Last Movie You watched - 2018

[JunkMonkey]

As Daughter Number One and I have been left alone to our own devices on New Year's while the rest of the family are away we are having a movie marathon. Tonight is her turn - a Black and White triple bill:

Girls Will be Boys - a long forgotten, but lovingly restored by the BFI, cross-dressing farce from 1934, Todd Browning's wonderful 1931 Freaks, and the Buster Keaton classic, Our Hospitality.

My turn tomorrow night.

 

[ArtNJ]

I saw the latest King Kong remake...and it is entirely harmless, passes the time. I don't recall if any of them are actually good...this one very much isn't...but it passes the time well enough.

 

[theonefirestorm]

Happy Death Day
6/10

A horror movie with a time loop Groundhog Day and it's a slasher movie could be great.
I would want to see that movie because Happy Death Day that uses these ideas a underachievement a decent movie that could have been great.


It lost points for avoidable mistakes which is why it isn't a great horror slasher movie with the repeating day groundhogs day style when Theresa is killed.


Cons
This should be Rated R not PG13. Because it's PG 13 most of the deaths are short, and blood is not shown even when a character is shot.
It's never explained why Theresa is stuck in a time loop which restarts after she dies.
Also done for comedy Theresa is shown in a restaurant farting and burbing which is cringeworthy and lameass because it's unfunny, and completely unneccesary.

The twist is lameass or flimsy in the climax which is her roommate is the murderer which is never hinted at all in the movie.
It's mostly similar in Wild Wild West when Rita late in the movie says the scientist is her husband not her father telling that to West and Gordon. That was never implied, or hinted.

Also Theresa never thought of her roomate as a suspect when writing down persons that could be the murderer is implausible.

Pros
It's intentional that Theresa is a unlikable character including having a affair with a married man her teacher.
It's revealed she hasn't been able to deal with her mother after she died so unsurprising she is a unlikable character shown to be condescending, self centered, and dismissive.

She has to use trial and error to find out who is the murderer so it is a mystety.

Character Development: Theresa says the worst thing about reliving the same day to Carter is her seeing she isn't a good person.

Carter gives her encouraging words it's never to late to change and she uses that including talking to her in person to resolve her inner grief, ending the affair with her Dr.Butler , etc.
It's her righting the multiple wrongs she has caused so she changes and becomes a likable character.
Great to watch a feature horror movie that has likable characters because 1 of the main problems with Horror movies for several years is mostly unlikable characters or all unlikable characters.


She also intentionally killed herself because John Tombs a serial killer murdered Carter so she put someone before herself.
It's implied that she doesn't have unlimited lives because retaining damage from the her other murders.


Carter is a likable character that after being informed of the repeating day and the murder to write down persons that would want to kill her.
He also did move her to a bed that she slept inside his dorm because of a drunken binge.
A decent climax with Thersa having to fight her roommate Lori, and winning by kicking her out a window and dies after falling on the hard ground.

She comments her situation is a lot like the comedy movie Groundhog Day no doubt the main inspiration.

Also terrific that the ending isn't a uncreative unoriginal predictable overused jump scare which is overdone in Horror movies.

 

[Westy]

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Frances McDormand's best performance since Fargo. Darkly funny, sad, and memorable.

 

[Carl L. Sanders]

My wife loves Freaks. ( Ahem; including me, I guess.)
OT: Kongo, early '30s sleeeezy melodrama, feat. Walter Huston( John's daddy) and Virginia Bruce. I liked it fine, though the big plot-twist was visible from the get-go. Swell acting of the Old School variety, loaded with drug and alcohol abuse, fast-paced, explicitly racist, sexist and wicked-----what's there not to like?

 

[Carl L. Sanders]

Harry Dean Stanton is magnificent as Lucky. Better than any movie I saw in 2017. Also, David Lynch and Harry Dean Stanton acting together. How can that not be great?
9.5/10 because nothing is perfect

Gee, thanx for Posting this; the missus and I will seek it out at first opportunity. We are huge fans of Mr. Stanton since Rancho Deluxe and on through Big Love, etc,.

 

[ArtNJ]

Lego Batman, lol. Very worthwhile for a using the treadmill may as well watch a movie situation, but you won't mind leaving the rest of the movie till the next time you are on the treadmill. Would have enjoyed it in one sitting if I still had young kids.

