Last Movie You watched - 2018

I just watched Alien: Covenant since it became available on HBO GO. Like Prometheus before it, I found to to be a beautiful movie, with some great actors, that was profoundly unsatisfying. Some spoilers below...

You have been warned!

So I guess we now we have a genesis for the Xenomorph in Alien? But why make an egg and facehugger when the black spores already can do the job? Also what about all the previous forms of xenomorph we have seen in Prometheus on the wall sculpture and the “Deacon” at the end?

Like in Prometheus it seems that Weyland Corp personnel have absolutely no regard for any type of safety protocol or any concept of biohazard prevention. Let’s all land on some alien world that is oddly like Earth and just run around in shirt sleeves.

But really, I could look past that, if there were some point to this movie. I have no idea why the ending was so bleak. At least in Alien and Aliens Ripley lives...
 
Also just watched Annihilation (came out on Netflix in the UK today, just in case you didn't know.)

Also don't know how closely it matches the book, but to me it was what I'd expect from Jeff Vandermeer. Kudos to Netflix for not taking the easy way out, which I understand was being demanded at one point.

The New Wave never really left, did it?
 
Annihilation, based on a Jeff VanderMeer novel which I haven't read. The special effects were cheap looking a lot of the time, hence distracting. I have no idea how closely the plot followed the book, but the end of the journey was disappointingly conventional. Still, the story up until the team reached the lighthouse was compelling enough not to make me put on another movie instead. Natalie Portman can act. I would be interested in what others here think.

I think you should now go read the source material, because it really is a good book! There are two further books in the trilogy, which reportedly won’t be made into movies (at least by the same director).

The movie was an adaptation, and the ending especially so. The changes from the book were probably necessary to get the studio to make it at all. One change is that the characters have names, instead of just titles (like the biologist). This clearly made dialogue a lot easier. However, the movie captures a lot of the feel of Area X, and impressions and feelings are very much at the heart of Jeff Vandermeer’s work. A lot of it is especially dreamlike, and this novel actually was inspired by a dream the author had.
 
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Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle
An enjoyable weekend afternoon film that reminded me plot wise to the sort of B pictures i enjoyed so much in my preteen years of the 1950s. the film though is a quality modern action adventure and Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black Kevin Hart and Karen Gillian work very well as an ensemble cast 4/5 for me and the extras in the iTunes DD version were fun as well. Not quite the amazing voice performance that The Rock gave in Moana as the Demigod Maui Which was one of my favorite performances of 2016 but I think he would be happy with folks putting Smolder Braveheart up on the top shelf of his movie credits next to Maui.
 
There's a one volume hardcover and it's in stock at Amazon DE. Perhaps I'll order a copy, but there are lots of other books on MTBR with higher priority. Amazon.com reviews for the individual volumes were always very much spread across the whole five star spectrum. Kind of put me off.

His work is pretty polarizing, it is very different than most mainstream SF&F. As you noted, he is one of the primary writers of the New Weird, because his works are unique and, of course, very weird.

They are visual, and emotional, and leave a long lasting impression on the thoughtful reader. The Southern Reach Triology is like a series of dreams. They are not for those that want clear-cut detailed explanations and tidy wrap ups. The movie provided far more of those than the books will.
 
I just saw Annihilation and liked it. I liked the build up better than the resolution, as is often the case with SF films. Although the final scenes were quite original, they did remind me a little of the alien scenes in Under the Skin, ie: it's only aliens doing their incomprehensible thing; just enjoy the light show... It seems to be one of those movies that is attracting praise for being strange, when really it's mainly a surface strangeness. Eraserhead - now that's a strange movie!

the movie captures a lot of the feel of Area X, and impressions and feelings are very much at the heart of Jeff Vandermeer’s work. A lot of it is especially dreamlike, and this novel actually was inspired by a dream the author had.
I haven't read Annihilation but I kept imagining that if someone had made a movie of one of M John Harrison's Kefahuchi Tract novels it would look very similar. Nova Swing is like one long and confusing dream sequence!
 
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I just finished watching Annihilation too - overall thought it was good, very much a slow burn, moody yet thoughtful film. It's interesting that during parts of the movie, especially some of the exploration scenes, I was thinking it's nothing special, but afterwards I find myself thinking back to it, especially some of the final scenes.

That said, the book's better (as is usually the case with movies based on books) - much more exploration of the characters, their thoughts and the changes they are going through, more backstory, etc. - but for a movie under 2 hours I thought the director did a good job.

Although the final scenes were quite original, they did remind me a little of the alien scenes in Under the Skin, ie: it's only aliens doing their incomprehensible thing
I was thinking exactly the same thing! Even down to the soundtrack during the scene - that was also a weird (but good) movie.
 
