friend and captured the girl. Overall, a bit predictable but some nice acting touches. The Koreans always do violence well so expect plenty of blood.

 

[Carl L. Sanders]

Watched Lars von Trier's frankly harrowing Breaking the Waves last night, now on Amazon Prime. Definitely one of the better films they have available.

Next to the superb Melancholia ( my fave end of the world film, easily beating out When Worlds Collide, which I have as #2) this is my fave by this director.
I guess about a year from now we'll get to see The World That Jack Built; word is, he'll maybe be allowed to show it at Cannes despite being banned after the dust-up that prevented Melancholia from even being nominated for any Oscar.

 

[Ropie]

Next to the superb Melancholia ( my fave end of the world film, easily beating out When Worlds Collide, which I have as #2) this is my fave by this director.

Those are the only two I've seen of von Trier's films. Another Earth is another good 'end of the world' film, or maybe just a 'close shave' of planets

 

[Hobbit]

easily beating out When Worlds Collide, which I have as #2)

Oh, I love When Worlds Collide.... one of my go-to classics, along with War of the Worlds, The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Day The Earth Stood Still and The Time Machine....

 

[JunkMonkey]

Having survived a bit of the film von Trier made with Bjork (the name of which escapes me and I'm too tired to look up - Dancer in the Dark! I remembered!) and nearly 90% of The Idiots, I would love to know why people find his films even watchable - let alone praiseworthy. Okay, I know watching one and a half (I'm being generous here) movies is not a really good sample base on which to dismiss an 'artist' of his 'international standing' but what is it about his films that people think is so good?

 

[Ropie]

what is it about his films that people think is so good?

In the case of the two I've seen: powerful stories, unusually told, and not afraid to go completely bizarre at times - like the last 20 minutes of Breaking the Waves. Enigmatic actors, such as Charlotte Gainsbourg and Emily Watson, don't hurt either!

 

[J.J.Kane]

I just saw Spider-Man. A great movie, I think the director nailed the teen vibe. Last weekend I went to see Transformers 5 but I left during the interlude (a first for me) so I could get a drink at a bar I frequent. I suppose that will tell you all you need to know about that movie. Please, Michael Bay, have a good rethink about what you are going to do next!

 

[Av Demeisen]

The last movie I saw was Alien: Covenant. It was awful and retarded so I won't bother you with the details.

 

[Carl L. Sanders]

Another Earth is another good 'end of the world' film, or maybe just a 'close shave' of planets

My wife and I love this movie! Brit Marling was so effective! (Actually, she places 2nd on my all-time acting List for her performance; # 1 is the amazing job by Clifton Collins, Jr. in Sunshine Cleaning. Hell, we thought he was a one-armed store owner, cinema verite-style.)Her next effort was interesting, but she failed to generate much lust ( in me), even when paired with Skarsgaard.