 

[Decrepit&Senile]

As Daughter Number One and I have been left alone to our own devices on New Year's while the rest of the family are away we are having a movie marathon. Tonight is her turn - a Black and White triple bill:

Girls Will be Boys - a long forgotten, but lovingly restored by the BFI, cross-dressing farce from 1934, Todd Browning's wonderful 1931 Freaks, and the Buster Keaton classic, Our Hospitality.

My turn tomorrow night.

I've been meaning to by a high quality release of Freaks for years now, but never take the plunge.

I bought the movie Patton on DVD the other day but haven't gotten around to watching it yet, largely due to being under the weather. (I saw it during its initial theater run, but so far as I know never since then.)

 

[Jim Johanson]

Just watched The Void (2017) recently. The practical effects were spectacular. It's so rare to see movies still using practical effects rather than just computer animating everything. That being said, it would have been nice if the practical effects had the tiniest semblance of a plot behind them. It feels like a group of really talented special effects people decided to make a movie, so they asked a guy from a community college writing I course to come up with a plot and gave him a day to do it. The less than stellar acting of the father of the pregnant girl broke my concentration a few times too. Lots of untapped potential here.

 

[Westy]

Mindhunter season 1 (Netflix). I watched all ten episodes today in two marathon sessions, which is unusual for me. It's a finely crafted show. Very well paced, unlike Netflix's boring, drawn out Marvel shitfests.
9/10

I've been watching that too - very good, nice to have a different take on a show with serial killers.

Also been watching the 4th season of Black Mirror - also very good, probably has started to lose a bit of impact now, but some of the episodes were up there with the best, especially USS Callister and Metalhead.

And have started on Godless, a western with a point of difference in having more strong female characters.

 

[Hobbit]

Yes, I was recently contemplating rewatching David Fincher's Zodiac and was unaware of this show's existence. I now wonder which four episodes Fincher directed.

Episodes 1, 2 and 9 & 10 according to Wikipedia.

Family keep telling me about this series... I liked Zodiac, too.

But I notice that Anna Torv (from Fringe) is in the series... am now very interested!

 

[kennychaffin]

Just saw "The Post" yesterday. Good Stuff!

 

[Vince W]

Paddington 2. Brilliant film. Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson are priceless. I hope they make a third one.

 

[Windshadow]

The Assassination Bureau Limited (a.k.a. The Assassination Bureau in the United States) is a 1969 UK black comedy film in Technicolor, produced by Michael Relph, directed by Basil Dearden, that stars Oliver Reed, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, and Curd Jürgens. It is based on an unfinished novel, The Assassination Bureau, Ltd by Jack London. Unlike London's novel, which is set in the United States, the film is set in Europe

I guess this falls into the Alt History area of history. Rented from Amazon it is a very funny black comedy that I throughly enjoyed
4/5* .
I did not know it was based on an unfinished novel by Jack London until I read the Wikipedia article I quote above.
The novel was based on a story idea London purchased from author Sinclair Lewis (Elmer Gantry) in early 1910. London wrote 20,000 words on the novel before he gave it up later that same year, saying he could not find a logical way to conclude it. He died in 1916, leaving the book unfinished.

Recommended

I wonder if Pratchett got the idea for the Guild of Assassins on the Discworld from the movie or the unfinished book... or was it from reading about Murder Incorporated ?

 

[JunkMonkey]

Flesh + Blood. Paul Verhoven's first English language film (?). Some toe-curlingly bad performances and lots of nudity. A bit like a Corman movie (echoes of the Masque of the Red Death) but with a bigger budget and less style because of it.

Plot wise it's a bit of a creepfest too, relying as it does on the idea that women enjoy getting raped and then fall in love with their rapist...

 

[Carl L. Sanders]

Flesh + Blood. Paul Verhoven's first English language film (?). Some toe-curlingly bad performances and lots of nudity. A bit like a Corman movie (echoes of the Masque of the Red Death) but with a bigger budget and less style because of it.

Plot wise it's a bit of a creepfest too, relying as it does on the idea that women enjoy getting raped and then fall in love with their rapist...

Though I usually am in close agreement with JunkMonkey, here I am not. My wife and I enjoyed this film. It reminded us a bit more of the rompy style of Ladyhawke then Conan; perhaps because it is set in an actual quasi-historical milieu, rather than Never-land or Cimmeria or wherever.
'Stockholm-Syndrome' aside, the young lady had to make the most of the hand she was dealt ( as we all do.) We especially enjoyed the performance of Susan Tyrrel as the mother of Martin's still-born child.