Blackhat (2015). A terrible film about 'hackers'. Not a patch on Sneakers (1992) or Hackers (1995) for that matter. It even makes the awful Swordfish (2001) entertaining. Wargames (1983) is still the gold standard of 'hacker' films.

The old Brainstorm, the Extended Cut, is also good. R.I.P Natalie Wood; still the subject of sleeezy tabloid 'journalism.'
 
Primal Rage
9/10

A Terrific creature feature movie with likable characters a couple and hunters having to fight for survival in the Pacific Northwest Woods because of a unique Bigfoot.

A rated R Horror movie, and it does show repeatedly why it is a Rated R movie.

Exciting Great Climax, and a terrific unforgettable ending.

Great unique design for the Bigfoot, 1 of the best Bigfoot movies, and the best Bigfoot horror movie.
This movie same as The Fugitive and other Hollywood movies use the exact real world locations for where the movie is set not the whole in a Warehouse, Studio, etc.


Ashley and Max are the protagonists the couple both are likable characters. Max is a ex con which is why the Hunters antagonize him.

This movie mostly is Predator in the Pacific Northwest Woods with a Bigfoot that is a Primitive Warrior.
This Bigfoot has Tiger style teeth except maybe bigger.


Ashley is a damsel because she is captured by Bigfoot but not for the whole movie.She does remove Max from the water and uses Cpr to save him. She does escape from Bigfoot's cave, and does shoot in the area of Bigfoot.
Someone stole Her clothes which is why Max gives her his tanktop to wear. Max was going to rescue Ashley except didn't need to since she escaped. He does tell her to run and leave so she can survive, and she does survive exiting the Woods.

The Sherrif doesn't believe that a Bigfoot is responsible for killing the other missing persons.
Also a likable character. He decides to hunt and kill the Bigfoot. He is killed by Bigfoot.

This Bigfoot is a cunning primitive warrior which explains why he uses a bow and arrow and other primitive weapons not modern weapons meaning guns.
Bigfoot does have superhuman strength because he does easily break the Jaw of a hunter which is a obvious homage to King Kong.

Less is more it's unknown if Bigfoot killed the other missing persons.

Great climax: Max throws his weapon that Bigfoot dodges, a great mismatch because Bigfoot easily hits him while any physical hits Max uses are not damaging at all similar to the original Predator, Michael Myers or Supernatural Jason Voorhees.
Max crawling away is able to find and pierce Bigfoot with a weapon but it doesn't stop him from moving.

Lucky for Max he finds another sharp weapon that he grabs, rest on a tree waiting for Bigfoot to move a close distance, and Max takes advantage repeatedly stabbing Bigfoot that kills Bigfoot.

The Unforgettable great ending is Max is killed by arrows, and shown are 2 Bigfoots that no doubt shot the arrows.
I really can't recall a movie that has what you would conclude a Happy ending after the climax, and a plausible quick 180.

Unforeseeable because never hinted, said, or implied that more than 1 Bigfoot.


Peter Rabbit
8/10

A decent comedy that uses clean comedy no dirty comedy or mean spirited comedy, and a simple story with great messages including sharing love, plausible reasons for the problems, believable likable characters, decent ending, and a decent climax.

Peter Rabbit steals from Mcgregor's garden mainly because his mother was caught by him, and cooked her. Also his dad died.

Bea is a painter that paints nature, and rabbits. She has become the mother of the rabbits, and doesn't know the rabbits can talk.

Thomas gets fired from his job at the Harrod's department store because infuriated he wasn't promoted with hitting a stuffed animal and other destructive actions to the store, also told his Uncle McGregor died.

He moves to Mcgregor's house where he plans to refurbish the house, sell it and create a toy store to rival Harrod's.
Peter and his family continue to steal from the Garden, and Thomas is unsuccesful to drown Benjamin.
The consequence is a war Peter and Thomas use offensive nuisances and traps.

It's made worse when Thomas and Bea fall in love making Peter jealous which is why he wants to seperate them.

He has to learn the hard way love can be shared.
Bea sees him about to kill Peter Rabbit, and he explains Peter's antics caused him to become aggressive which she doesn't believe because she believes the rabbits are ordinary also no evidence.
Thomas denies using dynamite with Peter detonates the dynamite to prove he was which Knocks down the tree that wrecks Bea's art studio, and she breaks up with him.

The tree is where the rabbits live.
Also Bea decides to leave the house.

It wasn't Peter's plan for this to happen, he feels bad which is why
he goes to London to find Thomas and he apologizes , he's surprised the Rabbits can talk, and is persuaded to go back because Bea is leaving also that he detonated the dynamite.

The animals are able to delay Bea for leaving, Thomas is able to apologize for fighting the rabbits, admits he used dynamite and that Peter detonated the dynamite with the tree falling on her art studio.

