Last Movie You Watched (2017)

[Prairie_Dog]

I finally watched Arrival and it was really good! It's been called the thinking person's sci-fi film. It was the $0.99 rental on iTunes this week in the US, so it was a bargain as well.

I liked the time trippy aspects of it, and the pretty alien aliens. Heptapods, quite the unusual creatures for a feature film. The protagonist being a linguist was also pretty refreshing. Definitely worth a watch, and it might leave you moved in the end.

 

[Hobbit]

I finally watched Arrival and it was really good!

It's the film that's currently giving me hope that Blade Runner 2069 will be any good.... same director.

 

[ArtNJ]

I didn't like Arrival much, as the ending - which retrospectively illuminates the plot - ruined it for me. I will admit it was stylishly done and well paced (for a movie with essentially zero action) and if I was higher on the ending I'd be much higher on the movie. But it is the type of movie that, to me, just doesn't work with what is revealed to be a stupid plot. All of that said, the undeniable style of the film does make me agree with Hobbit -- director plainly has some skills.

I am now considering whether to watch Ghost in the Shell or Power Rangers, both of which I know are stupid. However, they aren't trying to fill a "thought provoking" role, so I don't think the plot weaknesses are as critical.

 

[Av Demeisen]

It's the film that's currently giving me hope that Blade Runner 2069 will be any good.... same director.

...erm?

 

[Hobbit]

Apologies: 2049, of course.

Art: Take your point about the movie, but I was allowing for Hollywood thinking - compared with some of the recent releases it was literate, intelligent and looked good. I am always aware that many watching who know less SF may not get the obvious points like wot we do.

I am now considering whether to watch Ghost in the Shell or Power Rangers

Be interested on your take on Ghost in the Shell. I have seen it. Have you seen the original anime version?

 

[ArtNJ]

I haven't seen the original Ghost in the Shell anime because it isn't on Netflix and I'm not sure where I can see it for free. Well, I do pay for non-netflix rentals, but for whatever reason, just haven't thought of it as a priority for Ghost's anime version even though I'd like to see it.

 

[Hobbit]

To be honest, you don't have to have seen it to get what they're after in the new version. It's similar, yet different. Don't want to say too much about the new one until you've seen it, if you do, though.

 

[Carl L. Sanders]

Dunkirk (2017)
What a colossal disappointment! There isn't really a narrative, dramatic movie at all here, rather a collection of mixed-quality action scenes, explosions, and the like, inter-cut with a terribly badly acted and written rescue attempt by a civilian boat. The (totally interminable) dogfight scenes are so boring that, after a bit, I began rooting for the Krauts.
I've enjoyed several movies by Mr. Nolen, most recently Interstellar, but this is just crap. Not in the league with the Dunkirk sequences in Mrs. Miniver, Atonement or the eponymous '60s film.
Everything he does is written by either him or his brother. Let's face it: he should consider hiring a writer to help out with the dialog and characterizations.

 

[Prairie_Dog]

This weekend, I watched the 1963 Roger Corman film The Terror, starring Boris Karloff, a very young Jack Nicholson, and Sandra Knight. It is one of those old horror films that is very atmospheric in spite of its limited budget. Jack Nicholson stars as Andre Duvalier, a lost French soldier in 1806 who is taken with a young woman he sees, played by Sandra Knight. He soon follows the mystery posed by this young woman to the castle of the Baron, played by Boris Karloff. There are dark secrets that are unveiled, and scores to be settled! The scene pictured above comes just before the film's gristly climax. Overall, it is an entertaining film, but not the best of Corman's work.

 

[theonefirestorm]

Baby Driver
8/10

My only complaint is Miles that has the code name Baby never fought Leon which I wanted to see because of hostility including when Leon attempted to kill Debora That is Mile's lover because he believes she knows that he works as a getaway driver for a Syndicate responsible for armed robberies when all she knows is Baby is a driver for persons.
Since Leon becomes a unlikable character Hard to feel sad when he is killed.
I wanted to see Miles fight Leon and kill him with brutal violence Marked for Death style or Cobra.