 

[Westy]

Have watched a number of the latest releases in the last few weeks:

I, Tonya - the story of ice skater Tonya Harding (from Tonya's point of view), and the circumstances behind the knee-capping of Nancy Kerrigan. Very insightful into Tonya's background; living in a low socio-economic area with a very hard and cold mother. Also a brilliant performance from Margot Robbie, she should give the Oscar a good go (as should Frances McDormand from Three Billboards).

Molly's Game - another movie based on a true story (about Molly Bloom's underground poker empire) and also very good, there were no slow parts in this one. Jessica Chastain was also great.

The Post - Steven Spielberg's latest, on the Washington Post's decision to publish classified documents during the Vietnam War. It was OK - started off very slow, dull even (not something I usually say about Spielberg movies) but picked up half way through. Still, overall just average for me.

The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro's latest is getting lot's of good reviews, but I found it overall nothing great. It had a whimsical style about it, which was nice to watch from the start, but I just didn't get the relationship between the woman and gill-man, just didn't feel real at all. A shame, as Pan's Labyrinth is one of my favourite movies.

Also watched Ladybird, a coming of age story set in California. Very watchable and another great performance, this time from Saoirse Ronan.

So I've seen the 5 movies that have the 5 Best Actress Nominations, and personally I'd go for either Margot or Frances, with maybe Margot pipping (and she's an Aussie!)

 

[theonefirestorm]

Halloween The Original
10/10

The worst things about this movie is Laurie repeats the same mistake of dropping a weapon, and turns her back with Michael Myers behind her.
Michael Myers missing stabbing Laurie is unbelievable because she didn't know he was behind her.
Also the neighbors ignore her when she runs for help.

It is a great movie a masterpiece slasher movie.
It has a great opening the pov of Michael that kills his sister, and it's unknown why 6 year old Michael Myers did this.
The closest to a explanation is provided by Dr.Loomis talking about him.
It has a terrific unforgettable theme, a straight forward story which is Michael Myers after escaping from a Sanatarium, and returns to Haddonfield Illinois to kill other victims.
Likabile characters including Laurie a sweet girl that babysits kids, and Doctor Loomis that does what is right pursue Michael and kill him since he knows how dangerous he is.

A great build up for not seeing the full adult Michael Myers that stalks his prey, and proves to be a great villain he does murder persons no problem, Laurie is a challenge and is able to protect the kids even with the Michael that proves relentless to murder Laurie because he survives multiple stabbings which don't kill him.
A exception for show don't tell with Doctor Loomis giving a explanation for why Michael Myers is a remorseless murderer.

Great climax with Doctor Loomis and Michael Myers, briefly shown adult Michael Myers no mask, and Loomis is able to defeat Michael by shooting him multiple times and he falls out off the 2nd floor of a House, and a brilliant ending which is Michael Myers isn't on the ground when Loomis looks a 2nd time Michael is gone no longer on the ground, and unknown why exactly which is a great intentional unanswered question.


IT (2017
7/10

A decent serious Rated R horror reboot movie.

A predictable scare happens because a kid looks at a creepy painting that nkt shocking becomes alive because Pennywise the dancing clown a shapeshifter that can take the form of your worst fears.

If the painting wasn't shown at all it be a surprise when a terrifying figure is shown.
Also I did want to see more of Pennywise as the giant clown.

Likabile believable characters for the Losers Club including Bill that wants to find his younger brother Georgie and where the creature moved him to which is the heroes quest or primary objective.
Beverly a girl that has a sexual abusive dad is the only girl in the losers club also rumors she is promiscuous which is why she is ostracized by others.
Similar to a nightmare on elm street they find out the same creature is terrorizing them.

Set in Summer 1989 it's believable because a Arcade building meaning has the arcade machines, A kid has a mullet, the clothes, and WB advertising 2 great movies they released summer 1989 because on a common movie theater board is 2 movies Lethal Weapon 2, and Batman it's in the background but still noticeable.

The bully has friends and I thought he was another Clarence Boddicker psychopath until it was shown he's a bully because his dad is a jerkass that demeans and bullies him even if I recall right shoots a gun in the same area as him.



Pennywise has a great unique look, and is a terrifying Villain since similar to Freddy Krueger he has power because fear from humans which is why he can shapeshift into persons worst fears, also claws, amd has rows of sharp teeth, and claws.
Also he does sever Georgie and no doubt violently murder him, and has kidnapped more than a dozen kids.