Peter shows her the detonator and the detonate action that convinces her that he did detonate the dynamite.
Peter and his friends use tricks which persuades the snobbish couple that they don't want the house.

During end credits Thomas, Bea, Peter and the other rabbits moved to London, Thomas opened his toy store, Bea illustrates and writes books about Peter and his family.
 
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Blackhat (2015). A terrible film about 'hackers'. Not a patch on Sneakers (1992) or Hackers (1995) for that matter. It even makes the awful Swordfish (2001) entertaining. Wargames (1983) is still the gold standard of 'hacker' films.

I'll disagree with you BlackHat is a terrible movie about Hackers.
It has stuff Wargames doesn't including the Climax, it uses multiple locations, and is a entertaining movie.

I've watched Swordfish a entertaining movie that isn't boring so I assume it is awful because of plot holes, and other flaws.
 
The Strangers Prey at Night
8/10

A great sequel that does use the same formula, and it is different from the 1st movie not a copy and paste that Home Alone 2, and other sequels used.

4 Believable likable Protagonists, no filler scenes, genuine scares, 4 great action scenes and decent action scenes variety for the kills, surprises, exciting great climax, Suspense, Character Development, Decent Soundtrack, Terrifying Villains, Callback and nod to the 1st movie showing it's the same 3 Strangers, and a great ending.
I can see why some critics consider this more entertaining than the original.

This is a homage or love letter to the 80s Slasher movies.
A Great Action Horror slasher movie with a fast pace.


Cons
It's never shown how Luke lost the gun.
It doesn't start where the first movie ended which is what I wanted.
Also no character talks about events of the first movie.


Pros

Same as the 1st movie Dollface knocks on the door, loosens the lightbulb so the protagonists can't see Dollface's face because not wearing a mask, and asks if Tamara is home told she has the wrong trailer she walks away.
Also the Strangers Wrote on most of the window where the Aunt and uncle were murdered is the word Hello which was used in the 1st movie.


The 3 Strangers do brutally murder 2 persons offscreen, 2 are able to wound Kinsey and Luke, and they do murder 3 persons a Cop, Cindy and Mike the parents on screen.
Luke wasn't killed by the Man in the Mask but still would drowned if Kinsey didn't remove him from the Pool.

Also the couple murdered at the start of the movie is the Aunt and Uncle of Kinsey and Luke which Luke and Kinsey see the Uncle's dead body.



The likable Protagonists
Cindy and Mike decide to spend time as a family because Kinsey is being sent to boarding school.
Maybe she did something worse than ditch School and smoke it's implied but never outright said.

Songs used including I think we're alone now are recognizable, Total Eclipse of the Heart, etc.

Kinsey is a brat which is intentional, she becomes a likable character when she is sad seeing her mother murdered, removes Luke from the Pool he would have drowned if she didn't rescue him, and she kills the 2 Strangers .
Luke doesn't shoot Dollface because he doesn't want to kill humans, he does kill Pin Up Girl to avoid her stabbing him, and fights the Man in the Mask.

Luke and Kinsey are shown talking about the past while outside . Shown in this movie is the brother helping the sister, and sister helping the brother.
Luke and Kinsey did argue and insult the other while in the car which is why it's great to see them bonding in this movie with Luke helping and saving Kinsey, Kinsey saving and helping Luke.


The dad Mike doesn't want Luke to see his mother dead, and recognizes what is best which is why he tells Luke to take the gun and find his sister because he is pinned to his seat.
The mother also after getting weirded out by Dollface wants to find the kids. She is able to help Kinsey escape, and Kinsey is sad when seeing her mother murdered by Dollface.



Most of the movie is at a Deserted Mobile Home Park.
The protagonists move around the deserted Mobile Home Park area not remaining mostly in 1 location.
Less is more the Aunt and uncle were brutally murdered offscreen with Luke and Kinsey seeing the Uncle's dead body.

The protagonists are proactive not remaining in 1 location and killing the Strangers.
The cellphones are destroyed so can't call the cops, and 1 Cop is sent to the area because Luke used a telephone to call 911 with giving information before the wire was cut.
Also Cindy is unable to get a signal.





Dollface that invades the house holding a knife, Cindy and Kinsey run away to the bathroom, she does cut through a bathroom door similar to The Shinning, and Cindy is able to help Kinsey move up and escape using the Skylight.
Dollface stabs Cindy killing her that Kinsey saw.



Genuine Scares
Mike and Luke in a minivan looking for Kinsey, a killer offscreen throws a object breaks the windshield causing Mike to swerve and crash the car in a trailer.
Mike is pinned to his seat by part of the trailer's porch.
Luke leaves to find his sister after being told by Mike to take the gun, and find his sister.