The romance Debora and Baby is not contrived at all.
A great action crime drama noir movie that has great chase scenes including one with no vehicles plus no lameass jump cuts, great action including violence with cars, decent dialogue and memorable lines including from the Syndicate leader Doc, believable flawed likable characters including Debora and Miles's foster Father, funny parts during serious scenes, multiple surprises, a exciting wonderful climax that involves violence with a logical reason why the violence is being used by the characters, and a terrific ending because no cliffhangers so no sequel should be made.
Doc says why exactly Miles is working for him as the getaway driver.

A exciting great movie start to the end.

The writer finds a way for this movie to have its cake and eat it to.
It shows the dreadful ugly truth that Criminals in a Syndicate are likely to die shown with the heist that goes wrong, or the Criminals are sent to Prison after being convicted.
Most of the Crew in the heist gone wrong dies, plus Doc is also killed, and Miles surrenders because Police blocking a bridge.
During the trial the Foster Father, Debora, and others talk favorably about Miles character which helps him because he is sentenced to 25 years but with good behavior he could get out in 5 years.

When Miles gets out of Prison Debora is waiting for him, it's a sunny day with a rainbow, plus a car so they likely travel the USA which they talked about and possibly Debora makes a living as a Singer or maybe Miles becomes a professional car racer, or a legal driver occupation.

With no cliffhangers this movie doesn't need a sequel which would be unnecessary.
1 ex Criminal gets a happy ending.

 

[Windshadow]

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 8/10
a very enjoyable sequel to the 9/10 original i just enjoyed the mix tape of the first a bit more and the characters were no longer new... ego was fun and you could tell how much Kurt Russell was enjoying his role

one downer was that the iTunes DL of it did not have direct access to scenes the way a dvd does you have to fast forward the whole film to get to a given scene

 

[Av Demeisen]

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 8/10
a very enjoyable sequel to the 9/10 original i just enjoyed the mix tape of the first a bit more and the characters were no longer new... ego was fun and you could tell how much Kurt Russell was enjoying his role

one downer was that the iTunes DL of it did not have direct access to scenes the way a dvd does you have to fast forward the whole film to get to a given scene

I'm going to watch it tonight. Too bad that dolt Sylvester Stallone is in it.

 

[theonefirestorm]

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 8/10
a very enjoyable sequel to the 9/10 original i just enjoyed the mix tape of the first a bit more and the characters were no longer new... ego was fun and you could tell how much Kurt Russell was enjoying his role

one downer was that the iTunes DL of it did not have direct access to scenes the way a dvd does you have to fast forward the whole film to get to a given scene

I'm going to watch it tonight. Too bad that dolt Sylvester Stallone is in it.

After you watch the movie I don't imagine you'll still have that complaint for a obvious reason.

 

[theonefirestorm]

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 8/10
a very enjoyable sequel to the 9/10 original i just enjoyed the mix tape of the first a bit more and the characters were no longer new... ego was fun and you could tell how much Kurt Russell was enjoying his role

one downer was that the iTunes DL of it did not have direct access to scenes the way a dvd does you have to fast forward the whole film to get to a given scene

Ego and Dormammu are the closest the MCU has to a Galactus kind of character since the Marvel doesn't have the movie rights to Fantastic 4.
It's frustrating you saw they got Ego on the Mark and right including his true form a large face with a mustache so I am utterly optimistic they would depict Galactus on the Mark and do him justice including using his physical appearance a Giant with the iconic Purple and Blue Armor.

 

[Av Demeisen]

I'm going to watch it tonight. Too bad that dolt Sylvester Stallone is in it.

If the first was an 8/10 for me this was a 2.5/10. Some entertaining bits here and there, but none involving Ego. Stupid plot.

 

[ArtNJ]

If the first was an 8/10 for me this was a 2.5/10. Some entertaining bits here and there, but none involving Ego. Stupid plot.

+1. Very few people think this one is significantly worse and I can't understand it given how much stupider it is.