Terrific climax with the kids fighting Pennywise in his Underground lair, and is defeated along with the losers club discovered the creature gets power from fear of humans, which is why he retreats except no doubt not dead because that would make the sequel nonsensical with no Pennywise to fight for the main characters.
Also Bill does accept Georgie is dead.



Great ending that isn't the overused jump scare instead it's all the kids make a blood oath to return to Derry as Adults to kill the creature if the creature returns which makes it obvious a sequel, also Bill kisses Beverly.

 

[Nechtan]

Finally saw Wonder Woman. I thought it was pretty good for a superhero movie and for me, that's a low bar. I usually find superhero films to be a bit, well, a bit enjoyable but no great shakes. The two I've enjoyed the most have been Deadpool and Captain America: the Winter Soldier and I'd put Wonder Woman up there with them.

 

[theonefirestorm]

The Shape of Water
10/10

If I rate a movie a 10/10 it's because it's a great movie, no boring parts, and could be argued is a masterpiece or is a masterpiece.

It has to have the 1st 2 for me.

Great special effects when the amphibian creature uses his powers bright lights are shown on his body.

It's a serious fish out water story that easily could have been a laughable awful movie which is why I'll be surprised if it doesn't win multiple academy awards including best director.

A terrific movie set in Baltimore during the Cold War. Cars, clothes, tvs, etc it's all has that recognizable 1960s look during that time because it is set in the year 1962.

The amphibian humanoid creature is a likable good character in this science fiction drama movie.
Great actng from everyone including Doug Jones as the amphibian creature.

Elisa secretly sees the amphibian creature befriends him by giving him food, also educates him mostly using sign language.
This is a serious movie but still has light hearted scenes but not overdone.

Likable believable characters
Giles a Gay Struggling advertising illustrator that can't get his past job which is heartbreaking, likely realozed his own prejudice because the owner of a restaurant refused service to African Americans which he hated and he is banned from the restaurant after rebuking the owner, no doubt realized his own similar error after that because not accepting the amphibian creature as a person and refusing to help Elisa.
That's why he changes his mind tells Elisa he'll help her rescue the amphibian creature, and that she is his only friend.

Zelda her coworker also friend and interpreter. Both are janitors that work at a Government building,


Elisa a mute woman explained why in the movie, uses sign language is a friend of the amphibian creature and changes to she loves him which is why they make love.
Robert Hoffstetler a moral scientist that is a secret Soviet spy. He did attempt to persuade not to visect the amphibian creature.

Giles also watches the amphibian creature, and isn't mad at the amphibian creature that hate 1 of his cats because he knows how powerful the amphibian creature is but also because has other cats, and knows he is learning.
The amphibian creature is shown playing with cats which is great and heart warming which was needed because it was after his big mistake eating a cat.



Elisa and Giles along with Robert are able to save the amphibian creature also Zelda that is hesitant to join for understandable reasons the whole it's illegal and big consequences if caught, but still helps after seeing the futility because Elisa will not relent or give up.


Robert Hoffstetler a moral scientist is a secret Soviet spy, and since the Soviets don't want the USA to have advantages he is ordered to kill the amphibian creature.
He refuses, along with saving the creature with others has a high price for him.

Believable Villains the Soviets want the Amphibian creature killed so the USA has 0 advantages, also General Hoyt that wants to exploit the creature for possible advantages in the Space Race and Strickland has no problem with that.
Strickland has to find the amphibian creature in 36 hours or he'll be fired.


Using touch and concentration the creature can fastly heal wounds for humans,and naturally regrow hair because Giles woke up and had noticeable hair regrown.
So logical if he was worshipped as a God in the Amazon Jungle.

Most likely Strickland and Robert never discovered this if he did then most likely no orders to kill and visect the amphibian creature to be used as advantages for the Space Race.
Less is more how Strickland lost his fingers is never shown only the bloody result.
Possibly the amphibian creature used his claws to cut his fingers off. Almost endless possibilities for how Strickland lost his fingers.

Great climax with Strickland chasing to capture the amphibian creature, and the amphibian creature saying good bye to Elisa and Giles finding out she won't be going with him.
Strickland shoots the creature and Elisa, except the creature using Elisa with body contact is able to heal himself, and brutally kills Strickland which is terrific becaise he repeatedly was cruel to the amphibian creature.
Strickland is a Charismatic Great Villain 1 you love to hate.

The amphibian creature grabs Elisa and jumps in the water before the Baltimore Police can capture the amphibian creature.