The Man in the Mask moves into the car, Mike is begging for mercy, The Man in the Mask turns on the radio, and kills Mike with a icepick.
This is a great scene with suspense because Mike begging for mercy and because The Man in the Mask waits before killing Mike.

Kinsey hiding in a concrete barrel is surprised by Pin Up Girl talking since she was in the darkness before talking and revealing herself.
She was hiding from The Man in the mask driving in his pickup.

Dollface trying to stab Kinsey inside a Police SUV, with Kinsey having to remove a Shotgun which she does, and shoots Dollface. She removes the mask, asks her why are they doing this she responds while smiling why not, and Kinsey shoots her again getting revenge since Dollface killed her mother that she saw.
The Man in the Mask chasing Kinsey with his Axe, and Kinsey having to get into a moving pickup, sees a Baseball bat that she picks up and hits the Man in the Mask's face.
Pin Up Girl ambushes Luke while in the area of the Pool, Luke sees her before it's to late, hits her with a golfclub knocks her down.
He decides to take her mask off Except doesn't Pin Up Girl wakes up, tries to grab her knife that Luke sees with him grabbing the knife and repeatedly stabbing her.



4 Great action scenes

Kinsey is lured into a trap because of a jack in the box, Dollface under a blanket moves and begins to stab her, impeccable timing Luke saves her.
Luke is able rip a cloth to use as a bandage for Kinsey after exiting the house.
Luke doesn't shoot her no doubt because he doesn't want to , and is shaking so likely 1st time he held a gun.
Dollface cutting through a bathroom door similar to The Shinning.
Luke having to avoid being killed by the Man in the Mask using his axe by the Pool, he falls in the Pool, able to dodge the axe and pull the Man in the Mask with him.
Both fight in the underwater both trying to grab the knife which keeps slipping , The Man in the Mask is able to grab the knife and takes advantage of Luke trying to escape by stabbing his back.
Kinsey removes him from the water, and he isn't dead.
Dollface kills the Cop cutting his throat with a ambush attack, Kinsey does run to the Police Suv moving inside but doesn't have the keys while Dollface is shown tapping on the glass does have the keys.
Dollface moves into the car.
Kinsey trying to get a shotgun removed while Dollface is trying to stab her, is able to remove the shotgun and shoot her.

Also similar to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre a mother sees the Man in the Mask with his axe moving runs to her pickup and drives with Kinsey in the back of a pickup and the Man in the Mask with a axe with Kinsey hitting his face by swinging the baseball bat.

Great exciting Clinax
The Man in the Mask does crash the Suv Kinsey is in, and does crash the side of the car.
Kinsey gets out of the car, and uses a lighter that creates the explosion because of a gasoline leak.

Several seconds later The Man in the Mask continues to drive his Pickup toward Kinsey, he gets out of his pickup with Kinsey wounded unable to run.
The Man in the Mask with his axe walks close to Kinsey but falls down before he can hit her with the Axe.

Kinsey is able to runaway and signal to a mother driving a Pickup.
The mother gets back in her pickup after seeing the Man in the Mask with his axe running toward Kinsey and drives the Pickup.
Kinsey and the Man in the Mask are able to get in the back of the moving Pickup, Kinsey grabs a baseball bat swings the bat with the Man in the Mask knocked out of back of the Pickup and dropping to the ground.

The great ending
Kinsey and Luke are in the hospital. Kinsey hears the Jack in the box that Dollface used to lure her into a room, and a familiar banging on the door.

Maybe this gets answered in the 3rd movie if not a great unanswered question, and a 3rd movie could be made.
 
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Winchester
Interesting story-line ( pure fiction, I believe) about the 'Mystery House';
SPOILER, of sorts: the '06 Earthquake in the film did less damage, apparently, than the Loma Prieta, World series Quake in the '80s. I understand that most of the structure is currently off-limits to the tours.

Hostiles
Quite underwritten and with but sporadic action. The principals have good roles. Worth watching, if you like Westerns.
 
I watched Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice yesterday evening, and now I fear permanent loss of brain cells. I can't remember the last time I saw such an idiotic, deafening loud but boring and most of all empty movie.
 
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice I loved the 'Ultimate Cut' of this one.
Paris, Tx-Ass Good stuff. The actual town of the title used to be a lovely place on the Red, with more Victorian houses than SF, even. It's crumbled a bit now.

We also recently saw Wings of Desire WOW!
 
Now that the initial flush is over I'm hearing this more and more often.

I kind of liked it. They made it more action-y and changed a lot, but it still has some charm, if not as much as the book. Parts of it are so rushed (like the romance) or altered (the riddles) that they make no real sense, but eh, maybe I was feeling charitable because I read the book, or because it was better than I personally expected? I can see where someone that didn't read the book or insists on a script with stand alone flow and logic would be disappointed (but how many sci-fi movies really have that?).
 

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