 

[JunkMonkey]

+1. Very few people think this one is significantly worse and I can't understand it given how much stupider it is.

I can't understand the love for it either. I've not seen the first so didn't have that warm halo effect glow of wanting to like it.
I was ready to throw things at the screen by the end of it.

 

[Carl L. Sanders]

A really ancient, made for Cable (TNT, I think) western of the '90s: Riders of the Purple Sage.
I thought this was corny when I watched it with the brats when it was new. Wow! I've changed my opinion. This is a classic, moderately faithful, highly stylized version of the ( nearly unreadable) Zane Gray novel. Acting, direction, writing and cinematography are all excellent.
That Zane Gray: how did he ever get published, much less become a bestselling author? I suppose because he managed to get across the impression made upon him by the stunning American Southwestern landscape. I read The Vanishing American after seeing the old silent on TCM a few years back: written with boxing gloves on, was it? Alas, the striking introductory backstory of the successive settlements ( nomads-Basketweaver-Anasazi-American Indian...) of the Southwest were added for the film and are not in the novel.

 

[theonefirestorm]

The Dark Tower
10/10

It's a unforgettable wonderful movie with likable characters.

Cons: Roland changed to a black man was utterly unnecessary either done because they can, or for the sake of change no valid sensible reason.

The feud bald blood of Roland And Walter was not elaborated whether told or shown.

Likely not sarcastic not said or shown why Walter calls Roland "Old friend"
Also it's not shown or said why exactly Walter decided to become a Nefarious Sorcerer, and why he's a devoted servant of the Outer Dark.

Pros: Great acting for the whole cast including Matthew Mcconaughey hits a home run.
Terrific looking monsters so you can take the monsters seriously.
The Man in Black aka Walter is a Magnificent bastard villain including the feat of catching a bullet behind him while walking away from Roland.
Also his Army the that monsters the false skins are used mostly in the climax that try to prevent Roland from using the portal by killing him.
Wonderful Action scenes that including the climax.
Likable characters Jake and Roland so you are rooting for them to defeat Walter and his army to prevent the apocalypse.
Excellent Environments including the Foggy Forest.

A terrific ending of Roland and Jake leaving NYC to another dimension to fight Demons and monsters.

Character development: Roland was unlikable but still sympathetic and understandable.
He is a man that wanted vengeance after Walter killed his dad by killing Walter, and doesn't want Jake or anyone traveling with him. Also accepts that A Demom or monsters will cause the Dark Tower but before that he's a Pessimist antihero that will have vengeance by killing Walter the Sorcerer.
Jake is able to persaude him to destroy the building so Walter's army can't use the device to destroy the Dark Tower add in Earth his world. Also bringing up just because his world was destroyed doesn't mean history should repeat itself with his world Earth also getting destroyed.

Great Foreshadowing: Shown in The movie is Hail The Crimson King for inside a Housevit's obvious in the 2nd and likely several sequels the Crimson King will be the Big Bad.

Unforgettable Wonderful exciting Climax: Jake is able to prevent the Portal from opening using his psychic powers, also Roland fights Walter with Walter using his Telekinesis to move glass, and rocks plus other stuff toward Roland that is shooting him.
Walter does cause a wall to fall on him plus pierce his hand with glass, Roland proving to be valiant and tenacious removes the glass shoots a bullet toward Walter but also a bullet that bounces off a wall that Walter can't catch which kills him because he was occupied with catching the ordinary shot bullet.
Never stop fighting till the fight is done which is exactly what Roland did.

 

[Av Demeisen]

The Dark Tower
10/10

It's a unforgettable wonderful movie with likable characters.

Cons: Roland changed to a black man was utterly unnecessary either done because they can, or for the sake of change no valid sensible reason.

Does there have to be a valid sensible reason for a change in skin colour? I think the most important thing is the actor has a head, two arms, two legs, a brain, acting chops, some charisma, etc.. Unless it was essential to the books Roland is caucasian, I can't see why it matters.